Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-11-20

tlOn, with 1tS sly worldly WISDOM CROP
ping up through fervid religious senti-
ments and quaint humor. Alice must
have interested him more than he was
fully aware of, for his eyes followed
her, as she came and went, with curl
Gus criticism of her half savage cos
tune and her springy, dryad-like sup
pleness, which reminded him of the
shiest and gracefulest wild birds. and
yet touch of refinement, the subtlest
and best, showed in all her ways. He
wondered at her influence over Father
Beret whom she controlled apparently
without effort. But in due time he be
gan 20 feel deeper character, broad.
er intelligence, behind her superficial
sauvagerie, anL he found that she
really had no mean smattering of books
In the lighter vein.
A little thing happened which further
opened his eyes and increased the in
terest that her beauty and elementary
charm of style aroused in him gradu-
ally, apace with their advancing ac-
workmanship.
Father Beret had got well and re-
turned to his hut and his round of
spiritual duties, but Beverley came to
Roussillon place every day all the
same. For a wonder, Nine. RoussillOn
liked him and at most times held the
scolding side of her tongue when he
was present. Jean, too, made friendly
advances whenever opportunity afford
ed. Alice found in Beverley large tar
get for the missiles of her clever and
tantaliZing perversity. He in turn
practiced native dignity and an ac-
quired superiority of manner to excel
! lent effect. 1t was a meeting of Greek
with Greek in new Arcadia. To him
here was Diana, strong. strange, sim
pie, even crude almost to naturalness,
yet admirably pure in spirit and i'm
bued with highest womanly aspira-
tons. TO her Beverley represented the
great outside area of life. He came to
her from wonderland, beyond the wide
circle of houseless woods and prairies.
Now, there is an antagonism, vague
yet powerful, generated between ma
lures thus cast together from the OPP
posite poles of experience and educa-
ton, an antagonism practically equiva-
! lent to the most vigorous attraction.
The return to nature has always been
the dream of the conventionalized soul,
while the simple Arcadian is forever
longing for the maddening honey of
sophistication.
Innate jealouses strike together like
flint and steel, dashing off sparks by
which nearly everything that life can
warm it's core withal is kindled and
kept burning. What l envy in my
friend 1 store for my best use. l
thrust and parry, not to kill, but to
learn my adversary's superior feints
and guards And this hint of sword
play leads back to what so greatly sur
prised and puzzled Beverley one day
when he CHANGED to be examining the
pair of colechemardes on the wall.
He tore one down and, handling it
with the indescribable facility possible
to none save practical swordsman. re-
marked:
There's a world Of fascination in
these things. l like nothing better
than a bout at fencing. Does your IA
Their practice the art?"
II have no father, no mother" she
quickly said, but good Papa Rous-
sillon does like little exercise with
the colechemarde."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it. l shall
ask to teach him trick or two" Bev-
erley responded in the lightest mood.
"When will he return from the woods? p
Il can't tell you. He's very irregular
in such matters" she said. Then. with
smile half banter and half challenge,
she added, IF you are really dying for
some exercise you shall not have to
wait for him to come home, l assure
you, NJ. Beverley"
sob, it's NJ. de Ronville, perhaps,
that you will offer up as a victim to
my skill and address," he slyly return
ed, for he was suspecting that a love
affair in some stage of progress lay
between her and Rene.
She blushed, violently, but quickly
overcoming a combined rush of sur
prise and anger, added with an en-
phasis as charming as it was unex-
pected:
Il myself am, perhaps, swordsman
enough to satisfy the impudence and
vanity of NJ. Beverley, lieutenant in
the American army"
Pardon me, mademoiselle; forgive
me, | beg of YOU" he exclaimed, ear
nestly modulating his voice to sincerest
beseechment. Il really did not mean to
be impudent, nor
Her vivacity cleared with merry
laugh.
mo apologies, I command YOU she
interposcd. I'VE will have them after
| have taught you fencing lesson"
From a shelf she drew down a pair
of fois and, presenting the hilts. babe
him take his choice.
There isn't any difference between
them that l know Of" she said and
then added archly, but you will feel
better at last, when all is over and the
| sting of defeat tingleS through Won if