The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-14
CHAPTER XIX.
The Sacrifice.

The Sacrifice.
Young Henry Hampton, thrilled to
the core at this drama, bent over him,
as Battista laid him on the deck, and
looked up anxiously at Pietro.
''Is he living?" he asked
He was living, though for an hour or
two the devoted friends who cared for
him doubted If they had not got him
hack only to lose him. But that last
effort of the change to the ship being
past, when consciousness came again
he grew strong more rapidly.
Il thought-the Austrians-would
nab meas l came aboard" he whis-
pered, smiling gaily as he gasped the
words to Alike. ut was-firm in my
mind
And Alike laughed at him, and told
him that they were far out on the Ad-
riatic now, safe under the American
flag, and the Austrfans left two hun
dred miles behind.
even If they had-nabbed me-"
whispered Francois, those two days
with you would have paid"
And Alike shuddered little and told
him to go to sleep and stop thinking
of Austrians. for they were out Of his
life now forever.
my seigneur," said Francois next
day when the general took his turn at
sitting by his bed, may I ask ques-
tionT'
ANY question in the world, Fran
co.'s, my son." the general growied at
him, as If the tender words were de-
! flance to an enemy.
|. Francois hesitated. About Alike
and PietIo."
The general shook his head "Ah
that! That cannot tell you, Fran
co.'s. Sometimes believe that 1 have
been mistaken, that" the general IS
he stopped looked oddly at Francois
| and smiled. Sometimes l believe that
even I, even Gaspard Gourgaud, might
make mistake in trying to play the
! good God, and arranging lives. That
might be-yes. In any case 1 cannot
! tell"
Francois, thinking deeply. hazarded
another question. He loves herr
81 believe so, indeed" said the gen.
eral. ..'He cares most to be with us
with her. All yes, have no doubt that
he loves her. But why it goes no far
sapristi! 1t is beyond me
that! 1 would knock their foolish heads
together. me-but that is not convent
ent."
Does she love Pietro?"
Mon dieu! How can a mere man
say that? She is a woman. do not
know-not in the least" the general
exploded at him.
But Pietro loves herr? Francois
asked again, his wistful smiling eyes
searching the generals face.
"YesI am sure of 1t"
And Francois smiled.
mo one could help IT," he said halt
to himself.
In a day rsore little Battista came
into Francois cabin and put clothes
on him and wrapped him like mum
my in coats and rugs, and carried him
In his arms up on deck, and there laid
him IN hammock On the sunny side
Of the ship. And the salt air blew on
MS face and he gulped it in, and by
and by Alike brought a chair and sat
by him and read to him, and Francois
lay quiet and wondered If heaven
could be any improvement on this
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 lis
tened to the voice he loved best in the
world, as 1t 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.
"Mr. Hampton has been talking to
me about Virginia; 1t must be a beau
tiful country" said Alike. 81 should
love the free friendly life of those
great domains l believe l could leave
France and Vicques for such a coun.
try as that, where there are no politi
zeal volcanoes on top of which one
must live With us it is always plot
l2olz back on or to look forward to.
should like to go to Virginia"
But" said Francois, with his great
eyes glowing, 'tthe war one now looks
forward to in France will be short anG
glorious. And after that will be peace
for there will be Bonaparte ruling
and that means strength and goot
government"
, %How you believe in the great cap
tain and in his blood" and Alike
) smiled down at the pale face on firt
with its lifelong enthusiasm.
"One must" said Francois simply
: and paused, and went on. For me-
you know, Alike. how it is. How the
star of the Bonapartes has always
) seemed to be my star. believe that
believe that my life is lied to tina
house. Napoleon was more than hu
man to my mind, his touch set MT
aside for his uses in my cradle"
And made you.a chevalier," Alix'
considered. THAT was true acco
lade, Francois. You would have
: right to that title under another Bona