The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-16
to te .. He VIII have what-what I

sN \ Va A1&rS AAd =
would give my life for" Then he hur-
ried OF II see how 1t is" he said
gently, and you are right to care SO
loyalty for Pietro. He is worth 1t. And
you must never care less, Alixe-never
forget him because he has gone away.
with effort, slowly, but Alike was too
much occupied with her own tumultous
thoughts to notice. He will surely
come back and-belong to you more
than eve He will come back dis
tinguished and covered with honors,
perhaps. and then-and then-Alixe.
do you see the chestnut tree at the cor
ner that turns to the chateau? 1t is
a good bit of soft road-we will race
to that tree-shafl we? And Their I will
tell you something"
The horses sprang into a canter and
then a gallop. and stretched their legs
and flattend down into a sharp run.
The girl n the boy Were flying side
by side through the mellow landscapes;
the gray overs and red roofs of the
chateau We're in the distance; the little
Cheulte lay to the right, it's pools like
a string of quicksilver beads spotted o N
the fields; the mountain of the Rose,
calm n enormous and dark, lifted out
of the country to the left. Many a
time in the six years to come Francois
saw that picture n felt, the vibrating
air as they rushed through it. He had
strained his very soul to talk at length
as he had of his rival, of his friend;
he felt sick and exhausted from the
effort; now Me must tell her that he
was going tomorrow, and he must not
let a word or a look tell her that he
lover her. The horses raced merrfly;
Alike sat close to the saddle with the
light swinging seat, the delicate hand
perfect ~horsemanship, and over and
over as he watched her ride Francois
said to himself:
II will give my happiness for the
se1gneur'sI said it, and l will. I will
be a friend to Pietro alwaysI said it,
and / will"
Over and over the horses flying feet
pounded out that self command, and
at length the music Of the multiplying
hoof beats grew slower, and with tight
ening rein they drew in and stopped un-
der the big chestnut. Alike was laugh
ing, exllilarated, lovely.
Wasn't it a good race. Didn't they
go deliciously?" she threw at him.
And then. I'VE will go around by the
DeleSmonteS road; it is only three miles
farther. and it is early in the after
noon; there is nothing to do
Francois spoke slowly. ct am afraid
II must not. Alike. l am going to the
farm tonight"
ITO the farm" Alike looked at him
in surprise. But you We're not to go
till tomorrow. My father and 1 will
ride over with you. Have you forgot
temp"
mo-" said Francois, 81 have not for
~gotten-no. indeed. But 1 am going
away tomorrow, Alike"
Going away?" Alike turned sharp
~, and her deep blue glance searched.
his eyes. What do o mean. Fran
cols?' And then, imperiously: Don't
tease me, Francois! I don't like it,"
Francois steadied, hardened his face
very carefully, and answered: Il am
not teasing you, Alike. I did not tell
you before because he stopped. for
his voice was going wrong-.because I
thought we would have our ride just
as usual today. I only knew about it
myself this morning. I am going to
Pietro.'
"Going-to Piero!" Alike was gasp.
ing painfully. "~Francois-it is a Joke
tell me it is a poor joke. Quick!" she
me, torture mel"
1T is not a joke" The boys YES
were held by a superhuman effort on
the buckle of the bride rein lying ON
his knee. There was a letter from
Pietro this morning. The seigneur
wishes me to go. l wish to go. 1
am leaving tomorrow"
Going tomorrow" The girls voice
was a wall. "You-taken away from
me-" Then in a flash: IT hate Pietroi
He is cruel-he thinks only of himself.
lie wants you-but 1 want you too.
How a I live without you, Francois 2"
Ihen softly, hurriedly, while the world
reeled about the boy. sitting stat,la iilra
in his sadie: ."It is just as l said. You
are as much a part Of my life as he
air | breathe-and you and my father
and Pietro say quiet calmly. The air
IS to be taken away-you must do with
OUT II, 1 can rot. I will cholSe!" She
pulled AT her rnl11 n az I1,, H., 49, .
checking We're a physical present fact
NO slightest motion, no shade Of in
Election missed Francois; still he sat
motlonless, his eyes on the little brass
buckle, his lips set in a line, without
a word, without a look toward her. And
suddenly Alike, with another quick
blue glance from under the black long
lashes-Alixe, hurt, reckless, desper-
ate, had struck her horse a sh-fp blow
and she was in the rcei before him.