The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1920-02-27

gering there when their exits were
long overdue. They were unreal as
phantom figures glimpsed in wild
dream. Pity for the two futile old
men choked Hilary's throat. He could
feel nothing but that as he watched
Robitaille come to the door. bobbing
and shutting, 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 go, dear, and not try TO
convince him now" she said. ut has
been terrible blow to him. He looks
so i'll. am afraid for him. shall
come to you tomorrow and tell you"
'tRobitaille,'' said the Seigneur.
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 acquiescence
and shutfled away. Hilary turned to-
ward Rosny. Frankly he held out his
hand. The action might have been ILL
timed but it responded to his deep
seated feeling. But Rosny did not seem
to see the gesture. He stood staring
across the room, one hand clutching
his spreading collar, and his face,
which had been white and red, was
purple.
Hilary turned away. He had reached
the door when he heard sound as IL
Rosny was clearing his throat. Then
Madeleine cried out in fear. Hillary
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 ran to him. He was uncon-
scious, and breathing heavily. Hilary
tried to raise him, to carry him to the
sofa, but the man seemed made of iron
as he lay, dead weight, in Hilary's
arms
At Madclcine's cry old Robitaille
had turned, too, and he came shuffling
back. AS he perceived his master "
ing in the chair he began to utter wild.
whimpering cries.
His father went that way he
mumbled. 81 always knew he'd go like
that. Forty-five years I've served him.
Forty-five years. l always knew"
Help me TO get him into the next
room, to bed" said Hilary.
Robitaille did not understand, but
he aided Hilary to raise his master,
and together they half dragged and
half carried him into the drawing
room and laid him on Hilary's bed.
Madeleine kneeled beside him in
despair her hands clasped, herA eyes
strained on his face. Hillary was
loosening his collar and the upper part
of his clothing. Robitaille had shut
fled out.
81 have killed him ~ cried the girl,
in pathetic grief. 81 have killed him p
Hilary could do nothing She seemed
distraughf and the Seigneur lay like
| fallen tree. His rafting breaths
blended with the girls sobs; and there
was no other sound in the room.
But soon Robitaille came shutting
| back. In one hand he carried basin,
in the other little rusty knife. A
| towel was on his arm. He muttered
something to Madeleine, who rose from
her knees and looked at Hilary with a
brave effort at self-composure. HE
wants to bleed him. she said. sHe
says that when he was young man
| they used to bleed such cases and they
got well. He says it Is the only
chance"
Hilary, feeling helpless. took the
lancet from the old servants fingers
and looked at the rusty edge.
"Ivc heard OF bleeding in such
cases." he said "Well--perhaps it
won't hurt him. But we must boil the
instrument. Can you get some hot
water|
The girl hurried to obey. She left
the room and came back with little
alcohol stove end pan OF water. Hill
airy, having sc-apcd the rnst froEc the
blade, watched her II admiration at
her sclf-possessson as slls went to and
fro, intent upon her task. White the
water was boiling he two m~n rnan-
aged to &c. Rosny to bci
When the water was b,.led Hilary
sterilized the lancet. Rohita.l!c looking
ON without comprehension. Bet his
shaking fingers grew firm as he per-
formed the little operation. When 1t
was over ond the arm bandascd a
slight Improvement in Rosny's conds-
ton seemed already manifest.
They sat beside him all through the
day. while the heavy breathing gradu-
ally grew lighter, and the stupnr
seemed to be passing into sleep. To
ward evening Rosny opened his eyes
for a moment and looked about him.