Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-12-02

this occasion he had galloped across
the prairie and ridden directly into
what would have been the front yard
OF that family, had there been any
fences around the place. There was
something in his face that betokened
unusual earnestness, and when he
vaulted out of the saddle and, hat in
hand, inquired of the young lady, in a
guinea-blue gabrielle on the gallery. if
her brother was at home, he surprised
that black-eyed demoiselle very much
by his manner.
She happened to be the only person
at home, for her widowed mother had
that day ridden to Grand Coteau to-
confession, and the brother was out
looking after a stray yearling Al
osine Ponpon was the elder of two sis
tiers. The younger, Seraphine, had
some two years before left the parental
home with gallant young husband,
and was now comfortably settled over
at Coulee Croche. q
This marriage Of the more youthful
sister had been severe blow at Alo-
sine, for she had always been led to
believe that suitors were bound to take
the older daughter first. The bridal
party, mounted on their little Creole
tackles, and followed by a wagon of
household goods had hardly disap-
peared behind knoll in the prairie
than she burst into passion of tears,
and refused to be comforted. From
that day she formed a resolution that
! if she died an old maid it would not be
her fault. She was, perhaps, a little
too tall and angular to attract many of
the fastidious young men, and her UNI
disguised efforts to capture a gallant
were perhaps too much for the gay
beaux of the prairie. Be this as it
may, few ever stopped at the house
longer than time enough to water their
horses or take cup of coffee, except,
perhaps, Aleck Harris. He had been
over often, aud had spent whole after
moons with her brother talking over
stock matters and the improvement of
grasses.
Alosine had nurtured warm senti-
ment for the young man, and when he
was IN the house invariably managed
to be in the same room. She thought
she saw signs of reciprocated feeling
frequently, and now that he had come
over at time when she was alone she
was sure there was but one object to
his mission On his approach she had
darted into her room, given hurried
twist to her back hair and encircled
her neck with flaming red ribbon, SO
that when he reached the steps she
looked at her best
"Boucta is not here, is hep" asked
the bold rider as he took a seat.
mon; hee go long time, yes. An
ow 20 doc. Sieur Hareesep Hi opes yo
weel," and Alosine proffered him a
glass of water.
''Oh, I'm very well, mamselle," and
he swallowed the water as only a
thirsty man can. Ppm very sorry
Boucta is gone, for came over here
on very important business. The
truth is, wanted to ask him ques-
ton in which you yourself are som e.
what interested. "
The sunlight danced on the prairie
swells. The blossoms Of the wild in
digo and the tall stems of the rushes
in the waterhole away off beyond the
corncrib seemed to ~tremble with de-
) light. Roseatc hues tinted the cumu-
; lous clouds and the plaintive whistle
of the ''killdee" overhead became the
. voluptuous notes of the mockingbird.
Alosine had been looking forward to
this moment for the last twenty years,
and now it had come. Ali how noble
that M sieu Hareese looked now. Such
strength, such dash, such manly beau
= ty. Her heart almost choked her. Its
pulsations were rapid and strong.
81 ham ware sorree dat he han
, gone. Sieur Hareese," she was just
9 able to say. "Eet was so good OBJ yo
: TO to come"
"Oh, don't mention that, mamselle
:, | have been thinking over this mattel
: for a long time, and must confess
u :, that was little afraid of speaking t.
: you about it. / thought would SET
= Boucta first.
i As Alosine looked at Aleck Harris
: now the tears welled up into her eyes
She had seen his comfortable house or
p the prairie and had D very fair idea o.
: his herd. Even while he was talking
q she could fancy herself seated in tn,
? big rocking-chair on the gallery of tn,
;. Harris home, dressed in pink ant
q white calico. with a breastpin of impos
/ ing size gistening in her bosom. Sh'
v had longed for these things all her life
v "Yees! Sieur Hareese, my brudde
o. he ware nice TO me all de time, han e.
d kno, what &c like, hi like Then sh
G thought that if Sieur Hareese did no
wait for her brother day would b
q lost, and in such affairs day mean
@ an eternity. So, holding her sunbon
d net before her face just low enough b
l. permit her big black eyes to peer owe
= the edge, she said: ''Spose mi brud
J. der no come tell de eebenng, weel y
If tax seat han wait TO imp"
E IL can't wait. You see, I've got t
o decide to-day"
10 She was sure the eventful hour ha
10 arrived. She looked into the ope
door at the front room. Surely tn
n "Hsreese" house was better than thi:
II She knew of his carpeted floors, maj
IF ble-top tables and handsome picture:
in and she yearned to become their mi,
N tress. She resolved to draw him on
Of at once.
A. "Aleck," it was the first time sh
&c had ever pronounced that name alou
rs and she trembled at her audacity, bu
she must go on. ''Aleck, hi wooed b
he much 'bliged eff ye wooed speak to m
's jus like we wooed speak to mi bruddel
e. Wat you want 70 hask i'm yo can has
he me. Eet will be hall de same"
ie Aleck Harris looked up into her fac
u squarely and frankly. He had not tn
VI slightest suspicion of what had cause
n those deep bushes and bright spark