The spectator., 1920-03-02
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
by IrWin Myers


by the whipping wind, but not before Dupont's words had been heard.
 From the group upon Baptistes ship figure disengaged herself ana stepped forward. It was Marie Du- pont. She poised herself upon the deck. and her voice rang out above the gale and the sea.
 "T give you the name." she cried. 'Tt is Edouard Brousseau. It Is he, and give you my secret which nave borne all my life. Take 1t "
 She fell back into Baptiste's arms. And it seemed as if, with the breaking of the inhibition, her past life, with its fears and terrors. was melted into the life of happiness that was to be.
 Dupont had heard her. For mo- ment they could see the tall figure Of the old man, with his wind-tossed hair and beard, standing as if petrfied upon his blazing deck. Then he cried out like screaming sea-bird, and ms arms closed about the man at his side
 As Baptiste turned and tackled 1t could be seen that the old man was holding Brousseau with one arm as easily as if he held child. while his free hand controlled the wheel again. What reservoir of strength he drew upon what miracle of seamanShip, could never be known. But, as If na- ture were aiding him. veering gust caught the sails. and with backward movement the schooner began to glide through the entrance of the ice field into open water.
 The fire was all about them. Screams came from the doomed ship. but they came from Brousseau, struggling in Dupont's arms Not a sound came from the captains lips.
 The vessel gained her freedom, she turned and began to drive eastward, toward the Gulf and its open water. Faster and faster she went as the wind compelled her. The mortified watchers upon the deck of Baptiste'S schooner saw the blazing vessel glide into the distance. a blazing comet, and Dupont, black against the heart of the fire and Brousseau in his arms.
 Little was afterward remembered concerning the rescue. But from that night legends began to spread along both shores of Baptiste's seamanship. and of Hilary, who, Single-handed. saved the heiresS of the Seignory from Brousseau and the two outlaws
 But none of the principals In these events care ovcrmuch to dwell upon them even in memory. And though memories live long in silence. gossip soon dies. All this Is becoming a local legend. such as mothers tell to their babies.
 But the St Boniface mill now huns from dawn till dark and the asbestos mine has brought Tn its workers and made St. Boniface quite n tlou:shing village in the north country.
 Twice a month, when he pays his pastoral visit. you may see Father Lucien still hale and strong. patrollng Ste Marie with curious hazel stick. / fashioned with knob at each end: and 1t is said that Ste. Marie Is one of the best parishes on the north shore.
 On Sundays. seated in the parish church. may be seen Simeon Duval, nodding his head approvlncly as. point by point. the cure takes up his de- nunciation of liquor selling. For Fa- ther Lucien really reached Simeons soul with his hazel stick.
 Marie has the best house In the vil- lage, for Baptiste does thriving trade carrying the St. Boniface lumber.
 Here Is Clarice. who looks, somehow, just as one might have expected from Lafe's descriptions.
 'He wouldn't come home." she says to Hilary, "so had to come after him. But he's coming home next October. to see his children and the new house."
 Bought and paid for" said Lafe. "Yes, l guess that's correct Mir As. kew. Though I'll be back some day to see you all, It ain't SO had, this coun- try-except for that pink and black porch Baptiste's put on his house. Darn him, what did he want to do that for? l tell you how 1t Is: These peo- pie can't help breaking out somewhere and somehow; it's in their blood, that's what it is."
 But In his heart he knows that the winter will see him back in S,. Boni- face.
 Madeleine smiles, and puts her arm through Hllary's.
 THE END.