Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-03-07

named their leaders. Generation upon
generation of his ancestors had lived and
died there, and the place had become
famous throughout the great Indian na-
ton as the most lovely, fertile and desir-
able possession within the whole southern
region.
Seeing the valuable crops of grain
gathered by the Suns tenants. and rec
ognizing the incompatible beauty of the
White Apple plantation, Chopart made
up his mind to seize the place and hold
it as his own No sooner had the thought
formed in his mind than he set about
carrying the design into execution. He
sent a peremptory order to the Sun to
vacate the place Immediately and to take
with him his family and all his people;
but instead of obeying, as the overbear-
ing Frenchman expected he would, the
Sun sent back naughty and unequivocal
refusal, saying that the beautiful place
was bis by inheritance and should remaiu
his and descend to his children.
Chopart made dreadful threats, and SO
intimidated the In dians that, in a couu-
Gil called for the purpose, they agreed
that, if permitted to remain where they
were, they would pay heavy tribute, in
the nature of rent or tax, and so the
red men were made mere slaves in an
but name to the avaricious commander
of the fort.
1t was while matters stood thus that a
young man by the name of Alphonse de
Vilars arrived at Fort Rosalie. He wa.
. strikingly handsome youth, with !
dashing air, and, as he brought letters
from Perer he was treated with unlim-
tied courtesy. He had lately come over
from France, was a member of a distin-
guished and influential family, and was
burning with the desire for wild dven-
ture Chopart, of course, felt the value
of the favor of so distinguished visitor,
whose influence might hasten the pro-
motion that had been SO long withheld !;
therefore, he made him his special guest,
and this led to a meeting between Made
moiselle Claire Roman and the young
-, l. +ol
lover.
Monsieur Roman. Claire's father, was a
wealthy trader, who, since the bursting
of John Laws celebrated scheme, had
been one of the chief tinanciers of the
Louisiana colonies. At the time of our
story he was sojourning for an indefinite
time at Fort Rosalie, in the interest of
some trading scheme, and had with him
bis family, consisting of Madame Roman
and Claire
The love which, like that described in
ell good old romances, sprang up be-
tween these two young and exceptionally
endowed people was SO strong and evi-
IDENTIFY SO genuine that no opposition to
it was offered by Claire's parents. 1t was
love in wilderness, but the wilderness
was a paradise of birds, flowers, warm
sunshine and balmy breezes.
Claire Roman, by the sweetness and
kindness of her dispos. ion, as we'll as
by her rare beauty, had eDdeared herself
to the garrison of Fort Rosalle and to all
the people dwelling near. Even the
indians, sulen and silent, who came to
trade with the whites, learned to love
Ter. The Sun himself became her friend !,
and, although able to speak but little In
broken French, was always proud to ex-
change few pleasant words with her
whenever the opportunity offered. In.
deed, it was apparent that she had a
great influence over him. He called her
''Sweet Violet and often brought her
little presents, such as he would have
offered child
Alphonse de Villiars was almost con-
stantly in Claire's company, SO free was
the life of that wild and remote place,
and it chancea that the Sun often met
! them together. At such times he in.
variably ignored the young mans pres
euce and treated Claire as if she had
been entirely alone. This treatment
CALLED the Frenchman's pride and he
resented it with insult of which the Sun
took no perceptible notice.
Are you deaf2 Can't you hear s
/ gentleman when he addresses you2" ex-
claimed the young man one day, when
/ some civil words, meant to conciliate the
Sun Tor Claire's sake, were received il
silence. & will make you speak, sir
I and he half drew his sword.
. L