Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-01-31
CHAPTER XIV.

IN WHICH \ TRAP Is SPRUNG. BUT
THE MOUSE ESCAPES.
The days passed rapidly. La Sale
and Tonti were busily engaged with
preparations for their departure.
Among the so men the explorer had
brought with him he chose one. La
Motto by name, as his chief lieuten-
ant under Tonti. The stores of iron
and cordage for the vessel he intend
ed building on the great lakes, the
beads, scarlet cloth, hatchets. knives.
and other presents for the Indians. the
powder and bullets for the use of the
entire party-all were carefully packed
into the smallest compass possible
ready to be loaded into the canoes.
Pompon. still incognito, was here and
there and everywhere, saying little
and hearing much. Through his activ-
ity II was learned that the priest who
oHered to accompany the expedition
was iDstigated to do so by Laval. His
offer was refused, and the services OF
the Recollet friar, Father Louis Hen
nepin, who had come all the way from
fort Frontenac to meet La Sale. was
chosen. The latter had brought a let
ter from his provincial. Father LIE
FeVre, containing permission to join
the expedition. To prepare himself
the worthy friar went into retreat at
the Recollet convent. remaining for
several days in prayer and meditation.
FINALLY, after dining at the Chateau
with Frontenac. La Sale and Tonti.
and after a farewell vigil. he received
the blessing of Laval and departed at
daybreak His friends watched his
figure with its sandaled feet. coarse
gray capote, and peaked hood. the
cord of ST. Francis hanging at his side
glide away in his birch canoe, padded
by two men, en- route for Fort Fronte-
nae. where they were to await the ar
rival OF the others. Within week
La Motto and most of the men fol-
lowed, with IL well-laden canoes.
The bulk of the work of preparation
being thus over, Tonti had ample time
TO renew his acquaintance with Ma
dame Bizard. She had made one effort
toward influencing him against La
sale, but had been so coldly repulsed
that she began to doubt her ability
to bias him directly against his friend
task, however, only added zest to her
endeavors. so that she redoubled her
attempts. They met daily, seemingly
by chance. often taking long walks to,
gether up the hill beyond the wind
mill, or to the other extremity of the
town under preteXt of viewing the ca
thedral, the seminary. Hotel Dieu. or
the palace of the intendant. On these
strolls she piled her coquetish arts in
vain. TOnti parried each thrust with
az much skill as though it had been
combat with swords instead OF a duel
OF intrigue
Madame Bizard had long tired Of tho
humdrum life of the town and the
practical straiEhtforwardness of her
matter-of-fact husband, who. taken ND
with the monotonous duties Of his call
ing, had but little time or taste for the
frivolitics of the social world such as
II was. He had every confidence. how
ever, in his mate. giving her full lib
erty. believing that in time she would
settle down TO the serious obligations
appertaining to the wife OF a soldier
at frontier post
The easy grace Of the high-spirited
gallant who had so suddenly appeared
in her life. hattering her vanity with
It's mingled audacious banter and de-
terring humility, casting over all the
glamour Of the grand monde finally
won her silly little heart. II was with
genuine alarm and dread therefore
that she viewed the growing prepara-
tons that were TO end in their separa-
ton, and she increased her efforts at
fascination now that she had what she
believed TO be her own passion for the
man 10 urge her on as we'll as the
commands OF the intendant. She met
with III success despite her endeavors.
and daily and hourly chafed at the
thought Of his obduracy OF cried her
pretty eyes red O nights with vexa-
ton at her failure and the thought Of
losing him
Frontenac was in high feather as
the result OF La Sales success in gain
ing over some Of the fur-fraders into
forming an association and advancing
money lie entertained them all right
royalty for several nights, and then re-
solved 10 give "A ball in honor Of his
friends the evening before their de-
parture, partly TO maintain mis- dignity
as governor and give his mimic court
taste of the gaycty Of Versailles. and
partly TO show his defiance 20 his enc
mics
Enemies and friends alike were in
yited, for few Of the former would
dare absent themselves, although th-
magnifcence Of the occasion would az
ford means Of Frontenacs triumph
Ing over them. winning stH further