Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-01
CH.APTER V.

men are kxkR uueS or the
 seas, which reach and affect
 the remotest and quietest sn6oks and inlets, impart1ng a thrill land a swell of the general melton. sgather G1bault brought the wave of Ahe American RexoEutdm to Vincennes. laa was "a simple missionary, but he ssvas, besides, man of great worldly knowledge and personal force. Colonel George Rogers Clark made Father &sabaulEs acquaintance at Ka5kaskia AzFhen the fort and it's garrison surren- dered to h1s command, and, quickly discerning the fine quality of the priests character, sent him to the post on the Wabash to win over 2ts people to the cause of freedom and independ- ence. Nor was the task assumed hard one, as Father Gibault probably well knew befoGe he undertook it.
 "A few of the leading men of Vim eennes, presided over by Gaspard RoussfdIon, held consultation at the ksver house, and it was agreed that a mass meeting should be called, bring Ing all of the inhabitants together in *he church, for the purpose of consid- ering the course to be taken under n circumstances made known by Fla kher Gibault Oncle Jazon constituted himself an executive committee of one so stir up a noise for the occasion. It was a great day for Vincennes. Tne volatile temDerament of the
 ench frontiersmen bubbled over
 h enthusiasm at the first hint of something new and revolutionary in (which they might be expected to take part Without knowing in the least what 1t was that Father Gibault and s0ncle Jaxon wanted of them, they were all in favor of it at venture.
 Rene de Ronv1lIe, being an active and Intelligent young man, was sent about through the town to let everybody know of the meeting. In passing he stepped into the cabin of Father Bereta who was sitting on the loose puncheon floor. with his back turned toward the entrance and so absorbed in trying to put together a great number of small paper Fragments that he did not hear or look up.
 Are you not going to the meeting, Tatber2v Rene bluntly demanded In the hurry that was on him he did not remember to be formally polite, as was lis habit
 The old priest looked up with star tied face. At the same time he swept kl fra gments of paper together and sIntched them hard in his right hand.
 Yes. yes, my son: yes, am going, but the time has not yet come for it, has itgv he stammered .'Is it late?'
 He sprang to his feet and appeared confused, as if caught in doing some thing very improper.
 Rene wondered at this unusual be- havior, but merely said:
 fI beg pardon, Father Beret, did not mean to disturb you, and went his way.
 Father Beret stood for some min utes as if dazed, then squeezed the pa per fragments into tight ball, just as they were when he took them from un- s8SeF the floor some time before Rene came In, and put it in his pocket. A little later he was kneeling, as we have seen him once before, in silent yet 3ervent prayer, his clasped hands lifted toward the crucffix on the wall.
 Jesus, give me strength to hold on and do my work" he murmured be- seechingly. And, 0h free thy poor servant from bitter temptation.'
 Father Gibault had come prepared to use his elequence upon the excitable creoles, and with considerable cunning be addressed motley audience at the church, telling them that an American force had taken Kaskaskia and would thenceforth hold it; that France had joined hands with the Americans against the British, and that it was the duty of all F'renchmen to help uphold the cause of freedom and independ- ence.
 'T coxne,' said he, directly from Colonel George Rogers Clark, a noble and brave officer of the American army, who told me the news that have brought to you He sent me here to say to you that if you will give al legiance to his government you shall be protected against all enemies and have the full freedom of citizens. think you should do this without g moments hesitation, as I and my peo pie at Kaskaskia have already done But perhaps you would like to have word from your distinguished fel low citizen, M Gaspard Roussillon Speak to your friends, my son; they will be glad to take counsel of you wisdom"
 There were a stir and craning o1 necks. NJ RoussilIon presently ap peared near the chanceI, his grea form towering majestically. He bowed and waved his hand with the air of on' who accepts distinction as a matter of course; then he took his big silyel watch and looked at it. He was tn, only man in Vincennes who owned ;
 watch, and so the incident was i'm pressive. Father Gibault looked pleased, and already murmur of ap 0lause went through the audience M &oussillon stroked the bulging crysta of the timepiece with circular motion of his thumb and bowed again, clear ing his throat resonantly, his fac