The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-09-07
CHAPTER XII


The sun was close TO the uneven
sweep ~ the wilderness. Through Its
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.chains came from the barnyard.
Hungry cattle were mooing and full
uddered mothers were mooIng answers
to bawling calves. A peacock screamed
from n distant tree and sailed forth,
-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 still and not soul
WIS In sight ~ the three, still silent,
walked up the great path. When they
were near the portico Harry came out.
He looked worried and anxious.
"where's Bsrbarar' asked her
father.
Locked In her room"
"I.et 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
a 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 raplers 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 hutter like a 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 roo were noise.
less and when Barbara stopped at
the sundial he too paused She was
unhappy. and the coloners heart ached
sorely. for any unhappiness Of hers al
ways trebled his own.
Little girl" ne 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
ne stroked her hair until she grew a
little calmer.
whats the matter. little daugh.
ter?"
"I-I-don't know"
81 understand You were quite
right To send him away. but you did
not want him harmed"
"I-I-dIdn't want anybody harmed"
81 L,iow. It's 100 bal, hut mons
Of MS seem quite To trust him"
That's it," she sobbed; Il don't,
either, and yet"
IL know. know. My little girl
must be wise and brave, and maybe
II will all pass and she will be 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 Is
Erskines last night" She looked up.
, brushing away her tears.
Ills last night?" All, wise old
colonel
"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.'
"well, It isn't that had, but my lit
tie girl must be very nice To him. lie
seems Ia be very unhappy, too"
barbara looked thoughtful. hut
I there was no pretense of not under
, standing
"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 at supper, sitting with eS-
qulsite dignity IN her mothers place
OF Ersklne. who sat NJ her right, she
asked many questions about the com
ing campaign. Captain Clark had said
he would go with n hundred men "
he could get no more The rallying
point would be the fort In Kentucky
where he had first come back To his
own people, and Dave fandell would
be captain Of company. He himself
was going as guide. though he hoped
10 act as soldier AS well. Perhaps
they might bring back the Hair
Buyer, General Hamilton, a prisoner
20 Williamsburg, and then he would
Join Harry and Hugh In the militia
| ri the war came south and Virginia
were invaded. as some prophesled. by
| Tarleton's white Rangers. who had
been ravaglng the Carollnas. After
supper the little lady excused herself
with a smiling courtesy to go-to her