The Helena independent., 1893-06-28
BEYOND THE BAYOU.

hAAo Ne bthC&otN lu D0E1O06Hs
BEYOND THE BAYOU.
The bayou curved like crescent around
ths point Of land on which In Eolls's cab! y
stood. Between the stream and tho hut lay
big abandoned neld, whero cattle were
pasturcd when the bayou supplied them
with water enough. Through the woods
that spread back into unknown regions the
woman who had lived In tho hut had drawn
IN imaginary lins. and past this oirsls shs
never stepped. All Was flaming rs boy ond
there. she firmly believed. This WAS the
form Of her only mania.
She was now large. gaunt black woman.
past IS years of age. Her real name wal
Jacqusliue, but every one on the plantation
called her La Folle, or tho crazy womnn
because she had been frightened Literally
''out of her sensos" in childhood.
On that far-past day. which was In the
time Of the civil war. there had heen skir-
mishinR and shaspshootina oil day IN thu
woods. Evening was near when Pti
0aitre. tho youna master. black with pow
der and crimson with blood. had stnRRerei
into the cabin Of Jscqueline's mother. Hi
pursuers were close at his heels.
I The horror Of that spectacle had stunnot
Jacquelihs's childish reason. And go 81
~ oss tho bayou seemed 70 her ahsms will
blood color. alternating with black.
Alone she dwelt in her solitary cabin
Tho rest OF tho quarters had long since been
removed beyond her sight ana knowledge.
She had more physical strength than most
men, and made her patch of cotton ssd
corn and tobacco like the best of them. o.
the whole beyond tho bayou she had lons
known nothing, save what her morbid
imagination conceived.
People across the bayou at Bellissins had
grown used TO her and her way, aud they
thonght nothing OF it. Even whom "Ol
Mis-" died. La Folls had not crossed tn,
bayou. ehe had stood upon her side Of IL,
wailing and lamentina. This did NOS as-
tonish the people at Bellissims. i hey woult
have been amazed had she overcome hel
fenr Of everything beyond the river.
Pitt Maitre vas now the owner of Bel
lissime. He was q middle-aQed man will
. family Of beautiful daughters about him
he Ind been her own. He had often been
ca ried ACROSS the bayou as tiny baby,
that Jacquelin might be coMfortod by the
sight Of him. Ths child took to her. from
the first. Scarcely could he toddle whom he
began his demands to be taken Mcross the
bayou to be fondled by La Folle She called
him Cheri, and SO did everyone else because
she did.
None Of the girls had ever been to he,
what CheHi was. They had each and all
loved to be with her, and to listen to hsl
wondrous stories of things that always
happened "yonda. beyon' de bayou"
But mono of them had stroked her black
hand quite as Cheri did. nor roated thei,
heads against her knee 90 confdingly. nor
fallen asleep in her arms as he used 10 do.
''He used to kiss mo 30 lovinQlyn' La
Folls said to herself in hex dialect. ''Ah,
he used top For Cheri hardly did suoh
things now. sinoe he had become the proud
possessor OF gun, and had had his black
! But Cheri gave La Folle two Of his black
curls tied with knot of red ribbon. That
was in the heat of summer. when the water
ran so low In the bayou TINT even the little
child OIL 1t Bellissime were able TO Cross 4.
on foot.
q. All tho cattle were sent to pasture down
by the river. La F0lle was sorry they were
gone, for she loved thu 80 dumb com mpanions
we'll, and liked to feel that they were there,
and to hear them browsing by night up ia
her own enclosure.
II was Saturday afternoon. when the
fields were deserted. Tho men had Aooked
trading. and the women were occupied with
household atfairs-La Folle as we'll 10 the
othera.
II was then she mended aud washed her
handful Of clothes, secured her house and
did her baking.
In this Inst employment she never forgot
Cueri. To-day she had fashioned SroquiQ-
nolss Of the most fantastic and alluring
shapes for him. SO when sGe saw the boy
come trudginR across the old field With his
cleaning little new rifle on his shoulder,
she called out to him, "Cheri! Che i!''
But Cheri did not heed the summons. for
he was coming straight to her. His pockets
an orange that he had secured for her f ON
the very fne dinner that had Teen given
that day at his fathers houser
He was sunny-faced youngSteF of ten.
When he had emptied his pockets, La Folio
pAttsd his Iound red cheek, viii ed his so1led
hands on her apron. and ytnoothed his hair.
He let her kiss him as special favor, and
with the air of one who ia getting 700 old to
think IL proper to treat him as a baby.
1hen she watched him as, with his cakes
In his hands. he crossed her strip Of cotton
back to the cabin. and disappeared into the
wood.
He had boosted of the things he was 90
ing to do with his gun out there.
"You think they got plenty deer in the
wood, La Folle?" he had inquired, with a
look of profound intention TO dissins uish
himsel as q hunter.
mon. non!" the woman laughed. Don
you look TO- no deer, Chsri. DAt's too big
But you bring La Fol!e one good fat SOUR
rel TO- her dinner tomorrow. an she Roin'
be satisfy.''
zone squirrel ain't bite. Pll bring you
mo- al one. La Folle." he had boosted
pompuously as he went away.
When the woman, an hour later. heard tbe
report of the boys rifle close to the wood 3
edge, she would have thonRht nothing of it if
q sharp oty of distress had not followed the
sound.
She Withdrew her arms from the tub of
suds in which they had been plunged, dried
them upon her apron. and as quickly as her
trembling limbs would bear her. hurried
TO the spot whence the ominoas report had
come.
It was as she feared, There she found