Year: 1877

EA09N
even managed his craving tools with good
deal of accuracy, copying designs which he
set her, until he wondered what his father
would have thought of so apt an apprentice.
Suddenly, one morning in midsummer,
Marie announced that she should leave
them. Her father was going on q long ex-
peditiOn for stones to the head of Lake Su-
perior, and she did not know when she
might return. As she impaired this in
| formation she watched Father Xavier from
the corner of her eye, and something of the
| old childish smile resppeared as he showed
that he was really annoyed.


The summer passed prOfitably for the
Black Beaver, and he began to think of re-
| turning to st. Ignaoe with his small store
| of valuable stones before the fall gales
should set in. He was just few days too
late. When within sight of Michillimacki-
mac storm arose, driving them out upon the
| open lake, and playing with their canoe as
though it were q cookie shell. When the
storm abated a cloudy night had set in; no
land was visible in any direction; they had
completely lost their direction, and knew
not toward which point to seek the shore.
Padding as hazard might take them fur
| ther out into the centre of the lake, and in
/ the storm to do any more than keep the
tossed skif from capsizing. Morning
dawned wet and gray, after miserable
night; they were drenched to the skin, and
/ almost spent with weArniness and hunger,
and now that wan and ghostly daylight
had come they were no better for it, for an
| impenetrable fog shut them in on every
side. Marie and her mother began to pray.
| The Black Beaver sat dogged and inert,
with upturned face, regarding the sky.
The day wore by YEARLY; some of
the time they padded straight onward,
with sinking hearts, knowing not toward
what they were going, and at others rested
| Irvfth fkn ~ tha
| position of the bright spot which meant the
sun told it lacked bat an hour of sunset,
and the clouds seemed to be thiokening
rather than dispensing, the Black Beaver
gave long and hideous howl. His wife
and daughter shuddered when they heard
it, as would any one, for more unearthly
| and discOrdant cry was never uttered by
man or beast; but they had double reason
to shudder; it was the death cry of their
nation.


"We can never live through another
| night" said he, and he covered his face
with his arms.


Father" said Marie, ''try what power
there is in the white mans God. Say that
you will give him your devil stone if He
will save us now"


"The priest may have it," said the Black
Beaver, and he uncovered his face and
sat up ,As though expecting q mira
ole. And the miracle came. The sun
was setting behind them, and in front,
somewhat above the horizon, the
clouds parted, forming a circle about q
white cross which hung suspended in the
air. They all saw it distinctly, but only for
q few moments; then the clouds closed and
the vision vanished. With new hope the
little party rowed toward the spot where
they had last seen IL, and through the fog
they could dimly discern the outlines of the
oOast-they we're nearing land. A little
further on and village was visible, which
gained more and more familiar aspect as
they approached. Night settled down be-
fore they reached it, but ere their feet
touched the land they had recognized the
mission Of st. Ignace. The cross was not a
vision. The clouds had parted to show
them the great white landmark and sign
which Father Ignatius had raised upon the
little knoll.


The next day the Black Beaver un-
eRrthed his devIl-stone, and fastening a
silver chain to it, was about to carry
it away and attach it to the cross,
which was alreaded loaded with the
gifts of the little colony; but Marie took it
from his hand. II will give it to the good
priest myself" she said. "He may see fit
to place it on the image of the Virgin in the
church."


few days later Marie placed the covet-
ed stone in Father Xavier's hand; but what
was his bitter disappointment to find that
she had marred the exquisite thing by
rude attempt at q delineation upon it OF the
vision of the CROSS She had carefully
ehiselled away the milky white layer, ex-
eepting on the cTests OF some very primi
tive representation of waves, and within
the awkwardly plain cross in the centre of
the gem. ALI his hopes of cutting face
upon this lovely jewel were crushed; it was
ruined by her unskillful work. Father Xa-
vier was completely master of his own emo
tinua Ha toOk the ntnna uithOut pau1ark
and hung it, as Marie requested, about the
neck of the Madonna. Each day as he said
mass the sight of the mutilated jewel
reused within him resentful feelings
against poor, well wishing little
Marie. He had been very kind to
her since he had first seen the stone
in the possession of her father, but now it
was worse than before. He avoided her
markedly, for the smile which 80 annoyed
him still lighted her face whenever she saw
him, and there was in 1t reprOachful sad
ness which was even more aggravating
than its simple childishness had been.


One day Father Xavier, in turning over
his papers, came across an old etching of
Venus rising from the sea. The figure,
with its Outstretched arms, suggested q
possibility to him. He made 9 careful
tracing Of it, took it to the church and laid
It upon the stone. All Of its outlines came
within the white cross; there was still hope
for the cameo. All that winter Father
Xavier toiled upon it, exhausting his ut
most skill, but never exhausting his pa
tience. His chief trial was in the extreme
hardness of the stone, which rap
idly wore ont his craving tools. At
last it was finished, and Father
Xavier confessed to himself, in all hu-
mility, that he had not only never executed
80 delicate piece of kmanship, but he
had never seen its equal. Every curve of
the exquisite hued waves was studied from
the swell that sometimes swept grandly IN
from the lake on the long line Of rocks a
few miles above st. lgnace. The form of
the goddess was modelled from his remem
branee of the Greek antique. 1t was gem
worthy of an emperor. What should he do
with it,


As the spring ripened into summer, am
bilious thoughts lowered in Pere Francis
Xavier's soul. What grand bish0pric
this whole Western country would make,
with its unexplored wealth of mines, and
furs and forest. Why should he be obliged
to make reports Of the revenue which his
own dnanciering had secured to the mission,
to the head at Montreal4 Why should not
his reverence the Lord Bishop Francis
Xavier dwell In an episcopal palace built
somewhere on these lakes, with unlimited
spiritual and temporal sway over all this
countryl To effect such a scheme it would
be necessary for him TO see both the King of
France and the Pope. He was net sure that
sven IL he could return to Europe immedi-
ately, he had the influence necessary in
either quarter, but the cameo was q step In
the right direotion. Something of the same
thought occurred ct the same time to the
RishOp Of Montreal. Father Xavier's re-
ports showed the mission 10 be 10 -four
ishinR condition. The first struggles Of the