The Rice belt journal., 1920-06-19

WafQ MIN.
"My father thanks you, Mr.. Con-
NELL" she said, and though the tears
ralned down her face she smiled. 1T
is like the lifting of a nightmare" she
whispered.
"Yes, mademoiselle," said Lafe. "But
1t was you l wanted chiefly to see."
"You saw me. What else is there to
say? Mr.. Connell, if you have come
here on any other mission it is hope
less. Why did you let him send you
for-for that?" she continued, reading
his face.
Because he's my friend" said Lafe.
"But he didn't send me here. He's
talking Of going away. That's why !
came"
He saw her start, then control her.
self.
I'm forty years DID," said Lafe, and
conscious Of the ineptness of the be
ginning hesitated. I'm forty years
Old" he continued. mot old enough
to be your father, mademoiselle, but
old enough to be sort Of uncle,
though l amt got your education. That
don't matter. It's experience that
counts, and knowledge of the world.
And I seen a good bit more of life
than you, mademOiselle.
II seen enough to learn one thing,
and that Is that understandings are
the cause of nearly all the trouble In
the world. When Mr.. Askew come
here I wasn't altogether too much
pleased. I'd been meshed into the
crooked work that Morris and Mon.
sieur Brousseau was doing with the
seigniory lumber Then when I got
to know Hilary Askew l saw that he
was clean straight through"
He let his hand fall lightly on the
girls shoulder. The gesture, which
might have been an offense in some,
was instructive, and, like most in
stinctive actions, fitting. Lafe, un-
couth, unlettered, standing before
Madeleine Rosny, seemed like be-
nevolent guardian.
"When he came to like you I was
glad" continued Lafe. "But when you
came to like him was just about as
happy as when l was leading Clarice-
my W e, l mean-out of the First
Method I church at Shoeburyport,
Mass, "a August II, 1902, with her
white veil hiding her, and them orange
flowers she was carrying acenting 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 bis senses wouldn't be1"
II won't hear your 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 unsent2" y
"Why, I thought I'd explain that,
mamzelle. Just because Tn his
friend said Lafe. ''It amt true. Not
a word Of that story's true. I'm going
to tell you the truth. But first I'm 60
ing to say what ! got to say, because
It's true. You haven't acted rightly
toward him-no, you haven't, man.
zelle!"
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. It 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 DEVILS
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 a wrong. If you
don't believe me-" Lafe continued dog.
gedly, 'Ijust tell me how much you
don't believe, and I'll prove it. I'll
prove every word; you don't have to
take me on trust"
"Do you think / am capable Of seek
ing evidence that a man is true to
me?" cried Madeleine. "Do you think
am going into st. Boniface to pry
into your friends actions?"
"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 a wrong. Well, mamzelle, you
can't lie down under that. You can't
bear it. You've got to right it."
She burst into helpless tears. II
hoped that he would come to me-" she
whispered.
Hillary Askew amt that kind Of a
man." said Lafe.
"He refused to defend himself"
He'd promised Marie to say moth
ing"
"Let me pass. I have heard you"
But Lafe stood In the way. you're
going to tell him it's all right" he said.
IN arrange it so it won't hurt your
pride, if that's worth keeping"
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