Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-04-19
CHAPTER XXVII.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER AANll.-CONTINUED
Tonti's eyes filled with tears as he
realized that his friend, having guessed
his love for Renee, had given his life
that she might remain to him. To-
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
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, o weak and
shrunken, had sent his bark flying
over the water to greet Renee on her
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 Interviewing
of their lives. A feeling of sadness
surged through his breast as he real
lied the fruitlessness of 1t all; that
only disappointment and a resigned
sorrow were left them.
The Chevalier de Baugis approached.
"Bon jour, non ami he cried. ut
does my eyes good to see you able to
be about visiting the scenes of your
past glories. Now that you are strong
er, | have brought a letter for you
from La Sale, received whilst you were
wandering in the land of Dreams" So
saying, he handed the missive to Tonti
and was gone.
Are you sure you are well enough
to take up such matters?' a~nxiously
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
Sale had been obliged to return to
France for means whereby to satisfy
his creditors. He also read numerous
plans and instructions in regard tc
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
d'Outrelaise 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 7, recreant that I was, found
myself unable to meet her and tel
her-the truth. Yes, mon ami, hel
bright eyes were alluring whilst l stood
in the full blaze of the glory of the
court or the delicious serenity O.
choisy made.noiselle, and they indeed
stirred what little portion Of my hear
there remained untitled by ambitious
schemes, and | thought l loved her
But once the smell of the forest ant
the stream greeted me l realized thai
had no room in my life for woman
love, sweet and precious though Il
might be to some, but that was des
tined for great achievements; deed!
Of conquest and discovery; deeds
wrought out in the solitude of tn,
wilderness or about the council fire.
Of q t~reacherous foe. For such a ont
there can be no home. no domestic ties