The Ordway new era., 1913-07-11
InstaIIment 6

At last, In 1858, the end came, when
william Pitt thrust smaller men aside
and became prime minister in Eng
land Amherst took Louisbourg. Wolfe
came to Quebec and General Forbes.
that stout and steady soldier. was
sent to Virginia to go against Du-
quesne. The advance was slow to
evaporation in the view of every ard
ent man like Washington, and eau
sious almost to tmidity; but the very
delay redounded to its success at last.
Home for the Winter.
Twas November before Duquesne
was reached. The Indians gathered
there, seeing winter come on. had not
waited to meet them: and the French
by that time knew themselves In dan
ger Of being cut OF by the English op-
erations in the north. When Forbes
forces, therefore. at last entered those
fatal woods again. where Brad
docks slaughtered men had lain to
rot, the French had withdrawn; moth
ing remained but to enter the smok.
ing ruins of their abandoned fort. hoist
the kings nag. and rename the post
Fort Pitt; and Washington turned
homeward again to seek the rest he
80 much needed.
A Hazardous Feat.
It had been almost bloodless cam
paign, but such danger as 1t had
brought Washington had shared to
the utmost. The French had not
taken themselves on without at least
one trial of the English strength.
While yet Forbes lay within the noun
tains a large detachment had come
from DuQuesne to test and reconnoiter
his force Colonel Mercer OF the vir-
sinia line, had been ordered forward
with a party to meet them.
He stayed 30 long. and the noise of
the firing came back with SO doubt
ful meaning to the anxious ears at
the camp. that Washington hastened
with volunteers to his relief. In the
dusk the two bodies of Englishmen
met. mistook each other for enemies.
exchanged deadly IRE. and were
checked only because Washington
rushed between their lines, even while
their pieces blazed. cried his hot COM
mands to stop, and struck up the
smoking muzxles with his sword.
Twas through no prudence of his that
he was not shot.
Frsneh Power Ends.
For long time his friends had felt
. deep uneasiness about his health.
They had very earnestly besousht him
not to attempt new campaign. You
will in all probability bring on re-
lapse" George Mason had warned him.
"and render yourself incapable of serv-
ing the public at time when there
may be the utmost occasion. There
10 nothing more certain than that .
gentleman of your station owes the
care Of his health and his life not only
to himself and his friends. but to his
country" But he had deemed the
nearest duty the most imperative; and
It was only after that duty was dis
posed OF that he had turned from
the field to seek home and new pleas
ures along with new duties. The win
ter brought news from Quebec Of the
which made rest and home and pleas
ure the more grateful and full Of
xest
An Accidental Meeting.
On May day in 1853, as he spurred
upon the way to Williamsburg, under
orders from the frontier. Washington
rod straight upon an adventure he
had not looked for.
He was within few miles ride of
the little capital: old plantations lay
close upon the way; neighborly homes
began to multiply: and SO striking q
horseman riding uniformed and unat.
tended, could not thereabouts 60 far
unrecogni1ed. He was waylaid and
hailed to dinner. despite excuses and
protests Of public business calling for
dispatch. There was charming
woman to be seen at the house. his
friend told him. II good dinner was
not argument enough-and his busi-
ness could not spoil for an hours stay
in agreeable company. And SO. of .
sudden, under constraint Of virginian
hospitality, he was hurried into. the
presence Of the gracious young matron
who was at once. and a. II Of right. to
make his heart safe against further
quest Of adventure.
Martha Gusts was but slx.and-twen-
ty. To the charm Of youth and beauty
were added that touch of quiet sweet.
ness and that winning grace of self
possession which come to Q woman
wived in her sirlhood, and widowed
before age or care has checked the
hrst full tide of life. At seventeen
she had married Daniel Parke Custis.
. man more than twenty years her
senior; for eight years Of quiet love
and duty as wife and mother had
only made her youth the more gra-
cious In that rural land Of leisure and
good neishborhood: and years wid-
owhood had been but a suitable prepa-
ration for perceiving the charm of this
stately young soldier who now came
riding her way upon the public
business.
a WIlllno cantIve