Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-21
I.
A PRoPHECY.

It was Francois who had his way
Pierre clamored for the story of tn
old witch and the horses; Marie begge
to hear about the white ducks and tn
princess; Tomas, at the top Of hi
lungs. demanded the episode Of tn
man who fell off the church steeple
each child wished a particular tale
Half a dozen high, little French voice
hoated shrilly out into the garden, o.
great entry of an old farm house Il
the valley under the Jura mountains
The grandmother, sitting white-cappe'
In the center Of the hubbub, heard on,
more willingly than the others. for no
only was Francois her best loved. bu
also the story he asked for was tn
story h liked to tell.
In the large kitchen beyond the opel
door the sun lay In patches on tn
moved swiftly. getting dinner read!
against IL o'clock, when he fathe
should come in from the fields; 1t wa!
the ~grandmere's hour to amuse tn
children. And today they were al
pleading at once for a story, clappins
hands. jumping UP and down as II lf'
depended on the choice. Suddenly, IL
Francois and Pierre We're in a heap
spraying at her feet on he eartf
floor of the entry.
stop. STOP" said the granmother
Good children do not go SO fast" ant
she carefully sorted out the heap
You, Francois, you are too quick
you will finish by hurting yourself
Stand here quiet, near me, and lister
we'll" and, her arm about him, she
drew the boy close.
YOU will tell my tale, grandmere-
the tale of Napoleon Comes'?" he asked
eagerly, and the grandmother smiled;
1t was what h wished to tell.
And now. with the faces of n chill
dren turned toward her, h pushed the
big horn-framed glasses up on hel
brow, buried her knitting needles deer
in scarlet wool, and folding her work
carefully. laid it In the work box. Al
five watched ceremony, the method
cal habit Of a lifetime, and little Marie
gave a trembling sigh rs 1t ended. Only
that sound broke the stiffness, and ir
a moment the grandmother'S voice be
gar.
FRANCOIS. IL you pinch you brother
listen to the story" h admonished
BE quiet, then. and o shall hear how
the emperor came to this house, and
sat in the great there-Na-
poleon!"
The five pairs Of eyes followed hers
as she glanced toward the door. Yes
at that table he sat-" the gentle voice
went on, with his great officers about
him, with their uniforms and bright
facings and gold buttons. and Their
swords clanking as they walked, AND
their th~ree-cornered hats, waving
plumes, on their heads. But tens
must go back-1 must tell 1t rightly
the story OF Napoleon" At h name
the grandmother's head seemed to lift
z~ # Il .S~ vr,0c H. Han ~orrn nthc
boy against her ARM, his brown eyes
of uncommon size and intensity, fast
ened on hers, thrilled.
Yes, grandmere, from the begin
ming he said earnestly.
Smiling again, the grandmother be-
gan. You must know, my children
that 1t was on a; day in h month OF
May, in the year 1873, that he came
You. Lucie. and you. Pierre. and Marie
Tomas. Francois was the older-no'
quite 8 years old. The mother had gone
to care for your Aunt Lucie, who was
Ill, and / kept the house for your father
It was the year OF the great conscrip-
ton, when the emperor took all the
men to fight. not only the strong ones
but the boys. and the old and infirm
IL they might but drag themselves a
the tail OF a regiment. So the few mer
who were not under the flag were sore
necessary, il the women and childrer
were not to starve, that some should
stay to work in the fields. Your father
was OF the few who had escaped In oul
village of Vicques.
"One morning q man appeared in tn,
village and said that Napoleon would
pass this way within a few hours. NJ
one quite believed. yet there was ex'
element, and the people stood abou
chattering, restless. when suddenly
I can see It BIB IL it were yesterday
a half dozen horsemen clattered from
the turn OF the road up there n gal
loped down the street and beyond. Th'
crowd stared. Then every one talked
a once; there was a great confusion
But at last a good old a we'll know
to us all. raised his hand for silence
and as we listened he told us that prob
ably it raj not the great army whicl
Napoleon and his staff. We were no
on the road which led to Germany. an
the great army was hurrytng there
1t was probable that the empero
turned from his road to take the list
OF men and OF resources In the vii
lage."
There was a stir against the grand
please. grand-mere. don't tell wha
the old man said" Francois spoke. II
is 30 long before you come to Napo
leon" The child's was i'm
petuous, hut very winning. The oil
woman felt the charm OF It.
You ire always eager. Francois.
she said. Very we'll. then. Two youn
warn us. 90 that the men Of the plac
might hide on the mountain to escap
being taken for soldiers. All that da,
nothing happened, but the next morn