A Sister to Evangeline

the few Acadian gentry there was little of the luxury to be found in the seigneurial mansions of the St. Lawrenc

n on mine, he said nothing of it. With simple kindness he set down the cand

ot attempt to carry out his threat?" he as

That worthy ecclesiastic will not try issues

e expected the terrible La Garne to bow so pliantly to my command appears to me now the most fatuous of vain follies. In

ving each moment, each word, each look, each breath. Then, being deeply wearied by my long day's tramp, but with no hint of sleep coming to my eyes, I threw myself down upon the bed to deliciously think it all over yet again. I had grown sure that Yvonne loved me. Yet once more, in a still ecstasy of reverence and love, I fell at her feet and kissed them. Then I thought about the stone which Mother Pêche had given me, and its mystic virtues, which I would explain to Yvonne on the morrow in the apple-orcha

hich well dashed my hopes. Some faint encouragement, indeed, I drew from the thought that her pallor (which became her wonderfully) seemed to tell the tale of a sleepless night. Had she, then, lain awake, wearily reproaching hersel

ld tree which I shall all my life remember, 61I am to

t the eyes dropped in spite of her, and th

lightness was not perfect. "I am busy to-day, and shall not he

uttered, "who alone are the source o

e said, flashing one

I read them to

t deal better," she laughed, turning away with a fi

e on my defeat, I said

and Pré to-day. I must see the curé; and I have a commission to execute for the Sieur de Briart, whic

said Madame very graciously, "make

elf," I replied. "You may be sure I

uld come while you are away?" q

ty I shall come to regard him as my best friend," said I, laughing,

a most patient indulgence. For his own part, while he regretted to go counter to opinions which I held well-nigh sacred, he declared that, in his judgment, the cause of France was forever lost in Acadie, if not in all Canada. He felt it his duty to give in his allegiance to the English throne, under whose protection he had prospered these 63many years. But strong as the Engl

e Micmacs, disavowed, indeed, by La Garne, but unquestionably winked at by him as a means of keeping the Acadians in hand. He told of whole villages wiped out by the Black Abbé's order, the houses burned, the trembling villagers removed to Ile St. Jean or a

sked in horror, "is

and with a few of La Garne's flock to help, who carried it out. It was too purposeless for La Garne. He rules his savages with a rod of iron, and it is said that his displeasure

s a tale that filled me with sham

ht with the good abbé last night. It

to Halifax next Monday, Paul, with a half score followers who feel as I do; and though I cannot expect you to sympathize with my

e or face, for Monsieur de Lamourie looked at me 65curiously. But I really cared little what

flax field; having talked with an excellent assumption of wisdom on the well-bred and well-fed cattle which were a hobby with this courtier farmer, this Versailles Acadian, I stepped forth into the

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