The Arvada enterprise., 1920-07-15
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
illustrations by Irwin Myers

couth. unlettered. standing before
Madeleine Rosny. seemed like q be-
nevolent guardian.
"When he came to like you was
glad" continued Lafe. But when you
came to like him I was just about az
happy as when was leading Clarlce-
my wife, mean-out Of the First
Methodist church at Shoeburyport,
Mass. on August II, 1902. with her
white veil hiding her. and them orange
flowers she was carrying seeming up
the place not quite SO glad. may
be. but not far shy Of 1t. And you
think he wasn't true to your What
man in his senses wouldn't bel"
II won't hear you!" cried the girl,
summoning her defiance to her aid.
"He should have spoken for himself.
What right have you to speak for him,
sent or unsent7"
"Why, thought I'd explain that,
mamzelle. Just because I'm his
friend" said Lafe. ut amt true. Not
a word of that story's true. I'm going
to tell you the truth. But first I'm 90
ing to say what got to say. because
it's true. You haven't acted rightly
toward him-no, you haven't, NAM
selle!"
The passionate gesture, the sincerity
Of his tone dominated her. She tried
to ind her voice and could not: she
tried to nnd indignation and could not.
I'VE went to Ste. Marie together to
see conditions there. to see what
sort Of place Simeon Duval was run.
ming. The girl was there. It was the
night Of the raid. and We helped her
away. She got home. and her father
never knew. Little Baptiste knew. and
others who'd seen her with Us. They
told Brousseau. and he started those
lies about Mr.. Askew. who never knew
about it-never knew anything.
'"That fellow Pierre, Brousseau's
man. had his eye ON the girl. You know
the sort Of work he's done along this
coast. Maybe you don't, but its DEVILS
work. mamzelle. and he and Leblanc
lured Marie into boat BY means q
their decoy. Nanette Bonnat, and took
her to the island. We found them
there. and saved her. and brought the
girls back. That's all. Now you
know. Now you understand how
you've done Hilary . wrong. II you
don't believe me-" Lafs continued dog
gedly. "just tell me how much You
don't believe. and I'll prove It. I'll
prove every word; you don't have to
take me on trust"
do you think am capable Of seek.
Ing evidence that q man ID true to
mel" cried Madeleine. "Do you think
I am going into st. Boniface to pry
into your friends actionsf'
"You love him. mamzelle." said Lafe.
with patience that would not BE-
thwarted. II can read that In your
face. You love him. and you've done
him a wrong. Well, mamzelle, you
can't lie down under that. You can*
bear it. You've got to right It"
She burst into helpless tears. u
hoped that he would come to me-" she
whispered.
Hillary Askew amt that kind Of
man." said LATE.
HE refused to defend himself"
"He'd promised Marie to say moth
Ing"
"Let me pass. have heard you"
But LATE stood In the way. "You'rs
going to tell him it's all right" he said.
"I'll arrange It 30 1t won't hurt your
pride. II that's worth keeping"
"How dare you insult mel Let him
IN No
pleadi"
"Aiamxelle!"
II shall never 20 to himi"
And Lafe had reached the end. His
outraged Justice had led him to the
goal: but 1t was the wrong goal. He
was helpless. he was beaten. He
stepped aside. and she ran past him.
hurrying up the stairs. whose faded
carpet was held by furnished rods
that cleaned between her moving feet.
LATE looked along the gloomy hall
At the portraits In their gilt frames,
and he felt the unreasoning, stubborn
Rosny spirit that looked out Of the
eyes Of each. as 1t had looked out Of
MadeleIne's and spoken by her. And
It had met such another spirit In Hi.
airy.
II guess you're wrong. all Of you"
Lafe muttered. II guess you manu-.
featured your code and thought II was
breeding and pride. and you can't help
II. You got your foundations crooked.
You can't help It; that's ALL"
And with the same logged patience.
but with an added air Of hopcIsssness,
he put on his snowshoes and plodded
from the Chateau.
(TO BE coNTINUED.)