Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-08-04

your acI1OuS naturally meant 10 ueI
1 stared at him, scarcely able to
speak, yet in some way my lips
formed words.
"You-you thought I did itT
"What else could l think? You
were hiding there; you examined the
body; you crept secretly In through
the window and gave no alarm"
The horror of 1t all struck me like
a blow, and I covered my eyes with
my hands, no longer able to restrain
my sobs. D'Artigny caught my hands
and uncovered my face.
do not break down, little girl" he
entreated. at is better so, for now
we understand each other. You sought
to shield me, and l endeavored to pro-
tect you. Twas a strange misunder-
standing, and, but for the accident to
the canoe, might have had a tragic
ending"
"You would never have toldT"
"Of seeing you there? of suspecting
you? Could you think that possible?"
"But you would have been con-
demned; the evidence was all against
you"
LET us not talk of that now" he
insisted. "We have come back to a
faith in each other. You believe my
word?"
Eyes"
"And I yours"
His handclasp frightened, and there
was that in his eyes which frightened
me.
mo, no, monsieur" l exclaimed and
drew back quickly. "Do not say more,
for I am here with you alone, and
there will be trouble enough when
Cassion returns"
"Do 1 not know that?' he said, yet
releasing my hands. "Still 1t can sure
" do no harm for us to understand
each other. You care nothing for
Cassion; you dislike, despise the man,
and there is naught sacred in your
not Quebec, and La Barre has little
authority here. You have protected
me with your silence-was 1t not be
cause you cared for me-"
Eyes, monsieur; you have been my
friend"
"Your friendi Is that all?"
"Is that not enough, monsieur? l
like you well; I would save you from
Injustice. You could not respect me
IL l said more, for I am Monsieur
Cassion's wife by rite of Holy church.
I do not fear him-he is a coward;
but l fear dishonor, monsieur, for I
am Adele la Chesnayne. 1 would re-
spect myself and you"
The light of conquest vanished from
the gray eyes. For a moment he stood
silent and motionless; then he drew a
step backward and bowed.
Your rebuke is just, madame" he
said soberly. I'VE of the frontier grow
] careless in a land where might is
esht, and I. have had small training
save IN caRuand field. 1 crave your
pardon for my offense."
So contrite was his expression l had
to smile, realizing for the first time
the depth of his interest In my good
will, yet the feeling which swayed me
was not altogether that of pleasure.
He was not one to yield 81 quietly, or
to long restrain the words burning his
tongue, yet l surrendered to my first
impulse, and extended my hand.
There is nothing to pardon, Sieur
d'Artigny," l said frankly. 'sThere Is
no one to whom 1 owe more of cour-
tesy than you. I trust you fully, and
believe your word, and in return l
ask the same faith. Under the condi-
tons confronting Us we must aid each
other. We have both made mistakes
in thus e~ndeavonng to shield n an
other from suspicion, and, as a result,
are both equally in peril. Our being
alone together here will enrage Mon
sieur Cassion, and he will use all his
power for revenge. My testimony will
only make your case more desperate
should I confess what 1 know, and
you might cast suspicion upon me"
"You do not believe l would"
mo, 1 do not, and yet, perchance,
1t might be better for US both If l
made full confession. 1 hesitate mere
~ because Cassion would doubt my
word; would conclude that l merely
sought to protect you. Before others
fair-minded judges at st. Louis-I
should have no hesitancy in telling the
whole story, for there is nothing I did
of which I am ashamed, but here
where Cassion has full authority, such
a confession would mean your DEATH"
"He believes that you feel interest
In me?"
II have never denied It; the fact
which rankles, however, is his knowl-
edge that l feel no interest whatever
in him. But we waste time, monsieur,
in fruitless discussion. Our only course
Is a discovery of Hugo Chevet's real
murderer. Know you anything to war
ram suspicion?"
D'Artigny did not answer at once,
his ayes looking ont on fha whit9