Middletown transcript., 1916-07-08
CHAPTER l.
At the Home of Hugo chevet.


1t was early autumn for the clus-
ters of grapes above me were already
purple, and the forest leaves were
tinged with red. And yet the air was
soft, and the golden bars Of sun flick
cred down on the work in my lap
through the laced branches of the
trellis. The work was but pretense,
for had fed the house to escape the
still urging my uncle to accompany
him on his journey into the wilder
ness. They sat in the great room be-
fore the fireplace, drinking, and l had
heard enough already to tell me there
was treachery on foot against the Sieur
de la Sale To be sure it was moth
ing to me, a girl knowing naught of
such intrigue, yet l had not forgotten
the day, three years before, when this
La Sale, with others of his company.
had halted before the Ursuiine con-
vent, and the sisters bade them well
come for the night. Twas my part
to help serve. and he had strOked my
hair in tenderness. l had sung to
them, and watched his face in the fire
light as he listened. Never would l
forget that face, nor believe evil Of
such a man. No! not from the lips Of
Cassion nor even from the governor,
La Barre.
I recalled It all now. as | sat there
IN the silence, pretending TO work, how
we watched them embark in their ca
noes and disappear. the Indian pad
dlers bending to their task, and Mon
sieur la Sale, standing. bareheaded
as he waved farewell. Beyond him
was the dark face Of one they called
De Tonty, and in the first boat mere
boy lifted his ragged hat. know not
why, but the memory Of that lad was
clearer than all those others. for be
had met me in the hall and we had
talked long in the great window ere
the sister came, and took me away. SO
remembered him. and his name,
Rene d'Artigny. And in all those
years heard no more. Into the black
wilderness they swept and were lost
to those of US at home in New France.
NJ doubt there were those who
knew-FrOntenac, BiGOt. those who
ruled over US at Quebec-but twas
not a matter supposed to interest a
girl. and so no word came to me. Once
I asked my Uncle CEevet, and he re-
piled in anger with only few SEN
tences. bidding me hold my tongue;
yet he said enough so that knew the
Sieur de la Sale lived and had built
6 fort far away. and was buying furs
Of the Indians 1t was this that
brought jealousy and hatred. Once
Monsieur Cassion came and stopped
with US. and as l waited on him and
Uncle Chevet l caught words which
told me that Frontenac was La Sales
friend, and would listen to no charges
brought against him. They talked Of
a new governor; yet l learned but lit
tie, for Cassion attempted to kiss me,
and would wait on him no more
Then Frontenac was recalled to
France, and La Barre was governor.
How pleased my Uncle Chevet was
when the news came, and he raped
the table with his glass and exclaimed:
"Ah! but now we will pluck out the
claws Of this Sieur de Ia Sale, and
send him where he belongs" But he
would explain nothing, until a week
later Cassion came up the river in
his canoe with Indian paddlers, and
stopped to hold conference. The man
treated me with much galantry, so
that l questioned him, and he seemed
happy to answer that La Barre had al
ready dispatched party under Che
Waller de Baugis, of the Kings Dra-
goons to take command of La Salle's
Fort St Louis in the Illinois country.
La Sale had returned, and was al
ready at Quebec, but Caisson grinned
as he boasted that the new governor
would not even give him audience.
Bahl l despised the man. yet l lin
gered beside him, and thus learned
that La Sales party consisted of but
two voyageurs, and the young Sieur
d'Artigny. l was glad enough when
he went away. though l gave him my
hand to kiss, and waved to him brave
Iy at the landing. And now he was
back again, bearing a message from
La Barre, and seeking volunteers for
some western voyage of profit. Twas
of no interest to me unless my uncle
Joined in the enterprise. yet | was
kind enough, for he brought with him
word Of the governors ball at Quebec,
and had won the pledge of Chevet to
take ne there with him. ] could be
gracious to him for that and it was
planned and talked in secret. What
they did was nothing to. me now-all
my thought was on the ball What
would you? 1 was II.
The grape trellis ran down toward
the river landing, and from where l
sat in the cool shadow, I could see the
broad water cleaning in the sun. Sud
denly, as my eyes uplifted, the dark
outline of a canoe swept into the vista,
and the splashing paddles turned the
PROV inward toward our landing. I
did not move, although I watched with
interest. for it was not the time of
year for Indian traders, and these
were white men. l could see those at
The paddles, voyageurs, with gay
cloths about their heads; but the one
in the stern wore a hat, the brim con-
ccallng his face, and a blue coat l
knew not who it could be until the
Prov touched the bank, and he stepped
ashore Then 1 knew, and bent low
over my sewing, as though l had seen
nothing. although my heart beat fast.
Through lowered lashes 1 saw him