Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1922-03-09
Pierre Rideau's
"Treachery''
tN issl, western N,wsp.per u.,o. ,
~ CELIA ROSE

Helene sat In her little room In the
convent. straining her ears for the
sound OF the owls hoot without. She
had packed her few possessions In q
bag; everything was ready for her
secret departure from the only home
that she had known during the past
eight years Of her life.
Bereft Of her mother at the age OF
twelve. her father, q wealthy manu-
facturer Of Montreal. had placed her
In the care Of the nuns Of st. Anne.
True. twice year he had paid her
flying visit.
So the years had rolled by happily,
and then, ten months before, her fa-
Their had appeared some weeks before
he was due.
Helene" he said to her. "you are 4
woman now and ready to take your
place In society. have arranged q
wealthy marriage. for you."
Then he went on to tell her that
she was to marry Pierre Rideau. the
only son Of his great business rival.
within year. His Arm had been
forced into tight position. he con-
fessed, old Rideau held the trump
cards; nevertheless. Rideau was will
ing to make an alliance between the
two houses and thus convert enmity
into friendship. So II was all ar
ranged.
Then Helene burst into tears,
begged to be allowed to spend her life
In the convent that was so dear ia
her, and finally Indignantly refused to
he bartered thus. Her father went
away In fury.
That was three weeks before, and
now the last week Of her stay ut the
convent was drawing near. And mean.
while wonderful thing had happened
SO wonderful Helene could hardly con,
vince herself that IL ~as true. Shs
was In love and she WAS loved.
1t had come about In the strangest
way. Helene had been gathering win.
tergreen In the great forests. and sud
denly she had come upon yOune
man, bent on the same errand, In the
same path. And. seeing her. he ap
preached respectfully and asked her t.
direct him to the Point st. Charles
since he was lost. 1t turned out that
he was an artist from Quebec. and was
spending the late fall there, to re-
cover his health. Helene showed him
and when She had done so he must
needs walk hack with her again
So they met again and again, Helene
reckless now, with her departure at
hand, and he evidently falling more
and more deeply in love with her
And then one day ne had been unable
to restrain his emotions. and. falling
upon his knees pressed her hands to
his lips and covered them with kisses,
and begged for permission to tell her
of the sentiments in his heart.
When she had timidly hidden him
arise, and he. growing more bold, had
taken her In his arms and kissed her,
Helene. faIteringIy, told him her
story.
"Why. that Is easy" he cried. Come
with me and I will take thee on my
sledge to Montreal, and there wei will
be married.
Then he made the proposition which
thrilled her with its daring What ties
bound her! he asked Was not their
love the most precious thing In the
worId3
And suddenly, as she recalled this.
and waited, half hoping. half dreading.
she heard the call Then she fastened
the cord to the bed. as he had told
her, and. taking her little bag, she
flung II down on the soft snow. A
moment later. desperately daring.
Helene found herself swinging out into
space and down to two arms up-
stretched to her.
Then. lying In his arms, all the past
became blank to her.
At the bend of the road his sleigh
was waiting. Her lover placed her in
the sleigh and leaped In beside her, and
soon they were travelling merrily over
the frozen ground.
The forest ended; now they trav-
eled more swiftly. A delicious drowsi-
ness overcame Helene.
She awOke with a start to find that
they were entering the suburbs Of q
large city. She had not even asked
where he was taking her until the
sleigh stopped at the door Of man.
sion. brilliantly lighted, set In q large
garden. Then her lover leaped from
his seat and the bell peaIed the door
few open and on the threshold her IA
Their stood
She sprang to the ground. terrified,
overcome with anguish at this treach.
cry. But, returning her lover took her
gently In his arms once more and
kissed her.
M IIioera u idoa. IN sniA