Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-08-25

the canoe, might have had tragic
ending
"You would never have told?'
! "Of seeing you there? Of suspecting
you? Could you think that possible?''
"But you would have been con-
demned; the evidence was all against
you.'
LET us not talk Of that now" he
| insisted. eve have come back to a
faith in each other. You believe my
word?'
"Yes.'
"And / yours"
His handclasp frightened, and there
was that in his eyes which frightened
| me.
"No, no, monsieur" exclaimed and
drew back quickly. ''Do not say more,
J for am here with you alone, and
there will be trouble enough when
| Cassion returns"
do I not know that?' he said, yet
releasing my hands. "Still it can sure
~ do no harm for us to understand
each other. You care nothing for
Cassion; you dislike, despise the man,
and there is naught sacred in your
marriage. We are in the wilderness,
not Quebec, and La Barre has little
authority here. You have protected
me with your silence-was it not be-
cause you cared for meY'
Eyes, monsieur; you have been my
| friend"
your friend! Is that ali?''
! ais that not enough, monsieur?
| like you we'll; would save you from
| injustice. You could not respect me
| Ii l said more, for I am Monsieur.
| Cassion's wife by rite of Holy church.
| do not fear him--he is coward; );
but l fear dishonor, monsieur, for Il
am Adele la Chesnayne. I would re-
spect myself and you" !
The light of conquest vanished from
the gray eyes. For a moment he stood
silent and motionless; then he drew
step backward and bowed.
"YOur rebuke is just, madame" he
| said soberly. "We of the frontier grow
careless in a land where might is
right, and I have had small training
save in camp and field. I crave your
pardon for my offense."
So contrite was his expression had
to smile, realizing for the first time
the depth of his interest in my good
will, yet the feeling which swayed me
was not altogether that Of pleasure.
He was not one to yield so quietly, or
to long restrain the words burning his
tongue, yet l surrendered to my first
impulse, and extended my hand.
There is nothing to pardon, Sieur
d'Artigny," l said frankly. "There is
no one to whom l owe more of cour-
tesy than you. 1 trust you fully, and
believe your word, and in return I
ask the same faith. Under the condi-
tons confronting us we must aid each
other. We have both made mistakes
in thus endeavoring to shield one an
other from suspicion, and, as a result,
are both equally in peril. Our being
alone together here will enrage Mon
sieur Cassion, and he will use all his
power for revenge. My testimony will
only make your case more desperate
should l confess what 1 know, and
you might cast suspicion upon me"
you do not believe / would"
mo, l do not, and yet perchance,
it might be better for us both If I
made full confession. I hesitate mere
ly because Cassion would doubt my
word; would conclude that I merely
sought to protect you. Before others
fair-minded judges at ST. LOuis-I
should have no hesitancy in telling the
whole story, for there is nothing 1 did
of which / am ashamed, but here,
where Cassion has full authority, such
confession would mean your death"
'He believes that you feel interest
in me?"
Il have never denied it; the fact
which rankles, however is his knowl-
edge that 1 feel no interest whatever
in him. But we waste time, monsieur,
in fruitless discussion. Our only course
is discovery Of Hugo Chevet's real
murderer Know you anything to war
rant suspicion?'
D'Artigny did not answer at once,
his eyes looking out on the white
crested waters of the lake.
mo, madame" he said at length
gravely. 1.-The last time Chevet was
seen alive, so far as now know, was
when he left the boats in company
with Monsieur Cassion to return to the
Mission house. Could there be any
reason why Cassion should desire the
death of Chevet?"
Il know of none. My uncle felt
bitter over the concealment of my for
tune, and no doubt the two had ex-
changed words, but there was no open
quarrel. Chevet was rough and head
strong, yet he was not killed in fight,
for the knife thrust was from behind"
cay, towards blow. Chevet
possessed no papers Of value?"
l shook my head
eff so, no mention was ever made
to me. But, monsieur, you are still
wet, and must be cold in this wind.
Why do you not build the fire, and
dry voI1r clOthinp9o H