South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-09
Continued from MondayD
CHAPTER XIII.
Rest and Safety

he feared TO find IL unreal II ne
opened his eyes. lie feared to find
himself in the straw OF dungeon.
He listened attentively-surely sails
and cordage and slapping waves-and
then he was aware OF the motion Of
a boat Cautiously he peered from
under half-clOsed lids. A small room.
a boats cabin: nothing 10 tell IL he
were IN the hands OF friends or OF
enemies. Yet-was 1T a dream that
he had seen the general and Pietro,
had ridden long miles in the dawn
with Alike? Such dreams come TO
comfort poor prisoners-he knew
that But at that point his eyes
flashed wide and his arms flew out
Something more had crept into that
clrcumscribed field Of his vision-a
quiet figure sitting in a dark corner
OF the little room.
"Alixei''
Not a dream. not another world:
just the close sweetness Of her face
bent over him. Of her hands holding
his, or her courageous soft voice
speaking to him caressingly as II he
were a child. as If he were dear to
her.
You must not talk. Francois.
After a while-not yet. You are very
weak"
SO he smiled and lay happily
clutching her hand with his long, hot
shaking fingers like a birds claws
for thinness. But a hunted beast may
not rest absolutely till it knows if the
bloodhounds are distanced. The
cavernous eyes turned on Alike with
a question, and she understood.
on want to know II you are safe,
dear Francois" and she strOked his
hand. Yes You are on the boat Of
little Battista-Luigis boat il is now.
Little Battista gave il TO Luigi when
"a vErG nj 70 frrf fer \, fn
friend and also one OF Pietro's peo-
pie. You will hear about that later.
We are going now to the harbor Of
CommachiO, 60 miles from Castel-
forte. You are TO be put on board a
big ship there. and taken away to
safety Yet you are safe Eow-rest in
that. for II is true"
And Francois drew a deep trem-
bling breath and, holding Alixe's
hand. fell asleep.
When he awoke next his eyes open
cd swiftly and turned to the corner
where Alike had sat 1t was nor Alike
there this time, but the general
And Z e general came and sat down
by him and patted his hand and swore
softly at him saying, sabre de bois''.
and nom dun CHEN. and such
things; and called him his own boy,
and told him how his mother and
father were we'll and confident of his
rescue: yes, and told him also how il
was Alike who had waited every night
for him In Riders Hollow, and would
let no one take her place
ct was the best arrangement"
said the general. For Pietro is too
we'll known--it would have been I'M
safe for you both. And / am so much
the old officer that 1 should have been
remarked instantly; also I am heavy
in the saddle. But Alike passed easily
for l. IL
horse for his master; also she rides
light and so could save the horses.
which was important, for only two
horses could we have and they were
10 be in service one knew not how
long"
Francois asked feeble question.
"Ah-PietrO. He is a fine sort
our Pietro. They adore him. here in
his country. There is a farmer back
there who owed his life and home TO
the Zappis, 20 Pietro's father and
mother. The horses were his They
were brought after dark and returned
before sunrise, but it was far, and
hard on the beasts. And a risk for
the good Giuseppi; but he was glad
TO serve Pietro; they adore Pietro."
Quite malapropos, the general lean
ed over at this point and stretched
out a heavy hand and patted Fran
co.'s pale cheek and smiled and said,
as he had said so many years ago
on that morning when the news
came OF the marquis death. 1T is a
good thing to have a son, my Fran
co.'s" And Francois. being fed
shortly after, fell asleep again like a
tired baby.
And the next time ne awoke it was
with a new feeling; with desire and
n hope 10 live. Pietro sat watching
him and brought him warm milk and
held his head up as he drank it. like
a woman. Then. in quiet slow tones.
he explained all the puzzle which
Francois had by now begun to wonder
over. It seemed that just before little
Battista had brought Francois letter
10 Vicques. Pietro had received an
other unexpected letter. from a Colo
mel Hampton in Virginia, whose estate
law next 10 the six thousand acres OF
land which the Marquis Zappi had
bought fifteen years before. Colonel
Hampton wrote with two requests.
The first was that the Marquis Zappi
should come TO Virginia or send one
with authority too look after his prop
erty. The land was going TO rack and
ruin for want OF management; the
uncontrolled slaves on the place were
demOraliZin2 To the neighbOrhOOd.
Colonel Hampton had done what he
could, but he had not the power OF a
master, and moreover he was busy
with his own large estate The mar
cuis should come or send a qualified
agent and at once.
The next object Of the letter was
10 ask that the marquis should re-
ceive and entertain the nephew OF
Colonel Hampton. Mr.. Henry Hamp-
ton. who, sailing on Colonel Hamp-
tons ship, the Lovely Lucy. would
bring this letter TO the marquis The
ship would go first 10 England and
discharge there her cargo OF tobacco,
and after that il was 10 be at the
service OF young Mr. Hampton 10
visit such countries OF Europe as he
might choose. FOR six months. Mr..
Hampton had many letters to people
in England. but none elsewhere, and
Colonel Hampton would be obliged if
the marquis would receive him at ms
estate OF Castelforte and let him see
something or italy from thac point OF
vantage. The marquis might then, II
he thought good. return 10 Virginia
in the Lovely Lucy. and either set
matters on "A nrm enough footing 70