Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-03
CHAPTER VII.
 

fs% triotism was of the best; but ~ he liked jolly company, a glass of something strong and large share of ease. Detroit lay many miles 'northeas4ward across the wilderness, and the English, he thought, would scaRcely come so far to attack his little post. especially now that most of the Indians in the intervening country had declaRed in favor of the Americans. Recently, too, the weather haC been faEoring him by changing from wet to dry so that the upper Wabash and it's tributaries were falling low and would Doon be very difficult to navigate with Large batfeaux.
 V0ry little was done to repair the sbockade and dilapidated remnant of bbocthouse. There were DO sufficient baEEacks, a mere shed in one angle serving for quarters, and the old can non could not have been used to any effect in case of attack. As for the garrison. it was a nominal quantity made up mostly of men who preferred hunting and fishing to the merest pre- Aense of military duty.
 GRspard Roussillon assumed to know everything about Indian affairs and the condition of the English at Detroit His optimistic eIoquence Iulled Helm to a very pleasant sense of security BeweTaey was not so easy to satisfy, but hzs suggestions regarding military discipline and a vigorous prosecution of repairs to the blockhouse and stock Rde were treated with dilatory geniali- ky by his superior officer. The soft wonder of a perfect Indian summer gIod6ed land, rtver and sky. Why not dream and bask? Why not drink ex- hEzEasdng toddies?
 Meantime the entertainment to be gfEen by Gaspard Roussillon occupied eEecybodSAs tnag agination to an unusual extaat Rene de Ronville, remember ing but not beeding the doubtful sue Hess hof his former attempt, went long beforehand to claim Alice as his pagtsna4ge, but she fatly refused him. once more reminding him of his obliga- Hous to little Adrienne Bourcier. He Wouhtnot be convinced
 Eon ane4bound te me-" he said. You promised before, you know, and the party.was but put off. I hold you to 1t. Mou are my partenaire and am yours; you can't deny that"
 ! Y No, you are not my partenaire,'' she firmly said, then added lightly, Ecu mon partenaire, you are dead and buried as my partner at that dance.7
 He glowered in silence for a few mo-
 Eents. then said:
 Ut is Lieutenant Beverley, I SUD- poser"
 She gave him a quick, contemptuous look, but turned it instantly into one pf her tantahzing smiles. Do you imagine that?" she demand kd
 Imagine it! I know it. he said wfth.a hot flush. Have I no sense?''
 Precious little" she replied with a merry laugh.
 a ''Yous think so.'
 # s4so to Gather Beret, tell him every fhtng, and then ask him what he thinks" she said in calm, even tone, per faee4g growing serious.
 ETheEe was an awkward silence. iShe had touched Rene's vulnerable spot. He was nothing if not a devout fCatholic, and his conscience rooted it. self in what good Father Beret had taught him.
 Father Beret was the humble, self efacing, never tiring agent of good in bis community. He preached in ten her g1ngsong voice the sweet mOnot- Dnies of his creed and the sublime truths of Christ's code. He was in- deed the spiritual father of his people No wonder Rene's scowling expression tchanged to one of abject self concern when the priests name was suddenly connected with his mood. The confes- Bional loomed up before the eyes of his eonscience and his knees smote togeth- er, spiritually if not physically. Now" said Alice brusquely, but with sweet and gentle firmness, go to your Hancee, go to pretty and good Adrienne, and ask her to be your partenaire. Refresh your conscience with a noble draft of duty and make that dear little girl overflow with joy. Go, Rene Re Ronvi1le."
 Rene felt his soul covering, even Biink1ng, but he fairly maintained a good. face, and went away without say ng another word.
 &"CAel. ciel, how beautiful she isr' he thought, as he walked along the mar eDw street in the dreamy sunshine eButsshe is not for me, not for me-
 EHe shook himself and tried to be Eheerful. In fact he hummed a creole Mtty. something about La belle Jean &Ee, Qu a prise mon coeur'
 Days passed. and at last the time of the great event arrived. 1t vas a frosty night, clear, sparkling with stars, 8 keen breath cutting down from the northwest. NJ. Rousstllon, Mme. RoussiIlon, Alice and Lieutenant Bever- ley went together to the river house, jTVhither they had been preceded by al most the entire population of Vim SCennes. Some fires had been built out .side, the crowd proving too great for ifhe buildings capacity, as there had to be ample space for the dancers. Merry groups lowered around the flaming logs, while within the house a fiddle sang it's simple and ravishtng tunes. Everybody talked and laughed; it was