Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-02-11

color flushing his happy face Then,
Battista," asked the marquis, "how
did you get the letter which you
brought mademoiselle?"
MY father" answered Battista la.
eonically.
How did your father get it?"
From the signor prisoner, my sig
nor -
Alike and pietro looked at him at
tentiyely, not eomprehending by what
means this was possible. Pietro, re-
membering the little Battista of old,
vaguely remembered that he was in
capable of initiative in speech. One
must pump him painfully
Was your father Ia the prison
where the signor is confined?" Alike
asked.
The litue pattista turned his eyes
on her a second approvingly. but
briefly They went back without delay
70 their affair OF devouring the face
OF his master. But he answered
promptly. Yes, signorina; he is there
always"
Always Pietro demanded in
alarm rs Battista a prisoner?"
But no, my signor."
What then? Battista. try to tell
us"
So adjured. little Battista made a
violent effort "He Is one of the jail
ers, my signor"
"Jailers? For the Austrians ?" The
face of the marquis took all the Joy
full light out of the face of little Bat
tista
my signor," he stammered. lit
could not be helped. He was there. He
knew the castle. They forced him at
first, and--and II came to be so"
Knew the castle!" Pietro repeated.
What castle?"
Battista's eyes turned to his Mas
ter's like those of a faithful dog. trast-
ing but not understanding. What cas-.
tie, my signor? Castelforte-the sig.
nor's own castle what other?"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything your castle
is coniiscated; they use 1t as a prison.
Francois is prisoner there. Pietro!
All these years-in your own home!"
Il never dreamed of that" Pietro
spoke. thinking aloud Every other
prison in Austria and Italy have tried
to find him in. never dreamed of
Castelforte"
At the end of the interview the little
Battista put his hand into his breast
pocket and brought out another letter.
thiekly folded Would mademoiselle
have him instructed where to find the
mother Of the signor prisoner He had
promised 10 put this into her own
hands He must do it before he
touched food
And jean Philippe Nelson. who had
lurked discreetly back OF the nearest
stone vase not missing a syllable. was
given orders. ana the huge little Rat
tista was sent OF up the stone steps
between the scarlet flowers. up tie
velvet slope Of lawn. in charge OF the
purple one.
Hair an hour later the general
walked up from the village walked
slowly thoughuully through the beech
wood. his face hardly older than when
he had come 10 Vicques. but sterner
and sadder, his still soIdiery gait less
huoyant than it had been ave years
ago
He saw Alike and Pietro coming
joyfully toward him. running light.
heartedly sailing to him with excited
gay voices. IL stabbed the generals
heart "a 0u5eE fho,,esbt .a,,, F .,4
other who had been always ,slth them
now dead or worse. of that other whom
these two hal forgotten. And with
THAI they we're upon him. and Alike
VAS kissing him. husging him, push.
ing letter into h,s band, up his
sleeve. INFO his iace-any where.
Father good news-the best news
almost tae best, Father. be ready
for the good nows,"
= am ready" the general growled
4mpai'ao'}. WHAT is this foolegy