The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-11-21

clear that she belonged 70 the TarIe-
ton family OF Virginia Youth always
cOncludegea matter az once. He knew
some Of the TarletonsG But II was "a
widely scattered family, its members
living in almost every colony IN Amer
lea. The crest he recognized at a
glance by the dragon on the helmet
with tiiree stars. It was not for a vyo-
man to bear. But doubtless II had
been enameled on the lOcket merely as
a family mark, as was often done IN
America.
~rhe black woman was your nurse.
yorr NANNY, ~ he said. II know By
that and by your prayer in English az
well as By your looket that you are Of
q good old family"
Like most southerners, he had strong
faith ia genoalogy, and he held at hia
tongues Tip the names OF all the old
families, ,mTbe Carriers, the Blaira, tile
Fitzhughs, the Hansons, the Ran
dolphs. the Lees, the Ludwells, the
Joneses, the BekeFleys, the TarIetons--
whole catalogue yof them stretched
back IN his memory. He knew the
coat Of arms displayed by each house.
He could repeat their legends.
Il wishnyou could tell me MORE" be
went on. "Can't you recollect any
thing further about your early child
hood, your FIRST Impressions house.
the woman who taught you to pray,
the old black NANNY Any little thing
might be Of priceless value as evil
dence."
There IL absolutely nothing more to
tell" she said. "All my life have
tried 20 remember nnorel but it's ims
possible; can't get any further back
or call up another thing There's no
use trying. It's all like a dream prob
ably II Is one. do have such dreams.
In my sleep can lift myself into the
air just as easy and fly back 10 the
same big white house that seem TO
remember. When you told me about
your home it'was like something that
had often seen before. shall be
dreaming about II next"
Beverley cross questioned her from
every possible point OF view. He was
fascinated with the mystery, but she
gave him nothing out OF which the
least further light could be drawn. Al
half breed woman, II seemed, had been
her Indian foster mother, a silent,
grave, .watchful guardian from whom
not hint OF disclosure ever fell She
was moreover a Christian woman who
had received her conversion from an
English speaking Protestant mission
AIRY. She prayed with Alice, thus keep
ing In the child's mind perfect NOM
ory OF the Lords prayer.
. Well" said Beverley at last, 'yOu
are more OF a mystery TO me the Ion
ger know you"
'Then l must grow every day more
distasteful to you"
EMO; l love mystery"
He went AWAY feeling a new web OF
interest binding him to this inscrutable |
maiden whose life seemed to him at
once 80 full OF idylllc Happiness and so
enshrouded In tantalizlng doubt. At
the first opportunity he frankly ques-
toned NJ. Iloussillon, with no helpful |
result. The big Frenchman told the
same meager story, The woman was
dying In the time OF a great epidemic |
which klIied most OF her tribe. She
gave Alice TO NJ. Roussillon. but told |
him not word about her ancestry or
previous life. That was all,
A wise old man when he finds him |
self IN blind alley no sooner touches |
the terminal wall than he faces about |
and goes back the way he came. I'm
der like circumstances n young man
must needs try 70 batter the wall down |
with hls head. In Beyeriey's case the
clash was profoundly disturbing. And
now no clutched the thought that Alice
was not mere child OF the woods, but a
daughter OF an old family OF cavaliersl
With coat buttoned close against the
driving wind he strode toward the fort
In one OF those melodramatic moods
20 which youth In all cllmes and times
Is subject. II was like a slap IN the
face when Captain Helm met him at
the stockade gate and said:
"Well. sir, you are good ut hiding"
''Hidingl What do you mean Cap
tain Helm p no demanded. not in the
mildest tone.
Il mean. SIR, that I've been hunting
for you for an hour and more over the
whole OF this town. The English and
Indians are upon us, and there's no
time FOR fooling. Where are all the
menr'
Beverley comprehended the situation
In second. Helms face was congest.
"a with excitement Some scouts had
some In with the news that Governor
at the head OF 800 OF 900
soldiers aud Indiana was only three or
four miles up the river.
where are all the menr' Helm re-
Deated.
Buffalo hunting most OF them" said
Beverley.
what In thunder are they on hunt
pg buraloea forY" ragged the excited
'aptain.
"You might 20 10 thunder and see,"
Beverley said, and they both laughed
n sheer masculine contempt OF a pre-
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