The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-09-23


red war trail. The English were no
longer to offer arms and blankets for
the beaver, belonging by right Of prior
discovery TO those who offered French
brandy and French beads. The lro-
uunis were no longer to pursue n
tlmid foe across the great prairies oil
the valley of the Messasebe. The
Oiibways were not to ambush the scat
tered parties OF the lroquois. The un-
ambitious Colonists OF New England
and New York were to be left to I'll!
Their stony farms III quiet. Meantime,
the fur trade. wasteful, licenttous, I'M
profitable, was to extend onward and
outward in all the marches OF the West
From one end Of the Great River OF
The West to the other the insignia Of
France and Of Frances king were to
be erected, and Frances posts were 70
hold all the ancient trails. Even at the
mouth Of the Great River, fOres,allinp
English Colonists, far to the south In
the SOmber forests and mlasmatic
marshes, there was to be established
one more ruling point for the arms OF
Louis the Grand. II was great game
this. for which the continent Of Amer
lea was in preparation. 1t was Il
mighty thing, this gathering Of the
Great Peace, this time when colonists
and their king were seeing the first
breaking OF the wave on the shore OF
an empire alluring, wonderful. unpar'
nllcled.
Into this wild rabble OF savages and
citizens, Of priest and soldier and
oourcur, Laws friends, Pierre NOR
and Jean Brebocuf, swiftly disap-
pHarcd naturally, fifty and unayoid-
ably. The West is calling to us, Mon
eicur," said Pierre Noir one morning,
rs he stood looking out across the
river Il hear once more the spirits
Of the Mcssasebe. Monsieur, Will you
Gomez"
Law shook his head Yet two days
later. as he stood at that very point.
there came to him the silent feet OF
| two cOurours instead OF one Once moro
he heard in his ear the question:
Monsieur Las, will you come"
A. this voice he started In an in
stant his arms were about the neck of
Du Mcsnc. and tears were falling from
the eyes of both in the welcome of that
| brotherhood which is admitted only by
those who have known together arms
and danger and hardship, the touch of
the hard ground and the sight Of the
| wide blue sky.
"Du Mesne, my friend"
Monsieur Las"
TT is as though you came from the
depths Of the sea, Du Mcsnc!" said
Law.
And as though you yourself arose
from the grave. Monsieur"
How did you know p"
Why easily. You do not understand
| the ways Of the wilderness, where news
'raycls as fast as in the cities. You
were hardly below the foot OF MichiEa-
| non before runners from the Him had
spread the news along the Chicaqua
| where | was then In camp. For the
the Rig Peace. reasoned that the
lrUQuoIs would not dare to destroy
| their Captiyes that I'm time the agents
| VI the government would receive the
| naptIycs Of the lrOquOis-that these
rap'iycs would naturally come TO the
| settlements on the st Lawrence, since
| 10 was the French against whom the
DruluOis had been At war, that having
come to Montreal, you would naturally
remain here for a time The rest was
easy Jared on to the straits this
| spring and then on down the lakes. |
have sold our furs. and am now ready
| TO account to you with sum quite
as much as we should have expected
Now, Monsieur" and Du Mcsne
stretched out his arm again. pointing
to the homecoming flood OF the St
Lawrence. Monsieur, will you come?
I see not the St Lawrence. but the
Mcssascbc | can hear the voices call
Ing"
Law dashed his hand across his eyes
and turned his head away. Not yet
Du Mosnc," said he. Il do not know
| Nut yet must first 20 across the
waters Perhaps sometime can not
| tell But this, my comrades. my
brothers. | do know; that never until
The last sod lies on my grave, will !
forget the Messasebe or forget yOu.
| GO back, If you will my brothers, but
at night. when you SIT by your flreside,
think of me. rs shall think Of you,
there In the great valley. My friends,
1t is the heart of the world"
But, Monsieur"
There, Du Mesne--I would not talk
to-day At another time. Brothers,
ndieu!"
| "Adieu, my brother" said the Cour-
eur, his own emotion showing in his
| eyes; and their hands met again
| Monsieur is cast down" said Du
Mesne TO Pierre Noir later, rs they
| reached the beach. Nov, what think
you?"
Usually, as you know, Pierre. II is
| a question Of some woman. II reminds
ne, Wabana was remiss enough when
I left her among the Him with you,
Now, God bless my heart. | find her
| how think you? With her crucihx lost.
| cooking for a dirty Ojibway!"
Mary Mother!" said Pierre Nolr, IF
It be & matter OF a woman-wcll, God
help us all! A. least tits something
that will take Monsieur Las over seas
| again"
"Tis mostly a woman" unused Du
| Mesne; but this passeth my wit"
| True, they pass the wit OF all. Now,
did ! ever tell thee about the mission
girl nj Michilimackinac- stay!
That for another time, They tell me
that our comrade, Greysolon du L'hut,
| is expected in tomorrow with a party
from the far end OF Superior. Come,
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