Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-14
CHAPTER /.

den, on sunShiny morning OF 1870
from the great entry OF an old farm
house In the valley under the Jura
mountains. The grandmother, sitting
white-capped in the center OF the hub
hub. heard one more willingly than the
others, for not only was Francois her
best loved, but also the story he asked
for was the story she liked 70 tell.
Smiling, the grandmother began:
You must know, my children, that 1t
was on day In the month of May, in
the year 1919, that he came. You.
Lucie, and you, Pierre, and Marie
were not born, only Francois and
Tomas. Francois was the older-not
quite three years old. The mother had
gone TO care for your Aunt Lucie, who
was Ill, and ! kept the house for your
father. II Was the year OF the great
conscription. when the emperor took
all the men to fight. not only the
strong ones, but the boys, and the old
and infrm. IL they might but drag
themselves at the tail of regiment
So the few men who were not under
the flag we're sorely needed by their
families, for 1t was necessary, IL the
women and children we're not TO
starve, that some should stay to work
in the fields Your father was of the
few who had escaped in our village of
Yicques.
zone morning a man appeared in
the village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within few
hours.
Outside l heard the neighbors call
ing the same two words-'Napoleon
comes--one called 1t to another. II
the trumpet OF the angel sounded the
end of the world. they could not have
had more fear. Then your father
kissed me. and kneeled and held you.
Francois. and Tomas. in his arms, and
! saw tears, but he was braye-but
YES. Courage. little mother he said,
for me and for the babies. Courage.
And at that your father, who was
my little lad once. you know. my dears.
had gone. and ! stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for moment was stupid and could
not think
las l stood so, like blow there was
a rush Of galloping horses in a shower
of noise down the street, and my
heart stopped. for the horses drew up
at this house. So that was still in
the middle of the floor when the door
opened.
ct opened. that door there. and
against the light saw men crowding
in the entry. They wore uniforms OF
bright colors. and swords hung at their
sides, and on their heads were hats
with trimmings of gold. Then / saw
Napoleon. With step toward me
he spoke In a kind voice, half smiling.
Madame he said. will you let us
use this room and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed in
your work
Il made my courtesy TO these great
gentlemen as had been taught. and /
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty the emperor, as easily as IL |
talked TO Monsieur lie Cure. to whom
] was accustomed. thst he was wei.
come; that | would serve him gladly
If he wished to command me. And
then ] left them. J went into the
kitchen and began to get dinner, but
l was so dazed that l could not seem
TO make the soup as usual when,
suddenly. heard a child cry, and with
no thought then but of my babies. |
few to the door OF the great room and
stood looking, for l could not pass the
sentinel.
Among the officers In their uni.
forms there lay on the floor little Fran.
COTS in his night-dress. and all the of.
flcers looked at him and laughed. The
child, sleeping in the farther room.
had walked at the voices and had
climbed down from his crib and tod.
died out TO see. The glitter OF the uni.
forms must have pleased him, and as
they all bent over the papers on the
table he had pulled at the sword OF
one whom / afterward knew TO be the
great Marshal Ney. He wore dark
coat all heavy with gold lace. my chill
dren, and white pantaloons and high
shining black boots, and across his
breast a scarlet ribbon. He sat next
the emperor. The marshal, turninp
sharply at the tug. knocked the little
one over 1t was then Francois cried
out
Napoleon himself who spoke as !
peered under the sentinel's arm. He
shook his finger at his officer.
Marshal, Marshal he cried. are
you not too quick to overthrow So
young soldier. so full OF love for
arms?'
THE emperor seemed to Joke. f1I
lie laughed little. yet there was a
sound in his voice as II some part was
serious. He turned sharply to the
mayor. What is the child's Nance
'The mayor was our friend and
knew the babies. 'Francois Beaupre
sire he answered tremblingly.
The emperor gave short nod
Make him kneel.' he said Marshal
your sword
1t was still for a moment. aud al
the officers stood up silent. aud ther
the emperor took the marshal's SWORD
and struck the bAoy's shoulder a nght
blow with the fat OF It.
Rise Chevaner Francois Beaupre,
he said clearly. and in the pause hC
added, with a look In his eyes as Il
one gaEed forward: Some day, per
haps, marshal of France under an
other Bonaparte'"
CHAPTER u.