Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-12


 clothes, made of skins and caps of fur. betrayed few of the hardy pioneers who ventured to the further limits of the. settlement to rear their cabins and set their traps, They exchanged greet lngs with, one another, laughing and joking noisily, while pipesful of to- bacco and drams of brandy changed ownership in friendly barter or social comity. Through 1t all, however. each kept an anxious eye out towards the side of the square from which the procession of Kings girls" would ap- proach.
 "They all seem eager for the fearful fate before them," laughed Tonti.
 "True," was the reply, that had a touch of bitterness in it, "but if you pity the men, pity the unfortunate girls more, doomed as they are to a life of servitude and labor with man they have never seen before, and whom they will probably wish within a month that they had never met. Still, as you know, they are all bourgeoisie who are accustomed to nothing better than hard service and abuse. It is their kings command that they shall marry, and they obey. We soldier folk, however, although the king makes us marry, too. have Parisian saying that we bear in mind."
 What is that?" was Tonti's query.
 Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half shut after," was the saucy rejoinder.
 Just then the sound of the crowd interrupted Tonti's reply. From the Convent of the Ursulines, where they had passed the night, issued the pro- cession of 30 girls with Madame Bour- don at their head. who had come over in the Saint Honore'' with La Sale and Tonti. Two by two they marched with clasped hands,, The suitors ceased suddenly their clamor, and quickly formed lane, down which the maidens passed, watching with fur tive glances the faces of their future husbands. These in turn strove to make their choice at glance, and some, leaning toward the moving dam sells, whispered: Wait for me, Jean Bedu. have three rooms 'in my house, and 20 arpents of land all cleared" Or, Take none but me; am your Pierre, and live but one and a half leagues from Quebec. You will be safe from the Indians with me-" Or again, Delay your choice, ma pe- tite, for me, the tallest, strongest of them all. can drink pint of raw brandy and never show it, or throw a half-grown buck with ease, and can get more furs in month than the rest in season. You will make no mis- take, am a bon garcon." Tonti and his companion were in an excellent position to enjoy the scene. Here they come, the future mothers of New France" were the mocking words he heard. "Take cars lest M. le Comte does not lose you ia the sea of matrimony." ....
 "No fear" replied Tonti. "You sec I have no chance; there are but 50 wives to be, while there are four times as many wooers. Besides, we are far ther of than they: all the best maids would be taken before could reach them"
 'True," murmured Madame Bizard, "you would deserve only the best" Then in lower tone she added, as she gently touched his hand hanging at ; his side, We can probably find one to your taste and more to your deserts in Quebec itself"
 The contact of the warm hand that fingered against his own thrilled the young man, and he was about to turn to his companion when his other sleeve was plucked, and voice mutt tered in his ear, "Beware!" and look ing over his shoulder he beheld the form of Pompon, who looked at him earnestly, and then, with a significant glance at the young woman beside him, disappeared in the crowd.
 Tonti recalled with a start all that Pompon had told him at daybreak, and realized that the enemy was at work and that he had his part to play in the game, too, so with an admiring glance he whispered: q fear all such are taken"
 A square space was marked out upon the surface of the place by a success sion of hewn logs, laid end to end. Within this inclosure only the pros- pective wives and eager swains were admitted. Then ensued scene of merriment and interest for the on- lockers. One ill-favored suitor, select ing from choice the least attractive of the young women, partly because he knew he would have little chance among the fairer ones, partly because he felt there would be less trouble with her from other men after marriage, hurried of toward the church of the Recollets, within which a number of priests were awaiting the happy couples. while notary sat at the door ready to do thriving business. One particularly desirable lass, whose comedy features were accompanied by physique indicating great endurance and strength of muscle, was instantly besieged by so great a multitude of admirers that she fled to Madame