Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-01-19

~ English" He shrugged his shoul
ders, then laughed dryly. Farms
worths as crazy as can be. the beggar
in love with her so deep that he cant
see out BY Jove. she is a beauty
Never saw such eyes. And plucky tt
beat the deuce I'll bet my head Bar
| low IL bc daft about her next"
Still. Notwithstanding the lightness
gardod the incident as rather serious
He knew that the French inhabitants
were secretly his bitter enemies, yet
probably willing, If he would humor
their peculiar social, domestic and com
| mercial prejudices, to refrain from ac'
tive hostliticS. and even to aid him III
| furnishing his garrison with large
amount of needed supplies. The dan
ger just now was twofold-his Indian
allies were deserting him. and fiOtilla
| loaded with provisions and ammuni
ton from Detroit had failed to arrive.
He might. if the French rose against
him and were joined by the Indians,
have great difficulty defending the
fort. 1t was clear that NJ. ROussillon
had more influence with both creoles
and savages than any other person
save Father Beret Urgent policy die
tated that these two men should some
how be won over But to do this 1t
would be necessary to treat Alice In
such Il way that her arrest would aid.
instead of operating against the de-
sired result--a thing not easy to man
age.
Captain Farnsworth took his fair
prisoner straightway from Hamilton's
presence to Il small room connected
with Il considerable structure in dis
tant angle of the stOckade. Neither he
nor Alice spoke on the way. With Il
huge wooden key he unlocked the door
and stepped aside for her to enter y
dim lamp was burning within, its yell
lowish light Pickering over the scant
furniture, which consisted Of n COM
Portable bed. table with some books
IL.
glass on the wall. guitar and some ar
ticles of mems clothing hanging here
and there. 4 heap of dull embers
smoldered in the fireplace. Alice did
not falter at the threshold, but prompt
ly entered her prison.
81 hope you can be comfortable y
said Farnsworth in Il low tone. Its the
best can give YOU"
THANK you," was the answer, spoken
quite as if he had handed her glass
of water or picked up her handker-
chief.
He held the door a moment while she
stopped with her back toward him in
the middle of the room; then she heard
him close ard lock it, The air was al
most too warm after her exposure to
the biting wind and cold dashes Of
rain. She cast off her outer wraps and
stood by the fireplace. At Il glance she
comprehended that the place was not
the one she had formerly occupied as
prisoner. and that it belonged to 4
man. 4 long rifle stood in corner. a
bullet pouch and powder horn hanging
on projecting hickory ramrod. a
heavy fur topcoat lay across one of the
chairs.
Farnsworth, who had given Alice his
own apartment, took what rest he
could on the cold ground under a leaky
shed hard by. His wound not yet alto
gethcr healed was not benefited by the
exposure.
In due time next morning Hamilton
ordered Alice brought to his office, and
when she appeared he was smiling
with as near an approach to affability
rs his disposition would permit. He
rose and bowed like n conrtier.
81 hope you rested well. mademoi
selle." he said in his best French. He
imagined that the use of her language
would be agreeable to begin with.
81 am sorry. monsieur, that cannot
say as much to y0u," she glibly re-
sponded IF you lay upon Il bed OF
needles the whole night through, your
rest was better than you deserved. My
own sleep was quite refreshing, thank
you"
Instantly Hamilton's chOler rose. He
tried to suppress it at first, but When
he saw Alice actually laughing. and
Farnsworth. who had brought her In,
biting his lip furiously to keep from
adding an uproarious guffaw, he lost
all hold OF himself.
Il might have known better than to
expect decency from wench of your
character" he said. Il hoped to do
you a favor, but see that you are not
capable of accepting kindness politely.
Il am sure. monsieur. that have but
spoken the truth plainly to you. You
would not have me do otherwise, !
hope"
Her voice. absolutely witching in its
softness, freshness and suavity, helped
the assault of her eyes, while her dim
ples twinkled and her hair shone.
Hamilton felt his heart move strangely,
but he could not forbear saying in Eng
lish:
IF you are so very truthful, miss,
you will probably tell me where the
flag is that you stole and hid"
1t was always the missing banner
that cal..e to mind when he saw her.
Indeed. | will do nothing of the
Sort" she promptly replied. when
you see that flag again you will be II
prisoner, and will wave it high over
your head.
She lifted a hand as she spoke and
made the motion of shaking Il banner
above him. 1t was evaporation sweet
ened almost to delight that took hold of
the sturdy Briton. He liked pluck, es-
pecially in woman, all the more IL
she was beautiful, yet the very fact
that he felt her charm falling upon
him set him hard against her, not as
Hamilton the man, but as Hamilton
the commander at Vincennes.
"You think to fling yourself upon me
as you have upon Captain Farms
worth" he said. with an insulting leer