Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-19
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minded. You will consent them" he
threw at him. II did not think OF IT
till this morning. but I see 1t hould be
done at once: We will all want YOU
Now Henry Hampton not having
thought of the question till this morn
Ing, a no right to make this state
ment in a full round voice OF certainty.
Yet he knew every man IN the com
pany, and he felt in himself the force
to answer for them. He answered TOY
them without a hesitation. And Win
grave. He pushed the letters from MN
n got up and came across to the BOY
n bent and put his arm around mis-
shoulder as he sat still n stiff. These
French ways Of his friend pleased
Harry immensely, but they also petrl-
fled him with embarrassment. Fran
co.'s vas not in the least embarrassed
He patted the broad young shoulder al
~fectionately.
"My good Henry" he said gently.
What a loyal heart-and what a reck-
less one. How then can you answer
for all these messieurs?"
Harry flung up his head n began,
"They will If they do not l shall make
them'-but Francois stopped the bold
words.
NO" he said quietly--yet with a
| one Of finality which the other recog-
nizcd. 'That will not be necessary.
| And the messieurs are my good friends;
they will treat me with honor; they Will
be better to me than I deserve. 1 know
that WE'LL" There We're so lew people
in h world who did not. to Francois,
seem his good friends. But, my Henry.
I will not be the captain. 1 have
thought of that, if you have not. Look
here"
He swung to the desk and slipped out
n 1ro Vv,oN ~~l l~1l n 1ovr fn01a1 nj amor
In his hands. He tapped 1t open be-
fore Harry's eyes. 1t was a formal
notice to Mr.. Henry Hampton, jr., that
tho Jefferson troop Of Virginia had
elected him as its captain.
Harry flushed violently and his
mouth quivered with pleasure, with
nervousness. with u~nhappiness. The
other watched him eagerly. All this at
fair of the troop he had done to give
pleasure to Harry Hampton, his friend.
1t was the only way in which the lame
boy could be on equal terms with the
other boys, and Francois had detern1-
ined from the first that every JOY
which could be cleaned out of 1t he
should have. To be the captain ought
to be a JOY.
~" Harry cried and then was silent
and then spoke sorrowfully. But
it can not bel"
'Can not be?" demanded Francois.
why not?"
There was a moments silence and
with a painful effort the words came.
"My-misfortune. I am lame"
And Francois cried out. 'Henry-all
that is nonsense! What OF it? 1t is
a thing you do as we'll as the best
riding. Who has such q seat. such
hands as you? Why not then, I de-
mand?" And went on. cit Is settled.
I have talked to them ali-see the sig
natures. You are the captain. my
Henry-and I am your right hand and
your left hand-yes and your feet, too,
whenever you need me-"
But said Harry. dazed. ut is real
ly your place; don't you a to be
captain" he hot at the other boyishly.
And with that Francois arm was
about his shoulder again as the two
stood together. and Francois was
a iaSghing ike II T,a yes s. s he said. t1 IT
face was brilliant with laughter. You
only may know. my Henry, that 1 am
vain-ah, very vain,'' he repeated sad
ly. "Never tell it. I love titles and
honors and Importance. I like to be
called Chevalier-though indeed that Is
my right" he added with a quick touch
of dignity. And 1 should like very
fine young men, the flowers-does one
say?-of the south. But 1t is not best"
He held up his forefinger and looked
enormously worldly wise. mo. You
would not mind; the young messieurs
would not mind, perhaps-but the
back his head and gazed at the ceiling
with eyes of horror. Then with a start
and a hand flung out, "And the mo-
theirs! Mon Dieu! But the mothers,
Henry! They would make-what you
call tia hell of a time. is it not?"
Harry roarcd with joy at the terrified
VIII whisper; But I have neither father
"Ah. Henry" argued Francois with
deep satisfaction in his tone. that
makes you 80 suitable"
"Suitable?" inquired Henry.
But yes. my friend. It kills jeal-
ousy. All is grist, says. that comes
at your mill. All is fathers. all is mo-
theirs to the poor orphan-and besides
that. there Is monsieur the colonel. One
sees that the uncle OF the captain Will
be conteEted. And whom should I wish
to content but my first host. my first
b~enefactor in this land? I believe. In
deed. he would be displeased Il I should
take the place. I believe he IL not sat
isfied Of my birth. 7"
And beneath the nonsense Of Fran
co.'s. Henry could but acknowledge the
clear sighted logic. So II happened that
Henry Hampton became captain Of the
Jefferson Troop, to the entire salts
faction of all concerned.
Yet Colonel Hampton, who had
the uncomfortable cling Of q
weak character to post mortems.
could not resist barking back to the
possibility which had offended him. He
did not like to cross swords again with
Harry on tho subject. having found
that young persons blade heavy; 90
he went to his daughter. That tiny
executive person with q basket Of big
keys. which. to a southern ho~usekeeper.
is more than q badge. came out on the
shady gallery where the colonel sat in