The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-09-03
HRIEn,
The Half-Breed.
A Romance of Colonial Days.
DY ROBERT A. CUMMING.
[coPYRIGnT, l6oo.l
CHAPTER ~.
MONTREAL.

MONTREAL.
In the year 1850 this fair city Of the
present day was military post around
which had grown up struggling town,
composed OF the families OF men In the
civil and military service OF the French
Government, fur traders and mechanics.
The little city nesting at the foot OF
the hill from which 1t took It's name,
Mount Real, or Kings Mountain, Its base
partly encircled by the st. Lawrence
river, was very gay place.
Tho esplanade on the river bank was
usually crowded in daytime by gayly-
dressed officers on horseback and on
foot, soldiers OF all grades from the
ierco-looking grenadier Of the Guard,
with his bear-skin shake and big
mustache, 10 the poor tiller Of the soil,
compelled TO abandon his little farm,
his wife and children. for glory" and
the honor OF serving King Louis; then
there were sailors from the men-of-war.
voyagours in the employ Of the fur
traders, and civilians OF all grades in
the social ladder, and all wearing the
mask OF thoughtless merriment or Gym
ical levity with which the French con-
ceal or disguise volcanic passions, in
tense resolve and sublime devotion.
Mingled with this throng, and yet in
strongest contrast, wero the dark
skinned allies OF France-the disinher-
tied children OF tho soil, with their
statuesque forms and bronze faces
marked by stoical Indifference. Here
and there chief crested with
eagle plumes, stalked through the
crowd with naughty step, like bar
baric prince at Roman festival, vail
ing his hatred or jealousy OF the superb
or race beneath mask Of naughty In
difference.
Squaws were there with bead-worked
moccasins, baskets or wsmpum for sale;
some with babes strapped on boards
upon their backs. Unlike their lords
they we're merry and obsorvant, and
although unattractlve In form and feat
urc, yet sweet-voiced and woman-liko.
A young and handsome Lieutenant Of
grenadiers, with his arm In a sling and
face into which the roses Of health
were slowly returning, paused to OBJ
serve a band OF Indians performing q
Bar-dance, when a finger was laid on
his shoulder and sweet, low-toned
voice said:
"Captain Barzac, ! am so glad to see
you almost restored TO health"
The young man bowed .ow; he even
kissed the hand offered him--a small,
plump hand, although the owner was
past the meridian OF life. INK. ...t !.
"Ah, madam, how good you are" he
said; ITO your Kindness am indebted
FOR restoration to life. You and your
charming sisterhood OF our Lady Of
Mercy, what do VIC not owe you've
poor soldiers OF Francew sj ll
"And what would France do without
her soldiers?" asked the lady, smiling.
4sAh, my friend, II we women did not
make ourselves useful 10 our protectors,
we would lose the object Of our dearest
ambitionr
"Ambitionl you are not ambitious"
"oh, yes. and you will learn some day
that woman's ambition, like your own,
Il 10 conquer, To subdue, but not with the
same weapons. All, pardon me; ! am
talking like O woman who has hobby,
- the English say-how coarse they arel
To make amends. let mo introduce you
TO my niece, Ninon Destain."
The young soldier bowed; the lady
courtesied In the formal manner Of the
time, although her eyes betrayed .
certain interest In the wounded hero,
while he, after a timid glance at her
face, decided that she was the most
beautiful woman he had ever seen.
In truth his observations OF female
beauty had been confined 10 the mar
row circle Of the garr isonI wives and
daughters OF officers, sisters Of relig-
ious order who served in the hospitals,
and the Indian women who had few
pretsnsiops "a beAutypf eny kind. TIE
csdef d. Z nobie,. .fhopeh impoterishA
family. he had spent ton years in Tie
colonies. marehinE aud fighting. whom
not on garrison duty, yndistpFbed )by
any other sensatIonS than those con-
nectsd With hailitary life until nov, -
the age Of twenty seven, he behcld Q
tseo and form which recalled the civ