Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-04-28
CHAPTER ".


/ thorities, and he never returned. Mean
time the little post with its quaint cab
ins and its dilapidated bloclihouse, 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 stoclade
decaying and loosened in the ground by
winter freezes and summer rains. lean
ed in all directions. picture of decay
md inefllciency.
NJ. Gaspard Roussillon was looked
lpon 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, a commanding figure and a suave
manner, came always to his assistance
when a crisis presented itself. He trad
sd 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 III the transac'
ton. BY the exercise of firmness, pru-
dence, vast assumption, fiorid 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
tie chief Of the town, m'sieu' lie maire.
He returned from his extended trad
ing expedition about the middle OF
July, bringing, as was his invariable
rule, a gift for Alice This time it was
q small, thin disk of white flint, with
hole in the center through which a
beaded cord of sinew was lcoped. The
edge of the disk was beautifully notch
ed and the whole surface polished SO
that it sAone like glass, while the
beads, made of very small seglnents of
porcupine quilts, were variously dyed
making a curiously gaudy show OF
colors.
"There now, ma cherie, is something
worth fifty times its weight in gold,
said NJ RoussilIon when he presented
the necklace to his foster daughter
with pardonable self satisfaction. III
is a sacred charm string given me by
an old heather who would sell his soul
for a pint of cheap rum. He solemnly
informed me that whoever wore il
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
varlegated 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 l 90 where Adrienne Bourcier is
See if l don'tr'
as she your enemy? What's up be.
tween you and Ia petite Adrienne
ehT' NJ. Roussillon lightly demanded
"You were always the best Of good
friends, 1 thought. What's happenedT
ooh, 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 coolnessi
l could guess, maybe" lie laughed
and winked knowingly. MAY l be sc
bold as to name him at venture"
Eyes, if you'll be sure to mention NJ
Rene de Ronville," she gayly answered
r'Who but he could work Adrienne up
into perfect green mist of jealousy?"
"He would need an accomplice,
should imagine; young lady of some
bear--C and q good deal of heartless
ness"
Like whom, for examples" 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 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 foolish mischief maker
! hope"
! Alice was putting her head through
the string Of beads and letting the
translucent white disk fall into hel
bosom.
ITS time to change the subject
said she. Tell me what you have
seen while away. 1 wish l could &c
far off and see things. Have you been
to Detroit, Quebec, Montreal?'
Eyes, I've been to all, a long, hard
journey, but reasonably profitable. You
shall have goodly dot when you gel
married, my child"
'And did you attend any parties OF
balls" she inquired quickly, ignoring
his concluding remark. "Tell me about
sthem. 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
wore-how''-
"Ciel! You will split my ears, child
Can't you fill my pipe and bring it tC
me with q coal on? Then I'll try tC
tell you what l can," he cried, assum
haps if l smoke l can remember ev
erything"
Alice gladly ran to do what was
asked. Meantime Jean was out or
| the gallery blowing q flute that NJ
Roussillon had brought him from
Quebec
The pipe well filed and lighted ap
| parently did have the effect to steady
| and encourage NJ. Roussillon's mem
| ,ory, or, If not his memory, then his i'm
| agination, which was of that ferviG
| and liberal sort common to natives oi
| the Midi and which has been exquisite
iy depicted by the late Alphonse Dau
| det in Tartarin and Bompard. Ht
| leaned far back in a strong chair, will
his massive legs stretched at full length
| and gazed at the roof poles while h,
| talked.
| In the first place, he had not been IL
Quebec or Montreal during his absence
from home. Most of the time he hat
spent disposing of pelts and furs at De
troit and in extending his trading re
lations with other posts, but what mat
tered a trifling want of facts when hi:
meridional fancy once began 10 warn
up? A smattering OF social knowledge
gained at first hand In his youthful
days in France while he was a student