Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-28

Rene de Ronville remarkeds "a roaring time"
 Why do you say that, my son?' the priest demanded.
 sSThe wine and the liquor," was the reply. Much. drinking will be done. The men have all been dry heEe for some time, you know, and are as thirsty as sand They are making ready to enjoy themselEes4dowrsat tha rivershonse."
 tsAa1. the tpoor soulsl' sighed Father Beretp epeaazanga whose thoughts were eaWandeEangsfar away.
 tsWhy don't you read your letter, FatfeERw Rene, added
 The4FRfest started, turned thersofled sqnawasof-paper overdnshis hard, then fflrunt 1t inside his robe.
 ssEExcan wa1E.'' he said. Then, chang ing hfs voice: '@The squirrels you gave me were excellent. my son. It was good ofsyousto 44hinltof me" " he added, layingshis hand on Rene.s arm.
 ''Oh. I'm glad if have pbeassed you, Father Beref, for you are so kind to masaaways, andsto everybody. When killed the squirrels T said to myself: These are young, juicy and tender; Father Beret must have these so brought them along
 The young man rose to go, for he was somehow impressed that Father Beret must wish opportunity to read his letter and would prefer to be left alone with it. But the priest pulled him down again.
 'sStay awhile he said, q have not had talk with you for some time.''
 Rene looked trfffe uneasy.
 You will not drink any tonight, my son, Father 'Beret added. .'You must not. Do you hear?"
 The young mans eyes and mouth at once began to have sullen expres- sion. EEiden44y he was not pleased and felt rebeihous, but it was hard for him to resist Father Beret, whom he loved, as did every soul in the post. The priests voice was sweet and gentle. yet positive to a degree. Rene did not say word.
 -sRromise me that you will not taste. Huuor this night,'' Father Beret went on, grasping the young mans arm firmly. @Promise me, my son; promise me-
 Still Rene was silent. The men did not look at each other, but gaZed away. across the country beyond the Wabash to where a glory from the western sun famed on the upper rim of great cloud fragment creeping along the hori- zon.
 "Eh bien, must go," said Rene pres ently, getting to his feet nimbly and evading Father Beret's hand, which would have held him.
 s.Not to the river house. my son ?' said the priest appealingly.
 ssNo, not there. I have another letter; one for M'sieu' Roussillon. It came by the boat too. I go to give it to Mime. Roussiilon,"
 Rene de Ronvi1le was dark, weather stained young fellow, neither tall nor short, wearing bucksazin moccasins, trousers and tunic. His eyes were dark brown, keen, quick moving, set we'll under heavy brOws. A razor had prob ably never touched his face, and his thin. curly beard crfnkled over his. strongly turned checks and chin, while his mustaches sprang out quite fiercely above his full tipped, almost sensual mouth. He looked wiry and active, man not to be lightly reckoned with in trial of bodily strength and will power.
 Father Berets face and voice chang ed on the instant. He laughed dryly and said. with sly gleam in his eyes:
 You could spend the evening pleas antly with Mime RoussfFlon and Jean. Jean,syou know, is a very amusing fel- low
 Rene brought forth the letter of which he had spoken and held it up be- fore Father Beret's face
 Maybe you think haven't any let ter for Nrsfeu' Roussi1lon," he biurted, land maybe you are quite certain that am not going to the house to take the Ietters'
 M- Roussilion is absent, you know, !" Father Beret suggested s'But cherry pies are just as good while he's gone as when he's at home, and I happen to know that there are some particularly delicious ones in the pantry of Mme RoussiHon. Mile Alice gave me a juicy sample, but then I dare say you do not care to have your pie served by her hand. It would interfere with your appetite. Eh, my son?''
 Rene turned short about, wagging his head and laughing, and so with his back to the priest he strode away along the wet path leading to the Roussillon place.
 Father Beret gazed after him, his face relaxing to serious expression in which trace of sadness and gloom spread like an elusive twilight He took out his letter, but did not glance at 1t, simply holding it tightly gripped in his sinewy right hand. Then his old eyes stared vacantIy, as eyes do when their sight Is cast back many, many years into the past. The mis- sive was from beyond the sea-he knew the handwriting wait of the flowers of Ay1gnon seemed to rise out of it, as if by the pressure of his grasp.
 A stoop shouldered, burly man went by, leading pair of goats, a kid fol- s.- | 1