Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1919-06-12

leather goods were SOLD, situated %
st. Joseph street. A young man with
n dark, clean-shaven face was behind
the counter. He came forward courte-
ously as I approached.
DO you remember" I asked, "sell.
Ing collar to young lady recently
no, some long time ago-a dog collar,
l mean? This was the plate" Then
remembered a name Leroux had used
and flung 1t out at random. 81 think
1t was for a Mile. Duchaine." ? added.
The shot went home.
"Ah, monsieur, l remember perfect
ly." answered the proprietor. "both
from the unusual nature Of the collar
and from the fact that there was some
difficulty In delivering 1t. There was
no post Office nearer the seigniory than
st. Boniface. where 1t lay unclaimed
for long time. l think mademOiselle
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had diedr'
"Where is this seigniory?"
"The SeigniOry Of NJ. Charles Du-
chnine?" he answered, looking curl
Ously Mt me. ut is the Oldest OF the
Seigniories." he continued. "In fact. 1t
has never passed out of the hands Of
the descendants of the original owners.
because 1t is almost uninhubitnble in
winter. except by Indians"
"How would one reach the chateau?"
''In summer" he replied. zone might
ascend the Riviere dOr In Il cnnoe for
half the distance, until one reached
the mountains. and then" He
shrugged his shoulders. ~ do not
know. Possibly one would inquire of
the first trapper who passed in au-
tumn. In winter one would fly
You see, NJ. Duchaine is Il hermit"
he continued. "Once. so my father
used to say, he was one of the gayest
young men in Quebec. But he became
involved in the troubles OF 1S67-and
then his wife died. and so he withdrew
there with the little mademOiSelle-
what was her name?
"Eh bicn. it makes no difference. be-
cause. since she left the convent Of
the Ursuines here in Quebec, where
she was educated. her father keeps her
at the chateau, and you are not likely
TO set eyes on NJ. Charles Duchaine's
daughter"
A sudden stoppage In his flow Of
words, an almost guilty look upon his
! face, as Il new figure entered the little
shop, directed my attention toward the
| stranger.
He was an old man of medium size.
| very muScularly built, stout, and with
enormous shoulders. He wore n
priests Soutnnc. hut he did not look like
Il priest-he looked like q mans head
on bulls body. His smooth face was
| tanned to the color OF an Indians
his bright blue eyes. almost concealed
by their dropping, wrinkled lids. were
piercing in their scrutiny.
| | ''BO'jOur. Pere Antoine" snid the
shopkeeper deferentially. fixing his
eyes rather timidly upon the old
priests face.
"Eh bien, who Is this with whom
thou gossipest concerning the daugh
ter Of NJ. Duchaine?" inquired Father
Antoine. looking at me keenly.
"Only custOmer-a stranger, mon,
! s!sas.- answered Ia sasE proprietor. 81
"You talk too much" said Pere An
toine roughly. "Now. monsieur" he
said. addressing me In fair English
what Is the nature of your busines.
that 1t can possibly concern either NJ
Duchaine or his daughter? Perhaps
can inform you, since he Is one Of my
pariShiOners."
my conversation was not with you
Monsieur lie Cure" l answered shortly
and left the shop.
had not gone three PAGES from the
door, however, when the priest. com
ing up behind me. placed huge hand
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent ef
| fort.
~ do not know what your bushes =.
is. monsieur" he said. "but If it were
an honest one you would state it to
me. If you wish TO see Nj. Duchaine
l am best qualSAed to assist you to dc
so, since l visit his chateau twice each
year to carry the consultations of re-
ligion to him and his people. But II
your business Is not honest 1t will fail
End 1t. then, and return to your own
country"
81 do not intend to discuss nv busi
ness with you. monsieur" answered
angrly.
He let me go and stood eyeing me
with his keen gtZe. I Jumped on a
passing car. but. looking back. l saw
him striding along behind 1t. SIe
seemed to walk as quickly as the ca,
| went through the crowded street, and
with no effort.
| found JacQueline in her room, look
Ing over her purchases and took her
down to dinner.
And here l had another discOncert.
! Ing experience, for hardly were we
seated when the inquiSitlve stranger
whom / had seen at the ferry came
into the dining room. and after n care
ful survey which ended as his eyes fell
on us, he took his seat at nn ada.
| cent table.
| Ill -