Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-09-09
THE MARSHAL.
CONTINUED from Page 6.)

ness, begging him to go at once on
another mission. The general was firm
hounded; he should stay at home in
the quiet old chateau n get we'll. But
the boy was restless: a fever of enthu-
slasm was on him n he wanted to do
more and yet more for the Princes
work.
Moreover, it was about as much mis-
cry as joy to be near Alike. Every day
ne narrowly escaped taking her into
his arms and telling her how he had
loved her n did Owe her and would
love her always, right or wrong, rea-
sonable OR unreasonable. 1t was almost
more than he could do to resist that
temptation at times. And at times it
seemed that Alike, with the swift lift
of those long black lashes, and the blue
gleam of her eyes into hist seemed
as If she were telling him not to resist
any longer. He did not know; if he
had been sure what sort of owe that
glance meant-if he had been sure it
was not h sisterly sort-he vas hui
mamie could not, perhaps, have re-
sisted. But Alike was a thousand things
IN a minute; no one could be so allur-
Ing, so cold, so warm, so fascinating, so
forhdding-all at once. How could
Francois tell what was mask n what
reality in the proud, sensitive, merry,
brave personality which one saw? Yet
for every puzZling phase he loved her
more and wanted her more. He had
muc better go on diplomatic missions
h stay and ride through Valley BEL
esmontes on spring afternoons with the
woman he loved and might not have.
At this point two things happened:
P1etro came from London, n Fran
co.'s, on the point OF leaving for another
secret errand. broke down n was i'll.
He lay in his bed in his room at the
farmhouse, the low upper chamber
looking out-through wide-open casee-
ment windows, their old loaded little
panes of glass glittering from every
uneven angle-looking out at broad
fields and bouquets OF chestnut trees,
and far off. five miles away. at the high
red roofs of the chateau Of Vlcques.
AND gazing SO, he saw Petra on old
Capitaine. turn from the shady avenue
OF the chestnuts and ride slowly to the
house. With that he heard his mother
greeting Pietro below in the great
kitchen. then the two NOTES.-THE deep
one n the soft one-talking, talking,
a long time. What could his mother
and Pietro have to talk about so long?
And then Pietro's step was coming up
the narrow stair, and he was there, in
the room.
Francois" Pietro began in his di-
rect fashion, Il think you must go back
to Virginia."
Francois regarded him with startled
eyes, saying nothing. There was q
chill and an ache in his heart at the
thought Of yet another parting.
Pietro went on. II have a letter from
Harry Hampton. The place needs you;
Miss Hampton say they will not be
married unless you come to be best
man at the wedding" Francois
smiled. Pietro went on again. More
oyer We, boy e:s,, Fsa n ye are not
are not doing we'll here. You are too
useful; they want to use you con
stantly and you are ready; but you are
not ut. You must get away for an
other year or two. Then o will be
well and perhaps by then the prince
will have real work for you. And you
must have strength for that time.
Your mother says I am right" With
that his mother stood in the doorway,
regarding him with her calm eyes, and
nodded to Pietro's words. So it came
o that Francois went back shortly
to Virginia.
On the day before he went ne sat in
the garden Of the chateau with Alike,
on the stone seat by the sun dial where
they had sat years before when the
general had seen hin kiss the girls
hand, in that ~unbrotherly way which
Ia so surprised him.
Alike" said Francois, II am going
to the end of the world"
Not for h first time" Alike ans
Wered cheerfully.
Perhaps for the last" Francois
threw back dramatically. 1t is hard to
have ones best-beloved discount ones
tragedies. And Alike laughed and lift
a long stem of a spring flower which
she held in her hand. and brushed his
forehead d~elicately with the distant
tip Of it.
Smooth out the wrinkles. do not
frown; do not look solemn; you always
come back, Monsieur the Bad Penny;
you will this time. Do not be melo- |
dramatic, Francois"
Francois. listening to these sane SEN
was hurt. and not at all in
knew that he should not say
is something I have wanted
all my life-all my life"
rs there?" inquired Alike in COM
tones. "A horse, par ex-
emple?" He caught her hand. disre-
passion and pleading. DO not BIO
and cold today, Alike. dear
Alike. I am going so far, and my very
soul is torn with leaving you-all."
It takes no more than a syllable, an
at times. to turn the course
tence alone before that last little
word; If he had told the girl that his
soul was torn with leaving her, then it
Is hard to say what might have hap
pened. But-"you al'-he did not wish
to have her think that it meant
more to cave her than to leave the
others. Alike readjusted the guard
had almost slipped from her,
and stood again defensive.
Il won't be cruel, Francois; you
kno how we-all-are broken-hearted
to have you go" i
Francois caught that fatal little
word ALL" repeated. IN dimly saw its
significance. land his own responsible
ity. Alike went on.
you have wanted all your life"