Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-03-13
CHAPTER TX.
The Castle Children.

-
The Castle Children.
There was a farm In the Valley
Delesmontes-fve 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.
antin 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 LIE Francois and La Claire.
Even In their best days they had not
been 80 prosperous as this would
make them. But what about Fran
co.'s? The general glowered at them
from deep eyes.
There's always q screw somewhere
In every good thing. This time It's
the boy"
There was a silence. Claire trem-
bled.
1T will 30 hard with the lad to
give us up" she brought out softly.
~ He won't give you up; / should not
respect him II he gave you up" the
general sthundered, 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 fit
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
his people until Sunday afternoon.
This new order of things wal 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 as he read the
letter and the boy saw the blood rush
through the weather-hardened skin in
. brown-red flood. and then fade out.
leaving It gray. The boy had never
seem the general look 80. With that.
the big arms were thrown out on the
table and the big grizxled head fell
Into them.
Then he lifted his head and told
the boy how the friend whom he had
found lately. after 90 many years of
separation. had gone away not to come
back In this life, and how Pietro was
fatherless. Francois, holding tightly
with both lists to the generals hand.
listened wide-eyed. struck to the heart.
'.But he had brave life. my
ssigneur-it 10 the best thing that
there II. My mother said 10. My
later, when We are with the good
God, to think that we ever feared
death on this earth. For she says one
srends . long time with the good God
later. and all ones dear friends come,
and It ID pleasant and 1t 10 for a long.
kong time. while here it 10, after all.
quite short. ID no that true. my
seigneur? My mother said It,"
Biz little Pietro had to be told what
bad happened and how the general
va now to be q father to him al
Aest he might, and Alike and Francois
would be his sister and brother He
took the blow dumbly and went/about
his studies next morning, but for
many days he could not play. and
only Francois could make him speak.
He Was handsome-extraordinarily
handsome-and q lovahle good child.
but slow Il initiative where Francois
Wa ready. shy where Francois was
friends with ali the world, steady
going where the peasant. boy was bril-
liant. Between the two. Of such on
Trusting types, was an mistaken bond
from the drst. and ut this age it
seemed to be the little peasant who
had everything to give. Smaller phys
ically, weaker In muscle than the big
bonod son of North italy. he yet took
quite naturally n attitude Of protec-
tion and guidance, and Pietro accept
"a Il without hesitation.
Two years slid past noiseiessly. un-
noticed, and It was vacation time; 1t
was August Of the year 1924. The old
chateau OF Ticques-the ruin-lay
back behind the corn fields and smiled
IN hot sunlight.
tad lad of fourteen, another boy,
slighter, quicker. darker, and q little
eiri Of eleven In q short white dress,
wandered through the ruins. talking
earnestly now, silent now, filling the
grim place with easy laughter again.
Alike and Francois and Pietro were
growing up; the general already
gruIabled words about kittens turning
into cats, AZ he looked at them.
Just behind the great stone there"
Alike formulated, twas the dogs bed
1oom- OF course, a great monsieur
Ike the dog had his own bedroom
yes. and Office, 7toc-and maybe his
dining-room."
And the Joke was enough on that
lazy day Of vacation to ret peals OF
laughter ringing through the ruins.
Alix0 stopped laughing suddenly.
who = that?n she demanded. Her
eyes we're lifted to the hfll rising -
hind ~ green mound, and the glance