Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-14
and had never had one there or on any

and had never had one there or on any
other part Of his person.
"How stranger, Alice remarked. II,
too, have mark on my shoulder-a
pink spot, just like small, five petaled
flower. We must he of kin to each
other, Father Beret."
The priest laughed. ~
IF our marks are alike, that would
be some evidence of kinship," he said.
"But what shape is yours, father?''
ave never seen it," he responded.
''Never seen it! Why?"
"Well. it's absolutely invisible" and
he chuckled heartily. meantime glanc-
ing shrewdly at M. Roussillon out of
the tail of his eye.
tits on the back Of his shoulder"
quickly spoke up M. Roussillon, land
you know priests never use looking
glasses. The mark is quite invisible
therefore so far as Father Beret is con-
cernedv'
"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, father7'
IF your family name is really Tarle-
ton, as you suppose from the inscrip-
ton on your locket, the birthmark, be-
Ing of such singular shape, would prob
ably identify you. It is said that these
marks run regularly in families. With
the miniature and the distinguishing
birthmark you have enough to make a
strong case should you once find the
right Tarleton family"
"You talk as they write in novels, ~
said Alice. 1--WE read about just such
things in them. Wouldn't it be grand
If I should turn out to be some great
parsonage In disguise"'
The mention of novels reminded
Father Beret Of that terrible book
which he last saw in Alice's possession,
and he could not refrain from men,
t1oning it in voice that shuddered.
"Rest easy, Father Beret," said Alice.
THAT is one novel have found Who'll.
ly distasterul to me. tried to read it,
but could not do 1t. flung it aside
in utter disgust. You and Mother
Roussillon are welcome to hide it deep
as we'll for all care. I don't enjoy
reading about low, vile people and
hopeless unfortunates. l like sweet
and lovely heroines and strong, high
souled, brave heroes"
"Read about the blessed saints, then,
my daughter. You will find in them
the true heroes and heroines Of this
world" said Father Beret.
M. Roussillon changed the subject,
for he always somehow dreaded to
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 it hears
the shepherds voice. NJ. Roussillon
was Catholic, but a straying one, and
he had promised the dying woman
who gave Alice to him that the child
should be left as she was, Protestant,
without undue influence to change her
from the faith Of her parents. This
promise he had kept with stubborn per-
sistence, and he meant to keep it as
long as he lived.
A few weeks had passed after NJ.
Roussillon's> return when that big
hearted man took it into his head to
celebrate his successful trading ven
lures with moonlight dance given
without reserve to all the inhabitants
Of V1ncennes. 1t was certainly dem
ocratic function that he contemplated,
and motley to most picturesque ex-
tent.
Rene de Ronville called upon Alice a
day or two previous to the occasion
and duly engaged her as his partenaire,
but she insisted upon having the en-
gagement guarded in her behalf by a
condition so obviously fanciful that he
accepted it without argument.
rive during the dance, you promise to
stand aside and give place to him."
she stipulated. you promise that?
You see, I'm expecting him all the
time. 1 dreamed last night that he
came on a great bay horse and, stoop-
AAS, " LII 1Cu Auc up DcullIu tuc sduulS
and away we went"
There was childish, half bantering
air in her look, but her voice sounded
earnest and serious, Notwithstanding
its delicious timbre of suppressed play
fitness.
"You promise me?" she insisted.
ooh, promise to stink away into a
corner and chew my thumb the mo-
ment he comesv' Rene eagerly assent
ed. "Of course I'm taking a great risk,
I know, for lords and barons and
knights are very apt to appear sudden
" in place like this"
- ''You may banter and make light if
you want to-" she said, pouting ad-
nirably. II don't care. All the same,
the laugh will jump to the other corner
Of your mouth; see if it doesn't. They
say that what person dreams about
and wishes for and waits for and be-
lieves in will come true sooner or
LATER
''If that's so," said Rene, "you and l
will get married, for I've dreamed it
every night Of the year, wished for it,