Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-12-15

his name was one which made those
earliest inhabitants of Detroit flush with pride.
Even when his warning days were over and he had
settled down the river bank, his prestige
such that people would step aside to let him pass
as he came strIdlng down the roadway.
Claire had a temperament not unlike her faith
ers. Their wrangles and their recOncatons were
known all up and down the river. Yet they
passonately attached to each other and devotedly
aOved by the whole community. In particular
the fair Claire loved by Beauclerc, a 1.-the,
dark young Frenchman who hunted more for the
sport Of the chase than for the profit of his pocket
book at the fur trading post When Sleur Beau
vais would see Philippe BeauClercs tall straight
figure at Claire's elbow walking down Ste. Anne
street, now. known as Jefferson avenue, his brow
would darken threateningy. But he would find
himself commenting secretly, despite his anger,
'Dieu, what pair!" and he would add: "Mas,
1t isn't permitted for good French father to let
his daughter make fool of herself for penniless
hunter just because he has the looks Of young
god"
Then Claire would be hurried home. There was
no maman to quell the storm before it broke for
Claire's mother had withstoOd the rigors of the
Michigan winter for only three years. SO the old
warrior and his gay young daughter would rage
at each other for fifteen minutes and then fall in
to each others arms Peace would be made. Claire
would go battle her eyes, brush back the rebellious
gnu
to preside over the teacups and to welcome the
other young men who came during the course of
the evening to pay their respects to her in the
presence of her sharpeyed father-otlicers Of the
fort In their swagger uniforms, skilled trappers,
a tradeSman two and men who owned many
acres which they raised Indian corn and wheat.
Among the latter group there called now and
then rickety old Va-debon-Coeur He was a
shrewd old Frenchman whose broad lands down
| IN ROupn rvnr bonl ont 9TH
sutor's. In spite Of his physical unattractveness
he was possessed of good, kind heart and capaci-
ty for endless devotion. Seur Beauvais always
shrugged n little when he looked in old Yade-bon-
Occurs direction, rs If to shake off unpleasant
impression, but as the old fellow talked Beauvas
generally would thaw out and say to himself lies
really not half bad he's really surprisingly good
for old man. And rich, items how he could
lavish wealth on my little Clairel Fancy two
estates for the girl her and his, at each
end of the village. She might be as rich as she
is beautiful. And he's really remarkably kind and
wise"
| After their guests gone the storm would
break again. One night after this had been going
on for more than year the Segneur Of Beauvas
| determined that matters would have to come to
| reckoning.
| "This nonsense must stop!" His big brown fist
| came down on the heavy oak table. The red fire.
light played Install warrior-llke figure, CLINT
| ing the buckles of his uniform and gliding the
hiIt of his hunting knife and under his bushy brows
little red flames danced, reflected In the pupils OF
| his great black eyes. Claire rose from the small
chair where she sat by the hearth, defiance in ev-
cry line Of her lovely little figure
"You've got to settle down, you've too many
| moonstrucl fellows dangling after you A dozen
| have asked me for your hand And when l tell
you you only put me Off. Yonve snapped your
| fingers at q dozen chances. Why? All for that