The Rice belt journal., 1920-05-08

ears, fiat with the head. Then Hilary
saw the horse rear and the shod hoOfS
upriSe. Then, somehow, he caught
the reinS and leaped for the shelving
bank, and missed.
He fOst his foothOld, but he clung
to the reins. while the horse plunged
and reared, each jerk almost tearing
his arms from their sockets. Now he
was swept against the branches of the
trees that Overhung the road, and
blinded by the swishtng twigs and
bOughS, now the precipice was under
him, and the gorge below, where the
logs cracked and thundered as they
battered their way down the river:
He saw the girl Clinging to the saddle,
then to the beasts name; he tried to
reach her with his arms, but he could
not stop the boiling animal; and then
he was flung free, and the riderlesS
horse went galIoping down the road
toward st. Boniface.
He must have been stunned for
few moments, for when he opened his
eyes he found himself lying upon
ledge a little distance from the top of
the steep bank. On the same ledge
was Madeleine Rosny clinging to a
swaying sapling that OHerhung the
river, and trying to rise.
Hilary scrambled to his feet, to find
that, in spite of painful bruises, he
was uninjured. He gave Madeleine
his hands and pulled her out of the
branches; and they stood looking at
each other.
"Your horse bOlted," explained
Hilary. 81 am sorry you did not knew
about the dynamiting."
At his words look of fear came
upon her face; and then it hardened
and her gray eyes flashed angrily.
you have saved my lifew she
cried. "You have saved me, and I
wish you were thousand miles away.
l wish 1 had never seen your
"There is no need to let that trouble
you, MademOiselle ROsny" answered
Hilary, stung into scOrn by her in
gratitude. There IS enough room in
this country for both Of US. If you
will let me help yoh up the bank, no
doubt you can find your way home.
I assure you that I have no intention
Of intruding on you further"
His scorn seemed to beat down her
anger. She looked at him for the first
time without hatred.
"Why have you come into my life2
Why do you begin to inlay part in
it?" she whispered, as if in terror.
Suppose you let me assist you up
the bank, Mademoiselle, before l an
sWer your question. We can hardly
discuss that matter here" said Hilary.
She seemed to recover her self-pos-
session. "There is no need to answer
me-" she replied scornfully. Never
theless she permitted him to brush the
dust from her skirt and to give her
his hand. They scrambled up the side
Of the gorge and stood breathless upon
the road again. Far away Hilary
heard the crash Of the logs, flung over
the dam and shooting toward the boom.
Madeleine Rosny turned and faced
Hilary. ''Well, monsieur?" she de-
manded.
1T is because l want US to be
friends" he said. And he took the
girls hand frankly in his.
She let it lie there for a moment,
gazing at him in astonishment and
puzzlement. Then, to Hilary's sur
prise, he saw the look of fear come
into her eyes. again.
ut is too late" she whispered.
Surely not, mademoiselle. We have
misunderstood each. other, perhaps,
but"
Il tell you 1t is too late. Oh, why
did you not come to me and say this
before?" she cried, and suddenly broke
into understandable sobbing. 81 thought
you were grasping and wicked, and
hated you. / wished you evil. Look
to your boom! No, let me go, mon
sleur! Look to your boomw
And, snatching her hand away, she
ran, still sobbing wildly, down the
road, leaving Hilary staring after her
in uncomfortable dismay.
He could not understand her mean
ing, though her last words still rang
Ia his ears. He watched her as she