The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1899-01-26
ST. DENIS.

Upon the San Saba country of Texa
is an ancient stone house, said to have
been the home, nearly 200 years ago, q
Jugereau st. Denis, a French explorer
| and adventurer, and his wife, Dona
Maria, the beautiful daughter of 8
Spanish officer.
No more gallant figure than St. De.
mis- steps out from the shadows of the
past. He was born in Canada, spent hi:
childhood and early youth in France,
where he was educated and had for bis
CON panions young men Of the better
class. he returned to Canada, and for
some years took an active part in affairs
there.
He is described as Of majestic fig
ure, trained in the 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 l7l4 he led band of hunters and
trappers from Canada down into Loui-
siana. We know he built fort at Mac
ogdoches and left the greater part of his
followers to garrison it. With ~ men
and a number of Indian guides he
crossed the Sabine river and penetrated
into what is now Texas. As he jour
ueyed he met with various Indian
tribes, ard seems to have had no trou-
BILE in making all of them his friends.
At last ne reached the Spanish posts
on the Rio GTande. At San Juan BaD-
tista he announced to Villesecas, the
commander there, that be came to buy
beeves. horses and supplies. and also to
establish closer and more friendly rela-
tiors between the French and Spanish
territories.
This was all very we'll, but st. De-
mis- nlast prcha bic cbisss zEas. tasaaGRinaE
all the country over which he had
marched for his king, Louis XIV, who
had shadowy claim to it by virtue of
some early explorations of La Sale.
How to deal with the newcomers
bothered VilIesecas a great deal. After
many days of waiting and Of those ex-
asperating delays We Of the present day
know SO we'll in our intercourse with
Spaniards, st. Denis sent a message to
the governor Of Coahuila, telling his
mission and asking the privilege of
trade.
Now, Villesecas had a daughter,
very beautiful daughter, named Maria.
Given a handsome, vivacious young
Frenchman and beautiful Spanish girl
daily meeting, and all who read know
what came Of it. st. Denis fell in love
with her-an honest and sincers passion
it was-and she in turn loved him. The
Of love was the beginning Of
trouble
For at the same time st. Denis sent
bis message to the governor Villesecas
sent a letter to the same parsonage.
This letter expressed suspicious as to
the object of st. Denis visit and also |
toId of the love affair of the Frenchman
and Dona Maria. The governor was :
n love with her himself and a suitor |
ior her hand. 1t was for st. Denis a
,ass Of putting his head in the lions
mouth and then twisting his tail.
Back came the messengers and back |
.lso came troop of cavalry with orders
10 seize st. Denis and bring him to
he governors seat, Montclova, forth
With. At Montclova st. Denis was
ieavily ironed and thrown into prison.
When he had had few days experience
# the horrors and cruelties of a Span
sh prison, the governor, Gaspardo de
Anaya, came to see him, expecting no
Ioubt to find him worn out, broken
pirited and quite tractabIe, willing to
rant anything for freedom.
The Spaniard told his captive that if
% would give up Dona Maria be
you'd be free. ST. Denis Indignantly
corned the proposal. His position was
S desperate as a mans could well be,
lone where it was impossible to appeal
D any one, stranger in a land always
eartless and cruel to strangers, sus-
ected OF designs against the state, and,
Torse than that, in the power of man
rho loved the woman who loved him.
1t is said, 'Hell hatn no fury like
'oman scorned." So can it be said,
Earth has no ally like a woman who
ives you"
Dona Maria learned of her lovers
light by receiving a letter from the
Dvernor telling her Of it. The letter
Iso informed her that if she did not
gree to marry the writer, st. Denis
'ould be put to death.
The high spirited beauty rose equal
} the occasion. Her reply to his sooun-
srley was positive refusal. More than
lat, she wrote that in case st. Denis
et his death she herself, or some one
II her, woald put knife into the gov
nar's cowardly heart. The governor
ust have been impressed, for st. De-
IS did not die just then.
Dona Maria spent no time in delays.
e at onca wrote ~ the viceroy at the ! :