Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-03-13

A rushing Stream-Whlte-
yelled in the falling, black-brown In
the foam-flecked pools-tumbled,
splashed, brawled down the mountain;
the mountain hung over, shadowy;
banks of fern held the rampant brook
In chains of green. Alike and Fran
coiss, riding slowly in the GOODNESS OF
the road below, looked up n saw 1t
all, familiar, beautiful, full Of old as
sociations.
"One misses Pietro," Francois said.
HE always wanted to ride past the
"Trou du Go~uverneur.'"
A Roman legend had given this
name to the deep pool of h brook
by the road; it was said that the cruel
old governor had used it, two thousand
years back. for drowning refractory
peasants. Alike gazed steadily at the
dark murmuring water.
Yes, n misses him. Is life like
that, do you suppose, Francois? One
grows up with people, and they get
to be as much a part of living as the
air, or ones hands-and then, sud
denly, one is told that they are 60
ing away. And that ends 1t. One
must do without air, without hands.
What a world, Francois!"
I'VE are not meant to like it too
much, 1 believe, Alike" said Francois
sunnily. 1T is just en- PEASANT. this
world, when you stop to consider.
mother says it is not very important
If n has a good seat in the school
oom or a bad; If one sits near ones
playmates or is sen to another cor
ner, so long as n Is a good child
and works heartily at one lessons.
1t is only for a day-and then We &c
home, where all that is made right.
Not a bad idea Of my mothers, Is it,
Alixe?"
Your mother Is a wonderful WON
an" Alike answered thoughtfully.
"She lives like that. She never let
things trouble her, not even when your
father lost everything. Did she. Fran
cois?"
NO." said Francois. "She is one of
the few people who know what the
real things are and live in them. 1t
is hard to do that. l "a not. 1 care
so bitterly for what I want. 1T is"-
Francois hesitated-"It is very hard
for me to give up-what I want" He
stumbled over the words; his voice
shook SO that Alike shifted in the
saddle and looked at him in%quiringly.
Alike = dear" then Francois
stopped. You need not be afraid that
l shall have more than Pietro," he be-
gan uncertainty. For it is not going
to be so. He will have what-what
would give my life for" Then he
hurried on II see how it is," he said
gently, land you are right to care 80
Loyalty for P1etro. he is worth it.
And you must never care less, Alike
never forget him because he has
gone away He will come back" The
boy spoke with effort. slowly, but
Alike was too much occupied with her
own tumultuous thoughts to notice.
HE will surely come back and-be-
long to you more than aver. He will
come back distinguished and covered
with honors, perhaps, and then-and
then-Alixe, do you g the chestnut
tree at the corner that turns to the
chateau? 1t is a good bit OF soft road
we will race to that tree-shall we?
And then l will tell you something"
The horses raced merrily; Alike sat
close to the saddle with the light
swinging seat, the delicate hand on
the bride, which were part Of her
perfect horsemanship, and over and
over as he watched her ride Francois
said to himself:
II will give my happiness for the
Selgneur's-I said 1t, and l will. l
will be a friend to P1etro always
said 1t, and I will"
Over and over the horses flying feet
pounded out that self-command, and at
length the music of the multiplying
hoof beats grew slower, and with tight
ening rein they drew in and stopped
under the big chestnut. Alike was
laughing, exhilarated. lovely.
Wasn't it a good race? Didn't