Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-10-20

less; you nave behind you the power OF
France, and l am a mere girl. Nor do
I appeal, for l know we'll the cause OF
your decision. 1t is indeed my priv
ilege to appeal to Holy church for pro-
lection from tbs outrage, but not
through such representative as l e
here"
"Pere lie Guard is chaplain Of my
household"
And servant to your will. monsieur.
IT'S known In all New France he is
more diplomat than priest. Nay! I
take back my word. and will make
trial of his priesthood. Father, l do
not love this man, nor marry him Of
my own free will. I appeal to you,
to the church. to refuse the sanction
The priest stood with fingers inter
locked, and head bowed, nor did his
eyes meet mine.
IT am but the humble instrument
Of those In authority, daughter he re-
piled gently, "and must perform the
sacred duties of my office. IT'S your
own confession that your hand has
been pledged to Monsieur Cassion."
"By Hugo Chevet, not myself"
Enough Of this" broke in La Barre
sternly, and he gripped my arm. 1.-THE
girl hath lost her head, and such con-
troversy is unseemly in my presence.
Pere lie Guard. let the ceremony pro-
ceed."
"'Tis your order. MONSIEUR"
"Ay! do l not speak my will plainly
enough? Come, the hour is late, and
our kings business Is of more import
than the whim of a girl"
I never moved, never lifted my eyes.
I was conscious of nothing, but help
less, impotent anger. Of voiceless
shame. They might force me to go
through the form, but never would
they make me the wife Of this man.
My heart throbbed with rebellion, my
mind hardened into revolt. knew all
that occurred, realized the significance
of every word and act, yet 1t was as II
they appertained to someone else.
felt the clammy touch Of Cassion's
hand on my nerveless fingers, and I
must have answered the interrogation
les of the priest, for his voice droned
on. meaningless to the end. 1t was
only in the silence which followed that
I seemed to regain consciousness, and
a new grip on my numbed faculties
Indeed I was still CROPPING in the fog
bewildered, inert, when La Barre gave
utterance to a coarse laugh.
Congratulations, Francois" he
cried. "A fair wife, and not so un'
willing after all. And now your frs
kiss"
The sneer of these words was like
a slap in the face, and all the hat
red, and Indignation I felt seethed t.
the surface. A heavy paper knife lay
on the desk. and I gripped it in my
fingers, and stepped back, facing them
The mist seemed to roll away, and
saw their faces, and there must have
been that in mine to startle them, fOl
even La Barre gave back a step, ant
the grin faded from the thin lips O.
the commissaire.
"'Tis ended them" l said. and m!
voice did not falter. II am this man.
wife. Very well, you have had you
way! now l will have mine, Lister
to what l shall say, Monsieur lie Gou
%verneur, and you also. Francois Cas-
sion. BY rite Of church you call m
wife, but that is your only claim.
know your law, and that this cere
mony has sealed my lips. I am you
captive, nothing more; you a rob m
now-but, mark you! all that you vii
ever get is money. Monsieur Cassion, !
you dare lay so much as a finger o.
me, I will kill you as I would a snake
I know what l say, and mean It. Yo'
kiss me! Try 1t, monsieur, IL yO'
doubt how my race repays insult.
will go with you; I will bear you
name; this the law compels, but l al
still mistress Of my soul, and of m
body. You hear me, messieurs? 70
understand
Cassion stood leaning forward, jus
where my first words had held hir
motionless. ASH paused his eyes wer
on my face, and he lifted a hand t
wipe away drops Of persplration. L
Barre crumpled the paper he bel
savagely.
$50" he exclaimed. 1--WE have III
chained a tiger cat. Well, all this
: naught to me; and Francois, l leav
you and the wilderness to do the tan
ing. In faith, it's time already yC
, were Off. You agree to accompan
. the party without resistance, IN;
! dame"
| "As we'll there, as here" l answere
contemptuously.
"And you, Hugo Chevet?"
The giant growled something ina
l ticulate through his beard, not alt
. gether, I thought, to La Barre's likin'
for his face darkened.
"By st. Anne! It's a happy famiI
amid which you start your hone
moon, Monsieur Cassion," he ejac'
Jatad at lanoth "hut po vou mus