Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
II Fantasy

his hair was white He had q white beard
reaching down to his middle and he carried a
long staff in his right hand, which he planted
before him with measured strokes And now
the old man in the white robe leading this
multitude was gone before OHara's eyes, Tha
army was moving faster. The whole place
was in motion, yet there was no sound. As
far as he could see there were Serried ranks Of
bayonets-a forest of them-rolling forward
like a tidal wave. He could see the flags wav-
ing the bugle corps had their trumpets to their
lips and the drum corps seemed to beat their
drums. but he heard no sound A strange.
eere light lowered over all this panopy OF
war; making every detail clearly visible. Ma
poleon sat in silence upon the black horse
without movement of any sort, and all the
horsemen grouped about him were likewise
immobile and silent. O'Hara thought he
recognized one two Of the French generals
who were easily distinguished from the others
by their uniforms. That one on the Emper-
or's right would be Desaix, and his left,'
LanneS, grand marshals of Imperial France.
And the others? He could not tell, but there
flashed through his mind the names of Mes
sena, Duroc, Junot, Ney, Murat, Soult, Keller
man, the battle hosts of the dead! Was he
really alive or had he suddenly been pitched
into eternity?
And now the French Emperor was himself
swinging into line surrounded by his equestrian
suite, in the very midst Of the marching legions
whose martial tread should have rocked the
ground. Inc 0lack morse was now all OuC SWal-
lowed up in the vast throng, but the EmpeFor'S
hat could still be seen as it moved farther and
farther away amid million bayonets and wav-
ing banners Suddenly all were gone. Not one
straggler remained. He was alone.
CAPT. OHARA stepped from behind the shell
tering tree and with straining eyes sur
veyed the ground between him and the house.
Darkness was fast descending. Not living
creature was in sight. Not a vestige of sound
reached him except his own hurried breathing
He passed his right hand across his eyes as
though to wipe something away; his left hand
still unconSciouSly held fast to the hilt of his
sword. He cast frightened glance along the
pathway by which he had come. There was
nothing there. Apparently, he might be the
only living person upon the island Being now
stirred to the very depths of his Irish soul he
seized his sword scabbard more firmly and ran
toward the house. He quickly crossed the inter-
vening distance and was soon before the door
from which he had just seen Napoleon Bona
parte emerge with his generals With trem-
bling hand of OHara raised the brass knocker
and let 1t fall. The door was Immediately opened
and In it stood the grave French doctor he had
seen about the place for several weeks The
doctor looked at OHara and OEIara looked at
him. but for a moment neither spoke. OHara
had no definite idea just why he had come to
the door. He merely stared at the doctor,
whose face was pale and haggard. Then, when
roof OF his mouth. The doctor looked at him
with tired eyes, then slowly and quietly he said:
'LEmpereur est mort" and gently closed the
door upon the staring British soldier,
Copyright, 1031.) .sxIfA.t