The Crittenden press., 1920-02-06

a guest In my home and have pre-
sumed upon that fact to turn my
daughter from me?"
II love her." answered Hilary sim
ply.
The words seemed to sting Rosny
to the quick. "You are presumptuOus.
morsieur" he cried. perhaps you,
too, thought that the helress went with
the trees?"
Madeleine cried out and laid her
hands appeallngly upon her fathers
arm; he did not repulse her, but con-
tinued speaking as If he were not con-
sclous of her presence.
"She shall never be your wife. You
have done harm enough here, mon
seur. When you are well my caleche
Is at your disposition, to take you back
to your mill. And henceforward, m
less you claim the last inch Of your
legal rights to cut about the Chateau-
which do not think you will" he add
ed with reluctant justlce-"let us see
you no more"
"You are unjust" cried Madeleine.
"We love each other. There exists no
reason why we should not love. Mon
sieur Askew Is as good as any man."
"An American cried ROsny holly.
"Thls is not his country, and our ways
are not his. He Is not one Of us
yet you were not too proud to
pledge me 10 that other man, who Is
not one Of us either, except by remote
race. Against my will. Without my
knowledge"
Enough" cried Rosny. ut is all
past !"
''The memory Is not past. Yes. you
pledged me TO him and placed the first
links of the chain about my neck. hop
ing that the understanding, to which
| was no party, would gradually en-
mesh me, capture me, that ! should be-
come his wife and save your land for
you"
The Seigneur turned on her look
In which humiliation struggled with
anger. He seemed stupeied by her
outburst. Hilary interposed.
Monsieur Rosny, l love Madeleine,
and | intend to marry her" he said
calmly. "But realize your feelings,
and | understand how great shock
this has been. You invited me to de-
part when am well. ] am well enough
to depart now. But | shall return, to
see her and to plead our cause frank
ly with you. There exists now no
reason, no valid reason"
"YOu shall never come here !" thun-
dered the Selgneur, losing all self-cOn-
troll. "The day when l sold your uncle
the timber rights over my land was the
most evil day Of my life. Go-if you
are well, go! My caleche is ready for
you. Go, monsieur, in Gods name, and
trouble me no longer!"
He raised his voice and shouted,
"RObitnille! Robltaillew
From some place In the recesses Of
the Chatueau feeble, quavering cry
answered him. And through the door
way Hilary saw the ancient serving
man come shuflllng to obey his master.
And, as he looked at him. his re-
sentiment died. The two old men-
Rosny In his brown swallow-tails and
the tight trousers strapped under his
boots, Robitallle, In the faded buffers
uniform, seemed playing a part. acting
In some scene laid In the long past.
Or, rather. they were the past. They
had no place In the modern world,
those ancient figures In their ancient
dress, and with their ancient ways.
They numbered the stage OF life. I'm
gering there when their exits were
long overdue. They were unreal as
phantom figures glimpsed In n Wild
dream. Pity for the two futile old
men choked Hilary's throat. He could
feel nothing but that as he watched
Robitalle come to the door, bobbing
and shufillng, with stiffened joints that
made him more like marionette.
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 60. dear, and not try to
convince him now" she said. ut has
been terrible blow to him. He looks
so III. | am afraid for him. shall
come to you tomorrow and tell you"
"RobItallle," said the Selgneur,
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 acQuicscence
and shuflled away. Hilary turned to-
ward Rosny. Frankly he held out his
hand. The notion might have been Ill
timed, hut II responded to his deep
seated feeling. But Rosny did not seem
to see the gesture. He stood staring
across the room, one hand clutchlng
his spreading collar, and his face
which had been white and red, was
purple.
Hilary turned away. lie had reached
the door when he heard n sound ms 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 run to him. He was uncon.
sclous, and breathing heavily. Hilary
tried to raise him. to carry him TO the