The Crittenden press., 1920-03-19

the darkness. ana approaching rapidly.
was the second schooner. At the same
time voices hailed them. They had
been seen.
Brousseau, upon the poop. yelled In
answer. And he began to run to and
FRO In his escltepent, possessed onl,
by the eYar Of death by FIRE.
The flames spread. NE cabin was
now involved. and u great column OF
smoke was shooting skyward. carrying
with fiery spark cloud.
Dupon came out Of the smoke. hIa
face alight with fanatic madness. lie
caught him by the arm.
"See the fine fire I" he shouted. "He
won't get out OF that in hurry.
told her that | would give her his life
Tor the name. but have not got the
name. The name! What Is It? The
name"
Ills voice rang out across the heav.
Ing water, and, as he called. Baptiste
swung down the wheel. and the second
ship gllded alongside and passed.
II drove of into the distance driven
by the whipping wind. but not before
Dupont's words had been heard.
From the group upon Baptlste's ship
figure dlsengaged 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.
II give you the name." she crie'l.
ut Is Edounrd Brousseau. It Is n,
and give you my secret which have
borne all my life. Take it,"
She fell back into Baptlste's arms.
And It seemed as II. 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 a mo-
ment they could see the tall figure Of
the old man. with his wind-tOssed hair
and beard, standing as II petrfed
upon his blazing deck. Then he cried
out like a screaming sea-bird. and his
arms closed about the man at his side.
As Baptlste turned and tackled II
could he seen that the old man was
holding BrOusseau with one arm. as
easily as II he held n child. while his
free hand controlled the wheel again.
What reservoir Of strength he drew
upon, what miracle Of seamanship.
could never he known. But. as II ma
ture were aiding him, a veerlng gust
caught the sails. and with backward
movement the schooner began to glide
through the entrance Of the Ice field
into open water.
The fire was all about them. Screams
came from the doomed ship. hut they
came from BrOusseau, struggling In
Dupont's arms. Not 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 rhe deck Of Baptiste's schooner
saw the blazing vessel glide into the
distance. blazing comet, and Dupont.
black against the heart Of the fire. and
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. slngle-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 md
made st. Boniface quite n flourlshing
village In the north country.
Twice month. when he pays his
pastoral visit. you may see Father
Lucicn. still hale and strong. patrolllng
Ste. Mnrie with curious hazel stick.
fashioned with n knob nj each end:
and II Is said that Ste. Marie Is one Of
the hest parishes on the north shore.
On Sundays. seated In the parish
church. may he seen Simeon Duyal,
nodding his head npprovngly as. point
by point, the cure takes up his lie,
nuncIntlon of liquor selling. For Fa
ther Lucien really reached Slmeon's
soul with his hazel stick.
Marie has the hest house In the VII
lace. for Baptlste does thriving trade
CARRYING the ST. Bonlface lumber.
Here IL Clarlce, who looks. somehow,
Just ms one might have expected from
Lnfe's descriptions.
''Iie wouldn't come home" she says
10 Hilary, ESQ had to come after him.
But he's coming home next October, To
see his children md the new house"
Bought and paid for" said Lnfe,
"Yes. guess that's correct, Mr.. As.
kew. Though III he hncs some dny To
see YOU all. II aln't so h"d. this coun.
try-except for that pink md black
porch Baptiste's put on his hruse.
barn him. what did he want To dn tina,
for? tell you how II IS; These peo
ple can't help breaking out some" hore
and somehow; It's In their blood. thats
what II is."
But In his heart he knows that IN,
winter will see him back In ST. BonL
face.
Madeleine smiles, and puts her arm
through lIllary's.
THE END.