Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-13
| ALICE ef OLD l ! VINCENNES
 s By MAURICE THOMPSON s# Copyright the BowEN-MERRIL COMPANY
Copyright rsoO by the BowENmERRLL COMPANY
By MAURICE THOMPSON

ton for it. Hamilton said, you'd have been long since hanged or shot. fancy that I have shown angelic for bearance. I've given you somewhat more than a prisoners freedom"
 'sSo you have, so you have" assented Helm 'I've often been surprised at your generous partiality in my case. Let's have some hot water with some won't give you any more advice for five minutes by your watch"
 "But want some advice at once."
 'sWhat about?'
 '"That girl"
 '"Turn her loose. That's easy and reputable"
 sTll have to, I presume, but she ought to be punished"
 'If you'll think less about punish ment, revenge and getting even with everybody and everything you'll soon begin to prosper"
 Hamilton winced, but smiled as one quite sure of himself.
 Jean followed the soldier to rickety log pen on the farther side of the stockade, where he found the prisoner restlessly moving about like bird in rustic cage. It had no comforts that gloomy little room. There was no fire place. the roof leaked, and the only furniture consisted of a bench to sit on and a pile of skins for bed Alice looked charmingly forlorn peeping out of the wraps in which she was bundled against the cold her hair fuffed and ri1npled in shining disorder around her face.
 The guard let Jean in and closed the door, himself staying outside.
 Alice was as glad to see the poor lad as if they had been parted for a year. She hugged him and kissed his drawn little face. 1w Weswf
 ''You dear, good Jean!'' she mur- mured You did not forget me"
 !"I brought you something" he whis- pered, producing the book
 Alice snatched it, looked at it and then at Jean.
 "Why, what did you bring this for. you silly Jean? I didn't want this I don't like this book at all. It's hateful. I despise it. Take it back TX, s,Srs.
 There's something in it for you, a pdRCI WILL WI1llA8 OA1 Il Beverley wrote it on there. It's shut up between the leaves about the mid dle."
 "Sh-s-sh! Not so loud. The guard Il hear you," Alice breathlessly whispered, her whole manner changing instantly. She was trembling, and the color had been whisked from her face as the flame from candle in sudden draft.
 She found the note and read it a dozen times without 8 pause, her eyes leaping along the lines back and forth with pathetic eagerness and concentra- ton. Presently she sat down on the bench and covered her face with her hands. A tremor first, then a convuI- sive sobbing shook her collapsed form. Jean regarded her with drolly sym pathetic grimace, elevating his long chin and letting his head settle back between his shoulders.
 "Oh, Jean, Jeanv' she cried at last, looking up and reaching out her arms. "Oh, Jean, he is gone, gone, goney'
 Jean stepped closer to her while she sobbed again like little child
 She pulled him to her and held him uSHtly dSdluSt Her DredSI WullS SuS once more read the note through blind ing tears. The words were few, but to herlthey bore the message of desola- tion and despair. A great haunting, hollow voice in her heart repeated them until they echoed from vague dis tance to distance.
 It was written with a bit of lead on the half of mildewed fly leaf torn from the book:
 Dear AISce-I am going away. When you read this think of as hurrying through the wilderness to reach our army and bring it here Be brave, as you al- ways have been; be good, as you cannot help being; wait and watch for me; love me, as love you. I will come Do not doubt it, I will come, and I will crush Hamilton and his command. Courage, l Alice dear; courage and wait for me. Faithfully ever, BEVERLEY.
 She kissed the paper with passionate fervor, pouring her. tears upon it in April showers between which the light l |YY717F r < kN