The Minneapolis journal., 1902-12-13

exposure to the inclement weather, which,
showed they had just come from, the ram
parts. Among them were Rouvigny, st.
Luc, Piedmont and Joannes, the town
major, and with them De Vitre, still I'm
der restraint by De Ramesay's order.
'rhe governor stood at the great table
with his officers grouped around him.
The merchants and militia officers drift
ed together at the opposite side. A
stranger would have instantly recognized
that here were two parties to debate
serious proposition. Sadness was the
predominating note in de :Ramesay's face;
naughty pride and contempt flashed from
the eyes of the mobiles and professional
soldiers at his back; dogged determine
tion was evidenced in every line in the
portly figures of the merchants; and
stubborn shame spoke from the dropped
heads of the militia officers.
'Messieurs,'' said the governor quietly,
''you have asked an audience for pur-
pose which I can but too well divine VIII
you speak your mind and have done with
it? The gentlemen of the counter first
He turned inquiringly to the merchants
but no one apparently cared to break the
silence. No one wished to assume the
stigma Of being the first to make the
proposition in furtherance Of which they
had assembled.
.sWhat, gentlemen!' continued de
Ramesay sarcastically, ARE your desires
so base that none Of you have even
courage to mention them? Monsieur
Daine, it was at your house, I am in
formed, that the gentlemen held their
meeting this morning. Will you speak p
Monsieur 1e Chevalier,'' stammered
Daine, flushing and paling by turns. we
are-we can Motive do not-in short, we
came to beg you to surrender the town.
'.Ah!" said the governor, "and why
should give UP charge devolved upor
me by his majesty the king?'
1--WE are starving, monsieur, answered
i Daine more boldly; "our dwellings,, oul
shops, our warehouses are ruined. We
4 can do no more. II the English break
into the town, If they storm the walls
4 we have over two thousand women ant
! children. Think of them, sir!''
(. True said de RaInesay, .sbut SC
4 long as we have arms In our hands tn,
English will not break through the walls
Is it not so,. gentlemen?'
'sVive Ia nouvelle France!"
j Let US die for the flag!''
'Vive le roi!''
i death to the English!'' broke in con
fused acclamations from the little groul
s of officers behind the chevaIier. TIL
I Eothers were silent.
! How is it that hear no response t
h my appeal from the officers OF the mill
tia?" continued the governor. Gentle
men. do you allow your brothers Of tn
4 tS6ui dh Ay " Soutuo ~ W AZ Pes.h 40s
ism ?''
"By God, sir!'' ripped out one OF tn
! leading officers Of the militia, I'VE cal
!, not fight any more. and there's. an en-,
!. to It! Our men are deserting by hun
4 dreds. and we are hungry! We have ha'
nothing to eat since last night, nothing
to drink either! 'Tis i'll keeping guar
and fighting no nothing! The Englisl
are there in thousands. curse them! w
can not keep them out. My men won
fight any longer!"
4 s Nor mine!' IS
"Nor mine!" rang through the hall.
$, And you. monsieur. has your stomach
: for fight also left your asked de Rame
= say, frowning upon the man.
j Eyes, 1t has!'. snapped out the officer
q furiously. ..,Tis a hopeless contest, tn,
y city is lost!' #
!. Yes. yes, he Is right!
4 Surrender
Give up the town K