The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-30

lapsing in q flash into pure human
rust and affection toward the anxious
4 ervant: My dear, old. good Moi
n-he is alive-Mopsieur Francois is
But he is alive, Moison!" And with
that, n sudden jump again into dig
nifty. who brought this, Moison?"
lean Philippe was only too happy
TO have a hand in the joyful excite
ment. '~Mademoiselle. the young per-
me TO say to Monsieur the Marquis that
he was the little Battista."
Pietro looked up quickly. Alike. 1t
Is the servant from my old home OF
whom | spoke to you. I can not i'm
agine how Francois got hold of him,
but he chose a good messenger. May
l nave him brought here? He must
have something to tell U.s."
Alike. her letter tight in her hands,
struggled in her mind. Then: 1.-The
letter will keep-yes, let him come. and
we can read 1t all the better after for
what he may tell U.S."
So Moison. having orders to produce
at once the said little Battista, retired.
much excited. and returned shortly
but not so shortly as to have omitted
a fling OF the great news into the midst
of the servants hall. He conducted,
marching behind him, the little Bat
usta, an enormous young man Of six
feet, four. erect, grave. stately. This
dignitied person. saluting the lady with
a deep bow. dropped on one knee be-
fore his master. his eyes full of a wor-
Shipping JOY. n kissed his hand. HAY
ing done which. he arose silently and
stood waiting, with those beaming eyes
feasting on Pietro's face. but otherwise
decorouS.
First the young marquis said some
friendly words of his great pleasure in
| seeing his n1H CaI~Norf oDI fI1 f;S~-l
OF his childhood. and the big man
stood with downcast eyes, with the
color flushing his happy face. Then
"Battista," asked the marquis. "how
did YOU get the letter which you
brought mademoiselle?"
My father" answered Battista Ia
conically.
How did your father get it?"
From the signor prisoner. my sig
nor"
Alike and Pietro looked at him at
tentiveiy, not compromising by what
means this was possible. Pietro. re-
memoerlng the little Battista of old,
vaguely remember that he was incap-
able Of initiative in speech, One must
pump him painfully.
Was your father in the prison where
the signor is confined?" Alike asked.
The little Battista turned his eyes on
her a second. approvingly, but briefly.
The went back without delay to their
affair of devouring the face of his mas
ter. But he answered promptly. Yes.
signorina: he is there always"
Always" Pietro demanded in alarm.
Is Battista a prisoner"
But no, my Signor."
What then? Battista, try to tell
So adjured. little Battista made a
violent effort. He Is one of the jail
ers. my signor."
"Jailers? For the Austrtans?" The
face of the marquis took all the joyful
light out of the face Of little Battista.
My signor," he stammered. "it could
not be helped. He was there. He
knew the castle. They forced him at
first: and-and it came to be So"
knew the castle!" Pietro repeated.
What castle?"
Battista's eyes turned to his masters
like those of a faithful dog. trusting
but not understanding. "rWhat castla
my signor? Castelforte-the signor's
own castle-what other?"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. "Your castle
is confiscated; they use it as a prison.
Francois is a prisoner there, Pietro!
All these years-in your own home!"
I never dreamed Of that" Pfetro
spoke. thinking aloud. Every other
prison in Austria and Italy I lave tried
to find him in. I never dreamed of
CaStelforte."
And with that. as If pulling teeth,
they got by slow degrees all that he
knew from the little Battista- The let
ter. tight in Alixe's hand. was still I'M
read; this living document seemed to
bring them closer to their friend than
even his written words. There were
some things in the living letter, more
over. not to be found in the one of
paper and ink. The little Battista, be-
Ing put to the wall. told them what his
father had told him. what the doctor
of the prison had told his father. How
the prisoners health was falling; Of
that band Of white in his dark hair: at
last that the doctor had said to the
blg Batt1sta that the prisoner could
not live more han two or three years
as Things We're; that even if released
he might not regain his health. would
not live. perhaps: that the only thing
which could save him would be a long
sea voyage.
"A long sea voyage!" Alike sroaned
and put her face into her hands sud
denly, and Pietro looked very sorrow
full. "A long sea voyage for a political
prisoner in the hands Of the pitiless
Austrians!"
AT the end Of the interview the little
Batt1sta put his hand into his breast
pocket and brought out another letter,
thickly folded. Would mademoiselle
have him instructed where to find the
~ W lSOllGI : x I10
had promised to put this into her own
hands. He must do it before he touched
food.
And Jean Philippe Moinson, who had
lurked discreetly back Of the nearest
stone vase. not missing a syllable, was
t1sta was sent off UP the stone steps
given orders, and the huge little Bat
between the scarlet flowers. up the vel
vet slope OF lawn, in charge of the
purple one.
Half an hour later the general
walked up from the village. walked
slowly. thougthfully through the beech
wood. his face hardly older than when
he mad come to Vicques. but sterner
and sadder;, his still soldierly gait less
buoyant than it had been five
years ago. There were voices COM
ing to him down the wind through
the trees. The generals keen eyes
US keen as Alixe's-searched the dis
tant leafy dimness and made put short
" Alike and Pietro hurrying to meet
him. Why he wondered to himself as
the two young people swung through
the wood-why had nothing more ever
of this long friendship? He felt
that Pietro loved the girl; he knew that
the girl loved Pietro. at least as a sis
ter loves a brother. But she was o a
sister; why had 1t gone no further?
Alike, now a very beautiful m q
woman of charm greater than beauty.
L.