The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-10-19
a Romance OF
E0rH Days In
the Middle West

Ine dictates or my own conscience.
had been welded by fraud to a man l
despised; my hatred had grown until
now | knew that / would rather be
dead than live in his presence.
II this state of mind was sin, II wac
beyond my power to rid myself Of the
curse; If l was already condemned Of
holy church because Of failure to abide
by her decree, then there was naught
left but for me to seek my own happk
ness, and the happiness Of the man l
loved.
lifted my head, strengthened by
the very thought, the red blood tingltnG
again through my veins. The truth
was mine; l felt no inclination to OBJ
scure 1t. The time had come fos reJoic-
ing, and action. l loved Rene d'Ar-
dgny, and, although he had never spO-
ken the word, l knew he loved me
Tomorrow he would be in exile, a wan
derer of the woods, an escaped pris-
oner, under condemnation Of death,
never again safe within reach Of
French authority. Ay, but he should
not go alone; in the depths Of those
forests, beyond the arm Of the law, be-
yond even the grasp of the church. we
should go together. In our own hearts
love would justify. Without a qualnn
Of conscience, without even lingering
doubt, I made the choice, the final
decision.
know not how long it took me to
think this all out, until l had accepted
fate; but I do know the decision
brought happiness and courage. Food
was brought me by strange Indian,
apparently unable to speak French;
nor would he even enter the room,
silently handing me tbe platter through
the open door. Two sentries stood just
without-soldlers of De Baugis. II
guessed, as their features were unfa-
miliar. They gazed at me curiously,
as 1 stood in the doorway, but with.
out changing their attitudes. Plainly
was held prisoner Glso; NJ. Cassion's
threat was being put into execution.
This knowledge merely served to
strengthen my decision, and l closed
and barred the door again, smiling aa
l did so.
1t grew dusk while l made almost
vain effort to eat, and, at last, push.
ing the pewter plate away, l crossed
over, and cautiously opened the wood.
en- shutter of the window. The red
light of the sunset still illumined the
western sky, and found glorious reflec
ton along the surface Of the river.
1t was a dizzy drop to the bed Of the
stream below, but Indians were on the
opposite bank, beyond rife shot, In
considerable force, q half-dozen ca.
noes drawn up on the sandy shore, and
several fires burning. They were toe
far away for me to judge their tribe
yet number among them sported wal
bonnets, and 1 had no doubt they wera
Iroquois.
So far as could perceive elsewhere
there was no movement, as my eyea
travelled the half-circle, over a wide
vista Of hill and dale, green valley
and dark woods, although to the lefi
port of rife, in evidence that besieg
ing savages were still watchful Of the
fort entrance. l could not lean out far
enough to see in that direction, yet az
the night grew darker the vicious spitA
Of fire became visible Above me the
solid log walls arose but few feet
a tall man might stand upon the win.
dow ledge, and find grip of the roof
but below was the sheer drop to tho
river-perchance two hundred feet be
meath. Already darkness Shrouded
the water, as the broad vsEGag faded
into the gloom Of the night.
There was naught for me to do bui
sit and wait. The guard which M
Cassion had stationed at the door pre-
vented my leaving the room, but Id
more probable purpose was to keel
others from communicating with mo
De Tonty had evidently resorted d
diplomacy, and instead of QuaTelinG
with the three officers when they ap
preached him, had greeted them all M
genially as to leave the impression that
he was disposed to permit matters b
take their natural course. He nigh
be watched of course, yet was NJ
longer suspected as likely to help res
cue the prisoner All their fear now
was centered upon me, and my pos
sible influence.
If I could be kept from any further
with either D'Artign1
or De Tonty, 1t was scarcely probable
that any of the garrison would make
serious effort to interfere with theh
plans. De Tonty's apparent indiffer
ence, and his sudden tr1endliness witA
De Baugis and Cassion, did not worrJ
me greatly. l realized his purpose IL
thus dlverttng suspicion. His pledge
Of assistance had been given me, ana
his was the word of soldier and gen
tleman. In some manner, and soon-
before midnight certainly would 70
ceive message from Boisrondet.
Yet my heart failed me more thaH
once as waited. How long the time
seemed, and how deadly silent was thu
night. Crouched close beside the doos
could barely hear the muttered con
versatton Of the soldiers on guard,
and when I crossed to the open win
dow l looked out upon a black void
utterly soundless.
Not even the distant crack Of a rinC
now broke the solemn stiffness, and
the only spot of color Visible was thu
1ull red glow of campfire on the on
Dosite bank of the river. had no way
If computing time, and the laggins
hours seemed centuries long, as terri
Tying doubts assailed me.
Every new thought became an agony
If suspense. Had the plans failedt
Had Boisrondet discovered the priS