The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-01-25
said your father fell In Indian Skin

Here he looked about, as though
the dreariness of 1t was first noticed.
"Alonel Is there no other woman"
| shook my head, but no longer
looked at him, for fear he might see
the tears In my eyes.
81 am the ~housekeeper, monsieur.
There was nothing else for me. In
France, | am told, my fathers people
were well born, but this Is not France,
and there was no choice. Besides |
was but a child Of a."
"And II, now, mademoiselle," and
he took my hand CALAMITY. pardon
II I have asked questions which bring
pain. l can understand much, for in
Montreal l heard tales Of this Hugo
Chevet."
HE is rough, a woodsman," l de-
Tended, yet not unkind to me. You
will speak him fairT
He laughed, his eyes sparkling with
merrlment.
mo fear Of my neglecting all cour-
tesy, for I come b%eseechlng a favor. |
have learned the lesson Of when the soft
speech wins more than the iron hand.
And this other, the Commissaire Cas-
sion-is he a bird of the same plum
ageT"
l made a little gesture, and glanced
back at the closed door.
"Oh, no; he Is the court courier, to
stab with words, not deeds. Chevet
is rough OF speech, and hard Of hand,
but he fights In the open; CassiOn has
a double tongue, and one knows
him" | glanced up into his sobered
face. "He Is a friend Of La Barre"
$50 It's said, and has been chosen
by the governor to bear message to
De Baugis in the Illinois country. l
seek passage in his company"
You. | thought you were Of the
party OF Sieur de la Salle?'
81 am" he answered honestly. yet
Cassion will need a guide. and there
is none save myself in all New France
who has ever made that journey.
Twill be well for him to listen to my
plan. And why not? We do not
fight the orders OF the governor: we
obey. and wait. Monsieur de la Sale
Will tell his story to the king"
1.-THE King! To LOUISE"
GAY, twill not be the first time he
has had audience. and already he Is
at sea. We can wait, and laugh at
this Cassion over his useless Journey
but he-he is treacherous,
sieur."
He laughed as though the words
amused.
"To one who has lived as |, amid
savagcs, treachery is an old story. TIL
commissaire will not find me asleep.
We will serve each other, and let it
go at that. All. we are to be inter
rupted.'
He Strengthened up facing the door,
and | turned, confronting my uncle
az he emerged in advance. He was a
burly man. with iron gray hair. and
face redeemed by out-of-doors; and he
stopped in surprise at sight OF a
stranger. his eyes hardening with sus-
picion.
"And who Is this with whom you
converse so privately. Adele? " he
questioned b~rusquely, "a young popin-
jay new to these parts | venture"
D'Artigny stepped between us,
smiling in good humor.
"My call was upon you, Monsieur
Chevet, and not the young lady he
said quietly enough, yet with a tone
to the voice. 81 merely asked her II
I had found the right place, and II
Monsieur the Commissaire Cassion
was still your guest"
"And what. may | ask. might be
your business with the Commissaire
CasslonT" asked the latter. pressing
past Chevet, yet bowling with a SEM
blance OF politeness, scarcely In ac-
cord with the studied insolence Of his
words. 81 have no remembrance OF
your face"
Then. Monsieur Cassion Is not OBJ
servant" returned the younger man
pleasantly. "as l accompanied the
Sieur de la Sale in his attempt to
have audience with the governor"
"Ah!" the word Of surprise explod-
ed from the lips. "Sacre! It's true! My
faith, what difference clothes make. I
mlstook you for a courier du bois."
81 am the Sieur Rene d'Artigny."
Lieutenant of La Salle'sY"
Scarcely that, monsieur, but a
comrade: for three years l have been
with his party, and was chosen by him
for this mission"
Cassion laughed, chucking the
gloomy faced Chevet In the side. as
though he would give point to a good
joke.
And little the trip hither has profit
ed either master or man. | warrant.
La Barre does not sell New France to
every adventurer. Monsieur de la
Sale found different reception In Que
bee thar when Frontenac ruled this
colony. Where went the fur stealer?"
ITO whom do you refer?"
ITO whom? Heaven help us, Chevet.
the man would play nice with words.
Well. let 1t 60. my young cock. and
answer me-"