Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-10-27
Bv RANDALL PARRISH

In these yearST Why should l not
seek for you a husband of worth in
these colonies? Wherefore Is that a
crime? Were you my W daughter
l could do no less, and this man is not
Ill to look upon. a fair-spoken gallant,
a friend of La Barre's. chosen by him
for special service"
And with influence in the fur
trade"
"All the better that" he continued
obstinately. why should a girl OBJ
ject If her husband be rich"
But he is not rich" l said plainly,
looking straight into his eyes. He Is
no more than a penniless adventurer;
an actor playing a part assigned him
by the governor; while you and / do
the same. Listen. Monsieur Chevet,
the property at st. Thomas is mine by
legal right, and 1t was to gain pos
| session that this wretch sought my
hand"
your legal right"
GAY, restored by the king in special
order"
1T Is not true; I had the records
searched by a lawyer, Monsieur eau
tier Of st. Anne"
l CAV a gesture Of indignation.
"A country advocate at whom those
in authority would laugh. l tell you
what l say is true; the land was re-
stored, and the fact Is known to La
Barre and to Cassion. 1t is this fact
which has caused all our troubles. /
overheard talk last night between the
governor and his aide-de-camp, Colonel
Delguard-you know hlm?'
Chevet nodded, his interest stirred
"They thought themselves alone,
and were laughing at the success OF
their trick. l was hidden behind the
heavy curtains at the window, and
every word they spoke reached my
ears. Then they sent for Cassion."
"But where Is the paperT
II did not learn; they have 1t hidden,
no doubt, awaiting the proper time
to produce 1t. But there Is such q
document: La Barre explained that
clearly, and the reason why he wished
Cassion to marry me. They were al
three talking when an accident hap
pened, which led to my discovery"
"Ah! and SO that was what hurried
the wedding, and sent me on this wil6
wilderness chase. They would. bury
me In the woods-sacre!-"
"Hush now-Cassion has left thu
canoe already, and we a talk OF thi'
later. Let US seem to suspect moth
ing" g.
This was the first meal Of many
eaten together along the river banl
in the course Of our long journey, ye
the recollection Of that scene rlse'
before my memory now with peculia,
viyidness. Cassion had divided us int
groups, and, from where l had found
resting place, with q small fat rocl
for table, l was enabled to see tn
others scattered to the edge Of tn
bank, and thus learned for the frs
time the character Of those with whom
I was destined to companion on tn
long journey. There were but fou
of us in that first group, which In
cluded Pere Allouez, a silent man
lingering his cross, and barely touch
ing food. His face under the blacI
cowl was drawn, and creased b,
strange lines, and his eyes burne'
with vagueness. II I had ever dreame
Of him as one to whom I might turl
for counsel, the thought instantly var
ished as u glances met.
A soldier and two Indians serve
Us, while their companions, divide
into two groups, were gathered at tn
other extremity Of the ridge, the so
!. diers under discipline Of their ow
u~nderof1cers, and the Indian
watched over by Sieur D'Artigny, VIII
rested, however, slightly apart, hi
gaze on the broad river. Never ono
while I observed did he turn an
glance my way. I counted the mel
as l e%ndeavored to eat, scarcely heec
ing the few words exchanged by thos
about me. The Indians numbered tel
including their chief, whom Cassie
called Altuda. Chevet named them o
Algonquins from the Ottawa, treacl
erous rascals enough, yet with e.
pert knowledge of watercraft.
Altudah was a tall savage, wrappe
in gaudy blanket his face rendere
sinister and repulsive BY a C a IL
full length OF his cheek, yet he spoil
French fairly well, and someone ga
that he had three times made journe
to Mackinac, and knew the waite
ways. There were "a soldiers, inclu'
ing a sergeant and corporal, Of Il
regiment Of Picardy; active fellow
enough, and accustomed to the fro
| tier, although they gave small e'
d IIo-an - lisotNInn n0d %hair uuif0rO