The Forrest City times., 1903-12-25

ANDS off? A mais oui. But how was Miss Margaret to know that her new-found garden held it's tree of forbidden fruit?
 The trustees of Le Blanc school, being busy with their coal-burning and corn hoeing. forgot, as they usually did, to elect teacher; and the first Monday in May found the little log schoolhouse among the pines shut up and silent. N'importe. Nobody was much con- eerned. Priests are not partial to pub lie schools, and all 'Cajans are good Catholics, and follow their priest ; lead. Still in every community there is leading man ready to step in and shoulder responsibilities that the dele gated shoulders shun. So it chanced that NJ. Lecerf, plodding past the school house beside his slow-moving team looked at the closed door and shook his head. And that night, after he had washed his feet and eaten his supper, he shook his head again over his ciga- rette and said to his wife:
 "Chere, das ain right Sehoolhouse shot op. Das ain right"
 No, Das ain right" agreed madam Madam always agreed She was as small as monsieur was large, and was convinced beyond all doubt that he was quite the brainiest man that ever was. Madam had gone as far as the third reader and had been known to read paragraphs from the county paper. She looked at monsieur, now smoking silent in the moonlight, and droop of weari- ness in his attitude stirred her love to deeper tenderness. She hastened to strengthen her indorsenent.
 No, das ain right. Me and Amelia was talk bout das last wik. Corn all plant, rice clin. Chilun ought to be in school. Des in de way"
 Monsieur removed his cigarette Madam Amelia was the wife and boss of the second leading man.
 What did Amelia say?" he asked.
 She say: Vas das so. Dere's my lil' gal fall in de branch while was wash down to de log But she won't board de fletcher, Bebe. No. Says de last time she board de fletcher was de last time"
 'Das all right" monsieur replied 'We board him."
 Vas" madam agreed Loyalty. "das all right" But she looked in consterna- tion at the prospect of having strange man in the house, and wondered dis mally how she would ever get through work if she had to wear shoes all day long And there was Marie-Louise- an exclamation-just budding into beauteous womanhood. But she kept these forebodings to herself. and brave ly subscribed to the belief of the neigh bors that when NJ Lecerf said a thing was all right it was all right. C'est bien. Their faith was well founded. Singular ly cool of judgment, far-seeing, fearless, with education Antoine Lecerf might have been Pericles; without it, he was coal burner. He shot the ep-killing dogs of dangerous men, adjusted neigh borhood quarrels. guarded wife and child, and drudged cheerfully for liv- ing. AS for citizenship. he could not not sign his name.
 En, bien. Nj. Lecerf had reason to know the value of an education. He went to the school superintendent for teacher, and was introduced to Miss Margaret. The young city girl was
  work, but she was frightened. badly frightened at the thought of riding ten lonely miles with this great big man un- til the superintendent, understanding and sympathizing. said:
 Mir. Lecerf will take good care of you" And NJ. Leeerf. with his broad indulgent smile. seconded cordially:
 Vas, das all right. Tek good care of you.' Then, with a rush of conf- dence, Margaret slipped her fingers into a great rough palm. and found herself swung lightly to seat in NJ. Lecerf's high wagon.
 Crowding his own huge frame over the side of the seat that she might not be cramped and forbearing to smoke, al- though an hour without cigarette was a thing almost unknown, he told her stories as they rode along, stories of the in which she was to work. with shrewd comments in passing that Margaret laid up carefully for future use. So rapidly did their friendship that when they reached a bit of heavy road and the horse slowed with