The Delta independent., 1907-02-08
1~0r.~~eor>s~@3r~~~NpEl
BETE-N0IRE i
By Z. Il. LANCASTER
tCopyrigh, by Daily Story Pub. Co.

dey say about Bete-noire?"
"Qu cst-ce?" demanded Madame
Lanese.
'Dcy say" Madame SpisOlet's voice
lowered, "dcy say he's been shoot dc
crap
Madame Lanese swallowed the
shock Srimly. Seems like Bctc-noirt
just love to do what he ought not.
Madame SpiSolet continued. "Wher
my old man ask him about das. he
laugh and show him dollar. Call II
easy money. My old man say he
learn dose words down to Still He
say all dose young woods-ridcrs talA
like das. wish me das still catch fire
and burn up
Madame Lanesc was woman OF
few words and no apostrophcs.
Dame" she said tersely. III icte
noirc going shoot de crap like one
negah. he amt going come see Made
line"
"Bctc. noirc." assentcd Madame Spig
olet.
Eth bien, the thought of Henri al
ways did suggest his nickname. His
head was red. his skin like SKINNED
milk. his eyes like bits of brown fire:
but madame. his mother. had renamed
him before he was knee high. Sucf
a ~ilfull little plague he was. forever
doing the most unexpected things
''Bcte-noire"
And the bigger Henri grew the bet
ter the nickname suited him. A laugh
icr-lovinE. daredevil. honest and gen
crous. and wild as tn" wind II II was
boat race. the boat he sailed woulc
win-if she did not 20 to the bottom
II II was a horse race. the horse he
rode would lead by a neck-if II did
not break a leg. But. yes betting ~a'
always interesting when Bctc-noirs
WAS in the running No wonder the
1layou loved him: no wonder IL shook
the sorrowful head when he fell from
grace. And after that CrapshootinG
fall from grace IIctc-noirc did as fat
rs ever angel fell. Even NJ. Lancsc
shook the head
"Das amt right. shoot crap like
one ncgah No. sir: das amt right. ."
he said to his wife: and Madame La
nesc said briefly to Madeline. her
daughter. that slIe would not speak
with Itetcnoire any more.
Madeline made answer: Il been told
Bctc-noirc i make marry wit him
when he build house.
You can, make marry wit boy das
do like one ncgah.''
I'm going make marry wit Bette.
noirc when he gets house built
f.s no hot tol, .ln.
but me. say non. non. nom"
Madeline said nothing.
Madame I.ancsc sought her friend
Par Madonna" calculated Madame
SpiEolct. when she had heard the
story. And Madeline. she say
yes
But me. ] say non. non. nom" Ma
dame Lancsc felt a little proud OF her
volubility. She had never done II,
before.
And what she say dem.
Noting" Madame rclnpscd into
brevity. Just 20 on pceling taters.
Dam 'tatcrs'" she declared. rather un.
fairly. for the potatoes had not been
that way at all. Madame Spigolct was
concerned with the situation:
"Mais cicl' She cant max. marry
II you say no"
she make her age in nvc years
and dem
"Bcin, Das long time. five years. II
you young. Tell Bctc.noirc he cant
com" sec Madeline till she make her
age
Salt. But Hctc-noirc. notified that
he should not invade NJ. l.ancsc's
front gallery. joyfully invaded N. La
nrse's cornncld. where Madeline was
pulling fodder before sun-up. and joy
fully took Madeline into his arms.
Don't you bot'cr. Bebc. rm going
build house for you tout-do.smitc.'
Madeline said Yes contcntcdly.
She had not a doubt but what he
would. Fh. bcin, II IL so comforting
TO feel that ones lover is the biggest
and bravcst man on the Bayou.
Under pressure of her faith in him.
Rctc noirc resolved to do what no
other boy on the Bayou hal ever
dune-go away from home To make
his fortune. Ton miles from the Ba-
YOU. he learned. there wac a factory
thnt paid three dollars and twenty
cents u barrel for shrimp: ahd that
ton barrels was Il not unusual day :
catch. More money IN that than In
dipping turpcntinc for 30 cents II bar.
rel. or burning coal for $40 kiln. Hal!
he would go to work for the factory.
When Bctc.noirc ran his boat along.
side the factory wharf they told him
he must go to the notary and get a
license. and hc went. wondering rcck.
lcssly what license might be. But
when he saw the bit of paper and un'
derstood that he would have to pay
some money for It. he perceived that
Il was much like the "tifitata" old
man Rene showed whenever he want.
cd To get out OF working tho roads
lin, n certificate is no bnd thing 10