Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-01
"Ah! mademoiselle," she m ,rmur,d.

AL. mdueMOlSelle, s0e m-fmHf6U,
| you are so good to pity an unfortu-
nate castaway like myseE. have
sinned deeply, but l have been cruelty
punished. Since seeing you | have
had time to reflect and realize how
great a wrong-doer l have been. Many
a night have l lain awake in my
misery, and thought of all the happi-
ness | might have had, but which I
thrust aside. You can see the misery
of my fate without telling you.
However, it is your future that trou-
bles me, for rather than see you in his
power l would bury a knife in his hate
full breast. But tell me how you hap
pen to be here?"
Renee then rapidly sketched the
events that had led up to their jour-
ney and the adventures encountered
since then. AS she told of Tonti's eff.
forts at the time of their shipwreck,
Madame Bizard's eyes glowed and a
faint tinge of color returned to her
cheeks.
How brave he is, and how noble!
My love told me that he was good and
worthy"
Your love!" exclaimed Renee.
eyes, my love, for | will confess 1t to
you, mademoiselle-I loved him. 1t
was my insane love that drove me to
tempt him to the very act to which the
comte yielded. But he was strong,
and rebuked me, shaming me for the
thought"
"But you told me-"
eyes, but l lied. My heart was full
OF bitterness at finding him so much
better than L; for his teaching me that
a mans honor was ever stronger than
a wcman's. 1t was the desperate MEM
ory OF his refusal of my suggestion to
fly with me that drove me mad, and
made the society of my husband, your
self. and all who were good and pure
a torment, and was the goad that urged
me to the step I took. But my re-
pentance has been bitter"
And his wife and child abandoned
in PARISH" eagerly asked Renee, as she
clutched the woman by the arm, her
breath waiting on her reply.
More lies. l could find nothing bad
enough to say about him. I hated
him for the deep humiliation he had
caused me, and loved him all the time
for his nobility of heart. He spoke OF
one in France whom he adored.
would have given my right arm to have
heard him speak of me with that same
feeling and reverence in his tones
Now all is done, and it is too late fol
repentance. A weary life of servi'
tude amongst these savages is my por.
ton. I can do nothing to retrieve the
past, unless indeed I could effect your
: escape. That would I gladly do were
to pay for it with my life. Have
courage, mademoiselle, l shall accom-
plish whatever l can for you"
But Renee heard not the wall of re
greet nor the woman's determination t.
redeem her wrong. Her eyes streamet
with a strange peaceful light of happi'
ness. In her mind stood forth hel
lover as she had first believed him
worthy, after all, in spite of the calum.
MES of his enemies. Nay, worthier
for had she not now proof of tempta'
ton resisted, his love for her con.
slant and enduring? The gold hat
been tried and had come forth from
the furnace unstained and with {
brighter luster than before. Her hear
was filled with joy at the glad dis
covery, and she found it possible tt
forgive his detractor, and imprinted
kiss of forgiveness, sympathy and pit.
upon her cheek.
That night a solemn council of al
the chief men of the tribe was held il
one of the largest houses. TO decide al
to the disposition of the prisoners
Before this assembly the Comte d.
Miron arose in all the insignia of hi
official position and spoke thus:
my brothers, it is not many moon.
since we returned from a war agains
r the French. We returned. but witt
how many less than when we set GU
, let the fatherless children and TIN
, weeping squaws tell. One of our pris
, oners is a Mohegan dog; he is ours tt
torture. But as to this white chief
, hear me. Some have ac~lsed me of be
ing still a Frenchman; learn this. then
) | know this man. He is a friend of thu
: great Onontio at Quebec whose soldiers
drove your braves back and shot then
: as they fled. His death would be
r greater blow to Onontio than the cap
J ture of a dozen settlements. He it il
t who built the house beside the Grea
: Falls, who sent men there to steal you
r skins and murder your braves whel
| they resisted. Here is your revenge
{ I am your brother; | am no longe
| white: let this prisoner die. Take him
l give him to you; the white woman
? however, belongs to me-"
' A murmur of assent went round
J The prisoners fate was sealed.
: ITO Be Continued
Got an Invitation.
Philadelphia miss-Who was you