The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-05
Alice of Old Vincennes
By Maurice Thompson
coPYR1GHT 1908 ALICE THOMPSON
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COPYRIGHT. 1908, BY A
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FATHER GIBAULT brought the request to
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, a brave officer
of the American Army at kasSasEIa. that
Ninoeunes give allegiance to his Govern
ment, ali were easily persuaded to DO
Aar exactly like that under which
GEORGE WASHINGTON. the great Amer
lean General. was fighting. was huTTiedly
MADAME GODERE and
ALICE, foster daughter Of Gaspard Rouis-
silon.
Caught in the spirit Of freedom, Alice
rushed to the roof OF the block house, and
planted the new emblem over
Nlucenucs. leaving behind her
RENE DE RONVILLE. her ardent admirer,
whom the committee had sent to gel the
flag. s
GO on WITH THIS STORY
~ HE looked down and saw N.
~ RoussiIon, Father Gibault and
Father Bcret grouped in the
center of the area They
were waving their hands aloft at
4
sent up applause which went through
her blood like strong wine. Sha
smiled radiantly, and a sweet flush
glowed in her cheeks.
No one of all that wild crowd could
ever forget the picture sketched so
boldly at that moment when, after
planting the staff, Alice stepped back
a space and stood strong and beau
tifuI against the soft blue sky. She
glanced down first, then looked up, her
arms folded across her bosom. 1t was
a pose as unconsciously taken as that
of bird, and the grace Of 1t went
straight 10 the hearts Of those below.
She turned about to descend, and
for the first time saw that Rene had
followed her. His face was beam
ing.
What a girl you are!" he ex-
claimed, in a tone Of eXultant admir-
alton. Never was there another like
your
Alice walked quickly past him with
out speaking; for down in the space
where some women were huddled aside
from the crowd looking on, she had
seen little Adrienne BOurcler. She
made haste to descend. Now that her
impulsively chosen enterprise was
completed her boldness deserted her
and she slipped out through a dilapi-
dated postern opposite the crowd. On
her right was the river, while south
ward before her lay q great fiat plain,
beyond which rose some hiuocks Gov
cred with forest. The sun blazed be
tween masses Of slowly drifting clouds
that trailed creeping fantastic shad-
ows across the marshy waste.
Alice walked along under cover o.
the slight Iandsweu which then, more
plainly marked than it is now, formed
the contour line of hummock upon
which the fort and village stood. a
watery swale grown full of tall
aquatic weeds meandered parallel
with the bluff. so to call it, and there
was 4 soft melancholy whispering Of
wind among the long blades and
stems. she passed the church and
Father Beret's hut and continued for
some distance in the direction Of that
pretty knoll upon which the cemetery
is at present so tastefully kept. She
felt shy now, as If to run away and
hide would be q great relief. Indeed.
so relaxed were her nerves that q
slight movement IN the grass and cat
tail flags near by startled her painful
", making her jump ike a fawn.
Little friend not be 'fraid," said a
EutteraI voice in broken French. Lit
lie friend not make noise"
At a glance fhe recognized Long
flair, the Indian, rising out of the
matted marsh growth. It was a hid
eous vision Of embodied cunning, soul
lessness and murderous cruelty.
Not tell white man you see me?'
he grunted interroeatively. stepping
close to her. He looked 50 wicked
that she recoiled and lifted her hands
defensively.
She trembled from head to foot and
her voice failed her. but she made q
negative sign and smiled at him. turn
Ing as white as her tanned face could
become.
In his left hand he held his bow,
while in his right he half lifted a
Misunderstanding tOmahawk.
What new flag mean?" he demand
ed, waving the bows end toward the
fort and bending his head down close
to hers. ''Who yonder?"
THE great American Father has
taken us under his protection" she
explained I'VE are big-knives now. "
It almost choked her to speak.
ugh, heap damn fools" ne said