The daily gazette., 1880-05-18
Margaret Roberval.
By BLANCH ROOSEVELT,

The earliest European attempt al
colonization in Northern America ha,
its romance in the story of Margaret
Roberval. 1t does not appear in the
accounts of Cartier's voyage, but, like
some other episodes of transa tlantic
matters in that early day, has been
preserved by the chatty old priest, An
drew Thevet, who know most of those
that in his day went down to the sea
in ships. r.
Among the mobiles of the court OF
Francis Twas one whose overbearine
temper and naughty mien won him
from the gallant king the title of Petit
Roi de Vimeux. Caught by the idea
of vast domain in the New World,
Roberval obtained one of those grants
that European monarchs gave with
such lavish hand, ceding by stroke
of the pen thousands of miles of terri
tory, untrodden and unexplored, and
creating a viceroy with powers unlim-
tied.
A fleet was soon fitted out, and Rob-
erval sailed forth, bearing colony to
people his kingdom. Among those
who bore him company went reluctant
ly his niece, Margaret Roberval, whom
he hoped to separate, it would seem,
from French suitor; but before she
sailed Margaret, aided by her duenna
Bastienne, was married TO the man of
her choice;and when that nobleman
boldly offered himself as colonist,
even the petty king of Vimeux burst
not refuse. But his anger burned
within, and when, after reaching the
Gulf of st. Lawrence, he discovered
that his neice was actually a wife, he
become very maniac. Her he could
punish; she was his ward, married
without his consent, and now within
his realm, where he was absolute
ruler.
Near them was an island, whose
wooded slopes imagination had peo-
pied with demons. Here, with a few
scanty supplies, he secretly landed
Margaret and her old attendant. But
the husband, learning this, landed
from his own vessel, with abundant
supplies, risking his own life in thus
braving the anger of Roberval.
Garry her back to France he burst
not, but he could and would share her
fate till friends could come to their re-
lief. He took ashore all that in the
brief moment allowed him for deliber-
alton he could think of aud his love
prompted attention to her wants and
comfort. On the desolate, rocky isle,
with no sound but the mighty gulf,
and Tapping of countless wings of the |
gulls and comerants, they beheld the |
feet recede. No time was lost in pre-
pairing a shelter-a log hut we'll pro-
tected from the winds. The birds |
nests were sought for food, and a sup
ply obtained, roasted, and laid up.-l
The sea-biscuit and other stores were |
carefully used, and there seemed no |
risk of perishing for time, at least.
But in few months the young hus- |
band sickened. In vain did the de- |
voted Margaret and her faithful nurse
lavish every care; he sank gradually,
and expired, bewailing the misery to |
which he left her exposed. With |
many tear she commit ed to the
earth the form of him whom she |
loved so truly; then rose to face her
fate.
Though soon TO become a mother.
she took her husbands arquebuse and
ere long, was an intrepid hunter. The
polar bear more than once fell under
her unerring sho', and while her am
munition lasted she felt no fears
Even the sickness of her nurse, involv-
ing new cares, and the trials of mater
nifty which came upon her, giving a
new object to her love and duty, failed
to paralyze the courage of his brave
woman.
Seventeen months rolled away, and
she was called on to commit to earth
the form of her old nurse. The child |
of her love and sorrow followed its |
father, and Margaret knelt alone by
the triple grave.
For eighteen months she was utterly
alone: no human voice fell on her ear,