Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-07-15

How horrid you are, Francois! You
jump at conclusions. You are not the
only person who cares for Pietro. I
do not wrong him-not in my thoughts.
wanted to see what you would say for
cares-for a person. one has he right.
1t Is not disloyalty; I could abuse my
father could say any horried
thing I chose, and not a word.
not a d OF a thought would
De disloyal. because l love him SO
that 1t would all be nothing compared
to that. l know Pietro is brave. !:
Know he has gone into dangers It
so very bad. Francois? Butt am irri-
tated often with Pietro-because YOU
are always the hero 1t is always you
who, do the brave thing, and it is easy
Tor every one toto adore you, Fran
co.'s. You seem only to smile at a per
son and they-they care for YOU. And
fietro is just-Qutet and reliable. 1t
fair for you to have-everythinE."
mere were tears IN her eyes now. n
a culver in her voice. and the last
sob.
Alike = dear" Their Francois
stopped: You need not be afraid that
l shal have more than Pietro," he be-
gan uncertainty For 1t is not going
would give my life for" Then he hur-
ried on. II see how it is" he said
gently, and you are right to care SO
a for Ptetro. He is worth it. And
you must never care less. Alixe-never
He will come back" The boy spoke
with effort. slowly. but Alike was too
much occupied with her own tumultous
thoughts to notice. He will surely
come back and-belong to you more
than ever. He will come back dis
elnguished and covered with honors.
perhaps, and then-and then-Alixe'
do you see the chestnut tree at the cor
ner that turps to the chateau? 1t ia
a good bit Of soft road-we will race
to that tree-shall we? And then / win
tell you something"
The horses sprang into a canter and
n q gallop, and stretched their legs
and flattend down into a sharn run.
n giFl and the boy were flying side
Dy side through the mellow Landscape:
the gray towers INC red roofs of the
chateau were in the distance; the little
Cheulte lay to the right. its pools like
a string Of quicksilver beads spotted on
the fields; the mountain Of the Rose.
calm and enormous and dark, lifted out
Of h country to the left. Many a
time In the six years to come Francois
saw that picture and felt the vibrating
air as they rushed through it. He had
strained his very soul to all at length
40 SO "a VI 4A1S w VI llS xIlCIu,
he felt sick and exhausted from the
effort; now he must tell her that he
was going tomorrow, and he must not
let a word or a look tell her that he
lover her. The horses raced merrily;
Alike sat close to the saddle with the
on the bride. which were part Of her
perfect Craftsmanship. and over and
over as he watched her ride Francois
said to himself:
II will give my happiness for the
~seigneur's-I said 1t. n 1 will. l will
be a friend to Pietro always-I said it,
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 UNI
ing. e~xlilarated, lovely.
go ~deliciously?" she threw at him.
And then. I'VE will go around by the
Delesmontes road; it is only three miles
farther, n it is early in the after
noon; there is nothing to do"
Francois spoke slowly. II am afraid
Il must not. Alike. 1 am going to the
farm tonight"
ITO the farm!" Alike looked at him
in surprise. But you were not to go
till tomorrow. My father and l will
"a v ia JOus 4IoSS SOu lOIROl.
temp"
NO" said Francois. II have not for
gotten-no. indeed. But 1 am going
away tomorrow. Alike"
Going away?" Alike turned sharp
lly. and her deep blue glance searched
cois?" And then, imperiously: Don't
tease me. Francois! / don't like it,"
Francois steadied, hardened his face
very carefully, and answered.: II am
not teasing you, Alike. I did not tell
you before because he stopped, for
thought we would have our ride just
as usual today. I only knew about it
myself this morning. I am going to
Pietro.'
"Going-to Piero." Alike was gasp
ing painfully. "Francois-it is a joke
ordered. Il won't have you play with
me, torture met"
1T is not a joke" The boys eyes
were held by a superhuman effort on
the buckle of the bride rein lying on
MS Knee. There was a letter from
wishes me to go. 1 wish to go. /
am leaving tomorrow"
Going tomorrow" The girls voice
was a vail. "You-taken away from
me-" Then in a flash: 81 nate Pietro!
He Is cruel-he thinks only of himself.
How can ! live without you. Francois?'
Then softly. hurriedly, while the world
reeled about the boy, sitting statue like
In his sadie: 1T is just as i said. You
are as much a part of my life as the
air b~reathe-and you and my father
M Pletro say quiet calmly. The air
IS TO De taken away-you must do with
out it, can rot. I will choke." She
pulled at her collar suddenly as If the
chocking We're a physical present fact,
NO slightest motion, no shade OF in
llectlon missed Francois: still he sat