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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1914)
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMNWEEKLY TRIBUNE. u . 8' i menmrusL o&y MARY RATOD diwnm ANDREWS' AUTHOR cf TMCRRfTCr Tf?lf)UrC, THC DETTfTf? TREAdlM", TC ILLUSTRATION LLIVORTfl OVNG- cofM?i&fr sa by cooes srr??u qomphy 13 12 12 IS SYNOPSIS. I'r.inroH lli-ntipro n peasant bsb nf Ibiee yimrs, nftcr an amusltif; Incident In which Marshal Noy tlgim-i, Is tnniln n Cliivflllor of rnince by the Kmppror Na poleon, who prophesied Unit tin- hoy nilKht one da be h iriarthal nf 1'rnnce itmipr another Ilonnpnrlo. At the age of ton ItmicoIb visits (lenernl Huron Uas imril Uourwud, who with Allxo, hH ppn-ypar-old daiiKhfer, lives at the Chateau. A soldier of thp Kmplre under Napoleon lie fires the boy's ImiiKlnntlon with stories nf his citmpnlKus. The boy l'"om a roplst fur tin- Kciifral ami learns of tin- friendship between tho Ken t rnl and Marquis Znppl. who iwnpaluneil wth tin- general umlur Napoleon. Mar quis Znppl ami his son. i'letro. arrive nt the Chateau. The Keupral nrpes to rnro lor the Marquis' hou while tho former kops id America The .Marquis asks Kran- oIh to ln a friend of hlH son. Tho boy solemnly promises. Kranrols koph to the Chateau to live. Manjnls Xnppl dies eav I",'? I'lefo iih ii wanl of the Koneral. AIIxo. I'lotro anil Francois meet n strniiKe bov who provcH to bo I'rlnco Louis Na poleon Krancols saves IiIh life. Tile fun eral discovers FrnnoolM loves Allxo. nnil xtnicts a promise from hlin that Iip will not Interfere between tho Klrl anil I'lntro. Francois rocs to Italy iih secretary to I'letro. Qiippii Hortoiiso plniM thP Pscape of her son Louis Napoleon by illtftuhilnK liltii and Man i ii In tfappl as her lackey. 1 rancols taken Miirnnlu y.nt.ni'u ninn.. who Is 111, In the cicupe of Hortenso nid T.oiiIh. Dressed aa Louis' brother Krnn rolH itiroB tlio AiiHtilutiu from tho hotel nl lowing tho prlnco oml bin mother to es capr. Francois Is prisoner of the Aus trlans for flv years, tn the castle owned liv I'lotro In Italy. He illscftvors In Ids KiinnI oiiu of Metro's olil family servants, nnd through him sends woril to his friijmlH of his plight. The general, AIIxo iiml I'lotro plmiH Francois' escape. Fran cols receives ti note from I'letro explain ing In detail how to escapn from his Iirlsoii. Allxi ftwalls lilm on horsphaclt mid loads him to IiIh friends on board the American snlllmr vessel, tlio "lively J-ncy I'rancols, us u Riiest of Harry Hampton, on the "I.ovnly I.ncy," robh to America to mimane I'ietrn'H estato In Airulnla. I.tiey Hampton falls In lovo with I-rnneols. I'rlnee Louis Napoleon in America bocoinos tho uest of tho HnmptpnH. where he meets Krnncols. J.ncy Hampton roveals lier lovo for Krnn cols after tho latter saves tho llfo of Harry Hampton and Is hlmsolf Injured in tho effort. CHAPTER XXVI. The Finest Things. Endurance, Francois' own negro boy, brought a noto to Honnoko bouso on n morning flvo tlnyn nftcr. It rend: "My enr MIbs llnmpton: "Tho doctor hntt given mo normla ulon to rido tomorrow and I wish to rldo to Roanoko Iiouho boforo all oth or placefl. Will inadomolaollo aeo mo? Will mndomoiacllo pcrnilt mo to aeo lier for a short time alone? I awqit nnxioualy a word from you, and I am your Bervant, "FRANCOIS niSAUPRB." Madcmolsollo sent a fair Bheot of paper with a few unsteady acratchos. across It, and sat down to livo over It wna accomplished. Tho colonel had ridden to Norfolk for tho day krtd Francola known of that, ono wondorB? lAicy, waiting in that amull stately Htudy with tho dim portraits and tho wldo vaguo view across tho Holds of the James river, heqrd tho gay hoof lieatB of Aquarollo pound down tho gravel under tho window, hoard Fran cola' doop gentle volco as ho gavo tho liorao to Sambo, and waited ono mln uto moro, tlio hardest minuto jot all. Then tho door had opened and ho stood thoro tho mlraclo, as it aeoms nt such moments to a woman, possibly to a man of all tho gifts and qualities worth loving. Ho had made his preciso bow, and lie had heard his volco saying gently: "Good morning, madomoiaolley" and tho door was closed; and thoy woro iilono together. In a flash bIio folt that It could not do ondured, that ahe must fsenpo. Sho roso haatlly. "I'm sorry I must go; I cannot Htny " Hut Francola had laughed and takon her hand and was holding It with a tender forco which thrlllod her. He understood. She know ho understood tho ahnmo find fear of a woman who has given lovo unasked; ho wbb iiafo In his hands; alio know that, with a Blgh sho lot hor Angora reat In his and r.at down again and waited. "Dear Mfldeniolnello Lucy," said tho leop kind voice, "my llrat friend in Virginia, aiy comrade, my little scholar" Why did Lucy grow cold and quiet at theso words of gontlonoBa? Fran cola wis sitting beside her, holding icr hand la both his, gazing at her ith Uto clearest affection In his look. Yet aho bracofi herself against alio did not know what. Tho volco went on with Its winning foreign lnflectiona, Us Blip of English now and thou, and Its nover-to-be-doHcrlbed powor of reach ing tho heart! "See, madomolBollo," said Francola. "we aro too real frlonda, you nnd I, to have deception between ua. Wo will not pretend, you und 1, to each other la It not, mademoiselle? Thoroforo I nhall not try to hldo from you that I heard that day those words so wondor ful which you spoke to mo ko unwor thy, I have thought of those words over since, mademoiselle, aa 1 lay 111 w.th thla troublesome nrm; ovor since all tho time. My heart haa been full f a gratification to you which cannot bo told. I shall remember ull my life; 1 shall bo honored as no king could honor me, by those words. And be cause you havo so touched mo, and have bo laid that little hand on the heart of mo, I am going to tell you, my dear comrado and scholar, what Ih nioHt secret and moat aacrcd to me." In as few words as might bo, ho told lior of tho peasant child who had been lifted out of IiIb poverty-bound llfo -with such largo kludllneaa that no liond which held him to that poor, yet dear life had been broken; who had beon left all tho lovo of hlB first home and yet been givon a homo and a train ing nnd an education which aet him ready for any careor; ho told of the blg-souled, blunt, Napoleonic olllcor, tho seigneur; of tho gray, red-roofed caatlo, with Its four round towers; of hnndsomo silent Pletro, and of tho unfailing long kindness of tht'm all. Then, hla volco lowered, holding tho girl's hand still, ho told her of AIIxo, of the fairy child who had mot him on thnt day of his llrat visit and had brought him to hor father, tho seig neur. Ho described a llttlo the play mate of hla childhood, fearlesa, boyish In her intrepid courage, yet always ex quisitely a girl. Ho told of tlio long Hiiminor vacations of tho three nB they grew up, nnd tho rides in tlio Jura val ley, and of that last rido when ho know that ho was to go to Italy next morn lug, and of how ho had faced the solg neur and told him that he loved his daughter and hnd given her up then, instantly, for loyalty to him and to I'lotro. And then ho told her of the pensant boy In Riders' Hollow In tho gray morning light after tho night of hla escapeand how, by hnnd on tho Urldlo and aent In the saddle, and at inBt by tho long curl of tho black Iaah cb ho had known tho poasant boy for AIIxo. Lucy Hampton, listening, wbb ao thrlllod with this romanco of a life long lovo that alio could silence her aching heart and hor aching prido nnd could bo wUh a. painful aldk effort hut yet could bo, uttorly generous. Thero Is no midway in a case between entlro aelllahneBs and entire solflcsa ness. Tho young southern girl, wound ed, Bhamed, cruelly hurt In vanity and In lovo, wus able to chooso the larger way, and taking It, felt that Bharp Joy of renunciation which la as keen and dilllcult to brentho and aa aweot In tho breathing ua the air of a mountain top. Trembling, alio put her other lit tlo hand on Francois' hands. "I eco," she said, and her voice shook and alio smiled mistily, but very kind ly, 'lou could not lovo nuyone but that beautiful Allxe. I I would not havo you." And Francola bont haatlly. with tears In hla eyes, and kissed tho wnrm llttlo hands. Tho uncertain sliding voice went on: "I am not ashamed that I said that to you. I would not havo aald It not for worlds. I thought you woro killed. I didn't know what I Bald. But I am not ashamed. I am glad that I am enough of a person to havo known tho llnest things and" her volco sank and sho whispered the next words ovor tho dark head bont on her hands "nnd to havo loved them. Hut don't bother. I Bhall got ovor It." Tho liquid tones choked a bit on that and Francois lifted " hlB head quickly and his oyos flamed at her, "Of courBo you will, my dear llttlo girl, my bravo mndomoisello. It la not as you think; It la not serious, mon amlo. It 1b only that your soul is full of kindness and enthusiasm and oagor iiobs to stand by tho unlucky. I nm alouo and. expatriated; I havo had a llttlo of mafortune and you aro sorry for mo. It is that. Ah, I know. I am very old and wlso, mo. It would never do," ho wont on. "Tho noblesse of Virginia would rlao in a revolution if it should bo that tho princess of Roa noko houeo gavo her heart to a Fronch pcusnnt. I am como to be a man of He Bent Over Her Hand. knowledge" And ho shook hla head with as worldly-wise an expression as if ono of Cluldo Rent's dnrk angols should talk politics. He wont on again, smiling a llttlo, an air of daring In his manner. "Moreover. Matlomoiaollo MIbb Lucy, thoro la a fairy prlnco who uwalta only tho smalloat sign from you." Lucy smiled, "No," she said. And then, "A fairy prince In Virginia?" "Ah, yes, Madomolsello Miss Lucy. Of tho true nohloBso, thnt otto. A lino, big, linndBomo prlnco, tho right sort." "Who?" domnnded Lucy, smiling still. "Of such a right sort Indeed that It la no matter ah, no, but porhaps Just tho thing to mako ono lovo him moro, thnt ho Is lamo." "Ilarryl" Luoy'B smite faded. "Hut yea, Indeed, mon amle," and Francola patted tho llttlo hand with hla big ono. "Honry, Indeed. Henry, who is waiting to kill mo for lovo of you; Henry, tho beat truest follow, tho manlleat bravest follow. Who rides Hko Honry? Who has road nil tho books in all tho libraries llko Honry 7 Who Is respected by tho old men, tho great mon, for his knowledge and hla thinking nnd hla atatccraft almost llko Henry? Who haB such a great heart and brain and such fearlesa courago as Henry?" "You aro very loyal to your frlonds," Lucy snld, half pleased, half stabbed to the aoul. "Certainly. What for la gratification worth, otherwise?" Francois throw at her earnestly. Thoro woro a few Eng lish Vords too much for him Btill; "gratltudo" seemed to bo ono. Ho stood up nnd his groat eyes glowed down at hor. "Mademoiselle," he said, "two women of earth, my mother and Allxe. aro for mo tho Madonnas, tho crown of women," nnd his glance lifted to tho celling nB If to heaven, without pose, unconscioua a look no American could ever hnvo worn. "And, volla, mademoiselle my llttlo scholnr will al ways stand next to and closo to them." Ho bont over her hand nnd hla lips touched It long nnd tenderly. "Is It right botweon us, mon amle? Aro we friends alwayB? It Is indeed so for llfo with me." And llttlo Lucy folt a healing pence settling on hor bruised feellncs nnd heard horsolf saying generous words of friendship which healed also as she spoko them. Then, "I must And that savage boy Henry, and beseech him to spare ray life," spoko Francois at lnat. "My life Is of more vultio today, thnt It jkis sosses a sure friend in Mademoiselle Lucy," ho aaid and smiled radiantly. And was gone. "Ho said thnt Harry loved mo! What nonsenBo!" Lucy whispered to herself. And tho broken-hearted one was smiling. CHAPTER XXVII. Once More at Home. In fewer words, with less told, Fran cols' straightforwardness metamor phosed the angry lad Harry Hampton Into a follower moro devoted than ho had been even in the float flush of en thusiasm for his rescued prisoner. Again tho boy dogged his footsteps and adored him frankly. And Francois, enchanted to bo friends again with hla friend, wondered at tho goodnesa and generosity of the people of this world. It Is roughly true that one finds llfo in genoral like a mirror; that if one looks Into It with a smllo and a cordial hand hold out ono meets smiles and outstretched hands In return. Through all hie daya it had happened bo with thla child of a French village. So that when the day came at last when ho stood onco moro on tho deck of tho Lovely Lucy, loaded with her cargo of tobacco for foreign ports, Francois felt as if ho were leaving homo and family. Tho long green car pet of tho rolling lawn of Roanoko was crowded with peoplo como to tell him good-by. All of hla aoldlor boyB woro there, the lads trained by him, ono and all ready to swear by him or to die for him. Lucy and Harry stood togother, nnd tho servants woro gathered to do him honor, and peoplo had ridden from all over tho county for tho farewell. HIb eyes dimmed with tears of grate fulness, ho watched them aa tho gang plank was drawn up and tho sails caught tho wind and tho ship swung slowly out into tho atroam. "Como back again como back again," they called from tho ahoro. Francois heard the deep tones of tho lads and tho rich voices of tho ne groes and ho know that some there could not speak, even as ho could not. So ho waved hla hat silently, nnd the ship moved faster and the faceB on tho lawn Boomed smaller farther away, aud yot ho hoard thoso following volcea calling to him, moro faintly: "Como back again oh, como back again!" And with that tho nogroes had broken hfto a melody, and tho ship moved on to tho wild awoot mualc. Way Down Upon do S'wanoo Rlbber, tho negroes sang, and tho ship was at tho turn of tho rivor. Tho stately walls of Roanoko houeo, tho greon slopo crowded with flgureB of Ills frlonda, tho aparkllng water front tho current had Bwopt away all of tho picture and ho could only hear that walling music of the negroes' volcea, lower, moro fit ful; nnd now It was gono. Ho had left Virginia; ho was on his way; to friends, And for all IiIb Joy of going, ho wns henvy-heartod for the leaving. The weeks went slowly at sea, but aftor a wlillo ho had landed, was in Franco, was at Vieques. Ho had seen hla mothor, with hor hair whitened by thoso years of his prison llfo a happy woman now, full of business nnd re sponsibility, yot alwayB with a rapt look In her faco aa of ono who lived In a deep Inner qulot. Ho had talkod long talks with his prosperous father and slipped Into hla old plnco among his brothers nnd Blators, utterly refusing to bo made a stranger or a great man. And ovor and over again he had told tho story of his capture aud the atory of his eBcapo. ' At tho caatlo the returned wanderer picked up no Iobb tho thread dropped so suddenly eovon yoata boforo. The general, to whom tho boy Boomed hla boy risen from tho dead, would hardly lot him from hla Bight; Allxe kept him In a tingling atmosphere of tenderness and mockory nnd sisterly dovotlon. which thrlllod him and chilled him and made him blissful and wretched In turns. Tho puzzlo of Allxo was moro unreadable than tho puzzle of tho sphinx to tho thrco mon who loved hor, to hor fathor and Francois and Pletro! Tho general and Francois spoko of it guardedly, In fow words, onco In a long tlmo, but Pletro never apoko. Pletro wna thoro ofton, yot moro often away In London, whoro tho exiled Maz zlul, nt tho head of ono wing of Ital ian patrlota, lived and conaplred. And othor mon appeared auddonly nnd dls appeared at tho chateau, and held con ferences with tho genoral and Fran cols In that largo dim library where tho llttlo peasant boy had Bat with his thin ankles twisted ubout tho legs of hla high chair, and copied tho.hlatory of Napoleon. These men paid great attention nowadays to tho words of that peaaant boy. "As soon as you are a llttlo strong er," thoy snld, "thoro Is much work for you to do," and the general would como In at that point with a growl like distant thunder. "He Is to rest," tho general would order. "He Is to rest till ho Is well. Ho has dono.enough; let the boy alone, you others." Hut tho tlmo came, six months aft er hlB return, when Francois must be Bent to visit tho ofllcers of certain regiments thought to bo secretly Honapartlst; whon he, it was believed, could got into touch with them nnd tell them enough and not too much of the plans of the party, and And out where they stood and how much ono might count on them. So, against tho general's wish, Francois wont off on a political mission. It proved moro com plicated than had scorned probable; ho was gone a long time; ho had to travel and endure exhausting experiences for which he was not yet fit. So that when he came homo to Vieques, two mouths later, he was white and trans parent nnd III. And thoro were some of the mysterious men at tho chnteau His Voice Was Full of Pleading. Passion and to meet him, delighted, pitiless. De lighted with tho work ho hnd done, with his daring nnd finesse and suc cess, without pity for his weakness, hogging him to go at once on another mission. The general was Arm as to that; his boy should not bo hounded; he should stay at homo In the quiet old chateau and get well. But tho boy was restless; a fovor or enthusiasm was on him and he wanted to do more and yet more for the prince's work. At this point two things happened: Piotro came from London, and Fran cols, on tho point of leaving for anoth er secret errand, broke down and was 111. Ho lay in his bed In his room at tho farmhouse, the low upper chamber looking out through wide-open c.ibo ment windows, their old leaded little panes of glass glittering from every unoven angle looking out at broad ftelda and bouquets of chestnut trees, nnd far off, Jive milea away, at the high red roofa of the chaiiteau of Vie ques. And gazing so, he saw Piotro on old Capitalne, turn from the shady ave nue of tho chestnuts nnd rido slowly to tho house. With that he heard hla mother greeting Pletro below In tho groat kitchen, then tho two voices uio ueop one and the soft one talking, talking, a long tlmo. What could his mother and Pletro havo to talk about ao long? And then Pletro's step was coming up tho narrow atalr, and he wbb there, In the room. "Francola," Piotro began in his di rect fashion, "I think you must go back to Virginia." Francois regarded him with startled oyes, aaying nothing. Thoro was a chill and an ache in his heart at the thought of yet another parting. Piotro went out. "I havo a letter from Harry Hampton. The place needs you;' tho people want you; nnd Harry and MIsb Hampton say thoy will not bo married unless you como to bo best man at tho wedding." Francois smiled. Piotro went on again. ''Moroovor, boy. Francois you are not doing well hero. You are too usoful; thoy want to use you constantly and you aro ready; but you aro not fit. You must get away for another year or two. Then you will be well and perhaps by then the prlnco will have real work for you. And you must havo strength for thnt tlmo. Your mother says I am right." With that his mothor utood in the doorway, regarding him with lier calm oyes, nnd nodded to Pietro'a words. So It came about thnt Francois went back shortly to Vlrglnln. On tho day before he-went he sat In the garden or tho chateau with Allxe, on tho stone seat by tho sun-dial where they had sat years boforo when the general had seen him kiss tho glrl'a hand, 'n that unbrotherly way which had so aurprlsed him. "Allxo," aald Francola, "I nm going to tho end of tho world." "Not for tho llrat time," Allxo an awered cheerfully. "Perhaps for tho last," Francola throw back dramatically. It la hard to have one's best-boloved discount ono'S tragedies. And Allxo laughed and lifted a long stem of a spring flow er which she hold In her hand, and bruehod his forehead delicately with tho distant tip of it. "Smooth out the wrinkles, do not frown; do not look solemn; you al ways como back, Monsieur the Bad Penny; you will UUb time. Do not bo melodramatic, Francois." Francois, listening to theso sano aentlments, was hurt, and not at all inspired with cheerfulness. "Allxo," he said and knew that ho should not say It "thoro la something I have wanted all my life all my life." "Is thero?" Inquired Allxe In com monplnco tones. "A horse, per ex omplo?" ilo caught her hand, disre garding her tone; his volco was full of passion and pleading. "Do not be honrtlcBs and cold today, Allxo, dear Allxe. I am going so far, and my very soul is torn with leaving you nil." It takes no more than a syllable, an Inflection at times, to turn tho course of u life. If Francois had left his sen tonco alone boforo that last little word; if he had told the girl that his soul was torn with' leaving her, then it is hard to say what might havo hap pened. Rut "you all" ho did not wish then to havo her think thnt it meant more to leave her than to leave the others. Allxo readjusted tho guard which had almost slipped from hor, and Btood again defensive. I won't bo cruel,v Francois; you know how Ave nil aro broken-hearted to havo you'go." Francola caught that fatal little word "all," repeated, and dimly sow its significance, and hla own responsibil ity. Alixe went on. "I wonder if I do not know what It is that you havo wanted all your llfo?" Eagerly Francola caught at her words. "May 1 tell you Allxe, Allxo?" "No." Alixe spoke quickly. "No. lot me guess. It Is It Is" and Francois, catching hla breath, tried to take tho word from her, hut she stopped him. "No, I must tell It. You have wished nil your life" Allxo was breathing rather fast "that I should care for Pletro." A cold chill at hearing that thing sTiid lu that voice seized him. 'Very still his eyes down, he did not apeak. "Is la that it?" There la an angel of perversity who possesses our souls at times. Ho makes ua say tho unkind thing whon we wish not to; he tnngles our feet so that we fall and trip and hurt our selves and our dearest nnd behold long after we know that all tho samo It was an angel; thnt without that trouble we should have gone forever down the easy wrong way. Wo know that the perverse angel was sent to warn us off tho pleasant grass which was none of ours, and by making things disagroeablo at tho psycho logical moment, save our souls alive for right things to come. Somo such crosswise heavenly messenger gripped the mind or Alixe, and sho said what aho hated herself for saying, and saw tho quick result in tho downcast misery of poor Francois' fnco. And then the same cruel, wise angel turned his attention to Francois. "If sue thinks that, let her,", whlapored tho perverse one. "Let it go at that; say yes." And Francola lifted mournful eyes and repeated, "That you should lovo Pietro yes that Is what I havo wished for all my life. CHAPTER XXVIII. Summoned. On tho morning of May 9, 1840, tho sun shone gaily in London. It flltored In Intricate patterns through tho cur tains which shaded the upper windows or a house In Carlton gardons, and tho breozo lifted the lace, and sunlight and breeze together touched tho bent head of a young man who sat at a writing-tuble. A lock of hair had es caped on his forehead and tho air touched It, lifted it, as if to say: "Be hold the Napoleonic curl! See how he is like hla undo!" But the pen ran busily, regardless of the garrulous breezo; there was much to do for a hard-working prlnco who found time to bd tile hero of ball rooms, tho center of a London season, nnd yet could manipulate his agenta throughout tho garrisons of Franco, nnd plan and execute a revolution. It wna the year when the body of Napole on the First waa brought from St. Holona to Paris, and Louis Bonaparto had resolved, in that steady mind which never lost Its grip on the reason of being or his existence, that with the ashes of tho emperor his family should como back to Franco. For months tho network had been spread, wna tightening, and now the memory which held Its friendships securely al ways, took thought of sa Frenchman living In Virginia. Aa aoon ns IiIb, let ter was finished to hia father tho pen flew across the lines: "The sword of Austerlitz must not be in an enemy's hands," he wroto to his father. "It must stay whoro It may again be lifted la tho day of dan ger Tor the glory or France." His let ters were apt to bo slightly oratorical; It wns moreover the rnshlon or the day to write so. Ho raised his head and atared Into tho street. It was enough to decldo his expedition for tills summer that General Bertrand, well-meaning, nnd ill-judging, had given to Louis Phil llpe the arms or the emoror, to be placed In the Invalides. Every mem ber of the Bonaparte family was moused, and to tho heir it was a trum pet call. He could hurdly wait to go to France, to reclaim that Insulted sword. Ho wrote on, finished the letter to the exiled king, his father, a gloomy and lonely old in mi whom the son did not forget through years spent away from him. Then he drew out a frosh sheet of paper, and hia faint smile glenmod; for tho thought of thla adherent in Virginia was pleasant to him. "Chovnllor Francois Beaupre," ho headed the letter, nnd began below, "My friend and Marshal of Somo Day." Ho considered a moment and wroto quickly ns if tho words boiled to tho pen. "Tho baton awalta you. Come. I make an expedition within threo months, and I need you and your faith in me. Our stara must shine togoth er to give full light. So, mon ami, Join mo hero at the earliest, that tho em peror's words may como truo. "LOUIS BONAPARTE." Across tho water, In Virginia, two years had made few changes. On tho Juno day when tho prince's letter lay in tho post oince of Norfolk tho last of tho roses woro showing pink and red over tho gardeiiH in a sudden breeze. Tho leaves of tho trees that archod the road that led to Roanoko houso wero sappy green, JUBt lately fully Bpread, nnd glorious with freshness. Their shadows, dancing on the white pike, were sharp cut agalnat tho brightness. And through the llght-plercod cavo of ahado a mnn traveled on horseback from ono plantation to another, a man who rodo as a Virginian ridos, yet with a military air for all that. Ho patted the beast's neck with a soothing word, and smiled nB Aquarollo plunged at tho wnving of a bough, at a fox that ran across tho road. But If an observer had been thero ho might havo seen that tho man's thought wnB not with horae or journoy. Francois Beaupre, riding out to give a French lesson to MIsh Hampton at Roanoko house, as he had been doing for four years, all unconscious aa ho was of tho letter awaiting for him at tho moment In Norfolk, was thinking of the event to como to which thnt lettor called him. "Lucy! Oh, Lucy!" A voice called from the lawn, and in a moment moro tho colonol was upon thorn. "Lucy," ho began, "somebody muat arrango about tho now harnesses; my tlmo Is too valuable to bo taken up with do tails. Undo Zack says thoy aro need ed at once. It has been neglected. I do not understand why things aro so neglected." "I have seen to It, father. They will bo ready in a week," Lucy answered. Then tho colonol noticed Francois. "Good day, chevalier," ho spoko con descendingly. "Ah by tho way" ho put a hand into one pocket and then another of his linen coa(. "They avo me a letter for you, chovaller, knowing that you would be at Roanoke houso today. Hero it is" and Lucy saw a light leap Into Francois' eyes as they fell on tho English postmark. ,. And Lucy spoke quietly again. "I did ask you, father, but you did not see to it, and they wero necessary. So I did it." And then, "chovallor, road your lettor. I seo It Is a foreign one." "Will mademoiselle pardon?" At that moment an uneven step camo down the sl6po and Francois flashed a smllo at Harry Hampton and retreated to tho other side of the sum-mer-houBo with his letter; while the colonel, murmuring complaints about harnesses, wont strolling up tho shadowy, bird-haunted lawn. Harry Hampton stood by his sweet heart with a boyish air of proprietor ship, radiant, as ho had been through theso two years of his engagement "I havo It," ho announced. "Don't ypu want to seo It?" "Walt, Harry;" the girl glanced at Francois. But tho lad caught her waist. "Look," he said, and opened hla free hand and a plain gold ring glittered from It. With a quick move ment ho slipped It over tho little third finger. "There," ho said, "that will bo on to stay pretty soon, and then Uncle Henry shall not badger you about har nesses. Ho haB made mo wait two years because he needed you, but I won't wait much longer, will I, Lucy? Next Wednesday that Is tho wedding day, Lucy." With that Francois turned around. His faco shone with an excitement "You Have News What Girl Cried. Is It?" the which could not escape oven preoccu pied lovers. "What la It, chovaller? You havo nows what is it?" the girl cried. For a moment ho could not opeak. Then: "Yes, madomolsello, great newa," he said. "The prlnco haa sent for me. And I am well and fit to go. I have lived for this time; yet I am grloved to leave you and Harry, my two old friendB." "But, FrancolB, you cannot go beroro Wednesday," Harry Hampton cried out. "Wo cannot bo married without you." And Francois conaldored. "No, not before Wednesday," ho agreed. That last French lesson In the summer-house on tho bnnks or tho smooth flowing JameB river waa on n Satur day. On Monday tho Chovaller Beau pre rodo over rrom Carnlfax and asked to seo Miss Hampton. (TO niC CONTINITKD.) Women and Exercise. Moat women, whether thoy bo fleshy or thin, walk rar too llttlo. Tho wom an who tends to bo fleshy should walk for at least an hour overy day, and do it regularly and systematically. Ah sho gota accustomed to tho exorcise sho should lncreaso tho number of mllos sho walks a day until she Is do ing flvo mllos. 5 n . a 1rwmWC1,, ..Pf
