Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-06-09
CHAPTER |.
At the Home Of Hugo chevet.

and the forest leaves were
hinged with red. And yet the air was
soft, and the golden bars of sun flick
erred down on the work in my lap
Through the laced branches of the
|~trellis. The work was but a p~retense,
FOR l 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
hess. They sat in the great room be
tore the fireplace, drinking, and l had
beard enough already to tell me there
was treachery on foot against the Sieur
DE la Sale. To be sure it was moth
ng to me, a 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-
Eent, and the sisters babe them well
eome for the night. Twas my part
TO help serve, and he had stroked my
hair in tenderness. 1 had sung to
hem, and watched his face in the fire.
light as he listened. Never would l
forget that face, nor believe evil or
buch a man. No! not from the lips OF
cassion o ever from the governor,
"a Barre.
I recalled 1t all now, as I sat there
d the silence, pretending to work, how
We watched them embark in their ca
hoes and disappear, the Indian pad
llers bending to their task, and Mon
bieur la Sale, standing, bareheaded
s he waved farewell. Beyond him
vas the dark face Of n they called
De Tonty, and In the first boat a mere
boy lifted his ragged hat, I know not
vhy, but the memory of that lad was
klearer than all those others, for he
lad met me in the hall and we had
alked long In the great window ere
he sister came, and took me away. So
remembered him, and his name,
Rene d'Artigny. And in all those
ears I heard no MORE. Into the black
wilderness they swept and were lost
b those of US at home in New France.
No doubt there were those who
knew-Frontenac, Bigot, those who
uled over us at Quebec-but twas
@matter supposed to interest a
tirl, and so no word came to me. Once
asked my Uncle Chevet, and he re-
lied in anger with only a few SEN
ences, bidding me hold my tongue;
let he said enough SO that I knew the
ieur de la Sale lived and had built
fort far away, and was buying furs
+ the Indians. 1t was this that
Fought jealousy and hatred. Once
[onsieur Cassion came and stopped
fifth us, and as I waited on him and
ncle Chevet, l caught words which
I'D me that Frontenac was La Sales
lend, and would listen to no charges
fought against him. They talked of
new governor; yet I learned but lit
:, for Cassion attempted to kiss me,
Id I would wait on him no more.
Then Frontenac was recalled to
rance, and La Barre vas governor.
|ow pleased my Uncle Chevet was
hen the news came, and he raped
e table with his glass and exclaimed:
Nh! but now we will pluck out the
hws of this Sieur de la Sale, and
nd him where he belongs" But he
puld explain nothing, until a week
ter. Cassion came up the river in
canoe with Indian paddlers, and
ppped to hold conference. The man
eated me with much %gallantry, so
at I questioned him, and he seemed
lppy to answer that La Barre had al
lady dispatched a party under Che
tlier de Baugis, of the Kings ORA
IONS to take command of La Sales
brit st. Louis in the Illinois country.
Sale had returned. and was al
pdy at Quebec, but Caisson grinned
he boosted that the new governor
build not even give him audience.
Ia! I despised the man, yet I lin
red beside him, and thus learned
BIT La Salle's party consisted of but
10 yoyageurs, and the young Sieur
Artigny. l was glad enough when
went away, though l gave him my
nd to kiss, and waved to him brave
at the landing. And now he was
ok again, bearing a message from
Barre, and seeking volunteers for
PIC NColSAh fOyd6C vi punt Twas
no interest to me unless my uncle
ned In the enterprise, yet l was
hd enough, for he brought with him
,rd of the governors ball at Quebec,
had won the pledge of Chevet to
ke me there with him. l could be
acious to him for that and 1t was
my gown 1 worked, as the two
nned and talked in secret. What
did was nothing to me now-all
thought was on the ball. What
Fuld you? l was IL.
Che grape trellis ran down toward
river landing, and from where ]
in the cool shadow, l could see the
bad water cleaning in the sun. Sud.
ply, as my eyes uplifted, the dark
time of a canoe swept into the vista,