Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1904-04-14

nj the face OF Alice with the horribl
wlstfulncss Of rcmorsc What wouln
he not have given 20 rub his eyes and
find IL all dream
lie turned away, Il cloud Studded
across the moon. here and yonder In
the dim town cocks crowed with a lone
some. dcsutory effect
Father Beret pluckcd up the rapicr
that he had wrcnched from ITamiltons
hand. II suggested something.
Hold lac called out. GIVE me the
scabbard OF this sword"
Hamilton. who was strldlng vlror-
ously In the direction Of the fort.
turned about, ns the priest hastcnrd 10
him.
"Givc me the scalSard Of this napier.
want n Take II on"
The command was not gentle voiced.
A hoarsc half whisper winged every
word with an imperious threat
Hamilton obeycd His hnnds were
not firm. His fingers fumhlad nervous
| ~. but hc hurried. and Father Bcret
soon had the rapier sheathcd AMI Sc
cured M his belt beside It's mate.
A good and true priest is burden
| bearer His motto Is. Alter alterius
onera portate Dear ye one another's
burdens His soul Is enriched wiz
the cnston sorrows OF those whom he
relieves Father Beret scarcely felt
the weight Of Alicc's body when he
lifted 1; from the ground. 50 heavy was
| the pressure of his grief All that her
death meant. not only 10 him, but 20
every person who knew her. came into
his heart M the place OF refuge con
secrated for the indwelling Of pain. lie
| lifted her and bore her as far toward
Roussillon place as he could, but his
strength fell short just in front OF the
little Bourcier cottage, and. half dead,
hc staggered across the veranda 20 the
door. where he sank exhausted.
After n breathing spell he knocked.
The household, fast asleep. did not
hear. but he persisted until the door
was opened 10 him and his burden.
Captain Farnsworth Enclosed his
bloodshot eyes at about s o'clock In
the morning. quite confused ms 10 his
place and surroundings lie looked
about drowsily with shecpish half
knowledge OF having been very drunk.
A purring in hrs head and a dull ache
reminded him OF an abused stomach.
lie yawned and stretched himself. then
sat up. running n hand through his
tousled hair Father Beret was on
his knees before the cross. stu as n
statue his claspcd hands extended up
ward
Farnsworth's face lighted with rec
ognition. and he smiled rather bitterly
lie recalled everything and felt asham-
ed. humiliated, self debased. lie had
outraged even priests hospitality
with his british appetite. and he hated
himself for IL.
I'm shabby. worthless dog" he
muttcrcd, with petuhnt accent. why
don't you kick me out. fatherT
The priest turned n collapsed and
bloodlcss gray face upon him, smiled
/ In tired, perfunctory way. crossed
himself absently and said:
You have rested we'll my son. Hard
as tho bed r., you have done 1t a com
pliment in the way Of sleeping. You
young soldiers understand how 20 get
the most out OF things"
You are too generous, father. and /
can't appreciate II. | know what de-
serve. and you know II too. Tell me
what brute and fool l am. IL Will
do me good. Punch me n solid JOLT In
the ribs, like the one you gave me not
long ago"
"Qui sine peccato est, primus la
pidem mittat," said the priest. (-Lct
him who Is without sin cast the first
stone.")
Just then some one knocked on the
door Father Beret opened IL 10 one OF
Hamilton's aids.
"Your pardon, father. but hearing
Captain Farnsworth's voice, l made
bold TO knock"
What Is II, Bobbyl" Farnsworth
called out.
Nothing. only the governor has been
having you looked for in every nook
and corner OF the fort and town. You'd
better report at once or he'll be having
US drag the river for your body"
"All right, lieutenant Go back and
keep mum; that's a dear boy, and I'll
shuttle into Colonel Hamilton's august
presence before many minutes"
The aid laughed and went his way
whistling n merry tune.
| "Now l am sure 10 get what I de-
serve. with usury at 40 per cent I'm ad-
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