Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-24

Like singed and crippled moth vain
" trying to rise once again to the al
Turing yet deadly flame, Rene de Rom
vile essaye6 to break out Of his en-
barrassment and resume equal footing
with the girl so suddenly become his
commanding superior, but the effort
disclosed to him as well as to her that
be had fallen to rise no more. In his
abject defeat he accepted the terms
dictated by Alice and was glad when
she adroitly changed her manner and
tone in going on to discuss the ap-
preaching dance.
"Now, let me make one request OF
you" he demanded after awhile. ITS
q small favor. May ask itT'
"Yes, but don't grant 1t in advance"
81 want you to wear, for my sake, the
buff gown which they say was your
grandmother's."
mo, l won't wear It,"
"But why, Alice"
"None of the other girls have anything
like such Afess 1t would not be right
for me to put it on and make them all
feel that l had taken the advantage Of
them, Just because could. That's
whyw
"But, then, none of them is beautiful
and educated like you" he said. you'll
outshine them anyway"
"save your compliments for poor
pretty little Adrienne." she firmly re.
sponded. II positively do not wish to
hear them. l have agreed to be your
partenaire at this dance Of Papa Rous.
sillOn's, but it is understood between Us
that Adrienne is your sweetheart. !
am not, and I'm not going to be either
So for your sake and Adrienne's, as
well rs out Of consideration for the rest
of the girls who have no fine dresses.
am not going to wear the bun brocade
gown that belonged to Papa Roussil-
Ions mother long ago. ! shall dress
Just as the rest do"
1t is safe to say that Rene de Ron.
vile went home with troublesome bee
| in his bonnet. He was not a bad heart
ed fellow. Many right good young
man before him and since has loved an
| Adrienne and been daZZled by an Alice.
A violet is sweet, but rose is the gar
denis queen, The poor youthful from
tiersman ought to have been stronger,
but he was not and what have we to
say?
The dance did no. come of. 1t had
to be postponed indefinitely on account
Of a grave change in the political rela-
tions of the little post. A day or two
before the time set for that function
a rumor ran through the town that
something Of Importance was about to
happen. Father Gibault, at the head
Of small party, had arrived from
Kaskaskia, far away on the Mississippi,
with the news that France and the
American colonies had made common
cause against the English in the great
war of which the people Of Vincennes
neither knew the cause nor cared
straw about the outcome.
| 1t was Oncle Jazon who came to the
| Roussillon place to tell NJ. RoussillOn
that he was wanted ut the river house
Alice met him at the door.
"Come in, Oncle Jazon," she cheerily
said You are getting to be stranger
at our house lately. Come in. What
news do you bring? Take of your cap
and rest your hair. Oncle Jazon.'
The scalpless old fighter chuckled
raucously and bowed to the best of his
ability. He not only took Off his queer
cap, but looked into it with startled
gaze, as If he expected something in
finitely dangerous to jump out and
seize his nose.
"a thousand thanks. m'am'sclle," he
presently said. "Will ye please tell
Msieu' Roussillon that would wish
| to see 'im?'
"Yes Oncle Jazon; but first be seated
and let me offer you just drop OF eau
de vie, some that Papa Roussillon
brought back with him from Quebec.
He says it's old and fine
She poured him full glass, then,
setting the bottle OH little stand, went
to find NJ. RoussillOn. While she was
absent Onc,e Jazon improved his op-
portunity to the fullest extent. At least
three additional glasses Of the brandy
went the way Of the first. He grinned
| atrociously and smacked his corrugat
ed lips, but when Gaspard Roussillon
came in the old man was sitting at
some distance from the bottle and
glass, gazing indifferently out across
the veranda. He told his story curtly.
Father Gibault he said, had sent him
| to ask NJ. ROussillon to come to the
river house, as he had news Of great
| Importance to communicate.
"Ah, well, Oncle Jazon, We'll have
nip of brandy together before we co.
said the host.
"Why, yes jes' one ag'in' the broilin'
weather" assented Oncle Jazon. u
don't mind jes' one"
"a very rich friend Of mine In Que
bee gave me this brandy. Oncle Jazon,'
said NJ. ROussillon, pouring the liquor
with grand flourish. "and thought
of YOU as soon as l got 1t. Now. says
to myself. II any man knows good
brandy when he tastes 1t. it's Oncle
Jazon, and I'll give him a good chance
at this bottle just the first Of all my
friends"
at surely is delicious" said Oncle
Jazon, every delicious" He spoke
French with curious accent. having
spent long years with English speaking
frontiersmen in the Carolinas and Ken
tucky, SO that their lingo had become
his own.
As they walked side by side down the
vay to the liver house they looked like
typical extremes Of rough, sunburned
and weather tanned manhood-Oncle
Jazon a wizened, diminutive scrap.
wrinkled and odd in every respect:
Gaspard RoussillOn towering six feel
two. wide shouldered, massive. lumber
Ing, muscular, q giant. with long curl.
ing hair and a superb beard. They did
not know thai they were going down
to help dedicate the great northwest to
freedom.