Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-09

cIISS toii I. WI Iui't w AAeAS AAN w us' t,ViiAo
and just what
But think, Adl.ienne, only think Of
tile awful story they told-that he was
killed, that Governor Hamilton had
paid Long Hair for killing him and
bringing back his scalp! Oh, dear, just
think. And / thought it was true
"Well I'd be willing to think and be-
lieve anything in the world if Rene
would come back" said Adrienne her
face, now uncovered. showing pltiful
lines of suffering .'Oh, Alice, Alice,
and he never, never will GOMEZ
Alice exhausted every device to cheer,
encourage and comfort her. Adrienre
had been so good to her when she l"y
recovering from the shock of Hanil-
toms pistol bullet, which. although 1t
came near killing her, made no serious
wound-only bruise, in fact. 1T was
one of those fortunate accidents or
providentially ordered fnterferences
which once IN awhile save q life. The
stone disk worn by Alice CHANGED to lie
exactly In the missiles way, and.
while it was not broken. the ball, al
ready somewhat checked by passing
through several folds of Father Berets
garments, flattened itself upon 1t with
shock which somehow struck Alice
senseless.
Here. again. history In the form of
IN ancient family document "a letter
written in 1921 by Alice HERSELF gives
us the curious brace of incidents-to
wit, the breaking of the miniature OIL
Beverley's breast by a British musket
ball and the stopping of Hamilton's
bullet over Alice's heart by the Indian
charm stone.
(Which shows the goodness of God. y
the letter goes on, land also seems to
sustain the Indian legend concerning
the stone that whoever might wear it
could not be killed. Unquestionable
(sic) Mr.. Hamilton's shot, which was
aimed at poor. dear old Father Beret,
would have pierced my heart but for
that charm stone. As for my bcket, 1t
did not, as some have reported, save
Fitxhugh's life when the musket ball
was stopped. The ball was SO spent
that the blow was only hard enough to
spoil temporary (sic) the face Of the
miniature, which was afterward re-
stored fairly we'll BY an artist in Paris,
When it did actually save Fitzhugh's
life was out on the Illinois plain. The
savage Long Hair, peace to his mem
ory, worked the miracle Of restoring to
me- Here fold In the paper has de-
stroyed line Of the writing.
The letter is a sacred family paper.
and there is not justification for going
farther into its faded and, In some
parts, almost obliterated writing. But
20 much may pass into these pages as
q pleasant authorization Of what 9th
erwise might be Altogether too sweet a
double nut for the critics teeth to
crack.
While Adrienne and Alice were still
discussing the probability Of Rene de
Ronville's return M. Roussillon came to
the door. He was in search of madame,
his wife, whom he had not yet seen.
He gathered the two girls in his
mighty arms, tousling them with rough
tenderness Alice returned bis affee-
tionate embrace and told him where to
find Nine Roussillon, who was with
Dame Godere. probably at her house.
Nobody killed." he said. in answer
to Alice's inquiry about the catastro-
phe at the fort. "Some Of 'em hurt and
burnt little. Great big scare about
nearly nothing. Ziff! my children, you
should have seen me quiet things.
put out my hands this way-comme ca
--pouf! 1t was all over. The people
went home"
His gestures indicated that he had
borne back an army with open hands.
Then he chucked Adrienne under the
chin with his finger and added in his
softest voice:
II saw somebody's lover the other
day over yonder In the Indian village.
He spoke to me about somebody-eh,
ma petite, que youlez-vous dire?"
"Oh, Papa Roussillon, we were just
talking about Renew cried Alice.
"Have you seen him?"
II saw you, you little mink, Jumping
into a mans arms right under the eyes
Of whole garrison! Bah! could not
believe 1t was my little Alice!'
he let go grand guffaw which
seemed to shake the cabins walls. AL
ice blushed cherry red. Adrienne, too
bashful to inquire about Rene, was
trembling with anxiety. The truth
was not in Gaspard Roussillon just
then, or If it was it stayed in him, fol
he had not seen Rene de Ronvtlle. II
was his generous desire to please and
to appear opulent Of knowledge and
sympathy that made him speak. He
knew what would please Adrienne, SC
why not give her at least delicious
foretaste? Surely, when thing was
go cheap one need not be so parsimoni'
GUS as to withhold a mere anticipation
He was Off before the girls could press
him into details, for indeed he had
none.
"There, now, what did tell you?'
cried Alice when the big man was gone
II told you Rene would come. They
always come back"
Father Beret came in little later
As soon as he saw Alice he frowned
and began to shake his head. but she
only laughed and. initiating his hypo-
critical scowl. yet fringing it with a
twinkle Of merry lines and dimples
pointed taper finger at him and ex.