South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-22

Not fair" Alike interrupted, and
laughed.
NO. not fair" repeated (the boy.
You do not seem to see what he is
heart OF gold, wall OF rock. 1t is
not his way TO talk much, but he has
great qualities"
"What?" asked Alike.
What" Francois repeated. you
10 ask that You know as we'll as
that Pietro is a Bayard-without fear
and without reproach. He is un-
changing as the ocean-he is TO be be-
lieved in his slightest word. You
know that IT would be a mmonplace
for Pietro 10 be killed rather than
play false 10 the smallest trust He is
fanatic Of reliability"
You make him out a slow worthy
person" said Alike. and drew up the
horses bride. You can respect a
man with all those sterling qualities,
but--he isn't Very-dashing 10 be like
that. Is he? L like a man to have
initiative-some gift of leadership"
Francois looked at her sternly.
"Dashing Initiative! Do you re-
member, Alike. what IL is that Pietro
has done? Do YOU realize that Italy
is in the stress of a desperate struggle
for liberty? That a forlorn fight
against the power of the Austrians is
on her hands, and that Pietro went
back at eighteen to take his part with
the patriots? Do you realize what
danger that means? Danger not only
Of death, but of worse, of years of i'm
prisonment in some dungeon. Noble
men of higher rank than Pietro are
living in chains there now 1t is our
playmate Pietro who is facing this
Pietro, who has breathed the free air
and ridden with us through this val
ley for so many years. He realizes it.
He went with his eyes open. His fam
lily are marked: he will be a leader
against the Austrians; he will be one
of the first to be punished if the
Austrians conquer-and they are very
strong. He went back TO Italy to a
lonely life, TO a life Of intense effort
and activity and danger, as quietly
as If he were going back to school.
And you, you whom"-Francoiss stop
ped-and went on-"you whom he
loves better than any one in the world
wrong him."
BY now Alike was half sobbing
How hOrrid you are, Francois! You
jump at conclusions. You are not the
only person who cares for Pietro.
do not wrong him-not in my
thoughts. / abused him TO you on
purpose. l wanted to see what you
would say for him. One does that
II one-really cares-for a person,
one has a right II is not disloyalty;
/ could abuse my father could say
any horrid thing 1 chose, and not a
word, not a shadow of a thought,
would be disloyal, because 1 love him
so that it would all be nothing COM
pared to that. l know Pietro is
brave; I know he has gone into dan
GERS ii so very bad, Francois? But
i am irritated often with Pietro-
because you are always the hero. 1t
is always you VINO do the brave thing,
and ii is easy for every one to-to
adore you. Francois. You seem only
to smile at a person and they-they
care for you. And Pietro is just
quiet and reliable. 1t isn't fair for
you TO have-everything." There
were tears in her eyes now and a
culver in her voice. and the last word
was punctuated by an indignant sob.
"Alixe-dear"-- Francois stop
ped. You need not be afraid that
shall have more than Bietro," he be-
gan uncertainty. For il is not going
10 be so. He will have what-what
l would give my life for" Then he
hurried on. Il see how IL is" he said
gently land you are right to care so
Loyalty for Pietro. He is worth IT,
And you must never care less, Alike
never forget him because he has gone