Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-06-27


seemed to know. at the convent they
said your father fell in Indian Skin
mish"
/ Yes; ever since then I have lived
here, with my uncle, Hugo Chevet."
"Here!" he looked about, as though
the dreariness of it was first noticed
Alone? Is there no other woman?"
l shook my head, but no longer
looked at him, for fear he might see
the tears in my eyes.
Il am the housekeeper, monsieur.
There was nothing else for me. In
France. am told, my fathers people
were well born, but this is not France,
and there was no choice Besides 1
| was but a child Of AZ
"And II, now, mademoiselle," and
he took my hand CALAMITY Pardon
if | have asked questions which bring
! pain. l can understand much, for in
Montreal l heard tales of this Hugo
Chevet."
He is rough, woodsman," 1 de-
Tended, ''yet not unkind to me. You
will speak him fair?"
He laughed, his eyes sparkling with
merriment
mo fear Of my neglecting all cour-
tesy, for 1 come beseeching favor. l
have learned the lesson of when the soft
| speech wins more than the iron hand.
And this other. the Commissaire Cas-
age?'
l made little gesture, and glanced
| back at the closed door,
"Oh. no; he is the court courier. to
stab with words, not deeds Chevet
| is rough of speech, and hard of hand,
but he fights in the open; Cassion has
double tongue, and one never knows
him." 1 glanced up into his sobered
| face. HE is a friend of La Barre"
$50 it's said, and has been chosen
| by the governor to bear message to
De Baugis in the Illinois country.
seek passage in his company"
You! l thought you were of the
party of Sieur de la Salle?"
81 am" he answered honestly, yet
Cassion will need a guide, and there
is none save myself in all New France
who has ever made that journey.
| Twill be well for him to listen to my
plan. And why not? We do not
fight the orders of the governor: we
obey, and wait. Monsieur de la Sale
will tell his story to the king"
'The Kingi To LOUISE?
GAY, twill not be the first time he
has had audience, and already he is
| at sea. We can wait, and laugh at
this Cassion over his useless Journey"
But he-he is treacherous, mon
sieur"
He laughed as though the words
amused.
ITO one who has lived as l, amid
savages, treachery is an old story. The
commissaire will not find me asleep.
We will serve each other, and let it
go at that. Ali we are to be inter-
rupted."
He Strengthened up facing the door,
and l turned, confronting my uncle
as he emerged in advance. He was a
| burly man, with iron gray hair, and
face Redeemed by out-of-doors: and he
stopped in surprise at sight of
stranger, his eyes hardening with sus-
| picion.
"And who Is this with whom you
converse so privately, Adele? he
questioned brusquely. "a young popin-
jay new to these parts 1 venture"
D'Artigny stepped between us,
smiling in good humor.
"My call was upon you. Monsieur
Chevet, and not the young lady," he
said quietly enough, yet with tone
| to the voice ST merely asked her If
l had found the right place, and If
Monsieur the, Commissaire Cassion
was still your guest"
"And what, may I ask, might be
your business with the Commissaire
Cassion?' asked the latter. pressing
past Chevet, yet bowling with a SEM
blance of politeness, scarcely in ac-
cord with the studied insolence Of his
words. ''I have no remembrance Of
your face"
"Then. Monsieur Cassion is not OBJ
servant" returned the younger man
pleasantly, "as l accompanied the
Sieur de la Sale In his attempt to
have audience with the governor"
"Ahr the word of surprise explod-
ed from the lips. "Sacre! it's true! Ny
faith. what difference clothes make.
mistook you for courier du bois."
81 am the Sieur Rene d'Artigny."
Lieutenant of La Sales"
Scarcely that, monsieur, but
comrade; for three years 1 have been
with his party, and was chosen by him
for this mission"
Cassion laughed, chucking the
gloomy faced Chevet in the side, as
though he would give point to good
joke.
And little the trip hither has profit
| ed either master or man, l warrant
La Barre does not sell New France to
| every adventurer. Monsieur de la
/ Sale found different reception in Que
| bee than when Frontenac ruled this
colony. Where went the fur stealer"
ITO whom do you refer?"
ITO whom? Heaven help us. Chevet,
the man would play nice with words.
Well. let it go. my young cock. and
answer me-"
"You mean the Sieur de la Salle?"
ITO be sure; l called him no worse
than have heard La Barre speak.
They say he has left Quebec; what
more know your"
"'Tis no secret, monsieur" replied
D'Artigny quietly enough, although
there was a flash in his eyes, as they
met mine. THE Sieur de Ia Sale has
sailed for France"
| at-rannaf Rab xOu lost. there has