Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-12-13

ia Pluie." 1t was so Raoul Cham
petre had nicknamed Marie Moise
because of the frequency with which
her tears fell and because they seem
ed at times unreasonable as summer
showers. La Pluie!
The name had stuck as nicKnalneS
on the Bayou always do and what was
worse, Marie had not outgrown the
reproach. She still cried-in seasoi'
and out of it-though she had grown
to be big girl, large indeed LOT loui
teen, stout and strong.
But La Pluie was not crying as sne
hurried homeward through that cieal
sunset though she was somewhat
frightened to find herself out alone SO
late. Bright-eyed, breathing Deeply
she hurried along, taking the up.
stones with the free, swift strlde vi
her splendid strength. She shouiu
not have been out alone at TINS noui
and she would not have been II Things
had gone as she had planned. she hau
run over to the Reneau's expecting
to stay all night with Victorine ana
had found Mathilde Champetre al
| ready there as the guest for the
| night. Victorine's bed would MOI
| hold more than two so La Plule mao
| paid a little visit and started TO &c
home But just then Mathilde began
to tell about her brothers homestead
He was planning to be married soon
| ts~1e knew
g.rl he ives going to marry SINAI
wonder Marie forgot what time i
was, until the long shadows scarce
her. But she would hurry!
La Pluie did hurry and she was tas
gaining on the fading day when
strange sound from the branch halte'
her. 1t was a queer sound, a hoarse
weak croak as though some hur
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 came again, weaker, NOR
of a croak.
tits hurt, yes!"
La Pluie left the road and wen
swiftly in search of the hurt thint
Breaking through the bushes, stool
ing, peering, on and on to the, foe
Of big bee-tree and
"Ah, Marie!" she said, soft voice
z and pitiful,
: And 1t was pitiful sight, that brav
n face paling there so swiftly in tn
4 .ong, dry grass and the strong youn
, oody growing lax and limp while tt
8 life went out of it in bright red squirt
,. A pitiful sight, but La Pluie did nj
! Try. She dropped on one knee besi(
o he fallen man, lifted the cut leg his
IN her other knee and pressed h
a numb down hard on that spurtiI
N artery.
Il have stopped the blood, Raoul
! she said. "Reste tranquil. l will CT
| or help, me-
i And upon whom should she call
II lelp in this time of stress with on
Ter thumb between the Bayou's W.
owed rogue and death? Upon who
III should she call? Who was it til
u lad shielded her since babyhoC
,omforted her, fought for her. w
out the red-headed Champetre
hat had grown now such wi
ooasting fellow even his own sis
iespaired of him.
"Bete-noire!" La Pluie's voice c
led far and true but the Champe
farm was miles away. How Co
Bete-noire hear?
Steadily, clearly, La Pluie sent 70
her hail with never fear that
ed would fail her. Sometimes betw,
to the calls she spoke cheerily to Ra
he who tainted with weakness and ca
an to and tainted again; sometimes
he prayed softly to the Holy Moth
tut and always she held her thumb
les down. She did not cry
to "Bete-noire! Bete-noire!"
as The night grew darker, deeper
wn til La Pluie could no longer see
leg across her knee. "Bete-noire
l La Pluie!" The answering
ire came like leap of joy and the
the ious question tore after it thro
loft the night. Tout va bien?"
1t. "Oui, I'm wit Raoul.'
on There was no need for another
on Bete-noire's wood-man's ears
lie, placed the sound. Marie heard
bushes breaking before his rapid
and proaeh; heard the dry sticks snap
me beneath his feet and
Ver' Il have stopped the blood, I
ION noire, mails ! can't tear apron wit
lnk hand. wish, me. you make light
tear apron. Raoul, he have cut
the self"
10 Bete-noire snapped a match, b
sa splinter from an old pine st
anu and put the torch into Maries
un' hand Kneeling beside her, he
On strip from her apron and twist
tightly around Raoufs badly
crio calf Then he spoke:
~ u Me, ! go to your papas hou!
IN. take back shovel and l hear ma,