South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-31
From Tuesday.l

But the time came, six months att
or his return, when Francois must be
sent TO visit the officers OF certain
regiments thought to be secretly Bon
apartist; when only he. It was believ-
ed, could get into touch with them
and tell them enough and not too
much Of the plans Of the party, and
find out where they stood and how
much one might count on them. SO,
against the generals wish, FRANCOIS
went off on a political mission. II
proved more complicated than had
seemed possible, he was gone long
time: he had to travel and endure
eXhausting experiences for which he
was not vet fit. So that when he
came home 70 NicQues. two months
later, he was white and transparent
and III. And there were some OF
the mysterious men at the chateau TO
meet him, delighted. pitiless. De-
lighted with the work he had done,
with his daring and finesse and sue
cess, without pity for his weakness
begging him 10 20 at once on another
mission The general was firm as TO
that; his boy should not be bounded;
he should stay at home in the quiet
old chateau and get well. But the
boy was restless, a fever of enthusi-
asn was on him and he wanted 10 do
more and yet more for the princes
work
Moreover IL was about as much mis-
cry as Joy TO be near Alike. Every
day he narrowly escaped taking her
into his arms and telling her how
he had loved her and did love her ana
would love her always. right or
wrong, reasonable or unreasohdDle.
II was almost more than he could do
to resist that temptation at times
And at times it seemed that Alike
with the swift lift OF those long black
lashes. and the blue CLEAN OF her
eyes into hist seemed as III sne
were telling him not TO resist any
longer. He did not know; II he hau
been sure what sort of love that glance
meant-if he had been sure 1t was
not the sisterly sort-he was human
he could not. perhaps. have resisted
But Alike was a thousand Things IN Il
minute. no one could be SO allurlng,
so cold, so warm, so fascinating. so
forbidding-au at once. How coulu
Francois tell what was mask ana what
reality in the proud. sensitive, merry
brave personality which one sa" /,
Yet for every puZZling phase ne IoVed
her more and wanted her more. lie
had much better go on diplomatic
missions than stay and rae through
Valley Delesmontes on spring AFTER :
Moons wit hthe woman he loved ana
might not have.
At this point two things happened:
PietrO came from London, and FRAN
co.'s on the point of leaving for an
other secret errand. broke down ana
was i'll. He lay in his bed IN ms
room at the farm house, the low up
per chamber looking out-through
wide-open easement windows, their
old loaded little panes of glass gnt-
tering from every uneven angie
looking out at broad fields and Dou-
duets of chestnut trees, and far OIL
five miles away, at the high red roofs
of the chateau of Nicques. And saz-
ing SO. he saw Pietro on old Capitalne
turn from the shady avenue OF the
chestnuts and ride slowly TO the
house. With that he heard his molh-
er greeting Pietro below In the great
kitchen, then the two voices-the
deem one and the soft one-talklns,
talking. a long time. What could ms
mother and Pietro have TO talk aoou'
so long? And then Piero's step was
coming up the narrow stair, ana ne
was there, in the room.
Francois" Pietro began in his
direct fashion. Il think you must go
back TO Virginia
Francois regarded him with startled
eyes. saying nothing. Ihere was
chill and an ache in his heart at the
thought OF yet another parting
PietrO went on. Il have letter
from Harry Hampton. The place
needs YOU; the people want you; and
Harry and Miss Hampton say they will
not be married unless you come TO be
hest man at the wedding FRANCOIS
smiled Pietro went on again. More
over. boy F'ranCOis-yOu are not DO
/ ing well here. You are too useful
| they want 10 use you constantly anC
YOU are ready: but you are not tit. Yor
/ fNr
| two. Then YOU will be we'll and per
| haps by then the Prince will have
real work for you. And you mus
/ have strength for that time. Your
mother says | am right" With tina
/ his mother stood in the doorway. re
garding him with her calm eyes, anc
nodded to PietrO's words. SO II came
about that Francois went back shortly
/ 20 Virginia
on the day before he went he sal
! in the garden of the chateau with
Alike. on the stone seat bv the sun
/ dial where they had sat years before
when the general had seen him kiss
the girls hand. in that unbrOtherly
way which had so surprised him.
Alike" said Francois, Il am COINS
to the end Of the world.
.'Not for the first time" Alike an
swered cheerfully.
Perhaps for the last" Francois
I threw back dramatically. II is hard
/ To have ones best beloved discount
ones tragedies. And Alike laughed
and lifted a long stem of a spring
! flower which she held in her hand. and
brushed his forehead delicately with
the distant tip of II.
smooth out the wrinkles do not
frown: do not look solemn; you al
WAYS come back. Monsieur the Bad
I Penny: YOU Will this time. Do not be
melodramatiC. Francois
Francois. listening 10 these sane
sentiments was hurt, and not at all
inspired with cheerfulness. Alike.
he said-and knew that he should not
say it-"there is something I have
wanted all my life-an my life"
lis there" inquired Alike in com
monplace tones. "A horse. par eX-
enple2" He caught her hand. dis
regarding Aer tone; his voice was full
az ssiou and pleading. DO not be
heartless and cold TO-DAY. Alike. dear
Alike 7 am going so TAR, and my very
soul Is torn with leaving you--all'
II takes no more than a syllable, an
infection AZ times. TO turn the course
I T~vaurOfa had left his A.