Okolona messenger., 1922-08-03

service to the colony, could build,
plOw, 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 or
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 long shaky
trestle ran from a warehouse out into
the river to load ships with tobacco
for England and to get In return all
cOnvenIences and luXuries, and that
was enough. In towns men, jostled
and individual freedom was lost, so,
Ho for the great sweeps Of land and
the sway Of territorial lord Eng.
lishmen they were of Shakespeare's
time but living in Virginia, and that
is all they were-save that the flower
Of liberty was growing faster in the
new-world soil.
EngliShmen called It the "Good
Land" and found 1t "most plentiful,
sweet, wholesome, and fruitful Of all
Others"
Down 1t now came little girl-the
flower Of all those dead and gone
and her coming was just as though
one of the flowers about her had
stepped from its gay company on one
or the other side Of the path to make
through them a dainty, triumphal
march as the fairest Of them all. At
the dial she paused and her impa.
tient blue eyes turned to bend OF
the yellow river for the first glimpse
Of a gay barge that soon must come.
At the wharf the song of negroes rose
as they unloaded the boat just from
Richmond. She would so and see II
there was not package for her moth.
er and perhaps a present for herself,
so with another look to the river bend
she turned, but she moved no farther.
Instead, she gave a little gasp, In
which there was no fear, though what
she saw was surely startling enough
to have made her wheel in flight In.
stead, she gazed steadily into a pair
of grave black eyes that were fixed on
her from under green branch that
overhung the footpath, and steadily
she searched the figure standing
there, from the coonskin cap down the
fringed hunting-shirt and fringed
breeches to the moccasined feet. And
still the strange figure stood arms
folded, motionless and silent. Neither
the attitude nor the silence was quite
pleasing, and the girls supple slender
ness stiffened, her arms went rigidly
to her sides, and naughty little snap
sent her undimpled chin upward.
"Who are you and what do you
wantT
1t was new way for a woman to
speak to a man; he in turn was not
pleased, and a CLEAN In his eyes
showed 1t.
II am the son Of king"
She started to laugh, but grew puz-
zled, for she had the blood Of Poca-
hontas herself.
"You are an Indianw
He shook his head, scorning to ex.
plain, dropped his rifle to the hollow
Of his arm, and, reaching for his belt
where she saw the buckhorn handle
Of a hunting-knife, came toward her,
but she. did not finch. Drawing let
ter from the belt, he handed 1t to her.
It was so worn and soiled that she
took 1t daintily and saw on 1t her
fathers name. The boy waved his
hand toward the house far up the
path.
HE live hereT
"You wish to see himT
The boy grunted assent, and with
shock of resentment the little lady
started up the path with her head
very high indeed. The boy slipped
noiselessly after her, his face un-
moved, but his eyes were darting right
and left to the flowers, trees, and
bushes, to every fitting, strange bird,
the gray streak Of scampering squir-
rel, and what he could not see, his
ears took in-the clanking chains of
wOrk-hOrses, the whir Of quail, the
screech Of peacock, the songs Of
negroes from far-off fields.
On the porch sat gentleman in
powdered wig and knee-breeches, who,
lifting his eyes from copy Of The
Spectator to give an order to negro
servant, saw the two coming, and the
first look Of bewilderment on his fine
face gave way to tolerant smile.
He asked no question, for purpose
very decided and definite was plainly
bringing the little lady on, and he
would not have to question. Swiftly
she rap up the steps, her mouth prlm-
ly set, and handed him a letter.
*The messenger is the son of a
king"
"A what2"
"The son Of a king" she repeated.
"Ah," said the gentleman, humoring
her, ''ask his highness to be seated"
His highness was looking from one
to the other gravely and keenly. He
did not quite understand, but he knew
gentle fun was being pOked at him,
and he dropped sullenly on the edge
Of the porch and stared in front Of
him. The little girl saw that his moe
casins were much worn and that In
one was q hole with the edge bloOd-