Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 255, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 March 1923 — Page 8

8

Alice of Old Vincennes By Maurice Thompson COPYRIGHT. 190 8. BY ALICE LEE THOMPSON

BEGIN HEBE When FATHER GIBACLT brought the request to Vincennes from GEOKGB ROGERS CLARK, a brave officer of the American Army at Kaskaskia, that Vincennes give allegiance to his Government. ail were easily persuaaed to do bo by GASPARD ROUSSILLON, who was regarded as their chief. A Has exactly like that under which GEORGE WASHINGTON, the great American General, was fighting, was hurriedly mads by a MADAME GODERE and ALICE, roster daughter of Gaspard Rouissilon. Caught in the spirit of freedom. Alice rushed to the rooi of the blockhouse, and planted the new emblem over Vincennes, leaving behind her RENE DE RONVILLE. her ardent admirer, whom the committee had sent to get the Ha?. % GO ON WITH THE STORY SHE looked down and saw M. Roussillon. Father Gibault and Father Beret grouped in the center of the area. They were waving their hands aloft at her, while a bedlam of voices sent up applause which went through her blood like strong wine. She smiled radiantly, and a sweet flush glowed in her cheeks. No one of all that wild crowd could ever forget the picture sketched so i boldly at that moment when, after ! planting the staff, Alice stepped back | a space anu stood strong and beautiful against the soft blue sky. She glanced down firs't, then looked up, her arms folded across her bosom. It was a pose as unconsciously taken as that of a bird, and the grace of it went straight to the hearts of those below. She turned about to descend, and for the first time saw that Rene had followed her. His face was beaming. “What a girl you are!” he exclaimed, In a tone of exultant admiration. “Never was there another like you!" Alice walked quickly past him without speaking; for down in the space where some women were huddled aside from the crowd, looking on, she had seen little Adrienne Bourcier. She made haste to descend. Now that her impulsively chosen enterprise was completed her boldness deserted her j and she slipped out through a dilapi- | dated postern opposite the crowd. On her right was the river, while southward before her lay a great flat plain, beyond which rose some hillocks covered with forest. The sun blazed between masses of slowly drifting clouds that trailed creeping fantastic shadows across the marshy waste. Alice walked along under cover 01 the slight landswell which then, mors plainly marked than it is now. formed the contour line of hummock upon which the fort and village stood. A watery swale grown full of tall aquatic weeds meandered parallel with the bluff, so to call it, and there was a soft melancholy whispering of wind among the long blades and stems. She passed the church and Father Beret's hut and continued for some distance in the direction of that pretty knoll upon which the cemetery is at present so tastefully kept. She felt shy now, as If to run away and hide would be a great relief. Indeed, so relaxed were her nerves that a slight movement In the grass ana cattail flags near by startled her painfully, malting her jump like a fawn. “Little friend not be 'fraid,” said a gutteral voice in broken French. “Lit'le friend not make noise.” At a glance she recognized LongHair, the Indian, rising out of the matted marsh growth. It was a hideous vision of embodied cunning, soullessness and murderous cruelty. “Not tell white man you see me?’ he grunted interrogatively, stepping close to her. He looked so wicked that she recoiled and lifted her hands defensively. She trembled from head to foot and her voice failed her. but she made a negative sign and smiled at him. turning as white as her tanned face coul' become. In his left hand he held his bow. while in his right he half lifted a murderous-looking tomahawk. “What new flag mean?” he demanded. waving the bow’s end toward the fort and bending his head down dose to hers. “Who yonder?” “The great American Father has taken us under his protection.” she explained. “We are big-knlves now.” It almost choked her to speak. “Ugh! heap damn fools,” he said

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with a dark scowl. “Little friend much damn fool.” He straightened up his tall form and stood leering at her for some seconds, then added: “Little friend get killed, scalped, maybe.” The Indescribale nobjlity of animal largeness, symmetry and strength showed in his form and attitude, but the expression of his countenance was absolutely repulsive—cold, hard, beastly. He did not speak again, but turned j quickly, and stooping low, disappeared like a great brownish red serperrt in 1 the high grass, which scarcely stirred I as he moved through it. Somehow that day made itself I strangely memorable to Alice. She had been accustomed to stirring scenes and sudden changes of conditions: but this was the first time that she had ever joined actively in a public movement of importance. Then, too, Long-Hair’s picturesque and rudely dramatic reappearance affected her imagination with an indescribable force. Moreover, the pathetic situation in the love affair between Rene and Adrienne had taken ; hold of her conscience with a disturbing grip. But the shadowy sense of impending events, of which she could form no idea, was behind it all. She had not heard of Brandywine, or Bunker Hill, or Lexington, or Concord; but something like a waft of their significance had blown through her mind. A great change was coming into her idyllic life. She was* indistinctly aware of it, as we sometimes are of an approaching storm, while yet the sky is sweetly blue and serene. When she reached home the house was full of people to whom M. Roussillon, in the gayest of moods, was dispensing wine and brandy. “Vive Zhorzh Vasinton!” shouted Oncle .Tazon as soon as he saw her. And then they all talked at once, raying flattering things about her. Madame Roussillon tried to scold as usual; but the lively chattering of the guests drowned her voice. “I suppose the American commander will send a garrison here,” someone said to Father Gibault, “and repair the fort.” “Probably,” the priest replied, “in a very few weeks. Meantime we will garrison it ourselves.” “And we will have M. Roussillon for commander,” spoke up Rene de Ronville. who was standing by. “A good suggestion,” assented Father Gibault; “let us organize at once.” Immediately the word was passed ! that there would be a meeting at the fort that evenirg for the purpose of \ choosing a garrison and a commander, j Everybody u-ent promptly at the hour j set. M. Roussillon was elected Cap- j t ■ im itlon, with Re ne de Ronville as his Lieutenant. It was j observed that Oncle Jazon had re | sumed his dignity, and that he looked into his cap several times without speaking. Meantime certain citizens, who had been in close relations with Governor Abbott during his stay, quietly slipped out of town, manned a batteau and went up the river, probably to Ouiatenon first and then to Detroit. Doubtless they suspected that things might soon grow too warm for their comfcrL It was thus that Vincennes and Ft. Sackville first acknowledged the Amer ican Government and hoisted the flag which, as long as it floated over the blockhouse, was lightly and lovingly ‘•ailed by every one la banniere d’Alice Roussillon. Father Gibault returned to Ft. Kaskaskia and a little later Captain Leonard Helm, a jovial man. but past! the prime of life, arrived at Vincennes vsith a commission from Colonel Clark authorizing him to supersede M. Rous ilion as commander, and to act as Indian agent for the American Government In the Department of the Wabash. He was welcomed by the villagers, and at once made himself very- pleasing to them by adapting himself to their ways and entering heartily Into their social activities. M Roussillon was absent when Captain Helm and his party came. Rene de Ronville. nominally in command of the fort., but actually enjoying some excellent grouse shoot- : with a hell-mouthed old fowling piece on a distant prairie, could not be present to deliver up the post; and as there was no garrison just then visible, Helm took posseslson, without any formalities. “I think, Lieutenant, that you’d better look around through the village and see if you can scare up this Captain what’s-his-name,” said the new commander to a stalwart young officer who had come with him. “1 can’t think of these French names without getting my brain In a twist. Do you happen to recollect the Captain’s name. Lieutenant?” “Yes, sir; Gaspard Roussillon it reads in Colonel Ciark’s order; but I am told that he’s away on a trading 'our,” said the young man. “You may be told anything by these halr-tongued parlyvoos,” Helm remarked. “It won't hurt, anyway, to find out where he lives and make a formal call, just for appearance sake, and to Inquire about his health. I wish you would try it, sir. and let me know the result.” The Lieutenant felt that this was a peremptory- order and turned about to obey promptly. “And I say, Beverley, come back sober, if you possibly can,” Helm added in his most genial tone, thinking it a great piece of humor to suggest sobriety to a man whose marked difference from men generally, of that time, was his total abstinence from intoxicating drinks. Lieutenant Fitzhugh Beverley was a Virginian of Virginians. His family had long been prominent in colonial affairs and boasted a record of great achievements both in peace and in war. He was the only son of his parents and heir to a fine estate Consisting of lands and slaves; but, like many another of the rest! ess young cavaliers of the Old Dominion, he had come In search of adventure over Into Kentucky, along the path blazed by Daniel Boone; and when Clark organized his little army, the the young man’s patriotic and chivalrous nature leaped at the opportunity to serve his country under so gallant a commander. k Beverley was not a mere youth, ali though yet somewhat under 30. EduJ dated abroad and naturally of a I thoughtful and studious turn, he had eiriched his mind far beyond the us-

DOINGS OF THE DUFFS—

—I ' f" m li I ■■■— -I --- '" ' ” ' '"" '' IT ‘"-w ~ - ' !■■■■!■ I I- I-- f " ri y\ Tell me,dan ny, do vol> \ |f You just bet \ can make. V can \go y 1 ’ll call You LIKE FUDGE? AND DO \ ICECREAM- You GET YOUR. ) ' / / OVERTO DORIS'S HOUSE ) SHE !S f AA UP, HELEM* /GOODSV, DAKNY U YOU LIKE ICE CREAM ? j NIGHTY AND COME OVER WITH ) i ( FOR A VISIT*? SHE 15 /WELL SAY, 4 AND DOMT j VOU DO? WELL,HOW WOULD ( ME AND WE’LL HAVE LOADS OF- GO |N& TO MAKE ICE /thAT OUGHT (T \ TOO MUCH / YOU LIKE To COME OVER ) —FUN - WE'LL GOTO A MOVING PICTURE J* j \ CREAM AND FUDGE 'To BF A BIG ( —' \ ICECREAM* L TO MV HOUSE AND WETL \li% SHOW TOO -GO AKD ASK YOOR J\ AWO TAKE MF TO Ymc me v™ ■> 1 Y "OTHER iFVOOCASGOIHE ~ ’ L ..-ATjjTT MAK T ANARUS" ,fi ut* i -L everything/ J have to let r -f goods- '\— j /f-> | \ I'iCTHZP-’/, |

so : /SAN GrPM-xXLT , NOO S (A Uj COULD MAKE A LOT V ' J MAKE. A LOT MOPE N j / , OF MONEV IF NOOO J ME, IF YOU "TOOK THE-T J \ F?E.N4V OUT' A COUPLE W? T \ CAF? AN WENT INTO /\, n L_ \of Them SFAV?E. OOMS MekA \. TV TAXI BUSINESS'.) Ji_J —Y. j Y! a I | j M gjpgl ft ELF DA KIM IS ONE PERS PUT anything- over on The old cross\nG- 'iiws WATCHMAN WHEN )T COMES TO KIDDINGr. sza J

THEM DAYS IS GONE FOIvEVER

Mr rf f 1*• r ~ ; —I " Sat pap -i MeeD sone flO broum just dotgs oaj at yoo£ rp S'pcmp TB4ISM PATS IS "Tioe/OTV 60CK9 UMU Be TAXICABS k)MM Aas MO MOcee TkaM FIFTY COV)TS gA||P f , ALLtWHT __ APP€TITCi- . A MIGKTi W^Wll rWfrfclTfelfc .

- HtYtTP -stv7. > BA*TEI3S CLOSE'S i^Av: 'J fYS AJnm yY- f DAHQTH/NQS VE3> L Lly ly .>1 - T P SUNK ABOUT . *||| T MARSHAL OTEY WALKER.;WHILE ESCORT/NQ AAAA* \ AUNT SARAH PEABODY HOME FROAA A SOCIAL,LOST __ __ SHOES ;n THAT PUD-DLE ON LOWER. BEACH STREET

ual limit among young Americans of the very best class in that time, and so he appeared older than lie really was, an effect helped out by his largo and powerful form and grave dignity of bearing. Clark, who found him useful in emergencies, cool, intrepid, daring to a fault and possessed of excellent ’judgment, sent him with Helm, hoping that he would offset with his orderly attention to details the somewhat go-as-you-please dispo-

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

•sition of that excellent officer. Beverley set out in search of the French commander’s house, Impressed with no particular respect for him or his office. Somehow Americans of Anglo Saxon blood were slow to recognize any good qualities whatever in the Latin creoles of the West and South. It seemed to them that the Frenchman and the Spaniard were much too apt to equalize themselves socially matrimonially with

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIAIES

Indians and negroes. The very fact that for a century, while AngloAmericans had been in constant bloody warfare with savages, Frenchmen had managed to keep on easy and highly profitable trading terms with them, tended to confirm the worst imj'ilcation. “Eat frogs arid save your scalp,” was a hit of contemptuous frontier humor indicative of what sober judgment held in reserve on the subjecL

A Big Time for Danny

( j- \ AM-AX-M4US2F ([ WJW \\ YOU MAMtKfT WV Pi?ocF TD SEE - „ j-, DO You 9cVS~ \ L JJ TMAT UE J ♦ '] JACKIE T J A UIILSEUF. UAME To \DEMTRY y L-f c o oSAti cTTjT PASS ?T / \ ' L MX‘■SELF L a Tt J nt 7 you pass jr —^ VfTl * \Airf~l'' U=- H L TWoosu jAsmsm \ y }U■4m l^, ja j If TaESt ( taumfi Jtir-if M '' s \©vo pjkwies! / LULHY sstTuT Y , ueu-o J-4 €s?a -mun iy ; Ts- yas! j-rs aK\[ l NbowsKircoMiMS jj ! p.. s|y y wrl ?p Wa Y \ NEA SEHVICZ A

Gomluct This On Your < ash Register

( ; > Ail BUSTER, w'IAD ”HV HFMTtT / MA3bR Avh !9 ladeu WITH Discovftfcvrr! * jg/X', _ ; J<JoW what Mouvkvn ; P >-ACE ” mis wvunfe SHOULD L/ . ro BE \ DouU II) tHBE IU THE TOMS OF KIUG t T !:i -fOWB,-I'UE*r ■WVJKHAMEU - -THE ESVPT Xl'kiug I ‘^CtE-TVrr CF-TIiREE-moUSAUD WEARS '“Sr , feUL- EH TWA-fD woULI3Be 4 AGO 19 AVi OPEVi BOOK TANARUS& ME I .* ViL j ,^ ELP WoULIS B T rARRIEt) OUT P THIUK OF W'hAT VALUE I KE T° 55 WELL X would be iuthh Work of J!SJ j i guess i'll Q foul'd 9E i4 DECIPHERING j \ GOILiG 1 y 0 I p AND EXPLAINING THE UGE | G OUD AN' / ' AND ORIGIN OF EACH ARTCLE \ -JEWELS /fl-TI X 7 AG vT IS BROUGHTTo LIGHT/ V, ~w JX [|j ’vflftiH \kl LLE VdF~" KU4 G ==^

Intent upon his formal mission, Lieutenant Beverley stalked boldly Into the inclosure at Roussillon place and was met on the gallery by Madame Roussillon in one of her worst moods. She glared at him with her hands on her hips, her mouth set irritably aslant upward, her eyebrows gathered into a dark knot over her nose. It would be hard to Imagine a more forbidding countenance; and for supplementary effect

FRECKLES AN T D HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

OUR BOARDING LOUSE— By AHERN

out popped hunchback Jean to stand behind her, with his big head lying back in the hollow of his shoulders and his long chin elevated, while he gawped intently up into Beverley’s face. “Bonjour, Madame,” said the lieutenant, lifting his hat and speaking with a pleasant accent. “Would it be agreeable to Captain Roussillon for me to see him a moment?" Despite Beverley’s cleverness In us-

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1923

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

lng the French language, he had a decided brusqueness of manner and a curt turn of voice not in the least Gallic. True, the soft Virginian intonation marked every word, and his obeisance was as low as if Madame Roussillon had been a queen; but the light French grace was wholly lacking. “What do you want of my husband?’’ Madame Roussillon demanded. (To Be Continued,)