The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-11-10

| Hugo Chevets pistol. and know how
10 use IL. Draw away from the door.
monsieur. and l will thrust out the
! bag"
| lowered the bar, opening the door
barely wide enough 10 permit the bags
passage. The light from the fire
! cleaned on the barrel Of the pistol held
| in my hand. II was the work OF an
instant, and | saw nothing OF Cassion,
but, as the door closed, he laughed
| scornfuly.
"'Tis your game tonight. madame"
he said spitSfully, but tomorrow
! play my hand. thank you for the
! bag, as it contains my commission.
! BY virtue OF ii | shall assume com
mand OF this Fort st Louis. and /
| know how 10 deal with murdcrcrs.
congratulate YOU on your lover. ma
dame-good night"
| must have slept from sheer cxhaus-
| ton, although | made no attempt 10
| lie down. 1t was broad daylight when
| awoke. aroused by pounding on the
door. To my inquiry a voice an
| 4A'All'fAl lbV'ls anu ! lONflfNl lllt IiI,
permitting an orderly to enter bearing
tray, which he deposited on the table
Without speaking, he turned 10 leave
the room. but | suddenly felt courage
to address him.
You were not OF our party" said
sravely. Are you soldier OF NJ. de
Baugis?"
no, madame" and he turned fac
ing me, his countenancc a pleasant
one. IL am not a soldier at all. but
serve NJ. de Tonty."
"Ah. | am glad OF that You Will
bear 10 your master a message"
Perhaps, madame" his tone some
what doubtful You are the wife of
Monsieur CasslonT"
"Do not hesitate because Of that" I
FASTENED TO say. believing | understood
his meaning "While il Is true | am
legally the wife OF Francois Cassion
my sympathies now are altogether
with the Sieur d'Artigny. would
have you ask NJ. de Tonty TO confer
with me"
Yes. madame"
you have served with D'Artigny?
You know him well?"
Three years, madame; twice he
saved my life on the great river NJ
de Tonty shall receive your message"
I could not eat although I made the
endeavor, and finally crossed to the
window, opened the heavy wooden
shutters, and gaZed without. What a
marvellous scene that was, Never be-
fore had my eyes looked upon so fair
a view, and ! stood silent and fasci-
mated. My window opened 10 the
westward, and | gaZcd down from the
very edge OF the vast rock into the
wide valley. Great trcetOps were be-
low, and | had TO lean far out 10 see
the silvcry waters tapping the base
Of the precipice, but, n little beyond.
the full width OF the noble stream
became visible decked with Islands.
and winding here and the-' between
grecn-clad banks, until Il disappeared
in the far distance.
had neglected 10 bar the door. and
as | stood there gazing I'm breathlrss
fascination, a sudden step on the floor
caused me to turn in alarm. My eyes
encountered those Of De Tonty, who
stood hat in hand.
otis a fair view madame" he said
politely "In all my travels / have
seen no nobler domain"
1T hath peaceful look" I an
swered still struggling with the mem |
ory. "Can 1t be true the savagcs hold |
the valley"
"All too true-sre. yonder where the |
smoke still shows, dwclt the Kaskas- /
kias. Not a lodge IS left, and the bod /
les Of their dead strcw the ground. |
Along those meadows three weeks /
since there were the happy villages Of |
twelve tribes OF peaceful Indians: 10. |
day those who yet live are fleeing for |
their lives"
and this fort. monsieur"
safe enough, | think, although no
one of us can venture ten yards be.
yond the gate. The Rock protects Us.
madame, yet we are greatly outuum
bered. and with no ammunition 10
waste Twas the surprise Of the raid
which left Us thus helpless Could we
have been given time 20 gather our
friendly Indians together, the story
would be different"
"They are not towards then"
~"Not with proper leadership We
have seen them fight often since we
invaded this land 'Tis my thought
many OF them are hiding now beyond
those hills. and may find some way 20
reach Us. suspected such an effort
last night. when sent out the rescue
party which brought YOU in. Al that
reminds me, madame; you sent for
meT'
Yes. VI de Tonty can speak 10
you frankly? You are the friend of
Sieur d'ArtignyT
Faith. hope 7 am. madame. but
I know not what has got into the lad
be will tell me nothing"
II suspected az much. monsieur n
was for that rea son have sent for
you. lie has not even told you the
story Of our Journey
aAv "a hriaf "a military rppor4-