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

CHAPTER ".
THE FIRST MAYOR OF vINCENNEs.
@OVERNOR ABBOTr probably
never so much as heard Of the
dame Jeanne Of French brandy
sent to him by his creole friend
in New Orleans. He had been gone
from Vincennes 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 Its quaint cab
ins and its dilapidated blockhouse. call
ed Fort Sackville. 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 and cob
webs. while the pickets of the stOckade.
decaying and lOosened in the ground by
winter freezes and summer rains. lean
ed in all directions. picture Of decay
and inetiiciency.
NJ. Gaspard Roussillon was looked
upon as the aristOcrat par excellence OF
Vincennes. Notwithstanding the fact
that his name bore no suggestion Of no
BILE and titled ancestry. He was rich
and in a measure educated: moreover.
the successful mans patent Of leader.
ship commanding figure and suave
manner. came always to his assistance
when crisis presented itself. He trad
ed shrewdly. much to his own profit,
but invariably with the excellent re-
suit that the man, white or Indian,
vi.h whom he did business felt him
sc.f especially favored in the tranSac-
l1on. BY the exercise of tirmnesS pru-
dence. vast assumption, horid elOquence
and kindly liberality lie had greatly
endeared himself to the people. so that
in the absence of a military command
er he came naturally to be regarded as
the chief of the town. m'sieu le miire.
He returned from his extended trad
ing expedition about the middle or
July, bringing, as was his invariaDle
rule, a gift for Alice. This time it was
a small. thin disk Of white flint. with
hole in the center through which a
beaded cord OF sinew was looped. The
edge of the disk was beautifully notch
ed and the whole surface polished so
that it shone like glass, while the
beads made of very small segments of
porcupine quills. were variously dyed.
making q curiously gaudy show of
cOlOrs.
There now. ma chcrie. is something
worth fifty times its weight in gold"
said NJ. Roussillon when he presented
the necklace TO his foster daughter
with purdonable self satisfaction. 1t
is Il sacred charm string given he by
an old heather who would sell his soul
for Il pint of cheap rum. He sOiemnly
inforMed me that whoever wore 1t
could not by any possibility be killed
by an enemy.
Alice kissed NJ. Roussillon.
Its so curious and beautiful. she
said. holding it up and drawing the
vuriegated string through her fingers.
Then with her mischievous laugh she
added: And I'm glad Ii is so powerful
against ones enemy. Ill wear it when
ever | 90 where Adrienne Bourcier Is.
See if | don't"
rs she your enemy? What's up be-
tween you and Ia petite Adrienne.
eh?" NJ. Rcussillon 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 enemies; that's
how it is with women. Who's the
young man that's caused the GOODNESS!
could guess. maybe" He laughed
and winked knowingly. May | he so
bold as TO name him ut venture?
Yes. if you'll be sure to mention Nj.
Rene de Ronvillc." she gayly answered
"Who but he could work Adricnne up
into perfect green mist of jealousy"
HE would need an accOmplice. l
should imagine; II young lady OF some
beauty and good deal OF heartless'
ness"
Like whom, for example" And she
tossed her bright head. Not me. l am
sure
"Poh. Like every pretty maiden IN
the whole world. ma petite coquette
They're all alike as peas, cruel us blue
lays and as sweet as apple blossoms.
He stroked her hair clumsily with his
large hand. as Il heavy and roughly
fond man is apt to do, adding In an al
most serious tone:
But my little girl is better than most
of them-not foolish mischief maker.
hope"
Alice was putting her head through
the string OF beads and letting the
translucent white disk fall into her
bosom.
Its time to change the subject"
said she. Tell me what you have
seen while away. | wish | could 80
fur off and see things Have you been
to Detroit. Quebec, MOntreal!"
"Yes. I've been to all. long. hard
Journey. but reasonably profitable. You
shall have gOodly dot when you get
married. my child"
"!And did you attend any parties or
balls?" she inquired quickly. ignoring
his concluding remark. Tell me about
them. want to know what you saw
in the great tOwns-in the fine houses
how the ladies looked, how they act
ed-what they said-the dresses they
wore-hOw"-
"Ciel! You will split my ears, child
Can't you fill my pipe and bring 1t to
me with a coal on? Then I'll try to
tell you what can," he cried. assum'
ing IA humorously resigned air. Per
haps If smoke can remember ev'
erything."
Alice gladly ran to do what was
asked. Meantime Jean was out on
TuF .cr0nre Cured