The Detroit times., 1913-09-11

VI
/, thoughts as to events. as q mystic ol
India looks to Nirvana.
In the light OF this happiness Of
prison. the drain on his health from
dampness and lack of air and poor
food were small discomforts. hardly
to be noticed In the greatness of his
blessings. These trials would be over
shortly: the real things. friendship
love, enthusiasm, were eternal. More
!. over, Il was action he dreamed, no,
Quiescence. as he looked from the
barred window at the vast blue
depths OF Italian sky. depths pro
founder. more transparent than else
where. His belief In his star. In Its
fusion some day to come into the
larger star OF the Bonapartes. had
been strengthened. fixed, by the ad
venture which had landed him In the
desoiation OF an Austrian prison. He
had saved the Princes life; 1t was
an omen OF greater things which he
should do for the Prince. II no more
came OF II he would have done his
part; he could die happy. but he be-
lieved without a shadow OF doubt
that more was to come.
Some day Marshal of France
under another Donaparte,' he said
to himself one day, staring through
the bars at his meadOwAhe called
the sky SO. He smiled. But that
in nothing. To help place my Prince
on the throne of France-that Is my
work-my life
He talked aloud at times. as pris'
oners come to do. He went on then
In q low voice.
If there were good fairies. II
had three wishes: Alixe-the Prince
made Emperor-Francois Beaupre, a
Marshal Of France" He laughed
happily. 1T Is child's play. Moth
do It's work Even that is 30 small;
but | have great desire. to do that.
/ believe shall do that know It,
And he fell to work on book which
he was planning. chapter by chapter,
| in his brain.
But, IL he were to escape ever, the
chance was increased infinitely by
the going back and forth to the gov
errors room. A new governor might
keep him shut up absolutely. 1t had
been so while the count was away;
then he had been Ill, and the lieu
tenant in command would not let q
doctor seq him tilA be-5hanRMe de-
lirious that Yrs Tde erdinsf, vtA
ment OF prisoners. ~FraiESis, think
ing over these things on a day. felt,
with sudden accent on the steady
push of his longing for freedom, the
conviction that he must get free be-
fore the count left, else opportunity
and force for the effort would both
be gone forever. And on that day
Battista brought in his midday meal
with a look and manner which
Francois remarked.
What is 1t, Battista?' he asked
softly =
The man answered not a word, but
turned and opened the door rapidly
and looked out Il thought had
left the water-pitcher All, here 1t Is
IL am stupid" he spoke aloud. AND
then, finger on lip dramatically. he
bent over the young man. My SON
the little Battista-has had a letter.
The young master wishes him to
come to him, in France, to serve him.
He Is going in two days.
1t was whispered quickly, and Bat
tista stood erect.
1.-The Signor's food will get cold IL
the Signor does not eat it," he spoke
gruffiy. Il do not like to carry food
for prisoners who DO not appreciate
1t. shall bring less tomorrow"
But Francois, hardly hearing the
surly tones, had his hand on Bat.
tista's arm, was whispering back
eagerly.
Where does he 90. in France?"
ITO Vicques," the low answer
came. Francois sank back, tortured.
Going to VicQues, the little Bat
'tista! From Castelforte! And he,
Francois, must stay here in prison!
His soul was wrung with sudden
wild Inconsistencies. He wanted to
see Alike, to see his mother, to see
the general: to see the peaceful lit
tie village and the stream that ran
through It. and the steep-arched
bridge, and the poppy fields, and the
corn! The gray castle with It's red
roofs, and the beech wood, and the
dim, high-walled library, how he want
ed to see II an! How his heart
ached, madly, fercely! This was the
worst moment Of all his captivity.
And with that, Battista was over him,
was murmuring words again. Some
thing was slipped under the bed
clothes.
"Paper-pens. The Signor will
write 4 letter this afternoon. And
tomorrow little Battista will take It. /"
And the heart of Francois gave a
sudden throb OF Joy as wild as its
anguish. He could speak to them
before he died; It might be they
could save him. His hands stole to
the package under the coarse blan-
ket. It seemed a. II In touching 1t
he touched his mother and his sweet
heart and his home.
(continued).