The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-30


idol to him. stood to him more and
more In the place OF the marquis. From
the beginning OF the imprisonment he
had had an affection for this young
stranger; few people ever came under
the influence OF Francois without hav-
Of his rnsntion OF Pietro had made Bat
tista his slave.
A person of more Importance than
Battista had fallen under the spell Of
Francois personality. The governor
himself had been attracted by the
young Frenchman. The governor, Count
Won Gersdorf. was a vain, discomfort
ed. brilliant Austrian. at odds with the
world because ne had not risen further
In IL. He was without society In this
mountain fortress OF his. and longed for
IL; he had a flne voice and no one to sing
to; he liked to talk and had no one to
talk to. Francois. with his ready friend
liness. with his gift of finding good in
every one, with his winning manner
and simplicity which had the ease Of
sophistication. was treasure trove OF
Moreover. Francois could play q guitar
and accompany his songs. and knew
enough music to appreciate the gov
ernor's really beautiful voice; his de-
light In II was better than the most
finished flattery. He had taught the
governor French songs; they sang to-
gether, and the count roared them out
and then reared with laughter, and
Francois smiled and was pleased. It
had come to be a custom with the
governor, during the last two years, to
have the Frenchman brought down
very often to his room for dinner, and
to spend the evening All this was
against regulations-but who was to
know? The count was lord OF life and
death at Castelforte. and IL higher pow
ers came once In a year or two, no one
would dare to speak or the dotngs of
the governor except the governor.
Things stood so with the prisoner at
the time OF his discovery OF the identity
OF his Jailer and Of his Jail The gov
ernor at that time was away on a visit
to Vienna. looking for promotion he
came back elated and good -humored
In the prospect of a change within the
year. But the heart OF Francois sank as
ne thought what the change might
mean to him. This man had treated
him with unhoped favor In some ways.
He realized what IL meant to reason
and health to have those evenings away
from his narrow cold cell. even in such
company as the governors. Besides
which Francois persistently found good
Qualities In the governor. He had been
allowed books to read In his cell
though no writing materials. Strange
as It may seem. II had been in some
ways happy life The mystical,
thoughtful bent Of the boy had devel-
oped IN the great quiet loneliness; with
the broad Italian sky and the sound
OF the sea in his constant companiorl-
snip, his mind had grown to a grasp
or the greatness OF living and the small
ness OF life "A vista Of thought before
unknown had opened out to him in the
long. solitary days. When he awoke in
the morning he let himself be floated
out on tide Of meditation where
strange bright visions met him like ISL
ands In a southern ocean. He looked
forward to these thoughts as to events,
as mystic Of India looks to Niryana.
In the light OF this happiness of pris-
on. the hardships Of prison, the drain
OF his health from dampness and lack
or air and poor food were small dis
comforts, hardly to be noticed in the
greatness Of his blessings. These trials
would be over shortly: the real things,
friendship, love enthusiasm. were eter-
nal Moreover, II was action he
dreamed. not quiescence. as he looked
from the barred window at the vast
blue depths OF Italian sky, depths pro-
FOUNDER, more transparent than else
where. His belief In his star In its flu
sion some day to come into the larger
star of the Bonapartes, had been
strengthened, fxed, by the adventure
which had landed him In the desoIation
Of an Austrian prison. He had saved
the princes life: II was an omen OF
greater things which he should do for
the prince. II no more came. OF II he
would have done his part; he could die
happy. but he believed without q shad-
ow OF doubt that more was to come.
Some day q marshal of France TN
der another Bonaparte,'" he said to
himself one day, staring through the
bars at his meadow--he called the sky
SO. He smiled. But that Is nothing,
To help place my prince on the throne
OF France-that Is my work--my life"
He talked aloud at times, as prison
ers come to do. He went on then, In
q low voice. .a-n
'Tf there were good fairies, II I had
three wishes: Alixe-the prince made
emperor-Francoi Beaupre. a marshal
or France" He laughed happily aIt
is child's play. Nothing matters except
that my life shall do its work. Even
that is so small; but have q great de-
sire to do that believe shall do that
II know it." And he fell to work on a
book which rs was planning, chapter
by chapter. In his brain.
But, II he were to escape ever, the
chance was increased infinitely by the
going back and forth to the governors
room. A new governor might keep him
shut up absolutely. It had been so
while the count was away; then he had
been Ill. and the lieutenant In COM
mand would not let a doctor see him
till he became delirious: that was the
ordinary treatment Of prisoners. Fran
co.'s. thinking over these things on a
day, felt, with a sudden accent on the
steady push OF his longing for free
dom. the conviction that he must get
free before the count left, else oppor-
tunity and force for the effort would
both be gone forever. And on that day
Battista brought In his midday meal
with q look and manner which Fran
co.'s remarked.
What Is it. Battistar' he asked
softly.
The man answered not a word, but
| turned and opened the door rapidly and
looked out. IL thought I had left
the water pitcher. All, here II Is
II am stupid" he spoke aloud.
And then finger on lip. dramatically. he
bent over the young man. MY
son--the little Battista,--has had q
letter. The young master wishes him
to come TO him In France, to serve
him. He Is going in two days"
1t was whispered quickly and Bat
A ffrfn 90 awaOk Z y /. E.