South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-05

Alike. with her head bent so that
Pietro did not see her face. with her
head bending lower-lower. sudden
~ was on her knees by the chair and
her face was on Pietro's arm.
Alike" ne whispered. what is it
what have | done?"
But the brown waves OF hair with
the blue ribbon tied around them lay
motionless on his arm. And suddenly
thought shook him.
1T can not be-" he gasped
And Alike lifted her face. and the
exaggerated black lashes lifted, and
the blue glance lifted and rested on
Pietro's black hair bent down where
the light shone on the silver lines
through it, Up flashed her hand i'm
pulSively, gently-as Alike did things
and touched the thick lock with an
infinitely delicate caress. Your hair
is all turning gray" she whispered
in two quick breaths, and at that
in some occult fashion Pietro knew.
1t makes little difference of what
wood the match is made which sets
fire TO the mine; it makes little diff
ference what words are spoken when
that tale is telling. Anything says it.
At a certain moment man might re-
mark that grass was green, and a
woman might answer that il appear
ed pink TO her-and ii would be love-
making The voice and the look and
the very atmosphere about would do
the work; words are a detail. So does
the soul out-fiy its slow vehicle of
speech when the rushing mighty v ind
of such a feeling lifts and speeds it,
Pietro knew; for all his self distrust
he drew her into his arms and held
her without one shadow of doubt
that she loved him and belonged to
him.
For moment she had no need of
that makeshift, language; the great
house was very quiet, and one heard
the horses stamping in the paved
courtyard and the grOoms singing.
and vet one did not hear it. Distant
sounds came from the village, but one
only knew that long after, in remem-
bering that morning. All they knew
was that the ghost Of a lifelong af-
lection of brother and sister stood be-
fore them, changed by a miracle TO
shining angel into whose face, for
these first moments, they dared not
look. Then slowly, eXquiSitely, cour
age came and, hand close in hand.
they looked at each other astonished,
glad. II was Pietro and Alike still,
the ancient play-fellows, the child
hood friends-all the dear familiarity
was there yet, but no longer were they
4 while they began TO compare notes
of things hidden.
when did YOU begin-to like me
this way. PietrO?"
II don't know" answered Pietro
stupidity. Does it make any differ
ence?"
"A great deal" Alike insisted. Its
important. It's historical"
But this isn't history" said PietrO
Alike, however returned to the
charge. Last year,"
Last year-what2 Pietro asked;
he had already forgotten the question.
"Oh-that l began to-Mon Dieu-
no. Last year! Why. I think it was
the day l came and saw you riding
Cop"
"Oh. Pietro-if you will talk only
nonsense" Alixe's voice was disap
pointed. But why. then. didn't you
ever say so before this? We are both
a thousand years old now. If you
loved me"-she spoke the word in
lower voice-"why. then, were you a
quiet as a mouse about it all these
years?"
Il though you cared for Francois.
Pietro said simply. And added,
Didn't you?"
(To be Continued Tomorrow