Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-22

he were a Judge OF such anairA, and
he considered himself to be that,
Tache WAS a long way from realixa-
ton OF his desires. even t&&lhg
ToInette's tender years into condder-
alton. She granted him no favOrs.
There had actually seemed to be =
GOODNESS in her attitude toward him.
Peters words stirred Jeems With
satisfaction which he did not let the
other see, and not until he was on his
way home did he pull himself from
the folly OF his thoughts about Toinette-
Even II she were not smiling on Tache
as warmly as he had supposed, he
knew she was rs far removed from
earth. Yet. Ms time went on. this fresh
contact with her presence, though he
had not seen her. gave determined
Impetus to his plans for the future.
himself a splendid enemy where fate
had ordained that he could not he
friend. With increasing maturity civ
ing to him deeper and mere under
standing passion fer his mother. and
fuller comprehension Of the noble
qualities In his father. he was harassed
by confiiction Of emotions WHICH be re
vealed to neither. and e0nfidAd only
turned from his trip. The diff.
Guilty, of solving the problem which
confronted .ieens awas as great for
GATHERINGS brother us il would have
been for Catherine herself. for as
early as the spring of l7l3. when
Jeems had passed his sixteenth year.
there was no Logger doubt in the
minds of the peairfes Of the Colonies
and New France as TO the surety OF
the struggle which was impending
/ While France and England were Off
ciaily 1T peace the forces Of tie two
countries In America were on the
verge of open war and were instigat-
| Ing the indians To strife Of ex-
| termination. Everywhere along the
unprotected frontiers the Indians were
| killing and burning and such vast
sums were being expended by both
! sides for human hair TINT scores of
white men had taken up the lucrative
business of bunting for scalps.
| Almost ut the door to Jeems' home,
war preparations were in progress,
| for every landed baron along the Rich
| ellen was training his vassa farmers.
/ and when the wind was right the
Rulains could hear family the twice-a-
/ week firing Of mnskets at Tonteur
| manor. BEING free af the seigneural
/ protection and laws. Henri did not 70
to drill Nnr did .Ieems. Yet Ton
! feur rode frequently To their home,
/ especially when Hepsibah was there.
! He was In better spirits than usual.
and 1t was all on account Of Toinette.
1 he said She was homesick for the
Richelieu Her letters TO him were
i filled with d longing for 1t, and she
/ declareV that. III another twelve
months. when her schooling would be
finished. she wanted to live at the
| manor and not In Quebec. That was
enough to make him happy. and he
| laughed the thought Of danger for
womenfok along the Richelieu--in
| the fortified places. The English and
their savages would not get nearer
plain when war came !. and they would
be driven from there very shortly.
| and also from Lake George. But on
| such an outlying farm as the Bulain
place, which had M protection whHtT
! ever. there was the possible peril of
wandering scalp hunters and he never
tired OF urging Henri and Catherine
to make their home within the safety
OF the seigneurie.
He asked Jeems and Henri to come
to his drill. and that they did not re-
spond made no difference in his friend
ship lie could understand how hard
1t would be for Henri to prepare for
war against his wIfe's country. and his
secret alteration for Catherine was
greater because of her courage and
her faith In both peoples with the
| catastrophe so near II delighted him
TO think that his own confidence was
comfort TO her, and the eagerness
with which she accepted his opinions
as soldier encouraged him to 20 be-
yond what Hepsibah considered In.
telligent bounds In giving easement to
her mind. He did not guess what was
In Jeems' heart. nor did the boys IA
Their or mother. Only Hepsibah knew
fully what was there.
Early In the autumn. the trader took
Jeems on journey to the English fort
on Lake George, thence travelling into
the New York country. returning In
November. They found change In
! Catherine She was not less confident
or less contented In the paradise she
was helping to build. but something
had come into her life which she was
accepting hravely and courageously
and even with pride. One evening. she
spoke OF the military activities along
the Richelieu. Many river youths
were training with their elders. she
said, and 1t did not seem right that
1eems should not be among them.
While killing was wicked and mex
! ruCahlo II MOE rnI r,fvoy, .rgvila0n