The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-02-20

Madeleine was as pale as death. but
she stood forward bravely. 81 never
pledged my word to you, Monsieur
Brousseau," she said in a low tone.
you know it. You asked me to be
your wife and l refused. You took a
good deal for granted. You took me
for granted. You made mistake.
When you treacherously conspired to
cut Monsieur Askew's boom, when you
planned his death, you lost whatever
chance you had ever had. / shall never
marry YOU"
Brousseau staggered backward, came
up against the table, and stood star
ing ut her In incredulity, in fear, in
fury, his own face whittier than hers.
The Seigneur sat down in his chair
heavily, seeming to collapse there.
Then Brousseau flung his fear aside
and laughed, and it was the most evil
laugh that Hilary had ever heard. He
addressed Rosny; and as he spoke he
continued to advance toward him, I'M
TIL he was shaking his fist in the old
Seigneur's face.
Il understand now" he sneered
This fine American has been at work
in this matter. 1t is he who has been
spreading these lying stories about
me. l don't blame your daughter,
Rosny. A woman is easily influenced
by new face Sos a man, for that
matter.
Il don't blame her. I expect my
wife to be true to me after we're mar
ried-no more and nc less. I'll take
care of the love. l amt a hard man.
can make allowances for human ma
ture. l expect to mold her and to
Keep watch over her. Maybe she'd
do the same with me.
But this is different, Rosny," he
shouted furiously Hes been telling
her lies about me. He came up here
and started in to crush me- He wants
to drive me out of Ste. Marie. I'm not
the man to allow that, Rosny! You
know what / mean. I'll deal with him
when the times comes. I'll speak to
him again presently I'm speaking to
you now. Is she going to marry me or
amt she? You know what it's going
to cost you if she goes back on her
word"
Rosny CROPPED her way to his feet.
The old duelist, who in his younger
days would fight at the drop of the
hat, had been brought pitiably low,
but not so low as Brousseau thought.
His face was afiame. He opened his
mouth, suffered, and pointed toward
the door.
you can go. You can go, Monsieur
Brousseau," he stammered. Custom
custom and courtesy forbid-insult
a guest-go before forget myself"
"Pll go, then" shouted Brousseau,
and moved toward the door, you've
had your chance. Once more, is she
willing to be reasonable? I keep my
word, in friendship or enmity. Will
she keep hers? If so I'll forget. I'll
call it within. I"
mo, shall never be your wife,"
said Madeleine quietly.
Brousseau swung upon Hilary.
"Some day I'll get you, you lying
dogw he swore, and raised his hand |
Madeleine darted between them. |
''You coward!" she cried. "You COW.
ard, to threaten wounded man, whom
you do dare not look in the face in
anger when he is well ~ ...-...
Brousseau shrugged his shoulders
and turned toward the door, The ma
lignant smile upon his face seemed
frozen there, giving him the aspect of
satyr's mask. Hilary came forward
and tried to draw Madeleine aside,
but she still confronted BrOusseau
with blazing eyes. But it was the
Seigneur's look of agony and shame
hat was the most vivid part Of the
picture.
Rosny stood like statue beside the
loor, watching Brousseau make his
way along the corridor toward the en-
rance. Hilary put his arms about
supporting her. Her cour-
tge was gone, and she was weeping
Inc IrOnC QOOr slammed and ROSny
urned back into the room. He burst
tut in passionate words.
ut is all gone!" he cried. EVERY
lands, Inheritance. And
is well gone. The Rosny seigniory
S nearly everything to me, but you are
more, Madeleine. Our name means
title enough now, but it shall never
ecOme allied with that of the scoun-
rel who has robbed me of everything
lSe."
He raised his clenched first and
hook it in the air with passionately
ramatic gesture, as if to register his
ow. His face was strangely notified {
18th red and white, and he seemed to '
ave aged ten years within ten min
ties.
Il offer you my humblest regrets for S
hat has occurred this morning, mon t
leur," he said to Hilary. "There was q
time when / should have exacted /
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