The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-05-21
CHAPTER I.
A PROPHECY.

to hear about the white ducks and In
princess; Tomas, at the top of hi
lungs, demanded the episode of tn
man who fell off the church steeple
each child wished a particular tale
Hair a dozen high, little French voice
Heated shrilly out into the garden, OF
q sunshiny morning of 1920 from tn
great entry of an old farm house II
the valley under the Jura mountains
me grandmother, sitting w~hite-cappe
In the center of the hubbub, heard on,
more willingly than the others, for no
only was Francois her best loved. bu
also the story he asked for was tht
story she liked to tell.
In the large kitchen beyond the oper
door the sun lay in patches on The
bare, scrubbed floor, and the mothet
moved swiftly. getting dinner ready
against IL o'clock. when the father
should come in from the fields: 1t was
the srandmere's hour to amuse the
children. And today they We're all
pleading at once for a story. %clappins
hands, jumping up n down as if life
depended on the choice. Suddenly. In
the excess of enthusiasm, Tomas and
Francois n Pierre were in a heap,
SPRAYING at her feet on the earth
floor of the entry.
Stop. stop" said the ~granniother,
Good children do not go so fast" and
IN carefully sorted out the heap.
You, Francois, You are too quick
You viii finish by hurting yourself.
Stand here quiet. near me. and listen
drew the boy close.
You will tell my tale, grandmere-
the tale of Napoleon Comes ?" he asked
eagerly, and the grandmother smiled;
1t was what she wished to tell.
And now. with the faces of the chill
dren turned toward her, h pushed the
big horn-fraraed glasses up on her
brow, buried her knitting needles deep
In scarlet wool, and folding her work
carefully, laid it in the work box. All
nVe watched ceremony, the methodi-
cal habit of a lifetime, n little Marie
gave q trembling sigh as it ended. Only
that sound broke the stiffness. and in
a moment the grandmother's voice be-
gan.
francois, II you pinch your brother
you are not a good child, and cannot
listen TO the story" she dmonished.
the empero came to his house. and
sat in the great room there-Na-
p~oleoni"
The five pairs OF ayes followed hers
as she glanced toward the door. Eyes
at that table he sat" the gentle voice
went on, with his great officers abou
him, with their uniforms and bright
facings and gold buttons, and their
swords clanking as they walked, and
their three-cornered hats, waving
plunes. On their heads. But items
must go back must tell 1t rightly.
the story Of Napoleon" At the name
the grandmother's head seemed to lift,
and dignity was in her manner. The
boy against her arm, his Drown eyes,
of size and intensity, fast
on hers. thrilled.
Yes. ~grandmere. from the begin-
he said earnestly.
Smiling again, h grandmother be-
You must know, my children, |
h a 1t was on a day in the mont of
May, in the al 1913. that he came.
You. Lucie, and you. Pierre. and Marie
were not born. only Francois and
Francois was the oIder-not
quite 8 years old. The mother had gone
to care for your Aunt Lucie, who was
Id. and / kept the house for your father.
1t was the a OF the great conscrip- |
ton. when the empeFor took all the
to fight, not only b strong ones.
but the boys, and the old and infirrn,
IL they might but drag themselves at
tall OF a regiment So the few men
who were not under the flag were sore
" needed by their families. for 1t was
not to starve. that some should
stay to work In b fields. Your father
Of the few who had escaped In our
OF TfcQues.
One morning a man appeared In the
and said that Napoleon would
prLsSo AIAS 6AJ 6kk2AAlL a lE" kDul6. w L
n quite believed, yet there was ex-
element, and the people stood about
restless, when suddenly
a ses 1t az IL It were yesterday
1 half dozen ho-semen clattered from
turn OF the road UP there and GAL
oped down the street and beyond. The
stared Then every one talked
once; there was g. great confusion.
But at last q good old man. well known
% us all. raised his hand Tor silence.
as we listened he told us that prob
ably IL was mot the great army which
would pass through Vicquea, but only
Napoleon and his STAFF. We were not
IN the road which led to Germany, and
great army was hurrying there.
{ was probable that the emperor
-urned from his road to AXE the ifsts
If men and OF resources in the vii
There was q stir against the grand
Mothers arm. "Conment?" she asked.
please, grand-rnere, don't tell what
he old mar said Francois spoke. 1T
8 SO long before you come to Aapo-
Tho chiid'a was i'm
but very winning. the old
woman felt the charm OF 1t.
You ere always eager. Francois, :
Inc said. Very well. then Two young
nen we're placed down tina road to
yarn rs. SO that the me of the place
hide on the mountain to escape
taken for soldiers. All thar day
happened. but the next naorn-
toward half past 10, as / prepared
dinner. there was a sudden notse In
he street. and your father cams In.
My mother he said, Napoleon
sorrfes. t.
Outside / heard the n~eighbcrs CALI
the same two words-Napolcon
4omes.-one called 1t to another. IL the
trumpet nf the angel had sounded the
of the world. they could not have
tad more fear. Then your father kissed
and kneeied and held you, Fran
,oia, and Tomas. In hfs arms. and III
tears. but he war brave--but yes.
Courage, little rnoth1s.s he said. Tor
ne and for the babies. Courage.
And at that Your father, who was
little Lad cnce. O know, my dears.
iad gone, and I st9od with an ache
There my heart should have besn. and
or q moment ! was stupid and could
lot think. Francois held 10 my apron,
4 lifted Tomas What Gro you
srying about, naughty grand -mGrs7'
Lsked Tomas. 80 / dried the tears and
FFHkn1fx began n a4x that ba 4taa