Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-29


him ere rs was aware, and he would
find hinsSf wondering as to her safe
ty and happiness. He timed the rats
of Pom2on's journey carefully.
The day dawned on which, if no de-
lay had occurred, they ought to reach
their Journeys end. Never before had
the sun shone SO brightly upon the
silken folds of the lily banner OF
France on the staf of the fort. Never
befsss had the sound of birds calling
to their mates seemed quite so clear
and musical, nor the sight of the awak-
ened happy life at his feet q~uickened
his pulse with so much satisfaction as
he realized what had already been ac-
complished. He fell TO wondering IL
she would approve of everything that
he had done and half wished that he
mad but a few days more in which to
do a hundred little things that would
make still further for the success OF
the undertaking. He visited for the
twentieth time the commodious lodge
within the walls of the fort that had
been set aside for the occupation OF
the women, to see if the place were in
good order. He had prepared soft
couches for them, formed of layers OF
mingled leaves and pine needles COW
cred over with a number of furs.
The table and chairs, the saving and
making of which he had supervised,
were in their places, while the walls
,,aro factnppol with hIIDnhnG Of wild
flowers the Indian children had gath
cred at his instigation. His final sur
vey saw that everything was ready:
it was indeed a fit bower for a forest
queen. =
About noon from his lofty station
he caught sight of two tiny specks far
away up the river, and he knew that
they were coming. Entering his ca
noe, he seized his paddles and set out
to meet them. His heart was light
as he heard the music of the water
beneath his prov. He had teen able
to rescue her again from a position
of discomfort and peril; perhaps other
opportunities for serving her would
arise. He hoped they would, for her
service was his delight. He sang us
he sped along; sang ha~lf-forgotter
> songs of deeds of war and glory, o.
=. fair women and gallant lovers. But hi
: realized that he, alas, could not speaf
the words that were ready to fall IRON
, his lips, words Of love, of tenderness
and of devotion that must not be ut
= N H. .al,~N1al 1ic tnpotJc ~ EppI
silence. but he knew he could not con
troll his heart, which would beat II
-, the tune of loves own music despit'
himself.
All animate nature seemed TO re
ioice with him. The glad screamin!
: OF the wild fowl winging their wa,
along the marshy edges OF the strea1
the cries of quail in the underbrus
far away, even the hoarse cawing o
~ the crows from their perches on tn
u blasted limbs of the forest came t
!. his ear in tones of sympathetic glad
y. ness. The whole world seemed in gal
attire as though to welcome a love
monarch returning to his kingdom.
Soon they drew near, and he sa'
the flash of Pompon's signalling pad
die in the air. He came alongside tn
canoe containing Renee, and perceive
with thankfulness the glow of healt
on her cheek and the glad welcom
of her eye that the words of common
place greetings exchanged between tn
l two could not express. They 500
landed, and the nuns with their fai
companion were quickly established j
= their new house. They set to wor
at once among the sick, and soon TT
effect of their presence was felt. TT
disease died out without further RAJ
ages and again were the French halle
as the deliverers of their allies. TT
cooling hand and gentle ministratio1
of these angels of mercy procured II
the two priests who came with the
II a respectful hearing, and soon quite
"a goodly number of the savages bega
regular attendance at mass. Renee
quiet dignity and queenly beauty VIC
from the redmen their respect ar
admiration as for some supernatur
n creature, which soon developed in
a devotion unheard of before amor
them.
During the epidemic Renee had bet
IA so busily engaged that Tonti scar
10 had caught a glimpse of her. Nc
nv n0 that her duties were lightened TIL
20 often met, and standing together
the wooden ramparts of the fol
looked out across the river or dov
Va upon the town beneath them teemil
- with human life and activity. Tor
-. made no reference to their person
relations, but spoke of La Sales
turn, his plans and the future Pre-
'n1 poets Of the colony. Renee listen
~ 10 him with interest, but the look
peace which she wore betrayed t
~ fact that she was content with t
", present and satisfied at being there
One morning a canoe was sight
coming up the river. On landing
was found to contain three membe
of La Salle's party, sent to reinfoI
the garrison of the fort, who bore
~. message from him to Tonti. In tt
La Sale related what he had acco
plished, and informed Tonti that
80 had chosen to save time by journey
49, up the Ohio river on his way to O.
bee instead of returning to Fort
NJ Louis and thence by way Of the lax
ID as he had originally intended. He
pointed Tonti to command in his
sence and sent messages of good-v
~ to the Indian chiefs. He hoped to
.ar' turn by December and wished tn
hot all success in defending and hold
lis .ne poa., -