Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-03-13

man, a boy, was coming lightly dow
the slope, and something in his figure
and movement made it impossible
even at a distance that 1t should b.
any one of the village. He say them
and came forward, and his cap wa,
off quickly as he glanced at Alike
But with a keen look at the three. l
was Francois to whom he spoke.
rs this F~rance?" he asked.
But yes, Monsieur" Francois an
swered wondering-and in a moment
he wondered more. The strange boy
his cap flung from him, dropped or
his knees and kissed the grass that
grew over the Roman governors foun
dations. With that he was standing
again, looking at them unashamed
from his quiet gray eyes.
1T is the first time / have touched
the soil of France since I was seven
years old" he stated, not as If to
something historical. And was silent
The strange boy talked very little;
they could not recollect that he asked
questions, after his first startling
question:; yet here was Alike, the very
spirited and proud little Alike, anxious
to make him understand everything OF
their own affairs.
II am Alike" she began - and
stopped short, seized with shyness.
Was 1t courtesy to explain to the
young monsieur about her distin-
guished father? She found herself
suddenly in an agony Of confusion.
Then the stranger made a low bow
and spoke in the %gentlest friendly
tones.
1T is enough. 1t is a charming
name, Mademoiselle Alike. l believe
/ shall now think it the most charm
ing name in France"
she has more of a name than that,
however, Monsieur" and Francois
stepped across the grass and stood by
the little girl, her knight, unconscious
Of the part he played. "It is a very
grand name. the other one. For our
seigneur. the father OF Alike, is Mon
sieur the Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, a
general of Napoleon himself; was in
deed with the Emperor at st. Helena"
Francois had no false modesty, no
self-consciousness; he felt that he had
placed Alixe's standing now in the
best light possible. The strange boy
felt it, too, 1t seemed, for he started
as Francois spoke Of Napoleon; his
reserved face frightened and his cap
was of and sweeping low as he bowed
again to Alike more deeply. Francois
was delighted. 1t was in him to en-.
Joy dramatic effect, as 1t is in most
Frenchmen. He faced about to Pietro
This one, Monsieur" he went on
much taken with himself as master o.
ceremonies, lis Monsieur the Marquis
Zappi OF Italy. His father also Tough,
for the great captain"
The quiet strange boy interrupted
swiftly. II know" he said. "Of the
Italian corps under Prince Eugene:
also on the staff Of Lannes. know
the name WELL" and he had Pietro's
hand In a firm grasp and was looking
into the lads embarrassed face with
his dreamy keen eyes.
The children. surprised, were yet
too young 10 wonder that a boy scarce.
ly older than themselves should have
the army Of Napoleon at his fingers
ends; he gave them no time to think
about 1t.
zone Sees. without names. that you
are Of the %noblesse," he said simply.
embracing the three in his sleepy
glance. He turned to Francois. "And
you, Monsieur the spokesman? You
are also Of a great Bonapartist house? 2"
Francois stood straight and slim
his well-knit young body In his mill.
49, l-ooc -vn or~iod x,lxh ~ A..
his brilliant exquisite smile into the
older boys face.
Mel am a peasant" he said cheer
fully. Il have no house."
"He is a peasant-yes. But he il
our brother, Pietro's and mine. and no