Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-07-15
CHAPTER XIII.
THE

Mon dleu!" said the general.
It was six years later. At the new
chateau not a blade OF grass seemed
changed. The general stood in the
midst Of closs-cropped millions Of
blades of grass as he stopped short on
the sloping lawn which led down to
the white stone steps which led to the
sunken garden. At each side of the
highest step lifted a carved stone vase.
blazing in the September afternoon
with vines. At the cot of the steps
stood two more vases, and at each side
Of the graveled path. ribboned. with a
long flower bed, at even intervals Of 80
feet, another stately pair Of them-the
gray stiff vases spilling intoxicating
brightness Of red flowers. They led
the eye down a line till, 100 yards away
the line broke into a circle where a
sun-dial set on q fantastic stone figure
Of a satyr marked the center Of a
grass plot. Massive stone seats held
up by carved crouching grtffins faced
each other across the sun-dial; on
Of these. in the sunny stiffness OF the
Alike. in her riding habit, with a
feather in her hat, n gauntleted
gloves on her hands. was so lovely
as to be startling. She looked at the
ground. half shy, half laughing, and
beat the grass with her riding whip.
Francois was leaning toward her and
down the lawn, felt a flood Of pride
rise in him as he looked at this sue
cessful picture Of q boy which he had
done 80 much to fashion. The two
had been riding together, and Francois
appeared, as most men do, at his best
in his riding clothes. With that, as the
vet slope. unseen by them. regarding
them-his girl and his boy. this happy
sister and brother-with that the
brother lifted the sisters hand and,
bending over IT. kissed. 1t slowly. in q
manner unmistakably unhrotherly.
Mon Dieu!" gasped the general, and
turned on his heel and marched back
All that afternoon he stayed shut up
in the library. At dinner he was taci-
turn.
well then. father" Alike said at
last, after the w had tried every sub
1ect in vain to make him talk. 1T will
that are grown for 10 miles around"
Berries" growled the general, be-
| w1ldered.
Surely"
WHY berries?" ferociously.
Alixe looked up at him in%nocently.
isn't It berries which big bears live
ONT Or will you eat W, my father,
W SAOAe y W. So 0AOSSS OSA - ~SA ~sN
torn us to pieces?"
And the general. when he had been
betrayed into a laugh. sighed deeply
and got up from his chair, dinner not
being over. and stalked back to his II.
brGry. Never had such . thing hap
pened.
.sW7hat 10 it," Alike asked Of Fran
cois. He 10 not il-he told us that.
Have you done something. you wicked
sinful boy. to trouble hint"
Francois shook his head thoughtfully.
1T cannot think Of anything" he said,
aud his eyes met hers ~truthfully. but
We ol1all know soon. He 10 az frank az
Q child: he cannot keep . grievance
from the people he loves"
Which was q true judgment, for the
next morning tho general sent for
Francois 70 come to him in the library.
"A letter had been brought q short time
before and was lying open on the table
by his hand.
Francois" began the general in his
deep abrupt one II am In trouble
Will you help met"
Yes. my seigneur." said Francois
sIf7 t means ! sacrifice to ~yoursslfr'
"Yss. my seigneur." Francois an
swered.
We shall &c." The general's strona
lipa were st and he said nothing more
k1or, Q moment, hut ea&ed thought1ully
ct th1 letter which lay under his biG
Outapread fngssG At Isngth. You r.
EE AtIFL 49, ~ ~