Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-04-18

been left all the love of his first home
and yet been given home and a train
ing and an education which set him
ready for any career; he told of the
big-souled, blunt, Napoleonic officer,
the seigneur; of the gray, red-roofed
castle, with it's four round towers; of
handsome silent Pietro, and of the
unfailing long kindness of them all
Then, his voice lowered, holding the
girls hand still, he told her of Alike,
of the fairy child who had met him on
that day of his first visit and had
brought him to her father, the seig-
neur. He described little the play
mate of his childhood, fearless, boyish
in her intrepid courage, yet always ex-
quisitely a girl. He told of the long
summer vacations of the three as they
grew up, and the rides in the Jura val
ley, and of that last ride when he knew
that he was to go to Italy next morn
ing, and of how he had faced the seig-
neur and told him that he loved his
daughter and had given her up then,
instantly, for loyalty to him and to
Pietro. And then he told her of the
peasant boy in Riders Hollow in the
gray morning light after the night of
his escape-and how, by hand on the
bride and seat in the saddle, and at
last by the long curl of the black lash
es he had known the peasant boy for
Alike
Lucy Hampton, listening, was SO
thrilled with this romance of a life
long love that she could silence her
aching heart and her aching pride and
could be-with painful sick effort
but yet could be, utterly generous.
There is no midway in a case between
entire selfishness and entire self1ess-
ness. The young southern girl, wound
ed shamed, cruelty hurt in vanity and
in love, was able to choose the larger
way, and taking it, felt that sharp joy
of remuneration which is as keen and
difficult to breathe and as sweet in the
breathing as the air of a mountain
top. Trembling, she put her other lit
tie hand on Francois hands.
81 see," she said, and her voice shook
and she smiled mistily, but very kind
ly. You could not love anyone but
that beautiful Alike. II would not
have you"
And Francois bent hastily, with
tears in his eyes, and kissed the warm
little hands. The uncertain sliding
voice went on:
4 am not-ashamed-th 1 said
/ oe1AN
| it-not for worlds. Thought you
were killed. didn't know what ]
said. But I am not ashamed. 1 am
glad that lam enough of a person to
| have known-the finest things-and
her voice sank and she whispered
the next words over the dark head
bent on her hands-"and to have loved
them. But don't bother. 1 shall-get
over it,"
The liquid tones choked a bit on
that and Francois lifted his head
quickly and his eyes famed at her
"Of course you will, my dear little
girl, my brave mademoiselle. 1t is not
as you think; it is not serious, NOR
annie 1t is only that your soul is full
of kindness and enthusiasm and eager
ness to stand by the unlucky. 1 an
alone and expatriated; l have had
little of misfortune and you are sorry
for me. 1t is that. All, 1 know. 1 an
very old and wise, me. 1t would never
do" he went on 1.-The noblesse o
Virginia would rise in a revolution
it should be that the princess of Roa
nol1e house gave her heart to French
peasant. 1 am come to be a man O