Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-11-20


her thoughts went with her eyes to-
ward Rene and Alice. Nor was Bever-
ley so absorbed in his partners behalf
that he ever for moment willingly
lost sight of the floating buff gown, the
shining brown hair and the beautiful
face, which formed, indeed, the center
of attraction for all eyes.
1t was some time before Beverley
could again secure Alice for dance,
and he found it annoying him afro
ciously to see her smile sweetly on
some buckskin clad lout who looked
like an Indian and danced like Pari-
sian. He did not greatly enjoy most
of his partners; they could not appeal
to any side of his nature just then.
Not that he at all times stood too much
on his arstocratic traditions, or lacked
the virile traits common to vigorous
and worldly minded men, but the con-
trast between Alice and the other girls
present was somehow an absolute bar
to Il democratic freedom of the sort de-
manded by the occasion. He met
Father Beret and passed a few pleas
ant words with him.
"They have honored your flag, my
son, l am glad to see," the priest said,
pointing with Il smile to where, in one
corner, the banner that bore Alice's
name was effectively draped.
Beverley had not noticed it before,
and when he presently got possession
of Alice he asked her to tell him the
story of how she planted it on the fort,
although he had heard it to the last
detail from Father Beret just a mo-
ment ago. They stood together under
its folds while she naively sketched the
scene for him, even down to her pic
turesquely disagreeable interview with
Long Hair, mention of whom led up to
the story of the Indians race with the
stolen dame Jeanne of brandy under his
arm on that memorable night and the
subsequent services performed for him
by Father Beret and her after she and
Jean had found him in the mud beyond
the river.
The dancing went on at a furious pace
while they stood there. Now and again
a youth came to claim her, but she
said she was tired and begged to rest
awhile, smiling so graciously upon each
one that his rebuff thrilled him as if it
had been the most flattering gift of ten
der Partially. while at the same time
he suspected that it was all for Bever-
ley.
Helm in his most jovial mood was
circulating freely
1t was late when fathers and mothers
in the company began to suggest adj
journmcnt. In the open lamps sus-
pended here and there the oil was run
ming low, and the rag wicks sputtered
and winked with their yellow flames.
Well" said NJ. Roussillon, coming
to where Alice and Beverley stood in
sulated and isolated by their great de-
light in each others company, cts
time to go home"
Beverley looked at his watch. 1t was
q quarter to three!
Alice also looked at the watch, and
saw engraved and enameled on its mas
sive case the Beverley crest. but she
did not know what it meant. There
was something of the sort in the back
of her locket, she remembered with sat
isfaction.
Just then there was peculiar stir in
the tagging crowd. Some one had ar
rived, Il coureur de bois from the north.
Where was the commandment? The
coureur had something important for
him.
Beverley heard a remark in startled
voice about the English getting ready
for Il descent upon the Wabash valley.
This broke the charm which thralled
him and sent through his nerves the
bracing shock that only Il soldier can
feel when hint of coming battle
reaches him.
Alice saw the flash in his face.
"Where is Captain Helm? | must
see him Immediately. Excuse me-" he
said, abruptly turning away and look
ing over the heads of the people. "Ion-
der he is; | must 20 to him.
The coureur de bois. Adolphe Dutrem-
Bile by name, was just from the head
waters of the Wabash. He was speak
ing to Helm when Beverley came up.
NJ. Roussillon followed close upon the
lieutenant's heels, as eager as he to
know what the message amounted to;
but Helm took the courcur aside, mo-
tioning Beverley to join them. NJ.
Roussillon included himself in the con-
ference.
After all it was but the gossip of
savages that Dutremble communicate
ed, still the purport was startling in
the extreme. Governor Hamilton, so
the story ran, had been organizing a
large force. He was probably now on
his way to the portage of the Wabash
with fiotilla of batteauX, some COM
panies of disciplined soldiers, artillery
and strong body of Indians.
ITO be Contlnued.)