, motherhood, maidenhood, childhood of Grande Pointe, not
knowing that before many days every household in the village was to be
a subscriber to the "Album of Universal Information."

One of the last of the householders was Chat-oue. But when he grasped
the honored hand, he also held it, fixing upon its owner a generous
and somewhat bacchanalian smile.

"I'm a fool, but _I_ know. You been put op a jawb on me. Dass four,
five days now I been try to meck out what dat niggah at Belle Alliance
holla to me when I gallop down de road." (Chat-oue's English had been
acquired from negroes in the sugar-house, and was like theirs.) "He
been braggin' dat day befo'"--turning to Bonaventure--"how 'twas him
show you de road to Gran' Point' las' year; and so I git mad and tell
him, me," addressing the stranger again, "how we goin' git school
shot op. Well, dat night I mit him comin' fum Gran' Point' and he hol'
at me. I been try evva since meck out what he say. Yass. An' I _jis_
meck it out! He say, 'Watch out, watch out, 'Mian Roussel and dat
book-fellah dawn't put op jawb on _you_.' Well, I'm a fool, but I
know. You put op jawb on me; I know. But dass all right--_I don't take
no book._" He laughed with the rest, scratched his tipsy head, and
backed out through the _pieux_.

Only a fairy number remained, grouped around the honorable Tarbox.
They were St. Pierre, Bonaventure,--Maximian detaining a middle-aged
pair, Sidonie's timorous guardians,--and two others, who held back,
still waiting to shake hands.

"Claude," cried Bonaventure; "Sidonie."

They came. Claude shook hands and stepped inside. Sidonie, with eyes
on the ground, put forth her hand. The honored guest held it
lingeringly, and the ceremonies were at an end.

"Come," said 'Mian, beckoning away the great G. W.'s probable
relative. They passed out together. "Come!" he repeated, looking back
and beckoning again; "walk een! all han'! walk een house!"

The guardian pair followed, hand in hand.

"Claude," said Bonaventure tenderly; but--

"Claude," more firmly said St. Pierre.

The boy looked for one instant from the master's face to Sidonie's;
then turned, grasped his father's hand, and followed the others.

A blaze of light filled Bonaventure's heart. He turned to Sidonie to
give his hand--both her hands were clasped upon each other, and they
only tightened. But their eyes met--ah! those Acadian maidens, they do
it all with their eyes!--and lover and maiden passed