Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-02-18

M S|I< OF 0O60O SVEHNILL Co
I The door shortly and bring in his break
fast. And with that he knew nothing
more till he awoke in a boat.
And it vas with a new feeling; with
desire and hope to live. Pietro sat
watching him and brought him wasm
milk and held his head up as be drank
1t, like woman. Then, in quiet, slow
tones, he explained all the puzzle
which Francois had by now begun to
wonder over. 1t seemed that just be-
fore little Battista had brought Fran
co.'s letter to Vicques. Pietro had re-
ceived another unexpected letter, from
Colonel Hampton in Virginia, whose
estate lay next the six thousand acres
OF land which the Marquis Zappi had
bought fifteen years before. Colonel
Hampton wrote with two requests. The
first was that the Marquis Zappi
should come to Virginia. or send some
one with authority to look after his
property. The land was going to rack
and ruin for want of management;
the uncontrolled slaves, on the place
hood. Colonel Hampton had done
what he could. but he had not the
power of master, and moreover he
he was busy with his own large estate.
The marquis should come or send a
qualified agent at once.
The next object of the letter vas to
ask that the marquis should receive
and entertain the nephew of Colonel
Hampton. Mr.. Henry Hampton, who,
sailing on Colonel Hampton's ship, ths
Lovely Lucy, would bring this letter
to the marquis. The ship would go
first to England and discharge there
her cargo Of tobacco, and after that it
was to be at the service of young Mr..
Hampton. to visit such countries Of
Europe as he might choose, for ak
months. Mr.. Hampton had many let.
tiers to people in England, but none
elsewhere. and Colonel Hampton would
be obliged If the marquis would re-
ceive him at his estate of Castelforte
and let him see something Of Italy
from that point of vantage. The mar.
quis might then, if he thought good, re.
turn to Virginia in the Lovely Lucy,
and either set matters on a firm
enough footing to be left, or else
which the colonel considered the bet
ter plan-stay with them and become
a country gentleman of Virginia. The
colonel had heard that there had been
political trouble in Italy, but hoped
that at this time the country was at
peace and the marquis comfortably es-
tablished in his own castle.
All this the young marquis, an ex-
lie of five years from his native land,
nad read at the chateau of Vicques. He
had considered deeply as to what he
might do about Carnifax, his estate in
Virginia. He could not go himself,
for he was in close connection with
the work of italian patriots outside
and inside of Italy; with Mazzini in
london; with others in other places.
And he did not Ecnow anyone whom he
could send.
SO the matter stood when the big
little Battista had brought Francois
letter to Vicques. And when Alike had
appealed to him to take Francois lib
Grafton on his shoulders, with the
thought of the secret passage and the
vaguely outlined plan of escape had
come to him the recollection of Col
onel Hampton's letter and the long sea
voyage to Virginia
So when Mr. Henry Hampton landed
at Calais, tall and very handsome
and very silent young man took quiet
possession Of him and told him that
he was the Marquis Zappi and that Mr.
Hampton was to go with him to the
chateau of Vicques in the Jura. There
was a certain gentle force about this
young marquis which made opposi-
,tion to his expressed wish something
like banging ones head against a
stone wall. Mr.. Henry Hampton had
planned going direct to Paris, but he
went to Vicques. And on the journey
down the Marquis Zappi opened out
plan which richly rewarded him for
his pliability. Mr.. Hampton had some
what clearer ideas on Italian politics