Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-04-11
ANDRE THE MINSTREL.


ego when measured by years, but ayes re
snoved from the present by she perspective
sf cataclysmal change, the good old days
when plantation life in the low country
was IN its age OF gold Morning ~s bloom
ing out full and rosy, and the dew hung
heavy on the hedges Of yapOn and Cherokee
rose, ns the minstrel Andre DuyA awoke
and assumed a sitting posture
lie rubbed his eyes vigorously FOR mo
nent, with the unconscious grace Of a
young animal, looked about TO collect his
faculties; then, letting fall bis small, sun
kurnt hands on his knees smiled fOrlornly.
Overhead the leaves Of the magnolia
were thick; the hedge behind him stood up
tangled thorny, fall Of flowers; the air,
stirring gently, bore the smell Of marsh
plants and the fragrance Of orange blooms,
not uupleasing mixture. Everywhere
Che hooking birds were singing, the gross
beaks whistling, the starlings fluting
Andre Duval looked himself over half
eontemptuously, half quizzically, his gray
eyes lingering with every patch on his coat
and trousers, and concentrating themselves
at last on somewhat rusty great toe pro
tFuding from "A sadly worn shoe. Beside
him, In frayed green case, lay his guitar.
AL night he had slept there very sweetly,
and now he felt rested, If not refreshed
hungry, too. as only young, strong fell
bow can be after prolonged fast
Lately be had been In New Orleans, iiV-
ing he scarcely knew how, getting on fairly
well I'm low way while b @cIothes had re-
snaincd decent; but the time came for him
10 try the country and If TINT failed him
well, WHAT He was not Of a temperament
that recko ns accurately. The future fur
aished him r o particular field for specula-
don, the past had no data that he could
use re had come from the southern hill
country Of France 20 Louisiana with some
sort Of dream 10 his brain, had landed
without money, and, Of course had found
soothing that he had expected to find. The
real was The reverse Of his ideal.
Those were the days when New Orleans
and the plantations Of lower Louisiana
we're 40 the zenith Of prosperity, Men
scarcely knew how rich they were, nor did
s,iey seem TO care how they spent their
money; STU a good for naugbt, shabbily
dressed, with nothing but a guitar and a
few songs TO recommend him, might, If a
trife reserved and in way proud, starye
even there
For sennight Andre had tramped
sArouEh the country, taking no note Of
directions, turning this way 20 eyade a
swamp, that way to end a place where a
stream could be waded, and now and again
lingering for "A day or two al a plantation
Bometimcs he got food at the negro cabins.
sometimes at the mansions; but usually
bis bed was mother earth, with only tree
for shelter Luckily. the weather was fine.
After fashion. Andre had enjoyed his
leisurely pilgrimage especially when he
,,f hnI Ig Ira 1tl
ofsnch luxuriance OF trees, shrubs, grasses,
weeds, flowers; nor had his imagination
ever suggested such fruitfuluess as the
plantations, the orange groves and the gay
dens presented To his eyes And then .he
mansiousl Those great, rambling, vine
severed tree shaded, gallery circled struct-
ares impressed him rs the abodes Of princes
In exile Ho poetiscd concerning them,
and constructed romauces, in which the
medieval spirit was revived with all its
ancient splendor.
On this particular morning. SO rosy, so
'siewy, so fragrant, Andre awoke with sur.
prise that he had slept 50 late; much more
was be surprised 70 find that he was on the
confines OF a plantation, and near the
grandest mansion that he had yet seen.
Through rift In the hedge he could de
s0Ey, Just beyond the little field great
roof a heavy stack Of chimneys. broad
serandas and small! PANIED windows ali
half hidden In foliage and long moss, with
great, gray tree boles showing through and
guarded branches reaching across. still
beyond all this bayou cleaned like silver
studded with diamonds ms the breeze played
over IL. He rubbed his eyes again and got
upon his knees, the better TO gaze AZ the
beautiful picture. A dream had suffused
his sleep during To" night just gone, and
It's spell had not yat departed from his i'm
agination surely yoDder house was the
house OF which he had drearaedl Why
yes, there was the great gate with the
monstrous posts 20 uphold It, and there
was tho boat house by the bayou Again
he rubbed his eyes.
Bein, thus occupied, Andre Duval was
al prepared for the shock that just then
game upon him IN the form OF huge an
ina, tlat rushed against him from behind,
with loud bow 5CN -wow-wow" over he
tumbltd, and was held down by the weight
OF thi great, black, shaggy assailant,
"Wow WOW bowI'
Andte's nose and mouth were buried In
The soft ground SO that he could scarcely
breathe, much less cry out, and muz2le
with atroCious teeth WIS mumbiiug AZ the
back OF his neck while heavy paws pressed
hard upon his outStretched arms.
"Ahal What have You there Achille, old
fellow Hold, you wolf Come of, sayl
BE doLtl BE doueW
Andre heard these ordinations given
IN soft French voice very soft French
voioe-but firm and manly one as well,
The big teeth that had been ready TO siuS
into his ngct, were removed In an instant,
shough the animal kept its place on his
back
"OH with youl Here, You rascalp'
a rcsouudiug kick followed by n whine
Brought Andre relief He squirlned over
and sat upright rubbing the earth from
his face and feeling Of his neck 20 Gud out
II 10 were whole.
A handsome young man wish . gun on
his shoulder stood before him, and uu
enormous dog was slinkjug along beside
he hedge
who upon earth are your What are
you up 10 here1' Inquired the young man,
as he set his feet far apart, as il 70 secure
wide oaSe for A,, establishment and gazed
hard at Andre His eyes softeued as he
spoke
~ awake moment ago, said Andre