Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-08-29

tiny of the bedding / very willingly re-
turned to the outside and clambered
up steep ladder to the upper deck.
Judge Beaucaire was standing at the
low rail. Our eyes met inquiringly,
and he bowed with all the ceremony
of the old school.
"A new passenger on board, think,
SIR" and his deep, resonant voice left
pleasant impression. "You must
have Joined our company at Fort
Armstrong;
"Your supposition is correct" l an
swered some peculiar constraint pre-
venting me from referring to my mill
tary rank. my name is Knox, and 1
have been about the island for a few
weeks. / believe you are Judge Beau
caire Of Missouri"
He was a splendidly proportioned
man, with deep chest, great breadth
face yet bearing unmistakable signs
of dissipation. together with numer-
Gus marks of both care and age.
81 feel the honor of your recognition,
SIR" he said with dignity "Knox,
believe you said? OF the Knox family
at Cape Girardeau. may inquirer"
"No connection to my knowledge; !;
my home was at Wheeling"
"Ah! 1 have never been that far
east; indeed the extent of my travels
along the beautiful Ohio has only been
to the Falls. The Beaucaires were
originally from Louisiana
"You must have been among the ear
lier settlers of Missouri
Before the Americans came, SIR"
proudly. "My grandfather arrived at
Beaucaire Landing during the old
French regime; but doubtless you
know all this?"
"No, judge" I answered, recognizing
the egotism of the man but believing
frankness to be the best policy. ''This
happens to be my first trip on the up
per river, and 1 merely chanced to
know your name because you had been
pointed out to me by Captain Throck-
morton. l understood from him that
you represented one of the oldest
families in that section"
"There were but very few here be.
fore u.s." he answered with undis-
guised pride. my grandfather's grant
of land was from the king. Alphonse
de Beaucaire, sir, was the trusted
lieutenant of D'Iberville-a soldier
and gentleman"
bowed in acknowledgment. the
family arrogance of the man interest
ing me deeply. So evident was this
pride that this might be all the mar
had left-this memory of the past.
"The history of those early DAYS /.
not altogether familiar to me-" / ad
mitted regretfully. "'But surely DIber
Vile must have ruled Louisiana NOR,
. than one hundred years agoT
The judge smiled.
r "Quite true. This grant of ours wa.
| practically his last official act. AL
1 phonse de Beaucaire took possession
in 1872, one hundred and twenty year
ago, sir. l was myself born at Beau
f caire sixty-eight years ago"
l II should have guessed you as tel
L years younger. And the estate still
# remains in its original grant?"
# The smile of condescension deserte
n his eyes, and his thin lips presse
y tightly together.
Il regret not; many of the late
e years have proven disastrous in tn
il extreme" he admitted hesitatingly
n "You will pardon me, sir, if l decln
S to discuss misfortune. All. Monsieu
.e Kirbyi l have been awaiting yol
u Have you met with this young ma
who came aboard at Fort Armstrong
Il am unable to recall the name"
'e "Steven Knox"
IN felt the firm, strong grip of tn
IL Others bond. and looked straight int