Middletown transcript., 1916-09-16
CHAPTER XIV-continued.

In a way l must have known this
before, yet, not until that moment
did the fact dawn upon me In full
my hands, my breath qTickened by
surprise, by shame, and felt my cheeks
burn. loved him, and believed he
loved me. l knew then that all the
happiness of life centered in this one
fact; while between us arose the
shadow of CassiOn, my husband. True
| loved him not; true l was to him
wife only in name; true our marriage
was a thing Of shame, yet no less
fact, no less a barrier. l was a La
Chesnayne to whom honor was re-
ligion; a Catholic bowling humbly to
the VOW Of Holy church; a French
woman taught that marriage was a
sacred rite.
The knowledge of my love for D'Ar-
tigny brought me more fear than
pleasure. dare not dream. or hope;
l must escape his presence while !
retained moral strength to resist temp
tation l got to my feet, not knowing
what could do. yet with a wild con-
ception of returning to the beach, and
seeking to find a passage southwark.
would go now along the shore. before
D'Artigny came back, and meet those
returning canoes. In such action lay
my only safrty-he would find me
gone. would trace me along the sand,
yet before l could be caught. | would
have met the others. and thus escape
the peril Of being alone with him
again.
Even as reached this decision,
something arose in my throat and
choked NE, for my>eyes saw just out
side the curve of the shore line
canoe emerge from the shadows Of the
bluff. | cannot picture the reaction.
the sudden shrinking fear which, In
that instant, mastered me. They were
coming, seeking me; coming to drag
me back into slavery; coming to de-
nounce D'Artigny Of crime and de-
mand his life.
l sank down out of sight. yet my de-
cision was made in an instant 1t did
not seem to me then as though another
course could be taken. That D'Artigny
was innocent had no doubt loved
him, this no longer denied to myself;
and l could not possibly betray the
man TO the mad vengeance of Cassion.
/ peered forth, across the ridge Of
earth concealing me from observation.
at the distant canoe. 1t was too far
away for me to be certain of its occu-
pants. yet l assured myself that In
dams were at the paddles. while three
others, whose dress designated them
as whites, occupied places in the boat
1 turned and ran down the bank to
where the fire yet glowed duly In the
hollow, emitting a faint spiral of blue
smoke, dug dirt up with my hands and
covered the Goals. until they were COM
pletely extinguished. Then crept back
to the bluff summit and lay down to
watch.
The canoe rounded the curve In the
shore and headed straight across
toward where rested In concealment.
Their course would keep them too far
away from the little strip of sand on
which we had landed to observe the
imprint of our feet or the pile of wood
r D'Artigny had flung down. | observed
this with an intense feeling Of relief
as l peered cautiously out from my
covert.
could see now clearly the faces
Of those In the canoe-the dark, ex-
pressionleSs cOuntenanceS of the In
dams, and the three white men. all
gazing intently at the shore line, as
they swept past. soldier in the bow.
and Pere Allouez and CaSsiOn at the
stern, the latter standing, gripping the
steering paddle. The sound of his
rasping, disagreeable voice reached me
first.
This is the spot" he exclaimed.
pointing. 81 saw that headland lust
before the storm struck. But there
Is no wreck here, no sign Of any land
ing. What is your judgment, perez
''That further search Is useless. mon
sieur," answered the priest. I'VE have
covered the entire coast, and found NO
sign Of any survivor; no doubt they
were all lost"
"'Tis likely true. for there was small
hope for any swimmer In such sea.
Go on. round the long point yOnder,
and If there Is no sign there we will
return. 'Tis my thought they we're
all drowned. anu there is no need Of
our seeking longer. Pull on boys, and
b. s2rSi the job"