The Connecticut labor press., 1920-02-28

Madeleine was as pale as death, but she stood forward bravely. 'T 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 refused. You took 8 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 at her in incredulity, in fear, in fury, his own face winter than hers The Seigneur sat down in his chair heavily, seeming to collapse there.
 Then Brousseau flung his fear aside and laughed, and 1t was the most evil laugh that Hilary had ever heard. He addressed Rosny; and as he spoke he continued to advance toward him, un- til he was shaking his fist in the old Seigneur's face.
 '1 understand now," he sneered ''This fine American has been at work in this matter. It is he who has been spreading these lying stories about me. I don't blame your daughter, Rosny. A woman is easily influenced by a new face. Sos a man, for that matter.
 'I don't blame her. I expect my wife to be true to me after we're mar rfed-no more and no less. I'll take care of the love. I ain't a hard man. l can make allowances for human na- ture. 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. He's 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, Rosnyl You know what mean. I'll deal with him when the times comes. I'll speak to him again presently. Pm speaking to you now. Is she going to marry me or ain't she? You know what it's going to cost you if she goes back on her word"
 Rosny groped 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, stuttered, 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"
 "I'H 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 hers7 If so I'll forget. I'll call it whim. r."
 "No, I shall never be your wife" said Madeleine quietly.
 Brousseau swung upon Hilary. Some day I'll get you, you lying dog!" he swore, and raised his hand threateningly.
 Madeleine darted between them.
 
 ard, to threaten a wounded man, whom you do dare not look in the face in anger when he is we11i'
 Brousseau shrugged his shoulders and turned toward the door. The ma lignant smile upon his face seemed frozen there, giving him the aspect of a satyr's mask. Hilary came forward and tried to draw Madeleine aside, hut she still confronted Brousseau with blazing eyes. But it was the Seigneur's look of agony and shame that was the most vivid part of the picture.
 Rosny stood like a statue beside the door, watching Brousseau make his way along the corridor toward the en- trance. Hilary put his arms about Madeleine, supporting her. Her cour- age was gone, and she was weeping uncontrollably.
 The front door slammed and Rosny turned back into the room. He burst out in passionate words.
 Tt is all gone!" he cried. Every thing-home, lands, inheritance. And 1t is we'll gone. The Rosny seigniory is nearly everything to me, but you are more, Madeleine. Our name means little enough now. but 1t shall never become allied with that of the scoun- drel who has robbed me of everything else"
 He raised his clenched first and shook it in the air with passionately dramatic gesture, as if to register his VOW. His face was strangely mottled with red and white, and he seemed to have aged ten years within ten min- utes.
 T offer you my humblest regrets for what has occurred this morning, mon- sieur," he said to Hilary. '"There was a time when I should have exacted
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