A Sister to Evangeline

ern end of the village. How little did I dream that this fairest of Acadian towns was

ds; the mellow tangle of small bell-music from the bobolinks a-hover over the dyke meadows; now and then a neighbour call from roadside to barn or porch or window; and ever 67the cheery cling-clank, cling-clank from the forge far up the street. Not only do I hear the pleasant sounds, but the clean smells of that fragrant country come back continually with wholesome reminiscence. Oh, how the apple-blossoms breathed their souls out upon that tender morning air! How the spring wind, soft with a vital moist

ber it as once it clung about the fair hair of 68my young mother! I see myself, a thin, dark, grave-faced little boy, leaning against her knee and looking up with love into her face. The memory moves me-but as a picture. "Was it I?" I am able to wonder. "And did I, that dark boy, have a mother like that?" But when I bury my face in the kerchief, and inhale the faint savour it still wonderfully holds, I know, I feel it all. Once more I am in her arms, strained to her breast, my small face pressed close to her smooth neck

dormer windows; and all, large and small alike, were stained to a dark purplish-slate color with a wash which is made, I understand, by mixing the lime with a quantity of slaked hard-wood ash. The houses stood each with a little space before it, now neatly tilled and deeply tufted with young green, but presently to become a mass of colour when the scarlet lychnis, blue larkspur, lavender, marigolds, and other summer-blooming plants should break into flower. Far up the street, at the point where a crossroad led out over the marshes to the low, dark-wooded ridge of the island, stood the forge; and as I drew nearer the warm, friendly breath of the fire purred

reetings, in the main, had the old-time heartiness, making me feel my citizenship in Grand Pré. But there was much eager interrogation as to the cause of my presence, and a something of suspicion, at times,

to note and discriminate between; for the owners of the two horses hailed and stopped me. They were men of the out-settlements, whom I knew but well enough to pass the weather with. Yet I saw it in their eyes that they had heard something

s; and stood gripping my fingers, and searching me with his eyes,

Pré, I perceive, who is merely glad to greet me home, an

ulders with a significant shrug. "Mother Pêche told me last night of your coming; and last night, too, the Black Abbé passed this way

I asked,

d Vaurin!" answered Nicole,

le? I give you my word, as I have told every one, I come to Grand Pré

e for the beast of friend or foe; but I'm your man, Master Paul, through thick and thin, as my father was your father's. 'Tis a hard thing to decide, these days, what with Halifax and the E

hingly on his shoul

w. Be true to France, in all openness, and lend no ear to treachery, is all I say. I am the king's man, h

y approval. There was a triumphant grin on his square

uch sneaking fire-in-the-night, throat-slitting, scalp-

he commandant for his misuse of my ignorance, and smar

e moment I observed, too, a sturdy stranger, apparently the owner of the horse now being shod. He sat to the rig

oo far! You play your part a trifle too well, young man. Let me counsel yo

s speech I read him to be a Gascon of the lower sort; while from his dress I jud

n such ill language such exce

have the honour to serve. It seems to suit some purpose of yours just now to deny it, but you were with him

upon him. "The other rascal, Vergor, tricked

I think I said, a very sturdy figure of a man, though not tall; and he gave sign of courage enough in his angry little eyes and jutting chin. A side glance at Nicole showed me that

n his rage and set hims

e are here now as private gentlemen, and you must giv

ne of Vaurin's crew, and I was in haste to see Father Fafard. I cursed my folly in havi

ice," said I abruptly, "and I cannot

umed, I must believe. His oaths were of a sort which g

entleman. None of your Canadian half-breed seigneurs, but a

rascal who might give me a good bout. But as for the gentleman of Gascony, faith, my credulity will not stand so great a tax. From yo

had struck the raw. With a choking curse the fellow s

he foot up. It was a beautiful trick, learned of an English prisoner at 76Montreal, who had trained me all one winter in the fistic art of his countrymen. My impetuous anta

out sharp-and don't go 'round o' nights without taking me

said I; "when I want a g

tain who had taught me such a useful accomplishment, and pleased, I confess, with Va