The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-30

through the stiffness to the CheuIte
rushing down over its stones half a
mile away. He wished above all 9TH
er wishes to know Alike married to
Ptetro: yet when he saw them togeth-
er he was Jealous for the memory Of
Francois. his boy Francois, whose ca
reer had promised SO brilliantly, whose
dashlng courage, whose strength and
brains and beauty n charm had been
his pride and delight almost as much
as the brave bright character Of Alike.
He himself a sent the boy away to
keep him from Alike. 1t might be he
had sent him to his death; it might be
he had spoiled Alixe's life as well. He
could not tell.
He puzzled over it as he came up
Alike and Pietro coming joyfully to-
ward him, running light heartedly, call
Ing to him with excited gay voices. It
stabbed the generals heart; a quick
thought came OF that other who had
been always with them, now dead or
had forgotten. And with that they were
upon him. and Alike was kissing him.
hugging him. pushing a letter into his
hand. up his sleeve, into his face-any-
! where.
'Father-good news-the best news
for the good news!"
impatiently. What is his 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 alivei"
For all his gruff s~elf-control the gen.
eral- made the letter an excuse short
ly to sit down. Queer. that a mans
knees should suddenly bend and give
wa hnCanSa IF q fhriI1. ~ 49, - -
mans psychological makeup! But the
general had to sit down. n 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
ready been written or told, and which
was of Importance to this chronicle.
But some of it was what has been quot
ed about the old days when the three
children rode Coz 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
choked, reading it. and broke down and
read again, half crying, half laughing.
But he is alive, father! Alivei THAI
Is happiness enough to kill one. I nev-
er knew till now that I feared he was
dead"
And the general, getting up and
strtding 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.
"Altve-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 stables! What was hat the lad
said about the doctors speech, that
only a long sea voyage could save him?
One must get him out, mon 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 ayes
shone blue fire.