Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-14
CHAPTER VII-(Continued)

Father Leclair will not tell you that
--he understands the sort of a place
vetal Beaulieu runs. Forgive me,
Mam'selle! forget he is your
father. forgot it the other day. !
am sorry for what I said. But I must
tell you that your father owes 1t TO
you to make a different home If you
are to stay with him. 1t is no place
for girl there in Monarda clearing"
They had not minded the clatter of a
wagons wheels. Guests suit time TO
inclination at border wedding. Gaz.
ing at each other, they allowed the
belated arrival. whoever it might be-
to come upon them before they turned
But this was no joval wedding guest
1t was Netal Beaulieu, furious at
sight of them, clucking oaths, shaking
his whip over his head, gabbling coarse
insults.
This is how ! find my girl, eh?
You run away from my home to
meet the sneak dog of the customs,
eh? You abuse and srame your old
father only for an eXcuse--so that you
may run away and be a femme mau.
vaise of on the sly"
Beaulieu was shouting at the top OF
his voice. The wedding celebrators
came trooping out. They chattered in
amazement This was a strange guest,
truly, for wedding
\ stop that, Beaulieu," cried the
young officer. This is no place for
ouch language"
do you suppose l pay attention TO
your" demanded the infukiated man.
You meet me on the road. You lie
to me. You don't know where she is,
you sayl And then you rush here
and laugh at her poor old father be
hind his back-laugh till he find out
by accident and come here to save his
girl from shame and disgrace"
He screamed and leaped up and
down. He shook his arms above his
head. lie did not pick words in his
rage. He vented vicious insults with
out knowing what he said.
Supple Jack Hebert had won his
sobriquet by his agility. He leaped
forward and thrust his palm against
the obscene mouth.
"This is my sons wedding night.
There are good women and nice young
girls here. We don't listen to that
! TALK.
When Hebert took away his hand,
Beaulieu, cowed, was at the other ex-
treme OF his variable emotions. He
was weeping.
Il have bad friends. They laugh at
me behind my back. They help
sneak to steal my girl. They let a
poor old father lose his girl
Curious eyes were searching the
faces Of the three principals.
Evangeline turned away sobbing,
her crimson face shielded by her
hands. She leaned her head against
the rough walls of the little house.
II have a word to say here" cried
Aldrich. He lowered like a giant
among them, those sturdy little Aca.
dams. Silence" With one stride he
was close to Vetal, and set a heavy
hand on the fathers shoulder with
pressure which intimidated the flabby
publican.
This is the second time, Beaulieu,
you have abused your daughter In
my hearing-abused her more shame
fully than any other man In this wide
world would abuse her-and you're
her father! Not one werd! I am
speaking now"
He dominated them. His mien, his
passion, the fury OF his resolve to
protect her, made him one to be
feared. They crowded about, lips
apart. eyes upraised.
"This is Vetal Beaulieu. You know
him. You know his place. Il is not
for me to interfere between father and
daughter. have not done so."
"She is my girl" mourned Vetal.
IL ask you fathers and motheRs who
have girls IL you would want them to
live at Besulieu's Place, where men
yell their drunken songs half the night
through and stagger about the yard in
the daytime? No, know you would
not" he cried, when they muttered in
dignantly. And know what YOU
think OF father who comes here to-
night to take his daughter to that
place which she has left in sorrow and
shame"
"She is my girl" insisted Beaulieu.
,f .sThat Is all there is to this mans
wicked anger--what / have told you.
His daughter came away because he
would not be a good man and give her
f . home she could live in as a good
girl should"
His simple-phrased little speech had
produced its effect-he understood the
nature of the horder people.
1T is no business Of yours" NUT
tered Beaulieu, who understood the
nature Of border people also.
'It Is the business of every honest
man on this boundary line to protect
the name Of a good Acadian girl
>ven II It is her father who is telling
unfruths about her" declared Aldrich
Nth vigor. There was no melodrama
A his words or actions. His tones
were low. But he spoke from his
hoaxt-his whole nature on fire In her