Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-01-05

Hamilton sent for her and she was
taken before him. Her face was stained
with tears and she looked pitifully dis.
tressed and disheveled, yet despite all
this her beauty asserted itself with
subtle force.
Hamilton felt ashamed looking at
her, but put on sternness and spoke
without apparent sympathy:
Miss Roussillon, you came near com.
mitting great crime. AS it is, you
have done badly enough, but wish
not to be unreasOnably severe. hope
you are sorry for your act and feel like
doing better hereafter"
She was trembling, but her eyes
looked steadily straight into his. They
were eyes of baby innocence, yet they
irradiated a strong womanly spirit just
touched with the old perverse, mis-.
chlevOus llgnt which she could neither
Danish nor control. When she did not
make reply Hamilton continued:
you may 60 home now, and I shall
expect to have no more trouble on your
account" He made gesture indica-
tive of Dismissal; then, as she turned
from him, he added, somewhat raising
his voice:
And, further, Miss ROussillon, that
flag you took from here must positively
be returned. See that 1t is done"
She lifted her head high and walked
away, not deigning to give him word
"Humph! What do you think now OF
your fine young lady" he demanded
turning to Helm with sneering curl
of his mouth. "She gives thanks CO.
piously for kindness, don't you
think"
"Poor girl! She was scared nearly
out of her life," said Helm. "She got
away from you like a wounded bird
from a snare. never saw face more
pitiful than hers"
much pity she needs, and greatly
like wounded bird she acts, must
say, but good riddance If she'll keeI
her place hereafter. l despise myself
when have to be hard with woman
especially pretty one. That girls 4
saucy and fascinating mink and as
dangerous as twenty men. I'll keep &
watch on her movements from this on
and If she gets into mischief again II
transport her to Detroit or give hel
away to the Indians. She must stoI
her high handed foolishness."
Helm saw that Hamilton was talking
mere wind, voX ct praterea nihil. anC
he furthermore felt that his babblins
signified no harm to Alice. but Hamil
ton surprised him presently by saying
81 have Just learned that Lieutenan
Beverley is actually gone. Did yoi
know Of his departure:'
"What are you saying, sir?"
Helm jumped % his feet, not angry
but excited.
Keep cool. You need not answer II
you prefer silence or evasion. You ma!
want to go yourself soon.'
Helm burst ont laughing, but quick
ly growing serious said:
Has Beverley been such drivelina
fool as that? Are you in earnest"
He killed two Of my scouts. wound
ed another and crossed the Wabash il
their canoe. He Is going straieh hi
toward Kaskaskia."
"The idiot. Hurrah for him. If yot
catch your hare you may roast him
but catch him first, GOVERNOR
you'll joke out of the other corneI
of your mouth, Captain Helm. if ant
out that you gave him aid or countc
nance in breaking his parole
aid or countenance! never saw
him after he walked out OF this room
You gave him mighty sight more
aid and countenance than | did. Wha
are you talking about! Broke his pa
role! He did no such thing. He re
turned it to you fairly. as you wei
know. He told you he was going
well, I've sent twenty Of my swift
est Indians after him to bring hin
back. I'll let you see him shot. Tha
ought to please yOu."
They'll never get him, governor II
bet high on him against your twenty
scalp lifters any day. Fitzhugh Bever
ley is the best Indian fighter, DAME
Boone and Simon KentOn excepted, II
the American colonies"
On her way home Alice met Father
Beret, who turned and walked beside
her. He was so overjoyed ut her re
lease that he could scarcely speak, bu
held her hand and stroked it gent!
while she told him her story. 1t wa,
beginning to rain, n steady. cold show
er, when they reached the house, anc
for many days and nights thereafter
the downfall continued almost inces
sanity.
Dear child" said Father Beret
stopping at the gate and looking be
seechingly into Alice's face, you must
stay ut home now-stay in the house. II
will be horribly dangerous for you tC
pass about in the village after your
after what has happened"
do not fear, father; will be careful
Aren't you coming in? I'll find you q
cake and glass Of wine."
mo, child not now"
Then goodby, goodby," she said
turning from him to run into the house
Come soon; shall be so lonesome"
On the veranda she suddenly stopped
running her fingers about her neck and
into her bosom.
ooh, father, Father Beret, I've lost
my locket!' she cried. ''See If
dropped it there
She went back to the gate, searchinl
the ground with her eyes. or course
she did not find her locket. 1t was
miles and miles away, close to the hear
of her lover. If she could but have
known this it would have comfOrted
her. Beverley had intended to leave II
with Jean, but in his haste and excite
ment he forgot. Writing the note dis
tracted his attention, and so he bore
Alice's picture OH his breast and in his
heart while pursuing his long ami
perilous journey.
Four of Hamilton's scouts came up
OH Beverley twenty miles south Of Vim
cennes, but having the advantage o:
them he killed two almost Immediately
and, after running fight, the other
two attempted escape in canoe on
the Wabash. Here, firing from Il bluff
he wounded a third. Both then plunged
headforemost into the water, and by
keeping below the surface got away
The adventure gave Beverley new
spirit and self reliance. He felt thai
he could accomplish anything neces