The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-13
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ESXk6XE0&xGxxS&k&x6&E &6xX "Ah, monsieur. do not speak of it. Perhaps he is dead. Perhaps they are all dead from grief"
 "Would you like to go home, Man. ette?"
 ''Yes, monsieur, will go now, for | have nothing more to live for. I shall go and beg on my knees" 'T shall send you home, then, Man. cite. But now ask forgiveness from Marie here. and then thank God that He has saved her tonight in spite of all the evil that was against her." Nanette crouched toward Marie Du- pont. whose arms stole round her neck, and the two girls cried and whispered together. Hilary turned away. He thought of Madeleine, and breathed a prayer that their lives might run to- gether. and that they might strive to- gether for the right all their days.
 He turned back into the boat. "Now, Marie, no word of this nights doings shall ever pass my lips" he said. "But, Marie, your life is unhappy. There is good man in St. Boniface who cares for you. Do you think that you could learn to care for him?"
 t"Ah, pauvre Jeanr" wept the girl ''I have been ungrateful to him, mon- sieur. And now am not worthy that he should have anything to do with me-"
 'He shall know nothing unless you tell him." said Hilary. "As to that. I cannot advise. But you need have no fears as to me-"
 The black shadow of the wharf be- gan to project out of the shore line. with Baptiste's schooner moored along side. Lights of lanterns were moving. and as the sloop drew near Hilary per ceived little group of people near the wharf-head. Louis Duval let down the sails and guided the vessels prov toward the mooring ring. Hilary stepped out. but before he could turn stepped forward.
 It was Madeleine. She ran to him with a little cry of gladness. She raised her lips to his.
 Dear, I have been waiting since dark" she said, pressing his arm. ''I only got your letter this afternoon, telling me that you had gone to the island, and I was frightened. Hilary"
 He patted her arm. 'T am quite safe, dear" he answered, smiling. "There was never any danger. Lafe was with me, and we went and came on the tide"
 AS he spoke he noticed that the crowd at the wharf-head had drawn O r6 O there seemed to be some disturbance which he fancied they were trying to quell.( Lafe stepped upon the wharf with the two girls, walking past Hil- ary. Madeleine turned.
 Her eyes, lighting upon Marie's face. and then Nanette's, sought Hilary's in astonishment. But she asked nothing, and waited. Her hand, which had rested upon his arm, remained there. But whereas it had been a living, warm part of her, it now felt cold and heavy, and lifeless.
 Then out of the crowd burst Jean Baptiste, screaming. He ran toward Hilary. A knife was flashing in his hand. His onset was so swift that it took Hilary and Madeleine completely by surprise. As the little man closed with him Hilary just managed to grasp his arm.
 "I'll kill you!" panted Baptiste, and the breath whistled through his throat as if the force of his passion had con- stricted 1t to a pipes dimension. "It is she, and you took her from her home last night. I sought for her; I was waiting and watchful; did not sleep. swore you should die"
 He fought for freedom of the stab ping arm like a man possessed of thousand devils. He worked the hand free, and it went up and down, the long knife flashing and slicing into Hilary's coat. And Madeleine did not utter a word.
 She watched the struggle like woman in a dream. Twice Hilary felt the point of the knife as it drove through the air and slashed to the end of Baptiste's reach. Then the crowd closed about them.
 But Baptiste fought like devil. He hurled the lumbermen aside; three times he fought out of their grasp and made for Hilary, who, mortified