The Arvada enterprise., 1921-12-15

earliest Inhabitants Of Detroit flush with pride.
Even when his warning days were over and he had
settled down the river bank. his prestige was
such that people would step aside to let him pass
as he came stridng down the roadway.
Claire had a temperament not unlike her faith.
ers. Their wran2les und their reconciiations were
known all up and down the river. Yet they were
passiOnatey attached to each other and devOtedly
loved by the whole community. In particular was
the fair Claire loved by one Beauclerc 1.-THE.
dark young Frenchnan who hunted for the
sport Of the chase than for the profit Of his pocket
book at the fur trading post When Seur Beau.
vais would see Philippe Beauclerc's tall. straight
figure at Clalres elbow walking down Ste. Anne
street. now known Jefferson avenue his brow
would darken threateningly. But lie would fnd
himself commenting secretly. despite his anger.
-Dieu. what a pair I" and he would add: "Aials,
It isn't permitted for = good French father to let
hts daughter make fool Of herself for pennies.
hunter Just because he has the looks OF young
god" .,
Then Claire would be hurried home. There was
no maman to queil the storm before It broke, for
C1aires mother had wlthstood the rigOrs Of the
Michigan winter for only three years. So the old
. warrior and his gay young daughter would rase
At each other for fifteen minutes and then fall in.
to each others arms. Peace would be made. Claire
would 20 bathe her eyes, brush back the rebellIous
gold Of her hair and come back charminxly dutifu
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-ofacers Of the
fort In their swaESep- uniforms. skilled trappers
. tradesmsn or two and men who owned many
acres on which they raised Indian corn and wheat.
Among the lstter group there called now and
then rickety old va-de-bonCoeur. He was q
shrewd old Frenchman whoAe broad lands down
on the K"use river bank outspanned every other
suitor's In spite Of his physical unattractiveness.
he was possessed Of q good. kind heart and cspaci
~ for endless devotion. sieur BeauvaIs always
shrugged n little when he looked In old va.de-bon.
Coeurs direction. II to shake of an unpleasan,
impression. but a. the old fellow talked Beauvsis
generally would thRw out and sny to himself Hes
really not half bad: he's really surprisingly good
for nm old man. And rich. tiens how he could
lavish wealth my little Claire! Fancy, two
estates for the girl her own and his. one at each
end "f the village. She might be ns rich M she
Is beautiful. And he's really remarkably kind and
wise-"
After their guests were gone the storm would
break ngan. One night after this had been going
on for more than year the Seigneur Of Beauvais
determined that matters would have to come to q
reckoning.
"This nonsense must stop" His big brown fist
came down the heavy oak taba. The red IRE.
light played his tall warriorliks figure. CLINT
ing on 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 from the small
chair where she sat by the hearth. defiance In
cry line of her lovely little figure
"You've got to settle down. you've too many
noonstruck fellows dangling nfter you. A dozen
have asked me for your hand And when tell
you. you only put me of. You've snapped your
fingers ut u dozen chances. Why7 All for that