The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-23

Alice reached forth and pulled
him IN. then reclosed the queer little
gate and pegged It. She caressingly
passed her arm through his and
looked into his weather-stained old
face with childlike affection.
There was not a photographers
camera to be had IN those days; but
what II q tourist with one in hand
could have been there TO take a snap
shot at TIE priest and the maiden as
they walked arm in arm to that squat
little varenda! The picture today
would be worth its weight in a first
water diamond. It would include the
cabin. the cherry tree. q glimpse Of
the raw. wild background and a sharp
portrait group OF Pere Beret, Alice
and Jean the hunchback- To compare
It with a photograph Of the same spot
now would give a perfect impression
Of the historic atmosphere. color and
conditions which cannot be set In
words. But we must not belittle the
power Of verbal description. What If
a thoroughly trained newspaper re
porter had been given the freedom OF
old Vincennes on the Wabash during
the first week OF June. 1873, and we
now had his printed storyl What a
supplement to the photographers pic
turesl Wen. we have neither photo
graphs nor graphic report; yet there
they are before US, the gowned and
straw capped priest. the fresh-faced,
coarsely-clad and vigorous girl. the
grotesque little hunchback. ell just as
real as life itself. Each OF US can
see them. even with closed eyes. Led
by that wonderful guide. Imagination,
We step back a century and more to
look over a scene at once strangely
attractive and unspeakably forlorn.
What was it that drew people away
from the old countries, from the
cities. the villages and the vine
yards Of beautiful France, for ex-
ample. to dwell in the wilderness.
amid Wild beasts and wilder savage
Indians, with a rude cabin for a home
and the exposures and hardships Of
pioneer life for their daily experience?
Men like Gaspard Roussillon are of
a distinct stamp. Take him as he
was. Born in France, on the banks OF
the RhoEe near Avignon. he came as
youth to Canada. whence he drifted
on the tide Of adventure this way and
that. until at last he found himself,
with a wife. at Post Vincennes, that
lonely picket Of religion and trade.
which was to become the center OF
civilizing energy for the great North
western territory. NJ Roussillon, had
no children OF his own; so his kind
heart opened freely to two fatherless
and mOtherless waits. These We're
Alice Roussillon, and the hunchback.
Jean. The former was II years old,
when he adopted her. a child of
Protestant parents. while Jean had
been taken. when a mere babe, after
his parents had been killed and
scalped by Indians. Madame Rous-
sillon, a prOfessed invalid, whose
appetite never failed and whose
motherly kindness expressed itself
most often through strains OF mo-
notonous falsetto scolding, was a
woman Of little education and no re-
fnement; while her husband clung
tenaciously to his love Of books,
especially 10 the FOIHAnCeS most IN
vogue when he took leave Of France.
N. Roussillon had been. IN a way,
ADce's teacher. though not greatly
Inclined to abet Father Beret in his
kindly efforts to make a Catholic of
the girl. and most treacherousry dis
posed toward the good priest in the
matter Of his well-meant attempts to
prevent her from reading and re-read.