The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-09-12

dered 10 nlmsell as the tWo youhe
people swung through the wood-why
had nothing more ever come OF this
long friendship? He felt that Pietro
loved the girl: he knew that the girl
loved Pietro. at least as a sister loves
a brother. But she was not sister;
why had il gone no further? Alike,
now very beautiful woman. wom-
an of a charm greater than beauty.
had had many lovers. but no one OF
them had touched her heart. and this
Frenchman and his daughter were on
strange terms for French family.
So intimate, so equal had the two
been always that the genera! would
not have arranged a marriage sor her
as would any common father OF his
country. Alike must have her free
choice. Alike was no ordinary girl
to be happy in a marriage Of convent
ence; she must have love. his Alike.
But what was Pietro about! And
what. moreover,N&R Alike about?
Did she care for him? Or-his heart
sank at the thought--was II possible
that her big warm heart was wearing
itself out for a man dead or worse
than dead-for Francois. shot by the
Austrians, or else buried without
hope in an Austrian fortress? The
general went over this question many
times as he walked or rode about the
Valley Delesmontes, as he sat In the
high dim library. as he lay In bed at
night and listened through the stih-
ness to the Cheulte rushing down
over it's stones half a mile away. He
wished above all other wishes to
know Alike married to Pietro; yet
when he saw them together he was
jealous for the memory OF Francois.
OF his. boy Francois, whose career
had promised 30 brilliantly. whose
dashing courage. whose strength and
brains and beauty and charm had
been his pride and delight almost as
much as the brave bright character
OF Alike He himself had sent the
boy away to keep him from Alike. II
might be he had sent him to his
death; it might be he had spoiled.
Alixe's life as well. He could not
tell
Tie puzzled over II as he came up
through the park-and then he saw
Alike and Pietro coming joyfully to-
ward him, running light-heartedly,
calling to him with excited gay
voices. Il stabbed the generals
heart; quick thought came Of that
other who had been always with them.
now dead or worse, of that other
whom these two had forgotten. And
with that they were upon him, and
Alike was kissing him, hugging him,
la<t svrtA nd
his sleeve, into his face-anywhere.
"Father--good news--the best news
almost the best! Father. be ready
for the good news!"
II am ready the general growled
What Is this foolery?
Sabre de bois! What IL your news,
then. you silly child?"
And Alike. shaking very much, laid
her hand on his cheek and looked
earnestly into his eyes. Father,
Francois Is alive"
For all his grun self-control the
general made the letter an excuse
shortly to sit down. Queer, that
mans knees should suddenly bend
and give way because of q thrill OF
But the general had to sit
down. And then and there al! that
had been extracted from little Battista
was rehearsed, and the letter read
over from start to finish.
The letter. still kept In that cabi-
net III Virginia. told them all that has
already been written or told, and
which was of Importance to this
chronicle. But some Of II was what
has been quoted about the old days
when the three children rode Cog In
the park. and about the morning
when the Marquis Zappi came with
his little boy Pietro. The general.
hearing that, was afflicted with all
varieties Of a cold. and Alike choked.
reading Il. and broke down, and read
again half crying. half laughing.
Put he IL alive. father! Alive!
That Is happiness enough to kill one.
never knew till now that feared
he wws dead"
And the general, getting up and
stritins about hercely, ripped out
savage words such as should be avoid.
e6--inany OF them--and alternating
with Symphonic OF sudden severe In
Hucnya. Thor he whirled on the two.
"AliYc==yes. But In prison-in
that devils hole OF an old castle!"
And Alike looked ut Pietro and
laughed. but the general paid no At
tention. He must be got out. There
IL no time to waste. Diable! He II
perislling In that vile stable! What
was that the lad said about the doc
tors speech, that only . long sea
voyage could save him? One must
get him out. mon dieu, Quiclkl"
Alike, her hand on his arm, put her
head down on II suddenly and stood
so for a moment. her face hidden.
Pietro. his hands thrust deep in bis
pockets, looked at the general with
wide gray eyes. considering. With
that Alike flashed up, turned on the
young italian. shaking her foredngeS
at him. her eyes shone blue nre.
This II for you, Pietro II we
should lose him now. just 90 We have
found him. Now IL the time for you
to show II you can be what II brave
and strong, as Francois has shown.
1t IL your castle; you must save him."
Pietro looked at the girl. and the
color crept through his cheeks, but
he said nothing.
Alike, my Alike" her father put
ar arm around her. "One may not
demand heroism AZ n II were bread
and hutter pfotro will not fail ~