The Elbert County tribune., 1919-06-20
CHAPTER .v-continued.
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@
/ could not but connect him with
our presence there. Leroux was due
to arrive at any moment I realized
that great issues were at stake, that
the man would never cease In his at
tempts to get hold of Jacquellne. Only
when / had returned her to her IA
TIERS house would l feel safe from
him
After dinner l had some conversa-
ton with one of the hotel clerks. /
discovered that st. Boniface 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 1 believe he
makes his next trip in couple of
days"
He gave me the captains address,
and / resolved TO call on him early the
following day and make arrangements.
terrace, and while we walked l pom
dered over the problem. Jacqueline
was very quiet, and 1 wondered what
she remembered. l 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. 1t seemed to me.
One wore the cassock of priest,
and 1 could have sworn that he was
Pere Antoine; the other resembled the
suspicious stranger. AS we drew near
they moved behind pillar. Thus, In
exorably. the chase drew near.
My suspicious received confirmation
few minutes later, for we had hardly
reached our rooms, and 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. I hard
thought it would be the stranger but
it was the priest.
invited him to enter and he came
in and stood with his fur cap on his
head, looking direfully at me.
We'll, monsieur. what is the pur-
pose of this visit?' asked
ITO tell you" he thundered, "that
you must give up the unhappy woman
who has accompanied you here"
''That Is precisely what l intend to
doi' 1 answered.
ITO me- .le>said. "Her husband"
1 felt my brain whirling. l knew
now that had always cherished
hope. despite the ring-what a fool
had been.
"I married them." continued Pere
Antoine.
Where IL he?" l demanded.
He appeared disconnected. I gath
cred from his stare that he had sup
posed l knew.
Chis is a Catholic country" he
went on more qdie.ly. "There is NO
divorce; there can be none Marriage
is sacrament. Shining as she is"
/ placed my hand On his shoulder
81 will not hear any more" said.
"Gol" I pointed toward the door.
Il am going to take her away with
me-" he said. and crossing the thresh-
old into the corridor placed one hand
on the door of Jacqueline's room.
/ got there first. thrust him vio-
lently aside-it was like pushing a
monument-turned the key, which
happily was still outside. and put 1t In
my pocket.
81 am ready to deal with her hus-
band" I said. 81 am not ready to
deal with you. Leave at once or
will have you arrested, priest or no
priest. How do know she has hus-
band? How do know you are not In
league with her prosecutors? How do
know you are a priest at all?"
He seemed amazed at the violence
Of my manner.
'|rhis Is the first time my priesthood
has been denied" he said quietly.
-Well, have offered you your chance.
! cannot use violence. II you refuse
! you will bring your own punishment
upon your head. and hers on that Of