Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-13


co.'s! Francois, do you hear ne call?
Bring lights.''
''Who are here?' asked Nine. Chew
rcul, rising in great agitation.
The old servant, startled by the i'm
perious tone of his gentle mistress,
hurried to the veranda with light.
Mrs. Vernon stood clasping the hand
of the half-breed, while the French
lady, grasping the rail of the veranda,
gazed into the darkness, from whence
emerged two figures, and as they came
within the circle of light another more
remote.
''Ninon, my child! is it thou? hast
thou returnsd to my heart, my love?"
Nine. Chevreul sobbed the words forth as
she held her niece in her arms. Marden,
his foot upon the step of the veranda,
his face alone visible, gazed upon the
scene with the satisfaction of one who
has accomplished difficult task; while
Stella, few PAGES behind him, looked
on with the wondering expression of a
child.
An hour later Mile. Destain was relat-
ing to her friends the story of her mys-
terious abduction from the burning
house. Ariel had retired to rest, and
the squaw was asleep on the veranda.
The party were seated around the table
in the dining room, from which the cloth
had just been removed.
Full of anxiety for The fate of our
friends she said, 81 was about to fol-
low my aunt upstairs, when I was seized
with a sudden apprehension of danger.
Hesitating what to do, 1 became aware
of smoke in the room; then I ran into
the hall to give the alarm; my foot was
on the stairs, and l screamed Fire.
once, when blanket was thrown over
| my head, hand pressed upon NJ Y mouth.
till between terror and suffocation, /
lost my senses. / must have remained
unconscious for long time, for when /
opened my eyes again, l was lying on
some furs on the bottom of a canoe,
with my head in the lap of the Indian
| woman. The blanket was removed and
1 could breathe freely. The stars were
shining, but there were no lights on the
shore, by which ] know that we were
some distance from the town. From,
my position could distinguish but little
in the darkness, except dim form in
| the stern of the canoe. / tried to speak,
but the squaw laid her finger on my
| lips. 1 lay still for long time--hours
I think-when 1 fell asleep. It was
| daylight when I awolSe. The canoe
was tied to the shore, and my captors
were preparing meal, of which 1 could
not partake. 1 then discovered that
there was another canoe; I also recog-
nized Lemourier's negro servant, who
seemed to be in command, but the squaw
| directed his course. The white men
were Canadians whose duty it was to
paddle the canoes, kindle fires and pre-
| pare meals. After that first night the
! journey was continued by daylight only,
and we occasionally met party of In
| dams on their way to Montreal, but a
| few words from Stella. as have named
her, satisfied them that we were friends
The negro treated me courteously, but
would answer no questions as to our des
tination. At last we arrived at the is
sand whore Captain Marden found me-
and you can imagine my terror at the
fate which I believed awaited me, and
how prayed for help even if it came in
the form of death, until that moment o.
supreme happiness when felt the pres
sure of ArieIs hand in the darkness o.
my prison"
''But how did Captain Marden fine
the clue which led him in the pursuit?'
asked Nine. Chevreul.
Mrs. Vernon found it," Marden re
piled. San Indian woman whom sht
had befriended, and who was an unseeI
witness to the embarkation, revealed i
to her, and Ariel and started in pur
suit, believing that their destinatio,
was Fort Frontenac. We therefore fol
lowed the north shore of the St. Law
renee, but would have passed them, hat
not their camp fire betrayed them t.
Ariel's sharp eyes. The credit of tn,
rescue belongs to him." He then wen
on to describe the subsequent event
with which the reader is familiar, add
ing: "My task being accomplished,
must return to my duty. My presenc,
here is unknown to all but yourselve
and must remain so, lest the militar,
authorities should object to my depart
ure. If I may claim your hospitalit,
for twenty-four hours, Mrs Vernon
Sand Ariel?" interrupted Mile. Des
tain.
HE will accompany me-" said Mar
den. There is bond Of affection be
tween Us which danger and HARDSHIP
!. have cemented too closely to admit