The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-12-15

before ne cOul0 restrain q words:
Men dieul What do you mean, you
chit"
-Only that I am not won by 4 few
soft words, monsieur" I answered
coldly.
But you are my wife; twill bs
wei! for you to remember that"
Nor am I likely to forget, yet be-
cause . priest has mumbled words
over III does not make me love you"
"Sacre" he burst forth, yct careful
to keep his voice pitched to my ears
alone, you think me Z playthins. but
you shall learn yet that l have claws.
Bah! do you imagine l fear the cox
comb ahead1"
ITO whom do you refer. monsieur"
"Such innocence! to that bootlicker
Of La Sales to whom you give your
smiles and pretty words"
Irene d'Artigny" l exclaimed pleas
antly, and then laughed. why how
ridiculous you are. monsieur. Better
be Jealous Of Pers Allouex yonder. for
Of him I e far tho most. why do
you pick out D'Artigny on whom to
vent your angerr'
Il like not tho way he eyes you,
0 your secret meetings with him in
Quebec"
III he even sees me I know It not,
and ~ for secret meetings, knew you
not that Sister Celeste was with me
| while we talkedr'
mot n the governors palace"
You accuse me Of that thcn," in
dignantly. Because I am your wife
you can insult, yet It vas your hand
that drew aside the curtain and found
me alone. Do you hope to gain my
respect by such base charges as that,
MONSIEUR"
do you deny that he had been with
your"
II? Do I deny! It Is not worthy
my while. Why should I? We were
not married then. nor like to be to
my knowledge. Why. then. II l wished,
was 1t not my privilege to speak with
the Sieur d'Artlgny? l have found
him q very pleasant and polite young
man"
"a pauper, his only fortune the
sword at his side"
"Ah. l knew not even that he pos
sessed one. Yet Of what interest can
all this be to mt. monsieur, now that
I am married to your"
That my words brought him no com-
fort was plain enough tx be seen, yet
I doubt IL It ever occurred to his mind
that L simply made sport, and sought
to anger him. It was on his mind
to say more, yet he choked the words
back. and nt there In moody silence.
scarce glancing at me- again during
the long afternoon. But when we fin
ally made landing for the night, 1t was
plain to be seen that his vigilance was
in no wise relaxed, for, although he
avoided me himself, the watchful
Jesuit was ever 1t my side, no doubt
In obedience to his orders. AS we
were eating . party OF fur traders.
bound east, anne ashore In a small
feet Of canoes and Joined the men
below. building their fires slightly up
stream. At last Pere A1Ioucz left me
alone and descended to them, eager to
learn the news from Montreal. Yet,
although seemingly 1 was now left
alone, l had no thought Of adventur.
ing In the darkness. as I felt con-
vinced the watchful priest would never
have deserted my side had he not
known that other eyes were keeping
vigil.
From that moment I never felt my
self alone or unobscrved. Cassion in
person did not make himself Obnox-
ious, except that / was always seated
beside him In the boat. subject to his
conversation and attentions. How
ever It was managed I know not, but
my uncle approached me alone.
and only twice did I gain glimpse of
Sieur d'Artigny-once, when his ano
returned to warn Us Of dangerous wa
ter ahead, and once when he awaited
us beside the landing ct Montreal. Yet
eve these occasions yielded me new
courage, for, ~ eyes met 1 knew
he was still my friend, waiting. as I
was. the opportunity for a better NJ
Outstanding. This knowledge brought
tears Of gratitude to my eyes and .
thrill Of hope to my heart I was No
longer utterly alone.
We were three days ut Montreal,
the men busily engaged In adding to
their store OF provisions. I had scarce
~ . glimpse of tAe town. as I was
given lodging In the convent close to
the river bank. and the pere was my
constant companion during hours OF
daylight.
We departed at dawn, and the sun
val scarce IN hour high when the
prows Of. our canoe turned into the
Ottawa. Now We were indeed in the
wilderness, fronting the vast unknown
country Of the West, with every
league q travel leaving behind al
trace o. civilization. There was moth
ing beloee n AVE q few scattered
missions, presided over by ragged
priests, and IN occasional fur traders
staten, the headquarters Of wander
ing couriers du bols. On every side
were the vast prairies and stormy
lakes roamcd over By savage men