Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-30

through the stiffness to the Cheulte
rushing down over Its stones half a
mile away. He wished above all 9TH
er wishes to know Alike married to
Pietro: vet when he saw them togeth-
err he was Jealous for the memory Of
Francois. his boy Francois, whose ca
reer had promised SO brilliantly, whose
dashing courage whose strength and
brains and beauty and charm had been
his pride and delight almost as much
as the brave bright character of Alike.
He himself had sent the boy away to
had sent him to his death; 1T might be
he had spoiled Alixe's life as we'll. He
could not tell.
He puzzled over 1t as he came up
through h park-and then he saw
Alike n Pietro coming joyfully to-
ward him, running light heartedly. CALI
Ing to him with excited a voices. 1t
stabbed the generals heart; a quick
thought came OF that other who had
been always with them, now dead or
worse, Of that other whom these two
had forgotten. And with that they were
hugging him, pushing q letter into his
hand, up his sleeve. into his face-any-
where.
'Father-good news-the best news
almost the BEST! Father. be ready
for the good news!"
1 dIIL I0duy, LILO general TOW10U
impatiently. what is this foolery?
Sabre de bois! What is your news,
then. o silly child?"
And Alike, shaking very much. laid
her hand on his cheek and looked earn
estly into his eyes. Father, Francois
Is alive!!"
For all his gruff se%lf-control the gen.
eral made the letter an excuse short
ly to sit down. Queer, thai a mans
knees should suddenly bend and give
way because Of a thrill Of rapture in a
mans psychological makeup! But the
general had to sit down. And then and
there all that had been extracted from
little Battista was rehearsed and the
letter read over from start to finish.
The letter. still kept in that cabinet
in Virginia, told them all that has al
ready been written or told, and which
was Of Importance to this chronicle.
But some Of 1t was what has been quot
ed about the old days when the three
children rode Goa in the park, and
about the morning when the MARQUIS
Zappi came with his little boy, Pietro.
The general. hearing that, was afflicted
with all varieties Of a cold, and Alike
Ichoked. reading 1t, and broke down and
read again. half crying. half laughing.
But he is alive. father! Alive! That
Is happiness enough to kill me-. 1 new
er knew till now that I feared he was
dead"
And the general, getting up and
str1ding about fiercely, ripped out saw
age words such as should be avoided
many Of them-and alternating with
symptoms Of sudden severe influenza.
Then he whirled on the two.
"Alive-yes! But in prison-in that
devils hole Of an old castle!" And
Alike looked at Pietro and laughed, but
the general paid no attention. HE
must be got out. There is no time to
waste. Diable! He is perishing in that
vile stable! What was that the lad
said about the Doctors speech, . that
only a long sea voyage could save him?
One must get him out. non Dieu,
quick!"
Alike. her hand on his arm. put her
head down on it suddenly and stood
so for a moment, her face hidden. Pie
tro, his hands thrust deep in his pock-
cts, looked at the general with wide
gray eyes, considering. With that Alike
flashed up, turned on the young Italian,
shaking her forefinger at him; her eyes
shone blue fire.