Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-09-11
HRIEA,
The Ha1f-Breed.
A Romance of Colonial Days
BY ROBERT A. CUN1(INo.
[copYR1GHI. 1901
CHAPTER II.
DAMON TO PYTHIAS.

[coPYRIGHT. 1901
CHAPTER II
DAMON 10 PYTHIAs.
It was early spring in the valley OF
the MOHAWK, ana the snow sun ray
upon the ground, in heaps and ridges,
as its playfellow, the wind, chose to
dispose it, and the moon, riding high in
the starry vault, gave weird effects to
the ermine carpet below and the black
and naked giants which flung their
paunt arms to the sky in salutation of
the Queen of Night, and the river with
its floating masses of ice moved on with
majestic rythm like host with glitter
ing crests, invincible in its might.
To-day the scene is changed, the saw
age grandeur has departed with the red
race who once inhabited it. The Erie
canal bears the freight of tho West to
the seaboard, the scream OF the loco
motive whistle takes the place OF the
war-whoop of the Mohawk brave, and
the cattle of hundred hills drink at
the turbulent river.
On this April night in the year 1856
Sir William johnson, sitting beside the
cheerful hearth of his kinsman, Charles
Selwyn, was urging upon that youth
some suggestions, the worldly wisdom
of which could not be doubted, falling
rs they did from the lips Of warrior
and statesman whom King George was
graciously pleased to honor with a
baronetcy in reward for victory which
was saved from disaster by his lieuten-
ant, after his gallant chief had retired
from the field with slight wound,
which was, however, of sufficient impor-
lance to be mentioned in the dispatches
announcing the defeat and capture of
Dieskan at Crown Point. In fact, the
lion skin being too short, the epidermus
of the fox was made available to exc out
the deficiency, with the happiest results
to the wearer thereof.
Charles Selwyn was about twenty-five,
tall, brown-haired, gray-eyed. with
resolute mouth and thoughtful yet
The room was large with no attempt
at adornment, unless the stays antlers
and other trophies of the chase suspend
ed on the walls could be counted as
such. A few bear skins scattered on the
floor served the purpose of mats and, at
pinch, beds, when guests were numer-
Gus; and the blazing logs gave all the
light that was needed on winter nights.
1t was, in short, the great hall and re-
ception-room of an American manor
house, rude and inelegant to European
eyes, but quite in harmony with the
genius and the requirements of the
hardy pioneers of new nation. A table
strewed with books and manuscripts
gave evidence, however, tkS.. the light
of eighteenth century intelligence was
not quite excluded by the forest shade.
From this object Sir William glanced at
the face of his nephew.
Dreams, dreams! Charles" he said,
with an impatient gesture, well enough
in time of peace, but now we have other
matters on which to sharpen our wits
and our swords
SIS it not peaceful il the valley,
uncle?" asked the youth. ''Methinks
this Arcadian peacefulness is the nurse
Of poetic thought, the cradle of philos-
Ophy."
''Thou art not lacking in tho soldier
blood of thy race. boy, else would not
be here tonight" replied the baronet,
dropping into familiar and confiden-
tial tone, land that which have to say
imports thee much"
"You are right, uncle, but il lay my
books aside must have something to
recompense me for the sacrifice"
Hard blows. lad. hard blows. Turn
thine ambition in another channel.
King George is not niggard of his
favors to those who deserve them. The
laurel on the heHo's brow is nobler than
the bay leaf Of the poet or the toga of
the sage"
The young man was not as much i'm.
pressed by this rhetorical speech as his
kinsman supposed. He was not al
together book-worm, having served
under Sir William in the gallant affair
ct Lake George, where the French and
Indians under Baron Dieskan were de-
feated by the provincial troops Per-
haps the youth knew, better than the
English home government, how small a
share Sir William earned of that days
laurels.
'.Are the French stirring again?" he
asked after pause.
1.-THE news from the North is impor-
tant. The French arc led by General
Montcalm, a man of tireless energy.
He is preparing flotilla at Fort From
tenac and the favoring breeze which
watts him across Lake Ontario, will
place Oswego in great peril"
Mercer and his New Englanders hold
that fort" said the youth in a tone Of
confidence.
"And if they can not?"
As the full import of this suggestion
flashed across his mental vision, Selwyn
arose with the air of one who shakes off
drowsy feeling of security.
What then?" he asked.
"Why, then in about week your
peaceful Arcadia will be full of Cana
dian savages and Frenchmen."
1.-The British troops?'
"Are comfortably quartered in Bos-
ton, New York or Philadelphia
"Reinforceuents for Mercer?"
81 have no authority to raise troops"
replied the knight.