The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-02-22

thAAl 4 I'm yam W W f'D'
"a prlsoner!"
"No; a guest sarcastlcally, but do
not overstep the courtesy"
We left him In conversation with the
pere, and | did not even glance back.
Chevet breathed heavily, and caught
the mutter Of his voice. What mean
eth all this chatter?' he asked grufly.
"Must you two quarrel Sc soonY"
"Why not?" | retorted. The man
bears me no love; It's but gold he
thinks about
Cold" be stopped and slapped his
thighs. "'Tis precious little OF that
he will ever see then"
"And why not? Was not my father
q land owner"
"Ay. till the king took It."
"Then even you do not know the
truth. | am glad to learn that, for
/ have dreamed that you sold me to
this coxcomb for "A share Of the spoils."
what? a share OF the spoils! Bah!
l am no angel, girl, nor pretend to a
virtue more than | possess. There is
truth In the thought that | might bene-
fit by your marriage to Monsieur Cas-
sion, and, by my faith, see no wrong
In that. Have you not cost me heavily
in these years? Why should l not
seek for you a husband OF worth In
these colonies? Wherefore Is that a
crime? Were you my w daughter
l could do no less, and this man is not
Ill to look upon, a f~air-spoken gallant,
a friend Of La Barre's, chosen by him
for special service"
"And with influence in the fur
trade"
~obstinately. why should a girl OBJ
ject If her husband be rich?'
"But he is not rich," | said plainly,
looking straight into his eyes. He is
no more than a penniless adventurer;
an actor playing a part assigned him
by the governor; while you and l do
the same. Listen, Monsieur Chevet,
the property at st. Thomas Is mine by
legal right, and it was TO gain Dos
session that this wretch sought my
hand"
"Your legal right
GAY, restored by the king in special
order"
at is not true; | had the records
searched by a lawyer, Monsieur eau
tier OF st. Anne"
l gave a gesture of indignation.
"a country advocate at whom those
in authority would laugh. | tell you
what | say is true; the land was re
stored, ana the fact is known to La
Barre and TO Cassion. 1t is this fact
which has caused all our troubles. |
overheard talk last night between the
governor and his aido-de-camp, Colonel
Delguard-yOu know him."
Chevet nodded. his interest stirred.
'They thought themselves alone,
and were laughing at the success OF
their trick. | was hidden behind the
every word they spoke reached my
ears. Then they sent for Cassion."
But where IS the paper?"
81 did not learn; they have 1t hidden,
no doubt, awaiting the proper time
to produce it. But there is such a
document; La Barre explained that
clearly. and the reason why he wished
Cassion to marry me. They were all
three talking when an accident hap
pened, which led to my discovery"
"Ah! and so that was what hurried
the wedding. and sent me on this wild
wilderness chase. They would bury
me in the woods-sacre!-"
FLUSH now-Cassion has left the
canoe already, and we can talk OF this
Let us seem to suspect moth
This was the first meal Of many
eaten together along the river bank
in the course of our long journey, yet
the recollection of that scene rises
before my memory now with peculiar
vividness. Cassion had divided us into
groups, and. from where | had found
resting place, with a small fiat rock
for table, l was enabled to see the
others scattered to the edge Of the
bank. and thus learned for the first
tlIIle lUt tlldIttltI Vi llloSc Will NlIoIi
l was destined to companion on h
long journey. There were but four
of us in that first group. which In
Guided Pere AlloueZ. q silent man,
lingering his cross, and barely touch
ing food. His face under the black
cowl was drawn. and creased by
strange lines. and his yes burned
with vagueness. If l bad eve dreamed
Of him as one to whom / might turn
for counsel, the thought instantly van
ished as Il glances met.
A soldier and two Indians served
us, while their companions, divided
into two groups, were gathered at the
other extremity Of the ridge, the SOL
diers under discipline Of their own
underofficers. and the Indians
watched over by Sieur D'Artigny, who
rested, however. slightly apart, his
gaZe or the broad river. Never once
while / observed did he turn and
glarce my way. l counted the men.
rs ] e~ndeavoreu TO eat, scarcely heed
Ing the few words exchanged by those