Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-06-09


recapture NJ. Roussillon. but his dis
appearance was absolute. Even the
reward offered for his scalp by Ham
ilton only gave the Indians great trou-
bic; they could not find the man.
Such a beginning of his administra-
tion of affairs at Vincennes did not put
Hamilton into a good humor. He was
overbearing and irascible at best, and
! under the irritation of small but ex-
ceedingly unpleasant experiences he
made life well nigh uncomfortable to
those upon whom his dislike chanced to
fall. Beverley quickly felt that it was
going to be very difficult for him and
Hamilton to get along agreeably. With
Helm it was quite different; smoking.
drinking, playing cards. telling good
stories-in word, rude and not infre-
quently boisterous conviviality drew
him and the commandant together.
Under Captain Farnsworth's imme-
date supervision the fort was soon in
excellent repair and large blockhouse
and comfortable quarters for the men
were built. Every day added 70 the
strength of the works and to the i'm
portance of the post as q strategic po-
sition for the advance guard of the
British army.
Hamilton was ambitious TO prove
himself conspicuously valuable to his
country. He was dreaming vast dreams
and laying large plans. The Indians
were soon anxious to gain his favor,
and TO bind them securely to him lie
offered liberal pay in rum and fire
arms, blankets, trinkets and ammuni-
ton for the scalps of rebels. He kept
this al secret as possible from his pris-
oners, but Beverley soon suspected that
a traffic in hair" as the terrible busi-
ness had been named, was going or
Savages came in from far away with
scalps yet scarcely dry dangling at
their belts. 1t made the young Vir-
ginian's blood chill in his heart. and
lie regretted that he had given Hamil-
ton his parole of honor not to attempt
to escape.
Among the Indians occasionally re-
porting to Hamilton with their ghastly
but valuable trophies was Long Hair,
who slipped into the fort and out again
rather warily, not having much conf
dence in t'.ose Frenchmen who had
once upon a time given him men,
Orable run for his life.
Winter shut down, not cold, but
damp, ,changeable, raw. The work on
the fort was nearly completed, and
Rene de RonviIle woulc have soon been
relieved of his servile and exasperat-
ing employment under the Irish cor
poral, but just at the point of time
when only few days work remained
for him he became furious, on account
Of an insulting remark, and struck the
corporal over the head with hand
spike. This happened in wood some
miles from town, where he was loading
logs upon a sled. There Glanced to
be no third person present when the
deed was done, and some hours passed
before they found the officer quite cold
and stiff beside the sled. His head
was crushed to a pulp.
Hamilton, now thoroughly exasper-
ted. began to look upon the French
ehabitants of Vincenncs as all like
81. Ioussillon and Rene-but waiting
for an opportunity 10 strike him una
warcs. lie increased his military Wig
ilance, ordered the town patrolled day
and night, and forbade public gather
ings of the citizens, while at the same
time he forced them to furnish him a
large amount of provisions.
When little Adrienne Bourcier heard
of Renes terrible act, followed by his
successful escape to the woods and OF
the tempting reward offered by Hamil-
ton for his scalp, she ran TO Roussillon
place well nigh craZed with excitement.
She had always depended upon Alice
for advice, encoura cement and comfort
in her troubles, but in the present case
there was not much that her friend
could do to cheer her. With NJ. Rous-
sillon and Rene both fugitives, tracked
by willy savages, price on their heads,
while every day added new dangers TO
the French inhabitants of Vincennes,
no rosy view could possibly be taken
of the situation. Alice did her best,
however, to strengthen her little
friends faith in happy outcome. She
ruoted what she considered unimpeach-
able authority to support her optimistic
argument.
Lieutenant Beverley says that the
Americans will be sure to drive Hamil-
ton out of Vincennes or capture him.
Probably they are not so very far
away now, and Rene may join them
and come back to help punish these
brutal Englishmen. Don't you wish he
" I,.ff hn rO.
manticT
Hes armed; ! know that" said
Adrienne, Frightening q little. "and |
he's brave, Alice; brave as can be. He
came right back into town the other
night and got his gun and pistols. He
was at our house, TOO, and, OH
She burst outcrying again. Adrienne's
simple heart could not grasp the ro-
mantle criterion with which Alice was |
wont to measure action. Her mind |
was single, impulsive, narrow and di- |
rect in all its movements. She loved, |
hated, desired, caressed, repulsed not |
for any assignable reason more solid |
or more luminous than because" She |
adored Rene and wanted him near her. |
"Why couldn't he be quiet and do as |
your man, Lieutenant Beverley, didT
she cried in a sudden change OF mood, |
the tears streaming down her cheeks. |
Lieutenant Beverley surrendered and |
took the consequences. He didn't kill |
and run off to be hunted like /
n bear. No wonder you're happy, |
Alice. I'd be happy, too, If Rene were
here and came to spend half OF every |
day with me. T.
"Why, what silly girl you arev'
Alice exclaimed, her face reddening |
prettily. How foolish you prattle!
Lieutenant Beverley. What put such
absurd nonsense into your head.
because. that's what, and you know
it's so too. You love him just as much
ns l love Rene, and that's just all the
love in the world, and you needn't
deny 1t, Alice Roussillon"
Alice laughed and hugged the wee,
brown faced mite of u girl until she
llmos. smothered her.
1t was growing dusk when Adrienne
left Roussillon place to 20 home. The
wind cut icily across the commons and
moaned as 1t whirled around the cabins
md cattle sheds. She ran briskly.
nuilied in Il wrap, partly through fear
md partly to keep warm, and had gone
of her way when she was
brought to an abrupt stop by the arms
)f man. She screamed sharply, and |