The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-09-05
CHAPTER V-Continued.

-
l could not but connect him with
our presence there. Leroux was due
to arrive at any moment. / realized
that great issues were at stake, that
the man would never cease In his at
tempts to get hold of Jacqueline. Only
when / had returned her to her IA
theirs house would l feel safe from
him.
After dinner | had some CONVERSE
ton with n OF the hotel clerks. l
discovered that St Bonlface was
little known, the only occupants Of
those parts being trappers and Indians.
"You could hire dogs and a sleigh
at st. Boniface for wherever your final
destination Is" he said, because the
dog mail has been suspended owing to
the new government mail boats, and
their sleighs are idle. l think Captain
Dubois would take you on his boat as
far as that point, and / believe he
makes his next trip in a couple of
days"
He gave me the captains address,
"A L 4 W III jill lllu curly lllt
following day and make arrangements.
/ took Jacqueline for a stroll on the
terrace, and while we walked I pom
dered over the problem. J%acqueline
was very quiet, and l wondered what
she remembered. / dreaded always
awakening her memory, lest, with that
Of her home, came that other Of the
dead man.
Our rooms were on the side Of the
Chateau facing the town, and as we
passed beneath the arch / saw two
men standing no great distance away
and watching us. it seemed to me.
One wore the cassock of a priest,
and / could have sworn that he was
Pere Antoine; the other resembled the
suspicious stranger. As we drew near
they moved behind a pillar. Thus, In
exorabiy, the chase drew near.
My suspicious received confirmation
a few minutes later, for we had hardly
reached our rooms, and I was, In fact,
standing at the door Of Jacqueline's,
bidding her good night when a bellboy
came along the passage and announced
that the gentleman whom / was ex-
pecting was coming up the stairs.
/ said good night to Jacqueline and
went into my room and waited. l had
thought it would be the stranger but
1t was the priest. .
invited him to enter and he came
In and stood with his fur cap IN his
head, looking direfully at me.
swell, monsieur, what is the pur-
pose Of this visit?" I asked.
ITO tell YOU" he Numbered, shat
you must give up the unhappy woman
who has accompanied you here"
THAT Is precisely what I intend to
do" l answered.
"To me-" he said. "Her husband"
I felt my brain whirling. I knew
now that I had always cherished a
hope, despite the ring-what a fool I
had been!
II married them" continued Pere
Antoine.
"Where Is he?" I demanded.
He appeared disconnected. I gath
cred from his stare that he had sup
posed ! knew.
"This Is a Catholic country" he
went on more quietly. "There Is no
divorce; there can be none. Marriage
Is a sacrament. Shining as she is
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
~ will not hear any more" / said.
"Go!" l pointed toward the door.
II am going to take her away with
me-" he said, and crossing the thresh-
old into the corridor placed n hand
on the door Of Jacqueline's room.
I got there first. l thrust him VIC
iently aside-it was like pushing q
monument-turned the key, which
happily was still outside. and put 1t IL
my pocket.
81 am ready to deal with her hus
band" l said. 81 am not ready tC
deal with you. Leave at once or
will have you arrested. priest or nj
priest. How do ! know she has a hus
band7 How do / know you are not II
ieagae with her prosecutors? How d.
I know you are a priest at ALP
. He seemed amazed at the violence
8 Of my manner
"Thls is the first time my priesthoot
z has been denied" he said quietly
! .well, I have offered you your chance
! cannot use violence. II you refus
: you will bring your own punishment
5000 roar head and hers on that o