Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-07-21

ence Of cassIon.
Is scarcely evidence that I have had
a companion. Kindly stand aside and
permit me to descend"
mon dieu! 1 will not!" and he
blocked my passage. Il have stood
enough Of your tantrums already In
the boat. Now we are alone and l
will have my say. You shall remain
here until I learn the truth"
His rage rather amused me, and !
felt not the slightest emotion Of fear,
although there was threat in bis
words and in the gesture accompany
ing them. I do not think the smile
even deserted my lips, as I sought a
comfortable seat on q fallen tree
trunk, fully conscious that nothing
would so infuriate the man as studied
indifference.
Every well, monsieur, / await your
investigation with pleasure" l said
sweetly. mo doubt 1t will prove In
teresting. You honor me with the sus-
-~picion~that 1 lad an appointment here
with n Of your menw
mo matter what l suspicion"
'4Of course not; you treat me with
marked consideration. Perchance 9TH
ers have camped here, and explored
these bluffs"
1.-THE print is fresh, not ancient, and
none Of the men from my camp have
come this way"
He strobe forward across the mar
row open space and disappeared into
the fringe of trees bordering the edge
Of the blum. 1t would have been easy
for me to depart, to escape to the Sc
curfty of the tent below, but curiosity
held me motionless. l knew what he
would discover, and preferred to face
the consequences where l was free to
answer him face to face. ! wished
him to be suspicious, to feel that he
had a rival; l would fan his Jealousy
to the very danger point Nor had I
long to wait. Forth from the shade
of the trees he burst and came toward
me, his face white, his eyes blazing.
"'Tis the fellow l thought" he burst
forth, "and he went down the face of
the bluff yonder. So you dared to have
tryst with himr'
with whom, monsieur"
"D'Ardgny, the young fool! Do you
think me blind9 Did / not know you
were together in Quebec? What r
you laughing atT
81 was not laughing, monsieur. Your
ridiculous charge does not amuse me.
/ am a woman; you insult me; I am
your wife; you charge me with indis-
erection. If you think to win me with
such cowardly insinuations you know
little OF my nature. I will not talk
with you, nor discuss the matter. /
return to the camp"
His hands clinched as though he
had the throat Of an enemy between
them, but angry Is he was, some
vague doubt restrained him.
mon dieu! I'll fight the dog"
"D'Artgny, you mean? IT'S his
trade, l hear, and he is good at IT."
"Bahi a bungler of the woods. !
doubt II he ever crossed blades with
a swordsman. But mark you this,
madame, the lad feels my steel II ever
you so much as speak to him again."
There was contempt in my eyes, mol
did / strive to disguise It.
IAN I your wife, monsieur, on your
slave?"
my wife, and I know how to hold
you! Mon dieul but you shall learn
that lesson. / was a fool to ever give
the brat place in the boats. La Barre
warned me that he would make trou-
BILE. Now I tell you what will occur
If you play false with me-"
You may spare your threats-they
weigh nothing. The Sieur d'Artigny
is my friend, and I shall address him
when 1t pleases me. With whatever
quarrel may arise between you l have
no interest. Let that suffice, and now
I bid you good night, monsieur"
He made no effort to halt me, nor
to follow, and I made my way down