Bayou Folk

st; for the whole town was talking of Euphrasie's wedding, which was to take place in a few days. But he did not linger. After securing a hor

sh no refuge for so much as a bird that sings. The negroes were scattered about the fields at work

what air he might through the closed shutters. He was just beginning to doze when he heard Euphrasie's light footsteps approaching. She stopped and seated herself so near

fter fastening his horse, he mounted the steps, and traversed the broad hall that intersected the house from end to end, and that was op

him with frightened eyes, as if his prese

ade a mistake in coming?" He was gazing into her eyes, seeki

come to see the work, of co'se. It's-it's only half done, Mr. Offdean

love and confidence. "I am here only to see you,-to say ho

s she could not utter. But he se

be when you say that you will be my wife," he

he gasped, "to say such things w'en you know that in two days I shall be

us folly and blindness. "I knew nothing of it," he said hoarsely. "Married to Placide! I would never

g silences betwee

lease leave me, Mr. Offdean. Papa is out in the fiel', I think, if

verspread his face, and his mouth was drawn with suppressed pain. "I must turn my fool's errand to some pr

he past months, together with the sharp distress of the m

the broad day for any chance comer

where he had placed it a while before, and after examining its chambers carefully, thrust it into his pocket. He had certain work to do with the weapon before night. But for Euphrasie's presence he might have accomplished it

d woman, who stood in her yard at the

I got 'nough to do wid dis heah washin'. 'Fo'

Quick, now!" with the deliberate tone

you dat. He done tuck de road to de cocoa-patch," plunging her

's gone into the woods. You a

uized the woman a moment later. "I done said he did n' h

this man who had come between him and his love. It was the same brute passion that dri

, and guessed what her distress was? It needed no very flexible mind to guess as much, when a hundred

despondency, heard some one approaching him on horsebac

hindered by such from sending a bullet into the back of his rival. The

other, "I was in my room 'w'ile ago, and yeared w'at you said to Euphrasie. I would 'a' killed you

meanwhile gathering his faculties to thi

to know who done it, a

make no difference to know that I'm unarmed. But if you make any a

yo'se'

into Placide's eyes, "to want to soil your happiness with murde

n' to learn me how

If you love Euphrasie, you must go to her clean. I love her myself enough to want you to do that. I shall leave this place to-morrow; you will never see me again if

ing Offdean ride away. He looked at the pistol in his hand, and replaced it slowly in his pocket; then he

rd within him and made it vibrant; b

he muttered reflectively. "He thought a creole knew how to l

pair now. The rage had all left it