The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-09

satisfied in his soul with each one. at
Whatever age. and glad of each day
more OF this long unconscious
in which they held to n another as
closely and frankly as If they were real
sister and brothers.
Today was the first complete day Of
the vacation; for till now Francois q
been at the farm, working hard with
his father at the harvesting. This
morning he had ON over to spend q
week at the chateau. And without ar-
rangement, only because it was their
ground, they had strolled along the
steep hillside, into the road that led to
the pasture at the foot of the noun
tain and then to the gate, barring out
wagons and cattle, h gate of the
fence which enclosed the old chateau.
The grass was green on the high
mound under which lay heaped the
stones of the Roman tower, 1t was iong,
and waved in the breeze; the ugliness
of the barbarism and cruelty of those
days lay so buried; on the right were
the ~granaries where the wicked gov
ernor had stored the grain wrung from
the country people: over the steep wall
to the left was the opening to the COR
ridor which led, as all the world OF
Vicques had known for centuries. TO
the treasure. house, 1t was there that
the phantom, the great dog. appeared.
The children told the old story to one
another; they rebuilt as they talked, In
the peace OF the suInmer afternoon, the
old war castle; they raised its long
wallis and placed its narrow windows
and machicolated it's roofs-n the
young minds a dream of the old place
rose complete under the new chestnut
trees of only two OF three hundred
years standing. ).
"Just behind the great stone there"
Alike formulated, was the dogs bed
room. OF course. a great monsieur like
the dog had his own bedroom-.yes,
and office, too-and maybe his dining
room"
And the joke was enough on that
lazy day Of vacation to set peals OF
light laughter ringing through the
! ruins. Alike stopped laughing sud-
WHO is that?" she demanded. Her
eyes were lifted to the hill rising be-
hind the green mound, and the glance
of the others followed hers. A young
the slope, and something in his fgure
and movement made it impossible even
at a distance that it should be any one
Of the village. Strangers We're not
common in quiet Vicques, n why
should a stranger be coming over the
mountain? The children were silent as
they watched the figure drawing clos
err; it seemed as If an event OF Inn
portance was about to happen. Rapid
ly the boy sprang down the mountain
side; they could see him plainly now;
he was two or three years older than
the boys Of the chateau; he was short,
slender, compact, with a thin aquiline
face, with something about him which
the country bred children did not un-
derstand to be that subtle quality,
presence. He saw them, and came for
ward, and his cap was off quickly as
| - A1S.y. 1y,,$ vpi%l a lyann
look at the three. 1t was Francois to
whom he spoke. s.
'Is this France?' he asked.
But yes, Monsieur" Francois an
swered wondering-and in a moment he
wondered more. The strange boy, his
cap flung from him. dropped on his
knees and kissed the grass that grew
over the Roman governors founda-
tons. With that he was standing
again, looking at them unashamed from
his quiet gray eyes.
ut is the first time I have touched
the soil of France since I was z years
DID," he stated, not as If to excuse his
act, but ae IL explaining something his
torical. And was silent.
The children, going over this days
event "a times after. could never
remember how 1t happened that they
4 had talked so much. The strange boy
talked very little; they could not recol-
AOSk IAio io pa uANSA ~
startling question; yet here was Alike,
the very spirited and proud little Alike.
anxious to make him understand every
thing Of their own affairs.
II am Alike" she began-and stopped
short. seized with shyness. Was 1t
courtesy to explain to the young mon
sieur about her distinguished father?
Or was it Dragging? She found her
self suddenly In an agony of confusion,
for all Of them were laughing their
quick young laughter at her brief state
ment. Then the stranger made a low
bow and spoke in the gentlest friendly
tones.
1T is enough. 1t is a charming
name, Mademoiselle Alike. I belive
shall now think it the most charming
name in France"
And Alike. blushing f%uriously, yet felt
q satisfactory conviction that she had
not been at all stupid.
She has more of a name than that,
however. Monsieur" and Francois step
ped across the grass and stood by the
little girl, her knight. unconscious OF
the part he played. ut is a very grand
name. the other one. For u seigneur
the father of Alike, is Monsieur the
Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, a general OF
Napoleon himself; he was indeed with
the Emperor at st. Helena"
Francois had no false modesty. nc
self consciousness; he felt that he had
placed Ail&es standing now In the besi
light possible. The strange boy felt it
too, it seemed, for he started as Fran.
co.'s spoke of Napoleon; his reserved
face frightened and his cap was of
and sweeping low as he bowed agar
to Alike more deeply. Francois was de.
lighted. 1t vas in him to enjoy ORA.
matte effect, as It is in most French.
men. He faced about to Pietro.
This one, Monsieur" he went on
much taken with himself as master o.
ceremonies. rs Monsieur the Marqui.
Zappi of Italy. His father also foughr
for the great captain"
The quiet strange boy interrupted
swiftly. Il know" he said. "Of h,
also on the staff OF Lanneg. I know
the name WELL" and he had ,Pietro'.
hand in a firm grasp and was lookins
into the lads embarrassed face will
his dreamy keen eyes.
The children, surprised. were yet tos
young to wonder much that a DO,
scarcely older than themselves should
have The army of Napoleon at hi.
fingers ends; he gave them no time t.
think about 1t.
"One sees, without the names. tina
you are of the noblesse," he said sim.
ply. embracing the three in his sleep,
glance. He turned to Francois. "Anc