Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-20

| 0oAa dS " LAW, you dIC tAl0C ouAAV ] gentleman who so set all Quebec by the ears last winter. My faith! The l regiment Carignan had cause to re- 1 joice when you. left for up river, even | though you took with you half the ready coin of the settlement. Yet come | you once more to .meet the gentlemen of France, and doubt not they will be ! glad as ever to stake you high as may be in this poverty-stricken region 1 You have been far to the westward, l 1 doubt not. You were, perhaps, made l prisoner somewhere below the straits. |" Far below; among the tribe of the Illini, in the valley of the Messasebe.' ' You tell me so! I had thought no white man left in that valley for this | season. And madame-this child | surely twas the first white infant born in the great valley"
 "And the most unfortunate''
 Nay, how can you say that, since you have come more than half a thou 1 sand miles and are all safe and sound to-day? Glad enough we shall be to have you and madame with us for the winter, if, indeed, it be not for longer dwelling. l cannot take you now to the English settlements, since must back to the governor with the news. Yet dull enough you would find these Dutch of the Hudson, and worse yet the blue-nosed psalmodists of New England. Much better for you and your good lady are the gayer capitals of New France, or la belle France it. self, that older France. Monsieur, how infinitely more fit for a gentle man of spirit is France than your dull England and it's Dutch king! Either New France or Old France, let me ad- wise you; and as to that new west, let me counsel that you wait until after the big peace. And, in speaking, your friend, Du Mesne, your lieutenant, the coureur--his fate, suppose, one need not ask. He was killed-where?" Law recounted the division of his party just previous to the Iroquois at tack, and added his concern lest Du Mesne should return to the former sta tion during the spring and find but it's ruins, with no news of the fate of his friends.
 ''Oh, as to that-'twould be but the old story of the voyageurs," said Jon caire. They are used enough to jour neying a thousand miles or so, to find the trail end in a heap of ashes, and to the tune of a scalp dance. Fear not for your lieutenant. for believe me, he has tended for himself if there has been need Yet I would warrant you, now that this word for the peace has gone out. we shall see your friend Du Mesne as big as life at the Mountain next summer, knowing as much of your history as you yourself do, and quite counting upon meeting you with us on the St. Lawrence. and madame as well. As to that methinks madame will be better with us on the St. Lawrence than on the savage Messasebe We have none too many danes among us, and I need not state, what monsieur's eyes have told him every morning Athat a fairsr never set foot from ship from over seas Witness my lieutenant wonder, Raoul de Ligny! He is thus soon all devotion! Mother of God! but we are we'll met here, in this wilderness. among the savages. Voila, monsieur. We take you again captive, and 'tis madame enslaves us all,
 There had indeed ensued converse ton between the young French officer above named and Mary Connynge; yet prompt as might have been the former with gallant attentions to so fair captive, it could not have been said that he was allowed the first ad- yances. Mary Connynge, even after a month of starving foot travel and an- other month of anxiety at the Iroquois villages, had lost neith CT her rounded body, her brilliance of eye and color. nor her subtle magnetism of personal ity. It had taken stronger head than that of Raoul de Ligny to withstand even her slight request. How, then, as to Mary Connynge supplicating, en- treating, craving of him protection?
 "Ah, you brave Frenchmen," said she to De Ligny, advancing to him as he stood apart, twisting his mustaches and not unmindful of this very possi- bility of conversation with the cap tive. You brave Frenchmen, how can we thank you for our salvation? It was all so borrible!"
 ''It is our duty to save all, madame" rejoined De I.igny; "our happiness un-
  speakaSleN to save, such as madame. swear by my sword, had as soor expected to find an angel with the Iro cuois as to meet there madame! Que bec-all Quebec has told me who madame was and is. And am your slave"
 "Oh, sir, could you but mean that! '" and there was turned upon him the full power of gaze which few men had ever been able to withstand: The blood of De Lrgny tingled as he bowed and replled. :
 "If madane could but demand one proof .
 Mary Connyzge stepped closer to him. "Hush!" she said. Speak low! Do not let it seem that we are inter- ested. Keep your own counsel. Can you do this?"
 The eyes of the young officer gleamed He was bold enough to re- spond This his temptress noted.
 He nodded. . "You see that man-the tall one