A Little Girl in Old Detroit

ions against selling intoxicants to the Indians inside the stockade. The Frenchman drank a little and slowly, and was merry and vivaciou

not much more than cabins. There was not much call for solidity when a marauding band of Indians might put

maize cakes well-browned, piles of maple sugar and wild summer plums just ripening. The De Ber children, with Jeanne and Pani, took their dinn

exclaimed. "That is a sight wo

an you not get a boat or a canoe? Let us go ou

e flying pennons of red and white, and some British ships that had not yet left flaunted their own colors. As for the river, that was simply alive with boats of every descripti

get a boat," said Louis, darting

Madame Ganeau and her daughter Delisse, an

. "I tried. Not a canoe or a pirogue or a

said Jeanne. "Or float, Marie. I can fl

a hundred golden louis

ber when she climbed the palisade? When on

voice. "The saints alone know what will become of that wild thing. Marie, since your mother is so busy

, Ma

you see the girl bows to her husband, which is as it should be. A girl well brought up should have no temper

"And I do not want any husband to

end. And if thou triest hi

-I should kill him," and

e shy of thee thou wilt begin to long for them whe

ed and flung

r soft hand in

did not have dinner ready. And I will bring you lovely furs and whatever

dden gravity and gave back the pr

arry in a long, long time, until I get tired of other

are full of fun

in a fine canoe and some Ind

p in. Now for a glorious

ing around on one foot, a

t up in every direction. The air was tensely clear. There was Lake St. Clair spread out in the distance, touching a sky of golden blue, if such colors fuse. And the opposite sh

down a little ways, for most of the craf

s more beguiling than the songs of the voyageurs. Delisse joined and Marie's sof

to M. Bellestre and see what his wishes are? And there is the Recollet house, though girls do not get much training for wives. Prayers and beads and penance are

th a quaking heart; "M.

there is wild blood in the child. You should have

was so good and kind. The orphan of Le bon Dieu,

will be well married, which is a great comfort to a mother. And now I can devote myself to my grandchildren. Antoine has two fine boys and Jeanne a little d

ce startling ideas or contradict her. Her life had been prosperous and she took the cre

and this was full of delight. Would she ever have a lover like Jacques Graumont, who would

nd scuttled into little nooks along the shore edge as the boats passed them, the fish leaping up now and then, brought forth exclamations of

rt me!" she exc

ill be

ld not care

iver. Are your mates down th

d I not go to t

I will no

e a little blurred and had an expression

and get the gold hi

erpent g

ore than one. And there are good spirits who

ill work for you. Some one will get th

t the treasure. Pan

r head, still

o Micmac? I thought to stay all

thers as girls do their mother

anne; I want to

" but there was a

back next spring

ed indif

r secret, which may b

the water again. There was no

to see me then?

I do not like you as well as

ell?" He was amaz

y are quite old and have beautiful white beards and voices that are like the water when it flows softly. Or the boys who

hat is right," with a decisive nod. "I ha

your way

or myself,"

have a lov

ep a wild little girl with no one but Pani until-until I am a ve

ence. If his father made a great fortune, and after all no one knew where she came from-he co

hat had stirred his blood? Why

about?" said Jacques G

t yellow pink sheen on the water instead of the blaze of gold. A clear, high atmosphere that

urple and dun stealing over the river. It moved Jeanne Angelot strangely; it gave her a sense of exaltation

struck him in childish wrath. She wanted no one b

atiently. "I want to think. I lik

lovely lines. Her mouth was a scarlet blossom, and her hair

before her, and she, still in a half dream, waited. Then he put his arm about her, turned her one side, and pressed

t. Then she doubled up her small hand and

hild alone! And answer to me. What business had yo

d paid for it," cried Marsac, angrily, a

knife. Let us have fair play. I had hired the canoe in the morning and went up the river

" declared Mars

ne!" cried Pa

Jeanne looked back at Marsa

aid to the stranger. Fights and

e man has lied to us both. But I wouldn't c

an," said Marsac

ardly say friend," in a dignifi

other side of her. "What was it?" he aske

oat. Run and see how t

arie-and it is

fraid." She stamped her

The bells were ringing, more from long habit now. Soldiers in uniform were everywhere, some as guar

l day, and where is Pier

me Ganeau, with her daughter and promised son-in-law, were along in the

frankly. "Oh, here he comes,

n, thou

rget. But he gave back the money. He had told a lie, however, for he said Marsac took the canoe without his knowledge, and then he declared he had been so mixed up-I think he wa

up her skirt and scrubb

d Pani, "and thou must have a mouthful

houlder, with a caress; and Jeanne

t I will go to bed at once,"

July day with flags and confusion and cannon firing and bells ringing

ever afterward, but this was

s soundly asleep. But the man who had kissed her and who had been her childhood's friend sta

ars! In three or four years I will marry her and then I will train her to know who is master. She

al amused after all his disappointment and vexation,

e gossip of the morning, and I came near being in a quarrel with a son of the trader De Marsac, but we settled it amicably and I

little girl

aurent told the story, guessing at th

declared St. Armand

r the Citadel and her name is Jeanne Ange

brave li

ot like

s a shrewd fellow. He has great faith in the copper mines. Strange how much w

was not much satisfaction. Well, it has been a grand day and now we shall see who next rules the key to the Northwes

hed with a sof

ldom gave way to excesses. It was late in the afternoon when he visited the old haunts and threw himself under Jeanne's oak. Was she very angry? Pouf! a child's ang

would be no lovers for several years, he could rest content with t

t once. He must make his adieus to several friends. Madame Ganeau must be congratulate

nd she was cutting deerskin fringe for next winter's leggi

hesitation. Pani had been much worried for fear she was

a deer and never complain

mplainin

r knew you to want to lie

under the oak with

be s

ays running

one;" with s

rward now and leaned a

n to talk English? We shall all have to be good Americans. And now you must wish

ilver fox, and when the wind blows through

st grand ideas,

feathers and quills, and the breast of wild ducks. She thinks Pani cured her little baby, and this is her offering. So I hardly want

ld out his hand. Pani pressed it co

will be longing for finery. Silver fox, forsooth! That would be a costly gift. Where does the child get her ideas

noe and swim like a fish, and was the admiration of the children in her vicinity, though all of the southwestern end of the settlement knew her. She could whistle a bird to her and chatter with the squirrels, who looked out of beady eyes a

n faith in braves. She kept her house and little garden, made bead work and embroidery for the officers and official ladles, and cared for her little papooses with unwonted mother love. For Paspah spent most of hi

would fling out laughingly. "I s

e!" nodding sagely. "There is n

n I am satisfied to be without