The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-02-12

weddings. His mothers expression
used to be mild and Indifferent when
she came to our kitchen door with
baskets to sell. But she seemed to be
angry at the fire under the kettle after
1 spoke about the wedding in the
Acadian settlement.
eve went on to the church and saw
the wedding ceremony. 1t was the
usual Catholic service. And everybody
followed to the brides house. I can
remember the tide was out, and the
beautiful sleek red clay basins shone
like polished stone.
The bride was pretty, laughing
girl with black eyes and round features.
She wore homespun skirt of that dull
blue shade which harmonizes so well
with outdoor lights and colors. 1t
ought to have suited her, for she had
dyed it herself. Above this was a
white bodice, its full sleeves gathered
to the shoulders with silver brooches.
All the family accumulations of
brooches come to the front at an
Acadian wedding. They stood in rows,
clasping and fastening her dress.
The groom wore smooth-ftting soft
boots on his beautiful arched feet.
do not remember his head or face at all.
Hewas probably stumpy good-natured
Acadian. l remember only those dane
ing feet; and his blue trousers were
made like sailors. They hung over
his arched instep, waving and swaying
as he sprang about. There was some
kind of ceremony with the bride and
groom before dancing began, but for
get what it was. There was a great
deal of eating first, also. 1t was har-
vest-time and there was plenty. Our
best apple land does not lie around
Gaspereau. But the tables were load
ed and the priest was there, and I re-
member thinking everything good to
eat and feeling thankful for the good
fathers presence, for he was certainly
a restraint upon Pierre.
Pierre did not come into the house
at all, though the father and all the
brothers of the bride went out and.
asked him. He stood outside window.
1t must have been pleasant for the
bride and groom to sit and feast and
have that half-breed Watching them.
Il heard in the house how badly
Pierre had wanted the bride himself,
and pitied him, and wondered why she
preferred pair of dancing, trim-shod
feet to big dark-eyed fellow with such
a look on his face. 1t seems she had
liked Pierre when his father was alive
and he staid at home like any other
Acadian; but, being a sensible girl,
when he turned whole Micmac instead
of only half, she bestowed her linen
chest on a man who would not need to
fit it out with wheels. She was marry
ing little piece of ground whose owner
cultivated the same instead of tramping
woods.
'I wondered if Pierre had arrow
under his red blouse for the groom.
He stood as silent as post and watched
those pretty feet and sailor trousers
dance.
''The Acadian dance is something
like Scotch reel. The dancers stand
four facing four, they balance and take
various steps, and then one behind the
other run the reel.
1.-The long twilight passed by and it
was night while the dancing went on,
but no one covered that window out
side of which Pierre stood. l don't
think anybody felt for the half-breed
lad as did, though 1 was a child.
The people in the house hoped his
Acadian blood would restrain his wild
blood and that he would do no damage
of any kind. The bride gave him
pleasant nod or two which must have
made the Micmac growl, in his breast,
and the groom finally went out with
other young men and tried to bring
him in.
Il remember / felt ashamed for him.
It seemed as if his Acadian nature held
his aboriginal nature in chains. He
was submissive, like his fathers people,
all the time that his mothers race was
raging in him and gnashing for re-
venge If he had burnt the house or
shot some one it might have gone hard
with me, but blushed for him that he
did not do it, instead of hanging thus
on the verge of the paradise he had
lost.
''Since then 1 have thought Pierre
was inf1icting punishment on himself.
1t was torture, like burning at the stake.
He was burning up his love, and the
remarks of spectators were part of the
ordeal
THE priest was the only person
whom he answered or noticed. The
priest stood by him and talked awhile
before going away. Pierre listened to
him and answered.
Il can see yet the night sky with its
fading pink rim and the long reach of
dim dike-land it covered, which we saw
as we passed Pierre on our way home.
1t was growing chilly. He stood out
side the window staring in, and 1 felt
afraid of him as 1 never had felt before.
I don't know how long he stood there.
Poor Micmac-Acadian; neither civ
ilized nor savage; bound in blood and
heart to another race-a yielding,
peaceful race-and perishing of that
alliance.
Il remember Pierre and his mother
were not seen around Gaspereau again
for long while. They took up their
lodge and let the harvest go. They
came back with some other Micmacs
at one time, but had nothing more to
do with the Acadian settlement. We
have not lived on the Gaspereau side OF
the neck for many years. l don't know
what became of Pierre. Maybe he is
standing with folded arms and looking
into some window of Heaven as he
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