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

leather goods were SOLD. situated q
St Joseph street A young man with
q dark. clean-shaven face was behind
the counter. He came forward courte-
ously as approached.
do you remember" asked. "sell.
ing collar to young lady recently.
no. some long time ago-a dog collar,
mean2 This was the plate" Then
remembered name Leroux had used
and flung 1t ont at random. II think
1t was for Mile. Duchaine." added.
The shot went home.
"Ah. monsieur, 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 II. There was
no post Office nearer the seigniory than
st. Boniface, where II lay unclaimed
for long time. think mademoiselfe
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had diedI"
where Is this seigniory?"
"The seigniory of NJ. Charles Du.
chaine?" he answered. looking curl
ously at me. ut 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 1t is almost uninhabitable in
winter. except by Indians"
How would one reach the chafeau7"
I'm summer" he replied. lone might
ascend the Riviere dor in a 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 one would fly
You see, NJ Duchaine is a hermit"
he continued. "Once. so my father
used to say. he was one of the gayest
young men in Qusbec. 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, 1t makes no difference, be-
cause. since she left the convent of
the Ursulines here In Quebec. where
she was educated. her father keeps her
Mt the chateau, and you are not likely
10 set eyes on NJ. Charles Duchaine's
daughter"
A sudden stoppage in his flow d{
words, an almost guilty look upon his
face. as new figure entered the little
shop. directed my attention toward the
stranger.
He was IN old man Of medium size,
very muscularly built. stout, and with
enormous shoulders. He wore, q.
priests soutane. but he did not look like
priest-he looked like q mans head
| on n 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.
"Bojour. Pere Antoine" said the
shopkeeper deferentially. fixing his
eyes rather timidly upon the old
priests face. 4,
"Eh biep, who Is this with whom
thou gossipest Concerning the daugh.s
ter of NJ. Duchaine?" inquired Father.
Antoine. looking at me keenly. ss
"Only customers stranger, p1niss,
sieur.n answered the 6r02fiefe
(s6ing nfs SlldAsse eIhefs - 5S
"You talk too much p said n sss AZ 1
toine roughly. Now. monsie( C
said, addressing me In fair MEL,
'what Is the nature Of your bul
that 1t can possibly concern ei.h& n
Duchaine or his daughter7 PerhaE 4
can inform you, since he Is one Of III
parishioners."
my conversation was not with you,
Monsieur lie Cure" answered shortly
and lett the shop.
had not gone three PAGES from the
door. however. when the priest, COM
ing up behind me, placed q huge hand
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent ef-
fort.
II do not know what your business
Is, monsieur" he said, "but II 1t were
an honest one you would state 1t to
me. If you wish to see Nj. Duchaine
I am best qualsAed to assist you to do
| 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 1t will fail.
End 1t, then, and return to your own
| country"
* do not intend to discuss my bust.
ness with you. monsieur" answered
| angrily.
He let me go and stood eyeing me
with his keen gffze. jumped on Va
passing car. but. looking back, I saw
him striding along behind 1t. lie
seemed to walk as quickly us the car
| 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 nm ada
cent table.
II Hewlett makes arrange