Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-16

answered In a low voice.
The general drew in an enormous
sigh Of relief. Thank God" he said
devoutly, and then put out his hand
fingers. my Francois. you are dear as
my own son: you know 1t. You are
next to Alixe-before Pietro-ah. yes.
much before Pietro. You will under
stand 1t Is not from nay lack Of at
lection that / put him before you In
this"
Francois. high strung. deeply stirred.
felt his hand throb suddenly. In the
generals and the general felt 1t, too.
Il an hurting you," the deep voice
said-and only one or two people In
the world had heard that voice so full
of tenderness. II am hurting you son.
But listen, Francois. It was the dear
est wish Of Pietro's father-it has been
my dearest wish for years-that Alike
and Pietro should one day be married.
1t is that which would be the crown
Of a friendship forged in the fires OF
battle fields. tempered in h freezing.
starving snow fields of Russia, finished
hope never finished in all eternity"
The generals great frame was
shaking; a silence cut across his
speech. He went on.
Such a marriage would carry on
ourselves. our friendship, and keep 1t
a living thing on the earth long after
we had left. That thought Is thrilling
to me; 1t is my greatest wish. Do you
yesterday I saw you, in the garden.
kiss Alixe's hand? I was afraid he
child had given her heart to you, and
that my dream. Alessandro's and mino"
he spoke this as If to htmself-"might
rever be realized"
Francois, his head bent. his eyes on
the generals hand which held his.
answered very quietly. Il see" he said.
Il forgot" the general went on. all
most as If he were alone n were
talking loud to himself. Il forgot
they were not real brother and sister.
1t was mad of me. Such a beauty as
Francois! Yet I did not dream of the
change till yesterday. I have gone
through much since then, but, thank
God. thank the good God, it is not too
late. She does not love him. 1t has
rot gone further than what 1 saw,
Francois?" He fired the words at the
again. You have not put ideas into
her head more than what I saw?"
mo, my seigneur." The voice was
without Infection; the loo was still IN
the big hand which held his own fast.
You. would not take her from Pietro.
who, liam ure loves herr"
Francois looked up sharply, but the
general did not notice. He spoke slow
". Il promised Pietro's father-the
boy seemed to be OF Of breath-"to be
Pietro's friend-always," he said.
The general smiled then and let the
fingers go, and turned to the letter on
tho table before him. "Good!" he said.
You are always what I wish. Frau
COTS" and it was quite evident that the
load was off his mind. II am contented
that no harm has been done to either
OF my children. AS for you, however,
0 are 20. You are full Of ambition
and soldier-craft and politics and fight.
ing-there is small place left for love
in suoh a boiling kettle Of fish as you.
If my girl has touched your heart a
bit. as it looked yesterday,"-and the
genera chuckled gFntly-"well, you are
2G-the wound will heal" He slapped
the letter on the table,. II must now
have a long talk with you on an inter-
Iesting subject-yourself." @
The general was by this in high good
humor. A spasm caught the face Of
the boy and left it pale, but the general,
busy at putting on his s~pectacles, did
not see. When he turned to look at
him, Francois was as usual.