Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-25
BEAULIEU,SWILL

DULLHEAD CYR. of Cyrs tavern
- across the border, came to the vii
lage at Attegat that day.
He climbed the hill and found the
| girl shipping roses. lingering over her
task, dropping blossom after blossom
into a basket as though each We're a
rosary bead and a prayer accompani.
ed it,
This is AIam'seue Evangeline Beau
lieu, eh?' he asked. hat in hand. He
spoke low: he glanced about furtively
Yes" she said.
You are the daughter of Mser
Netal Beaulieu. and all his money
went to you, eh?"
Her face grew white. The flush of
happiness departed.
II am Netal Beaulieus daughter
sir
You think that all his money has
gone to you?" he persisted.
Il have not thought" she STAN
.mered.
II can tell you something for your
interest, Nam selle. 7 have been think.
ing much Of it. I have been waiting
long, for I wanted to do right. I will
go straight to what I have to say:
One night in my tavern Eetal Beau.
| lieu made his will All his money
was to go to David Roi If that same
David Roi made you his wife within
the year. Roi has another wife. He
will not do that. Netal Beaulieu
your father, he stamped along the
floor and said that If Dave Roi was
not man enough to get you, and YOU
were the undutiful girl so that YOU
would not marry the man he had
picked out, then he would have his
money go to the bad place--he would
have it wasted by vagabond, thrown
away-anything. So he willed that
money to the rogue, the fiddler. the
old loafer. AnaXagoras Billedeau."
Are you sure of that, Monsieur"
II am sure of it. because l have the
will. Netal Beaulieu put it into my
safe
There was silence. He shifted his
feet uneasily, for she was staring at
him with eyes he could not under
stand.
What have you TO say to me,
Nam 'selle?"
The craft of that deeper femininity
stirred in her-woman's wonderful
weapon in times Of stress.
You are man. You are wiser
than a girl. What shall be done,
Monsieur
He peered at her for some time,
suspicion restraining him. greed in-
citing him.
"I can go TO the laws officers with
the will, Mam'selle. That is one way.
| can give the paper to the law, and
the fiddler will get all that money to
waste-take it away from you who
deserve to have it."
He waited, but she did not speak.
'NplI NriSpr " Sha tn,,
eyes searching his.
"Or. can give the hateful will TO
you, Mamsel For he hesitated
for moment-"it belongs to you. 1t
shall be for you to say. when you
have it in your hands. shall then
take no further heed of il, shall have
done my duty. That is the way I
shall feel"
Then give the will to me-"
For one thousand dollars I will give
it to YOU" he declared:
81 have not one thousand dollars.
Monsieur. Notary Pierre has all my
affairs in his hands"
She rose from beside the basket. Re.
solve animated her.
You shall come with me to the
notary"
He reflected a moment. He could
see no danger for himself.
Yes, l will go to the notary he
told her.
This is Notary Pierre Gendreau.'
Evangeline cried. turning to the publ
can. "He has my money-all my af-
fairs. He is man of the law. But
he will do as I say, for he is my close
friend. He will understand. Give the
will to him."
The notary took the paper and per-
used it. In the silence of the room
only the cracking of the paper and
the old mans startled mutterings
could be heard.
"It is signed, sealed, and witnessed
1t is his Wilt is correct" he said,
turning plying gaze on the girl.
The color came into her cheeks
again. Her eyes shone. Joy radiated
from her. She became like one VINO
had long faced bitter doubt and now
found her path cleared.
What does the law do when will
is right and correct, Notary Pierre"'
she asked.
This will be probated; the trus heir
receives, Mam'selle."
"I put it in your hands, into the
hands of the law, sir. am done
with it-and l thank the good God
who has lifted this burden from me"
She turned at the door.
~ think Monsieur Cyr deserves
generous reward for bringing this
paper to us. Notary Pierre. Out Of
your kindness, out Of my fathers
money pay him well. That is all I
ask--nothing for myself"
She left the two men staring at
each other.
In the sacristy of the little parish
church of Attegat there was a we'd
ding that evening, just after the dusk
had deepened and the purple shadows
had faded from the domed hills. The