Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-27

that she might remain to kim. .'o- gether Che. pale and weak, leaning on the arm of his nurse; she patiently accommodating her healthful gait to his trembling steps) they visited the spot. Tonti ordered cut upon the cross that marked the place where his friend lay the words Faithful unto death" " and told Renee of the fateful sen- tence uttered by Pompon as the three drank their last toast in .the little cabin of the Saint Honore."
 One afternoon when the deep blue haze of the delayed Indian summer hung over the distant hills, they as- cended the little lookout platform that had been the scene of the fatal combat. Renee, after seeing that her patient was comfortably propped against the flagstaff, sat down beside him. Below them lay the Indian lodges, busy with life and activity. All vestiges of the attack had been re- moved and new bark houses had arisen on the ashes of the old. The suns {, rays touched the tops of the distant camps, half hidden in the trees, now gaudy in their multicolored autumn i foliage. Far up the river Tonti be- held a solitary canoe, urged onward by some sinewy arm. He thought of the day when his arm, now weak and shrunken, had sent his bark flying over the water to greet Renee on hey first arrival. and his mind went back over all the happenings since they had first met, and he marvelled as he ] thought of the strange intervening of their. lives. A feeling of sadness surged through his breast as he real- ized the fruitlessness of it all; that only disappointment and resigned sorrow were left them.
 The Chevalier de Baugis approached. Bon jour, mon ami," he cried. "It does my eyes good to see you able to be about visiting the scenes of your past glories. Now that you are strong CT, have brought letter for you from La Salle, received whilst you were wandering in the land of dreams" So saying, he handed the missive to Tonti md was gone.
 Are you sure you are well enough to take up such matters?" anxiously queried Renee. +...
 "Certainement! However, only with permission of my physician" he re- piled smilingly.
 Her consent gained, Tonti broke the seal and passed his eyes over the pages. From them he learned that La Salle had been obliged to return to France for means whereby to satisfy his creditors. He also read numerous plans and instructions in regard to the colony, but the closing sentences burned before his eyes in letters of fire: There is one matter about which I have had much anxiety, and that Is the exposed position of Mademoiselle dOutrelaise amid the hardships of the frontier life. feel in a great measure responsible for her being there She, undoubtedly, when obliged to flee from France, turned toward the western world where was for protection, while I, recreant that was, found myself unable to meet her and tell her-the truth. Yes, mon ami, her bright eyes were alluring whilst I stood in the full blaze of the glory of the court or the delicious serenity of choisy mademoiselle, and they indeed stirred what little portion of my heart there remained thrilled by ambitious schemes, and I thought loved her. But once the smell of the forest and the stream greeted me I realized that had no room in my life for woman'a love, sweet and precious though il might be to some, but that was des. tined for great achievements; deeds of conquest and discovery; deeds wrought out in the solitude of the wilderness or about the council fires of treacherous foe. For such a one there can be no home, no domestic ties My heart goes out in pity for her, al. though it does not throb with love trust she will find some one better able to make her happy than I, fol she is certainly everything that is good and estimable. Were your affection. not already engaged in another direc. ton I could not wish you a greater blessing that that you yourself nigh, win her."
 Tontis hand trembled; a faintnes. came over him as he realized the full import of the message.
 Have you bad news?" asked Renee as she noticed his agitation.
 'The only news worth living for,' was Tonti's reply. He tried to speal further, but his lips were dumb. H, who through so many days hat schooled his tongue to silence, who's, full strength had been needed to kee; back in fierce repression the thou.