The Dolores star., 1920-07-09
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
illustrations by Irwin Myers

couth, unlettered. standing before
Madeleine Rosny. seemed like be-
nevolent guardian.
when he came to like you | was
glad" continued Lafe. But when you
came to like him was just about as
happy as when was leading Clarice-
my wife, l mean-out of the First
Methodist church at Shoeburyport.
Mass. on August IT, 1902, with her
white veil hiding her, and them orange
flowers she was carrying scenting up
the place not quite so glad may
be, but not far shy of It. And you
think he wasn't true to your What
man in his senses wouldn't beT
Il won't hear you," cried the girl,
summoning her defiance to her aid.
He should have spoken for himself
What right have you to speak for him.
sent or unsent?"
"Why, l thought I'd explain that,
mamzelle. Just because I'm his
friend" said Lafe. "It amt true Not
word of that story's true. I'm going
to tell you the truth. But first I'm 60
Ing to say what I got to say. because
it's true. You haven't acted rightly
toward him-no. you haven't. NAM
zelleI"
The passionate gesture the sincerity
of his tone dominated her She tried
to find her voice and could not: she
tried to find Indignation and could not.
1--WE went to Ste. Marie together to
see conditions there, to see what
sort of place Simeon Duval was run
ming. The girl was there. 1t was the
night of the raid and we helped her
away. She got home. and her father
never knew. Little Baptiste knew. and
others who'd seen her with us. They
told Brousseau, and he started those
lies about Mr.. Askew, who never knew
about it-never knew anything.
That fellow Pierre, Brousseau's
man. had his eye on the girl. You know
the sort of work he's done along this
coast. Maybe you don't, but it's devtls
work, mamzelle, and he and Leblanc
| lured Marie into boat by means OF
| their decoy, Nanette Bonnat, and took
her to the island. We found them
there, and saved her. and brought the
girls back. That's all. Now you
know. Now you understand how
you've done Hilary wrong. If you
don't believe me-" Lafe continued dog
gedly, Just tell me how much you
don't believe. and LII prove It I'll
prove every word; you don't have to
take me on trust"
DO you think I am capable of seek
ing evidence that n man is true to
me-" cried Madeleine. DO you think
! am going into st. Boniface to pry
into your friends actlons?"
You love him. mamzelle." said Lafe
with patience that would not be
thwarted. II can read that in your
face. You love him, and you've done
him wrong. Well. mamzelle. you
can't lie down under that. You can
bear 1t. You've got TO right it,
She burst into helpless tears. 81
hoped that he would come to me-" she
whispered.
Hillary Askew amt that kind of
man." said Lafe
He refused to defend himself"
He'd promised Marie to say moth
ing"
Let me pass. | have heard you"
| But Lufe stood in the way. You're
going to tell him it's all right" he said.
'Tll arrange 1t so 1t won't hurt your
pride. if that's worth Keeping"
How dare you insult me? Let him
come to me! Let him come and
pleadw
"Mamzelle"
II shall never go TO him"
And Lafe had reached the end. His
outraged Justice had led him to the
goal but ii was the wrong goal. He
was helpless, he was beaten. He
stepped aside and she ran past him.
hurrying up the stairs, whose faded
carpet was held by furnished rods
that cleaned between her moving feet.
Lafe looked along the gloomy hall
at the portraits in their gilt frames,
and he felt the unreasoning, stubborn
Rosny spirit that looked out of the
eyes of each. as it had looked out Of
Madeleine's and spoken by her. And
it had met such another spirit In Hill
ary.
81 guess you're wrong, all of you"
Lafe muttered. 81 guess you manu-
factured your code and thought 1t was
breeding and pride and you can't help
it. You got your foundations crooked.
You can't help it; that's ALL"
And with the same dogged patience.
but with an added air of hopeessness.
he put on his snowshoes and ploddcd
from the Chateau.
(To BE coNTINUED)
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