The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-09

wen knit young body In his military
brilliant exquisRS smile into the older
boys face.
Mel am peasant" he said cheer
fully. II have no house." Then into
the silence that fell he spoke simply.
There are no Officers of my family,
no battles where my name was known"
The controlled glance OF the stranger
rested on him attentively. With that
theQook Of Francois changed in a fash;
his Eyes blazed as he threw out both
hands in a strong gesture. 1T makes
no difference" he cried. MY life was
consecrated from its start to the ser
vice or the house of Bonaparte. 1t will
count; live because believe that.
know surely that 1 shall yet do a thing
worth while for a BUAaparte"
A CURIOUS vivid glance shot at the exc
cited boy from under the dropping lids
OF the newcomer. Monsieur" he said
quietly r. But no one had time
10 near the rest, Because Alike had sud-
denly thrown her nFm about Francois
neck, and was crying out impetaous
words.
He is peasant-yes. But he is also
our brother, Pietros and mine, and no
PRINCE is better than Francois-not
one"
"or half so good" Pietro put in with
his slow tones.
You are likely right" the stranger
agreed laconically.
And then without questions asked,
IN rapid eager sentences, the three had
told him how II was; how Francois, re-
tusing to leave the cottage, was vet the
son OF the castle, how Pietro had come
and had stayed, how the boys were at
school together; how in the vacations
they were still sister and brothers,
whether at the castle or the farm; ali
this and much more the three poured
out to the silent lad who listened, who
seemed to say almost nothing, yet
managed tOemfke them feel at every
moment that he cared to hear what
they said. With that they were talking
about the village OF Vicques, and its
antiquity, and then Of the old chateau;
and one told the legend Of the treasure
and OF the guardian dog.
Just over the wall there is the open-
ing where he appeared to old Pierre
Tremblay," Fr6Reois pointed out. And
Pierre was half witted ever after. I
know, for have seen him myself He
mumbled''
That is interesting" The stranger
spoke with more animation than he
had shown before-he was, after all.
for all Of his reserve, a boy. II should
like an interview with that dog. 7
must at least see his kennel. Over that
wall? VIII climb the wall"
But no." Francois put in quickly.
1t Is unsafe these last rive years. I
have climbed 1t, but not in these last
yea-s. You can go around and get in
oy another way and see the hole Of
the dog"
The dder boys eyes narrowed. IT
think sho1ld prefer to climb the
wall, he said.
Alike spoke. IF Francois can not go
1t Ia impossible. He is the best climber
Of all the country. are you not then.
Francois!"
Yes" said Francois
And Pietro echoed. But yes. All
the world knows IT,"
II think should like to climb the
wall" the stranger repeated gently.
And he did. The others watching
certain pile 10 feet in air. A big s<one
crashed behind him; he crawled on.
Then, IT see it," he cried, and waved
triumphant hand, and with that there
was a hoarse rumble OF Iossened
masonry, and doyn came the great
blocks close to his hands-he was slip
ping-he had jumped. And as he
jumped a heavy square of stone tum-
bled with him ard caught him, felled
him pinned into the tumbling wall by
his coat. And, above, the wall swayed.
Then, in the instant of time before the
catastrophe, Francois had sprung like q
cat into the tcenter of danger ana los
sened the coat and pushed the other
boy, violently Keeling, across the grass
out Of harms way.
Alike screamed once sharply Fran
co.'s lay motionless on his face and the
great stones rained around him. 1t
was all over in a moment; in a mo-
ment more shout of Joy rose from
Ptetro, for Francois lifted his head and
began crawling difficulty, with Pietro's
help, out Of the debris There was a
cut on his cheek, a deep one, bleed
ing badly, on the back of his hand; and
bruises were distributed over him, but
by maricale he had come off with his
sooner was Francois on his feet than
Alike startled them by turning on the
innocent and surprised Pietro in a per-
feet fury of scorn.
He Is not dead-but that is
not your fault" she threw at
him. You who love him so much!
You let him go into that danger"
"But-but I didn't know he was GO
ing. Alike" stammered Pietro. ut
was-so quick"
Quick? Yes, Francois was quick.
Why weren't you quick, too? It is al
ways Francois. Why don't you do
something brave once in a while? Why
don't you make people admire you, not
always Francois?''
CONTINUED next week)