Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-03-09
CHAPTER X.


Y HAD learned from our host of the
Virginia Arms that the so called
Governors hail." which stood
A within the limits of the fortitica-
tons, had been built by the French in
1855.
Now the hall served sometimes as a
courthouse, sometimes as a temporary
jail, often as a ballroom and occasional
| ly as the governors residence when he
came to Fort Pitt from Williamsburg.
Under his white and gold apartments
stretched long, blank, stone hall,
around the walls of which ran wood
en- balcony half way between the stone
| tagging and the ceiling of massive
buckeye beams.
| 1t was in this naked and gloomy hall
| damp and rank with the penetrating
odor of mortar and dropping, moldy
| plaster, that my Lord Dunmore con-
scented to receive the old Cayuga chief,
Logan. | left my window in the Vir-
| ginia Arms and descended the stair
way into the street below, where Jack
Mount and the Weasel ruffied it brave
| ly and staggered to and fro, awaiting
my coming.
We soon found ourselves in a crowd,
the current OF which swept down the
Kings road toward the fortress, and
we followed in the wake, while past us
rode companies of officers, gentlemen
and sometimes squads of the govern
or's horse-those same gay, flame
colored Virginians whom / had so ad-
mired at Johnstown a month ago.
Cresap's men were plentiful among
the crowd, some of them sullen and
muttering, others loud in their de-
mands for Cresap's release, threatening
trouble for those who had jailed their
leader and careless who heard them.
There were a few forest runners dress
ed as we were, numbers of riflemen in
green capes and gray wool shirts and
rangers in brown and yellow deerskins.
with thrums dyed scarlet or purple.
The bulk of the throng, however,
was made up of sober, peaceful citi-
zens, men Of the quiet classes, in home
spun and snuffy hats, guiltless of the
silver buckle on knee or shoe, silent,
reserved. thoughtful men Of moderate
gesture and earnest eyes. whose rare
voices disturbed no one and whose in
offensive conduct rebuked the RULERS
AZ no words could do
The people ahead Of us had now
stopped, and. looking over their heads,
! saw the dark shape Of the Govern
or's hall, partly Illuminated by two
great lanthorns set in iron sockets
Ranking the portal. Coach after coach
rolled up and chair after chair deposit
ed its burden Of bejeweled beauty at
the gateway. And all these people,
all these dainty danes and gallants,
had come to see the famous Logan, to
hear the great Cayuga orator, "The
Friend Of the White Man." ask why
his little children had been slain by
the white men, whose faithful friend
he had been so long.
The crowd In front of us was com
pact yet when Mount set his broad
chest against it the people hastily made
a lane for him. The Weasel and fol-
lowed our big companion, elbowing our
way to the portal, where Mr.. Patrick
Henry awaited us and passed us
through the sentries and guards and
pompous big bellied tipstaves who
turned mp their vinous noses at the
three shabby men from the forest.
Candlelight softened the bare walls
and benches; candlelight set silks and
Jewels In blaze where the ladies,
banked up like beds OF rustling roses,
choked the wooden balcony above our
heads, murmuring. whispering. fut-
tering fans and scarfs till the perfumed
breeze from their stirrings famed my
cheeks. And more Of them were arriv-
ing every moment. The wooden stair
way leading to the gallery was ablaze
with starred sashes and petticoats and
twinkiing satin shoon. with now and
then the sparkle OF hilt as some
scented gallant ascended with his nut
tering and gorgeous convoy.
looked for Silver Heels, but from
the door below an faces were varue
ara delicate a. massed blossoms ia q
garden. and eyes sparkled as family a.
oew on velvet petals all unfolded.
tTo Be continued)
y