Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-27
CHAPTER xI-continued.

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 bluff. 1t would have been easy
for me to depart, to escape to the Sc
curity of the tent below, but curiosity
held me motionless. | 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 ne
had a rival; | would fan his Jealousy
TO the very danger point. Nor had
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 I thought" he burst
forth. land he went down the face of
the bluff yonder. So you dared to have
tryst with him?"
with whom, monsieur?"
'D'Artigny, the young fool! Do you
think me blind? Did I not know you
were together in Quebec? What are
you laughing at?'
az was not laughing, monsieur. Your
ridiculous charge does not amuse me
l am a woman; you insult me; | am
your wife; you charge me with indis'
erection. If you think to win me witt
such cowardly insinuations you know
little of my nature. | will not tall
with you, nor discuss the matter.
return to the camp"
His hands clinched as though III
had the throat of an enemy between
them, but angry as he was, SOM
vague doubt restrained him.
"Mon dieu! I'll fight the dog"
"D'Artigny. you mean? IT'S hi
trade. / hear, and he is good at 1t"
"Bah! a bungler of the woods.
doubt if he ever crossed blades wit
n swordsman. But mark you thi!
madame, the lad feels my steel If eve
YOU SO much as speak to him again.
There was contempt in my eyes, nc
did l strive to disguise 1t.
"Am I your wife, monsieur, or yor
SLAYER
"My wife, and | know how to hoI
You! Mon dieu! but you shall lear
that lesson. | was a fool to ever giN
the brat place in the boats. La Bar
warned me that he would make tro
Bile. Now | tell you what will occl
IL you play false with me-"
eYou may spare your threats-th'
weigh nothing. The Sieur d'ArtigI
As nv friend, and | shall address hi
when it pleases me. With whatev
quarrel may arise between you l ha
no interest. Let that suffice, and nc
II bid you good night, monsieur
He made no effort to halt me, n
to follow, and I made my way do'
the darkening path, without SO mu
as turning my head to observe
movements. 1t was almost like a pl
to me. and | was reckless Of the G.
sequences, intent only on my purpo
In the early dawn we broke cal
MS usual, except that chosen boatn
guided the emptied eanoes through
rapids, while the others Of the pa
made portage along the rough she
I'm the smooth water above we all
barked again, and won slow v
against the current. The advance e
pany had departed before our arri'
nor did ! again obtain glimpse
D'Artigny for many days.
| would nof say that Cassion I
posely Iept u apart, for the arrar
slent might have been the same
not been Of the party, yet the 9
<hmmunlcation between the two q
Ions occurred when some messen
: ,rouaht back warning Of danger
~gater ahead. Usually this tnessen
was an Indian, but once DArti
himself came and guided our car
through q torrent Of white, raging