Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-04-30

kindling eyes, readiness to smile
They called him u-d'Argent, or Sill
verneck, from the way that cunning
surgeons had made him presentable
after Gravelotte; and they say that he
had smiled while the surgeons were
doing it. He was that kind-to smile
for hatred, or pain, or grief
But the grenadier had been an
actor in his day, down near Marseilles
and once, just before the outbreak Of
the Franco-Prussian war, he had been
cast for the role of Napoleon in a Ger
tain military drama, which had failed
as the greater drama unrolled. That
was his claim to Napoleonic glory.
The man who had seen Napoleon
and the man who had impersonated
him joined the group.
What is this-what is this ! feel?'
the blind man wanted to know.
"The emperor's flag" they told him
Motto and Latude came up to the
chair, and Latour-Michel put out 9
manu- u tOuCh IhO SAAhS AASNSS 1852
wrapped about him.
"Ohi" the adjutant cried His mouth
opened, he turned his sightless eyes
aloft while he still touched the faded
silk with his superfine hands. That's
it, comrades! Well make his spirit
live again. They march on Paris
They're already on the Marne--"
The Grenadier Mere became the
mouthpiece for the old adjutant, as he
often did Although there were tears
in his eyes, there was that eterna
smile on his lips. and his voice rolled
out surprisingly rich and full. He hat
never lost his Gascon accent, nor his
Gascon choice Of words.
"Oui! Let us recall the spirit of tht
great emperor! Let us evoke the i'm
mortal shaded"
QuarteFmaster Sandeau went abou
uneasily, nursing his murderous horse
pistol and thoughts to match.
Corporal Pictou, who had been IL
the artillery, made secret tours of thu
obsolete cannon that decorated thu
little park. Those cannon we're still
sound. There was plenty Of ball about
Trumpeter Martin, testy, but goinl
as quietly as his two wooden Leg
would let him, made repeated trips t
the far end of the great gallery Of tn,
military museum. After his last tril
there was still a placard in the par
ticular showcase he had visited, ant
nothing else. The placard read:
Unexploded hand-grenades found a
Sebastopol
1t was all anxiety, suspense, and
| queer mingling Of sadness and say
agery. Yet over the spirit Of two o
the veterans there had come some
thing higher, something vague bu
glorious-a sort Of nebulous, shin
mering hope.
DO you mean to say" asked GrenS
der Mere, as he pushed the chair &
Adiutant Latour-Michel toward thei
destination, do you mean to say tina
you have talked with the empero
lately?"
Just that" the blind man answered
Hold! The entrance of the tomb
just in front Of US, is 1t not?"
"Yes-the lofty pillars-the hig
gable-all soaked in golden sunshine
And over it"
1.-THE words-T desire that m
ashes"
The man who had played the part {
Napoleon was playing the part agai
His face took on look of calm fata
ism and nobility. His vibrant voiC
took on a new solemnity.
MAY rest on the banks Of IL
Seine"
"'Twas thus he spoke in life," sa
Latour-Michel.
In the midst of this French pc
pie SO greatly loved"
Not only his ashes, but his spirit
said Latour-Michel softly, as the
came into the grotto under the glide
!. DOME
They paused at the parapet su
rounding the tomb. There Grenade
Mere looked down at the great stol
: coffin, while Latour-Michel looked I
= seeing, doubtless, with his sightle
!, eyes, what he had seen in the days
his youth.
+ And do you doubt that his spil
T still lives?" the blind man asked.
mol" the grenadier answered. "Ju
l. now, when / was repeating his wore