The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-03-24
ONE: STORMY NIGHT.
A stormy night, indeed

A stormy night, indeed
High up On the lonely mountains
the rain came down in streams, as if the
sky were great sieve, and not ray OF
light found it's way through the black
clouds. The giant fir trees bent and
swayed in the fierce wind, and sent their
wild. wailing voices down through gulch
and canon to mingle with the roar of
creek and cataract, or fell before the
rocks that crashed down the mountain
sides. The terrified cattle lowed and
cried in their corrals, budding together
for warmth and sympathy. Indoors
people drew near together, crowding
around the hearth fires that blazed in
a fitful, almost uncanny way.
In wayside inn, on the mountain
road, little company sat thus gathered
about an immense fireplace that glowed
and famed like a bonfire, and not con-
tent with cheering the great room, sent
its beacon-light out at the windows to
defy the night and the storm
There was Mike Malone, the landlord,
and Kitty, his fat, funny wife; little
Maria, the Spanish girl whom Mike and
Kitty had "rared:'' Jake, the stable
man, and last, because most important,
"Bat," the French Canadian wood
cutter. There was nothing in the young
fellows appearance to suggest the
winged horror whose name he bore. It
was merely sobriquet for Baptiste.
Jake seldom availed himself of the alb
breviation, but, slowly and emphatically,
styled him {: Canuck, y usually prefxing
a descriptive that had more force than
elegance. It was ill-natured, to say the
least, for Bat was one of the kindest
fellows in the world, "and the ways of
him." as Kitty said, was wan sthrame
O sunshine; but sure" she added,
''Jake is that jealous that he can't trate
him dacent, though I'd sooner see Maree
quiet In her grave nor married to likes
av him. Av she's in love. wild the
Frinchmanp There We have me now.
She's that quare and shy, Maree is, that
ye niver can tell her mind till she PLACES
to let We know, and on this subject she
hasn't PLACED yit.''
And that was quite true, for when
Bats blue eyes, sparkling with fun and
deep with the light of love, beamed upon
the little dark-eyed beauty, her long
slashes swept her cheeks; sometimes not
until the quick eyes of Jake had seen
the outspringing Of an answering love-
though not all Bats gallant wooing
could bring a word Of it to her lips
silent, cautious little Maria, who doubt !
ed the gay manners of this rollicking
knight of the ak.
Did ever yees listen to the loike O
thatl' exclaimed Mike, at a sudden /
crashing sound.
Kitty and Bat crossed themselves fer
vently, but Jake, with unmoved, sullen
face, sat and glowered at the fire. Sud I
denly Maria sprang up, excitedly. cit
is voice." she cried.
'lndade, thin, it's the voice of nanny
wathers," laughed Kitty, though rather /
neryorsly.
g It's a human voice it is calling for
help"
by golly, it's Satan, den," said Bat
4" OATS nobody helsell be on de road a
night like dat I'll bet he's call for
jake" he added, roguishly.
A deeper glover was Jake's only re-
ply, but soon lifting his head, he said:
" She's right, Maree is; Their is some
one CALM"
"Out wild yees, men, till the
riscue!' cried Kitty, Selling Mikes
hat and coat and thrusting them upon
him.
"sure ye're spakin," said Mike. rue
FULLY preparing to leave the CHEEKY
hearth.
Bat, aroused by the light in Maria's
flashing eyes, sprang up with enthusiasm {
Tor, low be it spoken, his was not
grand heroic soul. His brave deeds
we're mostly born of impulse and {
lonrlshed by the appreciation of others. .
lake sullenly joined them, but before
hey reached the door it opened, and )
full II the freight appeared a tall form. ]
md handsome, yellow-bearded face-a {
striking picture, with the dark night for
| background
By me sowl, it's the docther. What 6
'rnSs We out IN the loike O. this ?"
:" don't so abroad in Satans name. {
Nike, laughed the doctor, making his t
way to the fire. and taking the chair {
hat KITTY had fastened to place for
lin. .
g No more ye don't, locther; it's hiv >
ms own saryant ye are," she said, ear |
lestly: Bestir yersilf, Mike, and
'ring him somethin' hot to drink, for 7
ndade, docther, ye're the color of a /
,host.' :
I've had pretty tough time of it to \
Jet here, and few minutes ago was l.
more likely to arrive at the bottom of +
he gulch, where my poor horse is now v
The doctors voice trembled and his n
yes were wet with not humanity tears. Il
OF, as the little company we'll knew, the f,
orse was pet and a beauty. e
All, woes the night" vailed Kitty. n