Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-12-24
c.,,.,sh. 1850. By tn. sowE~.sEaRnL COMPANY
By MAURICE

EU<$x$$$%SS&.SS ssSs, Il II s.iSSSSSSSSxxS
The question certainly Sore a tragic
suggestion.
NJ. Roussillon lacked everything of
being coward, and trcachery had no
rightful place in his nature. He was,
however, so in the habit of fighting
windmills and making mountains OF
molehills that he could not ut first
glance see any sudden prescntment
| with Il normal vision. He had no love
for Eng,ishmen. and he did like Amer
leans. but he naturally thought that
Helms talk OF fighting Hamilton was,
as his OWL would have been in Il like
case. talk and nothing more. The fort
could not hold out an hour. he we'll
knew. Then what? All. he but too
we'll realized the result.
Resistance would infame the English
soldiers and madden the Indians. There
would be Il massacre. and the belts of
savages would sag with bloody scalps.
He shrugged his shoulders and felt Il
chill creep up his back.
The first thing NJ. Roussillon did was
to see Father Beret and take counsel Of
him; then he hurried home to dig a
great pit under his kitchen floor in
which he buried many bales of fur and
all his most valuable things. He work
ed like giant beaver all night long.
Meantime Father Beret went about
over the town quietly notifying the in
habitants to remain in their houses I'M
til after the fort should surrender.
which, he was sure, would happen the
next day.
you will be perfectly safe,- my chill
dren,' he said to them. "No harm can
come to you If you follow my direc-
lions"
Relying implicitly upon him, they
scrupulously obeyed in every particu-
lar.
He did not think it necessary to call
at Roussillon place, having already
given NJ. Roussillon the best advice he
could command.
Just at the earliest break Of day,
while yet the glnom Of night scarcely
felt the suns approach, a huge figure
made haste along the narrow streets in
the northern part of the town. 1t any
person had been looking out through
| the little holes called windows in those
silent and rayless huts it would have
been easy to recognize NJ. Koussillon by
his stature and his gait, dimly outlined
as he was. \ thought which seemed to
him an inspiration of genius had taken
possession of him and was leading him
I as if by the nose straight away to Ham
| ilton's lines. He was freightcd with ell
oquence for the ear of that commanders
and as he strobe along facing the crisl7
morning air he was rehearsing under
his breath, emphasizing his periods in
tragic whispers with sweeping gestures
and liberal facial contortions. SO alb
sorbed was he in his oratorical sollo-
guy that lie forgot due military prccall-
ton and ran plump into the face. of Z,
savage picket guard. who. without To-
| spect for the great NJ. Roussillon's dig
nifty, sprang up before him. granted
enormously. fourished 2, tonla,aw,;
and spoke in excellent ana exceedingly
cultural Indian:
"Wah. surrender
| It is probable that no man ever w
piled with modest request in :; !. N*'
docile spirit than did NJ. Rous$ii.n,'
upon that occasion. In fact. las
promptness must have been admirabla.
| for the savage grunted approval and
straightway conducted him to Hamil-
toms headquarters on batteau in the
river.
The British commander, a hale man
Of sandy complexion and probably un-
der middle age. was in no very pleas
ant humor. Some Of his orders had
been misunderstood by the chief of his
Indian allies, so that a premature ex-
posture Of his approach had been made
to the enemy.
"Well, sir, who are you:' he gruf1y
demanded when M. Roussillon doomed
before him.
IT am Gaspard Roussillon. the mayor
Of Vincennes," was the lofty reply. II
have come to announce to you officially
that my people greet you loyalty and
that my town is freely at your com
mand." He felt as important as If his
statements had been true.
"Humph! That's 1t, is it? Well.
Mr.. Mayor, you have my congratula-
lions, but l should prefer seeing the
military commander and accepting his
surrender. What account can you give
me of the American forces, their num-
Der and condition."
n. Roussillon WINGED, inwardly at
least, under Hamilton's very undefer-
entail air and style Of address. 1t
piqued him cruelty to be treated as a
person without the slightest claim to
respect. He somehow forgot the roll
ing and rhythmic eloquence prepared
for the occasion.
1.-THE American commander natural
" would not confide in me, NJ. lie Gou-
verneur; not at all. We are not very
friendly. He ousted me from Office,
he offended me- He was coughing
and stammering.
"Oh, thunder! What do I care? An
swer my questions, sir!' Hamilton
gruf1y interrupted. "Tell me the num-
81, - Avoorioon <voono of tho fort