The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-10-27

the cause Of nearly all the trouble in
the world When Mr.. Askew come
here / wasn't altogether too much
pleased. I'd been meshed into the
crooked work that Morris and Mon
sieur Brousseau was doing with the
seignlory lumber Then when l got
to know Hilary Askew saw that he
was clean straight through"
He let his hand fall lightly on the
girls shoulder. The gesture. which
might have been an offense in some,
was instructive, and. like most in
stinctive actions, fitting. LATE. un-
couth, unlettered. standing before
Madeleine Rosny, seemed like a be-
nevolent guardian.
"When he came to like you was
glad" continued Lafe. But when you
came TO like him / was just about as
happy as when was leading Clarice-
my wife. mean-out of the First
Methodist church at Shoeburyport
Mass, on August II. 1902. with her
white veil hiding her, and them orange
flowers she was carrying seeming up
the place not quite so glad may
be. but not far shy of II. And you
think he wasn't true to you? What
man In his senses wouldn't beT
IL won't hear you'll" cried the girl,
summoning her defiance to her aid.
HE should have spoken for himself.
What right have you to speak for him,
sent or unsent?"
"why, thought I'd explain that,
friend" said LATE. "It amt true. Not
q word of that story's true. I'm going
to tell you the truth. But first I'm go
ing to say what I got to say, because
IT'S true. You haven't acted rightly
toward him-no, you haven't, man.
zelle!"
The passionate gesture, the sincerity
OF his tone dominated her. She tried
% Dnd her voice and could not; she
tried to fnd indignation and could not.
"we went to Ste. Marie together to
see conditions there, to see what
prt of place Simeon Duval was run
hing. The girl was there. 1t was the
light OF the raid. and we helped her
away. She got home, and her father
never knew. Little Baptiste knew, and
others who'd seen her with US. They
told Brousseau, and he started those
Hes about Mr.. Askew, who never knew
about it-never knew anything.
THAT fellow Pierre, Brousseau's
man. had his eye on the girl. You know
the sort Of work he's done along this
coast. Maybe you don't. but It's devils
work. mamzelle. and he and Leblanc
lured Marie into a boat by means OF
their decoy. Nanette Bonnat, and took
her to the island. We found them
there, and saved her. and brought the
girls back. That's all. Now you
know. Now you understand how
you've done Hilary a wrong. II you
don't believe me-" Lafe continued dog
gedly. "Just tell me how much you
don't believe. and I'll prove 1t. I'll
prove every word; you don't have to
take me on trust"
"Do you think am capable of seek
Ing evidence that a man Is true TO
mer cried Madeleine. do you think
I am going into st. Boniface to pry
into your friends actionsT"
"You love him, mamzelle." said LATE,
with patience that would not be
thwarted. II can read that in your
face. You love him, and you've done
him a wrong. Well, mamzelle, you
aanst Ito 1oxyo ,,r1.- 49, W., oo,,,t
bear II. You've got to right It."
She burst into helpless tears. 81
hoped that he would come to me-" she
whispered.
Hillary Askew amt that kind OF a
man." said Lafe.
He refused to defend himself"
He'd promised Marie to say moth
ing"
LET me pass. have heard you"
But Lafe stood In the way. you're
going TO tell him It's all right" he said.
I'm arrange II so II won't hurt your
pride. IL that's worth keeping"
How dare you insult me? Let him
come 70 mel Let him come and
pleadr
"Mamzellef"
II shall never 60 to himw
And Lafe had reached the end. His
outraged justice had led him to the
goal: but II was the wrong goal. He
was helpless. he was beaten. He
stepped aside, and she ran past him,
hurrying up the stairs, whose faded
carpet was held by furnished rods
that cleaned between her moving feet.
Lafe looked along the gloomy hall
at the portraits In their gilt frames,
and he felt the unreasoning. stubborn
Rosny spirit that looked out Of the
eyes Of each. as II had looked out of
Madeleine's and spoken by her. And
II had met such another spirit in Hill
airy.
Il guess you're wrong. all Of you"
Lafe muttered. II guess you manu-
featured your code and thought II was
breeding and pride. and you can't help
IL. You got your foundations crooked.
You can't help II; that's ALL"
And with the same logged patience,