Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-04-25

at the open door. stepped across and
stood by him, and he did not lift his
head, his 1istless eyes did not yet
shift their gaze from the broad land
scape- Alike, looking down at the
black head with its short curls set In
thick locks-after the manner of the
curls of Praxiteles' Hermes-was
startled to see many bright lines of
gray through the dark mass. Was ev-
erybody getting old? Francois with
the broad band of white In his hair
and now Pietro-big little Pietro. who
had come to them and learned to ride
Cog and played with them. Was Pietre
getting old and gray?
BY one of the sudden impulses char
acteristic of her. her hand flew out
and rested on the curled head as II to
protect 1t, motherly, from the whiten-
ing of time.
And Pfetro turned slowly and looked
up at her with eyes full of hopeless
ness and alteration. Such a look he
had never before given her; such a
look no one could mistake except a
woman who would not let herself I'M
derstand.
1T is good to be up and at the win
Z
and her hand left his head and she
went on in a gay disengaged tone.
You will be downstairs in two or three
days now, and then it is only a jump
to being out and about, and then-then
in a minute you will be well again"
"Oh, yes" Pietro answered without
animation. cit will not be long before
am we'll"
Look, Pietro;" Alike held out the
paper in her hand. Such a queer let
teri From Virginia. From the little
Lucy Hampton of whom Francois
talks. l don't understand it, VIII you
let me read it to your"
Surely" said Pietro, and waited
with his unsmiling eyes on her face.
MY dear mademoiselle," Alike read.
Il am writing to beg your forgiveness,
as have begged that of the Chevalier
Beaupre, for the very great fault
have committed. The chevalier trust
ed to me letter for you which was to
have been sent you only in case of a
certain event; by a carelessness which,
unmeant as it was, 1 shall never for
give myself. 1 gave 1t with other let
tiers to our negro Sambo to be posted
at once. By now it may have reached
you. 1 cannot tell If I have made
trouble or not, but in any case, can
not rest without saying to you-as
we'll as to the Chevalier-how sorry
am. If you can find 1t in your heart
to forgive me, please do so, dear
mademoiselle. That 1 should have
made trouble for one as dear to the
| chevalier as you are is deep grief tc
me. He has talked to me of you. With
| a very earnest prayer again for your
| forgiveness 1 am, mademoiselle, yours
faithfully and sincerely-Lucy Hamp
| ton Hampton"
|. Pietro looked bewildered. what is
it about?" he asked.
81 wonder" and Alike laughed and
| frowned at the paper in her hand. III
seems Francois wrote me letter ant
left it with little Mistress Hampton te
be sent in case of certain event.
What event? What a strange thing
for Francois to do And then he came
to US here and said nothing of mys
ferrous letters left cooking in Vir
ginia. l cannot make it out, Pietro-
can your"
mot l." said Pietro
THE letter of Francois has no
come; that is certain; i wonder if thu
negro Sambo lost it,
Probably Pietro' said ct shoult
have come before this one, otherwise.
1T is a riddle,'' Alike decided, "an'
1 never guess them" Then, dropping
into a seat on the wide window-sill
"Pietro-you- are letting yourself b.
depressed"
The gray eyes met hers with some
thing that seemed wall Of reserve il
their steady glance. '1 think possibl
I miss having no exGrcise." he said
'I will feel more fatJrai when 1 ca
get about"
Alike looked at him. you are cal
ing your heart out to be with Frar
cois,'' she said, and laid her hand O.
his.
Pietro stared as If the light touc
had shaken him; then slowly his larg
fingers twisted lightly around tn
small ones, and he turned his fac
again, holding her hand so, to the wiz
dow and the view of the valley an
the river and the village. A momen
they sat so, the girls hand loose i
the hollow of the mans; a slow re
crept into A1ixe's face; there was col
fusion in her brain. She had laid he
hand on that of her brother; her brotl
er had taken it in his-and behold, b
witchcraft it was all changed. Thi
delicate big grasp that held her wa
not brotherly; through all her vein
suddenly she knew that; the flush she
up to her eyes, to her forehead, an
she tried, with an attempt at an ever.