The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-10-12
CHAPTER XVIII

SVl'V SN NV"
Yorktown broke the British heart,
and General Dale, still weak from
wounds, went home to Red Oaks. 1t
was not long before, with gentle in.
quiry, he had pleoed out the full story
of Barbara and Erskine and Dane
Grey, and wisely he waited his chance
with each phase of the situation.
Frankly he told her first of Grey's
dark treachery. and the girl listened
with horriaed silence, for she would
as soon have distrusted that beloved
father as the heavenly Father in her
prayers. She left him when he
finished the story and he let her 80
without another word: All day she
] vas In her room and at sunset she
/ gave him her answer. for she came
" to him dressed In white. knelt by his
chair, and put her head in hts lap.
And there was a rose In her hair.
II haye never understood about my.
self and-and that man." she said,
"and l never will"
II do" said the general gently, "and
Tiunderstand you through my sister
who was so like you. Ersklne's father
was as indignant as Harry Is now,
and l am trying to act toward you as
my father did toward her." The girl
pressed her lips to one Of his hands. .
Il think I'd better tell you the whole
story now said General. Dale, and
he told of Ersklne's father, his wild.
ness and his wanderings, his marriage,
and the capture of his wife and the
little son by the Indians, all of which
she knew, and the girl wondered why
he. should be telling her again. The
general paused:
"You know Erskine's mother was
not killed. He found her." The girl
looked up amazed and incredulOus.
EYES," he went on, "the white woman
whom he found In the Indian village
was his mother"
"Father!" She lifted her head
quickly, leaned back with hands
caught tight In front Of her, looked up
Into his face-her own erimsonlng
and pallng as she took in tie full.
| meaning Of It all. Her eyes dropped.
Then" she said slowly, "that In.
dian girl-Early Norris his half.
sister. Oh, OH" A great, pity flooded
her heart and eyes. why didn't Frs.
kline take them away from the In
diansl" .,. go ,.,s&...
His mother wouldn't leave them"
And Barbara understood. 80 -.
"Poor Erskine!" she whispered, and
her tears came. Her father leaned
back and for moment closed his
eyes. -. 80, pc.
There is more" he said finally.
! "Erskine's father was the eldest
brother-and Red Oaks"
The girl SDrang To her feet. start}l.f
agonized, shamed: Belongs to Ere.
kine," she finished with her face 10
her hands. God pity me-" she wills.
pered, Il drove him from his own
home" -. ~,.. ........
NO." said the old general with a
gentle smile: He was driving the barb
deep, but sooner or later 1t had to be
done. @. 80.
Look here" He pulled an ord
piece Of paper from his pocket and
handed It to her Her Wide eyes fell
upon rude boylsh scrawl and rude
drawing Of a buffalo pierced BY IN
arrow: -
" make no laugh lhaw no use.
| give hole dam plAntashnn Barbara. y
"Oh!" gasped the girl and then
"where is. heY"
waiting at Williamsburg to get his
discharge" She rushed swiftly down
the steps, calling:
"Ephraim! iEphraim!"
And ten minutes later the, happy,
srinning Ephratm, mounted on the
thoroughbred, was speeding ahead Of
a whirlwind Of dust with 4 little
scented note In. his battered slouch
hat:
You said you would come when.
ever ! wanted you. I want you to
come now. BARBARA"
The girl would not 90 to bed, and
the old general from his window saw
her IKE some white spirit Of the night
motionlsss on the porch. And there
through the long hours she sat- Once
she rosa and started down the great
path toward the sundial, moving
slowly through the flowers and moon.
Light unol she was opposite q giant
magnolia. Where the shadow q. It
touched the light on the grass, dhee
had 1ast mn Grsy's white face md
sca1lte breast With 1 shudder ahss
TUT nd. TAs lllht Skitened:s
Akatbhd started tie iaorning' chorus is J
Yhs dawn came and with II Ephraim.
YhAsHlr1 wnlknA swhAra ~hA x.S Nh