News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-03-19

WITH water lilies anu SWdTuIuS Will
ecrpvisses, the red crayfish of Lou
isiana. Rareheaded, barefooted and
ankle deep in the marais stood Laure,
with hoop net at the end of a long,
slight star, scooping ecrevisses into a
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 QuilleDert's presence
until, after silently feasting his pru-
fent 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 twinklng feet
and blushin9 cheek. Father Grhe has
no printing in his church at Mansura
to match this one in my church, the
great church of nature"
M. Constant" she cried, ''it is not
nice to creep our of the bushes at one
nike this! 60 away-at least until
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 offCnSe.
81 will not bulge an inch" he said,
$50 come out, my nymph, for | want
Jour aid"
"Glad to be of service to you, NJ. Con-
stant, but | will not stir step till you
are out of view," said Laure, with a
Eesoluteness which he saw it was use
less to combat. He knew she would
stand there like statue until the stars
came out if her demand was not COM
piled with.
And how Gorg sna.: De Kept out of
View my empruSS?'
when | am ready" she replied, 81
sill sing
Soldier soldier, marry. marry me-
"But that will bring every gallant
within hearing of your siren voice."
said Quillebert. land | crave secret
conference with you"
Then will sing so low that only
the Chevalirr Constant de Qullebert
shall hear" she said, with a mock air
of lofty assurance.
Pray abbrevate the Punishment of
your langushing knight as much as
you can, for
81 have little to say
And far to go,
Quick, dear, quick"
sejoined Quillebert and rode back into
Abe forest.
Laure stood motionless until she
could no longer hear the sound of the
"Rorses feet; then, peering searchingly
INTO the thick underground behind
which her visitor had disappeared she
Stripped lightly out of the water and,
dropping net and basket, seized her
shoes and hose. With the nimbleness
Of doe she sprang behind huge cy-
press tree and the concavity of its
tTunk converted into toilet. where,
drying her feet with grass and leaves,
she was quickly shod. Taking her hat
srom the palmetto spike on which it
hung, she adjusted it fetchingly upon
Aer head and, stepping out, took up
She net rod and leaned lightly upon it
rs Il staff. Verify she looked the syl-
van beauty of the poets as in rich con-
tfalto she sang:
Soldier soldier, marry, marry me-
Quillebcrt could not have been far
distant, for the line was hardly finish
ed when he emerged from the bushes,
BAKING tied his horse to tree.
What change, my little actress,
from the bewitching to the bewilder-
ing" he said.
4 do not like to hear an old man talk
50, and young men never say such
5hings to me-" she complained.
"Be patient, Laure. You will hear
enough of that sort from acceptable
Fps Now. little one"-Quillebert had
suddenly become grave-"listen to some
serious talk, for l am troubled. VIII
you do me a friendly turn? 1t is not
for nothing. | have at home a beauti-
ful little watch made at Havre, inlaid
with rubes and diamonds. If what
wish is accomplished. that watch shall
nestle beneath the satin belt you will
wear at the next ball"
IN. Constant, surely | need no bride
10 serve you. | am already under
more obligation than | can ever dis
charge"
Nonsense, child. do not mean to
Bribe you, but l do mean that no one
ean ever confer benefit on Constant
Quillebert without being the gamer
thereby"
fWhat is it you desire me to do?"
at is this: My jockey has been very
sick since he was whipped for running
away. Some think he will die. That
incompetent De RouX does not know
how TO handle the case. Oakfell, who
is thought to be paid by the abolition
lists, is in an underhand way seeking to
arouse public sentiment against me
and has already excited old Latiolais'
shallow headed granddaughter, who
has said some bitter things to the
priest Grhe and others. She has the
notion that the staggering American
is looking her way, and she struts
nightly"
i "The double faced thingW exclaimed
Laura vindictively.
SHOULD Leon die" continued guile
bert, at is thought Oakfell will urge a
popular demonstration, maybe a pros
ecution. / would avoid all this. If
leon RECEIVERS, will pay back the con-