Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-28

OUT ODJecl les, L sll, tO our OuJeCt.
In fact, the drinking preceded his
speech. and his tongue already had n
loop in it. The liquor stole through
him. a mist OF bewildering and en-
chanting influence. The third cup
broke his sentences into unintelligble
fra gments; the fourth made his under
jaw sag loosely; the fifth and sixth.
taken in close succession, tumbled him
limp on the floor, where he slept bliss
fully all night long, snugly covered
with some of Father Berets bed
clothes.
Per casum obliquum, ct per indi-
rectum," muttered the priest when he
bad returned the bottle and cup to their
hiding place. THE end justifies the
means. Sleep well, my son. All, little
Alice. little Alice, your old father will
try, will tryr'
lie fumbled along the wall In the
dark until he found the rapier, which
he took down; then he went out and
sat for some time motionless beside
the door, while the clouds thickened
overhead. 1t was late when he arose
and glided away shadowlike toward
the fort, over which the night hung
black, chill and drearily silent. The
moon was still some hours high, but
drifted from the river.
Meantime Hamilton and Helm had
spent part of the afternoon and even
ing, as usual, at cards. Helm broke
off the game and went to his quarters
rather early for him, leaving the gov
ernor alone and in q bad temper, be-
cause Farnsworth, when he had sent
for him, could not be found. Three
times his orderly returned In as many
hours with the same report. The cap
tain had not been seen or heard Of.
Naturally this sudden and complete
disappearance, Immediately after the
reprimand, suggested to Hamilton an
unpleasant possibility. What IL Farms
worth had deserted him?
Hamilton sat for some time after
Helms departure, thinking over what
he now feared was foolish mistake.
Presently he buckled on Alice's rapier,
which he had lately been wearing as
his own, and went out into the main
area of the stockadc. A sentinel was
tramping to and fro at the gate, where
a haZy lantern shone. The night was
breathless and silent Hamilton ap-
preached the soldier on duty and asked
him II he had seen Captain Farms
worth, and. receiving n negative reply,
turned about puzzled and thoughtful to
walk back and forth I'm the chill, foggy
air.
Presently a faint yellow light at
tracted his attention. 1t shone through
n portfolio I'm an upper room Of the
blockhouse at the farther angle OF the
stockade. In fact, Alice was reading
by a sputtering lamp a book Farms
worth had sent her, volume of Ron
sard that he had picked up In Canada.
Hamilton made his way In that direc-
tion, at first merely curious to know
who was burning oil SO late, but after a
few PAGES he recognized where the
light came from and instantly suspect
ed that Captain Farnsworth was there.
Indeed, he felt sure Of 1t. Somehow
a saucy holden, incapable Of womanly
virtue. His experience with the worst
element OF Canadian French life and
his peculiar cast of mind and character
colored his impression OF her. He
measured her by the women with
whom the coureurs de bois and half
breed trappers consorted In Detroit
and at the posts eastward to Quebec.
Alice. unable to sleep, had sought for
getfulness OF her bitter captivity In
the old poets charming lyrics. She sat
on the floor, some blankets and furs
drawn around her, the book on her
lap, the stupidity dull lamp hanging be-
side her on n part of the swivel. Her
hair lay loose over her neck and shoul-