Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-11-09
CHAPTER XXIII.-CoNrlNUED.

The past two years had worked
great change in Tonti. He was no
longer the gay soldier of fortune, seek
ing in the battlefield the means of live
Iihood and material advancement, un-
settled in purpose, selling the service
of his sword for a sum of gold and a
promotion, realizing that his life was
probably short, and hence prefer
ably, a merry one. The harsh strug.
Gle with the rugged forces of nature,
the primeval freshness of a new coun-
cry, the close companionship through
many dangers with soul such as La
'SSalle's, untarnished with the common.
,er Iittlenesses of the mankind he had
hitherto known, and vibrating with
the devotion of noble life to a high
purpose, the association day by day
with Renee, whose being unconscious
w revealed its manifold complexity
and beauty to his wondering eyeS-all
had served to bring about an inner
UuetamCrphosiS that he knew not of,
one that if he had studied himself
carefully he would not have been able
so analyze. It's only revelation was in
which he was dimly conscious. The
coarse and gross qualities of the camp,
the blighting contaminations of the
court, all that tended to the rearing of
standards unworthy of tee best in man
Chat tiny kernel of the divine i'm
planted first within their hearts, the
sitting or cherishing of which consti-
tuteS the sum of human responsible.
tty) had slipped from him as an old
garment. New yearnings, rev ends,
new ideals, had arisen to take the place
of the old. He realized that a field of
glorious opportunity was his; that his
would be the task of winning a new
land, fairer, richer than the old;
task whose far-reaching consequences
for good or i'll were immeasurable On
the proper, loyal, high-minded achieve
ment of his labor might depend the fu-
ture greatness Of a nation. The ex-
allied passion felt for Renee that, un-
known to him, had been the main
source of the great changes wrought
within, hopeless as it was as to its de-
sired procurement, did not harden him
with despair. 1t rather spurred him
On III the invincible resolve to live his
life, whatever it might be, so that he
might remain worthy of her esteem
This 1t was that helped him to resist
the temptation to be disloyal; to thrust
from his thirsty lips the draught he
could not taste without dishonor.
At length the propitious winds that
carried them along so peacefully
brought their little craft within sight
of the distant promontory OF St. Ig-
mace of Michilimackinac Here they
disembarked and found a hearty well
come. The smallpox epidemic had sub
sided, but there were numerous sick
and wretched ones among the Indians
Tor Renee and her companion to as
'sist in tending.
The day after their arrival Tonti
busted himself in making certain ar
fangements for the storing and for
Warding of any furs that might be sent
by him or La Sale from the country
of the Illini.
While Tonti was thus engaged, an
Indian boy came to him from Renee
begging that he follow him to the hut
Of an aged dying Ottawa. Tonti soon
entered the squalid lodge and found
ehere priest. Renee, and one of the
auns.
Il have sent for you" whispered
Renee, because the sick man has
called necessarily, ever since he was
told of your arrival. for the French
captain, saying that he had a message
for you"
Tonti approached the heap of skins
that served for the sufferers bed. He
lay in stupOr, occasionally arousing
himself so far as TO utter a moan or
Inutter a few inarticulate words. The
sound of Tonti's voice seemed 10 re-
call him to consciousness, for he
Grasped hia hand and spoke in a weak
get clear tone.
THE F:1nch brother and the Black
Gowns ha Te been my frierds / will
tell the French captain wha. I see"
Then closing his eyes. he was silent a
momeCt before continuing. Il see the