The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-21

= "a ''0N|
Hcome and See Me In the Chateau"
the Legion of Honor mad come to him
at twenty-four-after service in the
Spanish and Austrian campaigns and
diplomatic missions; after saving the
emperor's life at Moscow; after Water.
loo. Napoleon had chosen him as one
of three officers to go with him to st.
Helena. The chateau and estate of
Vicdues had been given to him by the
emperor after that brave and lucky
moment at Moscow when, the first
man to enter the Kremlin, he had
snatched the match from mass of
gunpowder which would moment
later have blown up both officers and
emperor.
Ten years before he had married;
four years after that his wife had died,
and the daughter she left was now a
girl of seven, fairy type of girl.
'eYou are perfect in every way but
one, Alike he said, as he swung her
| high to kiss her. you are"
81 know" the little girl interrupted,
comrade-like. 81 know the fault have.
l am not boy. But do not wish to
be boy, father. l would then grow
to be great fierce person with mus
tache-like you. Imagine me, father,
with mustache," and the two laughed
together.
Father, father!" Alike dashed into
the library
There is queer, little, village boy
but a good boy, father. He has
brought you bunch of lettuce-such
white fat lettuce! VIII you see him ?
He is very good boy"
Alike, you are impayable,'' the. gen.
eral groaned. 81 am your plaything!
Yes, send for all the village-that will
help me with my writing"
Alike, ignoring sarcasm, had flown.
In a minute she was back and led by
the hand Francois.
"Ah!" the general greeted him stern
ly. my friend, the marshal! You
have already begun the attack on my
ehauteau, it seems?"
mo, my seigneur," the boy an
swered gravely. Not yet bring you
some salade as present 1t is from
my mothers garden. chose the best. .
81 thank you," said the general with
seriousness II am not sure If your
mother will thank you equally. II Is
a good present"
II Francois was gratifed. LIE Claire
had this morning sent him to the gar
dens with wide margin of time, and
the inspiration had come as he looked
down the cleaning row Of white let
tuce that he would take a tribute anG
make the visit which the seigneur haG
asked him to make.
General Gourgaud brought down his
fist on table so that 1t ratified ant
Francois started-but not Alike.
Sabre de bois!" he threw at the
two children. you have ruined m,
morning between you. meant to fin
ish those cursed chapters this morn
ing. But let them wait Having tn,
honor to receive a visit from an Office
of high rank, the least l can do is t.
entertain him. What amusement d,
you prefer, Msieur the Marshal?
am at your service"
It was natural to Francois to believ,
every one kindly; he accepted will
simplicity, if with slight surprise, thu
I" generals speech.
'The seigneur has fought battles un
der the great emperor himself?" tn
l boy asked in an awed tone.
"Yes,' came the abrupt answer.
Think" whispered the French boy
ITO have fought under the emperor!
> And the old soldiers heart thrille,
suddenly. The child went on. "H tn
seigneur would tell me story of on
fight-of just onei"
"Ratisbon, Ratisbon!" clamore
Alike, and she scrambled over the arr
of his chair to her fathers knee an
!. her hand went around his neck. "Tel
about Ratisbon and the ditch and tn
/. ladders, father"
Haiti" ordered the general. 81 hav
not a week to talk. But will tel
about Ratisbon If you wish"
: The deep voice stopped, then wen
! on again. 1.-THE Austrians held Rats
bon and the bridge across the Danub
i river. The emperor wished to TAX
the town and that bridge. Marsha
q Lannes was ordered to do it. You se'
4 my children, the walls were very oil
u but filed with Austrian artillery, an
there was infantry on the parapet
9 An old ditch lay under the walls,
large ditch, dry, but twenty feet hig
l and fifty feet wide. All the bottom {
u it was a vegetable garden. To tax
y that town it was necessary to go dow
u into that ditch and climb up again |
W the walls, and all the time one woul
be under fire from the A1strians @
the walls-do you understand tina
children? Very well. Twice the ma
shall asked for fifty volunteers to tai
the ladders and place them in tt
p ditch. Twice one hundred men spran
d forward, and it was necessary |
le choose the fifty. Twice they dashe
- out, carrying the ladders, from behi1
= the great stone barn which had CO
e. cred them, and each time the deta
y. was wiped out-fifty men wiped out
es was like that, my children, the fight
m Ratisbon."
TX 1.-THE emperor" Francois breathe
ne the emperor was therei"
a. Probably nothing, which had not
in do with his daughter, could ha,
ed touched General Gourgaud as did TIL
III tribute
he "Sapristii" he growled. 1.-THE ar
Of the little corporal reaches loI
,g way. The child has not even seen hil
is and VOLTA, he loves him"