Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-03

had been the most Hatterlng gift or ten der pardality, while at the same time he suspected that it was. alE-for Bever- ley.
 Helm in his most joviaI mood was circulating freely.
 It was late when fathers and mothers in the company began to suggest ad- journment. In the open lamps sus- pended here and there the oil was rum ming low, and th~ rag wicks sputtered and winked with their yellow flames.
 "Well,' said M. RoussiIlon, coming to where Alice and Beverley stood in- sulated and isolated by their great de light in each others company, fits time to go home"
 Beverley looked at his watch. 1t was 8 quarter to three!
 Alice also looked at the watch, and saw engraved and enameled on it's mas sive case the Beverley crest but she did not know what it meant There was something of the sort in the back of her loclxet, she remembered with sat isfaction.
 Just then there was peculiar stir in the fagging crowd. Some one had ar rived coureur de bois from the north. Where was the commandant? The coureur had something important for him.
 Beverley heard remark in a startled voice about the English getting ready for descent upon the Wabash valley This broke the charm which thralled him and sent through his nerves the bracing shock that only a soldier can feel when a hint of coming battle reaches him.
 Alice saw the flash in his face.
 "Where is Captain Helm? I must see him immediately. Excuse me- he said, abruptly turning away and look ing over the heads of the people. "Yon- der he is; I must go to him.
 The coureur de bois. Adolphe Dutrem- ble by name, was just from the head waters of the Wabash. He was speak ing to Helm when Beverley came up. M Roussillon followed close upon the lieutenant's heels, as eager as he to know what the messag ge amounted to; but Helm took the cOureur aside, mo- tioning Beverley to join them. M. Roussillon included himself in the con ference.
 After all it was but the gossip of savages that Dutremble communicate ed, still the purport was startling in the extreme. Governor Hamilton, so the story ran, had been organizing large force. He was probably now on his way to the portage of the Wabash with a flotilla of batteaux, some com panies of disciplined soldiers, artillery and strong body of Indians.
 Helm listened attentively to Dutrem ble's lively sketch, then cross ques- toned him with lacon1c directness.
 Send MT. Jazon to me- he said to M. Rouss1llon, as if speaking to a serv ant
 The master Frenchman went prompt ly. recognizing Captain Helms right to command, and sympathizing with his unpleasant military predicament if the news should prove true.
 OncIe Jazon came in a minute, his fiddle and bow clamped under his arm, to receive a verbal commission, which sent him with some scouts of his own choosing forthwith to the Wabash port age, or far enough to ascertain what the English commander was doing.
 After the conference Beverley made haste to join Alice, but he found that she had gone home.
 "A fix we'll be in if Hamilton comes down here with good force" said Helm. Beverley was young, en- ergetic, bellicose, and to him every thing seemed possible; he believed in vigilance, discipline activity, dash; he had 8 great faith in the efficacy of en- thusiasm.
 "We must organize these French men," he said. They will make good fighters if we can once get them to act as body. There's no time to be lost, but we have time enough in which to dO great ueaI OClOre da1nlItUn Can arrive, if we go at it in earnest'
 "Your theory is excellent, lieuten- ant, but the practice of it won't be worth much,'' Helm replied with per feet good nature. I'd like to see you organize these parlyvoos. There ain't a dozen of 'em that wouldn't accept the English with open arms. 1 know 'em. They're good hearted, polite and all that; they'll hurrah for the hag-that,s easy enough-but put 'em to the test and they'll join in with the strongest side; see if they don't. Of course there are a few exceptions. There's Jazon, he's all right, and I have faith in Bosseron, and Legrace and young Ronville."
 "RoussilIon'- Beverley began.
 'Is much of a blowhard," Helm inter. rupted, with a laugh "Barks loud, but his biting disposition is probably not vicious"
 'He and Father Beret control the whole population at all events," said Beverley.
 "Yes, and such a population"'
 While Joining in Captain Helms laugh at the expense of Vincennes Beverley took leave to indulge in 8 mental reservation in favor of Alice His heart was full of her. She had surprised his nature and filled it as with a wonderful, haunting song. And yet in his pride-and it was not a false pride. but rather a noble regard for his