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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1914)
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. ft i,M K ,? SYNOPSIS. Francois Heaupro. ft peasant babe of lhrn yMir, after uti amusing Incident In wl sh Marshal Ney llgutes, Is made a 'Tievuller of Franco by the Fmperor Na iMiI'vin, in tlio homo of the lad's parents in lie villain of Vieques, France, where the emperor had brlelly Btopped to hold a unitii ll of war. Napoleon prophesied that the hoy might one duy bo a marBhal of Franco under another nonaparte. At tho iih 'if ten Francois moots a stranger who Is n,Unnlhed when tho boy tells him of his ambition Francois visits General Baron Oaspard Oourgaud, who with Allxe. hts sevon-ypar-old daughter, lives lit the Chateau. A soldier of tho Fmplro Under Nupoloon he fires the hoy's Imag ination with stories of his campaign. Tho general offers Francois a home at tin1 hateait, Tho boy refuse to leave his parents, but In the. nd becomes a copy ist for the gonoral and learns of the friendship between tho general and Mar rjnln Zappl, who campaigned with the gen- rul under Napoleon. Marquis .appl and i is son, Pletro, arrive at the Chateau. Tim general agrees to earn for the Mar M'iIm'h son while tho former goes to mcrlea The Marquis before leaving for Amirlci asks Francois to bo a friend ff his son. Tho boy solemnly protnlsns. Vramols goes to the Chateau to live. Marquis 'nppl dies leaving Pletro as n, ward r tho gcucrM. Allxc. Pletro and Francois meat a strango boy who proves to ho Prince Louis Napoleon. Francois navcrt his life. The general dlscovors Francois loves AlUo. and extracts a promise from him that ho will not Inter fere between tho girl nnd I'letro. Fran cols koch to Italy as secretary to Pletro. CHAPTER XII. The Mother of a Prince. Tho walls of the palaco at Anconn dropped to tho sea; against thorn the waves danced. Out on tho blue wa ter lny a (loot of fishing-boats, and tho wind (lappod tqrn Halts, and tho sun Ught glanced on battored hulls and tittered decks. Tliu woman who sat by an open window of tho palace pUHlicd tho black trailing of her gown from her, a6 If tho HomborncBs hurt nor eyes; sho laid her head against thu wlndow-framo and stnrod at tho ureozo-tosBcd waves and the fishing fleet. "It may bo our only hope of cscapo those wrotchod boats," sho said, half aloud, and hor bluo oyes wero full of mulnons, almost of hopelessness. A sound caught hor ear, and she lift ed her hend quickly. Tho door Into tho next room was partly open and nomo'ono moved there, that was all Sho turned, tho lines of hor figure fulling again Into a melancholy poso. 'Tho doctor takeH a long tlmo," she npoko, and gazed out onco moro to tho water. There had beou a spirited young girl years boforo who had romped In the gardens of Mulmalson, who hud led tho laughter which echoed through thoso avonuos of llmo and plantain, whoso Bweotnoss and vivacity had drawn tho llguro of Napoleon himself Into tho vortox of gladncBB which was her atmosphore. Always brightness neemed to follow her through tho en chantment of the place; always sho deemed to move in galoty. Today, on n Murch morning of 1830, this was she Hortonso. Tho daughtor of Franco sho had b-m, tho nueon of Hollund, and now lor years an oxlle. Hero, ill, a fugi tive in hor nophow'B palaco at An con, with tho AuBtrlnns at tho guto of tho city, sho waited In anxiety nl moktt more Intcnso than sho could boar tho word of tho doctor as to her son. Kivt days before, at Fori I, her older boj had died, and hor Boro heart titlitod with a sickening throb as sho thought of this other Louis now her only child, lying In tho room beyond In n high fever. Ill with tho tllsonso with which his brother hnd fallen. A ivoman'o soul might woll bo over crowded with such sorrow nnd such Jtoar, but thero was moro. Hor two SoyH hn1 thrown In their lot shortly before with tho Italian revolutionists, tnd had fought, and had distinguished thomsolvos. And now that tho rovo hitlon of tho Uomugna was a failure, that Hid Austrian army was advanc ing victoriously, now that death had taken tho oldor to safety, tho younger -LouIb tho Invalid lad In the room Doyund, was In Imminent danger. He tvhs exceptod from tho general am nesty; tho natural ways of escape y-ito closed, for tho authorities of Tuscany and of Switzerland had let her know that tho Prince would not bo permitted in thoso territories. From Ttoi.ie two of hor son's uncles, Cnrdl uul Aisch and King Jorome, had aent word that if ho wore taken by tho AtiirIniiR ho wns lost. And at the moment whan Hortunso had decided to carry her boy off to Turkey by way of 'orfu, nn Austrian Ileot nnneared In tho Adriatic. In Biich a critical stato wero tho RffalrH of tho black-gowned woman Who gnzod la the mm. from the palaco windows Tho doctor was with her son Tho boy's condition soemud to lier no bettor, but worso than the day Jjoforo; sho waited an olllclal verdict. The door oponed and sho looked up as A tnll man cumu In. "Doctor," sho Htnmmercd and nloppod sho feared to ask. "Your majesty," tho old man said Bravely, "I grieve to bo the boaror .of bad nows." "Ho 1h worso, Doctor?" Tho words t'nmo with a gusp; Hho felt that eho could not faco moro trouble, "Yos, your MaJoBty, tho fever has Increased since yosturduy. With his youth and strength we may hope if ho la carefully nursed but to move Ma, would bo mudneBii." ?iMYmmGND STEPMAN ANDREWS ILLUSTRATIONS ELLSVORTft Y0UN6 Queen Hortonso struck her hands together. "What can I do? What can I do?" sho demundod, nnd tho doctor stood gravely regarding her, helpless, with all his devotion to tho house of Uonapartc, to suggest a way out. "If ho stays ho will bo takon they will execute him. If ho goes ho will dlo on the way," she cried In an agony of indecision. "Doctor, tell me, think for me how can I eavo him?" And tho doctor still stood silent, suffering with tho impotent desire to help hor. "If if only tho Austrlans might think thnt tho Prince wore gone," he stammered, and hated him self for tho futility of tho words. Hut tho Queen stood with a hand half lifted, nrrestod. Hor bluo oyes wero allvo with the crossing and weaving of swift Ideas, and then with a catch of hor breath sho laughed at him llko a pleoflcd child. "Doctor, you are a very clover man," eho said. "To gothor wo aro going to Bavo the Prlnco." The vivacity of tho schoolgirl of Madamo do Campan flashed for a mo ment Into her manner, warmed to sud den llfo by tho Joy of hope. The doc tor waited, enchanted, bowlldored, to hear his cloverncss explained, but Hor tonso did always the unexpected thing. Sho shook her finger at him. "I'm not going to toll you," sho said. "At least not till I havo to not till tomorrow at all events. Hut all today, as you visit your patients you may think that you aro saving tho Prince from his enomles and tomorrow you may know- how. Goodby, Doctor," nnd puzzled and pleased, tho physician was gone "Send Fritz to mo," tho Queen or dered, and a moment later tho young man who was for years tho confiden tial servant of Hortense, who knew moro ot tho history of her middle years, perhaps, than nny other, stood boforo her. "Fritz, when does a packet sail for Corfu?" sho demanded. Fritz Rlckenbach considered it his business to know ovorything. "To night," your Majesty," ho answered unhesitatingly. "You will seo that the luggogo of Prlnco Louis is on board, and that a carriago 1b ready to tako him tliere," Bhe ordorcd'. "Hut yes, your Majesty," Fritz still stood regarding her seriously. "It is a groat happlncBB to me, your Majesty, that IiIb Highness Is woll enough to travel." Fritz know porfectly that thero was a complication somewhere, and he wanted to know what It was. Ills curiosity was patent, but his deep In terest In tho affairs of his people could not be an Impertinence, and tho Queen smiled at him. "You shall know nbout it, Fritz," sho said. "Tho Austrlans nro com ing. Tho Prlnco can not bo moved. If they tnko him, it means death. Thoy must believe that ho Is gone, and it is for you and mo to make thorn be llovo it, Fritz. You must get a pass port signed by nil of tho authorities that 1b easy today; you must engage his placo In tho packet for tonight; you must tell tho servants tell ovcry one that tho Prlnco goeB to Corfu, nnd you must seo thnt tho proper lug gugo Is on board. It will bo known Francois Was on His Bedside. Knee by the that 1 stay, but thoy will not molest an ill woman. Do ou understand tho plan, Fritz?" "Hut yes. your Majesty," Fritz an swered with his faco alight. And bo tho packet Balled for Corfu, and nil day before tho Bnlllng tho servants of Hortonso moved bitally botwoon tho palaco and the boat, car rying luggage and making arrange monts. And only one or two know tho socrot thnt Prlnco Louis llonapnrto had not Hailed In tho packet but lay toBslng with fovor In n llttlo room beyond his mothor's, carried thoro for greator privacy by Fritz and tho doc tor. Two dnyB later, ob tho Queon Bat quietly by hor boy'n bedBldo, she hoard that tho vanguard of tho Austrlans had ontorod tho city, nnd almost at onco Fritz camo to tell hor that the palaco In which sho wub staying had been chosen for tho rosidonco of tho gonoral commanding. The probability of this had not entered her mlud; It seemed the laBt straw. Tho Austrian officer demnndod tho Queen's own chamber for his chief, but when tho steward's wlfo told him tho namo of tho lndy who waB In the rooms which had not been given up, ho bowed deep ly and said not p. word. It wns another of that brotherhood scattered over Eu ropethe friends of Hortense; It was an officer who hnd protected her years before at Dijon. So for a week thoy lived sldo by side with their enemies and only a few feet lay between tho Prlnco nnd capture, for his room wns next that of tho Austrian gonoral, with but a double door between. It wa3 a life of momentary anxiety, for tho Queen feared each tlmo tho Invalid spoke that thoy might recognize a man's voice; when he coughed sho turned white. Dut at tho end of the week Louis was nt last well enough to go. Ho was to leave Anconn disguised as one of his mother's lackeys, tho young Marquis ZappI was to put on another livery, and over tho frontier they wero both to change and be tho sons of HortenBo traveling on tho English man's pussport. CHAPTER XIII. The Ruse. Tho day before tho escape, as the Prince, weak and 111 yot, lay In bed, word wns brought that a messenger of tho marqulB wished to seo tho Queen. "Lot mo see him too, my mother," tho silent, grave young man begged. "It mny bo that I can help you. 1 wIbIi to help." In u moment Fritz Introduced Blight alert person whose delicate face was made remarkable by a pair o eyes largo and brilliant and full o:' visionary shadows, yet alive with flro. Ono saw first those uncommon eyeu and then tho man. It they had not been entirely concerned with his mes sago they might have remarked that he trembled as ho looked at tho Prince's faco; that his voice shook as he nnswercd tho Queen's question. "I have tho unhapplness, your Maj esty, to bring you bad nows," he said, speaking to her, but still gazing ea gerly at Hie, Prince. "Tho Marquis" utiiipi, my uiuiuuyur, is in. iie was taken suddenly last night, and today Is much worso, nnd the.ro Is no chance that ho can travel with your Majesty tomorrow." Tho Queen threw out hor hands with a gesture of hopelessness. "What can we do?" sho exclaimed. "Am I to plan nnd plan and havo always an uncon querablo obstacle? Can I not save my boy? I might havo known that everything seemed too bright this morning, too good to bo true. Yet It is not posBlblo that after all they should" sho looked at her son; hor courage camo springing back. "They shall not take you," and her oyos flashed defiance at a world of enemies, and sho went over nnd throw her arm about his neck. "Louis, don't lot your self bo excited, dearest. They shall not tako you. I can save you." It was as If sho put a spur to her bruin; thoro was n moment's sllonco nnd tho two lads watched hor brows drawing together under tho concentra tion of hor brain. "Of course," she said suddenly, and laughed a spontaneous laughter which seemed to flood her with youth fulness. Sho turned her bluo glunco swiftly on tho nowcomor, tho slender boy with tho luminous oyes. "You nro In tho employ of the Marquis Zappl, monsieur?" "Hut yes, your majesty. I am tho secretary of Monsieur lo Marquis " Sho paused n second, seemed to take stock of tho young man, of his looks, his bearing, his nccont. "You aro French. Havo you a sym pathy with tho family of my son, with thu Honnpurtos?" It was as If a door had boon opened into a furnace, so tho eyes blazed. "Your mnjosty, I wouia glvo my life for his highness," ho Bald quietly. Tho impasslvo fnco of tho young prince turned toward tho speaker, and the linlf-shut heavy glance, which had the Napoleonic gift of holding a picture, rested on him attentively. Louis Bonn parte seomed to romombor something. "What Is your namo, monsieur?" ho asked, and It might havo been noticed that his houd lifted a llttlo from tho pillow as ho waited for tho answor. "Francois Heaupro, Blre." Tho young man seemed to bo out of brenth. "Sire!" Louis Napoleon repeated. And then, "I havo seen you bofore. Whero was It? Not In Home not In Switzer land nh!" His hand How out, and with thnt Francois wub on his knee by tho bedside, and had kissed tho out htrotched thin llngoro, and tho prlnco's other hand was on his ahoulder frn tornnlly. "Tho old chateau of Vieques- ray playfellow, Francois. 1 told you then l was going to romembor, didn't I?" Louis Napoleon domanded, laughing boylHhly. "Mother, ho saved my lift from tho falling wall. Do you romom bor tho titory of my runaway trip?" And Hortonso, smiling, dollghted to boo her Bnd-facod boy so pleased and oxhllarnted, did romembor, nnd was gracious nnd grntoful to tho young Frenchman. "U is a good omen to have you come to us todny," she said with all tho dazzling charm which Bhe know how to thtow Into a sentence And then, eager with tho headlong zest of a hunter for tho gamo, she caught the thread which wovo Into tho pattern of her scheming. "You would risk something to snvo him, would you not? You will tako tho placo of the marquis and travel with ub, tomor row, and help mo carry away tho prlnco to safety?" Tho dark young faco wns palo. "Your majesty, It Is a happiness I had not dared to hopo for yet." "Yot?" the prince demanded laconic ally. He saved words alwnjB, this lad, but ho always said his thought. Tho other boy's face turned to him, nnd ho answered very simply, "Dut yes, your highness. I have known al ways that 1 should hnvo a part in your highness fate." In tho gray dawn of tho next morn ing thero was a slight stir through the palace, -and out between tho lines of drowsy Austrlnn sentinels passed a procession of whose true character they wero far from aware, else history had changed. The guard watched the departure; the sick lady Hortense lato queen of Holland, as they all knew moro or leBs clearly, drove away slowly in her traveling cnleche, and on the box wns a young man in the liv ery of a groom whom no ono of the half-nwake soldiers knew for Prince Louis Napoleon; In tho middlo of the second carriage sat another youth of two or three years younger who was, the queen's servants had been told, the Marquis Zappl. Their paBS ports were examined and they wont through the gates of tho city without awauening the lenst suspicion. Not once in all their dramatic series of escapes and disguises were Hor tense and her bous betrayed, but thoy had to fear tho indiscretion of their friends moro than tho malignity of tholr enemies, and this part of Italy was full ot friends high and low. At length it was time for Prlnco Louis and the sham marquis to drop their liveries and travel as the sons ot the English woman for whom their passport was mado out. Tho clothes which Heaupro was to wear had be longed to tho young man dead at Forll Louis Bonaparte's brother and no ho presented himself dressed in them, ho saw tho painful flush which crept upon tho prlnco's face. "Your highness, I am sorry," he stammered. "It is grief to me." And then he threw himself Impulsively on his knees by the sldo of Louis' chair. "My prlnco, I wear them with rever ence," ho said, and then, hesitating, ho added: "Perhaps I would scorn less unworthy If your highness know that, mere secretary as I am, I am yot moro. I am noble. It Is not simple Francois Heaupro whom you honor, but a man created chevalier by tho sword of the emperor." The dull eyes of tho prince shot a glanco between drooping lids. "What Is it you mean, monsieur?" ho do manded. nut at tho moment the queen entered the room, and tho lads sprang fo their feet. Her oyes caught tho plcturo of tho young Frenchman In his new dress at once; thoy opened wide and then filled with toarB. "Louis, Louis!" sho cried, and laid her hand on 1 Is arm. "Ho looks llko him; ho looks like Napoleon!" A deferential knock sounded at the door. Francois sprang to it, and tho landlord stood in tho opening, bowing elaborately a soldlory old man with thick grizzled hair. "A thousand pardons for disturbing rallndl nnd tho messieurs," and mlladl smiled forglvonoss. "Might nn old soldier of tho emperor dare to say that ono could not help knowing the em peror's klnsmon?" Ho bowed Jow again to both boys alike, and again Hortonso smllod nt him. It was com forting to know that tho two seemed brothers to tho world In general, and sho was so used to recognition and loynlty now that they appeared to be long together. "Might an old soldier of tho emporor daro to show mlladl her majesty and tho hlclmoBses. iim sword which tho emporor himself had touched, the sword which he, Jean Grodln, an old cuirassier of tho guard, hud curried In four battles? Thoro was a llttlo story of tho 3word, a story also of tho wondorful goodness of tho omporor, which mlladl hor majesty permitting, he would like to toll to hor, as also to tho highnesses." And, her mnjeBty permitting, and tho boys pleased and interested, tho old cavalryman brought tho aword nnd drew It from Its sheutft and gavo it to each of them to handlo, and called on thorn to remark how it was as keen and bright as it had ovor boon at Ulm or Austorlitz. Ho eloarod his throat, strongly, for tho tnlo. "Mlladl hor majesty permitting," he bogan, "It was on a day two days after tho great bnttlo of Austorlitz. Tho country, nB hor majesty and tho hlghnoBsos will romombor, wub In n most dnugorous condition. Desporate b.irdc " Why was It tho landlord stoppod? Tho nnrty. caught bv tho fervor of his mannor, stnrod at him, annoyed as tho talo ot tho omporor, promising so well, halted at Ub beginning Tho man stood as it drawn to his tiptoes, B cvDr?7vrp-2 ay joasj wP?z co. every muscle tense, his head turned toward the doorway, listening. And suddenly they wero awaro of a Btir, a growing noiso; thoro wero gal loping horses; thero wns" a jingle of hnrnesB, and voices coming nearer. With a step backward the landlord flashed a glanco from under bushy brows down tho corridor, through the open door at tho end, which gavo on tho court of the inn. "Mon dieu!" Ho faced the three, standing startled. He spoke fast and low. "Mndame, It is a squad of Aus trian soldiers; they are upon us. What can wo do?" Ho hesitated only a sec ond. "DIeu-bleu my horse saddled under the tree yonder If ono of tho princes If the prince " Ho glanced uncertainly from ono lad to tho other. "But tho gnmo was out of his hands. Quicker hands than his had caught the play. Francois Beaupre, tho saber of tho old cavalryman gleaming In his grasp, sprang to tho doorway. "It is monsieur there who is the prince," he explained rapidly to the landlord. "Hide him, take care of him I will draw them away. When they are gone, Bee that tho prlnco and tho queen escape. That is for you; you are responsible." Thero was the rush of a flying figure down tho hallway, and out Francois flashed across a broken line of a dozen dismounted riders, straight toward tho landlord's horso held by n groom un der tho trees. Thero wns a shock ot startled silence as tho Impetuous ap parition, Baber gleaming at wrist, shot across tho court. Then thero was a hubbub of voices, and a mass of uni formed figures fell toward him ns he threw himself on tho horse. A sol dier caught at the bridle. The naked sword twinkled and tho man was un der Bleu-bleu's feet. For a second there was a vortex of men nnd a fran tic horso, and riding tho storm a buoy ant figure of fury, flashing a blade, with Infinite swiftness, this way and that. Then horse nnd lad shot out from tho living canvas, streaked the background of trees a second'and wero gone, and the Austrian troopors scram bled into their saddles to follow. Through sun-spotted, breeze-tosBed woods tore the chase ; across a road and over a low fence, and still Fran cols led, but tho heavy horses gained. It was a hopeless hunt, for the land lord's mount was no match for the big cavalry horses, yot tho, rider's light weight and clever horsemanship counted, and it was fully four miles from the inn when llleu-bleu stumbled and fell at a ditch, and Francois pitched over his head. His lead was short by now, and they wero on him In a moment, In a mass; ho was seized by n dozen burly Austrlans. Tho leader took a sharp look at him as he stood panting, staring defiantly. -'.'What Is this?" the Austrian de manded sternly, and wheeled to a trooper In a bunch. "Frledrlch, thou knowest the cub of tho Bonapartes. Is this lad ho?" And Frledrlch lunged forward, gasp ing, for ho had run his horse hard, and shook his head. "No, my captain. I have never seen this one." Tho boy looked from ono to anoth er of the threatening group, smiling, composed In splto of his quick breath ing. Tho captain took a step close to him nnd shook his fist In his face. "You have fooled us, you young There Was a Hubbub of Voices. gnmo-cock, hnvo you? Hut wait. Do you know what wo will do to you, you bantam of a Frenchman? Do you know how wo will treat you for this, we Aus trlans?" Color deoponed In his cheeks, and Francois drew up his llguro magnill contly. "You may do what you like, Mes sieurs." he said gaily. "It Is for you; my part Is done. Tho prince is sale." CHAPTER XIV. After Five Years. The window ot tho cell was small, but it was low enough eo that a man standing could seo from it tho vast aky and tho sou-lino six miles away, nnd, by leaning closo to the bars, the hill that sloped down into wooded country; beyond that the sand ot the Bharo. The Jailer stood close by tho little window in tho stormy sunset for a bettor light ns he dropped tho medi cine. "One two," ho counted tho drops cnrefully up to nine, nnd then glanced at the prisoner on his cot In tho cor ner, who tossed, nnd talked rapidly, dlsjolntedly. "It Is high tlmo that th doctor saw him," the jailor spoke, half aloud. "If tho governor had been hore this would not havo boen allowed to run on. I nra glad the governor coming back." With that tho prisoner throw oft tho cover from his BhouldorB and sat up suddenly, with wild bright eyes Btar lng at the jailer. "Pietro!" ho called In astonishment. "Why, my dear old Plotro!" nnd flung out his hands eagerly toward tho man, and would have sprung from tho bed to him. But tho jailer was at his Bide and held him down, yet gently. "Bo quiet, signor," ho said respectfully. "It Is only old Battlsta;you will seo if you look. Only Bnttlsta, who has taken care of you these five years." Tho brilliant dark oyes stared at him hungrily; then with a sigh the light went out of them and tho head fell on the pillow. "Ah, BattlBtu," ho said, "my good Battista." A smile full of a subtle charm mado the worn face bright. Ho spoke slowly. "I thought it was my friend my beat friend," ho explained gently. "Will tho signor tako tho doctor's medicine?" Battista asked then, not much noticing tho words, for the sick man was clearly light-headed, yet with a certain pleasant throb of memory which always moved within him at tho name 'of Pietro. It happened that the namo stood for some ono dear to tho jailer also. The signor took the medi cine at once, like a good child. "Will It make mo better, do you think, Battista?" ho asked earnestly. "But yes, signor; the doctor la clover." "I want to bo better; I must get well, for I have work to do as soon as I come out of prison." "Surely, signor. That will be soon now, I think, for It Is Ave years; they will let you go soon, I believe," Bat tista lied kindly "You are good to me, Battista," the boy said, "and Just now you gavo me a great pleasure. It warms me yet to think of it, for, you see, I thought you wero Pietro my dear Pietro the Marquis Zappi." Battista, breathless, stared, stam mered. "Whom whom did you say, signor?" But the prisoner had flashed Into reason. The color went out of his fnce as the tide ebbs. "Battista, did I say a namo? Battista you will not botray me you will not repeat that name? 1 would never have said it but that 1 was not quite steady. I must have been out of my head; I have nevoi spoken his name before in this place Oh, If I should bring danger to him! Battista, for God's sake, you will not ropeat that name?" Battista spoke low, glancing nt the heavy iron door of the cell. "God for bid, signor," ho ' whispered, "that 1 should speak, here in his own cnstlo, the namo of my young master." Thero was a long silence. Tho pris oner and his jailer gazed at each other as if saying things beyond words. Then the boy put out his long hot fin gers and caught the man's sleeve. "Battista," he murmured, "Battista is that truo? Is it possible? Do you know my Pletro?" "Know him, signor?" Battlsta's deep voicewas unsteady. "My fathers have served his for eight hundred years." Tho man was shaking with a loyalty long pent up, but Francois lifted hip head, leaned on his elbow, and looked at him thoughtfully. "But, Battista, I know you now; he has spoken to mo of you; It was yout son, tho little Battista, who was his body-servant when they were chil dren?" "Yes, signor." "I did not dream of it; I never know what castlo this was; I nevor dreamed of Castloforte; you would not toll me." "1 could not, signor. It wns forbid den. It is forbidden., I am risking my life every minute."' "Go, BattlBtu," and Francois pushed him nwny with weak hands. "Go quick ly you havo been hero too long. Thero might bo suspicion. I could not live If I brought trouble on you." "It is right so far, signor," Battista answered. "It is known you aro ill; I mu3t enro for the sick ones a little. But I had better go now." With that ho slipped to his kneca and lifted the feverish hands to his lips. "Tho friend of my young mas tor," he said simply, but his voice broke on tho words. The trndltlonnl faithfulness of centuries wns strong in Battista; tho Zappis hud been good masters; one hnd been cared for and contented always; ono was terrorized and ground down by thoso "Austrian swino;" tho momory of the old mas ters, tho personality of nnyono con nected with them, was snored. Bnttls ta bowed his head ovor tho imnd3 In his own, then ho stood up. "! shall be back nt bedtime, slzuor, lie said quletlv. and was gone. (TO Hi; CONTlNUUtU T H A
