Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-03-19
CHAPTER VII
TIE poCroR's DILEMMA

arrived Oh the Quay5 OF bldNOsa Il VI
few minutes he stopped to admire the
schooner, whose burgee was lazily fiut-
tering from the malnmast-head-
whence comes this Doctor Ante
kirttY' he said to himself. - do not +
know that flag
Then addressing himself to n pilot
who was standing near, he asked
DO YOU know what flag that is ?"
The pilot did not know. All he could
saw about the schooner was that she had
come from Brindisi, and that her papers
had been found correct 10y the harbor-
master and as she was pleasure yacht
the authorities had respected her
incoGnito
Pierre Bathory then hired a boat and
WAS rowed off TO the Savarena, while the
Moor, very much surprised, watched HIM
as he neared the yacht
In few minutes the young man had
pet foot on the schooner's deck and
asked if Doctor Antekirtt was on board.
Doubtless the order which denied admit
,ance to strangers did not apply to him.
for the boatswain Immediately replied
that the Doctor was IN his room. Pierre
presented his card aud asked If he could
see tho Doctor. A sailor took the card
and disappeared down the companion
which led to the saloon. A minute
afterwards he returned with the message
that the Doctor was expecting Mr.. Pierre
Bathory.
The young man was Immediately intro
duced into "a saloon where only haf
light found its way Ill through the cur
talns overhead. But when he reached
tie double doors, both of which were
wide open. the light from the & lass
rauels at the end shone on him strong
ond full
In the halfshadow was Doctor Ante
knit seated on divan. At the sudden
appearance of the son of Stephen Bath
ory he felt sort of thrill go through
him, unnoticed by Pierre, and these
words escaped, so to speak from his
lips
It's he It's he !"
And in truth Pierre Bathory was the
very image of his father, as the noble
Hungarian had been at his age. There
was the same energy in his eyes, the
same nobleness in his attitude, the same
look prompt at enthusiasm for oil that
was good aud true and beautiful
MIR Bathory," said the Doctor, ris'
ing. II am very glad to see you in
response 70 the invitation contained In
my letter.
And he motioned Pierre TO sit dowr
in the other angle Of the saloon.
The Doctor had spoken in Hungarian
, which he knew was the young man:
Dative language.
Sir" said Pierre Bathory. II would
have come to return the visit you made
r,y mother even if you had not askeC
Z me to come on board. i know you ar
one Of those known friends 10 whom thu
memory is so dear of my father and thu
two patriots who died with him.
e thank you for having kept a place 70
them in your remembrance.
y In thus evokIng the past, now so fa
away, in speaking of his father, and III
y friends Matthias Sandorf and Ladisla
: Zathmar. Pierre could not hide Ia
emotion.
Forgive me-, ne said When
think OF these things | cannot help"
; Did he not feel then that Doctor Ante
kirtt was more affected than he was, an
2 that if he did not reply it was the bette
s to keep hidden what he felt ?
; MIR. Bathory, lie said after length
z ened pause. Il have nothing TO forgi'
: in so natural grief. You are of HUI
2 garian blood, and what child of Hungar
would become so dennturalized as not
. feel his heart shrink Mt such remen
: brances? At that time, fifteen years ago
. yes, already fifteen years have passed
q you were still young. Iou can scarce
% remember your father and the events
: which he took part.
Z MY mother is his other sell
8 answered Pierre. She brought me ,
= In the creed Of him she had never ceas
= 70 mourn. All that he did, all he tri
: to do, all the life devotion to L
people aud his country, l have learn'
,r. from her. / was only eight years o
II when my father died, but 1t seems tn
s, lie is still living, for lie lives again in n
ZEN mother.
e, You love your mother as she deserv
e., 10 be loved, SAID the Doctor I; and
Il venerate her as If she were a marty
D.. widow"
n Pierre could only thank the Doctor
. thus expressing himself His Ia, art b'
m loudly as he listened and he did l
AZ notice the GOODNESS, natural or acquire
N, with which the Doctor spoke, and viii
nj seemed TO be Characteristic.
%. May l ask If you knew my fail
r.. personally ?" asked he.
e, Yes, Mr. Bathory." was the rep
IN not without certain hesitation "bu
~ knew him rs a student knew n profes
who was one of the most distinguish
men in the Hungarian universities.
studied medicine and physics in "
country. / was one of your faith,
" pupils, for lie was only my senior
/. twelve years. learned TO esteem hi
e. TO love him, for / felt that through
,na his teaching there thrilled all that VIII
!. made him later on an ardent patriot,
\. I left him only when / went away