A Little Girl in Old Detroit

rough the roofs of white snow that looked like peaked army tents, the old Latin

anne heard Pani stirring,

you, Pani," she declared in

he good father and been confirmed, then

her opposition, or rather her dread, a little, quite unknowingly,

s last night, they were so beautiful. 'And they came and stood over the place,' th

e knowledge, and she had a vague idea that it must have happen

t and warm; and everybody was muffled in furs, even to hoods and pointed caps. Some people were carrying lanterns, bu

t sit her

he rather liked being hid

Rose and Pierre. How much did dull Pierre believe and

he candlesticks that had been sent from France a century before, burnished to their brightest and the candles lighted. Behind the screen the sisters

derstand how Berthê Campeau could leave her ailing mother and go to Montreal for religion's sake. Madame Campeau was not able to stand the journey even

r daughter-in-law. "None of my money shall go to Montreal. It would

tired of waiting. Her imagination fed on the life o

uld see whether her face was joyful or not. Truth to tell, she was sadly frightened, but everybody was merry, and her husband wrapped her in

ire and Jeanne curled up on one side in a wolfskin, resting her head on a cushion of cedar twigs that gave out a pleasant fragrance. Pani sat quietly on the other side. There was no light but the blaze. Neither was the Indian woman used to the small industries some of the French took up when they had passed girlhood. In a slow, phlegmatic fashion she used to go over her past li

ll of her own pleasure. It seemed as if other children had dropped out as well, but then in this cold weather she could not run out to the farms or lead a group of eager young people to see her do amazing feats. For she could walk out on the limb of a tree and laugh

ans," she said when the children begged they might k

who its mother was!" la

ed? O yes, she played with the De Ber children, and there were the Pallents, whom she s

e out of her life that it appeared wide and strange. After all she did not care for the De Bers and yet it seemed as if she ha

ee so, little one?" a

a lover, Pani, am I?" and she

folly! Marie's weddin

is a slow, s

oubt if the De Bers would countenance such

, when we were on the water, and one Sunday in the autumn. I am not as old as Rose De Ber, even, so

n. "And it will make no end of trouble.

rough the forest, and he was very angry. So I should not go to the De Bers any more. And, Pani, if I h

im up in the fur co

eddings are talked of? But if I wan

ou could not

glad to have him go away.

e returned next summer and tormented her? A perplexing mood, half pride, half disgust, filled her, and a serious elation at her own power which thrills young feminine things when they first discover it; as

up in the firelight. Ah, if she had a father lik

een a plant or a young shrub swept out of its rightful place and tossed to and fro until some stronger wave threw it upon the sandy edge, to droop and die. Was she like that? Whe

grasp the world in her small hands and compel it to disclose its knowledge. She looked steadil

said. Had she better not go to the sisters and liv

ly, for it seemed as if all joy had gone o

ping it down in the streets with their great boots, the soles being wooden and the legs of fur. And they snowballed each other. T

t the Citadel and in some of the grand houses. There were dances and dinners, and

that. She was lonely and miserable. One day the Church seemed a refuge, the next she shrank with a

l, the notary, came in wit

er of it. Yet the good Lord has a right to his own, for I cannot doubt but that Madame Bellestre's

d," said Pani with the sho

ld never come back! And, oh, what if

o does the good Father Rameau. For his g

nquired the wom

alk. Monsieur Bellestre has made some p

away from me!" cried the

ers. And here is the part of his will that pertains to her. You would not understand the preamble, so I will tell it in plain words. To you, Pani, is given the house and a sum of money each year. To the child is left a yearly portion until

did not want me to

e question grav

"You are to be educated, but I think the sisters know better what is needful for a girl. There are no restrictions, however. I am to see that the will is carried out,

, Monsieur?" asked Pani

le should-" he looked q

clasped her arms about the woman's neck as she had in h

s old when you came to Detroit. That was nine years ago

eem so. Why, last winter is like the turn of yo

s." No doubt she would have a lover

anne wide-eyed, Pani n

d now the court will take it in hand, but these new American courts are all in confusion and very slow. Stil

She could hardly settle her mind to t

'selle, on having so sincere a fri

e back! I do not c

will have several more talks about this. Adie

are of that old Indian woman. Surely he could not have distrusted Father Rameau? And though

e should be so opposed to the Church taking charge of the child, since she was not in the hands of any relative.

y, as well as ignorance. While he admitted to himself, and frankly to the town, the many excellencies of the priest, it was the system, that held the people in bondage and denied enlightenment, that he protested against. It was with great pain that he had discovered his wife's gradual absorption, but knowing death was

ome curious power that was finer than mere propriety. She was growing older and knowledge enlarged her thoughts and feelings, stirr

was being slowly remodeled, but it was discouraging work, since the French settlers were satisfied w

rown off the restraints of civilized life and who hunted as much for the pleasure as the profit. They could live in a wigwam, they could join Indian dances, they were brave, hardy, but in some instances savage as the Indians themselves and quite as lawless. A century ago

keep the peace as far as was possible. Boats were being loaded for Montreal, cargoes to be shipped down the Hudson and from thence abr

nd trinkets for the Indians, kept shopkeepers busy day and night, and poured money into their coffers

with a dowry now, and she was not only growing tall but strangely pretty as well. Her skin was fairer, her hair, which still fell in loo

with Pani and make kindly inquiries about her charge. Even Madame De Ber softened. She was opposed to Pierre's going north with the hunters, but he

She has spoken of it. Last year you were such a child, but now you have quite grown and

some embarrassment. Then, with a little pride-"M

on a little dignity. A child l

ent me no

asant down there in the summer. Do you kno

e hear

youth so much the better. And the others are growi

aps the school will do her no harm. She is rather sharp with her replies, but she a

dowry, I have heard,"

her name. If Jeanne only walked down in the town l

n ready to waylay her. Three were awkward when

hood. Not even Rose could compare with her in that curious daintiness, though Pierre would have been at loss to describe it, since his vocabulary was limited,

, never looking to the right or the left, and then as suddenly melted into sweetness and they would be married. Yet Madelon had said to his sister Mar

ould send again. He took tea the last time with Ma

is heart seemed to quake almost down to his feet, "I am going away at noon.

ou are, Pierre! I wish

hildish anger, and the love makin

formally, with a smile not too warm about her r

am'selle, put tha

fe re

his way, thinking with great com

on the wharves. Some few brave women went with their husbands. Other ships were sett

out of doors, cattle were lowing, chanticleer rang out his call to work in the early morn, and busy hens were caroling in cheerful if u

wasteful French methods and tried their own, which we

the first little outside chapel on his farm, which had a great stretch of ground. The air was full of the fragrance of fruit blossoms and hardly needed incense. Ah, how beautiful it was in a sort of pastoral simplicity! And after saying mass, Father Frechette blessed and prayed for fertile fields and good crops and generous hearts that tithes might not be withheld, and the faithful rewarded. Then they went to

d spring and Marie had not gone anywhere. Tony was so exigent, and she laughed and bridled. It was a very happy thing to be marri

r a child and not a woman, not a part of the Church, not a part of anything. She