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Yoga Roma Parioli Pony Express Raccomandate Roma

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BEYOND THE BAYOUby Kate ChopinBeyond the BayouThe bayou curved like a crescent around the point of land on which La Folle's cabin stood. Between the stream and the hut lay a big abandoned fieldwhere cattle were pastured when the bayou supplied them with water enough. Through the woods that spread back into unknown regions the woman had drawn an imaginary lineand past this circle she never stepped. This was the form of her only mania.She was now a largegaunt black womanpast thirty-five. Her real name was Jacquelinebut every one on the plantation called her La Follebecause in childhood she had been frightened literally "out of her senses and had never wholly regained them. It was when there had been skirmishing and sharpshooting all day in the woods. Evening was near when P'tit Maitre, black with powder and crimson with blood, had staggered into the cabin of Jacqueline's mother, his pursuers close at his heels. The sight had stunned her childish reason. She dwelt alone in her solitary cabin, for the rest of the quarters had long since been removed beyond her sight and knowledge. She had more physical strength than most men, and made her patch of cotton and corn and tobacco like the best of them. But of the world beyond the bayou she had long known nothing, save what her morbid fancy conceived. People at Bellissime had grown used to her and her way, and they thought nothing of it. Even when Old Mis'" diedthey did not wonder that La Folle had not crossed the bayoubut had stood upon her side of itwailing and lamenting.P'tit Maitre was now the owner of Bellissime. He was a middle-aged manwith a family of beautiful daughters about himand a little son whom La Folle loved as if he had been her own. She called him Cheriand so did every one else because she did.None of the girls had ever been to her what Cheri was. They had each and all loved to be with herand to listen to her wondrous stories of things that always happened "yondabeyon' de bayou."But none of them had stroked her black hand quite as Cheri didnor rested their heads against her knee so confidinglynor fallen asleep in her arms as he used to do. For Cheri hardly did such things nowsince he had become the proud possessor of a gunand had had his black curls cut off.That summer- the summer Cheri gave La Folle two black curls tied with a knot of red ribbon- the water ran so low in the bayou that even the little children at Bellissime were able to cross it on footand the cattle were sent to pasture down by the river. La Folle was sorry when they were gonefor she loved these dumb companions welland liked to feel that they were thereand to hear them browsing by night up to her own inclosure.It was Saturday afternoonwhen the fields were deserted. The men had flocked to a neighboring village to do their week's tradingand the women were occupied with household affairs- La Folle as well as the others. It was then she mended and washed her handful of clothesscoured her houseand did her baking.In this last employment she never forgot Cheri. Today she had fashioned croquignoles of the most fantastic and alluring shapes for him. So when she saw the boy come trudging across the old field with his gleaming little new rifle on his shouldershe called out gayly to himCheri! Cheri!But Cheri did not need the summonsfor he was coming straight to her. His pockets all bulged out with almonds and raisins and an orange that he had secured for her from the very fine dinnerwhich had been given that day up at his father's house.He was a sunny-faced youngster of ten. When he had emptied his pocketsLa Folle patted his round red cheekwiped his soiled hands on her apronand smoothed his hair. Then she watched him aswith his cakes in his handhe crossed her strip of cotton back of the cabinand disappeared into the wood.He had boasted of the things he was going to do with his gun out there.You think they got plenty deer in the wood, La Folle?he had inquiredwith the calculating air of an experienced hunter.$"Nonnon!" 4 the woman laughed. "Don't you look fo' no deerCheri. Dat's too big. But you bring La Folle one good fat squirrel fo' her dinner tomorrowan' she goin' be satisfi'."One squirrel ain't a bite. I'll bring you mo' 'an one, La Folle,he had boasted pompously as he went away.When the womanan hour laterheard the report of the boy's rifle close to the wood's edgeshe would have thought nothing of it if a sharp cry of distress had not followed the sound.She withdrew her arms from the tub of suds in which they had been plungeddried them upon her apronand as quickly as her trembling limbs would bear herhurried to the spot whence the ominous report had come.It was as she feared. There she found Cheri stretched upon the groundwith his rifle beside him. He moaned piteously:I'm dead, La Folle! I'm dead! I'm gone!$"Nonnon!" 4 she exclaimed resolutelyas she knelt beside him. "Put you' arm 'roun' La Folle's nakeCheri. Dat's nuttin'; dat goin' be nuttin'." She lifted him in her powerful arms.Cheri had carried his gun muzzle-downward. He had stumbled- he did not know how. He only knew that he had a ball lodged somewhere in his legand he thought that his end was at hand. Nowwith his head upon the woman's shoulderhe moaned and wept with pain and fright.Oh, La Folle! La Folle! it hurt so bad! I can' stan' it, La Folle!Don't cry,2Mon bebe, mon bebe, mon Cheri!4 the woman spoke soothingly as she covered the ground with long strides. "La Folle goin' mine you; Doctor Bonfils goin' come make2mon Cheri 4 well agin."She had reached the abandoned field. As she crossed it with her precious burdenshe looked constantly and restlessly from side to side. A terrible fear was upon her- the fear of the world beyond the bayouthe morbid and insane dread she had been under since childhood.When she was at the bayou's edge she stood thereand shouted for help as if a life depended upon it:-Oh, P'tit Maitre! P'tit Maitre! Venez donc! Au secours! Au secours!No voice responded. Cheri's hot tears were scalding her neck. She called for each and every one upon the placeand still no answer came.She shoutedshe wailed; but whether her voice remained unheard or unheededno reply came to her frenzied cries. And all the while Cheri moaned and wept and entreated to be taken home to his mother.La Folle gave a last despairing look around her. Extreme terror was upon her. She clasped the child close against her breastwhere he could feel her heart beat like a muffled hammer. Then shutting her eyesshe ran suddenly down the shallow bank of the bayouand never stopped till she had climbed the opposite shore.She stood there quivering an instant as she opened her eyes. Then she plunged into the footpath through the trees.She spoke no more to Cheribut muttered constantlyBon Dieu, ayez pitie La Folle! Bon Dieu, ayez pitie moi!Instinct seemed to guide her. When the pathway spread clear and smooth enough before hershe again closed her eyes tightly against the sight of that unknown and terrifying world.A childplaying in some weedscaught sight of her as she neared the quarters. The little one uttered a cry of dismay.La Folle!she screamedin her piercing treble. "La Folle don cross de bayer!"Quickly the cry passed down the line of cabins.Yonda, La Folle done cross de bayou!Childrenold menold womenyoung ones with infants in their armsflocked to doors and windows to see this awe-inspiring spectacle. Most of them shuddered with superstitious dread of what it might portend. "She totin' Cheri!" some of them shouted.Some of the more daring gathered about herand followed at her heelsonly to fall back with new terror when she turned her distorted face upon them. Her eyes were bloodshot and the saliva had gathered in a white foam on her black lips.Some one had run ahead of her to where P'tit Maitre sat with his family and guests upon the gallery.P'tit Maitre! La Folle done cross de bayou! Look her! Look her yonda totin' Cheri!This startling intimation was the first which they had of the woman's approach.She was now near at hand. She walked with long strides. Her eyes were fixed desperately before herand she breathed heavilyas a tired ox.At the foot of the stairwaywhich she could not have mountedshe laid the boy in his father's arms. Then the world that had looked red to La Folle suddenly turned black- like that day she had seen powder and blood.She reeled for an instant. Before a sustaining arm could reach hershe fell heavily to the ground.When La Folle regained consciousnessshe was at home againin her own cabin and upon her own bed. The moon raysstreaming in through the open door and windowsgave what light was needed to the old black mammy who stood at the table concocting a tisane of fragrant herbs. It was very late.Others who had comeand found that the stupor clung to herhad gone again. P'tit Maitre had been thereand with him Doctor Bonfilswho said that La Folle might die.But death had passed her by. The voice was very clear and steady with which she spoke to Tante Lizettebrewing her tisane there in a corner.Ef you will give me one good drink tisane, Tante Lizette, I b'lieve I'm goin' sleep, me.And she did sleep; so soundlyso healthfullythat old Lizette without compunction stole softly awayto creep back through the moonlit fields to her own cabin in the new quarters.The first touch of the cool gray morning awoke La Folle. She arosecalmlyas if no tempest had shaken and threatened her existence but yesterday.She donned her new blue cottonade and white apronfor she remembered that this was Sunday. When she had made for herself a cup of strong black coffeeand drunk it with relishshe quitted the cabin and walked across the old familiar field to the bayou's edge again.She did not stop there as she had always done beforebut crossed with a longsteady stride as if she had done this all her life.When she had made her way through the brush and scrub cottonwood trees that lines the opposite bankshe found herself upon the border of a field where the whitebursting cottonwith the dew upon itgleamed for acres and acres like frosted silver in the early dawn.La Folle drew a longdeep breath as she gazed across the country. She walked slowly and uncertainlylike one who hardly knows howlooking about her as she went.The cabinsthat yesterday had sent a clamor of voices to pursue herwere quiet now. No one was yet astir at Bellissime. Only the birds that darted here and there from hedges were awakeand singing their matins.When La Folle came to the broad stretch of velvety lawn that surrounded the houseshe moved slowly and with delight over the springy turfthat was delicious beneath her tread.She stopped to find whence came those perfumes that were assailing her senses with memories from a time far gone.There they werestealing up to her from the thousand blue violets that peeped out from greenluxuriant beds. There they wereshowering down from the big waxen bells of the magnolias far above her headand from the jessamine clumps around her.There were rosestoowithout number. To right and left palms spread in broad and graceful curves. It all looked like enchantment beneath the sparkling sheen of dew.When La Folle had slowly and cautiously mounted the many steps that led up to the verandashe turned to look back at the perilous ascent she had made. Then she caught sight of the riverbending like a silver bow at the foot of Bellissime. Exultation possessed her soul.La Folle rapped softly upon a door near at hand. Cheri's mother soon cautiously opened it. Quickly and cleverly she dissembled the astonishment she felt at seeing La Folle.Ah, La Folle! Is it you, so early?$"Oui4 madame. I come ax how my po' li'le Cheri to's mo'nin'."He is feeling easier, thank you, La Folle. Dr. Bonfils says it will be nothing serious. He's sleeping now. Will you come back when he awakes?$"Non4 madame. I'm goin' wait yair tell Cheri wake up." La Folle seated herself upon the topmost step of the veranda.A look of wonder and deep content crept into her face as she watched for the first time the sun rise upon the newthe beautiful world beyond the bayou.THE END