Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-08

OF course the thing was not new; he
had been disarmed before; but her
trick Of doing it was quite mystery
to him. altogether different from any
that he had ever seen.
"Vous me pardonnerez monsieur"
she mockingly exclaimed, picking up
his weapon and Offering the hilt to
him. Here is your swOrd!'
keep It," he said, folding his arms
and trying to look uncOncerned: you
have captured it fairly. l am at your
mercy; be kind to me-"
mime. Roussillon and Jean. the
hunchback. hearing the racket Of the
foils, had come out to see and were
standing agape.
you ought to be ashamed. Alice"
said the dame in scolding approval Of
what she had done. Girls do not fence
with gentlemen"
"This girl does" said Alice.
"And with extreme disaster to this
gentleman" said Beverley. laughing in
a tone of discontinue and resignation.
"Ah, m'sicu'. there's nothing but dis
aster where she goes" complained
Mime. RousSillon. 'She is destroyer
OF everything. Only yesterday she
dropped my pink bowl and broke 1t,
the only one had"
"And Just to think" said Beverley,
what would have been the condition
of my heart had we been using rapiers
instead of leather buttoned foils. She
would have spitted 1t through the very
center"
Like enough" replied the dame in
differently ''She wouldn't vince.
either-not She"
Alice ran into the house with the
foils and Beverley followed.
I'VE must try it over again some day
soon." he said 81 find that you can
show me few points. Where did you
learn to fence so admirably! Is NJ.
Roussilon your master?'
Indeed he isn't" she quickly re-
piled HE is but Il bungling swords
man. My master-but am not ut lib
erty to tell you who has taught me the
little know"
"Well. whoever he is should be glad
to have lessons from him.
"But you'll never get them"
"Why|
Because"
"a woman's ultimatum."
"As good as a MANS" she bridled
prettily; land sometimes better-at the
foils for example. VOus-comprenez.
nest ce pas?"
He laughed heartily.
"Yes. YOUR point reaches me" he
said.
When Beverley. taking his leave,
passed through the gate at Roussillon
place. he met Rene de ROnville going
in. L was notable coincidence that
each young man felt something trouble
some rise in his throat as he looked
into the others eyes.
A week Of dreamy autumn weather
came on. during which Beverley man
aged to be with Alice u great deal.
mostly sitting OH the ROussillon ga llery.
where the fading vine leaves made
fairy whisperings, and where the TEN
oered breeze blew deliciOusly cool from
over the distant multicolOred woods.
Tie men of Vincennes were gathering
their Indian corn early to dry it on the
cob for grating into winter meal. Many
women made wine from the native
GRAPES and from the sweeter and richer
fruit of imported vines. Mrs. Roussll-
Ion and Alice stained their hands a
deep purple during the pressing season
and Beverley found himself engaged in
helping them handle the juicy crop,
while around the overfiowing earthen
rots the wild bees, wasps and hornets
iu,.med with an mcessant, Jarring
monotony.
lean, the hunchback, gathered ample
stores of hickory nuts, walnuts, hazel
nuts and pin oak acorns. Indeed, the
whole population of the village made
great squirt of industry just before the
falling Of winter, and presently, when
every preparation had been completed
for the dreaded cold season, Nj. Rous-
siiion carried out his long cherished
plan. and gave great party ut the
river house. After the most successful
trading experience of his life he felt
irrepressibly liberal.
"Lct's have one more roaring good
time" he said. That's what life is
for"