The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-18
I AsPARD RoUssILLON, im.


NJ tory, thought he saw a good
opening favorable to festivity
at the river house, for which
he soon began to make some
Ot his most ostentatious prepa-
rations. Fate, however, as usual
IN this case. interfered. Fate
seemed to like pulling the big French
mans ear now and again, as If to re-
mind him Of the fact-which he was
apt to forget-that he lacked some
what Of omnipotence-
''Zinl Je vais dOnner I'm banquet
tout le monde, mOi!'' he cried. hustling
and bustling hitler and thither.
A scout from up the river an
nounced the approach Of Phillip De
jean with his fiotilIa richly laden, and
what little interest may have been
gathering in the direction of NJ. ROUs-
sillon's festal proposition vanished like
the flame Of a lamp in a puff of wind
when this news reached Colonel Clark
and became known in the town.
Beverley and Alice sat together in
the main room of the ROussillon cabin
you could scarcely find them sepa-
rated during those happy days-and
Alice was singing to the soft tinkle Of
a guitar, a creole ditty with a merry
smack in its scarcely Ineligible non
sense. She knew nothing about music
beyond what N. Roussillon, a jack of
all trades, had been able to teach her
"a few simple chords to accompany
her songs. picked up at hap-hazzard.
But her voice, like her face and form,
lggr,~r Il N.-h,s
firm. deep. with something haunting
in 1.-THE tone of a hermit thrush,
marvelously pure and clear, carried
through a gay strain like the hooking
birds. of course, Beverley thought
it divine; and when a message came
from Colonel Clark bidding him report
for duty at once, he felt an impulse
toward mutiny Of the rankest sort. He
did not dream that a military expedi-
ton could be on hand; but upon reach
ing headquarters, the first thing he
heard was:
Report to Captain Helm. You are
to go with him up the river and inter
cept a British force. Move lively,
Helm IS waiting for you. probably
There was no time for explanations.
questions nor delay. Beverley's love
Of adventure and his patriotic desire to
serve his country came to his aid
vigorously enough: still with AliCe's
love-song ringing in his heart. there
was a cord pulling him back from
duty to the sweetest of all LIES joys
Helm was already at the landing.
where a little feet of boats was be-
ing prepared. A thousand things had
to be done IN short order. All hands
were stimulated 70 highest exertion
with the thought Of another fight.
Swivels were mounted in boats. am
munition and provisions stored album
dainty, flags hoisted and oars dipped.
Never was an expedition Of go great
importance more swiftly organized and
set in motion, nor did one ever have
a more prosperous voyage or COM
pleter triumph. Philip Dejean, justice
Of Detroit. with his men, boats and
rich cargo. was captured easily, with
not a shot fired nor a drop OF blood
spilled in doing it.
II Alice could have known all this
bAiore il happened. she would prob
ably have saved herself from the
modification OF a rebuke administered
very kindly. but not the less thor
oughIy, by Colonel Clark.
The. rumor came to her-a brilliant
creole rumor, duly inf1ated-that an
overwhelming British force was de
scending the river, and that Beverley
with a few men. not sufficient to base
the expedition on a respectable for
lorn hope. would be sent TO meet
them. Her nature. as was It's wont,
fiared into high indignation. What
right had Colonel Clark 70 send her
lover away 10 be killed just at the
time when he was all the whole world
to her? Nothing could be more out
rage6us. She would not suffer It to
be done; not she,
Colonel Clark greeted her pleasantly,
when she came somewhat abruptly TO
him. where he was directing a squad
Of men at work making some repairs
in the picketing OF the fort. He did
not observe her excitement until she
began to speak, and then It was no
ticeable only. and not very strongly,
in her tone. She forgot TO speak
English, and her French was Greek
to him.
Il am glad to see you, Mademoi-
selle," he said, rather incOnsequen-ly,
lifting his hat and bowling with rough
grace, while he extended his right
hand cordially. You have something
to say to me? Come with me to my
Office"
She barely touched his fingers.
Yes, I have something to say to
you. I can tell it here" she said
speaking English now with softeSt
creole accent. Il wanted-I came
to" It was not so easy as she had
imagined It would be TO utter. what
she had in mind Clark's steadfast, in
scrutable eyes. kindly yet not alto
gether sympathetic. met her own and
beat them down. Her voice failed.