The Helena independent., 1893-06-28

VtusS u&otUuo Uub OlO8bts WQoJ8 ne oOuI0 I00L
the henrt bsat like mufisd hammer.
In Follr shut her eyes, ran suddenly
down the shallow bank of the bayon. and
nevs stopped I'll shs had olinbed tho op-
p0sits shore.
She stood quivorinc an inasnns ~ shs
'opsnsd her syss. Then she plunged into
the footpNth th, ough the fosrful tSsss.
She spoke no mo 10 Chsri, but NUT
tered constantly: Bon dion. nyss pitis La
Follei 20. good God. pity In Follal Ron
Dies. ayes pit,s moil Good God. help
Iastisot seemed 10 guide her. When this
pathway spread cleAr and smooth enough
before hss she ngaia closed her Dyes tightly
against the sighs OF that unknown ana ter .
rifyinR world that TO her looked moro
crimson Shan flame.
A child. playing IN foms waods. caught
sight OF her IN she nearsd the quarters.
LA FolIsp' She &c canned in hsr piercing
trsb.s. "La F0lla done cross de bayouv'
Aa asick as light. the cry passed down
the line of cabins.
''Yondn. In Folis done CROSS dc bayou!'
Children. old men. old women. young
onas With infants in their arms. fiooksd 10
d0ors and windows to SEQ thiB sws-inspir-
ing spectacle. Most OF thcm shuddsred
with supsRstitious dread Of what IL might
portsnd. 'Sno totin' Cheriv' tho cry rose.
soms Of the more darinR gathered about
her and followed at her heels. only to fall
back with now terror whom she turned heE
bloodshot.
Home one had run ahead Of her to where
P'tit Maitfe sat with his family and guests
upon the broad veranda.
"P'sit Maitro! La Folio done cross do
bayou! Look hes! Look her yondsr totin'
Chsriv'
The family At Ballissine rose. This
startling intimation was the tirst which
they had of the womnn's approach.
She was now near At hani. She walked
with long strides. Hcr eyes were nxed dsx-
perAtsiy before her. and she bleathed
hSavily, as q tired OK.
A. the front Of tho stairway, which shs
could not have mounted, she latI tho boy
in his fathers arms. Then tho world that
had looked red to La Folls suddenly turned d
black--liko that day she had secn powder
and blood.
She rssled for an instant. Before sus-
tanning q M could reach her she fell heavily
to the ground.
When La Folle reaained oensoiousnesu
che was Ut homo again. in her own cabin
and upon her own bed. The moon rays !,
streaming in through the open door and
windows. gave what light was needed TO tho
old black NANNY who stood At the tablo
con oootinR tisans OF fragrant herbs. II
was very late.
Others who had come and found that the
stupor clune to her had goAe again. Pitt
Maitrs had been there, and with him Dr..
Bonfs. who said that La Folle might die,
But death had passed her by. The vooe
was very clear and steady with which she
spoke to lante Lizstto. brewing her tisane
there in q corner.
"Ef you will give mo one good drink
sissne. Tnnte Lizette. 7 b'liovs I'm Roin'
sic sp me-"
And she did SLEEP; 50 soundly, go health
fully. that old Lizetts without oompunction
stole softly away, to creep back through
the moonlit fields to her own cabin in the
new quarters.
The first touch Of the cool. gray morning
awoke La Folle. She arose calmly, ss II NO
tempest had shaken and threatened her ex-
istenee but yesterday.
She donncd her new blue cottonads and
white Al ron. for she remembered that this
was Sunday. When she had made for her-
soii s cup OF strong black coffee. and
drunk It with relish, she quilted the cabin
and walked across the old familiar fold 10
the bayou's edge again.
She did not stop there az she had always
done before, but crossed with long, steady
stride, as il she had done this all her life.
Whom she had made her way through the
brush and scrub cottonwood trees that
lined the opposite bank. she found herself
upon the border Of field whore the white,
bursting cotton. with the dew upon it,
cleaned for acres and acres like the frosted
silver IN the early dawn. f--
La Folle drew long. deep breath a. she
Razed over the country. She walked slowly
md uncertainty, like one who hardly knows
how. looking about a. she went.
Ihe cabins that yesterday had sent
cIamoE OF voices to pursue her. were quiet
now. No one was yet astir at Bellissime.
Only the birds that dnrted here and there
from hedges were awake and singing their
mathis.
When La Folle oame to tho broad stretch
of velvety lawn that surrounded the house
she moved slowly and with delight over the
spriEgy turf that was delicious under her
tread. More and more slowly she went,
with c'ear senses and fear dead and Joy at
her heart.
She stopped TO ind whence came the per-
fumes that were steaiing over her with
memories from . time far gone.
sweet odors ewooned to her from tho
thousand blue violets that peerel out from
green. luxuriant beds. az ance show
cred down from the big waxen bells OF the
magnol!as far above her head, and from
the jessamine clunps around her.
here were Hoses. too without number.
To right and left palms spread in broad and
& aceful cu-ves. II all looked like en-
chantInent beneath the sparkling sheen of
dew.
When La Folle had slowly and cautiously
mounted the many steps tnat led up to the
veranda. she turned to look back at the per-
iloas ascent she had made. Now she caught
sight Of the river, bending like silver bow
at the foot Of Belissime. Exultation Peg
sssssd her soul. All the world WAS fair
about her. and green and white ana blue
and silvery shinines had come again in.
stead Of that frightful fancy Of intsrmina-
BILE rod!
La Folls rapped softly upon door near
at hand. Cher,'s mother soon cautiously
opened it. Quickly and olevorly she dis
sembled the astonishment she felt at seeing
La Folle.
"Ah, La Folle! IL IL you 80 sarly?'
"Oui. madam. come az how nv DO
li'le Cheri. to s'mornin'."
"He Is feeling cnsier, thank you, La
Folle. Dr.. Bonfls says it will be nothing
serious. He's sleeping now. Will you
como back when he awakss?"
Mon, madame. Pm goin' wait z,ir tell
Cheri wake up." La Fol,e seated herself
upon the topnost step or the veranda.
look of wonder and deep content orept
into her faoe, as she watched for she first
time tho sun ise upon this new, this beau
tiful worl, beyond the bayou.-Youth's
Companion.
At seashore or mountains you may derive addi-
ttOnal benefit from Hoods Sarsnnarilla. Try IL.