The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-04

mer ana winter, Tn thlS cabin where we were, and which served them for workshop, they split and resplit the oak logs.
 About once week the son went to the village for provisions, and that was all. On Sunday the entire family played at bowling under the shade of the great trees.
 As we entered, they stopped their work, and each of them, after having bid us good-day, laid down the huge, bright hatchet with which they were armed, a frightful instrument, like the knife of a guillotine furnished with handle, a heavy blade, sharp and large, well made for the execu- tion of oaks, but of sinister aspect.
 Louise seated herself near me on little bench.
 "We are interfering with your york;" said I to the old man.
 "Thank you, no sir; we were just going to eat our supper"
 The two young men laid down their blades and came towards large table, made in most primitive way of plank and four roughly hewn feet. While they were putting on the table the small, thick, blue plates, the old woman had occupied herself in getting large frying pan and throw ing on the fire an armful of sticks. In that scene, so rough and rude, how fine and delicate Louise appeared to me, so dainty with her long gants de Suede, her white skirt just lifted trif1e, and her little boots. With her two hands outstretched she shielded herself from the heat of the fire, and while chatted with the stave- makers, she watched, from the corners of her eyes, the butter which was beginning to sputter in the frying pan. Sud- denly she rose, and, taking the handle of the frying pan from the hands of the old woman, "Let me help you with your omelet, will you?" She said.
 The good wife smiled and gave it up to her, and Louise found herself alone, standing in the attentive atti- tude of fisherman holding his rod at the moment when the bobbing cork warns him of a nibble. The fire bright ened bit; she fixed her eyes upon the melting butter, with outstretched arms, biting her lips in her effort.
 "It is trifle heavy for madame," said the old woman. q would wager that this is the first time you ever made an omelet in the cabin of wood- cutter is it not, my lady?"
 Louise nodded yes without turning her head.
 "The eggs! the eggs !" she cried sud- denly, and with such an anxious air that we all burst out laughing.
 "The eggsl the butter is bubbling up! Quick, or will not be responsi- ble for the result" The old woman hurried to break the eggs.
 And the herbs! !" cried the old man.
 "And the bacon and the saltr said the young man.
 So every ybody began to work; one chopped, one cut, one pounded, while Louise, with flushed face, tapped with her feet and called:
 "Hurry come, hurry, noww
 At last the sound of much sputter- ing arose from the frying pan, and the great work had begun. We all gathered around the fire, looking on with much anxiety, for, since each one had had hand in the omelet, the re- suit of the operation interested every one. The good wife, on her knees near large platter, lifted with her knife one corner ot the omelet, which had begun to brown.
 "Madame has only to turn it now," she said.
 "One quick turn," added the old man.
 "Without too much force," observed the young man.
 "One single toss; houp! my child," said in my turn.
 of you speak to me all at once"
 "Hurry, madame"
 "1f you speak to me all at once, I shall never dare-oh, but it's awfully heavy"
 "One quick turnl"
 "But I can't. It's going to upset. An, heavensw
 In the heat of her action her hood had fallen off. She was as rosy as 8 peach, her eyes shone, and while fret ting over her work, she laughed mer- rily from time to time. At last, after supreme effort, the frying pan was turned and the omelet rolled out, a trifle slowly, must confess, on the great platter which the good wife held for it's reception.
 Never had omelet a better appear ance.
 "I am sure that the little lady, arms must be very tired" said the old man, cutting large slices from his round loaf of bread.
 "No, not very," said my wife, laugh ing good humoredly "only I want to taste my-onr omelet."