The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-09-15
BY
NctorRou

Il yoa hOW@ - chG EOihE W IlAC vi
amt shef You know what It's going
to cost you IL she goes back on her
word"
| Rosny CROPPED her way to his feet.
| The old duellst. 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
guest-go before forget myself"
'Ill go. then" shouted Brousseau,
and moved toward the door. you've
had your chance. Once more, is she
willing to be reasonable? / keep my
word. in friendship or enmity. VIII
she keep hers? II so I'll forget. I'll
call ii a within. I"
mo. 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.
"You cowardw 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,
Int she still confronted Brousseau
with blazing eyes. But 1t was the
Sefgneur'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
DdCk lIlO TIE IOOIu.
out in passionate words.
1T is all gone!" he cried. Every
thing-home, lands, inheritance. And
1t is well gone. The Rosny seigniory
is nearly everything TO me, but you are
more, Madeleine. Our name means
little enough now, but it shall never
become allied with that of the scoun-
drel who has robbed me of everything
else"
He raised his clenched first and
shook II in the air with passionately
dramatic gesture, as IL to register his
vow. His face was strangely notified
with red and white, and he seemed to
have aged ten years within ten min
utes.
II offer you my humblest regrets for
what has occurred this morning, mon
sieur," he said to Hilary. ''There, was
time when I should have exacted
personal requital. Now, alas, / can
not can only bear the blame. But
as for you, monsieur, you who came
here in an evil day to cut my trees,
you who are my guest, what have you
to say who have brought this ruin
upon meT
Madeleine started forward as If to
protest. but he silenced her with q ges-
ture of his open hand.
II ask you what you have to say,
monsieur" he repeated. IL ask you
how you justify yourself, you who are
guest in my home and have pre-
sumed upon that fact to turn my
daughter from meT"
IL love her." answered Hilary sim
ply.
The words seemed to sting Rosny
to the quick. you are presumptuous,
monsieurl" he cried. perhaps you,
too, thought that the heiress went with
the treesf"
Madeleine cried out and laid her
hands appcalingly upon her fathers
arm he did not rcpulse her, but con-
tinued speaking as IL he were not con-
scious OF her presence
.She shall never be your wife. You
have done harm enough here, mon
sieur. When you are well my caleche
Is at your disposition. TO take you back
to your min. And henceforward, un-
lo<s you claim the last inch of your
legal rights 10 cut about the Chateau
which / do not think you Will" he add
ed Win reluctant justice-"let us see
you no more
You are unjustl" cried Madeleine.
I'VE love each other There exists no
reasce why we should not love. Mon
sieur Askew Is as good as any man."
"An Americana cried Rosny holly.
This is not his country. and our ways
are not his He is not one OF u.s."
yet you were not too proud to
pledge me to that other man. who is
not one Of us either, except by remote
race Against my win. Without my
knowledge"
-Enoughi- cried Rosny. 1T Is all
pastl'
sThe memory is not mast. Yes. Won