Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1903)
THE DAILY JOURNAL, 8ALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1903. e SBV2M sa t SSH3$f3 f4MiM ALICE of OLD 88 VINCENNE By MAURICE THOMPSON Coprriht 1W0. by th. BOlrtAKIUUtt COMPART h3 tutmtnttttmiimtmmt lionunued.) chapter vn. TIIE MAYOlt'B TAnTY. w w buu was a good officer In Hi many respects, nnd his na- B triotlsm was of the best; but ne liked Jolly compuny, a glnss of something strong and a largo Bharo of ease. Detroit lay many miles northeastward across the wilderness, und the English, he thought, would scarcely come so far to attack his little post, especially now that most of tho Indians hi the Intervening country had declared in favor of the Americans. Kecen ly, too, tho weather had been favor! g him by changing from wet to dry, Bo that the upper Wabash and Us tributaries wero falling low and would booh bo very difficult to navigate with largo battcaux. Very Ilttlo Was dono to repair the stockade and dilapidated renmnnt of n blockhouse. There were no sufficient barracks, n mere shed In ouo angle serving for quarters,' nnd tho old can non could not have been used to any effect In case pf attack. As for tho garrison, It (was a nominal quantity, mado up mostly of men who preferred hunting and fishing to tho merest pre tense of military duty. Qnspard RouBsIUon assumed to know everything about ludluu affairs nnd tho condition of the English at Detroit. Ilia optimistic eloquence lulled Uclni to a very pleasant Bensd of security. Beverley was not so easy to Bntlsfy, but his suggestions regarding military discipline nnd a vigorous prosecution of repairs to the blockhouso and Btock ado were treated with dilatory genial! ty by his superior officer. Tho soft wonder of a perfect Indian summer glorified land, river and sky. Why not dream und baBk? Why not drink ex- hllaratlng toddles? Meantime tho entertainment to bo given by Gaspard Ilousslllon occupied everybody's Imagination to an unusual extent Reno -de Ronvllle; remember- lng but not heeding tho doubtful suc cess of bis former attempt, went lopg beforehand to claim Allco as his partehalre, but she flatly refused htm, onco more reminding him of bin obllga tlons to Ilttlo Adrlcnno Bourclcr. Ho would not be convinced. "You aro bound to me." ho said. "You promised before, you know, und the nnrty'wnH but put off. I bold you to it You are my partcnalro Unll I am" yeurs: you cairt ueny tnut." "No, you aro not my partcualre," she firmly said, then added lightly, "Feu mon partonulrc, you nro dead and burled as my partner nt that dance." I2o glowered In silence for n few mo ments, then said: "It is Lieutenant Bevcdey,' I sup- POBO?" She gavo him a quick, contemptuous look, but turned it Instantly into one of her tantalizing smiles. "Do you Imagine that?" she demand' ed. , . "Imngino ltt I know It," ho said ,witb a hot flush. "Have I no Bcnse?" "Precious little," she replied with a merry laugh. I "You think bo." I "Oo to Father Beret, tell him every thing, and then ask him what ho thinks," she said In a calm, even tone, her face growing serious. , Thoro was an awkward silence. She bad touched Rene's vulnerable spot no was nothing If not a devout Catholic, nnd his conscience rooted It; self In what good Father Beret bad taught him. Father Beret was the humble, self effacing, never tiring agent of good in bla community. lie preached In a ten der elngsong volco the sweet monot onies of his creed and tbo Bubllmo truths of ChrlBfs code, no was In deed the spiritual father of his people. No wonder Reno'B scowling expression changed to one of abject self concern when the priest's name was -suddenly connected with his mood The confes sional loomed up before tho eyes of bl consdenco nnd hl8 knees smote togeth cr, spiritually if not physically. "Now," said Alice brusquely, but with sweet and gentlo firmness, "go to your fiancee, go to pretty and good Adrlenne, and ask her to be your partenalre illefresb your conscience with a nobis draft of duty and make that dear Ilttlo girl overflow with Joy. Go, Bene de BonvlUe." Bene felt his soul cowering, even slinking, but ho fairly maintained a good -face, nnd went away without say ing another word. "Clel, clel, now beautiful she Is!" ho thought, as he walked along the nar row street In the dream sunshine. "But she la not for vac, not for me." n shook himself and tried to be cheerful. In fact he hummed a creole ditty, something about "La belle Jean ette, qu' o brlao mon cpsur." Days passed, and at last the time of the" great ovent arrived. It was a frosty night, clear, sparkling with itars, a keeri breath cutting down from the northwest. M. Ilousalllou. Mine. Rousslllon, Alice and Lieutenant Bever ley vent together to the river house, whither they bad been preceded by al mmf' thrt aritlre nonuUtion of Vln- cennes. Some tires baa ueen duui ou-i side, "the .crowd proyjngvtoo sreAtfM S oe ample space ror mo dancers.' Merry groups hovered around tho flaming logs, while within tho houso a flddlo lang Its slmplo and ravishing tunes. Everybody talked and laughed; It war a lively racket of clashing voices and rhythmical feet When tho Rousslllon parry arrived It attracted condensed attention. Its Im portance, naturally of the greatest in the assembled popular mind, wns on-hanccd-as mathematicians would say, to the nth power by tho gown of Alice. It was rosploudont Indeed In tho sim ple, unaccustomed eyes upon which It flashed with a buff silken gloty. Ma trons stared at it, maidens gazed wltb fascinated and Jealous vision, men young and old let their eyes tnko full liberty. It was as if a queen, arrayed in a robe of state, had entered that dingy log edifice, an apparition of daz ellng nnd awe Inspiring beauty. Tho dancers swung together and stopped in confusion. But she, fortified by a womnn's strongest bulwark, the sense of resplendency, appeared quite uncon Bclous of herself. Little Adrlenne, hanging in blissful delight upon Rene's strong nrm, felt the stir of excitement nnd wondered whnt was the matter, being too abort to see over the heads of those around her. "What Is it? Whnt Is It?" sho cried. tiptoeing nnd tugging nt her compan ion's sleeve. "Tell me, Rene; tell me, I sny." Reno wnB gnzlng In dumb admiration into which thero swept & powerful anger, like a breath of flame. He rccol- lt una us n queen had entered. lected how Alice had refused to wear that druHS when he had asked her, and noW she had It on. Moreover, thero she stood beside Lieutenant Boverlcy, hold ing his arm, looking up Into his faco, smiling, speaking to him. "I think you might tell mo whnt has happened," said Adrlenne, pouting and Btlll plucking nt his arm. "I can't bco a thing, nnd you won't tell me." "Oh, lfs nothing," ho presently an swered rather fretfully. Then ho stooped, lowered his voice and added: "It's Mile. Rousslllon nil dressed up llko u bride or something. She's got on a buff silk dress that M. Rousslllou'a mother had In France." "How beautiful sho must lookl" cried tho girl. "I wish I could bco her." Rene put a hand on each sldo of her slender waist and lifted her high, so that her pretty bead rose above the crowding people. Allco chanced to turn her face that way Just then and saw the unconventional performance. Her eyes met those-of Adrlenno and she gave a nod of smiling recognition. It wns a roue beaming upon a gillyflower. M. Rousslllon naturally undorstood that all this stir and crowding to see was but another demonstration of his personal popularity. Ho bowed and waved a vast hand. But tho master of ceremonies called loudly for the dancers to take their places. Oncle Jason attacked bu Quelle with startling energy. Thoso who wero not to dance formed a compact doublo lino around tho wall, tho shorter ones In front, the taller In tho roar. Alice and Bevorley worn Boon In the whirl of the dance, forgetful of every thing but an exhilaration stirred to Its utmost by Onclo Juzon's music. When their dance Avas ended they followed tho others of their set out into the open air while a frosb stream of eager danc ers poured In. Beverley Insisted upon wrapping Alice in her mantlo of un lined beaver skin against the searching winter breath. Tbey did not go to the Are, but walked back and forth, chat tlug until their turn to dance should come again, pausing frequently to ex change pleasantries with some of the people. Curiously enough ootu or wem had forgotten the fact that other young men would be sure to ask Alice for a dance and that more than one pretty creole lass was rightfully exjeetlng a giddy turn wltb the stalwart and band some Lieutenant Beverley. Rene de Ronvllle before long broke rudely Into their selfish dream and ted Alice Into the bouse. This reminded Boverley of his social dutyt wherefore, seeing little Adrfeau Bonrelor, bo jae & . Bnd gred Der aj e -- ofcm tueHSdatoY r3tjablljur circle of mutually "hindered young men. "Allons, ma petite!" he cried, quite la tbo gay tone of the occasion, and swun? her lightly along with him. It was like an eagle dancing with a linnet, or a giant with a fairy, when the big lieutenant led out la petite Adrlenne, as everybody called her. Th honor of Beverley's attention sat un appreciated on Adrlenne'a mind, for all aer thoughts went with her oyca to ward Rone and Alice. Nor was Bevor ley so absorbed In his partner's behalf that ho ever for a moment willingly lost sight of tho floating buff gown, tho ahlning brown hnlr nnd tho beautiful face, which foruvd, Indeed, tho center of attraction for all eyes. It was some time beforo Beverley could agnln secure Allco for a danco, and he found it nnnoylng him atro ciously to seo her smile sweetly on somo buckskin clad lout Who looked llko an Indian and danced llko a Part Man. lie did not greatly enjoy most of his partners; they could not nppenl to ntiy sldo of his nature Just then. Not that he nt all times stood too much on his aristocratic traditions, or lacked the vlrllo traits common to vigorous nnd worldly minded mon, but tho con trast between Allco and the other glrla present was somehow nn absoluto bar to a democratic freedom of the sort de manded by tho occasion. Ho met Fnthor Beret and passed a few pleas ant words with him. "They lmvo honored your flag, my son, I am glad to hoc," tho priest snld, pointing with n smllo to whore, in one .corner, the banner thnt bore Alice's name wnp effectively draped. Beverley bnd not noticed It before, nnd when he presently got possession of Allco ho naked her to tell him tho Btory of how she planted it on tho fort, although he had hoard It to tho Inst detail from Father Beret Just n mo ment ago. They Blood together under Its folds while sho naively sketched the scene for him, oven down to her pic turesquely disagreeable Interview with Long Hair, mention of whom led up to the story of the Indian's race with tho stolon da in o Jeanne of brandy under his arm on that mcmornblo night and tho subsequent services performed for him by Father Beret nnd her after sho und Jean hud found hi in in tho mud beyond tho river. Tho dancing went ou at a furious pace whllo they stood thero. Now and again a youth came to claim her, but sho aald bIio was tired and begged to rest awhile, smiling bo graciously upon each ono that his rebuff thrilled him ns If It had been tho moit flattering gift of ten der partiality, whllo at tho same tlino ho suspected that It was all for Bever ley. nclm In his most Jovial mood was circulating freely. It was late when fathers and mothers In tho company began to suggcut ad Journmcnt. In tho open .lamps sus pended here nnd thero tho oil was run ning low, und tho rng wicks sputtored and winked with their yellow flames "Well," said M. Rousslllon, coming to where Allco nnd Beverley Btood In Bulntod nnd Isolated by their great do- light In each others company, 'Its tlmo to go home." Boverlcy looked at hta watch. It was a quarter to threat Allco also looked at tho watch, and saw engraved and enameled on its mas Blvo enso tho Boverloy crest, but sho did not know what It meant Thoro was something of tho sort in tho back of hor locket, she remombercd with sat isfaction. Just Uicn there wns a peculiar stir iu tho flagging crowd. Some ono had ar rived, a couruur do bols from tho north. Where was tho commandant? Tho courcur had something Important for him. Boverlcy heard a remark in a startled volcb about tho English getting roudy for n doscent upon tho Wnbash valloy. This broke tho charm which thralled him and sent through his norves the bracing shock that only a Boldler can feel when u hint of coming battle reaches him. Alice saw tho flash in his face. "Where is Captain Holm? I must see him Immediately. Kxcuso me," he Bald, abruptly turning away ond look ing over the beads of the people. "Yon der he Is; I must go to him." The coureur do bota, Adolphe Dutrom ble by uuuic, wuh Just from the head waters of the Wabash. He was Bak ing to Helm when Beverley camo up M. RotiMtlllon followed clow Umjii the lieutenant's heels, s eager n he t know what the ineiwuo amounted to, but Helm took the coureur HttUle. mo Honing Bevorley to Join them. M KotiMlllon Included himself iu the con furenee. After all it wan but the KOll of savages that Dutremble commuuleat ed, still the purjMirt was NtortllUK iu the extreme, (ioveruor Hnmfllon, bo the story run, had boou orgauUlng a largo force. He was protmlily now on lite way to the portage of the Wabash with a flotilla of buttoaux, hoiiio com panles of disciplined ttoldlera, artillery ami a strong body of Indians. Helm llMtened attentively to Dutrem ble's lively sketch, then crom que tloiiwl him with laconic directness. 'Send Mr. Jazon to me," he said to M. Rousslllon, ns If speaking to a serv ant. The master Frenchman went prompt ly. rKKiilxliK Captain Helm's tight to command, ami sympathizing wltb hU unphMMiut military predloament if the news should prove true. Oncle Jason eame In a minute, hi fiddle and bow clamped under bin arm. to receive a verbal eommlstlon, wmb sent blni with some seouts of hU own ebooelug forth with to the Wabavb port age, or far enough to ascertain wbst the BnglWh eomwander was doing. After the coafwrenee Beverley made bafte to Join Alice, but he found that she had Btwe heme. "K Ax wrfll be. Jo If Hamilton l comes 3JwiH&4 lUT liaJwyt- BolflTIeuli. Bercfley was young, en ergetic, bellicose, nnd to him every thing seemed possible; ho believed In vigilance, discipline, activity, dash; he nnd a great faith In tho efficacy of tn thuslosm. "Wo mnst organize theso French men," he said. "Tbey will make good fighters if wo can onco got them to act as a body. There's no tlmo to be loat but wo havo tlmo enough In which te bo a great Oeal before Hamilton can arrive, If wo go at it In earnest" "Your theory Is excellent, nonten ant, but tho practlco of It wont bo worth much,M nolm replied with per fect good nature. "I'd llko to soo you organlzo theso parlyvoos. Thoro nln'l a dozon of 'cm that wouldn't accept tho English with opon arms. I know em. They're good hcartod, pollto and nil that; they'll hurrah for the flag that's easy enough but put 'em to tho test nnd they'll Join In with the strongest side; boo if they don't Of courso there nro a fow exceptions. There's Jnzon, bo's all right and I lmvo faith in Bosseron, and Lcgraco, and young Ronvllle." "RouBslllou" Boverloy began, "Is much of a blowhard," Helm Inter ruptcd, with n laugh. "Barks loud, but lila biting disposition la probably not vicious." "Ho and Father Beret control th wholo population nt all events," Bald Boverloy. "Yea, and such a population!" Wldlo Joining In Captain Hojm'i laugh nt tho exponsa of Vlncenncs, Beverley took leave to indulge in a mental reservation In favor of Allco. Ills lvcart was full of her. Sho had surprised his nnture and filled it at with a wonderful, haunting nong. And yet. In his prldo and It wns not a falM pride, but rather a noblo regard for hti birthright ho vaguely realized how fat Bho was from him, how Impossible. CHAPTER VIII. THE DILEMMA OF CATTAIL 1 IT. Lit. fe.KCLU JAZON, feeling llko a ffl M fish returned to tho water aft mjj er a long und torturing captlv " lty in tho opon air, plunged In- to tho forest with anticipations of lively ndveuturo nnd mado his way toward t)w Wea plains. It wan his purpose, to get a loat at tho village of Oulatonon nnd pull thence up tho Wabash until ha could llnd out what the English were doing. He clioso for his companions on this dangerous expedition two ex pert coureurs do bols, Dutreniblo and J unities Bnlloup. Fifty miles up tho river they fell in with bouio friendly lwllmn, well known to thorn nil, who were returning from tho portage. The suvngCB Informed them Hint there wero no Hlgus of an English ad vance in that quarter. Some of them had been as fur nu ttio St Joseph river and to within u short distance of Do trolt without seeing a whlto mnn or hearing of any suspicious movements on the part of Hamilton. So bnck came Onclo Juzon with his pleasing re port, much disappointed thnt ho had not boon qhlo to stir up somo sort of troublo. It wuh nelm's turn to laugh. "Whnt did I tell you?" ho cried, In a Jolly mood, slapping Beverley on tho ahouldor. "I knew mighty well thnt It was all a big story with nothing In It. What ou earth would tho English be thinking ntxmt to march an nnny away off down hero only to capture n rotten ntockndo nnd a lot of gabbling parly voos?" Bovorley, whllo ho did not feel qnllo an confident ns his chief, wns not sorry that things looked a Ilttlo brighter than ho had feared thoy would turn out to bo. Secretly und without acknowledg ing it to himself he was delighted with tho llfo ho was living. no begun to like walking about nlm leftsly In tho town's narrow streets, with tho mud daubed cabins on cither hand. This simple llfo under low, thatched roofs had a charm. Every body cried cheerily, "Bon Jour, mon Bicur, comment allez-vous?" as ho went by, always accompanying tho verbal naluto with a graceful wave of tho hand. But It was always a gllmpso of Allco that must count for everything Iu Bev erley's reckoning, albeit bo would havo Htrenuously denied it True he went to RoutMlllon pluco almost vvory day, It bolng a fixed part of his well ordared hublt, and had a talk with hor. Somotlmes, when Dumo Rousslllon was very busy and so qulto off her guard, they read togethr Iu a novel or In cor tain parts of the odd volumo of Mon talgno. Till was doiw more for tho ttwoctneM of dlHobedlcnce than to en Joy tho already familiar pages. Now and again they rejwated tholr fencing bout, but never with the result which followed the first Beverley noon mastered Alice's tricks and showed her that, after all, masculine muscle is not to bo discounted at Ita own gumo by even tho most wonderful womanly ntrength and suppleness. Sho Htrugglcd bravely to Itold her vnntagu ground onco gulned so easily, but Uie Inevita ble was not to be uvoldod. At last one howling winter day be disarmed her by tho very trick that sho had shown him. That ended the play, and they ran, shivering, into tho house. "Ah," she cried, "It int fair You are so much bigger than I. You hav bo much longer arms, so much more weight and power. It all oounU against xnol You ought to bv ashamed of your self r Sho was roy with the exhilarat ing exercise and the biting of the fros ty breeze. Her beauty gavo forth a new ray. Deep In her heart she was pleased to havo him master Iter so superbly; but as the day pawul she never said so, .never gave over trying to make blm feel the touch of her foil. She did not know that hor eyes were gutting through hi guard, that her dimples IweroatabbiBg hUt heart to Its middle. . iXoa bay obr adrantatm." I10 re- piled, "which fat overbalance my greater stature and stronger muscles." Then after a pause ho added, "After nJ a girl must be a girl." Something In his face, something ft her heart, startled her ao that she tundi a quick little move llko that of a rest less bird. "You arc beautiful, and thnt makri my eyes and my hand uncertain," N wont on. "Wore I foncing with man there would bo no glamour." Ho spoko In English, which ho dli not often do In conversation with ber. It was a sign that bt was nomowbat wrought upon, tiho followed his rapid words with difficulty, but sho caught from them a now nolo of feeling. Ho saw a little palo fiara Bhoot ncrou hor faro and thought Bho was angry. "You should not uso your dimples to distract my vision," ho quickly added, with n light laugh. "It would bo no worso for mo to throw my hat In your face." Ills attempt at lovlty was obviously weak. Sho looked straight into his tycs with the steady gaco of a simple, tarnost nature shocked by a current qulto strange to It. Sho did not un derstand him, and aha did. Hor fine Intuition gathered swiftly together a hundred shreds of Irapreattlon received from hlin during their recent growing Intimacy. Ha was a patrician, as tho vaguely mado htm out, a mnn of wealth, whoso family was great. Ho belonged among people of gentlo birth nnd Mgh attainments. Sho magnified him so thnt he was diffused In her Im agination, ub dllucult to comprehend ns a mist In tho niorntug air and as beautiful. "You make fun of tnc," sho said very deliberately, lotting hor eyes droop. T)ien Bho looked up again suddenly nnd continued, with it certain nalvo ox prcsslou of disappointment gathering In her face; "I lmvo been too froo with you. Fnthor Beret told me not to for got my dignity when In your company. Ho told mo you might misunderstand mo. I don't care. I shall not fence with you again." Sho laughed, but tlwro was no Joyous freedom In the sound. "Why, Allco my dear Miss Roussll lou. you do me a wrong. I bog a thou sand pardons if I've hurt you," he cried, Htepplng nearer to her, "and I can never forgUo myself. You have somehow misunderstood me, I know you linvo!" On his part It was exaggerating n mere contact of mutual feelings into a dangerous collision. Ho wns as much self deceived ns was she, nnd ho made more nolso about It. "It Is you who havo mlsundontood mo," Bho replied, smiling brightly now, but with Just a faint, pitiful touch of regret or Bolf hlumu lingering In hor voice, "Father Beret sntd you would. I did not bellevu htm, but" "And you shall not bollevo him," said Bovorley. "I have not mlsundorstood you. There has been nothing. You havo treated mo kindly and with beau tiful friendliness. You have not dono or said n thing thai Father Beret or anybody elso could critlclso, and if I havo safd or dono U10 least thing to troublo you I rcpudlato It I did not mean It. Now you bollevo me, don't you, MIbs RousHlllon?" Ho scorned to be falling Into tho hab it of speaking to her in English. Sho understood it somowhut imperfectly, es pecially when In an earnest moment ho nishod his words together ns If thoy nail been soldiers no was lending at me chargo step against an enemy. HU manner convinced hor ovon though his diction foil short. "Then wo'll talk about something rise," sho said, laughing naturally now and retreating to a chair by tho hearth side. "I wuut you to tell mo all about yourself and your family, your homo and everything." Sho seated herself with an air of con scious aplomb and motioned him to tako a distant stool. Thoro was a great heap of dry logs tn tho fireplace, with pointed flames shoot ing out cf Its crevices nnd loaning Into the gloomy, cavelike throat of tho fluo Outsldo a wind passed heavily across tho roof and Itollowcd In tho chimney top. 9 Bevorley drew tho Blool near Alice, who with n charred stick used ns a poker was thrusting nt the glmvlnf crevlees mid Mending showers of sparks aloft. "Why, thero wouldn't Ih ininli tn tell," ho mild, glad to feel secure again. "Our homo Is a big old mansion imiikh Boverloy Hall, on 11 hill iiiiinug trees and half surrounded with slave ctibliw It overlooks tho plantation In Hie nl TurltluH. TurltUm," hr reymltd. ley wbvre a little river gM wandering qn lis way." He was spgaklng French, and she followed hint easily now, hor. tyas bvk'lHiiliiU to ding out again their Wm&jsc&? Baa natural Sunny boams 01 inters; was bora thero twenty! yrauni up and haven't done much of anyttuW since. Yon bm before you, mndemol-S sells, a Tory undistinguished young tnan. Who has sicnallv failed to aoeom- pltab. tho dream of hla boyhood, which ' waa to be a great artist Ilka Raphael or Angela Instead of ottos famous I aro but a poor lieutenant In tbo forces of Virginia." did not understand hli allusion to tho great artlsU of whom ah knw notb lng. Oho had never' boforo heard ol tlicm. Bhc leaned tho poker ajeaiiutf the chimney Jamb and turned hor face to word him. "Mother, father and oas dottf," ha tald, "no brothers. We Wer n happy ilttlo group. But my slater married and lives In Baltimore. I am here. Father nnd mother aro nlono In tho old house. Sometimes I nm terribly hotowlck." Ho was silent a moment, then added: "But you nro selfish. You rosko tna do all tho telling. Now I want yon to gtvo mo a Ilttlo of your story, mademoiselle-, beginning, ao I did, at tho Brel." "But I can't" she replied, with child tlko frankness, "for I don't know when I waB born nor my parents' names nor who I nm. You seo bow different It Is with me. I am called Allco noassll Ion, but I suppoao that my name la Allco Tnrtoton. It la not certain, how ever. There Is very Ilttlo to help out tho theory. Here Is nil the proof thero la. I don't know that It la worth any thing." Sho took off ber locket and handcl It to him. Ho handled It rather Indifferent!, for ho was Just then studying tbo fine llnw of hor face. But In a moment he was interested. Tnrleton, Tnrlcton," ho repelled. Then ho turned tbo llttks disk oC gold over nnd saw tho enameled drawing on tho 'bade, a crcat clearly outlined. no started. Tbo Crest was qulto fa miliar. "Where did you got tMst" ha do mnndod In English and with such blunt suddenness that sho was atnrtled. "Where did It corns fromr "I havo always had It" "Always? It's tho Tartetoa crest. Do you belong to thnt family r "Indeed I do not know. Papa Itouo Blllon says ho thtuks I do." "Well, this is strango and Intoreot lng," snld Bovorloy, rather to himself than 'addressing bor. no looked from tho miniature to tho crest and back to tho miniature again, thon at Allot. "I toll you this is strungr-," ho repeat ed, with emphasis. "It Is exceedingly Btrnngo." Her cheeks flushed quickly under tholr soft brown, nnd hor oyes flashed with uxeltotuent. "Yes, I know." Her volco fluttered; her hands wore clasped in hor lap. Sho loaned toward him eagerly. "It U strango. I'vo thought about It a great deal." "Allco Tarloton; that Is right Alice Is a name of the family. Lady Allc Tarloton was tho mother of tho first Sir Onrnott Tarloton who camo over la the tlmo of Yard ley. It's a great fam ily, one of the oldest and boat in Vir ginia." Ho looked at hor now with a giuo of concentrated Interest, under which hor eyes fell. "Why, thU U ro mantic," he exclaimed, "absolutely ro mantic! And you don't know how you camn by this Jockot? You don't know Who was your father, your tootheef "I do not know anything." "And what does M. Rousslllon knowf "Just as little." "But how cuino ho to bo taking yon and caring for you? Ho must know how hu got you, where ho got you, e whom ho got you. Surely ho knows" "Oh, I know nil that. I was twulro years old whoa Papa Rotiaslllon took mo, eight yours ago. I had been hav ing a hard life", ntid but for lilm X must havo died. 1 was a captlvn among t Indians, Ho took mo and has cared fM mo nnd taught mo. IIo has beta very, very good to me. I lore hlra dearly." "And don't you remember anything at nil about when, where, how, tbo lit dlnns got you?" "No." Hue shook her head aud scoot ed to bo trying to recollect something. "No, I Just can't remember. And yet there in always teen something llko a dream Iu my mind which I could no( qulto get hold of. I know that I am not a Catholic. I vaguely remember a sweet woman who taught mo to pray llko thlv: 'Our Father who art la hear tn, hallowed bo thy name. " And Alice went on through tho beau, tiful and perfect prayer, which she re peated Iu HnglUh with Infinite cweet newt and solemnity, her oyra npllfje her hands clasped beforo her. Bever ley could have sworn that she was a shining saint And that ho saw a an reoh. "I know," hIio continued, "that soma tlnie, Boinowlierc. to a very dear por son, I promised that I never, never, never would pray nuy prayer but that, and 1 remember almost nothing else about that oilier life, which Is far off back yonder In tho past. I don't know where -awect, peaceful, shadowy, a dream that I linvc all but lost from my mind. Beverley's sympathy wns deeply moved. Ho sal for somo minutes look ing at her without speaking. She, too, was pensive and silent. While tbo fire sputtered and sang, the great logs slowly melting, the flames tossing wisps of mitoke Into tho chimney still booming to the wind "I know, loo, that I am not French, bo presently resumed, "but I don't know Just how I kuow It My first words must have been Itngllsb, for I have always dreamed of talking In .that language, and my dimmest half recol lection of the old days are of a large, white house and a soft voiced black woman, who sang to me In that Un ffuagotho Tory sweetest songs tn tha worlds , . the building's C4WCAU V ws iwuw