The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-16
answered in a low voice.

answered in a low voice.
The general drew in an enormous
sigh OF relief. Thank God" he said
devoutly, and then put out his hand
and laid hold of Francois strong lean
fingers. MY Francois. you are lear as
my own SON.; you know it. You are
next to Alixe-before Pietro-ah, yes,
much before Pietro. You will UNDER
stand it is not from nay lack OF at
lection that / put him before you in
this"
Francois. high strung. deeply stirred,
felt his hand throb suddenly in the
generals and h general felt it, too.
Il am hurting you the deep voice
sa1d-ard only one or two people In
the world had heard that voice so full
Of tenderness. II am hurting you SON.
But listen. Francois. 1t was the dear
est wish of Pietro's father-it has been
my dearest wish for years-that Alike
and Pietro should one day be married.
1t is that which would be the crown
of a friendship forged in the fires of
battle fields. tempered in the freezing.
starving snow fields of Russia, finished
Il hope never finished in all eternity"
The generals great frame was
shaking: a silence cut across his
speech. He went on.
"Such a marriage would: carry on
ourselves, u friendship, and keep it
a living thing on the earth long after
we had left. That thought is thrilling
to me; it is my greatest wish. Do you
see now why l was troubled when
yesterday I saw you. in the garden.
kiss Alixe's hand? I was afraid the
child had given her heart to you, and
that my dream, Alessandro's and mino'
he spoke this as If to himself-'might
rever be realized"
Francois. his head bent, his eyes on
the generals hand which held his.
answered very quietly. 81 see," he said.
Il forgot" the general went on. al
most as If he were alone and wers
taking aloud to himself. II forgot
they were not real brother and sister.
1t was mad Of me. Such a beauty as
my Ahxe-such a wonderful lad as my
Francois! Yet I did not dream Of the
change till yesterday. I have Como
through much since then, but, thank
God, thank the good God. 1t is not too
late. She does not love him. 1t has
gon further than what 1 saw.
young fellow in his natural manner
again. You have not put ideas into
her head more than what + SAW"
mo, my seigneur." The voice was
without infection: the look was still on
the big hand which held his own fast.
You would not take her from Pietro,
who, I am sure. loves her"
Francois looked up sharply, but the
general did not notice. He spoke slow
~. II promised Pietro's father-the
boy seemed to be out OF breath-"to be-
Pietro's friend-always," he said.
The general smiled then n let the
fingers go, and turned to the letter ON
the table before him. "Good!" h said.
You are always what I wish, Fran
co.'s and it was quite evident that the
load was off his mind. Il am contented
that no harm has been done to either
qE my children. AS for you, however.
you are 20. You are full Of ambition
and soldier-craft n politics and fight
ins-there is small place left for love
in such a boiling kettle of fish as you.
If my Girl has touched your heart a
bit. as it looked yesterday,"-and the
genera chuckled ~gently-"well, you are
26-the wound will heal" He slapped
the letter on the table. II must now
have a long talk with you on an inter-
esting subject-yourself."
HI general was by this in high good
humor. A spasm caught the face of
the boy aHd left it pale, but the general.
busy at putting on his spectacles, did
not see. When he turned to look at
him, Francois wa as Usual