A Lover in Homespun | Page 4

orator could not have borne more becomingly the
honors showered upon him.
Very handsome Zotique looked as he rose, and he spoke in English
which fully justified the goodly remarks passed upon it by his father.
Vital's heart beat fast with pride as he looked at his handsome brother,
until it occurred to him how insignificant Katie White must think him
in comparison.
Before Zotique had spoken many words, he had completely won the
hearts of his hearers. Quite fluently he told them of the cities he had
visited in the States, and how a grocery clerk's life was one much to be
desired. He interspersed little jokes in his speech, at which he laughed
just as heartily and sincerely as his listeners. More than once he was on
the point of concluding, when a glance at Katie White's sweet face
incited him to fresh efforts.
It was a speech remembered and spoken of for many days.
Before the dancing began, farmer Charest declared, despite the
increasing and obvious restlessness of Magloire Meloche to get at the
fiddle, that they must have a speech, in English, from his eldest son
Vital. "And my son Vital, he has mak me a good son, if he do like to

tink alone too much, and sometime do forgetful ting." Very affectionate
was the look he gave Vital, who had been with him always, and for
whom it was not necessary to kill the fatted calf.
If there was anything Vital was an adept at not doing, it was making a
speech in English. He was considered quite clever at playing the organ
in the little village church, singing the mass, teaching school, and a
hundred other things, but at speaking English he was known as an
arrant failure.
For a few moments he stood struggling hard to regain his composure,
and ardently wishing that Katie were at his side to inspire him as she
had inspired his brother. Finally, he launched forth, to the quiet
amusement of the few English farmers present. Truly, he took liberties
with the language seldom attempted even by French-Canadians, to
whom the Saxon tongue appears to have no terrors. Yet, had he spoken
in Dutch, he would have been listened to just as patiently, for all
present knew and appreciated his quiet worth. After accomplishing the
feat of letting them know, at least half a dozen times, that he was glad
once more to see his brother with them, he got hopelessly wrecked, and
gazed hard at his plate for inspiration. Finding no succor there, his
thoughts again galloped off to the young woman who had come late,
where they evidently delighted to linger. A peaceful smile stole over
the speaker's worried face, and absently taking up his fork he began to
drum contentedly on the table with it, utterly forgetful of those who
were waiting anxiously for the remainder of his remarks.
With a broad smile, farmer Charest began to applaud loudly, receiving
generous aid from the guests.
This unexpected appreciation caused Vital to color painfully, well
intentioned though he knew the applause to be. The thought that Katie
must be again contrasting him with Zotique kept the crimson hue on his
face long after he sat down. The few remaining words which he spoke
were in continued praise of his brother, of whose cleverness both he
and his parents were very proud.
After the clapping of hands had subsided, the table was carried away to

make room for the dancing.
Feeling that he had utterly disgraced himself in Katie's eyes, Vital
wandered off to a quiet corner where he could see her without
attracting attention. It seemed to him, once or twice, that she looked
over inquiringly in his direction, but the thought that it was
presumptuous of him to imagine she would think of him now, made
him quickly decide that he had been mistaken as to the direction of her
glances. He was also convinced now that he had made a still more
serious mistake when he allowed himself to hope that she had
cherished tender thoughts of the many walks they had taken along the
quiet country road, and of the evenings he had spent with her.
Fearing to be thought unsociable, he rose hastily, and was soon talking
to the guests with unusual eagerness. His sudden lapses into thought,
however, created the impression in the minds of some of his listeners
that he was laboring under suppressed excitement.
At times, when he found himself drifting unconsciously toward Katie,
it was amusing to see what a hasty retreat he would beat.
As for Zotique, he had never enjoyed himself more. Scarcely for a
moment did he leave Katie's side. Brightly he talked to her of their
school-days and of the many pleasant parties they had