Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-30

fixed jean Philippe. drinking in all
What are you doing here, Moison?
What are these?" Then, re-
lapsing in a flash into pure human
rust and affection toward the anxious
4 servant: My dear, old, good Moi
sn-he is alfve-MoDsieur Francois ia
But he is alive. Moison"! And with
that, a sudden Jump again into dig
nifty. WHO brought this. Moison?"
Jean Philippe was only too happy
to have a hand in the Joyful excite
ment. "Mademoiselle, the young per-
son speaks little language. But he told
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 I spoke to you. I can not i'm
agine how Francois got hold of him,
but he chose a good messenger. May
! nave him brought here? He must
have something to tell u.s."
Alike, her letter tight in her hands,
struggled in her mind. Then: 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 ! OF the great new 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
dignihed 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. Hav-
ing done which. he arose silently and
Cfnn@ vryo 70 ysrfA 49,
teast1ng on Pietro's face, but otherwise
decorOus.
FIRST the young marquis said some
friendly words of his great pleasure in
seeing his old servant and the friend
OF ms chlldhood. and the big man
stood with downcast eyes. with the
eelor flushing his happy face. Then
did 0 get the letter which you
brought mademoiselle?"
MY father" answered Battista la
conically.
How did your father get it?" .
From the signor prisoner. my Sig
nor" 20
Alike and Pietro looked at him at
t%entive.y. not comprehending by what
means this was possible. Pietro. re-
membering the little Battista Of Did.
vaguely remember hat he was incap-
able of initiative in speech. One must
pump MIN painfully.
Was your father in the prison where
the s1gnor is conflned?" Alike asked.
The little Battista turned his eyes on
her a second. approvtngly. out briefly.
They went back without delay to their
affair OF devouring the face Of his mas
ter. But he answered promptly. Eyes,
signorina; he Is there always"
"Always?" Pietro demanded in alarm.
rs Battista a prisoner"
But no. my signor."
What then? Battista. try to tell
u.s."
So adjured. little Battista made a
violent effort. He is one Of the jail
ers, my signor."
CALLERS? Fol the Austrians?" The
light out of the face of little Battista.
MY signor," he stammered. at could
not be helped. He was there. He
knew the castle. They forced him at
first. ard-and it came to be So"
Knew the castle!" Pietro repeated.
Battista's eyes turned to his masters
like those Of a faithful dog, trusting
but not understanding. What castle,
my signor? Charlottesville signor's
own castle-what other?"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. your castle
is c~onfiscated; they use it as a prison.
AASO 40 q pAAoOA4CA l1l0I0s TleCTO!
All these years-in your own home!"
y never dreamed Of that" Pietro
spoke, thinking aloud. every other
prison in Austria and Italy I nave tried
to find him in. I never dreamed Of
Castelforte."
And with that. as If pulling teeth.
they got by slow degrees all thai 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 failing: Of
that band Of white in his dark hair; at
last that the doctor had said to the
not live more than two or three years
as Things We're; that ven If released
he might not regain his health. would
not live. perhaps; that the only thing
which could save him would be q long
sea voyage.
"a long sea voyage!" Alike groaned
and put her face into her hands sud-
denly. and Pietro looked very sorrow
ful. "A long sea voyage for a political
prisoner in the hands Of the pitiless
Austrians!"
At the end of the interview the little
Battista put his hand into his breast
pocket and brought out another letter.
thickly folded. Would mademoiselle
have him instructed where to find the
mother Of the signor prisoner? He
had promised to put this into her own
hands. He must do 1t before he touched
food.
And Jean Philippe Moinson. who had
lurked discreetly back Of the nearest
stone vase. not missing a syllable, was
tista was sent of 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
lie had come to Vicques. but sterner
and sadder. his still soldierly gait less
buoyant than 1t had been five
Years ago. There were voices COM
Ing to him down the wind through
the trees. The generals keen eyes
rs keen as Alixe's-searched the dis
tant leafy dimness and made u short
~ Alike n Pietro. hurrying to meet
him. Why he wondered to himself as
the two young people swung through