Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-02-19

rs TuouiuB hOuHtaii otiSdh -Whllt-
yelled in the falling. black-t -own in
the foam-fecked pools-tumbled,
Splashed, brawled down the mountain;
the mountain hung over, shadowy !;
banks OF fern held the rampant brook
In chains OF green. Alike and Fran
coise. riding slowly in the GOODNESS Of
the road below, looked up and saw 1t
all, familiar, beautiful, full of old as
sociations.
"One misses Pietro," Francois said.
"He always wanted to ride past the
'Trou du Gouverneur.'
A Roman legend had given this
name to the deep pool OF the brook
by the road; 1t was said that the cruel
old governor had used 1t, two thousand
years back. for drowning refractory
peasants. Alike gazed steadily at the
dark murmuring water.
Yes, one misses him. Is life like
that, do you suppose. Francois? One
grows up with people. and they get
to be as much part of living as the
air, or ones hands-and then, sud
denly, one is told that they are go
ing away. And that ends It, One
must do without air. without hands
What world, Francois!"
I'VE are not meant to like 1t too
much, l believe, Alike" said Francois
sunnily. 1T Is just en- PEASANT. this
world, when you stop to consider.
This is school, this life. gather. My
mother says II is not very important
IL one has good seat in the school.
room or bad; II one sits near ones
playmates or Is sent to another cor
ner, so long as one is a good child
and works heartily at ones lessons.
1t Is only for day--and then we go
home, where all that is made right.
Not bad idea of my mothers, is 1t.
Alixe?"
Your mother is wonderful wom-
an" Alike answered thoughtfully.
She lives like that She never let
things trouble her. not even when your
father lost everything. Did she, Fran
cois?"
NO" Said Francois she is one Of
the few people who know what the
real things are and live in them. II
is hard to do that. | can not. care
so bitterly for what | want at is"--
Francois hesitated-''it is very hard
for me to give up-what l want" He
stumbled over the words; his voice
shook SO that Alike shifted in the
saddle and looked at him inquiringly.
Alike = dear" then Francois
stopped. You need not be afraid that
shall have more than Pietro," he be-
gan uncertainty For it Is not going
to be so. He will have what-what
would give my life for" Then he
hurried on. Il see how it is" he said
gently, "and you are right to care SO
Loyalty for Pietro. ie is worth 1t.
And you must never care less, Alike
never forget him because he has
gone away. He will come back" The
boy spoke with effort. slowly, but
Alike was too much occupied with her
own tumultuous thoughts to notice.
HE will surely come back and-be.
long to you more than ever. He will
come back distinguished and covered
with honors, perhaps. and then--and
then--Alixe, do you see the chestnut
tree at the corner that turns to the
chateau? 1t is good bit of soft road
we will race to that tree-shall we?
And then | will tell you something"
The horses raced merrily; Alike sat
close to the saddle with the light
swinging seat, the delicate hand on
the bride, which were part of her
perfect horsemanship, and over and
over as he watched her ride Francois
said To himself
Il will give my happiness for the
Sejgneur's-I said 1t, and | will.
will be a friend to Pietro always
said it. and | will"
Over and over the horses flying feet
pounded out that self-command, and at
length the music of the multiplying
hoof beats grew slower. and with tight
ening rein they drew in and stopped
under the big chestnut Alike was
laughing, exhilarated. lovely.
Wasn't it good race? Didn't