The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-06-03
WOODEN SPOIL ::s::.. s$s::.
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
Hfnsfrasioas %
TrsvfnM Mysgs


AkeAkeakoAkoAhoAkoAs@ As@&keAkeAkoAhekkoAhes
safe. DEAR" he answered. smiling.
There wns 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
nearer. He heard a man shouting /;
there seemed 10 be some disturbance
which he fancied they were trying to
quell Lafe stepped upon the wharf
with the two girls. walking past Hill
airy. Madeleine turned.
Her eyes. lighting upon Mhrie's face.
and then Nanette's. sought Hilary's In
astonIsbment But she asked nothing.
and waited. Her hand, which had
rested upon his arm, remained there.
But whereas Il had been a living.
warm part of her. Il 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 wag 90 swift that Il
took Hilary and Madeleine completely
by surprise. As the little man closed
with him Hilary Just managed TO
grasp his arm
'TIl kill youf" painted Baptiste. and
the breath whistled through his throat
as II the force OF his passion had con-
stricted II % a pipes dimension. SIt
IL she, end you took her from her
home last night. sought for her; I
was waiting and watchful; I did not
sleep. swore you should die"
He fought for freedom Of the stab
bing arm like a man possessed Of a
thousand devils. He worked the hand
free. and Il went up and down. the
long knife flashing and slising into
Hilar7's coat. And Madeleine did not
utter q word.
She watched the struggle like a
woman 10 q dream. Twice Hilary felt
the point Of the knife as Il drove
| through the air and slashed TO the end
Of Baptiste's reach. Then the crowd
closed about them.
But Baptiste fought like a devil. He
hurled the lumbermen aside; three
times he fought out of their grasp
and made for Hilary. who. Mortified
and still uncertain. made no attempt
to escape or strike. Each time he
caught the knife hand by miracle Of
luck. and all the time he fought Bap-
tiste never ceasee shouting.
"Let me get at him !" he painted. 81
watched them. I waited ! did not
sleep. He took her last night 10 the
island. I swore to kin him. Let me
goi Let me goI"
His voice rang high above the
shrieks Of the frightened girls and the
shouts OF the men. They had closed
about him now. but for the fourth
time he broke through and made for
Hilary. the knife held low now. ready
for the ripping upward stroke. HIlary
grasped at his arm again and missed.
The knife flashed back-and then In
an instant Madeleine stood where Bap-
tiste had been. and the blood dripped
from her sleeve. And eth she had
not uttered a sound.
They had got Baptiste down now,
still fighting like q Wild beast. They
were holding him. one man 20 each
limb, and his body writhed and curses
broke from his lips And Madeleina
stood before Hilary, quiet and calm
| and silent.
He sprang toward her. Madeleine r.
He seized her arm and tore the
sleeve away. There was a gash. long,
but not deep. from which the blood
was welling. He felt beside himself
with mingled fury and fear. He began
TO bind II with his han1kerchlef, the
icily cold arm that had been warm
against his shoulder. But Madeleine
drew herself away.
at Il nothing" she said. and began
to walk toward the head Of the wharf
Her rig was waiting there. the horse
held by a boy.
Hilary walked by her side. speaking
he never remembered what II was he
sald-Imploring; Madeleine said moth
ing. Nothing until she reached Che
carriage step. Drops Of blood marked
her progress. There she paused and
looked at him. He could see her faee
now IN the light OF the boys lantern,
and Il was neither seornful nor proud
but very hard-lIke the Selgneu-'s
Hilary thought afterward.
But all his thoughts were on the
wound. "Madelelne. your armi" hS
cried. catching az u.
'It Is nothing" she said once more
turning 20 mount the step.
Then Hilary knew what he had moi
let himself know he knew. He caught
her hand and pressed II 10 his lips
-AIarelelner' he cried. -YOe do not
do hot-surely you are not going "a
condemn me when -
shs placed her foot on the step.
| Il told you nothing but your faith
iessness could kili my love-" she said
In whisper. And. In a lower whis
per. ~G0od-byi"
The wheels were moving before Hi
airy could grasp the scene. brins II
home 10 his consciousness And after
ward he remembered that he ran be
SIDE the carriage. senselessly calling
10 her 10 let him bind her arm. HI
must have been half way through ths
village before his reason came bach
10 him.
cNAprnn xlv.