The Maid of the Whispering Hills

, little one

in the sunshine before the

aintily here and there in the clean-swept yard, now snapping her small fingers, now coaxing with soft noises in her round

spoke was no more than any youth of the se

a pretty motion that always wakened a look

ng, "but he does nothing save stand and look at

a look that sent shuddering from him the timid,-thus he had been in his hard-fought and hard-won supremacy, a great, mysterious beast br

ly tender hand he had known for understanding of this strang

ooked lon

ight brows drawing together, "the

hing for the factor to stop at the cabin of the Molines, "and no

he filliped away a small budding twig of the saskatoon which one of the youths had brought in to show how the woods were answering the call of the warm sun, and which he had dandled in his fingers as he walked. It fell at the edge of the beaded skirt a

aptistes, Jean Saville to

e factor; "wha

wn the river. They come in canoes, five of them, well manned and armed as if the country of the Assiniboine were b

d McElroy; "I will pre

ouched his ca

ge. It is good after the winter's housing, and who knows? There

rly packing back of the goods to allow of five canoe-loads of men sleeping upon the floor. Then he passed down the main way, out of the gate in the warm sun and took hi

craft, each bearing the regular complement of five men, a bowman, a steersman, and three middlemen whose paddles shon

, and their rugged litheness. Fairer, all, were the rest, paler of skin, more loose of muscle, shown by the very way they bent to their work. Their garments, too, as they drew n

ny youths over seas. They had, most like, come down from the great bay by way of God's Lake and the house there, traversed the length of Winnipeg, come along the river at

he first canoe of the string curved grace

ing unconsciously the speech of the region, which had become

ater to keep the boat from touching bottom, had floundered like an ox, thereby proving his newness at

, scarcely deeming such precaution necessar

, save here and there among them one who might be

eauty. Garments of cloth, of a gay blue shade and much adorned with trimming of gold braid, fitted close to the slender form of the man. His limbs from the knee were encased in leggings made, most evidently, in some leather shop, while tilted o

d for the west and the co

the accent of the French, and for a

pany?" he a

e of wonder in voice and look, "of

that had gripped the factor with the

surety,

ccepted with the ingenious adaptability of the Irish blood

his hand, and it was gripped with a force that sho

he factor, "to Fort de Se

s. Naught but God-forgotten loneliness and never-ending forest. Yet it is for these that we barter the comforts of civilisation, eh, M'sieu, and waste ourselves on so

aging smile, "Alfred de Courtenay, known in that world across the water; and which my taste, or that of itse

ied the other, "and fac

nt, of French lineage, English n

ept off his wide hat and executed a bow wh

ghts of rest and converse which your ho

n of fine presence, Alfred de Courtenay walked beside McElroy up the gentle slope of the river bank, entered the great eastern gate of the post, not without an appreciative glance at its massive streng

th white faces! For weeks I have beheld along the shores peering brown count

long journey,

ssions and effect of the wilderness on such

initial journey, yet am

eyes that fairly danced with spirit, like bubbling wine, blue and swift in their changes

were no less so in roaming keenly over every co

ins in the post, that the factory was a mighty fortress in its low solidity, and that t

abin of the Savilles, and on her shoulder was perched a three-year-old child which laughed and gurgled with delight, holding tight to her widespread hands. The woma

ered by the flying folds of the baby's little cotton shi

e screams of irrepressible joy. As the child swayed back there came into view the face of Maren Le Moyne, flushed all over its rare darkness, glowing with tenderness, its great beauty transfigured

ks, the smile fixed on his face, and dr

only then did he shift his glance, remembering himsel

seen aught to match this moment. I pray you, of what station of life is the glorious young

of venturers who came but a short while back from Rainy River,

vation, still lost in their play of the tossing ship at sea, and the two men entered the great trading-room

d ordered, and for some reason there was within him a vague vexation which

over the fires and a ten-gallon pot

und at once and partake, there came from the direction of the gate the voices of De Courtenay's men. The stranger and himself, with yo

have so illustrious a guest as