The citizen., 1914-03-27

"Mon Ami" Cried Louis Bonaparte.
cation and absorption beyond most
men in Europe, let the CLEAN of a
smile escape. He listened with close
attention while Francois told of his
organization of the youth of the neigh
borhood into cavalry company, and
of their drill twice a week
And you are the captain, Mon
sieur?"
Francois smiled a crafty, worldly
wise smile-or perhaps it was as if
child would seem crafty and worldly
wise. No, my prince" he answered,
shaking his head sagely. THAT would
not be best. l am little known, for
eigner They think much of their old
families, the people of these parts.
So that it is better for the success
of the company that the captain should
be Of the nobility of the country. One
sees that. So the captain of the COM
pany is Monsieur Henry Hampton, the
younger, the kinsman of Monsieur le
Colonel, and a young man of great
goodness, and the best of friends to
me. Everything that l can do for his
pleasure is my own pleasure"
The prince turned his expression
less gaze on the animated face. Mad
emoiselle Lucy likes the young mon
sieur?"
But yes. my prince-she likes ev-
cry one, Mademoiselle Lucy. 1t is sun
shine, her kindness; it falls every
where and blesses where it falls She
loves Henry-as a brother"
"As brother!" the prince repeated
consideringly. Yes, brother. You
find Mademoiselle Lucy of-of a kind
disposition"
Beyond words, and most charm
ing Francois answered steadily, and
flushed little. He felt himself being
probed. With that the facile, myste-
rious, keen mind of the prince leaped,
it seemed, a worldwide chasm "That
most winning little girl of the ruined
chateau of Vicques-our playmate
Alixe-you remember how she stated,
wrecked with embarrassment?
Il remember" Francois said shortly,
and was conscious that he. breathed
quickly and that his throat was dry,
and that the prince knew Of both trou-
bles.
SIS she still 'Alixe'-the same
Alixe?" inquired the prince, turning os-
tentatiously to the window HAS she
grown up as sweet and fresh and bril-
liant flower as the rosebud prom
ised?'
Francois, hearing his own heart
beat, attempted to answer in a par
ticularly casual manner, which is a diff
ficult and sophisticated trick He fail
ed at it. "They say-I think-she
has-oh, but yes. and-I think"-he
stammered and the prince cut short
his sufferings. "Ah, yesl l see that
it is with you, as with Monsieur Hen
ry, case of devoted brotherhood. You
love her as brother-you will not
boast Of her.
''You have done well, Chevalier
Beaupre. You have done so we'll that
when the time is ripe again--it will
not be long-for Strasburg must be
wiped out in success-that shall send
for you to help me, and l shall know
that you, will be ready. l see that
the star which leads us both is the
only light which shines for you. 1t
holds your undivided soul, Chevalier
Il am right?"
Francois turned his swiftly chang
ing face toward the speaker, drawn
with a feeling which swept over him;
for moment he did not answer Then
he spoke in 9 low tone.
when a knight of the old time
went to BATTLE" he said, she wore on
his helmet the badge Of his lady and
carried the thought of her in his heart.
A man fights better so.''
And the silent prince understood.