Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-04

II will die, M'sieur," he said, calmly.
II am afraid SO. Pierre"
Pierre's damp fingers closed about
his own. His eyes shone softly, and
he smiled.
ut is best" he said, "and am glad.
feel quite well. will live for some
timer"
Perhaps for few hours, Pierre"
God is good to me-" breathed
Pierre, devoutly. II thank Him. Are
we alone?"
"Yes."
Philip motioned to MacDougall, who
went into the little office room.
II will die" whispered Pierre, softly.
as though he were achieving q
triumph. And everything would die
with me, Msieur, IL did not know
that you love Jeanne, and that you
will care for her when I am gone.
M'sieur, have told you that ] love
her. I have worshiped her, next to
my God. I die happy, knowing thar
am dying for her. II i had lived
would have suffered, for ] love alone.
She does not dream that my love IL
different from hers. for 1 have never
told her. 1t would have given her
pain. And you will never let her
know. AS Our Dear Lady is my wit
ness. Msieur. she has loved but ORE
man, and that man Is you"
Pierre gave a great breath. A warm
flood seemed suddenly to engulf Philip.
Did he hear right? Could he believe?
He fell upon his knees beside Pierre
his face.
Yes. I love her." he said softly.
But / did not know that she loved
me-"
at is not strange" said Pierre.
looking straight into his eyes. But
you will understand-now-M' 'sieur. !
seem to have strength, and will tell
you all-from the beginning. Perhaps
/ have done wrong. You will know
soon. You remember Jeanne told you
the story Of the baby-of the woman
frozen in the snow.
THAT was the beginning Of the long
fight--for me. This-what am about
to tell you-will be sacred to YOU
M'sieur?'
"As my life" said Philip.
Pierre was silent for few moments.
He seemed to be gathering his
thoughts, SO that he could tell in few
words the tragedy of years, Two brill
liant spots burned in his cheeks and
the hand which Philip held was hot.
Years ago-twenty almost-there
came a man to Fort o. God" he began.
He was very young and from the
South. D'Arcambal was then mid
dle-aged, but his wife was young and
beautiful. Jeanne says that you saw
her picture-against the wall. DAT
cambal worshiped her. She was his
life. You understand what happened.
The man from the South--the young
wife-they went away together"
Pierre coughed. A bit Of blood red
dened his lips. Philip wiped 1t away
gently with his handkerchief, hiding
the stain from Pierre's eyes.
YES" he said, II understand"
"It broke D'Arcambals heart" re-
sumed Pierre. HE destroyed every
thing that had belonged to the woman.
He turned her picture to the wall, His
love turned slowly to hate. 1t was two
years later that I came over the bar
rens one night and found Jeanne and
her dead mother. The woman, M'sieur
-Jeanne's mother-was D'Arcambals
wife. She was returning to Fort o.
God, and Gods justice overlook her
almost at it's doors. carried little
Jeanne to my Indian mother and then
made ready to carry the woman to
her husband. 1t was then that ter
rible thought came to me. Jeanne was
not D'Arcambal's daughter. She was
| part of the man who had Stolen his
wife. I worshiped the little Jeanne
even then, and for her sake my
mother and / swore secrecy and buried
the woman. Then we took the babe
to Fort O. God as a stranger. We.
saved her. We saved D'Arcambal. No
one ever knew"
CONTINUED TOMORROW