The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-11
BY nAuRCs

4
Indian i'm this wilderness against you
| in a single day. You are indeed at
| my mercy. and | viii be merciful if you
! win satisfy my demand"
He was trembling with emotion while
he spoke, and the desire TO kill the man
! before him was making a frightful
| struggle with his priestly conscience;
| but conscience had the upper hand
| Hamilton stood gazing fixedly, pale as
! ghost, his thoughts becoming more
| and more clear and logical. He was IN
| a bad situation. Every word that
Father Beret had spoken was true, and
| went home with force. There was no
| time for parley or Subterfuge; the
sword looked as II. eager to find his
heart, il could not be held back another
/ moment, But the wan. cold face of the
| girl had more power than the rapier's
/ hungry point. 1t made an abject cow
ard of him,
Il am willing to give you my word"
| he presently said. And let me tell
not shoot at her. She was behind
YOU"
| Your word as British oficer?"
! Hamilton again stiffened and hest
tated, but only for the briefest space,
/ then said.
Yes, my word as British officer"
! Father Beret waved his hand with
| impatience
| GO, then. back to your place in the
! fort and disturb my people no more.
| The soul of this poor little girl viii
haunt you forever. >Go!'
Hamilton stood little While gazing
, at the face of Alice with the horrible
usefulness of remotse. What would
he not have given I'd rub his eyes and
| find ii all a dream?
He turned away; a cloud scudded
| across the moon; nd re and yonder in
the dim town cock$ crowed with
! lonesome, desultory effect.
Father Beret pluclled up the rapier
that he had wrencheti from HamiIton's
hand. 1t suggested something.
Hold" he called out, give me the
scabbard of this sword"
Hamilton. who. was striding vigorous
~ in the direction of the fort, turned
as the priest fastened 10 him.
Give me the scabbard of this rapier;
L want il. Take it Off"
The command was not gently voiced
A hoarse, half-whisper winged every
word with an imperious threat
Hamilton obeyed. His hands were
not firm; his fingers fumbled nervously:
but he hurried, and Father Beret soon
had the rapier sheathed and secured
at his belt beside its mate.
A. good and true priest is a burden
bearer. His motto is: Alter alterius
onera portate; bear We one anOther's
burdens. His soul is enriched with the
cast-of sorrows of those whom he re-
lieves. Father Beret scarcely felt the
weight of Alice's body when he lifted
it from the ground, so heavy was the
pressure of his grief, All that her death
meant, not only to him, but to every
person who knew her, came into his
heart as the place of refuge consecrated
for the indwelling of pain He lifted
her and bore her as far toward Rous-
sillou place as he could; but his
strength fell short just in front of the
little Bourcier cottage. and half dead
he staggered across the veranda to the
door. where he sank exhausted.
After a breathing spell he knocked
The household. fast asleep, did not
hear; but he persisted until the door
was opened 10 him and his burden.
Captain Farnsworth Enclosed his |
bloodshot eyes at about o'clock in the |
morning, quite confused as to his place /
and Surroundings. He looked about !
drowsily with a sheepish half-knowl- /
edge of having been very drunk. A
purring in his head and a dull ache !
reminded him of an abused stomach. !
He yawned and stretched himself, then |
sat up, running a hand through his |
tousled hair. Father Beret was on |
his knees before the cross. still as |
statue, his clasped hands extended up |
ward
Farnsworth's face lighted with rec |
ignition, and he smiled rather bitterly. |
He recalled everything and felt |
ashamed, Inundated, self-debased. He ]
had outraged even a priests hospitality !
with his british appetite. and he hated |
himself for it. Disgust nauseated his !
soul apace with the physical, sinking !
and Squirming that grew upon him.
m 2 e a
muttered. with petulant accent; why |
don't you kick me out, father?
The priest turned a collapsed and |
bloodIess gray face upon him, smiled I
in a tired, perfunctory way, crossed |
himself absently and said:
You have rested we'll, my son. Hard 4.
as the bed is, you have done it a COM |
pliment in the way of sleeping. You |
young soldiers understand how to get !
the most out of things"
You are too generous. father. and /
I can't appreciate il. l know what 1 !
deserve, and you know it, too. Tell me |
what a brute and fool 1 am; it Will do |
me good. Punch me solid jolt in the
ribs. like the one you gave me not long
age"
''Qui sine peccato est. primus Iapi- |
dem mittat." said the priest. Let him
who is without sin cast the first stone
He had gone TO the hearth and was
taking from the embers an earthen |
saucer. or shallow bowl, in which some !
fragrant broth simmered and steamed. !
"A man who has slept as long as |
you have, my son, usually has a some |
what delicate appetite. Now here is a
soup, not especially satisfying to the |
taste of Il gourmet like yourself, but
possessing the soothing quality that
is good for one just aroused from an
unusual nap. | offer it, my son, prop
ter stomachum tuum, ct frequentes
tuas infirmitates (on account of thy
stomach, and thine often infirmities).
This soup win go TO the right spot"
While speaking he brought the hot !
bowl 10 Farnsworth and set it on the |
bedcover before him, then fetched
big horn spoon.
The fragrance of pungent roots and !
herbs, blent with a savory watt of
buffalo meat, greeted the captains |
sense, and the anticipation itself /
cheered his aching throat. 1t made him
feel greedy and in a hurry The first |
spoonful a trifie bitter. was not so
pleasant at the beginning, but a mo-
ment after he swallowed il hot prick |
ling set in and seemed TO dart through /
him from extremity TO extremity
Slowly. as he ate, the taste grew
more agreeable, and ar the effects of /
his debauch disappeared. 1t was like
magic; his blood warmed and glowed. !
as if touched with mysterious fire.
What is this in this soup, Father
Beret, that makes il so searching and
refreshing" he demanded, when the
bowl was empty
Father Beret shook his head and