Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-23

Hearing Alice's name caused Bever-
ley to look around. Where was she?
In the distance he saw Father Beret
hurrying to the spot where some Of the
men burned and wounded by the eX-
plosiOn were being stripped and cared
for. Hamilton still stood like statue.
He appeared TO be the only cool person
In the fort.
where IA Alice - Miss ROussillon?
Where did Miss Roussillon go?" Bev-
erley exclaimed. staring around like
lost man. "Where is sheY
"Dknow," said Oncle Jazon, resum.
ing his habitual expression Of droll dig
nifty. "She shot apast me jes' as thet
thing busted loose. an she went like er
hummin' bird. skitch-jes' thet way
an | didn't see 'er no more, cause
was skeert mighty nigh inter seven fits;
'spect that 'splosion blowed her clean
away? Ventrelseu. Never was so
plum outen breath an dead crazy weak
O. bein' afeard"
Lieutenant Beverley" roared Clark
in his most commanding tone, "go to
the gate and settle things there. That
mob outside is trying to break in"'
The order was instantly obeycd. buN
Beverley had relapsed. Once more his
soul gropcd in darkness while the
whole of his life seemed unreal, wav-
cr.ng. misty. hollow dream. And yet
his military duty was all real enough.
Ia knew just what to do when he
reached the gate.
Back there ut once" he command
ed. not loudly, but with intense force.
back there This 10 the inward surg
ing W ,dge of excited outsiders. Then
to the guard:
shoot tho first man who crosses the
linc.'
"Zifl me voici! Moi. Gaspard Rous-
sillon. Laissez-moi pasSer, mcSSieurs.
\ great body hurled itself frantically
past Beverley and the guard, going out
through the gateway against ia" wall
of the crowd bearing everything be-
fore ii and shouting:
Back, fools! You'll ali be killed. The
powder is on fire. Zif. Run
Wild as March hare. he BriStled
with terror and foImcd at the mouth.
He stampodpd the entire mass. ! here
was a wild howl. a rush in the other
direction followed. ana soon enough
the esplanadr and all the space back to
the barricades and beyond were quite
deserted.
Alice, was not aware that Il serious
accident had happened, Naturally Sh"
thought the great. rattling. crashing
noise of the explosion mere part OF
the spectacular show. When the rush
followed. separating her and beverley.
II was "A great relief To her in som"
way. for a Sudden recognition Of the
boldnpss Of her action in the little scene
lust ended came over her and bewil'
dered her. An impulse sent her run
ming away from the spot where. II
seemed to her. she had invited public
deris.On. The terrible noises all around
her were she now fancied, but tie
iecrin% and hooting Of rude men who
had seen her unmaidcnly forwardness.
With Il burning face she flew To the
postern and slipped ont, once more tax
ing the course which had become so ia
miliar to her feet. She did not Slacken
her speed until she reached the BOur-
cier cabin. where she had made her
home since tie night when iiamilton's
pistol ball struck her The little dom-
cile was quite empty of It's household,
but Alice entered and ilung herself into
chair. where she sat quivering and
breathlesS when Adrienne. also much
excited. me in, preceded by stream
Of patois that sparkled continuously.
"Thc fort il blown up"' she cried,
gesticulating in every direction " once.
her petite figure comically dilated with
the importance of her statement. "A
hundred men are killed. and the pow
der is on fire.
She pouncpd into Alice's arms. still
talking as fast as her tOn%r" could VI
brate. changing from subject To sub
ject without rhyme or reason. her pratt
tie making its way by skipS and SHES
until what WAS really uppermost in her
sweet little heart disclosed itself.
And, o Alice, Rene has not come
yeti
She plunged her dusky face between
AliccS cheek und shoulder. Alice hug
ged her sympathc,ically and said:
but Rene will come. know he will.
dear"
"Oh. but do you know It! Is II trucf
Who told you? When will he come!
Where is he? Tell me about him.
Her head popped III from her friends
neck and she smilcd brilliantly through
the tears that were still sparkling on
her LONG black laSheS.