Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1922-09-15
"l'd Like to Go-to Learn to Fence"

"Io Iike to 0o-tV Ie@" " Vs"Ss'
 'Lord Dunmore had daughter was the dry reply, and Erskine hung ont a gesture that made words un- necessary. Colonel Dale crossed the porch and put his hand on the lads shoulders.
 "Erskine," he said. "don't worry and-don't give up hope. Be patient' wait, come back to us. Go to William and Mary. Fit yourself to be one of us in all ways. Then everything may vet come out in the only way that would be fitting and right" The boy blushed, and the colonel went on earneftly: ...
 q can think of nothing in the world that would make me quite so happy
 "It's no use," the boy said trembling ly, "but I'll never forget what you have just said as long as l live, ana, no matter what becomes of me, I'll love Barbara as long as live. But, even If things were otherwise I'd never risk making her unhappy even by trying. I'm not fit for her nor for this life I can't get over my life Tn the woods and among the Indians. I can't explain, but I get choked and I can't breathe-such a longing for the woods comes over me and can't help me. must go-and nothing can hold me-
 "Your father was that way" said Colonel Dale sadly. You may get over 1t, but he never did. And 1t must be harder for you because of your early associations. Good night. and God bless you." And the kindly gentle man was gone. .....
 Erskine sat where he was. The house was still and there were no noises from the horses and cattle In the barn-none from roosting peacock, turkey, and hen. From the far-away quarters came faihtly the merry mel low notes of a fiddle, and farther still the song of some courting negro return ing hOme A drOwsy bird twittered tn an ancient elm at the corner of the house. The flowers dropped in the moonlight which bathed the great path, streamed across the great river, and on up to It's source fin the great yellow disk float ing in majestic serenity high in the cloudless sky. And that path, those flowers, that house, the barn, the cat tie, sheep, and hogs, those grain+fie and grassy acres, even those singing black folk, were all-all his if he but | said the words. The thought was no temptation-it was mighty wonder that such a thing could be. And that was all 1t was-a wonderful him, but to them it was the world. Without 1t all, what would they do? Perhaps Mir. Jefferson might soon solve the problem for him. Perhaps he might not return from that wild campaign against the British and the Indians he might get killed. And then thought gripped him and held him fast-he need not come back. That mighty wilderness beyond the moun- tains was his real home-out there was his real life. He need not come back, and they would never know. Then came a thought that almost made him groan. There was a light step in the hall, and Barbara came swiftly out and dropped on the top most step with her chin in both hands. Almost at once she seemed to feel his presence, for she turned her head quickly. u5 4.
 "Erskine!e AS quickly he rose, em- barassed beyond speech.
 Come here! Why, you look guilty what have you been thinking?' He was startled by her intuition, but he recovered himself swiftly.
 q suppose I will always feel guilty If have made you unhappy"
 You haven't made me unhappy.
 don't know what you have made me
 You saw how felt if you had killed
 him, but you don't know how I would
 have felt If he had killed you,
 don't myself"
 She began batting her hands gentl!
 and helplessly together, and again sh'
 dropped her chin into them with he
 eyes lifted to the moon.
 "I shall be very unhappy when yO' are gone. wish you were not going
 but I know that you are-you can help It." Again he was startled. ) "Whenever you look at that mool
 over in that dark wilderness, wis you would please think of your littl | cOusin-will you?" She turned eagerl
 and he was too moved to speak-h !. only bowed his head as for a praye s or a benedictiOn.
 s "YOu don't know how often ou
 thoughts will cross, and that will Q great comfort to me. Sometimes 7. am afraid. There is wild strain 0 h my mothers side, and it is in m, 2 Papa knows 1t and he is wise-s v wise-I am afraid may sometimes |. something very foolish, and 1t won