The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-11-21

showers. La Pluie!
The name had stuck as nicknames
on the Bayou always do and what was
worse. Marie had not outgrown the
reproach. She still cried--in season
and out of it-though she had grown
to be a big girl, large indeed for four
teen, stout and strong.
But La Pluie was not crying as she
hurried homeward through that clear
sunset though she was somewhat
frightened to find herself out alone so
late. Bright-eyed, breathing deeply,
she hurried along, taking the up
slopes with the free, swift stride of
her splendid strength. She should
not have been out alone at this hour
and she would not have been If things
had gone as she had planned. She had
run over to the Reneaus expecting
| to stay all night with Victorine and
had found Mathilde Champetre al
ready there as the guest for the
night. Victorine's bed would not
hold more than two so La Pluie had
| paid little visit and started to go
home. But Just then Mathilde began
| to tell about her brothers homestead
He was planning to be married soon
and all the girls present knew the
SRI he ives going to marry. Small
wonder Marie forgot what time 1t
was, until the long shadows scared
her. But she would hurryl
La Pluie did hurry and she was fast
gaining on the fading day when a
strange sound from the branch halted
her. 1t was a queer sound, a hoarse,
weak croak as though some hurt
thing was trying to initiate the Bien-
vieu halloo for help.
La Pluie stopped and listened.
81 wish to know, me, what das is,
It's hurt"
The Cry cane again, weaker, more
of a croak.
Its hurt, yes!"
La Pluie left the road and went
swiftly in search of the hurt thing.
Breaking through the bushes, stoop-
ing, peering, on and on to the foot
Of a big bee-tree and
"Ah, Marie!" she said, soft voiced
and pitiful.
|
face paling there so swiftly in the
ong, dry grass and the strong young
oody growing lax and limp while the
life went out of it in bright red spurts
A pitiful sight, but La Pluie did moi
Try. She dropped on one knee beside
he fallen man, lifted the cut leg high
On her other knee and pressed hel
humb down hard on that squirting
irtery.
Il have stopped the blood, Raoul,
The said. "Reste tranquil. / will cal
or help, me-"
And upon whom should she call TO
help In this time of stress with onl!
Ter thumb between the Bayou's wei
owed rogue and death? Upon whom
should she call? Who was it tina
lad shielded her since babyhood
,omforted her, fought for her. VIII
out the red-headed Champetre boz
hat had grown now such wild
ooasting fellow even his own siste
iespaired of him.
"Bete-noire!" La Pluie's voice cal
lied far and true but the Champetr
farm was miles away. How coul
Bete-noire hear?
Steadily, clearly, La Pluie sent fort
her hail with never fear that h
would fail her. Sometimes betwee
the calls she spoke cheerily to Raor
j., who tainted with weakness and cam
to and tainted again; sometimes sh
= prayed softly to the Holy Mother
'. and always she held her thumb har
- down. She did not cry.
. "Bete-noire! Bete-noire!"
The night grew darker, deeper III
= til La Pluie could no longer see tn
leg across her knee. "Bete-noire"-
La Pluie!" The answering ha
:. came like leap of joy and the an,
- ious question tore after it throug
the night. "Tout va bien?"
. "Oui, I'm wit Raoul.'
There was no need for another cal
Bete-noires wood-man's ears ha
9 placed the sound. Marie heard IL
/ bushes breaking before his rapid a
III proach heard the dry sticks snappi1
o. beneath his feet and
3 81 have stopped the blood, Bet
:, noire, mails can't tear apron wit OF
~ hand. / wish, me, you make light al
tear apron. Raoul, he have cut hiI
u self"
- Bete-noire snapped match, broI
- splinter from an old pine stun
y, y, and put the torch into Marie's FRI
y hand. Kneeling beside her, he to
=. a strip from her apron and twisted
40 tightly around Raoul's badly C
u" calf. Then he spoke:
Me, / go to your papa's house
~ take back shovel and l hear MADAM
u say you going stay la mutt wit TT
- inc. But, me, know Mathilde W
" dere. / fas scare. / so to M. Renes
~ he tell me, No! you amt dere. f
}" low your track in big road till >
too dark to see, My God, was scar,
~, Maries strong tired hand went up
." his great thick shoulder,
80 "Bete-noire," she said lovingly.
10 A weak laugh came out of {