Jackson County journal., 1919-09-05
CHAPTER X-Continued,

IN. Duchaine has been a recluse for
many years." he said, "and Of late his
mind has become affected. 1t is said
that he was implicated in the troubles
Of 1867, and that, fearing arrest, he
fled here and built this chateau in this
desolate region, where he would be
safe from pursuit. Solitude has made
a hermit of him and taken him out of
touch with the world of today.
II believe that Leroux has discov-
cred coal on his property, and by
threatening him with arrest has
gained a complete ascendency over
the weak-minded old man. However,
the fact remains that his daughter
was married by me to M. d'Epernay
some ten or twelve days ago at the
chateau.
MY duties took me to Quebec.
There l learned that Nine. d'Epernay
had fled on the night of her marriage,
and that her husband was in pursuit
of her. Again it was told me that she
was living at the Chateau Frontenac
with another man. 1t was not for me
to question whether she loved her hus-
band but to do my duty.
II appealed to you. You refused to
listen to my appeal. You threatened
me, monsieur. And you denied my
priesthood. I shall not help you in
the pursuit of her, M. Hewlett, for you
are actuated solely by love for the
wife Of another man. Is that not so?'
he ended, bending over me with a pen
etrating look in his blue eyes.
"Yes, it is so. But I shall 90 to
the chateau" I answered.
Pere Antoine rose up.
"YOu will find food here" he said
"and if you wish to take exercise
there are snowshoes. Try to find the
chateau-do what you please; but re
member that if you lose your way
shall not be here to save you. I shall
return from my mission in a week an(
be ready to conduct you to st. Boni
face. And now, monsieur, since wv
understand each other, shall prepare
the supper"
l swallowed few mouthfuls of foot
and fell asleep soon afterward. Ii
the morning when l awoke the cabil
was empty.
/ sIent the next two days recover
Ing ny strength, and on the thir,
found myself able to leave the hut fo
short tramp.
l found one Of the pistols in the hui
and in the pocket of my fur coat wer
a couple Of cartridges which I ha
overlooked. The rest 1 had fired ava
in my delirium.
Tho cabin was situated In q vale,
arour>d which high hills clustere,
Strapping on the snowshoes I set I
work to climb lofty peak whic
stood 1t no great distance.
1 must have turned off at a sligl
angle which took me some distant
out OF my course, for my progress WI
suddenly arrested by mighty wall
rock, sheer precipice that seemed
descend perpendicularly into the vs
ley underneath. Somewhere a torre
was roaring like miniature Niagar
l stopped to stare in admiratio
Far below me the narrow valley h,
widened into smooth, snow-coat
surface of lake.
And on point of land projecti
from the bottom Of that mighty wall
saw the chateau!
1t could have been nothing else.
WAS a splendid building-not lare
than the house of a country gent
man, perhaps, and maHe of hewn log
but the rude splendor of it agar
;hat Icy, rocky background transfx
me with wonder.
On each side Of the chateau a ca
ract plunged, yelling itself in an op
ity of mist, tinted with all the SD
trail hues by the rays Of the wester
sun.
Why, that position was impr
nabiel Behind it the sheer precip
- which not even a baEd could wa