Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-01-29


81 came to ask that very question,
father" said Farnsworth.
and what do | know? Surely, my
son. you see how utterly hopeless an
old priest is against all you British
And bcsides"-
"Father Beret." Farnsworth husllily
interrupted, sis there place that you
know of anywhere in which Miss
Roussillon could be hidden if
"My dear SOM
But father, mean it,"
"NIean what? Pardon an old mans
slow understanding. What are you
talking about. my SOM
Father Beret glanced furtively about,
then quickly stepped through the door
way, walked entirely around the house
and came in again before Farnsworth
could respond Once more seated on
his stool he added intcrrogatively:
Did you think you heard something
moving outsider
"No."
You were saying something when l
went out. Pardon my interruption"
Farnsworth gave the priest a search
ing and not wholly confiding look.
You did not interrupt me, Father
! Beret. | was not speaking. Why are
| you so watchful? Arc you afraid of
/ eavcsdroppersT"
You were speaking rccklessly. Your
words were incendiary; ardentia verba.
My son. you were suggesting a danger
Gus thing Your life would scarcely
satisfy the law were you convicted of
insinuating such treason. What if one
of your prowling guards had oyer
heard you? Your neck and mine might
/ feel the halter. Quod avertat domi-
nus" lie crossed himself and in a
solemn voice added in English:
MAY the Lord forbid. All, my son,
we priests protect those we love"
"And /, who am not fit to tie a
priests shoe, do likewise. Father, l
love Alice Roussillon."
Love is a holy thing, my son. Amare
divinum est ct humanum."
"Father Beret, can you help meT'
"Spiritually speaking. my SOM"
81 mean can you hide Mile. Roussil-
lon in some safe place if take her out
of the prison yonder? That's just what
| mean. Can you do itT'
Your question is a remarkable one.
Have you thought upon it from all di-
rections, my son? Think of your po-
sition, your duty as an officer"
a shrewd polemical expression beam
ed from Father Beret's eyes, and a
very expert ply siognomist might have
suspected duplicity from certain lines
about the old mans mouth.
81 simply know that I cannot stand
by and see Alice-Mlle. Roussllon-
forced to suffer treatment too beastly
for an Indian thief. That's the only
direction there is for me to look at ii
from, and you can understand my
feelings if YOU will. You know that
very we'll. Father Beret. When man
loves girl he loves her; that's the
whole thing"
The quiet, inscrutable half smile
flickered once more on Father Berets
face but he sat silent some time with
Il snewy forefnger lying alongside his
nose. When at last he spoke it was
in Il tone of voice indicative of small
interest in what he was saying. His
words rambled to their goal with the
effect of happy accident.
There are places in this neighbor-
hood in which Il human being would be
as hard to find as the flag that you
and Governor Hamilton have so dill
gently and unsuccessfully been in
quest of for the past month or two.
Really. my son, this is a mysterious
little town.
Falnsworth's eyes widened and q
flush rose in his swarthy cheeks.
Hang the flag he exclaimed. Let
it lie hidden forever. What do l care?
tell you, Father Beret, that Alice
Roussllon is in extreme danger. Gov
ernor Hamilton means to put some
terrible punishment on her. He has a
devils vindctiveness. He showed it
to me clearly awhile ago
You showed something Of the same
sort to me, once upon time, my son."
Yes, | did. Father Beret, and | got
load of slugs in my shoulder for it
from that brave girls pistol. She
saved your life. Now l ask you to
help me save hers, or if not her life
W mat 40 ihulilciy lboic Hci hohoi.
Her honor!' cried Father Beret,
leaping to his feet so suddenly and
with such energy that the cabin shook
/ from base to roof. What do you say,
: Captain Farnsworth? What do you
| meanY"
The old man was transformed. His
face was terrible to see, with its mar
row burning ewes deep under the
J shaggy brows, its dark veins writing
, snakelike ON the temples and forehead
the projected mouth and chin, the hard
t lines of the jaws, the iron gray CLEAN
from all the features-he looked like an
) aged tiger stiffened for n spring.
Farnsworth was made of right sol
= dierly stuff, but he felt a distinct
SILVER fit along his back. His past
? life had not lacked thrilling adventures