The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-07

he found that she really had no mean
smattering Of books in the lighter vein.
A little thing happened which furth-
er opened his eyes and increased the
interest that her beauty and elemen-
tary charm Of style aroused in him
gradually, apace with their advancing
acquaintanceship.
Father Beret had got we'll and re-
turned to his hut and his round Of
spiritual duties; but Beverley came to
RoussillOn place every day ell the
same. For a wonder Madame Rous-
sillon ike him, and at most times held
the scolding side Of her tongue when
he was present. Jean. too, made
friendly advances whenever Oppor-
tunity afforded. OF course Alice gave
him just the frank cor5iality Of hos
pitable welcome demanded by frontier
conditions. She scarcely knew wheth-
er she liked him or not; but he had
a treasury of information from which
he was enrichtng her with liberal
careIessness day by day. The hun
grlest part of her mind was being
sumptuously banqueted at his ex-
pense. Mere intellectual greediness
drew her to him.
Naturally they soon threw off such
troubling formalities as at first rose
between them, and began to disclose
to each other their true character
istics. Alice found in Beverley a
large target for the missiles Of her
clever and tantalizing perversity. He
IN turn practiced a native dignity and
an acquired superiority OF manner to
excellent effect II was a meeting Of
Greek with Greek in a new Arcadia.
To him here was Diana, strong.
strange. simple, even crude almost TO
naturaIness, yet admirably pure IN
spirit and imbued with highest WON
AMY aspirations. To her Beverley
represented the great outside area of
life He came TO her from wonder
land. beyond the wide circle OF house
less woods and prairies He repre-
scented gorgeous cities, teening parks
of fashion. boulevarJs salons. halls
OF social splendOr. the theater, the
world of woman's dreams.
Now, there is an autagonism vague
yet powerful. generated between ma
lures thus cast together from the op-
posite poles of experience and educa-
tIou; an antagonism practically equiv
alent to the most vigorous attraction.
What one knows the other IS but half
aware OF, neither knowledge nor ig-
uorance being mutual. there IS a sciu-
tillation Of exchange. from opposing
vantage grounds, followed by harm
iess snaps Of thunder. Culture and
refinement take on a!rs-it ia the
deepest artificial instinct OF enughteu
ment to pose-in the presence of nat
uralness. and there IS a certain style
Of ignorance which atItudinizes be
fore the gate Of knowledge The re-
turn to nature has always been the
dream Of the conventionalized soul.
while the simple Arcadian IS forever
longing for the maddening honey Of
soph'stlcatiOn.
Innate tealousIes strike together Ike
flint and steel dashing off sparks 10y
which nearly everything that life can
warm its core withal is ldndled and
kept burning What I envy in my
friend I store for my best use
thrust and parry. not to kill but TO
learn my adversary's superior feints
and guards. And this hint Of sword
play leads back 70 what so greatly
surprised and puzzled Beverley one
day when he CHANGED 10 be examining
the pair Of colechemardes on the wall
He took one down, and handling Il
with the indescribable facility possible
TO none save a practical swordsman,
remarked:
There's a world Of fascination IN
these things; ike nothing better than
a bout at fencing. Does your father
practice the art?"
Il have no father. no mother" she
quickly said, "but good Papa RoussU.
lon does Ike a little exercise with the
colechenarde"
We'll, I'm glad to hear It, I shall
ask TO teach him a trick or two"
Beverley responded IN the ughtest
mood. when viii he return from
the woods?'
I cant tell you; he's very irregu-
lar in such matters" she said Then.
with a smile half banter and half
really dying for some exercise. YOU
shall not have to wait for him to
come home, assure wou, Monsieur
Beverley
"Oh. it's Monsieur de Ronville, per
haps, that you viii offer up as VIC
tim TO my skill and address," he sly
~ returned, for ne was suspecting
that a love affair IN some stage Of
progress lay between her and Rene
She blushed violently. but quickly
overcoming d combined rush Of sur
prise and anger, added with an EN-.
phasis as charming as It was unex-
pected
'I myself am, perhaps. a swords
man enough to satisfy the impudence
and vanity Of Monsieur Beverley.
Lieuteant in the American army"
Pardon me, MademoiselIe; forgive
me. beg Of you" ne exclaimed. earn
estly modulating his voice to sincerest
beseechment; L really did not mean
TO be impudent, nor"
Her vivacity cleared with a merry
laugh
No apologies, I command you" she
interposed. I'VE win have them after
have taught YOU a fencing lesson"
From a shelf she drew down a pair
Of foiis and presenting the hits, babe
him take his choice.
There isn't any difference between
them that I know Of" she said, and
then added archly: but you will feel
better at last. when all is ov4r and
the sting Of defeat tingles through
you, II YOU are conscious Of having