Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 289, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 April 1923 — Page 8

8

Alice of Old Vincennes By Maurice Thompson COPYBIGHT, 19 08. BY ALICE LEE THOMPSON

Y A t’en, bete, forban, meur- \ / trier.' Skin out f'om here! Y beast, robber, murderer!” he crted. in his keen, screech-owl voice. ‘Til git thet scelp o’ your’n afore sundown, see ’t I don’t! Te onery gal-killer an’ ha’r buyer!" The blood in Hamilton's veins caught no warmth from these marks; but he held his head high and passed stolidly on. as if he did not heard a word. Helm turned the tail of an eye upon Oncle Jazon and gave him a droll, quizzical wink of appro .ral. In response old man with grotesque solemnity drew his buckhom handled knife, licked its blade and returned it to its sheath,— a bit of pantomime well understood and keenly enjoyed by the onlooking creoles. , "Butois! coquin!” they jeered, “goujat! poltron!” Beverley heard the taunting racket, but did not realize It. which was well enough, for he could not have restrained the bitter effervescence. He stood like a statue, gazing fixedly at the now receding figure, the lofty, cold-faced man in whom centered his hate of hates. Clark had requested him to be present at the conference in the church; but he declined, feeling that he could rot meet Hamilton and restrain himself. Now he regretted his refusal, half wishing that—no, he could not assassinate an enemy under a white flag. In his heart he prayed that there would be no surrender. that Hamilton would reject every offer. To storm the fort and revel *in butchering its garrison seemed the only desirable thing left for him in life. Father Beret was, indeed, present at the church, as Hamilton had dreaded; and the two duelists gave each other a rapier-like ey? t hrust. Neither epoke. however, and Clark immediately demanded a settlement of the matter in hand. He was brusque an I imperious to a degree, apparently rather anxious to repel every peaceful advance. It was a laconic interview, crisp as autumn ice and bitter as gallberries. Colonel Clark had no respect whatever for Hamilton, to whom he had applied the imperishable adjective "hair-buyer General.” On the other hand Governor Hamilton, who felt keenly the disgrace of having to equalize himself officially and discuss terms of surrender with a rough backwoodsman, could not conceal his contempt of Clark. • The five men of history, Hamilton. Helm. Hay. Clark and Bowman, were not distinguished diplomats. They went at their work rather after the hammer-and-tongs fashion. Clark bluntly demanded unconditional surrender. Hamilton refused. They argued the matter. Helm put in his oar, trying to soften the situation, as was his custom on all occasions, and received from Clark a stinging reprimand, with the reminder that he was nothing but a prisoner on parole, and had no voice at all in settling the terms of surrender. “I release him. sir,” said Hamilton. "He is no longer a prisoner. T am quite willing to have Captain Helm join freely in our conference.” "And I refuse to permit his acceptance of your favor.” responded Clark. "Captain Helm, you will return with Mr. Hamilton to the fort and remain his captive until I free you by force Meantime hold your tongue.” Father Beret, suave looking and quiet, occupied himself at the little alter, apparently altogether Indifferent to what. was. being said, but he lost not a word of the talk. "Quf habet audlendi. audiat.” he inwardly repeated, smiling blandly. "Gaudete in ilia die. et exultate!” Hamilton rose to go; deep lines of worry creased his face: but when the party had passed outside, he suddenly turned upon Clark and said: "■Why do you demand impossible terms of me?” "I will tell you, sir.” was the stem answer. In a tone in which there was no mercy or compromise. "I would rather have you refuse. I desire nothing bo much as an excuse to wreak full and bloody vengeance on every man in that fort who has engaged In the business of employing savages to scalp brave, patriotic men and defenseless women and children. The cries of the widows and the fatherless on our frontiers require the blood of the Indian partisans at my hands. If you choose to risk the massacre of your garrison to save those despicable redhanded partisans, have your pleasure. What you have done you know better than I do. I have a duty to perform. You may be able to soften its nature. I may take it into my head to send for some of our bereaved women to

COJS Lift Off with Fingers is x) Doesn't hurt a bit! Drop a little "Froezone” on an aching corn, instantly that com slope hurting, then shortly you lift It right, off with fingers. Truly! Tour druggist sells a tiny bottle of "Preazone” for a few cents, sufficient to remove every hard corn, soft com, or com between the toss, and the caljtieea, without soreness cw ix33.Ua.tion. —

witness my terrible work and see that It is well done, if you insist upon the worst.” Major Hay, who was Hamilton’s Indian agent, now. with some difficulty clearing his throat, spoke up. “Pray, sir,” said he, “who is it that you call Indian partisans?” “Sir,” replied Clark, seeing that his words had gone solidly home, “I take Major Hay to be one of the principals.” This seemed to strike Hay with deadly force. Clark’s report says that he was “pale and trembling, scarcely able to stand,” and that “Hamilton blushed, and, I observed, was much affected at his behavior.” Doubtless, if the doughty American commander had known more about the Governor's feelings just then, he would have added that an awful fear, even greater than the Indian agent’s, did more than anything else to congest the veins in his face. The parties separated without reaching an agreement; but the end had come. The terror in Hamilton’s soul was doubled by a wild scene enacted under the walls of his fort: a scene which, having no proper place in this story, strong as its historical interest unquestionably is, must be but outlined. A party of Indians returning from a scalping expedition in Kentucky and along the Ohio, was captured on the outskirts of the town by some of Clark's men, tv ho proceeded to kill and scalp them wtihin full view of the beleaguered garrison, after which their mangled bodies were flung into the river. If the British commander needed further wine of dread to fill his cap withal, it was furnished by an os tentatious marshaling of the American forces for a general assault. His spirit broke completely, so that It looked like a godsend to him when Clark finally offered terms of honorable surrender, the consummation of which was to be postponed until the following morning. He accepted promptly, appending to the articles of capitulation the following reasons for his action: “The remoteness from succor: the state and quantity or provisions, etc.; unanimity of officers and men in its expediency; the honorable terms allowed: and. lastly, the confidence in a generous enemy.”

Confidence in a generous enemy! Abject fear of the vengeance just wreaked upon his savage emissaries would have been the true statement. Beverley read the paper when Clark sent for him: but he could not join in the extravagant delight of his fellow officers and their brave men. What did all this victory mean to him? Hamilton to be treated as an honorable prisoner of war. permitted to strut forth from the fort with his sword at his side, his head up—the scalp-buyer, the murderer of Alice! What was patriotism to the crushed heart of a lover? Even if his vision had been able to pierce the future and realiz*- the splendor of Anglo-Saxon civilization which was to follow thai little triumph at Vincennes, wha' pleasure could It have afforded him Alice. Alice, only Alice; no othr thought had influence, save the re curring surge of desire for veng** ance upon her murderer. And yet that night Beverley slept, and so forgot his despair for many hours, even dreamed a pleasant dream of home, where his childhood was spent, of the stately old house on the breezy hilltop overlooking a sunny plantation, with a little river lapsing and shimmering through it. His mother's dear arms were around him. her loving breath stirred his hair: and his stalwart, gray-headed father sat cn the veranda comfortably smoklns; his pipe, while away in the wide fields the negroes sang at the plow and tinhoe. Sweeter and sweeter grew the scene, softer the air, tenderer the Mending sounds of the water-murmur, leaf-rustle, bird-song, and slave-song, until hand In hand he wandered with Alice In greening groves, where the air was trembling with the ecstacy of spring. A young officer awoke him with an order from Clark to go on duty at once with Captains Worthington and Williams, who. under Colonel Clark himself, were to take possession of the fort. Mechanically he obeyed. The sun was far upr, shining between clouds of a leaden, watery hue, by the time everything- was ready for the important ceremony. Beside the main gate of stockade two companies of patriots under Bowman and McCarty were drawn up as guards, while the British garrison filed out and was taken in charge. This bit of formality ended. Governor Hamilton, attended by some of his officers, went back into the fort and the gate was closed. Clark now gave orders that preparations be made for hauling down the British flag and hoisting the young banner of liberty in its place, when everything should be ready for a salute of thirteen guns from the captured battery. Helm’s round face was beaming. Plainly it showed that his happiness was supreme. He dared not say anything, however: for Clark was now all sternness and formality; it would b" dangerous to take any liberties; but he could smile and roll his quid of tobacco from cheek to cheek. Hamilton and Farnsworth, the latter slightly wounded in the left arm. which was bandaged, stood together somewhat apart from their fellow officers, while preliminary steps for celebrating their defeat and capture were in progress. They looked forlorn enough to have excited Jeep sympathy under fairer conditions. Outride the fort the creoles were beginning a noise of jubilation. The rumor of what was going to be done had passed from mouth to mouth, until every soul in the town know and thrilled with expectancy. Men, women and children oame swarming to see the sight, and to hear at close range the arash of cannon. They shouted. In a scattering way at first, then the tumult grew swiftly to a solid rolling tide that seemed beyond all comparison with the population of Vincennes. Hamilton heard It, and trembled Inwardly, afraid lest the mob should prove too strong for the guard. One leonine voice roared distrinctly. high above the noise. Tt was a jound familiar to all the creoles —that bellowing shout of Gaspare! Roussillon’s. He was roaming around the stockade, having been turned back by the guard when he tried to pass through the main gate. "They shut me out!” he bellowed .Curiously. “X am Gaspard Roussillon, a ad they shut mo out, mat 2tffl me

DOINGS OP THE DUFFS—

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THEM DAYS IS GONE FOREVER —

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voici! jo vais entrer iinmediatement, mol!” He attracted but Uttlo attention, however; the people and the soldiery were all too excited by the special interest of the occasion, and too busy with making a racket of their own. for any individual, even the great Roussillon, to gain their eyes or ears. He iu turn scarcely heard the tumult they made, so self-oentered were his burning thoughts and feelings. A great occasion In Vlnoeonss and he.

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS .

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

Gaspard Roussillon, not recognized ae one of the large factors in it ! Ah, no. never! And he strode along the wall of the stockade, turning the corners and heavily shambling over the inequalities till he reached the postern. It was not fastened, someone having passed through just before him. "Zl ff!” he ejaculated, stepping Into the area and shaking himself after the manner of a dusty mastiff. “C*est moll Gaspard Roussillon!” His massive --uadesKjsrv was-oet like that- at -a- vise,

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

yet It quivered with rage, a rage which was more fiery condensation of self-approval than anger. | Outside the shouting, singing and j huzz&hs gathered strength and vol- | ume, until the sound became a hoarse ! roar. Clark was uneasy; he had overj iiaard muoh of a threatening' oharaoter during the siege. The oreoles were, he knew, justly exasperated, and even his own men had been showing* a spirit which might easily bo flMinorV

An April Shower

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Tit}) This On Your Tom-Tom

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Into a dangerous flame of vengeance Ha waa very anxious to have the formalities of taking possession of the fort over with, so that he could the better control his forces. Sending for Beverley he assigned him to the duty of hauling down the British flag and running up that of Virginia. It was an honor of no doubtful sort, which under different circumstances would home made the lieu tenant's heart glow. kA* it-was, ha psnoasdofl without any

FRECKLES AND IHS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

OUR BOARDING HOUSE—By AHERN

sense of pride or pleasure, moving as a mere machine in performing an act significant beyond any other done west of the mountains, in the great struggle for American independence and the control of American territory. Hamilton stood a little way from the foot of the tall flag pole, his arms folded on his breast, his chin slightly drawn in, his brows contracted, gazing steadily at Beverley he was untying Uu halyard, which had been

FRIDAY APRIL 13, 1923

-By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

wound around the pole’s base about ; three feet above the ground. The I American troops in the fort were disposed so as to form three sides of a hollow square, facing inward. Oncle Jazon, serving as the. ornamental extreme of one line, was conspicuous for his outlandish garb and unmilitary bearing. The silence inside the afcook ade offered a strong contrast to the tremendous roar of voice* otnaide(To Be Continued^