Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-11-25
Other Things Can Wait @ By Conrad D~"5
By COnr ad Bercouici

say something n give the woman a
Chance to look at the young Basque.
SO I am" Emanuel answered.
Henri, won't you help me out Of the
carp his companion asked.
But before the master had moved, the
young peasant had put his hand out
She leaned upon his powerful arm for
only a brief second, but that second did
not remain unnoticed.
Henri. won't you introduce me2" she
asked.
Well, this is Emanuel Cora, one of
the Basque farmers in this neighborhood
Emanuel, this is my second cousin and
s~ister-in-law. But, Genevieve, / don't
know whether he speaks more than q
few words Of French"
Il speak 1t but not very well, M'sieur.'
Emanuel answered in French. II have
served two years In the ormy."
Noticing his sister-in-law's continued
interest in the young farmer, the noble
man continued the conversation to give
her a better chance to observe him: as
one distracts an animal while another
one is studying him,
Beautiful oxen, Emanuel"
"Oui, M'sieur. This is the master team"
Beautiful stick you nave there"
"Oui, M'sieur. This is the first time I
have driven with It,"
Have a look at this"
D'Arrast turned to his young sister-in-
law and rapidly told her the custom of
the neighborhood: how each master
carved a stick for himself at the begin
ming of his career, and how it was put
aside at his death; the age of a house
being reckoned by the number Of sticks
in 1t.
Emanuel was too sensitive not to feel
that he was being examined like a rare
animal; and yet, he liked the woman's
presence SO much it ou~tweighed his sens
Utilities. There was a femininity about
her he had never felt in another woman.
A softness he had never sensed in an
other feminine being. a subtle odor and
warmth which the rugged daughters of
the mountains that he had met and
danced with did not possess.
And the thought shot through his
mind like lightning: There is a wife
for me-"
1t did not matter who she was or from
where she came. 1t was a wife for him.
Genevieve d'Arrast was the widow of
Henri d'Arrast's older brother, and had
come to the d'Arrast castle for the first
time. George d'Arrast's marriage to the
young actress had been a quiet scandal
in the family, which the Basque peasants
in the neighborhood knew, though they
spoke little about it. out Of respect for
the grief caused by it to their chatelan.
But they knew about 1t. Not only was
she a second cousin but she was an act
ress.
She was impulsive and ~vivacious, a
Partisan Of much better morals and repu-
tation than these Basque folk credited
her with.
Emanuel interrupted the interview on
the road by bowling stiffly and announc-
ing that the time to feed his oxen was
near. There was only a glance exchanged
at the parting between the young peasant
and Genevieve d'Arrast, n yet that
glance meant distinctly. I'VE shall meet
again.
The car once motion, Genevieve turned
her pale face with her vivacious eyes
toward young d'Arrast and exclaimed:
But what a splendid creaturel"
He was proud that she should have
found the Basque so splendid, as proud
as If 1t were one of his possessions she
was praising; the old feudal blood ano
conceptions of. life running strong in him
in spite Of modern civilization and demo
cratic ideas.
"Oh, the Goras are splendid creatures
They are all big and healthy and strong
We are very proud of them"
The young Parisienne resented the tone
he used. 1t was as If he were speaking
of oxen.
ne Hits " WOllueTlul nSdQ. AnO SuCT
beautifully chiseled, fine features; such
a noble carriage. A nobleman in the
true sense of the word"
Good old peasant stock" d'Arrast
feeling the reproach, answered depreciat-
ingly, as he lighted a cigaret.
The conversation Jagged. They were
rolling at q rapid pace towards the Span
ish frontier where they were to see a bull
fight that afternoon. Young d'Arrast
tried to renew the conversation but he
found his sister-in-law absent minded
She was thinking of the young Basque
peasant. She was thinking of him anc
comparing him to all the men she hae
ever met. She had been casting her eye
about for q husband since George hac
died SO suddenly less than a year aftel
the wedding. The war had depopulatec
France of the best. There was not
man she knew physically the equal O.
the young peasant. Never before had sh,
seen such carriage, such elasticity O
movement. Never before had she heart
such fullnes INC ~roundness OF voice
And that marvellous head Of hisl Sh'
thought OF the gasps Of establishment h
would cause in a salon If he were to COM
in in full dress; the ~jealousies and envte
she would create were she to come II
leaning on his arm. 1t would be lik'
walking beside a king. She felt hersel
irresistibly drawn to him. How dare tina
puny young d'Arrast speak Of suc q mai
In such a tonel
She sat down to watch the bull fight
But the clamor and noise could not bio
out of her minds eye the man walkinI
beside the oxen. Neither did the Drawer,
OF the matadors impress her. She looket
around, right and left, in front of hei
to see II there was one man to mattel
the Basque peasant she only had
l -Jl----- ~ - .l..- 49,
was anything that made her think O
him 1t was nobility with which the hal
blinded bulls emerged from the dar
stalls into the glittering sunshine In tn
arena, turning their fiery heads In q de
FAINT and leaping at everythin
before them. There was much grace
much bravery displayed in the ring tina