The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-09-07
CHAPTER XII

sweep OF the wilderness. Through ita
slanting rays the river poured like q
flood Of gold. The negroes were on
the way singing from the fields. Cries
chafiing. and the musical clanking Of
trace-chains came from the barnyard
Hungry cattle were moOIng and full
uddered mothers were mooing answer
to bawling calves. A peacock screamed
from a distant tree and sailed forth
full-spread-a great cleaning winged
Jewel of the air. In crises the nerves
tighten like violin strings. the memory.
plates turn abnormally sensItive-and
Erskine was not to forget that hour
The house was stiil and not q soul
was In sight as the three. stiil silent,
walked IN the great path. when they
were near the portico Harry came out
He looked worried and anxious.
"where's Barbarar' asked her
father.
Locked In her room"
let her alone" said Colonel Dale
gently. Like brother and cousin, Har-
ry and Hugh were merely irritated by
the late revelation. but the father was
shocked that his child was no longer
child Erskine remembered the girl
as she waited for Grey's coming at the
sundial, her face as she walked with
him up the path. For q moment the
two boys stood In moody silence.
Harry took the rapiers In and put
them In their place on the wall Hugh
quietly disappeared. Ersklne. with a
word of apology. went to his room.
and Colonel Dale sat down on the
porch alone.
As the dusk gathered. Erskine. look.
ing gloomily through his window.
saw the girl futter like white moth
past the box hedge and down the
path. A moment later he saw the tall
form ~ Colonel Dale follow her-and
both passed from sight. on the thick
turf the colonel's feet too were noise.
less. and when Barbara stopped az
the sundlal he too paused. She was
unhappy. and the coloneIs heart ached
sorely, for any unhappIness Of hers al
ways trehlrd his own.
~"Llttle girlw he chilled. and no
lovers voice could have been more
gentle Come here"
She turned and saw him. with arms
outstrctched. the low moon lighting
all the tenderness IN his fine old face,
and she flew To him and fell to weep
Ing on his breast. In wise silence
h. a Ia, hat -.
little calmer.
whats the matter. little daugh-
terY"
"I-I-don't know"
~ understand You were quite
right to send him away, but you did
not want him harmed"
"I-I-dldn't want anybody harmed"
81 hdow. It's TOO bad, bu, mons
Of as seem quite To trust him"
That's IT," she sobbed; Il don't,
either, and yet"
81 know. | know. My little girl
must be wise and brave. and maybe
II will all pass and she will he glad.
But she must be brave. Mother Is not
well and she must not be made I'M
happy too. She must not know. Can't
my little girl come back to the house
now? She must be hostess and this IL
Erskine's last night" She looked up,
brushing away her tear%
Ills lat nightf" All, wise old
colonel
"les-he goes tomorrow 10 join Cap
tain Clark nj williamsburg on his
foolish campaign in the Northwest.
We might never see him again"
"Oh, father!"
'yvell, II isn't that had, but my IT.
tie girl must he very nice 20 him. He
seems to be very unhappy, too"
barbara looked thoughtful, hut
there was no pretense Of not under
"Tm sorry" she said. She took
her fathers arm, and when they
reached the steps Ersklne saw her
smiling And smiling almost gay,
she was nj supper, sitting with ex-
luslte dignity IN her mothers place
~ Erskine. who sat nj her right, she
asked many questions about the com
Ing campaign. Captain Clark had said
he would 20 with hundred men II
he could get no more The rallying
point would be the fort In Kentucky
where he had first come back In his
Dwn people, and Dave Yandell would
be captain Of company. lie himself
was going as guide, though he hoped
10 act as soldier as well. Perhaps
hey might bring back the Hair
Buyer, General Hamilton. prisoner
Ia williamsburg and then he would
Join Harry and Hugh In the militia
II the war came south and Virginia
we're invaded, as some prophesied, by
rarleton's White Rangers, who had
been ravaging the Carollnas. After
supper the little lady excused herself
with a smiling courtesy TO go to her