. . .. . j .... .. . . . x , ALICE of OLD VINCENNES By MAURICE THOMPSON TjFHT ' ij.4.JI4y i.XO.12. Copyright, 1900, by (ha $m828&mTi& CIlAPTEIt I. ukdeh the citEnm- thee. UP to the days of Indiana's early statehood, prcably as Into as 1823, there stood, in what Is i now the beautiful little city ot Vluceniies on the Wnbasb, the de caying remnant of mi old nnd curiously gnarled cherry tree known ns the Dusslllon tre, le cerlsler de Monsieur lousslllon, ns the French Inhabitants called It, which us long ns It lived bore fruit remarkable for richness of flavor and peculiar duik ruby depth of color. rho exact spot where this noble old secdlliig from la belle France flourished, lecllned and died cannot be certalulr pointed" out. for In the rapid and'happy owth of VIncennes many landmarks once notable, among Uein Ic cerislcr fde Monsieur Uousslllon, have been do stroyed and the spots where they stood, once familiar to every eye In old Vln- ffcennes. are now lost In the pleasant confusion of the new towu. The old, twisted, gum embossed cherry tree survived every other dis tinguishing feature of what was once tfio most picturesque nnd romantic nlnce In VIncennes. Just north of It stood, in the early French days, a low, jnuhbUug cabin surrouuded by rude rerandus overgrown with grapevines. lis was the Uousslllon place, the most pretentious home in all the Vnbnsh Irauntry. Its owner was Gaspard Uous BJlllon, a successful trader with the In Elans. He was rich, for the time and the place, influential to a degree, a man of some education, wuo nail (brought with lilm to the wilderness a bundle of books and u taste for rend ing. It Is not known Just when A Incennos bras first founded, but most historians make the p -obnble date very early In the eighteenth century, somewhere be tween 1710 nnd 1730. In 1S10 the Kousslllon cherry tree was thought by fn distinguished botulileal letter writer ato be at least fifty years old, which would make the date of its planting rnbout 1700. Certainly, ns shown by the Itlinu stained family reconls upou which Ethls story of ours Is based, It was n fajeurlshliii: and wide topped tree In vthe early summer of 1778. Its branches dtoaded to drooping with luscious fruit. So low did the dark red clusters hang one point that a tall youug girl Standing on tho ground easily reached tho best ones and made her lips purple nvlth their juice while she ate them. That v, as long uro, measured by I what has come to pass on the gentlo nwell of rich country from which VIn cennes overlooks tho Wubnsh, Tho hew town flourishes notably and Its appearance marks the latest limit of progress, Klectric cars In its streets, electric lights In its beautiful homos, tho roar of railway trains coming and going in all directions, bicycles whirl ing hither and thither, tho most fash ionable stylos of equipages from brougham to pony phaeton, mnko the days of III 'it lock guns and buckskin trousers seem ages down tho past, nnd yet wo are looking back over but a little nioro 'hun l-'O years to see Alice Uousslllon standing under a cheery i tree und ho'dlng high u tempting clus iter of fruit, wbllo-n short humpbacked I youth looks up with longing eyes and vainly reaches for It. Tho tableau is not merely rustic; It la primitive. "Jump!" tho girl la Baying in trench. "Jump, Jean; Jump high!" "Yes. that was very long ago, in tno Ways when women lightly braved what fine strongest men would shrink from Jnow. i Allco Uousslllon was tall, lithe, Strongly knit, with an almo.it perfect figure. Judging by what tho master sculptors carved for tlw? form of Vouus, 5 and her face was comely nud winning. If not absolutely boautlful; but the time ntd place were vigorously indi cated by her dress, which was or coarse stuff und simply designed. Plainly she was a child of the Amor- lean wilderness, n daughter of old VIn cennes on the Wabash lu the tlmo that tried men's souls. "Jump, Jenn!" sho cried, her face (laughing with a Bhow of cheek dim- ples, an arching of finely ikotched brows and the twinkling of large bluo fgrny eyes. "Jump high and get them!" While she waved her sun browned hand holding the cberrlos aloft, the breeze blowing fresh from the south west tossed her hair so that some loose strands aliono like riiupled flainos. The sturdy little hunchback did leap with surprising activity, but the treacherous brown hand went higher, so high that the combined altitude of Ids Jump and the reach of his unnat urally long arms was overcome. Again nnd ngnln he sprang vainly Into the nlr comically, like a long legged, squat bodied frog. "And you brag of your agility and strength, Jean." she laughingly re marked, "but yon can't take cherries when they are offered to you. What s clumsy bungler you are!" "I can climb and get some." he said, with a hideously happy grin, and Im mediately embraced the bolo of the tree, np which be began scrambling aJ roost as fast as a squirrel. When be bad mounted high enough to be extending a hand for a bold on a crotch Alice grasped bis leg near the foot and palled bhn down, despite bis tfrM-H-M" THE DAILY JOURNAL. 9S3S kaeAJt-r-' ''fe4 BOWEN-MERIOLI. COKPANT clinging and struggling, until bis bands clawed In the soft earth at the tree's root, while she held his captive leg al most vertically erect. It was a show of great strength, but Altec looked qnttc unconscious of It, laughing merrily, the dimples deepen ing In her plump checks, her forearm, now bared to the elbow, gleaming whlto and shapely, while Its muscles rippled on account of the Jerking and kicking of Jean. All the tlmo alio was holding the cher ries high in her other hand, shaking them by the twig to which their slender stems attached to them and Baying in n sweetly tantalizing tene: "What makes you climb downward after cherries, Jean? What a foolish fellow you are, Indeed, trying to grab ble cherries out of the ground, as you do potatoes I I'm sure I didn't suppose that you knew bo llttto ns that" Jean, tho hunchback, was a muscular little deformity and a wonder of good nature. How long he might have kept up the hopeless struggle with tho girl's invincible grip would bo hard to guess. Ills release was caused by tho npproach of a third person, who woro tho robo of a Catholic priest and tho countenance of a man who had lived and suffered a long time without much loss of phys ical strength and endurance. This was Pero Beret, grizzly, short, compact, his face deeply lined, his mouth decidedly aslant on account of some lost teeth, nnd his eyes set deep tinder gray, shaggy brows. Looking at him when his features were In repose a first Impression might not have been favorable; but seeing him smile or hearing him speak changed everything. His voice was sweetness Itself, and his smile won you on the instant. Some thing like a pervading sorrow always seemed to bo close behind ills eyes-nnd under his speech; yet ho wns n genial, sometimes nlmost Jolly, man, very prone to Join lti tho lighter amusements of hlB people. "Children, children, my children," he called out ns he approached along n little puthwny lending up from the .di rection of tho church, "what uro you doing now? Bah tltere, Alice, will you pull Jean's leg off?" At first they did not hear him, they were so nearly deafened by their own vocal discords. "Why nre you standing on your head with your feet so high In air, Jean?" ho added. "It's not a polite attitude In the presence of a young lady. Arc you n pig. that you poke your nose lu tbe dirt?" Allco now turned her bright bond and gave Pere Heret n look of frank welcome, which at the sumo time shot a beam of willful self assertion. "My daughter, are you trying to help Jean up the tree feet foremost?" the priest added, standing where he had hulled Just outside of the straggling yard fence. He had his hands on his hips and was quietly chuckling at tho scene be fore him, as one who, although old, sympathized with tho natural and harmloss sportlveuoss of young people and would ns lief as not Join In a prank or two. "You see what I'm doing, Father Beret," said Alice. "I am preventing Jiimji hlfli nnd Qct them V n great damage to you. You will mnyU 1om n good niHiiy cherry pies und dumplings rf I let Jean go. lie was climbing the tree to pilfer the fruit, so I pulled blm down, you understand." "Ta. ta!" oxelalined the good man, shaking his gray head; "we must rea son with tbe child. Let go his leg daughter. I will vouch for him; eh' Jean?" Allco released the hunchback, thai touched gayly and tossed tbe duster of kcherrios Into his hand, whereupon b !egan munching them voraciously an talking at the same time. "I knew I could get them," be boatt ed, "aBd see, I have tfcera now." He bopped around, looking like a specie! of 111 formed monkey. Pere Beret came and leaned on the low fence close to Alice. She was at most as tall as be. "The son scorches today," bo aid, bo ginning to mop his furrowed face wits a red flowered cotton handkerchief. I 1 OALEW, eMfa9N, 'SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1903. srr , Mr ' ii, , ji HHH..IH ii "and from tho look' of toe sky yon'der? pointing southward, "it is going to bring on a storm. How is Mine. Rous Billon today?" "She Is complaining as she usually docs when -she feels extremely well," Mid Alice. "That's why I had to take her place at the oven and bake pies. I got hot and came out to catch n bit of this breeze. Oh, but you needn't smile and look greedy, Pere Beret, tho pies are not for your tccthl" "My daughter, 1 am not a glutton, I hppc. I hud meat not two hours since sotnd broiled young squirrels with :ress, sent mo by Bene dc itonvllle. Ho ?ver forgets his old father." "Oh, I never forget you cither, ruou pere. I thought of you today every lime 1 spread a crust nnd tilled it with cherries, nnd when I took out a pie, all brown nnd hot. the red Juice bubbling out of It so good smelling nnd tempting, do you know what I said to myself T" "How could I know, my child?" "Well, I thought this: 'Not a single bite of that pie dec Father Beret get.' " "Why so. my duughlorY" "Because you said It was bad of me to' read novels, nnd told Mother Boub slllon to hide them from me. I've had any amount of trouble about It." "Ta, tal Head the good books that I gave you. They will soon kill the tasto for these Billy romances." "I tried," said Alice. "I tried very hard, nnd It's no use. Your books are dull and stupidly heavy. What do I care about, something that a queer lot of saints did hundreds of years ago In times of plague nnd famine? Saints must have been poky people, and It Is poky peoplo who care to read about them, 1 think. I like reading about brave, heroic men and beautiful wom en, nnd war and love." Pere Beret looked away with a curi ous expression In his face, hla eyes half closed. "And I'll tell you now, Father Beret," Allco went on after n pause, "no more claret and pies do you get until I can have my own sort of books back again to rend as I please." She stamped her moccasin shod foot wltlKtieclded en- ergy. The good priest broke Into a hearty laugh, nnd.Mnklng off his cap of grass straw, mechanically scratched his bald head. Although, as Father Beret had said, the sun's heat wns violent, causing that gentle soul to paBS his bundled handkerchief with n wiping circular motion over his bald nnd bedewed pate, the wind was moraeutly freshen ing, while up from bchlud tho trees ou tho horizon beyond tho river a cloud was rising bluo black, tumbled and grim against tho sky. "Well," said the priest, evidently try ing hard to exchange his laugh for n look of regretful resignation, "you will have your own way, my child, and" "Then you will have p'les galoro and no end of claretl" sho Interrupted, at the same tlmo stepping to tho withe tied and peg latched gate of tho yard and opeulng It. "Come in, you dear, good father, before tho rnln shall bo Kin. nnd sit with mo on tho gallery" (the croolo word for veranda) "till, tho storm Is over." . Thero was not a photographer's camera to bo had lu those days, but what If a tourist with ono In hand could have been thero to take n snap shot nt tho priest nnd the maiden ns they walked arm In arm to that squat llttlo vornndn! Tho picture today would bo worth Its weight In n first water diamond, It would Include the cabin, tho cherry tree, n glimpse of the raw, wild background and u sharp portrait group of Pere Beret, Alice and Jenn tho hunchback. F.acb of us can see thum, oven with closed eye. Led by that wonderful guide, Imagination, wo step back a contury nnd more to look over a scone nt ouco strangely at tractive nnd unspeakably forlorn. What was It that drew people away from the old countries, from the cities, tho villages nnd tho vineyards of beau tiful France, for example, to dwell In tho wilderness, amid wild beasts and wilder savugo Indians, with a rude cabin for n home and the oxjiosures nnd hardships of pioneer life for their dully experience? Men like Guxpnrd Kousslllon arc of a distinct stamp. Take him aa he was. Born in Frame, ou the bunks of the Itboue ueur Avignon, he came us a youth to CiinudH. whence he drifted on the tide of adventure this way and that, until at Inst he found himself, with a wife, at Post Ylnconurs. that lonely picket of religion and trade whlih was to hftnime the center of civ ilizing energy for the great northwest ern territory. M. Bousslllou had no children of his own; so his kind heart opt-ui-d frely lo two fatlHTletw und Uioil i-'iss waif. Thnnj woro Alice, iii,v. i.iltHl ItviiMdllou. rnd the hum-h-li.u-U. Jean. Tli former was twelve yiv in i.ld when lie adopted her, u child of Protestant w rents, while Jean Imd been taken, when a nn.ro babe, after his parents had been kllltd and scalped by Indians. Mine. Itoimslllon, u profes Bloual Invalid, whose appetite never failed ami wIhm? motherly klmliie ex prtwed Itself most often through strains of monotonous falwttto scold ing, was a woman of little education and no renueitwnt; while her huvband clung tpimi'loiwly to nf love of books, especially to the rumuiceM most In vogua when he took leave of France. M. IlouMliion had been. In a way Alice's leather, though not greatly In dined to abet Father Beret In hit kindly efforts lo make a Catholic of tui girl, and most treaclwrously dUtpo toward the good priest In the matter oi bis well uisant attoiupts to prevent h from reading and treading the afore Mid rowanesfl But for many week) past Ossjwrd UoinmIIImu had beeii ab sent from home. looV.ng after his trad Ing schemes with the Indians, and Pen Beret, acting on the suggestion of tb proverb about the absent cat and tin playing mouse, bad formed an alllant-t offensive and defensive with Mu Qouulllon. In which it was strict)) ..... . .. - SSBSESSC jtJpulftfed'tEnt nil novcls'a'nd' romancea were to be forcibly token and securely hidden away from Mile. Alice; which, to the best of Mine. Itousslllon'a abili ty, had accordingly been done. Now, while the wind strengthened nud the softly booming summer shower came on apace, the heavy cloud lifting ns It advanced and showing under it the chirk gray Bheot of tho rain, Pero BercT nnd Alice sat under tho clap board roof behind the vines of tho ve enndu And discussed what was gener ally uppermost lu tho priest's mind upou such occasions, the good of Alice's Immortal soul a subject not nbsorblug V Interesting to her nt any time. "Ah, my child," he was saying, "you are a sweet, good girl, after all, much better than you make yourself out to be. Your duly will control you. You will do It nobly at last, my child." True enough, Father Beret, true enough!" Bho responded, laughing. "Your perception Is most excellent, which I will prove to you Immediately." She roie while speaking and went tnto the house. "I will return In n minute or two." she called back from a region which Pero Beret well knew was that of tlio pantry. "Don't get Impatient and go nwnyl" Pero Beret laughed softly nt tho pre posterous Hiiggeatlon that ho would even dream of going out In tho rain, whtch wns now touring heavily on tho loose board roof, and miss a cut of cherry plo n cherry pie of AUco'b milking! And the Itousslllou claret, too, was always excellent. "Ah, child," he thought, "your old father Is not go ing away." She presently returned, bearing on a wooden tray a ruby stained plo and a short, Btout bottle flanked by two glasses. "Of course I'm better than I some times nppenr to be," she snld nlmost humbly, but with mischief still 111 her voice nnd eyes, "nud I shall get to bo very good when I have grown old. Tho sweetness ot my present nature Is In this plo." She set the tray on n thrco legged stool which she pushed close to him. "Thero, now," she said, "let the rain come. You'll bo happy, rain or shine, while tho plo and wlno last, I'll be bound." Pere Berot fell to eating right heart ily, mcantlmo handing Jean a Itbernl piece of the luscious pie. "It Is good, my' daughter, very good, Indeed," the priest remarked with his mouth full, "Mine. BouHslllon has not neglected your culinary education." Allco filled a glass for htm. It was Bordeaux and very fragrant. Tho bou quet reminded him of his sunny boy hood In France, of his Journey up to Paris and of Ida careless, Joy brimmed youth In tho gay city. How far away, bow misty, yet how thrilllngly sweet It all was! He sat with half closed eyes awhile, sipping and dreaming. The ralu lasted nearly two hours, but the sun was out again when rem Beret took leavo of his young friend. They had been having another good nntured quarrel over thu novels, und Mine. Itousslllou had como out on tho vcrundii to Join In. "I've hidden every book of thorn," said iumlame, n stout nnd swnrthy woman, whose pearl whlto teeth wero her only mark of beauty. Her voice indicated great stubbornness. "Good, good; you novo dono your very duty, madamo," snld Pero Beret, with Immense approval In his charm ing voice. "But, father, you said awhile ago that I should hnvo my own way nbout this," Allco spoko up with spirit, "nnd ou tho strength of thnt remark or yours I gavo you tho plo and wine. You've oatou my plo and swigged tho wine, nnd now" Poro Beret put on his straw enp, ad justing It carefully over thu shining dome out of which had como so many thoughts of wisdom, kludiu-ss and hu man sympathy. This done, he gently laid a hand on Alice's bright crown of hair and said: "Bless you, my child. I will pray to tho Prlnco of Pence for you as long us I live, and I will never cease to beg tho Holy Virgin to lutercedo for you and lead you to tho holy church." Ho turned and went away, but whon ho was no farther than tho gate Alice culled eut: "Oh. Father Beret, I forgot to show you something!" fliie ran forth to htm nnd added In n low tene: "You know that Mine. IIoumIIIoii has hidden all the novels from me." fiho wns fumbling to get romothlng out of the loose front of her dress. "Well, Just take n glanco nt this, will you 7" nud she showed him n little leather Ixiund volume, much cracked along the hlugcM of the back. Pere Beret frowned and went his way shaking his head, but before ho reached his little hut near the church he was hiugblug In spite of himvolf. "Klie's not so Imd. not so bad," he thought aloud; It's only her young, ludupendent spirit taking the hit for a wild run. lu her sweat soul she Is as good as sho Is puro." CHAPTHU H. A LETTISH WOM AKA1I. A' LTIIOUCIH Father Beret was for many years a missionary on the Wattflsh. most of the time at VIiicoihmm. tho fact tlwt no mention of him can be found In the records Is not stranger than ninny other things connected with the old town's history. He was, like nearly all tho men of his calling In that day, a self effacing and modest hero, ap parently quite uuaware that ho de served attention. He and Father Olbault. whose uamo Is so lxiutlfully and nobly counectrt! with tho stirring achievements of Colonel (leorgo Itogcrs Clark, were close friends and often companions. Probably Father Olbault himself, whose fame will never fade, would have been today as obscure ai Father Beret but for tbe opportunity EBT9 "l riven him y Clark to fix "bis ndme in-' the list of heroic patriots who assisted In winning tlic great northwest from the Kugllsh. VIncennes, even In the earliest days pf4ta history, somehow kept up com munication nnd, considering the cir cumstances, closo relations with New Orleans. It was much nearer Detroit, but the Louisiana colony stood ntixt to Franco in the Imagination and longing of priests, voyageurs, coureurs do hols, and reckless adventurers who hnd Jjitln blood in their veins. Fathci' Ilcrct first came to VIncennes from New Orleans, tho Voyage up the Mlssls tlppl. Ohio and Wabash lu n pirogue lasting through n whole summer nud far Into the autumn. Since his arrival the post had experienced many vicissi tudes, and nt the tlmo in which our story opens tho British government claimed right of dominion over the great territory drained by the Wolmsh, nnd, Indeed, over a largo. Indefinitely outlined part of tho North American continent lying nbovo Mexico, n claim Just then being vigorously questioned, fllutlock In hnnih by the Anglo-Amorl-can colonies. Of course tho handful of French peo ple at Vlnrenncs, so far away from every center of Information nnd "Here is a letter or tou, father. wholly occupied with their trndlngr trapplug and missionary work, woro late finding out that war existed be tween Kngland and her colonies, Nor did It really matter much with them, one way or another. They felt secure lu their lonely situation, nnd so went on selling their trinkets, weapons, do mestic implements, blankets and In toxicating liquors to tho Indians, whom they held bound to them with n power never possessed by nny other white dwellers In the wilderness. Father Beret was probably subordinate to Father Olbault. At all events tho lat ter appears to have had noulluul charge of VIncennes, and It can scarcoly be doubted that ho left Father Beret ou the Wabash while he went to live and labor for a tlmo at Kaskasktn, beyond the plains of Illinois. It is a curious fact that region and the powor of rum and brandy worked together successfully for a long tlmo In giving tho French posts almost ab Boluto Influence over the wild and sav age men by whom they wero ulwoya hurrouuded. Tho good priests depre cated tho tnitllc lu liquors and tried hard to control It, but soldiers of fop tune nnd reckless traders were lu tho majority, their Interests taking preced ence of nil spiritual demands and car rying everything along. What could tho trtuvo missionaries do but niiiko tho very ''st of u perilous situation? But If tho effect of ruin us n bev erage had strong allurement for tho whlto man, It made an absolute slave of the Indian, who nover hesitated for a moment to undertnko any tusk, no matter how hard, boar uny privation oven thu most terrible, or bravo uny danger, although it might demand reckless desperation, If In the end n well filled bottle or Jug appeared u. his reward. Of courso the tradors did 'not over look such a source of powor. Alcoholic liquor became their Implement of al most magical work in controlling the lives, labor ami resources of the In dians. The priests, with their captivat ing story of (he cross, had a large In tluence In softening savage natures and averting many an uwful danger but. when everything else failed, rum always eaino to the rescue of a threat oued French ost. Wo need not wonder, thou, when wo are told that Father Beret umdo no sign of distress or disapproval upon being Informed of thu arrival of a bout loaded with rum, brandy or gin. It was Buiio de Itonvllle who brought tho news, the same Bene already men tioned as having given the priest a plato of squirrels. Ho was sitting ou tho doorsll of Father Beret's hut when the old man reached It after his visit nt the Itousslllou home nud hold In hla hand a letter which he appeared proud to. deliver. "A Imtteuu and seven men with a sargo of liquor raiun during the rain," he said, rising and taking off his cu rious cap, which, made of an animal's skin, had a tall Jauntily dangling from Its crown tip. "and hero is a lotter for you, father. The U It will Is from New Orleans. Klglit men started with It, but one went ashore to hunt and was killed by an Indian." Father Beret took the letter without appareut Interest and said: Thank you. my son, sit down again the door log Is not wetter than th stools Inside; I will sit by you." Tho wind had driven a flood of ralu Into the cabin through tho open door, and water twinkled In puddles hors and there on the floor's puncheons, irhoy sat down side by sldo, Futher Beret fingering the letter In an absent Itndvdwsjt., ,.. P!7w THRB& There'll bo n Jolly Umo of it tonight.' Rofc OKiRonvllIc remarked; "a roaring tlmo." v . "Why do you say thatrny son?" Ihe priest demanded. "Tho wlno nnd tho liquor," wns tho reply. "Much drinking will bo done. Tho men havo nil been dry here for some time, you kno"w, nnd nro a thirsty ns sand. They are making ready to enjoy themselves down nt tho river house." "Ah, the poor souls!" sighed Father Beret, speaking, aa one whose thoughts wore wondering far away, "Why don't you read your letter. Father?" Bene added. Tho priest started, turned tho soiled square of paper over In his hand, then thrust tt maidc his robe. "It can wait," ho said. Then, chang ing hla volce: I'Tho squirrels yon gave me were exeollftjit, my boh. It wns good of you to think, of me," he added, laying his hand on Bono's nrui. "Oh, I'm glad If I Wve pleased yon, Father Beret, for you are so kind to ine always, and to everybody. When I killed the squlrrela I snliMo myself: These nre young. Juicy nnd tender; Father Boret must havo .these.' bo I brought them along." The young man rose to go, for ho wns somehow Impressed thnt Fnthor Boret must wish opportunity to rend his letter nnd would prefer to bo loft nlono with It. But tin priest pulled him down ngnln. "Stuy awhile," lw snld, "I havo not had u tnlk with you for some time." Beno looked a trltlo uneasy. "You will not drink nny tonight, my Bon," Fnthor Beret added. "You must not. Do you hear?" The young man's eyes nnd mouth nt once begun to have n sullen expres sion. Evidently he-wiiB not pleased and felt rebellious, but It wna luird for him to resist Father Boret, whom ho loved, ns did every soul In tho post Tho prlest'a voice was nwect and gentle, yet positive to a degree. Bene did not say a word. "Promlsu me that you will not tasto liquor thltt night," Father Beret went ou. grasping the young man's arm firmly. "Promise me, my won; promise, me." Still Ileno was silent Tho men did not look at each otlier, but gazed away across the country beyond tho Wabash to where n glory from tlw western siu flamed on the upper rim of a great cloud fragment creeping along tlw hori zon. "Kli bleu, I must go," snld Beno pres ently, getting to his feet nimbly nnd evading Father Bcrofa band, which would have held him. "Not to tho river honso, my aon?" said tho priest appealing!. "No, not there. I havo nnothor letter; ono for M'sicu' Bousslllan. It came by tho boat too. 1 go to giro It to Mine. Bousslllon." Bono do Bonvlllo wan rv dark, weather stained youug follow, neither tall nor short, wearing buckskin moccasins, trousers nud tunic. Ills eyes wero durlc brown, keen, quick moving, set well tinder heavy brows. A raRor had prob ably never touched his face, nnd his thin, curly board crinkled over his strongly turned checkH and chin, wlillo his mustaches sprung out quite (lure-cry above his full lipped, nlmost sensual mouth. Ho looked wiry and active, a mini not to bo lightly reckoned with lu n trial of bodily Htrengtb nnd will power. Father Beret's face and voire chang ed on tho Instant, no laughed dryly hihI said, with a sly gleam In Ids eyed: 'You could spend tho evening pleas antly with Mme. BouhmIHimi and Join Jean, you know, la n very amusing fel low." Bono brought forth tho lotter of which he had spoknn and hold It up bo fore Father Berel'H fnco. "Maybe you think I haven't nny lot tor for M'slou' BouhbIHuii," lw blurted, "nud mnybo you are qnlto cortnln that I am not going to tba Iiouho to tuke the letter." "M. Bousslllon la absent, you know," Father Beret suggested, "lint cherry pies nre Just na good white bo's gone ns when he's nt homo, nnd I happen to know, that tlicro nro Dome particularly delicious ones In tho pantry of Mmo. BouHslllon. Mile. Alice gavo me n Juicy sample, but then dare any you do not care to have your pie served by her hand. It would Interfere with your appetite. Kh. my sou?" Bene turned short alMiur, wagging his head and laughing, and ao with his lack to the pr!r he strode away along tl- we ' pnfh loading to tlai Bousslllon place. Futher Boret gazed after him. his fnco relaxing to a serious expression In which n Ira ro of sidasss and gloom spread like nu oluulro twilight Ho took out his letter, but did not glaiu-o Jit It. simply holding It tightly grippal In his sinewy right hand. Then his old oyes stnrcd vacantly, m eyes do when their sight Is rust batk ninny, many years Into the pnst. The mis sive wns from beyond tho sea- ho know the handwriting-a waft of the flowers of Avignon scorned to rise out of It, as If by the pretMiiro of his grasp. A stoop shouldered, burly man went by, loading a pair of goats, a kid fol lowing. Ho was making haute excited ly, keeping the goats at n lively Iroi "Bon Jour. Pore Boret." he flung out breezily, and walked rapidly on. "Ah, ah; his mini) Is busy with the newly arrived cargo," thought the old priest, returning tho salutation. "Ills throat aches for liquor tho poor man " Then he read again tho letter's super scription nnd made a faltering move a If lo break the seal. Ills bauds l rem bled violently, his faco looked grey and drawn. "Como on, you brutes," cried the re ceding man, Jerking the thcaigs of skla by whtch ho led tho goats. Father Beret rose and turned Into his damp little hut, where the light was dim on tho crnw" hanging op. . I ksI& 9.. smr-.M'i!i,yi2 . cls k 1!