Francine’s Fatal Secret /(A Halloween Tragedy)/1
Orphaned by a hunter’s arrow, the spotted fawn had wandered aimlessly for three days and three nights before he found the garden belonging to Charles, Duke of Valencia; a garden tended by the maiden Francine. When Francine found him lying amongst the pumpkin vines he was near death and too weak to resist as she scooped him into her arms and carried him to her quarters. Some warm goats milk and a few hours by the fireplace were enough to revive him and he struggled to his feet. He nuzzled Francine’s hand as though to thank her. The bond was formed instantly. She dared not tell her uncle Charles, for he would not approve of her keeping a pet. He had already admonished her with a tongue-lashing for rescuing a hare that had been injured by his hunting dogs. She decided to keep her new pet a secret.2
Days turned into weeks and with her loving touch and all the goat’s milk he could drink Francine’s new companion was soon dancing about on his tiny hooves. It became painfully evident to Francine that she could no longer keep him confined to her quarters. She also realized that he would need to learn to graze in order to grow into a healthy stag. A soft rope made from braided strips of cloth worked perfectly as a way to lead him to the garden each afternoon as she gathered vegetables, pulled weeds and arranged the pumpkin and melon vines to the side of her paths. In no time at all her companion was grazing the tender grasses along the edge of the garden. It was a perfect scenario for Francine because her uncle was always taking his afternoon nap when it was time to tend the garden. Her secret was safe…for now.3
Tabor shed his summer coat along with all his spots and grew a handsome brown winter suit. He was becoming quite a handful for Francine and with his newly sprouted nubbins on his head Francine began to think of the inevitable time when Tabor must be allowed to return to the forest and live his life as nature intended. Her heart was torn between wanting to keep her companion close to her and doing the right thing. She no longer had to use the lead rope because Tabor followed her everywhere. It was becoming more and more difficult to hide him. With the garden now lying under a blanket of snow, Francine made regular trips to the stable for a basket of hay to feed her friend. By now his appetite was ravenous and it was becoming a real chore. As spring arrived, Francine had made up her mind to lead Tabor to the deepest part of the forest and set him free. By now Tabor was sporting a handsome set of antlers and his playfulness was a bit dangerous. This was the right thing to do…or so she thought.4
Getting Tabor to follow her into the forest proved to be no problem; getting him to stay there while she returned to her quarters was quite a different story. No matter what she did to try and trick him into staying put, Tabor would find a way to follow her home. This went on all summer long and as fall was approaching, Francine was at her wits end as to how she could keep Tabor from following her. She thought about confiding in her uncle, but thought better of it when she realized the trouble that would bring. 5
Suddenly it came to her…she would take some provisions and stay in the forest with Tabor for a few days until perhaps some of his own kind would wander nearby and Tabor would join them. It seemed like the perfect plan.6
Francine settled into the small shelter she had fashioned for herself from pine branches as Tabor grazed nearby. On the second day a small group of fallow deer emerged from a thicket and Tabor timidly approached them. Francine’s heart leapt with joy as she sat very still and watched the cautious greetings between Tabor and his new friends. The biggest doe seemed to take a liking to Tabor and it was obvious to Francine that Tabor was infatuated as well. In a few moments the group, led by the big doe, made their way back into the thicket with Tabor cautiously following them. A rush of emotions filled Francine’s heart as she suddenly realized she might not see her precious friend Tabor again. She stood up to catch a final glimpse of him as the group melted into the thicket.7
The arrow was intended for Tabor. 8
Francine slumped lifelessly to the forest floor. Charles would never come to know why Francine had been there in the forest that morning as he stalked the fallow stag. For all he knew, she was tending the garden, harvesting pumpkins and melons for tomorrow’s All Hallows Eve feast. He would never know that her heart was filled with joy and sadness as the arrow found its mark. 9
In his grief, Charles decreed that the hunting of fallow deer would no longer be allowed in Valencia. The garden, which Francine had nurtured for so long, became a tangled mass of vines and weeds. Francine’s quarters were sealed shut never to be used again. 10
No one can explain why the single set of hoof prints appear each year on All Hallows Eve leading to Francine’s door.11
Del Warren Livingston © October 200412
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
-
Hello Dee,
Thank-you for your thoughtful comments. I am pleased to read that you got so much from the story and I am equally pleased to learn that we are nearly neighbors. I moved to Tucson in 1997 and adopted the desert as my new home from now on. I shall RTF soon and thanks again for making your way to my writings.
Blessings,
Del -
This is such a sad and beautiful story. As I read it I felt Francines joy and Tabors devotion to each other. I also felt the subtle anticipation of upcoming heartbreak.
The ending is so sad,I had expected tragedy, but thought it would be Tabor getting killed, not Francine. So the twist at the end made it very clever.... and her death led to saving Tabor again, along with all the other deer in the area. His visits to the garden in years to come gave a beautiful touch to the story.
I enjoyed this very much. I also write short stories, but have only one posted here, I should do more.
Dee
Edited on Dec 10, 2:29 p.m. because ''. -
Thanks UGV,
Yes, I sat down and composed this in about an hour and it was in one of my most meloncholy moments. Most of my writing is up beat though. Thanks for reading and commenting...I appreciate that.
Del -
I really liked this. it was sad though at the end. nevertheless, a good read. great job
-
Thanks silica,
You have a keen eye and I appreciate you for seeing (and commenting) on a "glitch". I made a small edit which I think will improve that line. I will give some thought to your feelings about the title.
I am sooo glad the subtle hint of a "moral" came through. It was on my mind throughout the writing of this.
Thanks again for your thoughtful remarks. I am delighted that you enjoyed this effort.
Blessings,
Del -
A good spooky tale in the ghost story tradition – I felt the characters were a little stereotyped but only a hint and not really a problem in this genre. There was almost a moral… lingering in the background like the persistent Tabor; something about hunting and keeping secrets… Good flowing prose added to the quality of the story I thought.
One small hiccup for me was the multi clauses in the opening sentence; by the time I got to ‘and tended by’ I was thinking of the wounded faun being tended rather than the garden… not that your writing was wrong, just a little ambiguous at the start, when what you want is to lure the reader in. My other small reservation was the title - I think it deserves something a little catchier.
Otherwise a good read – thank you.
-
Hi TU,
I guess I saw the horror in uncle Charles accidently shooting his niece. (Perhaps that is more of a tragedy than a horror.)
Valencia is the name of a street here in the town where I live.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Del
Edited on Oct 31 because ''. -
I really enjoyed this story, though I dont see how its much of a horror. Im just curious as to where you got the town name from, because it seems so familiar. Keep up the good work, I like your characters.
-
Hello Hippie,
It's good to hear that my story elicited such a response and I am grateful to you for reading and commenting on this. You have made my day.
Del -
Nadelle,
YOU have a gift for making an ole man feel good about his writing and I thank-you kindly for your remarks and for reading this one.
Blessings,
Del -
Thanks Nec,
It was a bit chilling to write and the idea just seemed to flow together as Halloween approaches. Thanks for reading.
Del -
Thanks Pixie,
I genuinely appreciate you for reading and commenting on this and glad you enjoyed it.
Blessings,
Del -
ahh i wanna cry thats about as sad as bambi was. Its a great write though and a good story its not creepy or anything just sweet and caring. Thank you for sharing this.
~Hippie~ -
A very beautiful story and so sad. You wrote it so well too. Keep writting, can't wait to read your next piece. You have a gift with story telling. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Wonderfully done.
-
I really liked your story. It kind of sent chills down my spine while reading it. Nice work.
-
Ohhh How sad. But it is a great short story. Keep up the fantastic work. Sincerely Flirty Pixie
Adding your comment:
1 - 16 of 16
