Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-08-13

at him. saying. sabre d. bois." and
nom dun Chen" and such things;
and called him his own boy. and told
him how his mother and father were
and told him also how 1t was Alike
who had waited every night for him in
Riders Hollow. n would let no one
take her place.
1T was the best arrangement" said
the general. For Pietro is too well
you both. And l am SO much the old
officer that 1 should a been re-
marked instantly; also / am heavy in
the saddle. But Alike passed easily
for some peasant lad with a led horse
for his master; ais she rides light and
so could save the horses. which was
important, for only two horses could
we have n they We're to be in service
n knew not how long.
Francois asked a feeble question.
"Ah-Pietro. He is a fine sort, our
Pietro. They adore him here in his
country. There is a farmer back there
who owed life and home to the Zappis,
to Pietro's father and mother. The
horses were his. They were brought
after dark and returned before sun
rise. but it was far. and hard on the
beasts. And a risk for the good Giu-
seppi; but he was glad to serve Pietro;
thew adore Pietro.
Quite malapropos, the general leaned
over at this point and stretched out a
heavy hand and patted Francois pale
cheek and smiled and said. as he had
said so many years ago on that morn
ing when the news came Of the mar
auis' death. 1T is a good thing to have
a son. my Francois And Francois,
being fed shortly after, fell asleep ike
a tired baby.
And the next time he awoke it was
with a new feeling; with a desire and
a hope to live. Pietro sat watching him
n brought him warm milk and held
his head w as he drank it, like a
woman. Then. in quiet slow tones. he
explained all the puzzle which Fran
co.'s had by now begun to wonder over.
tista had brought Francois letter to
Vlcques. Pietro had received another
unexpected letter, from a Colonel
Hampton in Virginia, whose estate lay
next the 5000 acres Of land which the
Marquis Zappi had bought Is years
two requests. The first was that the
MARQUIS zappi should come to vir-
GINA. or send some one with authority
to look after his property. The land
was going to rack and ruin for want
OF management; the uncontrolled
slaves on the place We're d~emoralizing
to the neighborhood. Colonel HAMPTON
had done what he could but he had not
the power of a master, and moreover
he was busy with his own large es-
tate. The marquis should come or
send a qualified agent at once.
The next object of the letter was to
ask that the marquis should receive
and entertain the nephew of Colonel
hampton. Mr.. Henry Hampton, who,
sailing on Colonel Hampton's ship. the
Lovely Lucy. would bring this letter
to the marquis. The ship would go
first to England and discharge there
her cargo of tobacco and after that it
was to be at the service Of young Mr.
Hampton. to visit such countries OF
Europe as he might choose, for six
months. MIR. Hampton had many let
tiers to people in England but none
elsewhere. and Colonel Hampton would
be Obliged If the marquis would re-
ce1Ve him at his estate of Castelforte
and let him see something of Italy
from that point of vantage. The mar
quis might then, if he thought good
return to Virginia in the Lovely Lucy
and either set matters on a firm
enough footing to be left, or else
plan-stay with them and become q
country gentleman of Virginia. The
colonel had heard that there a Deer
political trouble in Italy, but hopeG
that at this time the country was a,
peace and the marquis comfortabI,
Il "A Ia OWt II SdS Ile.L 1UHF - III
All this the young marquis, an exile
of five years from his native land, ha6
; read at the chateau of Vicques. He
had considered deeply as to what h,
might do about Carnifax. his estate II
Virginia. He could not go himself, TO,
: he was in close connection with thu
work Of Italian patriots outside and In.
side of Italy: with Mazzini il London;
with others in other places. And h,
did not know any one whom he coule
send.
!. So the matter stood when the hi.
little Battista had brought Francois
: letter to Vicques. And when Alike. hat
. appealed to him to take Francois lib
: Grafton on his shoulders, with tn,
= thought OF he secret passage and tn,
2 vaguely outline plan OF escape ha,
! come to him the recollection OF Colone
Z Hampton's letter and the long Sc;
3 voyage to Virginia.
: So when Mr.. Henry Hampton land
ed at Calais. astall and very handsom
\ and very silent young man took quie
possession of him and told him tina
I he was the MARQUIS Zappi and tina
NIT. Hampton was to go with him t
the chateau of Vicques in the Jura
2 There was q certain gentle force abou
: this Young marquis which made op
position to his expressed wish some
= thing INK banging ones head agains
8 q stone wall. Mr.. Henry Hampton hay
u pidltkASu SOA1k uAIeCL TO Earns out n
9 went to Vicques. And on the bourne
down h Marquis Zappi opened out
plan which richly rewarded him tor hi
pliability. Mr.. Hampton had some
$ what clearer Ideas on Italian polite
= than his uncle; he knew enough to de
test the Austrians and to have a kee
sympathy for the long, heroic, losin
fght-so far losing-of those devote
: men who were counting their lives q
nothing for q united Italy. The schem
OF helping to rescue q prisoner out {
an Austrian fortress was an adyentur
y such as made his eyes dance. M
4 Hampton was III and full Of romano
!. romance as vet ungratiied. so. Pietr
told Francois. this long e~xplanatio
: over, the Lovely Lucy was anchored :
Z an uninnportant island outside the pol
4. for which they were bound. an
n Francois and the others were to 10 8
= board and set sail promptly for som
- port OF France. There tthe genera
n Alike. Ptetro and little Battista WEI
8. to be put ashore, and Francois i
sail across to Virginia with NJ
Hampton and take possession Il
IL Pietfo Of his american entates.
s. Francois. lying Id bed with his ey,
fe glowing like lanterns, listened. hui |
his friends finished M brnka sonfs vii