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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1920)
NORTH PLATTE SEMr-WEEKTV TRIBUNE. f 0 Cf) 4 WOODEN SPOIL By VICTOR ROUSSEAU Illustrations by Irwin Myers 4 Oft Yfr 4 4 (Copyright, 1019, by Gcorgo n. Doran Co.) CHAPTER XII. Marie Awakes. Illlnry hcnnl from Mndelelnc almost dally, but they seldom met. Once or twice they mndo nn nppolntment, but both hnted tho thought of clnndcstln ity, nnd nilary realized tho need of concentrating all his thoughts upon his work. Dupont hnd mnde three more voyngrs, and Baptlste, who kept out of Bight, hnd given complete sntlsfnc tlon. Tho lumber hnd brought unex pectedly good prices, nnd there wns now a probability that beforo naviga tion closed Hilary would bo In n posi tion to carry on till Hprlng. When the winter cutting began, nnd there was more leisure, Hilary meant to fight out tho Issue with Itosny. The old man was still partly pnrulyzcd, nnd he hnd mado no reference of any kind to what had occurred, but his mind wns quite clear, nnd, Mndelelnc thought, his memory. Townrd tho middle of the month tho newly discovered spruce supply hnd all been lumbered. Success seemed now almost nssurcd. Dupont wns get ting rendy to mnke his Inst voynge. Tho snow was not yet deep enough for the teams to be sent Into tho woods, nnd Hllnry turned his thoughts once moro to tho Island, more from eagerness to explore that part of his domnln thnn from nny thought of cut ting there thnt whiter. Hllnry was In his ofllco ono day when thero enme a tnp at the door, and, to his astonishment, In walked Louis Duval Tho llttlo liquor-seller approached him in nn ingratiating manner. "Mon sieur Askow," ho said, "I am very sorry for that night. I have been away. Now I como back, and Mon sieur Tesslcr tells mo thnt you for give. Now I como to thank you." "That's all right, Louis," said Hilary. "You oro forgiven, as long as 'you keep out of that trado of yours. It's a bud business when it's run in the Sto. Mario way." Louis Duval sniffed contemptuous ly. "I'm out," ho announced. "And ISlmeon's out. And ho say ho hnpo you don't bear Ill-feeling. Them fel lows never pay us a cent. An' I got my head busted open too," ho added reflectively. nilary sprang to his feet und took tho llttlo mun by tho arms. "Do you mean to tell mo Brousseau offered ,you money to open n saloon in St. Boni face?" ho asked. "Suro he did. Ho said if I open he ct mo up, an' ho pay mo two hundred dollars moro If thoso fellows kill you." "Good Lordl Js that all I'm worth?" asked Hllnry. "Oh It nln't that," answered Louis. "1 guess you're worth moro than thnt much. But Plerro nn' Leblnnc, they crazy to kill you, because you thrush Pierre nn you tnko awny Leblnnc's business an' his family starve. May bo ho pay them too; maybo thoy pay him to let them. I don' know. But Pierre an' Lcblanc swear thoy get you ,yot An' Simeon's out of the game. An I want to tell you something, Mon sieur Askew, If you won' bust my head open ngaln." "Your head's qulto sofo, Louis. "What Is it?" "That dnmn Brousscnu promise mo two hundred for tho other Job nn' only ny mo fifty." "What other Job?" ' "For to get them fellows to saw your boom, monslour." "So it was sawed, was It?" demand ed Hilary furiously. P- "Yes, monsieur. I get thrco follows from tho south shore, an' I fell Into tho water un' got rhoumatlz, nn' pay ten dollars for medicines, un' that 4nmn Brousscau " "Louis, will you sign your nnmo to that?" t "0 sure, If you got them fellows W Brousscau first," replied tho llttlo man, edging toward tho door. Finding that ho was not pursued, he halted. "Monsieur Askow, I gono buck to my Ashing job," ho said. Hilary thought this was a character istic occupation for Louis to take up, sdnce It afforded him several months of Idleness beforo tho fishing season opened. "You havo a boat?" ho asked, re membering his plan to ro-vlslt tho Is land. "O mire," enld Louis. "Now sails an' rudder all new except tho boat, ver lino boat, monslour." "Could you tako Mr. Connell and myself over to tho island and back tomorrow?" "I think so, monslour, if tho sea ain't running too high." "Bo ready with your boat at one," aid Hilary. It was practically his last chanco tor six months of vlclting tho Island Ho sent a messenger with a note to Lofo at tho camp, asking him to bo In 8t Boulfaco at noon. Then ho iwroto his dally letter to Madeleine. Bo mentioned his projected Journey, but nothing else, except his lovo and tits hopes, which wcro weighty enough, i As ho entered tho store to mall It la the letter-box there ho thought the lotn eAtcd about tho placo looked nt lilm curiously. lie Jind several times noticed a certain furtlveness In their regard, hut hnd each time ascribed It to Imagination and dismissed the mat ter, lie did so again. Ho wus walk ing back when ho saw u boy outside the olllce. "Captain Dtipont says he Is ready to sail, monsieur," he said. "Tell him I'm coming down to speak to him," said Hilary. He went townrd tho wharf. Dupont wan talking to Baptlsto. As ho ap proached, Hilary saw the two cense their conversation nnd look at him. Then Uaptlste walked slowly away to ward his vessel. Dupont, who had Just received the message from the boy, stood motionless where he had been, waiting. nilary becaino suddenly conscious of nn atmosphere of hatred. When ho reached Dupont the old man eyed him with the same searching and malignant stare that ho had given him on the oc casion of their llrst encounter. But now the eyes that blazed a foot from his own did not relax their gnze. There was a menaco there, Immediate and hostile, though tho face was Immobile. It flashed through Hilary's mind that the old man was mad, that his long brooding had nt last broken the fragile vessel of tho mind. Disregarding the captain's look, Hllnry explained briefly the matter on which he had come. All the while he spoke Dupont continued eyeing him. Hilary began to feel unensy. "Well, Is that clear?" ho Inquired. "That much is clenr," answered Du pont reluctantly. "Well, what's tho matter, then?" de manded Hllnty sharply. Suddenly ho perceived that the old man's fnco was twisted with passion. His expression was so fanatical that Hilary thought ho was going to attack him. But then the fnco resumed its mask again. Without a word, Dupont swung onto the ship nnd left him. Bnptlsto's vessel was moored next to the whnrf. As Dupont crossed It to reach his own, Hilary saw Bnptiste on deck, bending over a tarpaulin. Tho two men did not spenk, and nilnry, jnoved by n sudden Impulse, walked tho length of tho whnrf and uccosted the little Frenchman. "Baptlste," ho said, "sorao tlmo ago I told you I didn't know whether you hnd any knowledge nbout tho cutting of my boom or not. I want to sny I'm sorry. I know that you had none, and I shouldn't hnve spoken as I did." And ho put out his hand. Baptlste looked up. The llttlo man's face was like a thundercloud. Ho clenched and unclenched his fists fiercely muttering. Then ho dnshed Uilnry's hand nsldo with his. "I don't shako hands with you 1" ho cried, nnd the tours began to stream "You Keep Out of My Way or Kill Youl" down his cheeks. "You keep out of my way, or I kill you." And ho rushed below, lcnvlng nilury utterly nonplussed at his belmvlor. When Brousseau, driving furiously homeward from tho Chateau, reached tho cottugo of Julos Dupont, he saw tho solitary flguro of tho girl Mario seated outsldo tho door. He let his horso rest for n breathing spell beforo continuing up tho hill, doffed his hat and saluted her. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle Dupont," ho called henrtlly. "Bonjour, Monsieur Brousscau," sho answered mechanically. Brousscuu hnd never been nblo to force a smllo from her lips. For a long tlmo ho had dreaded this Hllent girl, then ho hnd censed to think nbout her; of lata ho had again begun to hato tbo prcsenco of that lonely flguro upon the porch, which was always there whenever ho drovo Into St. Bonl fnco or back to his garish house by tho senshore. Tho euro hnd not told nilnry nil that related to tho old captain's history. But tho thread of madness that linked him to tho past was spreading Into a web that strangled tho normnl life of the man. Jules Dupont, never one of many words, had been more sullen nnd morose thnn ever of late. During the past week Marie had been terrified at tho way her father looked at her. He had never meant very much to her and now, when he was about to pass out of her life, she felt no regret. Her mind went traveling bnck to her earliest memory. Sho was on the sea shore with her mother, wntchlng for the return of the fishing fleet, nnd her father's boat, nnd on the shingle lay the sailing boat of a young student from Quebec whom she hnd seen often at their cottage during her father's absence. The young man wns. lnugh lngly Inviting her mother to go for a sail. At last the girl consented. The sail was a very long one. Llttlo Marie, who hud fallen nslccp, was awakened by the sound of her moth er's screaming nnd the young student's laughing protestations that It was too late In tho dny to return now. Sho did not understand all that wns snld, and her next memory was of a squalid lodging In Quebec, and her mother's tear-stained face, and a sense of un- hnpplncss. Then she wus back In tho cottngo, standing beside the bed on which her dying mother lay, and the sick womnn, gripping her hand fast in her burning ones, was repeating a nnmo over and over. "Say It aguln, child I" she wns whispering. She reiterated tills demand over and over again. "Say III" sho muttered. "Say It, and never forget. And carry it with thee through life, saying it in moments of temptation, that thou mayest remem ber thy mother and understand. Now swear by tho Virgin to say it morning and night, and never forget 1" The frightened girl had sworn, catching the words from her mother's lips. She hnd snld the nnmo morn nnd night until It had become engrnved upon her memory forever. But it was long beforo sho understood its menu- lng. Then she remembered her father shaking her by the urms. "The name thy mother told thee speak It, Mn rle 1" "No," answered the little girl ob Btlnately. Ho threatened her, but tho child of five yenrs pressed her Hps together nnd would not utter n word. "Listen, Marie I If you tell me thou shalt have everything In the world. A new dress, and thou shnlt sail with me upon my ship, nnd I will buy thee tho big doll that opens nnd shuts her eyes. Tho nnme, Mnrlol" Mnrlo remnlncd perfectly silent And for yenrs she resisted her father's threats, and promises nnd pleadings, not understanding that It was a mental Inhibition which she could not break. The sight of her dying mother had Inflicted a wound In the child's soul that never healed. And every week at first, every month later, the scene with her father was renewed. She never pretended to have forgot ten, as sho might well hnve done. As sho grow older her fnther's outbursts became less frequent. But the insnne rngc which ngltntcd him grew rather thun lessened as tho years went by. Sixteen had pnsscd; she was now twenty-one, nnd sho looked bnck on a childhood that had been a torture. Her estrangement from her father was as complete as from tho village life. At llrst the scandal had been against her, nnd Inter her aloofness hud set the tongues of the St. Boniface women to wagging. "Like mother, Hko daughter" so runs the hard proverb In every country. Marie Dupont grew up friendless and utterly nlono. Tho girl had never had a frlcud, nor had she ever oven had a sweetheart until six months before. Pierre, In the courso of his percgrl- nations along tho const, at that tlmo us assistant on a smuggling craft, hud como to know tho solltnry llguro that paced the bench. In those duys tho girl's heart, cut oft from natural com munlcutlon with tho young people of St. Boniface, had turned, with tho vuguo yenrnlng of youth, to drenms of the world outsldo. Tho repressed spirit seeks Its adventures In devious ways ; if not In action, then In Imnglnu tlon. Marie Dupont longed for rclenso from her Imprisonment, and dreumed of tho prlnco who wns somo dny to como and tako her nwny. When Baptlste began to show nn In terest In her sho hated him. Sio had never thought of him ns a lover, nnd hardly ns a man; he was a part of St, Boniface, of tho hateful life that en compassed her, clutched ut her nnd would not lot her go free. She enmo to Invest Baptlsto with tho qualities of all that she loathed. Plerro scraped acquaintance with her. Ho hnd tho Intuition of tho base man who must perforco win his vic tims by guile, no listened to her con fldences, shyly given to ono who, by his wandering life nnd through the talcs that ho told, seemed tho exact opposite of nil those whom sho had known, no sent Nnnetto to sco Mnrle, choosing tho tlmo when Dupont wns away. Nanctto was not bad; Hko most of her kind sho wns below normnl mcn tnllty. When her lover, who hnd brought her to Stc. Marie, abandoned her, she worked In a lnrge nnd chenp lumbermen's summer bourdlnghouse. IMerro promised her thnt the mnn would return to her If sho obeyed him. She met Mario upon the bench, and Insinuated herself into her confidence. At Inst sho took her to Simeon's dance hall. The lights, the dancing nnd tho music were a revelation to her. On tho first night she cried from happi ness. Wholly Ignorant of life, her in nocence protected her and sealed her consciousness. And Simeon's placo was better In tho early summer of that year thnn afterward, and somo of the lumbermen would bring their sweethearts there. The girl's innocence found an ally in the lumbermen, who protected her, and she wus, in fnct, ns snfe there ns He Raised His Clenched Fist as if to Strike Her. In her home. Pierre wns angry at first, but afterward ho was glad, for he saw her dancing In Simeon's place and began to conceive nn Infntuatlon for her. He renewed bis advnnces, telling her of Quebec, of the free life of tho world beyond. When her Imng- Inatlon was enkindled nnd her cheeks flushed nnd her eyes sparkled at the picture, ho asked her to accompany Nanette .with him on board his vessel, como to Quebec, and murry him. That was three days before, and It was of this that tho girl was think ing as her father walked bnck townrd tho cottngo after his meeting with nilary. On tho snmo day Dupont, running n small load along the shore, hnd learned the gossip nbout his dnughter from a gnbbllng womnn at Stc. Thcrese, twenty-flvo miles nwny so fnr the news hnd traveled. She had gono to Ste. Mnrle In his absence, to dnnce with nilnry, who assuredly hnd n wife in his own country; if he hnd not, he was not likely to seek ono nmong the habitants. Tho story burned Into tho captain's brain. It was tho solvent of his snn lty, tho snnpplng of tho only bond thnt had linked him to the common life. For Marie's sake ho had hidden his heart this score of years, nnd silenced those Impetuous voices calling to him to lenve nil nnd go out Into tho world and seek tho sign which wns to bo found branded upon somo stranger's forehead. ne stood nt tho cottngo door, look ing nt his dnughter, who hnd risen and faced him. Jean Baptlsto re mnlncd outside. "I snll for Quebec tonight," snld Dupont. "Jenn wnlts two duys to complete his enrgo." She nodded; her thoughts were far awny. But It came across her mind, with momentary compassion, that she would never seo her father again. "Perhaps I shall not seo thee again," snld Dupont somberly; nnd the words, echoing her own thoughts, frightened her. Sho shrank nway, and Dupont put out his hnnds nnd grasped her by tho wrists. "Tho nnmo 1" ho snld. She shook her bend ; sho never spoko when ho mndo this demand. "Tho name I I hnvo been very pn- tlcnt with thee. Now thy reason for withholding it Is gono. Tho numel" "What do you menn?" sho etnm mered. "Tho nnmo I" ho raved; and for tho first tlmo since her childhood ho raised his clenched fist ns If to strike her. Baptlste, outside, hcnnl him nnd snw tho gesture, no enmo running up to tho cottngo door and caught Du pont by tho arm. Tho captain hesi tated; then, collecting himself, as a new thought enmo to him, ho allowed BoptlBto to lead him back to tho schooner. Tho now thought was this : If Mario would not glvo bin tho name, at least lie would prevent a repetition of her mother's history. It hold him, as n dream holds a mndmnn, and ho grow cunning nnd concealed it, und Joked with his hands during tho voyage until they wondered what was tho matter with him, and whether he wns forgetting his obses sion ns he grew old. Baptlste, having seen Dupont nbonrd, went bnck. Mario wns seated in tho doorway aguin; tho Incident had ceased to trouble her. Nothing would trouble her again. Baptlste suw tho quick stnrt of anticipation as ho ap proached. "Forgive mo if I annoy thee, Mnrle," he snld humbly. "Thou knowest " "Yes, Jenn, I know thnt you hnvo persecuted me moro than all St. Boni face," sho answered. "Mnrle," ho cried passionately, "If I could know that thou wast snfe here, I should never trouble theo again." Sho turned on him angrily. "Well, I enn take care of myself," she an swered. "If I choose to go to Ste. Mnrle, what Is It to you? Besides, there will bo no more dancing until next summer." "But ho is here," persisted Bnptiste stubbornly. "Who?" sho cried in agitation, fenr Ing thnt he had discovered her secret. "He Monsieur Askew. At first I fpared it was Black Pierre; but he swore to me that it was not so, on the second dny nf tor the work on tho boom begnn." So Bnptiste reckoned time. "And he swore It wns Monsieur Askew loved theo." Mario burst Into reckless laughter. "I know that thou ennst never enre for me," Bnptiste persisted. "But if ho wrongs theo I kill him. Note well I kill him 1" Mnrlo lnughed bitterly nnd more loudly. It wns amusing to spite and deceive St. Boniface, even through Baptlste. Yet, when ho was gone bnck to his schooner, something thnt she did not understnnd qulto unexpectedly rose in her thront nnd choked her. She wanted to call him back. She was amazed; St. Boniface wns growing denr to her. It wns becoming what It had never been, her home. She looked out of her window nnd saw her fa ther's schooner depart, with flapping snlls, under the moon. She pictured Bnptiste nsleep nbonrd his vessel. The llttlo mnn hnd been kind to her. She wept. Presently there enme the faintest tnp nt the door. She opened It noise lessly. A shndow wns waiting there. "C'est tol, Nnnetto?" "He Is wnltlng for theo upon tho shore. And ho hns brought bnck my lover to me, ns he promised. We go to Quebec together nbonrd his ship." Nnnette's voice wns tremulous with hnpplness. She hnd never seen Le blnnc since the dny when he aban doned her In Ste. Marie. She had learned that he wns working In St. Bonlfnce; but when she went thero to find him she wns ordered from the lim its with threats by Morris. However, Leblanc hnd sent her a messnge thnt somo dny soon, If sho did not nttempt to find him, he would return to her. She hnd lived in that unquenched hope nnd now thnt wonderful dny hnd dnwned, for ho wns to meet her if she brought bnck Mnrle. Ho wns to tnke her to the city, to mnrry her and give her a ring. Then she, too, would have shaken the dust of St. Boniface from her shoes forever. Mnrle Dupont locked tho door, nnd tho two girls stole nwny sldo by side in tho gray of the morning along the bench until thoy renched the pluce where Pierre nnd Leblnnc were wait Ing. Pierre caught Marie in his arms nnd pressed his lips to hers. It wns tho first time nnyono hnd kissed her. She trembled, hnlf nfrnld, bnlf regret ful, ns ono who hovers upon tho brink of the irrevocable. The girls sat in the tiny cnbln, whilo Pierre and Lcblanc ran up the sails. As the sloop began to pitch In tho rough wnters Mario grew moro afraid. Sho was conscious that her happiness hnd left her. They hud stnrted too lnte. In the middle of tho channel tho little boat with its primitive centerbonrd wns caught In tho rough currents that beat nbout tho rocks nnd shoals nt the turn of tho tide. They drifted stendlly down tho north shore. Pierre cursed ns ho strove to tnck. Leblnnc pro duced a bottle of brandy nnd began to drink. Pierre mado Marie swallow some, and when Leblanc relieved him grow more boisterous In his love-making. Nnnetto wns nlrendy half Intoxi cated. Presently tho two men fell to qunrrellng, until tho realization that they were below tho Island and rauk Ing for the open gulf sobered them. It wns no such depnrture ns Mnrle hnd nntlclpnted. Sho crouched In the cnbln In growing fenr, terrified nt tho change In Plerro nnd in Nnnetto. Aguln nnd ngnln Plerro enmo to her to forco moro brandy on her, and each time thnt sho refused ho grew angrier. Once she began to cry, and then, afraid of his gathering rage, pleaded with him: "Plerro, I am nfrnld. I thought It was a bigger boat. I am afraid of your friend. Tnko mo home. Some other tlmo I will come " Ho cursed" her nnd shook her from him. Then, ns sho clung to him again, ho stmck her across the face. His wns her first blow, ns his hnd been her first kiss. Sho sank down In tho cabin and wept hcartbrokenly, nnd now sho wns no longer afraid of tho waves that lapped the boat's sides as It tossed and reared in tho surging wnters. An hour went by. Tho turning tldo nnd veering wind enabled the men to get the craft under control ngaln nnd head her up the river. Plerro came to Mnrlo with the brandy bottle. Ho thrust It Into her fnco. "Come, little one, let us kiss nnd mnke up," ho shouted. He pulled her to her feet. Her world wns broken, life seemed help less, nnd In her broken pride she stood humbly before htm in the rocking boot, her hnnds clnsped. "Pierre, I nm sorry," she wept. "Thou knowest I lovo thee, Plerro. Forgive me." Pierre laughed. It was good to seo her thus. "Drink," he said, gathering her to him with ono hnnd. "Tnke n long pull nnd we'll all be happy together. Drink 1" hcvcommnnded, aa she hesitat ed in disgust nt the smell of tho liquor. As sbe obeyed him he tilted the bot tle nnd the burning fluid ran down her thront, choking her. Plerro lnughed 'bojsterously nnd pressed his Hps to hers. "Soon wo shall reach Quebec, llttlo one," he said, "nnd then thou shnlt hnve thy ring." "Tonight?" she fnltered, with still sinking heart. He had forgiven her, then; still, everything wns changed, nnd St. Boniface wns fnr away across tho waters. "Surely tonight," he answered, wink ing nt Leblnnc, and took tho tiller again. Marie's head swam, the boat seemed spinning round; sho lay In tho cabin, conscious vaguely of Leblanc and Nanette beside her, laughing nnd mak ing love. Hours passed before she realized completely where sho was. Sometimes sho henrd Pierre spenklng to her, and once Nanette shook her, nnd seemed nfrald. When sho re gained consciousness she found that the boat was In calm water. They were under the lee of an Island, and the sun wns low In the west. The sloop grounded, and Pierre, picking her up In his arms, carried her nshoro and set her down on the bench. She staggered to her feet The sloop was beached, and Leblanc nnd Nanette wero nt her side. "But this Is not Quebec!" Marie stammered ; and then, looking about In bewilderment, she recognized where sho was. Pierre cnught her by the nrm. "We nre not going to Quebec," he exclaimed roughly. "Pierre, why are we here? I must go home. Tnko me horael" The terror of her position dnwned on her. Sho sobbed wildly and wrung her hands. Nanette cajoled her. "Come, don't be a little fool," she snld. "Wo are going to stny here the "Come, Little Ono, Let Us Kiss and Make Up," He Shouted.- four of us. It will bo like a picnic. Come, then, Mario." She screamed wildly. Plerro ad vanced upon her savagely with up raised hand, but Nnnetto restrained him. "No, do not strike her," she plended. "Come, then," growled Pierre, grasp ing her by tho nrms nnd hurrying her forwnrd. Sho screnmed ngnln, wildly, nnd fought furiously for her freedom. Plerro struck her ngnln and ngaln; then, lifting her Into his arms, he clapped ono hand across her mouth and began to carry her up tho beach toward the forest. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Gets Its Own Drink. A South American orchid lets down a tube and drinks when It needs wa ter, then colls It on top of tho plant when not In use. Uses of Necessity. Tho fact that life Is a grind Is what sharpens muny a man's wits.
