The Dolores star., 1920-05-07
Bv VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Illustrations by Irwin Myers

SllHnt, very SlluiSht ob's ''
with gray-blue eyes and brown mar
blown by the wind about her flushed
cheeks. There was combination OF
dignity and simplicity about her, both
In her demeanor and In the way sne
rode, and In her acknowledgment OF
Connells greeting.
Hilary watched her canter up the
road till she had disappeared among
the trees. Then he realized that he
had not taken his eyes of her since he
had first seen her.
THAT" said Lafe. "is Mamzellt
Madeleine Rosny. Her fathers what
they call the Seigneur."
THE owner of the ChateauT" asked
Hilary, although he knew this per-
fectly.
YES. Mr.. Askew. I guess she
wouldn't have. smiled so pleasant If
she had known who you was"
"Why. Mr.. Connellt'
Lnfe icrked his thumb vaguely about
| the horizon. PROUD old boy" he ex-
| planned. "Family's been here nigh on
thousand years. l guess-leastwnys
since them Frenchmen first came to
this continent. Hated like thunder to
sell out to your uncle. But ! guess
he was land poor. like the rest of them,
and Marzelle Madeleine must have
| cost him n mint of money finishing up
in the convent at Paris. France"
Hilary turned this over in his mind
as they continued their walk along the
| cliff and then down the road to the
/ hotel. The idea of any personal i'll
feeling on the Seigneurs part or on
that of his family had not occurred to
/ him. Though he did not expect to
meet Monsieur Rosny, except possibly
| In the course of his business, he was
conscious of feeling of regret, n:i1
also of half-formed resolution, the
nuture of which he would not admit.
to put relations upon pleasant foot
ing.
In the hotel the landlords wife was
already preparing supper. They ate
an omelet, washed down with strong
tea and followed by raspberries and
cream. Then they went out on the
porch and lit their pipes.
You are the foreman, l under.
stand?' asked Hilary.
''ies, Mr.. Askew. l took the job
soon after your uncle bought the tim.
ber rights. I'd been up here for the
Shoeburyport Gazette. which was look.
ing for IA pulp supply. Mr.. Morris of
fered me the job. and l took it. Ant
I've been sorry ever since"
"Why?"
ITS Il of country" answered
Lafe frankly. 81 never guessed such
folks existed in civilized land be
fore. Now you take a Dutchman or q
Dngo-their ways amt our ways, but
they're more or less human. Thes,
people amt. They paint their houses
yellow and green, when they paint ZEN
at all. never saw yellow house
with green porch In my life till
come up here"
Just difference Of taste, Mr.. Con
nell"
Maybe" said Lafe, splitting. "May
be it's all right not to have sense t,
plaster their houses. so as to freeze t.
death In winter time. Maybe it's al
right to run to Father Lucy wheI
there's forest fire, instead of gettin,
to work and putting it out. Maybe h,
, can pray 1t out for them. l got nothin,
: against the place, except that my wifi
. Clarice and the kids are in Shoebury
port. and I'd rather rot here alone thai
bring 'em up. But what's the use
. I'm here and l got to stay here" h,
: ended, struggling his shoulders.
Lafe was bad -ques,ioner. ant
the task put upon him by Broussea,
was not only uncongenial but impos
sIbie for man of his temperament
However, he made valiant attemp
to draw Hilary out. You're thinkin.
, or spending some time here, Mr.. AS
kew" he asked.
i've come to take charge. I'm gui,i,
to stay" said Hilary.
Lafe looked at him curiously. Win
sort Of man could this be who chos,
OF his volition to reside in st. Boni
face?
Il guess you'll change your mint
when you've seen 1t little longer" h,
said incredulously.
"On the contrary, Mr.. Connell.
mean to take hold, and mean to max,
1t pay. 1t hasn't paid very well, l un
derstand?"
Lafe floundered. 1--WE heard /
don't pay as much as 1t ought"
II understand that most of the tim
Der Is below the size ut which cuttin.
Is alowed2'
Lafe stared at him. "Why, then
rules are for government land!" h,
answered. "You can cut any size or
freehold. The timber amt so bad
leastways some of 1t amt"
| Hilary begnn to think hard. On thi.
point Lamartine had clearly and def
nitely lied to him.
TOO much fir on the property7" he
asked.
why. there Is some FIR" conceded
Lafe. But there's some good spruc.
along the Rocky river" ha o,aoa