Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-14

ALICE OF OLD !
WNCENNES
By MAURICE THOMPSON .
Copyright, 1900, by the
BOWEN. MERRILL COMPANY .
BY MAURICE THOMPSON
BOWEN. MERRILL COMPANY
CHAPTER w.
THE FIRST MAYOR OF VINCENNEs

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 it's quaint cab
ms and its dilapidated blockhouse; call
ed Fort Sackville, lay summing drowsily
by the river in a blissful state of help
aeSSneSS 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
I'd In all directions, a picture of decay
and tnefhciency.
M. Gaspard Roussillon was looked
upon as the aristocrat par excellence of
V1ncennes, Notwithstanding the fact
that his name bore no suggestion of no
Die and titled ancestry. He was rich
and In measure educated; moreover,
the successful mans patent of leader
ship. commanding figure and a suave
manner, came always to his assistance
when crisis presented itself. He trad
I'd shrswdly, much to his own profit,
but invariably with the excellent re-
suit that the man, white or Indian,
Delf especially favored in the transac-
lion. BY the exercise of firmness, pru-
Hence, vast assumption, forid eloQuence
and kindly liberality he 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, IN sieu' lie marie.
He returned from his extended trad
ing expedition about the middle of
July, bringing, as was his inyariable
rule, gift for Alice. This time it was
4 small, thin disk Of white flint, with
q 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 quilts, were ~variously dyed,
making a curiously gaudy show Of
cOlOrs.
''There now, ma cherie, is something
worth fifty times it's weight in gold,"
said NJ. Roussillon when he presented
the necklace to his foster daughter
with pardonable self satisfaction 1T
Is sacred charm string given me by
an old heather who would sell his soul
for a pint Of cheap rum. He solemnly
uniformed me that whoever wore it
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
variegated string through her fingers.
Then with her mischievOus laugh she
added: And I'm glad it is so powerful
against ones enemy. Ill wear it when
ever go where Adrienne Bourcier is.
See if don'tv'
els she your enemy? What's up be-
tween you and la petite Adrienne,
eh?' NJ. Roussillon 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?
I could guess, maybe!' He laughed
and winked knowingly. MAY l be so
bold as to name him at venture?'
Eyes, if you'll he sure to mention NJ.
Rene de Ronville," she gayly answered.
"sWho but he could work Adrienne up
into a perfect green mist Of jealousy?"
Gle would need an accomplish, l
should imagine; young lady Of some
beauty and good deal of heartless-
ness"
Like whom, for example?" And she
tossed her bright head. mot me, am
sure"
"Poh! Like every pretty maiden in
the whole world, ma petite coquette.
They're all alike as peas, cruel as blue
jays and as sweet as apple blossoms"
He stroked her hair clumsily with his
large hand, as 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 a foolish mischief maker,
I hope"
Alice was putting her head through
the string Of beads and letting the
translucent white disk fall into her
bosom.
ats time to change the subject"
said she. "Tell me what you have
seen while away. I wish l could go
far off and see things. Have you been
to Detroit, Quebec, Montreal?'
Eyes. 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. I 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