Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-23
cHAPTER vI-lContinuedo

CHAPTER -(Continued)
Naturally enough Alice had some
/ thoughts of Beverley while she was so
attentively caring for Father Beret.
She had never before seen a man like
him. nor had she read of one. Beverley
4 stepped in for q few minutes every day
TO see Father Beret. involuntarily
lengthening his visit by sliding ratio
as he became better acquainted. He
began to enjoy the priests conversa-
ton, with its siy worltSy wisdom crop
ping up through feryid religious senti-
menss and quaint hulnor. Alice must
have interested him more than he was
fully aware of for his eyes followed
her. as she came and went. with a Curl
Gus criticism of her half savage CO.'S
tune and her springy. dryad-ike sup
plenes$, which reminded him of the
shest and gracefulesj wild birds. and
yet touch Gf refinement, the subtlest
and best. showed in all her ways. He
wondered 1T her influence over Father
Beret. whom she controlled apparently
without effort. But in due time he be-
gan to feel II deeper character, n broad
er Intelligence. behind her superficial
sauvagerie. ana he found that she
really had no mean smattering of books
in tie 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 wonder, Mime. Roussilion
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 peryersity. 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 womaniy aspira-
tons To her Beverley represented the
great outside area Of life. He came 10
her from wonderland, beyond the wide
circle Of houseless woods and prairies.
ic IA len
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
while the simple Arcadian Is forever
longing for the maddening honey OF
Innate jealousies strike together like
flint and steel. dashing off sparks by
which nearly everything that life can
kept burning. What l envy in my
friend | store for my best use. l
thrust and parry, not to kill, but to
learn my adversary's superior feints
md 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 world of fascination in I
these things. | like nothing better
than bout at fencing. Does your IA
Their practice the nrt?''
II have no father, no mother she
quickly said. ''but good Papa Rous-
sillon does like little exercise with
he colechemarde."
well, I'm glad to hear it, | shall
lsk to teach him trick or two" Bev-
srley responded In the lightest mood.
When will he return from the woo1~rs>
Il can't tell you. He's very irpeSular
n such matters, she said. Then. with
smile half banter ana half challenge,
The added, IF you are really dying for
some exercise you shall not have TO
wait for him to come home, l assure
rou, Al. Beverley
"oh. it's NJ. de Ronville, perhaps.
hat you will offer up as a victim to
ny skill and address," he slyly return
ID. for he was suspecting that love
flair in some stage of progress lay
between her and Rene.
She blushed violently, but quickly
a combined rush of sur
rise and anger. added with an en-
'hasis as charming as it was unex-
,ected: -