Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-09

CHAPTER XVIII.
iIUEl. By MOONLIGHT.
VIZ E!IEN Hamilton, after running
y AaS some distance, saw that he
was gaining upon Alice and
would soon overtake her, it
added fresh energy to his limbs. He
had quickly realized the foolishness of
what he had done in visiting the room
of lis prisoner at so late an hour in
the night. What would his officers and
men think? To let Alice escape would
be extremely embarrassing. and to be
seen chasing her would give good
ground for ridicule on the part of his
entire command Therefore his first
thought, after passing through the pos
tern and realizing fully what sort of
predicament threatened him, was to re-
capture her and return her to the
prison room in the blockhOuSe without
attracting attention This now prom
iset, to be an easier task than he had
at first feared, for in the moonlight.
which on account of the dispensing
clouds was fast growing stronger. he
saw her seem to falter and weaken.
Certainly her flight was checked and
took IN eccentric turn, as IL some OBJ
struction had barred her way. He
rushed on, not seeing that as Alice
swerved a man interviewed. Indeed,
he was within few strides of layin"
his hand on her when he saw her make
the strange movement. 1t was as II.
sprinsiny suddenly aside, she had be-
come two persons instead of one. But
instantly the figures coincided again.
and in becoming taller faced about and
confronted him.
Hamilton stopped short in his tracks.
The dark figure was about five PAGES
from him. 1t was not Alice. and Il
sword flashed dimly but Enthusiastically
in Il ray OF the moon. The motion Wis
ible was that of an expert swordsman
placing himself firmly on his legs, with
his weapon ut guard.
Alice saw the man in her path just
i'm time to avoid running against him.
Lightly as flying bird when it whisks
itself in short semicircle past tree
or bough she sprang aside and
swung around TO the rear of him.
where she could continue her coursc
toward the town. But in passing she
recognized him. 1t was Father Reret.
and how grim he looked, The Giscov-
cry WAS mad? in the twinkii,:g of an
eye, and its effect was instantaneous.
not orly checking the force of her
flight but stopping her and turning
her about to gaze before she had gone
five PAGES farther
Hamilton's nerve held. startled as he
was. when he realized that an armed
man stood before him. Changing the
rapier. which he held In his right
hand, over into his left. he drew
small pistol from the breast OF his
coat and fired. The report was sharp
and loud, bit it caused no uneasiness
or inquiry III the fort owing 10 the
fact thai Indians invariably einplied
their suns when coming into The town.
Hamilton's aim. although hasty. was
not bad. Tie bullet from his weapon
cut through Father Beret's clothes be-
tween his left arm ana his body, S!.Sht
ly crcasing the flesh on rib. Beyond
him il struck heavily and audiDly.
Alice fell limp and motionicss to the
soft. wet ground. where cold puddl"s OF
water were splntcrcd over with ice.
She Law nitifully crumpled, one arm
outStrctched in the moonlight. Father
Rerct heard the bullet hit her and
turned in :ime TO see her staSScr back
ward with !; hand convulsiveiy pressed
over her heart. Her face, slightly up
turned us she recled, gave the moon
pallid target for its strengthening rays.
Sweet, beautiful, its rigid features
flashed for Il second and then half
turned llom the light and went down.
Father Bcret uttered short, thin
cry and moved as if TO 80 to the fallen
girl. but Just then he saw lIamiton's
sword pass over again into his right
hand and knew that there was no time
for anything but death or fight. The
good pr.cSt did not shirk what might
have made the readicst of soldiers
nervous. Hamilton was known to he
great swordsman and proud Of the dis
tinction. Father Bcret had seen him
fence with Farnsworth in remarkable
form. touching him ut WILL and i'll min
istering TO the men in the fort lie had
heard them talk of the governors in
comparable skill.
4 priest is, in perhaps all cases but
the last out of thousand, man or
peace, not TO be forced into fight,
but the exceptional one out of the ten
hundred it is well not to stir up If you
are looking for an easy victim. Ham
ilton was in the habit of considering
every antagonist Immediately conquer
able. His domineering spirit could not.
when opposed. reckon with any possl-
bility of disaster. AS he sprang toward
Father Berct there was mutual rec
IGNITION and-we speak guardcdly-
something that sounded exactly like an
exchange of furious eXecrations. AS
for Father Beret's words. they may
have been Il mere priestly formula OF
objurgation.
The moon was accommodating. With
a beautiful white splendor it entered
a space Of cloudless sky. where it SEEM
ed to slip along the dusky blue surface
among the stars. far over in the west.
Its you. is it?" Hamilton exclaimed
between teeth that almost crushed one
another. You prowling hypocrite!
Father Beret said something. 1t was
not complimentary, and 1t sounded sui
phurous. if not profane. Remember,
however. that priest can scarcely
hope to be better than Peter. ana
Peter did actually make the simon
pure remark when hard pressed. AT
all events. Father Beret said somethin.
with vigorous emphasis. and met Ham
| iltOn half way.