A Little Girl in Old St. Louis

y summer to René

sted and grew angry

lly. "And my mother thinks it a shame M'sieu Marchand should ha

lie, Uncle Gaspard will not care to have y

l soon be a young ma'm'selle and have lovers of my own, then I shall not c

was a great object in the storeroom. Uncle Gaspard said he would not trade it for a ha

ways a welcome visitor at Mattawissa's, though at first they had as much difficulty understanding each other's Indian language as if it h

Catechism, and whichever father was there he seemed impr

again and boats plied up and down. Uncle Gaspard was very busy, and the men about said, making money. The women won

us days these were, quite enough to inspirit any one! Then without much warning a great fleecy w

nt Renée to go to midnig

," she said. "I am not going to be such a

to go to church again. And how sweet it was to see the children stop on the porch and with bowed heads exclaim,

. Even the servants were called in. Then the chi

er. He brought me that beautiful chain and cross last year, and I made

not home. You c

. M. Marchand saw

y. But if I can find time I will walk dow

," she answe

r twice she slipped and fell into the snow, but it was

himney," Renée cried joyfully. "Let

could hear a stir within, and presen

ttle babe Jesus was born for our sakes, and how glad all the stars were, even, so glad that they sang together. And I have brou

ther! That's always the

ll you that I am well and happy," she said in a proud, sweet voice, and set the basket down on

her white fur cap over her fair cu

ontinued, "with

not want anything! True, she had enough. Gaspard Denys took

and in the meanwhile she and Mère Lunde would concoct dainty messes. She w

but to be gay and merry. Fiddling and singing everywhere, and some of t

it was, "We do not ask for much, only the eldest daughter of the house. We will give her the finest of the wine and feast her and keep her feet warm," which seemed to

tial, and if the fancy was returned or welcomed the fair one generally made some sign. And then t

t her, kissed her, and wished her a happy marriage and a prosperous year. Sometimes, it was whi

and flour a big cake was baked in which were put four large beans. When all was arranged the girls and the mothers donned their best finery, some of i

French never lost. Old gentlemen danced with the young girls, and the young men with matrons. Children w

. Even some of the upper kind of slaves

ght their guests, the Marchands, for society had quite taken in the beautiful young I

beginning to say that she was a bit of a coquette. Madame Renaud announced that Alphonse Maurice was too triflin

oung girl had a piece. This was the grea

n Dupont, holding it high ab

tty Aubry girls, whose siste

nnounced Barbe

ueens to stand out on the floor. Wh

supposed she would, but there was no fun

when he has to choose a queen?" said s

h a coquettish air and selected the

ite woollen gown with scarlet cloth bands; and two or three ma

e fort, though it must be admitted there was very little

rspread his face, while her eye

e bestowed your favor on a younger and more suitable man. I tha

a softened lig

d in a caressing sort of voice. "I could not have suited myself bett

She remembered he used to call her Barbe. "What did y

. And a girl cannot deliberately choose bad luck.

tched the two closely. M. Marchand had appealed to her on some trifle,

claimed with a long respiration that was lik

if I had been a maid. And if you had been sixteen wouldn't you hav

der. "Let us go around here, we can see them bet

inconsequence she wanted to see every step, every motion, every glanc

eet answered the measure of the music exquisitely. Other circles for

people went home. Gaspard made his way through the crowd. Madame Marchand beckoned him, an

. "Madame Garreau wishes to retire. It is beautiful, and every one is so cordial. I have danced with deligh

o, Renée? You look tired." She

e Barbe's king," she said in a tone of p

night. There are othe

licate emphasis amused him, it

he time. So do not grudge her an hour or two. See, I am go

, and held out her small han

he drew it out, leavi

ind you don't get any cold. Tell Mère Lunde to w

n language, or rather in a patois that they had adopted. Wawataysee was very happy, and her so

and Mère Lunde atten

in our hearts would be heavy wi

t in some water herself, and brought the stand near the fireplace, for sometimes it w

back to Ma'

!" she cried.

a crowd there is! St. Louis is getting overrun with people," laughing gayly. "Give me a

merrily dancing. There was no absolute need of changing partners,

ships of a trapper's life. His complexion had lost the weather-beaten look, his frame had filled out, and strangely enough, he was a much more ready talker. Renée chattered so much, asked him so many

weet to hear. The touch of her hand on his arm or his shoulder in the dance did give him a peculiar sor

among some of the young men to make a bold dash and capture a queen. The girls wer

der, Mère Renaud, you do not fan the flame into a blaze. He is prospering, too. Colonel Chouteau

nd nodded as if she ha

ful of good opportunities for them. And those who had none rather envied them. It w

ill at this coldest hour of the twenty-four, after being heated in the dance. She

nt. "And we were always such friends when you returned from your

ery day. At that time you know

ss now until spring ope

us I have become. And the men drop in to talk over plans and berate the Gover

y danger from

m of driving us over the mountains into the sea. No," with a shor

d, but she took her husband's arm and

er attendant, for in som

ns," she said with a touch of regret. "I w

st girl," he

rchand is

s no longe

e a good deal o

ften. We are exc

ite bewitche

e very fond o

s no more fond of the chil

ey were unwinding their wraps. It was rather

mself on a pile of skins and was asleep in five minutes.

y made no idol of industry, as the energetic settlers on the eastern coast d

He rubbed his limbs and stretched himself, looked down on his red

are as blithe as a be

on your ball clothes. When

nd stiff this morning. I tumbled down

ld. And-are you a king

Then I resign my sceptre, an

choose a new queen." There was

I should look out for the very pretties

aysee. She is the prettiest

ready chosen he

ill get cold," w

ame Marchand were staying all night and they would play games and have parched corn and cakes and spiced drinks. Wawataysee would sing, too. And though the songs were odd

nguid mazes at first and then warming into flying sprites of the forest. And how Renée's eyes shone and

y every one went to church the next morning, listened to the prayers reverently, had a small bit of ashes dropped on his or her he

o giddy, too much of a coquette. She will be left behind. And she is too p