Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-02-20


gering there when their exits were
long overdue. They were unreal as
phantom figures gIimpsed in wild
dream. Pity for the two futile old
men choked Hilarys throat He could
feel nothing but that as he watched
Robitaille come TO the door, bobbing
and shutting, with stiffened joints that
made him more like marionette.
But he felt, too. the urgency of TAX
ing Madeleine away, into a world OF
reality. before the same dream in
fected her.
She came up to Hilary softly and
placed hel fingers on his arm, looking
into his face wistfully.
You must go, dear. and not try to
convince him now" she said. at has
been terrible blow to him. He looks
SO i'll. l am afraid for him. ] shall
come TO you tomorrow and tell you"
"Robitaille." said the Seigneur,
Monsieur Askew has decided. much
to my grief, to leave this afternoon.
You will have the goodness to pack
his things and to prepare the casache
for him. You will drive him to the
MILL"
The old man muttered acquiescence
and shuffied away Hilary turned to-
ward Resny. Frankly he held out his
hand. The action might have been ILL
| timed, but ii responded to his deep
seated feeling But Rosny did not seem
| TO see the gesture. He stood staring
| across the room, one hand clutching
his spreading collar. and his face.
which had been white and red, was
purple.
Hilary turned away. He had reached
the door when he heard sound MS if
Rosny was clearing his throat. Then
Madeleine cried out in fear Hilary
turned, to see Gosny sit heavily down
in his chair. His eyes closed, his arms
dropped over the sides; his head fell
on his breast.
Hilary ran to him. He was nncon-
scious, and breathing heavily Hilary
tried to raise him, to carry him to the
sofa, bur the man seemed made of iron
as he lay, dead weight, in Hilary's
arms.
At Medicines cry old RobItaiEe
had turned, too, and he came shunling
back. As he perceived his master ly-
ing in the chair he began TO utter wild,
Whispering cries.
Oils father went that way" he
mumbled. Il always knew he'd 90 like
that Forty-tive years I've served him.
Forfy-five years. | always knew"
Help me TO get him into the next
room, to bed" said Hilary.
Robitaille did not understand, hut
he aided Hilary TO raise bis master
and together they half dragged and
half carried him into the drawing
room and laid him on Hilary's bed
Madeleine kneeled beside him in
despair, her hands clasped, her eyes
strained on his face Hilary was
l0osening his collar and the upper part
Of his clothing. Robitaille had shut
fed out.
X have killed himw cried the girl,
In pathetic grief II have killed him !"
Hilary could do nothing. She seemed
distraught, and the Seigneur lay like
fallen tree. His rafting breaths
blended with the grI's sobs; and there
was no other sound IN the room.
But soon Robitatlle came shufTlng
back. In one hand he carried basin,
in the other little rusty knife A
towel was on his. arm. He muttered
something to Madeleine, who rose from
her knees and looked at Hilary with a
brave effort ct self composure. "He
wants TO bleed hiI-." she said. "He
says that when he was young man
they used to bleed such cases and they
got well. He says 1t is the only
chance"
Hmry, feeling helpless, took the
lancet from the old servants fingers
and looked at the rusty edge.
1--WE heard of bleeding in such
cases." he said. "Weli--perhaps II
won't hurt him. But we must bon the
instrument. Can you get some hot
waterf"
/ The girl hurried TO obey. She left
the room and came back with little
alcohol stove and pan Of wgter. Hill
airy, having scraped the rust from the
blade, WATCHED ner In admiration al
her self possession as she went TO end
| fro, intent upon her task. While the
water was boiling the two men man
aged to get Rosny to bed.
When the water was boiled Hilary
sterlized the lancet, Robtaille looking
On without comprehension. But his
shaking fingers grew firm as he per
formed the little operation When II
was over and the arm bandaged n
slight Improvement in Rosny's ccndl-
ton seemed already manifest.
They sat beside him all through the
day, while the heavy breathing gradu-
ally grew lighter, and the stupor
seemed to be passing into sleep. To-
ward evening Rosny opened his eyes
for a moment and looked about him.
II should like to stay, If can be OF
help" said Hilary.
81 think you had better go, dear. If
you are strong enough" said Made