Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-02


and young NJ. St. Michel lie t'evre cap
tured. il possible. Thereupon the estates
were conferred upon myself. to whom the
governor was somewhat deeply indebted.
It was passing comfortable to him to pay
a debt out of a pocket other than his
own l was dispatched to Cheticamp. TO
gather in NJ. lie Fevre for the governor,
and the lie Fevre estates for myself. They
were fair estates, / had heard: and 1
vo,ed that would presently teach them
u serve we'll the cause of Englands king.
My first thought in the morning, when
the level sun. streaming through the hop
vines. brought to sudden wide
awake-as a soldier should wake, slipping
cleanly and completely out OF his sleep
neaviness-my first thought, | say, was OF
a Swallowed face vanishing into the night
glimmer. and something enchantinslE
mysterious to be sought for in this remote
Acadian village. Then, remembering my
business and hoping that my indscretio1
had not muddled it, l resolutely put the
folly from me and sprang up.
l needed none to point out the house OF
the lie Fevres.
1T shall not be changed by SO much As
one gooseberry bush,' said 1 to myself.
rounding a lilac thicket, arrived at the
open gate And then, face to face, l met
a girl
The meeting sudden, and so
closely did l confront her that l felt my
coming a most uncivil intrusion. More
over she was most disconcerting to look
upon. Stammering apologies and snatch
ing my hat from my head. l flushed and
haf0r oh
hot in accordance with my custom.
dropped my eyes, as 1 say: but even then
l saw her as clearly within my brain. as
il my eyes were boldly resting upon her
face.
The lady of the manor, evidently. l
had heard there was a sister to the recall
citrant young seigneur, one Mile Irene.
over whose beauty and caprices had more
than one duel been fought among the gal
lants of Quebec.
Presently 1 heard the sound of my
stammering cease. and soft voice, trou-
bling me with a familiar note, said cour-
teously, "You are very welcome to Cheti-
camp, monsieur. My brother is away
from home, unhappily but in his absence
you must allow me the honor of taking
his place as your host in my poor way
i
confusion lost in surprise; and on the in
slant my heart signaled to nett Is
none other than the maid of the window!
Take care.
Yes, 1 saw it plain. Yet 1 should never
have known it but for perception some
how more subtle than that of ear and
eye-for she had disguised her voice the
night before. and her dress had been
that of a peasant maid. and the bright
riddle of her face had been in shadow. I
perceived, too that she felt herself safe
from discovery; and that it was for me to
save her bushes by leaving her security
unassailed. In all this sudden turmoil OF
my wits. however. I fear that I was near
forgetting my manners.
But mademoiselle 81 demanded.
bluntly, ''how do you know who am"
TT is the part OF the conquered to know
their conquerors, monsieur" she answered,
in manner that eluded the bitterness of
the words. But, indeed, the place Of an
English officer. on duty that is doubtless
Official, is here at the seigneury, ana not
at the village inn. We cannot let you
put slight upon our hospitality"
But l was stubborn. That deed In my
pocket weighed tons. Yet my inclination
must have shown in my eyes, plainly
enough for one less than Mile. Irene e
Fevre to decipher It. A little air Of conf
dence fitted over her face. Nevertheless,
/ Shook my head.
Most gracious lady," I protested. you
honor me too much. 1t will delight mo
to learn that your brother has been ma
ligned'-and in this, faith. l spoke true.
forgetting the contingent peril to my
pocket-''but were he never SO innocent 1t
would be my duty to take him to Halifax.
for the governor himself to weigh the ev,-
dence The irony of life has sent me here
as your foe. not as your guest"
Then, monsieur, come as q foe who
but observes the courtesies. Come with
your hands free 10 arrest my brother at
any moment on his own hearthstone Che
is far away from 1t now, praise MaryD
or to arrest your hostess either. If your
duty should demand that unkindness."
Her strong. little eloquent hands were
clasped in appeal--and who was to deny
her? But / looked into her eyes: and 1
saw in their childlike deeps, underneath
the knocking and the feigning. a clear
spirit which ! could not bear to delude.
| understood now very plainly her mad
game of the night before. She was I'M
masking a danger for her brother.
justified her in my heat. but for my OWE
part in the folly felt a creeping shame.
How lightly she must hold me. This
thought. and q sense that l was about
TO hurt her, brought the hot flush to my
face; and / looked away as 1 spoke.
But, Observation-Disclosures me that l
bear such tidings--the estates or NJ Raoul
lie Fevre seigneur of Cheticamp, are con-
fscated to the crown"
..Mademoiselle,' l CRIED more passion
ately, perhaps, than was fitting, do not
misunderstood. The coniscation does not
apply at once. of course, and you are still
absolute mistress here. II your brother
be proved innocent, the decree OF conflsca-
ton may be revoked. So it will now be
held in suspension. You will. am
sure. permit me to 60 through the form
of visiting your house, to convince me, AZ
the governors enaissary, that NJ. lie Fevre
is not there. Then I will return to the
village and see to 1t that my men shall
cause you no annoyance or embarrass-
ment ! dare not ask you to pity me for
the duty that has been put upon me-
You are generous enemy, chival-
rous enemy, monsieur" she murmured in
. Iour sarra~t SliHhfIv sfvained yoice