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

st. Joseph street young man with
a dark, clean-shaven face was behind
the counter. He came forward cOurte-
ouSly as / approached.
do you remember" I asked, "sell-
ing collar to young lady recently
no, some long time ago-a dog collar,
mean? This was the plate" Then ]
remembered name Leroux had used
and flung it out at random. Il think
it was for a Mile. Duchaine," / added.
The shot went home.
"Ah, monsieur, I 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 it lay unclaimed
for long time. think mademoiselle
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had died"
"Where is this seigniory?"
"The seigniory Of NJ. Charles Du-
chaine" he answered. looking curl
ously at me. "It 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 it Is almost uninhabitable IN
winter. except by Indians"
"How would one reach the chateau?"
''In summer" he replied. zone might
ascend the Riviere dor in canoe for
half the distance. until one reached
the mountains, and then" He
shrugged his shoulders. 81 do not
know. Possibly one would inquire Of
the first trapper who passed In au-
tumn. In winter ope would fly
"You see, NJ. Duchaine is 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 bien, It makes no difference, be.
cause, since she left the convent OF
the Ursulines here in Quebec, where
she was educated. her father keeps her
at the chateau, and you are not likely
to set eyes on M. Charles Duchaine's
daughter"
A sudden stoppage In his flow Of
words, an almost guilty look upon his
face, as a 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
priests soutane. but he did not look like
a 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" said the
shopkeeper deferentially; fixing his
eyes rather timidly upon the old
priests face, - 4
t:'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
sietr," answered the proprietor. rub,
hlng his hands together. -
lyon talk too mud =, said PeFs An
toine roughly. ,eNow. monsienr.v hi
I said, addressing me In fair English
/ what Us the nature OF your businesi
that 1t can possibly concern either NJ
Duchaine or his daughterf Perhaps
cad Dinform you, since he is one Of my
parishioners."
"Afy conversation was not with you
Monsieur lie Cure" 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 haIit
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent ef
fort.
81 do not know what your business
is, monsieur" he said, "but If 1t were
an honest one you would state 1t to
me. If you wish to see M. Duchaine
I am best QualSAed to assist you to dc
so, since 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 it will fail
End 1t, then, and return to your own
country"
81 do not intend to discuss my busi.
ness with you, monsieur" answered
angrily.
He let me 60 and stood cycling me
with his keen gaze. I jumped on a
passing car. but, looking back, I saw
him striding along behind 1t. He
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 had another disconcert.
ing experience. for hardly were we
seated when the inquisitive stranger
whom I had seen at the ferry came
into the dining room, and after a care
full survey which ended as his eyes fell
on us, he took his seat at an ada
cent table.
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