The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-26
CHAPTER III.
The Wife of Francois Cassion

Ihc WIG Oi EFduCOls SdSSioH
II is vague, all that transpired.
They might force me to go
through the form, but never
would they make me the wife of
this man. | was still cropping in
the fog, bewilderc5, inert, when
La Barre gave utteranss to a
coarse laugh.
Congratulations, Franciis," he
cried. "A fair wife, and, now your
first kiss"
The sheer of these words was
like slap in the face. A heavy
paper knife lay on the desk, and
| gripped 1t in my fingers, facing
them. The mist seemed to roll
away, and l saw their faces, and
there must have been that in
mine to startle them, for even La
Barre gave back a step, and the
grin faded from the thin lips of
the Commissaire.
TITS ended then" | said, and
my voice did not falter. VERY
well, you have had your way; now
l have mine. Listen to what |
shall say, Monsieur lie Governor,
and you also, Francois Cassion.
By rite of church you call me
wife, and that this ceremony. has
sealed my lips.
You can rob me now-but,
mark you! all that you will ever
get Is money. Monsieur Cassion
If you dare lay so much as fin
ger on me, l will kill you as |
would a snake. You kiss me! Try
1t, Monsieur. II you doubt how my
race repays insult. | will go with
you; will bear your name: this
the law compe1s, but I am still
mistress of my soul, and of my
body. You hear, Messieurs? You
understand"
Cassion stood leaning forward,
just where my first words had
held him motionless. La Barre
crumpled the paper he held saw
agely.
80" he exclaimed, I'VE have
unclaimed tiger cat. BY st.
Anne! it's a happy family amid
which you start your honeymoon,
Monsieur Cassion, but go you
must. 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.
vaguely l comprehend that ]
was no longer Adele, la Chesnayne,
but the wife of that man | follow
ed. A muttered prayer, an up
! lifted hand, had made me his
slave. Nothing could break the
bond between us save death.
Suddenly l realized that | still
grasped in my hand the heavy
paper knife l had snatched ur
from La Barre's desk, and | thrust
In into the waistband of my skirt
1t was my only weapon of defense
yet to know had even that seem.
ed to bring me a glow of courage
We reached the rivers edge and
halted. Gazing about, CASTOR
broke the silence, his voice assum
ing the harshness of authority.
Three canoes! Where is tn,
other? All! is this you, Ii
Clairef"
"All is prepared, Monsieur"
Prepared! You have but three
boats at the bank"
1.-THE other is below, Monsieur
1t is loaded and waits to lead the
way"
All! and who's in charger"
| WAS it not your will that it be
the guide-the Sieur de Artigny?
| "Sacre! but / had forgotten the
fellow. Ay! tits the best place fol
him. Make room for two more IL
the large canoe; ay, the lady
:. goes"
| l found myself in one of tn,
canoes, so filled with men any
movement was almost impossible
yet of this I did not complain, foI
my Uncle Chevet was next to me
and Cassion took place at tn,
: steering oar in the stern.
To be separated from him wa
all l asked, although the yer,
, sound of his harsh voice raspin,
out orders, as we swung out from
the bank rendered me almos
frantic. My husband! l think
; hardly realized before what ha,
occurred, but now the hideou
truth came, and l buried my fac,
in my hands, and felt tears steal
ing through my fingers.
We were skirting the northern
bank, the stars rejected along tn
black water. Farther out was tn
dim outline of another boat, keep
ing pace with ours.
| endeavored to discern the ca
noe which led the way, over which
De Artigny held command, but |
was hidden by a wall of mist. Ye
the very thought that the youni
Sieur was there, accompanying u
into the drear wilderness, pre-
served me from utter despair.
would not be alone, or friendless
hEven when he learned the truth
he would know 1t was not m,
fault, and though he might ques
ton, and even doubt. at first, we
surely the opportunity woult
come for me to confess all, an,
feel his sympathy and protection
| cannot explain the confidenc,
which this certainty of his pres
ence brought, or how gratefully
awaited the dawn, and its revela
ton.
| must have slent. for I wal