The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-08-13

Moison and his brazen curiosity In
staying to hear the prisoners letter.
and his address OF thanks TO the Al
was alive. And she told him about
little old Coq-now an aged horse OF
Is years. spoiled and naughty. but yet
beloved and used only for his own
health's sake; she told how Coo would
run to her for sugar and burrow his
bold nose into her coat pocket, snort
ing impatiently; and how he had
thrown Nelson's little girl over his
head two months before as he used TO
throw all OF them.
So. on that long. bright. calm morn
ing at sea Francois lay In the ham
mock and watched the million little
waves glisten and break for unknown
miles over the sunlit water. and list
ened to the voice he loved best In the
world, as II told him OF those others
whom he loved also. and Of the places
dear to him: and he wondered that he
had indeed come through the long
nightmare OF prison to this happiness.
Mr.. Hampton has been talking to
me about Virginia; 1t must be q beau
love the free friendly life OF those
great domains. believe / could leave
France and Vicques for such coun-
try as that. where there are no politi-
cal volcanoes on top OF which one must
live. With US II Is always plotting and
secrecy. Always a war to look back
on or to look forward to. should like
to 20 to Virginia"
But" said Francois, with his great
eyes glowing, "the war one now looks
forward to in France will be short and
glorious. And after that will be peace,
for there will be a Bonaparte ruling.
and that means strength and good
government"
How you believe In the Great Cap
tain and in his blood" and Alike
smiled down at the pale face on fire
with its lifelong enthusiasm.
"One must" said Francois simply.
and paused, and went on. For me--you
know. Alike. how II is. How the star
OF the Bvnapartes has always seemed
to be my star! believe that I be-
lieve that my life is tied to that house.
Napoleon was more than human to my
mind. and his touch set me aside for
his uses In my cradle"
And made you a chevaller." Alike
considered. That was a true acco-
lade. Francois. You would have q
night to that title under another Bona
X believe so. Alike"
And my father believes Il. So you
must hurry and get well and come
back to France and be Tit for work
when the prince needs you, Chevalier'
Beaupre. My father has told you that
q movement Is preparing2 He Is reck-
less. my father. and II troubles me. 1t
might be unsafe for him to live in
France IL his part In these plots were
known" HH
Then you could come to Virginia
to Carnifax" and Francois smiled.
But Alike flushed. THAT Ia Pietro's
estate. not ours" she said quickly: and
then she rose and bent over the sick
boy must go to my father now"
suddenly In both hers. sBut obi Fran
co.'s. wish I could tell you how 1t
changes all the world to have you back
again"-and she was gone.
Francois. trembling with q rapture
he could not quiet. lay. not stirring,
because he feared to break the spell
OF the touch OF her hands; feeling
within him a rebel hope that yet ne
would not let take hold OF MIN. Could
II be? Was 1t true? Did she care for
him and not for Pietro? Was that the
reason that In all these years she and
Pietro were still only sister and broth
err? Yet. he caught and chol1ed at the
thought Even then he had no right,
he could not. would not tell her what
she was to him. He would be Pietro's
friend always as he had promised long
ako; more, 1000 times more now. when
Pietro had given back to him freedom
and life and hope. Pietro loved her;
she would come TO love Pietro in time;
lie would never take her from him.
even II he could. What was his own
happiness compared to that OF these
two so close and dear7 And also ID
was bitter bliss to sacrifice his ioy
for that OF his seigneur, Tor the man
who had given him everything. TO
Francois. smiling out at the sunny
ocean, giving up the love OF his life,
came that other blessedness OF renun-
citation. and he was happy.
The next day the general and Alike
and Pietro and the little Batfista were
put ashore In France, and the Lovely
Lucy sailed on with young Henry
Hampton and Francois to Virginia.