Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-03

dingy log edifice. an apparition of dag zling and awe inspiring beauty. The dancers swung together and stopped in confusion. But she. fortified by wonan's strongest b'llwark, the sense of resplendency, appeared quite uncon- scious of herself.
 Little Adrienne, hanging in blissfuI delight upon Rene's strong arm, felt the stir of excitement and wondered what was the ma tier. being too short to see over the heads of those around her.
 What is it? What is it?' she cried, tiptoeing and tugging at her compan- ion's sleeve. '"Tell me, Rene; tell me, say"
 Rene was gazing in dumb admiration into which there swept a powerful anger, like breath of flame. He recoI- lected how Alice had refused to wear that dress when he had asked her. and now she had it on. Moreover, there she stood beside Lieutenant Beverley, hold ing his arm, looking up into his face, smiling, speaking to him.
 ''1 think you might tell me what has happened said Adrienne, pouting and still plucking at his arm. T can't see a thing, and you won't tell me-
 ''Oh, it's nothing" he presently an swered rather fretfuuy. Then he stopped, lowered his voice and added: "It's Mile. Roussillan all dressed up like a bride or something. Shes got on a buff silk dress tbat NJ. RoussillOn's mother had in France"
 NHow beautiful she must loolz!" cried the girl T wish could see her."
 Rene put a hand on each side of her slender waist and lifted her high, so that her pretty head rose above the crowding people. Alice chanced to turn her face that way just then and saw the unconventional performance. Her eyes met chose of Adrienne and she gave nod of smiling recognition. It was a rose beaming upon a gillyfower.
 M. RoussilOn naturally understood that all this stir and crowding to see was but another demonstration of his personal popularity. He bowed and waved, vast hand.
 But the master of ceremonies called loudly for the dancers to take their places. OnCle Jazon attacked his fiddle with startling energy. Those who were not to dance formed compact double line around the wall, the shorter ones tn'front, the taller in the rear.
 Alice and Beverley were soon in the whtFl of the dance, forgetful of every thing but an exhilaration stirred to it's utmost by Oncle Jazon's music. When their dance was ended they followed the others of their set out into the open air while a fresh stream of eager danC- CTS poured in. Beverley insisted upon wrapping Alice in her mantle of un- lined beaver skin against the searching winter breath. They did not go to the fire, but walked back and forth, chat ting until their turn to dance should come again, pausing frequently to ex- change pleasantFies with some of the people. Curiously enough both of them had forgotten the fact that other young men would be sure to ask Alice for a dance and that more than one pretty creole lass was rightfully expecting a giddy turn with the stalwart and hand some Lieutenant Beverley.
 Rene de Ronville before long broke rudeiy into their selfish dream and led Alice into the house. This reminded Beverley of his social duty; wherefore, seeing little Adrienne Bourcier he made a rush and secured her at a swoOp from the midst of a scrambling circle of mutually hindered young men.
 "Allons, ma petite!" he cried, quite in the gay tone of the occasion, and swung her lightly along with him.
 1t was like an eagle dancing with innet or a giant with a fairy, when the big lieutenant led out Ia petite Adrienne, as everybody called her. The appreciated on AQrlSune D hand, LUr ali her thoughts went with her eyes to- ward Rene and Alice. Nor was BeVer- ley so absorbed in his partners behalf that he ever for moment willingly lost sight of the floating buff gown, the shining brown hair and the beautiful face, which formed, indeed, the center of attraction for all eyes.
 It was some time before Beverley could again secure Alice for a dance and he found it annoying him atrO- ciously to see her smile sweetIy on some buckskin clad Tout who looked like an Indian and danced like a Pari- sian. He did not greatly enjoy most of his partners: they could not appeal to any side of his nature just then. Not that he at all times stood too much on his aristocratic traditions, or lacked the virile traits common to vigorous and worldly minded men. but the con- trast between Alice and the other girls present was somehow an absolute bar to democratic freedom of the sort de- manded by the occasion. He met Father Beret and passed a few pleas ant words with him.
 They have honored your flag, my son, am glad to see," the priest said, pointing with a smile to where, in one corner, the banner that bore Alice's name was effectively draped.
 Beverley had not noticed it before, and when he presently got possession of Alice he asked her to tell him the story of how she planted 1t on the fort, although he had heard it to the last detail from Father Beret just a mo- ment ago. They stood together under its folds while she naively sketched the