Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-09-07
MISS CELESTINE
by Fielding Ridge.

daylight. l could see their little fig
ures clearly outlined against the hori-
2on as they scampered backwards and
forwards in the pasture beyond. Some
times when a child's mother had pat
ronized the village store in place Of
weaving her own homespun, dash of
color, a vivid red, was added to the
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 glimmer in the village win
dows, and smoke would curl up from
the low mud chimneys, pleasing sign
of supper to come. Our neighbor
across the way would soon gather in
her little flock from the troop of
merry, shouting children, and found
myself specializing as to how many
times the cry of "Angele, Jacques, venez
DONE" would come shrilly across the
pasture, before they would finally
yield to parental urging.
Miss Celestine Lagraize sat opposite
TO me on the porch. Though CONVERSE
ton languished, it was evident that
with her this was not due to contem-
plation of the scene. Picturesque it
was to me, but to her it was only one
of those dull realities which one ac-
cepts without thought and to which the
idea of beauty does not attach.
AS l looked at her, / could scarcely
believe that in former years she had
been called "la belle Celestine Le-
graize," but so it was. My hostess had
told me but the evening before that
at one time Miss Celestine had been
the village belle. 1t was hard to
credit it.
True, her eyes were very large and
dark, but their luster was gone and
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 social
call was something of long duration.
We had discussed flowers, chickens and
vegetable gardens until my brain re-
fused to give me another idea. The
shadows began to lengthen, and that
chill which marks the approach OF
night became perceptible. Still Miss
Celestine fingered. could not tlattef
myself that it was because she had
found me overwhelmingly interesting
was aware that it was a part of her
social etiquette Zone handed down to
her for generations) to pay this pro.
tracted call. She would have thought
IL lacking in courtesy if she had
brought her visit to a close sooner.
I knew that after awhile she would
rise with the time-worn excuse for not
remaining still longer, ''Eh bien, je
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-
pertaining "Cajan" visitors had I re
joiced in the fact that I was moi
forced TO confess my own feelings OF
the subject. 1t would have been hare
to reconcile courtesy and candor!
BY chance, in search for ideas,
mentioned Pointe DIES Arbres, a thriv
ing Louisiana town which / had Wis
tied in my rambles. 10 my surprise
Miss Celestine suddenly became enthu
siastic. She leaned forward and ar
unexpected color came into her sallov
face.
"Ah, that is a place where ont
might live" she murmured.
l remembered Pointe DIES Arbres al
little town thriving in a business
sense, but hopelessly provincial. / re
called how it aped city customs ant
thus lost the charm it might have
possessed had it chung to country
WAYS. The little Acadian hamlet wal
at least picturesque. I could not sa.
as much for the town of large
growth. Miss Celestine anu ! evidentl,
regarded it from different angle o
vision.
"Why, what is so nice about Point
des Arbres?" I asked with real in
terest.
"There are so many people there,
said Miss Celestine, land there is tn
leyee 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 Pointc DIES Arbres. Yes,
she continued, "and he lives in the re-
house near the postoflice."
/ remembered the place as a gaud
little structure with horrible pre-
tense at style. The flower beds wer
primly defined by a border of blue an
red stakes about six inches higf
while two ferocious looking dog
prinfed, at one from either side Of tn
steps. l had never been inside, bu
in driving past, / had often wondere
Il I might not decide with reason
able certainty that within on the pal
Tor hearth rug the counterpart
these dogs might be found in vivi
red on background of blue! But
was evident that to Miss Celestine
mind this house represented all tina
was beautiful
"I was never there but once" sh
said wistfully, "but some day hoT
shall go back for while. M
brother is married and has three chi
dren." she said as showed becon
inc interest in the subject, land m
sister-in-law wants me to come an
live with her."
sand will you do SOP" I asked.
"But no." she replied. "Who woul
..,.o c,re of nv mother? She is I