Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-04-09

THE AUDUBON REPUBLICAl
But the time came, six months aft
er his return, when Francois must be
sent to visit the officers of certain
regiments thought to be secretly
Bonapartist; when he, 1t was believed,
could get into touch with them and
tell them enough and not too much of
the plans of the party, and find out
where they stood and how much one
might count on them. So, against the
generals wish, Francois went off on a
political mission. 1t proved more CON-
plicated than had seemed probable: he
was gone long time; he had to travel
and endure exhausting experiences for
which he was not yet fit. So that
when he came home to Vicques, two
months later, he was white and trans
parent and i'll. And there were some
Of the mysterious men at the chateau
to meet him, delighted. pitiless. De-
lighted with the work he had done,
with his daring and finesse and sue
cess, without pity for his weakness,
begging him to go at once on another
mission. The general was firm as to
that; his boy should not be bounded;
he should stay at home In the quiet old
chateau and get well. But the boy
was restless; a fever Of enthusiasm
was on him and he wanted to do more
and yet more for the princes work.
At this point two things happened:
Pietro came from London, and Fran
co.'s, on the point of leaving for anotn-
er secret errand, broke down and was
i'll. He lay in his bed in his room at
the farmhouse. the low upper chamber
looking out-through wide-open case
ment windows, their old loaded little
panes of glass glittering from every
uneven angle-looking out at broad
fields and bouquets of chestnut trees,
and far off, five miles away, at the
high red roofs of the chateau of Vic
ques. And gazing so, he saw Pietro on
old Capitaine, turn from the shady ave-
nue. of the chestnuts and ride slowly
to the. house. With that he heard his
mother greeting Pietro below in the
great kitchen, then the two voices
the deep one and the soft one-talking,
talking. long time. What could his
mother and Pietro have to talk about
so long? And then Pietro's step was
coming up the narrow stair, and he
was there, in the room
Francois" Pietro began In his d.
rect fashion, Il think you must go
back to Virginia"
Francois regarded him with startled
eyes, saying nothing. There was a
chill and an ache in his heart at the
thought OF yet another parting.
Pietro went out. II have a letter
from Harry Hampton. The place needs
you; the people want you; and Harry
and Miss Hampton say they will not be
married unless you come to be best
man at the wedding" Francois smiled.
Pietro went on again. Moreover, boy,
Francois-you are not doing we'll here.
You are too useful; they want to use
you constantly and you are ready; but
you are not fit. You must get away
for another year or two. Then you
will be well and perhaps by then the
prince will have real work for you.
And you must have strength for that
time. Your mother says l am right"
With that his mother stood in the
doorway, regarding him with her calm
eyes, and nodded to Pietro's words. So
it came about that Francois went back
shortly to Virginia.
On the day before he went he sat In
the garden of the chateau with Alike
on the stone seat by the sun-dial where
they had sat years before when the
general had seen him kiss the girls
hand, in that unbrotherly way which
had so surprised him.
Alike" said Francois. Il am going
to the end of the world"
Not for the first time" Alike an
swered cheerfully.
Perhaps for the last" Francois
threw back dramatically. 1t is hard
to have ones best-beloved discount
ones tragedies. And Alike laughed
and lifted long stem of a spring fow-
er which she held In her hand, and
brushed his forehead delicately with
the distant up OF IL.
Smooth out the wrinkles, do not
frown: do not look solemn; you al
ways come back. Monsieur the Bad
Penny; you will this time. Do not be
melodramatic, Francois"
Francois, listening to these sane
sentiments. was hurt. and not at all
inspired with cheerfulness. Alike, I"
he said--and knew that he should not
say it--"there is something | have
wanted all my life-alI my life"
rs there?" inquired Alike in COM
monplace tones. "A horse. per ex-
emple?" He caught her hand. disre-
garding her tone; his voice was full of
passion and pleading. do not be
heartless and cold today, Alike, dear
Alike. | am going SO far, and my very
soul is torn with leaving you--all."
1t takes no more than syllable. an
infection at tines, to turn the course
OF life. II Francois had left his SEN
tence alone before that last little
word; II he had told the girl that his
soul was torn with leaving her. then
II Is hard to say what might have hap
pened. But-"you all"-he did not
wish then to have her think that IL
meant more to leave her than to leave
the others. Alike readjusted the guard
which had almost slipped from her,
and stood again defensive.
Il won't be cruel, Francois; you
know how we--all-are broken-hearted
TO have you CO."