Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-11-24

the body-yet he voiced no alarm
I was silent, and my eyes fell from
his face to the green water.
"'Twill be hard TO explain" he
went on But hc shall have a chance
"a chance! You will question him;
and then"
He hesitated whether to answer me,
but there was n cruel smile on his
thin lips.
Faith, ! do not know. IT'S like to
be a cOurtmartIal at the Rock, II ever
we get him there; though the chances
nre the fellow will take to the woods
when he finds himself suspected. No
doubt the best thing can do will be
to say nothing until we hold him safe,
though It's hard to pretend with such
q villain"
He paused, as II hoping | might
speak, and my silence angered him.
"Bah, II | had my way the young
cockerel would face a file at our first
camp. Ay! and It will be for you to
decide II he does not"
what Ia your meaning, monsieur p
"That | am tired of your play-act-
ing; Of your making eyes Mt this forest
dandy behind my back. Sang dieu! l
am done with all this--d0 you hearl-
and have a grip now which will
make you think twice, my dear, before
you work any more sly tricks on me.
Sacre, you think me easy, hey? have
In my hand So" and he opened and
closed his fingers suggestively, "the
life Of the lad"
| had one glimpse OF his face as he
leaned forward, and there was a look
In II which made me shudder and turn
away. His was no idle threat, and
whether the man truly loved me or
not, his hatred Of D'Artigny was suf-
ficient for any cruelty.
realized the danger, the necessity
for compromise, and yet for the mo-
mcnt lacked power to speak, to ques-
ton, fearful lest his demands would
be greater than I could grant. had
no thought of what | saw, and still
that which my eyes rested upon re-
mains pictured on my brain, the spar.
kle OF sui on the water, the distant
green OF the shore, the soldiers hud-
died in the canoe, the dark shining
bodies of the Indians ceaselessly ply
ing the paddles, and beyond us, to the
left, another canoe, cleaving the water
swiftly, with Pere Allouez' face turned
toward us, as though he sought to
guess our conversation. I was aroused
by the grip Of Cassion's hand.
"Wcll, my beauty" he said harshly,
haven't | waited long enough to learn
IL 1t Is war or peace between us?"
| laughed, yet | doubt If he gained
any comfort from the expression Of
the eyes which met his.
"Why | choose peace OF course, mon
sieur," l answered, assuming a care
lessness l was far from feeling. "Am
l not your wife? Surely you remind
me OF 1t often enough, so | am not
likely to forget; but | resent the In
suit OF your words, nor will you ever
win favor from me by such methods
| have been friendly with Sieur d'Artl'
gny, It Is true, but there is nothing
between us. Indeed no word has
passed my lips in his presence l would
not be willing for you to hear. SC
there Is no cause for you to spare hin
on my account, or rest his fate on any
action Of mine"
"You will have naught to do witt
the fellowT"
There would be small chance II
wished, monsieur; and do you sup
pose I would seek companionshlp will
one who had killed my uncleT"
"'Twould scarce seem so, yet
know not what you believe"
"Nor do l myself; yet the evidence
Is all against the man thus far. I con
fess l should like to hear his defense
but make you this pledge in all homo
i will have no word with him, o.
condition that you file no charges III
til we arrive Mt Fort st. Louis"
"Ah" su~spiciously, you think h
has friends there to hold him innC
cent"
why should I, monsieur? Indeed
why should l care but to have justic
done? ! do not wish his blood on you
hands, or to imagine that he Is cor
demned because Of his friendship &c
me rather than any other crime.
know not what friends the man ha
at the Rock on the Illinois. He wa
OF La Sales party, and they are T
! longer In control. La Barre said thu
! De Baugis commanded that post. an
for all | know De Tonty and all h
men may have departed"
: IT'S not altogether true, and Il
. that reason we are ordered TO join u
!, company. De Baugis has the right
I. It under commission from La Barr
: but does not possess sufficient soldie'
: to exercise authority. La Sales me
! remain loyal to De Tonty, and the L
| dian tribes look to him for leaderShi
Mon dieu! It was reported in Queb,
that 1900 savages were living abo'
the fort-ay! and D'Artigny said
/ doubted it not, for the meadows we
G covered with tepees-so De Baug.s HI
: small chance TO rule until he has for
behind him. They say this De Ton
Is Of a fighting breed-the savag
call him the man with the iron hand