Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-01-18
CHAPTER XIII.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XIII.-CoNTINUED.
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 80 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 a 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 a 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 Pc
tite, for me, the tallest, strongest of
them all. I can drink a pint of raw
brandy and never show it, or throw a
half-grown buck with ease, and can
get more furs in a month than the rest
in a season. You will make no mis-
take, l 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 care
lest M. lie Comte does not lose you in
the sea of matrimony."
mo fear" replied Toni. you see
l have no chance; there are but so
wives to be, while there are four times
as many wooers. Besides, we are far
Their off than they: all the best maids
would be taken before I could reach
them"
True" murmured Madame BLIZZARD,
you would deserve only the best"
Then in a lower tone she added, as she
gently touched his hand hanging at
his side, eve 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 W thrilled the
young man, and he was about to turn
to his companion when his other
sleeve was plucked, and a voice NUT
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: 81 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 SWANS were
admitted. Then ensued a scene OF
merriment and interest for the on
lockers. One ill-favored sutton, 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 off toward the church of the
Recollets, within which a number OF
priests were awaiting the happy
couples, while a notary sat at the door
ready to do a thriving business. One
particularly desirable lass, whose
comely features were accompanied by
a physique indicating great endurance
and strength of muscle, was instantly
besieged by SO great a multitude Of
admirers that she fed to Madame
Bourbon, who restored order amongst
them and made the advance
one at a time and each give his name
residence and amount of worldly pos.
sessions.
''There they are" remarked Madame
BLIZZARD in a misconceptions tone, e
fine collection of healthy cattle. Wall
up, Messieurs! Varieties for al
tastes! the tall, the short, the dark
the light, the fat, the thin. Poke then
in the ribs, examine their teeth, am
then when you have made your selec
ton, take your property home witt
you" Then after a moments silence
"There can be no question of a differ
ence in their dots, as his graciou!
majesty has endowed each alike"
mon Dieu! they bring wealth t
their husbands" queried Tonti.
"Certainement! Fifty livres in house
hold supplies and two barrels Of salt,
ed meat" was the laughing rejoin
der.
Ma fol! a liberal dowry."
But you forget the princely gift HI
gives the new husbands for surrender
ing their liberty: an OK, a pair 0
swine, a pair Of fowls, some salt meat
~and-eleven crowns in money" ant
again the merry laugh rang in Tontii
ear with a sweetness that, had he mo-
been on his guard, he would have be
lieved to be sincerely genuine.
Soon all the girls were mated ant
had disappeared through the church
doors. The remaining wooers tool
their discontinue philosophically, and
departing in twos and threes, repaired
to the nearest tavern, where the.
sought to drown their disappointment
and drink to better luck next year.
CHAPTER XIV.
IN WHICH A TRAP rs SPRUNG, BU1