Belle-Rose — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FIRST TEARS. ay, he had yet seen. As the stranger took his hand Jacques’ heart beat rapidly, and when, pressing Phoebus’ flanks, the unknown rode away ata gallop, father and son kept their eyes on him for a long time, touched and silent. As they were returning to the garden Jacques’ foot struck a brilliant object which had fallen upon the sand. It was a — gold medallion. ‘See, my father,’’ said the child; ‘‘the stranger must _ undoubtedly have lost it.”’ — ‘“‘Keep it, my son; perhaps it is Providence which sends it to you.’’ Ee CHAPTER II. THE FIRST TEARS. The recollection of this adventure remained in Jacques’ memory. Time might make faint its details, but the affair itself was fixed like a luminous spot in the depth of his heart. From the day of his meeting with the stranger he contracted a keener taste for things pertaining to war. When a squadron passed over the road, banner floating in the wind and trumpet at the head, he ran after it as far as his legs could carry him and hummed fanfares for a whole week. At times it also happened to him to form the children of the faubourg into a regiment and with them to deliver a counterfeit battle or imitate some siege, which always ended by furious mélées in which his arms did wonders; child though he was, he already displayed a sur- prising address in the handling of arms—sword, saber, ax, pike, dagger, pistol, or musket. The words of the Arras merchant, “‘If ever you enrol yourself, you will make your way,’’ buzzed constantly in his ears, but we should add that there was no drill, review, combat, and assault which Jacques did not willingly abandon to follow Mademoiselle de Malzonvilliers when she went with Claudine to search for strawoperries in the woods. On these occasions, which were renewed every day, the little general sighed with all his heart and stood confused when Suzanne’s hand encoun- tered his. The little girl made him go and come at her will, but with so much natural grace and with an air so charming, that Jacques would have left for the end of the world without deliberating, upon a sign from her blue eyes. | The years passed then between studies, battles, and (Eo payiicel e\oNo) KS