The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-09

the general already RrufnDIed WORDS
about kittens turning into cats, as he
satisfied in his soul With eaoh one, at
whatever age, and glad Of each day
more OF this long unconscious childhood
In which they held to one another as
closely and frankly as If they were real
sister and brothers.
Today was the first complete day Of
the vacation; for till now Francois had
been az the farm, working hard with
his father at the harvesting. This
morning he had come over to spend
week at the chateau And without ar
ransemens only because it was their
eldest ana most FASCINATING Pey
steep hillside, into the road that led to
the pasture at the foot Of the noun
tain ana then to the gate, barring out
wagons and cattle, the gate Of the
fence which enclosed the old chateau.
The grass was green on the high
mound under which lay heaped the
stones Of the Roman tower, 1t was long,
and waved in the breeze; the ugliness
OF the barbarian andycruelty of those
days lay so buried; on the right were
| the granaries where the wicked gov
ernor had stored the grain wrung from
the country people; over the steep wall
ridor which led, as all the world or
Wfcques had known for centuries, TO
the treasure house; Il wars there that
the phantom, the great dog, appeared.
| The children told the Old story TO one
another; they rebuilt as they talked. In
the peace Of the summer aftsFnoon; the
walls and placed its narrow windows
and machicolaSed its roofs-tp the
young minds a dream Of the old place
rose complete under the new chestnut
trees OF only two or three hundred
years standing. 49,,
"Just behind the great stone there,
Alike formulated. was the dogs bed
room. OF course, a great monsieur like
| the dog had his own bedroom-yeE
and office, too-and maybe his dining
Boom."
lazy day Of vacation to set peals or
| rRht laughter ringing through the
ruins. Alike stopped laughing sud
VINO f. that?" she demanded. Her
eyes were lifted to the hill rising be-
| hind the green mound, and the glance
Of the others followed hers. young
fha slope. and something In his figure
and movement made 1t impossible even
1 at a distance that II should be any one
of the village Strangers We're NOT
common in quiet Vicques, and Why
should a stranger be coming over tne
| they watched the figure drawing CLOS
er; II seemed as If an event OF I'M
| portance was about to happen. Rapid
| iy the boy sprang down the mountain
! side; they could see him plainly now
he was two or three years older than
the boys Of the chateau; he was short,
slender, compact, with thin aquiine
face. with something about him which
the country bred children did not un-
derstand to be that subtle quality
presence. He saw them, and came for
ward and his cap was off quickly as
look at the three. it was Francois to
whom he spoke.
rs this F'rance?" he asked.
But yes, Monsieur" Francois an
swered wondering-and in a moment he
wondered more. The strange boy, his
cap flung from him, dropped on MS
knees and kissed the grass that grew
over the Roman governors founda-
lions. With that he was standing
again, looking at them unashamed from
his quiet gray eyes.
at is the first time I have touched
the soil Of France since was years
old" he stated, not as II to excuse his
act, but as II explaining something his
toricaL And was silent.
The children, going over this days
event many times after, could never
remember how 1t happened that they
had talked so much The strange boy
| talked very little; they could not recol-
Iect that he asked questions. after his
startling question; yet here was Alike,
the very spirited and proud little Alike,
| anxious to make him understand every
thing OF their own affairs.
| 1T am Alike" she began-and stopped
short, seized with shyness. Was 1t
courtesy to explain to the young mon
sieur about her distinguished father?
Or was II Dragging? She found her
self suddenly in an agony of confusion,
for all of them were laughing their
quick young laughter at her brief state
ment. Then the stranger made a low
bow and spoke in the gentlest friendly
tones.
| cit is enough. 1t is q charming
name, Mademoiselle Alike. 1 belive I
shall now think 1t the most charming
name in France"
And Alike, blushing fur1ously, yet felt
8 satisfactory conviction that she had
not been at all stupid.
"She has more Of a name than that,
| however Monsieur" and Francois step
ped across the grass and stood by the
little girl, her knight, unconscious of
the part he played. 1T is a very grand
the father Of Alike, Is Monsieur the
Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, a general of
| Napoleon himself; he was indeed with
the Emperor at st. Helena"
| Francois had no false modesty, no
self consciousness: he felt that he had
placed Alixe's standing now In the best
light possible. The strange boy felt 1t,
too, it seemed, for he started as Fran
co.'s spoke Of Napoleon; his reserved
face frightened and his cap was off
and sweeping low as he bowed again
to Alike more deeply. Francois was de-
lighted. 1t was in him to enjoy dra-
matte effect, as 1t Is in most French
men. He faced about to Pietro.
This one, Monsieur, he went on,
much taken with himself as master of
| ceremonies, 'is Monsieur the Marquis
Zappi OF Italy. His father also fought
for the great captain"
The quiet strange boy interrupted
swiftly. II know" he said. ''Of the
italian corps under Prince Eugene;
also on the staff Of Lannes. know
the name WELL" and he had Pietro's
hand in firm grasp and was looking
into the lads embarrassed face with
his dreamy keen eyes.
The children, surprised, were yet too
young to wonder much that a boy
scarcely older than themselves should
have the army Of Napoleon at his
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