The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-09-04
ROAD
copyrieh, by LITTLE BROWN on6 co.


"Not so bad, this little. dwelling,
eh?" he exclaimed. -Four rooms. all
well-furnished, bed such as one sell
dom sees. and a wardrobe made by my
own grandfather, Jacques Sargot, the
carpenter. 1t pleases thee, Marie?"
The widow looked around her with a
little sniff. a.rt ~.
"It might be worse" she conceded,
but there are the children" .....
Three only" Sargot replied, land
in a year or ST. they will all be in the
fields. Think what that may mean.
We can sell the timber from the strip
behind and plant more vines. Children
are not so bad when they are strong
"The little ones are well enough"
Madam Dumay admitted. "but thy eld-
est-Myrtile-she has not the air Of
health"
They all looked up at the girl, who
was approaching them at this moment
with wine and glasses. She was Of
medium height and slim. Her COM
plexion was creamily pale; even the
skin about her neck and arms had lit
tie of the peasants brown. Her neat
ly braided hair was Of the darkest
shade of brown, with here and there
some glints Of q lighter color. Her
eyes, silkily fringed, were of wonder
full shade of deep blue, her mouth
tremulous and beautiful. There was
something little exotic about her APP
pearance, although no actual indica-
tion of i'll health. The widow looked
at her critically; Pierre, the innkeeper,
with unpleasant things In his black.
beady eyes.
"Pooh she is well enough, her step
father declared "Never a doctor has
crossed this threshold since her mother
died many years ago."
MYRTLE, after she had filled the
glasses, would have slipped back into
the house. but Jean Sargot grasped
her by the arm.
Tonight, my child" he insisted,
"you must leave your books alone.
You must drink a glass of wine with
us. 1t is an occasion, this"
MYRTLE looked from one to the other
of the two visitors She had for a mo-
ment the air Of trapped animal. Ma
dame Dumay made little grimace.
but Pierre only laughed. She was a
flower, this MYRTLE, not like other
girls Even the young men complained
Of her aloofness. He knew we'll how
to deal with such mooesty.
Behold" her stepfather continued,
"our two best friends Here is good
Madame Dumay. A nice little income
she makes at the shop, and tidy sum
In her stocking"
"Oh, la, ~ the widow interrupted.
'what has that to do with thee, my
friend?"
"And ALSO" Jean Sargot went on,
without taking heed of the Interrupt
ton, "the brave Pierre Leschamps.
oh, a gay dog, that Leschampsi A
man of property, mark you, child.
And listenl Why do you think these
friends of mine are here?"
81 cannot TELL" MYRTLE faltered.
Madame Dumay will become my
wife. 1t is what we need here. And
Pierre Leschamps-hear this, little
one-he seeks wife. He has chosen
you. have given my consent"
Leschamps had risen to his feet
MYRTLE shrank back against the wall.
The terror had leaped now into life.
81 will not marry Monsieur Les
champs" she declared. "The other
is your affair. But as for me, 1 will
not marry!"
Jean Sargot leaned back in his
chair and drank his wine. His two
guests followed his example.
"Ho, hor' he laughed. "Come, that
is good! You were always shy
child, MYRTLE. Pierre shall WOO you
into a different humor."
SAY, indeedi" the innkeeper as
sented, leering across at the girl with
covetous eyes. 1--WE shall understand
one another presently, little one. You
need have no fear. Marriage Is q
pleasant thing. You will find II so,
like all the others"
'It Is an institution to be toasted"
Jean Sargot declared, filling the
glasses and glancing amorously to
wards the widow. Trouble not about
MYRTLE, my friend Pierre. She Is
thine. We shall drink this glass Of
wine to Marriage. 1t will be festi-
vab that, eh. Marie"
MYRTLE slipped through the open
doorway. Her prospective husband
looked after her for moment and
half rose. Then he looked back at