Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-12-10

lAuFUIluS lOuOeS.
Meantime the entertainment to be
given by Gaspard Roussillon occupied
everybody's Imagination to an unusual
extent. Rene de Ronvillc remember
ing but not needing the doubtful sue
cess of his former attempt. went long
beforehand 10 claim Alice as his
purtenairr. hut she fatty refused him.
once more reminding him of his obliga-
tions to liQlc .Adrienne Rourcier. He
would not he convinced.
You arc bound to me- lie said. "You
promised before. YOU know. and the
party was but put of. hold you to it.
You are my partenaire and l am yours:
You can't deny that
NO. you arc not my partcnaire," she
firmly said, then added lightly. "Feu
mon paitenaire, you are dead and
buried as my partner at that dance"
He glowered in silence for Il few mo.
ments, then said:
"lt is Lieutenant Beverley, sup
pose:"
She gave him quick. contemptuous
look. but turned it instantly into one
Of her tantaliZing smiles.
DO you imagine thaty' she demand
ed.
Imagine it! know it, he said
with hot flush. Have no sense"
precious little," she replied with
merry laugh.
"You think So"
"Go to Father Beret, tell him every
thing, and then ask him what he
thinks" she said in calm, even tone,
her face growing serious.
There was an awkward silence.
She had touched Renes vulnerable
spot. He was nothing if not devout
Catholic, and his conscience rooted it.
self in what good Father Beret had
taught him.
Father Beret was the humble, self
effacing, never firing agent of good in
his community. He preached in ten
der singsong voice the sweet lnonot-
onies 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
changed to one of abject self concern
when the priests name was suddenly
connected with his mood. The confess
sional loomed up before the eyes of his
conscience and his knees smote togeth-
er. spiritually if not physically.
Now said Alice brusquely, but with
sweet and gentle f1rmness, go to your
fiancee. 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
de Ronville."
Rene felt his soul covering. even
Sinking. but he fairly maintained a
good face. and went away without say
ing another word.
"Ciel. ciel. how beautiful she ISIS he
thought. as he walked along the mar
row street in the dreamy sunshine
But she is not for me. not for me'
He shook himself and tried to be
cheerful. In fact he hummed creole
6tty, something about LA belle Jean
cite. gu a brise mon conur."
Days passed. and at last the time Of
the great event arr,
frosty night, clear. s..
stars, a keen breath cutting cow. 4....A
the northwest. NJ. Roussilion. j. lne.
Roussillon, Alice and Lieutenant Bevcr-
ley went together to the river house.
whittier they had been preceded by al.
most the entire population of Vim
cennes. Some fires had been built out
side, the crowd proving too great for
the buildings capacity, as there had to
be ample space for the dancers. Merry
groups lowered around the flaming
logs, while within the house fiddle
sang it's simple and ravishing tunes.
Everybody talked and laughed; it was
q lively racket of clashing voices and
rhyth1nical feet.
When the Roussillon party arrived it
attracted condensed attention. Its i'm
portance, naturally Of the greatest in
the assembled popular mind, was en-
hanced-as mathema ticfans would say.
to the nth poverty the gown of Alice.
It was Respondent indeed in the SIM
pie, unaccustomed eyes upon which it
xS06k1CN WALL u JUL Sl4hCA SAO.S. NIX
irons stared at 1t, maidcns gAzad with
fascinated and jealous vi-::o.,, ma.,
young and old let their eyes take full
liberty. 1t was as if a queen. arrayad
in a robe Of state. had entered that
dingy log edi:ce. III! ::piarition Of daz-
sling and aw-" irs'' I'll" beauty. The
dancers swung 1o;, ...'r and stopped in
confusion. But she. fortified by
woman's strongest bulwark. the sense
of resplendency, appeared quite uncon-
scious of herself.
Little Adrienne, hanging in blissful
delight upon Rene's strong arm, felt
the stir of excitement and wondered
what was the matter, being too short to
zee over the heads Of those around her.
''What is it? What Is it?' she cried,
ttptoeing and tugging at her compan-
IONS sleeve. Tell me, Rene; tell me. ]
say." a
Rene was gazing In dumb admiration
into which there swept powerful
aager. like q breath Of fame. He recol-
1eetsd how ASee nad refusdd Is wear
that dregs whsn - had asked her, and