Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-12-28

4RRAooNh ia ka4R0h - oaSA
any further speech from La Sale and
permitted Tonti to Withdraw to an
other portion of the ship, a prey to
the deepest emotion. AS he stood by
the rail and looked across the tum-
bling, surging mass of waters which a
rising storm had quickened, he felt in
full sympathy with its tempestuous
naturs. And when the rain fell and the
wind became a gale and the vessel
bobbed about OF the water, he still re-
tanned his post, oblivious of the outer
tempest. engulfed as was his spirit
amid the waves of jealous alarm, I'M
happiness, and despair.
Here was a blight upon his new
formed hopes; the man whom he had
promised to serve as companion and
friend, the one to whom he warmed
as never to mortal man, was now an
unconscious rival. In the first onrush
of the tempest that stirred his pas
sionate nature he hated him, and
cursed the day they first met. We're
not the glory and honor and rich es
that were just ahead on the explorers
path sufficient but that he must take
his love, she whom he realized was all
in all to him, too? And the melody of
the song he had sung with its closing
words, words written in a moment of
joy and hope, that were in reality full
of pathetic foreboding, passed through
his mind again:
But. other hands I fear will pluck
This Rose, my Rose, of Normandy.
But when the tide of feeling had
reached it's full. then came the calm
: before the ebb. The soldiers sense of
justice showed him clearly that his
friend was innocent of any desire to
work him harm. That he really was
the interloper, for La Sale had known
her for weeks and months, while his
acquaintance was but that Of a day.
And the strong feeling of remaining
stanchly loyal to his commander, even
though it meant to take sides against
himself, came to his rescue. Then,
too, the careful recollection of the two
short glimpses he had of the fair lady
showed him but too plainly that he had
small grounds of hope on which to
build.
On into the early morning watches
he struggled with himself. The love
OF a man for a woman battled strong
with a mans love for honor and that
which he deemed the right. And 10!
q paradox appeared, for in the strife al,
though honor won, yet in no wise was
his love for the woman conquered or
belittled by the strife, but rather was
] it enlarged, illumined, and made
stronger still, for he could at once give
full allegiance to his love and yet re-
solve that come what might he would
in no wise be false to his friend; that
he could glorify and worship the one
and keep this secret hid from the
other; could aid his companion with
all his strength and leave the future
to lie bon Dieu, who controls every
mans destiny. The battle once won,
he could look forward with the hope
that by being true to both now, his re-
ward would somehow be Forthcoming
when the work was done. And as ths
first morning rays touched the ships
deck they fell upon the figure of a
man, not worn out and fatigued by a
nights struggle and exposure, but firm
and erect, gazing toward the new land
but one days journey distant, with the
light of faith and hope and love in his
~countenance; and the greatest Of
these was love.
That night three goblets were filled
to the brim and emptied and filled
again. Three manly breasts responded
to the thrill Of a common lot, a COM
mon joy, a common purpose. Three
hands clasped fealty with hands that
gripped them fast. They pledged the
king, the ship, New France, the ex-
petition, and last of all, themselves.
ITO three gallant comrades" cried
La Sale when the last bumper was
raised, who will to each other be
true"
"And faithful added Tonti, in q
voice vibrating with deep feeling.
Even unto DEATH" said Pompon
gravely.
Thus ran the toast; SO drank they
all.