The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1904-09-14

'Nh 9Vus Ills NOlCt uuuNfES Whenever
he speaks of you"
DOUBTLESS he made his old joke to
you about the birthmark on my shout
der" said Father Beret after mo-
ment of apparently thoughtful silence.
HE may have said something about 1t
in a playful way, chr
True, true; why, yes, he surely men
toned the same" assented NJ. Rous-
sillon, his face assuming an expression
of confused memory. ut was some
thing sly and humorous, mind, but 1t
just escapes my recollection. A right
jolly old boy is Father Sebastian. In
deed very amusing at times"
AT times. yes" said Father Beret,
who had no birthmark on his shoulder
and had never had one there or on any
other part of his person.
How strange" Alice remarked. 81,
too, have a mark on my shoulder-a
pink spot, just like small. FIVE petaled
flower. We must he of kin to each
other, Father Beret."
The priest laughed.
IF our marks are alike, that would
b. some evidence of kinship," he said.
But what shape is yours, fathcrT'
"Tve never seen it," he responded.
"Never seen IT. Why?"
"Well it's absolutely invisible" and
he chuckled heartily, meantime glanc-
ing shrcwdly at NJ. Roussillon out OF
the tail of his eye.
Its on the back of his shoulder"
quickly spoke up NJ. Roussillon land
you know priests never use looking
glasses. The mark is quite invisible
therefore so far as Father Beret Is con
cerned.'
"You never told me of your birth
mark before, my daughter" said Fa-
ther Beret, turning to Alice with sud
den interest 1T may some day be
good fortune to you
'Why so, fatherP"
'If your family name Is really Tarle-
ton, as you suppose from the inscrip-
ton on your locket, the birthmark, be-
ing of such singular shape, would prob
ably identify you. 1t is said that these
marks run regularly in families. With
the miniature and the distinguishing
birthmark you have enough to make a
strong case should you once find the
right Tarleton family"
"You talk as they write in novels"
said Alice. "I've read about Just such
things in them. Wouldn't 1t be grand
IL | should turn out to be some great
parsonage in disguisew
The mention of novels reminded
Father Beret of that terrible book
which he last saw In Alice's possession,
and he could not refrain from men.
tioning it In voice that shuddered.
"Rest easy. Father Beret." said Alice.
THAT is one novel have found Who'll
~ dlstasteful to me. tried 10 read Il,
but could not do 1t. | flung 1t aside
in utter disgust You and Mother
Roussillon are welcome to hide 1t deep
as well for all | care. | don't enjoy
reading about low. vile people and
hopeless unfortunates like sweet
and lovely heroines and strong, high
souled, brave heroes"
"Read about the blessed saints, then,
my daughter. You will find in them
the true heroes and heroines of this
world said Father Beret
NJ. Roussillon changed the subject,
for he always somehow dreaded to
have the good priest fall into the strain
of argument he was about TO begin. A
stray sheep. no matter how refractory,
feels touch of longing when it hears
the shepherds voice. NJ. RoussillOn
was Catholic, but a straying one, and
he had promised the dying woman
who gave Slice to him that the child
should be left as she was, a Protestant,
without undue influence TO change her
| from the faith of her parents. This
| promise he had kept with stubborn per
sistence, and he meant to keep it as
| long as he lived
A few weeks had passed after NJ.
Roussillon's return when that big
hearted man took it into his head to
celebrate his successful trading ven
| lures with moonlight dance given
without reserve to all the inhabitants
| of Vincennes. Ii was certainly a dem
ocratic function that he contemplated
and motley TO most picturesque ex-
tent.
Rene de Eonville called upon Alice a
| day or two previous to the occasion
and duly engaged her as his partenaire
but she insisted upon having the en-
gagement guarded in her behalf by q
condition so obviously fanciful that he
accepted II without argument.
IF my wandering knight should ar.
rive during the dance, you promise &c
stand aside and give place TO him.
she stipulated. You promise that
You see, I'm expecting him all the
time | dreamed last night that he
came on great bay horse and, stoop
ing. whirled me up behind the saddle
and away we went"'
There was a childish, half banterina
air in her look, but her voice sounded
earnest and serious, Notwithstanding
its delicious timbre of suppressed play
fulness.
"You promise me-" she insisted.