News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-02-26

ried public house Of the village, where
in the back room they were joined by
the brothers Tailleur of Isle de Cote,
and, supplied by Dede, the stunted,
swarthy, peck pitted proprietor, with
cards, chips, rum and whisky toddies,
they were soon absorbed in the prob
lens of American poker. Qullebert
was not without Interior aim in bis
proposal. He was confident of Laure
Luneau's election should no especial
activity be displayed in her rivals iH-
terest and concluded that the surest
means to prevent that would be to Sc
duce her champion from the field;
hence he set about to make the game
unusually attractive by betting boldly
and drinking freely, and in a measure
his tactics proved successful, for soon
the attention of the players was so en-
crossed that they were unconscious OF
the flight of time and the passing of
many buggies and troops of horsemen
over the coulee bridge into the one
street of Mansura.
To the surprise and, it must be ad-
Grhe, Oakfell did not appear at the
fair. The priest feared he had for
gotten his pledge of support to Estelle
given at the house of the ferryman at
Bayou du Lac on the night he so mar
rowly escaped death. But he took
heart when at o'clock he saw Val
sin ride in at the head of seven neigh
bors from the BOrdelOn slough and
lead them to the poll for Estelle, and
ten more from Lac de la Pearle march
ed up in the same interest, and these
followed at short intervals by dozens
and twentes from Choupique, Cotton
port, Pointe Midi and a company of
non-Catholics from Evergreen and the
surrounding plantations, and learned
that every one of these late corners de-
posted vote for the granddaughter
of Latiolais.
The game at Dede's was running
high, and the strong drink had taken
possession of the players, when at q
o'clock a cheer from the schOolhouse
fell upon their ears. They knew the
priests had counted the vote and an
nounced the result, and the cheer was
for the victor, Quillebert doubted not
she was Laurie, and, hastily gathering
in the winnings, which, as usual, had
fallen his way, he proceeded with his
companions to learn the exact figures.
His heavy eyes and purpling face took
on an expression of cruel eXultation.
Latiolas Jagged behind as if loath to
hear the decision.
Seeing Father Grhe in the doorway
of the schoolhouse, Quillebert called:
whats the majority, father"
seventeen" the priest said.
as that ALP said Quillebert coarse
ly. at 1 o'clock she had % over Els
telle Latiolais.'
"Who had?' asked the priest.
"Laure Juneau" shouted Qullebert.
But EStelle Latiolais has now II
votes over Laure Juneau, and the poll
is closed. Estelle Latiolais is elected
godmother of the bell" said Father
Grhe.
Quillebert's features fairly quivered
with rage but his exclamation, nc
doubt profane, was drowned by the re-
newed cheer from the crowd, while old
Latiolais' white face was wet with
tears of joy, unexpected and unmerit
ed.
The fast falling darkness speeded the
dispersion of the assemblage, and the
choosing of the church bells sponsor
was a scored event in the history of the
parish.
The christening day Of the bell was
the most perfect of that incomparably
lovely season, the Louisiana spring
The pale blue sky had not heck in it
The bosom of the little prairie waf
spread with velvety green sprinkleC
with buttercups and violets, and on the
edges of coulees bright willows rocked
in the gentle breeze. The lanes were
bordered by walls of dark cherokee
vines, against which white roses glis
tened in the sunlight. The cones dot
ting stretching branches of pecanE
were opening in light hued leaves
while afar IN the swamp above thu
blush gray festoons Of Spanish moss
could be seen the feathery fringe which
later would be plumes in the crowns
of royal expresses. The soft air was
scented with jasmine, china flower anC
sweet gum and rang with the joyous
song of the hooking bird.
The bell, secured upon the stoutes
of plantation wagons, drawn by sil
sleek mules, was arrayed in robe O
white swiss, set off with bands of blut
satin and punches of pink roses
string of red coral, the gift Of the god
mother, encircled it's brow, above whicl
was wreath of white magnoii;
blooms. The wagon was clothed IL
white cotton cloth, the harness Of thu
mules decked out with knots and bow
of ribbon, and the herculean black wh'
drove them was attired in his holida!
raiment, with a broad red sash across
his chest.
The cortege escorting the bell in 1t!
progress of six miles from the ware
house at Marksville to the church al
Mansura was composed of full 200 per
sons on horses, in buggies and afoot
1t was headed by Eloi Durant, the an
cient volunteer sacristan, bearing alof
banner of blue silk on which was EN-
broidered in yellow the name of thu
codo1ifv cooiptu UpIlOuino him rp1f