Mountain advocate., 1919-10-03


"That is my overcoat voice." he ex
planned, stroking the child's head. "My
niece, monsieur BY the tone in which
/ call Madeleine knows whether It !,
my overcoat or my pipe or slippers
, that ] want, or whether am growing
hungry"
I thought that the captains hunger
voice must shake the rafters Of the
old building.
"And now, monsieur" he continued
seriously, when we had left the house,
'T am going to tell you as much as
I know concerning the plans of that
scoundrel In brief Il is known that
a party Of his friends has bees ysnr.
| tered for some time at the chateau;
they come and go, in fact, and now he
is either taking more or the same ones
back again, and God knows why he
takes them to so desolate a region,
unless, as the rumor is, he has dIscov.
cred coal fields upon the seigniory and
holds NJ. Duchaine in HIS power. We'll,
monsieur a party sails with Captain
Duhamel on tonight's tide, which VIII
carry me down the gulf also Captain
Duhamers boat is berthed at the same
pier rs mine upon the opposite side.
1--WE start together, then, but shall
expect TO gain several hours during
the four days journey, for know
the Claire well, and she cannot keep
pace with my Sainte-vierge. YOU
must bring your lady aboard the
Sainte-Vierge by nine tonight.
81 shall telegraph to my friend Dan.
ton at st. BOniface to have n sleigh
and dogs ut your disposal when you
arrive, and a tent, food and sleeping
bags" continued Captain Dubois, ''fot
It must be hundred and fifty miller
from ST. Bonlfnce to the Chateau Du,
chaine. And so, with half a day'S
start, you will have nothing to fear
from LerOux-only remember that he
has no scruples. Still l do not think
he will catch you and Mile Jacqueline
before you reach Chateau Duchaine,"
he ended, chucklIng at his Uagacity.
"Ah, well, monsieur, who else could
your lady be?" he asked, smiling at my
surprise. IT knew well that some day
she must leave those wilds. Besides
did l not convey her here from st
Boniface on my return, less than
week ago, when she pleaded for Sc
crecy? I suspected something agitat
ed her then. So II was to find hus
band that she departed thusT"
So Jacquellne had left her home moi
more than a week before! And the
captain had no suspicion that she was
married thenl Yet Pere Antoine
claimed to have performed the cere
mony.
To whom7 And where was the mai
who should have stood in my place
and shielded her against Leroux?
made Dubois understand, not with.
out difficulty, that we were still un
married. His face fell when he re-
allied that l was in earnest, but after
a little he made the best of the stu.
alton, though II was evident that some
of the glamour was scratched from
the romance, in his opinion.
BY now we had arrived at the wharf
Wedged in among the foes lay the
Claire and the Sainte-Vierge respec.
lively. The latter vessel lay upon our
right as we approached the end Of the
wharf.
There was a small cabin for Jacque-
line and another for myself adjoining
was very well satisfied and inquired
the terms.
"Diable! If II were not for the chill
dren there should be no termsw ex
claimed the captain. But it is hard
monsieur with prices rising and the
hungry mouths always open, like little
birds"
He was overjoyed at the eight Of
the fifty dollars which / rendered him
by the way" said, do you know
a priest named Pere Antoine"
IAN old man? A strong old mar.
Why, assuredly, monsieur" answered
the captain. Everybody knows him
He has the parish Of the Rlyiere d'0i
district and the largest in Quebec. A
saint, monsieur! You will do well to
make his acquaintance"
Inc Suptulu puIlSu I'on me Oi Iiie
wharf on his way to the telegraph
office, repeating his instructions to the
effect that we were TO be aboard the
boat by nine.
II had grown dark long before ane
looking Mt my watch. / wal surprised
to see that II was already past siI
o'clock. had no time to iOse in re-
turning to the Chateau.
But though / could see II outlined
upon the cliff soon found myself lOsi
among the maze Of narrow streets IN
which | was wandering. A man was
coming ZIP the street behind me, and
| turned to question him, but az l de
creased my pace he diminisheS his
also, and when Quickened mine ne
went faster as well. ] began TO have
an uneasy sense that he might be fol
lowing me. and accordingly FASTENED
Onward until came 10 a road which
seemed TO lead up the hill toward the
ramparts.