The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-10-03
CHAPTER ".

In New Orleans. He had been gone
(from Nincennes several months when
<the batteau arrived. having been re-
called TO Detroit by the British au-
thorities. and he never returned. Mean
time the little post with It's quaint cab
ins and its dilapidated blockhouse. call
ed Fort Sackviile lay summing drowsily
by the river In blissful state OF help
lessness from the military point OF
view. There was no garrison. the two
or three pieces OF artillery, abandoned
and exposed gathered rust ana cob
webs. while the pickets OF the stockade.
decaying and loosened In the ground by
E.inter freezes and summer rains. lean
~td I'm all directions. a picture OF decay
and inefiiciency.
NJ. Gaspard Roussillon was looked
upon as the arlstocrat par excellence OF
Nincenncs. Notwithstanding the fact
that his name bore no suggestion of no
BILE and titled ancestry. He was rich
and in measure educated: moreover.
the successful mans patent Of leader
ship. commanding figure and suove
manner, came always TO his assistance
when crisis presented itself. He trad
ed shrcwdly, much to his own profit,
but invariably with the excellent re-
suit that the man, white or Indian,
with whom he did business felt him
self especially favored IN the transac-
ton. by the exercise OF frmness, pru-
dence, vast assumption. tlorid eloquence
and kindly llberality he had greatly
endeared himself To the people, SO that
in the absence OF military command
er he came naturally TO be regarded as
the chief OF the town, m'sieu' le maire
He returned from his extended trad
Ing expedition about the middle of
July, bringing, as was his invariable
rule, Il gift for Alice. This time IL was
a small. thin disk OF white flint with
a hole I'm the center through which a
beaded cord Of sincw was looped. The
edge OF the disk was beautifully notch
ed and the whole surface polished so
that II shone like glass. while the
beads. made of very small segments OF
porcupine quilts. We're variously dyed.
making a curlously gaudy show of
eolors.
There now. ma cherie. IN something
worth fifty times its weight ia gold"
said NJ. Roussillon when he presented
the necklace TO his foster daughter
with pardonable self satisfaction 1T
Is sacred charm string given me by
an old heather who would sell his soul
for pint of cheap rum. He solemnly
Informed me that whoever wore II
could not by any possibility be killed
by an enemy"
Alice kissed NJ. Roussillon.
Its SO curious and beautiful" she
said. holding II up and drawing the
variegated string through her fingers.
Then with her mischicvous laugh she
added: And I'm glad it IS so powerful
against ones enemy. Ill wear II when
ever | 20 where AdIienne Bourcicr l..
See II | dontl'
els she your enemy? What's up be-
tween YOU and la petite Adrienne,
ehf" NJ. Roussillon lightly demanded
You were always the best Of good
friends | thought What's happened?'
"Oh, we are good friends" said
Alice quickly, every good friends, in
deed; was but chatting"
Good friends, but enemles that's
how ii IS with women Who's the
young man that's caused the GOODNESS?
/ could guess, maybcw lie laughed
and winked knowingly. MAY / be so
Doiu as 60 name mm ~ rr1iruTe
Yes. II youl be sure 20 mention NJ
Rene DO Ronyille." she gayly answered.
WHO but he could work Adrleune M
into perfect green mist OF iealousyy'
"IIe Would need an accomplish, |
should Imagine; young lady Of some
beauty and good deal OF hcartless-
ness"
like whom. FOR cxampleg" And she
tossed her bright head. ".Sot me. am
sure"
"poh, - every pretty maiden IN
the, whole 4orld. ma petite coquettc.
They're al. alike as peas. cruel as blue
jays and as sweet as apple blossoms"
He stroked her hair clumslly with his
large hand, as heavy and roughly
fond man is apt to do, adding I'm an al
most serious tone:
But my little girl is bettor than most
- th'hA saoN "a looiASh iiioNhiti hihh'i-
/ hope"
Alice was putting her head through
the string of beads and letting the
translucent white disk fall into her
bosom.
Its time TO changc the subject"
said she. Tell me what you have
seen Awhilee away. Iwtsh I could 90
far on ~and nee things. fIhve YOU been !
10, Detroit. Quebec. Montreal?"
'Nes, I've been 10 all. D, long. hard I
journey. bat reasonably profitable. You
shall have a goodly dot when you get |
married. my child"
And did you attend any. parties or
baIlsT' she inquired quicItN ignoring |
his concluding remark. "Tell me about !
them. want 20 know what you yaw