Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-04-16

My dear mademOiSeiie," Alike read.
Il am writing to beg your forgiveness,
as l have begged that of the Chevalier
Beaupre, for the very great fault
have committed. The chevalier trust
ed to me letter for you which was to
have been sent you only In case Of a
certain eventJ by eareiessness which.
unmeant as II was, shall never for
give myself, gave II with other let
tiers 10 eur negro Sambo TO be posted
at once. By now II may have reached
you. cannot tell II have made
trouble or not, but In any case. l can
not rest without saying to you-as
we'll as to the Chevalier-how sorry
am. II you can find II in your heart
to forgive me, please do so, dear
mademoiselle. That I should have
made trouble for one as dear to the
chevalier as you are is deep grief to
me. He has talked TO me of you. With
a very earnest prayer again for your
forgiveness l am, mademoiselle, yours
faithfully and sineerely.-Luey Hamp-
ton Hampton"
Pietro hooked bewIldered. what Is
II abeut?" he asked.
u wonder," and Alike laughed and
frowned at the paper In her hand. at
seems Francois wrote me letter and
left 1t with little Mistress Hampton to
be sent In ease of a certain event.
What event? What strange thing
for Francois to dol And then he came
to US here and said nothing Of mys-
FERROUS letters left cooking In vir-
ginia- cannot make 1t out, Pietro--
can your"
mot l." said Pietro.
The letter of Francois has not
come, that IL eertaini wonder IL the
negro sambo lost IT."
Probably" Pletro said. ut should
have come before this one, otherwise"
ut is a riddle" Alike decided, "and
I never guess them" Then, dropping
into seat on the wide window-sill,
"Pietro- you are letting yourself be
depressed
The gray eyes met hers with some
thing that seemed wall of reserve In
their steady glance. 81 think possibly
I miss having no exercise" he said.
u win feel more natural when can
get about"
Alike looked at him. "You are eat
ing your heart out to be with Fran
eois," she said. and laid her hand on
his.
Pietro stared as II the light touch
haA ub Ia, hty,, thar, aIaxrIr ut. A., rx,
fingers twisted lightly around the
small ones, and he turned his face
again, holding her hand SO, to the win
dow and the view Of the valley and
the river and the village. A moment
they sat so, the girls hand loose In
the hollow Of the mans; a slow red
crept into Alixe's face; there was con-
fusion In her brain. She had laid her
hand on that Of her brother; her broth
or had taken it In his--and behold, by
witchcraft II was all changed. This
delicate big grasp that held her was
not brotherly; through all her veins
suddenly she knew that; the flush shot
up to her eyes, to her forehead, and
she tried, with an attempt at an every
day manner, to draw her hand away.
But Pietro, his set pale face toward
the window. his eyes gazing out, held
her hand. With that the world had
reeled and was whirling past her.
Pietro had caught both her hands in a
tight grip and had drawn them against
him. was holding them there. was
looking at her with face which not
even she. this time. might mistake.
Alike" he said, Il know you don't
care for me. know you love Fran
co.'s. did not mean ever to speak,
but when you put your hand on
mine"
He held her palms together and
parted the palms and kissed the fin-
ger-tips. first of one and then OF the
other, as II he kissed something holy
81 shall never speak again, but this
once will. always loved you-one
must. | knew always that a slow ST.
lent person like me would have no
chance against a fellow like Francois.
So have kept still, and 1t was hard. 1t
won't be SO hard now that you know.
Are you angry. Alixe?"
Alike. with her head bent SO that
Pietro did not see her face, with her
head bending lower--lower, suddenly
was on her knees by the chair and her
face was on Pietro's arm.
Alike" he 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
a thought shook him.
1T cannot bel" 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 1t. UP flashed her hand i'm.
pulsively, gently-as Alike did things,
and touched the thick lock with an in
finitely delicate caress. Your hair
is all turning gray" she whispered In
two quick breaths, and at that. In some
occult fashion Pietro knew.
For moments they 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
yet one did not hear it. Distant sounds
came from the village, but one only
knew that long after. in remembering
that morning. All they knew was that
the ghost of lifelong affection OF
brother and sister stood before them,
changed by miracle to a shining
angel into whose face, for these first
moments. they dared not look. Then
slowly, exquisitely, courage came and.
hand close In hand, they looked at
each other astonished. glad. 1t was
Pietro and Alike still, the ancient play.
fellows, the childhood friends-all the
dear familiarity was there yet, but no
longer we're they brother and sister
And then, after while they began to
compare notes of things hidden.
When did you begin-to like me-
this way, Pietro?"