The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-06-12

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"Ah, monsieur, do not speak of it.
Perhaps he is dead. Perhaps they are
all dead from grief"
"Would you like to go home, Nan
ette?"
Eyes, monsieur, will go now, for l
have nothing more to live for. shall
go and beg on my knees"
Il shall send you home, then, Nan
cite. But now ask forgiveness from
Marie here, and then thank God that
He has saved her tonight in spite OF
all the evil that was against her."
Nanette crouched toward Marie Du-
pont, whose arms stole round her neck,
and the two girls cried and whispered
together. Hilary turned away. He
thought of Madeleine, and breathed a
prayer that their lives might run to-
gether, and that they might strive to-
gether for the right all their days.
He turned back into the boat. "NOw,
Marie, no word of this nights dOings
shall ever pass my lips" he said. "But,
Marie, your life is unhappy. There Is
a good man in st. Boniface who cares
for you. Do you think that you could
learn to care for him?"
"Ah, pauvre Jean!" wept the girl.
II have been ungrateful TO him. mon,
sieur. And now / am not worthy that
he should have anything to do with
me-"
"He shall know nothing unless you
tell him." said Hilary. 'As to that, I
cannot advise. But you need have no
fears as to me-"
The black shadow of the wharf be-
gan to project out Of the shore line,
with Baptiste's schooner moored along
side. Lights Of lanterns were moving.
and as the sloop drew near Hilary per-
ceived little group Of people near
the wharf-head. Louis Duval let down
the sails and guided the vessels PROV
toward the mooring ring. Hilary
stepped out. but before he could turn
to give his hand to Marie a woman
stepped forward.
1t was Madeleine. She ran to him
with q little cry Of gladness. She
raised her lips to his.
Dear, ! have been waiting since
dark" she said, pressing his arm. II
only got your letter this afternoon,
telling me that you had gone to the
island, and / was frightened, Hilary"
He patted her arm. II am quite
safe, dear" he answered, smiling.
There was never any danger. LATE
was with me, and we went and came
on the tide"
| AS he spoke he noticed that the
crowd at the wharf-head had drawn
nearer. He heard a man shouting
there seemed to be some disturbance
which he fancied they were trying to
quell. LATE stepped upon the wharf
with the two girls, walking past Hill
airy. Madeleine turned.
Her eyes, lighting upon Marie's face,
and then Nanette's, sought Hilary's In
establishment. But she asked nothing,
and waited. Her hand, which had
rested upon his arm, remained there,
But whereas it had been a living,
warm part of her, 1t now felt cold and
heavy, and lifelesS.
Then out of the crowd burst Jean
Baptiste, screaming. he ran toward
hilary. A knife was flashing In his
hand. His onset was so swift that 1t
took Hilary and Madeleine completely
by surprise. As the little man closed
with him Hilary just managed to
grasp his arm.
"Tll kill you'll" painted Baptiste, and
the breath whistled through his throat
as If the force of his passion had con-
stricted it to a pipes dimension. 'It
Is she, and you took her from her
home last night. / sought for her;
was waiting and watchful; | did not
sleep. swore you should die"
He fought for freedom Of the stab
bling arm like man possessed of a
thousand devils. He worked the hand
free, and 1t went up and down, the
long knife flashing and sllcing into
Hiary's coat. And Madeleine did moi
utter q word.
She watched the struggle like a
woman in dream. Twice Hilary felt
the point Of the knife as It dNove
through the air and slashed to the end
of Baptistes reach. Then the crowd
closed about them.
But Baptiste fought like devil. He
hurled the lumbermen aside; three
times he fought out Of their grasp
and made for Hilary, who. Mortified