The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-27
CHAPTER XII

slanting rays the river poured like a
food of gold. The negroes were on
the way singing from the fields. Cries,
chatting. and the musical clanking of
trace-ehains came from the barnyard
Hungry cattle were mooing and full
uddered mothers were mooing answers
to bawling calves. A peacock screamed
from 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 selsitive-and
Erskine was not to forget that hour.
The house was still and not a soul
was In sight as the three, still silent,
walked up the great path When they
were near the portfeo Harry came out.
He looked worried and anxious.
Where's Barbara 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 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. Erskine, 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 a white moth
past the box-hedge and down the
path. A moment later he saw the tall
form Of Colonel Dale follow her-and
both passed from sight. On the thick
turf the coloners feet too were noise
less, and when Barbara stopped at
the sundial he too paused. She was
unhappy, and the colonel's heart ached
sorely, for any unhappiness Of hers al.
ways trebled his own.
Little girlw he called, and no
lovers voice could have been more
gentle. "Come here!"
She turned and saw him, with arms
outstretched, 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
he stroked her hair until she grew g
little calmer.
whats the matter, little daugh
teri"
"I-I-don't know"
81 understand. You were quite
right to send him away, but you die
not want him harmed"
-I-didn't want anybody harmed.
81 know. It's too bad, but none
Of us seem quite to trust him."
That's It." she sobbed; ST don't
either, and yet"
II know. know. My little CIR
must be wise and brave, and maybe
1t win all pass and she will be glad
But she must be brave. Mother is moi
well and she must not be made un
happy too. She must not know. CAM
my little girl come back to the house
nowf She must be hostess and this Ii
Erskine's last night" She looked up
brushing away her tears.
"His last nightf All, wise ole
coloneli
~Yes-he goes tomorrow to join Cap
tain Clark at Williamsburg on his
foolish campaign In the Northwest
We might never see him again"
"Oh, father
'Wen, It isn't that bad, but my Lit
tie girl must be very nice to him. HI
seems to be very unhappy, too"
Barbara looked thoughtful, bu
there was no pretense of not under
standing.
"Tm sorry," she said. She tool
her fathers arm, and when the!
reached the steps Erskine saw he
smiling. And smiling, almost gay,
she was at supper. sitting with ex
quisite dignity In her mothers place
OF Erskine, who sat at her right, sh'
asked many questions about the com
ing campaign. Captain Clark had SAID
he would go with a hundred men 4
he could get no more. The rallyfni
point would be the fort In Kentuck.
| where he had first come back to Id
own people, and Dave Yandell woult
be captain Of company. He himsei
was going as guide, though he hope'
| to act as soldier as well Perhap'
they might bring back the Hair
Buyer, General Hamilton, a prfsone
10 Williamsburg. and then he woul'
| join Harry and Hugh In the milft1i
# the war came south and Virg1ni,
were invaded. as some prophesied. b.
Tarleton's White Rangers, who ha'
been ravagtng the Carolinas. Afte
supper the little lady excused hersel
with q smiling courtesy to go to he
mother, and Erskfne found himses
In the moonlight on the big PORTE
| with Colonel Dale alone.
"Erskine," he said, "you make
very difficult for me to keep you
secret. Hugh alone seems TO suspec
he must have got the idea froZ
Grey, but / have warned him to sa
| nothing. The others seem not to hav
| fhouChf ,F fho matter at all II wa