Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-14

cept 1t or abandon his plans and re-
turn home.
"I'll stop that, anyhow" he NUT
tered. and, rising, took n revolver from
his suitcase. loaded the six chambers,
and thrust 1t into his coat pocket.
Then he clnpped on his hat and went
out
| 1t was still light. and he calculated
to reach st. Boniface soon after Duval
opened. But he had not gone dozen
paces when he heard the sound of a
trotting horse, and presently. from
among the trees. he perceived Made
leine Rosny upon the chestnut which
had bolted with her on the day of the
dynamite blast.
She put her horse to the gallop as
she neared him. and reined up so sud
denly that she almost threw the beast
back upon his launches. Hilary saw
that she had new and powerful bit.
which give her perfect control Her
pluck was splendid In this riding of
the same animal along the same road.
He raised his hat and waited. She
leaned over the horses shoulder, and
he saw that her face was expressive of
great concern.
tonight" she said.
May / ask why?"
"It is my wish, monsleur-and my
warning also"
The memory OF their past meetings
rushed through Hilary's mind. already
unbalanced by the events of the after
noon, and he became conscious of a
great rush of anger that seemed to
sweep through him like some imper
snnal- force and hold him against his
viii.
DO you think, Mademolselle Rosny,
that you are entitled to express your
wishes and your warnings to me, in
the light of our acquaintance" he de-
manded
You are pleased TO be insolent to
me again" she answered in low
voice. ut does not matter. If you go
TO st. Boniface you go at your peril.
"AIademoiselle-''
81 ask you not to go. impIore you,
then"
by what right?" cried Hilary angri-
ly. "Have you worked for me or
against me. Mademoiselle Rosny. since
l came here, expecting to find only a
welcome among my neighbors? Have
you shown any reason why | should
heed your advice. or put faith in your
disinterestedness?
She was not looking at him. "No,"
she answered, very quietly But you
must not go. Monsieur Askew, l have
come here to beg it of you. L"
You have come here to get me not
to attend to my interests" cried Hill
airy. losing all his self-control. Are
you not actively allied with my worst
enemy. who seeks to ruin me and drive
me out of st. Boniface. lost nearly
winters cut of lumber when my
boom was treacherously destroyed
You knew. Mademoiselle Rosny, and
yet you ask me to heed advice from
one who is not my friend"
She started as If he had lashed her
across the face. She tried to answer
him. but could only stammer Inco-
herently; and her eyes, which had
blazed with wrath as he spoke of the
boom. were filled with tears which she
checked vallantly.
You think came here tonight"
she began, and paused, her voice chok-
ing. You think came hereto you
Ito engage in some plot of Monsieur
Brousseaus? 1t is insufferable. You
are not so important an enemy as
that" She put out her hands swiftly.
"Ah. do not go to st. Boniface." she
pleaded.
Hilary looked at her stubbornly. He
would not let himself be moved.
81 have come to you, and you have
humiliated me-" she whispered. go,
then!" she cried suddenly jerking the
reins. go, Monsieur Askew! Go to
st. Boniface!"
She spurred her horse and galloped
wildly away, while Hilary watched. He
saw her pass out of sight; he waited
till the last reverberations of the fly
ing hoofs had ceased. He was ashamed
and yet he was sustained by a grim
mer determination than any that he
had ever known. He would not let
himself believe In her. His wrath,
which made him doubt every one,
which had suffered him to let Lafe de-
part. kindled him to fighting heat
He meant to fight and he grew hot
ter as he tramped steadily along the
river road reeling of the miles be-
hind him. lonely figure. his heart
rancorous against the injustice meted
out to him; bitter against Lafe, bitter
against Madeleine, but furious In his
resolution to show st. Boniface what
manner of man he was
At last the lights of the settlement
began to twinkle through the trees.
He walked little faster, lingering the
revolver In his coat pocket. But when
he reached the gute above the dam he
stopped for a while and considered.