South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-13
CHAPTER y.
Continued from Wednesday
For Always.
opynsht The Bobbsherrin ConpGry.

Claire listened with serious calm
eyes as her son told his story when he
came home on the day of the new ar
rival at the castle. 1t was strange TO
have her boy the playmate of the chill
dren Of a noble marquis and of the
seigneur himself. A pang came with
the thought for il seemed to separate
the little lad from her But the
grandmother had said always, and the
mother believed il, that the child
would not grow up and live and die
placidly in Vicques as had his an
cestorS. There was a wider destiny
before him; had not the hand of Ma
pOleon himself laid that destiny on his
baby shoulder? So, like plenty of
other mothers, Claire put down the
selhshness Of a longing to keep her
own child. and for the child's sake
walked a little way with him on the
road which was to lead him from her.
The great gentleman has come
who once saved our seigneur's life"
she repeated after Francois. And
the seigneur is glad. OF course he is
glad, my Francois. And you ought to
be glad, to. and grateful to that gen
tleman because of all the good things
our seigneur has done fer you and
which would not have happened, as
suredly, If Monsieur the Marquis had
not saved him. You should do every
thing that is possible for Monsieur the
Marquis to show your gratitude"
Francois looked doubtful and a lit
tie depressed. But, my mother, l
can not do anything for the marquis
that 1 can think Of He would not
like me TO bring him vegetables, 1
think. And Jean Philippe or Pierre,
or else the maids carry the water for
him; | could not do that as l could
Tor you. There are SO many people to
do things that he would not want
me"
Claire considered; this view was
true; yet she wished her son to feel
his part Of the obligation to the mar
quis and to discharge it. 1T is true,
Francois. Yet there may be some
thing which you can do for him, if it
be only to bring him a book gladly.
Moreover, it ii this which makes ones
life happy-doing things for others
Watch and be ready to serve him with
a good will when you may because of
the thing which he did for our seig-
neur. Also be a friend to the young
monsieur, his son-you can do that,
for you know we'll how to play and to
help other boys in playing"
Francois nodded, and his exquisite
smile, smile whose sweetness and
pathos and brilliancy went straight to
the hearts of people, lighted his small
face. 4 will do that, mother 1t will
please me to do that"
Next morning the little brown figure
which trudged through the beech
wood was frightened by a large and
vivid bouquet held in his two hands
a point of color among the swinging
shadows, blossoms from the new gar
den, growing now as only Claire knew
how TO make things grow.
When the tap of Francois at the
library door where one heard mems
voices talking. had brought the gen
erals loud command Of "Entrez". the
little brown figure and the large
bunch Of flowers came in together and
the boy marched straight to the state
" Italian. Swapping his heels togeth-
er as his mother had taught him he
made stiff deep bow, and presented
his nOsegay The marquis a little
astonished at this attention, received
1t with grave courtesy but without
much cordiality; it seemed to him
rather an ODD whim of GOurgaud's to
nave this peasant child about as one
OF his own family. And the gift Of
the flowers appeared possibly a bit
presumptuous. SO that Francois first
effort at showing his appreciation of
the marquis herOism was not alto
gether successful
But Francois did not know that: to
him all the world was kindly. with
different manners Of kindness. The
manner OF the marquis was graver
than other peoples. perhaps-what
then? The kindness was undoubt-
edly ghere below the gravity. And il
was this monsieur who had saved the
LIE of the seigneur; that, after all.
was the whole matter. Francois
iii L.
! peoples feeling toward himself He
was much too busy with a joyful Won
der OF his own at the ever new good
I ness OF his world. To the marquis.
who hardly noticed him. he proceeded
to constitute himself a shadow.
We will walk To the village tOgeth-
! er' Alessandro, the general decided.
OF a morning, in his sudden way, and
shouted forthwith for "Moison. Ho
! there. MOison, The cloak and hat of
monsieur the marquis"
But before Jean PHILIPPE had time
/ TO get to the door. the small person in
homespun had fled like a rabbit and
| was back loaded with arapnernalia.
He worked as faithfully as ever with
/ the general at the great book, what
times the general could spare now TO
work, away from his friend; he played
with his might as always, yet there
4 N1AC many AAIllt-S WDtn ne WOULD SlluaI
at distance behind the chair OF the
visitor, mOtiOnless, while Alike and
Pietro tried vainly TO lure him away
At the first sign of a service to be
done for the marquis he was up and
at IL; always quicker. always more in
| telligent than the footman. The mar
/ quis could not help seeing these at
tentions and went through two OF
three stages of feeling about it
bored, = irritated. amused. fattered
| The lad trOtted at his heels as unOb-
trusively as a small dog and it was
not in the marquis nature--a gentle
nature, II proud and reserved-tO re-
sist such determined devotion. Sc
! the little brown shadow made its way
4 finally into his slow friendliness.
You have thrown a charm over my
/ boy Francois. AlessandrO." the gen
eral said, we'll pleased. And the mar
/ Quis answered thOughtfully:
1T is 10Y out of the common.
! believe, Gaspard. At first I thought il
| a mistake that you should raise q
| child of his class 10 the place you have
/ given him, but I see that you under
| stand what you are about He is
| worthy of a good fate "