Evening journal., 1922-02-23

Dawned 1891.
The war was coming into Vir-
ginia al last Virginia falling would
thrust great wedge through the
center of the Confederacy, feed the
British armies and end the fight.
Even the great Washington was
near despair. and in foreign help his
sole hope lay Already the traitor,
Arnold. had taken Richmond, burn
ed warehouses. and returned, but
little harassed. TO Portsmouth.
Cornwallis was coming on Tarle-
'~fonis white rangers were bedeviling
the land. and It was al this time that
Erskine Dale once more rode Fire
hv to the river James.
The boy had been two years In the
wilds. When he left the Shawnee
camp. winter was setting in that
terrlble winter OF '79-of deep snow
and hunger and cold. When he
reached Kaskaskia. Captain Clark
had gone 10 Kentucky. nd Erskine
found bad news. Hamilton and Hay
had taken Vincennes. There Cap
tain Helms Creoles. as soon as they
saw the redcoats. slipped away from
him to surrender their arms to the
British. and thus. deserted by all, he
and the two or three Americans
with him had 20 give up the fort.
The two years in the wilderness
had left their mark on Erskine. He
was tall. lean. swarthy. gaunt, and
vet he was not all woodsman, for
his born inheritance as gentleman
had been more than emphasized
bv his association with Clark and
certain Creole officers in TIE North
west, who had improved his French
and gratified one pet wish Of his
life since his last visit TO the James
they had taught him TO fence.
His mother he had not seen again,
but he lad learned that she was
alive and not yet blind. OF Early
Morn he had heard nothing at all.
once a traveller had brought word
OF Dane Grey. Grey was in Phila-
delphia and prominent in the gay
dongs Of that city
After the battle at Piqua, Err
skine put forth for old Jerome San
der's fort He found the hard days
OF want over There was not only
corn in plenty but wheat, potatoes
pumpkins. turnips melons.
Honor Sanders and Polly Conrad
had married. but when ErslSine bad'
LYDIA Noe bood-by, she told him Z
carry her love 20 Dave Yandell.
There were many. many traveller
on the Wilderness Road now. an
Colonel Dale's prophecy was comm
true. The settlers we're pouring 8
and the long. long trial was now n
lonesome way.
At williamsburg Erskine learne
many things. Colonel Dale. now
general was stil with Washingto
and Harry was with him. Hug
was with the Virginia militia an
Dave with Lafayette.
Tarleton's legion OF rangers
their white uniforms we're scourgin
Virginia as they had scourged N
Carolinas. Through the James Ri
er country they had gone with M
md sword
Barhara's mother was dead. HI
neishhors had moved 20 safety. bl
Barbara. he heard. still lived wit
old Nanny and Ephralm at RI
0rhrI 4MN'Nr NAAnNf ANNf AaA WtNN
gently put TO ths torch. Wher
then would he find her?
Xxx
Down the river Ersklne rode wi
sad heart. At the place whe
he had fought with Grey he pull
Flreny to a sudden halt. There W
the boundary Of Red oaks and the
started a desoiation that ran as (
as his eye could reach.
Red oaks had not been spare
and he put Fire1y 10 a fast gallo
Soon over a distant cump Of tire
he could see the chimneys OF Ba
bara's home-his home. he thong
heiplessly--an perhaps those CHR
nfys we're all that was left.
And then he saw the roof and vi
per windows and he pulled Firef