Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-30
ALICE c WINCH
By MAUR1
Copyright. 1900. by the BowErMERRrLl
CHAPTER ".

in New Orleans. He had been gone lfrom Vincennes several months when the batteau arrived, having been re- called to Detroit by the British au- fhorftfes, and he never returned Mean time the little post with its quaint cab 1ns and it's dilapidated blockhouse, call ed Fort Sackville, lay summing drowsily sby the river in blissful state of help- dessness 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, decnying and loosened in the ground by winter freezes and summer rains, Ieani ed in all directions, picture of decay and inefdciency.
 M. Gaspard Roussillon was looked upon as the aristocrat par excellence of Vincennes, notwfthstandi the fact that his name bore no suggestion of no- ble and titled ancestry. He was rich and in measure educated; moreover, fhe successful mans patent of leader ship, commanding figure and saave 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, with whom he did business felt him. self especially favored in the hansac- Eion. By the exercise of flrmness, pru- hence, vast assumption, horid eloQuence and kindly Hberality he had greatly Iendeared himself to the people, so that tn the absence of military command er he came naturally to be regarded as the chief of the town, m' sieu' le maire.
 He returned from his extended trad tng expedition about the middle of July, bringing, as was his invariable Uale, a gift for Alice. This time it was "a small, thin disk of white flint, with ia hole in the center through which a beaded cord of sinew was Iooped 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 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. Tt is a sacred charm string given me by an old heathen who would sell his soul for a pint of cheap rum. He solemnly Informed 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. I'll wear it when ever I go where Adrienne Bourcier is See if I don'tr
 Is she your enemy? Whats up be. tween you and Ia petite Adrienne, eh?'' NJ. Roussillon lightly demanded. You were always the best of good friends, thought. Whats happened?''
 "Oh, we are good friends said Alice quickly, ''very good friends, in- deed; was but chafnng.''
 Good friends, but enemies; that's how it is with women. Who's the young man that's caused the coolness? could guess, maybew He laughed and Winked knowingly. May be so bold as to name him at venture?"
 'Yes, if you'll be sure to mention M. Rene de Ronville,'' she gayly answered. ssWho but he could work Adrienne up into perfect green mist of jealousy?'
 He would need an accomplice, should imagine; a young lady of some beauty and a good deal of heartless- ness
 Like whom, for example?. And she tossed her bright head. Not me, am sure,
 'Poh! Like every pretty maiden in the whole world, ma petite coquette. 1 They're all alike as peas, cruel as blue jays and as sweet as apple blossoms He stroked her hair clunsily with his large hand, as a 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.
 "It's time to change the subject said she ''Tell me what you have seen while away. wish l could go far off and see things Have you been Ito 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. 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 l wore-how"-
 "Ciel! You will split my ears, child E;an't you fill my pipe and bring it to nae with a coal on? Then I'll try to Sell you what I can." he cried, assum- sng a humorously resigned air. Per haps if I smoke can remember ev- V,4. st