Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-20
IN THE STORM.

If you had been near Lake Gallon, In the
southern portion of Louisiana, on that 10Th
of August, you would have been struck by
the livid, greenish hue Of the sky where it
me; the horizon During the day previous a
stiff breeze had been blowing from the north
east, and the sun went down round, red
ball Strange clouds barred with black and
purple, which lightened into crimson lines
where the ominous red light touched them,
made phantaSmagoria Of strange and mon
strous shapes the precursors of that fearful
storm which desolated the gulf parishes Of
Louisiana At the Bayou Gallon the chill
dren of Pierre Vincent, a Bassne fisherman,
had called to their mother to see the strange
sunset
Via, maman, see the bloody fingers in the
sky As if they we're pointing at u.s."
Yes. yes their mother had answered,
looking anxiously at the sky, for was not her
husband, Pierre Vincent. out at Last Island
on a fishing expeditioui But see, your
bloody fingers as you call them, are gonel
Go in. the wind Is blowing up cold, and the
rain is beginningl"
The wind changed during the night, and
blew in sharp gusts from the east-southeast,
and when Adele Vincent opened her shutters
in the early morning the rain was falling In
sheets. and the wind, as it tore through the
high marsh grasses, brought with 1t the
thunderous voice Of the gulf as it swept over
the low lying beach.
"Etienne," Adele said to her eldest child, a
fine. handsome little fellow who stood beside
her, "dost thou not hear the storm crane
cracking in the marsh when the wind lullsl
Il is dreadful weather, and, o Etienne, thy
papa exposed to it all, And we are not safe
here"
All. but, petite maman,r and the boy, who
was only 10 years old, Strengthened himself
up and tried to look brave and fearless, IAN
not here 10 take care Of theef and papa will
BE- back Tomorrow He knows the marsh,
papa does He knows the coast, and he SNAPS
his finger at storms, Tor he knows just where
to run his fine boat, L'Eclair And Uncle
Baptiste is with him, and papa and Uncle
Baptiste fear nothing nothing"
No, they have no fear, but have for
them, and the ishermane wife. ughing
deeply, entered the little cottage II wa q
poor dwelling. but very neat There was
some attempt at sdornment in large, hand
some shells on the mantel sprays Of coral,
and SOME strange specimens OF sawed
Wrecks on the gulf coast, numerous enough
at some seasons, had furnished the cottage
with two rocking chairs and some other arti-
cles. There were two beds, snowy white. in
the fruut room. and a spinning wheel and
loom filed up the rest Of the space An old
woman, the mother Of Vincenti, sat near one
Of the beds lingering her praying beads at in
tervals and talking to two beautiful little
twin girls. who sat at her feet playing with a
ball Of colored worsted baby Law asleep
in cradle
1t is a fearful storm. bonnie maman,p
Adele said to the old woman. and il is get
ting worse every minute Suppose Pierre
should be blown in the marsh like Jean EIoi
in the storm If L'IsIe Deruiere All. it was
ten years hefore even his bones were sonndf'
The old wonan's eyes gazed absently BE-
fore her, and she shook her head Thou
shouldst not borrow trouble before IL comes,
Adele, she said In patois even more marked
than her daughter-in-law's 1T is bad luck,
The sea will work its will, whether you laugh
or cry All YES, it swallowed my husband
and my son Matthew, and it is hungry yet
for Pierre. Perhaps it will take US all; who
knowsY' And she mumbled her prayers,
while her beads slipped rapidly through her
trerr bling fingers
DO not be frightened, maman,- whispered
Etienne, you know bonnie maman' does not
know what she is saying sometimes, she d %
old. See, Lise and Marie are frightened and
crying, and they will not let the baby Sleep
Adele took the two little girls in her arms,
and soothed and quieted them, though h~
own heart throbbed high with terror. She
went about her usual duties mechanically,
pausing now and then when the thunder Il
the waves beyond the marsh grew lo0d9.