The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-07-06

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the corner Of the stockade, and with
a flare of defiance In his black eyes
the lad stalked slowly and proudly
away. From behind him the voice Of
the wounded man called, and old Joel
turned. There was a CHASTITY smile on
the Virginian's pallid face.
Il saw it," he said painfully. THAT'S
that's my SON."
CHAPTER 10
From the sundial on the edge Of
the high bank. straight above the brim
of the majestic yellow James, a noble
path Of thick grass as broad as a
modern highway ran hundreds Of
yards between hedges Of roses
straight to the open door of the great
manor.house with its wide verandas
and mighty pillars set deep back
from the river In grove Of ancient
oaks. Behind the house spread little
kingdom, divided into fields Of grass,
wheat, tobacco, and corn. and dotted
with white.washed cabins filled with
slaves. Already the house had been
built a hundred years Of brick
brought from England In the builders
own ships, It was said, and the second
son of the reigning generation. one
Colonel Dale, sat In the veranda
alone. He was royallst officer, this
second son. but his elder brother had
the spirit Of daring and adventure
that should have been his, and he had
been sitting there four years before
when that elder brother came home
from his first pioneering trip into the
wilds, to tell that his wife was dead
and their only son was a captive
among the Indians. Two years later
still, word came that the father, too.
had met death from the savages, and
the little Kingdom passed into Colonel
Dale's hands.
Indentured servants, as we'll as
blacks from Africa. had lAbored on
that path In front Of him; and up
1t had once stalked deputation Of
the great Powhatan's red tribes. Up
that path had come members Of the
worshipful House Of Burgesses; blu6
planters In silk coats the governor
| and members of the council; dis
tinguished visitors from England
colonial gentlemen and ladies. And all
was English still 49, books, clothes
plates, knives, and forks; the church,
the Church Of England; the Governor.
the representative Of the King; his
Council, the English Parllament--so.
cially aristocratic. politically repub'
lican. For ancient usage held that all
"freemen" should have voice in the
elections, have equal right to say
who the lawmakers and what the law.
The way was open as now. Any man
could get two thodssss = acres 81
service to the colony, Gould build
pillow, reap, save, buy servants, and
roll In his own coach to sit as burgess
There was but one seat Of learning
at Williamsburg. What culture they
had they brought from England OF
got from parents or minister. And al
ways they had seemed to prefer sword
and stump to the pen. They hated
towns. At every wharf a long shaky
trestle ran from warehouse out into
the river to load ships with tobacco
for England and to get In return all
cOnvenlences and luxuries. and that
was enough. In towns men jostled
and individual freedom was lost, 80
Ho! for the great sweeps Of land and
rhe sway of a territorial lord! Eng
Iishmen they were Of Shakespeare's
time but living In Virginia. and thai
!. is all they were-save that the flower
Of liberty was growing faster In thu
new.world soil.
Engllshmen called It the "Goot
Land and found 1t most plentiful
sweet, wholesome, and fruitful OF al
others" The east was the ocean
Florida was the south; the north wal
Nova Francia, and the west unknown
Only the shores touched the interior
which was an untraveled realm d
fairer fruits and flowers than In Eng
land; green shores. majestic forests
and blue mountains filled with col
and jewels. And the feet Of all Wit
had made history had trod that broat
path to the owners heart and home.
Down it now came a little girl-th'
flower Of all those dead and gone
and her coming was just as thougl
one of the flowers about her ha'
stepped from Its gay Company on on
or the other side Of the path to max
through them a dainty, triumpha
march as the fairest Of them al. A
the dial she paused and her impa
tient blue eyes turned to a bend 0
the yellow river for tho first glimps
of a gay barge that soon must come
At the wharf the song Of negroes ros
as they unloaded the boat Just fron
Richmond. She would 30 and see l
there was not package for her moth
or and perhaps a present for herself
81 with another look to the river ben
she turned, but she moved no farther
Instead, she gave q little gasp. 4
which there was no fear, though wha
she saw was surely startling enoug
TO have made her wheel In flight. II
stead, she gazed steadily into a pal
. Of grave black eyes that were d1ed O
, her from under green branch thu
overhung the footpath, and steadll
she searched the figure standin