Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-20


outer world.
What it wsa he hardly knew, for
he was nat yet much given to
eai ching his heart OF mind. He
did know. however that some
strange toTcc ha. long been working
within him mat was steadily grow
ing stronger. With his minds eye
he Wa ever seeing at the end of his
journey the face oi his little cousin
Barbara Dali.
A striking figure the lad made
riding into the GA capital n aft
ernoon Just before the sur sank be-
hind the western woods.
The governors palace was closed
and deserted. My Lord Dunmore
was .onC in flight. But there was the
bust of Sir Walter in front of Ra-
leigh Tavern, and there he drew up.
before the Steps where he was once
nigh te taking Dane Grey's life.
The little tavern was thronged
and the air charged with the, spirit
of war. Indeed, nothing else was
talked.
Next morning I'rskine rode forth
along & sandy road. amidst the sing
ing Of birds and through a forest of
tiny upsi.Jotjng leaves. for Red Oaks
on the James.
lie ha3 fcrsworn Colonel Dale to
secrecy es tc the note he had left be-
hind giving his birtntight to his lit
tie cousin Barbara. and he knew the
confidence would be kept i%nviolate.
At the boat landing he hitched his
horse to the iow-swung branch of an
oat. There a the Sun-dial that
had marked every sunny hour since
he h;i been away. For a moment
he stool there and when he stepped
into tho Spc,. he slirank back hastily
"a cIrl was coming through the
opening Of norwood from the house
coming slowly, 0~areheaded, her
hands c.asped behind her, her eyes
downward.
HIS heart throbbed as he waited,
thrY5bed tie more when his ears
caught even the soft tread o. her
little feet. and seemed to stop when
she paused at the sun-dial. and
searched the rive with her eyes.
Soon the girl futtered a handker-
chief and from the single passen-
ger in the stern came an answering
of white and IA glad cry. AT
the bend of the river the boat dis
appeared from Erskine's sight under
the bank, and he watched the girl.
How she had grown! Her slim
figure had rounded and shot upward
and her white gowl had dropped to
her dainty ankles.
Now her face was flushed and her
eye flashed with eXcitement-it was
no mere kinsman in that boat. ana
the boys heart began to throh
GnnaaI,, xrttb tnal-inr nn1EtinnG hn
had never known before.
A fiery-looking youth sprang up
the landing-steps, bowed CALAMITY
over. the girls hand, and the two
turned up the path. the girl rosy
with smiles and the youth bending
over her with a most protecting
and tender air. 1t was Dane Grey.
and the heart of the watcher turned
mortal sick.
Barbara saw him first and she
did not rush forward. Instead sh"
stopped. with wide eyes, Il stiflcd
cry, and a lifting of one hand to-
ward her heart. Grey saw too.
flushed rather painfully. and calm
ed himself.
"Why, have | changed so much?'
Erskine cried.
vi ioNi DC L h'i'N N''i" Pi'S i''N
cred, paling a little but gathering
herself rather haughtily-a fact that
Erskine seemed not to notice. You
took me by surprise and you have
changcd-but L don't know how
much"
The significance OF this, too,
seemed to pas Erskine by.
Never to you, my dear cousin"
he said CALAMITY, and then he bow
ed to Dane Grey, not offering to
shake hands.
The .rcat dinner-bell from behind
the house doomed its m M 70
the woods and fields.
Come on" called Harry, who had
just APPEARED. Il imagine you're
hungry, cousin"
Il am said ErskIne. i've had
nothing to eat since-since early
morn.." Barbara's eyes flashed up
ward and Grey was plainly startled.
Was there a slight stress on those
two words? o
Mrs. Dale was visiting down the
river, so Barbara sat in her mothers
place.
Now. you White Arrow. you BIG
Chief. tell us the story" said Harry.
Grey began to look uncomforta-
BILE, and so. in truth. did Barbara.
what have you heard?" asked
Erskine quietly.
Never mind" i~nterposed Barbara
quickly; you tell u.s."
What" shouted Harry, wher
Erskine told of the powwow. You
told both that you would fight with
they do to you?"
Erskine smiled.
81 jumped yer the heads of the
outer ring and ran"
WELL" said Harry impatiently.
that isn't the end"
"I went back to the camp.
Crooked Lightning followed me and
they tied me and were going to burn
at the stake"
Good heavens!" breathed Bar
bara.
How'd you get away"
1.-THE Indian girl. Early Morn.
slipped under the ten and cut me
loose. The white woman got my
gun. and Firefly-you know nothing
can catch Firefly." The silence was
intense. Grey was painfully flushed.
And you want to know what /
am going to do now?. Erskine went
on. I'm going with Captain George
Rogers Clark-with what command
are you, Mr.. Grey?"
That's a secret" he smiled cool
ly. I'll let you know later" and
Barbara, with an inward sigh of re-
lief. S quickly.
But the white woman" ques-
toned Harry. "Why doesn't she
leave the Indians?"
early Morn-a half-bred, is her
daughter" said Erskine simply.
"Oh." and Harry questioned no