Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-11-06

was Catholic. but straying one. and
he had promised the dying woman
who gave Alice to him that the child
should be left as she was. Protestant
without undue influence to change her
from the faith of her parents. This
promise D. had kept with stubborn per-
sistence. and he meant to keep it as
long as he lived.
a few weeks had passed after NJ.
Roussilons return when that big
hearted man took it into his head to
celebrate his successful trading ven
lures with a moonlight dance given
without reserve to all the inhabitants
of Nincennes. 1t was certainly dem
ocratic function that he contemplated.
and motley to a most picturesque ex-
tent.
Rene de Ronville called upon Alice
day or two previous to the occasion
and duly engaged her as his partenaire.
but she insisted upon having the en-
gagement guarded in her behalf by
condition so obviously fanciful that he
accepted Il without argument
'If my wandering knight should ar
stand aside and give place to him"
she stipulated. You promise that?
You see. I'm expecting him all the
time. | dreamed last night that he
came on n great bay horse and, stoop-
ing, whirled me up behind the saddle
and away we VENT
There was childish. half bantering
air in her look, but her voice sounded
earnest and serious, Notwithstanding
its delicious timbre of suppressed play
fulncss.
you promise me?" she insisted.
ooh, | promise to stink away into a
corner and chew my thumb the mo-
ment he comes" Rene eagerly assent
ed. "Of course I'm taking great risk.
l know, for lords and barons and
knights are very apt to appear sudden
ly in place like this"
You may banter and make light II
you want to- she said. pouting adj
mirably. Il don't care All the same,
the laugh will jump to the other corner
of your mouth; see if it doesn't. They
say that what person dreams about
and wishes for and waits for and be-
lieves in will come true sooner or
later"
"If that's So" said Rene, you and l
will get married, for I've dreamed it
every night of the year, wished for it,
waited for it and believed in it, and
a very pretty twist you give to my
words, | must declare" she said. but
not new by any means Little Adrienne
Bourcier could tell you that. She says
that you have vowed to her over and
over that you dream about her and
wish for her and wait for her, precisely
as you have just said to me-"
Rene's brown face flushed to the tenn
pies partly with anger, partly with the
shock of mingled surprise and fear.
He was guilty, and the guilt showed
in his eyes and paralyZed his tongue,
so that he sat there before Alice with
his under jaw sagging ludicrously.
Don't you rather think. NJ. Rene
de Ronville." she presently added in a
calm, advisory tone, that YOU had
better quit trying to say such foolish
things to me and just be my very good
friend: If you don't | do, which comes
to the same thing. What's more. |
won't be your partenaire at the dance
unless you promise me on your word
of honor that you will dance two
dances with Adrienne to every one
that you have with me. Do you prom
ise?"
He dared not oppose her outwardly,
although in his heart resistance
amounted to furious revolt and riot
81 promise anything you ask me to-"
he said resgnedly, almost sullenly.
"Anything for you"
"Well. | ask nothing whatever on
my own account" Alice quickly replied
but | do tell you firmly that you shall
not maltreat little Adrienne Bourcier
and remain friend of mine. She loves
you, Rene de Ronville and you have
told her that you love her. If you are
a man worthy of respect you will not
desert her. Don't you think l am
right?
Like singed and crippled moth vain
ly trying to rise once again to the al
Turing yet deadly flame, Rene de Ron
vile essayed to break out of his en-
barrassment and resume equal footing
with the girl so suddenly become his
commanding superior. but the effort
disclosed 10 him as we'll as to her that
he had fallen to rise no more. In his
abiect defeat he accepted the terms
dictated by Alice and was glad when
she adroitly changed her manner and
tone in going on to discuss the APP
preaching dance.
Nov, let me make one request of
you" he demanded after awhile. ITS
a small favor. May l ask it?"
Eyes, but don't grant it in advance"
81 want you to wear, for my sake. the
buff gown which they say was your
grandmother's."
mo, | won't wear it,"
"But why, Alice?"
"None of the other girls have anything
like such II dress. 1t would not be right
for me to put it on and make them all
feel that | had takqn thp ADVANTAGE of