Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-05-26

THE DILEMMA OF CAPTAIN HELM.
80 NCLE JAZON, feeling like
E 81 fish returned to the water aft
VI E er long and torturing captiy-
ity in the open air, plunged in
to the forest with anticipations of lively
adventure and made his way toward
the Wea plains 1t was his purpose to
got n boat at the village of Ouiatehon
ana pull thence up the Wabash until he
cou4l find out what the English were
doiag. He chose for his companions
ca this dangerous expedition two ex-
pert coureurs de bois, Dutrenble and
Jaeaues Bailoup Fifty miles up the
river they fell in with some friendly
Indians. well known to them all, who
were returning from the portage.
The savages informed them that
there were no signs of an English adj
vance in that quarter. Some of them
had been as far as the st. Joseph river
and to within short distance of De
troit without seeing white man or
hearing of any suspicious movements
on the part of Hamilton. So back
came Oncle Jazon with his pleasing re-
port, much disappointed that he had
not been able 60 stir up some sort OF
trouble.
1t was Helms turn to laugh.
''What did l tell your lie cried, in a
Jolly mood, slapping Beverley on the
shoulder. II knew mighty well that it
was all big story with nothing in it,
What on earth would the English be
thinking about 10 march an army away
cr down here only to capture rotten
stockade and lot of gabbling parly-
voos:"
Beverley, while ne did not feel quite
as confident as his chief, was not sorry
that things looked a little brighter than
he had feared they would turn out to
be. Secretly and without acknowledg-
ing it to himself he was delighted with
the life he was living.
He began to like walking about aim
lessIy in the towns narrow streets,
with the mud dauhed cabins on either
hand This simple life under low
thatched roofs had a charm. Every
body cried cheerily, Bon jour, mon
sioar, comment alleZ-vous?' as he went
by, always accompanying the verbal
salute with a graceful wave of the
hand.
But it was always glimpse of Alice
that must count for everything in Bev-
erley's reckonings, albeit he would
have strenuously denied it. True he
went to Roussillon place almost every
day. it being Il fixed part of his well
ordered habit anu mad TX with her
Sometimes. when Dame Rouseillon was
very busy and so quite off her guard
they read together in a novel or in GER
tain parts of the odd volume of Mon
taigne. This was done more for the
sweetness of disobedience than to en-
joy the already familiar pages.
Now and again they repeated Their
fencing bout, but never with the result
which followed the first. Beverley soon
mastered Alice's tricks and showed her
that, after all, masculine muscle is not
to be discounted at its own game by
even the most wonderful womanly
strength and suppleness. She struggled
bravely to hold her vantage ground
once gained so easily, but the inevita-
bic was not to be avoided. At last one
bowling winter day he disarmed her
by the very trick that she had shown
him. That ended the play, and they
ran, shiyering, into the house.
"Ah," she cried, "it isn't fair. You
are SO much bigger than /. You have
so much longer arms. so much more
weight and power. 1t all counts against
me! You ought to be ashamed Of your
selfr' She was rosy with thq exhilaLat-
ing exercise and The biting of the fros-
ty breeze. Her beauty gave forth
new ray.
Deep in her heart she was pleased to
have him master her so superbly; but
as the days passed she never said so,
never gave over trying to make him
feel the touch of her foil She did not
know that her eyes were getting
through his guard, that her dimples
were stabbing his heart to its middle.
"You have other advantages lie re-
piled, (which far overbalance my
greater stature and stronger muscles"
Then after pause he added. after all
girl must be girl"
Something in his face, something in
her heart, startled her so that she made
G aTick little move like that OF a rest
less bird.
'You are beautiful, and that makes
my eyes and my hand uncertain he
went on. "Were | fencing with
man there would be pa glamour"
He spoke in English, which he did
Kot often do In conversation with her.
1t was a sign that he was somewhat
wrought upon. She followed his rapid
words with difficulty, but she caught
from them Il new note or feeling. lie
saw little pale flare shoot across her
face and thought she was angry.
you should not use your dimples to
distract my vision" he quickly added,
with Il light laugh, ''It would he no
gorse tor ae 10 throw my hat III your
face"
His attempt at levity was obviously
weak She looked straight into his
eyes with the steady gaze of simple,
earnest nature shocked by current
quite strange to It. ahe did not un:
derstand him, and she did. Her tine
intuition gathered swiftly together a
hundred shreds of impression received
from him during their recent growing
intimacy. He was a patrician, as she
vaguely made him eAt, man OF
wealth, Whose family was great. He
belonged among people of gentle birth
and high attainments. She magnitied
him so that he was diffused in her i'm
agination, as difficult TO comprehend
rs = mist Ia the mefplng air&and as
Beautiful.
"You make fun of me-" she said very
deliberately, letting her eyes droop.
Then she looked up again suddenly
and continued, with a certain naive eX-
preston of disappointment gathering
i1 her face: II have been too free with
you. Father Beret told me not to for
get my dignity when in your company.
He told me you might misunderstood
me. l don't care. l shall not fence
with you again." She laughed, but
yhere was 10 Joyous freedom in the
sound.
"Why, Alchemy dear Miss Roussil-
Ion, you do me a wrong. | beg a thou
sand pardons if I've hurt you" he
cried, stepping nearer to her, and !
can never forgive myself. You have
somehow misunderstood me, l know
you have.'
On his part it was eXaggefatiug 4
mere eontaet OF mutual feelings into q
dangerous collision. He was as much
self deceived rs was she and he made