St. Landry democrat., 1891-02-07
Gaping untold dangers, unknowingly
they neared their iOurney's end.

Gaping uiltUlu uhnScls, uHhlloNlASiy
they neared their journeys end.
"slowly they entered the Teche, where 1t
flows from the great Opelousas,
And through the amber air, above inc cfcSI VI
the Woodland,
Saw the column of smoke that arose FROM a
neighboring dWelms.'
When they reached the Poste DIES
Attakapas, the population asSemblled to
welcome them but Evangeline had no
eve for them. She walked beside her
foster mother with measured step and
grave countenance, when, all OF sud
den, she grasped her companion by the
arm, exclaiming in a voice which vibra-
ted with Joy: Mother, mother! 1t is
reclining undera giant oak. 1t was her
childhood lover, Louis Arceneaux. She
flew to him with outstretched arms, ex-
claiming: Louis! Louis! | am your
Emmcline, your long lost Emmeline.
Have you forgotten herr" Louis hung
his head and uttered no word of well
come. Louis,' said Emmeline, pain
fully impressed with her lovers cold
ness and silence, "why do you turn
away from me? | am still your Emme-
line, your betrothed, and have kept
pure and unsulllel my plighted
faith to you. Not one word OF well
come, Louis?' and the tears sprang to
her eyes. The reply OF her lover fIoze
her heart.
"Emmeline," said he, "speak not so
kindly to me, for am unworthy OF you.
| have pledged my faith to another.
Tear from your heart the memory OF
the happy past. Forgive me and pity
me.n He turned without another word
ard walked away, and Emmellne saw
him no more. Long she stood, rooted
to the spot, with deathlike paleness
resting upon her cOuntenance, staring
upon vacancy; and when her kind old
foster-mother took her by the hand and
spoke her name, she muttercd, "Emme-
line, Emmeline," in an undertone, as if
endeavoring to recall the name, then
looking up with shudder, exclaimed
in an unnatural voice, "Who are you -
and turned away. She was hopelessly
insane.
Emmeline Labiche never recovered
her reason. AS the legend goes, her
beautiful countenance was tittully light
eneu by sad smile, which made her all
the falrer. She never recognized any
one but her foster mother, and nesting
in her arms like Il spoiled child, she
would beStoW Oh her the most endear-
ing names and fondle her lovingly.
So sweet and amiable, every one pltled
and loved her. When she strolled on
the banks of the Ieche, plucking the
wild flowers that doomed along her
path, and singing in an undertOne some
Acadlan song, those who met her won
deled why being so fair and gentle
should have been visited with God
wrath.
At last Evangelne sunk under bro
ken heart and expired in the arms of
good old Mother Bordat, with an angelic
smile on her lips. She sleeps in her
quiet (but now unknoWn) grave, near
the little church of the Poste des
Attakapas. 1t is now called the church
of St. Martin, and is in the center of the
town of st. Maltinsville. AS long as
Mother Bordat lived her grave was kept
green and was daily strewn with the
tairest of flowers. The third church, a
stately editice, now stands upon the spot
where stood the little church of the
Poste DIES Attakapas, and the grave of
Evangeline is unknown to any one liv-
ing. But it is fact, satisfactory to all
the old people of the parish of st. Mar
tin, that it was in the immediate vicinity
of st. Martins church. Nearly every
parish in Southwest Louisiana, particu-
larly i'll the Attakapas country, has the
name of Evangellne among those of
their towns. Poor Emmellne- Evange-
line? Gods little angel!