The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-06
80
AHeEEMef0L0B1 'VINGENNES
81 MAURICE

face was terrible to see, with its mar
row, burning eyes deep under the shaS- !
gy brows. its dark veins writing
snakelike on the temples and forehead,
the projected mouth and chin, the hard
lines of the jaws, the iron-gray gieam
from all the features-he looked Ike /
an aged tiger stiffened for q spring
Farnsworth was made of right sol
dierly stuff; but he felt a distinct shlFer
fit along his back. His past life had
not lacked thrilling adventures and
strangely varied experiences with ues-
perate mer Usually he met sudden
emergencies rather calmly. sometimes
with phIegmatic Indifference This pas
Sionate outburst on the priests part,
however, surprised him and awed MIN.
while il stirred his heart with "A pro-
found sympathy unlike anything he mad
ever felt before.
Father Beret mastered himself in
moment, and passing his hand over his
face. as if 10 brush away the excite
Rlent sat down on his stool He ap-
peared TO collapse inwardly-
You must excuse the weakness or
an old man, my son." he said, IN voice
hoarse and shaking. But tell me what
is going 10 be done with Alice. Your
words-what you said-I did not I'M
derstand"
He rubbed his forehead slowly, as one
who has difficulty in trying to collect
his thoughts.
II do not know what Governor Ham
iltOn means to do Father Beret. 1t
will be something devilish. however
something that must not happen" SAID
FaTnsworth.
Then he recounted all that Hamilton
had done and said. He described the
dreary and cOmfortless room in which
Alice was confined, the miserable fare
given her, and how she would be ex-
lou a..r-ly- of
the soldiers. She had already suffered
these things, and now that she could
| no longer have any protection, what
was 10 become of her? He did not al
tempt TO Overstate the case: but pre-
scented it with blunt sincerity which
made a powerfully realistic impression
Rather Beret, like most men of strong
| feeling who have been subjected to long
years of trial, hardship, multitudinous
| dangers and all sorts of temptation,
and who have learned the lessons of
! self-control, had an iron WILL and also
| an abiding distrust of weak men. He
| saw Farnsworth's sincerity; but he had
no faith in his constancy, although sat
| isfied that while resentment of Hamil-
! toms imperiousness lasted, he would
doubtless remain firm in his purpose to
| aid Alice. Let that wear off, as in a
| short time II would, and then what?
/ The old man studied his companion
with eyes that slowly resumed their ex-
| preston of smouldering and almost
/ timid geniality. His priestly experience
| with desperate men was demanding of
| him proper regard for that subtlety
| of procedure which had so often COM
passed most difficult ends
| He listened in silence to Farnsworth's
| story. When it came to an end he be-
| gan TO offer some but half relevant sug-
! gestions in the form of indirect cross
I questions, by means of which he grad
| ually drew cut a minute description of
Alice's prison, the best way to reach it.
the nature of its door-fastenings. where
| the key was kept. and everything in
! deed, likely TO be helpful to one, con-
| templating Jail delivery. Farnsworth
was inwardIy delighted. He felt Fa-
| Their Berets cunning approach TO the
central object and mis- crafty method
of gathering details.
The shades of evening thickened in
the stuffy cabin room while the CONVEX
| sation went on. Father Beret presently
| lifted a puncheon IN one corner of the
| floor and got out large bottle. which
bore a widowed and faded French la
bel, and with it a small iron cup. There
was just light enough left to show a
| brownish sparkle when. after popping
out the cork, he poured a draught in
the fresh cup and in his own.
I'VE may think more clearly, my son.
| If we taste this old liquor. I have kept
| il a long while TO offer upon a proper
occasion. The occasion is here
A ravishinS bouquet quickly imbued
the air. 1t was Itself an intoxication-
| The brothers of St. Martin distilled
this liquor" Father Beret added, hand
ing the cup to -Farnsworth, not for
| common social drinking. my son. but
for times when a man needs extraor-
! binary stimulation 1t is said to be
| surprisingly good, because St. Martin
blessed the vine.y
The doughty captain felt a sudden
and imperious thirst seize his throat.
The liquor flooded his veins before his
lips touched the cup. He had been alb
staining lately; now his besetting ap-
petite rushed upon him. At one gulp
he took in the fiery yet smooth and
captivating draught. Nor did he no
tice that Father Beret, instead Of join
ing him in the potation, merely lifted
| his cup and set il down again, smack
! ing his lips with gusto.
There followed a silence, during
which the aromatic breath of the bottle
increased its dangerous fascination
Then Father Beret again filled Farms
worth's cup and said:
.'Ah. the blessed monks, little thought
they that their matchless brew would
| ever be slipped in a poor missionary
hut on the Wabash, But, after all
my son, why not here as Well as IN
sunny France? Our object justifies any
improperly of time and place"
You are right, father. l drink Il
, your object Yes, say, to our object
In fact. the drinking preceded his
speech, and his tongue already had 3
loop in it. The liquor stole through
him, a mist of bewiIderinS and enchant-
ing influence. The third cup broke hi:
sentences into unintelligible fra gments
! the fourth made his under jaw sae
| loosely. the fifth and sixth. taken il
close succession, tumbled him limp OF
the floor, where he slept blissfulIy al
night long. snugly covered with some
of Father Beret's bed clothes.
Per casum obliquum, ct per indi.
rectum," muttered the priest, when h
had returned the bottle and cup L
their hiding place. The end justifie:
the means. Sleep well, my son. All
little Alice, little Alice, your old fathel
viii try--wilI tryi''
He fumbled along the wall in tn,
dark until he found the rapier, which
: ne took down; then he went out and
sat for some time mOtionless beside tn,
; door. while the clouds thiekened over
) head II was late when he arose an,
glided away shadow-like toward tn
fort, over which the night hung black
chill and drearily silent. The moon wa
, stiii some hours high, but smothere,
by the clouds; fog slowly driftet
D from the river.
1 Meantime Hamilton and Helm ha,
spent part of the afternoon and even