The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-09
|ARBmdRG Of Extraordinary Distinction
TfIE MARSHAL
BINARY Raymond Shipman Andrews
Ag5""r The Perfect Tribute. etc
cHAPrER xI--1continuedl.

CHAPTER XI--( Continued).
Big little Pietro had to be told what
had happened and how the general
was now to be a father to him As best
he might, and Alike and Francois
would be his sister and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
his studies next morning, but for many
days he could not play, and only Fran
co.'s could make him speak. He chung
to the other boy, and seemed to find
his best comfort in the friendship
which It had been HIS fathers parting
inspiration to assure for him. He was
handsome-extraordi handsome
and a loyable, good child, but slow
In initiative where Francois was ready,
shy where Francois was friends with
all the world, steady going where the
peasant boy Was brilliant. Between
the two, of such contrasting types,
was an unspoken bond from the first,
and at this age IL seemed to be the
little peasant who had everything to
give. Smaller physically, weaker IN
muscle than the big boned son Of
north Italy, he yet took quite naturally
an attitude Of protection and guidance,
end Pietro accepted 1t without hesita-
ton. There was no jealousy between
them. Francois taught the other, who
had grown UP petted but unframed m
the lonely castle Of his ancestors, all
that ne knew of boyish skill and
strength, and was enchanted when his
pupil went beyond him, as happened
where brute force counted. Yet Fran
co.'s was the acknowledged leader.
Father" Alike complained, 'Pietro
win not try to knock Francois down.
Pietro Is big yet it Is always Francois
who comes UP behind him and throws
him on the grass, and Pietro only
smiles and gets UP. Make Pietro be
brave and quick as Francois Is,
father"
Either of my boys is brave enough
for you, who are only a GIRL" the gen.
eral growled, and put an arm around
her and kissed her brown head.
And Alike pushed away .haughtily.
That 10 not way to talk before boys.
They might not understand how a girl
is worth six boys, and 1t Is you who
said 1t. Besides, i can ride, can not,
father7 Nobody has jumped Coz over
the hedge by the far field but just me
Alike" And the boys nodded their
dark heads and agreed, and Pietro
added:
"She can run faster than /, though
my legs are so long" And he smiled
at her in bis sleepy fashion, honest,
admiring, shy.
Things went on in this way for two
years or more, and the three studied
together under the tutor, and rode Cog
In the park. and sometimes went to-
gether of q Friday afternoon to the
Valley farm and spent q two days there
never to be forgotten. They were royal
guests to LIE Francois and La Claire,
and the wholesome simple things done
to amuse them were endless; the farm
was theirs to play with for that week.
end. First, on coming, there was q
flne lunch; gigot-a leg Of lamb--which
ono. gave to princes, with salad and
bread and wine and much besides. The
grandmother told them stories, the
father took them driving on hay
to milk, to shell peas and other occult
accomplishments. The children were
ready to drop everything and do any
thing with them. at any moment. 1t
was like a glorious dolls house built
for the little visitors. And according
raspberries, apples, whatever grew. The
Ferme du Val was a fairy land Of
pleasure.
Also the chateau at Vicques with
three children in 1t was no convent.
That good boy Francois was forever in
mischief. For instance, there was the
winters day when he got the general
into difficulty with the church by bru-
tally snowballing the bishop.
Il thought it was Marcelle," Fran
co.'s explained penitently. He pranced
just as Marcelle prances. And l was
hiding behind the door with my am
munition-15 snowballs, my seigneur--
big hard ones. 1t was twilight, 80
could not see plainly. fred straight,
my seigneur. I gave him one in the
neck. And one on the head, and two
in the back, and one or two in the
stomach when he turned. only missed
once. And also when he turned howl
ing, with his hand out, sent one into
his mouth before saw. 1t Is too bad
it was the bishop, my seigneur; but
why didn't he fight back?"
And the seigneur, scolding fero-
ciously, had a CLEAN in his eye
which lessened Francois sense of
wrong-doing, There was also an occa-
sion when, hearing the general give a
long order to Marcelle for the stable,
Francois went out hurriedly with q
stout cord and fastened it where Mar
celle must go. And Marcelle, the pran-
Ger, caught his foot and entered the
stable door like a comet and fell on
Jules. the groom, in his orbit-on Jules
carrying a bucket of water; and Jules
and the water and Marcelle ricochetted
in a acknowledged tangle into Coq's
stall; where Coz, being angry, let forth
q neigh and a kick together, one Of
which broke the innocent Jules arm.
So that Francois, stating the case to
the general, was condemned to do the
groom's work till the arm was cured.
Inc days were NOT HonotonouS at the
chateau of Vicques. They were not all
work and no play to the three very
human children living there.
So with work and play life rolled
rapidly, and suddenly life was all
changed. A governess was coming for
Alike, and Francois and Pietro were
going away to the great military school
Of Saint Cyr, near Paris.
CHAPTER XII