Mexico Missouri message., 1916-07-20

NUT Ut OF. IBudcet IeTe AllOuen |
assures me. 1 shall have no rival |
then in all this wilderness; you think |
me harmless, monsieur? Look at me,
and say~
II do not need to look; you will
have your game. have no doubt, al
though the final result may not prove
what you desire"
you fear the end?
at may be SO; you play with fire,
and although 1 know little of women,
yet 1 have felt the wild passions of
men in lands where there is no re-
straint of law. The wilderness sees
many tragedies-fierce, bitter, revenge
full deeds-and it's best you use care.
IT'S my belief this Francois Cassion
might prove a devil, once his heart
was tricked. Have you thought of
this?"
/ had thought of it, but with no
mercy in my heart, yet as D'Artigny
spoke 1 felt the ugliness of my threat
more acutely, and, for an instant,
stood before him white-lipped and
ashamed. Then before me arose Cas-
sion's face, sarcastic, supercilious,
hateful, and laughed in scorn of the
warning.
Thought Of it," 1 exclaimed, Eyes,
but for that 1 care nothing. why
should I, monsieur? Has the man
shown mercy to me- that should feel
regret because he suffers? AS to his
| revenge, death is not more to be
dreaded than a lifetime passed in his
presence. But why do you make plea
friend of yours"
II make no plea for him." he an
swered, strangely sober, "and claim
no friendship. Any enemy to La Sale
is an enemy to Rene d'Artigny; but
l would front him as q man should.
1t is not my nature to do deed of
treachery."
'You hold this treachery%
"What else? You propose Turing
him to love you, that you may gain
confession from his lips. To attain
this end you barter your honesty, your
womanhood; you take advantage of
your beauty to enslave him; you count
as ally the loneliness of the wilderness;
| ay! and, IL 1 understand Alright, you
hope through me to awaken the mans
| jealousy. Is this not true"
drew a quick breath, my eyes star
ing into his face, and my limbs trem-
bling. His words cut me like knife,
yet I would not yield, would not even
acknowledge their truth.
"You are unjust, unfair" I burst
forth impetuously. "You will see but
the one side-that of the man. 1 cam
not fight this battle with my hands,
nor will 1 submit to such wrong with
out struggle. He has never thought to
spare me, and there is no reason why
1 should show him mercy. wish
your good will, monsieur, your respect,
but I cannot hold this plan which l
propose as evil. Do you"
He hesitated, looking at me with
such perplexity in his eyes as to
prove his doubt.
~ cannot judge you," he admitted
at last, "only that Is not the way in
which 1 have been trained. Neither
will 1 stand between you and your
revenge nor have part in it. 1 am
your friend-now, always. In every
honorable way 1 will serve you and
your cause. If Cassion dares violence
or insult he must reckon with me-
though I faced his whole company.
pledge you this, but will not play q
part or act a lie even at your re,
quest"
"You mean you will not pretend to
care for me-" 1 asked, my heart
leaden at his words.
"There would be no pretense," he
answered frankly. IL do care for you
but 1 will not dlshonor my thought OF
you by thus deliberately scheming tt
outwit your husband. l am a man Of
the woods, the wilderness; not since
was a boy have I dwelt in civilization
but in all that time 1 have been com
panlon of men to whom honor wal
everything. have been comrade will
Sieur de la Sale, with Henri de Tonty
and cannot be guilty of an act o
treachery, even for your sake. Per
chance my code is not the same as tn
perfumed gallants' of Quebec-yet 1t 1
mine, and learned in hard school,"
He went on quietly, "There are tw
things I cannot ignore-One Is, tina
I am an employee of this Francoi
Cassion, pledged to his service by m
| own free will; the other is, that 20
} are his wife, Joined to him by Hol
= church, and although you may hav
assumed those vows under coercion
your promise is binding. / can br
/ choose my path of duty and abid
g therein"
), His words hurt, angered me;
e lacked power of expression, ability
b grasp his full meaning and purpose.
e "You-you desert me then2 You
e you leave me to this fate"
e 'T leave you to reconsider yoI
'e choice of action" he returned gravel
II his hat still in hand, his lips unsmilin
IL "I do believe your WomanhO0d w