The Detroit times., 1913-09-16

VI tWO Iuo OcvOtoO IIlcuub WIZ Soi "
for him doubted " they had not got
him back only to lose him. But that
last effort of the change to the ship
being past, when consciousness came
again he grew strong more rapidly.
II thought-the Austrians-would
nab meas I came aboard" he whis-
pered. smiling gaiIy as he gasped the
words to Alike. 1T was-Afrm In my
mind"
And Alike laughed at him and told
him that they we're far out on the
Adriatic now, safe under the Amerl-
can flag. and the Austrians left two
hundred miles behind.
Even II they had-nabbed me"
whispered Francois. those two days
with you Would have paid"
And Alike shrugged q little and told
him to 60 to sleep and stop thinking
of Austrians, for they were out OF his
life forever now.
my Seigneur," said Francois next
day when the general took his turn
at sitting by his bed, may ask q
question:"
ANY question In the world, Fran
coils, my son." the general growled at
him. as II the tender words we're q
defiance to an enemy.
Francois hesitated. About Alike
and Pietro."
The general shook his head. "Ah
that! That / can not tell you. Fran.
co.'s. Sometimes believe that l
have been mistaken, that" the gen.
eral as he stopped looked oddly at
Francois and smiled Sometimes
believe that even /, even Gaspard
0Ourgaud, might make q mistake In
trying to play the good God, and ar
ranging lives. That might be-yes.
In any case can not tell"
Francois. thinking deeply. hazard
ed another question. HE loves herT
II believe SO, indeed" said the gen.
eral. He cares most to be with US
with her. All yes, / have no doubt
that he loves her. But why 1t goes
no farther-sapristi! 1t 10 beyond
me-that! would knock their fool
Ism heads together, me-but that Is
not convenient"
Does she love Pietro?"
Mon lieu! How can q mere man
say that? She Is Q woman. do not
know--not In the least" the general
exploded at him.
But Pietro loves herr" Francois
asked again, his wistful smiling eyes
searching the generals face.
"Yes-I am sure of It,"
And Francois smiled.
mo one could help It," he said half
to himself.
In a day more little Battista came
into Francois cabin and put clothes
on him and wrapped him like a mum
my in coats and rugs, and carried him
in his arms up on deck. and there
laid him In a hammock on the sunny
side of the ship. And the salt air
blew on his face and he gulped 1t in.
and by and by Alike brought chair
and sat by him and read to him, and
Francois lay quiet and wondered IL
heaven could be any improvement on
this.
Then, after q while, the book lay
on the girls knee. and they fell to
talking. She told him about his
mother and his father at the Ferme
du Val. and the brothers and sisters,
grown up now, and some Of them In
homes Of their own. She told him
about Pierre's new wife, who had
been Jeanne Courtois, of Beaulieu,
and how much they all liked her.
and how she and Pierre lived at the
farm and were to have 1t one day az
ter the older Francois and Claire had
gone. About Tomas and his fine big
shop at Delesmontes she told him,
and how little Lucie had married the
school-teacher. and had pretty house
In a street he knew we'll.
Then she told him about the AMI
mals--how the great gray horses he
had known still drew the golden loads
of hay In from the fields. with their
grandchildren drawing the next wag-
on. How the ducks in the pond were
hundreds now and were sent to the
market, and made much money for
LIE Francois. And how that old gift
OF his In choosing oxen was making
q fortune for him-only now he never
played cards coming home from mar
ket day-or at any other time. In
fact, the gentle mother had made one
stern rule for her family-no one OF
them ever played since that time
game of chance.
And then Alike told Francois about
the castle. She told him about Jean
Philippe Moison and his brazen Gu
riosity in staying to hear the prison
er's letter, and his address of thanks
TO the Almighty when he knew that
Francois was alive. And she told
him about little old Coq-now an aged
horse of twenty-five years, spoiled
and naughty, but yet beloved and
used only for his own health's sake;
she told how Coo would run to her
for sugar and burrow his bold nose
into her coat pocket, snorting impa-
tiently: and how he had thrown Moi
sons little girl over his head two
months before as he used to throw
all Of them.
So, on that long. bright, calm morn
ing at sea Francois lay In the ham,
mock and watched the million little
waves glisten and break for unknown
miles over the sunlit water, and lis
tened to the voice he loved best IN
the world, as 1t told him Of those 9TH
ers whom he loved also, and Of the
places dear to him. and he wondered
that he had indeed come through the
long nightmare of prison to this hap
piness.
mfr. Hampton has been talking TO
me about Virginia; 1t must be beau
tiful country" said Alike. Il should
love the free friendly life Of those
great domains. | believe could
leave France and vicques for such