tunic, drawn in at the waist with a broad belt, gave his strong figure just the dash of wildness suited to the armament with which it was weighted. A heavy gun lay in the hollow of his shoulder under which hung an otter-skin bullet-pouch with its clear powder-horn and white bone charger. In his belt were two huge flint-lock pistols and a long case-knife. 

 "Bon jour, Ma'm'selle Adrienne," he cheerily called, waving his free hand in greeting to a small, dark lass standing on the step of a veranda and indolently swinging a broom. "Comment allez-vous auj ourd'hui?" 

 "J'm'porte tres bien, merci, Mo'sieu Rene," was the quick response; "et vous?" 

 "Oh, I'm as lively as a cricket." 

 "Going a hunting?" 

 "No, just up here a little way—just on business—up to Mo'sieu Roussillon's for a moment." 

 "Yes," the girl responded in a tone indicative of something very like spleen, "yes, undoubtedly, Mo'sieu de Ronville; your business there seems quite pressing of late. I have noticed your industrious application to that business." 

 "Ta-ta, little one," he wheedled, lowering his voice; "you mustn't go to making bug-bears out of nothing." 

 "Bug-bears!" she retorted, "you go on about your business and I'll attend to mine," and she flirted into the house. 

 Rene laughed under his breath, standing a moment as if expecting her to come out again; but she did not, and he resumed his walk singing softly— 

 "Elle a les joues vermeilles, vermeilles, Ma belle, ma belle petite." 

 But ten to one he was not thinking of Madamoiselle Adrienne Bourcier. His mind, however, must have been absorbingly occupied; for in the straight, open way he met Father Beret and did not see him until he came near bumping against the old man, who stepped aside with astonishing agility and said— 

 "Dieu vous benisse, mon fils; but what is your great hurry—where can you be going in such happy haste?" Rene did not stop to parley with the priest. He flung some phrase of pleasant greeting back over his shoulder as he trudged on, his heart beginning a tattoo against his ribs when the Roussillon place came in sight, and he took hold of his mustache to pull it, as some men must do in moments of nervousness and 

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