Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-06-23
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"As well there, as here" l answereo
contemptuously.
"And you, Hugo ChevetY'
The giant growled something mar
ticulate through his beard, not alto
gether. l thought, to La Barre's liking,
for his face darkened.
by St. Annei tits a happy family
amid which you start your oney-
moon, Monsieur Cassion," he ejacu-
lated at length, "but go you must,
though 1 send a file of soldiers win
you to the boats. Now leave me, and
1 would hear no more until WORD
comes of your arrival at st. Louis
We left the room together, the three
of US, and no one spoke, as we trav-
ersed the great assembly hall, in which
dancers still fingered, and gained the
outer hall. Cassion secured my CLOAK,
and I wrapped It about my shoulders,
for the night air without was already
chill, and then, yet In unbroken 81
lence, we passed down the steps into
the darkness Of the street. ! walked
beside Chevet, who was growing to-
himself, scarce sober enough to clearly
realize what had occurred, and SO we
followed the eommissaire down tho
step path which led to the river.
Vaguely 1 comprehended that 1 was
no longer Adele la Chesnayne, but the
wife of that man 1 followed. A word,
a muttered prayer, an uplifted hand,
had made me his slave, his vassal.
Nothing could break the bond between
us save death. 1 might hate, despise,
reyile, but the bond held. This thought
grew clearer as my mind readjusteo
itself, and the full horror of the situa-
ton took possession Of me. Yet there
was nothing l could do; I could neither
escape nor fight, o had l a friend to
whom 1 could appeal. Suddenly l
realized that l still grasped in M
hand the heavy paper knife l had
snatched up from La Barre's desk, and
1 thrust it into the waistband of my
skirt. It was my only weapon of de-
Tense, yet to know I had even that
seemed to bring me a glow OF courage.
We reached the rivers edge and
halted. Below us, on the bank, the
blazing fire emitted a red CLEAN re-
fecting on the water, and showing US
the dark outlines of waiting canoes,
and seated figures. Gazing about Cas-
sion broke the silence, his voice as
Stunning the harshness of authority.
'.Three canoesi Where Is the other?
Huh! If there be delay now, someone
will make answer to me. Pass the
word for the sergeant; alb! is this you
LIE Claire?"
"All is prepared, monsieur"
He glared at the stocky figure 'front.'
ing hin in infantry uniform.
Prepared! You have but three
boats at the bank"
1.-THE other is below, monsieur; It Is
loaded and waits to lead the way"
"Ah! and who is in charger"
"Was it not your will that it be the
guide-the Sieur d'Artigny?"
"Sacre! but I had forgotten the fell
low. Ay! it's the best place for him.
And are all provisions and arms
aboard? You checked them, lie Claire?'
with care, monsieur; I watched the
slowing Of each piece; there is moth
ing forgotten"
I found myself in n of the canoes,
so filed with men any movement was
almost impossible, yet of this l did
not complain, for my Uncle Chevet
was next to me, and Cassfon took
place at the steering oar in the stern.
To be separated from him was all l
asked. He had won! he had used his
power to conquer! Very well, now he
would pay the price. He thought me
q helpless girl; he would find me a
woman, and a La Chesnayne. The
tears left my eyes, and my head lifted,
as purpose and decision returned.
We were skirting the northern bank.
the high bluffs plotting out the stars,
with here and there, far up above us,
a light cleaning from some distant
window, its rays rejecting along the
black water. The Indian paddlers
worked silently, driving the sharp
Prov of the heavily laden canoe stead
ily I'D stream. Farther out to the left
was the dim outline of another boat,
keeping pace with ours, the moving
figures Of the paddlers revealed
against the water beyond.
AS the sun forced its way through
an %obscuring cloud, the mist rose
slowly and drifted aside, giving me
glimpse of the canoe in advance, al
though it remained indistinct, a vague
speck in the waste of water. I sat
motionless. gazing about at the scene,
yet vaguely comprehending the nature
of our surroundings. My mind re-
viewed the strange events of the past
night, and endeavored to adjust itself
to my new environment. Almost in
an instant Of time my life had utterly
changed had been married and ex-
lied; welded to a man whom l de-
spised, and forced to accompany him
into the unknown wilderness. 1t was