The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-03-07

tntn AIS anvle; 1e Knew enough 10 de
test the Austrians and to have a keef
sympathy for the long, horoic, loslnI
fight-so far losing-of those devoted
men who were counting their lives al
nothing for united Italy. The scheme
OF helping to rescue prisoner out o.
an Austrian fortress was an adventure
such as made his eyes dance. Mr.
Hampton was twenty-one and full o.
romance, romance as yet ungratified
So, Pietro told Francois, this long ex
PLANTATION over, the Lovely Lucy was
anchored at an unimportant island out
side the port for which they were
bound, and. Francois and the others
were to go on board and set sal
promptly for some port of France
There the general, Alike, Pietro and
little Battista were to be put ashore
and Francois was to sail across to Vir
| ginla with Mr.. Hampton and take pos
session for Pietro of his American es
tates
Francois, lying in bed with his eyes
glowing like lanterns, listened. But
as his friend finished he broke out
with sharp pain in his voice.
"Pietro! l want to see my mother.
And Pietro was silent, laying quiet
hand over the unsteady one. Without
word he sat so and let the sick man
think. The line of red which came
into the pale cheeks told that he was
thinking intensely, and at last, with a
shivering sigh which went to the
others heart:
You are right, Pietro," he said. 1T
is q wonderful plan for a broken man.
1t is like you to do everything right
without a word said. The sea voyage.
the healthy life in Virginia-that ought
to make a man. of me again soon,
ought it not, Pietro?"
Pietro could not speak as he looked
at the wrecked figure, but he nodded
cheerfully.
LAS for your place, I'll have that in
order in a month. and in year it will
be a model for Virginia: and then I'll
come home"
Pietro smiled.
Come home and fight for the
princeton our Prince Louis. Do you
remember that afternoon at the chau-
teau, Pietro, and the strange boy, and
how he fascinated us and how" the
weak voice stopped at every syllable,
but slipped on again cheerfully. The
familiar charm of the boy Francois
cts hn fa11ynH ~ hn
was not to be frightened by any dan
ger of an old wall" and Francois
stopped, smiling.
And how you saved him." Pietro
added.
That was a chance" said Francois
quickly. But, Pietro, do you remem-
Der how Alike turned on you, because
l had done it? Droll little Alixe!"
"She always scorned me because
was not wonderful like you, Francois.
You were always the hero" Pietro said
gently, and pressed the skeleton hand
under his own.
Francois eyes blazed up at him then
as they had done so often in boyhood.
mot that, Pietro. You do not under
stand. 1t was because Alike wished
always to see you first. | was older
and had certain quickness-she
wanted you to have my poor facility as
well as all of your own gifts"
Pietro smiled his kind quiet smile
my Francois, have no gifts. And If
Alike is more proud of you it is right,
for you are a pride to all OF us and
am the last to grudge one particle of
honor or love to you. Francois
Pietro's deep voice stopped, and then
he went on in his straightforward, sim
pie way-"Francois, it is not possible
for me to tell you how glad | am to
have you, my brother. back from the
dead"
And weak, nerve-wrecked Francois,
tight to Pietro's hand, turned
his face to the wall and cried.
Now that the end of effort was over.
the strain of the long years showed
their effects in a collapse; the
stretched chord had fallen loose, re-
Taxed as if 1t might meyer make mu-
sic again. When the time came to
leave the sailboat of Luigi and go
aboard the Lovely Lucy, the effort was
too much for the man who, two nights
before, had shown the nerve and agil-
ity Of an acrobat. When he must leave
the boat and make the change, he
and. wrapped in a blanket,
CHASTITY white, unconscious, the little
Battista carried his light weight up
the ladder of the American ship.
(To BE CONTINUED