The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-02-12
CHAPTER xiV.-continued.

10 CHAP TEX NlN.-Contlnueu.
f.: 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, dis
contented. brilliant Austrian, at odds
with the world because he had not
risen further in It. He was without
society in this mountain fortress OF
his, and longed for it, he Lad a fine
voice and no one TO sing to; he liked
10 talk and had no one to talk to-
Francois, with his ready friendliness
with his gift of finding good in every
one. with his winning manner and
simplicity which had the ease Of So
phistication, was a treasure-trove OF
amusement to the bored Austrian.
Things stood so with the prisoner
at the time of his discovery of the
identity of his jaAer and of HE jail,
The governor at that time was away
on visit to Vienna looking for pro-
motion: he came back elated and
good humored in the prospect OF a
change within the year. But the heart
of Francois sank as he thought what
the change might mean to him.
"'Some day marshal of France un-
der another Bonaparte, he said 10
himself one day, staring through the
bars al his window-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
low voice
II there were good fairies, if ! had
three wishes: AliXe-the prince made
mperor-Francois Beaupre. a marshal
of France He laughed happily 1T
is chlds play Nothing matters eX-
cept that my life shall do its work.
Even that is so small; but | have a
great desire TO do that. ! believe |
shall 90 that know it," And he fell
10 work on a book which he was plan
ming chapter by chapter, in his brain
But. if he were to escape ever, the
chance WAS increased infinitely by the
going back and forth to the governor :
room. A new governor might keep
him shut up absolutely. II had been
so while the count was away; then he
had been i'll, and the lieutenant in
command would not let a doctor see
him till he became delirious: that was
the ordinary treatment of prisoners.
Francois thinking over these things
on a day, fell with a sudden accent
on the steady push of his longing for
freedom. the conviction that he must
get free before the count left, else op
portunity and force for the effort
would both be gone forever And on
that DAY Battisca brought in his mid
day meal with look and manner
which Francois remarked.
What is it, Battista?' he asked
softly
The man answered not word, but
turned and opened the door rapidly
and looked out. Il thought | had left
the water-pitcher. All, here it is
am stupid" he spoke aloud. And then
finger on lip dramatically, he bent over
the young man MY son-the little
Pattista-has had a letter. The young
master wishes him to come TO him in
France. to serve him. He is going In
tNo days"
1t was whispered quickly, and Bat
tlsta stood erect.
The signor's food will get cold 4
the signor does not eat IT," he spoke
grufiy Il do not like to carry goot
food for prisoners who do not appre
ciate IT, ! shall bring less tomorrow
But Francois. hardly hearing tn,
surly tones, had his hand on Battistai
arm, was whispering back eagerly.
Where does he go, in France?"
TO Vicques. the low answer came
Francois sank back. tortured.
Going TO Vicques, the little Battista
From Castlefortel And he, Francois
must stay here in prisoni His sou
was wrung With a sudden wild home
sickness He wanted to see Alike. t.
poe his plother, to see the general; Il