Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-15

ooD4S IlAI 1lNES
COMPACT. A VISION, AND A CA.
LAMITY.
Arriving at Fort Niagara, Renee was
turned over to the three nuns sta
toned there. They sympathized with
her in her hardships and gave devout
thanks for her escape. One OF then,
was hlled with zeal to take the place
OF her who was drowned on the trip,
and, much to Renee's delight, obtained
permission to leave for Michilimacki-
a when the vessel started. A week
was lost perfecting all arrangements.
AT the end of this time both Tonti
n Renee were ready to proceed, al
though the latter was still unable to
walk without support. The men with
the stores had transported them from
their boat, at the mouth of the river,
to the fort. Tonti chose two vessels,
the larger one for the supplies and the
men conveying them, the other, small
or, for the use of his party, which was
now increased by the addition of one
OF the priests from Fort Frontenac
who decided to take advantage of this
opportunity to push on his way west
ward. The tiny cabin was fitted I'D for
the two women so as to be as comforts
able as possible. A plentiful supply
OF provisions was taken, although for
fresh meat they depended on the sue
cess of their hunts oh shore. The larg-
er boat started first. with orders to
stop at Northumberland only long
enough to apprise them of the coming
of the nurses and then proceed to the
tort on the Miami, there to build a
sufficient number of canoes while
awaiting Tonti's arrival.
The day of their departure was aus
picious. A. fair wind ruffled the deep
blue surface of the lake; the sky was
clear and the summer sun warmed
without shifting them. Renee's heart
danced In unison with the boat for
sheer happiness. Her presence was a
delight to all on board. The priest,
when not engaged with his breviary,
listened with pleasure to her chatter,
while the u soon loved her as her
W sister. Even Pompon so far for
got his hostility to the sex as t, con-
descend to entertain her at times with
tales from his adventurous life, or
amuse her by exhibiting the contents
OF his wonderful leather pouch, show
ing the PHOSPHORUS paste that had
stood them in such good stead during
their Huron captivity, the sleeping
powder whose power the innkeeper at
Ecouen and the Iroquois sentinel had
tested. and the yellow ointment pos
sessed of most extraordinary healing
virtues for wounds that he had en-
ployed upon her ankle. He often
talked to her about Tonti and found
in her a willing listener to all thu
praises of his hero that came so read
lily to his lips. Thus a real amity
sprane up between them, which was
finally sealed into a solemn compact
one day when Tonti lay asleep and
Pompon managed the boat. He had
been dwelling upon his friends loyalty
to himself and La Sale when Renee
said musingly:
Would that | were a man that
might become a fourth comrade to
you all, but am only a woman, weak
and alone. However, I can still be a
friend if my friendship is worth aught
TO any one. Come, M. Pompon," she
said, rousing herself, Il have that from
the other two. May | not find in you a
friend and ally also?"
Pompon looked at her outstretched
hand gravely for a moment. "It is not
a light thing you ask. False friends
are worse than open enemies. | will,
however, on one condition'-here he
looked her steadily in the eye while
speaking--'that condition is that you
be a true friend indeed to him." point
ing to the slumbering Tonti, "tor your
faithfulness means all in all 10 him."
Agreed with all my heart replied
Renee, flushing lightly as she clasped
his hand. Pompon saw her look, and
a CLEAN of satisfaction shot across his
face as he heard her say earnestly,
And you will promise me in turn to
he ever faithful to him; watch over
and protect him: guard his life as your
very own or mine. Be his eye to recog-
nize danger ard his right arm and
to ward it off. Then shall you
and receive my best esteem and re-
AS for Tonti, his manner betrayed
thought of love or any deeper at
tachment than that of friend and pro-
tector. 1t was US though it had been
given him to bask in the clear fresh
light of day for a period before his
Punishment into eternal night. He
loved to hear the music of her voice I
and the ringing sweetness of her
and sometimes when at the
helm and she came and sat down be-
side him, silently drinking in the in
air, it seemed to him as
they were voyaging in some
other world, a world of light and sun
shine, an existence whose peace and
surpassed that of human
Forgotten was the past OF
oil and disorder, while the kingdoms
II the earth had vanished with their
iound of war and conflict. He put
rom his mind all thought of the flu
ure, of the inevitable separation
brought nearer by the passing of every
eague of their watery course. Con-
ent he was to live in the golden pres
mt and enjoy each transient moment.
ITO Be Continued
Very Much Alive.
When visiting one of the primary
chools some years ago, the day before
iemorial Day, or Decoration Day, as it !