The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-02

and career were waiting for little
Francois II their love for him should
be unselfish; seeing these things. the
father and mother agreed TO the gem
erals plan. A tutor was to be engaged
for the three children; Francois was
to live at the castle as fit should be
explained to him--he were going away
to school, and every Friday he was to
walk to the Ferme du Val--the Valley
farm--and stay with his people until
Sunday afternoon.
So. without realizing the change, the
boy who had been the child Of peas
ant cabin became the child OF the cas-
tie. and while entirely loyal to the home
ne still held to be his own. he learned
ways Of living and breathed In ideas
which could not have come to him at
the farm. The Fridays were eagerly
looked forward to. and 1t was excite
ment and rapture to see and share in
the new prosperity--the large stone
house OF story and a half, rooted
with immense oak shingles richly dark
with Ege; the farm buildings clustered
about IL, connected with stone walls.
forming large court; the big granary.
standing aside on a hill slope; and THO
multitude of live stock--the 20 cows. the
eight heavy work horses OF the coun-
try. the six horses which pertained to
the farmer for driving and riding, and
the two pairs OF mild eyed oxen, used
for breaking the earth. The father and
mother reigned busily and happily over
all this plenty, and all the brothers and
sisters were together once more around
them and the white capped grand
mother smiled a. benediction from her
big chintz chair. Such q greeting as
Francois, her especial boy, got from the
grandmother on Friday evening, after
his long waikiki
This new order of things was well
settled before six months had passed
after the going Of the Marquis Zappi.
Francois was not now allowed to fill
the place Of secretary except In an in
cide1tal way. The new tutor. serious
young man whom the children aston
ished and worried. copied the pages OF
the history OF the emperor. 1t was
thought important now that Francois
should work at his studies. There was
rumor already that he and Pietro
might go together. perhaps. in year
more. to a military school--in fact, to
Saint-Cyr itself, If the marquis thought
well OF the place when he came home.
And then In three or four months more
something happened.
Francois was alone with the general
when the letter came: Marcelle, the
younger footman. had been sent to the
mayors In the village for the mail,
which came by post to Delesmontes and
Nfcques, TO the mayor, who distributed
It. Francois eyes were on his seig-
neur's face as he read the letter and
the boy saw the blood rush through the
weather hardened skin I'm a brown red
flood. and then fade out, leaving IL
gray. The boy had never seen the gem
eral look so. With that, the big arms
were thrown out on the table and the
big grizzled head fell into them. That
cut Francois soul--his seigneur was
In trouble. And before he knew It his
childish arm was around the big neck
and his cheek against the seigneur's.
And the seigneur put up his hand and
pressed the little face closer. For. long
minutes not q word was said and then
the generals deep voice spoke, more
gently than Francois had ever heard ii.
TT is good thing to have a son. my
Francois" he said
Then he lifted his head and told the
boy how the friend who he had found
lately. after so many years OF separa-
in this life. and how Pietro was
fatherless. Francois, holding tight
ly with. both fists to the generals
hand, listened wide eyed. struck to the
heart. 1t was the first time death had
come near, and the face Of II was grim.
Yet instantly he rallied. because he
felt that his seigneur needed him.
But he had a brave life, my seig-
neur--it is the best thing that there is.
My mother said 80. My mother told
me that we shall smile later. when we
are with the good God, to think that
we ever feared death on this earth.
For she says one spends a long time
with the good God later and all ones
dear friends come, and it is pleasant
and it is for long, long time, while
here IL is, after all, quite short. Is
not that true, my seigneur? Ny mother
said it, .... t
But all the general answered was to
pat his head and say once more: TT
is a good thing to have a son, my
Francois"
CONTINUED next week.