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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1914)
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. H c SIB MRY RAYTOHD 5flPlAN ANDREWS AinWORnHCPIRFECrTRipUTr, THC0CrTEf? rREA5Uf?r,rTC ILLUSTRATIONS gK ILLSVORTfl YOWG COfircevr sa or oooe& rtrfiniLL company 13 13 "& V 12 SYNOPSIS. Francois Ueaupro. a peasant babo of threo yours, after nn amusing Incident in which Marshal Ney figures. Is made a Chevalier of Franco by the Emperor Na poloon, who prophesied that the boy might (ino day bo a marshal of Kronen under tuiothor Honaparto. At thu ago of too Francois visits General Baron Gas ped Uourgnud. who with Allxo. his imven-yoar-old daughter, lives at the Chateau. A soldier of the Empire under Nitpolfoii ha Ilroi thu boy'H Imagination with stories of his campaigns. Tho boy bocomtH a copyist for thu general und learns of the friendship between tho gen tral and Marquis Zappl, who campaigned with the general under Napoleon. Mar auls Zinipl and his son. Pletro, arrlvn at tho Chateau. The general agrees to euro for tho Marquis' son while the former o to America. The Marquis aBks Fran cois to be a friend of his son. Tho boy nolemnly promises. Francois goes to tho Chateau to live, Marquis Znppt dies leav ing Pletro as a ward of tho general. Allxo. I'lotro and Francois meet a strange boy who proves to be Prince Louis Na poleon Francois saves his life. The gin em! discovers Francois loves Allxe. and extracts a promise from him that he will not Interfere betwoen tho girl and I'lotro. J-'Vanools goes to Ital as secretary to Metro. Queen Hortonse plans the esrapo of her son Louis Napoleon by disguising Mm and Marquis Zappl as her lackeys. I'runcol takes MarqulH Zappls plueo who Is 111. in tho escape of Hortimse and Louis. Dressed as Louis' brother l- ran cols lures tho Austrian) from the hotel al lowing the princo and his mother to es rape Francois Is a prisoner of the Aus trian!) for flvo years. In tho castle owned liy I'lotro In Italy. Ho discovers In his Kuartl one of Plctro's old family servants, Htid through him sends word to his t floods or Ills plight The general. Allxo ntid I'lotro plans Fruncols' escnpe. Fran cois receives u note from I'lotro explain ing In detail how to escape from liln prison. Allxo awaits him on horseback mid leads him to his Mends on board the American sailing vessel, the "Lovely Lucy" Fruncols. as a guost of Harry Jlumpton, on tho "Lovelv I.ucy," goca to America to niunago Plctro's ijstnle In Virginia. Lucy Hampton falls in ovo with Francois. Prince Louis Napoleon In America becomes the guest of tho Hamptons, where lie meets ICriinenls. Lucy Hampton rovcttis her love for Jj ran cols after tho latter saves the llfo. of Harry Hampton und Is himself Injured In tho oflort. Francois tells Lucy of Ills lovo for Allxe. He returns to France and tells Allxo his one wish In life Is that sho lovo Pletro. Francoln Joins tho political plotters His health falls and lie is forced in return to America. Later Napoleon summons him to London to aid him In his plotH to gain tho French throno. Lucy Hamilton weds her cousin. Pletro pro poses to 'Allxo and In ucceptcd. They plan a letter to Francois telling him his wish Is granted, Francois on tho night boforo tho battle shows tin pilnce a let ter from Allxe. which ho thinks Is a confession of her lovo for him. CHAPTER XXXf. Contlrlued. Princo Louis saw the dnwnlng or ,consternatlon. Ilnpldly ho considered. Wns It well to tako tiwuy a mun's hap piness nnd courage just boforo a fight? Ho romemborod aonio words of Fran coIh Bpokon throo years boforo, worda whoso dramatic baroness had struck him. "When a knight of tho old time went into battlo," tho young man had nald, "ho woro on hlB holinot tho badge of his lady, nnd tho thought of hor In his heart. A man flghtii bettor so." Vory woll. TIUb blind knight should havo his letter, with tho meaning ho had road Into It, for his lndy'p badgo, nnd ha should fight tomorrow with tho thought of her In his heart. Tho lot tor suggested another meaning to so phisticated Louis Bonapurto, but thero In, no need to hasten tho feet of tin- happiness. Tho resonant French voice Hpoko nt last In an unused accont of cordiality nnd tho Prince lied, with ungrudging graclousuoss, "Mistaken, my Francois! Not at all. Tho Uttlo blllot-doux broathes lovo for you In each llpc there Is no question I Hut, mon ami, you havo not flnlshod your Btory." So Francois explained about tho letter loft with Luoy Hamp ton and Ub premature Bonding. "That Iiub reached hor now she knows now that 1 lovo her, sho knows what has roally boon my lifelong wish .sho has hurried this," and his hand crushed tho notu tenderly "sho has hurried this to mo boforo the fight that I might know hor lovo also that 1 might light bettor for you, my Princo Louis with that Joy in my heart." Princo Louis, his hoad thrown back, hlB expreaslonluBB oyoB watching tho rings of amoko which ho puffed from hla mouth ring nfter ring, mounting Jn dream-like procession to tho low celling, considered again. Somowhoro in tho chain of ovuntB of thlB love affair hlB keon practical sonso felt "a link that did not lit -a link forced Into connection Vaguely ho discerned how it was something hail happened to tho Virginian lettor -thero had boon ?i confusion somewhere. To him tho our words of Altxc's postscript were llnul. "Pletro sends his love." A sub conscious reasoning mado him certain that Piatro would not havo come Into such a lotter tr It had be cm Indeed a love-letter, that tho throo lines of writing Just boforo the battlo could not havo held another mnn'ii naino, If thoy had boon written to tho man whom sho loved. Very dimly, vory surely tho Prince concluded those thtrigs, and then ho lowered 1i1b cigar, und his gray dull eyes camo down from tho celling nnd rested, kindly on thu rudluut face. "You are right, my friend. It wns an exuulslto thought of your lady-love to put this other woap lit, this bright sword of happlnesH Into your hand, to light with tomorrow, Mon Dlcu wo will rownrd hor by send ing hor back a Marshal's baton by you; a Marshal's baton tomorrow Francois! How would It sound, pur example, to say 'Madame la Maro chalo'T" Tho light from Francois' oyea waa like a lamp. "My Princo Slro thero are throe thlngn I havo doslrad all my llto, all trout things, but of them that one the baton of a Marshal 1b tho IcubL Jf I might win her lovo I havo said; JI 1 might help put you In Napoloon'a placo und shout "Vivo l'Euiporour' for you on tho throno of Franco; If I might fulfill tho Emperor's prophecy and bo not a 'Marshal some day' any longer but a Marshal of your empire it Is asking much. of one llfotlmo, abovo all for a man born a peasant, Is It not? Yet of thoiio threo wishes ono wonderful fulfillment has como to mo" ho gripped his letter closer "and ono, I bollovo tomorrow brlngB, Be fore tomorrow night" his groat oyes wore lifted toward tho celling of tho room, and In them was tho rapt look of tho child of tho farm-houao In tho Jura, u look of a soer of visions, a look that caught at the Princo's norvos, and mado him draw a breath quickly. "Home-thing abovo mysolf tells mo," Francois said slowly, and tho words came with a languid power, lis If his personality woro a medium, "that bp foro tomorrow night tho officers who stand about you ahull hall you Em poror over the body of a man who Ilea before you." In tho silence, tho Prince's watch could bo heard ticking. Francois shiv ered violently. "Ugh!" ho said', his teeth chutterlng. "It gives mo a 'crlso do nerfs, that trick of vlBlon-Beelng. I do not llko It, and yet at times It seizes mo. Why should It como to a man happy as I am a man who has dared ask threo onormOuB wiehes of tho good fairies; who holds ono of them In his hand" ho lifted tho letter "who boob anothor In easy reach, and who," ho smiled brilliantly, "who will bo well content without tho third, my Princo, tho flrBt two being his." He shivered ngaln. "Ib tho night raw? . It Is as if I were In a grave, thlB coldness," ho1 Bald, look ing about with a djoturbod gazo, "yet my llfo Is just beginning." Tho Princo roso and tossed his cigar to tho Hroplaco. "It Is simply that you aro tired, Francois," he said In the tranquil tones which no peril dis turbed. "The nerves of us all are stretched and yours are .tho finest strung. Go to bed, nnd at daylight you will bo warm enough, with tho work that awults us. Sloop well good night, my friend." Later, In tho darknoss of his cham ber, Princo Louis lay awako, hla Imag ination filled with the man whoso dra matic personality appealed to him as few had over dono. He thought of his own life, nccordlng to his UghtB not a bad life, radically strong and radically gentle, yet complicated, abnormal from Its start, with many shadows and many stains; then of tho crystal clear ness of thlB other'B, with his threo wishes In which ho trusted as simply as a child would trust to tho fairies. A smile almost tender stole acroes the mask-like foaturos In tho dark. "Thero is no doubt but tho girl will marry tho marquis," ho reflected. "Yet I nm glad I loft him his hopo and his happi ness." A vision of FrancolB' beatified look roso boforo him. "A man fights hotter so," the Princo murmured aloud, and, his own sadness forgotten In anothor mnn'B joy, ho fell asleep, CHAPTER XXXII. The Bugle-Call. Tho gray dawn of a Sunday morning began to break over tho Bleeping city of Boulogne, yet earlier than tho dawn anxious oycBj opened to watch, and men's hearts boat faBt to meet it. Scattered in lodging-houses and bar racks, Louis Napoleon's followers were waiting boforo daylight for the part they had lo play. No man among thenl wbb as qulot, as little nervous as tho Princo, yot hla as well as ovory gal- ."Soldlersi The Honor of Beginning, a New Empire Shall Be Yoursl" lant heart of them felt a throb of relief with Its bound of excitement when a trumpet from tho Austorllts barracks, tho burracks of tho fourth artillery, Napoloon's own regiment, suddenly soundod. It wns tho signal, and In a moment the Princo and hla escort wero mov ing down tho dark street toward Colonel vaudroy's qunrtors, toward that ringing noto not yot died out from tile pulsing nlr Tho city was tranquil when Princo Louis renchod thd burrack-gnte, and tho eoldlor-blood In him rushod in n tide when ho saw sixty mouutod artll lorymon poBted at tho ontrauco, and beyond, In tho yard, statuo-llko, war like, silent, tho roglmeut formed in square, If tho fourth artillery fol lowed Its c&lonol, If the day went well, thlB was tho coro of hla army. Colonel Vnudroy was In the center of tho square; tho Princo marched quietly to him and as ho came, with a sharp simultaneous clatter that was tho mu sic of Heavon to his ears, tho whole regiment presonted arms. In tho glowing light tho soldiers who fronted toward him could seo that tho colorloss face turned grayer, but that was nil, nnd quickly Colonol Vaudrey spoko to his men, "Soldiers of the fourth artillery," ho Bald loudly, "a revolution begins to day under tho. nephew of tho Emperor Napoloon. Ho Ib boforo you, nnd comes to lead you. Ho has returned to his land to glvo back tho peoplo their rights, tho army Its greatness. Ho trustB In your courage, your de votion to accomplish this glorious mis sion. My soldlors, your colonel has answered for you. Shout then with mo 'Long live Napoleon! Long live tho Emperor.' " Tho terso soldierly words woro hnrdly flnlshod when the regiment, strongly BonnpartlBt always, carried off Its fcot now by tho sight of the Princo, by the honor of being tho first to whom ho camo caught up the cry, and tho deep voices sent It rolling down tho empty streets. Louis Hona parto standing ,erecL motionless, lm Missive no always, wondered If a pulse might beat harder than his nnd not break, 'Ho held up his hand, and rap idly, yet with lingering shouts of en thusiasm, tho tumult quieted. "Solu'fcrs," ho said, "I havo como to you first because between you and mo thero aro great memories. With you the Emporor, my uncle, served as captalp; with you ho won glory nt the Blege of Toulon; you opened the gates of Grenoble to him when ho camo back from Elba. Soldiers, tho honor of beginning a new empire shall bo yours; yours shall bo the honor of sa luting first tho eaglo of Austerlltz and Wagrara." He caught tho standard from an officer nnd held It high. "It Ib tho Blgn of French glory; it has shono over every battlefield; It haB passed through every capltol of Eur ope. Soldiers, rally to the eaglo! I trust It to you--we will march today against tho oppressors, crying 'Long live France.'" One who has not heard a regiment gone mad can not know how It waa. With deafening clatter and ronr every Bword waB drawn and the shakos flew aloft and again and i ngaln and again tho men's deep voices sent up In bro ken magnlflcont chorus tho great his toric cry to which armies had gono into battle. "Vivo TEmpcrcur! Vive Napoleon!" Tho souIb of n thousand men wcr'e on flro with memories and traditions, with a pnBslon of consecration to a cause, and as If tho spell of the name grew stronger with Its repetition they shouted over and over, in tremendous unison, over and over and over. "Vivo Napoleon! Vivo l'Empercur!" It wns necessary at last for the qulot slender young man who was tho storm-center to rnlso his hand again, and with a word, with tho glimmer of a Bmllo to speak IiIb gratitude to stop tho storm. There was much to be dono. Tho fourth artillery was but ono of several regiments to bo gained If the victory woro to be complete. Colonel Lombard wa3 dispatched to a, printing office with proclamations to bo struck off; Lieutenant Laity hur rlod nway to his battalion; a detach ment was sent to hold tho telegraph office; ' the tumult once quieted, tho yard was a scono 010111016111 bufllnedfl, for all this had been planned and each officer knew his work. In a vory few momonts tho ofncors of tho third ar tillery who wero with the Prince had hastened to their quarters, another had been sont to nfouso tho forty-sixth of tho lino, at tho Place d' Alton bar racks, and Bhortly Princo Louis him self was on his way to tho same place. Through tho streotB of tho city, no longer emptyt he passed with his offi cers, nnd tho peoplo poured from their houses, and joined and answered tho shouts of tho soldiers. "Vivo l'Einpereur!" tho soldiers crlod. "It l,s tho nephew of Napoleon," nnd tho citizens throw back, "Vivo l'Empcrour! It Is tho son of tho hon est king of Holland! It Is the grand son of .Tosophlne!" They pressod bo closo about tho small figure In Its Swiss uniform of a colonol that for a moment ho was sep arated from his ofllccrs, nnd Colonel Vaudrey, smiling for all his military discipline, was forced to order hlB mounted artillerymen to clear tho road. Every moment nn old soldier broko out of the mass and ombraced the eaglo which Lieutenant de Quer olles carried proudly high abovo all this emotion; tho soldlors' eyes flash ed with success; tho Prinze's heart boat high for Joy to know that ho had not misread tho heart of army or peo ple When tho column passed the gen darmerie tho guard tumod out nnd presonted arms, shouting, "Long live tho Emporor!" So ho went through tho streets of Boulogne, Louis Napo leon Bonaparte, eight long years be fore ho camo to his own, and march ed In triumph and acclamation to a failure. And closo by his sldo, his look as radiant as tho Prince's look was con tnlned nnd impassive, marched always Francois Heaupro, Tho hard-earned military knowledge tho patient toll of preparation had como Into piny, and in u hundred ways tho man had been useful. With no oxact rank as yot, but ready at any moment, eager for tho hardest task, never asking for rest, quick-witted, resourceful, officers as well as Princo had dovoloped a habit of turning to Bcaupro for sorv lco after service. And ulwnya they were met with a glad consent which encouraged them to nax more until tho Princo Bald: "It In tho case of tho willing horao; I will not permit that my right-hand man bo worked to death- It must stop." Today, howovor, Francois had n, doflnlto duty of responsibility. While tho Princo marched, gathering strength nt cVory yard, through th lown toward tho Place d' Alton at Its farther side, Colonel Couard of tho third artillery had gono to proclaim tho great nows to his regiment and to hold them ready. In caso of success at the Place d' Alton, Bcaupro was to go back and bring them to join tho Prince. In caso of failure they were to be hlB rosorve. The Placo d' Alton barracks lay between town and ram parts, to bo reached from tho town sldo only by a narrow lano; but tho ramparts commanded with n large open spaco tho yard where the sol diers assembled. If the Prince cntored from tho town side, from tho street Faubourg Plorrc only an escort could go with him. If ho went by the ram parts the whole enthusiastic fourth artillery might bo at his back. This then was the routo chosen. But as the Princo nnd the regiment and tho swinging shouting mns of citizens made its wny toward the quarters, suddenly, too late, the offl- "The Arsenal!" the Man Gasped. cers about his Highness saw that some one had blundered. Someone In tho van a man had lost his hend, had forgotten, and the compact inelastic procession hud been led toward the approach from the Faubourg Pierre, tho narrow lane at the side, toward tho city. It was a serious mistake, yet not of necessity fatal, and at all ovonta they must make the beat of It. Tho Prince could not make a dramatic entrance at tho hoad of a shouting regiment, but forill that he might win tho forty-sixth, He did win t,he forty-sixth. Some thing had happened to the ofliccr sent to arouso themanother slip in the chain and Instead of being drawn up In tho yard hey were getting ready for Sunday inspection, out tnoy iiock cd to tho windows. at the noise, they rushed Into the yard at the name of Napoleon. An old sergeant of tho Imperial Guard ran forward and kiss ed Prince Louis' hand, and the re served face llghtoned he knew the valuo of a bit of sentiment with Frenchmen; Iiq was not wrong; In a moment tho lino regiment had caught up the cries of "Vivo l'Empcrour!" ralsod by the artillerymen, and tho earlier scene of tho Austerlltz bar rackB wa3 being ropeated here. Prince Louis, pale and composed In the ren ter of the roar of voices, tho seeth ing sea of excitement, henrd a word at his car and turned. "Sire, It Is success. I go to bring up your Majesty's other regiment," Fran cols said, and the Prince answered quietly: "Yes, It la success. Go. mon ami." In a moment the messenger had thrown himself on the horse of an ar tilleryman and forced a yay through the recoiling mass, down tho lane, nnd out to tho Faubourg Pierre. In the freo stroet ho galloped the hor&c, through the windings that he had learned with this moment in his mind. Tho third wns drawn up waiting, and n shout like a clap of thunder greeted his nows. Buoyant, proud, he took his place by tho colonel at their head, and gaily the joyful march back be gan. The sun had como from behind the clouds of early morning and shono gloriously on glancing steel, on the brilliant swinging line of tho regi ment. Low branches of trees brushed Francois' shoulder as ho rode und the touch thrilled him, for ho knew by t that this was true and not a dream, and he, Francois Beauprc, was lead ing a regiment of Franco to France's Emiwror. Suddenly a man galloped from a Bide street. In front of tho advancing troops; ho stopped, saluted, called a word. It was not a day to tako any thing for granted; Colonel Counnf halted tho regiment. "The nrsonal," the man gasped. "They have taken Monsieur de Per algny prisoner. Monsieur lo General Volrol Is on his wny, but he Iij dis tant. It is a stop from hero. Tho third artillery could arrive thero bo foro him they would surrender- -Monsieur do Pcrslgny would bo re-lcasad"-i-ho stopped breathless. Tho colonol turned an Inquiring look on Francois. As tho Prince's mes senger, as the man whom ho had seen closest to tho Princes person, ho de ferred to him, and Francois realized that ho must make, and make quickly, a momontous decision. The nrsonul wns Immense and lightly guarded. Do Porslgny had been sent with a small force to tako It. for tho ammunition It held might at any moment bo of BUpremo Importance. It seemed that tho detachment which guarded It had been underrated, for it had mado pris oners of Ho Porslgny arid his mon, nnd this aldo-do-camp had alone es caped. If thoy woro to bo rescued, If tho arsenal was to bo gained for tho Princo, thlB very moment must bo seized. Gonernl Volrol, royalist, the commandant at Boulogne, was on his way with reinforcements and the third might well hold tho nrsonul ngnlnst him but not gnlu It from him. With his whole bolng concontrated Francois thought "Tho orders wero plain to lead tho third artillery to join the Princo on tho ramparts. But there nro times In history when to ohoy or ders is treachery. Was not this mo ment, heavy with the right or wrong of his decision, ono of them? Was It not tho pnrt of a mind capable of greatness to know and grnap tho Hying second or opportunity? Would not the Princo repronrh him, if he stupidly let this one chance in a thousand go by, for servile fear of disobeying orders? Ho had loft his Highness safo with two regiments nt his back; this other could do nothing at tho Place d' Alton barracks but swell tlie ranks; here, by a turn of a hand, they might win for the cause tho vory blood and bones of success, a mighty arsenal, and for themselves honor and gratltudo from their Emperor. In Francois' mind was a touch of lnnocont vanity that ho should have (he power to render so signal a service, yot no thought nt all for himself or for tho honor he might gain or lose; whole-heartedly he weighed the reasons why or why not it would be best for the Princo. Tho aide-do-camp's voice broke In. "M Colonel, I beg you, I lmploro you, save Monsieur do Pcrslgny. The Prince loves him he will be vory angry If hjj Is left helpless thoy threaten to execute him I mysolf heard I lmpore you, Monsieur lo Col onel. For the rest, It Is Indeed the moment of fate to win the arsenal." Francois" face lit with a fire of decision. "My Colonel, it is for tho Prince It would be his will wo must not let slip the gift of destiny. To the arsenal!" And while orders rang out sharply and tho regiment wheeled Into sliding linos that doubled and parted and flowed together again in an elastic stream toward the looming arsenal, Francois, with a quick word to De Perslgny's aide-de-camp, wiib writing rapidly on a bit of paper. "You will tnko this to the Prince at once." he ordered, and the young offi cer saluted, for he, tOQ, know, aB most of them did, this man's anomnlous yet strong hold on Prince Louis. ' Francois rode again to the colonel's side, nnd he did not doubt that he had decided lightly. CHAPTER XXXIII. The Accolade at Last. It Ib a common tragedy that men. being human, cannot nee all sides of a question; that a decision right in one light may bring disaster In an other. If events had stayed where ho left them, Francois Beaupre and Col onel Couard and his regiment would have won honor t and eternal grati tude lroin Louis Bonaparte for the quarter of an hour's work which made the arsenal theirs. Events, Instead of Btanding ,stillv or going forward, took an unexpected sinister turn, not long after Francois' going. Tho happy Prince, smiling tho shad owy smile which mndo his facov win ning, stood In the center of triumphant turmoil; his new followers, the men of tho forty-sixth, crowded nbout him shouting, cheering, kissing his hands, nnd tho loyal fourth artillerymen fra tqrnlzed. emhrnced, congratulated vthe men of the line regiment. The- narrow courtyard was a hubbub of rapturous excitcmont, and tho Princo's officers Montholon, Vaudrey, Volsln, Parquln. D'Hunin, Quorelles these and others whose names Frenchmen knew, sur rounded the small llgure which yot had po much' of royalty, and laughed nnd chatted light-heartedly. In a few moments, when Colonol Laity's engi neers and tho third artillery should havo arrived the Prince would have live thousand mon undor his com mand. The great game was practical ly won Prince Louis was all but Em peror Suddenly, above the sea of sound, n commotion was heard at the farther end of the barrack yard. The colonel of tho forty-sixth. Colonel Talandlor, had nrrtved. Vory loyal to Louis Phil llpo, very angry nt tho sceno before him, he would not believe the nows. He called excitedly, nnd the men's voices died down as thoy saw him gesticulating. "Soldiers," he erled, "you aro de ceived! This man for whom you nro shouting Is an adventurer, an Im postor!" In the shock of sllenco which fol lowed his words, another voice rang out, cleur and Indlgnnnt, the voice of a ataff-olllcor whom they alt knew. "It Is not the nephew of the Em poror! It is tho nephew of Colonol Vaudrey! I recognize him!" tho olil cer cried In a strong staccato, and a gasp b If len-wator had boon scat tered went through the crowdod, place. There Is nothing more nbsutd In his tory thnn the Jnstant effect of this quiek-wltted' H-'- Only with a mer curial French mob, perhaps, could It have succeeded, hut it succeeded hero with hopeless Bwlftness. It flow from mouth to mouth thoy were cheated, tricked; the Emperor's nephew, their Prince, hart not como; thlB young man was a make-believe, a substitute, the nephew of an officer; some of tho soldiers who had shown most enthus iasm almost lost their minds now In rage. Colonel Talandler began to form his men; tho Prince, composed as over, yot earnest, swift, tried to rnlly his. but It wns Impossible to atnrt any whero, In this confusion, for lino nnd artillery had become mixed In nn un- manugeable mob. A word from cither Princo or colonel nnd blood would havo flowed. Yet tho steadfast mind kept lta hopo; he glanced ovory moment toward tho rampartH. Tho .hlrd must appear there shortly; It could not bo many minutes. They would turn tho tide. Ono gllmpso of that solid swinging regiment nnd tho day would bo saved and salvation wns certain. The third was coming, would bo hero nny second Francois' faithfulness could bo trusted. Slowly, with his ofllccrs crowding nbout him, he wns driven toward tho barrackB wall, and, in a flash, from somewhere, a man was boforo htm, thrusting n bit of paper nt him. With a swift movement ho hnd It opened nnd read: "Destiny throws arsenal Into our hands. Have taken third artillery to hold It. I wait to bring tho nows ;a jewel for, your crown. Vivo l'Emper cur! ' Beaupro." Few men ever hoard Louis Napo leon sob, yet tho officers stood nbout him nt that moment caught a sound that wrung them. It meant tho ond. nnd they know It. Passionately ho crushed tho paper and threw it Into the seething mass. "Fool! Ho has thrown away tho em pire," ho hlssod through set teeth. "If I could run him through!" Then, quickly, ho was himself again. Serenely whllo the maddened 'soldiers pressed on him, he turned and spoke a quiet word to his friends, and then, serenely, too, with a gaze that was half contemptuous, hnlf friendly, ho let himself be mado prisoner. Yet the fight was not all over even now. On tho ramparts, whore the Prince and his column should havo been, had gnthered from tho Faubourg Pierre n formidable crowd, who ad vanced angrily' to his rescue, and pelt ed tho lino regiment with stones, and cried again and again, "Vive l'Einper eur! " Colonel Talandler had to reck on with a many-sided trouble. But tho heart of It was in his hands, and slow ly order and the old rule wero coming back. Tho 'tumult of tho struggle had quieted, the volatile forty-sixth regi ment,, returned to Its allegiance, Btood formed In ranks, In appearance as firm for tho king as the everlasting hills, nnd, at the ond of tho court was a sad and silent, yet a stately group of men, the Princo who had almost been Emperor and those who had watched slipping with his hope, their hopeB of grandeur. Suddenly a horse's hoofs rang down tho lane from the Faubourg; a rider clattered at gallop into the yard and across tho front of tho soldiers, and every ono In tho agitated company saw that tho man reeling In his sad dle was wounded. With blind gaze ho stared about as he reined In, and then he caught sight of tho sorry group, tho Princo nnd his officers. To Francois Beaupre, clutching to this world by ono thread of cluty, this waa the victorious Emperor and his tri umphant staff. With a choking shout he threw himself from tho horse nnd fell, too far. gone to stand, at tho Prince's feet. "Sire, I bring you tha arsenal," ho stammered painfully, loudly. In tho silence of the courtyard ono heard every word. "Two wishes good fair ies" he gasped. And then, his mouth twisting to a smile, "the third Is no matter." Louis Bonaparte looked down at tho man whose dying face stared up nt him In a rapture of loyalty; whoso lifo had been consecrated to him; whoso death was for him; who had lost him an empire For a second a struggle shook liim, nnd then the lnrge kind ness through which he camo nearest to greatness, overflowed. In tho ca reer to como wns no finer moment, no higher Inspiration for Princo LouIb "Sire! I Bring You the Arsenal." thnn this. He bont close to the glaz ing eyes. "Courage!" he said clearly, "Cour age, mon ami. Live for mo and for our country. Live, my brother 'Fran cois Chovaller Beaupro, Marshal of the Empire." And tho Princo's sword flashed out and touched his shoulder. Tho other world closing about him Francois heard thoy did not doubt It who saw tho oyea llamo as a Hrefly flames out of darkness, and when his lips stirred thoy know thnt ho wished to cry once more "Vivo l'Emporeur!" Frenchmon'all, shaken with tho llv Ing drama, tho ruined men who stood about a defeated Princo cried It for him tho old magic cry of tho Bona partes. With kepis lifted, as ono man, "Vivo l'Empereur!" tho deep voices cried, hailing a lost cause for a lost, llfo. But only tho Princo know thnt' a thought camo after; only ho caught, on tho gnsp which lot the soul out, a girl's name. He bent quickly again, with an eager assurance, but It waa lato. Tho accolade of a higher kln had touched his servant, and th J knightly soul of FrancolB had rlsoa. THE END. MMU s. ?
