The Van Buren press., 1904-12-03

"Droukl" Tutute felt old and alone
and undone Drunk. Presently ne
would get dstrustful or angry ouI
Tutute was slow man, and-Moise was
no fool. He slipped swiftly yet del'Iy
from the troubling topic.
''Das mighty fine letle gal you got NJ
Leon, he said, gayly.
"Yas"
"She all you got, yas Z!
"All got, me.
81 been wanting come round dere ions
time. Mebbe come next Sunday DaS
all right?'
"Das all right" repeated Tutute' stol-
idly. .,.
Noise walked by NJ Icons stirrup the
rest of the way home. They taiheu
some and laughed much-loud, emp!
outlaws. That night Tutute told Nlziie
that she must have nothing more 10 uo
with Dazier, and Nizile asked pertnent-
" and imperiously: "Pourquol?
Monsieur squirmed Noise is com
ing see you" he said.
"Moise. Tn tete rouge
VOLTA, The story was told and NlziIe
would not believe a word Of it. There
was a fine scene in the cabin on the
bayou. ard madam never knew no"
many cigarettes she smoked nor no"
many times she said: "Chere, chere
. Nizile. or how many times she sale.
sLaisser. iaisser,' to Tututo. In the enu
Nizile. quivering with fine fire, blazing
with beauty. vibrant, laid down the law.
"I believe DaHer get dronk When
see him dronk. and till | see Dazer
dronk, don see Noise, tall. me.
Madam saved the situation for the ls'
time.
"If Dazier do get dronk, he'll get drohh
tonight. sho. Dere's das beeg chopping
at NJ, MARITIME. Tout le mond goin' be
dere, Amelia want me help her mex
gumbo, but I'm in black, me. ! can
go. Why don't you go see how Dazler
do?" she appealed to monsieur he
shrugged his shoulders.
"Nizile won't believe less she see he
said. sullenly.
Miles fears had outrun madam'5
forethought. If Noise should tell
Dazier that he Noise, had been accepted
by her father DaMer might do some
thing foolish. Fear turned courage to
bravado. She faced her father with a
high head.
when a man get dronk at choppinS
dow take away his ak. Nest pas? What
Won want bet Dazier come home with his
ax?"
"If he pass up de road with his ak he
amt dronk. No" Tutute assented,
slowly.
Pm goin' watch till he pass, me-"
VOLTA! If Mile would watch, madam
would watch also, and monsieur. They
moved their chairs to the gallery; they
turned their eyes toward the south;
they waited Madam doing, monsieur
stoid. Nizile Quiyering, The white
moon shone upon them, upon the road
beyond, upon the pine like sentinelS
along its route. And the moon looked
cold.
It seemed a long time but It was not
long. There was talk at the chopplng
that drove Dazier home-anywhere As
soon as the kiln wood was chopped and
the first reel danced VOLTA! As soon
as he could decently do IT, Dazier sad
| died his mare. shoudered his ak and
fed swiftly from the merry making,
where every look was lash, every word
a blow.
"NlzIle going to marry Noise? Pour
! ouoi? Noise made beeg money But
| Nizile, Nizile. And he-Boyou Blen-
vile should know him no more That
he awore by all the saints, He would
take back what he had told the schooner
| captain about not wanting to sail with
I him, He would 90 round there tonight
! and tell he was ready to make sail at
| sunrise-like he had wanted to, yas.
| His knees pressed the mare to her
swftest pace, the white road raced be-
| meath him. the owl made moan. Through
| the swamp and around the bend and
! then Dazer sat very straight in his sad
| die His knees relaxed and from long
habit the little mare slowed at the turn,
| There was the gate where--there were
the steps where-there was some one on
| the steps,
MILE standing, leaning forward
watching-as It would seem-the gleam
Of the moonlight on the bright blade Of
! his AK.
"Arretez,' But Da2icr had already
| drawn rein His ak fell with a thud
They were around him, monsieur and
madam, and Nizile slipped her slim
| fingers into his
80 you didn't get dronk at das chop
ping" monsieur began, loosely Joy
! ful. But madam cut In
"Da2Ier," she asked, quietly "You
ever been TO Teto d Faux"
"Non, madam, he replied, courteous.
ly, 81 amt neyeS been dere yet, sell
my coal to de schooner me"
II did not strike him as odd that he
should be stopped In the middle Of the
road on a moonlight night 10 be ques-
! toned as to the extent of his Journey
| mgs Only one thing he needed, Miles
fingers fingered within his, her hair
brushed his sleeve His arm closed
around her for the FIRST tImc Forge,fu
OF the old folk, forgotfu Of everything
save that the girl he loved, loved him
Monsieur turned 20 his chair, "Das
man Noise lie heap, yas,' he said
Madam turned him toward tee kitch-
en-, She replied placidly;
81 wish to know mo, how man can
lie Hike das Amt II curious"
But from the lovers on the steps ,hero
came hy way Of comment only A slIQhl