The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-05
AWAklNG.
CHAPTER III.-Continued,

AMAZING.
Chapter lII.-Continued.
was not sorry to be allowed to enter,
for I was tired to exhaustion. and sat
down on the floor away from the fire. The
man looked at me suspiciously, though he
was rudy and good natured. But he bent
quite over before De Chaumont'S daugh-
ter. and made a flourish with his hand in
receiving young Croghan. There were In
the cabin with him two women and two
little girls and a Canadian servant like
fat brown bear came from the rear Of the
house to look at US, and then went back to
the horses.
All the women began to speak, but An
mabel de ChaumOnt could talk faster than
the four others combined, so they knew
our plight before we learned that they
were the Grignon and Tank families, who
were going into the west to find settlement
and had made the house their camp for
ono night. The Dutch maid. dark and
round eyed, and the flaxen little Grignon,
had respect for their elders and held their
tongues while Nine. Tank and Nine. Orig
non spoke, but Annabel de Chaumont was
like a grove Of sparrows The worlu
seemed swarming with young maids. The
travellers were mere children, while the
counts daughter was startling as an an
gel. Her clothing fitted her body like an
exquisite sheath. l do not know what it
was, but it made her look as slim hs a
dragon-fly. Her white and rose-pink face
had a high-arched nose, and was proud
and saucy. She wore her hair beaten out
like mist, with rich curly shreds hanging
in front Of her ears to her shoulders She
shook her head to set her hat straight,
and turned her eyes in rapid smiling
sweeps. ! knew as well then as I ever
did afterwards that she was bound to be-
fool every man that came near her.
There were only two benches in the
cabin, but it was 1oored and bet
ter made than our hunting lodges.
The temporary inmates and their guests
sat down in long row before the fire. I
was glad to make pillow Of a saddle near
tho wall, and watch their backs as an
outsider. Mademoiselle de ChaumOnt alb
sorbed all eyes and all attention. She
told about a ball. to which she had ridden
with her governess and servants a three
days journey, and from which all the
dancers were riding back a three days
journey to join in another ball at her ia
theirs house. With the hospitality which
made lie Ray de Chaumont's manor the
palace of the wilderness as 1T existed then,
she invited the hosts who sheltered her
for the night, to come to the ball and stay
all summer. And they lamented that
they could not accept the invitation, be-
ing obliged to hurry on to Albany, where
a larger party would give them escort on
long westward journey.
The head of the house took up his bow,
as if musing OH the ball, and Annabel de
Chaumont wriggled her feet faster and
faster. Tireless as thstledoWn that rolls
here and there at the will of the wind, uI
she sprang and began to dance. The chill
dren watched her spellbound. None Of us
had ever seen the many figures through
which she passed, or such wonderful dan
cling. The chimney was built of logs anC
clay, forming terraces. AS If 1t was nj
longer possible for her to stay on the
ground, she darted from the bench. lend tC
the lowest log, and stepped on up as fear
lessly a thing Of air, until hel
head touched the roof. M. Grisno,
played like mad; and the 9th
she poised so I sat up to watch her, an,
she noticed me for the first time by fire
light.
Look at that boy--he has been hurt
the blood is running down his cheek" sh
cried. II thought he was an Indian-an
he Is white!''
She came down as lightly she had gon
up, and caused me to be hailed agains
my will to the middle of a bench.
wanted the women to leave me alone, an
told them my head had been broken tw
days before, and was nearly well. TIL
mothers, too keen to wash and bandag
to let me escape, opened saddle pac
and tore good linen.
George Groghan stood by the chimney
slim and tall and handsome. His head an
face were long, his hair was of a. SUM
color, and his mouth corners were shrew'
and good-natured. I liked him the mo
ment I saw him. Younger in years tina
I, he was older in wit and manly carriage
While he looked 1t was hard to hav
Madame Tank seize my head in her hand
and examine my eyebrow. She next too
. my wrists, and, not satisfied, stripped
the right sleeve and exposed a crescent
shaped scar, one of the rare vaccinatio
marks Of those days. did not know wins
1t was Her animated dark eyes drew til
brows together so that quicker came bt
tween them. I looked at Croghan, an
wanted to exclaim: Help yourself! An!
body may handle me!'
"Ursule Grignon!" she said sharply, ar
Madame Grignon answered:
Eth what, Katrina?"
This is the boy
But what boy?''
THE boy I saw on the ship"
'"The one who was sent to America
Madame Tank put up her hand, al
the other stopped
But that was child" Madame Girl
non then objected.
Mine years ago. He would be abo
IS now"
"How old are you?" they both put
me.
-. Remembering what my father had to
= Doctor Chantry, I was obliged to own tn
. I was about Is. Annabel de Chaumont S
on the lowest log of the chimney with h
feet on a bench, and her chin in her han
interested to the point of silence. Som
thing in her eyes made it very galli
to beToverhauled and have my blemish
enumerated before her and Croghan. VIII
had uplifted me to Madame de Ferrie1
recognition now Knocked, and I found
hard to submit. It would not go well wi