Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-30
ALICE OF OLD
 VINCENNES
By MAURICE THOMPSON
Copyright, 1900, by the
 BOWEN MERRILL COMPANY

sk BOWEN MERRILL COMPANY tx'
 woman never looked more tnr11ungIy beautiful to man than she did just then to all those rough, stern back .woodsmen. During her flight her hair had fallen down, and it glimmered like soft sunlight around her face. Some thing compelling flashed out of her eyes, an expression between trium- phant smile and a ray of irresistible beseechment. It took Colonel Clark s breath when he turned and saw her standing there and heard her words.
 seThis man saved Lieutenant Bever- aey's life" she presently added. getting Better control of her voice and senulng into 1t thrilling timbre. You shall not harm him: you must not do it!'
 Beverley was astounded when he saw her. the thing was so unexpected, so daring and done. with such high, im- perious force. Still it was but real zEation of what he had imagined she would be upon occasion. He stood gag ing at her, as did all the rest, while she faced Clark and the platoon of rifle men. To hear his own name pass her ql1ivering lips in that tone and in that connection seemed to him & consecra- fion.
 .sWould FOE f,e more savage than your Indian prisOnerE' she went on; Hess grateful than he for a life saved? [ did him 8 small-a very small-serv ice once. and in memory of that he saved Lieutenant. Beveriey's life, be- -becauses'-sh faltered for sin. gle breath, then added clearly and with magnetic sweetness because Lieuten- ant Beverley loved me and because I loved him. This Indian, Long Hair showed gratitude that could over come his strongest passion. You white eKnen should be ashamed to fall below his standard"
 Her words went home. It was as if fhe beauty of her face, the magnetism of her liss0me and symmetrical form, the sweet fire of her eyes and the pas sionate appeal Of her voice gave what 1khe said new and irresistible force of truth. When she spoke of Beverley s love for her and declared her love for him there was not manly heart in all the garrison that did not suddenly beat quicker and feel a strange, sweet wait Ol llCD0CInESS. A U1OLlCIs 6OaGWuG wife, a daughter, sister, sweetheart, called through that voice ofsabsolute womanhood
 Beverley, what can dor muttered Clark. his bronze face as pale as it could possibly become
 "Doy' thundered Beverley ''Do! You cannot murder that man. Hamilton is the man you should shoot! He offered large rewards, he unframed the passions and fed the love of rum and the cupidi- fy of the poor wild men like the one standing wonder. Yet you take him prisoner and treat him with distin- guished consideration Hamilton offer ed a large sum for me taken alive, a smaller one for my scalp. Long Hair saved me. You let Hamilton stand yonder in perfect safety while you shoot the Indian Shame on you, Colo mel Clarki Shame on you if you do it"
 Alice stood looking at the stalwart commander while Beverley was pour ing forth his torrent of scathing refer ence to Hamilton, and she quickly saw that Clark was moved. The moment Vas ripe for the finishing stroke They say it is genius that avaiIs itself o6 op- portunity Beverley knew the light was won when he saw what followed. Alice suddenly left Long Hair and ran fo Colonel Clark, who felt her warm, strong arms loop around him for sin gle point eS s1sue never to be effaced from his mensSES; then he saw her kneeling at his feet, her hands up- stretched, her face q glorious prayer, while she pleaded the Indians cause and won 1t.
 Doubtless, while we all rather feel that Clark was weak to be thus sway Cd by girl, we cannot quite blame him. Aliee's flag was over him. He had heard her history from BeverIey's cunning lips. He actually believed that Hamilton was the real culprit and be- sides he felt not little nauseated with executing Indians A good excuse to have an end of 1t all did not go beg ging.
 But Long Hair was barely gone over Asae horizon from the fort, as free and as vilIainous a savage as ever trod the earth, when a discovery made by Oncle Jazon caused Clark to hate himself for what he had done.
 Tha old scout picked up. the scalp