Macon beacon., 1916-09-15
CHAPTER |.
At the Home of Hugo chevet.
j


soft, and the golden bars Of sun flick
cred down on the work in my lap
through the laced branches Of the
trellis. The work was but pretense,
for | had fled the house TO escape the
voice Of Monsieur Cassion who was
still urging my uncle to accompany
him on his journey into the wilder
ness. They sat In the great room be-
fore the fireplace, drinking, and had
heard enough already to tell me there
was treachery on foot against the sieur
de Ia Sale. TO be sure it was moth
ing to me, girl knowing naught OF
such intrigue, yet had not forgotten
the day, three years before, when this
La Sale, with others of his company,
had halted before the Ursuline con-
vent, and the sisters bade them wei
come for the night Twas my part
to help serve, and he had stroked my |
hair in tenderness. | had sung to |
them, and watched his face In the fire.
light as be listened Never would /
forget that face, nor believe evil OF !
such a man. MOI not from the lips OF |
Cassion nor even from the governor
La Barre.
recalled 1t all now, as | sat there
in the silence, pretending to work, now
we watched them embark In their ca
noes and disappear. the Indian pad
dlers bending to their task, and Mon
sleur la Sale, standing, bareheadeo
as he waved farewell. Beyond him
was the dark face of one they called
De Tonty, and IN the first boat mere
boy lifted his ragged hat, l know not
why, but the memory Of that lad was
clearer than all those others, for he
had met me in the hall and we had
talked long in the great window ere
the sister came, and took me away so
I remembered him, and his name,
Rene dArtigny. And in all those
years I heard no more. Into the black
wilderness they swept and were lost
to those of us at home in New France.
No doubt there were those who
knew-Frontenac Blgot, those who
ruled over us at Quebec--but twas
not a matter supposed to interest a
girl and so no word came to me. Once
I asked my Uncle Chevet, and he re
plied in anger with only FEW SEN
fences. bidding me hold my tongue
got he said enough so that | knew the
Sieur de la Sale lived and had built
a fort far away, and was buying furs
of the Indians. 1t was this thaI
brought Jealousy and hatred. once
Monsieur Cassion came and stopped
with u.s. and as l waited on MIN ahu
Uncle Chevet, caught words whlcl
told me that Frontenac was La Salle,s
friend and would listen to no charge'
brought against him. They talked o.
new governor; yet I learned but III
tie for Cassion attempted to kiss me
and I would wait on him no more.
Then Frontenac was recalled Z
France and La Barre was governor
How pleased my Uncle Cheyet wa
when the news came, and he rappe
+he table with his glass and exclaimed
"Ah! but now we will pluck out III
claws of this Sieur de la Sale, an
send him where he belongs But L
would explain nothing, until wee
Istar Cassion came up the river
bis canoe with Indian paddlers, an
xtonDed to hold conference. The ma
treated me with much gallantry'
that | questioned him, and he SCENE
bonnv to answer that La Barre had
ready dispatched n party under Ch
Waller de Baugis, of the Kings Dr
rooro 70 take command of La Sale
Fort st. Louis In the Illinois couhti
Ia Sale had returned, and was
ready at Quebec, but Caisson GRIM
as he boosted that the new govern
uouId not even give him audien'
Bah! I despised the man, yet l !
cared beside him, and thus learn
that La Salles party consisted OF |
two voyageurs, and the young Sic
d,Artirny. was glad enough WI
he went away though gave him
hand 10 kiss, and waved to MIN pra
Iy at the landing. And now he v
back again, bearing a message IT
To Barre, and seeking volunteers
some western voyage OF proht. Nv
Of no interest to me unless my un
ioined in the enterprise, yet '
kind enough, for he brought with
word of the governors ball at Quei
and had won the pledge Of Cheye'
take me there with him. l could
gracious to him for that and 1t
on nv gown worked, as the
MANNED and talked In secret. "
they did was nothing to me now
my thought was on the Dai. "
would your I was IT.
The grape trellis ran down tow
the river landing, and from whel
sat in the cool shadow, could see
broad water cleaning in the sun.
denly. as my eyes uplifted, the
ontline of a canoe swept into the v
and the splashlng paddles turned
prow inward toward our landing
did not move, although watched
interest for it was not the tim
year for Indian traders, and
were white men. l could see tho'
the paddles, voyageurs, with
cloths about their heads; but the
Az tho stern wore a hat, the orllh