THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMIAVEEKLY TRIBUNE.
iti
14
n
cc-PlARYEWlOm) 5URMAN AflDREW-S
ILLUSTKATKmS O ELLS WORTJI YOUNG--
SYNOPSIS.
Francois llenupre. a peasant babe of
threo ypurs, uftrr iin amusing Incident In
which Marslm! New figures, Ih made n
bevnllor of France by the Krnperor Na
poleon, who prophesied Hint tho hoy
might ono day be a marshnl of Franco
tinder nnother Honapjrte At the use of
ten Francois visits General Huron dns
paril Gourgaud, who with Allxo, Jits
een-yenr-old daughter. lives at tho
riiateau A Holdler of tlin Kmplro under
Napoleon he llres tlm boy's Imagination
with stories of his campaign. Tho gen
eral offers Francois n homo at the Cha
teau Tho boy refuses to leavo his pa
rents, but In the end becomes a copyist
for tho general and learns of the friend
hip between tho general and Marquis
Zappl, who campaigned with tho general
under Napoleon Marquis Zappl nnd his
son, riotro. nrrlvo at tho Chateau. The
general agrees to cam for tho Marquis
on whllo the former goes to America.
The Marquis before leaving for America
asked Francois to be a friend of his son
The boy solemnly promises Francois
goes to the Chateau to live Marquis
Zappl dies leaving Pletro ns a ward of
the general. Allxe. I'letro and 'rnncols
meet a strange boy who proves to be
Prlnco Louts Napoleon. Francois Buves
his life Tho general discovers 1' roncols
loves Allxe, and extracts a promise from
him that ho will not Intcrfcro between the
girl and I'letro, Francois goes to Itniv
ns secretnry to Pletro Queen Ilortenso
plans the escape of her Hon Louis ro
poleon by disguising him and Marquis
'nppl as her lackeys Francos tnkes
Marquis Zappl'H place, who Is HI. In the
escape of Ilortenso and l.otlls Dressed
ns Louis's brother Francois lures the
Austilans from thn hotel allowing the
prince and hit mother to escape. I- ran
joU Is a prisoner of the Austrlans for
five yenrs In tho eaBtlo owned bv Pletro
In Italy lie discovers In his guard ono of
Pletro'H old family servants, nnd through
him sends word to his friends of 111
plight The gencrnl. Allxe and PlPf
lienr from Francois and plan his rescue,
Francois as a guest of tho Austrian gov
ernor of tho castlo prison Inspects the
Interior of the wine cellar of tho appls
Francois rccetves a note, from Pletro ex-
plaining In detnll how to escape from his
prHon Allxo awaits him on horseback
nnd lends him to his friends on board
1ho American sailing vessel, the "I'nve'y,
I.ucy" Francois, ns a guest of Hnrn
Hampton, on tho "Lovrlv Lucy." goes to
America to mnnago Pletro's estate in
Virginia. Francois wins the respect nnd
admiration of tho aristocratic southern
ers. CHAPTER XXI.
Hero Worship.
It had como about thnt Lucy Hamp
ton wnu a scholar of FrancolB. Tho
colonel, lamenting on a day that thoro
wore no capable teachers of. French In
tho neighborhood, that Lucy's school
girl command of tho languago waB
fast disappearing, and, an accomplish
ment so vital to a lady was likely soon
to bo lost this saga of regret being
sung by tho colonel at thq dlnnor-tnble,
Francois had offered to touch madom
olsello his mother tongue. And tho
c(.onel had accepted tho offor.
"It you lira not too buBy, Chovnllor.
Aiid I supposo your -ah accont is
ertlrely good? Ono can not bo too
careful, you know. At leaBt wo shnll
nut quarrel about tho torms, for what
ever monoy you think right to ask I
shall bo ready to pay," and tho colonel
felt himself a man of tho world and
extromoly generous.
"Fatherl" Lucy cried quickly.
Frnncols' eyes wero on his plato but
thoy swept up with their wldo brown
gjzo full on the colonel's fnco. "I nm
hot too buBy, MoiiBlour tho Colonel.
Ab for my accont I nm a ponsant, as
Monsieur knows, but yot I nm In
structed. I was for yearB at Saint
Cyr, tho great military school of
Franco. I bollovo my accent Is right.
As for monoy" a quick motion, all
French, Bpoko n wholo Bontenco. "If
Monsieur Insists on that thut must
finish It. To mo it would bo impos
sible to tako monoy tor tho pleasuro
of teaching mademoiselle." Ho
flashed at Lucy a smile nil gentleness,
nnd Lucy's oyes, waiting for that
emlle, met his shyly.
1 Iho colonel blusterod a bit, but tho
loseonB woro arranged as Francois
wished, twice n wook throughout the
wlntur ho rodo over from Carnlfax to
elvo them. And llttlo by llttlo ho canto
to know the small mistress of tho ma
nor ai few had known her. Pooplo
thought Lucy Hampton too sorJouB and
tuld for a young girl; no ono roallzetl
'that, her mother bolng dead nnd her
'.father such as ho was, tho clear-head-cd
llttlo person had begun at ton or
twolvo yoaih old to know that she
must mako her own decisions, and
many of her father's also. At four
teen she had taken tho hoys and tho
responsibilities of tho house, and now,
t Blxteon, sho was In reality tho hoad
f tho wholo groat plantation. The
colonel, who would have been most In
dignant to bo told so, leaned on her
in overy dotnll, and It was sho- who
planned and decided nnd often execut
ed tho government of the little king,
flora.
All this lay on tho alomlor shouldors
it Lucy Hampton, nnd boHldos all this
tho had begun In very childhood to'
hold up tho hands nnd do tho thinking
pf an Incompotent father. It was not
wonderful that she was graver and
slower to frolic than other girls of
sixteen. Her conscientious young
Ijrain was full of caro, and Hght-hoart-adnese
of youth hnd nover had a
clmnco to grow In that crowded placo.
Her cousin had come to llvo with them
bnly tho year beforo, when his mother
had died, his father being dond long
ago; and Lucy know qui to well that
her father had plannod that the two
should i marry and unite tho broad
Rcroa of tho Hamptons,
But tho young longing for romnnco
which wae Jn her In splto of tho chok
ing sober business of her life, ro
feellod at tils. She would not glvo
nmimfc rf V"KT "M A '"H0IIMR. wjpjk m mt & "kh
herself us well ns all her thought and
effort for Roanoke. Sho wanted to
lovo somebody, and bo loved for her
solf as other girls were; she would
not marry Harry because he and hor
father considered It n good arrange
ment. So strongly hnd this determi
nation seized her that, looking entire
ly down that way of thought, she
failed to see that Harry might not be
clnsHed with tho colonel in his view
of the plan. She failed to sec that If
alio had not beon heiress to Iloanoko
House, or to unythlng at all, Harry
Hampton would still have been In love
with Ills coimln Lucy. For Harry saw.
how tho young llfo hnd beon pressed
Into n service too hard for It almost
from babyhood; Hnrry saw how un
selfish sho was and trustworthy; how
broad-minded and warm-hearted; how
she would like to bo caro freo and Ir
responsible llko other girls of her age,
only that the colonel nnd tho estate
were nlwnys thore, nlways demanding
her time and her attention. Ho could
do llttlo to help her as yet, but he
longed to lift the woight nnd enrry it
with her, not away from her, for the
fairy of a person was not the sort to
lean on otherB or to bo hnppy without
her share of tho burden. Yet, Harry
thought, "If I might only help her, and
mako it all a dollght Instead of a
labor!"
I'Ut LUCV. eolne nhnnt hnr lunv
days, novor guessed this. She thought
ui narry ns tho boy whom sho had
grown up with, to bo cared for ton
dorly always because of his misfor
tune, to bo helped and planned for
and lovod Indeed, becnuse ho was lame
and hor cousin, and bocauso ho was
a dear boy and her beat friend. But
tho hero of her own romance to
como, sho refused to think of him 'at
nil. Moro firmly sho refused such an
Idea, of course, becauso her father
lwd hinted that It would comploto both
Harrys and his happiness.
Francois, with quick Insight, saw ns
much ns this, and was anxious for the
boy who had beon his warm nnd
stendy frlond. What ho did not seo
was that Luck was ilttlng his own
personality into that empty notch of
hor Imagination where an altar stood
nnd a candlo burned, ready for the
Imago ljat was to como abovo them.
That novor entered hid mind, for In
his mind Allxo was tho only woman
living to bo considered In such a re
lation. And, In splto of tho seigneur,
In splto of l'lotro, in splto of his wholo
henrtcd giving up of hor, there was a
happy obstlnato corner in tho depths
of his soul which yot whisporod
ngalnst all reason that it might bo
that Allxo lovod him, thnt It might
bo, for unheard-of things happened
ovory dny, It might bo yet that with
all honor, with all happiness to thoso
others whom ho loved ho might some
day bo froo to lovo hor. So that nB
ho grow to caro for and understand
Lucy Hampton more and more, no
faintest dream of caring for her as
ho did for Allxo camo ever Into his
mind.
On an ovenlng when winter Woe
wearing away to cold spring, Francois
waited in tho dining-room of Iloanoko
Houso for his scholnr. Tho room had
n sweot and statoly beauty, a graceful
stiffness llko tho manners of tho
women who llrst lived In It, a hundred
Lucy Stood In the Doorway.
years bofore. Tho carved white wood
work over tho doors was yellowed to
Ivory; tho mantolploco, brought from
Franco In 1732, framed in its (luted
pillars, Its garlands and chiseled
nymphs and shepherds, as If under
protest, tho rollicking orange of tho
flro. Over a mahogany sofn, covered
with sllppory horsehair, hung a por
trait of tho (irst lady of tho manor
and Francois, sitting soldlorly oroct
In a straight chair, mulled as his gnze
fell on it It wns so llko yet so unlike
a face which ho know. Thoro waa tho
delicate oval chin and straight noso,
and fair, looso hair. Hut tho portrait
was Btald and serious, whllo Lucy'B
face, us this mnn had seen it, hnd
kindly oyes nnd n mouth smiling nl
wnys. Ho shook his hoad in gentlo
amuBomont at tho grave dignity of tho
picture
"Hut no, Maduino you nro not so
charming as your granddaughter," ho
said, addressing It nloud.
And then ho stepped across tho room
to the flro, and held his hands to it
and stared Into It. Tho clock ticked
(Irmly, tho logs fell apart with soft
sliding sounds, nnd ho stared down at
them -his thoughts far away a look
came Into his oyes as If thoy concen
trated on something beyond tho range
of sight, the characteristic look of
Francois, tho old look of a dreamer, of
a soer of visions.
Then Lucy stood In tho doorway,
gentle, charming from tho slippered
feet, locked over tho Instep to the
shadowy locks of light hair on hor
forehead.
"Good ovenlng. Monsieur. I am
sorry I kept you wnlting. Hannibal
hurt his foot and I must find plaster
and bandago for him. But you will
have enough of my talking even now.
Father says I tnlk a great deal. Do
I, Monsieur?"
Francois otood regarding her, with
frank admiration In every muscle of
his faco. Ho smiled, tho same gentlo
nmused smile with which ho had ad
dressed tho portrait. "You never talk
too much for mo, Mademoiselle. It
Is a pleasure to me always to hear
your voice," ho answered In tho deep
tono of a Frenchman, tho tono that i
has ever a half note of tragedy, as of
somo race-memory which centuries do
not wipe out. "Only," ho went on
speaking In French, "one must not
talk English. That is breaking the
taw, you remember, Mademoiselle."
She answered very prettily In his'
own tongue, In words that halted a
little. "Very well, Monsieur. I will
do my best." He still gazod at her
smiling, without speaking. One could
understand that, to a girl of moro
self-contained people, this open hom
age of manner, this affectlonato gen
tleness, might seem to mean moro
than a brotherly loyalty. Tho girl's
pulso was beating fast as sho made an
offort for conversation. "What wore
you thinking of as you looked at tho
fire when I camo In, Monsieur? It
hnd an air of bolng something pleas
ant. Did I not say all that beauti
fully?" she finished In English.
He corrected a lame verb with seri
ous accuracy and she repeated the
word, and laughed happily.
"But you haven'Usald yet what you
woro thinking nbout."
Tho largo brown eyes turned on
hers. "It wns of my old homo In
France, Mndomolsello, when I was
very llttlo," ho said simply. "A largo
flro of logs makes mo think of that."
"Toll mo about It," sho begged with
quick Interest. "Will you? Was there
always a flro at your house?"
"But no, Mademoiselle not, of
course, In tho summer. It was of the
wlntur time I thought, when tho neigh
bors camo, In tho evening, and wo sat
about tho hearth, somotlmos twonty
peoplo, each at his different duty, and
my brothers nnd sisters wero thore,
and tho dear grandmere, wns thero
and" ho stopped. "Does Madomol
scllo really wish to hear how It was
In that old farm-house of ours, In tho
shadow of tho Jura Mountains?"
"Indeed, MndemoiBollo wishes It,"
sho assured him. "It will be a trip
to Europe. I am suro I shall, speak
better Fronch for going to Franco for
ten minutes, and bolng among tho
French people, your friends. Walt
now, till I am comfortnble." Sho
turned ti deep chair so that It faced
him, and dropped into it. "Put a foot
stool for me," Bhe ordered, ns south
ern womon order tho men they caro
for and tho men thoy do not. And
sho settled back with hor llttlo foot
on it nnd smiled at him. For a mo
ment tho man's brilliant gnzo rested
on her and tho girl Baw it, and thrilled
to It. "Now, MonBleur, racontoz-mol
uno hlstolro," sho spoke softly,
Francois Benupre's look turned from
hor to tho Are, and tho air of gazing
at something fnr away camo again.
"It Is a plcturo 1 seo as I think of
that time of my childhood," ho began,
as If speaking to himself. "A plcturo
many times painted In homelike col
ors on my brain. Many a night In tho
winter I havu Bat, n llttlo boy, by tho
Bldo of my grandmother, at that groat
hearth, and have looked and havo soon
all tho faces, havo heard all tho voices
and tho flro crackling, and the spin-nlng-wheel
whirring, even ns I see
them nnd hear them tonight.
"And from time to time ono of the
mon, as he talked, lose up and etrodo
across tho loom to the grent oiik tablo
whore lay always on n wooden plato
a long lout of black bread, with a
knife, and nlways a glass and a bottle
of eau-de-viebrandy. And I remem
ber how manly It looked to me, watch
ing, when I saw him tako tho loaf
under his arm and hold It, and slice
off boldly a great ploco of tho fresh
ryo bread, and pour out a glasB of
brandy nnd tosB It off as he nto tho
bread. The stories seemed to grow
better after tho tollor had done that.
"And always I waited, oven through
tho talo of tho ghost and tho flro
breathing hound, till tho talk Bhould
swing round, as It did ovor townrd
tho ond, to tho stories of Napoleon
thnt woro fresh in mon's minds In
thoso days. It was as If I ant on
needles beforo my bodtlmo came, yot
I did not dare to bo restless and movo
about for fear that my mothor might
sand mo suddonly to bod. But I nlways
B
COr?CfrW2. BY 3QB&3 tiErtWU. CO.
gave a sigh of content and always the
grandmere patted my head softly to
hoar It, when my fathor cleared hlB
throat and began "
"'There Is a Btnall thing that hap
pened when tho Emperor was march
ing' and then ho was launched on
his talo."
A great hickory log foil, rolled out
toward the hearth. The carved nymphs
and shopherds seemed to frown in
disapproval at this Irregularity, and
the girl in tho deep chair emllcd, but
the mnn sprang up jind. put the log
back in placo with quick efficiency.
Ho stood silent by tho tall mantel
piece, deop yet in his reverie, as tho
flames caught the wood again and
sparkled and spluttered.
"Did any of them over see Napo
leonthose men who talked about
him?" tho girl asked.
Tho Frenchman turned a queer
look on her, and did not answer.
"Did any of your family over Beo
him, Monsieur?" she asked again.
Tho alert flguro stepped backward,
Bat down ngaln on the gilded chair
and leaned forward consideringly.
Francol3 nodded ns If to tho lire. "But
yes, Mademoiselle," ho said, In a whis
per. "Oh, tell riio!" tho girl cried, all in
terest. "Who was it? How was it?
It couldn't bo" she hesitated "your
self! If you, whom I know so well,
should have seen tho Emperor!" Sho
caught a deop breath of excitement.
This was nnother Lucy Hampton from
tho serious young mistress of Roanoke
Houso whom the country people know.
"Quickly, Monsieur, tell me if it was
yourself!"
Francois turned his eyes on her.
"Yes, Madnmolsolle," he answered.
"You havo seen Napoleon!" she
said, and then, Impetuously, "Toll me
about It!" But, though ho smiled at
her with that affectlonato amusement
which sho seemed, of all sentiments,
oftenest to Inspire in him, he did not
answer.
"Monsieur! you will not refuse to
tell me when I want to know so
much!" sho pleaded, and went on.
"How old were you? Did ho speak to
you? What did ho say to you?"
And tho Frenchman laughed as if
at a dear child who was absurd.
"Madomolselle asks many questions
which shall I answer?" ho demanded.
and tho tono to her ear wub tho tono
of love and she trembled to hear it.
"Ans-vor" sho began, and stam
mered and flushed, and stopped.
Francois went on, llttlo thinking
what damage he was doing with that
unconscious charm of voice and look.
"It Is bb Mademoiselle wishes, most
certainly. I will even answer Ma-'
domolsollc's two questions nt onco to
pleaso her. It was when I was not
quite threo years old, Mademoiselle,
at home In the farm-houso in the val
ley of the Jura."
"And ho spoke to you, to your own
self? Are you suro?"
"But yes, ho spoko to me, Mademoi
selle." "What did ho say?" Tho smile on
Francois' faco went out nnd into its
place Bwept an Intensity of feeling;
he answered solemnly: "Thoro were
but fow words, Mademoiselle, but they
havo been much to my life. Thoy
shall lead my life, If God pleases,
thoso words shnll lead It to tho fato
which thoy foretold."
"What woro tho words?" whispered
tho girl, impressed with awe.
Francois suddenly stood erect and
stretched out his arm ns if to hold a
sword. "'Itiso Chovalior Francois
Benupre, ono day a Marshal of Franco
under another Napoleon,' " he repeat
ed dramatically. "Those were tho
words tho Emporor eald."
CHAPTER XXII.
Tho Story Again.
The girl, hor fnco lifted to him,
looked bewildered. "I don't under
stand." Tho visionary eyes stared at her un
certainly. "1 havo never told this
thing," ho said in a low tone.
"Ah but it's only me," begged tho
girl.
"Only you, Madomolselle!" Ills voice
wont on ns If reflecting aloud. "It Is
tho guiding star of my llfo that
story; yet I may tell It" he paused
"to 'only you.' "
A'gnln tho ghl quivered, feeling the
Intensity, mistaking its meaning. "I
should bo glnd If you would tell It,"
sho spoko almost in a whisper, but
Francois, floating bnckwnrd on a
strong tide to thoso old beloved dayB,
did not notice,
"It mny seem a slmplo nffair to you,
Mndemolsollo l can not toll thnt. It
hna affocted my life. Tho way of It
was this: Napoleon marchod to Gor
mnny In tho yenr 1813, and passod
with his staff through our village. Tho
houso of my fathor wns tho largest
In tho vlllago, and it was chosen to
be, for an hour, tho Empoior'e head
qunrtors, nnd tho Emperor held a
council of war, ho and his generals,
thoro. I, a child of three, waa sleep
ing in a room which opened from
tho groat room, nnd I wakened with
tho sound of voices, nnd rnn in, un
noticed, for thoy woro nil bent ovor
tho table, looking ut the maps and
lists of the mayor nnd I pulled at tho
sword of Marshal Noy. And tho mar
shal, turning quickly, knocked mo
over. I cried out, and my grand
mother ran to mo, and I havo often
hoard her tell how sho peeped from
tho door under tho shoulder of tho big
Bentry who would not let hor pass,
and how sho saw a young general
pick mo up and set mo on my foot,
and how all tho great ofllccrs laughed
when ho said that tho sword was In
contest between Mnrshal Noy nnd me.
And how, then, tho young genornl sug
gested that, to settlo the point amic
ably, the marshal should draw his
sword and glvo me the accolade tho
blow of knighting. And so, Mademoi
selle, to shorton tho talo, It was not
tho marshal, but tho Emperor himself
who choso to do It. Ho made me
kneel beforo him, I a baby and he
struck my shoulder the blow of tho
accolade, and said tho words which
I havo told you."
Francois sprang to his feet and
stood as he repeated onco moro tho
Emperor's words. His voice shook.
'"RIso Chovalior Francois Beauprc,
ono day a Marshal of Franco under
another Bonaparte,' " ho cried, thrilled
through with tho words which ho re
peated. Tho girl leaning forward, watched
him; with a gasp she spoke. "Then
that is why you nro really Chovalior
Ueaupre? Did tho Emporor have the
right to to knight you?"
"But yea, Mademoiselle," Francois
answered with decision. "I hnvo stud
led tho question, nnd I believo that the
accolade the knighting wns nlways
a right of tho monarchs of Franco,
disused, perhaps at times, but yet held
In abeyance, a right."
Tho glance of the brilliant eyes met
hors with a frank calmness which
showed 'that he claimed nothing which
ho did not feel; that this haphazard
nobility had lived In his soul nnd
grown with his growth, and como to
be part of him. With a gentle humil
ity, very winning as it sprang from
his gentle pride, he went on.
"I know, Mademoiselle, that I am a
peasant and that I must bo content
with a small placo In llfo nt the pres
ent. I know this. And oven that
position which I have is moro than
my brothers. For you must know.
Mademoisello, that the others grow up
to be farmors or tradesmen." Ho hes
itated, and then In a few words told
her of General Gourgaud, tho seigneur
of Vieques, and how ho had given th'o
peasant boy nil tho opportunities
which his own son could havo hnd.
And as he talked he remembered howj
after his father's ruin, he had stood
Inside the bare, llttlo, new cottage and
watched through the window his
mother standing at tho gate and talk
ing to the seigneur, who held Llsetto's
bridle. It seemed to him he could
see the dark braided hair of La Claire,
coiled around her head, and tho deep
point of hor white neck-handkerchief
as sho stood with her back to him,
and the big bow of the apron tied
about hor waist. The picture camo
vividly. And It opened his henrt so
that he talked on, and told this Strang
er In a strange land many things that
had lain closo and silent in his heart.
Ho told her about tho general's gruff
uess, which could not hide his good
ness; and how ho had como to bo tho
child of the castlo as well as of tho
cottage; something of Pletro nlso he
told her; but ho did not mention Allxo.
"You spoko of threo children, Mon
sieur; who was the third?" asked
Lucy.
Francois went on aB if he had not
heard tho question. "It was a happy
life, Mademoiselle," he said. "And It
has been so ever since even, for the
most part, In prison. I have wondered
at times if tho world 1b all filled with
such kind peoplo as I havo met, or if
It Is Just my good luck."
Lucy Hnmpton had been reading
aloud to her sick black mammy that
day, and some of tho words of the
book she had road came to her, and
seemed to fit. "Tho kingdom of God
Stretched Out His Arm as If to Hold
a Sword.
Ih within you," sho quoted softly, to
Francois. Then sho considered a mo
ment. "Monsieur, would It bo Impertinent
for mo to ask you a question a per
sonal question?"
"I think not, Mademoiselle," ho
smiled nt her.
Sho went on, hesitating a little.
"Fathor wbb talking of how Prlnco
Louis Bonaparto served, a fow years
ago, with tho Italian revolutionists.
I wondered if if by chance you had
fought undor him."
Ho shook his head. "I had not that
hnpplnoss, Mademoisello,"
"Tho heir of tho Bonapnrtes now Is
that Prlnco Louis Napoleon, is It
not?" sho questioned.
' "Yob, Mndomolsello."
"And he mndo an nttompt on tho
city of Strasburg, a fow months ago,
""x llvll I v Hill
and was tried for it and all that fa
ther talked about It so much I could
not help knowing a little about It, but
1 don't remember distinctly."
"But certainly, Mademoiselle. It
was tho prince."
"Then, haven't thoy Just done Borne
thing to him? Isn't thero something
peoplo arc Interested In Just now
nbout that Prlnco Louis?"
Tho gravo bright Bn.Uo flashed out
at her. "In truth, MndomolBolle,
there Is. Tho prince was shipped by
his jailera on tho frigate Andromedo
moro than four months agp, for what
port Is unknown. One has not heard
of him lately, nnd thore are fears that
ho may havo suffered shipwreck. But
I do not fenr. It is the hope of Franco,
It is France's destiny which tho An
dromede curries. It will curry that
great cargo safely. Tho young prlnco
will yet come to his own, and I and
perhaps you, Mademoiselle who
knows? will cry for him 'Vive 1'Em
pereur'!" Tho tono full of feeling thrilled
through tho girl. Sho flushed and
stammered as sho wont on, but Fran
cois, carried away by his enthusiasm,
did not think of it. "If you will let
mo ask Just ono question moro, Mon
sieur, 1 will promise not to ask any
nfter."
Tho flicker of amusement lighted
his face. "Ask mo a thousand, Mad
emoiselle." "No, only ono. Did that seigneur
that General Gourgaud did he havo
any any daughter?"
Tho Frenchman rose in a business
like way, tho way of a teacher of lan
guago at tho end of a lesBon.
"One," he answered briefly In a matter-of-fact
tone. Anil then, "Made
moiselle has talked enchantingly well
this ovenlng, but I havo perhaps talk
ed too nluch. I may have tired Mad
omolselle. I have tho honor to wish
you a good ovenlng."
His heels together, ho stood In tho
doorway and made his bow. "Au
plalslr do vous revolr," he suid, and
was gone.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Prince Comes.
The glittering morning sunlight of
lato March Hooded the eastern dining
room of Roanoke house. A flro blaz
od on tho hearth; hot dishes steamed
on the table; tho girl's faco, the crack
ling flro, tho polished silver reflected
from polished mahogany; tho soft
shod, solicitous service of a white
aproned negro; all this made tho
room fragrant with homeliness in
spite of the fact that ono could seo
one's breath In tho air. I But they
were used to It tho hardy Virginians
of those days of open fires and no fur
naces, of many luxuries and few com
forts, and In happy Ignorance of world
progress, they suffered cheerfully and
wero strong.
Colonel Henry Hampton faced a por
trait of tho first Hampton of Roanoke,
stately with brass buttons and silver
lace, set in the panels sevonty-flvo
years before. Lucy had concluded
her broiled chicken and bacon and hot
bread, and now ns ho, late for break
fast always, followed in her wake,
he read tho Norfolk and Portsmouth
Herald with which a colored boy had
that morning ridden out from Norfolk,
eight miles away. It was beforo tho
time of daily papers, except in a largo
city or two, and this of once a week
was an event; a boy was sent to Nor
folk tho day before Its publication
that tho colonel might havo It at tho
earliest moment.
"How would you llko to see a llvo
prlnco, Lucy?" ho inquired. "Tho Her
eld states that we have one with us,
not ten miles from Roanoke. Prlnco
Louis Napoleon was landed frqm tho
Andromede, in Norfolk, only yester
da. Poor young man," ho went on
condescendingly, "he has no money,
I understand, and here ho is stranded
In a strange country with his fortune
to mako, and no assets but a title.
It's little that will help him In tho
states!"
Colonel Hampton glanced over to
see It she were listening to his words
of wisdom; ho liked an attontivo au
dience. Ho was enchanted with her
expression. She had dropped knlfo
and fork and, with Tier blue eyes
stretched wide, her white teeth shin
ing, was drinking in his sentences.
"Father! Is Prlnco Louis in Nor
folk? How can it be? Monsiour
Boaupro was talking to me about him
last night, nnd ho did not dream of hl3
coming here. Surely ho would have
known If tho prince wero expectod."
Colonel Hampton smiled sarcastical
ly. "You will find that your father
occasionally knows more than oven
Monsiour Beaupre, and oven oa
French questions, I may aud," ho an
nounced, from a mountain height
"But In one point you nro right, my
dear. The prince was not expected
by any one, not oven by tho great
Chevalier Beaupre. Ho was exiled
from France, as you nay or may not
know, somo four and a half months
ngo, on account of his attempt on Stras
burg, and wns Bent out on tho Andro
medo, with sealed orders. No ono
knew his destination until ho landed,
on tho twenty-eighth, in Norfolk.
Thero" tho colonel got up and walk
ed to tho fireplace and stood with his
back to the blaze, and his logs far
apart, masterfully "There, my dear,
I have given you a dose of history for
a fomalo mind. How are you going to
amuse your llttlo self today?"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Dreadful.
"Mercy, child!" exclaimed Mrs.
Harlom. "I novor would havo bo
Ueved my llttlo boy qould uso buch
languago. Boen playing with bad
children again, haven't you?" "No'm "
roplled hor llttlo boy. "Toddy Bnco'a
and I hnvo beon playing with a par
rot his undo sent him from Chicago."