Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-09-09

ilcltltull-lOp lTGl11DllnS, Snc put ner
little hand on Francois hands.
II see" she said, and her voice shook
and she smiled misty, but very kindly.
You could not o any one ~ that
beautiful Alike. Ii would not have
YOU
And Francois bent hastily. with
tears in his eyes, and kissed the warm
voice Went on.
that-to you. 1 would not have said
it-not for worlds. Though you were
Killed. don't know what l said.
But l 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. 1 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 LEI little girl,
my brave mademoiselle. 1t is not as you
think; it is not serious, mon annie 1t
is only that your soul is full of kind
stand by the unlucky. l am alone and
eX~patriated; l have had a little of
misfortune and you are sorry for me.
1T is that. All, I know. / am very old
and wise. me. 1t would never do"
he went on. 1.-The noblesse of Vir-
ginia would rise in a revolution If it
should be that the princess of Roa-
noke house gave her ear to a French
peasant. am come to be a man of
knowledge'-and he shook his head
with as worldly wise an expression as
If n of Guido RENTS dark angels
should talk politics. He went on again,
smiling a little an air Of daring in
his amer. Moreover, Mademoiselle
Miss Lucy, there is a fairy prince who
awaits only the smallest sign from
YOU"
then, "a fairy prince-in Virginia?"
All. yes, Mademoiselle Miss Lucy.
Of h true noblesse, that one. A fine,
big, handsome prince. the right sort"
"Who?" demanded Lucy, smiling
still.
of such a right sort indeed that it
is no matter-ah. no, but perhaps just
the thing to make n love him more,
that he is lame"
Harry" Lucy's smile faded.
But yes. indeed, mon amie," 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 is respected by the
OLD men, the great men, for his knowl-
edge and his thinking and his state
craft almost-like Henry? Who has
such a great heart and brain and such
fearless courage as Henry?"
Lucy listened to this eulogium rather
astonished. 1t strikes a girl as alb
surd often, when a brother or a cousin
is pointed out as a parsonage. But it
pleased her; yet she did not say so.
Harry is a good boy" she spoke
calmly, "but-but 1t is only for conve-
nience, for joining the lands, that h
M my father wish US to marry. I
will not marry a man to shape some
fields Of corn"
Francois answered gravely. "But,
no, mademoiselle, never must you do
that. 1t is not the case, however, that
your cousin cares about the shape OF
corn fields. He is not interested in
that. If o had no corn fields, If you
a nothing whatever. Mademoiselle
Lucy. he would give his life to>marry
you just the same. 1t is you whom he
loves and not corn fields. of any shape
at all. Also he loves you to madness.
For that he has hated meme full Of
qualification to him forever-because
he has believed that I would try to
win from him your heart. Mademoiselle
might. If my life were not as 1 have
told you I could not play him false,
my Henry-that dear boy who wishes
to kill me" Francois smiled a little,
half amused, half wistful. "And in
all case" he went ON. what chance
should I have in the end against that
moiselle. viii thank me SO Man a
that it will be very painful to me, for
showing you how it was not Francois
Beaupre. the Frenchman, but Henry
Hampton. the Virginian, who was
ntted to win that warm. generous.
you are very loyal to your friends"
Lucy said. half pleased, half stabbed
to h soul.
Certainly. What for is qualification
worth, otherwise?" Francois threw at
her earnestly. There were a few Eng
!tsh words too much for him still:
gratitude" seemed to be one. He
down at her. "Mademoiselle." he said.
two women of earth. my mother and
Alike. are for me the Madonnas. the
crown Of women" and his glance lift
ed to the ceiling as If to heaven, with
out pose. uncOnscious-a look no Amer
lean could ever have worm. "And,
will always stand next to and close TO
them" He bent owe her hand and
his lips touched 1t long and tenderly.
lis 1t right between us, mon amiec
Are we friends always? It is indeed
8 o for life with me-"
And little Lucy felt a healing pace
settling on her bruised feelings and
heard herself saying generous words
of friendship which healed also as she
spoke them.
Then II must find that savage boy
Henry. and beseech him to spare my
life" spoke Francois at last. my life
is of more value today, that It possesses
q sure friend in Mademoiselle Lucy"
he said and smiled radiantly. And
was gone.
Lucy. to her astonishment. felt light-
hearted. felt a. if moved into . large.
clear, sunshiny atmosphere out OF the
stormy unrest witch had lafalv held