Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-08-29

| the men there. With this last pur-
pose In view l entered the wood to
descend the hill. but had hardly done
so when | caught sight of you in the
moonlight, and remained there hidden,
watching your movements with hor-
ror. | saw you go straight to the
| body, assure yourself the man was
dead; then return to the Mission house
and enter your room by way of the
kitchen roof Do you realize what
your actions naturally meant to me?'
l stared at him, scarcely able to
speak, yet in some way my lips
formed words.
'You-you thought l did it?'
what else could I think? You
were hiding there; you examined the
body; You crept secretly in through
the window and gave no alarm"
The horror of it all struck me like
a blow, and l covered my eyes with
my hands, no longer able to restrain
my sobs. D'Artigny caught my hands
and uncovered my face
"Do not break down, little girl" he
entreated. "It is better so, for now
we understand each other You sought
| to shield me, and 1 endeavored to pro-
tect you. Twas strange misunder-
standing, and, but for the accident to
| the canoe, might have had a tragic
| ending"
"You would never have told?"
| zoe cooinn Won the sso2 of ~
you? Could you think that possible?"
But you would have been con-
demned; the evidence was all against
you"
| LET US not talk of that now" he
insisted. "We have come back to a
faith in each other. You believe my
word 2"
| eyes"
"And 1 yours"
His handclasp frightened, and there
was that in his eyes which frightened
me.
drew back quickly. "Do not say more,
for l am here with you alone. and
there will be trouble enough when
Cassion returns"
'Do 1 not know that?' he said, yet
releasing my hands. "Still it can sure
~ do no harm for us to understand
| each other. You care nothing for
Cassion; you dislike, despise the man,
and there is naught sacred in your
marriage. We are IN the wilderness,
not Quebec, and La Barre has little
authority here. You have protected
me with your silence-was it not be-
cause you cared for me?"
Eyes, monsieur; you have been my
friend
"Your friend! Is that a1l?"
'Is that not enough, monsieur?
like you well; l would save you from
injustice. You could not respect me
if l said more, Tor l am Monsieur
Cassion's wife by rite of Holy church.
l do not fear him-he is a coward
but 1 fear dishonor, monsieur. FOR l
am Adele la Chesnayne. l would re-
spect myself and you"
The light of conquest vanished from
the gray eyes. For a moment he stood
silent and motionless; then he drew a
step backward and bowed.
''Your rebuke is just, madame" ne
said soberly. I'VE of the frontier grow
careless in a land where might is
right, and 1 have had small training
save in camp and field. l crave your
pardon for my offense."
So contrite was his expression l had
to smile, realizing for the first time
the depth of his interest in my good
will, yet the feeling which swayed me
was not altogether that Of pleasure.
He was not one to yield so quietly, or
to long restrain the words burning his
tongue, yet 1 surrendered to my first
impulse, and extended my hand.
There is nothing to pardon, Sieur
d'Artigny," I said frankly. '"There is
no one to whom l owe more of cour-
tesy than you. 1 trust you fully, and
believe your word, and in return |
ask the same faith. Under the condi-
tons confronting US we must aid each
other. We have both made mistakes
in thus endeav oring to shield one an
other from suspicion, and as result,
are both equally in peril. Our being
alone together here will enrage Mon
sieur Cassion, and he will use all his
power for revenge. My testimony will
only make your case more desperate
should 1 confess what 1 know, and
you might cast suspicion upon me"
"You do not believe l would"
"No, l do not, and yet, perchance,
it might be better for us both if l