The Detroit times., 1913-09-26

charge. Last year,"
Last year-what?" Pietro asked ;
he had already forgotten the Ques
ton. "Oh-that began to-Mon
Dieu-no. Last year! Why, l think
It was the day came and saw you
riding Cog"
"Oh. Pietro-if you will talk only
nonsense!" Alixe's voice was disap'
pointed. But why, then, didn't you
ever say SO before this? We are both
a thousand years old now. II you
loved me"-she spoke the word In a
quiet as q mouse about 1t all these
years?"
IL thought you cared for Francois.
Pietro said simply. And added, "Didn't
your
Alike considered. 81 dont-think-
ever did, Pietro. Not really.
thought I did perhaps. He dazzled
me-Francois-with his way of doine
all sorts OF things brilliantly. and that
wonderful something about him which
makes everybody love him. He be-
lieved In his star; there was around
him the romance OF the EmperOr'a
prophecy and the romance Of the ca
reer which IL. we believe. about to
begin now; there was always q
glamour about Francois"
YES" Pietro agreed. The CLAM.
our OF his courage, Alike, OF loyalty
and unselishness; the qualities which
make what people call his charm.
Francois 10 unlike the rest Of the
world, | believe, Alike"
Pietro stopped, then went on with
an eunaccustomed eloquence.
Whatever may be the fibers from
which souls are woven, those Of Fran
co.'s we're so adjusted from his birth
that things hard to most Of W are
easy to him. 1t has never been an
effort for Francois to love mankind
and to believe the best of every one.
Also, things unreal to most are his
realities. He lives very close to that
line over which Is inspiration or mad
ness-men call 1t either. according as
It succeeds or fails In this world.
There are questions yet to be under,
stood, believe, which will account
for Francois trick Of vision-seeing.
Perhaps q hundred years from now,
perhaps i've hundred, people will
know things about the human mind
which may make clear that strange
gift Of his. It may be that there are
powers Of the mind not now under
stood. There may be world OF men,
tai possibility beneath consciousness.'
Pietro talked on, the silent Pietro,
as II delivering lecture. He had
read much and thought much: 1t was
seldom he spoke of the speculations
which often filled his scholarly mind !:
to-day It seemed easy to talk of every
thing. Joy had set wide all the doors
of his being. Alike opened her eyes
In establishment.
"Pietro! You are-talking like q
book! But 1t Il true; something OF
that sort has come to me, too-which
proves 1t to be true. / have felt al
ways that Francois had notes In him
which are not on our pianos" Pietro
smiled. looking at her.
And yet. Alike, you do not love
Francois, with all these gifts and all
his power over hearts-but only COM
monplace me?"
Alike Strengthened against his arm
Monsieur the Marquis Zappi, the
gentleman I-care for, is not COM
monplace. thank you not to say
It," she shot at him. and then, melt
ing to q sudden intensity, she put a
hand on each side of his dark face
and spoke earnestly "Pietro, dear.
listen. believe always cared for
you. When I was little 1t hurt me
10 have Francois forever the one to
do the daring things. Do you remem-
Der how l used to scold at you be-
cause you would not fight him?" Pie
tro smiled again. Then he was cap
tain OF the school and you only q pri-
vate, and l cried about that when
was alone at night. And when you
went OF to Italy so quietly, with never
word said about the danger, I did
not know that your were doing a fine
deed thought 1t commonplace
that you should go back to your coun-
try. till Francois opened my eyes,"
"Francois?" Pietro asked.
yes. The day before he went to
join you we were riding together
and he told me what 1t meant to be
q patriot in italy under the Austrians.
That day I realized how unbearable
It would be II anything happened to
you. But thought cared for Fran
COTS; II he had spoken that day
should have told him that l cared for
him. But he did not; he went--and
was In prison five years"
And all that time l believed you
loved him. and were mourning for
him." Pietro said gently.
II half believed 1t too" Alike an
swered. yet all the time I was
Jealous for you, Pietro, for It was still
Francois who was the herO-nOt Won
Then when there came a question
Of his rescue I was mad with the
desire to have you do it-and you did
It,"
1T was still Francois who was the
hero" Pietro said. "Only the com.
monplace things fell to me. as is fit-
ting"
mo-" Alike cried. II know better
now. Was 1t commonplace the other
day when you saved little Antoinette
Tremblay and famed yourself for
months, maybe? That was enough
for q lifetime, Pietro. And you have
never failed any one--not once. As
Francois said. you are a heart OF
gold, wall of rock"
Her voice dropped. She laid her
hand against his shoulder and spoke.
In a quick cautious way.
(contInvedj.
HAGTaRfA