The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-12-23

Paul! You have been long coming
back to me-
heard Nine. Ursule mounting tn;
stairs to see if my room was in order.
Who could understand the relation
in which Eagle ard now stood, an(
the claim she made upon me? Sht
clung to my arm when took it away
led her by the hand. Even this sigh
caused Nine. Ursulc shock at the
head Of the stairs.
"M's'r Williamsw
Ny hostess paused and looked at us.
"Did she come to you Of her own &C
cord?'
eyes, madame
81 never knew her to notice 4 stran
ger before"
MADAME, do you know who this is?'
Madeleine Jordan"
"It is the Marquise de Ferrier."
s'The Marquise de Ferrier?"
ayes, madame"
"Do you know herr"
''I have known her ever since I car
remember
''The MarQuisc de Ferrier! But
M's'r Williams, did she know your
"She knows me-" l asserted. "But
not rs my.,lf. l am sure she knows
me! But SIC confuscs me with The
child she lost! I cannot explain tt
you, madame, how positive an that
she recognizes me any more than
can explain why she will call me Paul
I think I ought to tell you, so you vii
see the position in which l am placed
that this lady is the lady once hoped
to marry"
"Saints have pity, M's'r Williams"'
81 want to ask you some questions"
"Brlng her down to the fire. Come
dear child" said Nine. Ursule, coaxine
Eagle Nobody IS there. The bed
rooms can never be so warm as the
log fire, and this is bitter evening"
The family room was unlighted BY
candles, as often happened; for suct
an illumination in the chimney must
have quenched any paler glare. We
had few moments Of brief privacy
from the swarming life which con
stantly passed in and out.
I placed Eagle by the fire and she
sat there obediently while talked t.
Nine. Ursule apart.
"Was her mind in this state wheI
she came to you?"
"She was even q little wilder thai
she is now. Tie girls have been 6
benefit to her"
"They were not afraid Of her?'
"And who could be afraid Of the
dear child? She is a lady that's
plain. Ah, M's'r Williams, what she
must have gone through
"Yet see how happy she looksv'
"She always seemed happy enough
She would come to this house. Sc
when the Jordans went to Canads
Pierre and I both said, Let her stay
"Who We're the JordansY
''The only family that escaped witt
their lives from the massacre when She
lost her family. Nine. Jordan told ne
the whole story. They had friends
among the .Winnebagoes who project
ed them"
Ibid they give her their nameY'
"No, the people in La Baye did that
we knew she had another name. But
I think it very likely her title was not
used in the settlement where they
lived. Titles are no help in pioneer
ing"
sDid they call her MadeleineT'
"She calls herself Madeleine"
"How long has she been with your
fanily?"
"Nearly a year"
"Did the Jordans tell you when this
change came over her"
"Yes. It was during the attack when
her child was taken from her. She
saw other children killed. The In.
dams were afraid Of her. They re-
spect dementcd people; not a bit Of
harm was done to her. They let her
alone and the Jordans took care of
her,"
The daughter and adopted daughter
Of the house came in with p rush Of
outdoor air and. seeing Eagle first,
ran to kiss her on the cheek one after
the other.
Madeleine has come dcwn!' said
Marie.
'I thought we should coax her in
here some time" said Katarlna.
Between them, standing slim and
tall, their equal II height, she was yet
like little sister Though their faces
were unlined. hers held divine youth.
Paul has conc" Eagle told kata-
rina and Marie. Holding their hands,
she walked between them toward me
and baGo thnE notice nay height. y
am lis cloud mother" she said. "How
droll it is that parents grow down
little whiic tLeir children grow up big!'
aInc. Crsuic si:ooS her head pitt
fully. But the girls really saw the
C-Oll StIc t..ilt Itti'SoIlSo WILL d1J NAo0e
mother. left the room and was
flinging myself from the house to walk
In the chill wind, but she caught me.
u will be good" pleaded my cloud
mother. hcr face in my breast.
Her son who had grown up big
While she grew down little went back
to the family room with her.
Our singular relationship was estab-
lished in the house, where hospitality
made room and apology for all human
weakness.
Nobody Of that region except the in
firm stayed indoors to shiver by fire.
Eagle and the girls, in their warm
capotcs, breasted with me the coldest
winter days. She was as happy as
they were; her checks tinglcd as pink
as theirs. Sometimes I thought her
eyes must answer me with her old
self command, their bright grayness
was SO natural.
I believed If her delusions were hu-
nornd thov won1d unwind from her