Middletown transcript., 1916-10-07

You were not Of our party" l said
gravely. "Are you a soldier Of NJ. dc
BaugisY'
mo. madame" and he turned fac
| ing me, his countenance a pleasant
one. 81 am not a soldier at all. but
serve Nj. de TOnty."
"Ah, I am glad Of that You will
bear 10 your master a message"
"Pcrhans, madame" his tone some
what doubtful. 'You are the wife OF
Monsieur CassionT
ssID9e De get tett hesitate because Of that"
hastened to say, believing understood
his meaning. "While It is true I 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 DArtigny
You know him weIlT'
"Three years. madame; twice he
saved my life on the great river. NJ
de Tonty shall receive your message >
could not eat. although 1 made the
endeavor. and finally crossed to the
window, opened the heavy wooden
shutters, and gazed without What q
marvellous scene that was! Never be-
fore had my, eyes looked upon so fail
a view, and / stood silent and fasci
mated. My window opened to the
westward, and gazed down from the
very edge Of the vast rock into the
wide valley. Great treetops were be
low, and had to lean far out to see
the silvery waters tapping the base
of the precipice, but. little beyond
became visible, decked with islands
and winding here and there between
green-clad banks, until 1t disappeared
in the far distance.
had neglected to bar the door. and
as stood there gazing in breathIess
fascination, a sudden step on the hoOI
caused me to turn in alarm. My eyes
encountered those Of De Tonty, who
stood hat in hand.
"'Tis a fair view. madame" he said
politely. 'In all my travels l have
seen no nobler domain"
"It hath a peaceful look" I an
swered, still struggling with the mem
ory. "Can it be true the savages hold
the valleyP"
"All too true-see. yOnder, where the
smoke still shows. dwelt the KaskaR
kias. Not a lodge Is left. and the bod
les of their dead strew the ground
Along those meadows three weeks
since there were the happy villages oi
twelve tribes of peaceful Indians: to
day those who yet live are fleeing foI
their lives"
"And this fort. monsieurT
"Safe enough, think. although NJ
one of us can venture ten yards be
yond the gate. The Rock protects US
madame, yet we are greatly outnum
bered, and with no ammunition tC
waste. Twas the surprise Of the raid
which left US thus helpless. Could We
have been given time to gather oul
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 tC
reach us. | suspected such an effOrt
last night, when sent out the rescue
party which brought you In. All, thai
reminds me, madame; you sent foI
ne2"
Eyes, NJ. de TOnty. l can speak tC
you frankly? You are the friend Of
Sieur d'Artigny?"
Faith. hope am. madame, but
l know not what has got into the lad
he will tell me nothing"
81 suspected as much, monsieur. Il
was for that reason have sent fol
you. He has not even told you the
story of our jOurney?"
"Ay. as brief as a military report
not a fact I could not have guessed
There Is a secret here. which I have
not discovered. Why Is NJ. Cassion sc
wild for the lads blood, and how came
there to be trouble between Rene and
the furtrader2 BAIL know the lad
is no murderer. but no one will tel
me the facts"
"Then will. monsieur" said
gravely. "It was because of my be
lief that Sieur d'Artigny would re
fuse explanation that sent for you
The truth need not be concealed; moi
from you, at least, the commander Oi
Fort st. Louis"
pardon. madame, but I am not that
La Sale left me in command Tvith less
than a dozen men. De Baugis came
later, under commission from La Barre
but he also had but a handful Of fol
lowers. To save quarrel we agreed tC
divide authority. and so got along fair
ly well, until N. CassiOn arrived with
his party. Then the odds were alto
gether on the other side. and De Bau
gis assumed command by sheer force
of rifles. Twas La Sales wish thai
no resistance be made. but, faith. witt
the Indians scattered. I had no power
This morning things have taken a new
phase. An hour ago NJ. CassiOn as
sumed command of the garrison by
virtue Of a commission he produced
from the Governor Ia Barre. naming
him major OF infantry. This gives hin
rank above Captain de Baugis. and
besides, he bore a letter authorizing
him to take command Of all Frenci
troops In this valley. II. IN his JudR
ment. circumstances rendered IT nee
essary. No doubt he deemed this th'
proper occasion"
"To assure the conviction and deatE