Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-13
CHAPTER TX.
We Attain the Ottawa.

1t was not yet dawn when the stir
in the camp aroused me, and the sun
had not risen above the bluffs. or be-
gun to tinge the river, when u laden
canoes left the bank and commenced
their days journey up stream. DAT
tigny was off in advance, departing in
deed before l had left the tent, the
chief seated beside him. | caught but
a glimpse of them as the canoe round
ed the bend in the bank, and slipped
silently away through the lingering
shadows, yet it gladdened me to know
his eyes were turned toward my tent
until they vanished.
A new distribution had been ar
ranged, Chevet accompanying the ser
| geant, leaving the commissaire and
me alone, except for the pere, who had
position in the bow. l observed this
new arrangement from underneath
lowered lashes. but without comment,
quietly taking the place assigned me
and shading my face from the first
rays of the sum-.
At noon we landed in a sheltered
| cove, brilliant with wild flowers, and
partook of food, the rearward canoes
joining us, but D'Artlgny was still
ahead, perhaps under orders to keep
away. To escape Cassion l clambered
up the front of the cliff, and had view
from the summit, marking the sweep
of the river for many a league, a
scene of wild beauty never to be for
| gotten. I fingered there at the edge
until the voice of the commissaire re-
called me to my place in the
1t is Of no consequence now what
we %conversed about during that long
afternoon, as we pushed steadily on
against the current. Cassion en-
deayored to be entertaining and l
made every effort to encourage him,
although my secret thoughts were not
| pleasant ones. He had set out to over
come my scrupleS, to conquer my will,
and was merely biding his time, seek
ing to learn the best point of attack.
1t was with this end in view that he
kept me to himself, banishing Chevet,
and compelling D'Artigny to remain
well in advance. He was testing me
now by his tales of quebec, his boast
ing of friendship with the governor,
his stories of army adventure, and
the wealth he expected to amass
through his official connections. Yet
the very tone he assumed, the conceit
shown in his narratives, only served
to add to my dislike. This creature
was my husband, yet l shrank from
him, and once. when he dared to touch
my hand, / drew 1t away as though
it were contamination. 1t was then
that hot anger leaped into his eyes,
and his true nature found expression
before he could restrain the words:
"Mon dieu! What do you mean, you
chit?"
'"Only that ! am not won by a few
soft words, monsieur" l answered
coldly.
But you are my wife; twill be
well for you to remember that"
Nor am | likely to forget, yet be-
cause a priest has mumbled words
over us does not make me love you"
"Sacre!" he burst forth, yet careful
to keep his voice pitched to my ears
alone, you think me a plaything, but
you shall learn yet that l have claws.
Bah. do you imagine fear the cox
comb ahead?"
"To whom do you refer, monsieur?''
"Such innocence! to that bootlicker
of La Sales to whom you give your
smiles and pretty words"
Rene d'Artigny" l exclaimed pleas
antly, and then laughed. "Why how
ridiculous you are, monsieur. Better
be jealous of Pere .Allouez yonder, for