Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-28
CHAPTER TX.
The Castle Children.

The Castle Children.
There was a farm in the Valley
Delesmontes-fiye miles It was from
Vicques-which was a dependence OF
the seigneury; for centuries the same
family had held II, and 1t was con.
sidered the richest holding for a peas
ant In that part OF the world. Just
now the family all at once came to
an end. 1t was necessary to find new
tenants, and the general offered the
place TO lie Francois and La Claire.
Even in their best days they had not
been so prosperous as this would
make them. But what about Fran
co.'s? The general glowered at them
from deep eyes.
There's always a screw somewhere
IN every good thing. This time it's
the boy"
There was a silence Claire trem.
bled.
1T will 10 hard with the lad to
give us up" she brought out softly.
Tie won't give you up: | should not
respect him II he gave you up" the
general Numbered. and the two peas
ants breathed more freely. This great
good fortune was not, after all. the
price Of their son.
BY degrees the three came to an
understanding. A tutor was to be en-.
gagged for the three children; Francois
was to live at the castle as fit
should be explained 10 him--he we're
going away TO school. and every Fri
'.ay he was TO walk TO the Ferme du
Val--the Valley Farm and stay with
his people until Sunday afternoon.
This new order OF things was well
settled before elk months had passed
after the going of the Marquis Zappi.
And then in three or four months
more something happened.
Francois was alone with the general
when the letter come. His eyes were
ON his seigneur's face as he read the
letter and the boy saw the blood rush
through the weather-hardened skin in
hrown.red food, and then fade out.
leaving 4 gray. The boy had never
seen the general look 40. With that,
the big arms we're thrown ont on TIE
table and the big grizzled head fell
into them.
Then he lifted his head and told
the boy how the friend whom he had
found lately, after so many years OF
separation. had COMO away not to come
back in this life, and h0% f'ietro was
fatherless Francois, holding tightly
with both fists 10 the generals hand.
listened wide-eyed. struck to the heart.
But he had a brave life. my
seigneur-it is the best thing that
there Is. My mother said so. My
mother told me that we shall smile
later. when we are with the good
God, to think that we ever feared
death on this earth. For she says one
spends long time with the good God
later, and all ones dear friends come,
and 1t is pleasant and II is for long,
long time. while here 1t is, after all,
quite short, Is not that true. my
seigneur? My mother said a."
Big little Pietro had to be told what
had happened and how the general
was now to be father to him as
best he might, and Alike and Francois
would be bis sister and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
his studies next morning. but for
many days he could not play, aud
only Francois could make him sneak.
He was handsome extraordinarily
handsome-and a lovable good child,
but slow ia Initiative where Francois
was ready. shy where Francois was
friends with all the world. steady,
going wheSe the peasant boy was bril-
liant. Between the two. OF such con
trasting types, was an mistaken bond
from The first. and 81 this age II
seemed to be the littlo peasant who
had everything to give Smaller phys.
ieally. weaker in muscle than the big.
boned son of North Italy. he yet took
quite naturally an attitude OF protec.
tion and guidance, and Pietro accept
ed - without hesitation.
Tgo Gears slid past noiseleesly, un
noticed, and IL was vacation time: II
was August OF the year 1894. 'rhe old
chateau of Vicuues-the ruin-lay
back behind the corn fields and smiled
IN hot sunlight,
A tall lad of fourteen. another boy
slighter, quicker. darker. and a little
girl of eleven in q short white dress
wandered through the ruins, talking
earnestly now. silent now, filing the
grim place with easy laughter again
Alike and Francois and Pietro were
growing mp; the general already
grumbled words about kittens turning
into cats, as he looked at them
Just behind the great stone there. 81
Alike formulated, was the dogs bed
room. OF course. a great monsieur
like the dog had his own bedroom
yes. and Office. too-and maybe hts
dining. room"
And the joke was enough on that
lazy day of vacation to set peals OF
laughter ringing through the ruins
Alike stopped laughing suddenly.
who is that?' she demanded. Her
eyes were lifted to the hill rising be
hind the green mound, and the glance