Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-01-08
(CoNTINUED FROM PAGE ~

hurt, Miss Roussilon? | assure you
that it was purely accidental"
MY hurt is nothing" she said.
81 am very glad"
"Well then, shall we go on to the
fortT"
"You may go where you please, ma
demoisclle"
She turned her back upon him and
withbLt an answering word walked
straight to the lantern that hung by
the gate of the stockade, where a senti-
mel trampcd to and fro. \ few mo-
ments later Captain Farlkworth pre-
scented her to Hamilton, who'had been
called from his bed when the news of
the trouble at Roussllon place reached
the fort
$50 you've been raising trouble again,
have you, miss?" he growled, with an
ugly frown darkening his face.
81 beg your pardon" said Farms
worth. Miss Roussillon was not to
blame for
an your eyes she'd not be to blame,
sir, if she burned up the fort and all of
us in it, Hamilton gruffly interrupted.
Miss what have you been doing?
What are you here for? Captain Farms
worth, you will please state the partic-
ulars of the trouble that | have Just
heard about And | may as well notify
you that | wish to hear no special low
er's pleading in this girls behalf"
Farnsworth's face whitened with an
ger He bit his lip, and shiver ran
Ia, t,.rl, Ii. but la, had 10,
quer the passion. In few words
blunt and direct as musket balls he
told all the circumstances of what had
taken place. making no concealments
to favor Alice, but boldly blaming the
officer OF the patrol, Lieutenant Bar
low, for losing his mead and attacking
young girl in her own home.
Il will hear from Barlow" said
Hamilton after listening attentively to
the story. but take this girl and con-
fine her. Show her no favors. | hold
you responsible for her until tomorrow
morning. You can retire"
There was no room for discussion.
Farnsworth salutcd and turned to
Alice.
Hamilton looked after them as they
went out of his room. curious smile
playing around his firmly set lips
"Shes the most beautiful vixen that
l ever saw" he thought. "Shc doesn't
look to be Il French girl either; decided
ly English" He shrugged his shout
ders, then laughed dryly. Farms
worth's as crazy as can be. the beggar;
in love with her so deep that he can't
see out. BY Jove. she is beauty.
Never saw such eyes. And plucky to
beat the deuce. I'll bet my head Bar
low II be daft about her next
Still, notwithstanding the lightness
of his inward comments. Hamilton re-
gardcd the incident as rather serious.
He knew that the French Inhabitants
We're secretly his bitter enemies. yet
probably willing, if he would humOr
their peculiar social. domestic and com
mercia preiudces to refrain from ac-
tive hostilities. and even to aid him in
furnishing his garrison with a large
amount of needed supplies. The dan
ger just now was twofold-hS Indian
allies were deserving him. and Il flotilla
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. Roussilon
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 II
would be necessary to treat Alice in
such way that her arrest would aid
instead of operating against the de-
sired result-a thing not easy to man
4 age.
Captain FarnswOrth took his fail
prisoner straightway from HamiltOn's
presence to Il small room connected
with considerable structure i'm Il dis
tant angle of the stOCkade. Neither he
nor Alice spoke on the way. With q
huge wooden key he unlocked the door
and stepped aside for her to enter. a
dim lamp was burning within, its vel
lowish light Pickering over the scant
furniture which consisted of Il com
Portable bed. Il table with some books
on it, three chairs. a small looking
glass on the wall, Il guitar and some ar
ticlcs of mems clothing hanging here
and there. \ heap of dull embers
smoldered in the fireplace Alice did
not falter at the threshold, but prompt
ly entered her prison.
Il hope you can be comfortable
said Farnsworth in IA low tone, Its the
best | can give you
THANK you" was the answer, spoken
quite as if he had handed her Il glass
of water or picked up her handker
chief.
He held the door a moment while she
stopped with her back toward him il
the middle of the room; then she heard
him close and lock it. The air was al
most too warm after her exposure &c
the biting wind and cold dashes OF
rain. She cast off her outer wraps an6