The Adair County news., 1922-09-05

"l'd Like to Go-to Learn to Fence"
and-don't give up hope. Be patient,
wait, come back to us. Go to William
and Mary. Fit yourself to be one Of
us in all ways. Then everything may
yet come out in the only way that
would be fitting and right" The boy
blushed, and the colonel went on
earnestly:
81 can think of nothing in the world
that would make me quite so happy"
"It's no use, the boy said trembling
ly, "but I'll never forget what you
have just said as long as l live, and,
no matter what becomes of me, I'll
love Barbara as long as live. But,
even If things were otherwise, I'd
never risk making her unhappy even
by trying. I'm not fit for her nor
for this life. can't get over my life in
the woods and among the Indians.
l can't explain, but get choked
and can't breathe-such a longing
for the woods comes over me
and can't help NEE must go-and
nothing can hold me-"
"Your father was that way" said
Colonel Dale sadly. You may get
over 1t, but he never did. And it must
be harder for you because of your
early associations Good night, and
God bless you" And the kindly gentle
man was gone.
Erskine sat where he was. The
house was still and there were no
noises from the horses and cattle in
the barn-none from rooSting peacock,
turkey, and her. From the far-away
quarters came family the merry mel
Nov notes of a fiddle, and farther still
the song Of some counting negro return,
ing home A drowsy bird twittered in an
ancient elm at the corner of the house.
The flowers dropped in the moonlight
which bathed the great path, streamed
across the great river, and on up to its
source in the great yellow disk float
ing I'M majestic serenity high in the
cSoudless sky. And that path, those
flowers, that house, the barn, the cat
tie, sheep, and hogs, those grain-felds
and grassy acres, even those singing
black folk, were all-all his if he but
said the words. The thought was no
temptation-it was a mighty wonder
that such thing could be. And that
was all 1t waS-a wOnder-to him, but
to them it was the world. Without
it ALL what would they do? Perhaps
Mr.. Jefferson might soon solve the
problem for him. Perhaps he might
not return from that wild campaign
against the British and the Indians
he might get killed. And then
thought gripped him and held him
fast-he need not come back. That
mighty wilderness beyond the noun
tains was his real home-out there
was his real life. He need not come
back, and they would never know.
Then came a thought that almost
made him groan. There was light
step in the hall, and Barbara came
swiftly out and dropped on the top
most step with her chin in both hands.
Almost at once she seemed to feel his
presence, for she turned her head
quickly.
"Erskine!" AS quickly he rose, en-
barassed beyond speech.
"COme here! Why, you look guilty
what have you been thinking?" He
was startled by her intuition, but he
recovered himself swiftly.
81 suppose I will always feel guilty
If have made you unhappy"
''You haven't made me unhappy. I
don't know what you have made me.
You saw how 1 felt if you had killed
him, but you don't know how 1 would
have felt if he had killed you. /
don't myself"
She began patting her hands gently
and helplessly together, and again she
dropped her chin into them with her
eyes lifted to the moon
Il shall be very unhappy when you
are gone. / wish you were not going,
but + know that you are-you can't
help it," Again he was startled.
Whenever you look at that moon
over in that dark wilderness, 1 wish
you would please think of your little
cousin-will your" She turned eagerly
and he was too moved to speak-he
only bowed his head as for a prayer
or a benediction.
''You don't )know how often our
thoughts will cross, and that will be
a great comfort to me- Sometimes
am afraid. There is wild strain on
my mothers side, and it is in me.
Papa knows it and he is wise--so
wise-I am afraid may sometimes do
something very foolish, and it won't
be me at all. It win be somebody
that died long ago." she put both
her hands over both his and held
them tight.