Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-06-20
CHAPTER VIII.
Dreams of the Night.

Dreams of the Night.
Jacqueline and 1 were together, the
only human beings within a score Of
miles. We were seated side by side
in the sleigh at which the dogs pulled
steadily.
The mystery of Jacqueline's rescue
by Captain Dubois had been a simple
one. The young man with the mus
tache was certain Philippe Lacroix,
well known to Dubois, member Of a
good family but of dissOlute habits
just such a one as Leroux found 1t
convenient to attach to his political
fortunes by timely financial aid.
There was no doubt that he had
been in New York with Leroux, and
that they had hatched the plot to kid
nap Jacqueline after had been struck
down.
Fortunately for us, Lacroix, igno-
rant, as was Leroux himself, that the
two ships had exchanged roles and du-
ties, took Jacqueline aboard the
Sainte-Vierge, where Captain Dubois,
who was watching in anticipation of
Just such scheme, seized him and
marched him at pistol point to the
house on Paul street, In which Lacroix
was kept a prisoner by friends of Du-
5ois until the Sainte-Vierge had sailed.
Dubois left US at st. Boniface with
q final caution against Ieroux. and
proceeded along the shore with his
bags of mail but first he had a salts
factory conversation with M. Danton
concerning us.
Danton, who of course knew Jacque-
line, took the opportunity of assuring
me that her father, though recIuse
and misanthrope who had not left
his seigniory for forty years, was said
to be q man of heart and would un-
doubtedly forgive us. He was clearly
under the impression that we were
married, and since Dubois had not en-
lightened him ON this point did not
do so.
NJ. Danton had his sleigh and eight
fine-looking dogs ready for US. pur-
chased these outright in order to carry
no hostages. We took with us several
days supply of food, q little tent,
sleeping bags and frozen fish for the
animals.
1t was a strange situation. 1t might
easily have become an impossible one.
But it was sacred comradeship, refined
above the love of friend for friend, of
lover for lover, by her faith, her help
lessness and need.
think that she liked best to sit be-
side me in the narrow sleigh and lean
against my shoulder, her physical
weariness the reflection of her spirit
ual unrest. She did not want to think
and she wanted me to shield her.
But even in this solitude fear drove
ME on, for 1 knew that relentless
enemy followed hard after us, camp
ing where we had camped and reading
the miles between us by the smolder
ing ashes of our Old fires.
At nightfall I would pitch the tent
for Jucqueline and place her sleeping
bag within, and while>she slept would
lie by the huge fire near the dogs, anC
we kept watch over her together.
SO passed three days and nights.
The fourth short day drew toward
its end a little after four O'Clock.
remember that we camped late. fol
the sun had already dipped to the leve
horizon and was casting black, mile
long shadows across the snow.
hammered in the pegs and built ;
fire with dry boughs, collecting a guam
tity of wood sufficient to last unit
morning. Then Jacqueline made te,
and we ate our supper and crept int,
our sleeping bags and lay down.
l could not still my mind. The I'M
certainty ahead of us, the knowlede
Of Leroux behind tried me sorely. an,
only Jacqueline's need sustained m
courage.
As 1 was on the point of droppiu
asleep 1 heard lone wolf howl fror
afar, and instantly the pack took a
the cry. One Of the dogs, a grear
tawny beast who led them, crep
toward me and put his head down b
mine, whimpering. The rest roame
ceaselessly about the fire, answerin
the VOLTS challenge with deep, vol
like baying.
l drew my pistols from the pocket
Of my fur coat. 1t was pleasant |
handle them. They gave me assu
ance. We were two fugitives in a Ian
where every mans hand might /
against us, but at least l had IL
means to guard my own.
Jacqueline glided out of the tel
and knelt beside me, putting her arm
about the dogs neck and her heI
upon its furry coat. The dogs love
her and she seemed always to unde
stand their needs.
Paul, there Is something wroI
with them," she said, her hand still c
ressing the name of the great bea:
who looked at her with pathetic eye
"What is wrong with them, JacQu
Hne" l asked.
She raised her head and looked sa
'ly at me. "It is l, Paul." she a
gwered.
You Jacqueline"
"Yes, 1t Is II" she cried with su
den, passionate vehemence. 'Tt is
who am wrong and have broug