The Indianapolis times., 1923-02-26

different from those who actually
shared her experiences. Her day
dreams and her night dreams partool1
much more of what she had read and
imagined than Of what she had seen
and heard in the raw little world
around her.
Her affection for Rene was inter
fered with by her large admiration
for the heroic. masterfuI and magnetic
knights who charged through the ro-
mances Of the Roussillon collection
/ For although Rene was unquestion-
ably brave and more than passing
| handsome, he had no armor, no war
horse, no shining lance and embossed
shield-the difference, indeed, was
| great.
! Those who love to contend against
/ the fatal drift Of our age toward over
/ education could find in Alice Tarleton.
| foster daughter Of Gaspard Roussilon,
| a primitive example, an elementary
| case in point. What could her book
| education do but set up stumbling
! blocks in the path Of happiness? She
/ was learning to prefer the ideal to the
/ real. Her soul was developing itself
as best It could for the enjoyment of
/ conditions and things absolutely for
/ eIgn to the possibilities of her lot in
/ life
Perhaps it was the light and heat
Of Imagination, shining out through
| Alice's face, which gave her beauty
such a fascinating power. Rene saw
it and felt its electrical stroke send a
sweet shtver through his heart, while
he stood before her.
You are very beautiful tonight,
Alice" he presently said, with a sud-
| denness which took even her alert
| ness by surprise. A flush rose to his
| dark face and Immediately gave way
| TO a grayish pallor. His heart came
near stopping on the instant he was
/ so shocked by his own daring; but he
! laid a hand on her hair, stroking It
softly.
Just a moment she was at a loss,
looking a trifle embarrassed, then
ith merry laugh she stepped aside
and said:
That sounds better. Monsieur
Rene de Ronville much better; you
viii be as polite as Father Beret after
q little more training"
She slipped past him while speak
ing ana made her way back again to
the main room. whence she called to
him:
Come here. I've something to show
you"
He obeyed, a sheepish trace on his
Countenance betraying his sef-con-
sciousness.
When he came near Alice she was
taking from its buckhorn hook on the
wall a rapier. one OF d beautiful pair
hanging side by side.
Papa Roussillon gave me these"
she said with great animation. He
bought them Of an Indian and who
had kept them a long time, where IL
/ came across them he would not tell;
but look how beautiful Did you ever
| see anything so fine?"
Guard and hilt were Of silver; the
| blade, although somewhat corroded.
| still showed the fine wavy lines OF
Damascus steel and traces Of delicate
/ engraving. while in the end Of the
| hilt was set a large oval turquoise.
"a very queer present to give a
girl" said Rene; what can you do
with them?"
a captivating flash OF playfulness
came into her face and she sprang
/ backward. giving the sword a semi
/ circular turn with her wrist. The
blade sent forth a keen hiss as It cut
/ the air close, very close to Rene's
nose. He jerked his head and flung
up his hand
She laughed merrily, standing
| beautifully poised before him, the
rapier's point slightly elevated. Her
free to show their graceful proper
tons and the perfect pose in which
| they held her supple body.
You see what I can do with the
/ colechemarde, eh, Monsieur Rene De
Ronviller' she exclaimed, giving him
smile which fairly blinded him.
Notice how very near to your neck
I can thrust and yet not touch it.
Now!''
She darted the keen point under his
chin and drew It away so quickly that
the stroke was like a CLINT Of sun
light
What do you think Of that as a
rice and accurate piece Of skip"
She again resumed her pose, the
right foot advanced. the left arm we'll
back. her lissome. finely developed
| body leaning slightly forward.
Rene's hands were up before his
| face in a defensive position, palms
outward
Just then a chorus of mems voices
sounded in the distance. The river
house was beginning its carousaI with
a song. Alice let fall her swords
point and listened.
Rene looked about for his cap.
Il must be going" he said.
Another and louder swish of the
rapier made him pirouette and dodge
again with great energy.
Don't" he cried. that's danger
Gus; you'll put out my eyes; I never
saw such girlp
She laughed at him and kept on
whipping the air dangerously near
his eyes. until she had driven him
backward as far as he could squeeze
himself into corner Of the room.
Madame ROussilion came to the
door from the kitchen and stood look
ing in and laughing. with her hands
on her hips. BY this time the rapier
was making a criss-cross pattern of
flashing lines close to the young mans
head while Alice, IN the enjoyment of