The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-05-25
e BELLEVUE La, THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1876.


of the Soubise stock, which was already
on its way to the corral, and then re-
turned to Pierre.
He found his friend had dismounted
under a solitary tree which stood near
the edge Of the prairie, and was busy
binding up the wound, which, though
not deep, was very painful.
"Here will l be laid up for week, :"
he groaned. "What luck! And do
you see that sky, LOUISE" pointing to
the northern horizon, where a line of
lurid light bordered the heavy black
clouds which had spread over the whole
sky. 81 have watched the weather
ever since / was boy, and I have never
seen that yellow border to the black
curtain fail to bring tempest. Help me
to my horse, for am getting sore and
stiff
The advance of the storm was so
rapid that the whole party of vachers
had hardly time to reach the Colas farm
before the fury Of the elemental war
fare burst upon them. What a gulf
storm can be, particularly an equinoc-
tial one, must be witnessed to be real
lied. No words can paint the binding,
continuous glare of the lightning, and
deafening claps of thunder, the howl
ing winds, and sheets of rain, through
which no object can be discerned. The
house rocked and shook, but it was
broad and low; yet several of the out
houses were leveled to the ground, and
the high enclosure sof-the corral was
swept away, giving freedom to the i'm
prisoned cattle.
Pierre Laclede, grave before, grew
more gloomy as hour,after hour passed,
and the storm continued unabated. His
wife crept up to him rather timidly, and
laid her hand on his shoulder zf
"What art thou thinking of, thou
great bear, with thy face wrinkled up?
Come into the room dinner is ready.''
He turned fiereely upon her.
What am thinking OFF Of our
poor little helpless children over yonder,
with no one to cheer them but an old
woman as helpless as themselves. What
are they doing in this stormp Fright
ened to death and crying, poor little
creatures, at the lightning flashing and
He stopped, as a sudden thought
struck hin1-a thought which blanched
his face with its terrible suggestions.
"Ah! God forgive mel" he cried
81 had forgotten the creek. Louis!"-
and at the cry the boy, who had beer
in a remote part of the house, came
RUNNING up to him" saddle oul
horses-yours and mine-and, fol
Heavens sake, be quick! can moi
help you. l am too lame. Don't ask
any questions now, but go!"
The vachers crowded around him.
But are you mad, to go out in this
storm, Pierrep What is it? What ha
happened?"
The man made a desperate effort t.
speak calmly. "The point Of land OF
which my house is built Is lower than til,
opposite side. It was overflowed fifteel
years ago; it may happen to-day, ant
my children are there" s..
They tried to persuade him that i
was impossible-the rain had not con
tinued long enough. 1t was foolish tt
let such crotchet take him out int
the tempest. He only answered 'a
"The creek is already swollen from
Saturdays rain. My children ar
there. - tg E8tsts,.
Finding him resolved, five or six &
the stoutest vachers determined to &C
company. him. Marie was by this time
wringing her hands and weeping aloud
in all the impotence of remorseful grief
Her husbands white, set face did no
turn towards her once, even when h'
was helped on his horse, and the part,
galloped into the wind and rain.
Pierre did not feel the painful wound
Blinded, deafened, coming to ragins
floods, where, in the morning, it'll
twinkling rivulet had played through
the grass, his only thought seemed tt
be to get on-on, through al perils.
The dark day was siraing into {
gloomy twilight, and the rain still pour
ed, when the little party fsund them
selves on the bank OF Clear Greek, abou
q half a mile from Laclede's house
One. glance at the yellow, turbid stream
running like. mill-race, flooding the
opposite bank, and almost o4 a leve
with the bridle-path they were pursu
ing, and the wretched man gave shril
cry, and tottered in his saddle.
Louis was beside him in minute, AM
they galloped on-past the house of ol,
Johan, past the clump of oaks, and the,
are at the foot of the bridge. But wher
is itp Gone, and nothing spans tn
surging waters beneath but a singh
arch, slender, tottering. And q, sigh
for parents eyes!-on the other sid
two little children, wringing their hand
and nd-weeping, in the extremity Of thei
terror. .. .s'..s