They were
frightened, and when I came, the whole thing had gone too far for
me to mend, and I knew the false game must be played out to the
end. When I saw what was happening--that you loved Marie-Anne so
well that you were willing to fight for her honor even when you
thought she was my wife--I was sure it would all end well. But I
could take no chances until I knew. And so there were bars at your
windows, and--"
St. Pierre shrugged his shoulders, and the lines of grief came
into his face again, and in his voice was a little break as he
continued: "If Roger had not gone out there to fight back the
flames from the graves of his dead, I had planned to tell you as
much as I dared, M'sieu David, and I had faith that your love for
our sister would win. I did not tell you on the river because I
wanted you to see with your own eyes our paradise up here, and I
knew you would not destroy it once you were a part of it. And so I
could not tell you Carmin was my wife, for that would have
betrayed us--and--besides--that fight of yours against a love
which you thought was dishonest interested me very much, for I saw
in it a wonderful test of the man who might become my brother if
he chose wisely between love and what he thought was duty.
Pages:
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345