The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-12
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head with a debonair smile

buckslin, tossed his shapely
head with a debonair smile
and said:
''To be sure. mon Colonel but what
have they been doing to us? We have
amused them all winter; it's but fair
that they should give us a little fun
now"
Clark shrugged his broad shoulders
and passed on. He understood per-
fectly what the people of Vincennes
had suffered under Hamilton's brutal
administration.
At o'clock an order was passed
to cease firing. and a flag of truce
was seen going from Clark's head
quarters to the fort. 1t was per
emptory demand for unconditional
surrender. Hamilton refused, and
lighting was f1erceIy resumed from
behind rude breastworks meantime
erected. Every loop.hole and opening
of whatever sort was the focus into
which the unerring backwoods rifles
sent their deadly bullets. Men began
to fall in the fort, and every moment
Hamilton expected an assault in force
on all sides of the stockade. This,
IL successful, would mean inevitable
massacre. Clark had warned him OF
the terrible consequences Of holding
out until the worst should come.
For" said he in his note to the Gov
ernor. az am obliged to storm, you
may depend upon such treatment as
is Justly due to a murderer.
Historians have wondered why Ham
ilton became so excited and acted so
strangely after receiving the note The
phrase, Justly due to a murderer, ;"
is the key to the mystery. When he
read It his heart sank and a terrible
fear seized him. Justly due to a muir
dererl'' ah, that calm, white, peauti-
full giriish face, dead in the moon
light, with the wisp Of shining hair
across it! such treatment as Is justly
due to a murderer" Cold drops OF
sweat broke out on his forehead and
a SILVER went through his body.
During the truce Clark's weary yet
still enthusiastic besiegers enjoyed
good breakfast prepared for them by
the loyal DANES Of Vincennes. Little
Adr1enne Bourcier was one OF the
handmaidens Of the occasion. She
brought to Beverley's squad a basket,
almost as large as herself, heaped
high with roasted duck and warm
wheaton bread, while another girl bore
two huge jugs of coffee. fragrant and
s.eaming hot. The men cheered them
Justify and complimented them with
out reserve, so that before their
service was over their faces were
glowing with delight
And yet Adrienne's heart was I'M
easy. and full Of longing to hear some
thing Of Rene de Ronville. Surely
some one of her friends must know
Z something about him. All, there was
Oncle Jazon! Doubtless he could tell
her all that she wanted to know. She
fingered, after the food was dis
tributed, and shyly inquired
"Hain't seed the scamp" said Oncle
Jazon. only he used the patois most
familiar to the girls ear. KILLED
an scelped long ago, 1 reckon"
His mouth was so full that he spoke
numbnngly and with utmost difficulty.
Nor did he glance at Adrienne, whose
face took on as great pallor as her
brown complexion could show.
Beverley ate but little Of the food.
He sat apart on a piece of timber that
projected from the rough breastwork
and gave himself over to infinite
misery 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
destroyed the face OF the miniature.
He gripped the dented and twisted
case and gazed at it with the stare
of a blind man. His heart almost
ceased to beat and his breath had
the rustling sound we hear when a
strong man dies of a sudden wound.
Somehow the DETACHMENT Of the por-
trait was taken by his soul as the
final touch Of Fate, signifying that
Alice was forever and completely OBJ
liberated from his life. He felt blur
pass over his mind. He tried in vain
to recall the face and form SO dear
TO him; he tried to imagine her voice
but the whole universe was a vast
hollow silence. For a long while he
was cold, staring, rigid; then the In
evitable collapse came, and he wept
as only a strong man can who IS hurt
to death, yet cannot die.
Adrienne approached him, thinking