Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-17

tCONIlNUED.l
Father Beret gaZed after him, his
face relaxing to Il serious expression
In which Il trace Of sadness and gloom
spread like an elusive twilight. He
took out his letter, but did not glance
at it. simply holding 1t tightly gripped
In his sinewy right hand. Then his
old eyes stared vacantly. 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-a watt Of the
flowers OF Avignon 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, kid fol-
lowing. He was making haste excited
ly, keeping the goats ut lively trot.
"Bon jour, Pere Beret," he flung
out breezily. and walked rapidly on.
".Ah. ah: his mind is busy with the
newly arrived cargo" thought the old
priest, returning the salutatiOn. His
throat aches for liquOr-the poor man."
Then he read again the letters super
scription and made faltering move as
II to break the seal. His hands trem
bled violently. his face looked gray
and drawn.
"Come on. you brutes." cried the re-
cedins man. jerking the thongs of skin
nv which ha led the yOats
Father Beret rose and turned into
his damp little hut. where the light
was dim on the crucifix hanging Op-
posite the door against the clay
lauhed wall. 1t was Il bare, unsishtly,
clammy room. 4 rude bed OH one side.
shelf for table and two or three
wooden stools constituting the furni-
ture, while the uneven punchcons OF
the floor wabbled and clattered under
the priests feet.
1t had been many years since letter
from home had come to Father Reret.
The last before the one now i'll hand
had made him ill of nostalgia, fairly
shaking his IRON determination never
10 quit for moment his life work rs Il
missionary. Ever since that day hc
had found it harder to meet the many
and stern demands of a most difficult
and exacting duty. Now the mere
touch of the paper in his hand gave
him sense of returning weakness.
dissatisfaction and longing. The home
of his boyhoOd, the rushing of the
Rhone. Il seat in a shady nook of the
garden. Madeline, his sister prattling
beside him and his mother singing
somewhere about the house-it all
came back and went over him and
through him. making his heart sink
strangely. while another voice. the
sweetest ever heard-but she was IN
efrable and her memory forbidden
fragrance.
Father Beret tottered across the for
lorn little room and knelt before the
crucilix, holding his clasped hands
hia IA. the letter pressed between them.
His lips moved in prayer, but made
no sound; his whole frame shook VIC
iently.
1t would be objectionable desecra-
ton To enter the chamber OF Father
Beyet's soul and look upon his sacred
and secret trouble. nor must we even
speculate us to its particulars. Inc
good old man writhed and wrcstl"d
before the cross for long time. until
ut last he seemed to receive the calm
ness and strength he prayed for so
fervently. Then he rose. tore the let
ter into pieces so small that not
word remained whole and squeezed
them so firmly together that they were
compressed into Il tiny, solid baE
which he let fall through a crack be
tween the floor puncheons. After walt
in. twenty years for that letter hun
.ry as his heart was. lie did not even
opeu il when at last it arrived. He
would never know what message II
,crc. The link between him ana the
old sweet days was broken forever.
Now, with Gods help, he could do his
work to the end.
He went and stood in the doorway.
leaning against the side. He looked
toward the river house. as the in
habitants had named large shnnty
which stood Oh the bluff of the Wabash
not far from where the road bridge
at present crosses. and saw men gath
ering there.
Meantime Rene dc ROnville had de-
livercd Nine. RoussillOn's letter with
due promptness. OF course such
service demanded pie and claret. VIVA,
still better pleased him. Alice chose TO
be more amiable than was usually her
custom when he called. Theyeto
gether In the main room OF the house.
where NJ. ROussillon kept his books. MS
curiosities of Indian manufacture col
lected here and there. and his surplus
firearms. swords. pistols and knives.
ranged not unpleasingly around the
walls.
OF course, along with the letter. Rene
bore the news. so interesting to him.
self, of the boats tempting cargo just
UlScnurSeu Ut llNSi hous'N' ''N->>
understood her friends danger-felt II
in the intense enthusiasm Of his voice
and manner. She had once seen the
mep carousins on similar occasion
when sne was but child. and the i'm
preston then made still remained In
her memory. Instinctively she resolved
to hold Rene by one means or another
away from the river house II possible.
So she managed to keep him occupied
eating pie. slipping watered claret ana
chatting until night came on and Nine
Roussillon brought In a lamp. Then
he hurriedly snatched his cap from the
floor beside him and got up to go.
Come and look ut my handiwork.
Alice quickly said; my shelf OF pies.
| mean" She led him to the pantry.
where dozen or more Of the cherry
pates were ranged in order Il made
HOOD FIRM