Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-07-14

were off. You agree to accompany
the party without resistance ma
| dame?''
''As well there, as here answered
contemptuously
And you, Hugo Chevet?
The giant growled something inar.
| ticulate through his beard, noe alto
gether, thought, to La Barrels liking,
for his face darkened.
by st. Anne. It's happy family
amid which you start your honey
moon, Monsieur Cassion," he ejacu-
lated at length, ''but go you must,
| though / send file of soldiers with
you to the boats. Now leave me, and
would hear no more until word
comes Of your arrival at ST. Louis
| We left the room together, the three
of us, and no one spoke, as we trav-
ersed the great assembly hall, in which
| dancers still fingered, and gained the
outer hall. Cassion secured my cloak,
and l wrapped it about my shoulders,
chill, and then, yet in unbroken si-
| lence, we passed down the steps into
the darkness of the street. I walked
beside Chevet, who was growing to
himself, scarce sober enough to clearly
realize what had occurred, and so we
| followed the commissaire down the
step path which led to the river.
Vaguely l comprehended that was
no longer Adele la Chesnayne, but the
wife of that man followed. A word,
a muttered prayer, an uplifted hand,
had made me his slave, his vassal.
Nothing could break the bond between
us save death. I might hate, despise,
revile, but the bond held. This thought
grew clearer as my mind readjusted
| ITSELF and the full horror of the situa-
ton took possession of me. Yet there
was nothing / could do; could neither
escape nor fight, nor had / friend to
whom could appeal. Suddenly
| realized that I still grasped in my
| hand the heavy paper knife l had
snatched up from La Barre's desk, and
skirt. 1t was my only weapon of de-
Tense, yet to know had even that
seemed to bring me glow Of courage.
We reached the rivers edge and
halted Below us, on the bank, the
blazing fire emitted a red CLEAN re-
fecting on the water, and showing us
the dark outlines of waiting canoes,
and seated figures. Gazing about Cas-
sion broke the silence, his voice as
Stunning the harshness Of authority.
'Three canoes! Where is the other?
Huh! if there be delay now, someone
will make answer to me. Pass the
word for the sergeant; ali! is this you,
lie Claire|
"All is prepared, monsieur"
He glared at the stocky figure 'front.'
ing him in infantry uniform.
prepared! You have but three
boats at the bank"
1.-The other is below, monsieur; 1t is
loaded and waits to lead the way"
"Ah! and who is in charger
N"Was it not your will that it be the
guide-the Sieur d'Artigny?"
"Sacre! but had forgotten the fell
low. Ay! it's the best place for him.
And are all provisions and arms
aboard? You checked them, lie Claire?"
with care, monsieur; watched the
slowing of each piece; there is Moth
ing forgotten"
I found myself in one Of the canoes,
so filed with men any movement was
almost impossible, yet of this l did
not complain, for my Uncle Chevet
was next to me, and Cassion took
place at the steering oar in the stern.
To be separated from him was all \
asked. He had won! he had used his
power to conquer! Very well, now he
would pay the price. He thought me-
a helpless girl; he would find me a
woman, and La Chesnayne. The
tears left my eyes, and my head lifted,
as purpose and decision returned.
We were skirting the northern bank,
the high bluffs blotting out the starss
with here and there far up above U.S.
q light cleaning from some distant
window, its rays rejecting along the.
black water The Indian paddlers
worked silently, driving the sharp,
prov Of the heavily laden canoe stead
fly up stream. Farther out to the left
was the dim outline of another boat
keeping pace with ours, the moving
figures of the paddlers revealed
against the water beyond.
AS the sun forced it's way through
an obscuring cloud, the mist rose
slowly and drifted aside, giving me
glimpse of the canoe in advance, al
though it remained indistinct, vague
speck in the waste of water. | sat
motionless, gazing about at the scene.
yet vaguely comprehending the nature
of our surroundings. My mind re-
viewed the strange events of the past
Continued next week.