Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-18
CHAPTER II
THE FERRY AT BAYOU DU LAC.

ROM Fort De Roussy, on the
Red river, to Points Midi, on
the Bayou Claire. near which
"L'Espersnce," the Oakfell
plantation. lay. was dis
lance Of some 20 miles. The dignifying
name OF fort was given to q small
earthwork which had been thrown up
by direction OF the United States gov
eminent under the supervision Of Colo
mel De Roussy at the nrst rise Of
Avoyelles prairie AUDITING on the low
alluvial river bottom. Four miles In
land from the fort the highroad ran
through the little town Of Marksville,
the parish site or seat OF justice. The
courthouse and two magazines for
cotton were the only brick structures
Of which II could boast. All the other
edifices, including the church, were Of
wood, painted white or yellow, ranged
on either side OF a Long main street
and two lateral and four crsss streets
fntersecting at right angles. The sit
uation OF the village was a gentle dip
In the prairie. the two sides Of which,
when the thick foliage Of umbrella
china, pecan. ng and oak trees was at
Its full and sortened by the sprinkling
OF rosy lowered myrtles, gave the re-
semblance to the trough between
waves OF a great green sea. The pop-
ulation OF 800 or 700 souls was almost
entirely Gascon French and French
creole. OF whom but few spoke Eng
lish. The exceptions were the families
Of four American lawyers, who had
acquired the French language and used
1t more frequently than their mother
tongue.
Nine miles southwark from the vii
lage the smooth surface OF the prairie
broke suddenly and the land declined
sharply to a broad belt Of stiff soil.
intellectually fertile, bearing a thick
growth OF cypress, gum and oak and
terminating at Bayou du Lac, wide and
deep, on the farther side OF which lay
the Magnolia hills. These latter were
q series OF gentle undulations, rising
somewhat above the general level OF
the alluvion and extending quite eight
miles TO the fine. sandy sell OF that per-
feet agricultural country formed by
the network Of bayous Rouge Hufr-
power, B9uff and Claire. Here the
stately magnolia tree dominated, its
evergreen leaves OF olive hue and var
nished freshness preserving to the
landscape throughout the year the
warm sylvan tints Of summer and Its
big blossoms OF creamy white loading
the air with the fragrance OF COM
bined jasmine and lemon and imbuing
with consciousness the luxurisnt spring.
ROBBED In gown OF woven vines, which
trailed to the ground and lowered I'm
yellow, red. blue and white. the mag
nolia was truly queen OF the forest.
The day had been sultry, overcast by
low hanging clouds, from which fell a
steady, soaking rain from noon until
nightfalL An intense darkness sue
ceeded the day, and the rain became
fitful, while the lightning was frequent
and binding In Its lurid brilliancy. The
public road leading from the rope ferry
Of Bayou du Lac TO the Magnolia hills
and which constant use had worn to a
deep gully In the soft ground was re-
duced by the rain almost to state of
ooze, re- .dering travel arduous and
slow. The dwelling OF Valsin Mouil-
lot, the ferryman, stood in an inclosure
near the road and 90 yards from the
bayou. Valsin was short and muscu-
lar, of middle age and scant education,
but blessed with a cheerful mind. He.
was widower, with three little girls
dependent upon him, and his resources
were the public ferry and the yield of
30 acres of cleared land, which he op-
Grated with the aid of three slaves
an old man and woman and a boy.
This last drew the ferryboat along the
wide stretch of rope more frequently
than did the ferryman and on such
nights as this occupied the lookout
shed on the bank to respond to the
calls OF travellers.
Notwithstanding the warmth Of the
night and the open doors Of the house,
a bright fire OF cypress bark burned
on the hearth OF the largest room to
resist the moisture with which this
low region reeked. In front OF the
fire sat stout, broad faced, dark skin
ned man OF advanced years, whose garb
or black and turned down band of
white about his neck discovered the
Catholic priest His hair was thick
and as yet untouched by the gray of
age. eyes large and strong, and bis
countenance. though confessing to good
living, advertised a spirit of benevo-
lence and charity. This was Father
Francois Grhe, cure OF Mansura, whose
eccIesis stical dominion extended south