Swiftly　they　glided　away；　like　the　shade　of　a　cloud　on　the　prairie。
  After　the　sound　of　their　oars　on　the　tholes　had　died　in　the　distance；
  As　from　a　magic　trance　the　sleepers　awoke；　and　the　maiden
  Said　with　a　sigh　to　the　friendly　priest；　〃O　Father　Felician！
  Something　says　in　my　heart　that　near　me　Gabriel　wanders。
  Is　it　a　foolish　dream；　an　idle　and　vague　superstition？
  Or　has　an　angel　passed；　and　revealed　the　truth　to　my　spirit？〃
  Then；　with　a　blush；　she　added；　〃Alas　for　my　credulous　fancy！
  Unto　ears　like　thine　such　words　as　these　have　no　meaning。〃
  But　made　answer　the　reverend　man；　and　he　smiled　as　he　answered；
  〃Daughter；　thy　words　are　not　idle；　nor　are　they　to　me　without　meaning。
  Feeling　is　deep　and　still；　and　the　word　that　floats　on　the　surface
  Is　as　the　tossing　buoy；　that　betrays　where　the　anchor　is　hidden。
  Therefore　trust　to　thy　heart；　and　to　what　the　world　calls　illusions。
  Gabriel　truly　is　near　thee；　for　not　far　away　to　the　southward；
  On　the　banks　of　the　T阠he　are　the　towns　of　St。　Maur　and　St。　Martin。
  There　the　long…wandering　bride　shall　be　given　again　to　her　bridegroom；
  There　the　long…absent　pastor　regain　his　flock　and　his　sheepfold。
  Beautiful　is　the　land；　with　its　prairies　and　forests　of　fruit…trees；
  Under　the　feet　a　garden　of　flowers；　and　the　bluest　of　heavens
  Bending　above；　and　resting　its　dome　on　the　walls　of　the　forest。
  They　who　dwell　there　have　named　it　the　Eden　of　Louisiana。〃
  With　these　words　of　cheer　they　arose　and　continued　their　journey。
  Softly　the　evening　came。　　The　sun　from　the　western　horizon
  Like　a　magician　extended　his　golden　wand　o'er　the　landscape；
  Twinkling　vapors　arose；　and　sky　and　water　and　forest
  Seemed　all　on　fire　at　the　touch；　and　melted　and　mingled　together。
  Hanging　between　two　skies；　a　cloud　with　edges　of　silver；
  Floated　the　boat；　with　its　dripping　oars；　on　the　motionless　water。
  Filled　was　Evangeline's　heart　with　inexpressible　sweetness。
  Touched　by　the　magic　spell；　the　sacred　fountains　of　feeling
  Glowed　with　the　light　of　love；　as　the　skies　and　waters　around　her。
  Then　from　a　neighboring　thicket　the　mockingbird；　wildest　of　singers；
  Swinging　aloft　on　a　willow　spray　that　hung　o'er　the　water；
  Shook　from　his　little　throat　such　floods　of　delirious　music；
  That　the　whole　air　and　the　woods　and　the　waves　seemed　silent　to　listen。
  Plaintive　at　first　were　the　tones　and　sad；　then　soaring　to　madness
  Seemed　they　to　follow　or　guide　the　revel　of　frenzied　Bacchantes。
  Single　notes　were　then　heard；　in　sorrowful；　low　lamentation；
  Till；　having　gathered　them　all；　he　flung　them　abroad　in　derision；
  As　when；　after　a　storm；　a　gust　of　wind　through　the　tree　tops
  Shakes　down　the　rattling　rain　in　a　crystal　shower　on　the　branches。
  With　such　a　prelude　as　this；　and　hearts　that　throbbed　with　emotion；
  Slowly　they　entered　the　T阠he；　where　it　flows　through　the　green　Opelousas；
  And；　through　the　amber　air；　above　the　crest　of　the　woodland；
  Saw　the　column　of　smoke　that　arose　from　a　neighboring　dwelling；
  Sounds　of　a　horn　they　heard；　and　the　distant　lowing　of　cattle。
  III。
  NEAR　to　the　bank　of　the　river；　o'ershadowed　by　oaks；　from　whose　branches
  Garlands　of　Spanish　moss　and　of　mystic　mistletoe　flaunted；
  Such　as　the　Druids　cut　down　with　golden　hatchets　at　Yule…tide；
  Stood；　secluded　and　still；　the　house　of　the　herdsman。　　A　garden
  Girdled　it　round　about　with　a　belt　of　luxuriant　blossoms；
  Filling　the　air　with　fragrance。　　The　house　itself　was　of　timbers
  Hewn　from　the　cypress…tree；　and　carefully　fitted　together。
  Large　and　low　was　the　roof；　and　on　slender　columns　supported；
  Rose…wreathed；　vine…encircled；　a　broad　and　spacious　veranda；
  Haunt　of　the　humming…bird　and　the　bee；　extended　around　it。
  At　each　end　of　the　house；　amid　the　flowers　of　the　garden；
  Stationed　the　dove…cots　were；　as　love's　perpetual　symbol；
  Scenes　of　endless　wooing；　and　endless　contentions　of　rivals。
  Silence　reigned　o'er　the　place。　　The　line　of　shadow　and　sunshine
  Ran　near　the　tops　of　the　trees；　but　the　house　itself　was　in　shadow；
  And　from　its　chimney…top；　ascending　and　slowly　expanding
  Into　the　evening　air；　a　thin　blue　column　of　smoke　rose。
  In　the　rear　of　the　house；　from　the　garden　gate；　ran　a　pathway
  Through　the　great　groves　of　oak　to　the　skirts　of　the　limitless　prairie；
  Into　whose　sea　of　flowers　the　sun　was　slowly　descending。
  Full　in　his　track　of　light；　like　ships　with　shadowy　canvas
  Hanging　loose　from　their　spars　in　a　motionless　calm　in　the　tropics；
  Stood　a　cluster　of　trees；　with　tangled　cordage　of　grape…vines。
  Just　where　the　woodlands　met　the　flowery　surf　of　the　prairie；
  Mounted　upon　his　horse；　with　Spanish　saddle　and　stirrups；
  Sat　a　herdsman；　arrayed　in　gaiters　and　doublet　of　deerskin。
  Broad　and　brown　was　the　face　that　from　under　the　Spanish　sombrero
  Gazed　on　the　peaceful　scene；　with　the　lordly　look　of　its　master。
  Round　about　him　were　numberless　herds　of　kine；　that　were　grazing
  Quietly　in　the　meadows；　and　breathing　the　vapory　freshness
  That　uprose　from　the　river；　and　spread　itself　over　the　landscape。
  Slowly　lifting　the　horn　that　hung　at　his　side；　and　expanding
  Fully　his　broad；　deep　chest；　he　blew　a　blast；　that　resounded
  Wildly　and　sweet　and　far；　through　the　still　damp　air　of　the　evening。
  Suddenly　out　of　the　grass　the　long　white　horns　of　the　cattle
  Rose　like　flakes　of　foam　on　the　adverse　currents　of　ocean。
  Silent　a　moment　they　gazed；　then　bellowing　rushed　o'er　the　prairie；
  And　the　whole　mass　became　a　cloud；　a　shade　in　the　distance。
  Then　as　the　herdsman　turned　to　the　house；　through　the　gate　of　the　garden
  Saw　he　the　forms　of　the　priest　and　the　maiden　advancing　to　meet　him。
  Suddenly　down　from　his　horse　he　sprang　in　amazement；　and　forward
  Rushed　with　extended　arms　and　exclamations　of　wonder；
  When　they　beheld　his　face；　they　recognized　Basil　the　blacksmith。
  Hearty　his　welcome　was；　as　he　led　his　guests　to　the　garden。
  There　in　an　arbor　of　roses　with　endless　question　and　answer
  Gave　they　vent　to　their　hearts；　and　renewed　their　friendly　embraces；
  Laughing　and　weeping　by　turns；　or　sitting　silent　and　thoughtful。
  Thoughtful；　for　Gabriel　came　not；　and　now　dark　doubts　and　misgivings
  Stole　o'er　the　maiden's　heart；　and　Basil；　somewhat　embarrassed；
  Broke　the　silence　and　said；　〃If　you　came　by　the　Atchafalaya；
  How　have　you　nowhere　encountered　my　Gabriel's　boat　on　the　bayous？〃
  Over　Evangeline's　face　at　the　words　of　Basil　a　shade　passed。
  Tears　came　into　her　eyes；　and　she　said；　with　a　tremulous　accent；
  〃Gone？　is　Gabriel　gone？〃　and；　concealing　her　face　on　his　shoulder；
  All　her　o'erburdened　heart　gave　way；　and　she　wept　and　lamented。
  Then　the　good　Basil　said；and　his　voice　grew　blithe　as　he　said　it；
  〃Be　of　good　cheer；　my　child；　it　is　only　to…day　he　departed。
  Foolish　boy！　he　has　left　me　alone　with　my　herds　and　my　horses。
  Moody　and　restless　grown；　and　tried　and　troubled；　his　spirit
  Could　no　longer　endure　the　calm　of　this　quiet　existence。
  Thinking　ever　of　thee；　uncertain　and　sorrowful　ever；
  Ever　silent；　or　speaking　only　of　thee　and　his　troubles；
  He　at　length　had　become　so　tedious　to　men　and　to　maidens；
  Tedious　even　to　me；　that　at　length　I　bethought　me；　and　sent　him
  Unto　the　town　of　Adayes　to　trade　for　mules　with　the　Spaniards。
  Thence　he　will　follow　the　Indian　trails　to　the　Ozark　Mountains；
  Hunting　for　furs　in　the　forests；　on　rivers　trapping　the　beaver。
  Therefore　be　of　good　cheer；　we　will　follow　the　fugitive　lover；
  He　is　not　far　on　his　way；　and　the　Fates　and　the　streams　are　against　him。
  Up　and　away　to…morrow；　and　through　the　red　dew　of　the　morning
  We　will　follow　him　fast　and　bring　him　back　to　his　prison。〃
  Then　glad　voices　were　heard；　and　up　from　the　banks　of　the　river；
  Borne　aloft　on　his　comrades'　arms；　came　Michael　the　fiddler。
  Long　under　Basil's　roof　had　he　lived　like　a　god　on　Olympus；
  Having　no　other　care　than　dispensing　music　to　mortals。
  Far　renowned　was　he　for　his　silver　locks　and　his　fiddle。
  〃Long　live　Michael；〃　they　cried；　〃our　brave　Acadian　minstrel！〃
  As　they　bore　him　aloft　in　triumphal　procession；　and　straightway
  Father　Felician　advanced　with　Evangeline；　greeting　the　old　man
  Kindly　and　oft；　and　recalling　the　past；　while　Basil；　enraptured；
  Hailed　with　hilarious　joy　his　old　companions　and　gossips；
  Laughing　loud　and　long；　and　embracing　mothers　and　daughters。
  Much　they　marvelled　to　see　the　wealth　of　the　ci…devant　blacksmith；
  All　his　domains　and　his　herds；　and　his　patriarchal　demeanor；
  Much　they　marvelled　to　hear　his　tales　of　the　soil　and　the　climate；
  And　of　the　prairies；　whose　numberless　herds　were　his　who　would　take　them；
  Each　one　thought　in　his　heart；　that　he；　too；　would　go　and　do　likewise。
  Thus　they　ascended　the　steps；　and；　crossing　the　airy　veranda；
  Entered　the　hall　of　the　house；　where　already　the　supper　of　Basil
  Waited　his　late　return；　and　they　rested　and　feasted　together。
  Over　the　joyous　feast　the　sudden　darkness　descended。
  All　was　silent　without；　and；　illuming　the　landscape　with　silver；
  Fair　rose　the　dewy　moon　and　the　myriad　stars；　but　within　doors；
  Brighter　than　these；　shone　the　faces　of　friends　in　the　glimmering　lamplight。
  Then　from　his　station　aloft；　at　the　head　of　the　table；　the　herdsman
  Poured　forth　his　heart　and　his　wine　together　in　endless　profusion。
  Lighting　his　pipe；　that　was　filled　with　sweet　Natchitoches　tobacco；
  Thus　he　spake　to　his