The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-16
cHAPTER xv-tcontinuedl.

w MD-A I0A BNA4MANCA NWO g-AA - 49,
at the top OF the school. when Pietro
left US and went or TO his castle In
Italy and you came back to me here Is
fine a young gentleman as any dukes
son. I said TO myself that ! had done
well. Somewhere, from that remark
able mother OF yours, believe, you--a
peasant--have got the simplicity and
the unconBciousness that are the finest
touches OF the finest breeding. am very
proud OF you. Francois. was proud
when. Just after you graduated, the
leaders OF the Bonapartist faction In
France came TO this chateau for Sc
cret convention and could present you
70 them as my adopted child. az my
collaboration In the new book. our mill
tary history of the Austerlitz campaign
that had q good sound for q lad of Is.
And, name Of a-dogl you heid up your
eld-you could talk to them like sol
der and a statesman. Mon Dieu, yesI
And then. when they wrote and gug-
gested sending You as ambassador on
the secret mission to the Duke of
with pride 10 think how well you were
fitted for IL; fitted to talk with princes.
equipped with, the knowledge and the
gtatecraft TO handle delicate polit-
cal situation. II il no easy thing to
find such an ambassador Tor such q
mission--a man not marked or known,
ties which make a man marked. You,
with your youth and peasant name and
air OF young noble. filled the difficult
want You did II well and won lRurelB
from critical old diplomatists.
4 have been Worrying bit since to
have kept you here chained 70 me and
the writing of a history, when you
ought 70 be- at the Job of making his
tory Yet you are only 20. Time has
not pressed, so far. And moreover.
await a revolution when men such as
you viii be needed; the Bonapartist
yeast Is working under the surface OF
all the country; the time win come
when single crashing blow perhaps
viii shake France and place one OF the
emperor's name on the emperor's
throne. And at that time you, mon
sieur, must be ready to put your
strength into that blow. You and have
faith. my son. in that accolade OF the
emperor Of your infancy; you and
believe that. as he said, you may be one
day "a marshal Of France under anoth-
er Bonaparte, 1t Ia for you to fulfil
that prophecy"
The general. his big hands on his big
knees, stared at the boy with burn
ing eyes, stirred by his own words In
to a true French access OF enthusiasm
But the boys eyes did not meet HIS as
usual with the flame OF whole hearted
response which he loved; yet the gen
wal NAAAACA away Ny AlA6 OWu RGneTOuS
feelings, was not dissatisfied. This was
his boy; what he did was right. He
drew in q great breath and let II out
In sigh Of contentnnent.
Il have talked you to extinction,
Francois" he growled. And in all my
words have not managed to tell you
what 1t Is that I am talking about. ;" He
tapped the letter again which lay un-
der his hand. 'Pietro wants You to
come TO him as his secretary"
Francois large eyes lifted to the gen.
erals face, inquiring, startled child
IKE. Pietroi he said. slowly. II had
Yet you knew that Pietro was heart
triots?"
Yes III
But you had not thought Of going
No, my seigneur. had thought only
Of the fight for which I must be ready
here"
This italian business will be good
practice" said the general. as a man
OF today might speak of tennis tour
nainent. And you and Pietro will be
enchanted to be together again"
Francois smiled and something in
the smile wrung the generals heart.
FRANCOIS, you are not going to be
unhappy about little Alixer
Quickly Francois threw back, as IL
hO AAtAN hOb ANdAu INV
seigneur, will go to Pietro: 1t viii be
the best thing possible-action and
training and good old Pietro for a
comrade MY seigneur. may go to-
Tomorrow The general was
startled now, "A thousand blunders,
but you are a sudden lad. Yet it will
be no harder to give you up tomorrow
than IL would be next month Yes, to-
morrow, then, let 1t be-
Francois stood up, slim, young, alert
and steady, yet somehow not as the
boy who had come In to the general
an hour before; more, perhaps, as a
man who had been through battle
and come out very tired, with the noise
Of the fighting In his ears
4 will go to the farm tonight, to my
mother and my father. And this after
noon ! will ride with Alike, IL you do
not want me for the book, my seigneur
land IL she will go. May ask you
not to tell Alike OF this-to leave 1t to
me to tell her?'
Yes agreed the general doubtfully.
But you viii be careful not to-upset
her, Francois?" #
II will be careful" F
"And--and you will do what you
can TO help Pietro, will you not my
son?g
A quick contraction twisted Fran
co.'s sensitive mouth and was gone,
III ltiAD NAnAS TIC BCueIdA saw. gu
may trust me, seigneur," the boy said,
and moved to the door; but the gem
eral called to him as his hand touched
the latch.
Francoisl" H4 r.af
Yes, my seigneur." He faced about,
steady and grave, and stood holding
the door.
Francois, my son--I have not hurt
you--very much? You do not love
Alike deeply? Do you love her,
Francois" .'
There was a shock of stiffness in the
old dim library. Through the window
where the children's shouts had come
In 10 years before to the marquis and
the general--one heard now In the
quiet the sudden staccato OF a late
cricket The general breathing anx-
lousy, looked at Francois, Francois
standing like statue. The general re-
peated his question softly, breathlessly.
DO You love her, Francois?" ~
With that the great eyes blazed and
the whole face of the boy lighted as II
q fire had famed inside a lantern. He
threw back his head. !.
With all my soul" he said. And
foreVerf" 49, ..- r.t