The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-03-29

silent about me, except for the dash
OF distant waves, and the rustic OF
branches far overhead. l gaZed up
at the sky, where the clouds were
thinning, giving glimpses of faintest
thoughts, and realize my situation.
D'Artigny appeared Mt the edge Of
the cliff, and called to reassure me Of
his presence. He had his arms filed
with broken bits Of wood which were
tossed to the sand and a moment
later he descended the rift in the wall
and paused beside me.
"No sign Of anyone up there" he
said, and, | felt, not regretfully. "The
canoes must have been blown some
distance down the coast"
Were you able to see far"
SAY, several leagues, for we are
upon a headland. and there Is a wide
sweep Of bay below. The shore line
is abrupt and the waves still high.
Indeed l saw no spot In all that dis
lance where a boat might make safe
landing. Are you becoming dry"
81 am at least warm, and already
feel much stronger. Would it not be
best, monsieur, for us to scale the cliff
and wait u escuers there, where we
can keep lookout?"
"If you feel able to climb the rocks,
although the passage is not difficult.
A boat might pass us by here and
be seen or know Of u pres
ence, unless we keep up a fire."
I held out my hand to him and he
helped me to my feet. The warmth
Of the sand while it had not entirely
dried my clothing had given me. fresh
vigor, and l stood erect, requiring no
assistance. With this knowledge q
new assurance seemed to take posses
sion OF me, and l looked about and
smiled.
IL am glad to know you can laugh"
he said eagerly. II have felt that our
being thus shipwrecked together was
not altogether to your liking"
And whyT l asked, pretending
surprise. Being shipwrecked, of
course, could scarcely appeal to me,
but I am surely not uhgrateful to
you for saving my life."
"As to that, l did no more than any
man might be expected to do" he pro-
tested. "But you have avoided me
for weeks past, and it can scarcely
here"
Avoided you! Rather should | af-
firm 1t was your own choice, monsieur.
II l recall Alright / gave you my con-
fidence once, long ago on the Ottawa,
and you refused my request of assist
ance. Since then you have scarcely
been Of u party"
'Ah,' he burst forth, " l have been
oftentlmes nearer you than you
thought. I could not forget what you
said TO me at that last meeting, or the
appeal you made for my assistance. |
realize the position you are in,
madame. married 10y force to a man
you despise, a wife only in name, and
endeavoring to protect yourself by
wit alone. | could not forget all this,
nor be Indifferent. | have been in
your camp ut night-ay, more than
once-dreaming | might be OF some
aid to you. and to assure myself Of
your safety"
You have guarded me?"
"As best | could, without arousing
the wrath of Monsieur Cassion. You
are not angry? it was but the duty
Of n friend"
"No, l am not angry, monsieur, yet
It was not needed. | do not fear
Casslon, so long as I can protect my
self, for If he attempts evil 1t will
find some form of treachery. But,
monsieur, later / gave him the pledge
he asked"
"The pledge! What pledge?'
THAT ! would neither meet, nor
communicate with you until our ar
rival at Fort st. Louis"
My eyes fell before his earnest
gaze, and | felt my limbs tremble.
anon dieu! Why? There was some
special cause?"
eyes, monsieur-listen. Do not be-
lieve this is my thought, yet l must
tell you the truth. Hugo Chevet was
found dead. murdered, at st. Ignace.
Twas the morning Of our departure,
and your boat had already gone. Cas-
sion accused you Of the crime, as some
OF the men saw you coming from the
direction where the body was found
late at night, and others reported that
you two had quarreled the evening
before. Cassion would have tried you
offhand, using his authority as COM
mander of the expedition, but prom
Used not to file charges until we
reached st. Louis, If | made pledge
twas then that I gave him my word.~
D'Artigny Strengthened up, the 4
preston on his face one Of profound
establishment.
"He-he accused me-" he asked, ''Of
murder to win your promise?"
mo, monsieur; he believed the charge
true, and I pledged myself to assure
you a fair trial"
"Then you believed also that I was
guilty Of the foul crime?"/
/ caught my breath, yet there was
nothing for me to do but give him a