Bisbee daily review., 1914-09-02


 ready for any career: he told Of the big-souled. blunt Napoleonic officer the seigneur. of the gray redroofed castle. with its four round towers; of handsome silent pietro, and of the unfailing long Kindness Of them all. Then, his voice lowered. holding the girls hand still. he told her of Alike, of the fairy child who had met him on that day of his first visit and had brought him to her father. the seig- neur He described a little the play mate of his childhood. fearless, boyish in her intrepid courage. yet always ex- quisitely a girl. He told of the long summer vacations of the three as they grew up. and the rides in the Jura val ley. and of that last ride when he knew that he was to go to Italy next morn- ing. and of how he had faced the seig- neur and told him that he loved his daughter and had given her up then. instantly. for loyalty to him and to Pietro. And then he. told her of the peasant boy in Riders Hollow in the gray morning light after the night of his escape-and how. By hand on the bridle and seat in the eaddle, and at last by the long curl of the black lash es he had known the peasant boy for Alike.
 Lucy Hampton. listening. was so thrilled with this romance of a life long love that she could silence her aching heart and her aching pride and could be-with a painful sick effort but yet could be. utterly generous. There Is no midway in a case between entire selfishness and entire selhess- ness. The young southern girl, wound ed shsmed, cruelty hurt in vanity and in love was able to choose the larger way, and taking it, felt that sharp joy of renunciation which is as keen and difficult to breathe and as sweet in the breathing as the air of a mountain top. Trembling. she put her other lit- tie hand on Francois hands.
 'I see" she said. and her voice shook and she smiled mistily, but very kind ly "You could not love anyone but that beautiful Alike. I-I would not have you"
 And Francois bent hastily with tears in his eyes, and kissed the warm little hands. The uncertain sliding voice went on:
 "I am not-ashamed-that I said that--to you. I would not have said it-not for worlds. Thought you were killed. I-didn't know what I said But I am not ashamed ] am glad that lam enough of a person to have known-the finest things-and" her voice sank and she whispered the next words over the dark head bent on her hands-"and to have loved them. But don't bother ! shall-get over it."
 The liquid tones choked a bit on that and Francois lifted his head quickly and his eyes famed at her. "Of course you will, my dear little girl, my brave mademoiselle. It is not as you think, it is not serious. mon annie It is only that your soul is full of kindness and enthusiasm and eager ness to stand by the unlucky. I am alone and expatriated; I have had a little of misfortune and you are sorry for me. 1t is that. An, ] know. ] am very old and wise, me. 1t would never do,' he went on. "The noblesse of Virginia would rise in a revolution if it should be that the princess of Roa- noke house gave her heart to a French | peasant l am come to be a man of knowledge" And he shook his head with as worldly-wise an expression as fl one of Guido Reni's dark angels should talk politics. He went on again, smiling a lit.le, an air of daring in his manner. Moreover. Mademoiselle Miss Lucy. there is a fairy prince who awaits only the smallest sign from you"
 Lucy smiled. NO" she said. And then, "A fairy prince-in Virginia?' An, yes, Mademoiselle Miss Lucy. | or the true noblesse, that one. A fine, l big, handsome prince. the right sort.
 "Who?" demanded Lucy, smiling still.
 "Of such a right sort indeed that it is no matter-ah, mo- but perhaps just the thing to make one love him more that he is lame"
 "Harry!' Lucy's smile faded.
 But yes, indeed, mon annie" and Francois patted the little hand with his big one. Henry, indeed. Henry who is waiting to kill me for love of you; Henry the best truest fellow. the manifest bravest fellow. Who rides like Henry? Who has read all the books in an the libraries like Henry Who is respected by the old men. tho great men, for his knowledge and his thinking and his statecraft almost | like Henry? Who has such a greal heart and brain and such fearless courage as Henry?"
 You are very loyal to your friends, Lucy said. half pleased, half stabbed to the soul,
 Certainly What for is qualification worth, otherwise?" Francois threw al her earnestly. There were a few Eng llsh words too much for him still gratitude" seemed to be one. He stood up and his great eyes glowed down a her ''Mademoiselle." he said, "tw, women of earth, my mother and Alike are for me the Madonnas. the crown O women" and his glance lifted to the ceiling as if to heaven, without pose a.H.