The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-11-17
a Romance of
Early Days i'm
fhe Middle WeSf


/ tisny, and although he had never spo-
ken the word. | knew he loved me
| Tomorrow he would be I'm exile. wan
! dcrer OF the woods. an escaped priS-
/ oner, under condemnation OF death.
never again safe within reach of
! French authority. Ay. but he should
| not 20 alone; I'm the depths of those
forests. beyond the arm Of the law. be-
! yond even the grasp of the church, we
should 80 together I'm our own hearts
love would Justify Without uualm
. OF conscience without even lingering
doubt, | made the choice the final
decision.
know not how long Il took me 10
think this all out until had accepted
fate; hut do know the decision
brought happiness ana courage Food
was brought me 10y strange Indian.
apparently unable 10 speak French
nor would he even enter the room.
silently handing me the platter through
the open door Two scntrlcs stood Just
without soldiers OF DE Raugis.
guessed. aS their features were unfa-
miliar They gazcd at me curiously,
as | stood in the doorway. but with
out changing their attitudes. Plainly
| was held prisoner also. VI. CaSsion's
threat was being put into execution.
This knowledge merely served 10
strengthen my decision. ana | closed
and barred the door again. smiling as
did 80.
II grew dusk while | made almost
vain effort 20 eat, and. NJ last, push
ing the pewter plate away, | crossed
over. and cautiously opened the wood
on shutter OF the window The red
light OF the sunset still immincd the
western sky. and found glorious rcflcc-
tion along the surface OF the river.
It was a dizzy drop 10 the bed OF the
stream below. but Indians were on the
opposite bank, beyond rifle shot In
considerable force n halfdoZcn ca
noes drawn up on The sandy shore, and
several fires burning. They were too
far away for me 10 Judge their tribe.
yet n number among them sportcd war
bonncts. and had no doubt they were
Iroquois
So far ns | could perceive elsewhere.
there was no movement, as my eyes
Travelled the half-clrclc, over n wide
vista of hill ana dale. green valley
and dark woods. although 90 the left
could occasionally hear the sharp re
port Of a rife I'm evidence that bcslog
ing snvngcs were still watchful OF the
4 4 not 1aW .Tf ia D
enough 10 see IN that direction, yet aa
the night grew darker the vicious splits
OF fire became visible Above me the
solid log walls arose but few feet
a tall man might stand upon the win
dow ledge, and find grip OF the roof;
but below was the sheer drop 10 the
river pcrchancc two hundred feet he
meath Already darkness shroudcd
the water, as the broad valley faded
into the gloom OF The night.
There was naugh' for me 90 do but
sit and wait The guard which VI.
Casslon had stationed NJ the door pre-
vented my leaving the room, but its
more probable purpose WAS to keep
others from communicating with me
De Tonty hnd evidently rcsortcd TO
diplomacy, and instcnd OF qunTcling
with the three officers when they ap-
preached him, had greeted them all 20
genlally ns 10 leave the impression that
he was disposed 10 permit matters TO
take their natural course. He might
be watched Of course, yet was no
longer suspected as likely 10 help res
cue the prisoner. All their fear now
was centcrcd upon me, and my pos
slblc influence.
TfT could be kept from any further
communication with either D'Artigny
or De Tonty. It was scarcely probable
that any Of the garrison would make
/ serious effort 10 Interfere with their
plnns. De TOnty's apparent indlffer-
I cnce, and his sudden triendllness with
/ De Baugls and Cassion, did not worry
J me greatly. | realized his purpose In
F thus diycrting suspicion. Ills pledge
Of assistance had been given me. and
his was the word OF soldier and gen
+ tlcman. In some manner. and soon
before midnight certainty would re
/ cciye message from Boisrondet.
/ Yet my heart failed me more than
once as I waited. How long the time
seemed, and how deadly silent was the
night CrOuchcd close beside the door,
] could barely hear the muttercd con
versat.on of the soldiers on guard
and when ! crossed 10 the open win
dow ! looked ont upon a black void
utterly sOundless
Not even the distant crack OF rife
now broke the solemn stiffness. and
the only spot Of color visible was the
duu red glow Of campfire on the op-
posite bank Of the river. had no way
~ computing time. and the tagging
hours seemed centuries long, as terri
flying doubts as,alled me.
Every new thought became an agony
Of suspense. Had the plans falledi
Had BOlsrOndet discovered the prls-
oner 20 closely guarded az TO make res
cue lmpOssiblel Had his nerve. his
daring. vanished before the real dan
ger of the venture? Had D'Artigny