Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-28


phantom figures glimpsed in a wild
dream. Pity for the two futile old
men choked HIlary's throat. He could
feel nothing but that as he watched
Robitaille come. to the door. bObbing
and shuffiing. with stiffened joints that
made him more Ike murionette.
But he felt. too. the urgency of tax
ing Madeleine away. into world of
reality. before the same dream in
fected her.
She came up to Hilary softly and
placed her fingers on his arm, looking
into his face wistfully-
"You must go. dear. and not try to
convince him now" she said. "It has
been a terrible blow to him. He looks
so i'll. / am afraid for him. 1 shall
come to you tomorrow and tell you"
"Robitaille," said the Seigneur.
Monsieur Askew has decided. much
to my grief. to leave this afternoon.
You will have the goodness to pack
his things and to prepare the caleche
for him. You will drive him to the
mill"
The old man muttered acquiescence
and shuffied away. Hilary turned to-
ward Rosny. Frankly he held out his
hand. The action might have been Ill
timed. but 1t responded to his deep
seated feeling. But Rosny did not seem
to see the gesture. He stood staring
across the room. one hand clutching
his spreading collar. and his face.
which had been white and red. was
purple.
Hilary turned away. He had reached
the door when he heard a sound as II
Rosny was clearing his throat. Then
Madeleine cried out In fear. Hilary
turned. to see Rosny sit heavily down
in his chair. His eyes closed. his arms
dropped over the sides; his head fell
on his breast.
Hilary ran to him. He was uncon-
scious, and breathing heavily. Hilary
tried to raise him. TO carry him to the
sofa. but the man seemed made of iron
as he lay. a dead weight, In Hilary's
arms.
At Madeleine's cry old Robitaille
had turned, too. and he came shuffling
back. AS he perceived his master ly-
ing in the chair he began to utter wild.
whimpering cries.
His father went that way" he
mumbled. 81 always knew he'd go like
that. Forty-fiye years I've served him.
Forty-five years. l always knew"
Help me to get him into the next
room. to bed" said Hilary.
Robitaille did not understand, but
he aided Hilary TO raise his master,
and together they half dragged and
half carried him into the drawing
room and laid him on Hilary's bed.
Madeleine kneeled beside him in
despair. her hands clasped, her eyes
strained on his face. Hilary was
loosening his collar and the upper part
of his clothing. Robitaille had shut
fled out
Il have killed him !" cried the girl
in pathetic grief. 81 have killed him.
Hilary could do nothing. She seemed
distraught. and the Seigneur lay like
fallen tree. His rattling breaths
blended with the girls sobs; and there
was no other sound in the room.
But soon Robitaille came shuffiing
back. In one hand he carried basin.
in the other a little rusty knife. A
towel was on his arm. He muttered
something to Madeleine, who rose from
her knees and looked at Hilary with a
brave effort at self-composure. 'He
wants to bleed him." she said. He
says that when he was young man
they used to bleed such cases and they
got well. He says 1t is the only
chance"
Hilary. feeling helpless, took the
lancet from the old servants fingers
and looked at the rusty edge.
"I've heard of bleeding in such
cases." he said. 'Well-perhaps IL
won't hurt him. But we must boil the
instrument. Can you get some hot
water?"
The girl hurried to obey. She left
the room and came back with little
alcohol stove and pan of water Hill.
ary, having scraped the rust from the
her self-possession as she went to and
fro, intent upon her task. While the
water was boiling the two men man
aged to get Rosny to bed.
When the water was boiled Hilary
sterilized the lancet, Robitaille looking
on without comprehension. But his
shaking fingers grew firm as he per-
formed the little operation. When it
was over and the arm bandaged
slight Improvement In Rosny's condi-
tion seemed already manifest.
They sat beside him all through the
day, while the heavy breathing gro iu-
ally grew lighter. and the stupor
seemed to be passing into sleep. To-
ward evening Rosny opened his eyes
for moment and looked about him.
Il should like to stay. II can be of
help" said Hilary.
II think you had better go. dear. II