The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-09-13


trace-chains came from the barnyard.
Hungry cattle were mooing and full
uddered mothers We're moOing answers
10 Dawling calves. A peacock screamed
from distant tree and sailed forth,
1uil-spread-a great cleaning winged
Jewel OF the air. In crises the nerves
tighten like violin strings, the memory.
plates turn abnormally sensitive-and
Erskine was not to forget that hour.
The house was still and not soul
was in sight as the three, still silent,
walked up the great path. When they
were near the portico Harry came out.
lie looked worried and anxious.
where's Barbara?" asked her
father.
Locked in her ROOM"
Let her alone" said Colonel Dale
gently. Like brother and cousin, Har-
fy and Hugh were merely irritated by
the late revelation, but the father was
shocked that his child was no longer
clllIa. Erskine remembered the girl
as she waited for Grey's coming at the
s'ndial, her face as she walked with
MN up the path. For a moment the
TWO boys stood in moody silence.
Harry took the rapiers in and put
them in their place on the wall. Hugh
quietly disappeared. Erskine, with a
word Of apology, went to his room.
and Colonel Dale sat down on the
porch alone.
AS the dusk gathered, Erskine. look
Ing gloOmily through his window,
saw the girl flutter like a white moth
past the bOx-hedge and down the
path. A moment later he saw the tall
form of Colonel Dale follow her-and
both passed from sight. On the thick
turf the colonel's feet too were noise
less, and when Barbara stopped at
the sundial he too paused. She was
unhappy, and the culonel's heart ached
sorely. for any unhappiness of hers al.
ways trebled his own.
Little grill" he called. and no
lovers voice could have been more
gentle. "Come kere!"
She turned and saw him, with arms
outStretched. the low moon lighting
all the tenderness In his fine old face.
and she flew to him and fell to weep-
ing on his breast. In wise silence
he strOked her hair until she grew a
little calmer.
whats the matter little daugh-
ter?"
"I-I-don't know"
81 understand. You were quite
right to send him away. but you did
rot want him harmed"
"l-1-didn't want anybody harmed"
II know. It's too bad, but none
OF us seem quite to trust him."
That's it," she sobbed; 81 don't,
either, and yet"
Il know. l know. My little girl
must be wise and brave, and maybe
1t will all pass and she will be glad.
But she must be brave. Mother is not
well and she must not be made I'M
happy too. She must not know. Can't
my little girl come back to the house
now? She must be hostess and this is
Erskine's last night" She looked up,
brushing away her tears.
His last night?" All, wise old
colonel!
"Yes-he goes tomorrow to join Cap
tain Clark at Williamsburg on his
foolish campaign in the Northwest.
We might never see him again."
"Oh, father!'
"Well, it isn't that bad. but my lit
tie girl must be very nice to him. He
seems to be very unhappy. too"
Barbara looked thoughtful, but
there was no pretense of not under.
standing.
I'm sorry she said. She took
her fathers arm, and when they
reached the steps Erskine saw her
smiling. And smiling. almost gay,
she was at supper, sitting with ex-
quisite dignity in her mothers place.
OF Erskine, who sat at her right, she
asked many questions about the com.
ing campaign. Captain Clark had said
he would 90 with a hundred men if
he could get no more. The rallying
point would be the fort in Kentucky
where he had first come back to his
own people. and Dave Yandell would
be captain of a company. He himself
was going as guide. though he hoped
to act as soldier as well. Perhaps
they might bring back the Hair
Buyer. General Hamilton. a prisoner
to Williamsburg. and then he would
join Harry and Hugh in the militia
# the war came south and Virginia
were invaded. as some prophesied, by
TarletOn's White Rangers. who had
been ravaging the Carolinas. After
supper the little lady excused herself
with a smiling courtesy to go to her
mother, and Erskine found himself |
in the moonlight on the big portico
with Colonel Dale alone.
"Erskine," he said. you make It
very difficult for me to keep your
secret. Hugh alone seems to suspect |
he must have got the idea from |
Grey. hut | have warned him to say |
nothing. The others seem not to have
hought of the matter at all. II was
, boyist impulse of generosity which
you may regret"
"Never," interrupted the boy. 81
,ayo M uSo-IpSS xhap ovor