The Detroit times., 1913-09-05
CHAPTER xI.
(Continuo0l

(Co0tsnueo)
Francois was alone with the gen.
eral when the letter came; Narcotic
the younger footman. had been sent
to the mayors In the village for the
mail, which came by post to Deles.
monies and was brought on by foot
messengers to VicQues, to the mayor
who. distributed 1t. Francois eyes
were on his seigneur's face as he read
the letter and the boy saw the blood
rush through the weather-hardened
skin In q brown-red food. and then
iads out. leaving It gray. The boy
had never seen the general look so.
With that. the big arms were thrown
out on the table and the big grixzled
head fell into them. That cut to
Ffancois' soul-his seigneur was in
trouble. And before he knew II his
childish arm was around the big
neck and his cheek against the seig.
neur's. And the seigneur put up his
hand and pressed the little face
closer. For long minutes not a word
was said and then the generals deep
voice spoke. more gently than Fran.
co.'s had ever heard II.
1t 10 good thing to have son,
my Francois" he said.
f.. Then he lifted his head and told
the boy how the friend whom he had
found lately. after SO many years OF
separation, had gone away not to
come back In this life, and how Pie
tro was fatherless Francois, holding
tightly with both fists to the gen.
erals hand. listened wide-eyed, struck
hA tS,~,n
death had come near, and the face
OF It was grim. Yet instantly he raj
lied, because he felt that his seig-
neur needed him.
But he led brave life, my seig-
, neur-it Is the best thing that there
Is. My mother said SO. My mother
told me that We shall smile later,
when we are with the good God, to
think that we ever feared death on
this earth. For she says one spends
a long time with the good God later.
and all ones dear friends come, and
II ID pleasant and II Is for long. long
time. while here 1t Is. after all. quite
short. ls not that true, my seigneury
My mother said It."
/. But all the general answered was
to pat his head and say once more,
1t 10 a good thing to have a son,
my Francois
Big little Pietro had to be told what
had happened and how the general
was now to be a father to him as best
ne might, and Alike and Francois
would be his slater and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
his studies next morning. but for
Inv h. MI a
only Francois could make him speak.
He chung to the other boy, and seem.
ed to hnd his best comfort In the
friendship which 1t had been his
fathers parting inspiration to assure
for him. He was handsome-extra
ordinarily handsOme-and lovable
good child. but slow In initiative
where Francois was ready shy where
Francois was friends with all the
world. steady-going where the peas.
ant boy was brilliant. Between the
two, Of such contrasting types, was
an outspoken bond from the first. and
at this age It seemed to be the little
peasant who had everything to give.
Smaller physically. weaker In muscle
than the big bOned son OF North Italy,
he yet took quite naturally an atti-
tude OF protection and guidance, and
Pietro accepted II without hesitation.
There was no jealousy between them.
Francois taught the other. who had
grown up petted but unframed In the
lonely castle of his ancestors, all that
he knew Of boyish skill and strength,
and was enchanted when his pupil
went beyond him, as happened where
brute force counted. Yet Francois
was the acknowledged leader.
Father" Alike complained. Pie
. tro will not try to knock Francois
down. Pietro IL big yet It is always
Francois who comes up behind MIN
and throws him on the grass. ana
Pietro only smiles and gets up. Make
Pietro be brave and quick as Francois
10, father"
TWENTY FOUR-sTORv
Either of my boys is brave enough
for you, who are only girl" the gen.
eral growled, and put an arm around
her and kissed her brown head.
And Alike pushed away haughtily.
THAT il not way to talk before
boys. They might not understand
how q girl Is worth six boys, and 1t Is
you who said 1t. Besides, | can ride,
can I not, father? Nobody has jump
ed Coo over the hedge by the far field
but just me-Alixe." And the boys
nodded their dark heads and agreed.
and Pietro added
"She can run faster than I, though
my legs are 20 long" And he smiled
ut her in his sleepy fashion. honest,
admiring. shy.
Things went on In this way for two
years or more, and the three studied
together under the tutor. and rode
Coo In the park, and sometimes went
together of a Friday afternoon to the
Valley Farm and spent q two-days
there never to be forgotten. They
were royal guests to lie Francois and
Ia Claire, and the wholesome simple
things done to amuse them were end
less; the farm was theirs to play with
for that weekend. First, on coming,
there was q fine lunch; gigot-a leg
Of lamb-which one gave to princes,
with salad and bread and wine and
much besides. The grandmother told
them stories. the father took them
driving on hay wagons; the mother
-