Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-04-15

that forbade denial or coquetry. And
Hilary feared M longer. Everything
was changed to joy that seemed to
blaze about him, lighting up the day
For a long time that morning they
forgot everything except their happi-
ness. 1t IA not for an hour, per-
haps, not until Hilary began to speak
of his hopes for the future that she
remembered what she had to say.
Il should have told you" she said.
1.-THE waiting must be so long. My
father would never consent-never,
Hilary"
what has your father against me-"
he asked, Except my cutting down his
trees? And, as for that, a man who
sells his property, or rights over it,
surely can never justify himself in
bearing ill-will to those who purchase
from him.
1T is not that, Hilary. It is be-
cause-well, first, because you are an
American. He does not love the Eng
fish, but he hates Americans. He
thinks that they betrayed Canada in
1888. And because the people are sat-
isfied under English rule, and loyal,
he resents it and broods over it."
"But that is all ancient history"
said Hilary, laughing at the absurdity
of the idea. AS a key to conduct, the
Seigneur's antiquarian motives ap1
peared impossible.
She smiled. HE is very good and
very just" she said tenderly, "but he
has let his dreams take hold of him
too much. And they are bound up
with his craze for the land. He wants
the ~seigniory to remain undivided for
ever, he wants the feudal tenure
back, with the serfs of his boyhood
days; he loves his land far better than
he loves meat least, l believe he
looks on me as an accessory of it."
She hesitated. Hillary" she con-
tinued presently, shat is how it was
arranged that 1 was to marry-him."
Hilary noticed her unwillingness to
pronounce B~rousseau's name. 1T was
because he has a hold on the seign-
Tory, and if my father lost it the
shock would kill him.
"When-he-was a boy, working
for my father here, he had ambitious
dreams, like so many young Cana
dams. My father became interested
in him, gave him an education, and
helped him. He repaid it by schem-
ing to get hold of the Rosny inherit
ance. He set to work, won my IA
theirs confidence, and got him to put
his money in worthless companies.
Then he became his creditor. / knew
nothing of all this, because I was at
school in Paris. But when I came
home, after my mothers death, my
father was in his power.
He tried to free himself by selling
your uncle the timber rights. He
could only bring himself to do this be-
cause he knew that some day the trees
would be cut down, and the mill would
go, and we should have our ancient
solitude again. But he needed more
money to help a relative in Quebec
who had lost his fortune through TAX
ing his advice to invest in one of the
companies. My father felt obligated
to him. So-he-got the mortgage, and
it expires in December, and-that's all,
Hilary, dear, except to say that, al
though it was expected l was to marry
him, 1 never in my heart expected to.
And / wouldn't let him-kiss me. Only
thy cheek-once or twice. 1t used to
make him SO angry. He hates you so
much, Hilary, and once he was jealous
he seemed to divine-and he accused
me of caring for you. That was what
made me angry with you. 1 tried to
hate you more, and all the time +
used to think about you, dear-I was
ashamed-I am still ashamed"
81 think we must both have known
that we were meant to love each other,
as soon as we met" Hilary said.
Il think / did know" she answered
softly.
"Does he know your decision?"
asked Hilary.
She nodded. II told him when he
gave me to understand his wicked de-
sign against you that I could never be
anything to him. I had not gagged him
before-or, rather, l had been hypno-
tized by my sense Of duty toward my
father. But. Hilary, remember this
her cheeks glowed and she looked very
earnestly at him-'if your love is as