The citizen., 1914-03-20

lists of the mayor-and pulled at the
sword of Marshal Ney. And the mar
shal. turning quickly, knocked me
over. l cried out, and my grand
mother ran to me, and l have often
heard her tell how she peeped from
the door under the shoulder OF the big
sentry who would not let her pass,
and how she saw young general
pick me up and set me on my feet,
and how all the great officers laughed
when he said that the sword was in
contest between Marshal Ney and me.
And how, then, the young general sag
gested that. to settle the point annie.
ably, the marshal should draw his
sword and give me the accolade-the
blow of knighting. And so, Mademoj-
selle, to shorten the tale, It was NOT
the marshal, but the Emperor himself
who chose to do 1t. He made me
kpeel before him, T. baby-and he
struck my shoulder the blow of the
accolade. and said the words which
have told YOU"
Francois sprang to his feet and
stood as he repeated once more the
Emperor's words. His voice shook.
Rise Chevalier Francois Beaupre,
one day Marshal OF France under
another Bonaparte,' he cried, thrilled
through with the words which he re-
peated.
The girl leaning forward watched
him; with gasp she spoke. Then
that is why you are really Chevalier
Beaupre? Did the Emperor have the
right TOTO knight you?"
But yes, Mademoiselle," Francois
answered with decision. 81 have stud
led the question, and believe that the
accolade-the knighting-was always
right of the monarchs of France,
disused, perhaps at times, but yet held
in allegiance, right"
The glance of the brilliant eyes met
hers with frank calmness which
showed that he claimed nothing which
he did not feel; that this haphazard
nobility had lived in his soul and
grown with his growth, and come to
be part of him. With gentle humil-
ity, very winning as it sprang from
his gentle pride, he went on.
II know, Mademoiselle, that | am a
peasant and that must be content
with small place in life at the pres
ent. know this. And even that
position which l have is more than
| NV
Mademoiselle, that the others grew up
to be farmers or tradesmen." He hes.
itated, and then in few words told
her of General Gourgaud, the seigneur
Of Vicques, and how he had given the
peasant boy all the opportunities
which his own son could have had.
And as he talked he remembered how,
after his fathers ruin, he had stood
inside the bare, little, new cottage and
watched through the window his
mother standing at the gate and talk
ing to the seigneur, who held Lisette' s
bride. 1t seemed to him he could
see the dark braided hair of La Claire
coiled around her head, and the deep
point of her white neck-handkerchief
as she stood with her back to him
and the big bow of the apron tied
about her waist. The picture came
vividly. And it opened his heart SC
that he talked on, and told this strang
er in a strange land many things that
had lain close and silent in his heart
He told her about the generals gruff
ness, which could not hide his good
ness; and how he had come to be the
child of the castle as we'll as of the
cottage; something of Pietro also he
told her; but he did not mention Alike
You spoke of three children. Mon
sieur; who was the third?" asked
Lucy.
Francois went on as if he had not
heard the question. 1T was happy
life, Mademoiselle," he said. "And il
has been so ever since-even, for the
most part, in prison. have wondered
at times if the world is all filled with
such kind people as 1 have met, or il
it is just my good luck"
Lucy Hampton had been reading
aloud to her sick black nanny that
day, and some of the words of the
book she had read came to her, and
seemed to fit. "The kingdom of God