OCR Text |
Show A7 T TT7 v 1. THE TOOELE BULLETIN, TOOELE, UTAH. (Copyright, 191 by George H. Doran Ool) CHAPTER XI L Mario Awakes. Hilary heard from Madeleine almost daily, bet they seldom met Once or twice they made an appointment, but both hated the thought of clandestlo-tty- , and Hilary realised the need of concentrating all his thoughts upon hla work. Dupont had made three more voyages, and Baptiste, who kept out of sight, had given complete satisfaction. The lumber had brought unexpectedly good prices, and there was now a probability that before navigation dosed Hilary would be in a position to carry on till spring. When the winter cutting began, and there was more leisure, Hilary meant to fight out the issue with Boany. The old man was still partly paralysed, and he had made no reference of any kind to what had occurred, but hla mind was quite dear, and, Madeleine thought, his . memory. L -- Toward the middle of the month the newly discovered spruce supply had an been lumbered. Success seemed now almost assured. Dupont was getting ready to make his lost voyage. The snow was not yet deep enough for the teams to be sent Into the woods, and Hilary turned his thoughts once more to the Island, more from eagerness to explore that part of his domain than from any thought of cutting there that winter. Hilary was in his office one day when there came a tap at the door, and, to his astonishment, In walked Louis DuvaL The little liquor-selle- r approached him in an Ingratiating manner. Monsieur Askew," he sold, I am very I have been sorry for that night away. Now I come back, and Monsieur Tessler tells me that you forgive. Now I come to thank you. That's all right Louis," said Hilary. Tou are forgiven, as long as you keep out of that trade of yours. Its a bad business when Its run In the Ste. Marje way. Louis Duval 'sniffed contemptuousAnd ly. Tm out, he announced. Simeon's out And he say he hope Them felyou dost bear lows never pay us a cent An' I got my head busted open too," he added reflectively. Hilary sprang to his feet and took the little man by the arms. Do you mean to tell me Brousseau offered you money to open a saloon In St Boniface?" he asked. Sure he did. lie said If I open he set me up, an' he pay me two hundred dollars more If those fellows kill you. Good Lord ! Is that all Tm worthf asked Hilary. "Oh It ain't that answered Louis. I guess youre worth more than that much. But Pierre an' Leblanc, they ernsy to kill you, because you thrash Pierre an you take, away Leblancs business. an his family starve. Maybe he pay them too; maybe they pay him to let them. I don know. But Pierre on Leblanc swear they get you yet An' Simeons out of the game. An I want to tell you something, Monsieur Askew, if you won bust my head open again. ' Tour heads quite safe, Louis. What is That damn Brousseau promise me two hundred for the other Job an only pay me fifty. What other Job?" For' to get them fellows to saw your boom, monsieur. So it was sawed, was It?" demanded Hilary furiously. Yes, monsieur. I get three fellows bum the south shore, an I fell Into the water an got rheumatlz, an pay ten dollars for medicines, an that damn Brousseau ' ' Louis, will you sign your name to ' at him curiously. He had several times web that strangled the normal life of her kind she was below normal noticed a certain furtiveness In their the man. Jules Dupont never one of tality. When her lover, who regard, but had each time ascribed It to imagination and dismissed the matter. He did so again. He was walking back when he saw a boy outside the office. Captain Dupont says he is ready to sail, monsieur, he said. Tell him Im coming down to speuk to him, said .Hilary. He went toward the wharf. Dupont was talking to Baptiste. As he approached, Hilary saw the two cense their conversation and look at him. Then Baptiste walked slowly away toward his vessel. Dupont, who had Just received the mestqige from the boy, stood motionless where he had been, waiting. Hilary became suddenly conscious of an atmosphere of hatred. When he reached Dupont the old man eyed him with the same searching and malignant stare that he had given him on tlie occasion of their first encounter. But now the eyes tluit biased a foot from hla own did not relax their gaxe. There was a menace there, Immediate and hostile, though the face was immobile. It flashed through Hilarys mind that the old man was mad, that his long had at last broken the fragile brooding ' vessel of the inlnd. Disregarding the captains look, Hilary explained briefly the matter on which he had come. All the while he spoke Dupont continued eyeing him. Hilary began to feel uneasy. Well, Is that clear? he Inquired. That much Is cleat," answered Dupont reluctantly. Well, whats the matter, then?" demanded Hilary Bharply. Suddenly he perceived that the old mans face was twisted with passion. Ills expression was so fanatical that Hilary thought he was going to attack him. But then the face resumed Its mask Without a word, Dupont again. swung onto the ship and left him. Baptistes vessel was moored next to the wharf. As Dupont crossed It to reach his own, Hilary saw Baptiste on deck, bending over a tarpaulin. The two men did not speak, and Hilary, moved by a sudden Impulse, walked the length of the. wharf and accosted the little Frenchman.' Baptiste, he said, some time ago I told you I didnt know whether you had any knowledge about the cutting of my boom or not. I want to say Fin sorry. I know that you had none, and I shouldnt buve spoken as I did. And he put out his hand. Baptiste looked up. The little manB He face was like a thundercloud. clenched and unclenched his fists fiercely, muttering. Then he dashed Hilarys hand aside with his. I dont shake hands with you!" he cried, and the tears begun to strenm - itr , . that?", O sure, if you get them fellows aa Brousseau first, replied the little man, edging toward the door. - Finding that he was not pursued, he halted. You Keep Out of My Way or i Kill Youl" Monsieur Askew, I down his cheeks. Tou keep out of Job, he said. fishing Hilary thought this was a character- my way, or I kill you. istic occupation for Louis to take up, . And he rushed below, leaving Hilary it afforded him several months utterly nonplussed at his behavior. O O 0 0 0 0 0 of idleness before the Ashing season When Brousseau, driving furiously "Tou have a boat?" he asked, re- homeward from the Chateau, reached the Is- the cottage of Jules Dupont, he saw membering, his plan 1to lt land. the solitary figure of the girl Marie New sails seated outside the door. He let his O sure, said Louis. an rudder all new except the boat horse rest for a breathing spell before A vei fine boat monsieur. continuing up the hill, doffed his hat ' Could you take Mr. Connell and and saluted her. Bonjour, Mademoiselle Dupont," he myself over to the Island and back tomorrow? called heartily. Bonjour, Monsieur Brousseau," she I think so, monsieur, if the sea answered too mechanically. high. running aint Brousseau had never been able to Be ready with your boat at one, force a smile 'from her lips. For a said Hilary. It was practically his last chance long time be had dreaded this silent for six months of visiting the island. girl, then he had ceased to think about He sent a messenger with a note to her; of late he had again begun to Lafe at the camp, asking him to be hate the presence of that lonely figure Then he upon the porch, which was always In' St Boniface at noon. wrote his dally letter to' Madeleine. there whenever he drove Into St BoniHe mentioned his projected Journey, face or back to his garish house by the but nothing else, except his love and seashore. ' The cure had not told Hilary all that his hopes, which were weighty enough. As he entered the store to mall it related to the' old Captains history. there he thought the But the thread of madness that linked in the letter-boloafers seated about the place looked him to the past' was spreading into a gone back to my sm ye-vls- x A many words, had been more sullen and morose than ever of late. During the past week Marie had been terrified at the way her father looked at her. He had never meant very much to her and now, when he was about to puss out of her life, she felt no regret Her mind went traveling back to her earliest memory. She was on the seashore with her mother, watching for the return of the flailing fleet and her fathers boat and on the shingle lay the sailing boat of a young student from Quebec whom she had seen often at their cottage during her fathers absence. Tlie young man was laughingly Inviting her mother to go for a snIL At last the girl consented. The sail was a very long one. Little Marie, who had fallen asleep, was awakened by the sound of her mothers screaming and the young students laughing protestations that It was too lute In the day to return now. She did not understand all that was said, and her next memory was of a squalid lodging In Quebec, and her mothers face, and a sen Re of men- lmd brought her to Ste. Marie, abandoned her, site worked in a large and cheap lumliennen's summer boardinghouse. Tlerre promised her that the mnn would return to her If she obeyed him. She met Marie upon the beach, and insinuated herself into her confidence. At last she took her to Simeon's dance ball. The lights, the dancing and the music were a revelation to her. On the first night she cried from happiness. Wholly ignorant of life, her Innocence protected her and scaled her consciousness. And Simeon's place was better In the early summer of that year than afterward, and some of the lumbermen would bring their sweethearts there. The girl's Innocence found an ally In the lumbermen, who protected her, and she was, In fact, as safe there as ; tear-atnine- d Then she was back In the cottage, standing beside the bed on which her dying mother lay, and the sick woman, gripping her hnnd fast In her burning ones, was repenting a name over and over. Say It again, child!" she was whispering. She reiterated this demand over and over again. she muttered. Say It, and Say it never forget And carry It with thee through life, saying it In moments of temptation, that tliou mnyest qpmem-lie- r thy mother and understand. Now sweur by the Virgin to say It morning nnd night, and never forget! The frightened girl had sworn, catching the words from her mother's lips. She hud raid the name morn and night until It had become engraved upon her memory forever. But It was long before she understood Its mean- By VICTOR Illustrations by Irwin Myers during the voyage until they wondered what was the matter with him, and whether he was forgetting hls obsession as he grew old. Baptiste, having seen Dupont aboard, went back. Marie was seated In thl doorway aguln; the incident had ceased to trouble her. Nothing would trouble her again. Baptiste saw the quick start of anticipation as he approached. Forgive me If I annoy thee, Marie, he said humbly. Thou knowest " Yes, Jean, I know that you have persecuted me more than all St. Boniface, she answered. Marie, " he cried passionately, if I could know that thou wast safe here, I should never trouble thee again. She turned on him angrily. Well, I can take care of myself," she answered. If I choose to go to Ste. Marie, what Is it to you? Besides, there will be no more dancing until next summer." But he is here, persisted Baptiste stubbornly. Who? she cried in agitation, fear-In- g that he had discovered her secret. He Monsieur Askew. At first I feared it was Black Pierre; but he swore to me that it was not so, on the second day after the work on the boom So Baptiste reckoned time. began. And he swore it was Monsieur Askew loved thee. Mnrle burst Into . reckless laughter. I know that thou const never care for me, Baptiste persisted. But if he wrongs thee I kill him. Note well I kill him! 1 Marie laughed bitterly and more It was amusing to spile and St. Boniface, even through Baptiste. Yet, when he was gone back to hls schooner, something that she did not understand quite unexicctedly rose In her throat and choked her. She wanted to call him back. She wns amazed ; St. Boniface was growing dear to her. It wns becoming what It had never been, her home. She looked out of her window and saw her father's schooner depart, with flapping sails, under the moon. She pictured Baptiste asleep aboard his vessel. The little jnan had been kind to her. She wept. Presently there came the faintest tap at the door. Slie opened It noiselessly. A shadow was waiting there. Cost toi, Nanette?" He is waiting for thee upon the shore. And he has brought baric my lover to me, as he promised. We go to Quebec together aboard hls ship. Nanette's voice was tremulous with happiness. She had never sec-- Leblanc since the day when he abandoned her In Ste. Mnrle. She had learned that he was working In St. Boniface ; but when she went there to find him she was ordered from the limits with tlirents by Morris. However, Leblanc had sent her a message that some dny soon, if she did not attempt to find him, he would return to her. She had lived in that unquenched hope nnd now that wonderful day had dawned, for he was to meet her If she brought back Marie. He was to take her to the city, to marry her and give her a ring. Then she, too, would have shaken the dust of St. Boniface from her shoes forever. Marie Dupont locked the door, and the two girls stole away side by side In the gray of the morning along the beach until they reached the place where Pierre nnd Lcblnnc were waiting. Pierre caught Marie In his arms and pressed his lips to hers. It was the first time anyone hnd kissed her. She trembled, half afraid, half regretful, as one who hovers upon the brink of the Irrevocable. The girls sat In the tiny cabin, while Pierre and Leblanc ran up the sails. As the sloop began to pitch In the rough waters Marie grew more afraid. She was conscious that her happiness had left her. They had started too late. In the middle of the channel the Ultle boat with its primitive centerboard was caught In the rough currents that beat about the rocks and shoals at the turn of the tide. They drifted steadily down the north shore. Pierre cursed as he strove to tack. Leblanc produced a bottle of brandy ond began to drink. Pierre made Marie swallow some, and when Leblanc relieved him grew more boisterous in hls Nanette was already half Intoxicated. Presently the two men fell to quarreling, until the realization that they were below the Island and making for the open gnlf sobered them. It was no such departure as Marie had anticipated. She crouched In the cabin in growing fear, terrified at the change in Pierre and In Nanette. Again nnd again Pierre came to her to force more brandy on her, and each time that she refused he grew angrier. Once she began to cry, and then, afraid of hls gathering rage, pleaded with him : Pierre, I am afraid. I thought It was a bigger boat I am afraid of your friend. Take me home. Some other time I will cohie He cursed her and shook her from him. Then, as she clung to him again, he struck her across the face. Hls was her first blow, as hls had been her first kiss. She sank down In the cabin loudly. deceive He Raised His Clenched Fist as if to Strike Her. Then she remembered her father shaking her by the arms. The name In her home. Pierre was angry at thy mother told thee speak it, Ma- first-hu- t afterward he was glad, for rie! he her dancing In Simeons place oblittle No," answered the girl and began to conceive an Infatuation stinately. He threatened her, but the child of for her. He renewed his advances, of Quebec, of the free life live yenrs pressed her lips together telling her of world the beyond. When her Imagnnd would not utter a word. ination was enkindled and her cheeks I me Marie thou tell If you Listen, at the shnlt have everything In the world. A flushed and her eyes sparkled to her asked he accompany picture, new dress, and thou shalt sail with me Nanette with him on board his vessel, upon my ship, "and I will buy thee the come to Quebec, and marry him. doll and shuts her that opens eyes. big was That three days before, and It The name, Mnrle 1" Marie remained perfectly silent was of this that the girl was thinkAnd for yenrs die resisted her fathers ing as her father walked back toward threats nnd promises and pleadings, the cottage after his meeting with not understanding that It was a mental Hilary. On the same day Dupont, Inhibition which die could not break. running a small load along the shore, The sight of her dying mother had had ; learned the gossip about his Inflicted a wound In the childs soul daughter from a gabbling woman at miles away that never healed. And every week at Ste. Therase, twenty-fiv-e first, every month later, the scene with bo far the news had traveled. She hnd game to Ste. Marie In his absence, her father was renewed. She never pretended to have forgot- to dance with Hilary, who assuredly ten, as she might well liave done. As had a wife in his own country; If he die grew older her fathers outbursts had not, he was not likely to seek one became less frequent. But the insane among the habitants. Tlie story burned into the captains rage which agitated him grew rather than lessened as the years went by. bra In. It was the solvent of his sanSixteen hnd. passed; she was now ity, the snapping of the only bond that twenty-one- , and she looked back on a had linked him to the common life. For Maries sake he had hidden bis childhood that had been a torture. Her estrangement from her father heart this score of years, and silenced was as complete as from the village those Impetuous voices calling to him life. At first the scandal had been to leave all and go out Into the world against her, and later her aloofness and seek the sign which was to he had set the tongues of the St. Boniface found branded upon some strangers Like mother, like forehead. women to wagging. ne stood at the cottage door, lookdaughter" so runs the hard proverb In every country. Marie Dupont grew ing at his daughter, who had risen up friendless and utterly alone. The and faced him. Jean Baptiste regirl had never had a friend, nor had mained outside. I sail for Quebec tonight, said she ever even bad a sweetheart until Jean waits two days to lx months before. Dupont Pierre, In the course of his peregri- complete hls cargo. She nodded; her thoughts were far nations along the const, at that time as assistant on a smuggling craft, had away. But it came across her mind, come to know the solitary figure that with momentary compassion, that she paced the beach. In those days the would never see her father again. Perhaps I shall not see thee again, girls heart, cut off from natural communication with the young people of raid Dupont somberly; and the words, St Boniface, had turned, with the echoing her own thoughts, frightened vague yearning of youth, to dreams of her. She shrank away, and Dupont the world outside. The repressed put out hls hands and grasped her by spirit seeks its adventures in devious the wrists. The name he said. She shook her head ; she never spoke ways; If not In action, then in Imagination. Marie Dupont longed for release when he made this demand. The name! I have been very pafrom her Imprisonment, and dreamed of the prince who was some day to tient with thee. Now thy reason for come and take hey away. withholding it la gone. The name! What do you mean? she stamWhen Baptiste began to show an Interest In her she hated him. She had mered. The name!" he raved; and for the never thought of him as a lover, and hardly as a man ; he was a part of St first time since her childhood he Boniface, of the hateful life that en- raised hls clenched fist as If to strike compassed her, clutched at her and her. would not let her go free. She came Baptiste, outside, heard him and to Invest Baptiste with the qualities of saw the gesture. He came running all that she loathed. up to the cottage door and caught DuPierre scraped acquaintance with pont by the arm. The captain hesiher. ne had the Intuition of the base tated; then, collecting himself, ns a man who must perforce win bis vic- new thought came to him, he allowed tims by guile. He listened to her con- Baptiste to lead him back to the fidences, shyly given to one who, by schooner. The new thought was this: If Marie his wandering life and through tlie tales that he told, seemed the exact world not give him the name, at least opposite of all those whom she bad he would prevent a repetition of her known. He sent Nanette to see Marie, mothers history. It held him, as a dream holds a choosing the time when Dupont was mnd.t and he grew cunning and away. Nanette was not bad; like most of concealed It, and Joked with hls hands ing. 1 ROUSSEAU . n love-makin- g. aud wept heartbrokenly, and now she was no longer afraid of the waves that lupped the boat's sides as It tossed and reared In the surging waters. An hour went by. The turning tide and veering wind enabled the men to get the craft under control again and head her up the river. Pierre came to He Marie with the brandy bottle. thrust It Into her face. Coine, little one, let us kiss and make up," ho shouted. lie pulled her to her feet. Her world wus broken, life seemed helpless, and In her broken pride she stood humbly before him In the rocking boat, her hunds clasped. Pierre, I am sorry," she wept Thou knowest I love thee, Pierre. Forgive me." Pierre laughed. It was good to see her thus Drink, he said, gathering her to him with one hand. Take a long pull nnd we'll all be happy together. Drink ! he commanded, as she hesitated in disgust at the smell of the . liquor. As she obeyed him he tilted the bottle and the burning fluid ran down her throat, choking her. Pierre luugbed boisterously und pressed his lips to hers. Soon we shall reach Quebec, little one," he said, and then thou shalt have thy ring. Tonight?" she faltered, with still sinking heart. He had forgiven her, then; still, everything wus changed, and Ft. Boniface wus far nway across (he waters. Surely tonight," he answered, winking at Leblunc, and took the tiller again. Maries head swam, the boat seemed spinning round ; site lay in the cabin, conscious vaguely of Leblanc and Nanette beside her, laughing and making love. Hours passed before she realized completely where she wax. Sometimes she heard Pierre speaking tu her, and once Nanette Bhook her, When she reand seemed afraid. found that she ronseiousness gained the boat wax In calm water. They were under the lee of an Island, and the sun was low In the west. Tho sloop grounded, and Pierre, picking her up In hls arms, carried her ashore nnd set her down on the She staggered to her feet bench. The sloop was beached, and Leblanc nnd Nnnette were at her side. But this is not Quebec 1" Marie stammered ; and then, looking about In bewilderment, she recognized where she was. Pierre caught her by the ann. "We are not going to Quebec, he exclaimed roughly. "Pierre, why are we here? I must go home. Take me home I" The terror of her position dawned on her. She sobbed wildly and wrung her hands. Nanette cajoled her. Come, dont be a little fool, she said. "We are going to stay here the Come, Little One, Let Us Kiss and Make Ur, He 6houted. four of us. It will be like a picnic. Come, then, Marie. She xcreumed wildly. Pierre advanced upon her savagely with upraised hand, but Nanette restrained him. No, do not strike her," she pleaded. Come, then," growled Pierre, grasping her by the arms and hurrying her forward. She screamed again, wildly, and fought furiously for her freedom. Pierre struck her ngaln and again; then, lifting her Into his arms, ho clapped one hand across her mouth and began to carry her up the beach toward the forest. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Gets Its Own Drink. A South American orchid lets down a tube and drinks when It needs water, then colls It on top of the plant when uot In use; Uses of Necessity. The fact that life Is a grind is what sharpens many a man's wits. |