Evening star., 1921-10-09

Blackburn's ford, where on July Is.
1861. there was fighting which per-
haps might be termed the prelude 10
the first Bull Run.
IT is seven miles from Fairfax Court
House to Centerville, and the Ram
bier walked it with his pack because
he felt and knew that the charge
asked for Lizzie ride was unreason.
able. One mile out Of the court town
there is road fork. There the War
renton pike begins, the other road
being the Little River turnpike, which
runs west and bit north from Alex
andria. by way Of Linconia and An
nanda1e to Fairfax and then to Aldie
by way of Pender, Ok Hill and Chan
tilly. The Little River pike west
from Fairfax has been rebuilt recent
ly and made into as hard and smooth
an automobile road as there is in the
Washington region. The work OF
making over the road is being done
by convicts. In the angle where the
Little River and the Warrenton pixies
branch these convicts have their
camp. 1t was Sunday and the poor
fellows were at rest. But out in the
grounds was a black man and the
Rambler called to him. He came down
to the fence at the roadside and we
talked. He was a pleasant speaking
man. Are you a prisoner here
Yes. sir" How long have you been
in?' Twelve years, sir; l have one
more year to serve: l was sentenced
for eighteen years" What did they
with murder. sir. I come from Cape
Charles. sir. There are sixty OF US
here, sir"
The Rambler told him that he hoped
he could go back to his home and live
a happy. peaceful life. The Rambler
money saved by walking from Fair
fax to Centerville to avoid what he
thought an overcharge. but the
thought did not come to him in time.
A little way beyond the convict
camp the Rambler stopped to fill and
ward him. He came on with a strong.
steady and deliberate stride, as
though he had come long way and
was going long way. There was
nothing nervous in the walk or make
up of the boy. Nothing in the road
OF dL It's sue QlNoTtSO HIS dIteHIiOH
from his steady pace. How far are
you going?" asked the Rambler. ITO
Centerville. sir" I'm goisg there. too.
Pretty long walk, isn't it?" "Aw, no
sir. only about six miles,"
He had come from several miles the
together from the convict camp to
his home. about half mile east of
Centerville. We did not talk much.
Neither spoke unless there was some
thing to say. We stopped once for
water water Miliow spring pne is famous famous
the pike about two miles east Of
Centerville. An automobile party was
parked at the spring.i They had eaten
lunch there-a man, two handsome
Behn (for that is the name of my
thirteen-year-oldw walking companion)
and l came up .ahd l said to the man.
May we drink at your spring." Il
advise you not to. 1t does not look
tsr ,3S Wew got snsnr some wa
drought and what water was in it
was scummy. But the man and the
women of the automobile party pro-
minum drinking cup and we all got
acquainted. I'VE are a bit crowded.
but we can very comfortably make
room for you in the car and take you
to Centervflle, said Mr.. Stratton.
mo; guess John Thomas and will
finish out the walk" John Thomas
and l and the automobile party sepa-
rated. They went on in a cloud of
tawny dust and we walked on. up
hill and down. through glorious
afternoon sunlight and thick whiffs
Of dust as one auto after another
rushed by. Presently we came to a
set Of bars marking the entrance to
yard where apple trees are growing
and where an old white frame house
stands. John Thomas said. pulling
out a bar. Il live here. Goodbye"
The Rambler went in and sat down
on the grass to repair his tripod. re-
pair his camera and repair q plate
holder before taking John Thomas
picture. John went in the house and
brought out a chair, and went back
and washed his face. and combed his
hair, sat in the chair he had brought
out for the Rambler and the faithful
little shutter snapped. You have the
picture. John lives with his grand
father, ]. w. Behn. Then, once
again I hit the pike for Centerville
and at length sat down .on the porch
Of Martin Rector. have not told you
as much about Centerville as meant
to, but IL you like Centerville ] will
write another chapter.