Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-09-16
THE MARSHAL.
Continued from Page 6.l

h said. and laid her hand on his.
Pietro started as if the light touch
had shaken him; then slowly his large
fingers twisted lightly around the
small ones, and he turned his face
again. holding her hand so. to the win
dow and the view of the valley and the
river and h village. A momen they
sat so. the girls hand loose in the hol-
low of the mans; a slow red crept into
Alixe's face: there was confusion in
her brain. She had laid her hand on
taken it ir his-and behold. by a
witchcraft it was all changed. This
delicate big grasp that held her was
not brotherly; through all her veins
suddenly she knew that; the flush shot
up to her eyes. to her forehead. and
she tried. with an attempt at an every
day manner. to draw her hand away.
But Pietro. his set pale face toward
the window. his eyes gazing out. held
her hand. With that the world had
reeled and was whirling past her.
pietro had caught both her hands in a
tight grip and had drawn them against
him. was holding them there, was
looking at her with a face which not
even she. this time. might mistake.
Alike" he said. Il know you don't
care for me. l know you love Fran
co.'s. I did lot mean ever to speak,
u when o put YOU hand on
mine"
He held her palms together and
parted the palms and kissed the finger
tips. first OF one and then Of the other,
as II he kissed something holy.
Il shall never speak again. but this
once 1 will. I always loved you-one
must. I knew always that a slow
silent person like me would have no
chance against a fellow like Francois.
NJ Il h0yo Gnn% c<i11 1.3 q $780, r.---1
1t won't be so hard now that you know.
Are you angry. Alixe"'
Alike. with her head bent so that
fletro did not see her face. with her
head bending lower-lower. suddenly
was on her knees by the chair and her
race was On Pietro's arm.
Alike" he whispered. what is it
what have I done?"
But the brown waves Of hair with
the blue ribbon tied around them Law
mot1onless on his arm. And suddenly
a thought shook him.
1T can not be-" he gasped.
And Alike lifted her face. and the
exaggerated black lashes lifted. and
the blue glance lifted and rested on
Pietro's black hair bent down where
the light shone on the silver ines
through it. Up flashed her hand i'm
pulsively.. gently-as Alike did things.
and touched the thick lock with an
INFINITELY delicate caress. Your hair
lis all turning gray" she whispered
IN W quick breaths. and at that. in
some occult fashion Pietro knew.
1t makes little difference of what
wood the match is made which sets
nre to the mine: it makes little differ
eh N What words r spoken when
mat tale Is telling. Anything says it.
mark that grass was green. and y
m might answer that it appeared
pink to her-and it would be love
making The voice and the look and
the very atmosphere about would do
me WORK; words are a detail. So does
speech when the rushing mighty wind
OF such a feeling lifts and speeds it.
Pletro knew: for all his self-distr,1st
ne drew her into his arms and held
her without n shadow of doubt that
n loved him and belonged to him.
for moments they had nc need of
mat makeshift. languages; the great
mouse was very quiet. and one heard
the horses stamping in the paved
our yard and h grooms singine.. and
yet one did not hear it. Distant sounds
came from the village. but one only
Knew ma N after. in remembering
That morning. All they knew was that
the ghost of a lifelong affection Of
orother n sister stood before them,
by a miracle to a shining
angel into whose face, for these first
moments. they dared not look. Then
Slowly. exquisitely, courage came AND.
hand close n hand. they looked at each
and Alike still. the ancient play-felo
lows. the childhood friends-ali the
rear familiarity was there vet.
but no longer We're they brother
and sister. And then, after a while
Lney to compare notes of things
When did you begin-to like me-.
Il don't know" nswered Pietro
stupidly. Does it make any differ
"A great deal. Alike insisted. ITS
important. It's historical"
But this isn't history" said Pietro.
charge. Last year," "0
Last year-what?" Pietro asked: he
mad already forgotten the question. ooh
that 1 began to-Mon Dieu-no. Last
year! Why. I think it was the day I
came n saw you riding Coz"
"Oh, Pietro-if you will talk only
pointed. But why, then, didn't YOU
ever say so before this? We are both
a thousand years old now. If you
loved me"-she spoke the word in a
lower voice-"why. then. were you as
quiet as a mouse about it all these
years
Il thought you cared for Francois"
you?"
Alike considered. II don't-think-I
ever did. Pietro. Not really. thought
{ did perhaps. He dazzled me-Fran-
cois-with his way of doing all sorts of
things brilliantly. and that wonderful
something about him which makes
everybody love him. He believed in
his star: there was around him the ro-
nance Of the Emperor's prophecy and
the omanc Of the career which is, we
believe. about to begin now; there was