River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-08-02

IRON the Acadian hamlet cam,
shouts of children who were turn
ing to advantage the last moments o
daylight. 1 could see their little fig
ures clearly outlined against the hori
gon as they scampered backwards anC
forwards in the pasture beyond. Some
times when a child's mother had pat
ronzed the village store in place o.
weaving her own homespun, dash o
color, a vivid red, was added to tht
scene.
The sails of the windmill barely
stirred in the spring air and as looked
Rougette and Cherry, Moll and Rose
came from the milking pan softly tink
ling their bells as they passed.
In little while, ! knew, lights would
begin to glmmer in the village win
dows, and smoke would curl up from
the low mud chimneys, pleasing sigr
of supper to come. Our neighbol
across the way would soon gather il
her little flock from the troop o.
merry, shouting children, and founc
myself specializing as to how many
times the cry of "Angele. Jacques, vene,
done" would come shrilly across tn,
pasture, before they would finally
yield TO parental urging.
Miss CeIestine Lagraize sat opposite
10 me on the porch Though converse
ton languishcd. it was evident that
with her this was not due to a contem
pIation Of the scene. Picturesque j
was to me. but to her it was only one
of those dull realities which one ac
cepts without thought and to which thu
idea of beauty does not attach.
However. | could scarcely blame
her for this, or marvel at her lack o
artistic appreciation. She had beer
here 30 years. not as many hours.
As my eyes Travelled across miles O
prairie land with only patch of stunt
ed china trees here and there marking
a homestead. questioned whether. aft
err awhile. the monotouy of the place
might not produce deadeniug effec
on my scnsibi'ities also.
As | looked at her. ! could scarcely
believe that in former wears she haC
been called ia belle Celestine lie
graize, but so it was. My hostess hac
told me but the evening before tha'
at one time Miss Celestine had beer
the village belle. 1t was hard t.
credit it.
True. her eyes were very large anC
dark, but their luster was gone anC
there was nothing left of her beauty
After the manner of "Cajans." as they
are called in that part of the world
she had aged early.
The topics which we had in common
were few, but Miss Celestine's socia
call was something of long duration
We had discussed flowers, chickens anC
vegetable gardens until my brain re
fused TO give me another idea. Tht
shadows began to lengthen. and tina
chill which marks the approach o
night became perceptible. Still Mis-!
Celestine fingered. | could not iattel
myself that it was because she hal
found me overwhelmingly interesting
was aware that it was a part of hel
social etiquette Zone handed down t.
her for generations) TO pay this pro
tracted call. She would have though
II lacking in courtesy if she hat
brought her visit to a close sooner.
knew that after awhile she would
rise with the time-worn excuse for no
remaining still longer, "Eh bien, j
m ennuie pas mais il faut que j,
men allie" (Well, I'm not bored, but
must go).
How often in other days when en-
tertaining "Cajan' visitors had / re
ioiced in the fact that / was no
forced TO confess my own feelings OF
the subject. 1t would have been hare
70 reconcile courtesy and candor!
BY chance. in search for ideas.
mentioned Pointe DIES Arbres a thirty
ing Louisiana town which | had Wis
tied in my rambles, 10 my surprise
Miss Celestine suddenly became enthu
siastic She leaned forward and al
unexpected color came into her sallow
face
All, that is a place where one
might live " she murmured.
I remembered Pointe DIES Arbres a.
little town thriving in a business
sense, but hopelessly provincial re
called how it aped city customs ant
thus lost the charm il might have
possessed had it chung to countr,
ways The little Acadian hamlet was
at least picturesque. ! could not say
as much for the town of larger
growth, Miss Celestine anu l evidently
regarded it from different angle Of
vision,
"Why. what is so nice about Poiute
DIES Arbres?" l asked with real in
terest.
There are so many people there,
said Miss Celestine, land there is the
levee to walk on, where one sees al
ones friends on Sunday afternoons
Then there are balls in the spring O
the year-one is not dead like here
Perhaps" she added heSitatingly a.
though she feared | might think he
boastful, you do not know that m,
brother Telesphore is a master me
chanic in Pointe DIES Arbres. Yes.
she continued, land he lives in the rec
house near the postoftice.
remem bered the place as a gaud,
little structure with a horrible pre-
tense at style. Inc mower peUS Merl
primly defined by border of blue ant
red stakes about six inches high
while two ferocious looking dog
grinned at one from either side of tn,
steps. I had never been inside, bu
in driving past, had often wondere,
if / might not decide with a reason
able certainty that within on the par
Tor hearth rug the counterpart o
these dogs might he found in vivi'
red on a background of blue! But i
was evident that TO MISS Celestine'
mind this house represented all tina
was beautiful.
81 was never there but once" sh
said wistfully, "but some day | hop
shall 60 back for while. NJ.
brother is married and has three chill
eIren, she said as showed a becom
ing interest in the subject "and m.