THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
SYNOPSIS.
Francois Ueaupre, n pensant lalo of
tlm o yonra, after an nmuslng Incident In
wl.lch Mnrshnl New llgures. Is made ft
rimvnllor of Franco by tlio Emperor Na
poleon, who prophesied Hint tlio boy
might one day iJo n marshal of France
under another Uonnpnrto. At the age of
ten FrnncnlH visits General Huron Ons
pnrd OoiirKand, who with Allxo, his
i,pcn-year-old daughter. IIvch at tho
Chateau. A soldier of the Empire under
Napoleon he llres the boy's Imagination
With stories of his campaigns. Tlio gen
eral offers Francois a homo at tho C'lia
tenu, Tho boy refuses to loavo his pi
rcnts. but In tho anil becomes a copyist
for tlio genernl nnd learns of llio friend
nhlp between the general and Marquis
Zappl, who campnlKned with the Kcneral
tinder Napoleon. Mnrquls Kappl and his
on, Plotro, arrlvo at tho Chateau. Thi
Kcneral agrees to caro for tho Marquis'
on whllo tho former goes to America.
The Mnrtjuls before leaving for Amorlca
asked Francois tn bn a friend of bin son.
Tho boy solemnly promises, Francois
roes to tho Chateau to live. Marquis
Znppt dies leaving Plotro a a ward of
the general. Allxo, I'letro and Francois
meet a strange boy who proves to bo
Prince Louis Napoleon. Francois saves
Ills life Tho general discovers Francois
loves Allxe. nnd extracts a pYomlso from
lilm that ho will not Interfere between tho
girl and I'letro. Francois goes to Italy
us secretary to Ptetro, Queen Hortonio
plans tho escape of her son Louis Nn-
Iioleon by disguising him nnd Marquis
'.appl bb her lackeys. Francois takes
Marquis Zappt's place, who Is 111, In tho
tscapo of Ilortenso nnd Louis. Dressed
ns Louis's brother Francois lures tho
Austrlans from tho hotel allowing tho
prlnco nnd his mother to csenpo. Fran
cols Is a prisoner of tho Austrlans for
flvo years In tho cnstlo owned bv l'lotro
In Italy IIo discovers In his guard ono of
Pletro's old family servants, nnd through
lilm sends word to his friends of his
plight The goncral, Allxo und Pletro
liPar from Francois nnd plan his rescue.
Francois ns a guest of tho Austrian gov
ernor of the cnstlo prison Inspects tho
Interior of tho wlno cellnr of tho Zoppls.
Francois receives a note from Plotro ex
plaining In detail how to escape from his
prison. Allxo awaits lilm on horseback
nnd lends him tn his friends on board
the American sailing vessel, tho "Lovely
Lucy,"
CHAPTER XIX.
Tho Sacrifice.
Young Honry Hampton, thrilled to
tho coro at this drama, bent over lilm,
nu Bnttlsta laid him on tho dock, and
loolcod up anxlouHly at Plotro.
"Ib ho living?" ho asked.
Ho was living, though tor an hour or
two tho dovoted frlondB who cured for
lilm doubted If thoy had not got him
hick only to loso him. I)ut that last
effort of tho chnngo to tho ship being
past, when consciousness camo again
ho grow strong more rapidly.
"1 thought tho Austrlans would
nab tno ob I camo aboard," ho wills
porod, smiling gaily as ho gasped tho
words to Allxo. "It was firm In my
mind."
And Allxo laughod at hliri, and told
lilm that thoy wcro far out on tho Ad
riatic now, safo undor tho Amorlcan
flag, and tho Austrlans loft two hun
dred mllos behind,
"Even If thoy had nabbed mo,"
whispered FrancolB, "thoso two days
with you would havo paid."
And Allxo shuddered a llttlo and told
lilm to go to sloop and stop thinking
of Austrlans, for thoy woro out of his
llfo now forovor.
"My solgneur," said Francois noxt
day when tho gcnornl took his turn at
Bitting by hlB bod, "may I ask a ques
tion?" "Any question In tho world, Fran
cols, my son," tho general growled at
lilm, tiB if tho tonder words woro a de
fiance to an onomy.
Francois hesitated, "About Allxo
nnd Plotro."
Tho general shook nla hoad. Ah
that! Tlmt I cannot toll you, Fran
cols. Somotlmos I bollovo that I lmvo
boon mistaken, that" tho general nB
Jio stoppod lookod oddly at Francois
nm smiled. "Somotlmos J bollovo tljat
oven I, oven Gnspard Gouvgaud, might
make it mistake In trying to play tho
fiooil God, and arranging lives. That
wight bo yes. In any cubo I cannot
toll." .,
. Francois, thinking dooply, hazarded
Another question. "Ilo lovos her?"
"I bollovo no, Indood," mild the gen
eral. "Ho cares most to bo with us--with
hor. Ah yes, I havo net doubt that
ho lovos hor. Hut why It goes no fat
thor capristl! It 1b boyond me
that! I would knock, tholr foollBh houds
together, mo but that Is not convonl
out "
"Doob sho Iovo Pletro?"
"Mon dlou! How cuu n moro man
Fay that? Sho Is n woman. 1 do not
know-not In tho least," tho general
cxplodod 'at lilm.
"Hut Plotro lovos hor?" Francois
nsked again, his wistful smiling eyes
searching tho gonerora faco.
"Yes I am suro of It."
And Francois smiled.
"No ono could help It," ho suld hulf
to hlmsolf.
In a day moro llttlo Uattlsta camo
Into Francois' cabin nnd put clothoa
on him and wrapped him ltko n mum
my In coats and rugs, and carried him
In his arniB up on dock, and Uioto laid
lilm In a hammock on tho sunny hUIo
of tho skip. And tho Bait ulr blow on
Ills faco and ho gulped it In, anil by
nnd by Allxo brought a chair nnd sat
by lilm and read to htm, and Francois
lay qulot nnd wondered If hoavon
could bo nny improvomont on this.
So, on that long, bright, calm morn
ing at son FrancolB lay In tho ham
mock nnd watched tho million llttlo
wavofl allBton and break for unknown
wllos over tho eunllt wator, nnd lis
tonod to tho volco ho loved best In tho
world, as Jt told lilm o thoso othorn
whom k loved also, anlrof the placos
ILLUSTRATIONS y ellsvorth young--
dear to lilm; and ho wondered that ho
had Indeed como through tho long
nlghtmnro of prison to this happiness.
"Mr. Hampton has been talking to
mo about Virginia; It must bo a beau
tiful country," said Allxo. "I should
Iovo tho froo friendly llfo of thoBo
great domains, I bollovo I could loavo
France and Vieques for such a coun
try as that, whero there nro no politi
cal volcanoes on top of which one
muBt llvo. With us it Is nlways plot
ting and secrecy. Alwnys n war to
look back on or to look forward to. I
should like to go to Virginia."
"But," said Francois, with his great
eyes glowing, "tho war ono now looks
forward to In Franco will bo short and
glorious. And after that will bo peaco,
for thoro will bo a Honntinrtn rullnc.
and that means strength and good
govornment."
"How you bollovo In tho great cap
tain nnd in his blood," and Allxo
emlled down at tho palo faco on flro
with Its lifelong enthusiasm.
"Ono must," said Francois Blmply,
nnd paused, nnd wont on. "For me
you know, Allxo, how It Is. How tho
otar of tho Honnpartes has always
Beemed to bo my star! I bollovo that.
I bollevo that my Hfo is tlod to that
houso. Nopoleon was moro than hu
man to my mind, his touch eet mo
asldo for his uses In my cradle."
"And mndo you n chevalier," Allxo
considered. "That was a true ncco
lado, Francois. You would havo n
right to that tltlo undor nnothor Bona
parte." "I bollovo so, Allxe."
"And my father believes It. So you
must hurry and got well and como
oacK to Franco and bo fit for work
whon tho prlnco needs you, Chevalier
Beaupro. My father has told vou that
a movement Is preparing? Ho Is reck
less, my father, and it troubles me. It
might bo unsafo for him to HvoMn
Franco If his part In theBO plota woro
known."
"Then you could como to Virginia
to Carnlfax," and FrancolB smiled.
But Allxo IlUBhed. "That Is Plotro'a
ostato, not ours," sho said quickly;
and then sho roso and bont over tho
sick boy. "I must go to my father
now," sho said, and caught his piti
ful hnnds suddenly in both hera. "But
oh! Francois, I wish I could tell you
how It changes nil tho world to havo
you back again" and sho was gono.
Francois, trembling with a rapture
ho could not qulot, lay, not stirring, be
causo ho feared to break tho spell of
tho touch of hor hands; fooling within
him a rebel hope that yet ho would
not lot tako hold of him. Could It bo?
Was It truo? Did sho caro for him jnd
not Piotrp? Was that tho reason that
In all theso years sho and Plotro were
still only Bister nnd brother? Yet, he
caught nnd-chokod tho thought. Even
thon ho had no right, ho could not,
would not toll hor what sho waa to
him. Ho would bo Pietro'8 friend nl
ways as ho had promlsod long ago;
moro, a thousand tlmea moro now,
whon Plotro had given back to him
froodom nnd llfo and hopo.
CHAPTER XX.
A Social Crisis.
On a day the ship Balled Into n splon
did roadstead, big enough to hold tho
The Qoneral Shook His Head. '
ships of hnlf tho world. Thon Into a
wldo flnBhlng river, tho Jnmos river,
four or llvo miles wldo down thoro nt
Its mouth. And up nnd up nnd up tho
bright rlvor, tho nnrrowlng rlvor, bo
twoen lte low greon banks, with now
and ngnln n gllmpso of a largo houso
and of gardens and lawns green with
Juno, no ono Bniled past.
Harry Hampton told Francois who
lived In them as thoy went by Hnr
rlsoiiB and Cartors and Byrds and Ran
dolphB Btrnngo-Boundlng, dllllcult,
English names In tho ear of tho
Frenchman. Youug Mr. Hampton know
thorn nil, It Boomed; nmny of thorn
woro hie cousins; Francois llstonod,
surprised, Interested, to tho word plc
turo which tho Virginian unconscious
ly drow, as ho talked of ovory-day hap
penings, or a society and a way of llv.
ing qulfb different from nny tho
Frenchman had over hoard of.
With that thoy wore in sight of
Uoanoko house ono might aeo tuo
'"A "- "S;?
roofs of tho buildings over tho trees
Harry Hampton pointed It out with a
touch of excitement In his grave man
nor. Then, ns ono slipped along tho
Bpnrkllng water, there waa a eharp
bond in tho stream, and as thoy turned
It tho lnrgo Bilvcry green slopo of tho
lawn lay beforo them, with Ito long
wharf and barges lying at tho water
side, and a ship unloading its return
cargo from England.
"It is tho Sea Lady" called young
Hampton. "Sho Is in beforo us and
sho Bailed so long after."
Ho mado n quick movement forward
with his pathotlc broken Btep for this,
only son of tho Hampton family waa n
crlpplo.
Thoro woro pooplo gathering on tho
lawn, negroes drawn up In lino; tho
women In bright-colored turbans, mon
nnd women both showing white teeth
as thoy grinned with tho pleasure and
tho excitoment of watching tho ship
como In. Then n white light flguro
ran down tho broad greenness, nnd a
girl ntood, goldon curls on her shoul
ders, n straw hat, with bluo ribbons
tying down some of tho golden curlB,
but not all stood and watched and
waved an eagor friendly hand.
"It is my cousin Lucy," Harry
Hampton said, nnd Francois, looking
at mm, saw his eyes fixed on hor in
tently. In a fow mlnutoB more, leaving tho
ship with his halting caroful step,
Francois saw him kiss hor couslnlv
yot it Boomed not altogether cousinly
nnd with that ho was Baying a word
udoui -My now frlond, tho Chovallor
Beaupro," and tho girl's quick hand
clasp and tho warm welcome In her
volco of honey, mndo Francois feol as
If a place In her frlondohlp had been
waiting for him nlways.
Thon, from back of her, from some
where, towered suddenly n tall man,
'with largo features, and first seized
Harry Hampton's hand nnd then
turned to tho stranger with tho same
air of entire pleasure and hospitality.
"My nophow'e friend Is welcomo nt
Itonnoko houso," ho said, and Francois,
with his fow wordB of English, under
stood enough to bo warmed to tho soul
at his first contnet with southern hos
pitality. "It Is my uncle, Colonel Hampton,"
Harry's voice was explaining.
Thoy would not hoar of hie going to
Curnlfnx not for days, not for a
month: why Bhould ho co at nil?
Colonel Hampton aaked. If lip woro to
bo only n yoar or two In Virginia, why
troublo tceot up housekeeping alone
In that big houso, whon Roanoko houso
was horo nnd In order, nnd only too
glad to keep him. So Francois for a
weok or two stayed. ,And found him
self, shortly, a notability. Harry Hump
ton, hla boyish nmbltlon for adventure
and daring donled every personal out
let, becauso of that accident In bnby
hood which had atartod him In llfo
hopelessly lamo, waa as proud of his
salvago from tho Austrian bird of
proy na If Francois' record had been
Ills own. Much moro frnnkly proud, for
ho could talk about It, nnd did. Allxo
had told him a great deal, and tho
oplsode of tho headlong rescuo of
Prlnco Louis Napoleon, tho enpturo
and imprlsonmont nnd final theatrical
oscapo, wont llko wlld-flro about tho
countrysldo, nnd ntlrrcd nil tho ro
mance of tho warm-blooded southern
ers. Eyory houso wonted tho hero to
break brond, nnd tinder young Harry's
proud wing FrancolB wont gladly to
moot nil thoso Trlonds of his frond.
As tho general had snld yearB ago,
his simplicity struck tho finest note
of sophisticated high breeding; more
over, ho had lived with " high-bred
pcoplo In moro than ono country; tho
aristocrats of Virginia were dollghtod
with hla young nobleman, as thoy
thought him with his charm- of man
ner nnd hla stirring history, with tho
linos of suffering still In his thin faco
and tho broad lock of gray tho badgo
of that aufforlng In hla dnrk hnlr;
with tho quaint forolgn ncccnt too, nnd
tho uncxpoctodnoos In tho turns of
his rapidly increasing English.
And now ho had loft Roanoko, and
was living In tho groat old houso on
Pletro's laud, tho old houso which had
boon lived In a hundred yoars beforo
Pletro's fathor had bought It, tho old
houso In which grandchlldron or Plo
tro llvo today.
Something In IiIb odd brokon Eng
lish, something In hla vivacity and en
orgy, something In tho warmth of tho
heart which tho poor souls felt In
him nono qulckor than negroes to
fool n heart fascinated tho alavos
who fell to hla unaccustomed manage
ment. Ho had met Honry Clay and
tho proud arlBtocrnts of Virginia as
men and women, nnd given them tho
boBt of hlmsolf; ho mot thoso thick
lipped, dlm-Boulod, black pcoplo no
othorwiBO, nnd gnvo thorn tho Bnmo.
By the crystal truth In him tho first
had boon vanqulshod, nnd It hnppenod
not dlfforontly with thoso othor human
belngB. Pletro's mlshnndlod property
grow ordorly month by month; Fran
cola, In tho anddlo most of tho time,
riding from end to ond of tho planta
tion, found his hands fall and hla work
Interesting, and hla health and
atrongth coming back though that
was a Blowor progress.
Tho peoplo who do most nro llkoly
to bo tho pooplo who can do a thine
more. Young Henry Hnmpton, ruled
out of tho larger part of his natural
pleasures by that stern by-law of na
ture, which had mado him lame, ap
pealed to FrancolB' aypipathy every
day moro dooply. Tho ono thing
which tho lad could do was riding.
"Henry," Francois spoke, ae the two
trotted together down a Bhady lane of
tho plantation on tho way to tho far
fields where negroes worked in tho
nutumn sunlight, "what would you
think of organizing a mounted troop
of militia?"
Tho boy's faco flamed with excite
ment. What would ho think of It? Ho
would think it glorious, wonderful,
half n dozen big ndjectlvcs.
There wcro many young mon In the
neighborhood; all of them rode; nono
of thorn had enough to do; Francois
had a hold on thom a man may not
Bpend flvo years In a dungeon because
of n dashing mad act of bravery with-
IfO
"My Nephew's Friend Is Welcome to
Roanoke House."
out acqulrlnc a halo which ndheroB
afterward; it wob fairly certain that n
military company, originating with the
Chevalier Beaupro, would succeed.
And It succeeded. Three dava later
It was atartcd with tho cordial sanc
tion of the fathers and tho enthusiasm
of tho eons. Francois was. of course.
tho moving spirit and tho responsible
nead, and Francois was hard at work
calling back tho old lore of hla school.
days at Saint-Cyr and reading books,
on tnctlcs and nil military subjecta.
"Henry," said Colonel Hampton one
morning after breakfast at Roanoke
Houao, "I want to apeak to you a mo
ment in my ntudy."
Harry wc7t calmly into tho dim.
ploaaant, old room, with Its paneled
walls and portraits sot into tho panel
ing; ho had no fear of what his uncle
might Bay, for he was not merely tho
young nephew and ward living in hla
unclo'a house ho waa tho owner of
most of the acrea which mado tho
plantation a great one. Colonel Hamp
ton considered that in his treatment
of Harry, and Harry know it well
enough. Moreover, It was an unspok
en secret that Harry or Lucy had the
right of strength over weakness In
dealing with tho head- of tho houso.
Obstinacy combined sometimes with
weakness, it is true, but yet tho two
youngsters understood clearly that the
colonel was the head only by a grace
ful fiction. So young Henry Hampton
felt no alarm at tho quality of his
uncle's tono. Tho colonel sat down In
tho biggest chnlr, n chair throuo-llko
In its dignity; ho faced tho lad and
pulled Importantly at tho end of his
mustache.
"This troop of cavalry about organ
ized?" ho demanded.
"Woll, that's rather a big name for
It, Undo Henry v but It Is going llko n
strenkj" answered Henry, junior. "Wo
moot ngtiln todny, and tomorrow I
think wo ehall begin business."
"1 npprovo of it," Colonol Hampton
stated.
Harry bowed his head gravely. Tlio
colonol went on.
"It Js a well-bred and appropriate
method of nmuBement. A gentleman
should know somothlng of military nr
falre. Rut ah tho ranklnir nnd
ah arrangements? Such details aro
not unlikely with gentlomon of the
first families, as VOU all nrn nxrnnt
one to crystalllzo Into a later impor
tance. Tho man who has been tho
lender of this company of very young
mon will not unllkoly bo tho man
thought of as a lender -In-h affairs
of greator moment to como. May I
Inqulro who 1b the captain?"
Honry Hampton lookod troubled,
impatient.
"Why, nobody yet. Uncle Honry. Wo
havo not got to that. But, of course,
tho Chovallor"
Colonol Hampton Interrupted him.
"Exactly. I thought so. That Is what
I wish to avoid. Tho Chevalier muat
not bo tho captain."
Tho boy cnught up tiro" words hotly.
"Uncle Henry, he has dono It nil. Wo
nil want lilm."
"Exnctly. But you must not havo
him. 1 am surprised nt you, Honry!
Do you romombor that this man is
ponsant-born? Do you want to bo lod
Into bnttlo by a porson whoso rank
Is not above that of our ewn Borv-ants?"
D
OOPrMGHT V2 BY 3O0&3 rtttftLL CO.
"Led Into battlo!" Young Henry
Inughed shortly. "Led Into a corn
Held is moro llko it." And then his
glanco flred. "Moreover, Uncle Henry,
If thero were battlo In tho enso, we
should nil count ourselves lucky to bo
led by n hero."
"A hero!" Colonel Hnmpton Bnlffed.
"A mero French peaannt by his own
account. Of course. I havo received
him, becaueo of your Infatuation for
him. And tho young man has quali
ties. Ho has boon a success socially,
I will not deny. I am quite surprised
by his success. But when It comes to
putting him in a position nbove men
of birth, my blood revolts. I request
you, Henry, to uso your Influence
ngalnet fills. I can not endure to havo
him give you commands. You should be
tho cnptnln, because your social posi
tion has mado tho enterprise possible.
But, yot, if your misfortune If some
other seems moro fit " A painful color
darkened tho boy's faco and hla browB
gathered. Tho colonel went on. "I
ahould make no objection to thoj:. But"
again he pulled at the comcra of hla
muatncho with solemnity "I must re
quest you to uso your Influence abso
lutely to preVcnt this parvenu from
being plajced over you."
Harry Hampton put his hand on the
tablo bealdo him and lifting himself
with that aid stood boforo his uncle,
leaning a llttlo on tho tablo aa hla
lame foot 'mado It necessary, but yet
a flguro full of decision and dignity.
"And I must refuso absolutely,
Uncle Henry, to do nnything of the
kind. I am not in question. Aa you
say, I have a misfortune. I shall uso
what influence I havo to see that the
Chevalier Beaupro Is mado captain of
tho company he has organized and is
to educate. This is fitting. I am
proud to call him my friend, and I am
glad that I am large-minded enough to
realize that aa large a mind as hla is
not to bo measured by petty standards.
If ho is a prince or If ho is n peaBant
Is quito immaterial, bocauae ho la flrat
a very great thing himself." Ho
.turned from the astonlahed colonel,
and with hla halting step was gono.
Shortly tho young master's horse
was orderdd and ho had left word with
Ebenozer, the butler, as he went out,
that he would not bo home till bed
time, and was off toward Carnlfax.
"Francois," ho began, finding his
friend busy over his papers in that
same library, nt that same carved ma-
hogany desk, whero today Ho tho pack
ages or old letters "Francois, I want
to speak to you about something be
fore our meeting."
"What then? Tho boy 1b out of
breath. You havo been runnlne Dlack
Hawk again, my Henry that horse
will complain of you soon, tho strong
neast. What la it you arc in such a
hurry to say that one must race across
country so of a good hour of the morn
ing?" But Henry was too intent to talk
nothings. "It Is important," ho said
briefly. "Wo muet havo a captain for
tho company at once, and It must be
you."
"Sabre do bols!" smiled Francois ra
diantly. "The good idea! I can not
imagine a follow moro beautiful to be
a captain than I. Can you?"
But,. Honry was altogether serious
minded. "You will consent thon?" ho
threw nt him. "I did .not think of it
till this morning, but I soo it should
bo dono nt onco. Wo shall all want
you, of course, and want nobody else."
Now Henry Hampton, not having
thought pf tho question till this morn
ing, had no right to make this state
ment In a full round volco of certainty.
xet ho know every man In tho com
pany, and ho felt In hlmeolf tho forco
to nnswor for them. Ho answered
for thom without n hesitation. And
with that Francois' laughing faco grow
grave. Ho pushed tho lettorB from him
and got up and camo ncroaa to tho boy
and bont nnd put his arm around his
ahoulder na ho sat still and stiff.
Theso French ways of his friend
plensed Honry Immensely, 'but thoy
also petrified him with embarrass
ment. Francois waa not in tho lenat
embarrassed. Ho patted tho broad
young shoulder affectionately.
"My good Honry," ho aald gently.
"Whnt n loyal heart and what a reck
less one! How thon can you nnswer
for all thoso mossloure?"
Harry flung up his head and began.
"They will If they do not I shall make
them" but Francois stopped tho bold
words.
"No," ho said quietly yet with a
tono of flnullty which tho othor recog
nized. "That will not bo nocossary. And
tho messieurs aro my good friends;
thoy will troo mo with honor; they
will bo bettor to mo than I deserve. I
know that well." Thoro wero so fow
peoplo in tho world who did not, to
Francois, eeom his good frlonds. "But,
my Henry, I will not bo tho captain,
I havo thought of that, If you havo not.
Look horo."
Ho swung to the desk and slinnnd
out a drawer, and hnd a long foldod
papor in his hn"ds, Ho flapped It
opon beforo Harry's eyes. It waB a
formal notice to Mr. Henry Hnmpton,
junior, that tho Jofforson troop of Vir
ginia had oloctod him ns Its captain.
Harry fluahed violently nnd his
mouth quivered with pleasure, with
nervousness, with unhapolnees. Tho
other watched him eagerly. AH this
affair of tho troop ho had dono to
glvo pleasuro to Harry Hampton, hla
friend. It wn3 the only way in which
the lame boy could bo on equal terma
with tho other boys, nnd Francois had
determined from tho flrat that every
joy which could bo gleaned out of
it ho ahould have. To bo tho captain
ought to bo n Joy.
"II" Harry cried and then waa silent
and thon spoke sorrowfully. "But
it can not be!"
"Cnn not be?" demanded Francois.
"Why not?"
Thero was a moment's silence and
with a painful effort the" words came.
"My misfortune. 1 am lame."
And Francois cried out, "Henry all
that is nonaenso! What of It? it in
n thing you do nB well aa tho best
riding. Who has auch a seat, such
hands as you? Why not then, I de
mand?" And went on. "It is settled.
I havo talked to them all see tho sig
natures. YOU aro tho pjintnln mv
Henry and I am your right hand and
your loft hand yea and youi feet, too,
whenever you need me,"
"But," said Harry, dazed, "it ia really
your place; rlon't you vnnt to bo cap
tain?" ho shot at tho jther boyishly.
And with ihat Francois' arm was
about hlB Hhoulder agijn na tho two
stood together, and Francois was
laughing. "But yea," ho eaid. "I
should llko it. That la a secret." Hia
faco was brll.'iant with daughter. "You
only may know, my Henry, that I am
vain ah, very vain," he repeated sad
ly. "Never tell It. I Iovo titles and
honors and Importance. I llko to bo
called Chevalier though indeed that
la my right," he added with a quick
touch of dignity. "And I ahould like
very much to bo captain of this com
pany of fine young men, tho flowers
does one say? of the South. But it
is not best." He held up his forefinger
and looked enormously worldly-wtso.
"No: You would not mind;' the young
messieurs would not mind, perhaps
but the fathers ah, tho fathers!" He
threw back his head and gazed at the
celling with eyes of horror. Thon witli
a start and a hand flung out, "And tho
mothers! Mon Diou! But tho moth
ers, Honry! Thoy would make what
you call it a h 1 of a time, Is it not?"
Horry roared with loV at tho tnrrl-
fled whisper. "But I havo neither fa
ther nor mother." he sutrirested.
"Ah, Henry," argued Francois with
deep satisfaction In his tono, "that
makes yoiTso suitable."
"Suitable!" inquired Henry.
"But yes, my friend. It kills Jeal
ousy. All 1b grist, ono Bays, that
comes to your mill. All is fathers,
all is mothers to the poor orphan anil
besides that, thero la Monsieur the
Colonel. Ono sees that tho uncle of.
tho captain will bo contented. And
whom should I wish to content but my
first host, my flrat benefactor In thla
land? I believe, Indeed, ho would bo
displeased if I should take the place.
I bellovo bo is not satiafled of my
birth."
And beneath the nonsenso of Finn
cols, Henry could but acknowledge the
Ho Flapped It Open Before Harry'o
Eyes.
clear-sighted logic. So it happoned
that Henry Hampton became captain
of tho Jefferson Troop, to tho ontiro
satisfaction of nil concerned.
(TO DB CON-TINUKD.)
My Lady's Mirror.
Exerclso is n splondid skin tonlo.
A brisk wnlk, no matter If in tho rnln,
will freshen tho complexion, even aa
it freshens tho flowers, and n simplo
aperient will do wondors for n muddy
skiu. It romains for all women to
preserve such beauty as they havo
and to cure tho defects which nre po
cullar to thom or that time was
wrought. Evory skin Is different nnd
must bo treated accordingly, and It
takes a reasoning woman to experi
ment carofully and And out tho prop
or method of treatment for her skin.
Most women, whether they bn
fleshy or thin, walk far too little. Th
woman who tends to ho fleshy should
walk for at least an hour every day,
and do It regularly and systematic
ally. As she gets accustomed to tho
exercise sho should Increase tho nunv
ber of mllOB bIio walks a day until
sho Is doing flvo miles. Excbanuo.
0s j ji I im
ft Ito MjA-wrtf-iww1