Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-07-13

only that am not won by a few
soft words, monsieur" 1 answered
coldly.
But you are my wife; twill be
well for you to remember that"
Nor am likely to forget, yet be-
cause a priest has mumbled words
over us does not make me love you"
"Sacre! he burst forth, yet careful
to keep his voice pitched to my ears
alone, ''you think me Il plaything, but
you shall learn yet that have claws.
Bah! do you imagine fear the cox
comb ahead?"
ITO whom do you refer, monsieur?'
"Such innocence! to that bootlicker
OF La Sales to whom you give your
smiles and pretty words"
irene d'Artigny!' l exclaimed pleas
antly, and then laughed. "Why how
ridiculous you are, monsieur. Better
be Jealous of Pere Allouez yonder, for
of him see far the most. Why do
you pick out D'Artigny on whom to
vent your anger?"
II like not the way he eyes you,
nor your secret meetings with him in
Quebec"
"If he even sees me know 1t not,
and as for secret meetings, knew you
not that Sister Celeste was with me
while we talked?"
mot In the governors palace"
"You accuse me of that them" in
dignantly. Because / am your wife
you can insult, yet it was your hand
that drew aside the curtain and found
me alone. Do you hope to gain my
respect by such base charges as that,
monsieur?'
do you deny that he had been with
you?"
az? Do I deny! 1t is not worthy
my while. Why should 1? We were
not married then, nor like to be to
my knowledge. Why, then, if wished,
was it not my privilege to speak with
the Sieur d'Artigny? I have found
him very pleasant and polite young
man."
"a pauper, his only fortune the
sword at his side"
"Ah, l knew not even that he pos
sessed one. Yet of what interest can
all this be to me, monsieur, now that
am married to you?"
That my words brought him no COM
fort was plain enough to be seen, yet
1 doubt If IL ever occurred to his mind
that simply made sport, and sought
to anger him. 1t was on his mind
to say more, yet he choked the words
back, and sat there in moody silence,
scarce glancing at me again during
the long afternoon. But when we fin
ally made landing for the night, it was
plain to be seen that his vigilance was
in no wise relaxed, for, although he
avoided me himself, the watchful
Jesuit was ever at my side, no doubt
in obedience to his orders. AS we
were eating a party of fur traders.
bound east, came ashore in n small
fleet OF canoes and joined the men
below, building their fires slightly up
stream. At last Pere Allouez left me
alone and descended to them, eager to
learn the news from Montreal. Yet,
although seemingly I was now left
alone, had no thought Of adventur-
ing in the darkness, as 1 felt con-
WINGED the watchful priest would never
have deserted my side had he not
known that other eyes were keeping
vigil.
From that moment / never felt my
self alone or unobserved. CasslOn in
person did not make himself obnoX-
ious, except that l was always seated
beside him in the boat, subject TO his
conversation and attentions. How
ever it was managed I know not, but
my uncle never approached me alone
and only twice did 1 gain glimpse of
Sieur clearinghouse, when his canoe
returned to warn us of dangerous wa
ter ahead, and once when he awaited
us beside the landing at Montreal. Yet
| even these occasions yielded me new
courage, for, as our eyes met I knew
he was still my friend, waiting, as 1
was, the opportunity for a better I'M
Outstanding. This knowledge brought
tears of gratitude to my eyes and a
thrill of hope to my heart. 1 was no
longer utterly alone.
VIC NclG III
the men busily engaged in adding to
their store of provisions. 1 had scarce
ly a glimpse of the town, as was
given lodging in the convent close to
the river bank, and the pere was my
constant companion during hours OF
daylight.
We departed at dawn, and the sun
was scarce an hour high when the
prows Of our canoes turned into the
Ottawa. Now we were indeed in the
wilderness, fronting the vast unknown
country OF the West, with every
league of travel leaving behind all
trace of civilization. There was moth
ing before US save a few scattered
missions, presided over by ragged
priests, and an occasional fur traders
station, the headquarters of wander
ing eouriers du bois. On every side
were the vast prairles and stormy
lakes, roamed over by savage men
and beasts through whom we mus