Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 tonishment as Bienville walked away, and he took an involuntary step toward the Canadian. “‘ What a vile temper yon beard- less youth has, to be sure!” He blinked stupidly toward the door through which Bienville had disappeared and then, with a laugh, he staggered to his seat and smiled into Felice’s face. ‘““Did he alarm you then, my sweet?” ke asked soothingly, endeavoring to pat the shoulder of the shrinking girl with clumsy hand. “I shall deal with the bumptious young coxcomb to-morrow.” Felice shrank further away from the Ccrunken wretch and he, overbalancing, fell with his elbows upon the table so that his Wine overspilled and stained his coat. The girl glanced in abhorrence at the loutish figure and then she arose from her seat and took refuge with her father as Bourdelais snatched at her with wavering fingers. The men present, jumped to their feet while Paradis, allowing his outraged feel- ings full vent, placed Felice in his chair and, leaning over the table, he thrust the sottish figure of the Swiss back into his chair. “It is enough, monsieur!” he cried bitter- ly. ‘“ As captain of the vessel which brought you to this country I must apologize to De Sauvole and particularly to Bienville for your atrocious behavior. The lowest sea- man aboard Le Soliel would not comport himself as you have done since our arrival here and, though I will not take Bienville’s quarrel with you upon mine own shoulders, I insist that you apologize to my daughter for your outrageous and insulting comport- ment toward her.” Bourdelais endeavored to scramble to his feet, but his legs would not support his body and he sat back in his chair and looked up at Paradis with solemn gravity. ‘T am surprised and grieved, Paradis,” he hiccuped, “that you would speak in so unwarranted a manner toward your pros- pective son-in-law. I merely wished to show my affection toward your daughter.” Felice shuddered with repugnance as she looked into the leering countenance of the Swiss, whose condition, owing to the heat of the room, acting upon the numerous potations in which he had indulged, was fast becoming disgusting. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “My daughter is not for you, Bourde- lais!” replied the captain. “ Sooner would I see her die a spinster than married to a vile, degenerate brute!” For an instant a spark of manhood seemed to animate the sodden figure at the head of the table and he straightened in his chair under the lash of the tongue of . his erstwhile friend. “You promised me, Paradis—” he be- gan. ‘““Aye, before I heard from the lips of another the manner of man you are,” re- torted the captain coldly. “ I know you now for a lewd, drunken wretch, and I will never have done with thanking D’Albret for the service he has done me.” At mention of the Gascon’s name Bourde- lais chuckled to himself and he poured an- other glass of wine with hands that shook the liquor all about his glass before he Jooked up with a triumphant grin. “Was it your intention to allow that loud-mouthed braggart to wed your daughter?” he asked-insolently—but at this juncture the white-lipped De Sauvole motioned to two of his officers and, with grim determination, he approached the be- fuddled Bourdelais and requested him to rise. “ Monsieur is not himself,” he said as his sergeants joined him, ‘‘ perhaps it would be wiser for him to go to his room until he has recovered from his present indisposi- tion.”’ Bourdelais glared up at the governor with an expression of ludicrous dignity. “Do you dare insinuate that I am drunk?” he querulously asked. Neverthe- less he arose, assisted by the three disgusted officers and he laughed as he passed Paradis and his trembling daughter. ‘To-morrow will be our wedding day, my dear,” he cried as Felice glanced disgust- edly up at him. He stopped on his way and, despite the efforts of De Sauvole to silence him, he leaned forward and again addressed the girl. ‘“‘T will get the priest to marry us in the morning,” he said as he ogled the girl. “‘ To- morrow at this time you will be mine. You will be Mme. Bourdelais and I will be GoMmilGeboo (”) S (C@) nn