The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-30

from my arm, and walked alone
quiet steadily, up to the two men
A wonderful JOY filled my sou
as laid one hand upon De Arti
gny's breast.
you are about to depart upor
a long journey, monsieur" l sale
SO low that only he and the Ital
ian could hear me, "and your eye!
give me a message that / woulC
hear your lips utter, for l fair
would answer"
At my words De Tonty turned
away, while De Artigny's face
turned whittier than before.
adele" he gasped, you"
And then the crude frontier
fort, the world and swiftly rising
sun were blotted out as he clasped
me to his heart, and l knew that
death would be sweet since love
would be waiting me on the Other
side.
How long we stood this I can.
not imagine, and at last when ]
lifted my eyes from his hidden
breast a glory of sunlight blinded
them. What meant this-when
he was to have been shot with the
glance of the first ray over the
stockade wall? Why had not Cas-
sion torn us apart?
And then I noted that we were
standing alone. All the company
of men had proceeded quite to the
gate. where they seemed to be
greeting a party of strangers but
just arrived.
Look" I whispered, and | felt
one more kiss upon my hair be-
fore Rene obeyed my pointing
finger.
Even as he raised his head the
crowd broke and passage was
made for Cassion, De Baugis, De
Tonty and a stranger.
La Forest!" he exclaimed, and
with one arm still about me, has
tened forward to meet him.
La Forest! You were in
France three months ago."
AYE; | was there when Sieur
de al Sale landed. He told me
the whole tale. l was with him
when he had audience with Louis
| am here now bearing the orders
of the king, countersigned by La
Barre at Quebec, restoring de
Tonty to command at Fort st.
Louis, and bidding De Baugis and
that fool Cassion to return to
return to New France.
ed Artigny crushed the mans
hand in both his own. His voice
trembled as he made answer.
"He won the kings favor? He
convinced LOUISE"
mo doubt of that-never saw
l q greater miracle"
And the Sieur de la Salle-has
he returned?"
Nay; he remains in France, to
fit out an expedition to sail fol
the mouth of the Great River. He
hath special commission from the
king. To me was given the honol
Of bearing the message"
De Artigny glanced inquiringly
at La Forest, and the latter step
ped forward, leather-bount
packet in his hands.
"Your pardon, Mr.. de Tonty,'
he said. II had forgotten my thu,
mission here. l bear orders from
the king of France"
From Louis? La Sale ha!
reached the kings ear
AYE, to good results. These
are for you, monsieur"
The face of the Italian did no
Ichange expression; slowly hi
opened the papers. and glanced a
their contents; then folded then
once more and lifted his eyes t
our faces.
by grace of the king" he sait
simply, II am again in command
of Fort st. Louis. see the ordel
is countersigned by La Barre"
Eyes, monster; he had NJ
choice-'twas not done happily
you lie!" Cassion cried holly
eyes blazing with hatred ant
anger, tits some hellish trick"
Monsieur. never before die
man say that to me and live. Were
you not felon and thief, l would
strike you where you stand. Aye
/ mean the words-now listen
lift that sword point and | shoot
you dead. Monsieur de Tonty
show the man the papers,"
Cassion took them as tho in 6
daze, but he seemed to grasI
vaguely the fact of La Barrels sig
nature.
"a forgery" he gasped. "Ah
Baugis, see here; these damned
ours of La Sale would play tricl
on me. Look at the paper"
The Dragon took 1t, ant
smoothed 1t out in his hands. Hil
face was grave as his eyes search
ed the printed lines.
'Tis the great seal OF France, ;
he said soberly, looking about al
the faces surrounding him, "anc
the signature of the governor
How came 1t here?"
"By MY hand" returned La
Forest. proudly. "You know me
Monsieur Francois la Forest. ;
AYE, I know you, ever a fol
lower of La Sale. and a friend OF
Frontenac. Twas thru his influ.