The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-05-15
Rv VICTOR ROUSSEAU
illustrations by Irwin Myers
s. r: rs 1g1 s; q 81 8: 8: s. s. &:

by the whipping wind. but not before
Dupont's words had been heard.
From the group upon Baptiste's snip
figure disengaged herself and
stepped forward. 1t was Marie Du-
pont. She poised herself upon the
deck and her voice rang out above
the gale and the sea.
81 give you the name she cr1ed.
ut is Edouard Brousseau. 1t Is me-
and give You my secret which l nave
borne all my life. Take it,
She fell back into Baptiste's arms
And it seemed as if. with the breaking
of the inhibition, her past life. with
its fears and terrOrs, was melted INTO
the life of happiness that was to be.
Dupont had heard her. For mo-
ment they could see the tall figure OF
the old man, with his wind-tossed hair
and beard. standing as II petrined
upon his blazing deck. Then he cried
out like screaming sea-bird. and MS
arms closed about the man at his size.
AS Baptiste turned and tackled 1t
could be seen that the old man was
holding Brousseau with one arm. a.
easily as il he held child, while DIS
free hand controlled the wheel again.
What reservoir OF strength he Ore"
upon. what miracle OF seamanSnip,
could never be known. But. as II ma
ture were aiding him, veering gust
caught the sails. and with backward
movement the schooner began to glide
through the entrance of the Ice neio
into open water.
The fire was all about them. Screams
came from the doomed ship, but they
came from Brousseau, struggling IN
Dupont's arms. Not a sound came
from the captains lips.
The vessel gained her freedom. she
turned and began to drive eastward,
toward the Gulf and its open water.
Faster and faster she went as the wind
compelled her. The Mortified watchers
upon the deck of Baptiste's schooner
saw the blazing vessel glide into the
distance, blazing comet. and Dupont,
black against the heart OF the fire, ono
Brousseau in his arms.
Little was afterward remembered
concerning the rescue. But from that
night legends began to spread along
both shores: OF Baptiste's seamanship.
and of Hilary. who. single-handed.
saved the heiress of the seignory from
Brousseau and the two outlaws
But none of the principals in these
events care overmuch to dwell upon
them, even in memory. And. though
memories live long In silence. gossip
soon dies. All this is becoming local
legend, such as mothers tell to their
babies.
But the st. Boniface mill now huns
from dawn till dark, and the asbestos
mine has brought in its workers Rrd
made ST. Boniface quite f1Ourishtra
village in the north country.
Twice a month, when he pays his
pastoral visit, you may see Father
Lucien. still hale and strong. patrollfRa
Ste. Marie with a curious hazel stick.
fashioned with knob at each end:
and it is said that Ste Marie is one Of
the best parishes on the north Shore.
On Sundays. seated in the parish
! church. may be seen Simeon DuvsL
nodding his head approvingly as. polnt
by point. the cure takes up his 1e.
nunciation OF liquor selling. For ~.
Their Lucien really reached Simeona
soul with his hazel stick.
Marie has the best house in the ~
lage, for Baptiste does thriving tfp1s
carrying the st. Boniface lumber.
Here Is Clarice. who looks. somehow,
just as one might have expected fra,
Lafe's descriptions.
"He wouldn't come home" she says
to Hilary. 80 had to come after HIN.
But he's coming home next October, 10
see his children and the no. house."
Bought and paid for" said Lage.
eyes. I guess that's correct, Mr. A..
kew. Though I'll be back some day "a
see you all. 1t amt so bad, this coy:A-
try-except for that pink amt BLACK
porch Baptiste's put on his kouO.
Darn him. what did he want to do that
for? tell you how 1t Is: These pAo-
pie can't help breaking out somewhere
and somehow; it's in their blood, thsrs
what 1t Isl
But in his heart he knows that The
winter will see him back In st. Bs.ai
face.
Madeleine smiles. and puts her axvs
through Bilary's.
TIM Emf