The Washington herald., 1912-06-09


indeed glad to see you here once more,
for It has been many months since
dispatched you to the seacoast. And
have been engaged in the warfare
against the patriotic Lord Dunmore, my
friend and former companion in the old
country"
"It is true" Jack replied, as he seat
ed himself upon a chair on the porch
i found that there was fighting with
the British when ] got to Norfolk, and,
being Nirginian, and in sympathy with
their aims and desires, joined them,
so as to. make one more gun with the
meager forces"
That | regret to hear, my boy"
Fairfax interrupted, @for I feel that
these Virginians cannot win, and you
have now placed yourself in a positionI
where treason could be charged against
you, and you could therefore be shot
But enOugh-you are now beyond the
pale-can you tell me If the Virginiansl
mean to continue this first attack, with
actual war;"
Indeed they do, and already are
drawing up plans for an army, for
money to support it with, and for food.
You do not know their determination Il
It is tremendous. And / believe that
England viii have to fight until the last
man drops, for the Rangers have swornl
to all perish rather than to surrender" n
Lord Fairfax sighed and looked
gloomy. What you tel me makes me-
sad at heart" he said. They can never
win-that is impossble-but, neverthe-
less, my country has now a gruesoms
task upon its hands. II does not grieVsi
me when a Redcoat kills an Indian, brt
when he dispatches a fellow-country-
man-that is a different story. Now
my boy, think that you had better
change your allegiance from these
crazy-oated Colonists to the Kings
cause. You know that when this affair
is over, it will go better with you II
you stay by the side Of the mother coun-
try, than if you remain with these Coll
onists. You have everything to lose
and nothing to gain by remaining with
the Virginians." {
While he spoke Jack could not help
smiling. for he remembered the talk
of Capt Dabney, and the promise of an
cestral holdings IN Merrie England.
My mind is made up and ! cannot
change" said he
Then you mean that you will not
follow my advice. | who have brought
you up, at your fathers direction"
Il mean it.
"And you. Tommy, what say you?"
cried Lord Fairfax, turning to Tommy
Wallace.
Z will go the same way as does
Jack" /
The good Englishman had tears in
his eyes as he rose from the chair in
which he was seated.
We'll, WELL" he said, iwth a cholled
voice. Il see that young America has
the independence which we were never
taught to show in England There, a
boy did as his betters directed" And
so saying. the master of GreenWayt
Court stal<ed angrily into the manor
house.
The boys could not help laughing.
but, as their affection for their good
protector was very great, they soon
went to find him, and, with much show
Of feeling, told him that no matter what
took place they would always be loyal
10 him and to his name This somewhat
satisfied the disgruntled nobleman, so
that, casting aside the gloom that had
before controlled him, he invited them
% go upon a hunting and fishing trip.
This so raised all their spirits that the
Did house soon echoed with laughter
md mirth, as il had done long before
before the Indians came, and before the
roubles with the Colonies.
But as they again lived the peaceful
existence of the men of the mountains,
-umors of much import came to them
from the lower settlements. They
leard that a Continental Congress had
at at Philadelphia which assumed con-
rol of the military operations of all the
colonies. They also heard that it had
elected Col. George Wash
;hief, and furthermore that it was
greed to raise 100000 in the differ
mt colonies to meet the expense Of the
lrmy.
Later on great tidings came of a bat
le at Bunker Hill, near Boston, where
he Americans, led by Prescott and Put
lam, had stood the fire of the British
egulars, had lost $50 men killed,
and captured, and had nearly
whipped the opposing troops. They,
leard of the capture of Fort Ticon-
Ieroga and Crown Point by Ethan AL
en- and his Green Mountain boys, and
# the adoption of a flag for the now
colonies. They also received
gord of a disastrous expedition by the
,olonists against Quebec and Montreal,
There Montgomery brave patriot
vas killed, and the Americans were
bliged to abandon Canada. They
earned of the raising of the siege of
BOSTON by Gen. Howe, who sailed away
4 his ship, as Lord Dunmore had done,
nd left the people to have a breathing
pace before the next attack.
All of these rumors and reports
lrilled the martial soul of Jack like a.
current He longed to be
gain in the field; he yearned to be
here adventure was to be had; and
'here-in the thick of wars alarms
e could be Of service and use TO the
ew and struggling nation.
Tommy" said he one day. Il am
Ding off to the war. You can 20 or
tay, as you wish. But my spirit needs
le change. Besides, wish to again get
ear the seacoast where I may, per-
aps, have some news of F1intlock"
i thought that you would 60" said
ommy. And | am going, too"
But Lord Fairfax wishes"
Hang Lord Fairfaxl"
"All right, meet me tonight outside
the surveyors storehouse, and we
i'll be off for"
Better or for worse" added Tommy.
nd, as the moon threw its Silvery light
yer fhe valley of The ODeouOn that