Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-30

flower. we must be 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, fatherY
 "I've never seen it." he responded.
 Never seen it! WhyP'
 ttWeIl it's absolutely invisible" and he chuckled heartily, meantime glanc- ing shrewdly at M. Roussillon out of the tail of his eye.
 Its on the back of his shoulder, '" quickly spoke up M Roussiflon, '.and you know priests never use looking glasses. The mark is quite invisible therefore so far as Father Beret is con- cernedp' .
 ''You never told me of your birth mark before, my daughter" said Fa- ther Beret turning to Alice with sud- den interest. Tt may some day be good fortune to you"
 "Why SO, fatherT
 'Tf your family name is really Tarle- ton, as you suppose from the inscrip- tion on your locket, the birthmark, be 1 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. sI've read about just such things in them Wouldn't it be grand if should turn out to be some great parsonage in disguiseg'
 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 tioning it in voice that shuddered
 "Rest easy, Father Beret," said Alice. .That is one novel have found who'll ly distasteful to me. tried to read It, but could not do it. 1 flung 1t aside in utter disgust. You and Mother RoussiIlon are welcome to hide it deep as a well for all care. I don't enjoy reading about low, vile people and hopeless unfortunates. I 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 bears the shepherds voice. M. Roussillon was Catholic, but stray1ng 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 M. Roussillon's return when that big hearted man took 1t into his head to celebrate his successful trading ven lures with moonlight dance given without reserve to all the inhabitants of Vincennes It was certainly dem- ocratic function that he contemplated, and motley to a most picturesque ex- tent
 Rene de Ronville called upon Alice a. 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.
 sIf my wandering knight should ar rive during the dance, you promise to stand aside and give place to him. she stipulated You promise that? You see, Pm expecting him all the time. dreamed last night that he came on a great bay horse and, stoop- ing, whirled me up behind the saddle and away we went!"
 There was childish, half bantering air in her look, but her voice sounded its delicious timbre of suppressed play fulness
 You promise me?" she insisted.
 "Oh, I promise to slink away into corner and chew my thumb the mo- ment he comesy Rene eagerly assent ed. ''Of course I'm taking great risk, I know, for lords and barons and knights are very apt to appear sudden ly in a place like this"
 You may banter and make light if you want to-" she said, pouting ad- mirably. "I 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 a person dreams about and wishes for and waits for and be- Heves in will come true sooner or later"
 If that's so,' said Rene, you and I will get married, for I've dreamed it every night of the year, wished for it, waited for it and believed in it, and'-
 "A very pretty twist you give to my words, I must declare,'' she said, "but not new by any means. Little Adrienne Bourcier could tell you that. She says that you have vowed to her over and over that you dream about her and wish for her and wait for her, precisely as you have just said to me-
 Rene's brown face flushed to the tenn