Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-01-16

hlialy ioppeu out an oath. "Not If |
have anything to say" he answered
Nor me-" said Lafe "The trouble
is, where do we start in? We can't
fight the whole town single-handed. 1
was wondering whether we couldn't
wire the revenue people"
NO" said Hilary sharply. "We1l
fight our own battles, Lafe."
Lafe subsided in hurt sort of way.
The evidences of decentralization were
obvious IN st. Boniface. The men were
slow and surly, the women sullen,
slatternly and hopeless-looking 1t was
clear that they had little hope Hilary
could counter this new project. Hill
ary was aware of feeling in the air,
as If he was being tested. He saw
furtive glances as he went by, he rec
ognized reluctance in the sullen touch
Of the cap and the unsmiling faces,
while not hostile, watched him with
something like resentment, as if his
attitude toward the Duval proposal
was discounted beforehand.
Hilary had kept in his mind a plan
of cutting along the bank of the river,
without waiting for the snow 1t SEEM
ed to him a feasible plan to fell right
beside the water, and float the logs
down, this requiring no teams to haul,
a process impossible until the snow
was deep. On the Saturday he went
out afoot to survey the timber in the
upper reaches. In order to get clear
er view, Hilary took the public road
that ran along the eastern bank, with
in the Ste. Marie limits, and ascended
to an elevation opposite the low-lying
tract on the west side.
He had nearly reached the branch
road which ran in toward Ste. Marie,
along which Lafe and he had driven on
that first morning, when he perceived
Madeleine Rosny and Brousseau ahead
of him, at the top of the rise. They
seemed to be talking earnestly, and
Hilary held back, unwilling to surprise
them. Presently he saw Brousseau
spur his horse and gallop away in the
direction of Ste. Marie, while Made
leine came slowly toward him.
She saw him and turned her horse
aside to let him pass. She had been
crying, and there were traces of tears
still on her cheeks. She would have
waited for him to go by, her face
averted, but Hilary placed his hand
upon the horses bride.
"Mademoiselle Rosny-" he began
"Let me go on" she said in a low
tone.
"T want to speak to you. And if
YOU are in trouble I want to help
you"
She smiled wearily. 81 am not in
| trouble, and if I were I should hardly
ask your aid, Monsieur Askew," she
answered. Then, with sudden We.
hemence, "Why did you come here?'
she cried. "Why could you not have
left st. Boniface alone, instead of stir
ring up hatred? Is it not enough that
my father should have been compelled
to sell your uncle our trees, without
your coming here to exult over oul
shameT"
81 have not exulted, Mademoisellt
Rosny; am sorry"
@Take back your pity. We dom
want it. What has Monsieur Brous
seau done to you-or Mr.. Morris?"
Morris, since you inquire, has swim
died me out of several thousand dol
lars worth of lumber, Mademoisell,
Rosny. AS for Monsieur Brousseau
the trouble is Of his own seeking"
"You went upon Monsieur Brous
| 1zI
of his workmen, and you ill-treate,
him shamefully, just because you ar
big and strong, and not afraid of
weaker man. And you and your hire
men-our men who serve you-hav
taken Monsieur Brousseau's lumber
and you are going to sell it as you
own. You ought to be ashamed Q
yourself, you outlaw"
you're altogether wrong, Mademo
selle Rosny," answered Hilary quiet
ly. 'The quarrels were none of ther
of my seeking. Monsieur Brousseal
who is quite capable of taking care @
himself, lays claim to land and lun
Der which is not his. I sugges
mademoiselle, that you have nc
shown sufficient cause for your hos
tility.
Il have done yor no wrong" urge
Hilary. 81 have come here to tax
charge of legacy which my uncl
left me. 1t is all 1 have in the work.
1t has been my hope to make the tas
successful and, in succeeding, to col
slider my neighbors and help my en-
ployees. Is not this a case for ou
working amicably together, as 70
suggested in the case of Monsieu
Brousseau? Come, Mademoiselle Ro1
; ny, let us forget our quarrel and b
friends"
She did not take the hand that h
!. extended, but she looked at him i
wonder.
"You spoke of my goodwill" sh
said presently, with touch of mocl
n cry. "What is that to you? Surel
8 my fathers feeling toward you, whic
d is mine, can have no power to help {
: injure your"
: "It means much to me, your goo,
b WILL Mademoiselle Rosny," said Hila1'
She leaned forward in her saddl
Monsieur Askew," she said, "liste
s to me. If you value my goodwill yo
/ shall have it on one condition"
J.. ''On any condition"
n "That you leave st. Boniface."
$ Except that" said Hilary.
d "It is not that grudge you yol
n possession" resumed the girl hurrie
+ ly. Believe me, 1 am not thinking
q that. AS you said, the money W;
!. paid, and the rights are yours. b
b this is no place for you, monsieur.
could esteem you and-and give "
t, my goodwill if you said 4 have mat
mistake and went. Why do "
IS stay here, to stir up trouble and as
r. tate US all? What is it you wal
v that you will not take the value
your trees from Monsieur B-ousses
and go?"