Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-09-08
the stream to the left?'

Below, there are W1gWamS there
just in the edge of the grove You
can see the outlines from here; but
I make out no moving figures
Deserted then; the towards have
run away. They could not have been
attacked, or the tepees would have
been burned"
An Algonquin village?"
'Miamis. I had hoped we might
gain assistance there, but they have
either joined the whites in the fort,
or are hiding in the woods. 'Tis EVIL
dent we must save ourselves"
"And how far is it?''
''ro the fort? A league or two, and
a rough climb at the farther end
through the dark. We will wait here
until after dusk, eat such food as we
have without fire, and rest up for a
bit of venture. The next trip will
test us all, and madame is weary
enough already"
IAN hour will put me right" said,
smiling at him, yet making no attempt
Ito rise. "I have been in boat SO
long I have lost all strength in my
limbs"
1--WE feel that, all Of u.s." cheerily,
''but come, Barbeau, unpack, and let
as have what cheer we can"
I know not when food was ever
more welcome although it was simple
enough to be sure-a bit of hard
cracker, and some jerked deer meat.
washed down by water from the
stream-yet hunger served to make
these welcome. The loneliness and
peril Of our situation had tendency to
keep us silent, although D'Artigny en-
deavored to cheer me with kindly
speech, and gave Barbeau careful de-
scription Of the trail leading to the
fort gate. If aught happened to him.
we were to press on until we attained
shelter. The way in which the words
were said brought a lump into my
throat, and before knew the signiff-
canoe of the action, my hand clasped
his. felt the grip of his fingers, and
dusk Barbeau got to his feet, gun
in hand. and stood shading his eyes.
81 would like a closer view Of that
village yondcr," he said, land will go
down the bank a hundred yards or
SOL
"'Twill do no HARM" returned
D'Artigny. still clasping my hand.
s"There is time yet before we make
our venture"
He disappeared in the shadows,
leaving us alone, and I glanced aside
at D'Artigny's face, my heart beating
fiercely
'You did not like to hear me speak
as I did," he questioned quietly.
mo" I answered honestly, "the
thought startled me. Tiff anything
happened to you, II should be all
alone"
He bent lower, still grasping my
fingers. and seeking to compel my eyes
to meet his.
adele" he whispered, "why is it
necessary for us to keep up this mas
Guerade?"
"What masquerade, monsieur?'
ssThis pretense at mere friendship"
be insisted, when we could serve
each other better by frank confess
sion of the truth. You love me-"
Monsieur" and tried to draw my
hand away. 81 am the wife Of Fran
co.'s Cassion."
81 care nothing for that unholy al
lance. You are his only by form.
Do you know what that marriage has
cost me? Insults, ever since we left
Quebec. The coward knew I dare not
lay hand upon him, because he was
your husband. We would have crossed
steel hundred times but for my
memory Of you. could not kill the
CTR, for to do so would separate us
forever. So I bore his taunts, his re-
vilings, his curses, his orders that
were insults. You think it was easy?
I am woodsman, lieutenant Of La
Sale, and it has never before been
my way to receive insult without a
blow. We are not of that breed. Yet
bore it for your sake-why? Be
cause / loved you"
ooh monsieurr
"'Tis naught to the shame Of either
pf u.s." he continued, now speaking
with a calmness which held me silent.
FAnd l wish you to know the truth.
10 far as 1 can make it clear. This
has been in my mind for weeks. and
| say it to you now as solemnIy as
though knelt before father confess
sor You have been to me a memory
Of inspiration ever since we first met
years ago at that convent in Quebec.
dreamed of you in the wilderness, In
the canoe on the great river, and here
at st. Louis. Never did voyageur go
eastward but asked him to bring me-
word from you, and each one bore
from me message Of greeting"
II received none, monsieur"
II know that; even Sieur de la Sale
failed to learn your dwelling place.
Yet when he finally chose me as his
comrade on this last journey, while 1
would have followed him gladly even
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