The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-02-25
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All In that room knew the old man.
Many loved him. Not few held lease
upon his land. He was one of the last
brave barons who bore his name, for
the most part, whether crusaders or
poets, men gentle, reckless and mindful
of God-men who lived Clearly lives
and died commencing their souls to
Jesus and bequeathing torches and
sheep for their funerals. He was a
man every inch of him! He blamed the
kings ministers, but beloved the king.
At the leer Foy gave him some half
rose angrily, but others, of the lower
sort, seeming what was coming, slyly
winked and smiled behind their palms.
zone could scarce be too severe with
such bloody knave, my lord
"He should rot in Tyburnw blazed
the old man.
"Swelp meY' cried Foy with a coarse
laugh. 'And who, gentlemen, think
you was this hangman's cur, this dirty
factious scoundrel? Why, Colonel
Washington, + faith-turncoat since
the French warv'
There were murmurs at this from all
sides, even from these Tories, at the
trap that had been set at the wanton
affront to a friendship that had been
well known throughout the colony
since the days when Lawrence Wash
ington first brought sweet Anne Fair
fax from Belvoir to Mount Vernon.
"Houndr' ground Henry between his
teeth. A cold hand seemed pressed up
on Anne's heart
The stanch old loyalist's face had
turned gray white. He half choked,
and his hand went fumbling to the lace
at his throat He was silent for mo-
ment his great brows together. his
fingers on the arm of the chair clasping
and unclasping, while Foy sneered
audibly in the quiet.
mot Georgep he faltered at length.
Something almost like dry sob es-
capped him. He seemed not to see the
sneering face before him, now search
Ing about for applause. He turned to
the company with a gesture appealing
and pathetic. .s,a
Why, gentlemen" he said why
I've known him since he was sixteenl
l remember in '4S when he was a
rudy faced boy and ran my lines
for mel The Wings have misled him.
maybe, but he could not take up arms
against-his kngv'
There was a little stir in the place,
sort of waiting silence. Then
young man arose in the back part of
the room and bowed gracefully. 1t
was M. Armand, and he held a slender
stemmed glass, which he filed.
"Messieurs," he said simply. ~ am
not of your country, nor am 1 of the
allegiance of your king. MY country is
one far away, and it is one that has
learned of war to love a soldier and a
brave man"
AS he spoke Henry's face lighted
with q great flash of surprise and
pleasure He did not see the white
and red changing in his companiop,s
cheek, Gid not note her uneven breath
nor the wondrous beauty that came
softly courtesying In her eyes.
The voice went on:
But we of my country know one /
American 50 well-we know him ha- |
cause 1t is against our own arms that
ne has Fought before DuQuesne. Mes
sleurs, pledge you a brave man.
Colonel George Washington
Armand lifted his glass graveIy MS
ne finished and drank, and little
hushed cheer ran around the room
Ohe could not have told from the speak
Frs face that he knew he had d,1,nl.
alone. My Lord Fairfax had no glass
Dut he rose In his seat and bowed 10
him.
The toast drunk, Armand set down
me glass with clash on 20 the table.
MS face became all az once SET ana
'old, and be stood very straight
'ohe thing more, messieurs.p he said
we know IN my country. We KNOW
ile courtesy. our positions Know wbat
cue 10 me gentleman OF birth. And
rns le turned sharply upon Foy-
! 1"'N y ~ yop-you dog 81 fhe ken
pa fnco Nv -"
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