Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-03-22
On Cheniere
Carr1ir1ada
BY LINDA NJ. BENSEL.
copyrighted by DAILY story Pub. co.,

gayest among them, had warned
them not to venture from shore.
There viii be storm, / am afraid"
was his laconic warning, given every
how and then between the mirth and
gibes of his Acknowledgement. So, as
they were to celebrate the betrothal
of Andre and of Marie Bizan that
night, they remained at shore, in an
ticipation of the feast that was to
come.
The girls of Cheniere were in flut-
ter of expectation. Tongues were
not sti1 a moment that day, while
the bellies tried and fitted their
finery, and arranged ribbons, in an
ticipation of the event. Marie Bizan
was n great favorite as well as a
great beauty.
Day wore on, and evening came,
and sunset; sunset, with all its won
drous beauty, gloriously golden and
strangely awesome. Strange that
few noted those clouds portending a
storm, for the fisherfolk were usual
ly on the alert for such signs. Then
dusk came over the island.
When some of the guests were still
Va NhNAA wa W lDALdu n ram
began to fall. strange" muttered
Glode, as he hurried his family to
the friendly lights that CLEANED from
the windows of the Bizans. But he
hid his fear, and made merry with
the rest. The ffddlers merriIy tuned
away, the light feet of the dancers
never faltered and spirits ran high.
At ten came supper. Old Bizan
arose TO give the toast. "Friends,"
said he, this is truly happy occa-
sion. And / announce to you the
betrothal of Marie and of Andre.
You have known her from childhood,
all of you. You have seen her grow
into the dear, good daughter she is.
You have known Andre, and you
know him to have proved himself
worthy of my Marie. Friends, offer
congratulations"
There were shouts of "We do. we
do" Then came call for Andre.
"A speech, a speech" some one
cried.
Suddenly tottering figure APP
peared at the door. 1t was old Man
uel, the fisherman, who had refused
60 come to the feast. He pointed a
wavering finger at Andre. "Yes, An
DIRE, lad, speak, for this is thy last
night"
For moment indignation ran high.
But for the age of the fisherman he
would have been unceremoniouslv
elected from the hall But the aged
have ever been respected among the
simple folk of Cheniere, and he was
tolerated as he had been earlier in
the day when he dampened their
ardor by discouraging the holding of
the feast
"oh, stop croaking, Manuel" cried
Alcee. Come, give him some wine.
Gaspard, give him some wine. II will
warm up his old blood. Then he will
sing, instead of croaLing" Higher
and higher the music rose, and loud
er and gayer became the guests Out
side the wind blew gale and the
rain came in sheets. And still the
mirth went on.
Let Manuel give us toast" cried
Gaspard, who had proffered the old
fisherman the wine at Alcee's sugges-
ton.
AYE, aye" said the hoary Manuel,
"a toast il shall be. And not to your
fair girl. For never will she be a
bride. Never will the wedding feast
be known. The bells shall not ring
save it be for corpse that has been
taken from the water. For it is
written, my brothers, these two shall
not we'd" The cracked voice became
high and clear, the tones were even
resonant, so earnest was the speaker.
Unhappy Manuel" sighed the wife
of Bizan. He has suddenly lost his
wits. But why should he come here?
For shame, to brighten nv little
Marie" For Marie had grown white
and trembled. Andre, though, sat
with clenched fists and grinding
teeth. He would settle with old Man
nel in the morning.
lull upon the crowd. The fddlers
sat agape, the guests were chattering
volubly. Some laughed derisively,
while others quaked with fear.
For l say these two shall not
We'd" old Manuers voice went on. 81
say it is writ, my brothers, that they
must die"
Then men jumped to their feet.
Old Nine. Bizan screamed.
shame, shame" cried some, while
others tried to still the widowed
fisherman.
1T is useless, my brothers." he
cried. Not only they, but we all
shall die, must die, and tonight.
Even now it is too late to return to
your homes. You, Baptiste, think
you viii go back to Grand Isle to-
night in your luggage? Alas, never
again shall your eyes behold Grand
Isle. tell you the storm is upon
us. 1t is too late, too late" The
voice rose and then fell, and died
away in a moan.
1t was too late. And, too late, they
realized it.
The guests had risen from the
table. The women chung together
in frightened groups. The wind
roared higher and louder than the
angry surf. The rain fell in torrents.
The men laughed, uneasily, but with
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