Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-09
CHAPTER xr(continued).
cep,risas The Boss.x.rrm con,ar,

Copyrighk. The BobhsAefsM Com
CHAPTER XE(Continued).
Big little Pietro hah to be told what
had happened and how the general
was now to be a father to him as best
he might, n Alike and Francois
would be his sister and brother. He
took The blow dumbly and went about
mas studies next morning, but for many
Gays he could not play, and only Fran
co.'s could make him speak. He chung
TO h other boy, and seemed to find
ms best comfort in the friendship
which 1t had been his fathers parting
MISUNDERSTANDING handsome
and a lovable. good child, but slow
IN initiative where Francois vas ready,
shy where Francois was friends with
all the world, steady going where the
peasant boy was brilliant. Between
was an %unspohen bond from the first,
and at this age it seemed to be the
little peasant who had everything to
give. Smaller physically, weaker in
muscle than the big boned son Of
noRth Italy, he yet took quite naturally
an attitude of protection and guidance,
and Pletro accepted it without hesita-
ton. There was no jealousy between
them. Francois taught the other, who
had grown up petted but unframed IN
the lonely castle Of his ancestors, all
that he knew Of boyish skill n
strength. and was enchanted when his
pupil went beyond him, as happened
where brute force counted. Yet Fran
co.'s was the acknowledged leader.
Father" Alike complained, "Pietro
VIII not try to knock Francois down.
Pietro is big, yet it is always Francois
who comes up behind him and throws
him on the grass and Pietro only
L oD1 ~ al Ts~A-- ~
brave n quick as Francois is,
father"
Either of my boys is brave enough
Tor you, who are only a girl" the gen
eral growled. and put an arm around
her and kissed her brown head.
And Alike pushed away haughtily.
THAT is not a way to talk before boys.
is worth six boys, and it is you who
said it.. Besides, 1 can ride, can I not,
father? Nobody IA jumped Coz over
the hedge by the far field but just me
Alike" And the boys nodded their
dark heads and agreed. and Pietro
| added:
She cal run faster than I, though
my legs are SO long" And he smiled
at her in his sleepy fashion,, honest,
admiring, shy.
Things went on in this way for two
years or more, and the three studied
SSoSkAASA oAACl la IotO1y dlld IOuc SOQ
In the park, and sometimes wen to-
gether of a Friday afternoon to the
Valley farm and spent a two days there
never TO be forgotten. They were royal
guests to LIE Francois and La Claire,
and the wholesome simple things done
to amuse them We're endless; the farm
was theirs to play with for that week
end. First, on coming, there was a
fine lunch; gigot-a leg of lamb-which
one gave to princes, with salad and
bread and wine n much besides. The
grandmother told them stories. h
father tool them driving on hay
wagons; the mother showed them how
to milk, to shell peas n other occult
accomplishments. The children were
ready to drop everything and do any
thing with them at any M 1t
was like a glorious dolls house built
for the little visitors. And according
to the season they gathered fruits
raspberries, apples, whatever grew. The
Ferme du Val was a fairy land OF
pleasure.
Also the chateau at vicques with
three children in it was no convent.
That good boy Francois was forever in
mischief. For instance, there was the
winters day when he got the general
into difficulty with the church by bru-
tally snowballing the bishop.
II thought it was Marcelle," Fran
co.'s explained penitently. He pranced
just as Marcelle Frances. And l was
hiding behind the door with my am
munition-15 snewballs, my seigneur-
big hard ones. 1t was twilight, SO I
could not see plainly. I fired straight,
my s%eigneur. ] gave him one in the
neck. And one on the head, and two
In the back, and one or two in the
stomach when he turned. 1 only missed
once. And alsolwhen he turned howl
ing, with his hand out, I sent n into
his mouth befoe I saw. 1t is too bad
it was the bishop. my seigneur; but
why didn't he fight back?"
And the segneur, scolding fero-
ciously, had "a CLEAN in his eye
which lessenel Francois sense Of
wrong-doing. There was also an occa-
sion when. herring the general give a
long order to Marcelle for the stable,
Francois VENT out hurriedly with a
stout cord and fastened it where Mar
celle must go. And Marcelle, the pran-
Ger, caught his foot and entered the
stable door lille a comet and fell on
Jules, the grooA, in his orbit-on Jules
carrying a budet Of water; and Jules
n the water ind Marcelle ~ricochetted
in a acknowledged tangle into Coq's
stall; where CD, being angry, let forth
a neigh and kick together, one Of
which broke tie innocent, Jules arm.
So that Francis, stating the case to
the general, wis condemned to do the
groom's work Jill the arm was cured.
The days We're not monotonous at the
chateau of Vidues. They We're not all
work and no play to the three very
human childrea living there.
So with wck and play life rolled
rapidly, and suddenly life was all
changed. A eoverness was coming for
Alike, and Fancois and Pietro were
going away t6the great military school
Of Saint-Cyr, ear Paris.
CHAPTER XII.
THEsTRANcE Rov