the Southern songster was reproduced in the fife-like tones of the Acadien, when he presently spoke. He was an official, and carried in his hand a locked bag containing her Majesty's mail for her Acadien subjects of the Bay. Vesper had seen the mail-carriers along the route, tossing their bags to the passing train, and receiving others in return, but none as gorgeous as this one, and he was wondering[Pg 51] why the gentle-faced septuagenarian made himself so peculiar, when he was addressed in a sweet, high voice. [Pg 51] "Sir," said the bird-man, in French,—for was he not Emmanuel Victor De la Rive, lineal descendant of a French marquis who had married a queen's maid of honor, and had subsequently bequeathed his bones and his large family of children to his adored Acadie?—"Sir, is it possible that you are a guest for the inn?" "It is possible," said Vesper, gravely. "Alas!" said the old man, turning to the dark-eyed woman, who had left her cradle and spinning-wheel, "is it not always so? When Rose à Charlitte does not send, there are arrivals. When she does, there are not. She will be in despair. Sir, shall I have the honor of taking you over in my road-cart?" "I have a wheel," said Vesper, pointing to the bicycle, leaning disconsolately against his trunk. The black-eyed woman immediately put out her hand for his checks. "Then may I have the honor of showing you the way?" said Monsieur De la Rive, bowing before Vesper as if he were a divinity. "There are sides of the road which it is well to avoid." "I shall be most happy to avail myself of your offer." [Pg 52] [Pg 52] "I will send the trunk over," said the station woman. "There is a constant going that way." Vesper thanked her, and left the station in the wake of the cardinal-bird, who sat perched on his narrow seat as easily as if it were a branch of a tree, turning his crested head at frequent intervals to look anxiously at the mail-bag which, for reasons best known to himself, he carried slung to a nail in the back of his cart. At frequent intervals, too, he piped shrill and sweet remarks to
Prev.
Back
Top