The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-30

tyrants left men for a little thing, TOT
suspicion, for nothing, lying In dun
geons worse than this for three times
five years It was mere chance, ne
had heard, that this young signor had
not been sent to Spielberg instead OF
this place; to horrible Spielbergs where
one might see high bred mobiles of Italy
chained to felons, living in underground
cells. Battista shuddered. be hao
come to have great affection LOT tnls
prisoner: he trembled at the Thought
that some caprice OF those In power
might send him even yet to Spieiberg.
Moreover -Battista hardly dared think
It in his heart, but he himself was
Itallan--a patriot. And behold him q
TALLER to man who was suffering-ne
belieSed--for the patriot cause. His soul
longed to help him, yet he was AFRAID,
even to be too gentle with his prisoner,
1T was an off chance that had left MIN
here, Battista Serrani, in the castle OF
his old masters, after the castle had
been confiscated by the Austrians, 20
be used by them as a prison. But what
could he do? He was poor man; ne
had a wife and children to think or; his
knowledge OF the place had been use
full at first to the new lords, and then
they had seen that he was hard work
ing and closed mouthed, and had Kept
him on till they had forgotten, II
seemed, that he was Italian at all. so
mere ne was, bGL 70 BudN0 Al0Ah
he would give his life to make free.
But the masters knew well and he
knew that 1t meant more than HIS life
10 be dislpyal--it meant the lives of his
wife and children. There would be
small pity for such as Battista when
great noblemen were treated IKE
felons. So Battfsta was trusted as IL
he were Austrian born.
All this flashed through his mind
as he gazed pitfully at the sick pris-
oner only just out OF boyhood, yet
with that band Of white hair, the badge
OF his captivity. In the thick brown
thatch OF his head. He lay very still
row. as If his tossing were all fin
ished, his face turned to the wall:
Battista, softhearted, cautious, stopped
to look at him moment before go
ing out AS he looked the dark head
turned swiftly and the bright eyes met
his with q light not delirious. yet not
quite of every day reason.
"Ycu are good to me, Battista," the
boy said. "and Just now you gave mo
a great pleasure It warns me yet to
think OF II for you see. thought
| you were Pierto-my dear Pietro-the
Marquis Zappi"
Battista, GREATNESS, stared, stam-
mered. "Whom--whom did you say,
signor2" 49,
But the prisoner had flashed into
reason. The color went out OF his face
as the tide GIBBS. "Battista, did say a
name? Battista--you will not betray
me-you will not repeat that name? /
would never have said IL but that /
was not quite steady. must have been
out Of my head; / have never spoken
his name before I'm this place. oh, IL I
1 should bring danger to himI Battista,
for Gods sake. you will not repeat that
| aameT 49,. a.
Battista spoke low, glancing at the
heavy iron door OF the cell. God for
| bid. signor," he whispered. that
should speak, here In his own castle. the
aame Of my young master.
There was a long silence. The pris-
oner and his jailer gazed at each other
As II saying things beyond words. Then
the boy put out his long, hot fingers
and caught the mans sleeve.
"Battista." he murmured. "Battista-
Is that true7 Is it possible? Do you
Inow--ny Pietro2"
Know him. signorT' Battista's deep
yoice was unsteady. my fathers have
served his for 500 years." The man was
shaking with loyalty long pent up,
but Francois lifted his head. leant on
his elbow and looked at him thought
fully. ...@'
but. Battista, know you now; he
has spoken to me OF you; It was your
ION, the little Battista, who was his
BODY servant when they were chill
aren?" ...EH.. ..a.
Yes. sIgnor."
Il did not dream Of It: I never knew
what castle this was; never dreamed
Of Castelforte; you would not tell me-"
II could not, aignor. It was forbid
den. I am risIxing my life every min
ute"
Go. Battista," and Francois pushed
him away with weak hands. Go quick
ly-you have been here too long. There
might be suspicion. could not live IL
/ brought trouble on you"
1T is right SO far. signor." Battista
answered. 1T Is known you are i'll;
must care for the sick ones little. But
I had better go now"
With that he slipped to his knees
and lifted the feverish hand to- llis lips,
THE friend OF my young MASTER" he
said simply. but his voice broke on the
words The traditional faithfuIness of
centuries was strong In Battista; the
Zappis had been good masters; one
had been cared for and contented al
ways; one was terrorized and ground
down by these Austrian swine" the
memory of the old masters. the per-
sonality of any one connected with
them. was sacred. Battista bowed his
head over the hands in his own. then
he stood up. ,4N &
81 shall be back at bedtime, signor,"
he said quietly. and was gone.
But Francois had an ally now, and
he knew 1t. The excitement OF the
thought, the joy Of dim possible re-
suits buoyed his high strung temperas-
ment like tonic. He must be. he would
be careful beyond words to guard
against any danger, any suspicion for
Battista, but There were chances
even with that provision. Here was
hope. 1t Is necessary, perhaps, to have
been i've years q prisoner in a cell in
an unknown castle in a foreign land
10 know what the first glimpse Of hope
may mean. s.
Instantly. with the hope working In
him, he began to get well. Little by
little. watching fearfully against the
peril OF conversations long enough to
seem suspicious to eyes always alert,
he told Battista Of the close friendship
Of the chateau in France. Of the spien-
did old officer OF Napoleon and Of his
daughter. the beautiful demoiselle. who
was Alike; OF the years at school to-
gether. the boyish adventures innumer-
able. Every word Battista drank IN; he
had not seen the young marquis since
he had left Castelforte with his father
a IL. l. a