Bayou Folk

condition of the plantation. This ill feeling voiced itself partly when he told her it was none of her lookout if the plac

or bridle while he stood whistling a tune. If a wagon required a brace or a bolt, it was nothing for him to step into a shop and turn out one as deftly as the most skilled blacksmith. Any one seeing him at

ablished. There, in the village of Orville, he owned a little shell of a house, and during odd times it was Placide's great delight to tinker at this small home, inven

e or not, painter, carpenter, blacksmith, and whatever else he might be at times, he was a Santien always, with the best blood in the country running in his veins. And many thought

st that young men who had grown up with him were lawyers now, and planters, and members of Shakespeare clubs in town. No one ever expected anything quite so humdrum as that of the Santien boys. As youngsters, all three had been the despair of the country school-master; then of the privat

m play to come and make her acquaintance. He was permitted to hold her in his arms a moment, and it was with silent awe that he did so. She was the first white-faced baby he remembered having seen, and he straightway bel

he wept, it was when she did what was wrong, or when he did; for that was to be a coward, she felt. When she was ten, and her mother was dead, Mme. Duplan, the Lady Bountiful of the pa

and was taught all gentle things, the pretty arts of manner and speech that the ladies of the "Sacred

r, which was like a glory upon her, he trembled. He seemed to see her for the first time. He could only look at her, and wonder why her hair gleamed so, as it fell in those thick chestnut waves about her ears and neck. He had looked a thousand times into her eyes before; was it only to-day they held tha

hment. "Yes; I know, Placide." She spok

e. I did n' know myse'f

her next if she loved him. He still held her hand

"Any one jus' as well as me?" "You know I love pap

y she should not be his

t girls of eighteen call pleasure. If it cost her one regret, no one could have guessed it. She went often to visit the Dup

of five miles to be made through the pine woods before the plantation was reached. When they were at their journey's

one on the gall'ry

; I

town. It mus' be Mr. Gus Adam

that I know. It's boun' to

Offdean have sent some one to look after the p

young man of very pleasing appearance. Without appa

lookout f'om the firs',