Show N 2 fi fc A atory OP earry PARRISH As ay ACM A 0 co SYNOPSIS 2 adele la 19 Ches nayne a belle of wow new 11 france rance la is among amcie conspirators at lier her un lles iles house cession the has enlisted her uncle Ch catl Clip tl aa aid aa li la salle DArt cartigny igny IA salles idena offers his services as guide tocas to cas lona cahty party lanthe lourney journey to the fless the T 0 uncle u informs adele that he has baro betrothed t hecher hed her F 1 A an n 0 orphaned h Is girl joed e d r a against s her will by a coarse 0 r a im male 0 relative lve to marry a man a she h I 1 loathes 0 needs ti a good flood tand and k d is strong t g friend at this time amore in more than t h is n anything g else in Inthe the f w world I 1 d T to whom can she turn j f for fl friendship when sho ahe hils but 3 two acquaintances q young acne cartigny dArtt dArt igny gny frontiers ii man so and dae gentleman botleman ot leman of trance france and n d sister celeste at the atlie cona v vent rit ha how adele met I 1 her 5 elern cm in iskold 1 to la 1 in I this installment x x g CHAPTER II 11 continued yes monsieur oh youre sweet enough with words I 1 have heard board you before and found you a sly minx when my back was turned but this time it Is not I 1 alone who will watch your act octlona nc tlona lolis I 1 have pledged you a husband I 1 gotto got to my feet staring nt at him the indignant words stifled in my throat fie laughed coarsely and resumed his bis meal A husband monsieur you have pledged me ayl aal why not you are 17 and itis my place to see you yot well settled but I 1 have no wish to marry monsieur I 1 protested there Is no man for whom I 1 care ile ho shrugged lie his shoulders indifferently and laughed roohi it if I 1 waited for that no doubt you would pick out some cockerel without as much as a spur to his heel beel ile my choice not yours for I 1 know the world and the man you need monsieur carslon has asked mo me to favor him and I 1 think well of it Casslo Cass lonI nl surely you would not wed me to that creature ue he pushed back his chair regarding me with scowling eyes and where Is there a better eacret do you think yourself it a queen to choose als ITIs rare luck you yon have lipe such au an offer monsieur carslon Cass ln Is going to be a great man IU in th tf ev r france rance already he has the governors governors ear gae and b d a commission with ik a tidy sum to his credit in quebec whitt what more could any girl desire in it a husband but monsieur I 1 do not love him in I 1 do not trust the man pahl lie ile burst into a laugh rising from the table before I 1 could draw back he be had gripped me by the arm enough of 0 that young lady lie ile Is my choice and that settles settle a it level who ever heard of love now ah I 1 see you dream already of the young gallant DArt cartigny igny well little good that will do you why what Is he a mere ragged adventurer without a sou son to his name a prowling wolf of the forest the follower of a discredited fur thief but enough of this I 1 have told you my will and yo you u obey tomorrow we go to quebec to the governors ball and when monsieur carslon returns from his sills sacral do you think yourself a queen to choose slon elon you will marry him you under istad the tears were in my eyes blotting out ilia hlo threatening face yet there thera wis naught to do but answer yes monsieur and this dart gny if the fellow ever dares come near you again itt ill crush his white throat between my owe oas yes monsieur leur pl spur dooin then and think over fiu I 1 evv it MC 1 ewt l dwir found lap lyli 1 t I 1 wo warr mait a ij V no monsieur I 1 drew my arm from ills his grasp feeling lt it tingle with where his lingers fingers had cruFt crushed hed the flesh and crept lip the narrow stairs glad enough to get away and bo be alone I 1 had bad novar loved chevet but be had bad taught me to fear him for moro than once nonce bad I 1 experienced hla his brutality and physical power to him I 1 was but a chat an all incubi ubi ance he and assumed charge of me because the law so ordained but I 1 had found nothing in tits his nature on which I 1 could tely for sympathy I 1 was waa his bla sisters i child yet no tuoro more to him than some indian waif more he be was honest about it to ista mind he did well by me in thus aln a n husband I 1 sank on my knees and hid bid my iny face shuddering at alio thought of bo sacrifice demanded carslon Casslo sil I 1 never before had theman the man appeared so despicable yet what could I 1 do ut it was useless to appeal to achl et and the governor liti barre would world give small email heed to n girl objecting to one of hla his henchmen thennie Thenn the name me was on my lips before I 1 unrealized 1 I had spoken it and brought a throb of hope I 1 nrose arose to my feet and stared butof out of the window into the dark night my pulses t throbbed if he cared it I 1 only knew he cared 11 1 I would fly with him anywhere into the wilderness depths to escape Ca chaslon aslon but bow could 11 I 1 reach him with my tale into there was lint but one opportunity the governors ball lie ile would bei there he had and said so BO laughingly glancing toward me as he be spoke the words v the flash of his eyes a challenge nut but it would be difficult chevet cassion caslon not for a moment would they take eyes from me and if I 1 failed to trent treat him coldly an open quarrel must result chevet would be glad of hit an excuse and Cass lons jealousy would spur him on yet I 1 must try and lu in truth I 1 trusted not so much in monsieur dArM gnys interest in me ns as in his rp reckless ekless love of adventure atwould please him to play tin an audacious trick on la salles sallee en enemies emles and make carslon the butt of laug laughter liter CHAPTER 11 I 1 I 1 appeal for A aid ld it had bad been two years since I 1 was at quebec and it was with new eyes eye of appreciation that I 1 watched the great bristling cliffs as our boat glided silently past the shore and headed beaded la in toward the landing cassion met us attired so BO gayly in rich vestments that I 1 scarcely recognized the man whom I 1 had always seen before lu III dull forest garb yet I 1 permitted him to take tahe my hand and assist me gallantly to the shore it was evidently a galit gala day for flags and streamers were flying from every window of the lower town and the narrow crooked streets were filled with wanderers having no apparent business but enjoyment joy ment never had I 1 viewed so in ot a throng and I 1 could but aboud about with wide opened eyes on tho the strange passing figures figurea fig urea it was all of such interest I 1 was glad enough to be finally rid of him and be greeted so BO kindly by sister celeste three years have changed you greatly my child she said gently touching my iny cheeky with her soft hands but bright as your eyes are it Is not all pleasure I 1 see bee in them you must tell me of your life the older man I 1 ta take keilt lit was your uncle monsieur yes 11 1 I answered hut hesitated to add more lie Is much as I 1 bad pictured him a bear of the woods lie ile Is rough ll ii protested for his bis life basteen has bas been hard yet has given mo me no reason to complain tie because the life Is lonely that I 1 grow old no doubt and the younger gallant ile he Is not oftie forest school monsieur carslon Cas slon commis malre for the governor ahl itis through him you ton lave bave invitation vi to the great ball I 1 bowed my head wondering atcho the kind questioning inobe in the slaters sisters eyes could she bare heard beard the truth iler chance she might tell lell me ine something of the mau man lie has been selected sele eted by monsieur cile chevet evet an my cay bus husband band I 1 explained doubtfully know you aught of the fhe man sleter her band closed gently on raine mine no only that he has tia letia chosen by la harre barre to carry special message to the chevalier de la in the illinois country ile he hath bath an evil sneering tace face and ami an insolent manner even na as described to me by the bleur dar agny ugny 11 I 1 caught my breath quickly and my hand grasp tightened TUB the bleur I 1 echoed startled into revealing the truth alo has been here bere has talked with iou ion surely my benr girl jie ile was here with la salle balls before his bla chief balled for france and yesterday he cams came again and questioned roe me questioned you yes vos he rought ought knowledge of you of why you were in the household or of Cli chevet evet I 1 liked the young man and told old jilin a all 11 1 I of your bathur fath Br p death and the decree of 0 the atio court anti of how chayet compelled you to leave the convent I 1 felt him to be honest and true and that his purpose was Nv worthy orthy 11 sister you must hoar bear me ino I 1 said 1 I have no mother no friend even to whom to app appeal bah I 1 am just a girl all alone I 1 despise this man carslon Cn Cas salon slon I 1 do da not know why but tie lie seems seeing to bo be like a snake and I 1 cannot bear lite hl presence I 1 would rather lather tile die than marry him I 1 do not think chevit trusts him either but lie has sonic some hold J her hand closed gently on mine rind compels him to sell mo me no na though I 1 was a slave in the market I 1 urn am to be made to marry him I 1 pray you let me see this dArU guy that I 1 may tell him all and beseech his ald aid but why my girl what Is the boy to you nothing absolutely nothing 1 I 1 confessed frankly we ve have hav e scarcely spoken together but he be Is a gallant galiel it of truo true heart lie he will never refuse aid to 0 o a maid like me it will be joy for jilin him to outwit this enemy of la salle all I 1 ask Is that I 1 be permitted to tell him my story celeste sat ant silent her white hands clasped her eyes ou the stained glass window it was so still I 1 could hear bear my own quick breathing at lost hist she spoke her voice still soft and kindly 1 I hare bare no power child but I 1 will speak with the mother superior and repent repeat to her all I 1 have learned it shall be as she wills walt wait here and you may trust tile me to plead tor for you she seemed to fade from the room and I 1 glanced about seeing na change since I 1 was there before the same saine bare walls and floor the rude settee tile ho crucifix above the door and the one partially open window set deep in the stone wall soon I 1 was dimly aware that someone had bad entered the apartment it was the mother superior looking smaller than ever in the gloom and behind her framed in III the narrow doorway his eyes smiling as though in enjoyment of my confusion stood I 1 climbed down from tile bench feeling my checks burn hotly and made obes lance the mothers soft hand band rested on my hair and there was silence so deep I 1 heard beard the pounding indof of my heart 1112 hild 11 said the mother her voice low but clear illse that I 1 may see your ahl it has not so greatly changed in the years save that the eyes hold knowledge of sorrow bister celeste hath bath told me your story and lafit it ailt bebin bo eln for me to grant your request then must I 1 abide the penance for it Is in my heart to do so BO until I 1 send the slater sister you may speak alone with Xon monsieur dArtt d cartigny Art Igny gny she drew slightly aside and the young man bowed low lint hat in hand then stood erect facing me the light from the window on ills his face at your jour command mademoiselle he said eald quietly quiet Jy the mother tells me you have need of my services this hugo chavet lie be in IF a brute I 1 know la Is his abuse beyond endurance no no I 1 hastened to explain in his way he be Is bot unkind the truth la Is he be has bag lived so long in the woods woodi alone he be scarcely arcely ac speaks lie ile he would marry me to monsieur cassion Cas slon never will I 1 forget the look of sheer delight on his bis face na an these theao words burst from me ills ilia hand band struck the bench and het he tossed assed back the inua hair from his forehead his eyes merry with enjoyment all ah good by ar aft the oal sits ills even as I 1 hoped then have hare no fear of my sympathy mademoiselle noth ing ag could please we me like ike a clash with that perfumed galla gallant kit ile iio doth persecute you witt with his bid wooing ile he has not spoken save to chovet yet ret jt Is seemingly nl all without my being approached yo doubt vivy they are baud in clovo t J in the fur trade and the has ln barrer ear just now lie ile rode by yonder in tile carriage it moment since anti anil you might think from 11 lil bows bo be was the governor and this oil marriage when does docs it take place on monsie urs safe ante return from froin the great west ecat the smile came back to his big face not so bad that liar for ills a long journey anil and might bi be delayed I 1 travel with him you know and w we depart at daybreak what else did this hla chevet cheret have to say bay aly only a threat that if ever you came near me again its ills fingers would fee pel your throats throat monsieur lie ile apoka of hate between himself unit anil your father the eyes upon mine lost their tolerant smile and grew darker and I 1 marked the fingers of his hand belluch that wits was like enough for my iny tather father was little averse to a quarrel although he seldom made wast boist of it afterwards and so this thin hugo chevit threatened mel mei I 1 ani am not of tile the blood mademoiselle to take such things lightly yot yet wait why cattle came you to me with such a i tale have you no friends none monsieur I 1 answered gravely null and regretfully other than the nuns mins to whom I 1 went to school and they are arc useless in such a case 11 ile he walked across the room oner once twice his bla head bent lu in thought and I 1 watched liliu him halt half frightened lost lct I 1 had bad angered him have I 1 done very wrong mon men lie ile stopped his bis eyes on n suy my mee face lie ile must have perceived my perplex ity for lie he smiled again and pressed my hand gently if so the angels angela must judge lie ho answered stoutly As for me I 1 am very glad you do me this honor I 1 but seek the best bicet plan of service madem mademoiselle alselle for I 1 stand between you anti and tl this to sacrifice with much pleasure you shall not marry ceslou while I 1 wear n r sword 11 nut but not liot violence planning and scheming Is not roy my way nor am I 1 good at it A soldier of la salle needs more to understand action and abo VArtig ily breed has falth faith in steel I 1 seek no reli rel pt jet if occasion slon arise this ier ger of la barre will and fand nie m 30 quite ft ready I 1 know not what may occur I 1 merely pledge you my word of honor that carslon will no longer seek your hand tho the method you roust must trust to tome roe our eyes met and me iria were kind and smiling with a confidence in their depths that strangely heartened me before I 1 realized the action I 1 had garen him my hand 1 I do ado monsieur and question tio no more though I 1 pray for peace between you our time la Is up sister bister yes my child idie die stood in tile doorway appearing like sonic saintly linage image tile mother sent me cic DArt cartigny igny released my hand and bowed low 1 11 I 1 still rely upon your alten attendance danoe at the ball be asked lingering at the door yes imon imons Bleur leur and may bespeak a dance 1 I cannot say no although it may c cost 08 t 1 you on d dear eft r 11 lie he laughed gayly his bin eyes bright with iberri merriment ment falth roost most pleasures do I 1 find tile the world would lie be dull enough otherwise till then mademoiselle adieu we heard its his quick stop step ring on the stone of the passage pa anil and celeste smiled her hand baud on mine JA A lad ind of spirit that the bleur do dc lit la flable picks lite his followers well and knows loyal hearts the mover fall fail you know of them sister 1 hanew I |