The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-07-01
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
illustrations by Irwin Myers


by the whipping wind, but not before
Dupont's words had been heard.
From the group upon Baptiste's ship
figure dIsengaged herself and
stepped forward. II was Marie Du-
pont. She poised herself upon the
deck. and her voice rang out above
the gale and the sea.
81 give you the name" she cried.
ut is Edouard Brousseau. 1t is ne,
and give you my secret which have
borne all my life. Take II
She fell back into Baptiste's arms.
And It seemed as II. with the breaking
OF the inhibition. her past life. with
its fears and terrors, was melted into
the life oflhappiness that was to be.
Dupont had heard her. For q mo-
ment they could see the tall figure OF
the old man. with his wind-tossed hair
and beard. standing as II Petrified
upon his blazing deck. Then he cried
out like a screaming sea-bird, and his
arms closed about the man at his side.
As Baptiste turned and tackled 1t
cculd be seen that the old man was
holtspg Broussea1 with one arm, az
easily as II he held q child, while his
free han6 controlled the wheel again.
What reservoir OF strength he drew
upon. what miracle Of seamsuship,
could never be known. But, as II ma.
ture were aiding Nm, veering gust
caught the sails. ana with backward
movement the schooner began to glide
through the entrance of the Ice field
into open water.
The fire was all about them. screams
came from the doomed chip. but they
came from Broussee9. struggling In
Dupont's arms. Not sound came
from the captains lips.
The vessel gained her freedom, she
turned and began to drive eastward,
toward the Gulf and its open water.
Faster and faster she went as the wind
compelled her. The Mortified watchers
upon the deck of Baptiste's schooner
saw the blazing vessel glide into tho
distance, blazing comet, and Dup.At,
black against the heart of the fire, and
Brousseau N kss HrzR
Little was afterward rememb -<ed
concerning the rescue. But from that
night legends began tc spread aron8
both shores: OF Baptiste's se2pnnship.
and of Hilary, who. singlehahded,
saved the heiress OF the seignory from
Brousseau and the two outlaws.
But none Cf the principals In these
events care overmuch to dwell upon
them. even in memors- And, though
memories live long 1, silence, gossip
soon dies. All this Is becoming a local
legend, such as rsothers tell - their
babies.
But the st. boniface mill now huns
from dawn tll dark, and the asbestos
mine has brought In its workers rnd
made st Boniface quite n fiourishipg
village IN the north country.
Twice n month, when he pays mis-
pastoral visit, you may see Fayher
Lucien. still hale and strong, patroYlinA
Ste. Marie with curious hazel stick,
fashioned with a knob at each end:
and 1t is said that Ste. Marie is one OF
the best parishes on the north shore.
on Sundays, seated in the parlah
church, may be seen Simeon Duvsl,
nodding his head approvingly as, point
by point, the cure takes up his de-
nunciation of liquor selling. For Fa-
ther Lucien really reached Simeon's
soul with his hazel stick.
Marie has the best house In the vyi
lage. for Baptiste does thriving trade
carrying the st. Boniface lumber.
Here Is Clarice, who looks, somehow,
Just as one might have expected from
Lafes descriptions.
"He wouldn't come home" she says
TO Hilary, $50 had to come after h,S.
But he's coming home next October, to
see his children and the new house."
Bought and paid for" said Lafe.
"Yes., guess that's correct, Mr.. As
kew Though I'll be back some day to
see you all. II amt so bad, this coun-
tsy-except for that pink and blach
porch Baptiste's put on his house.
Darn him, what did he want to do that
for? tell you how 1t is: These peo-
Pile can't help breaking out somewhere
and somehow; it's in their blood. that's
what II is"
But In his heart he knows that the
winter viii see him back In st. Boni-
| face.
Madeleine smiles, and puts her arm
| through Hilary's