Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-12-10
CHAPTER V.
FATHER GuAULT

hooks and inlcts, imparting thrill
and swell Of the general motion.
Father GlhnUlt brought the wave OF
the American Revolution TO Nincehhe-.
He was simple missionary. but he
was. besides. n man OF great worldly
knowledge and personal force Colonel
George Rogers Clark made Father
Gih1ults acquaintance nj Kaskaskia
" IA the fort and It's garrison surrcu
d'rcd 10 lis command. and. quickly
discerning the fne quality OF the
priests character. sent him e. the post
on she Wabash 90 win over its people
20 the cause OF freedom and indcpcnd
ence Nor was the task assumed %
hnrd one. as Father Gibnult probably
well knew before be undertook 49,
A few OF the leading men of Vim
ccnncs presided over by Gnspard
Roussillon held n consultation al The
river house and u was agreed that a
mass meeting should be- called bring.
ing all 81 the Inhabitants together IN
the church. for the purpose ~ 'unsid
cring the course o. be taken under
the circumstances made known 10y Pa
Their Gibault Oncle Jazou constituted
himself an executive committee ~ ono
90 stir MP a noise for the occasion.
II was graf day for Nincrunrs.
The vol7f'la tenperameu ~ the
rruch froutfenmen bubblcd over
Nth enthusiasm az the first hint %
something new and revolutionary in
which they might be expected 10 take
Iart. without knowing in the least
that II was that Father Glhuult aud
Jnct Jazor wanted of them. they
Eer. all In favor ~ IL az O venture
pene de Ronville. being an active and
Intelligent young man. was sent about
Trough the town 90 let everybody
know OF the meeting I'm passing a.
stepped into the cabin of Father Rerrt
who was sitting on the loose puncheon
floor with his back turned toward thu
entrance and 40 absorbed IN trying Ia
put together a great number Of small
paper fragments that he did not hear
or look M
Are you not going To the meeting.
fathcrT' Rene bluntly demanded In
the hurry that was on him he did not
remember TO be formally polite. as was
his habit
Tho old priest looked up with star
tied face At the same time he swept
the fragments OF paper together and
clutchcd them hard In his right hand
Yes, yes. my son. yes. | am going.
but the time has not yet come for II.
Mas 81" he stammcrcd is II latct'
I He sprang 20 his feet and appcnrcd
confused. as II caught In doing some
thing very improper
Rene wondered az this unusual be
hayior. but merely said
Il beg pardon. Father Bcret did
not mean 20 disturb you. and went ~.
way
Father Berct stood for some mn
utes as II daZcd. then squeezed the pa
peg fragments into n tight ball just rs
they were when he took them from un-
der the floor some time before Rene
came In, and put II In his pocket \
little later he was kneellng as we have
seen him once before. In silent yet
fervent prayer. his claspcd hands lifted
4 toward the crucihX ON the wall.
Jesus. give me strength 20 hold on
. aiA Wv ny WI ~ nv AANA HAhA'N ~
seechlngly. And. oh, free thy poor
servant from bitter temptation"
Father Gibault had come prepared
10 use his eloquence upon the excitable
Creoles. and with considerable cunning
he addressed motley audience NJ the
church. telling them that an American
force had taken Kaskaskia and would
thenccforth hold Il; that France had
. Joined hands with the Americans
against the British, and that II was the
duty Of all Frcnchmen 10 help uphold
pc cause OF freedom and indcpend-
~ come" 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 20 you. He sent me here
10 say TO you that II you will give al
legiance 10 his government you shall
BE- protected against all enemies and
pave the full freedom OF citizens.
think you should do this without
homents hesitation, as | and my peo-
pie at Kaskaskia have already done.
But perhaps you would like TO have
word from your distinguished fel-
bow citizen. NJ. Gaspard Roussillon.
Speak 20 your friends, my son; they
Nil be glad 20 take counsel OF your
Wisdom"
There were a stir and craning Of
Decks NJ. Roussillon presently ap-
peared near the chancel, his great
fprm towering maJestically. He bowed
4nd waved his hand with the air of one
Tho accepts distinction as a matter
course; then he took his big silver
Fatch and looked at 1t. He was the
only man In vincennes who owned a
watch and 80 the incident was inn
pressive. Father Gibault locked
pleased, and already a murmur Of ap-
plause went through the audience. NJ.
Roussillon stroked the bulging crystal
NJ the timepiece with a circular motion
his thumb and bowed again, clear