Newspaper Page Text
imViT''11' ""'" - It'-ftT'
!
rrr
SfeMRSnALl
Mir I;, i- - -.1 1 if
MOMTIONAL-
SBMTSfflOOI
Lesson
(lly K. O, SULLDItS. Director of KvonlnK
-?lARYE?10m) anPMAN ANDREWS w
ueparunci
Chicago,)
department, tho Moody Dlblo Institute,
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 15. v',
p.
M .
V-A
lj
pv-
V(
SYNOPSIS.
Francois Bcuupre, n peasant babe of
three years, nfter nn nmuslnK Incident In
which Marshal Ncy figures. Is mailo n
Chevalier of Franco by tho Kmporor Nft-
fioleon, In tho homo of tho lad's parents
n tho village of Vieques, France, whoro
the emperor lmd briefly stopped to hold n
council of war. Napoleon prophesied that
tho boy might ono dav bo n marshal of
ITranco undor anothei Uonnparte. At tho
use of ten Francois meets n strangor who
Is astonished when tho boy tells him of
Ills ambition. 1'rancols visits Qcncrnl
Baron Qaspnrd Uourgaud. who with
Allxe, his seven-year-old daughter, lives
nt tho Chateau. A soldier of tho Kmplro
undor Napoleon hu fires tho boy'B Imag
Jnatlon with stories of his campaigns.
Tho general offers Francois a homo at
tho Chateau. Tho boy refuse to lcavo his
farcnts, but In tho end becomes a copy
st for tho general and learns of the
friendship between tho general nnd Mar
quis Zappl, who rampaUned with tho gen
eral under Napoleon. Marquis 55nppl and
his son, Metro, nrrlvo at tho Chat oau.
Tho goncral agrees to enre for tho Mar
quis's son while tho former goea to
America. Tho Marquis beforo leaving for
.. America asks Francois to bo a friend
his son. Tho boy solemnly promises.
CHAPTER IX.
The Castle Children.
Thero was a farm in tho Valley
Dclcemontcs nvo miles it was from
Vieques which was a dependenco of
the selgneury; for centuries tho samo
family had hold it, nnd it was con
sidered the richest holding for a peas
ant in that part of tho world. Just
now tho family all at once camo to
nn end. It was necessary to find new
tenants, and the general offered tho
place to Lo Francois and La Claire.
Even in their best days they had not
been do prosperous as this would
mako them. Hut what about Fran
cois? Tho general glowered at them
from deep oyes.
"Thoro's always a scrow somewhere
in every good thing. This timo it's
the boy."
Thero was a silence. Clalro trem
bled. "It will go hard with tho lad to
Give us up," sho brought out softly.
"Ho won't give you up; I should not
respect him If ho gavo you up," the
general thundered, and tho two peas
ants breathed nioro freely. This great
good fortune was not, after all, the
price of their son.
By degrees the threo came to an
understanding. A tutor was to bo en
gaged for the threo children; Francois
was to llvo at tho castlo as if It
should bo explained to him ho were
going away to school, and every Fri
day ho was to walk to the Forruo du
Val tho Valloy Farm and stay with
ills people until Sunday afternoon.
This now order of things was well
settled before six months had passed
after the going of tho Marquis Zappl.
And then in threo or four months
more something happened.
Francois was alone with tho goneral
when tho letter come. His oyes were
on his seigneur's face as he read tho
letter and tho boy saw tho blood rush
through tho weather-hnfdened skin In
a brown-red flood, and then fado out,
leaving it gray. Tho boy had never
seen tho general look so. With that,
tho big arms wero thrown out on tho
tablo and tho big grizzled head fell
intp them.
Then ho lifted his head and told
tho boy how tho friend whom ho had
found lately, aftor eo many years of
separation, had gono away not to come
back in this life, and how Pletro was
fatherless. Francois, holding tightly
with both fists to tho general's hand,
listened wide-oyed, struck to the heart.
"But ho had a bravo llfo, my
seigneur it is tho best thing that
thoro is. My mother said so. My
mother told me that wo shall emlle
later, when wo aro with tho good
God, to think that wo ever feared
death on this earth. For sho says one
spends a long timo with the good God
later, and all one's dear friends come,
and it is pleasant and it is for a long,
long timo, while hero it is, aftor all,
quite short. Is not that true, my
Hcigneur? My mother said it."
Big little Pletro had to be told what
had happened and how tho goneral
wnB now to bo a father to him as
best he might, and Allxe and Francois
would bo his sister and brother. He
took the blow dumbly and went about
Ills studies next morning, but for
many days he could not play, and
only Francois could mako him speak
Ho was handsome extraordinarily
handsome and a lovable good child,
but slow in initiative whoro Francois
was ready, shy whoro Francois was
friends with .all the world, steady
going whero tho peasant boy was bril
liant. Between tho two, of such con
trasting types, was an unshaken bond
from tho first, and nt this ago It
seemed to bo tho llttlo peasant who
had everything to give. Smaller phys
ically, weaker in muaclo than tho big
boned son of North Italy, he yet took
Quito naturally an nttitude of protec
tion nnd guidanco, and Pletro accept
ed it without hesitation.
Two years olid past noiselessly, un
noticed, and it was vacation timo; it
wns August of tho year 1824. Tho old
chateau of Vieques the ruin lay
.back behind tho corn Holds and bmiled
" in hot sunlight.
A tall lad of fourteen, another boy,
sllghtor, quicker, darker, und a llttlo
Kglrl of eloven In a short whlto dress,
wandered through tho ruins, talking
earnestly now. silent now. fllllnr the
x grim place with oasy laughter again.
Alixo and Francois and Pletro wero
t growing up; tho general already
grumbled words about kittens turning
w into cats, as ho looked nt them,
Al "Tttnt tinfifnrl tlin mnn Minwn I'
fUUV WUA4IIIU WIU QtUUk OlliJiU LUUiU,
Alfvn fftf-millfi tort 'ti. na ttin itnir'n l.rwl-
mti -w v..u.Mh.M, .M WIU UUJj a UKU-
K treom. ut course, a great monsieur
i lll, (1,,, .i l,j i.i.. i
.j i uiu uifi uuii juu uwjj uumuum
Tjf '. unu oiiicq, voo ana nxiyuo nis
, tuning-room."
t And tbo joko was enough on that
la?y day of vacation to set pealn of
laughter ringing through tho ruins.
,;AHxq topped laughing suddenly.
'X "Who is that?" sho demanded. Her
i'nrno worn II ff nil tn tho MM Hilnn tin.
hind tJ&ireun-niouad.iand the" glance I
of tho others followed hers. A young
man, a boy, was coming lightly down
tho slope, nnd something in his flguro
und raovomeut made it Impossible
oven at a distance that It should be
any ono of the village. Ho saw them,
and camo forward, and his cap was
off quickly as ho glanced at Allxe.
But with a keen look at tho threo, it
was Francois to whom ho spoko.
"Is this Franco?" ho asked.
"But yes, Monsieur," Francois an
swered wondering and in a moment
ho wondered more. Tho strange boy,
his cap flung from him, dropped on
his knees and kissed tho grass that
grow over tho Roman governor's foun
dations. With that ho was standing
again, looking at them unashamed
from his quiet gray oyes.
"It is tho first time I havo touched
tho soli of Franco slnco I was Boven
years old," ho stated, not as if to
oxcuso his act, but .as if explaining
something historical. And was silent.
Tho strnngo boy talked vory little;
they could not recollect that ho asked
questions, nfter his first startling
question; yet here was Allxe, tho very
spirited and proud little Allxe, anxious
to mako him understand everything of
their own nffairs.
"I am Allxe," sho began and
stopped short, seized with shyness.
Was it courtesy to explain to tho
young monsieur about her distin
guished father? Sho found herself
suddenly in an agony of confusion.
Then the strnuger mndo a low bow
and spoke in tho gentlest friendly
tones.
"It Is enough. It Is a charming
name. Mademoiselle Allxe. I believe
I shall now think it tho most charm
ing name in Franco."
"Sho has more of a name than that,
however, Monsieur," and Francois
stopped across tho grass and stood by
tho llttlo girl, her knight, unconscious
of the part he played. "It Is a very
grand name, tho other ono. For our
seigneur, tho father of Alixo, is Mon
sieur tho Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, a
general of Napoleon himself; was in
deed with tho Emperor nt St. Helena."
Francois had no false modesty, no
self-consciousness; ho felt that ho had
placed Allxo's standing now in tho
best light possible. Tho strango, boy
felt It, too, It seemed, for ho started
as Francois spoko of Napoleon; his
reserved face brightened and his cap
wan off and sweeping low as ho bowed
again to Alixo more deeply. Francois
was delighted. It was in him to en-
Joy dramatic effect, as it is in most
Frenchmen. Ho faced about to Pletro.
"This one, Monsieur," ho went on,
much taken with hlmeolf as master of
ceremonies, "Is Monsieur the Marquis
Zappl of Italy. His father also fought
for tho great captain."
The quiet strange boy interrupted
swiftly. "I know," he said. "Of tho
Italian corps under Prince Eugene;
also on tho stnff of Lannes. I know
tho namo well," and ho had Pletro's
hand in a firm grasp and was looking
into tho lad's embarrassed faco with
his dreamy keen oyes.
Tho cnildren, surprised, were yet
too young to wonder that a boy scarce
ly older than themselves should havo
tho army of Napoleon at his fingers'
ends; he gave them no time to think
about it.
"Ono sees, without names, that you
aro of tho noblesse," ho said simply,
embracing the throo in his sleepy
glnnce. Ho turned to Francois. "And
you, Monsieur tho spokesman? You
are also of a great Bonapartlst houso?"
Francois stood straight and slim;
his well-knit young body in his mili
tary dresa wns carried with all the
assuranco of an aristocrat. He smiled
his brilliant exquislto smllo into tho
older boy's face.
"Me I am a peasant," ho said cheer
fully. "I havo no "Souse."
"Ho Is a peasant yo3. But ho Is
our brother, Pletro's and mine, nnd no
"I Am Louis Bonaparte."
prlnco is better than Francois not
ono."
"Or half so good," Plotro put in with
IiIb slow tones.
"You aro likely right,'" tho strangor
agreed laconically.
And then without questions nsked,
In rapid eager sentences, tho three
had told him how it was; how Fran,
cols, refusing to lenvo tho cottngo, was
yet tho son of tho castlo. With that
thoy wero talking about the villago of
Vieques, and its antiquity, and then
of the old chateau ; and ono told tho
logend of tho treasuro and of tho
guardian dog.
"JuBt over tho wall thoro la tho
opening whero ho appeared to old
Plorro Tremblny," Francois pointed
out.
"I think I should Uko to climb tho
wall," tho stranger said.
And ho did. Tho others watching
anxiously, ho crawlod out on tho un
certain pllo ten foet In air. A big
stono crashed boiling him; ho crawled
oa. Then thero was a. hoarse rumblo
of loosened masonry, and down camo
tho groat blocks closo to his hands
he wns slipping I And, abovo, tho wall
swayed. Then, In tho instant of timo
beforo tho catastrophe, Francois had
sprung llko a cat into tho center of
danger nnd pushod tho other boy, vio
lently reeling, across tho grass out of
harm's way.
Alixo screamed once sharply. Fran
cols lay motionless on his faco and the
great stones rained around him. It
was all over in a momont; in a mo
ment nioro a shout of Joy tobo from
Pletro, for Francois lifted his head
and begnn crawling difficultly, with
Piotro's help, out of tho debris.
"I have to thank you for my life,
MoiiBiour tho peasant," tho Btranger
said, and held out his hand. "More
over, it is seldom that a prophecy is so
quickly fulflllod. You said a fow min
utes ngo that 3ou should ono day do
a thing worth while for a Bonaparte.
You havo don it. You havo saved my
life."
Francois' hand crept to ills cap and
ho pulled it off and stood bareheaded.
"Monsieur, who aro you?" ho
brought out.
Tho strango boy's vanishing sinllo
brightened his faco a second. "I nm
Louis Bonaparte," ho said quietly.
The llttlo court of threo stood about
tho oung Prlnco, silent. And in a
moment, in n fow sentences, he had
told them how, tho day beforo, ho had
been seized with a hunger for tho air
of France, which ho had not breathed
slnco, ns a boy of seven, his mother
had escaped with him from Paris dur
ing tho Hundred Days. Ho told them
how tho desire to Btand on French soil
had possessed him, till at last he had
run nwny from his tutor and had found
the path from ills exiled home, the
castlo of Arcnenberg, in tho canton of
Thurgovlo, in Switzerland, over tho
mountains into tho Jura valley.
"It is imprudent," ho finished tho
talo calmly. ' "The government would
turn on all its big engines in an uproar
to catch ono schoolboy, if it wns
known. But I had to do It." Ho threw
back his head and filled. his lungs with
a great breath. "Tho air of Franco,"
ho whispered in an ecstasy.
For two hours more thoy told sto
ries and played games through tho
soft old ruins of tho savago old strong
hold, as light-heartedly, as carelessly
as if thero wero no wars or Intrigues
or politics or plots which hnd been
and wero to bo closo to tho lives of
all of them. Till, as tho red round
sun went down behind tho mountain
of tho Rose, Francois' quick oyo
caught sight of a flguro swinging rap
Idly down the mountain road where
tho Prlnco hnd como.
"But look, Louis," ho called from be
hind the rock whero ho was preparing,
as a robber baron, to swoop down on
Prlnco Louis convoying Alixo as an
escaped nun to Pletro's monastery in
another corner.
And the boy Prince, suddenly grave,
shaded his eyo with his hand and
gazed up tho mountain. Then his
hand fell and ho Bighed. "Tho adven
turo is over," ho said. "I must co
back to the Prince business. It is
Monsieur Lebas."
Monsieur Lebne, tho tutor, arrived
shortly in nnythlng but a playful hu
mor. Tho hoy's mother, Queen Hor
tense, wns in Rome, and ho wns re
sponsible; he had been frightened to
the vergo of madness by tho prince's
escapade.
The playmates wero separated
swiftly. Monsieur Lobas refused with
something llko horror tho eager sug
gestion that ho and his chargo should
spend tho night nt tho chateau. Tho
Prlnco must bo gotten off French
ground without a moment's delay.
CHAPTER X.
The Promise.
"Mon Bleu!" said the general.
It was six years later. At the now
chateau not a blado of grass seemed
changed. The general stood In tho
midst of closo-cropped millions of
blades of grass as he stopped short
on tho sloping lawn which led down
to the white Btono steps which led to
tho sunken garden. Allxe, in hor rid
ing habit, with a feather In her hat,
nnd gauntletcd gloves on her hands,
was so lovely as to bo startling. She
looked nt the ground, half shy, half
laughing, and beat tho grass with her
riding-whip. Francois was leaning
toward hor and talking, and tho gen
eral, coming slowly down tho lawn,
felt a flood of prldo riso in him as ho
looked at this successful picture of n
boy which ho had dono bo muqh tq
fashion. Tho two had been riding to
gothor, nnd FrnncoiB appeared, aB
most men do, nt his best in riding
clothes. With that, as the genornl
marched slowly down tho velvet slope,
unseen by thorn, regarding them his
girl and his boy, this happy Mstor and
brother with that tho brother lifted
his sister's hand and, bending over it,
kissed it slowly, Tn n mannor unmis
takably unbrotherly.
"Mon Dleu!!' gasped tho general,
jtnd turned on his heel nnd marched
back to his library.
All that afternoon ho Btayed shut
up In tho library. At dinner ho was
taciturn.
Tho next morning tho general sent
for Francois to como to him in tho
library. A lotter had been brought a
short timo beforo and was lying open
on the tablo by his hand.
"Francois," begnn tho general in his
dcop abrupt tones, "I am in trouble.
Will you help mo?"
"Yes, my Seigneur," said Francois
quickly,
Tho gonoral glared at him, frown
ing. "Wo shall see," ho said ngaln,
und then suddenly as a shot from a
cannon "Does Alixo lovo you. Frnn
cols?" "I I think not, my Selgnour,". bo
answered in a low volco.
VI am hurting you." the deep volco t
said and only ono or two peopto in
tho world had heard that voice so full
of tenderness. "I nm hurting my son
But listen, Francois. It was tho dear
est wish of Piotro's fathor it has
been my dearest wish for years that
Allxe and Pletro should ono day bo
married. It is that which would bo
tho crown of a friendship forged in
the fires of battle-fields, tempered In
tho freezing starving snow fields of
Russia, finished I hope never finished
for all eternity."
Francois, his head bont, his eyes on
tho general's hand which held his, an
swered very qulotly. "I see," ho said.
"You would not tako her from Plo
tro, who, I am suro, loves hor?"
Francois looked up sharply, but tho
gcnernl did not notice. Ho spoko
slowly. "I promised Piotro's father"
tho boy seemed to bo out of breath
"to bo Pletro's friend always," ho
said.
Tho general smiled then and let tho
fingers go, and turned to tho lotter
on tho tablo beforo him. "Good!" he
said. "You aro always what I wish,
Francois," and It was qulto evident
that tho load was off his mind.
CHAPTER XI.
With All My Soul.
Tho general swung around to tho
lad. "Francois, this letter Is about
Allxe Turned Sharply.
you." Ho tapped the rustling paper.
"Plotro wants you to como to him as
hla secretary."
Francois' largo oyes lifted to the
general's face, Inquiring, stnrtied,
childlike. "Plotro!" ho snld slowly.
"I had not thought of thnt."
"Yet you know that Plotro was
heart and soul in tho plots of tho
Italian patriots?"
"Yes."
"But you had not thought of going
to help him fight?"
"No, my seigneur. I had thought
only of tho fight for which I must bo
ready hero."
"This Italian business will bo good
practlco," said tho general, as a man
of todny might speak of a tenuis tour
nnment. "And you and Pletro will be
enchanted to be togethor again."
Francois smiled, and something in
tho smllo wrung tho general's heart.
"Francois, you nro not going to be
unhappy about llttlo Alixo?"
Quickly Francois threw back, as If
ho had not heard tho question: "My
Seigneur, I will go to Pletro; it will
(rUWf' ' $AVfeA sir
bo the best thing possible action and
training, and good old Plotro for a
comrade. My Seigneur, may I go to
morrow?" "Tomorrow!" Tho general was
startled now. "A thousnnd thunders,
but you aro a sudden lad! Yet It will
bo no harder to give you up tomorrow
than it would bo next month. Yes, to
morrow, then, lot It be."
Francois stood up, slim, young, alert
and steady, yet somehow not ns the
boy who had como in to the general
an hour beforo; more, perhaps, as a
man who had been through a battle
and como out very tired, with tho
nolso of tho fighting in his ears.
"I will go to .tho farm tonight, to
my mother and my fnthor. And this
afternoon I will rldo with Allxe, if you
do not want mo for tho book, my
Seigneur and If she will go. May I
ask you not to tell Alixo of this to
leave it to me to tell her?"
"Yes," ngreod tho general doubt
fully. "But you will bo caroful not
to upset hor, Francois?"
"I will bo caroful."
"And and you will do what you
can to help Plotro, will you not, my
son?"
A quick contraction twisted Fran
cols' scnsltlvo mouth and was gono,
but this timo tho goncral saw. "You
may trust mo, my Seigneur," tho boy
said, and movod to the door; but the
general called to him as his hand
touched tho latch.
"Francola!"
"Yes, my Solgneur." He faced about,
steady and grave, and stood holding
the door.
"Francois, my son I havo not hurt
you vary much? You do not lovo
Alixo deeply? Do you lovo her, Fran
cois?" There' wns a Bhock of stillness in tho
old dim library. Through tho window
whero the children's shouts had
como In ton years beforo to tho mar
quis and tho general ono heard now
in tho quiet tho suddon staccato of a
lato crickot. Tho goneral, breathing
anxiously, looked at Francois, Fran
cols standing llko a statuo. Tho gen
eral repeated his question softly,
breathlessly. "Do you lovo her, Fran
cois?" With that tho great eyes blazed and
the whole faco of tho boy lighted as
if a flro had flamed Inside a lantern.
Hn throw back his head.
'With, fi". my soul," ho said. ."And
femes. "" '
' . ' 'i-
COPrXGfr 92 BY 6QB&3 MMMU. CO.
A rushing mountain stream whlto
veiled in tho fnlllng, black-brown in
tho foam-flecked pools tumbled,
splashed, brawled down the mountain;
tho mountain hung over, shadowy;
banks of fern held tho rampant brook
in chains of green. Alixo and Fran
colse, riding slowly in tho coolness of
tho road below, looked up and saw it
all, familiar, beautiful, full of old as
sociations. "Ono misses Plotro," Francois said.
"Ho always wanted to ride past tho
'Trou du Gouvcrneur.' "
A Roman legend had given this
namo to tho doop pool of tho brook
by tho road; it was said that tho cruol
old governor had UBed it, two thousand
years back, for drowning refractory
peasants. Alixo gazed steadily at tho
dark murmuring water.
"Yes, ono misses him. Is llfo llko
that, do you suppose, Francois? Ono
grows up with peoplo, and thoy got
to bo ns much a part of living as tho
air, or one's hands and then, sud
denly, ono 1b told that they aro go
ing away. And that ends it. One
must do without air, without hands.
What a world, Francois!"
"We aro not meant to llko it too
much, I bellove, Allxe," said Francois
sunnily. "It is Just en passant, this
world, when you stop to consider.
This 1b school, this life, I gather. My
mother says It Is not very Important
if ono has a good seat in the school
room or a bad; If ono sits noar one's
playmates or is sent to another cor
ner, so long as ono Is a good child
nnd works heartily at one's lessons.
It is only for n day and then wo go
home, whero all that Is mndo right.
Not a bad Idea of my mother's, Is It,
Alixo?"
"Your mother Is a wondorful worn
nn," Alixo answered thoughtfully.
"Sho lives llko that. She nevor let
things troublo her, not even vvhon your
fathor lost everything. Did she, Fran
cois?" "No," said Francois. "Sho Ib ono of
tho fow peoplo who know what tho
real things nro and live in them, it
Is hard to do that. I can not. I caro
bo bitterly for what I want. "It Is"
Francois hesitated "it is very hard
for mo to give up what I want." Ho
stumbled over the words; his volco
shook so that Alixo shifted in tho
saddle and looked at him inquiringly
"Alixo dear" then Francois
stopped. "You need not be afraid that
I shall havo more than Pietro," ho be
gnn uncertainly. "For It is not going
to bo so. Ho will have what what 1
would glvo my life for." Then he
hurried on. "I sco how It Is," ho said
gently, "nnd you nre right to caro so
loyally for Pletro. Is worth It.
And you must nover caro les3, Alixo
nover forget him becauso he has
gono away. Ho will como back." The
boy spoko with effort, slowly, but
Alixo was too much occupied with her
own tumultuous thoughts to notice.
"IIo will burely como back and bo
long to you moro than ever. Ho will
como back distinguished and covered
with honors, perhaps, and then and
then Allxe, do you see tho chestnut
tree at tho corner that turns to the
chateau? It Is a good bit ot soft road
wo will race to that tree shall wo?
And then I will tell you something."
Tho horses raced merrily; Alixo sat
closo to tho saddle with tho light
swinging soat, tho delicate hand on
tho brldlo, which wero part of her
perfect horsemanship, and over and
oer as ho watched her ride Fraucols
said to himself:
"I will glvo my happiness for tho
Selgnour's I said It. nnd I will. I
will be a friend to Pletro always I
said it, and I will."
Over nnd over tho horses' flying feet
pounded out that self-command, and at
length the music of tho multiplying
hoof beats grow Blower, and with tight
ening rein thoy drew In and stopped
under tho big chestnut. Alixo wns
laughing, exhilarated, lovely.
"Wasn't it a good race? Didn't
OWNED BY INFAMOUS TRAITOR !
Wisconsin Man Has Ink Well That
Once Was the Property of Bene
dict Arnold.
Among tho possessions of F. A.
Phillips, living nt Casy Bluff, Wis.,
is an Inkwell, said by tho ownor to
dato back to Revolutionary war times.
Tho inkwell has been In tho family
Blnco tho timo of tho conflict of tho
American colonies against Great Brit
ain. Mr. Phillips camo into possession
of tho rollc In 1801, it having boon
handed down to him by his fnthor,
and his fathor got it in turn from
his grandfather, who captured it
among other things at a llttlo log
cabin near West Point nt about tho
timo Benedict Arnold was figuring on
selling thnt strutoglc point to tho
British, but took French leave whon
h learned that tho Colonial soldiers
wuro after him.
This ink well, it is stated by Mr.
Phillips, Is tho ono that furnishod tho
lnic for tho document Arnold signed
giving tho British possession of Wost
Point, and wns found umong other of
Arnold's possessions after his hasty
lenvo taking of tho plnco whoro tho
dqeuments were signed nnd scaled
It is supposod to have boon made in
Englnnd and brought to this country.
It is an old affair this can be Booii
from tho fact that it U made ( for
thoy go dcllclously?" bIio throw at
him. And then, "We will go around
by tho Dolesmonteo Road; it Is only
threo miles farther, and it is early
in tho afternoon; thoro Is nothing to
do."
Francois spoko slowly. "I am afraid
1 must not, Alixo. I nm going to
tho farm tonight."
"To tho farm!" Alixo looked at
him in surprise. "But you wero not
to go over till tomorrow. My father
and I will rldo over with you. Have
you forgotten?"
"No," said Francois, "I havo not for
gotten no, indood. But I am going
nwny tomorrow, Alixo."
"Going away?" Alixo turned sharp
ly, and her dcop bluo glanco searched
his eyes. "What do you mean, Fran
cols?" And then, imperiously: "Don't
teneo me. Francois! I don't llko it."
Francois Btcadled, hardened his faco
very carefully, and auswercd: "I am
not teasing you, Allxe. I did not toll
you beforo becnuBo " ho stopped, for
his volco was going wrong "because
I thought wo would havo our rldo Just
as usual today. I only know about it
myself this morning. I am going to
Pietro."
"Going to Pietro!" Alixo was gasp
ing painfully. "Francois It Is a Joko
tell mo It Is a poor Joke. Quick!"
she ordered. "I won't havo you play
with me, torture me!"
"It is not a Joke." Tho boy's eyes
wero held by a suporhuman effort on
tho bucklo of tho brldle-rcln lying on
his knee. "Thoro was a letter from
Pletro this morning. The seigneur
wishes me to go. I wish to go. I go
tomorrow."
"Going tomorrow!" Tho girl's voice
was a wail. "You taken away from
me!" Then in a flash: "I hato Plotro!
Ho Ib cruel ho thinks only of him
self. Ho wants you but I want you
too. How can I llvo without you.
Fiancols?" Then softly, hurriedly.
whllo llio world reoled about tho boy,
silting statuc-liko In his saddle: "It
is Just as I snld. You aro as muck
a part of my llfo as the air I breathe
and you and my fnther and Pietro say
quite calmly, 'Tho air Is to be taken
away you must do without It.' I
cannot. I will choko!" Sho pulled at
her collar suddenly, as It the choking
wero a physical present fact.
No slightest motion, no shade of
Inflection missed Francois; still he
sat motionless, IiIb eves on tho little
bras3 buckle, his lips set in a lino
without a word, without a look toward
her. And suddenly Allxe, with another
quick blue glance from under hor long
lashes Alixo, hurt, reckless, desper
ate, had struck her horse a sharp blou
and sho was in tho road before him
galloping away.
Ho let her go. He sat quiet a long
time. As sho turned In, still gnllop
Ing, nt the high stono gateway of the
chateau, his eyes came back again to
the llttlo shining bucklo. It seemed
tho only thing tangible In a dream
unlverso of rnpturo and ngony. Over
and over he heard tho words she had
said words which must mean what?
Had thoy meant It? Had ho possibly
beou mlbtaken? No tho utter happi
ness which camo with tho memory of
tho soft hurried voice must mean the
truth sho cared for him, nnd then
over nnd over and over ho said, half
aloud, through his sot teeth:
"I said that I would glvo my liuppl
ncss for my seigneur's; I said that
I would be n friend to Pletro; I will."
(to nn CONTINUED.)
Home, Sweet Home.
A well known player was talking
about a brilliant but unsuccessful dis
ciple of Blackstono.
"His hnblts aro to blarao for his fail
ure," said he. "Ono of his remarks
Illustrates his habits well. He said
to mo in tho Union club:
" 'Thoro's no placo llko homo espe
cially at 2 or 3 a. m., when you'vo ex
hausted the pleasures of all tho other
places, and you ro tired, and every
thing shut up anyway.' "
nuills instead of pons, as a common
pun win nui oiuer iiiu iiuiuh uureu iui
dipping. It is square, with n quill
holo at each corner nnd a largo one
in tho center for receiving tho ink.
Tho well Is of stono, a queer compo
sitlon which on first sight resembles
flint or uinrblc, but on closer examina
tion it is found thnt it may bo cut
with a knlfo much tho samo as soap
stone. It is highly polished, nlco'y carved
and is about three Inches Bquaro nnd
an Inch and u half deep. Now York
World.
An Improving World.
A somewhat old-fashioned Bostonlan
who nioro than n score of yoars age
was vory prominent In public llfo to
mnrked recontly: "I havo observed
. ith lutci est qulto a chango In the
personnl habits of men during the
past 25 years. It used to bo very
common to sco business and profea
sionnl men, as woll as those in public
llfo and holding official positions,
wearing silk hats and Prlnco Albert
coats ovory day In tho week, and it
thoy Emoked at all thoy smoked ci
cars. Nowadays ollk hats are rarelv
Eoeu on week days downtown, anywav
and clgarctto smoking sceniB to b
qulto tho thing. I do not think th
now fashion is qulto so dignified m
manly as tho old, but on the whole
air. convinced tho world is giowim
hotter all tho tluio." -
r .? '
CHRIST'S HATRED OF SHAM8.
LKSSON TRXT-I.ulte 11:37-84.
, QOI.DK.V TI5XT-"Iia not deceived! God
Is not mocked." Gal. 6:7. '
This Is a strango breakfast eplBode
(to "dlno" mcanB literally, to break
fast). Jesus accopted threo such
Invitations from the 1'harlseos and
was accused of being a glutton nnd a
wlno bibber, Matt. 11-19; Luko 7:35,
SO, -it. In this instance wo are told
plainly (v. C4) why ho had been asked
to this feast. At a later timo, e. g.,
during tho Passion wook, Jesus deliv
ered a special discourso against the
Pharisees (Matt 23) in which ho re
peated many of tho things wo study
today.
Muse Be Clean.
I. Falso vs. True cleansing (vv. 37
i4) Tho orthodox Jew Is very punc
tilious to avoid ceremonial unclcanli
ness. In Christ's time this ceremoni
alism was at Its highest development.
To be dollied was far worso than to bo
morally unclean. This Phariseo "mar
veled" that Jesus was not likewise
concerned with his outward acts (v.
39, so also Matt. 23:25, 2G). To have
a clean cup and platter was moro Im
portant than to have a clean heart.
In a fragment of Gospel found at
O.tyrhyncus, Jesus is reputed to have
said to a Pharisee: "Thou hast
washed In waters wherein dogs and
swine havo been cast, and wiped tho
outside skin which also harlots
anoint and beautify, but within they
aro full of scorploiiB and all wicked
ness. But I havo been dipped in tho
waters of eternal life which como
from tho throno of God." Pious plat
ters, presented In pride, must bo In
wardly purified. Ho who thus neg
lects the Insldo is a "fool" (v. 40), for
God created the inside as well ns tho
outside. Their hearts were filled with
"extortion and wickedness." As a
substitute those false teachers laid
great stress upon alms. In tho
Arabic "alms" Is closely related to tho
word which means "to cleanse."
Hence verse 41 may read, "cleanso
what is within, nnd surely all is clean
to you." It is not so much alms that
people long for ns fair, honest treat
ment and nccompanylng tho service, a
loving heart (John 13:34).
Jesus pronounces three "woes,"
griefs that llko an avenging nemesis
hang over men of such a character.
(1) A "woe" against thoso who make
a show of tithing tho common garden
mint and herbs and at the Bamo timo
avoid tho weightier matters of just re
lations to their fellow men and love
to God (v. 12). Wo are not to neg
lect our churchly duties at all, but
these caunot bo substituted for
righteousness (seo Mlcha 6:8). (2)
A "woo" against thoso who love tho
places of pre-eminence (v. 43, cf. Matt
23: (J, 7). This spirit has not departod
from tho church after a lapse of cen
turies. It Is unchristian, unchristllke.
Tho great one must bo tho servant of
all (Matt. 23:11, 20:2S, John 13:11, 15,
Phil. 2:5-S). (3) (v. 43), Tho third
"woo" Is directed against hypocrisy.
To touch a grave was to become un
clenn, and hence thoy wero white
washed to glvo men warning. Many
Christians nro without beautiful to be
hold, yet within full of dead men's
bones and all manner of uncleanllness.
The Three Woes.
II. Real vs. Sham Lives (vv. 45
54). Tho lawyers wero tho theologians,
tho expounders ot the Mosaic law. Ev
idently tho words of Jesus produced
great conviction. Tho word "reproach
est" (v. 45) means "to entreat spite
fully," and the probabilities aro that
ho spoko to Jesus as if to rebuke him.
Jesus at onco pronounces threo woes
upon him and his class. (1) A "woe"
becauso thoy laid burdens upon others
which they themselves would not even
touch with one of their fingers (Matt.
23: 1). That is, they added to the law
minute and troublesoine details,
which thoy declared to bo moro im
portant than tho law itself. (2)
(v. 47) A "woo" Is pronounced upon
them for honoring tho dead prophets
nnd at the samo time rejecting and
persecuting thoso that wero living.
To honor dead teachers, to praise tho
prophets of tho past, thoso whom wo
cannot endure while living, is a form
of hypocrisy which costs but llttlo. It
implies that had thoy lived In tho days
of their fathers their conduct would
havo been Indifferent, yet thoy are with
tho living prophets, following tho ex
ample of their fatliors. God foresaw
this (v. 49) and tho faithful minister
of his word must expect a llko treat
ment (Mk. 10:29, 30). (3) (v. 12) Tho
third "woe" was pronounced against
these religious teachers because, pos
sessing the key to knowledge, thoy
neither entered themselves nor would
thoy allow others to enter; "yo enter
not In yourselves, neither suffer yo
them thnt aro entering In to outor."
(Matt. 23:13, Am. Rv.). These law
yers, theologians, woro professedly In
terpreters of tho law, that law which
was tho foundation and bulwark of tho
Jowish nation. In fact, however, thoy
had so obscured and "oxplain-d" that
law as to leave men in darkness.
Supposed to load mon into truth, they
wero shutting thorn out of tho truth.
What a torrlblo Indictment of many
of this prcsont ago who profess to
teach tho Wo: d.
We quoto from tho lottor of a Wis
consin business man: "Tho nvorago
man Is Intorostod in tho teachings of
tho Bible. If tho Dlblo cannot stand
upon Us own feet, it is foolish to bol
ster It up by any porsonal Idoaa. Wo
mako too mnny npologlos Tor Scrip
tures nnd do not stnnd Rquaroly by
what it toachos." Not a few who oc
cupy tho position of teachers obscure
tho truth of God and they shut mon
out of n real knowiedgo of him. Jesus
thus replies to both Pharlsoes and tbo
lawyer, that character Is not a gar-
uent to wear, but It In tho Inward furv
nlshlng of tho heart.
'
-V
1
I
X
k
'A.
:
V
".
m
'. r jo
v J) Ik fc.
r .-Jsii. v-tT
T.ttl' -'7,"l t
V
1 J. .-..
ml
.A
'.,. - -ill ,. .. ' j .V
'
,.J
i?'-V
j
.
lTl
