Bonaventure

elds, many an Acadian volunteer and many a poor conscript fought and fell for a cause that was really none of theirs, simple,

t away, and strange ones came back with tidings that brought bitter wailings from mothers and wives, and m

s; yet the dooryard was very populous with fowls; within the house was always heard the hard thump, thump, of the loom, or the loud moan of the spinning-wheel; and the children were many. The eldest was Athanase. Though but fifteen he was already stalwart, and showed that intelligent sympathy in the family cares that

He came into great demand for the Saturday-night balls. When the courier with a red kerchief on a wand came galloping round, the day before, from ?le to ?le,-for these descendan

ng growing better and better, finer and finer, every time he was heard anew. As to the few other cavaliers, very willing were they to have it so. The music could not be too good, and if 'Thanase was already perceptibly a rival when hoisted up in a chair on top of a table, fiddle and bow in hand, "twisting," to borrow their own phrase-"twisting the ears of that little red beast and rubbing his

eille. About the small figure of the daughter there was always something distinguishing, even if you rode up from behind, that told of youth, of mettle, of self-regard; a neatness of fit in the dress, a firm erectness in the little slim back, a faint proudness of neck, a glimpse of ribbon at the throat, another at the waist; a something of assertion in the slight crispness of her homespun sunbonnet, and a ravishing glint of two sparks inside it as you got one glance within-no more. And as you rode on, if you were a young blade, you would be-as t

wheeled vehicle creaking as a new saddle would if a new saddle were as big as a house,-"Bonaventure, I wish you could learn h

k for a moment, and th

e does n

ex me. 'Thanase! What do you always bring him up for? I wish you would have the kindness just not to remind me of him! Why does not some one tell him how he looks, hoisted up with his feet in our faces, scratching

the way some girls stood listening to him last night. I'd be ashamed, or, rather, t

with quiet intensity that he knew wh

osthène's sunbonnet turned around, and a murmur of admonition came fr

denly hushed. Behind them a galloping horse drew near, softly pattering

ather belt that carried a heavy revolver in its holster at one hip. A Campeachy hat shaded his face and shoulders, and a pair of Mexican spurs tinkled their little steel bells against the

ène's eyes met his, and her lips moved in an inaudible greeting; but the eyes of her little daughter were in her lap. Bonaventure's gaze was hostile. A word or two passed b

éphine's further remarks were sil

chirruping, "there's one comfort-he doesn't care a cent for me. If I should die to-morrow, he would forget to come to the funeral

hing sky, and patted the calèche with a little foot that ached for deliverance from its Sunday shoe. Then her glanc