The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-03-26


Z guest In my home and have Pre-.
.sumed upon that fact to turn. my
daughter from mef
II love her. answered Hilary sim
ply
The words seemed TO sting Rosny
to the quick. "You are presumptuous
monsieur - he cried. perhaps you
too. thought that the heiress went with
the treesg'
Madeleine cried out and laid her
hands appealingly upon her fathers
arm; he did not repulse her. but con-
tinued speaking as II he were not con-
scious OF her presence
-She shall never be your wife. You
have done harm enough here. mon
sieur. When you are well my caleche
is at your disposition, to take you back
to your mill And hencefOrward, un-
less you claim the last inch of your
legal rights TO cut about the Chateau
which 1 do not think you will" he add
ed with reluctant justice-.let us see
you no more"
"You are unjust!' cried Madeleine.
I'VE love each other. There exists no
sieur Askew is as good as any man."
An Americana" cried Rosny holly.
This Is not his country. and our ways
are not his. He Is not one of u.s."
Yet you were not too proud TO
pledge me to that other man. who is
not one of US either. except by remote
race. Against my will. Without my
knowledge"
Enough cried Rosny. .'It is all
past!"
THE memory is not past. Yes. you
pledged me TO him and placed the first
links Of the chain about my neck. hop
ing that the understanding. to which
I was no party, would gradually en-
mesh me, capture me, that should be-
come his wife and save your land for
YOU"
The Seigneur turned on her a look
In which humiliation struggled with
anger. He seemed stupefied by her
outburst. Hilary interposed.
Monsieur Rosny, l love Madeleine,
and l intend to marry her." he said
calmly. But realize your feelings,
and l understand. how great a shock
this has been. You invited me to de-
part when am well. I am we'll enough
to depart now. But I shall return. TO
see her and to plead our cause frank
ly with you. There exists now no
reason, no valid reason"
You shall never come here" thun-
dered the Seigneur. losing all self-con-
troll. 'The day when 1 sold your uncle
most evil day of my life. Go-if you
are well, go! My caleche is ready for
you. Go, monsieur, in Gods name. and
trouble me no longer !"
He raised his voice and shouted.
"Robitaille! Robitaille."
From some place in the recesses of
the Chatueau a feeble, quavering cry
answered him. And through the door
way Hilary saw the ancient serving
man come shutting to obey his master.
And, as he looked at him, his re-
sentiment died. The two old men
Rosny in his brown swaIlowtails and
the tight trousers strapped under his
boots. Robitaille, in the faded buffers
uniform seemed playing a part, acting
in some scene laid in the long past.
Or, rather, they were the past. They
had no place in the modern world.
those ancient figures in their ancient
dress, and with their ancient ways.
They numbered the stage Of life. lin
gering there when their exits were
long overdue. They were unreal as
phantom figures glimpsed in a wild
dream. Pity for the two futile old
II II
feel nothing but that as he watched
Robitaille come to the door. bobbing
and shutting, with stiffened joints that
made him more like marionette.
But he felt, too. the urgency of TAX
ing Madeleine away, into a world of
reality, before the same dream in
fected her.
She came up to Hilary softly and
placed her fingers on his arm, looking
into his face wistfully.
"You must go. dear, and not try to
convince him now" she said. "It has
been a terrible blow TO him. He looks
so i'll. 1 am afraid for him. 1 shall
come to you tomorrow and tell you"
"Robitaille." said the Seigneur,
Monsieur Askew has decided, much
to my grief, to leave this afternoon.
You will have the goodness to pack
his things and to prepare the caleche
for him. You will drive him to the
MILL
The old man muttered acquiescence
and shuffied away. Hilary turned to-
ward Rosny. Frankly he held out his
hand. The action might have been ILL
timed. but it responded to his deep
seated feeling. But Rosny did not seem
to see the gesture. He stood staring
across the room, one hand clutching
his spreading collar. and his face,
which had been white and red, was
purple.
Hilary turned away. He had reached
the door when he heard sound as if
Rosny was clearing his throat. Then
Madeleine cried out in fear. Hilary
turned to see Rosny sit heavily down
in his chair. His eyes closed, his arms
over the sides; his head fell
on his breast.
Hilary ran to him. He was uncon- |
scious, and breathing heavily Hilary |
tried to raise him, to carry him 70 the /