Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-06-30
Continued from Page u

No doubt there were those VINO
knew-Frontenac, Bigot, those who
ruled over us at Quebec-but twas
not a matter supposed to interest
girl, and so no word came to me. Once
I asked my Uncle Chevet, and he re-
piled in anger with only few SEN
tences bidding me hold my tongue;
vet he said enough so that l knew the
Sieur de la Sale lived and had built
q fort far away, and was buying furs
of the Indians. 1t was this that
brought jealousy and hatred. Once
Monsieur CassiOn came and stopped
with us, and as I waited on him and
Uncle Chevet, / caught words which
told me that Frontenac was La Sales
friend, and would listen to no charges
brought against him. They talked Of
a new governor; yet I learned but lit
tie for Cassion attempted to kiss me,
and would wait on him no more.
Then Frontenac was recalled to
France, and La Barre was governor.
How pleased my Uncle Chevet was
when the news came, and he raped
the table with his glass and exclaimed:
"Ahl but now we will pluck out the
claws of this Sieur de Ia Sale, and
send him where he belongs" But he
would explain nothing, until week
later CassiOn came up the river in
his canoe with Indian paddlers, and
stopped to hold conference. The man
treated me with much gallantry, so
that / questioned him, and he seemed
happy to answer that La Barre had al
ready dispatched a party under Che
Waller de Baugis, of the Kings Dra-
goons to take command of La Sales
Fort ST Louis in the Illinois country.
La Sale had returned, and was al
ready at Quebec, but CaissOn grinned
as he boosted that the new governor
would not even give him audience.
Bah! I despised the man, yet I lin
gered beside him, and thus learned
that La Sales party consisted of but
two voyageurs, and the young Sieur
d'Artigny. l was glad enough when
he went away, though l gave him my
hand to kiss, and waved to him brave
~ at the landing. And now he was
back again, bearing a message from
La Barre, and seeking volunteers for
some western voyage of profit. Twas
of no interest to me unless my uncle
Joined in the enterprise, yet l was
kind enough, fos he brought with him
word of the g1EerDar's ball at Quebec
and had won TIE pledge of Chevet to
&ol h =
gracious to him for that and it was
on my gown I worked as the two
planned and talked in secret. What
they did was nothing to me now-all
my thought was on the ball. What
would you? I was IL.
The grape trellis ran down toward
the river landing, and from where I
sat in the cool shadow, could see the
broad water cleaning in the sun. Sud
denly, as my eyes uplifted, the dark
outline of a canoe swept into the vista,
asa tbs sDlashing paddles turned tbs
PROV inward toward our landing.
did not move, although | watched with
interest, for it was not the time OF
year for Indian traders, and these
were white men. I could see those at
the paddles, voyageurs, with gay
cloths about their heads; but the one
in the stern wore a hat, the brim con-
cealing his face, and a blue coat.
knew not who it could be until the
prov touched the bank, and he stepped
ashore. Then l knew, and bent low
over my sewing as though I had seen
nothing, although my heart beat fast.
Through lowered lashes l saw him
give brief order to the men, and then
advance toward the house alone. All!
but this was not the slender, laughing