The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-06-05

IL there were battle in the case, we
should all count ourselves lucky TO be
led by-a hero"
a heroi" Colonel Hampton shifted.
"A mere French peasant by his own
account OF course. | have-received
him, because OF your infatuation for
him. AnG-the young man has quail
ties He has been a success socially.
will not deny. / am quite surprised
by his success. But when II comes to
putting him In position above men
OF birth, my blood revolts request
you, Henry, to use your influence
against this. / can not endure to have
him give you commands You should be
the captain. because your social posi-
ton has made the enterprise possible.
But, yet. if-your misfortune-if some
other seems more it," A painful color
darkened the boys face and his brows
gathered. The colonel went on. Il
should make no objection to that But"
again he pulled at the corners OF his
mustache with soIemnity-"I must re-
quest you to use your influence abso-
lutely to prevent this paryenu from
being placed over you"
Harry Hampton put his hand on the
table beside him and lifting himself
with that aid stood before his uncle.
| leaning a little on the table as his
lame foot made 1t necessary. but yet
figure full Of decision and dignity.
And must refuse absolutely,
Uncle Henry. to do anything OF the
kind. ! am not in question. AS you
| say, haTe-a misfortune. shall use
what influence I have TO see that the
ChevaIier Beaupre is made captain Of
/ the company he has organized and is
to educate. This is fitting. am
proud to call him my friend, and am
| glad that am large-minded enough TO
realize that as large a mind as his is
not to be measured by petty standards
II he is prince or il he is a peasant
is quite immaterial, because he is first
a very great thing-himself" He
/ turned from the astonished colonel.
and with his hating step was gone,
Shortly the young masters horse
was ordered and he had left word with
Ebenezer, the butler, as he went out,
that he would not be home till bed
time. and was on toward Carnifax.
I -4ANOA1s AC 0E66As liz
friend busy over his papers in that
same library. at that same carved ma
hogany desk. where today lie the pack
ages of old letters-'Fr want
to speak to you-about something
fore our meeting"
What then2 The boy is out OF
breath. You have been running Black
Hawk again, my Henry-thas horse
will complain of you soon. the strong
beast What is it you are in such a
hurry TO say that one must race across
country so OF good hour OF the morn
ing?"
But Henry was too intent to talk
nothings. 1T is important" he said
briefly. We must have a captain for
the company at once. and it must be
you"
Sabre de bois!" smiled Francois "a
dainty. The good idea! / can not
imagine fellow more beautiful 10 be
a captain than l. Can your"
But Henry was altogether serious
minded You will consent then?" he
threw at him. Il did not think of it
till this morning, but I see it should
be done at once We shall all want
you. of course. and want nobody else. .
Now Henry Hampton, not having
thought OF the question till this morn
ing, had 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
for them without a hesitation And
with that Francois laughing face grew
grave. He pushed the letters from him
and got up and came across to the boy
and bent and put his arm around his
shoulder as he sat still and stir.
These French ways of his friend
pleased Henry immensely. but they
also petrifed him with embarrass-
ment Francois was not in the least
embarrassed. He patted the broad
young shoulder atfectionately.
MY good Henry" he said gently.
What loyal heart-and what reck-
less one. How then can you answer
for all those messieurs 81
Harry flung up his head and began.
They will-if they do not shall make
them Francois stopped the bold
words
NO" he said quietly-yet with a
tone of fnality which the other recog-
nized 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 deserve. |
know that we'll" There were so few
people in the world who did not. TO
Francois. seem his good friends but,
my Henry. l viii not be the captain.
| have thought of that, if you have not.
Look here"
He swung to the desk and slipped
out q drawer, and had q long folded
paper in his hands He tapped it
open before Harry's eyes. 1t was a
formal notice to Mr.. Henry Hampton.
junior. that the Jefferson troop OF vir-
ginia had elected him as its captain.