The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-10-03

pouring the claret with one hand and
making pious gesture with the other.
THE dear old man loves you aud prays
for you. His voice quavers whenever
he speaks OF you"
DOUBTLESS he made his old joke 20
you about the birthmark on my shout
der" said Father Beret after mo
ment of apparently thoughtful silence.
''Ee may have said something about II
In playful way. chr
True, true; why. yes. he surely men
TONED the same" assented NJ. Rous-
sillon, his face assuming an expression
OF confused memory. 1T was some
thing SLY and humorous, ! mind. but Il
just escapes my recollection. \ right
jolly old boy IL Father Sebastian. In
deed very amusing AT times"
AT times. yes" said Father Bcret,
who had no birthmark on his shoulder
and had never had ono there or on any
other part OF his person.
How stranger Alice remarked. Il.
too, have a mark on my shoulder
pink spot. Just IKE small fivo petaled
flower. We muet be OF kin 10 each
other. Father Beret."
Ths priest laughed
''If our marks are alike, that would
be some evidence OF kinship," he said.
But what shape IL yours. fatherr'
1--WE never seen IT, be responded.
Never seen IT, Whyr'
well. it's absolutely invisible" and
he chuckied heartily. meantime glanc-
Ing shrewdly at NJ. Roussillon out OF
the tail OF his eye
TITS on the back OF his shoulder"
quickly spoke up ~ Roussillon. and
you know priests never use looking
glasses. The mark is quite invisible
therefore 40 far as Father Beret IL con
cernedw
You never told me of your birth
mark before, my daughter" said Fa-
Their Beret, turning to Alice with sud
den interest. 1T may some day be
good fortune to YOU
"Why so. fatherT
III your family name IL really Tarle.
ton. ns you suppose from the inscrip-
ton on your locket. the hirthmark. he
Ing OF such singular shape, would prob
ably identify you. II IL said that these
marks run regularly In families. With
the miniature and the distinguishing
birthmark you have enough 10 make Il
strong case should you once find the
right Tnrleton family"
You talk ns they write I'm novels"
said Alice. i've read about just such
things IN them Wouldn't II be grand
II should turn out to be some great
parsonage I'm dIsgusew
The mention OF novels reminded
Father Bcret OF that terrible book
which he last saw In Alice's possession.
and he could not refrain from men
tioning II IN voice that shuddcrcd.
'ReSt easy, Father Bcrct" said Alice
THAT Il one novel | have found who'll
but could not do Il. ! flung II aside
In utter disgust. You ana Mother
Roussillon are welcome 10 hide IL deep
ne n well for all care. don't enjoy
reading about low. vile people and
hopeless unfortunates. like sweet
and lovely heroines and strong. high
soulcd. brave heroes"
"I,cad about the blessed saints. then,
my daughter. You will find In them
the true heroes and heroines OF this
world said Father Beret
NJ. Rousslllon changed the subject.
for he always somehow dreaded 10
have the good priest fall into the strain
OF argument he was about TO begin. A
stray sheep, no matter how refractory,
feels touch Of longing when IL hears
the shepherds voice NJ Roussillon
was n Catholic. but straying one. and
he had promised the dying woman
who gave Alice TO him that the child
should bc left ms she was, a Protestant.
without undue influence 10 change her
from the faith OF her parents. This
promise he had kept with stubborn per
sistcncc. and he meant 10 keep II as
long as ne lived
4 few weeks had passed after NJ.
Roussillon's return when that biz
hearted man took II into his head to
celebrate his successful trading ven.
lures with moonlight dance given
without reserve To all the inhabitants
of Ninccnncs II was certainly dem
ocratic function that he contemplated.
and motley TO a most picturesque ex-
tent.
Rene 10 Ronville called upon Alice a
day or two previous 10 the occasion
and duly engaged her as his partennlre,
but she insisted upon having the On.
gngcment guarded in her behalf BIZ q
condition SO obviously fanclful that he
accepted II without argument
of my wandering knight should mr..
rive during the dance. you promise 10
stand aside and give place 10 him.
she stipulated "You promise thatg
You see. I'm expecting him an 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 went"
There was a childish, half bnntering
mir I'm her look, but her voice sounded
earnest and serious, Notwithstanding