Middletown transcript., 1916-09-02

q NAAAdAAs
He paused, as If hoping might
speak, and my silence angered him.
"Bah, If had my way the young
cockerel would face file at our first
camp. Ay! and it will be for you to
decide If he does not"
what is your meaning, monsieurT
THAT 1 am tired Of your play-act-
ing; Of your making eyes at this forest
dandy behind my back. Sang dieu! l
am done with all this-do you hear?-
and have a grip now which VIII
make you think twice, my dear, before
you work any more sly tricks on me.
Sacre, you think me easy, hey? / have
in my hand so," and he opened and
closed his fingers suggestively' the
life of the lad"
had one glimpse of his face as he
leaned forward, and there was look
in it which made me shudder and turn
away. His was no idle threat, and
whether the man truly loved me or
not, his hatred of D'Artigny was suf-
f1cient for any cruelty.
l realized the danger. the necessity
for compromise, and yet for the mo-
ment lacked power to speak, to ques-
ton, fearful lest his demands would
he greater than l could grant. had
no thought Of what I saw, and still
that which my eyes rested upon re-
mains pictured on my brain, the SPAR
kle of sun on the water, the distant
green of the shore, the soldiers hud-
died in the canoe, the dark shining
bodies of the Indians ceaselessly ply
ing the paddles. and beyond US, to the
left, another canoe, cleaving the water
swiftly, with Pere Allouez' face turned
toward us, as though he sought to
guess our conversation. l was aroused
by the grip Of Cassion's hand.
"Well. my beauty" he said harshly,
haven't 1 waited long enough to learn
if it is war or peace between us?"
1 laughed, yet doubt if he gained
any comfort from the expression Of
the eyes which met his.
why l choose peace Of course, mon
sieur," l answered, assuming a care
| lessness was far from feeling. "Am
not your wife? Surely you remind
me Of it often enough, so | am not
| likely to forget; but l resent the in
suit of your words, nor will you ever
win favor from me by such methods.
| have been friendly with Sieur dArti-
gny. it is true, but there is nothing
| between us. Indeed no word has
passed my lips in his presence would
not be willing for you to hear. So
there is no cause for you to spare him
on my account, or rest his fate on any
action of mine"
"You will have naught to do with
the fellOwY'
There would be small chance II l
wished, monsieur; and do you sup
pose | would seek companionship with
one who had killed my uncle?"
"'Twould scarce seem SO, yet l
know not what you believe"
Nor do I myself; yet the evidence
is all against the man thus far. l con-
fess l should like to hear his defense
but make you this pledge in all honor
i will have no word with him, on
condition that you file no charges un
til we arrive at Fort st. Louis"
"AhH' suspiciousIy, you think he
has friends there to hold him limo
cent"
"Why should l, monsieur? Indeed
why should I care but to have justice
done? I do not wish his blood on yOul
hands, or to imagine that he is con
demned because of his friendship fol
me rather than any other crime.
know not what friends the man has
at the Rock on the Illinois. He was
of La Salle's party, and they are ne
longer in control La Barre said tha
De Baugis commanded that post, anC
for all l know De TOnty and all his
men may have departed"
"'Tis not altogether true, and fOl
that reason we are ordered to join th'
company. De Baugis has the right ot
it under commission from La Barre
but does not possess sufficient soldiers
to exercise authority. La Sales mel
remain loyal to De Tonty, and the In
dian tribes look to him for leadership
Mon dieu! it was reported in Quebe'
that 1900 savages were living abou
the fort-ay! and D'Artigny said hi
doubted it not, for the meadows wer'
covered with tepees-SO De BauSis ha'
small chance to rule until he has fore
behind him They say this De Tont!
Is Of a fighting breed-the savage
call him the man with the iron hand
and so the two rule between them. th
one for La Barre, and the other TO
La Sale, and we go to give the gov
ernOr's man more power"
"You have sufficient force?
UNLESS the Indians become hostile
besides there is to be an overland par
ty later to join us in the spring ant
Sieur de la Durantaye. of the regi
ment of Carignan-Salliers is at tn
Chicago portage. This l learned a
st. Ignace."
Then it would seem to me, mon
sieur, that you could safely wait tn
trial of D'Artigny until our arrival a
the fort. If he does not feel himsel
!. suspected, he will make no effort t
escape, and l give you the pledge 70
D ask"
e 1t was not altogether graciousl
j that he agreed to this, yet the ma
could not refuse, and l was gla
n enough to escape thus easily, for
was my fear that he might insist O.
e my yielding much more to preserv
y D'Artigny from immediate condemns
i; ton and death. The fellow had tn
power, and the inclination, and wha
!, good fortune saved me, Il can neve