THE SUN MAID

  A Story of Fort Dearborn

  by

  EVELYN RAYMOND

  Author of "The Little Lady of the Horse," Etc.

  New YorkE. P. Dutton & Company31 West Twenty-Third St.

  Copyright, 1900ByE. P. Dutton & Co.

  The Knickerbocker Press, New York

  _Page 22._ KITTY AND THE SNAKE. _Frontispiece._]

  TO ALL YOUNG HEARTS IN THAT FAIR CITY BY THE INLAND SEA CHICAGO

  PREFACE.

  In some measure, the story of the Sun Maid is an allegory.

  Both the heroine and the city of her love grew from insignificantbeginnings; the one into a type of broadest womanhood, the other intoa grandeur which has made it unique among the cities of the world.

  Discouragements, sorrows, and seeming ruin but developed in eachthe same high attributes of courage, indomitable will power, andfar-reaching sympathy. The story of the youth of either would be atale unfinished; and those who have followed, with any degree ofinterest, the fortunes of either during any period will keep thatinterest to the end.

  There are things which never age. Such was the heart of the Maid whoremained glad as a girl to the end of her century, and such themarvellous Chicago with a century rounded glory which is still theglory of a youth whose future magnificence no man can estimate.

  E. R., BALTIMORE, January, 1900.

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. AS THE SUN WENT DOWN 1

  II. TWO FOR BREAKFAST 13

  III. IN INDIAN ATTIRE 27

  IV. THE WHITE BOW 38

  V. HORSES: WHITE AND BLACK 50

  VI. THE THREE GIFTS 64

  VII. A THREEFOLD CORD IS STRONGEST 77

  VIII. AN ISLAND RETREAT 91

  IX. AT MUCK-OTEY-POKEE 107

  X. THE CAVE OF REFUGE 124

  XI. UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF 138

  XII. AFTER FOUR YEARS 156

  XIII. THE HARVESTING 169

  XIV. ONCE MORE IN THE OLD HOME 180

  XV. PARTINGS AND MEETINGS 194

  XVI. THE SHUT AND THE OPEN DOOR 209

  XVII. A DAY OF HAPPENINGS 231

  XVIII. WESTWARD AND EASTWARD OVER THE PRAIRIE 247

  XIX. THE CROOKED LOG 260

  XX. ENEMIES, SEEN AND UNSEEN 272

  XXI. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH 284

  XXII. GROWING UP 296

  XXIII. HEROES 306

  XXIV. CONCLUSION 315