Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-04-11
OLD PO|NTE C0UPEE
Being a Story of 'Cajan Island
People, Particularly About
Bebe and Did,.
BY r. n. LANCASTER.

Pointe Coupee is very old. The
French settled it in-oh, well, this
isn't history The town Point Coupee
is the third oldest settlement in the
United States. Comes next to Santa
Fe. And the Parish Pointe Coupee is
old, too-and French, too. There Is
where the Acadian settled when the
English deported him in-but Long
fellow tells about that The place is
called "'Cajan island" 1t isn't an
'sland, 1t is an isthmus. But when
False river is lake and Bayou Sara
Is a town. They do things that way
in Pointe Coupee.
On 'Cajan island people keep their
names in the courthouse and do busi-
ness under their nicknames. That Is
the reason why there are SO many
Bebes and Cherries. Men-called
Cherie. 1t isn't exactly according to
grammar, but then it is long ways
from grammar over on the island.
Long ways, yes. More than a hun
dred years.
Bebe Captains name was in the
courthouse, and maybe the assessor
knew what it was. but Bebe never
bothered about it. Time enough to
look it up when he went to get his
marriage license. His grandfather
had been nicknamed Captain. Natur-
ally his father had become Petit
Captain, and he, Bebe Captain.
VOLTA! Could man come more fair
ly by a name?
Bebe Captain kept store where
he sold powder and shetland whis-
ky, of course. That was about all
there was to sell, because the women
on the island make the cloth and
plat the hats as they use to do in
Evangeline's time, and the men kill
ducks and raise rice and cowpeas.
Well. maybe Bebe did sell some cof-
fee. But he did not make his money
on what he sold. He made it on what
he bought. Ha! That is all right.
Wasn't he doing business in Pointe
Coupee? The 'Cajans all raise cow
peas to sell and there is good money
In cowpeas-if you know how to buy
them. And Bebe knew. Some said
he knew too we'll and that that was
why there was bad blood between
him and Cherle Trader. But the sage
shook his head, slowly, as a sage
should.
The sage lived next door TO Ma
dame Tutsy and had been known to
spade in her tobacco bed. Madame
Tutsy was widow. M. Tutsy had
died when dbl was as tall as the ta-
BILE and with rice and cowpeas and
crawfish outside, and spinning and
weaving and sewing inside the house
and the sage over the fence-Ma-
dame had enough to do without bring
ing up Did,. So Did, had brought
herself up, and gayer wag never
faced the marriage question at four
teen years of age. But though all
the island shook the head over that
bringing up there were two who
thought that dbl had made a very
good job of it. Bebe Captain held
her to be all that heart of man
could desire, and Charlie Trador swore
to have her for his wife.
Eth, bien! 1t Is easy to swear. but
dbl raised her long lashes and
dropped them deftly. Then she part
ed perfect lips over perfect teeth and
laughed the sweetest laugh in the
world. And what may a mans oath
avail In the presence of woman's
laughter? Bebe coaxed to no better
purpose. The boys came together in
desperation.
I'VE want you to choose, Did,"
But / don't know, me, which one
to choose"
simultaneously and most eagerly
they offered to pit their prowess.
Fight? Didi tossed her head. She
had brought herself up to hold fight
| ing vulgar. Beside 'Cajan f1sticuffs
not infrequently end in funeral.
She might find out too late which
one she liked best. Riding? Swim
ming? Shooting? If not vulgar. they
were all common. Did, held it stupid
to do what everybody else did. What
then? Ask her mother? All, heaven!
how merry dbl made with that sug-
gestion, while her lovers stood be-
/ fore her, gloomy and perplexed.
you got to make your mind" Che
RE declared hotly. Didi's eyes mar
rowed a bit, but she laughed.
WELL" she said, Il make my mind.
Easter Sunday when l see which one
eats most eggs"
"C'eet bon!" exclaimed Cherie
What make you look so happy, Bebe,
ha?"
Bebe did not look happy. A man
that keeps store can never hope to
eat as much as man that hunts and
fishes. And everybody knew that
Cherie Trader had once eaten two
teal ducks at sitting. He turned
pleadingly to Did,.
II DON'T t'ink me, das fair"
"Pourcuoi?" she demanded sweet
ly.
Bebe blushed and stammered: eff
! don't breaks many eggs as him, l
can't eats many"
Cherie cut in uproariously: you
can't eats many tall" he tainted
IF each man eat all eggs he break