Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-18

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elbows on their knees and were sad.
There had been plenty Of room when
the summer invited out.of-doors. But
the houses in the river.valley were
too full when all were forced to seek
refuge from the weather.
There had not been time to build
other houses-there was no land
where other houses could be built. The
tyrants of the timber.lands we're un.
'relenting. And hopes grew dull under
the dull skies.
Through the clouds their sun of joy
had shone in one glorious burst of
radiance. Not soon would they forget
the return of the good Father Leclair!
But Father Leclair was now waiting
and hoping like the rest of his people.
To be sure, he could see farther than
they The plans of Representative
Clifford and the glowing expectations
of Norman Aldrich more roseate after
he had come back from conference
with his lawyer friend, heartened the
little priest; Father Calahan's visit
and interest and the determination Of
! the bishop to take action in behalf of
his people of far Attegat seemed a
promise, that had touch of divine in.
tercession in it. But the poor people
were suffering. Winter was heralded
| by the sough OF the leafless branches
and the roar of the autumn rains: and
many men had been obliged to leave
! their little crops to wither and mold
| in the forests clearings.
Father LeClair walked on the brown
| grass beside his garden.plot, his old
hound at his heels, and heard the wind
whistle through the stumps of stalks
and dead herbage, gazed at the little
door OF the big barn, and wondered
| whether the resources of his clearing
house would endure through the dark
days which were pressing upon them.
Lonesome indeed was the aspect of
the gaunt stark chimneys which
marked where the big school once
| loomed so grandly.
1t was good to know that the bishop
now understood better what that
school had stood for in Attegat and
what it proposed to stand for. The
word which had come to Pere Leclair
from the bishop was comforting.
But the plight of the school when
the rains came and the trees were
stripped was sad when one loved the
children and understood what they
needed
The little town house was crowded
by those who toiled with the tools ana
were learning the trades. A room here
, and there in a home was loaned. and
dusty garretS were swept and gar
niShed for the use of Master Donhams
pupils. But the school missed that
happy and impel!ing spirit OF frater.
nifty and cooperation which had mark.
ed the days in the great new building
! OH the hill. Representative Clifford
wondered whether he would be able
to convince another legislature that
Attegat was still deserving lie shared
Master DOnham's convictions as to the
origin Of that fire: but the Incen-
diaries had covered their trail and kept
their secret well. 1t would make the
begging for more money harder task
while those who had destroyed re-
mained unpurished; the representa-.
tive worried over the situation and
But there was another mystery of
the border that was more ominous
more puzzling.
Where was Vetal Beaulieu. of
Monarda?
On that grim day of the legislative
convention men had whispered
sinister question in the ear of Norman
Aldrich.
In those later days of bleak autumn
! /, ip, fn1
! lieu?" was not whispered on the
border. The query ran from mouth to
mouth. Men asked it of each other
| in tavern, at church, in store. and
when they met on the highway.
All up and down the border little
| boards of money We're tucked away in
! clock-case or in cupboard's Granny.
waiting for the call of Vetal Beau.
| lieu, who was wont to dun his debtors
| and would not accept excuses or de-
lays. But Vetal Beaulieu did not ap.
pear to demand! Men with money
! in their fists, worrying over their
debts, knocked vainly on the door of
the house in Monarda clearing.
Norman Aldrich had knocked there
oftener than any one else. He was
seeking Vetal for that mans talk; but
most of all he was urgent for the sake
of Evangeline, wistful and anxious in
the north, grieving over the memory
of that bitter night when she had
seen her father for the last time.
During many hours of meditation she
had reviewed her attitude toward her
father. He had been harsh. unreason-
! ing and obstinate, but the injury must
be grave, indeed, that girl cannot
forgive in her father. In her remorse,
because her woman's better nature
| had forced her to be undutiful, she
| 60 hpfnrp
! hearts tribunal; and, as the days
went on. she longed more and more
earnestly to go to him and prove that
! she loved him.
But the door of Beaulieu's place was
not opened to Aldrich's knock when
he went as envoy for Evangeline and
pleaded for his own cause.