The Red Cloud chief., 1922-09-07
CHAPTER v-Continued.

s.
For an hour or more they had
driven and there was no end to the
fields Of tobacco and grain.
"Are we still on your landT'
Barbara laughed. "Yes; we can't
drive around the plantation and get
back for dinner. I think we'd better
turn now"
"Plan.ta.tion," said the lad. "what's
thatr"
Barbara waved her whip.
"Why, all thls-the land-the farm"
"Ohl"
cts called Red Oaks-from those
big trees back of the house."
"Oh. ] know oaks well-all of EN-"
She wheeled the ponies and with
fresh zest they scampered for home.
Everybody had gathered for the noon.
day dinner when they swung around
the great trees and up to the back
porch. Just as they were starting in
the Kentucky boy gave a cry and
,darted down the path. A towering
figure In cOonskln cap and hunters
lgarb was halted at the sun-dial and
looking toward them.
snow, I wonder who that is," said
Colonel Dale. Jupiter, but that boy
can run !"
They saw the tall stranger stare
,wonderingly at the boy and throw
back his head and laugh. Then the
two came on together. The boy was
still flushed but the hunters face was
grave.
"Thls Is Dave" said the boy simply
"Dave Yandell," added the stranger
smiling and taking Off his cap. eve
been at Williamsburg to register SOM
lands and l thought I'd come and sec
how this young man Is getting along
Colonel Dale went quickly to meet
him with outstretched hand.
I'm mighty glad you did," he said
heartily. "Erskine has already told
us about you. You are just In time
for dinner"
That's mighty kind" said Dave
And the ladies', after he was present
ed, still looked at him with much Gu
riosity and great interest. Truly
strange visitors were coming to Rec
Oaks these days.
That night the subject of Hugh ant
Harry going back home with the tw,
Kentuckians vas preached to Colone
Dale, and to the wondering dellgh
Of the two boys both fathers seemet
IN nnnGt1nr ~ fnunrahIv Mr. DcAnI,
ton was going to England for a visit
the summer was coming on, and boil
fathers thought 1t would be a grea
benefit to their sons. Even Mrs. Dale
on whom the hunter had made n mos
agreeable impression, smiled and saiC
she would already be willing to trus
her son with their new guest any
where.
II shall take good care of him
madam" said Dave with n bow.
Colonel Dale, too, was greatly takeI
with the stranger, and he asked many
questions Of the new land beyond tn,
mountains. There was dancing agair
that night, and the hunter, towerin.
a head above them all, looked on will
smiling interest. He even took par
In a square dance with Miss Jane VII
loughby, handling his great bulk will
astonishing grace and lightness o.
foot. 1heii the elder gentlemen wen
into the drawing-room to their por
and pipes, and the boy Erskine Slipped
hitter them and listened enthralled t,
the talk Of the coming war.
Colonel Dale had been In Hanove
ten years before. when one PatrlcI
Henry voiced the first intimation O
independence in Virginia; Henry,
country ~storekeeper - bankrupt
farmer--bankrupt; s%torekeeper agair
and bankrupt again an idler, hunter
fisher, and story-teller-even q "baI
keeper" as Mr.. Jefferson once dubbe
him, because Henry had once helpe
his fa%ther-in-law to keep tavern. Tha
far back Colonel Dale had hear
Henry denOunce the clergy, stigmatiz
the king as a tyrant who had forfeit
ed all claim to obedience, and ha
seen the orator caught up ON tn
shoulders Of the crowd and amid.
shouts OF applause borne around tn
courthouse green. He had seen tn
same Henry ride Into Richmond tw
years later on a lean horse with p,
pers In his saddle-pockets, his e!
preston grim. his tall figure stooI
ing, a peculiar twinkle In his sma
blue eyes, his brown wig without po'
her, his coat peach-blossom In colo
his knee-breeches of leather. and h
stockings Of yarn. The speaker
the Burgesses vss on Q dais unda