Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-05
HRIEn,
The Half-Breed'
A Romance of Colonial Days

Thou art not lacking in the soldier
blood OF thy race, boy, else would not
be here tonight" replied the baronet,
dropping into familiar and confden-
tial tone, land that which have to say
imports thee much"
"You are right, uncle, but If lay my
books aside must have something to
recompense me forthe 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 hero'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 a book-worm, having served
under Sir William in the gallant affair
ut Lake George, where the French and
Indians under Baron Dieskau were de-
feated by the provincial troops. Per
haps the youth knew, better than the
English homo government, how small
share Sir William earned of that days
laurels.
"Are the French stirring AGAIN." he
asked after pause.
Tho news from the North Is impor-
tant. The French are led by General
Montcalm, a man Of tireless energy.
He IL preparing fotilla at Fort From
tenao and the favoring breeze which
watts him across Lake Ontario, will
place Oswego in great peril"
Mercer and his Now 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 of
q 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 troops9''
"Are comfortably quartered in Bos-
ton, New York or Philadelphia"
| "Reinforcements for Mercep?'
IT have no authority to raise troops"
| replied the knight.
"But could get volunteers-a hun
dred rifemen-my friends and neigh
bors," said the youth. impetuously.
How soonp"
! Ready to march in two weeks"
| "A drop in the bucket, nephew, and
| yet as the nucleus Of a larger force, IL
| might be effective. Try what thou
canst do, and in the meantime I will
to Albany with speed and try my infiu-
ence with the authorities to lend thee
aid, failing which thou wilt Of course
abandon the attempt"
"When my hand is on the pillow will
not turn back, Sir William"
"Boyl Boy!" exclaimed the baronet,
impatiently, ambition finds Its way by
devious means, the chief OF which is
prudent calculation. AS have already
told thee, my visit here tonight had cAe
| object Of arousing thee from these book.
ish dreams; yet counsel not rashness
We will help each other, Charles. Thy
prompt action in raising troops will re-
dound to the family credit whether
succeed in Albany or not. But to march
to Oswego with hundred men were
sheer folly"
MARS Charles" interrupted q negro
servant, putting his gray, woolly head
into the room, dem ar dogs is mighty
Uneasy. Dey is rattlin' dar chains an
barkin' as ifdey smelt somefn 'spicious.
"They scent a wild animal lurking
around the baS2yard, perhaps" replied
Selwyns taking rife from the wall.
"Injuns, mebbe," suggested Peter.
Selwyn shook his head.
1.-THE Mohawks are our friends" sait
he, 'and would come boldly if at all.
So saying, he unbolted the hall doc
and was about to step forth upon tn
moonlit lawn, but almost stumbled owe
an object seated on the threshold, which
arose and stood before him silent AM
motionless. se1wyn was too we'll use'
to Indian habits to be surprised at thi
apparition, the sex and features O
which were concealed by blanke
thrown over the head and almost touch
ing the ground.
"Whom do you seek?" asked tn
young man, in the Mohawk dialect.
Slowly the blanket dropped fror
head and shoulders, revealing a hand
J some boyish face, whose features wer
rather French than aboriginal, and
air OF large sparkling black eyes wer