Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-12
THE MARSHAL.
CONTINUED from Page g.,

know-not in the least" the general
exploded at him.
But Pietro loves her" Francois
asked again, his wistful smiling eyes
searching the generals face.
..Yes| am sure of it,
And Francois smiled.
No n could help it, he said half
to himself.
In a day more little Battista came
INTO Francois cabin and put clothes on
MIN n wrapped him like a mummy in
coats and rugs. and carried him in his
arms up on deck, and there laid him
IN a on the sunny side Of the
ship. And the salt air blew on his
face n he gulped it in, and by n
by Alike brought a chair nj sat by
him and read to him., and Francois lay
quiet and wondered if heaven could be
any Improvement on this.
Then, after a while. the book lay on
the girls knee, and they fell to talk
ing. She told him about his mother
and his father at the Ferme du Val,
and the brothers and sisters. grown up
now, and some Of them in homes of
their own. She told him about Pierre's
new wife, who had been Jeanne Cour-
tots. of Beaulieu. and how much they
all liked her, and how she INC Pierre
lived at the farm n We're to have it
one day after the older Francois n
Claire had one About Tomas n his
fine big shop at Delesmontes she told
him. n how little Lucie had married
house in a street he knew we'll.
Then h told him about the animals
how the great gray horses he had
known still drew the golden loads of
hay in from the fields, with their
grandchildren drawing the next wagon.
How the ducks in the pond were hum
dreds now and We're sent to the mar
ket. and made much money for LIE
Francois. AND how that old gift of his
in choosing oxen was making a fortune
for him-only now he never played
cards coming home from market day.
mother had made one stern rule for
her family-no n of them ever played
since that time a game of chance.
And then Alike told Francois about
the castle. She told him about .Faai.
Moison and his brazen curiosity II.
staying to hea h prisoners letter,
and his address of thanks to the Al
mighty when he knew that Francois
was alive. And h told him about
little old Coa-now IN aged horse of
25 years, spoiled and naughty, but yet
beloved and used only for mis- own
health's sake: she old how Coo would
run to her for sugar and burrow his
bold nose into her coat pocket. snort
ing impatiently: and how he had
thrown Nelson's little girl over his
head two months before as he used to
throw all of them.
So. on that long. bright. calm morn
ing at sea Francois lay in the ham
mock and watched the million little
waves glisten and break for unknown
miles over the sunlit water. and list
ened to the voice he loved best in the
world. as it told him of those others
whom he loved also. and of the places
dear to him.: and he wondered that he
had indeed come through the long
nightmare of prison to this happiness.
me about Virginia; it must be a beau
tiful country" said Alike. II should
love the free friendly life of those
great domains. 1 believe l could leave
France and Vicques for such a coun-
try as that. where there are no politi-
cal volcanoes on top of which one must
live. With us it is always plotting m
secrecy. Always a war to look back
on or to loo forward to. / should like
to go to Virginia"
But" said Francois. with his great
eyes glowing. 1.-The war one now looks
onward to in France will be short and
glorious. And after that will be peace,
for there will be a Bonaparte ruling,
and that means strength n good
government"
.How you believe in the Great Cap
tain and in his blood" and Alike
smiled down at the pale face on fire
with it's lifelong enthusiasm.
zone must.' said Francois simply
and paused. and went on. For me-you
know. Alike. how it is. How the star
Of the Bunapartes has always seemed
to be my star! 1 believe that. 1 be-
lieve that my life is tied to that house.
Napoleon was more han human to my
mind. and his touch set me aside for
his uses in my cradle"
And made you a chevalier." Alike
lade. Francois. You would have a
right to that title under another Bona
parte."
II believe so. Alike"
"And my father believes it. So you
must hurry n get we'll and com
back to France and be fit for work
when the prince needs you, Chevalier
Beaupre. My father has told you that
a movement is preparing? He is reck-
less. my father. and it troubles me 1t
might be unsafe for him to live in
France if his part in these plots were
known"
to Carnifax." and Francois smiled.
But Alike flushed. That is Pietro's
estate. not ours" she said quickly; and
then she rose and bent over the sick
she said. and caught the pitiful hands
suddenly in both hers. But Oh! Fran
co.'s. l wish 1 could tell you how it
changes all the world to have you back
again"-and she was gone.
Francois. trembling with a rapture
ne could not quiet. lay. not stirring,
because he feared to break the sne1i
of the touch Of her hands; feeling
within him a rebel hope that yet he
would not let take hold of MIN. Could
1t be? Was it rue? Did she care for
him and not for Pietro? Was that the
reason that In all these years she and
Fletro were still only sister and broth
err? Yet. he caught and choked at the