The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-30

:
What manners are these" Then, re-
lapsing In flash into pure human
rust and affection toward the anxious
4 servant: My dear, old, good Moi
5n--he IL alive-MonsIeur Francois Is
alive-in horrible prison In Italyl
But he Is alive. Moisonl" And with
that, a sudden jump again into dig
nifty. Who brought this, Moison?"
Jean Philippe was only too happy
to have 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. II
Ia the servant from my old home OF
agine how Francois got hold OF him.
but he chose good messenger. May
I have him brought here2 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 us"
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 hlEn, the little Bat.
tista. an enormous young man OF six
feet. four. erect. grave. stately. This
dignified person, saluting the ladyfwith
a deep bow. dropped on one knee be-
fore his master, bis eyes full Of d iwor =
Shipping Joy. and kissed his hand. Hav-
ing done which. he arose silently and
stood waItin with those beaming eyes
teasting on Fletro's face. BUT otherwise
n rsS.rs 80 y 49,, 7. :. -. "A. .ts 81 - Z
friendly words or his great pleasure In
seeing his old servant and the friend
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 mademoisalle?" s.r r."
my father" answered Battista la
conically.
How did your father get it7-
From the signor prisoner. my sig
nor"
Alike and Pietro looked at him at
tentiveiy, not comprehending by what
means this was possible. Pietro. re-
Numbering 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? r. Alike asked
The little Battista turned his eyes on
her a second. approvingly. but briefly.
They 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
Us Battista a prisoner2"
but no, my signor"
What then2 Battista. try to tell
u.s." -..
So adjured, little Battista made a
violent effort. He IL one Of the jail
ers, my signor."
CALLERS? For the Austrians?" The
face of the marquis took all the joyful
light out of the face OF little Battista.
MY signor" he stammered. 1T 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 CASTER" ...
Battista's eyes turned to his masters
like those of a faithful dog. trusting
but not understanding. What castle.
my signor? Castelforte-the signors
own castle--what other2"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. Your castle
is confiscated; they use It as a prison.
Francois is a pi isoner there, Petrol
All these years--in your own homel"
II never dreamed OF that" Pietro
spoke. thinking aloud. Every other
prison in Austria and Italy have tried
to find him In. never dreamed Of
Castelforte." s.-
And with that. as II pulling teeth.
they got by slow degrees all that he
knew from the little Battista. The LETT
ter, tight In Alixe's hand. was still un-
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 20 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
big Battista that the prisoner could
not live more than two or three years
as things were; that even IL released
he might not regain his health. would
not live, perhaps: that the only thing
which could save him would be long
sea voyage. -.E a u Hw.
"a long sea voyagel" Alike groaned
and put her face into her hands sud-
denly, and Pietro looked very SORROW
full. "A long sea voyage for political
prisoner In the hands Of the pitiless
Austr1ansl" .
At the end OF the interview the little
DdLlASId put AAH MANU- AAllO OICdSS
pocket and brought out another letter.
thickly folded. Would Inademoiselle
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 dlscreetly back of the nearest
stone vase. not missing 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 OK 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 sadderS his still soldlerly 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
as keen as Allxe's--searched the dis
tant leafy dimness and made out short
| ly Alike and Pietro hurrying to meet
him. Why he wondered to himself as
n