The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-09-22

Louis
"No."
"Nor ar 81. Ignace. Pere Allouez
assures ne. shall have no rival
then In all this wilderness; you think
me harmless, monsieur? Look at me,
and say"
IL do not need 20 look; you will
have your game. have no doubt, al
though the final result may not prove
what you desire"
You fear the end?"
at may be SO; you play with fire.
and although know little OF women.
yet l have felt the wild passions of
men in lands whore there is no re-
! straint OF law. The wilderness sees
1 many tragedies-fierce. bitter, revenge
] ful deeds-and tits best you use care.
'Tis my belief this Francois Cassion
! might prove devil. once his heart
was tricked. Have you thought OF
this?"
had thought Of Il. but with no
mercy In my heart, yet as D'Artlgny
| spoke felt the ugliness OF my threat
more acutely, and, for an instant
stood before him whlte-lipped and
ashamed Then before me arose Cas-
sion's face, sarcastic, supercilious.
hateful, and I laughed in scorn OF the
warning
Thought OF it" | exclaimed, yes,
but for that | care nothing. Why
should I. monsleurg Has the man
shown mercy to me, that l should feel
Z regret because he suffers2 As 10 his
revenge, death is not more TO be
dreaded than lifetime passed I'm his
presence. But why do you make plea
on his hehalf-the man Is surely no
friend OF yours"
IL make no plea for him." he an
swered, strangely sober, and claim
no friendship. Any enemy 10 La Salle
is an enemy 20 Rene d'Artigny; but
l would front him as man should.
1t is not my nature To do deed OF
treachery."
You hold this treachery?"
what else? You propose Turing
him TO love you. that you may gain
confession from his lips. To attain
| WIS tllu Nuu bhlA'l Abhl h'U'NlNs N'hi
womanhood; you take advantage OF
your beauty 10 enslave him: you count
as ally the loneliness OF the wilderness; (;
ay! and, If | understand Alright, you
hope through me 10 awaken the mans
jealousy. IL this not true?"
| drew quick breath, my eyes star
ing into his face. and my limbs trcm-
bling His words cut me like "A knife.
yet | would not yield. would not even
acknowledge their truth
You are unjust, unfair" ! burst
forth impetuously. You Will see but
the one side-that OF the man. can
not fight this battle with my hands,
nor will | submit 20 such wrong with
out struggle. He has never thought TO
spare me, and there IL no reason why
| should show him mercy wish
your good Will, monsieur, your respect.
but | cannot hold this plan which |
propose AZ evil. DO yodf'
He hesltated, looking at me with
such perplcxity I'm his eyes as TO
prove his doubt.
IL cannot judge you" he admitted
at last -.,Only tiat is not the way In
which / have been trained. Neither
will | stand between you and your
revenge nor have part I'm II. | am
your friend-now. always. In every
honorable way ! will serve you and
your cause. II Cassion darcs violence
or insult he must reckon with me,
though faced his whole company. |
pledge you this. but / Will not play n
quest"
"You mean you will not pretend TO
care for meT" I asked. my heart
leaden at his words.
There would be no pretcnse," he
answered frankly. 81 do care for you.
but | will not dishonor my thought OF
you by thus deliberately scheming 10
outwt your husband. | am a man OF
the woods. the Wilderness not since |
was boy have I dwelt I'm civilization,
but I'm all that time I have been com
panIon OF men 10 whom honor was
everything. I have been comrade with
SIeur de In Sale. with Henri dc Tonty,
and cannot be- guilty Of an act OF
treachery. even for your sake Per
chance my code is not the same az the
perfumcd gallants' OF Quebec-yet II Is
mine. and learned I'm hard school
He went on quietly. There are two
things I cannot lgnOre-One Is. that
am an employee OF this Francois
Cassion. pledged 10 his service by my
own free will: the other IS. that you
are his wife. Joined 10 him 10y Holy
church. and although you may have
assumed those vows under coercion.
your promise Il binding. / can but
choose my path OF duty and abide
therein"
His words hurt. angered me; |
lacked power OF expression. ability 10
grasp his full meaning and purpose.
"You-you desert me theni You
you leave me 10 this fatef'
"T leave you 20 reconsider your
choice OF action" he returned grayely,
lis hat still in hand. bls lips unsmiling.
/ 4 do believe your wOmanhOOd VIII