The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-04-03
CHAPTER XII.
Dreams and Dangers.


rr,,nI,e IN q constitution indroG by
hard work and healthy living, Hilary
improved rapidly under Madeleine >
nursing. aided by her fathers Sk)leu
treatment of the wound On the sec
ond day Hillary was conscious, on l.ia
fourth Rosny announced mat tiie
crisis was past; upon the ninth ING
notient was sitting up in bed and de-
handing solid food.
LATE was the happief man N 'lle
world when, at last admitted TO ING
bedside. he asked and received aoso'
luton for his desertion.
"Now I've got some good news he
said, when Hilary persisted in asking
obout the work. "We've got tha'
shipment off, and Dupont VIII nave
both vessels back in few days 1ot
the next. The mills working over
time and the gangs back on the Jop.
"You paid them two dollars?'
| "Not a cent more" said Late TIL
umphantly. "They asked to go Dack
TO work. and you ought to see them
working, / guess they feel that the?
haven't given you square deal' anu
Mr. Rosny's been having few words
with them, ] hear. Anyway, they
know now it's Morris who tipped OH
the revenue people, in order 10 hake
trouble for you, and the result is TINS
mart of the country has grown too not
for him. So he's gone away. near
he had quarrel with Brousseau over
the share of their plumber, and they
almost came TO blows over 1t. WeiiS
that's the first Of the gang out. Ana
MACPHERSON has turned out trump,
working overtime and making ths
hands work, and it begins to lock to
me as if we'll win out after all.
This was good news. 1t was now
September, and in little more than
month the snow should extend con-
siderably their cutting area.
So they discussed their plans. until
Madeleine coming in, drove Conneii
away. Hilary would not ask h1ID<
about his assailants, and Lafe was
glad to avoid the subject. 1t wa"
Father Lucien who took it up later,
when Hilary was convalescent.
He hummed and hawed good deal,
and finally the truth came out. II
would be easy enough to get the pc
lice up from Quebec, but the quar-.
tette would have to be laid by the
heels before the advent of winter
made further action impossible for
months. Of the four, Pierre had dis
appeared Leblanc was said to have
gone into the woods for the winter to
trap, having apparently abandoned his
pretense of suitcase on the Ste.
Marie limits. Simeon Duval was rnn'
ming his saloon wide open, and swear
ing that, Hilary having assaulted aim
he had struck with his knife in self
defense, while in half-stunned con-
ditfon. Little Louis, his brother.
scared out of his wits, had been to
see the cure with view to making his
peace.
Hilary had no desire to punish
Louis any further, though he meant TO
deal with Pierre and Leblanc when
the opportunity arose. He meant "a
rid the community of them and
Simeon; but he had a strong mans
reluctance to call upon the Law to
avenge physical assault. In the end
the cure went away with the utder
standing that Louis was forgiven and
with no decision taken as 10 further
action.
"Rut what strength! What lower
monsieur" he said admiringly, clench
| no 81
Hilary's arm. do yon know, inep.
sieur," he continued thoughtfuhv, "t
have often thought. that priest in.
such a district as this needs the mus
cularity almost as much as the coed
ness! All, Monsieur Askew, if i
were your age, and Of your strength
what would not do!'
To Hilary his convaIescence was O.
foretaste Of paradise. Edmond RGsn,
came in only for formal visits now
twice or three times day; but it wa.
wonderful to see Madeleine, whom hs
knew that he loved with all his he, IT
about his bedside all day long. and
then about his chair, waiting on h.n
anticipating his wishes, until he 1e,t
ashamed to be so helpless, her pride
gone, her scorn gone, her enmity as
well. When Hilary learned of ,ha
/ part that she had played in his reseua
and thanked her gratefully, she coM8
not meet his eyes.
Then came the first day on VIII Cd
he was permitted to leave his roc n.
Leaning on Medicines arm, he had
gone out to feel the wonder Of the
sunshine and the crisp autumn sir
The garden had originally been laid
out. more than century before, II
| imitation of the formal gardens Of
France of the period, with terraces
and statuary. Everything was In
ruin; and yet Hilary had the sudden.
! inexplicable sense of having co,ae
home
"Mademoiselle Rosny." he said, re
are going TO be ,,oO6 friends in f,,tr.n