Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-16


sisting upon completing his cruel per-
formance, but he was at last Overpow-
cred. partly by brute force and partly
by the pleading of Maisonvillc's BROTH
er, snd made to desist. The big man
wept with age when he saw the
bleeding prisoner protected. "Eh bien!
I'll keep what I've got" he roared,
land I'll take the rest Of it next
time"
He shook the tuft of hair at Mason
vile and glared like mad bull.
Two or three other members Of La
mothe's band were captured about the
same time by some of the French mill
tiamen. and Clark when on his round
cheering and directing his forces dis
covered that these prisoners were being
used as shields. Some young creoles.
gay with drink and the stimulating ef-
feet of fight, had bound the poor fel-
lows and were firing from behind them.
OF course the commander promptly put
an end to this cruelty, but they consid-
cred it exquisite fun while 1t lasted.
1t was in broad daylight. and they
knew that the English in the fort
could see what they were doing.
Its shameful to treat prisoners in
this way" said Clark. II will not per-
NIT it. Shoot the next man that offers
to do such thing"
One of the creole youths. hand
some, swarthy Adonis in buckskin.
tossed his shapely head with deb
onair smile and said:
"To be sure, mon colonel. Rut what
have they been doing to us? We have
amused them oil winter. It's but fair
that they should give us little fun
now"
Clark shrugged his broad shoulders
and passed on He understood perfect
ly what the people of Vincennes had
suffered under Hamilton's brutal adj
ministration.
At 9 o'clock an order was passed to
cease firing, and flag Of trace was
seen going from Clark's headquarters
to the fort. 1t was a peremptory de,
mand for unconditional surrender
Hamilton refused. and fighting was
| fiercely resumed from behind rude
| breastwOrks meantime erected. Every
loophole and opening of whatever sort
was the focus into which the unerrine
| backwOods rifles sent their deadly bul'
| lets. Men began to fall in the fort. and
every moment Hamilton expected IN
assault in force on all sides of the
stockade. This. If successful. would
mean inevitable massacre. Clark had
warned him of the terrible conse
quences of holding out until the worst
should come. For" said he in his note
to the governor. "if | am obliged tC
| storm. you may depend upon such
treatment as is justly due to n mnr
derer."
Historians have wondered why Ham
ilton became so excited and acted sc
strangely after receiving the note. The
phrase Justly due TO a murderer i
the key to the mystery. When he read
it his heart sank and n terrible feaI
seized him. Justly due to a murder
err" All. that calm. white. beautiful
| cirlish face. dead in the moonlight
with the wisp of shining hair across
It, Such treatment as is justly due
to n murderer" Cold drops of swca
| broke out on his forehead and shivei
went through his body
During the truce Clarks weary YET
still enthusiastic beSicgers enjoyed {;
good breakfast prepared for them b!
the loyal danes of Nincennes. Little
Adrienne BOurcier was one OF th'
handmaiGeEs Of the occasion. She
brought to Bevcrlcy's squad basket
almost as large rs herself, heaped higf
with roasted duck and warm whcateI
bread, while another girl bore two
huge Jugs of coffee, fragrant ant
steaming hot. The men cheered then
Justify and complimented them with
out reserve, SO that before their serv
ice was over their faces were glowing
with delight.
| And yet Adrienne's heart was uneasy
and full of longing to hear something
of Rene de Ronville. Surely some one
of her friends must know something
about him. All, there was Oncle Ja%on
Doubtless he could tell her all tha
she wanted to know. She fingered
after the food was distributed ant
shyly inquired.
"Hain't seed the scamp" said Oncl'
Jazon, only he used the patois mos
familiar to the girls ear. "Killed an
scelped long ago, | reckon"
His mouth was so full that he spoke
mumblingly and with utmost difficulty
| Nor did he glance mt Adrienne. whose
face took on as great pallor rs he
brown complexion could show.
Beverley ate but little of the food
He sat apart on piece Of timber tina
projected from the rough breastworl
| and gave himself over to infinite mis-
cry of spirit, which was trebled when
he took Alice's locket from his bosom
ONLY TO discover that the bullet which
struck him had almost entirely de
stroyed the face of the miniature.
He gripped the dented and TWISTED
case and gaZed at it with the stare O
a blind man. His heart almost ceaSe'
TO beat and his breath had the rustlin;
sound we hear when Il strong man dies
of a sudden wound. Somehow the de
facement of the portrait was taken b!
his soul as the final touch of fate, sig
nifying that Alice was forever an'
completely obliterated from his life
He felt Il blur pass over his mind. liz
tried in vain to recall the face ant
form so dear to him: he tried Il
imagine her voice: but the whole UNI
verse was a vast hollow silence. 70
a long while he was cold, staring. rigid
Then the inevitable collapse came, ant
he wept as only strong man can wh'
Is hurt to death. yet cannot die.
Adrienne approached him, thinking
to speak to him about Rene. but he di'
not notice her, and she went her way
leaving beside him liberal supply o
food.
CHAPTER Xxx.