. . .. . 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
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1!