The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-01-03
The Little
French Girl
By ELINOR MARSH
'yright. 1917. western Newspaper Union.l

! recent enlargement He was station
ed at Fort Wayne, Detroit, and from
time immemorial the officers at that
post have constituted quite an impOr-
tant, If not a large part, of the so
ciety of that delightful city.
The old French-Canadians of Do
troit correspond with the descend
ants Of the Dutch settlers of New
York. Each considers itself the elite
Of its respective abiding place. One
Of the most retiring of Detroit's
French girls was Elise Brisson.
Quigley happened to be thrown
good deal with Miss Brisson, and since
her retiring disposition did not gain
for her that attention she merited, he
had 1t all his own way with her. In
those days persons living in houses
large enough for the purpose gave par
ties, and at most of such entertain
ments Quigley and Miss Brisson were
great deal together.
81 wonder" said Mrs. Major Field
ing IF the handsome Quigley is go
ing to marry the little French girl1
She is pretty, but she has no money,
and 1t is great pity for our army
officers to marry girls without some
income"
Quigley was not a fortune hunter.
He was simply one of those idle
young men of the United States army
who in those days had nothing to do
A.,A Ixt1 T. 30
Miss Brisson until Miss Hamilton, O
dashins blonde from New York, came
to Detroit; then he switched off from
the French girl" to the New Yorker.
Miss Brisson bore her desertion az
quietly as she bore every trouble.
In the midst of his affair with Miss
Hamilton, Quigley was ordered to an
other post. He left Detroit without
any request for Miss Hamilton, but did
regret leaving the delightful society Of
Detroit; and was much surprised to
feel sharp twinge of disappointment
at not seeing anything of the little
French girl.
He had scarcely departed before
chit-chat about him and his two lady
loves ceased.
Quigley was in the United States
engineering corps, and during his stay
at Fort Wayne had heen engaged In
some engineering work In the vicinity.
A year after having been. ordered
away he was sent back to put some
finishing touches ON what he had
done.
He wondered If he would meet any
Of his old friends.
One Of the first persons he met ON
the street was Elise Brisson. A change
seemed to have come over her apparel.
In other respects she was the same.
Her garments were Of richer mate
rial and bore the stamp of having been
made by an accomplished modiste. But
she was the same reticent little French
girl.
Quigley expressed q desire to re-
sumo their friendship. She told him
that she would be away for awhile
after a day or two. but she was to
have a few friends at her home the
next evening at eight o'clock. She
would be happy to see him also.
Quigley had just arrived In Detroit,
and was at the time he met Miss Bris-
son hurrying for a train to reach the
scene of his engineering works. He
did not get away till the next after
noon, and only returned to his hotel In
time to eat hasty dinner, put him.
self into evening dress, and make his
way to Miss Brlsson's, who had given
him her new address.
He found her In a handsome dwell.
ing. corresponding with her changed
apparel. For the few friends spoken
Of by her as her guests for the eve.
ming, an awning from the sidewalk
to the piazza had been provided, ana
guests were arriving In large mum.
bers.
Quigley entered, and was shown to
the mems room, looking about him for
someone he might have known while
previously stationed at Fort Wayne.
But failed to see anyone he recog-
nized.
Quigley, from the moment he met
Miss Brisson felt a revival of his for
mer love for her. He regretted having
to meet her again among such
crowd, but since he had returned to
Detroit on the eve of one of her func-
tons, 1t was quite natural that she
should have invited him.
Descending to the drawing room,
where he expected to meet her, he
neither found her nor any of her fam
lily. Furthermore, he failed to find
any Of his former acquaintances.
Suddenly portieres into another
room were drawn aside and there
stood Elise Brisson about to become
the bride of one of Quigley's former
civilian. acquaintances.
How he endured the sight is impos-
sible to describe here, for 1t was al
ways inexpressible to himself. How
ever, he managed to endure the cere-
mony and afterwards found the throng
OF guests moving forward to congratu-
late the happy couple.
Elise received him In the same quiet
manner as Of old. giving no hint BIZ