The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-27
A Novel
A Week
Continued from Our Last issue)
EI5IsH1aIsssisT TT

been scarcely more than a minute
when | heard him crunching a pas
sage thru tho bushes. and then
saw him emerge above the edge.
You waved to mef" he ex.
claimed, You wished me to Conner
Yes" confessed. Il have been
anxious 10 confer with you, and
this IL my first opportunity.
THE commissaire permitted me
to climb here alone. believing you
TO be safely encamped above the
rapids, yet his suspicious may
easily revive"
Ills auspiclons'" the Sieur
laughed softly so that. then. 10
the tronbleT II IL 10 keep us apart
that he bids me make separate
camp each night. and assigns mo
To every post OF peril. feel the
honor. Mademoiselle. yet why am
especially singled out for so great
a distinction"
He suspects US OF being friends,
and believes that YOU were with mo
hidden behind tho curtain In the
Governors office"
yet II all that bc true" he auss.
toned. his voice cvidencing hts sur
prise. why should our friendship
arouse his antagonism TO such an
extentf"
"You do not know what has oc-
curred7" asked, in asionishmcnt.
NO one has told YOU
Told moi Howl have scarce
ly held speech with anyone but the
Algonquin chief since We took to
the water. Tell me then, Madsmoi'
selle. by what right does this Cas-
sion hold you M capuveF
My lips tremhled. and my eyes
fell. vet I must answer.
"He Is my husband. Monsieur.
| caught glimpse OF his face. pic
turing surprise, Incredibly. Ho
drew a sharp breath. and noted
his hand closed tightly on the bin
OF his knife.
Your husbandl That curt Sure
iy you do not jest'"
Would that did" ! exclaimed
NO. Monsieur. II IL true: but listen.
II Is hard for me TO explain. yet
must make II all plain for you
TO understand. ! do not love the
man, his very presence maddens
me. nor has the creature dared ~
yet TO lay his hand on my person
See: carry this. and ! drew the
pistol from my dress. and held II
In my hand. "Cheyet loaned II me,
and Cassion knows would KIN
him II he ventured insult. Yet that
serves me little. for my opposition
only renders the man more de.
termined At Quebec ! was but q
piaythlng. but now he holds me
worth the Winning"
But why did you marry him.
thenf"
Il am coming to that. Monsieur.
You overheard what was said In In
narres office about--about my
fathers property"
"Ayl Captain Ia chesnayne had
loaf his estates. confiscated by the
Crown: yet before his death these
had been restored to him By the
King"
"Yea, hut the report Of the resior'
alton had never been made 10 his
r.ghtful heirs. The papers had
been held back and concealed,
while those In authority planned
how to retain possession. Caasion
was chosen rs an instrument. and
sought my hand in marriage"
Ny voice broke. and felt his
strong hand close over mine. tho
warm pressure an unspokcn pledge.
THE dogs and then what hap
pencd7"
You know. already. ! was dis.
covered behind the curtain. when
YOU escaped thru the open window
They compelled me 10 confess
what had overheard. Ia Barre
was quick TO grasp tho danger oil
discovery. and the only method by
which my lips could be closed. BY
threat he compelled me 10 marry
Francois Cassion. and accompany
him on this journey into the wilder
ness"
"The ceremony was performed
by a priestg"
by pere le Guard. the Gov
ernor's chaplain.
"And Hugo Chevet. your uncle
Did he remain silent? make no pro
test7'
gave a gesture OF despair.
"Hs, Never did he even con.
celve what occurred. until | told
him later on the river. Even now
I doubt n hts sluggish brain has
grasped the truth"
But you explained 70 him7r
II tried To. but only 10 regret the
effort. All he can conceive of is
revenge. He hates Cassion. be.
cause the man has robbed him oi
the use of my fathers money: but
for my position he cares nothing.
De Artigny stood silent. evidently
in thought.
of this bluff" he questioned nj
last.
Wonder: there Ia deer trail
leading down"
And you fear Cassion may fol
low"
He will likely become suspicious
II | am long absent. This In the
first moment OF freedom have OK.
perienced since we left Quebec. |
hardly know how to behave my.
self"
And We must guard II from be.
ing the last" he exclaimed. There
are questions must ask. but Cas-
sion must never suspect we have
communication. Let us go TO the
end of the trail where you came
up: from there we can keep watch
below"
He still grasped my hand. and
] had no thought OF withdrawing
IT. Together we clambered over
the rough rocks 10 where the mar.
,f. faI