The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-02-26

a ruSnlnB mountain Stream-Wnlte-
yelled in the falling, black.brown In
the foam.iecked pools-tumbled,
splashed, brawled down the mountain;
the mountain hung over, shadow;
banks Of fern held the rampant brook
In chains Of green. Alike and Fran.
coise, riding slowly In the GOODNESS OF
the road below. looked up and saw It
all, familiar. beautiful. full Of old as
sociations.
zone misses Pietro," Francois said.
HE always wanted to ride past the
'Trou du G~ouverneur."
A Roman legend had given this
name to the deep pool of the brook
by the road; It was said that the cruel
old governor had used II, two thousand
years back, for drowning refractory
peasants. Alike gazed steadily at thu
dark %murmuring water.
Yes, one misses him. Is life like
that, do you suppose. Francois? One
grows up with people. and they get
to be as much n part OF living as the
air, or ones hands-and then. sud.
denly, one is told that they are 60
ing away. And that ends 1t. One
must do without air. without hands.
What a world, Francois!"
I'VE are not meant to like It too
much, | believe, Alike" said Francois
sunnily. 1T is Just en- PEASANT, this
| uynTlH uhan Unm gtnn IN aAnufNAr
This is school, this life, | gather. My
mother says II is not very important
II one has a good seat In the school.
room or a bad; II one sits neal ones
playmates or is sent to another cor,
ner. so long as one is a good child
and works heartily at ones lessons.
It is only for a day-and then we go
home, where all that is made right.
Not a bad idea Of my mothers. is 1t,
AliXe?"
your mother is a wonderful won.
an" Alike answered thoughtfully,
"She lives like that. She never let
things trouble her. not even when your
father lost everything. Did she, Fran.
cois?"
mo" said Francois. "She is one OF
the few people who know what the
real things are and live In them. II
is hard to do that. ! can not. | care
so bitterly for what | want. "It is
Francois hesitated-"lt is very hare
for me to give up-what | want" He
stumbled over the words; his voice
shook so that Alike shifted in tn,
saddle and looked at him inquiringly
Alike dear" - then Francois
stopped. you need not be afraid tina
| shall have more than Pletro," he be
gan uncertainty. For 1t is not goinl
to be so. He will have what-what
would give my life for" Then h,
hurried on. 81 see how 1t u.s." he salt
gently, "and you are right to care 81
Loyalty for Pietro. -Ie Is worth II
And you must never care less, Alix,
never forget him because he has
gone away. He will come back" TIL,
boy spoke with effort, slowly, bu'
Alike was too much occupied with hel
own tumultuous thoughts to notice
"He will surely come back and-be
long to you more than ever. He will
come back distinguished and covered
with honors, perhaps, and then-and
then-Alixe, do you see the chestnut
tree at the corner that turns to the
chateau? 1t Is a good bit of soft road
we will race to that tree-shall We
And then | will tell you something
The horses raced merrily; Alike sal
close to the saddle with the light
swinging seat, the delicate hand on
the bride, which were part of her
perfect Workmanship, and over and
over as he watched her ride Francois
said to himself:
II will give my happiness for the
/ Seigneur's-I said 1t, and | will. ]
will be a friend to Pietro always
said 1t. and | will"
Over and over the horses flying feet
pounded out that self-command, and al
length the music OF the multiplying
hoof beats grew slower, and with tight
ening rein they drew In and stopped
under the big chestnut. Alike was
laughing, exhilarated, lovely.
Wasn't it a good race? Didn't