Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-05-19

serving for quarters, and the old can
non could not have been used to an!
effect in case of attack. AS for tht
garrison, it was a nominal quantity
made up mostly of men who preferred
tense of military duty.
Gaspard Roussillon assumed to know
everything about Indian affairs anC
the condition of the English at Detroit
His optimistic eloquence lulled Helm
to a very pleasant sense of security
Beverley WAS not so easy to satisfy
but his suggestions regarding military
discipline and vigorous prosecution
of repairs to the blockhouse' and stock
ade were treated with dilatory geniali
ty by his superior officer. The soft
wonder Of perfect Indian summei
glorified land, river and sky. Why not
dream and bask? Why not drink ex
hilarating toddies?
Meantime the entertainment to be
given by Gaspard Roussillon occupied
everybody's Imagination to an unusual
extent. Rene de Ronville, remember
ing but not needing the doubtful sue
cess of his former attempt, went long
beforehand to claim Alice as his
partenaire, but she fatty refused him
once more reminding him of his obliga-
tions TO little Adrienne Bourcier He
would not be convinced.
'You are bound to me-" he said. "You
promised before, you know, and the
party was but put off. l hold you to it.
You are my partenaire and l am yours;
you can't deny that"
mo, you are not my partenaire," she
firmly said then added lightly, Ecu
mon partenaire, you are dead and
buried as my partner at that dance"
He glowered in silence for few mo-
ments, then said:
at is Lieutenant Beverley, l sup
pose?"
She gave him quick, contemptuous
= -A..-.--1 - :-.4.Aa--Atl1,- ono
of her tantalizing smiles.
"Do you imagine that? she demand
ed.
Imagine 1t! l know it," he said
with hot flush. "Have no senseT
Precious little," she replied with a
merry laugh.
"You think So"
go TO Father Beret, tell him every
thing, and then ask him what he
thinks" she said In calm, even tone,
her face growing serious.
There waSan awkward silence.
She had touched Rene's vulnerable
spot He was nothing If not a devout
Catholic, and his conscience rooted it.
self in what good Father Beret had
taught him.
Father Beret was the humble, self
effacing. never firing agent of good in
Ills community. He preached In ten
der singsong voice the sweet monot-
onies of his creed and the sublime
truths Of Christ's code. He was ih-
DECD the spiritual Father or his people.
No wonder Rene's scowling expression
changed to one Of abject self concern
when the priests name was suddenly
connected with his mood. The conle.r
sionai loomed VA before the eyes OF his
conscience and his knees smote togeth-
er, spiritually If not physically.
Now" said Alice brusquely, but with
sweet and gentle firmness, iigo 70 your
flaneee, go TO pretty and good Adrienne,
ana ask her to be your partenair-.
Refresh your conscience with a noble
draft OF duty and make that dear
little girl overflow with Joy. Go, Rene
de Ronville"
Rene felt hls soul covering, even
snnklng, but he fairly nainfsinss
good face, and went n~-- =.
Ing anoths- =. without say
. word.
"Clel, clel, how beautiful She Isp' he
thought, as he walked along the mar
row street In the dreamy sunshine.
but she is not for me, not for me-"
lie shook himself and tried to be
cheerful. In fact he hummed creole
atty, something about La belle jean
cite, qu' hrise mon cnur."
Days passed, and at last the time Of
he gi rat event arrived 1t was a
nosty night, clear, sparkling with
5tars, n keen breath cutting down from
the northwest. NJ. Roussillon, Nine
Roussillon, Alice and Lieutenant Bever-
ley went together to the river house,
whittier they had been preceded by al
most the entire population OF Vim
eennes. Some fires had been built out
side, the crowd proving too great for
the buildings capacity, as there had to
be ample space for the dancers. Merry
groups lowered around the flaming
logs, while within the house fiddle
sang its simple and ravishing tunes.
Everybody talked and laughed; it was
u lively racket of clashing voices and
rhythmical feet.
When the Roussillon party arrived 1t
attracted condensed attention. Its i'm
portance, naturally of the greatest in
the assembled popular mind, was en-
hanced-as mathematicians would say,
to the nth poverty the gown of Alice.
1t was resplendent indeed in the sim
pie, unaccustomed eyes upon which II
flashed with buff silken glory. Ma
irons stared at it, maidens gaZed with
fascinated and jealous vision, men
young and old let their eyes take full
liberty. II was as il queen. arrayed
In n robe Of state, had entered that
dingy log edifice, an apparition of daz-
zling and awe inspiring beauty. The
dancers swung together and stopped in
confusion. But she, fortified by n
woman's strongest bulwark, the sense
of resplendency, appeared quite uncon-
scious of herself
Little Adrlenne, hanging in bllssful
delight upon Rene's strong arm, felt
the stir of excitement and wondered
what was the matter, being too short to
see over the heads Of those around her.
"What is It? What is itT' she cried,
tiptoeing and tugglng at her compan-
ions sleeve. Tell me, Rene; tell me. !
say"
Rene was gazing in dumb admiration