Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-10
CHAPTER Iv-(Continued)

He should have taken warning from
her face. It was not the face Of one
who would deign to appeal or deny.
She was now another being. She had
come from her door pale. grave, wist
fully grieving. Now she was suddenly
on fire--lithe, tense, cheeks flaming,
eyes blazing She bent and twisted
her arms from his rude clutch with
q movement so sudden that she freed
,herself before his fingers could take
fresh hold on her. She struck him
.once across the face with all her
strength. She did not retreat. She
stood before him so fearlessly furious,
so desperate in her rage, that he
quailed.
The coward in him recognized some.
thing that thrust him back. He might
have fought mere brute strength;
drink had made him dizzy and reck-
less. But the soul Of this slight girl
mastered him.
The bold spirit Of the Acadian
pioneers glowed in her.
Even vetal sullenly admired her
fiery courage, though rancor, because
of her contemptuous obstinacy, swelled
within his breast and revealed itself
through his mutterings. There was
no misunderstanding the girls mood
at that moment. She proposed to die
tate her terms.
"I will never marry this man,
father"
you have make this trouble your
SELF" insisted Vetal. 'If you have
act better toward him he would have
take you and love you very much
and make the nice home for YOU"
Make a home for me because l
have no home of my own, you mean!
Where is my home, father"
This where I live" he said, dog
gediy.
Have you thought over what I said
last night?"
Il sat here all the night and do
not sleep because I think of it-and
II tell you what think" he shouted.
pricked by the presence Of Roi at this
scene Of rebellion to authority, stung
by thoughts Of what the gossip of the
border countryside would be il his
own daughter were to rule his affairs.
ness like I have run it when have
work hard 20 make it easy for you"
"I'll take not another cent of this
sort Of money" She flung a gesture
which embraced the loaded truck. 81
begged of you on my knees last night.
father. I tried to talk to you as a
loving daughter should talk. T want
you to be a good man"
Meaning that priests and customs
hounds are the only decent people in
the world, suppose" sneered Roi.
But she kept her face turned reso.
lutely from the man.
II will be your obedient and true
daughter will work, father, so
that you and may eat honest bread.
But this home-this cheating OF the
laws-this business which takes
money for poison-Ill not endure.
will not stay here"
you say, then, like you say last
night, that must break my bottles,
throw away my good business, and
give my dollars to loafers OF priests?"
II say you must be an honest man"
you have your chance to marry
and have a nice home; you have your
I >ehance TO be the rich daughter of
Vetal Beaulieu. You must take one
1 or the other. don't let my girl make
the fool Of me among all the people, -
he declared.
mo. I have one more chance,
father"
He scowled at her.
II shall go away and earn my own
livins-and wait until you become
what good Acadian ought to be-"
He did not rave at her any more
His passion had exhausted itself. His
mood was that OF stubborn anger now
That secret fear Of her made him re
Ject the idea Of holding her against
her will.
am going away, 1ather.
He tossed his hand at the door. She
saxed at him few moments, but hi
hard eyes did not soften under theil
tufted brows. She went away into
her room.
Let her strike out" advised Roi
"0hs won't get very far or stay very
long. And when she has had her les
son she'll some home and be sensible.
Evangeline. in her room. gathered
the few belongings she had brought
from st. Basil. tied her hat over hei
Y dark curls. ana came back into tn,
big room where her father and Ro
still waited in surly silence.
"Good-by. father" she said. with dig
nifty. 'I shall pray TO the Good Mother
f0r you"
'You have In your pocket. mebbe
soms OF that black and dirty none,
have made here. working hard fol
E1<ou IN this ROOM" he suggested. per
1nns you better not take that away
<>x6 h~re. It's the very bad money
8h4 flushed. In her distress tina
11ncd a cruel. a childish revenge
ne shrswd old Aosdian had |