Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-02-27

"Come and See Me In the Chateau"
Of three officers to go with him to st.
Helena. The chateau and estate of
Vicques had bee 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 a mass of
gunpowder which would a 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, a fairy type Of girl.
you are perfect in every way but
one, Alike" he said, as he swung her
high to kiss her. "You are"
II know" the little girl Interrupted,
c~omrade-like. II know the fault l have.
l am not a boy. But l do not wish to
be a boy, father. l would then grow
to he a great fierce person with a mus
tache-like you. Imagine me, father.
with a mustache." and the two laughed
together.
Father, father!" Alike dashed into
the library.
There is a queer, little, village boy
but a good boy, father. He has
brought you a bunch of lettuce-such
white fat lettuce! Will you see him ?
He is a very good boy"
Alike, you are impayable," the gen.
eral groaned. II 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
chateau, it seems?"
mo, my s~eigneur." the boy an
swered gravely. Not yet. l bring you
some salade as a present. 1t is from
my mothers garden. l chose the best"
IL thank you.' said the general with
seriousness. Il am not sure II your
mother will thank you equally. 1t is
a good present"
Francois was gratif1ed. LIE Claire
had his morning sent him to the gar
dens with a wide margin of time, and
| tu0 Ills lIdIiOu udO COI10 as hS lOOhcO
down the cleaning row of white let
tuce that he would take a tribute and
make the visit which h seigneur had
asked him TO make.
General Gourgaud brought down his
fist on a table SO that 1t ratified and
Francois started-but not Alike.
Sabre de bois!" he threw at the
two children. You have ruined my
morning between you. l meant to fin
ish those cursed chapters this morn
ing. But let them wait. Having the
honor to receive a visit from an officer
of high rank, the least I can do is to
entertain him. What amusement do
you prefer, M'sieur the Marshal? /
am at your service"
1t was natural to Francois to believe
every one kindly; he accepted with
simplicity, If with slight surprise, the
generals speech.
The seigneur has fought battles I'M
del the great emperor himseh?' the
boy asked in an awed tone.
Yes" came the abrupt answer.
Think" whispered the French boy.
IT have fought under the emperor
And the old soldiers heart thrilled
suddenly. The child went on. IF the
seigneur would tell me a story of one
ight-of just onei"
"Ratisbon, Ratisbon!" clamored
Alike, and she scrambled over the arm
of his chair to her fathers knee and
her hand went around his neck Tell
about Ratisbon and the ditch and the
ladders, father"
"HaltIo ordered the general. az have
not a week to talk. But I will tell
about Ratisbon if you wish"
The deep voice stopped. then went
on again. "The Austrians held Rats
bon and the bridge across the Danube
river. The emperor wished to take