The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-03-20

a guest in my home and have pre-
! sumed upon that fact to turn my
/. daughter from me?"
: Il love her." answered Hilary sim
ply.
= The words seemed to sting Rosny
to the quick. you are presumptuous
monsieur :" he cried. Perhaps you
| too, thought that the heiress went will
| the trees?"
Madeleine cried out and laid hen
hands appealingly upon her fathers
arm; he did not repulse her, but con
tinued speaking as if he We're not con
scfous of her presence.
"She shall never be your wife YoU
have done harm enough here, mon
sieur. When you are well my caleche
| is at your disposition, to take you back
to your mill. And henceforward, UNI
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 justice-"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.
'This is not his country, and our ways
are not his. He is not one of u.s.
yet you We're not too proud to
pledge me to that other man, who is
not one of us either, except by remote
race. Against my WILL Without my
knowledge"
Enough" cried Rosny. 1T is all
pastp'
"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
L 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 a look
in which humiliation struggled with
anger. He seemed stupefed by her
outburst. Hilary interposed
Monsieur Rosny, / love Madeleine,
and intend to marry her." he said
calmly. "But l realize your feelings,
and l understand how great shock
this has been. You invited me to de-
part when am well. am well enough
to depart now. But 1 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 herer' thun-
dered the Seigneur, losing all self-con-
troll. "The day when 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,
"Robitaille! RObitaille!"
From some place in the recesses of
the Chatueau a feeble, quavering cry
answered him. And through the door
way Hilary saw the ancient serving
man come shutting 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, RObitaille, in the faded buffers
uniform. seemed playing part, acting
IN some scene laid in the long past. |
Dr., rather, they were the past. They |
had no place in the modern world, |
hose ancient figures in their ancient |
lress, and with their ancient ways. |
They numbered the stage Of life, lin
,ering there when their exits were
ong overdue. They were unreal as
phantom figures glimpsed In wild
lream. Pity for the two futile old
men choked Hilary's throat. He could
eel nothing but that as he watched
2obitaille come to the door, bObbing
nd shutting, with stiffened joints that
made him more like marionette.
But he felt, too, the urgency Of TAX
ng Madeleine away, into world of
eality, before the same dream in
ected her.
She came up to Hilary softly and
laced her fingers on his arm, looking
nto his face wistfully.
you must 60, dear, and not try to
onvince him now" she said. ut has
cen a terrible blow to him. He looks
0 ill., l am afraid for him. l shall
ONE to you tomorrow and tell you"
"Robitaille," said the Seigneur,
Monsieur Askew has decided, much
,. my grief, to leave this afternoon.
ou will have the goodness to pack
is things and to prepare the caleche
Or him. You will drive him to the
ILL.," /.
The old man muttered acquiescence
nd shuffled away. Hilary turned to- I
ard Rosny. Frankly he held out his 1
and. The action might have been i'll !
med, but it responded to his deep I
,ated feeling. But Rosny did not seem {
see the gesture. He stood staring
cross the room, one hand clutching [
Is spreading collar, and his face, {
hich had been white and red. was
1rple. I
Hilary turned away. He had reached c
lie door when he heard a sound as If G
osny was clearing his throat. Then /
adeleine cried out in fear. Hilary /
rned, to see Rosny sit heavily down {
his chair. His eyes closed, his arms {
'oODed over the sides: his head fell r
his breast. '