Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-08-08

plays with them, breaks their hearts.
IL is his. pride and boast, and his sue
cess in the past has ministered to his
seif-conceit. He thought me of the
same XIII, but has already had his
lesson. you not know what that
means to man like him? More than
ever he will desire my favor. A week
oack he cared nothing; l was but
playtnlng. awaiting his pleasure; his
Wife to be treated as he pleased. He
knows better now. and already his
eyes follow me as though he were
my dog"
And that then is why you send
for me-that l may play my part in
the gamer"
shrugged my shoulders, yet there
was doubt in my eyes as faced him.
rs there harm in such play. mon
sieur," | asked innocently, with so
important an end in view? TITS not
that | seek amusement. but l must
ind out where this kings pardon Is
hidden. who concealed it, and obtain
|
my marriage. My only hope of re-
lease lies in compelling Francois Cas-
sion to confess all he knows of this
foul conspiracy. I must possess the
facts before we return to Quebec"
but of what use?" he insisted.
"You will still remain his wife. and
your property will be in his control.
The church will hold you to the mar
riage contract"
mot if can establish the truth
that / was deceived. defraudeG and
married by force Once l have tie
. proofs in my hands | will appeal to
Louis-to the pope for relief. These
men thought me helpless girl, friend
less and alone, ignorant of law, mere
waif Of the frontier. Perhaps | was,
but this experience has made of me
! a woman. In Montreal l talked with
the mother superior and she told me
| of marriage in France where the
pere officiated under threat. and the
pope dissolved the ties. If 1t can be-
done for others it shall be done for
me. l will not remain the wife of
| Francois Cassion."
yet you would make him love
you?"
I'm punishment for his sins; in pay
ment for those he has ruined Az!
| it's a duty l shall not shrink from,
Monsieur d'Artigny, even although you
may deem it unwomanly. | do not
mean it so, nor hold myself immodest
for the effort Why should L? / but
war against him with his own wea-
pons, and my cause is just And
shall win. whether or not yea give
me your aid How can l fhil. mon
| sieur? 1 am young and not I'll to look
upon: this you have already confessed;
here in this wilderness | am alone.
the only woman. He holds me his
wife by law, and yet knows he must
still win me. There are months of
loneliness before us, and he will not
look upon the face of another white
woman in all those leagues. Are there
any French of my sex at Fort st.
| LOUISE"
| "No."
Nor at st. Ignace, Pere Allouez
| assures me. l shall have no rival
then in all this wilderness; you think
me harmless, monsieur? Look at me,
! and sayv'
Il do not need to look: you will
have your game | have no doubt, al
though the final result may not prove
what you desire"
| You fear the end?"
1T may be so; you play with fire,
and although l know little of women,
yet | have felt the wild passions of
men in hands where there is no re-
| straint of law. The wilderness sees
many ragedies-ferce, bitter, revenge
full deeds-and tits best you use care.
| IT'S my belief this Francois Cassion
might prove a devil, once his heart
was tricked. Have you thought of
/ this?'
had thought of it, but with no
mercy in my heart, yet as D'Artigny
/ spoke 1 felt the ugliness of ny threat
| more acutely, and, for an instant,
stood before him white-lpped and
ashamed. Then before me arose Cas-
| sion's face, sarcastic, supercilious,
| hateful, and laughed in scorn of the
warning.
Thought of it!' exclaimed, Eyes.
but for that l care nothing. Why
should 1. monsieur? Has the man
shown mercy to me, that should feel
regret because he suffers? AS to his
revenge, death is not more to be
dreaded than a lifetime passed in his
presence. But why do you make plea
on his behalf-the man is surely no
friend of yours?"
81 make no plea for him." he an
swered, strangely sober. land claim
no friendship. Any enemy to La Sale
is an enemy to Rene d'Artigny; but
would front him as a man should.
1t is not my nature to do a deed of
| treachery"
| You hold this treachery?"
"What else? You propose Turing
him to love you, that you may gain
confession from his lips. To attain
this end you barter your honesty, your
womanhood; you take advantage OF
your beauty to enslave him; you count
as ally the loneliness of the wilderness;
ayl and, IL l understand Alright, you
hope through me to awaken the mans
| Jealousy. Is this not true?"
drew quick breath. my eyes star
ing into his face, and my limbs trem-
bling. His words cut me like knife.
| yet | would not yield. would not even
acknowledge their truth
You are unjust, unfair l burst
forth impetuously. "You will see but
the one side-that of the man. can
not fight this battle with my hands.
nor will submit to such wrong with
out struggle. He has never thought to
spare me, and there Is no reason why