Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-11-10

assures me. l shall have no rival
then in all this wilderness; you think
me harmless, monsieur? Look at me,
and sayr
Il do not need TO look; you will
have your game. | have no doubt, al
though the final result may not prove
what you desire"
you fear the end?"
at may be SO; you play with fire,
and although l know little Of women,
yet l have felt the wild passions of
men In lands where there is no re-
stralnt of law. The wilderness sees
many tragedies-herce, bitter, revenge
full deeds-and it's best you use care.
IT'S my belief this Francois Cassion
might prove a devil, once his heart
was tricked. Have you thought Of
this"
| had thought Of 1t, but with no
mercy In my heart, yet as D'Artigny
spoke l felt the ugliness Of my threat
more acutely, and, for an instant,
stood before him whlte-lipped and
ashamed. Then before me arose Cas-
sion's face, sarcastic, supercilious,
hateful, and l laughed In scorn Of the
warning.
Thought Of It" l exclaimed, Eyes,
but for that I care nothing. Why
should l, monsieur? Has the man
shown mercy to me, that l should feel
regret because he suffers? AS to his
revenge, death Is not more to be
dreaded than a lifetime passed in his
presence. But why do you make plea
on his behalf-the man Is surely no
friend Of yours?"
II make no plea for him." he an
swered, strangely sober, land claim
no friendship. Any enemy to La Sale
is an enemy to Rene d'Artigny; but
l would front him as a man should.
1t Is not my nature to do a deed of
treachery."
you hold this treachery?"
"What else? You propose Turing
him to love you, that you may gain
confession from his lips. To attain
this end you barter your honesty, your
womanhood; you take advantage of
your beauty to enslave him; you count
as ally the loneliness Of the wilderness;
ay! and, If l understand Alright, you
hope through me to awaken the mans
jealousy. Is this not true?"
l drew a quick breath, my eyes star
ing into his face, and my limbs trem-
bling. His words cut me like a knife,
yet l would not yield, would not even
acknowledge their truth.
You are unjust, unfair" I burst
forth im%petuously. "You will see but
the one side-that of the man. l can
not fight this battle with my hands,
nor will l submit to such wrong with
out struggle. He has never thought to
spare me, and there Is no reason why
l should show him mercy. I wish
your good will, monsieur, your respect,
but l cannot hold this plan which
propose as evil. Do your?
He hesitated, looking at me with
such perplexity in his eyes as to
prove his doubt.
II cannot judge you" he admitted
at last, "only that is not the way In
which l have been trained. Neither
will l stand between you and your
revenge nor have part in 1t. I an
your friend-now, always. In every
honorable way l will serve you ant
your cause. If Cassion dares violence
or insult he must reckon with me
though I faced his whole company.
pledge you this, but l will not play
part or act a lie ven at your re
quest"
"You mean you will not pretend t
care for me?" l asked, my hear
leaden at his words.
"There would be no pretense," b
answered frankly. 81 do care for you
but | will not dishonor my thought o
you by thus deliberately scheming t
outwit your husband. I am a man o
the woods, the wilderness; not since
was a boy have l dwelt in civilization
but In all that time l have been con
panion of men to whom honor wa
everything. I have been comrade wit
Sieur de Ia Sale, with Henri de Tonty
and cannot be guilty Of an act o
treachery, even for your sake. Pei
chance my code is not the same as tn
perfumed gallants' Of Quebec-yet it
mine, and learned in n hard school,"
He went on quietly, There are tw
things | cannot ignore-one Is, thf
I am an employee Of this Franco
Cassion. pledged to his service by m
own free will; the other Is, that 70
are his wife, Joined to him by Hol
church, and although you may hay
assumed those VOWS under coercio'
your promise is binding. can b'
choose my path of duty and able
|, therein"
His words hurt, angered me;
lacked power of expression, ability
grasp his full meaning and purpose.
"You-you desert me then? You
YOU leave me to this fate?"
81 leave you to reconsider yo'
choice of action he returned gravel
. his hat still in hand, his lips unsmilin
81 do believe your womanhood W
find a better way to achieve its II