Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-11-20
A DAY IN TAD0USAC.


When the head of the shipping firm
of Freyteau Wall ct Gle in Montreal
sent young Noel as their agent along
the lower st. Lawrence the other
partners grumbled loudly. They were
shrewd Americans; Noel a mere lad,
Canadian French, gay, crochety,
wordy. He had, too, heavy sums to
collect, and there was an ugly story
ahoat that his father had been a pro-
fessional gambler
Pierre Noel was nowold and imbecile,
but his son persisted III taking HIM
with him everywhere, and paid him
an exaggerated respect. Wall ct Clio
grew very uneasy about their money.
Blood, they said, would tell at last.
But M. Freyteau was obstinate in his
ikings; he would not recall the lad.
All they could do was to send the
Younger Wall to look him up now and
then and to take a rigid account of
his receipts.
1t never occurred TO Louis Noel that
he was suspected. Nothing short of
a blow on the face would convince
that careless fellow that anybody was
his enemy. He made his headquar-
tiers at the lonely village of Tadousac
for a reason, and he. supposed the
same reason brought James Wall
there,
The two men, one August afternoon,
met in the orchard of an old pension
behind the village. The wind was
frosty, and Noel brought a bench out
from under the trees into the open
sunshine, for a young girl who was
with him.
James Wall sat down upon it beside
her, crossed his stout legs comfortably,
drew out the Quebec paper, and look
ed at tke quotations in lumber. Noel
walked away He could not come
near Hester Page to-day. She had
dropped a word or two to him last
night, a mere nothing when one re
peated it, yet very different from the
cool, amused criticism with which she
met him heretofore. He had repeat
ed the words thousand times to
himself to-day. Could it be---2
He could rot speak to her before
Wall. He felt as if he must cry out
with this sudden madness of hope that
sent the blood through his body like
a flame. He wandered about ire
solutely, climbing q tree for some rus
set pears for her, and left them lying
on the grass, lighted cigar, smoked
furiously, and let it go out in his
mouth, then began to sing with
tremendous, discordant clatter.
Mr.. Wall shuddered, then laughed,
compassionately, glancing at Miss
Page. They were both admirable
musicians, and often sang together
with that accuracy aBd neatness of
effect which peculiarly marked the
words and movements of both.
'These Canadians are restless in
body and mind as grasshoppers.
James Walls thick voice grew
complacent and intimate with Miss
Page. Were they not Americans9
This Noel, and all unfortunate foreign
ers. belonged to the Ultima thule out
side of the States. She smiled, look
ed at Louis. then at Wall, then down
to the pale blue web she was netting.
What with her elaboration, the pale
blue net, the creamy gown, fitting
close TO her neat, round figure, and
her lustreless brown hair and eyes,
she made centre of calm, of delicate
color, which suited the faded hue of
the autumnal day.
Mr.. Wall scanned her over his pa
per, pursuing his thick lips with gusto.
He had been calculating her merits
and defects for long time, but his
mind was now made up. True, she
had not money enough to pay her
share of the board bill, nor brilliant
beauty to push them on socially in
Montreal. But some indefiHable,
latent power in the faint-colored,
calm little woman, had conquered
him. As much of the man as was not
given up to the lumber interest, or to
worship of James Wall was genuine
w in love with her He was poor
man, greedy of money, yet he meant
to marry this penniless Baptist minis
ter's daughter. Why not tell her SO
at once9
''Noelr he called; here. Noel!"
Gt was Just as well to let her know
their relative positions, ald that this
scampish fellow, whose irfatuatIoR
for her was the talk of the village,
was only the paid servant of the
frm.) II wish you to finish that re
port. / start for home tonight. BY
the way, will take all your collec-
tons with nae.
Noel did not move.
Dye hear9 See to it al once.
''Chutl Chut No hurry"
LOUIS lounped over the low stone