The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BLIGHT OF WAR.

CdAIlch AlF.
THE BLIGHT OF WAR. I
u YITH the line of Federal &C.
cupation extending along
NH the east bank Of the Mis-
sissippi from New Orleans
to Vicksburg and the Con
federate army Of the transmississippi
department lowering about the western
and northern borders Of Louisiana, the
people of Avoyelles were in a state of
insulation which made life harder day
by day and at times appeared to men
ace even the very possibilities of exist
ence. Commercial navigation of the
rivers, on which they depended for
much of their supplies, was stopped.
A number of the largest planters had
taken refuge with their slaves and ami
mails in Texas and the Indian Terri
| tory. The scarcity of all staples Of
| food and clothing increasing from
month to month, labor was but poorly
sustained and diminished crops were
| cultivated under formidable and multi
plying difficulties. Medicines were a
desideratum sorely needed. Privations
and suffering were present actualities.
Sellshness grew apace, community
interests waned, social phases disap-
peared, and Indifference to neighbor-
hood concerns prevailed. And thus it
was that, though a numerous cortege
attended the obsequies of Mother De-
shautelles, the doctress,' who was
found dead in her thronelike chair,
with Egyptian cotton in her hands and
an unfinished fillet in her lap, yet when
Laure accepted the protection of Quille-
bert and became his housekeeper, an
event which in normal times would
have set the entire parish by the ears,
the spirit Of gossip and censure mate
rallied now in mere shruggings Of
shoulders and shakings of heads. On
returning to the cottage after the fu-
neral Quillebert had said to her:
"You cannot live here alone. Your
father and were friends. l am older
han he would be If alive. Do not mind
what these dolts about here may say.
Look to your own interests. Come to
my house. When this war is ended and
l have finished the harvest it yields to
me, I may go back to France to end
my days. Perhaps we may then mar
ry."
And Laure had replied:
mo; we will not marry then or ever,
but will go and keep your house.
have no kin here. It is nothing to me
what the neighbors say. can truly
speak worse of them than they of me,
and they know it. I am not beholden
to any one and will make my way &C.
:Ording to my own notions, not those of
others"
In the autumn of 1862 news percolat-
ed into Marksville and thence spread
rapidly that terrible battle had been
fought near Perryville, in Kentucky,
between divisions of the armies COM
manded by General Buell. on the Union
side and General Bragg on the Con-
federate and that Judge Tailleur and
Horace Oakfell had been slain and left
on the bloody field by their retreating
comrades. For many months the re-
port could not be verified or tested,
communication with the army of the
southwest being cut off by the Federal
lines east of the Mississippi, but gen
eral credence was given to it. An add
ed gloom settled upon the people.
Father Grhe strove in vain to prevent
these tidings from reaching Estelle.
She staggered as if under bludgeon's
blow, but tears came not to her relief.
Odette knelt beside her and repeated
like a devotee telling beads: ''There is
no proof Mr.. Horace is dead. Then,
mistress, do not believe it, And by
dint of her strange persistency she
lodged doubt in Estelle's mind, which
brought her the consolation Of a frail
hope. -.
Quillebert gave the intelligence. to
Laure with chuckle and observed:
'The obliging Yankee took the lob
off my hands so far as Oakfell was
concerned"
II suppose" Laure commented, "Eya-
riste will now think he can persuade
Estelle Latiolais to marry him and will
speed his steps accordingly
II hope so," said Quillebert, still
pleased. 'tIt would be a fit punish
ment for her, and my vengeance would
be satisfied"
"He shall not marry her." Laure ex-
claimed holly.
And you shall not marry him." re-
torted Quillebert in sudden rage.
Let him say that, not you. NY
grandmother never used 'shalp or shall
not to me. Then do not waste your