Middletown transcript., 1916-09-16


81 wonder have you served longI
My father was an officer in that COM
mand-Captain la Chesnayne."
The expression on the mans face
changed magically.
"You the daughter of Captain la
Chesnayne," he exclaimed. the words
bursting forth uncontrolled, "and mar
ried to CassiOn! how can this be-"
'You knew him then-my father"
GAY, madame; was with him at
the Richelieu, at the village Of the
Mohawks; and at Bois lie Blanc, where
he died. 1 am Jacques Barbeau. a
soldier for 20 years; did he not speak
to you of meT"
81 was but a girl when he was
killed. and we seldom met, for he was
usually on campaign Yet what do
you mean by thus expressing surprise
at my marriage to Monsieur Cassion?'
He hesitated, evidently regretting
his impulsive speech, and glancing
from my face into the stern eyes Of
D'Artigny.
Monsieur, madame. spoke hastily;
it was not my place"
'That may be true. Barbeau," re-
piled the Sieur grimly. "yet the words
have been said, and the lady has a
right to have them explained. Was
there quarrel between her father and
this Francois Cassion?"
"Ay, there was, and bitter, although
l know nothing as to the cause. Cas-
sion and La Barre-he whom 1 now
hear is governor Of New France
were alike opposed to Captain la Ches-
nayne. and but for reports they made
he would have been the colonel He
struck Cassion in the mess tent. and
they were to fight the very morning
the IrOquois met US at Bois lie Blanc.
Twas the talk of the men that the
captain was shot from behind"
"By CassionT'
That cannot say; yet the bullet
entered behind the ear. for l was first
to reach him, and he had no other
enemy in the Regiment Carignan-Sal-
liers. The feeling against NJ. Cas-
sion was so strong that he resigned in
few months. You never heard this?'
could not answer, but stood silent
with bowed head. felt D'Artigny
place his hand On my shoulder.
"The lady did not know" he said
gravely, as though he felt the neces-
sity of an explanation. "She was at
school in a convent at Quebec. and no
rumor reached her. She is thankful
to you for what you have said. Bar
beau, and can trust you as her fathers
friend and comrade: May tell him
the truth. madame? The man may
have other information of value"
looked at the soldier. and his eyes
were grave and honest.
EYES," / answered. sit can do no
harm"
D'Artigny's hand was still on my
shoulder, but his glance did not seek
my face.
"There is some low trick here, Bar
beau" he began sOberly, ''but the de
tails are not clear. Madame has
trusted me as a friend. and cOnfided
all she knows, and will tell the facts
to you as I understand them False
reports were made to France regard
ing Captain la Chesnayne. We have
not learned what they were, or who
made them, but they were so serious
that Louis, by royal decree, issued or
/ der that his estates revert to the
crown. Later La Chesnayne's friends
got the ear of the king. no doubt
through Frentenac, ever loyal to him,
and by royal order the estates were
restored to his ownership. This order
of restoration reached Quebec soon
after La Barre was appointed gov
ernor, and was never made public. 1t
was suppressed by someone, and La
Chesnayne was killed three months
later, without knowing that he had
won the favor Of the king"
"But Cassion knew; he was ever
hand in glove with La Barre"
eve have cause to suspect so, and
now, after listening to your tale, to
believe that Captain la Chesnayne's
death was part of a carefully formed
plot. By accident the lady here
learned Of the conspiracy, through
overhearlng a conversation, but was
discovered by La Barre hiding behind
the curtains of his Office. To keep
her quiet she was forced into mar
riage with Francois Cassion, and bid
den to accompany him on this journey
to Fort st. Louis"
81 see," commented Barbeau
shrewdly. "Such marriage would place
the property in their control by law
Had Clssion sought marriage previ-
ously?"
His eyes were upon me as he asked
the question. and answered him
frankly.
"He visited often at the home Of
my uncle, Hugo Chevet, and. while
he never spoke to me directly of mar
riage, l was told he desired me for
his wife. and at the palace he so pre-
sented me to Monsieur la Barre"
"On pledge of Chevet. no doubt.
Your uncle knew Of your fortune"
mo; he supposed me penniIess; he
thought it a great honor done me by
the favOrfte of the governors. Twas
my belief he expected some reward
for persuading me to accept the offer"
"And this Chevet-what became Of
himT'
"He accompanied US on the journey,
also upon order Of Monsieur la Barre,
who. no doubt, thought he would be
safer In the wilderness than in Que
bee. He was murdered at st. Ignace."
"MnrdeFedT'
"Ay, struck down from behind With
knife. No one knows who did It,
| hut Cnsslnn has nhnrnnd TIA a.i..a