Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-03
ANDRE THE MINSTREL.


when plantation lifo In the low country
wis in H. age Of gold. Morning was bloom.
Ing out full and rosy. and the dew hung
heavy on the hedges Of yapon and Cherokee
rose. ns the inlustrul Andre Duval awote
and assumed a sitting posture
lie rubbed his eyes vigorously FOR mo.
ncnt. with the unconscious grace Of a
young animal, looked nboht to collect hfa
faculties. then. letting fall his small, sun.
burnt hands on his KNEES. smiled forlornly.
Overhead the leaves Of the magnolia
were thick. the hedge behind him stood up
tangled, thoray, full OF flowers; tho alf.
stirring gently. bore the smell Of marsh
plants aud the fragrance Of orange blooms.
not unpleasing mixture Everywhere
the mocking birds were singing. the gross.
bcaks whlstllng. the starlinga fluting.
Andre Duval looked himself over half
contemptuously. half qui1zicaily, his gray
eyes lingering with every patch on his cont
aud trousers. and concentrating themselves
At last on a somewhat rusty great toe pro.
truding from sisiiy worn shs.. Beside
him. ia n frayci green case. lay Ms guitar.
AilniVht he had slept there very swcctiy.
and now be felt rested. II no, refreshed:
hungry. too. as only young. strong fcl.
low eau b. after prolonged fast.
Lately he had been In New Orleans, Nv.
ing he scarcely knew how, getting on fairly
well In a low way while bis clothe. had re.
malucl decent; but the time came for him
10 Try the country, aud II that failed him
well. whati Ilewas not Of a temperament
that rrckons accurately. The future fur
nishcd him no particular field for spccula.
ton. the past had no data that he could
use. Ilo had come from the southern hill
49, ~ 4
sort OF dream In hla brain. had landed
without money, and, OF course. had found
nothing that ho had expected 10 lind. Tho
real was the reverse Of his ideal.
Those wcrc the days whcn New Orleans
and tie plantations OF lower Louisiana
were nj tho zenith Of prosperity Men
scarcely knew how rich they ven, nor dll
they sccm to care how they spent their
money. still good for nanght, shabhily
dressed, with nothing but n guitar and a
few songs TO recommend him, might, n %
tribe reserved aud In way proud. starye
even there.
For scnnight Andre had trampcd
through the country. taking no note OF
directions, turning this way 10 eyahe q
swamp, that way 10 Ind place wherr n
stream could b. wndcd, and now aud again
lingering for day or two NJ plantation.
Sometimes he got food at tho negro cabins
sometimes NJ tho mansions; but usually
his bel was mother earth, with only trco
for shelter. Luckily. the weather was fine.
After u fashion, Andre had esIoyed his
lcisurely pilgrimage. especially when be
was not hungry Never had he dreamed
ofsuch luxufiancc OF trees. shrubs, grasses,
weeds. flowers; nor had his Imagination
ever suggested such frultfulncsS a. the
plantations. the orange groves md the gar.
dcns presented 10 bis eyes. Aud then tho
msnslonsi Tho.s great. rambling, vine.
covered. tree shaded. gallery cifclcd strurt.
urcs Impressed him M the Rbodcs u princes
in exile. llc poctizei concerning them.
aud constructed romanoos. In which tho
mcllloyal spirit was revived with all is
ancient Hplendor.
On this particular morning. 40 rosy. 20
dewy. ~ fragrant, Andre awoke with sur
prise that be had slep, No late, much moro
was he surprised to Ind that he was on tho
confines Of n plantation. aud noar tho
grandest mansion that he had yet seen.
Through RI. Ia tho hedge be could do
sery. Just beyond the little field. great
roof. heavy stack Of chimneys, broad
yerandRn aud smnli paned windows, all
half hidden In foliage aud long moss, with
Ettutt EFAl titt bulfN hthNltt tufuNLu tNl
gnarled branches reaching across. still
beyond all this bayou CLEANED like silver
studded with diamonds n the breeze played
over II. Nr rubbed his eyes again and got
upon his knees, the better TO gaze NJ the
beautiful pleturr. a dream had suifuscd
his sleep during the night Just gone. and
it, spell had not yet departed from his i'm.
Agination. Surely yonder home was the
house Of which he had dreamedl Why,
yes. therp was the great cato with tho
monstruus posts TO uphold Il. and there
was tho boat house BY tbs bayou. Again
10 rubbed hls eyes.
Being thus occupied, Andre Duval was
I'll prepared for the shock that Just then
came upon him In tho form Of a huge an
iuial. that rushed against him from behind,
with loud 'bow.bow.wow'wow Over he
tumblcd, aud was held down by the weight
Of this great, black. shaggy assailant.
"Wow, wow.bow"
Andres nose and mouth were buried In
the soft ground - that ho could scarcely
breathe, much lcss cry out, and n mu2slo
with airocious teeth was mumbling ut the
back Of bis neck while heavy paws pressed
bard upon his outstFutched arms.
".lhal What have you there, Ackillc, old
follow Hold, you wolff Come OH. l aay
BE doLci BE done"
Andrt heard these ordinations given
in soft French yoice--n very soft French
volec-but firm aud manly one as we'll.
The biz teeth that had been ready TO sink
into his neck woro removed In an Instant
though the animal Kept it, place on hia
back
ION with you'll Here. you raseal''
a resounding kick followed by whine
A a. - IL. suWlNu4sI