Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-17

By MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD
Copyright by the itobbs-M Company

was not sorry to be allowed to enter.
| for l was tired to exhaustion and SAT
| down on the floor away from the hre'
| The man looked at me Busplclously'
though he was ruddy and good-natureo'
But he bent quite over before De Chau-
mont's daughter, and made hourlsn
with his hand in receiving young GRO
CHAN. 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 ma
settlement and had made the house their
camp for one night. The Dutch maid,
dark and round-eyed, and the fiaxen lit
tie Grignon, had respect for their elders
and held their tongues while Madame
Tank and Madame Grignon spoke, out
Annabel de Chaumont was like grove
of sparrows. The world seemed swarm
ing with young maids The travellers
were mere children, while the Counts
daughter was startling as an angel. Her
clothing fitted her body like an exquisite
1t made her look as slim as dragon fly
Her white and rose pink face had 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 1 ever did after
ward that she was bound to befool every
man that came near her.
There were only two benches in the
cabin, but it was foored and better made
than our hunting lodges. The temporary
inmates and their guests sat down in
long row before the fire. l was glad to
make a pillow of a saddle near the wall,
and watch their backs, as an outsider.
Mademolselle de Chaumont absorbed all
eyes and all attention. She told about
ball, to which she had ridden with her
governess and servants, three days
journey, ana from which all the dancers
were riding back a three days journey
to join in another ball at her fathers
huuse. With the hospitality which made
lie Ray de Chaumonts 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 oil long westward journey.
The head of the house took up his bow.
as II musing on the ball, and Annabel
de Chaumont wriggled her feet faster
and faster. Tireless as thistledown that
rolls here and there at the will of the
wind, up she sprang and began to dance.
The children watcher her, spellbound.
None of us'had ever seen the many tig
ures through which she passed, or such
wonderful dancing, The chimney was
built of logs and clay, forming terraces.
As IL 1t was no longer possible for her
to stay on the ground she darted from
the bench-end TO the lowest log, and
stepped on up as fearlessly as a thing
of air. until her head touched the roof.
Monsieur Grignon played like mad. and
the others clapped their hands.
While she poised So l sat up to watch
her. and she noticed me for the first time
by freight.
Look at that boy-he has been hurt
the blood is running down his cheekr'
she cried. II thought he was an Indian
and he Is white"
She came down as lightly as she had
gone up. and caused me to be hailed
against my will to the middle of bench.
/ wanted the women to leave me alone,
and told them my head had been broken
two days before, and was nearly well.
The mothers. too keen TO wash and
bandage to let me escape, opened a sad
die pack and tore good linen.
George Croghan stood by the chimney,
slim and tall and handsome. His head
and face were long. his hair was of a
sunny color, and his mouth corners were
shrewd and good natured. I liked him
the moment saw him. Younger in years
than /, he was older In wit and manly
carriage. While he looked on Il was
hard to have Madame Tank seize my head
in her hands and examine my eyebrow.
She next took my wrists, and not satis-
fied, stripped up the right sleeve and ex-
posed a crescent-shaped scar, one of the
rare vaccination marks OF those days.
dark eyes drew the hrows together so
that a pueker came between them.
looked at CrOghan. and wanted TO ex-
elaim-"Help yourselfl Anybody may
handle me"
"Ursuie Grignon" she said sharply, and
Madame Grignon answered:
"Eh. what. KatarinaY'
This is the boy"
But what boy?"
'gFhe boy / saw on the ship"
''rhe one who was sent to America
Madame Tank put up her hand. and the
other stopped.
But that was = child" Madame Grig-
non then objected
Mine years ago. He would be about
IS now"
How old are your they both put to
me.
Remembering what my father had told
Doctor Chantry. ] was Obliged to own
that i was about IS. Annabel de Chau-
mont sat on the lowest log OF the Chin
ney with her feet on a bench, and her
chin in her hand. interested 10 the point
Of silence Something IN her eyes made
II very CALLING to DO oyeFhauled and have
my blemishes enumerated before her and
Croshan. What had uplifted me TO
Madame de Ferriers recognition now
mocked and found It hard 70 submit.
Il would not go well with the next
atranger who declared he knew me BY
my scars.
what Go they call you In this eoun-
try7 inquired Madame Tank
Z said ms name was LazarTe Williams.
-Il b natr she said h an undertons.
shakius her head
mace bold 10 asE with come Hnrnla
Was mF name Haa 1ucu. aud ga
4IazarS.I 'rls .aiIIINHs