The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-08-29

feather goods were sold. situated ~
a dark, clean-shaven face was benin,
the counter. He came forward courte
ousIy as | approached.
ID YOU remember" | asked, "sell
ing a collar TO young lady recently
no. some long time ago-a dog collar
| mean? This was the plate" Then
remembered Il name l.erOux had USED
and aung il out AT random. 81 think
it was for a Mile. Duchaine." | added
The shot went home.
"Ah, monsieur. ! remember perfect
~" answered the proprietor, both
from the unusual nature Of the collar
and from the fact that there was some
difficulty in delivering IT,. There was
no post Office hearcr the SeigniOry than
-. BOniface, where ii lay unclaimed
for a long time. I 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. 1T is the Oldest OF the
seigniories," he continued. "In fact, it
has never passed out OF the hands Of
the descendants of the original owners,
because it is almost .u%ninhabltable in
winter, except by Indians"
How would n reach the %chateau?"
"ln summer" he replied. "One might
ascend the Riviere d'Or in a canoe for
half the distance. until one reached
the mountains, and then" He
shrugged his shoulders. II 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 lS67--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 NJ. 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 a
priests soutane. but he did not look like
a priest-he looked like a mans bend
on a 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 d~eferentially. fixing his
eyes rather timidly upon the old
priests face.
"Eh bien, who Is this with whom
thou gossipest concerning the dauah-
ter of M. Duchaine?" inquired Father
Antoine, looking at me keenly.
"Only q customer stranger, mon
sieur," answered the proprietor, rub
bing his hands together.
"You talk too much" said Pere An
tome roughly. "Now. monsieur" he
said, addressing me in fair English,
what is the nature of your business
that 1t can possibly concern either M.
Duchaine or his daughter? Perhaps !
can inform you, since he is one of my
parishioners."
MY conversation was not with you,
Monsieur lie Cure" / answered shortly
and left the shop.
I had not gone three PAGES from the
door, however, when the priest, COM
ing up behind me, placed a huge hand
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent eff
fort.
II do not know what your business
Is, monsieur" he said, but If 1t were
al honest one you would state 1t to
me. If you wish to see Nj. Duchaine
/ am best qualified to assist you to do
so, since l visit his chateau twice each
year to carry the consultations of re-
ligion to him and his people. But IL
your business Is not honest it will fail.
End 1t, then, and return to your own
country"
81 do not intend to discuss m busi-
ness with you, monsieur" / answered
angrily.
He let me go and stood cycling me
with his keen gaze. jumped on a
passing car, but, looking back. l saw
him striding along behind it. He
seemed to walk as quickly as the car
went through the crowded street, and
with no effort.
/ found J%acqueline in her room, look.
Ing over her purchases, and took her
down to dinner.
And here / had another discomfort.
ing experience, for hardly were we