The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-08-31
WThat's what the Teller said ana
vbv folks here believed HIM


"That's what the Teller said ana
wbv folks here believed him.
"Wbo was he?" demanded Erskine'
"You know him--Dane Grey"
All tried to make amends straight
way for the injustice they had done
him. but the boys heart remained sore
that their trust was so little. Then,
when they gathered all settlers within
rhe fort and made all preparations aad
no Indians came, many seemed again
to get distrustful and the lad was rot
happy The winter was long and ha'o'
A blizzard had driven the game west
and south and the garrison was hard
mt TO it for food. Every day that the
hunters went forth the boy was among
them and he did far more than his
share in the killing OF game. But Wheh
winter was breaking, more news came
in of the war. The flag that had been
fashioned of soldiers white shirt, an
old blue army coat, and a red pettlcoat
was now the Stars and Stripes of the
American cause. Burgoyne had not cut
off New England, that "head OF the re-
bellion," from the other colonies. On
the contrary, the Americans had beat
EN- him at Saratoga and marched his
army off under those same Stars and
Stripes, and for the first time Erskine
heard of gallant Lafayette-how ne
had run to Washington with the por-
tentous news from his king-that
beautiful, passionate France would
stretch forth her helping hand: And
Erskine learned what that news
meant to Washington's naked and
starving soldiers dying Oh the frozen
hillsides Of Valley Forge. Then George
Rogers Clark had passed the fort on
his way to Williamsburg to get money
and men for his great venture in the
! Northwest. md Erskine got ready
permlssion to accompany him as sol
der and guide. After Clark vas gone
the lad got restless; and one morning,
when the first breath of spring came,
| he mounted his horse. in spite OF argu'
ments and prOtestatiOns, and set forth
for Virginia on the wilderness trail
He was going to join Clark, he said,
but more than Clark and the war were
drawing him to the outer world. what
it was he hardly knew, for he was not
yet much given to searching his heart
or mind. He did know, however, that
some strange force had long been
working within him that was steadily
growing stronger, was surging now
like a flame and swinging him between
strange moods of depression and exul.
tation. Perhaps it was but the spirit
of spring In his heart, but with his
minds eye he was ever seeing at the
end Of his journey the face Of his little
cousin Barbara Dale.
| A striking figure the lad made rid
ing into the old capital one afternoon
| Just before the sun sank behind sthe
western woods. Students no longer
wandered through the campus of Will
liam and Mary college Only an occa'
sional maid in silk and lace tripped
along the street in high-heeled shoes
and clicked stockings, and no coach
and four was In sight. The governors
palace, In Its great yard amid linden
trees, was closed and deserted My
Lord Dunm0re was long in sad flight,
as Erskine later learned, but not In
his coach with its six milk-white
horses. But there was the bust of Sir
Walter in front of Raleigh tavern, and
there he drew up, before the steps
where he was once nigh to taking Dane
Grey's life. A negro servant came for.
ward to care for his horse, but a coal.
black young giant leaped around the
corner and seized the bride with a
welcoming cry:
Mars Erskine But knowed
Firehy II st" 1t was Ephraim, the
groom wi had brought out Barbara
ponies, VI had turned the horse over
to him fov the race at the fair.
Il come frum de plantation fer ole
marse,' the boy explained. The host
Of the tavern heard and came down ia
give his welcome, for any Dale, nc
matter what his garb, could always
, have the best In that tavern. More
than that, bewigged solicitor, learn.
Ing his name, presented himself with
the cheerful news that he had quite 8
little sum Of money that had been con.
) fided to his keeping by Colonel Dale
for his nephew, Erskine. A strange
difference seemed to be paid him BY
everybody, which was a grateful
change from the suspicion he had lief,
! among his pioneer friends. The little
! tavern was thronged and the all
charged with the spirit Of war. Indeed
nothing else was talked. My Lord Dun
more had come to q sad and unbe
moaned end. He had stayed afar from
the battlefield Of Point Pleasant ant
) had left stalwart General Lewis tc
light Cornstalk and his braves alone
Later My Lady Dunmore and he
sprightly daughters took refuge on {
man-of-war-whither my lord soon fol
lowed them. His feet ravaged thu
banks OF the rivers and committed
every outrage, His marines set fire t
Norfolk, which was in ashes when b,
weighed anchor and sailed away tt
more depredations. When he In
trenched himself on Gwynn's island
that same stalwart Lewis opened {
heavy cannonade on fleet and island
and sent ball through the Indignant
nobleman's flagship. Next day he saw
Q force making for the island In boats
and my lord spread all sail; and 81