The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-05-16

monsieur. know not l toll eet 80
well. Non. non, eet not l who told
heem; eet was the yoyageurs with
whom l came. tell nothing. Eet was
hard to tell nothin', monsieur, when
he want to know so much; when he
ask question, an roar in hees loud
voice. But Get was fun, too; l laugh,
an talk about ozzer things, an he get
so mad, re American general He
put me In re guardhouse, only was
a girl. You are angry?"
mo. But am a soldier on duty;
under orders to the north"
ITO my people"
80 you said before. What does 1t
mean? You are not Indian?"
81 am OF quarter blood; my father
was officer OF France who died In bat
tie. l was born in an Indian tepee."
But not brought up an Indianf You
possess education; you have known
civilized life"
Il have been at Montreal and Que
bee, monsieur. l was three years at
the convent Of the Ursulines."
But came back into the wilder
ness7"
Il returned-to my own people; the
great woods called me. l "a Wyan-
dot"
And here at Fort Harmar, under a
false name, pretending to be from the
French settlements"
She touched my hands, where they
gripped the rife barrel, and her whole
manner changed.
Il am not here under a false name,
monsieur, nor for any purpose Of evil,
she exclaimed eagerly. You must not
think that OF me: l will not permit
It's my name. Rene D'Auvray, and i
came to this fort from the French set
Elements. cannot tell you why, but
there is no harm done. All seek now
is the opportunity to return to my own
land. That is why came here to meet
you; why waylaid you, and told you
the truth. heard enough of what was
said by the American general to
know that you we're going north thro'
the forests to my country, to hold
council with the Wyandot5. That is
so, is eet notF
Yes"
Then, monsieur, take me with you!
No, listen; you must; you shall not re.
fuse. know the way, the woods, and
all their secrets. can guide you. and
travel faster than your Kentucky
hunter. Let me go, monsieur"
hesitated Just a moment, actually
tempted by this opportunity to have
her with me, to learn more Of who and
what she really was. Yet the knowl-
edge that HRrmar would never approve
OF such an arrangement, and that he
smuggled her into the boat, decided
me. She read the decision In my face.
You will not? You will leave me
behind?"
Il cannot take you, mademoselle.
There are reasons In plenty, but can
not stand here and discuss them. You
will let me pass now?"
She drew back, but with eyes still on
my face. She must have read there
that no pleading would change me, for
she only said regretfully:
81 have angered you? You do not
trust me, because am Indian?"
81 do trust you," l burst forth. 81
hardly know why. but ! do. II is hard
for me to say no, but l must. wish
to remain your friend mademolselle, to
Ito meet you again somewhere"
Her face, white in the star-shine,
smiled.
you shall, monsieur" confidently.
and she pointed with one hand into the
north, ''yonder in the villages of the
Wyandots."
You mean you will go there alone?
All those leagues alone?"
Perhaps; there would be nothing to
fear. have travelled as long a wilder
ness trail before. Yet | need not go
alone; there is another here who must
return to Sandusky."
Simon Girtyl Good Godl Would
you dream OF companioning with that
foul renegade7 DO you know what no
is?"
yes, monsieur" quietly, land he
knows what am. He is not reckless
enough to offer me insult; did he do so
no would be torn limb from limb. You
do not know my people, but Simon
Girty does. l do not fear him, yet
would rather go with you"
Il cannot consent; II would cost me