Middletown transcript., 1916-10-14


now must choose my own life, obey
the dictates Of my own conscience. |
had been welded by fraud to a man |
despised: my hatred had grown until
now knew that l would rather be
dead than live In his presence.
If this state Of mind was sin, IT was
beyond my power to rid myself Of the
curse; If l was already condemned OF
holy church because OF failure to abide
by her decree, then there was naught
left but for me to seek my own happi
ness, and the happiness of the man l
loved.
lifted my head, strengthened by
the very thought, the red blood tinRfing
again through my veins. The truth
was mine; felt no inclination to OBJ
scure 1t. The time had come for retoic-
ing, and action. loved Rene OAR
tigny, and. although he had never spO-
ken the word, / knew he loved me.
Tomorrow he would be in exile. wan
dereF Of the woods. an escaped prts-
oner, under condemnation of death,
never again safe within reach OF
French authority. Ay, but he should
not go alone; in the depths Of those
forests, beyond the arm of the law. be
yond even the grasp of the church. we
should go together. In our own hearts
love would justify. Without a Qualm
of conscience. without even a lingering
doubt, made the choice. the final
decision.
know not how long 1t took me to
think this all out. until had accepted
fate; out I do know the decision
brought happiness and courage. Food
was brought me by a strange Indian
apparently unable to speak French;
nor would he even enter the room,
silently handing me the platter through
the open door. Two sentrieS stood lust
withOut-sOIdiers of De Baugis. |
guessed. as their features were unfa-
miliar. They gazed at me curiOusly,
as I stood in the doorway. but with
out changing their attitudes. Plainly
was held prisoner also; M. CassiOn's
threat was being put into execution.
This knowledge merely served to
strengthen my decision, and closed
and barred the door again. smiling as
did so.
Il It grew dusk while | made almost
vain effort to eat, and. at last, push
ing the pewter plate away. l crossed
over, and cautiously opened the wood
en- shutter Of the window The red
light of the sunset still illumined the
western sky. and found glorious refiec-
ton along the surface of the river.
It was a dizzy drop to the bed Of the
stream below, but Indians were on the
opposite bank. beyond rifle shot. In
considerable force. a half-dozen ca
noes drawn up on the sandy shore. and
, several fires burning. They were too
far away for me to judge their tribe
vet a number among them sported wal
honnets. and l had no doubt they were
IrOQuois.
So far as could perceive elsewhere
! there was no movement, as my eyes
Travelled the half-circle, over a wide
vista of hill and dale. green valley
and dark woods, although to the Iefi
7 couId occasionally hear the sharp re
> mort Of a rife. in evidence that besieg
ing savages were still watchfui Of the
fort entrance. / could not lean out faI
enough TO see in that direction. yet al
? the night grew darker the vicious spit'
of fire became visible. Above me tilE
, solid log walls arose but a few feet
fall man might stand upon the win
dow ledge, and find grip Of the roof
hut below was the sheer drop to th'
river-perchance two hundred feet be
meath. Already darkness shroUdet
the water. as the broad valley fadet
;, into the gloom Of the night
There was naught for me to do bu
sit and wait. The guard which 81
l. Cassion had stationed at the door pre-
vented nv leaving the room, but ID
more probable purpose was to, keel
+ othors from communicating with me
u no .Tontv had evidently resOrted Il
dinIomacy, and instead Of quarTeiini
Y with the three officers when they ap
4 nroached him. had greeted them all s.
s ,enialIv as to leave the impression tha
t ba was disposed to permit matters +
d take their natural course. He mlgh
n no watched of course, yet was n
longer suspected as likely to help res
enc the prisoner All their fear nov
g was centered upon me, and my pos
# sible Influence.
r. IPI could he kept from any furtbe
q communication with either D'AFt1gn.
J. or De Tonty, 1t was scarcely prObabl
e that any of the garrison would max
h serious effort to interfere with thei
n plans. De Tonty's apparent indiffeI
d ence. and hia sudden triendliDeSS wit
q De Baugis and CassiOn, did not wOFr
Y me greatly. ! realized his purpose Il
thus diverting suspicion. His pIedg
10 of assistance had been given me. an
b his. was the word of q soldier and ger
= tleman. In some manner. and sOOn-
- - before midnight certainly would n
= ceive- message from ROisrondet.
Yet my heart failed me more tha
once as I waited. How long the tim
seemed, and how deadly silent was tn
ID night. Crouched close beside the dOOl
1t could barely hear the muttered COT
m versation Of the soldiers on guard
lie and when crossed to the open wiz
y dow looked ont upon a black voit
e utterly soundless.
r Not even the distant crack Of z rid
now broke the solemn stiffness, an
the only spot Of color visible was th
he dull red glow Of q campfire on the q
pOsite bank Of the river. had no wa
r Of computing time. and the Aggin
hours seemed centuries long. as terr
flying doubts aesailed me.
Every new thought became an aROn