Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-01-09
La Pluie.
BY F. II. LANCASTER
BY F. II. LANCASTER
-'-S-e-<'-S~@F'''~
copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Col


La Pluie." 1t was so Raoul Cham
petre had nicknamed Marie Noise
because of the frequency with which
her tears fell and because they seem
ed at times unreasonable as summer
showers. La Pluiel
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 Though she had grown
to be 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 Reneau's 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 a 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
g.ri he was going to marry. Small
wonder Marie forgot what time it
was, until the long shadows scared
her. But she would hurry!
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.
wish to know, me. what das is.
It's hurt"
The cry came again, weaker, more
of a croak.
It's 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 big bee-tree and
"Ah, Marie!" she said, soft voiced
and pitiful.
And 1t was pitiful sight, that brave
race paling there so swiftly in the
long, dry grass and the strong young
body growing lax and limp while the
life went out of it in bright red spurts
piuful sight, but La Pluie did not
cry She dropped on one knee beside
the fallen man, lifted the cut leg high
on her other knee and pressed her
thumb down hard on that squirting
avery.
have stopped the blood, Raoul."
she said. "Reste tranquil. I will call
for help, me-"
and upon whom should she call for
help in this time of stress with only
her thumb between the Bayou's well
loved rogue and death? Upon whom
should she call? Who was ii that
had shielded her since babyhood-
comforted her, fought for her. Who
but the red-headed Champetre bow
that had grown now such a wild
boasting fellow even his own sister
despaired of him.
Bete-noire!" La Pluie's voice car
ried far and true but the Champetre
farm was miles away. How could
Bete-noire hear?
steadily clearly, La Pluie sent forth
her hail with never a fear that he
would fail her. Sometimes between
the calls she spoke cheerily to Raoul
who tainted with weakness ard came
10 and tainted again; sometimes she
prayed softly to the Holy Mother:
and always she held her thumb hard
down. She did not cry.
"Bete-noire! Bete-noiret"