Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-11
A TALE OF QUEUE TORTUE.

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Acadisn settlers and for over a century
past they have kept almost entirely to
themselves, marrying and inter-marry-
ng so that every resident there is re-
lated to every body else in the prairie.
They have q decided distaste for any
thing that tends toward progress, and
the habits and manners Of their fathers
are followed as piOusly as are the in
structOns Of their priest. Simple heart
ed, gay and imbued with all the esprit
Of their French ancestors, they are prob
ably as contented a people as can be
found on either eide the Atlantic. Rais-
ing cattle, filling some cotton, and low
ing their families, they entertain but lit
tie regard for what is transporting In the
great world beyond the boundaries OF
Queue Tortue. Their wants are but
few, and with coffee, tobacco and corn,
they live contentedly to a ripe old age.
Strong In their affections, familyties are
held in reverence, and a fourth cousin
receives as hearty q welcome at their
simple homes as a brother or near rela-
tive. They are, however, exceedingly
shy OF strangers, and it requires a long
residence In that locality to secure even
the faintest approach Of intimacy with
them.
Near the center Of the prairie, in a
olain cottage Of four rooms, the PonpOn
family lived in that bucolic simplicity
which had given such longevity to their
ancestors. To the observer it would
seem that the same strings Of red pep
pers were hanging from the rafteIs that
were picked In the forties; and the same
little black coffee pot was resting beside
the hearth out Of which their grandsire,
Pierre Alcibiade. PonpOn, had taken his
morning cup. There could be no ques-
ton about the furniture, for all Of it,
save one modern bedstead purchased In
later times for the girls, was Of 50 print
tive a type it was even eloquent Of its
antiquity. At one end of the gallery
an antiquated handlOOm told where the
family cOttOnade came from, and a col
lection Of empty sardins boxes under
the house suggested newly acquired
tastes, not entirely In keeping with the
primitive character OF the aforemention-
ed loom. Four yellow haired dogs
dozed languidly in the afternoon sun
shine on the bare patch Of earth In front
of the domicil, now and them muster
ing no sufficient energy to 60 through
sort Of banjo picking vibratOry move
ment with the left hind leg, as they
sought to remove the predatory flea.
Beyond, the sWells Of the prairie went
rolling away in the distance like great
pillows Of green, with here and there
knots Of cattle like bits Of seaweed ahORt
on the surface. Still beyond, sky and
grass met where it appeared the world
ended. Slzirtings Of cypress in some
directions told Of meandering bayOus,
and once in a while a thin column OF
smoke indicated the position of the near
est houses, some four or five miles away.
1t was a bright October afternoon, and
the air was fragrant with the odOr Of the
ripening grasses and flowers Of the prai-
RE. Great white clouds in broken cut
line lay along the horizon like mountain
ranges, the sides of which we're Eiven by
gorges and canyons Of shadow. A crew
Of nOmadic white cranes were pluming
themselves at a water hole about a
quarter Of a mile away, while above,
seeking the shelter of the far OF sea
marsh, wings Of blue winged teal were
scudding before the first north wind Of
the autumn. Tied to a china tree near
the Ponon dwelling, with dropping
head and eyes half closed, stood a small
Creole pony-as uncanny a looking
0uadruped as a hOrsemRn could well
imagine. A rough saddle with heavy
wooden stirrups, a raWhide bride with
a strong curb bit and a saddle blanket
made Of mess, were the only ornaments
of the little breast. Diminutive as was
ths animal, it was evident from the
length Of the stirrup straps that his rider
was quite tall individual Such sur
mise would have been at once cOrrobor-
ated by a glance into the front room,
which served at once as a psrlor5 bed
chamber and setting room. There, on a
low, straigh-backed chair OF raWhide
bottom, srt a young man OF about 70,
his face bronked by exposure and his
long boots despatched with mud.
Standing In those same boots the wlrg
cavalier would have measured something
like six feet two inches. his features
showed that he was Of Anglo-SaIOn
blood. He was known IN the neighbor-
hood as ssATsieu Hareese," slight varl-
alton on his patronynic Harris. Some
eighteen months before the afternoon Te-
ferred to he had purchased tract o.
land in the prairie, and on it had opened
a stock farm on a small scale. de was
industrious, &c liRl and frank, 30 that
after a period Of probation be was greet
ed by the residents thereabOutd with
something ike cordially. his little
ranch, as he liked to cali 1t, was abou
five miles away from the PomPon resl
danee, and on this occasion he had gal
Ioped across the prairie and ridden Oh
- So. hot yvowT1 have been the
front yard Of that family, had there been
any fences around the place.
There was something Ia his tace tnot
betokened unusual eaEnestnesss and
when he vaultsd ont OF the saddle and
hat In hand, inquired Of the young LADY,
in a genuine blue gabrielle, on the gal
lery, If her brother was at home he sur
prised that blaciE-eyed demoiselle by his
manner.
She happened to be the only person at
home. for her widowed mother had that
dav ridden 20 Grand OOteau to
confession. and the brother was out look
ing after stray yearling. AlOaine Pom
pom was the elder Of two sisters The
younger. 6eraphine, had some two years
before left the parental home With gal
LIANT young husband, and vas now com
fortably settled over ct C0ulee Crooha-
The marriage Of the more youthful SIS
ter had been severe blow 90 Alos-
Inc. for she had alWays been led % BE-
AsVa that EuitoEz we've bound % take the
older dnuvhter l1 me bridal party
mounted 81 ths-1 EEe Cseola tac.ziaa