The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-02-02

enCe 1 tru1t snail remain Win me Tor
ever. But I shall spare you all rhapso-
dies. She whom I call my lilly of Poi
tou Is o daughter Of a noble of that
province; her name, Renee d'Outre-
laise. She lives with mademoisello o.
. companion and friend. 40 far she
hag not been seen at court, but keeps
close 10 her protectress, and is Visible
only to those honored few to whom
mademoiselle chooses to show her; fol-
all Of which I am thankful. The
princess as a %patroness Of the arts and
literature has been pleased to interest
herself In my explorations and has In
vited me on a number of occasions to
rehearse to her my adventures In New
Franc and relate all that would in
terest her about tile land and its in
h~abitants. Mile. d'Outrelaise has been
present at most OF our interviews, and
1t was while thus engaged that I real
lied that a new strange feeling had
arisen within my heart, a feeling that
men lightly call love, but which I
recognize as an inspiring, ennobling
influence that means much more to
me-"
La Sale, not noticing his compan-
Ions silence, continued:
"Mademoiselle has known by reputa-
ton some of my relatives and connec-
lions and thinks highly of me as we'll
as my projects, and l know approves
my suit. Renee has never shown aught
In her demeanor that betokened a re-
turn Of my affection, nor have l ever
spoken words of love to her, partly
from my lack Of courage and partly
from the fact that I have seen her
alone but once. I feel safe in her
retired life, believing mademoiselle to
be my ally; besides, she is young yet.
IL l but accomplish what I hope to do,
| can return In two or three years with
honor, power, and wealth and claim
her for my W She will be guided
largely in her choice of a husband by
the princess counsel and wishes. I
saw her the day l left Paris, and our
parting interview augered we'll for ny
hopes"
"How so?" asked Tonti In a hard
strained voice.
." detected evidences Of long weep
Ing in her eyes; she was agitated be-
yond measure, and expressed the
warmest wishes for the safety and sue
cess of my expedition; and best of all,
after I had kissed the hand Of mad
emoiselle in adieu, she permitted me
the same privilege, and gave me as a
parting remembrance a silken flag of
France worked by her own fair in-
gers"
The approach Of Pompon cut short
any further speech from La Sale and
permitted Tonti to withdraw to an
other portion of the ship, a prey to
the deepest emotion. AS he stood by
the rail and looked across the tum-
bling, surging mass of waters which a
rising storm had quickened, he felt in
full sympathy with its tempestuous
nature. And when the rain fell and the
wind became a gale and the vessel
bobbed abous On the water, he still re-
tanned his pest, oblivious Of the outer
tempest, engalfed as was his spirit
amid the wa es of jealous alarm, I'M
happiness, ami despair.
Here was a blight upon his new
formed hopes; The man whom he had
promised to st.'ve as companion and
friend, the one 10 whom he warmed
as never to mortal man, was now an
unconscious rival. =, In the first onrush
OF the tempest thct stirred his pas
sionate nature he hated him, and
cursed the day they first met. Were
not the glory and honor and rich s
that were just ahead on the explorers
path sufficient but that he must take
his love, she whom he realized was all
in all to him, too? And the melody of
the song he had sung with its closing
words, words written in a moment of
joy and hope, that were in reality full
of pathetic foreboding, passed through
his mind again:
But other hands 1 fear will pluck
This Rose, my Rose, of Normandy.
But when the tide of feeling had
reached its full, then came the calm
before the ebb. The soldiers sense of
justice showed him clearly that his
friend was innocent of any desire to
work him harm. That he really was
the interloper, for La Sale had known
her for weeks and months, while his
acquaintance was but that Of a day.
And the strong feeling Of remaining
stanchly loyal to his commander, even
though 1t meant to take sides against
himself, came to his rescue. Then,
too, the careful recollection of the two
short glimpses he had OF the fair lady
showed him but too plainly that he had
small grounds Of hope on which to
build.
On into the early morning watches
he struggled with himself. The love
Of a man for a woman battled strong
with a mans love for honor and that
which he deemed the right. And 10.
a paradox appeared, for in the strife al.
though honor won. yet in no wise was
his love for the woman conquered or
belittled by the strife, but rather was
It enlarged, illumined, and made
"a rouCar still for h Gould OF no Ufvo