Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-10-23

priest ucllanupu.
"Thc 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 masking
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,
Father" Rene added
The priest started turned the soiled
square of paper over in his hand, then
thrust it inside his robe.
ut can wait" lie said. Then. chang
ing his voice: "The squirrels you gave
me We're excellent my son. 1t was
good of you to think of me" he added.
laying his hand on Renc's arn.
"Oh. I'm glad if | have pleased you,
Father Beret, for you are so kind 20
me always, and to everybody. When |
killed the squirrels | said to myself:
These are young. juicy and tender;
Father Beret must have these, SO I
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 awhile" he said Il have not
had a talk with you for some time
Rene looked trifle 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 rebellous, 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 word.
Promise me that you will not taste
liquor this night" Father Beret went
on. grasping the young mans arm
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 glory from the western sun
famed on the upper rim of Il great
cloud fragment creeping along the hori-
zon.
"Eh bien, | must GO said Rene pres
emily, getting to his feet nimbly and
evading Father Berets hand, which
would have held him.
Not to the river house, my SOM"
said the priest appealingly
NO, not there. have another letter;
one for VI seu' Roussillon. 1t came by
the boat too l go to give it to Nine
Roussillon"
Rene de l;Onville was dark, weather
stained young fellow neither tall nor
short wearing buckskin moccasins,
trousers and tunic. His eyes We're dark
brown. keen, quick moving. set well
under heavy brows. a razor had prob
ably never touched his face, and his
thin. curly beard crinkled over his
strongly turned checks and chin, while
his mustaches sprang out quite fiercely
above his full Tipped. almost sensual
mouth. He looked wiry and active. Il
man not to be lightly reckoncd with in
n trial of bodily strength and will
power.
Father Beret's face and voice chang
ed on the instant. He laughed dryly
and said, with Il sly CLEAN in his eyes
You could spend the evening pleas
antly with Nine. ROussillon and Jean
Jean, you know, is very amusing fell
low"
Rene brought forth the letter of
which he had spoken and held it up be-
fore Father Beret's face.
Maybe you think | haven't any let
ter for M'sieu' Roussllon," he blurted
land maybe you are quite certain that
] am not going to the house to take the
letter"
M. Roussillon is absent, you know"
Father Beret suggested. "But cherry
pies are just as good while he's gone
ms when he's Mt home, and | happen to
know that there are some particularly
delicious ones in the pantry of Nine.
ROussillOn. Mile. Alice gave me a
juicy sample. but then | dare say you
do not care to have your pie served by
her hand 1t would interfere with
your appetite. En- my SON.
Rene turned short about, wagglng
his head and laughing, and so with his
back to the priest he strobe away along
the wet path leading to the Roussillon
place.
Father Beret gazed after him, his
face relaxing to serious expression
in which Il trace Of sadness and gloom
spread like I'm elusive twilight. He
took out his letter, but did not glance
at it, simply holding ii tightly gripped
in his sinewy right hand. Then his
old eyes stared vacantly, as eyes do
when their sight is cast back many.
many years into the past. The mis-
sive was from beyond the sea-he
knew the handwriting-a watt of the
flowers of Avignon seemed to rise out
of it, as if by the pressure of his