Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-15
A MEETING IN THE WILDERNESS

EfA~4X winter journey to kaSkask1a W M with a tempest in his heart. A111-a and 1t was perhaps the storms energy that gave him the courage to face undaunted and undoubting what his experience must have told him lay in his path. What meant suffering to kim if he could but rescue Alice? And what were life should he fail to rescue her? The old, old song hummed in his heart, every phrase of it distinct above the tumult of the storm. Could cold and hunger. swollen streams. ravenOus wIiu peasts ana scalp Nnanting savages baffie hin2 No; there is no barrier that can hinder love. He said this over and over to himself after his rencoun- ter with the four Indian scouts on the Wabash He repeated it with every heart beat until he fell In with some friendly red men, who took him to their camp, where, to his great surprise, he met M Roussillon. It was his song when again he strode off toward the west on his lonely way.
 He did not know that Long Hair and his band were fast on his track, but the knowledge could not have urged him to greater haste He strained ev- cry muscle to it's utmost, kept every nerve to the highest tension. Yonder toward the west was help for Alice. That was all he cared for.
 But if Long Hair was pursuing him with relentless greed for the reward of fered by Hamilton there were friendly footsteps still nearer behind him, and one day at high noon while be was bending over little fire broiling some liberal cuts of venison a finger tapped him on the shoulder. He sprang up and grappled Oncle JaZon. At the same dime, standing near by, he saw Simon Kenton, his old time Kentucky friend. The pungled features of one and the fine, rugged face of the other swan as in a mist before Beverley's eyes. Ken ton was laughing quietly, his strong, upright form shaking to the force of his pleasure. He was in the early prime of vigorous life, not handsome, but strixingly attractive by reason of a certain glow in his face and kindly flash in his deep set eyes.
 s.Well, well, my boyp' he exclaimed, laying his left hand on Beverley's shoulder, while in the other he held
 lg, heavy rifle. I'm glad to see ye, glad to see yer'
 Thought we was Injuns, ehY r said Oncle Jazon. "An, eff we had "a been we'd "a been shore O your scalpw The wizened old creole cackled gleefully.
 And where are ye goin'?'' demand ed Kenton. ''Ye're maxim what lacks a heap O bein' bee line for some place or other.''
 Beverley was dazed and vacant mind ed. Things seemed wavering and dim. He pushed the two men from him and gazed at them without speaking. Their presence and voices did not convince him.
 sYer meats a-burnin'," said oncle Jazon, stoooing to turn it on the smol- derin $ "Ye must be hungry Coo. for regiment"
 Ike. ek Beverley with rough famis. s If to rouse his faculties.
 'sWhats the matter2 Fitx, my lad, don't ye know si Kenton? It's not so long since we were like brothers, and now ye don't speak to me. We've not forgotten me, Fitzl"
 "Mebby he don't like ye as we'll as ye thought he did" drawled Oncle Jazon, T hev known O fellers a-bein' mistaken jes' thet way"
 Beverley got his wits together as best he could taking in the situation by such degrees as seemed at the time un- duly slow, but which were really mere momentary falterings.
 sWhy, Kenton Jazonr' he presently exclaimed, cordial gladness blending with his surprise. How did you get here? Where did you come fromY He looked from one to the other back and forth, with wondering smile breaking over his bronzed and deter mined face
 'tWe'ye been hot on yer trail for thir- ty hours," said Kenton. "Roussillon put us on it back wonder. But what are ye up to? Where are ye goin' p
 I'm going to Clark at Kaskaskia to bring him wonder" He waved his hand eastward. q am going to take Yincennes and kill Hamilton"
 "Well, we're tal1in' a mighty queer course, my boy, if ye ever expect to find Kaskaslzia. Ye're already twenty miles too far south"
 "Carryin' his gun on the same shoul- der all the time," said Oncle Jazon, 'has made i'm kind O swing in a curve like Faint good luck nohow to carry yer gun on yer lef' shoulder. When ye do it meks ye take longer step with yer right foot than ye do with yer lef', an ye can't walk straight line to save yer liver. ventrebleu! La venaison brule encore! Look at that dasted meat burnin' ag'inr'
 He jumped back to the fire to turn the scorching cuts.
 Beverley wrung Kenton's hand and looked into his eyes as a man does when an old friend comes suddenly out of the past, so to say, and brings the freshness and comfort of strong, true soul to brace him in his hour of great est need
 "Of all men in the world, Simon Ken ton, you were the least expected. But how glad am, how thankful Now know shall succeed. We are going to