The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-02-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Good News.

Good News.
In the garden of the chateau of
Vicques, where the stiff, gray stone
vases spilled again their hearts blood
OF scarlet and etching of vines; where
the two stately lines of them led down
to the sundial and the round lawn-on
one of the griff1n-supported stone seats
Alike and Pietro sat, where Alike and
Francois had sat five years before.
AS they sat in the garden, they had
been going over the pros and cons Of
his life or death for the thousandth
time. Pietro's quiet gray eyes we're
sad as he looked away from Alike and
across the lawn to the beech wood.
God knows l would give my life
quickly If could see him coming
through the trees there, as we used to
see him, mornings long ago, In his
patched homespun clothes"
Alike followed the glance consider.
ingly, as if calling up the little, brown,
trudging figure so well remembered.
Then she tossed up her head sharply
"Who?'-and then she laughed. 81
shall be seeing visions next, like Fran
cois,' she said. 81 thought it was he
back in the beech wood"
81 see no one" Pietro stared.
But you have no eyes, Pietro-I can
always see thing two minutes before
you" Alike threw at him. "There-the
man."
oh" said Pietro. Your eyes are
more than natural, Alike. You see in
to wood; that is uncanny. Yes.
see him now. Mon dieu! he is a big
fellow"
"A peasant-from. some other vii
lage," Alike spoke carelessly. 81 do
not know him." and they went on talk
ing. as they had been doing, of Fran.
co.'s.
And with that, here was Jean Phil.
lippe Moison, forty now and fat, but
still beautiful In purple millinery, ad-
vancing down the stone steps between
the tall gray vases, making a sym.
phony of color with the rich red of the
flowers. He held a silver tray; a let
ter was on it.
For mademoiselle."
Mademoiselle took 1t calmly and
glanced at it, and with that both the
Eastman and the Marquis Zappi were
astonished to see her fall to SILVER
ing, as il in a sudden illness. She
caught Pietro's arm. The letter was
clutched in her other hand thrust back
of her.
"Pietro!"
What is it; Alixe?" His voice was
quiet as ever, but his hand was around
her shaking fingers, and he held them
strongly. What is it, Alixe?"
She drew forward the other hand;
the letter shook. rustled with her
trembling. 1T is-from Francois!"
Jean Philippe Moison having
stayed to listen, as he ought not, lift
ed his eyes and his hands to heaven
and gave thanks in a general way,
volubly, unrebuked. BY now the un.
steady fingers of Alike had opened the
paper, and her head and Pietro's were
bent over it, devouring the well-known
writing Alike, excited, French, ex-
ploded into disjointed running com.
ment
From prison-our Francois-dear
Francois!" And then: Five years,
Pietro! Think-while we have been
free!" And then, with a swift clutch
again at the big coat sleeve crowding
against her: 'Pietro! See, see! The
date-it is only two months ago. He
was alive then; he must be alive now !;
he Is! l knew II, Pietro! A woman
knows more things than a man"
With that she threw up her head
and fixed Jean Philippe, drinking In
all this, with an unexpected stern
glance. What are you doing here,
Nelson? What manners are these?"
Then, relapsing in a flash into pure
human trust and affection toward the
anxious old servant: MY dear, old,
good Moison--he is alive-Monsieur
Francois is alive--in a horrible prison
IN Italy! But he is alive, Moison!"
And with that a sudden jump again
into dignity. who brought this. Moi
SOM"
Jean Philippe was only too happy
to have a hand In the joyful excite
ment. "Mademoiselle. the young per.
son speaks little language. But he
told me to say to monsieur the mar
quis that he was the little Battista."
Pietro looked up quickly. Alike. II
is the servant from my old home OF
whom spoke to you. can not imag
inc how Francois got hold OF him. but
he chose a good messenger. May
have him brought herei He must have
something to tell ua."