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

But the brown waves OF hair Win
the blue ribbon tied around them lay
motionless on his arm And suddenly
a thought shook him
cit cannot bel" 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 lines
through it, Up flashed her hand i'm
pulsively. gently-as Alike did things,
and touched the thick lock with an in
initely delicate caress. your hair
Is all turning gray" she whispered In
two quick breaths, and at that, in some
occult fashion Pietro knew
For moments they had no need of
that makeshift, language; the great
house was very quiet, and one heard
the horses stamping in the paved
courtyard and the grooms singing, and
yet one did not hear It, Distant sounds
came from the village, but one only
knew that long after. in remembering
that morning. All they knew was that
the ghost of lifelong affection of
brother and sister stood before them.
changed by a miracle to a shining
| angel into whose face, for these first
moments. they dared not look. Then
hand close in hand, they looked at
each other astonished, glad. 1t was
Pietro and Alike still, the ancient play
fellows, the childhood friends-all the
dear familiarity was there yet, but no
| longer were they brother and sister
And then, after while they began to
compare notes of things hidden.
when did you begin-to like me
this way, Pietro?"
Il don't know" answered Pietro
stupidity. Does it make any differ
ence?"
"A great DEAL" Alike insisted. Its
important. It's historical"
But this isn't history said Pietro.
Alike, however, returned to the
charge Last year,"
Last year-what?" Pietro asked;
he had already forgotten the question.
| "Oh-that / began to-mon dieu-no.
Last yearI Why, think it was the
day 1 came and saw you riding Coq.''
"Oh, Pietro-if you will talk only
nonsensei" Alixe's voice was disap-
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 1t all these
tyears?"
81 thought you cared for Francois, -
Pietro said simply. And added, "Didn' t
your"
Alike considered. ct don't-think-
ever did, Pietro. Not really.
thought did perhaps. He dazzled me
I-Francois-with his way of doing all
sorts of things brilliantly, and that
wonderful something about him makes
l 1T II IN
his star; there was around him the
romance of the emperor's prophecy
and the romance of the career which
is, we believe, about to begin now;
there was always a glamour about
Francois"
EYES," Pietro agreed. 1.-THE glamour
of his courage, Alike, of loyalty and un
selfishness; the qualities which make
what people call his charm Francois
is unlike the rest of the world. 1 be
lieve, Alike :
Pietro talked on, the silent Pietro
as if delivering lecture. He had read
much and thought much; it was sci
dom he spoke of the speculations which
often filled his scholarly mind; today il
seemed easy to talk of everything Joy
had set wide all the doors of his be
, ing. Alike opened her eyes in aston
ishment-
"Pietrol You are-talking like {
book! But it is true; something Of
: that sort has come to me, too-whicf
proves it to be true. have felt al
, ways that Francois had notes in hin
which are not on our pianos" Pietrt
smiled, looking at her.
And yet, Alike, you'd not love
, Francois, with all these gifts and al
his power over hearts-but only com
], monpiacs me?"
. Alike Strengthened against his arm
> Monsieur the Marquis Zappi, the gen
, tleman I-care for, is not common
: place. Il thank you not to say it." sh'
/ shot at him., and then, melting to
t sudden intensity, she put hand OIL
4 each side of his dark face and spok
4 earnestly. "Pietro, dear, listen. 1 be
: lieve 1 always cared for you. When
r was little it hurt me to have Francoi
. forever the one to do the daring things
Y Do you remember how 1 used to scol
3 at you because you would not figh
3 him2" Pietro smiled again Then b
8 was captain of the school and you onl
I a private, and / cried about that whe
a I was alone at night. And when yo
> went off to Italy so quietly. with neve
a word said about the danger, did no
d know that you were doing fine dee
A IL thought it a commonplace that yo
d should go back to your country, I'll
Francois opened nv eyes"