Bayou Folk

imposing mansion of red brick, shaped like the Pa

stretch of C?te Joyeuse. Every one knew that, as they knew it had cost Philippe Valmet sixty thousand dollars to build, away back in 1840. No one was in danger of forgetting that fact, so long as his daughter Pélagie survived. She was a queenly, white-haired woman of fifty. "Ma'ame Pélagie," t

y years and the picayunes hoarded; and yet, not half enough gathered! But Ma'ame Pélagie felt sure of twenty years of

e sky of Louisiana. They loved to sit there in the silence, with only each other and the sheeny, prying lizards for company, talking

say; "perhaps the marble pillars of the salon will have to be replaced by wood

great crash. That meant the nearness of war; the revolt of slaves; confusion ending in fire and flame through which she was borne safely in the strong arms of Pélagie, and carried to the log cabin which was still their home. Their brother, Léandre, had known more of it all than Pauline, and not so much as Pélagie. He ha

e Pauline was terribly excited; the flush that throbbed into her pale, ner

, Ses?ur? Where shall we put her? Ho

do. She knows how we live, and why we live; her father has told her. She knows we have money a

se, for she had yet to make her last daily round through the fields; and Mam's

was quite as tall as her aunt Pélagie, with dark eyes that reflected joy as a still pool reflects the light of stars; and her rounded cheek was tinged like the pink crèpe m

m between them fo