The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-11-21

She acos etnoauare of Quillcbert's presence
horse and briskly rode down into the
swamp in the direction of Mother De-
shautelles' house, leaving Dede with
bristling brows drawn down, bloated
chin lowered to his chest and counte-
nance Of furnished brass wrapped in
an expression of deep cogitation.
The dwelling Of the doctress was
tight and durable cottage built of cy-
press logs daubed with mud, resting
upon pillars Of cypress butts, arranged
into four large chambers, which were
divided by a broad hallway, with the
inevitable deep veranda in front and
the usual kitchen accessories in the
rear. Its site was an eminence, a geo.
logical alteration in this region of dead
levels, where swamp forest broke upon
the bare .alluvion at the junction Of
Bayous Rouge and Des CLASSES. Moth
er Deshautelles had never had slaves
Of her own or planting interests, but
had made the income of small for
frugal yet comfortable maintenance of
herself and daughter and, after the lat
ter's death, her granddaughter Laure.
In former years she had been much in
demand as midwife and sick nurse.
Her rewards enabled her to hire a
negro man to cultivate her garden and
provide fuel and a woman for kitchen
and COW sheds; also to purchase the
largest, stoutest of buggies and the
most powerful of mules to draw it, for
she was a person of heroic stature, and
now in octogenarian years her obesity
was such that only with much labor
could she walk from room to room.
Her journeyings; accomplished with
exertion and discomfort, were limited
to attendance at the mass at Easter
and Christmas and responses in ex-
IRENE cases to the calls of neighb0rs
who had exceptional claims to her con-
sideration. Her massive head and face
were of leonine majesty. The thick
white hair and undimmed eyes still
spoke strength of character. She was
in truth a woman of forceful person.
atty, respected by the intelligent, fear
ed by the ignorant and superstitious.
A short distance within the swamp
lay shallow marais. or pond, choked
with water lilies and swarming with
ecrevisses, the red crayfish Of Lou
isiana. Bareheaded. barefooted and
ankle deep in the marais stood Laure,
with hoop net at the end Of long,
slight staff, scooping ecrevisses into
basket on her arm for the making of
broth for the evenings meal. So in
tent was she in the pursuit that she
was unaware of Quillebert's presence
until, after silently feasting his pru-
RENT eyes upon the firm, trim limbs
and brown and red cheeks of the I'M
conscious girl, he laughed aloud and
accosted her:
"Ha, little Gasconne, what picture
the forest, the marais, the lilies, the
nut brown maid with twinkling feet
and blushing cheek! Father Grhe has
no painting in his church at Mansura
to match this one in my church, the
great church of nature"
M. Constant" she cried, lit is not
nice to creep out Of the bushes at one
like this! Go away-at least until I
can put on my stockings and shoes!"'
The flush in her face was for surprise,
but the sparkle in her black eyes was
not for offense.
II will not bulge an inch," he said,
$50 come out, my nymph, for want
your aid"
"Glad to be of service to you, Nj. Con-
slant. but will not stir step till you
are out Of view," said Laure, with a
resoluteness which he saw it was use
less to combat. he knew she would
stand there like statue until the stars
came out il her demand was not COM
piled with. r.. ,.4 --, u.