The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-27

Onontio. Another is a Black Gown.
They flee before the cloud. They wan
der alone; they are in need of food.
They cry for help, but there Is none,
and the cloud has swept all away. /
see-I see" but the hand relaxed its
grasp, the voice sank low and ceased,
a ~convulsive catching of the breath,
and the message was delivered; the
messenger had gone.
Renee quickly followed Tonti to tho
outer air. What can this mean?" she
asked a%nxiouSly, as she saw a look Of
perpleSity and disquietude upon his
face.
81 know 3ot. but I fear much" was
the reply. Tire bear, the badger. and
the hawk are three Of the most power
full clans of the IroquCle. 1t may be that
they are invading the Illini or have
already done 30. In either case I must
hasten on my way. Perhaps my arri-
val may save some impending disas-
ter to La Sale. But after all, it may
be nothing but the dying delirium Of
an ignorant savage. Come, mademoi-
selle, do not be alarmed, l shall reach
there in time, eve fear" and he
looked reassuringly into Renee's trou-
bled face.
She was strangely agitated. "Ah,
mon ami" she cried, do not go until
you learn some news of what has hap
pened. La Sale may be dead and you
will but arrive to fall a victim too.
Send out your scouts that they may
report to you what they learn. They
can bear succor If such is needed as
well as you, Or IL you will co." she
continued pieadingly, "take me also.
Let us all go together. Is it not my
duty to be where there may be wounds
to heal and sickness to relieve? What
would become Of me were the Sieur de
la Sale to be lost and you meet your
death in a vain task of rescuing him?''
A great wave Of feeling passed over
Tonti. He struggled hard to retain
his footing. Why should he not tell
her now how much it meant to him
that she should not expose herself to
further danger, but wait for his re-
turn? Tell her all the full story of his
love, promising that If he found La
Sale to be lost he would quickly re-
turn and claim her for his own? If
the lower country were all ablaze with
savage warfare he could hardly hope
with his small band to avail aught In
defense or rescue; humiliation for
them all would be certain. Why could
he not snatch a few moments Of joy
before plunging into the whirlpool of
danger. and woe before him? But as
he strove against himself the words of
the dying Indian rang clear upon his
ear again, 'They cry for help. but there
Is none" his comrade, still confiding
in his ~faithfulness, turned to him with
a cry; even in his last extremity, not
knowing where his lieutenant might
be. he sought his aid. Should he fail
him now?
Renee watched the struggle through
tear-dimmed eyes and saw the victory
won. Selling her hand, he said hur-
riedly:
you know not what you ask,
mademolselle. You. would be the first
to despise me were I to Yield" and
hastily raising her hand to his lips, he
STROBE rapidly away. Renee kissed the
spot where his lips had been, and,
sinking to the ground, burst into tears
Of mingled despair and Joy.
The next day when his little canoe
passed through the straits, a lone fig-
ure waved adieu from the edge of the
highest cliff back OF the settlement,
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