Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-08-21
RENRrS NICKNAME
It Was Bete-NOire Because He
Always Did the Most Un-
expected Things.
BY F. II. LANCASTER.

nese.
"Dey say" Nine. Spigolet's voice
lowered, "dey say he's been shoot de
crap"
Nine. Lanese swallowed the shock
grimly. Seems like Bete-noire just
love to do what he ought not"
Nine. spigolet continued. When
my old man ask him about das, he
laugh and show him dollar. Call 1t
easy money My old man say he
learn dose words down to still. He
say all dose young woods-riders talk
like das. wish me das still catch
fire and burn up"
Nine Lanese was a woman OF few
words and no apostrophes.
Dame" she said tersely. IF Bette
noire going shoot de crap like one
negah, he amt going come see Made
line"
"Bete.noire," assented Nine. Sprig-
olet.
Eh 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 re-
ramed him before he was knee high.
Such a wilful little plague he was,
forever doing the most unexpected
-"bete.noire,
And the bigger Henri grew the bet
ter the nickname suited him. laugh
ter.loving daredevil, honest and gen.
erous, and wild as the wind. II It was
a boat race, the boat he sailed would
win-if she did not go to the bottom
If II was a horse race, the horse he
rode would lead by neck-if 1t did
not break leg. But, yes! betting
was always interesting when Bette
noire was in the running. No wonder
the Bayou loved him; no wonder 1t
shook the sorrowful head when he fell
from grace. And after that crap.
shooting, fall from grace Bete.noire
did as fat as ever angel fell Even NJ.
Lanese shook the head.
"Das amt right, shoot crap like
one negah. No, sir; das amt right"
he said to his wife; and Madame La
nese said briefly to Madeline, her
daughter, that she would not speak
with Bete-noire any more.
Madeline made answer: Il been told
Bete-noire make marry wit him
when he build house"
You can't make marry wit boy das
do like one negah."
I'm going make marry wit Bette
noire when he gets house built"
"Ha, Das what you tink maybe;
but me, say non. non, non!"
Madeline said nothing.
Madame Lanese sought her friend
Par Madonne!" calculated Madame
Spigolet, when she had heard the
story. And Madeline. she say-yes?'
But me, say non. non, non"
Madame Lanese felt a little proud OF
her yolubilty. She had never done II
before.
And what she gay DEM"
Noting" Madame relapsed into
brevity. Just go on peeling 'taters
Dam 'taters!" she declared. rather un
fairly, for the potatoes had not been
that way at all Madame Spigolet was
concerned with the situation:
"Mais ciel! She can't make marry
If you say no"
"she make her age in five year,
and den"
"Ben! Das long time, five years, q
you young. Tell Betenoire he can
come see Madeline till she make hei
age"
Sait But Bete-noire, notified thai
he should not invade NJ. Laneses from
gallery. joyfully invaded NJ. Lanese's
cornfeld. where Madeline was pullinl
fodder before sun.up. and joyfully tool
Madeline into his arms.
Don't you bot'er. Bebe I'm goint
build house for you toutde.suite."
Madeline said Yes" contentedly
She had not n doubt but what h,
would. En- bien! 1t is so comfortinl
TO feel that ones lover Is the biggest
and bravest man on the Bayou.
Under pressure OF her faith In him
Rete-noire resolved TO do what nc
other boy on the Bayou had evei
done-go away from home to max,
his fortune. Ten miles from the Bayou
he learned, there was factory tbal
paid three dollars and twenty cents
barrel for shrimp: and that ten bar
rels was a not unusual days catch
More money IN that than in dippint
turpentine for 30 cents n barrel, OF
burning coal for $40 a kiln. Hal h,
would 20 TO work for the factory.
When Bete.noire ran his boat along
side the factory wharf they told hin
he must 20 TO the notary and get ,
license. and he went. wondering rec,,
lessly what license might be I'm
when he saw the BIT OF paper and nm
derstood that he would have to pn,
some money for II. he perceived tha
It was much like the 'tlatate" oil,
man Rene showed whenever he wan,
ed to get out OF working the roads
Ha! certificate is no bad thing :,
have! Bete.nolre put It in his pocke
and sailed away. His dago asslstan
sat down In the bow and said moth
ing. What could he say, unless n
meant to lose his days work, or. rath
er. days pay for idleness?
Blithely unconscious OF the evil sir
niicance that hung over the empt
scene. Bete-nolre set his man and hin
self TO work. Shrimp were plentiful
yet save n sail I'm the offlnp M otha