The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-03-06

warning also"
Inc memory of their past meeting
rushed through Hilary's mind, alread
unbalanced by the events of the after
noon, and he became conscious Of
great rush of anger that seemed t
sweep through him like some imper
sonal force and hold him against hi
will.
DO you think, Mademoiselle ROsny
that you are entitled to express you
wishes and your warnings to me, il
the light Of our acquaintance? he de
manded.
You are pleased to be insolent t.
me again." she answered in a low
voice. 1T does not matter. If you e
10 st. Boniface you go at your peril.
Mademoiselle-"
l ask you not to go. I implore you
then"
by what right?" cried Hilary angri
ly. Have you worked for me OF
against me, Mademoiselle Rosny, since
came here, expecting to find only O
welcome among my neighbors? Have
you shown any reason why / should
need 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, l have
come here to beg 1t of you. I"
You have come here to get me not
to attend 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
across the face. She tried to answer
him, but could only stammer inco-
herently; and her eyes, which had
blazed with wrath as he spoke Of the
boom, were filled with tears which she
checked valiantly.
you think l came here tonight"
she began, and paused, her voice chok-
ing. "You think l came hereto you
to engage in some plot of Monsieur
BrOusseau's? 1t is insufferablel You
are not so important an enemy as
that" She put out her hands swiftly.
"Ah, do not 60 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! Go to
st. Boniface!
She spurred her horse and galloped
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,
part, kindled him to fighting heat
He meant to fight, and he grew hot
ter as he tramped steadily along the
river road, Keeling off the miles be-
hind him, a lonely figure, his heart
rancorous against the injustice melted
out to him; bitter against LATE, bitter
against Madeleine, but furious in his
resolution to show ST. Boniface what
manner of man he was.
At last the lights of the settlement
began to twinkle through the trees.
He walked little faster, lingering the
revolver in his coat pocket. But when
he reached the gate above the dam he
stopped for a while and considered.
His instinct was for physical assault,
such violence as alone could appease
his rage. He listened to the distant
hubbub about Duval's 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 at least in st. Boniface
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
3aptistes old house. He turned into
he little street on which it stood and
saw it in front Of him. with the higher
,ulk of the mill beyond.
The shades of Baptiste's cabin were
lrawn, and the lamplight from within
brew the shadows of the lumbermen
lpon them in grotesque attitudes. Hill
nv could see through the open door
hat the place was packed to suffoca-
ion. There was no room to dance;
nut there was to be no dance that
light.
A group of men. chattering upon the
orch. ceased their conversation as Hill
nv assembled the three steps. and
judged one another. One of them
roke into loud drunken laughter. Hill
nv hardly heard them. He strobe into
he saloon and stood within the door
ray.