Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-12
Gales aud Sketthes.
DOMINIQUE.

DldutdtlOuS III ~. AHAnA ouN
parishes. Was not tomorrow the first
day of La Careme, when all fun and dane
ing and feasting must cease for forty days!
Was not today Mardi-Gras The excite
ment of the great carnival at New Orleans
could not reach these remote. solitary
parishes, but in all the isolated farm
houses scattered among the bavoux, the
Acadians made ready to celebrate the
fete.
There was to be a grand picnic in the
Iive-oak forest. near to Louis Des Vaches'
plantation, and in the evening a dance at
the Widow Bernard Baudry's. Everybody
went to early mass and then gayly-dressed
groups, on foot, on horseback, or in ricke-
ty caleches. began to cross the country to
the plantation Des Vaches.
1t was a sunny day in March. The in
Vulnerable bayoux. streams and ponds
that covered the flat, green country gilt
tered like silver in the sun, as the wind
swept over them from the Gulf, rolling in
heavy purple clouds of mist now and then,
which blotted out the landscape for
awhile, and then rose in trailing frag-
ments of wet brilliance. A heavy mass of
shadow in the distance showed where the
Oh i've OdhS stoOu. LFcIyuOdf plooocu
towards it. chatterng and laughing and
singing.
In the woods young Dominique Baudry
was busy helping the Des Vaches family
make ready for their guests. True, the
fete was to be at his mothers house that
evening. but Dominique had enough ener-
gy and fun in HIM to start dozen balls
and outdoor feteS.
The Des Vaches had no hesitation in
asking him to come over and help them
arrange the trays on the grass, which were
to be heaped with bread, cheese, and little
sugar cakes, and the glasses and cups for
Nisette cordial and coffee. The Acadians
OF Louisiana are as simple in their tastes
as their French ancestors. and find as keen
delight in little pleasures.
The scattered groups all gathered at
last under the enormous trees, while the
long, waving moss made spectral shad-
ow overhead. The elder women sat apart
and slipped their neighbours cordals, gave
each other recipes. and petted the babies,
throwing a gay joke now and then to their
husbands, who were busy talking of the
coming rice crop. The young people
strolled away in couples and brought back
masses of roses or purple flags.
Everywhere, as they all remembered
afterwards, Dominique Baudry was busy,
saucy, handsome, joking. 1t was he who
piled heap of moss for old Mere Elan
drcu. and set the cross old body to laugh
ing; and it was he who started the games
for the children. He had kind word and
bit of fun for everybody, even the poor
negroes, who had followed their masters,
Nobody blamed the Veuve Baudry that
she sat silent, watching him with evident
pride.
you have good son. madame" said
her old friend Caseau, from the Teche
Country. II hear he had the banner crop
of rice in your parish last year"
yes" said old Jacques Des Vaches
'and Domique is foremost in play as in
work. A good-looking dog, too ! think
he resembles me. as [ was forty years
ago." at which they all laughed.
| Madame Baudry was not ill-pleased tC
hear this praise of her son from Monsieur
Caseau 1t was Gertrude Caseau thai
Dominique had loved since he was boy
His mother had been his only confidant
Gertrude was wild, airy little creature
who had apparently cared nothing for him
But to-day she had been gentler and more
tender than ever before His mother had
watched the bushes come and 90 when
ever Dominique came near her. On the
whole it was as well that n. Caseau should
know what manner of man it was who haC
chosen his daughter.
| Little Jean trotted about after Dominique
wherever he went. Jean was the son o
Louis Baudrv, who was dead. and Domi
nique loved the child who had slept in his
arms since he was baby as dearly as he
did Gertrude, perhaps. But the young fel
low had big heart, with plenty OF room
in it for all who were dear to him. The
girls kind words made him frantic with
happiness to day, but he did not forget lit
tie Jean for a moment. Indeed, he took
him aside and whispered to him, "Do yor
see that beautiful ladyP You must put hel
in your prayers now, mon bebe, tor per
haps she will some day live with us, ano
be kind to you as your dear mother was
who is dead. But hush-h!"
Jean nodded his wise little head, anC
kept the secret.
1t was Just at this time that the strange
occurrence happened which kept all the
parishes from Hayou Teche to La Fourche
in wonder for a long time.
Dominique, with some of the other young
fellows, had waded into the swamp in the
morning to bring out certain pink flower:
which the girls admired. Gertrude Caseal
now asked him for some to dress her hal
for the fete, and Dominique, his cheek.
burning and eyes shining with pleasure
ran up to where the thicket was dense tina
he night be hidden while he rolled up hi.
trousers and plunged into the water.
He was gone so long that the young mel
shouted for him again and again. At las,
he came out of the thicket and halted, look
ing at them. Young Jacques Des Vaches
who ran to meet him, told afterwards that
his features were shrunken and nipped
and wore CHASTITY pallor. as if he ha'
been suddenly struck with DEATH
He (Des Vaches) alleged that he was 81
alarmed that he drew back, on which Dom
Unique gave hoarse, bitter laugh. Their
he demanded what was wrong, thinking
perhaps, he had been bitten by moccasil
snake, the bite of which is fatal.
Dominique made no answer, but threw
down the pink flowers on the ground. mo
tioning towards NJ. Caseau's daughter.
Des Vaches then called the child. Jean
to come to see what allied Dominique, know
ing how dear the boy was to him.
But Baudry at that cried, "No, no Kee]
hin, b,ol- ~ ,pJ thar, turpoJ ,,J