The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-03-12

1 VIII ulHs dfSO
The memory of their past meetings
rushed through Hilary's mind. already
unbalanced by the events Of the after
noon. and he became conscious of a
great rush of anger that seemed to
sweep through him like some imper-
sonal force and hold him against his
will
DO you think, Mademoiselle Rosny.
that you are entitled to express your
wishes and your warnings to me. in
the light of our acquaintance" he de-
handed.
You are pleased to be insOlent to
me again." she answered in low
voice. 1T does not. matter. II you go
"Mademoiselle-"
Il ask you not to go. l implore you.
them
by what right?" cried Hilary angri-
ly. ''Have you worked for me ar
against me. Mademoiselle Rosny. since
/ came here. expecting TO find only
welcome among my neighbors? Have
you shown any reason why | should
heed your advice. or put faith in your
disinterestedness?"
She was not looking at him. No"
she answered, very quietly. But you
must not go. Monsieur Askew, | have
come here to beg it of you. +"
You have come here to get me not
to atteml to my interests" cried Hill
AIRY, losing all his self-control. Are
you not actively allied with my worst
enemy, who seeks to ruin me and drive
me out OF st. Boniface. / lost nearly
winters cut of lumber when my
boom was treacherously destroyed.
You knew. Mademoiselle Rosny. and
yet you ask me TO heed advice from
one who is not my friend"
She started as if he had dashed her
him. but could only stammer inco-
blazed with wrath as he spoke Of the
boom. We're filed with tears which she
checked valiantly.
You think l came here tonight"
she began, and paused. her voice chok-
Ing You think | came hereto you
to engage in some plot of Monsieur
Brousseau's? 1t is insufferabeI You
are not so important an enemy as
that" She put out her hands swiftly.
"Ah. do not go to st. Boniface." she
pleaded.
Hilary looked at her stubbornly. He
would not let himself be moved.
Il have come TO you, and you have
Inundated me-" she whispered. Go.
then - she cried suddenly jerking the
reins. Go. Monsieur Askew J.. Go to
ST. Bonifacei" ....s
She spurred her horse and gslloped
wildly away. while Hilary watched. He
saw her pass out of sight; he waited
| till the last reverberations of the fly
| ing hoOfs had ceased. He was ashamed !;
and yet he was sustained by a grim
mer determination than any that he
had ever known. He would not let
himself believe in her. His wrath,
which made him doubt every one,
which had suffered him to let Lafe de-
part, kindled him to fighting heat
|. He meant to fight and he grew hot
ter as he tramped steadily along the
hind him. lonely figure. his hear,
rancorous against the injustice meted
out To him: bitter against Lafe, bitter
resolution 10 show st. Boniface what
manner of man he was.
At last the lights of the settlement
began to twinkle through the trees.
He walked a little faster. lingering the
revolver in his coat pocket. But when
he reached the gate above the dam he
stopped for while and considered.
| His instinct was for physical assault.
! such violence as alone could appeaSe
his rage. He listened to the distant
( hubbub about Duvars shanty; and
then he did the wisest, or else the
most foolish thing that he could have
done. He broke his revolver, took out
| the cartridges. and threw them away.
He put the weapon back in his pocket.
opened the gate. and went on.
| And this was wise. because Canadian
law does not readily exonerate the man
| who kills; yet foolish. had he known
that three men ut least in st. Roniface
expected him and were prepared for
his coming.
He strobe past the dam and APP
preached the outlying houses of the
settlement. feeling an implacable re-
| solve harden him as he heard the
shouts and the tumult that came from
Baptiste's old house. He turned into
the little street on which it stood and
saw il I'm front of him. with the higher
| bulk of the mill beyond.
The shades of Baptiste's cabin were
drawn. and the lanptight from within
| threw the shadows of the lumhermen
upon them in grotesque attitudes Hill
airy could see through the open door
that the place was packed to suffoca-
ton. There was no room to dance ;
but there was TO be no dance that
night.
A group of men. chattering upon the
porch ceased their conversation as Hill
airy assembled the three steps AMI
nudged one another One of them
broke into loud. drunken laughter. Hill
airy hardly heard them. He STROBE into
the saloon and stood within the door
Nay.
IS. CHAPTER TX.
| The Trap.