Madeline de Haldimar had been for some
time on a visit to Detroit, and her marriage with her
cousin was to have taken place within a few days. The
unexpected arrival of intelligence from Michilimackinac
that her father was dangerously ill, however, retarded
the ceremony; and, up to the present period, their
intercourse had been completely suspended. If Madeline
de Haldimar was capable of strong attachment to her lover,
the powerful ties of nature were no less deeply rooted
in her heart, and commiseration and anxiety for her father
now engrossed every faculty of her mind. She entreated
her cousin to defer the solemnisation of their nuptials
until her parent should be pronounced out of danger, and,
having obtained his consent to the delay, instantly set
off for Michilimackinac, accompanied by her cousin Clara,
whom, she had prevailed on the governor to part with
until her own return. Hostilities were commenced very
shortly afterwards, and, although Major de Haldimar
speedily recovered from his illness, the fair cousins
were compelled to share the common imprisonment of the
garrison.
When Miss de Haldimar joined her more youthful cousin at
the window, through which the latter was gazing thoughtfully
on the scene before her, she flung her arm around her
waist with the protecting manner of a mother.
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