Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-15

I VAASAA CAAV Wao A000Alu6 tOs tnO 00AA- gers to which she had 50 recently been exposed. She quickly sought solitude in order to think out some plan of ac- tion. She had learned from one of the women standing by all that had oc- cured at the gate of the seigniory aft ! CT she had tainted, and her heart was filled with rage and shame. The poi soned lie told by Madame Bizard had done its work. Tonti. the ideal, the hero; Tonti, the gallant and brave; Tonti, the fairy prince, the possible lover the chance of meeting whom had rendered her exile bearable, was de- throned, and she saw in him only an ordinary. man, impure, base. deceiv- ing, an enemy to be avoided. Although i no words of love had passed between them, yet the remembrance of the budding passion that she had recog- brain anew. As long as he was far dis tant she had been able to try bravely to overcome her disappointment, but l his proximity had aroused within her i sense of danger and a desire to flee. Banished from her home through 8 peril she could not combat. she found herself surrounded by fresh hazards. She had fled to the convent to escape the Comte de Miron. and now like a i hunted animal she sought new refuge as another enemy appeared in view. The rumored presence of the es- ! capped comte as leader of band of the murderous Iroquois rendered her un- safe except while under the direct protection of Frontenac. The arrival of Tonti, whom her unsettled imagina- tion pictured to her as having aban- doned his comrades in the wilderness, was a menace even under the shelter ing walls of the fort.
 | That night she attended meeting of all the nuns and heard letter read from one of the priests at Michil!- mackinac brought by messenger who had joined Tonti at Fort Frontenac, in which was depicted the pitiful con- lition of the Indians and whites who were suffering from an epidemic of smallpox, and imploring the aid of two nurses to assist the three already there. The message, frank though it was in relating the hardship and dan- gers inevitable to one responding to this Macedonian cry for help, came to | her as the trumpet-call to duty as well as an avenue of escape. The superior announced that they would be able to spare but one nun for the work, and would appeal to the donnees for vol unteef to accompany her. Only one responded: 1t was Renee, who arose and offered herself for the service. She hurriedly sought Frontenac the next morning to obtain his consent. She found him busily engaged at his desk, but he brushed everything aside as she entered and arose to meet her with smile. Bon jour, ma chere mademoiselle," i he exclaimed. q am reIieved at having | you back once more under my eye. was wrong to expose you to the peril | that you have so fortunately escaped. | I promise you I shall be more careful in the future and shall keep you safe beneath the guns of Quebec and allow no more pilgrimages into the wilder ness"
 Pardon me, my protector, if seem wilful," responded Renee, "but have one boon to ask of you that you must grant or I die." and she fell upon her knees, stretching forth her hands ap- pealingly.
 Ma foi! my fair petitioner, 1t would i'll become my strength to refuse aught to one in such extremity. But come,' " he continued in a kindly tone, as he raised her, and leading her to chair Insisted on her being seated. "Tell me cf your troubles, for that you are in great distress I can we'll see. Remem- ber am devoted to your interest, and you may need an older head to solve some of your problems"
 The fatherly note in his voice, his gentle insistance, came as an infinite relief to Renee's troubled mind. Here was strength for her weakness, coun- sel for her perplexity. The extreme tension she had been under rendered her woman's heart susceptible to these kindly words, and she buried her face in her hands and wept violently. Frontenac drew his chair near and strove to quiet her with compassionate i words and light stroking of her hair, as a father would comfort an unhappy child. Gradually the sobs ceased, and Renee told him of her decision.
 "Mon Dieu!" he exclaimed fin aston- ishment. "leave the security of the fort for the thousand perils of the wilder ness? Impossible! It would be the rankest folly"
 Renee then opened her heart to her companion, and the iron-gray head of the doughty warrior was bent in won- dering interest at the recital of the perils of the girl. the depth of a wom- ans love, the wound a feminine heart can suffer and yet live, and the strength of purpose of . noble nature that has resolved to conquer, even though it be by flight She told of the Comte de Miron, of his duel with Tonti, of her adventure in the chair, of her love she felt to be returned, of the appearance of the comte in Que bee. As regards Tonti she contented herself with saying that she had learned that she was mistaken in her estimate of the man. that he was all unworthy of her love, and that. in 4 a~r -kA hAI f<, lnrn him