Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-09-05

r ~ A.c.rs ctUPc & co
piled the Sieur grimly, yet the words
have been said, and the lady has a
right to have them explained Was
there quarrel between her father and
this Francois Cassion?"
"Ay, there was, and bitter. although
l know nothing as to the cause. Cas-
sion and La Barre-he whom | now
hear is governor of New France
were alike opposed to Captain la Ches-
nayne, and but for reports they made
he would have been the colonel. He
struck Cassion in the mess tent, and
they were to fight the very morning
the Iroquois met us at Bots lie Blanc.
Twas the talk of the men that the
captain was shot from behind
'By CassionT
THAT l cannot say: yet the bullet
entered behind the ear, for I was first
to reach him, and he had no other
enemy in the Regiment Carignan-Sal-
iers. The feeling against NJ Cas-
sion was so strong that he resigned in
a few months. You never heard this?''
1 could not answer, but stood silent
with bowed head. l felt D'Artigny
place his hand on my shoulder.
"The lady did not know" he said
gragely, as though he felt the neces-
sity of an explanation. "She was at
school in convent at Quebec, and no
rumor reached her. She is thankful
to you for what you have said. Bar
beau, and can trust you as her fathers
friend and comrade. May I tell him
the truth. madame? The man may
have other information of value"
l looked at the soldier, and his eyes
were grave and honest
EYES," I answered, sit can do no
harm"
| D'Artigny's hand was still on my
/ shoulder, but his glance did not seek
my face.
There is some low trick here, Bar
BEAU" he began soberly, "but the de-
tails are not clear Madame has
trusted me as a friend, and cOnfided
all she knows, and 1 will tell the facts
to you as l understand them. False
reports were made to France regard
ing Captain la Chesnayne. We have
not learned what they were, or who
made them, but they were so serious
that Louis, by royal decree, issued or
der that his estates revert to the
crown Later La Chesnaynes friends
got the ear of the king. no doubt
through Frontenac, ever loyal to him.
and by royal order the estates were
restored to his ownership. This order
of restoration reached Quebec soon
after La Barre was appointed gov
ernor, and was never made public. 1t
was suppressed by someone, and La
Chesnayne was killed three months
later, without knowing that he had
won the favor of the king"
But Cassion knew; he was ever
hand in glove with La Barre"
1--WE have cause to suspect so. and
now, after listening to your tale, to
believe that Captain la Chesnaynes
death was part of carefully formed
plot. BY accident the lady here
learned of the conspiracy, through
overhearing a conversation, but was
discovered by La Barre hiding behind
the curtains Of his office. To keep
her quiet she was forced into mar
riage with Francois Cassion, and bid
den to accompany him on this journey
to Fort st. Louis"
81 see," commented Barbeau
shrewdly. "Such marriage would place
the property in their control by law.
Had Cassion sought marriage previ-
ously?"
His eyes were upon me as he asked
the question. and 1 answered him
frankly.
HE visited often at the home of
my uncle, Hugo Chevet, and, while
he never spoke to me directly of mar
riage, / was told he desired me for
his wife, and at the palace he so pre-
scented me to Monsieur la Barre"
ION pledge of Chevet, no doubt.
Your uncle knew of your fortune"
No; he supposed me peoniless; he
thought it a great honor done ne by
the favorite of the governors. Twas
my belief he expected some reward
for persuading me to accept the offer"
"And this Chevet-what became of
him?"
He accompanied US on the journey,
also upon order of Monsieur la Barre,
who, no doubt thought he would be
safer in the wilderness than in Que
bee. He was murdered at st. Tgnace."
"Murdered?"
"Ay, struck down from behind with
knife. No one knows who did it,
but Cassion has charged the crime
against Sieur d'Artigny, and circum-
stances are such he will find it diff
cult to prove his innocence
The soldier stood silent, evidently
reviewing in his mind all that had
been told him, his eyes narrowed into
Sits as he gazed thoughtfully at us
both.
BAH he exclaimed at last. "the
riddle is not so hard to read, al
though. no doubt, the trick has been
we'll played. I know Governor la
Barre. and this Francois Cassion, for
II have served under both, while Mon
sieur la Chesnayne was my captain
and friend. May 1 tell you what, in
my judgment, seems best for you to
do?"
' glanced at D'Artigny. and his
eyes gave me courage.
Monsieur, you are a French SOL
der" l answered. IAN educated man,
also. and my fathers friend. I will
listen gladly"
His eyes smiled, and he swept the
earth with his cap.
''Then my plan is this--leave Mon
sieur Cassion TO go his way, and let
me be your guide southwark. I know
the trails, and the journey is not diff
cult. NJ. de la Durantaye is camped
at the portage of the Des PLANES.