The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-21
THE OLD PINE TREE.

venerated object, near the entrance. As il
extends it's heavy branches over the roof il
seems like some great protecting being
guarding the entire household from I'm
lucky influences and from evil working
spirits, which, according to the rustic i'm
agination, swarm mysteriously in the air.
In front of one of these white dwellings,
inhabited by single husbandman named
Luke Laborde, fourished an immense pine
tree which, shooting straight up to a
height of nearly 200 feet from the ground
spread majestically beneath the clouds the
enormous parasol shaped covering of its
branches like some hydrangea of gigantic
growth.
The pine tree gave its name to the dwell
ing of the Lebordes. and it took for its
sign 1.-THE ParasoL" 1t is seen from all
points of the surrounding district, and the
larger birds which migrate in the autumn
sometimes deign to rest upon it, for they
know they are in safety on this lordly tree
whose branches tower aloft so far from
men.
And the pine tree brought prosperity to
the dwelling. Luke Laborde, the young
owner, still unmarried, is almost rich; his
fields prosper, his granaries are heavy
with the harvests, his cattle docile and
well fed And never into his dwelling did
any contagious disease find it's way, thanks
to the patriarchal watchfulness of the pine
tree, whose purifying branches watt inces-
sanity their vague but abundant perfumes
through the air.
Thou hast famous tree therep' said
Cazade, the carpenter, to him one day-he
was newly settled in the neighboring
dwelling-"I'll give thee hundred francs
for it."
This man did not belong to that part of
the country. He spoke the French Ian
guage. Coming from distant town he
knew not the respect that is due to the
guardian tree of the dwelling. Luke for
gave him.
SIT is insufferable," said the same car
penter, coming to him year later. ''That
pine tree Of thine casts shadow over my
orchard; every apple tree l plant there
dies. Besides, the roots of this foolish tree
overturn my fence wall. l warn thee, my
lad, that if thou wilt not sell it to me, I
shall set the fire at it!''
Luke tucked up his sleeves, spat vigor-
ously into his hands, after the Gascou
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-
denly cried:
Help! Murder Heis killing my father"
The possessor of this flutelike voice was
young girl, who appeared flushed and
angry. The peasant paused, disarmed by
these outcries from Mile. 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
ing of oxen, brought strange sensation
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
gentle, purring sound.
Now beneath the pine tree female form
appears, furtively gathering at shutdown
a few dry twigs with which to light fire,
no doubt. Luke, like a good landlord,
went to investigate. The maiden blushed
and trembled when she saw him approach.
IL ask your forgiveness, she STAN
mered out. cit 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 hberty-at
her home the fire would never burn
CHI oil
still blushing, and offering the contents of
her apron.
Luke felt something strange stirring in
his bosom, for the maiden's eyes shone like
two orient stars
''Oh, keep themw he generously said
~And if you want any more-here: heref'
Then he also, bending down, laboriousty
gathered up quantity of twigs. and,
painting like a deer, advanced to deposit
them in the apron of his fair neighbor.
Here! Mademoiselle, herer'
But he suddenly started. A fnger-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 in
the darkness a vague, mocking air. Luke
fed without a word, as if be had been
touched by red hot iron.
Naturally, 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 a good
hearted fellow, yentured to say to Nile.
Louise, who was after all very pretty:
II love you, mademoiselle"
And that in the French language. with
an atrocious accent, but with such ear
Suffice it TO say that one Sunday
Luke, cap in hand and looking
very crestfallen, made in due form before
the carpenter demand OF marriage.
why, my good fellow, am delighted"
replied his reoonciled neighbor, who knew
besides what Luke was worth, and he said
softly IN his ear. with a wink of the eye:
But thou knowest, on one condition
thou wilt Lee me cut down this great tom
fool OF pine tree
Lake refused. The carpenter persisted
in requiring this absurd condition Luke
stood his 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.
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 ne not
know the Iegends Once forefather. a
Laborae, wishing to fell the pine tree, had
struck at 10 with his woodman's ak upon .
large swollen root which resem DIED an I'M
OK, becoming suddenly enraged, rushed
upon his forefather, who had 10 climb the
tree in all haste 20 escape destruction And
it would surely crush the dwelling in its
fall. if ever any accuTsed Laborde presumed