The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-14

| plate of squirrels. He was sitting on
| the doorsiil of Father Beret's hut,
when the old man reached it after his
/ visit at the Roussillon home. and held
/ In his hand a letter which he appeared
( proud to deliver.
"A batteau and seven men. with a
cargo OF liquor, came during the rain. .
he said. rising and taking off his Curl
Gus cap. which. made OF an animals
skin, had a tail jauntily dangling from
its crown-tip; and here is letter for
you, father. The batteau is from New
Orleans. Eight men started with H.;
but one went ashore to hunt and was
killed by an Indian"
Father Beret took the letter without
apparent interest and said:
Thank you. my son, sit down again;
the doOr-log is not wetter than the
stools inside: 1 will sit by you"
The wind had driven a flood of rain
into the cabin through the open door
and water twinkled in puddles here
and there on the floors puncheons
They sat down side by side, Father
Beret lingering the letter in an alb
sent-minded way.
'There'll be a jolly time of 1t to-
night" Rene de ROnville remarked, "a
roaring time
Why do you say that. my SOM" the
priest demanded.
THE wine and the liquor" was the
reply; much drinking will be done.
The men have all been dry here for
some time, you know, and are as
thirsty as sand. They are making
ready to enjoy themselves down at the
river house."
'Ah, the poor souls," sighed Father
Beret, speaking as one whose thoughts
were wandering far away.
why don't you read your letter,
10
The priest started, turned the soiled
square of paper over in his hand, then
thrust it inside his robe.
1t can watt he said; then, chang
ing his voice: THE squirrels you gave
me were excellent, my son. 1t was
good for you to think of me-" he added,
laying his hand on Rene's arm.
''Oh. I'm glad if 1 have pleased you,
Father Beret, for you are so kind to
me always, and to everybody. When 1
killed the squirrels / said to myself
These are young, juicy and tender,
Father Beret must have these so
brought them along"
The young man rose to go; for he
was somehow impressed that Father
Beret must wish opportunity to read
his letter, and would prefer to be left
alone with it, But the priest pulled
him down again.
Stay while" he said, II have not
had a talk with you for some time"
Rene looked a trihe uneasy.
You will not drink any tonight, my
son." Father Beret added. You must
not; do you hear?"
The young mans eyes and mouth at
once began to have a sullen express
sion; evidently he was not pleased and
felt rebellious; but it was hard for
him to resist Father Beret whom he
loved, as did every soul in the post.
The priests voice was sweet and
gentle, yet positive to a degree. Rene
did not say a word.
Promise me that you will not taste
liquor this night" Father Beret went
on. grasping the young mans arm more
firmly; promise me, my son, promise
me-"
Still Rene was silent. The men did
not look at each other, but gazed away
across the country beyond the Wabash
TO where a glory from the western sun
famed on the upper rim of a great
cloud fragment creeping along the hori-
zon. Warm as the day had been. a
delicious eooiness now began to temper
the air: for the wind had shifted to
the northwest. A meadow lark sang
dreamingly in the wild grass of the
| low lands hard by over which two or
three prairie hawks lowered with wings
that beat rapidly
Eth bien. I must CO." said Rene
presently. getting to his feet nimbly
and eyading Father Berets hand.
which would have held him.
Not to the river house. my son.
said the priest. appeaIingly.
NO not there: / have another let
ter; one for NJ sieu' ROussillon: il came
by the boat. too. 1 go TO give il TO
Madame Roussillon.
Rene de Ronville was a dark,
weather-stained young fellow, neither
tail nor short, wearing buckskin moe
casins. trousers and tunic. His eyes
were dark brown, keen. quick-moving.
set well under heavy brows. A razor
had probably never touched his face.
and his thin, curly beard crinkled over
his strongly turned cheeks and chin,
\ while his moustaches sprang out quite
/ fiercely above his full Tipped. almost
sensual mouth. He looked wiry and
active. man not to be lightly reck-
oned with in trial of bodily strength
and will power.
Father Beret's face and voice
changed on the instant He laughed
| drrly and said. With a sly CLEAN in
| his eyes:
You could ~sodsld the evening pleas
antly with Madame Roussillon and
J Jean. Jean, you know. is very anus
/ ing fellow"
! Rene brought forth tne letter OF
| which he had spoken and held it VI
/ before Father BeFet's face.
Maybe YOU think I haven't any let
| tel for M'sieu' Roussillon, he blurted
and maybe you are quite certain that
] am not going to the house to take
! the letter."
Monsieur Roussillou is absent. you
/ know" Father Beret suggested. But
cherry pies are just as good while he's
gone as when he's at home. and haN-