The Dermott news., 1914-06-11


shift their gaze from the broad land
scape Alike, looking down at the
black head with its short curls set in
thick loeks-after the manner of the
curls of Praxiteles' Hermes--was
startled to see many bright lines of
gray through the dark mass. Was ey-
erybody getting old? Francois with
the broad band of white in his hair
and now Pietro-bi little Pietro. who
had come to them and learned to ride
Cog and played with them. Was Pietro
getting old and gray?
BY one of the sudden impulses char
acteristic of her. her hand flew out
and rested on the curled head as II 10
protect 1t. motherly. from the whiten-
ing of time.
And Pietro turned slowly and looked
up at her with eyes full of hopeless
ness and alteration Such a look he
had never before given her; such
look no one could mistake except a
woman who would not let herself un-
derstand
1T is good to be up and at the win
dow, isn't it," Alike spoke cheerfully
and her hand left his head and she
went on in Il gay disengaged tone
You will be downstairs in two or three
days now. and then ii Is only jump
to being out and about and then-then
in minute you will be well again
oh. yes, Pietro answered without
animation. 1t will not be long before
am we'll"
Look. Pietro:" Alike held out the
paper in her hand Such queer let
ter, From Virginia From the little
Lucy Hampton of whom Francois
talks. | don't understand it. VIII you
let me read It to YOU"
Surely" said Pietro, and waited
with his unsmiing eyes on her face.
My dear mademoiselle, Alike read.
Il am writing TO beg your forgiveness.
as have begged that OF the Chevalier
Beaupre, for the very great fault |
have committed The chevalier trust
ed to mo a letter for you which was to
have been sent you only in case OF a
certain event. by a carelessness which.
unmeant as 1t was, | shall never for
give myself, | gave 1t with other let
ters to our negro Sambo to be posted
at once BY now It may have reached
you. | cannot tell II | have made
trouble or not. but in any case, | can
not rest without saying to you-as
we'll as to the Chevalier-how sorry |
am II you can find it in your heart
to forgive me. please do SO. dear
mademoselle That | should have
made trouble for one as dear to the
chevalier as you are is a deep grief to
me. He has talked to me of you With
very earnest prayer again for your
forgiveness | am. mademoiselle yours
faithfully and sincerely Hamp-
ton Hampton
Pietro looked bewildered. What is
it about" he asked.
Il wonder" and Alike laughed and
frowned at the paper In her hand. 1t
seems Francois wrote me letter and
left 1t with little Mistress Hampton to
be sent In case OF certain event.
What EVENT. What strange thing
for Francois TO do And then he came
to us here and said nothing OF mys-
FERROUS letters left cooking in Nir-
ginia. | cannot make it out, Pietro-
can your"
Not l." said Pietro,
The letter of Francois has not
come, that is certain wonder II the
negro Sambo lost it
Probably" Pietro said. 1T should
have come before this one. otherwise.
1T is a riddle" Alike decided and
| never guess them" Then. dropping
into seat on the wide window
"Pietro-you are letting yourself be
depressed
The gray eyes met hers with some
thing that seemed wall OF reserve in
their steady glance. II think possibly
| miss having no exercise" he said.
Il will feel more natural when | can
get about"
Alike looked at him. You are eat
ing your heart out To be with Fran.
co.'s" she said, and laid her hand on
his.
Pietro stared as II the light touch
had shaken him: then slowly his large
fingers twisted lightly around the
small ones. and he turned his face
again. holding her hand so. to the win
dow and the view OF the valley and
the river and the village. a moment
they sat so. the girls hand loose in
the hollow OF the mans, slow red
crept into Alixe's face: there was con
fusion in her brain. She had laid her
hand on that OF her brother. her broth
er had taken II in his-and behold, by
a witchcraft II was all changed This
delicate big grasp that held her was
not brotherly; through all her veins
suddenly she knew that; the flush shot
up to her eyes. to her forehead and
she tried. with an attempt at an every
day manner. to draw her hand away.
But Pletro. his set pale face toward
the window. his eyes gazing out. held
her hand With that the world had
reeled and was whirling past her.
pietro had caught both her hands in