Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-25

| the virile traits common to vigorous
and worldly minded men, but the con-
trast between Alice and the other girls
! present was somehow an absolute bar
| to democratic freedom Of the sort de-
manded by the occasion. He met
| Father Beret and passed few pleas
| ant words with him.
"They have honored your flag, my
son, am glad to see," the priest said,
! pointing with smile to where, in one
corner, the banner that bore Alice's
name was effectively draped.
Beverley had not noticed it before,
and when he presently got possession
Of Alice he asked her to tell him the
story Of how she planted it on the fort,
although he had heard it to the last
detail from Father Beret just mo-
! ment ago. They stood together under
| its folds while she naively sketched the
scene for him, even down to her pic
turesquely disagreeable interview with
Long Hair, mention Of whom led up to
the story of the Indians race with the
stolen dame Jeanne of brandy under his
arm on that memorable night and the
subsequent services performed for him
by Father Beret and her after she and
Jean had found him in the mud beyond
the river.
The dancing went on at furious pace
| while they stood there. Now and again
! a youth came to claim her, but she
said she was tired and begged to rest
| awhile, smiling so graciously upon each
one that his rebuff thrilled him as if it
had been the most fattering gift Of ten
der Partially, while at the same time
he suspected that it was all for Bever-
ley.
Helm in his most jovial mood was
circulating freely.
It was late when fathers and mothers
In the company began to suggest ad-
journment. In the open lamps sus-
pended here and there the oil was run
and winked with their yellow flames.
"Wen," said M. Roussillon. coming
to where Alice and Beverley stood in
sulated and isolated by their great de-
light in each others company, Its
time to 60 home"
Beverley looked at his watch. 1t was
quarter to three!
Alice also looked at the watch, and
saw engraved and enameled on it's mas
sive case the Beverley crest. but she
did not know what it meant. There
was something of the sort in the back
Of her locket, she remembered with sat
isfactiou.
Just then there was peculiar stir in
the tagging crowd. Some one had ar
rived, a coureur de bois from the north
Where was the commandant? The
coureur had something important for
him.
Beverley heard remark in startled
voice about the English getting ready
for descent upon the Wabash valley.
This broke the charm which thralled
him and sent through his nerves the
bracing shock that only a soldier can
feel when a hint of coming battle
reaches him.
Alice saw the fash in his face.
"Where is Captain Helm? must
see him Immediately. Excuse me-" he
said, abruptly turning away and look
ing over the heads Of the people. "Yon-
der he is; must 60 to him."
The coureur de bois, Adolphe Dutrem-
BILE by name, was just from the head
waters of the Wabash. He was speak
ing to Helm when Beverley came up.
NJ. Roussillon followed close upon the
Heutenant's heels, as eager as he to
know what the message amounted to;
but Helm took the coureur aside, mo-
tioning Beverley to join them. NJ.
ference.
| After all it was but the gossip Of
savages that Dutremble communicate
ed, still the purport was startling in
the extreme. Governor Hamilton, so
the story ran, had been organizing
large force. He was probably now on
his way to the portage Of the Wabash
with fotilla of batteaux, some COM
panies Of disciplined soldiers, artillery
and strong body of Indians.
Helm listened attentively to Dutrem-
ble's lively sketch, then cross ques-
toned him with laconic directness.
"Send Mr.. Jazon to me-" he said to
N. Roussillon, as If speaking to serv-
| ant.
The master Frenchman went prompt
~, recognizing Captain Helms right to
command, and sympathizing with his
unpleasant military predicament if the
news should prove true.
| Oncle Jazon came in a minute, his
fiddle and bow clamped under his arm,
to receive a verbal commission, which
sent him with some scouts of his own
choosing forthwith to the Wabash port
age, or far enough to ascertain what
the English commander was doing.
After the conference Beverley made
haste to join Alice, but he found that
she had gone home.
"a fix Wen be in If Hamilton
comes down here with a good force, -
said Helm. Beverley was young, en-
ergetic, bellicose, and to him every
thing seemed possible; he believed in
vigilance, discipline, activity, dash; he
had great faith in the efficacy Of en-
| thuSiaSm.