The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-01

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fervid and liberal sort common to ma
tives of the Midi, and which has been
| exquisitely depicted by the late AL
/ pkonse Daudet in Tartarin and Bonn
pard. He leaned far back in a strong
chair with his massive legs stretched
at full length, and gazed at the roof
poles while he talked
He sympathized fully, in his crude
way, with Ances lively curiosity, and
his affection for her made him anx-
ious to appease her longing after news
from the great outside world. If the
sheer truth must come out, however,
he knew precious little about that
world. especially the polite part of it
in which thrived those femininit1es so
dear TO the heart OF an isolated and
imaginative girl. Still, as he, too,
lived in Arcadia, there was no great
effort involved when he undertook to
blow a dreamer's flute.
In the first place he had not been in
Quebec or Montreal during his alb
sence from home. Most Of the time
he had spent disposing Of pelts and
furs at Detroit and in extending his
trading relations with other posts; but
what mattered a trifling want or facts
when his meridIonal fancy once began
TO warm up? A smattering of social
knowledge. gained at first hand in
his youthful days in France while ne
was a student whose parents fondly
expected him to conquer the world,
came to his aid. and besides he had
saturated himself ali his life with po-
etry and romance. Scudery, Scarron,
Provost, Nine La Fayette and Cal
prenede were the chief sources Of his
information touching the life and
manners, morals and gayedes of peo-
pie who, as he supposed, stirred the
surface of that resplendent and far
off ocean called society. Nothing
suited him better than to smoke a
pipe and talk about what ne had seen
and done; and the less he had really
seen and done the more he had to tell.
His broad. almost over-virile, kindly
and contented face beamed with the
warmth of wholly imaginary recollec-
tions while he recounted with minute
circumstantiality TO the delighted
Alice his gallant adventures IN the
crowded and brilliant bathrooms Of the
French Canadian towns. The rolling
burr of his bass voice, deep and reson-
ant. gave force to the imprOvised de
scriptiOns.
Madame Roussillon heard the heavy
booming and presently came softly
back into the door from the kitchen
10 listen. She leaned against the
facing in an attitude Of ponderous
attention. a hand cn her bulging hip.
She could not suppress her un
bounded admiration Of her nege
lords manly physique, and jealous to
herceness as she was Of his ex-
perience so eloquently and pictures
queIy related. her woman's nature
took fire with enjoyment Of the
scenes described.
This IS the mission OF the poet and
the romancer-to sponge out Of ex-
( istence, for a time, the stiff, refrac-
/ tory, and unlevely realities and give
IN their place a scene Of ideal mobility
and charm. The two women reveled
/ in Gaspard Roussillon's revelations.
/ They saw the brilliant companies, the
/ luxurious surroundings. heard the
I
Of laces. the hum Of sweet voices,
breathed in the watts Of costly per
fumeries, looked on while the dancers
whirled and fickered In the confusion
Of lights: and over all and through
all poured and vibrated such ravish-
Ing music as only the southern I'm
acination could have conjured up out
Of nothing.
Alice was absolutely charmed. She
sat on 4 low wooden stool and Eazed
into Gaspard RoussIIons face with
Cilatirg eyes in which burned that
rich and radiant something we call a
! passionate soul. She drank In his
fambOyant stream Of words with a
thirst which nothing but experience
| could ever quench. He felt her silent
/ applause and the admiring in
voluntary absorption that possessed
his wife; the consciousness Of his
elementary magnetism augmented the
/ flow Of his fine descriptions, and he
went on and on, until the arrival Of
Father Beret put an end TO it all
The priest hearing Of NJ Rous-
Sillon's return. had come to inquire
7bout some friends living at Detroit
4e took luncheon with the family. en-
wing the downright refreshing
citation OF broiled birds. onions, meal
.kes and claret, ending with a dish
bIackberries and cream.
N Roussillon seized the first oppor-
unity TO resume his successful TO.
niancing. and presently in the midst
p the meal began to tell Father Beret
bout what he had seen In Quebec.
by the way" he said. with expan.
i've casualness in his voice, IT called
upon your old-time friend and coadju-
tor. Father Sebastien, while up there.
4 noble old man. He sent you a thou
sand good messages. Was nightly
delighted when I told him how happy
md hale you have always been here.
All. you should have seen his dear old
YES full Of loving tears. He would
walk a hundred miles to see you. he
said, but never expected to I'm this
world. Blessings, blessings upon dear
Father Beret. was what he nurmured
In my ear when we were parting. He
says that he will never leave Quebec
until he goes to his home above-ahr'
The way in which NJ Roussillon
closed his little speech, his large eyes
1pturned, his huge hands clasped In
front Of him, was very effective
Il am under many obligations. my
son." said Father Beret. for what
you tell me. 1t was good Of you to
remember my dear old friend and so
to him for his loving messages 70 me.