The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-11-30
ST. DENIS.

ST. DENIS.
Upon the San Saba country of Texas
is an ancient stone house, said to have
been the home nearly goo years ago. of
Iugereau St. Denis French explorer
and adyentuIer, and his wife, Dona
Maria. the beautiful daughter of a
Spanish officer
No more gallant figure than st. De-
mis- steps out from the shadows Of the
past. He was born in Canada, spent his
childhood and early youth in France
where he was educated and had for his
| companions young men of the better
class He returned to Canada, and for
some years took an active part in affairs
there
He is described rs of majestic fig
ure trained in tho French military
schools, of manners the most courteous,
OF strong character, warm heart, of a
power of speech peculiarly winning and
of undaunted bravery
In INA he led "a band of hunters and
trappers from Canada down into .Loui-
siana. We know he built fort ut Mac
ogdoohos and left tho greater part of HIS
followers to garrison it With 12 men
and number Of Indian guides he
crossed the Sabine river and penetrated
into what is now Texas As he jour
ueyod no met with various Indian
tribes. and seems to have had no trou-
BILE in making all Of them his friends.
At last he reached the Spanish posts
ON tho Rio GIande. At San juan Bap.
tista he announced to Nillesecas, the
commander there, that ha came to buy
beeyes horses and supplies, and also to
establish closer and more friendly rela.
tons between the French aud Spanish
territories.
This was all very well, but st. De
MIS- most probable object was to acquire
All the country over which he had
mayched for his king. louis XIV, who
had II shadowy claim to it by virtue Of
some early explorations OF La Sale.
How to deal with tho newcomers
bothered Villeseoas grent deal After
many days of waiting and of those ex-
asporating delays we of the present day
know SO we'll in our intercourse with
| Spaniards, st. Denis sent message to
| the governor of Coahuila, telling his
mission and asking the privilege of
trade
Now, Villesecas had "A daughter, n
very beautiful daughter named Maria
Given handsome, yivacious young
Frenchman aud beautiful Spanish girl
daily meeting, and all who read know
what came Of it. st. Denis fell in love
with her-an honest and sincere passion
il was--and she in turn loved him. Tho
beginning Of love was the beginning Of
trouble.
For ut tho same time st. Denis sent
his message to the governor Villesecns
sent n letter to the same parsonage,
This letter expressed suspicious as to
the object Of st. Denis visit and also
told of the love affair of the Frenohman
and Dona Maria. Tho governor was
in love with her himself and suitor
for her hand 1t was for st. Denis a
casa Of putting his head in tho lion 3
mouth and then twisting his tail
Back came the messengers and back
also came "a troop Of cavalry with orders
to seize St Denis and bring him to
the governors seat, Montclova, forth
with. At Montclova st. Denis was
heavily ironed and thrown into prison.
When he had had a few days. experience
of the horrors and cruelties Of Span
ish prison. tho governor, Gaspardo dc
Anaya came to see him, expecting no
doubt to find him worn out, broken
spirited and quite tractable, willing to
grant anything for freedom.
The Spaniard told his captive that II
he would give up Dona Maria he
soorned tho proposal. His position was
as desperate as IA mans could well be,
alone where 1t was impossible to appeal
to any one, a stranger in land always
beartless and cruel to strangers. sus
pected of designs against the state. and,
worse than that, in the power Of a man
who loved the woman who loved him.
1t is said. Hell hath no fury like q
woman scorned." So can it DO said,
Earth has no ally like woman who
loves you.
Dona Maria learned OF her lover 4
plight by receiving letter from the
governor telling her Of it, The letter
also informed her that il she did not
agree to marry the writer. st. Denis
would be put to death.
The high spirited beauty rose equal
to the occasion. Her reply to his scoun-
derlcy was "a positive refusal More than
that. she wrote that in case st. Denis
met his death she herself, or some one
for her, would put knife into the gov
ernor's cowardly heart The governor
must have been impressed. for ST. De
mis- did not die inst then.
Dona Maria spent no time in delays
She at once wrote to the viceroy at the
City Of Mexico, the viceroy having alb
solute power, standing in place OF his
king, over all South America and a
great part of North America.
She told Of st. Denis and his visit,
told of their mutual love, told Of the
baseness of the governor of Ccabuila