Connecticut western news., 1890-07-23
A STUDY IN BLACK.

Wn1le on nOrSeDack journey through a secluded and somewhat watery nook of southern Louisiana I lost my way and wandered for the whole of bright and breezy after noon through region at once the widest and most funereal in aspect that ever met my eyes.
 No houses, no plantations, no sign of human life, save what an occasion al herd of thin, wiry domestic cattle might suggest, as breaking forth from some fringe of reeds, or scampering across a verduous. opening in the gloomy woods, the half wild little ami mals fled from me with deer like agil ity, and, what made the solitude most notable, the booming of alligators came from certain bayous and ponds near which Ipassed.
 The sun was low in the west, almost down to the horizon in fact, when, af- ter breaking through dense tangle of bay bushes and making my way for some distance under messy, low hang ing, live oak boughs, came upon a considerable bluff, overlooking beau tiful, lakelike expansion of one of the bayous. Here my tired horse stopped of his own accord, and, lifting his head, neighed shrilly.
 No scene could be more lovely than the one before me. The water was as blue as the wing of jay and as still as the sky over one half of 1t, while over the other half the breeze was leaping gleefully, bearing bright wave, lets before it. The sunlight, reddened by slight fog that was beginning to rise beyond the lake, fell level across vast grassy marsh like a sheet of flame and struck the water with long blades of crimson and gold. Southward lay dark, solemn cypress swamp; north ward the lagoon swung round the live oak wood and was lost. was not very near the gulf coast, but the unmistak able salt fragrance was in the air.
 It was May and the magnolias were beginning to bloom; my horses feet were bathed in fountains of blue and wild violets. Everywhere the colors of the rainbow flashed, and on every breath I drew in bewildering sense of perfumes.
 I thought the spot a good one on which to pass the night, and was pro pairing to dismount when dog began to bay just beyond thicket of cedars. It was a deep voiced hound barking as if for sheer idleness. The sound was as welcome as 1t was musical, for it told me that cabin must be near.
 Settling myself at ease in my saddle listened A noise of row looks or of paddle touching skiff's side now reached my ear; and wondered why I had not before noticed the pirogue and the person that propelled it. Scarcely 300 yards away, and skim ming swiftly over the water, the graceful little vessel came shoreward. Its occupant, slender girl apparent ly, sat near the stern and wielded the paddle with vigor and ease.
 Evidently the dog was baying her l welcome as she returned from some voyage across the now rapidly darken- | ing bayou. The sun had fallen below the horizon, the fog was turning from rose purple to silver gray; and 1 no | ticed that the nearly full moon was wan against the eastern sky. Above | the dark jungle of the swamp some wide winged birds were slowly sailing southward.
 "Hoo-lal hoo-la! hoo-ee!" quivered a loud, sweet voice from the pirogue.
 "Hoo-la-la hoo, la-hoo-hoo-eep an swered baritone from the shore just beyond the cedar thicket.
 l The girl waved her paddle in the air and replied with yodel that sent its silvery nipples to every dreamy nook of the bayou.
 I know not how to suggest the feel ing that came over me; 1t was as if l had glimpse of old Arcadia, as if a wait of perfect peace and quiet joy had reached me from some land of eternal apple blooms.
 l Overhead some wild fowl were blowing their dangerous pipes; and although I did not look up knew that their wings were shining against the sapphire sky. In my mind Hooks of poems, like strange singing birds, rustled their silken phrases and flooded me with unutterable melody.
 Very soon the pirogue touched shore at some distance from me, and saw the tall girl spring out and loop the little painter around a stake; then springing up the bluff, she was lost te my view. Icould not clearly make out her features, but felt that she was no1 ill looking; her form was itheness it self and the very embodiment of wilo grace.
 Quite sure of finding a house on the other side of the cedar thicket, I turned my horses head that way and rode through. To my surprise came upor an orange orchard of perhaps 800 large trees, beyond which the low, broac roof of vine covered cottage showed dim and gray under the wide boughi of an enormous live oak The picture struck me as one of remarkable ex pression-a sort of vignette from some old romance
 Riding around the angle of the or chard came in front of the house anl halted. A clump of pear trees grew a one side and great bower of scupper nong vines fanked little rose gar den. In front, of a wide veranda magnificent oleander spread its glossy greenery. A spacious, open hall ra1 entirely through the low, apparent. almost rotten, building, giving me , glimpse of luxuriants tufts of flag ik' plants bearing great red and golt flowers growing in sort of rude bacl court. The place had very ancien look, as if the house had been there s' long that it was sinking in the ground while the grass and vines and mos were enveloping it. The boards of tn roof were warped, spongy and covere' with hchens, while the walls, made o , pine logs, were awry from the deca. of the foundation, and the rude post of the veranda were weather beatel and far from perpendicular.
 The girl and a man who had me her at the landing turned at tn