The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 26, 1902, Page 3

enced by Beverley, he in turn found a new light suffusing his nature, and he was not unaware that it came out of her eyes, her face, her smiles, her voice, y was the old, well known, icable, mutual 'magnetism which the first has been the same on the mountain top and in the lowest The queen and the milkmaid, the nd the hind may come together nd the king walking off with v and her fragrant pail, the lusty rustic, to be er of the gueen. Love is thrives in all climes, under evitable and curious pro- unbidden between lov- forms in accordance r circumstances. It is the r equality and perfection. Love without degrees—it is perfect— shall it see the perfect object? e it, and it does not see it, beloved being. Beverley found his 1g, as on a pivot, round and n the thought that Alice might sible to him. The mystery\of cemed to force her below the aristocratic vision, so that he fairly consider her, and yet t he loved her. Alice, had her bookish ideal ite the fact that she contemptuously down. from Adrienne Bour- on with, dushed it erent wailed the absence of her un- riey ver; she wished that B s she somehow viewed it, W *d to Hamilto mplacent aeceptan: did not comport with her dream thood and heroism. She had been half expecting him to do t would stamp him a hero. otests of this sort are never y vigorous to take a fall out they merely serve to worry his temper by lightly hindering his feet.” And it is surprising how love does delight him- self with being entangied Both Beverley and, Alice day by day felt the cord tightening which drew their hearts together—each ack cretly, but strovefnot to e Meantime both were as happy restlessly dissatisfied as love and uncer- tainty could make them. Amid the activities in which Hamilton was engaged—his dealings with the In- dians and the work of reconstructing the fort—he found time to worry his tem- about the purloined flag. Like every in the world, he was super- it had come into his head ire himself and his plans t disaster he must have the banner as a badge of his vie- y a small matter: but it mag- ed itself as he dwelt upon it. He sus- ted that Alice had deceived him. He sharply questioned Father Beret, only to be half convinced that the good priest told the truth when he said that he knew nothing whatever on the subject beyond the fact that the banner had mysteriously ai ared from under his floor. Captain _F: worth scarcely sympa- thiz chief about the flag, but he w ng if not anxious to gain Hamilton’s highest confidence. His mili- tary al knew no bounds and he never let ss even the slightest opportunity to Sor it. Hence his persistent s a clew to the missing banner. He Was no resp f persons. He frankly suspected both Alice and Father Beret of lying. He would himself have lied under the existing circumstances, and he con- sidered mself as truthful and trust- s priest or maiden. et that flag for you,” he said to H milton, “if I have to put every man, woman and child in this town on the rack. It les, I think. between Miss Rous- sillon and the priest, although both in- sistently deny it. T've thought it over in d 1 can’t see how they can nt of where it is, or at bo _got it.” ton, since being treated to that I blow on the jaw. was apt to m of anger whenever the T poken in his hear- he would put his hand nd grimace reminiscently. If it's t girl, make her tell,” d. “Let’s have no trifing it's the priest, then -make tie him up by ‘the thumbs. or show some good reason I'm not going to be 's adventure with Father just in time to make jt count t courageous and bellicose in more -ways than one. th did not tell Hamilton or any person about what the priest bad to him, but nursed his sore ribs his wrath, waiting patiently for the he meant soon to take. rd from Adrienne the story s conduct and his humil- scomfiture at the hands of Father h s both indignant and de- izing with Adrterne and in the priest’s vigorous pugilistic ent. “Well,” she remarked, with one of her infeetious thril of laughter. “so far the French have the best of it, anyway! P Roussilion knocked the Governor's cheek nearly off. Trie then Rene cracked the corporal’s head, and now Father Beret has taught Captain Farnsworth a Jesson in fistieuffs that he'll not soon for- ~get! If the good work can only go on a little longer we shall see every English soldier in Vincennes wearing the mark of a Frenchman’s blow.” Then her mood denly changed from smiling lightness most fierce gravity. and she added: drienne Bourcier, if Captain Farns- ffers to treat me as he did words, T'll kil him—kill You ought to see mark my indeed I, will! “But he Adrienne. won't dare looking at touch vou.” said her friend with round. admiring eves. “He knows very well that you are not little and timid Mke me. He'd be afraid of you.” “T wish he would try it. How I would love to shoot him into pieces, the hateful wretch! 1 wish he would.” The French inhabitants all, or nearly ell, feit as Alice 'did: but at present they were helpless and dared not say or do anvthing against the English. Nor was this feeling confined to the creoles of Vin- cennes; it had spread to most of the points where trading posts existed. Ham- fiton found this out ton late to mend some of his mistakes: but he set himself on the alert and organized scouting bodies of Indians under white officers to keep him informed as to the American move- ments in Kentucky and along the Ohio. One of thése bands brought in as captive Colonel Francis Vigo of St. Louis, a Fpaniard by birth, an American by adop- tion, a patriot to the core, who had large infiuence over both Indians and creoles in_the Tilinols country. Colonel Vigo was not long held a pris- oner. Hamilton dafed not exasperate the creoles beyond their endurance, for he knew that the savages would closely sym- pathize with thelr friends of long stand- ing, and this might lead to revolt and coalition against him—a very dangerous possibility. Indeed, at least one of the great Indlan chieftains had already frankly informed him that he and his tribe were loyal to the Americans. Here was a dilemma requiring consummate di- plomacy. Hamilton saw it, but he was not of a diplomatic temper or character. With the Indians he used a demoralizing system of bribery., while toward the whites he was too often gruff, imperious, repellant. Helm understood ‘the whole situation and was quick to take advan- tage of it. His personal relations with Hamflton were easy and familiar, so that tate to give advice upon he @id not h 2 fons. Here his jovial disposition m. better let Vigo return to St he said. They had a bowl of ething hot steaming between them. “J know him. He’s harmless if you don't rub him too hard the wrong way. He'll go back. if you treat him well, and tell Clak how strong you are here and how foc d be to think of attacking has but a handful of men supplied and tired with long. hard 1f you'll think a moment you ] to understand that you'd bet- friends with this man Vigo. He Gibgult and thie old priest here, Beret, carty these Frenchmen in their pockets. I'm not on your side. un- ders d: I'm an American, and I'd blow the whole of you to kingdom come in a minute if T could: but common sense is common sense all the same. There's no g00d to you and me harm to Clark in mistreating, or even holding the prisoner. What harm can he do you by going back to Clark and telling him the whole truth? Clark knew everything long before Vigo reached here, Old Jazon, my best scout, Jeft here the day you took poswession, and you may bet he got to Kaskaskia in short order. He never fails. But he'll tell Clark to stay where he is, and Vigo can do no more.* What effect Helm's bold and apparent- talk had upon Hamilton’s mind orded; but the meager histori- facts at command show that Vigo you poorly marches. cannot ter be and Father cal was released and permitted to return un- der promise that he would give no infor- mation to the enemy on his way to Kas- kaskis. Doubtless this bit of careless diplomacy on the Governor's part did have a some- what soothing effect upon a large class of Frenchmen at Vincennes; but Farns- worth quickly neutralized it to a serious extent by a foolish act while slightly un- der the influence of liquor. g He met Father Beret near the Roussil- lon place, and feeling his ribs squirm at sight of the priest, he accosted him in- solently, demanding information as to the whereabouts of the missing flag. A priest may be*good and true—Father Beret certainl yet have the strongest characteristics of a worldly man. This thing of being bullied day after day, as had recently been the ruie, generated nothing to aid in removing a refractory desire from the priest’s heart —the worldly desire to repeat with great increment of force the punch against Farnsworth’s lower ribs. “I order_you, sir, to produce that rebel flag,” said Farnsworth. “You will obey forthwith or take the consequences. 1 am no longer in the humor to be trified with. Do you understand?” 4 “I might be forced to obey you, if I could,” sald the priest, drawing his robe about him: “but, as I have often told you, my son, 1 do not know where the flag is or who took it. I do not even sus- pect any person of taking it, All that I know about it is the simple fact tfat it is_gone.” Father Beret's manner and voice were very mild. but there must havée~been a hint of sturdy defiance somewhere in them. At all events, Farnsworth was ex- asperated and fell into a white rage. Perhaps it was the liquor he had been drinking that made him suddenly des- perate. ““You canting old fool!” he cried! “don’t won't have it. ; at me. Get “What is impossible. my son, is possi- ble to God alone. " Apud homines hoc im- apud Deum autem omnia None of vour Jesuit Latin or logic to T am not here to argue. but to com- mand. Get that flag. Be in a hurry about D it, sir.” He whipped out his sword, and in his half drunken eyves there gathered the dull film of murderous passion. “Put up your weapon, captain; you will not attack an, unarmed priest. You are a soldier, and ‘will not dare strike an old, defenseless man. “But 1 will stfike a black-robed black-hearted French rebel. Get flag, you grinning fool!” The two men stood facing each other. and that Father Beret's eyes did not stir from their direct, fearless gaze. What Farns- worth had called a grin was a peculiar smile, not of merriment, a grayish flicker and a slight backward wrinkiing of the cheeks. The old man's arms were loose- ly crossed upon his sturdy breast. “Strike if you must,”” he said very gent- ly, very firmly. “I never yet have seen the man that could make me afraid.” His speech was slightly sing-song in tone, as it_would have been during a prayer or a blessing. “Get the flag then!” raged Farnsworth, in whose veins the heat of liquor was aijded by an unreasoning choler. cannot,” said Father Beret. Then take the consequences!” Farnsworth lifted his sword, not to thrust, but to strike with its flat side; and down it flashed with a naisy whack. Father Beret flung out an_arm and deftly turned the blow aside. It was done so easily that Farnsworth sprang back glar- ing and surprised. “You old fool!” he cried, weapon for a direct lunge. hypocrite!” vas then that Father Beret turned pale and swiftly crossed himself. His face looked as if he saw something startling just beyond his adversary. Pos- sibly this sudden change of expression caused Farnsworth to hesitate for a mere point of time. Then there was the swish of a woman’s skirt; a light step pattered on the frozen ground, and Alice sprang between the men, facing Farnsworth. As she did this something small and yellow —the locket at her throat—fell and rolled under her feet. Nobody saw it. In her hand she held an immense horse pistol, which she leveled in the captain’s faee, its flaring, bugle shaped muzzle gap- ing not a yard from his nose. The heavy tube was as steady as if in a vise. “Drop that sword!” That was all she said; but her finger was pressing the trigger and the flint in the backward slanting hammer was ready to click against the steel. The leaden slugs were on the point of leaping forth. “Drop that sword!™ The repetition seemed to close the op- portunity for delay. Farnsworth was on his guard twinkling. leveling his “You devilish in a He set his jaw and uttered an ugly oath; then quick as lightning he* struck sidewise at the pistol with his blade. It was a move which might have taken a less alert person than Alice un- awares: but her training in sword play was ready in her wrist and hand. An involuntary turn, the slightest imagina- ble, set the heavy barrel of her weapon strongly against the blow, partly stop- ping it, and then the gaping muzzle spat its load of balls and slugs with a bellow that awoke the drowsy old village. Farnsworth staggered backward, letting fall his sword. There was a rent in the clothing of his left shoulder. He reeled; .the blood soun out; but he did not fall, although he grew white. Alice stood gazing at him with a look on her face he would never forget. It was a look that changed by wonderful swift gradations from terrible ~hate to something like sweet pity. The instant she saw him hurt and bleeding, his coun- tenance relaxing and pale, her heart fatled her. She took a step towdrd him, her hand opened, and with a thud the heavy old pistol fell upon the ground beside her. Father Beret sprang nimbly to sustain Farnsworth, snatching up the pistol as he passed around Alice. “You are hurt, my son,” he gently said; “let me help you.” He passed his arm firmly under that of Farnsworth, seeing that the captain was unsteady on his feet. “Lean upon me. Come with me, Alice, my child, and I will take him into the house."” Alice picked up the captain's sword and led the way. It was all done go quickly that Farns- worth, in his half dazed condition, scarce- ly realized what was going on untih he found himse!f on a couch in the “Rous- sillon home, his wound (a jagged furrow plowed out by slugs that the sword's Jblade had first intercepted) neatly dressed and bandaged, while Alice and the priest hovered over him busy with their careful ministrations. Hamilton and Helm were, as usual, playing cards at the former’s quarters when a guard announced that Mademoi- selle wished an audience with the Gover- nor. " “Bring the girl in,” Hamilton sald, throwing down his cards and scowling darkly. “Now you'd better be wise as a ser- pent and gentle as a dove,” remarked Helm. *““There is something up, and that gunshot we heard a while ago may have a good deal to do with it. At any rate, youw'll find kindness your best card to play with Alice Roussillon just at the present stage of the game.” Of course. they knew nothing of what /4 ¥ i '/// naa nappened to Farnsworth; but they had been discussing the strained relations between the garrison and the French in- habitants when the roar of Alice's big mouthed pistol startled them. Helm was slyly beating about to try to make Ham- ilton lose sight of the danger from Clark's direction. To do this he artfully magni- fied the insidious work that might be done by the French and their Indian friends should they he driven to despera- tion by oppressive or exasperating action on the part of the English. Hamilton felt the dangerous uncertainty upon which the situation rested; but, like many another vigorously seif-reliant man, he could not subgrdinate his passions to the dictates of policy. When Alice was conducted into his presence he instantly swelled with anger. It was her father who had struck him and escaped; it was she who had carried off the rebel flag at the moment of victory. “Well, miss, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?”’ he demanded with a super- cilious air, bending a card between his thumb and finger on the rude table. She stood before him tall and straight, well bundled in furs. She was not pale; her blood was too rich and brilliant for that, but despite a half smile and the inextinguishable dimples, there was a touch of something/appealingly pathetic in the lines of her ‘mouth. She did not waver or hesitate, however, but spoke promptly and distinctly, “I have come, monsieur, to tell you that T have hurt Captaln Farnsworth. He Y! about to kill Father Beret, and I shot him. He is in our house and well cared for. 1 don(t think his wound is bad. And—" here she hesitated at last and let her gaze fall—'‘'so here™I am.” Then she lifted her eyes again and made an inimitable French gesture with her shoulders and arms. ‘“You will do as you please, monsieur;.I am at your mercy.” Helm was astounded. Helm sat star- ing phlegmatically. Meantime Beverley entered the room and stopped hat in hand behind Alice. He was flushed and evidently excited; in fact, he had heard of the trouble with Farnsworth, and see- ing Alice enter the door of Hamlilton's quarters he followed her in, his heart stirred by no slight emotion. He met the Governor’'s glare and parried it with one of equal haughtiness. The veins on his forehead swelled and turned dark. f, was in a mood to do whatéver des; te act _should suggest itself. % ‘When Hamilton fairly comprehended the message so graphically Erennted by Alice, he rose from his seat by the fire. “What's this you tell me?” ‘he b]urrzed. “You say you've shot Captain Farns- worth?” “‘Oul, monsieur.” He stared a moment, then his features beamed with hate. e “And I'll have you shot for it, miss, as sure as you stand there in your silly impudence ogling me so brazenly!” He leaned toward her as he spoke and sent with the words a shock of .coarse, passionate energy from which she re- coiled as if expecting a blow to follow it. An_f{rresistible impulse swept Beverley to Alice's side, and his attitude was that of a protector. Helm sprang up. A lieutenant came in and respectfully, THE SUNDAY CALL. . but with evident overhaste, reported that Captain Farnsworth had en shot and was at the Roussillon place in care of the surgeon. “Take this girl into custody. . Confine her and put a strong guard over her.” In giving the order Hamilton jerked his thumb contemptuously toward Alice, and at' the same time gave Beverley a look of supreme defiance and hatred. When Helm began to speak he turned -fiercely upon him and stopped him with: “None of your advice, sir. I have had all I want of it. Keep your place, or I'll make you.” Then to Beverley: “Retire, sir. When I wish to see yvou T'll send for you. At present you are not needed here.” - The English lieutenant saluted his com- mander, bowed respectfully to Alice and sal “Come with me, miss, please.” Helm and Beverley exchanged a look of heipless and inquiring rage. It was as if they had sald: ‘“What can we do? Must we bear it?’ Certainly they could do nothing. Any interference on their part would be sure to increase Alice's danger, and at the same time add to the weight of their own humillation. Alice silently followed the officer out of the room. She did not even glance toward Beverley, who moved as if to in- terfere and was promptly motioned back by the guard. His better judgment re- turning held him from a rash and futile act. until Hamilton" spoke again, saying loudly as Alice passed through the door. “T'll see who's master of this town if I have to shoot every French hoyden in it!" “Women and children may well fear you, Colonel Hamilton,” sald Beverley. “That young lady is your superior.” “You say that to me, sir!"” “it is the best I could possibly say of ou.” “T will send you along with the wench if you do not guard your language., A prisoner on parole has no license to be a blackguard.” “I return you my parole, longer regard it as binding, ley, by a r; T shall no said Bever- great effort holding back a plains of Illinois to Kaskaskia. It was a desperate undertaking; but in those days desperate undertakings were rather the rule than the exception. Moreover, . love was the leader and Bev- erley the blind follower. Nothing could daunt him or turn him back until he found an army to lead against Hamilton. It seems but a romantic burst of indig- nation, as we look back at it, hopelessly foolish, with no possible end but death in the wilderness. Still there was a method in love's madness, and Beverley, with his superb physique, his knowledge of the wilderness and his indomitable self-re- liance. was by no means without his fight- Mg chance for success. CHAPTER XIIL MANON LESCAUT, AND A RAPIER THRUST. Beverley's absence was not noticed by Hamilton until late on the following day, and even then he seouted Helm's sugges- tion that the young man was possibly carrying out his threat to disregard his parole. “He would be quite justified in doing ; you know that very well,”” said Helm with a laugh, *“‘and he's just the man to undertake what is impossible. Of course, however, he'll get scalped for his trouble, and that will cost you something, I am happy to say.” “It's a matter of small importance, Hamilton replied; *“but I'll wager you the next toddy that he's not at the present moment a half mile from this spot. He may be a fool, T readily grant that he is, but even a fool is not going to set out alone in this kind of weather to go to where your rebel friends are probably toasting their shins by a fire of green logs and half starving over yonder on the Mississippi.” “Joking aside, you are doubtless right. Beverley is hot-headed. and if he could he'd get even with you devilish quicl but he hasn’t left Vincennes, I think. Miss Roussillon would keep him herg if the place were on fire!” Hamilton laughed dryly. He had thought just. what Helm was sayins. i LELS mavE NO FURIHER WORDS. GO AND GET THE FIAG MADEMOSIFLIE!’ blow. “I will not keep faith with a scoun- drel who does not know how to be decent in the presence of a young girl. You had better have me arrested and confined. 1 will escape at the first opportunity and bring a force here to reckon with you for your viliainy. And if you dare hurt Alice Roussillon 1 will have you hanged like a_dog!"” Hamilton looked at him scornfully, smiling a8 one who feels safe in his au- thority and means to have his own way with hig victim. Naturally he regarded Beverley’s words as the merest vaporings of a helpless and exasperated young man. He saw very clearly that love was hav- ing a hand in the affair, and he chuckled inwardly, thinking what a f Beverley s “I thought I ordered you to leave this room,” he sald with an air and tone of lofty 'superiority, “ang I certainly mean to be obeyed. Go, sir, and if you attempt to escape, or in any way Jaeak your pa- role, I'll have you shot.” “I have already broken fit. moment I shall not regard it. heard my statement. I shall not repeat it. Govern yourself accordingly.” ‘Wjith these words Beverley turned and strode out of the house, quite beside him« self, his whole frame quivering. ~ Hamilton laughed derisively, then look- ed at Helm and said: - “Helm, I like you; I don't wish to be unkind to you; but positively you must quit breaking upon my affairs with your ready-made advice. I've given you and Lieutenant Beverley too much lati- tude, perhaps. If that young fool don't look sharp he'll get himself into a beastly lot of trouble. You'd better give him a talk. He's in a way to need it just now.” “T think so self,” said Helm, glad to get back upon Tair footing with the fras- cible Governor. “I'll wait until he cools off sometwhat and then I can manage him. Leave him to me.” “Well, come walk” with me to see what has really happened to Farnsworth. He's probably not much hurt and deserves what he's got. That girl has turned his head. I think I understand the whole af- fair. A little love, a little avine, some foolishness, and the wench shot him.” Helm genlally assented; but they were delayed for some time by an officer who came in to. consult with Hamilton on some pressing_Indian affairs. When they reached the Roussillon place they met Beverley coming out; but he did not look at them. He was scarcely aware of them. A Jittle way outside the gate, on going in,” he had picked up Alice’s locket and broken chain, which he mechanically put into his pocket. It was all like a dream to him, and yet he had a clear purpose. He was going away from Vincenneg, or at least he would try, and woe_be to Hamilton on his coming back. It was 80 easy for an excited mind to plan great things and to expect success under ap- parently impossible conditions. Beverley gave Jean a note for Alice; it was this that took him to the Roussillon plade. And no sooner fell the night than he shouldered a gun furnished him by Ma- dame Godere, jand guided by the wood- man's fine craft stole nw% %outhwnd, thinking to swim the icy abash some miles below, and then strike across the Erom_this You have Beverley's attentions to Alice had not escaped Ris notice. “‘Speaking of that girl,” he remarked after a moment'’s silence, “what am I to do with her? There's no place to keep her, and Farnsworth insists that she wasn't to blame.”” He chuckled again and added: “It's true as gospel. He's in love with her, too. Seems to be glad she shot him. Says he's ashamed of himself for ever suspecting her of anythi but being a genuine angel. Why, he’s got as flabb; as a rabbit and mumbles like a fos “Same as you or I at his age, Helm, taking a chew of tobacco. is a-pretty thing. Beverley don't know his foot from his shoulder-blade when she’s anywhere near him. Boys are boys. I'm a sort of a boy myself.” “If she'd give up that flag I'd let her go,” said Hamliiton. + ““I hate like the devil to confine her; it looks brutal and makes me feel like a tyrant.” “‘Have you ever happened to notice the obvious fact, Governor Hamilton, that Alice Roussillon®* and Father Beret are not all the French in Vincennes?” Vhat do you mean?” “I mean that I don’t for a moment be- lieve that either the girl or the priest “knows a thing about where that flag is. They are both as truthful and honorable as people ever get to be. I know them. Somebody else got that flag from under the priest’s floor. You may depend upon that. If Miss Roussillon knew where it is she'd say so, and then dare you to make her tell where it's hidden. “Oh, the whole devilish town is_petten with treason; that's very clear. There's not a loyal soul in it outside of my. forces.” “Thank you for not intluding me among the loyalists.” /. ““Humph, I spoke of these French peo- ple; they pretend to be true, but I believe they are all traitors.” “You can manage them if you try. A little jolly kindness goes a long way with ‘em. had no trouble while I held the town.” Hamilton bit his fip and was silent. Helm was exasperatingly good tempered and his jocularity was irresistible. While he was vet speaking a guard came ug followed by Jean, the hunchback, and, saluting, saild to Hamilton: l“’l'he lad wants to see the young lady, sir,” Hamilton gazed quizzically at Jean, who_ planted himself in his habitual at- titude before him and stared up in his face with the grotesque expression which seems to be characteristic of hunchbacks and unfledged birds—the look of an em- bodled and hideous joke. “Well, sir; what will you have?” the Governor demanded. HE w:nt! to_see Alice, If you pleat “T want to give her a book to read. . Where s 1t? see it.” Jean took from the breast of his loose jerkin a small volume, dog-eared and mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton. Meantime he stood first on one foot. then the other, gnawing his thumb nail and blinking rapidly. “Well, Helm; just look here!” “What?" 2 ’ * ‘Manon Lescaut.”™ “And what's that?” “Haven't you ever read {t?"” “Read what?” “This novel—‘Manon Lescaut."” “Never read a novel in my life. Don't expect to.” Hamilton laughed freely at Helm's ex- pense, then turned to Jean and gave him back the book. It would have been quite military had he taken the precaution to examine be- tween the pages for something hidden there, but he did not. “Go, give It to her,” he said, “and tell her I send my compliments, with great admiration of her taste in literature.” He motioned the soldier to show Jean to Alice. “It's a beastly French story,” he added, addressing Helm; “immoral enough to make a pirate blush. That's the sort of girl Mademoiselle Roussil- lon is!” s “I don’t care what kind of a book she reads,” blurted Helm; “‘she’s a fine, pure, good ‘girl. Everybody likes her. She’s the (good angel of this miserable frog- hole of a town. You'd like her yourseif, if you'd straighten up and quit burning tow ‘in your brain all the time. You're always so furious about something that you never have a chance to be just to yourself or pleasant to anybedy else.” Hamilton turned fiercely on Helm, but a glimpse of the captain’s broad good humored face heartily smiling dispelled his anger. There was no ground upom which to maintain a quarrel with a per- son so persistently genial and so absurd- ly frank. And, in fact, Hamilton was not half so bad as his choleric mani- festations seemed to make him out. Be- sides, Helm knew just how far to go, “just when to stop. “If 1 had got furious at you every time there was overwhelming provocation for it,” Hamilton said, “‘you'd have been long since hanged or shot. I fancy that I have shown angelic forbearance. I've given you somewhat more than a prisomer's lom. “So you bave/ so you have.” assented Helm. “I've often been surprised at your generous partanty m my case. Lets have some hot water with something else in it, what do you say? I won't give you any more advice for five minutes by your watch.” “But I want some advice at once.” “What about?"” “That girl.” ““Turn her loose. That's easy and repu- table.” “I'll have to, I presume; but she ought to be punished.” 2 “If you'll think less about punishment, revenge and getting even with everybody and everything, you'll soon begin to pros- e, amilton winced, but smiled as quite sure of himself. Jean followed the soldler to a rickety log pen on the farther side of the stock- ade, where he found tlie prisoner rest- lessly moving about like a bird in a rustic cage. It had no comforts, that gloomy little room. There was ng fireplace, the roof leaked, and the only furniture con- sisted of a bench to sit on and a pile of skins for bed. Alice looked charmingly forlorn peeping out of the wraps in which she was bundled against the cold, her hair fluffed and rimpied in shining dis- order around her face. The guard let Jean in and closed the door, himseif staying outside. Alice was a!a,zlud to see the poor lad as if they had beem parted for a year. She hugged him and kissed his dr: tle face. “You dear, good Jean “you did not forget me. “I brought you something,” he whis- pered, producing the book, # Alice snatched it, logked at it, and then at Jean. what did you bring this for? “Why, you silly Jean! I didn't want this. I It's hateful. don’t like this book at all. I despise it. Take it back.” “There's something in it for you, a pa- per with writing on it; Lieutenant Bev- erley wrote it on there. It's shut up be- tween the leaves about the middle.” “Sh-s-sh! Not so loud; the guard will hear you,” Alice breathlessly whispered, her whole manner changing Instantly. She was trembling and the color had been whisked from her face, as the flame from a candle in a spdden draught. She found the note and read it a dozen times without a pause, her eyes leaping along the lines back and forth with pa- thetie’ eagerness and concentration. Pres- ently she sat down on the bench and covered her face with her hands. A trem- or first, then a convuisive sobbing, shook her collapsed form. Jean regarded her with adrolly sympathetic grimace, elevating his long chin and letting his head settle back between his shoulders. “Oh, Jean, Jean!" she cried at last, looking up -and reaching out her arms; “Q Jean, he is gone! He is gone!” Jean stepped closer to her while she sobbed again lke a little child. She pulled him to her and held him tightly against her bfeast while she once more read the nof through blinding tears. The words were few, but to her they bore the message of.desolation. and . A great, haunting, hollow veice in_her heart repeated them until they oed from vague distance to distance. one n lit- she murmured, _——— » It was written with a bit of lead on the half of a mildewed fly leaf torn from the_book: “Dear Alice: I am going away. When you read this, think of me as hurrying through the wilderness to reach our army and bring it here. Be brave, as you al- ways have been; be good, as you cannot help being; wait and watch for me; love me, as I love you. I will come. Do not doubt it; I will come, and I will crush Hamiiton and his command. Courage, Alice dear; courage, and wait for e. Faithfully ever, BEVERLEY. She kissed the paper with passionate fervor, pouring her tears upon it'in April showers betweem which the light of her eyes played almost flercely, so poignant was her sense of a despair which bor- dered upon desperation. “Gone, gone It was all she could think or say. “Goi gone!"” Jean took the offending novel back home with him, hidden undet his jerkin; but Beverley’s note lay upon Alice’'s heart, a sweet comfort and a crushing weight, when an hour later Hamilton sent for her and she was taken before him. Her face was stained with tears and she looked pitifully distressed and disheveled, yet despite ail this her beauty asserted itseif with subtle force. Hamilton felt ashamed looking at her, but put on sternness and spoke witho! apperent sympathy: Tiss Roussil you came near eom: mitting a great crime. As it is, you have done badly enough; but I wish not to be unreasonably severe. I hope you are sor- ry for your act and feel like doing better hereafter.” She was trembling, but her eyes looked steadily straight into his. They were eyes of baby innoncence. yet they irradiated #strong womanly spirit just touched with the old perverse, misehievous Hght which she could neither banish “nor contrel. ‘When she did not make reply, Hamilton continued: “You may go home now, and I shall expect tq have no more trouble on your account.” \He made a gesture indicative of dismis then, as she turned from b'm, he added, somewhat raising h’ e: “And further, Miss Roussillon, that flag you took from here must positively be returned. See that it is done.” She lifted her head high and walked away, not deigning to give him a word. Humph! what do You think now of your fine young lady?” he deman: turning to Helm with a sneering curl o his mouth. “She gives thanks copiously for a kindness, don’t you think?” “Poor girl, she was scared nearly out of her life,” said Helm. ‘“‘She got away from you like a wounded bird from & snare. I never saw a face more Ditiful than hers.” “Much_pity she needs, and greatly like a wounded bird she acts, I must zay; but good riddance if she’ll keep her place herself hereafter. I despise myself when I have to be hard with a woman, espe- cially a pretty one. That girl's’a saucy and fascinating minx and as dangerous as twenty men. I'll Keep a watch on her movements from this on, and if she gets into mischief again I'll transport her to Detroit or give her away to the Indians. She must stop her high-handed foolish- ness.” Helm saw that Hamilton was talkin, mere d, vox et praeterea nihil, a: he furthermore felt that his babbling sig- nified no harm to Alice; but Hamilton surprised him presently by saying: “I have just learned that Lieutenant Beverley is actually gone. Did you know of his departure?” “What are you saying, sir?” Helm jumped to his feet, not angry, but excited. “Keep cool; you need not answer If you prefer silence or evasion. You may want to go yourself soon.” Helm burst out laughing, but quickly growing serious, sald: ““Has Beveriey been such a driveling fool as that? Are you in earnest?” “He killed two of my scouts, wounded another, and crossed the Wabash in their canoe. He is going straight toward Kas- kaskia.” “The idiot! Hurrah for him! If you catch your hare (!,.';“ may roast him, but catch bim first, vernor!™ *“You'll joke out of the other corner of your mouth, Captain Helm, if I find out that you gave him aid or countenance in breaking his parole.” “Aid or countenance! I never saw him after he walked out of this room. You gave him a devil of a sight more aid and countenance than I did. What are you talking about! Broke his parole! He did no such thing. He returned it to your fairly, as you well know. He told you he was going.” “Well, I've sent twenty of my swiftest Indians after him to bring Pim back. T'll let you see him shot. That ought to please vou.” . “They’ll never get him. 'Governor. Tl bet high on him against your twenty scalp-lifters any day. Fitzhugh Beverley is the best Indlan fighter, Daniel B and Simon Kenton excepted, in the Amep- fcan colonies.” On her way home Alice met Father Reret. who turned and walked beside her. He was so overjoyed at her release that he could scarcely speak, but held her hand and stroked it gently while she told