South Bend news-times., 1913-11-15
cop,risht The BOes>Nerrin csap.ry.

Then he lifted his head and told the
| boy how the friend whom he had
found lately, after 40 many yecrs of
separation, had gone away not to
come back in this life, and how Pietre
was tatherless. Francois, holding
tightly with both fists to the generals
nand, listened wide-eyed. struck TO
the heart. 1t was the first time death
had come near. and the fact or it was
! grim. Yet instantly ne rallied. be-
cause he felt that his seigneur needed
! him.
But he had a brave lie, my seig-
neur-it is the best thing that there
Is. My mother said so. My mother
( tod me that we shall smile later,
! when we are with the good God. 70
! think that we ever feared death on
this earth. For she says one spends
, q long time with the good God later.
and all ones dear friends come and
II IS pleasant and II is for a long. long
! time, while here it is, after all, quite
short. Is not that true. my seigneur?
Ny mother said it"
But all the general answered was
10 pat his head and say once more.
1t is good thing TO have son, my
Francois"
Big little Pietro had to be told what
/ had happened and how the general
was now TO be father to him as best
! ne might, and Alike and Francois
would be his sister and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
his studies next morning. but for many
DAYS he could not play, and only Fran
co.'s could make him speak. He clung
10 the other boy, and seemed to find
his best comfort in the friendship
which 1t had been his fathers parting
inspiration TO assure for him. He was
extraordinarily 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 peasant boy was brilliant. Be
tween the two, of such contrasting
| types, was an unspoken bond from
the first. and at this age it seemed
10 be the little peasant who had every
thing to give. Smaller physically.
weaker in muscle than the big-boned
son of North Italy, he yet took quite
naturally an attitude of protection
and guidance, and Pietro accepted it
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
acknowledged leader.
Father" Alike complained. 'Pietro
will not try 10 knock Francois down.
! Pietro Is big. yet il is always Francois
| who comes up behind him and throws
| him on the grass, and Pietro only
\ smiles and gets up. Make Pietro be
/ brave and quick as Francois is,
father"
Either of my boys is brave enough
| for you. who are only a girl" the gen.
eral growled. and put an arm around
/ her and kissed her brown head.
And Alike pushed away ughtily.
! That is not way to talk before boys.
| They might not understand how a girl
is worth six boys. and it is you who
/ said it. Besides. I can ride. can I not.
| father? Nobody has jumped Coz over
! the hedge by the far field but just me
Alike" And the boys nodded their
dark heads and agreed. and Pierro
added:
she can run faster than I. though
my legs are so long" And he smiled
admiring. shy
Things went on in this way for two
years or more. and the three studied
together under the tutor. and rode
Cog in the park, and sometimes went
together of Friday afternoon to the
Valley farm and spent a twO-days
there never TO be forgotten. They
were royal guests to lie Francois and
La 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 a fine lunch: gigot-a leg
of lamb-which one gave TO princes
with salad and bread and wine and
much besides. The grandmother told
g =.
driving on hay wagons; the mother