Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-08-24
CHAPTER v-contlnued.

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 landr'
Barbara laughed. "Yes; we can't
drive around the plantation and get
back for dinner. think we'd better
turn now"
POLARIZATION" said the lad. "What's
that?"
Barbara waved her whip.
"Why, all this--the land-the farm"
"Oh!"
Its called Red Oaks-from those
big trees back Of the house."
ooh. 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 coonskin cap and hunters
Rarb was halted at the sun-dlal and
looking toward them.
"Now, wonder who that Is" said
Colonel Dale. "Jupiter, but that boy
can rum
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.
"Fhis Is Dave" said the boy simply.
"Dave Yandell," added the stranger,
smiling and taking OF his cap. i've
been at Williamsburg to register some
lands and thought I'd come and see
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 Red
Oaks these days.
That night the subject of Hugh and
Harry going back home with the two
Kentuckians was preached to Colonel
Dale, and to the wondering delight
of the two boys both fathers seemed
to consider 1t favorably. Mr.. Brock
ton was going to England for visit,
the summer was coming on, and both
fathers thought it would be great
benefit to their sons. Even Mrs. Dale,
on whom the hunter had made most
agreeable impression, smiled and said
she would already be willing to trust
her son with their new guest any
where.
Il shall take good care Of him,
madam" said Dave with bow.
Colonel Dale, too was greatly taken
with the stranger, and he asked many
questions of the new land beyond the
mountains. There was dancing again
that night, and the hunter, towering
a head above them all, looked on with
smiling interest. He even took part
in square dance with Miss Jane Will
longhby, handling his great bulk with
astonishing grace and lightness of
foot. Then the elder gentlemen went
into the drawing-room to their port
and pipes, and the boy Erskine slipped
after them and listened enthralled to
the talk of the coming war.
Colonel Dale had been in Hanover
ten years before, when one Patrick
Henry voiced the first intimation Of
independence in Virginia; Henry, q
country storekeeper bankrupt
farmer--ban1rupt storekeeper again
and bankrupt again; an idler, hunter
fisher, and story-teller-even "bar
keeper" as Mr.. Jefferson once dubbed
him, because Henry had once helped
his father-in-law to keep tavern. That
far back Colonel Dale had heard
Henry denouhce the clergy, stigmatize
the king as a tyrant who had forfeit
ed all claim to obedience, and had
seen the orator caught up on the
shoulders Of the crowd and amidst
shouts OF applause borne around the
courthouse green. he had seen the
same Henry ride Into Richmond two
years later on lean horse: with pa
pers in his saddle-pockets his ex
preston grim, his tall figure stoop
ing, a peculiar twinkle in his small
blue eyes, his brown wig without pow
der, his coat peach-blossom In color
his Rnee-breeches Of leather, and biz
stockings Of yarn. The speaker q
the Burgesses was on dais undeI