Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-04-09

uear comrade ana ScnOlar, Wnat Is
most secret and most sacred to me-"
In as few words as might be, he told
her of the peasant child who had been
lifted out of his poverty-bound life
with such large kindness that no
bond which held him to that poor, yet
dear life had been broken; who had
been left all the love of his first home
and yet been given home and train
ing and an education which set him
! ready FOR any career; he told of the
big-souled, blunt, Napoleonic officer,
the seigneur; of the gray, red-roofed
castle, with its four round towers; Of
handsome silent Pietro, and of the
unfailing long kindness of them all.
Then, his voice lowered, holding the
girls hand still, he told her of Alike,
of the fairy child who had met him on
that day of his first visit and had
neur. He described little the play
mate of his childhood, fearless, boyish
IN her intrepid courage, yet always ex-
quisitely girl. He told of the long
summer vacations of the three as they
grew up, and the rides in the Jura val
ley, and of that last ride when he knew
that he was to go to Italy next morn
ing, and OF how he had faced the seig-
neur and told him that he loved his
daughter and had given her up then,
instantly, for loyalty to him and to
Pietro. And then he told her of the
peasant boy in Riders Hollow in the
gray morning light after the night Of
his escape-and how, by hand OH the
bride and seat in the saddle, and at
last by the long curl of the black lash
es he had known the peasant boy for
Alike.
Lucy Hampton, listening, was so
thrilled with this romance of life
long love that she could silence her
aching heart and her aching pride and
could be-with a painful sick effort
but yet could be, utterly generous.
There is no midway in a case between
entire selflshness and entire selfess-
ness. The young southern girl. wound
ed, shamed. cruelty hurt in vanity and
in love, was able to choose the larger
way, and taking it, felt that sharp Joy
of remuneration which is as keen and
difficult to breathe and as sweet in the
breathing as the air of mountain
top. Trembling. she put her other lit.
tie hand on Francois hands.
Il see," she said, and her voice shook
and she smiled mistily, but very kind
ly. you could not love anyone but
that beautiful Alike. IL would not
have you"
And Francois bent hastily, with
tears in his eyes, and kissed the warm
little hands. The uncertain sliding
voice went on:
Il am not-ashamed-that | said
that--to you. I would not have said
it-not for worlds. Thought you
were killed. didn't know what I
said. But l am not ashamed. l am
glad that lam enough of person to
have known-the finest things-and"
her voice sank and she whispered
the next words over the dark head
bent on her hands-"and to have loved
them. But don't bother. shall-get
over it."
The liquid tones choked a bit on
that and Francois lifted his head
quickly and his eyes famed at her.
"Of course you will, my dear little
girl, my brave mademoiselle. 1t is not
as you think; 1t is not serious, mon
annie. II Is only that your soul is full
of kindness and enthusiasm and eager
ness to stand by the unlucky. am
alone and expatriated; have had a
little of misfortune and you are sorry
for me. 1t is that. All. know. l am
very old and wise. me. II would never
do" he went on. THE noblesse Of
Virginia would rise in a revolution II
it should be that the princess OF Hoa-
noke house gave her heart to French
peasant. am come to be a man of
knowledge" And he shook his head
with as worldly-wise an expression as
II one of Guido Reni's dark angels
should talk politics. He went on again.
smiling little, an air Of daring in his
manner. Moreover. Mademoiselle
Miss Lucy. there is a fairy prince who
awaits only the smallest sign from
you"
Lucy smiled NO. she said. And
then, "a fairy prince--in virginiai"
"Ah. yes, Mademoiselle Miss Lucy.
or the true noblesse, that one. A fine,
big, handsome prince. the right sort"
"Who?" demanded Lucy. smiling
still.
"Of such right sort indeed that 1t
ID no matter-ah, no. but perhaps Just
the thing to make one love him more,
that he is lame"
Harry" Lucy's smile faded
But yes, indeed, mon amie." and
Francois patted the little hand with
his big one. Henry. indeed. Henry.
who is waiting to kill me for love OF
you; Henry. the best truest fellow. the
manifest brayest fellow. Who rides
like Henry? Who has read all the
books In all the Libraries like Henry ?
Who is respected by the old men, the
great men, for his knowledge and his
thinking and his statecraft almost
like Henry? Who has such a great
heart and brain and such fearless
courage as Henry"
"You are very loyal to your friends, %
Lucy said, half pleased. half stabbed
to the soul.
Certainly. What for is qualification
worth. otherwise?" Francois threw ut
her earnestly. There we're few Eng
lish words too much for him still;
gratitude" seemed to be one. He stood
up and his great eyes glowed down at
her. "Mademoiselle," he said, two
women Of earth. my mother and Alike,
are for me the Madonnas. the crown of
women" and his glance lifted to the
ceiling as II to heaven, without pose.
unconscious-a look no American
could ever have worn. "And. VOLTA.
mademoiselle, my little scholar will al
ways stand next to and close to them"
He bent over her hand and his lips
touched II long and tenderly. lis 1t
right between us. mon annie? Are we