The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-28
THE RoANoKE TIMEs,WEDNEsDAY. AUGUSTUS, 1895.


state and where my heart go, not as tho
state Wills no look down at P'tite
Louison and sho go all rcd, and some of
the women look Mt her, and there Is O
whisper all around.
"Nex' day he como to the house where
we stay, but the euro como also pretty
soon and tell her she must go home. And
so wo como out homo. Well, what do you
Think Mex day M'sieu Hadrian como,
too, and we have damn good timc-F lorian,
Octave, Felix, Emile, they all sit and say:
'Porfaitementv 'Cip Cir to him all the
time. Holy, what fine stories he tell
And he talk about P'titc Louison, and his
eyes get wet, and Emile say his prayers to
him--by gosh, yes, think.
"Woll, ut last, what you guessP NJ 'sieu
he come and come, and last ono day no
say Tint he leave Montreal and go to Now
York, where no got good place in big
theater. His time in Montreal is finish.
so he speak to, Florian, and he say he
want to alarry P'tite Louison, and no say,
Of course, that hc is not marry and no have
money But he is Protestan', and tho
euro at first vor' mad, by gosh But Mt
last, when he give u hundor dollars to the
church, tho cure say yes. All happy that
way for while Ptitc Louison, she get
roady quick-holy, what fine things had
she, and it is all to DO done In n week,
while tho thcater in New Yoyk wait for
M'sicu. And he ct there with us, and
play on tho fiddle and sing songs and act
plays, and help Florian in tho barn, and
Octave to mend the fence, and tho euro fix
tho grapcvinos on his wall. And he show
me and Emile how to play sword sticks,
and he pick flowers anu fetch them to
P'tito Louison and show her how to mako
nm omclct and q salad like tho chef of
Louis Quinzc hotel, so no say. BY gosh,
what good time we have, but first ono
md then another, he get sob in his
throat when ho think that tito Louison
go to leave us, and tho moro wo try tho
moro we are damn fools. And that p tito
Louison, she kiss us every ono and say 70
M'sicu Hadrian, Charles, love you, but
l cannot go.' He laugh Mt her and say,
Viola, wo will take them all with u.s.
That night n thing happen. Tho euro
come and he look YER mad. and he frown,
and he say to M'sicu Hadrian before us all,
" NJ sicu, you arc married.
BY gosh, that P'tito Louison get pale
like snow, and We all stand round her
close and say to her, quick, Courage,
Ptto Louison.' M'sieu Hadrian then
look ut the priest and said: No, M'sicu, 1
was married ten years ago. My wife
drink and go wrong, and 1 get divorce
am free like the wind.
You are not free, the euro say quick.
Once married, married till death. The
church cannot marry you again, and 1
command Louison to give you up
"P'titc Louison stand like stone. M'sicu
turn to her. What shall it be, Louisonf
he say. You will como with me-
Kiss me, Charles, she shy, and tell
mo goodby till-till you arc Free
"He look like a mailman. Kiss mo
once, Charles, sho say, and let me go.
And he come to her and kiss her on the
lips once, and he say: 'Louison, como with
me. will never give you up
"Sho draw back to Florian. Good
by, Charles, she say. I will wait rs
long rs you will. Mother of God! how
hard it is to do right! she say, and then
she turn and leave tho room.
M'sicu Hadrian, he give long sigh.
1T was my one chance, he say. Now tho
devil take it all Then no nod and say to
the cure: Well thrash this out at julg-
mcnt day, M'sicu. I'll meet you there
you and tho woman that spoiled mo-.
He turn to Florian and tho rest of us
and shake hands, and say: Take caro- Of
Louison. Thank you. Goodby.' Then
ho start toward the door and stumble, for
ho look sick. Give me drink, he say
and begin to cough little-a queer sort
of rattle Florian give him big drink,
ana lie toss II oil. Thank you,' he say
and start again and we sec him walk over
the hill YER SLOW and he never como back !
But every year there comes from Now
York a box OF flowers and every year
P'tite Louison, send him 'Merci, Charles.
miles fois. Dieu tc gardc.' 1t is so
every year for 25 year
Where is he now!' asked Medallion.
Isidore shook his head then lifted his
eyes rcligiously. Waiting for Judgment
day and P'titc Louison," he answered.
"Dcadn' cried Medallion. "How long?"
"Twenty years. -
"But the flowers-the fowers?"
He left word for them to be sent lust
the same. The daughter the child of the
other woman, send them.'
Medallion took Off his hat rcyercntly as
If a soul were passing from tho world, but
it was only P'titc Louison going out into
the garden.
'She thinks him living?" he asked
gently.
'Ycs, VIC have no heart to tell her.
And then he wish it so. And the flowers
KEEP coming"
"Why did he wish it so?'p
Isidore unused awhile. "Who can tollp
Perhaps within. He WINS u great actor
nh, yes, subli:ne!' lie said.
Medallion did not reply, but walked
slowly down to where P'tite Louison was
picking berries. His hat was still off.
Let me help you, madcmoselle, he
said softly. And hcncefcrth he was as
foolish rs her brothers.--St. Louis Globe