The Raymer enterprise., 1914-08-27
CHAPTER TX.
The Castle Children.

Deieemonte6-6ve miles 1t was from
VicQues-which was a dependence OF
the seigneury; for centuries the same
family had held 1t. and 1t was con-
sidered the richest holding for a peas
ant In that part Of the world. Just
now the family all at once came to
an end. It was necessary to find new
tenants. and the general offered the
place to Le Francois and La Claire.
Even In their best days they had not
bean 90 prosperous a. this would
make them. But what about Fran
coisf The general glowered at them
from deep eyes.
There's always q screw somewhere
In every good thing. This time its
the boy"
There was a silence. Claire trem-
bled.
1t win 60 hard with the lad to
give 10 up." she brought out softly.
He won't give you up; l should not
respect him II he gave you up" the
general Numbered. and the two peas
ants breathed more freely. This great
good fortune was not, after all, the
price Of their son.
BY degrees the three came to an
understanding A tutor was to be en-.
gagged for the three children: Francois
was to live at the castle as if-it
should be explained to him-he were
going away to school, and every FRI
day he was to walk to the Ferme du
Val-the Valley Farm-and stay with
bis people until Sunday afternoon.
This new order of things was we'll
settled before elk months had passed
after the going Of the Marquis Zappi.
And then In three or four months
more something happened.
Francois was alone with the general
when the letter come. His eyes were
on his seigneur's face a. he read the
letter and the boy saw the blood rush
through the weather-hardened skin in
q brown-red flood, and then fade out,
leaving 1t gray. The boy had never
seen the general look SO. With that,
the big arms were thrown out on the
table and the big grizzled head fell
into them.
Then he lifted his head and told
the boy how the friend whom he had
found lately. after so many years Of
separation. had gone away not to come
back in this life. and how Pietro was
fatherless. Francois, holding tightly
with both fists to the generals hand.
listened wide-eyed. struck to the heart
But he had brave life. my
ssigneur-it is the best thing that
there b. Ny mother said 80. My
mother told me that we shall smile
later, when we are with the good
God, to think that we ever feared
death on this earth. For she says one
spends long time with the good God
later, and al ones dear friends come,
and It 10 pleasant and 1t Ii for long,
long time. while here 1t is. after ell,
quite short Is not that true. my
seigneur! My mother said It,"
Big little Pietro had to be told what
had happened and how the general
was now to be q father to him as
best he might, and Alike and Francois
would be his sister and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
his hdies next morning. but for
ma. days he could not play. and
only Francois could make him speak.
He was handsome extraordinarily
handsome-and lovable good child.
but slow In initiative where Francois
was ready. shy where Francois was
friends with all the world, steady
going where the peasant boy was bril-
liant. Between the two, of such con-
trasting types. was an unshaken bond
from the hrst, and at this age 1t
seemed to be the little peasant who
had everything to give. Smaller phys
ically, weaker in muscle than the big
boned son Of North Italy. he yet took
quite naturally an attitude Of protec-
tion and guidance. and Pietro accept
ed it without hesitation.
Two years slid past noiselessly. IN
noticed, and 1t was vacation time; II
was August Of the year 1924. The old
chateau Of vicques-the ruin-lay
back behind the corn fields and smiled
in hot sunlight
A tall I'D of fourteen, another boy,
altEhter. quicker, darker. and . little
girl Of elsvsa In . short white dress,
wandered through the ruins, talking
eamsstly Aew. s1snt now, filling the
- y'Aea N sasy laughter again,