Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-07-07

Monsieur" l said soberly 81 must
beg your mercy. l am but a girl, and
alone. 1t is true l am your wife by
law, but the change has come so sud
denly that l an yet dazed. l appeal
to you as a gentleman"
He stared into my face, scarcely
comprehending all my meaning.
you would bar me without? You
forbid me e~ntrance?"
Would you seek to enter against
my wish?"
"But you are my wife; that you will
not deny! What will be said, thought
If l go elsewhere?"
Monsieur, save for Hugo Chevet,
none in this company know the story
of that marriage, or why | am here.
What l ask brings no stain upon you.
IT'S not that / so dislike you, mon
sieur, but l am the daughter Of Pierre
la Chesnayne, and It's not in my blood
to yield to force. 1t will be best to
yield me respect and consideration"
you are a sly wench," he said,
laughing un%pleasantly, "but it may be
best that | give you your W way for
this once. There is time enough in
which to teach you my power. And
so you shut the tent to me, fair lady,
In spite of your pledge to Holy church.
All, well! there are storms a plenty be
tween here and st. Ignace, and you
will become lonely enough In the will
derness to welcome me. One kiss, and
I leave you"
mo, monsieur"
His eyes were ugly.
you refuse that! Mon Dieu! Do
you think l play? l will have the
kiss-or more"
Furious as the man was 1 felt no
fear of him, merely an intense dis
gust that his hands should touch me,
an indignation that he should offer
me such insult. He must have read
all this in my eyes, for he made but
the one move, and l flung his hand
aside as easily as though it had been
that of a child. ! was angry, so that
my lips trembled, and my face grew
white, yet it was not the anger that
stormed.
Enough, monsieur-go!' I said, and
pointed to where the fires Redeemed
the darkness. do not dare speak to
me again this night"
An instant he hesitated, trying to
muster courage, but the bully in him
failed, and with an oath, he turned
away and vanished. It was nearly
dark then, and / sat down on q
blanket at the entrance, and waited.
watching the figures between me and
the river. / did not think he would
come again, but I did not know; 1t
would be safer II l could have word
with Chevet. A soldier brought me
food, and when he returned for the
tins I made him promise to seek my
uncle and send him to me.
My only faith in Hugo Chevet rested
in his natural resentment of Cassion's
treachery relative to my fathers for
tune. He would feel that he had been
cheated, deceived, deprived Of his
rightful share Of the spoils.
l had been alone for an hour, AZ
ready convinced that the soldier had
failed to deliver my message, when
my uncle finally emerged from the
shadows, and announced his presence.
He appeared a huge, shapeless figure,
his very massiveness yielding me a
feeling of protection, and l ross and
Joined him. His greeting proved the
unhappiness of his mind.
$50 you sent for newly? What
has happened between you and Cas-
sion?"
mo more than occurred between US
yonder in Quebec, when I Informed
him that l was his wife in name only"
l answered quietly. "Do you blame
me now that you understand his pur-
pose In this marriage?"
How know you the truth Of all
you have saidT' he asked. where
learned you of this wealth."
by ~overhearing conversation while
hidden behind the curtain In La
Barrels Office. He spoke freely with
his aide, and later with Cassion. 1t
was my discovery there which led to
the forced marriage, and u being
sent with this expedition"
you heard alone?"
$50 they thought, and naturally be-
lieved marriage would prevent my
ever bearing witness against them.
But I was not alone"
Mon dieu! Another heard?"
Eyes, the Sieur d'Artigny."
Chevet grasped my arm, and in the
glare of the fire I could see his K
element pictured in his face.
"Who? That lad? You were in
hiding there together? And did he
realize what was said?"
THAT / do not know" / answered,
"for we have exchanged no word
since. When my presence was dis
covered D'Artigny escaped unseen
through the open window. I need to
meet him again that these matters
may be explained, and that I may