THE DAILY JOURNAL, 8ALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1903.
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ALICE of OLD
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VINCENNE
By MAURICE THOMPSON
Coprriht 1W0. by th. BOlrtAKIUUtt COMPART
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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