Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-01

'1aAp HOPED TO FIND YOU DEAD, M'sEuR."
ceiling, and Rowland sat amazed at
the expression on his face. Either
fear or pain had wrought deep lines.
II had hoped to find you dead.
m'seur." he repeated. THAT is why
did not bind your wound and give
you water when they turned you over
to my care I wanted you to bleed to
death. 1t would have been easier
for both of US"
From under the table he drew forth
a second stool and sat down opposite
Rowland. The two men stared at
each other over the suffering rem
nant of the candle. Before the engi-
neer had recovered from his aston.
ishment at the sudden appearance Of
the man whom he believed to be safe
~ imprisoned in the old cabin Crois-
sets shifting eyes fell on the mass Of
torn wood under the aperture.
'To0 late. m'seur." he said mean
ingly. '"They are waiting up there
now. 1t ia impossible for you to es-
cape"
'That is what thought about you"
replied Howland. forcing himself to
speak coolly. How did you manage it"
'"They came up to free me soon aft
er they got you. m'seur. l am CRATE
full to you for thinking Of me. for II
you had not told them might have
stayed there and starved like beast
In trap"
1T was Meleese." said Rowland. II
told her."
Jean dropped his head in his hands
II have just come from Meleese."
be whispered softly. ''She sends you
her love. m'seur. and tells you not to
give up hope. The great God. If she
only knew-if she only knew what is
about to happen! No one has told her.
She is a prisoner In her room. and aft
er that-after that out on the plain
when she came to you and fought like
one gone mad to save you-they will
not give her freedom until all Ia over.
What time is it. m'seurT
A clamrny chill passed over How
land as be read the time.
"Half past T."
1.-THE Virgin bear me witness that
wish might strike ten years OF my
life and give you freedom" Jean
breathed quickly. II would do it this
instant. m'seur. l would help you to
escape II it were in any way possible.
But they are in the room at the head
of the stair. waiting. At e.
AT 6-what then?" urged Rowland.
my God. man. what makes you look
so? What Is to happen at 81"
II have no time to lose In further
talk like this. m'seur." he said almost
harshly. 'They know now that it was
who fought for you and for Meleese
on the Great North trail. They know
that it is l who saved you at Wekusko.
Meleese can no more save me than
she can save you. and to make my
task little harder. they have made
me their messenger. and
Again he stopped. choking for words.
Their executioner. m'seur."
"Great Godw Rowland gasped.
"First am to tell you q story.
m'seur," continued Croisset. leveling
his REDEEMED eyes to the engineers.
ut will not be long. and pray the
Virgin to make you understand 1t as
we people of the north understand 1t.
It begins sixteen years ago."
Il shall understand. JEAN" whisper
Oh Howland. go on"
1T was at one Of the company's
posts that it happened" Jean began.
'.and the story has to do with le
m'seur, the factor and his wife.
LANCE Blanc-that is what she was
called, m'seur-the white angel. Mon
Dieu, how we loved her! Not with a
wicked love. m'seur. but with some
thing very near to that which we give
our Blessed Virgin. And our love was
but a pitiful thing when compared
with the love OF these two. each for
the other. She was beautiful. glori-
ously beautiful as we know women up
in the big SHOWS: like Meleese. who
was the youngest of their children.
"Ours was the happiest post in all
this great northland. m'seur." contin-
ued Croisset after a moments pause.
land It was all because of this woman
and the man. but mostly because Of
the woman. And when the little Me-
leese came-she was the first white girl
baby that any Of US had ever seen-our
love for these two became something
that fear was almost sacrilege to
our Dear Lady Of God Perhaps you