The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-09-10

Captains, turn from the shady aysuus
of the chestnuts and ride slowly to the
house. With that he heard his mother
greeting Pietro below in the great
kitchen, then the two NOTES.-THE deep
one and the soft one-talking, talking,
a long time. What could his mother
and Pietro have to talk about SO long?
And then Pietro's step was coming UP
the narrow stair, II he was there, In
the room.
rect fashion. Il think you must go PACK
to Virginia"
Francois regarded him with startled
eyes, saying nothing. There was q
chill and an ache in his heart at the
thought of yet another parting.
Pietro went on. I have a letter from
Harry Hampton. The place needs you;
the people want you: and Harry ana
Miss Hampton say they will Tot be
married unless you come to be best
man at the wedding" Francois
smiled. Pietro went on again. More.
over. boy, Francois-you are not
doing well here. You are 100
useful; they want to use you con-
stantly n you are ready; but you are
not fit. You must get away for an
other year or two. Then you will be
we'll and perhaps by then the prince
will have real work for you. And you
must nave strength for that time.
Your mother says l am right" With
that his mother stood in the doorway,
regarding him with her calm eyes, n
nodded to Pietro's words. So it came
about that Francois went back shortly
to Virginia.
On the day before he went he sat IN
the garden Of the chateau with Alike,
| On tho stppa SCOT hv tba Cl1n 1ia1 whare
they had sat years before when the
general had seen him kiss the girls
hand, in hat unbrotherly way which
had so surprised him.
Alike" said Francois, II am going
to the end Of the world"
Not for the first time" Alike ans
wered cheerfully.
Perhaps for h last" Francois
threw back dramatically. It is hard to
have ones best-beloved discount ones
tragedies. And Alike laughed and lift
ed a long stem Of a spring flower which
she held in her hand. and brushed his
forehead delicately with the distant
tip of it.
Smooth out the wrinkles, do not
frown; do not look solemn; you always
come back, Monsieur the Bad Penny;
you will this time. Do not be melo-
dramatic, Francois"
Francois, listening to these sane sem
timents, was hurt, n not at all in
spired with cheerfulness. Alike he
said-and knew that he should not say
THERE is something I have wanted
all my life-al my life"
rs there?" inquired Alike in COM
monplace tones. "A horse. par ex-
emple?" He caught her hand, disre-
garded her tone; his voice was full of
passion and pleading. DO not be
heartless and, cold today, Alike, dear
Alike. | am going so far, and my very
soul Is torn with leaving you-all."
It takes no more than a syllable, an
of a life. If Francois had left his SEN
tence alone before that last little
word; If he had told the girl that his
soul was torn with leaving her, then it
is hare to say what might have hap
pened. But-"you all"-he did not wish
more to leave her han to leave the
others. Alike readjusted the guard
which had almost slipped from her,
and stood again defensive.
Il won't be cruel. Francois; you
know how we-all-are broken-hearted
to nave you 60"
Francois caught that fatal little
word all" repeated, and dimIy saw its
significance, and his own
ity. Alike went on.
Il wonder If 1 do not know-what it
is-that you have wanted all you life"
HaSeAiy Eiancols caught at her
words. May I tell you Alike, Alixe?'
NO" Alike, spoke quickly. mo,
let me guess. 1t is-it is"-and Fran
co.'s, catching his breath, tried to take
the word from her, but she stopped
him. mo, I must-tell it. You have
rIished-all your life"-Aixe was
breathing rather fast-"that-I should
care for-Pietro."
A cold chill at hearing that thing
said in that voice seized him. Very
still. his eyes down, he did not speak.
Isis that it?"
There is an angel of perversity who
possesses u souls at times. He makes
US say the unkind thing when we wish
not to-; he tangles our feet SO that We
fall and trip and hurt ourselves and
our dearest-and behold long after we
that all the same it was an
angel: that without that trouble we
should have gon forever down the
easy, wrong way. We know that the
angel was sent to warn us off
the pleasant grass which was none of
ours, and by making things Disagree
able at the psychological moment, save
our souls alive for right things to come.
such crossw1se heavenly mes
senser grtpped the mind Of Alike, and
n said what she hated herself for
saying, n saw the quick result in the
downcast misery of poor Francois,
face. And then the Same cruel. wise
angel turned his attention to Francois.
IF she thinks that, let her" whtsperad
the perverse one. Let 1t 60 at that:
yes"
And Francois lifted mournful ewes
and repeated. That you should love
Pietro-yes-that Is what I have
wished for all my life"