San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-05

tree, WnoSe purifying branches watt lnctS-
sanity their vague but abundant perfumes
through the air.
"Thou hast famous tree therep' said
Cazade, the carpenter, to him one day-be
was newly settled in the neighborine
dwelling-"I'll give thee hundred francs
for it."
This man did not belong to that part of
the country. He spoke the French lam
guage. Coming from distant town he
knew not the respect that is due to the
guardian tree of the dwelling. Luke for
gave him. -...
ut is insufferabler' said the same car
penter, coming to him a year later. "'That
pine tree of thine casts shadow over nv
orchard; every apple tree l plant there
dies. Besides, the roots of this foolish tree
overturn my fence wall warn thee, my
lad, that if thou wilt not sell it to me, /
shall set the fire at itl' .....a..,
Luke tucked up his sleeves, spat vigor-
ously into his hands, after the Gascon
fashion, and made ready with all his
might to drive this sacrilegious neighbor
home again.
He was about to punish him severely
when a voice, full of distress-and yet it
sounded like sweet music to his ears-sud-
80
denly cried: if2 ltt ~
"Helpi Murderi Heis killing my fatherp'
The possessor Of this futelike voice was
a young girl, who appeared flushed and
angry. The peasant paused, disarmed by
these outcries from Nile. Louise Cazade,
little cries which had IN them sugges-
tion of the color of roses, and which. to his
ears, accustomed as they were to the low.
tnrr IF hror1 ohf a CTR
of honeyed words.
A spring evening. The pine tree offers
to the breeze the young shoots of its
branches-shoots SO tender and small that
they seem like tiny green fingers trying to
catch the sunbeams on the wing And the
breeze doubtless has great delight in the
soft touch of these tiny fingers; for in the
pine tree top it huns joyous tune with a
gentle, purring sound.
Now beneath the pine tree a female form
appears furtively gathering at shutdown
few dry twigs with which to light fire,
no doubt. Luke, like good landlord,
went to investigate. The maiden blushed
and trembled when she saw him approach.
IL ask your forgiveness" she STAN
mered out. st was for-I will put them
back again"
1t was Louise, the carpenters daughter.
She doubtless thought that no one saw
her, and so she had taken the liberty-at
her home the fire would never burn
Here they are, monsieur" she added,
still blushing, and offering the contents of
her apron. o.
Luke felt something strange stirring in
his bosom, for the maiden's eyes shone like
two orient stars. E
"Oh, keep themp he generously said.
And if you want any more-here! herep'
Then he also, bending down, laboriously
gathered up a quantity, Of twigs, and,
painting like deer, advanced to deposit
them in the apron of his fair neighbor.
Here! Mademoiselle, here!"
But he suddenly started. A finger-a
finger of hers-had touched him (unawares,
of course) on the palm of his hand And
thereupon while the crafty pine tree, who
had contrived this meeting, hummed ip
the darkness a vague, hooking air, Luke
fed without a word, as if he had been
touched by red hot iron.
Naturally, a few days afterward the
roguish tree saw them meet again beneath
him, less shy and more congenial this time.
One evening, indeed, when the dying sun
was causing the summit of the pine tree
to blush as if under the kiss of the star of
day, Luke, who was on the whole good
hearted fellow, ventured to say to Mile.
Louise, who was after all very pretty:
~ II love you, mademoisellep H
And that in the French language, with
an atrocious accent, but with such ear.
nestness! Suffice it to say that one Sunday
morning Luke, cap in hand and looking
very crestfallen, made in due form before
the carpenter demand Of marriage, n
why, my good fellow, l am delighted"
replied his reconciled neighbor, who knew
besides what Luke was worth, and he said
softly in his ear, with wink of the eye:
"But thou knowest, on one condition
thou wilt let me cut down this great tom
fool of pine treep 3;'-f fs--
Luke refused. The carpenter persisted
in requiring this absurd condition. Luke
stood hrs ground, and yet he loved well this
maiden Louise. But to allow the pine tree
to be laid low, who was the true father of
their love-never! .t.... q F...... -.
No, never! Luke knew, besides, what to
abide by. He stood in awe of the pine
tree, and was possessed of certain original
notions in regard thereto. Did he not
know the legendf Once forefather, a
Laborde, wishing to fell the pine tree, had
struck at is with his woodman's AK upon a
large swollen root which resembled an i'm
mense human toe. And straightway al
OK, becoming suddenly enraged, rushed
upon his forefather. who had to climb the
tree in all haste to escape destruction. And
it would surely crush the dwelling in its
fall, if ever any accursed Laborde presumed
to lay sacrilegious hand upon it. ..,r
"Oh, yes, it is pricelessr' sneered the
carpenter when Luke came to confide in
him all these superstitions And he scorn
fully added: