Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-24
CHAPTER XII.

mel a looked aghast and Erskine's
heart again turned sick.
CHAPTER XII.
The sun was close to the Uneven
sweep of the wilderness. Through its
slanting rays tho river poured like a
flood Of gold. The negroes were on
the way singing from the fields. Cries.
chaflng, n the musical clanking of
t~race-chains came from the barnyard.
Jung cattle were mooing and full
uddered mothers were mooine an
swers to bawling calves. A peacock
screamed from a distant tree and sail
ed forth. full-spread-a great gleam-
ing winged Jewel of the air. In crises
the nerves tighten like violin strings,
sensitve-and Ersktne was not to for
get that hour.
The house was still and not a, soul
was in sight as the three, still silent.
walked up the great path. When they
were near the portico Harry came
out. He looked worried and anxious.
Where's Barbara" asked her
father. 49,
Locked in her room." ,
Let her alone" said Colonel Dale
gently. Like brother and cousin.
Harry and Hugh were merely irri-
tated by the late revelation, but the
father was shocked that his child was
no longer a child. Erskine remem-
bered the girl as h waited for Grey's
coming at the sundial, her face as
she walked with him up the path.
For a moment the two boys stood in
moody silence. Harry took the ra-
piers in and put them in their place
on the wall. Hugh quietly disappear
eo. Ersklne, 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 fiutter like a white moth
past the box-hedge n down the
path. A moment later he saw the
all form of Colonel Dale follow her
and both passed from sight. On
the thick turf the colonel's feet. too.
were noiseless, and when Barbara
stopped at the sundial he. too. paused.
She was unhappy, n the %colonel's
heart n sorely, for any unhappi-
ness of hers always trebled his own.
Little girl" he called, and no
yer voice could have been more
gentle. Come here"
She turned and saw him, with arms
outstretched. the low moon lighting
all the tenderness in his fine old face,
and h few to him and fell to weep
he stroked her hair until she grew a
little calmer.
What's the matter, little daugh-
ter?"
"I-I-don't know"
II understand. You were quite
right to send him away, but you did
not want him harmed"
"l-1-didn't want anybody harm
ed"
Il know. It's too bad, but none
of us seem quite to trust him."
That's it," she sobbed; II don't,
either, and yet
Il know. 1 know. Ny little girl
must be wise and brave, and maybe
it will all pass and she will be glad.
But she must he brave. Mother is
not we'll. and she must not be made
unhappy 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
His last night" All. wise old
colonel!
"Yes-he goes tomorrow to join
Captain Clark at Williamsburg on
his foolish campaign in the north
west. 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 raj no p~retense 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 vas 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
men IL he could get no more. The
rallying point would be the fort in
Kentucky where he had arst come
back to his own people, and Dave
Yandell would be captain OF a COM
| pany. He himself was going as guide.
though he hoped to act az soldier as
we'll. 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 IL the war came south and
! Virginia were invaded. AZ some pro-
phesied. by Tarleton's White Rangers.
who had heen ravaging the Carolinas.
After supper the little lady excused
herself with q smiling courtesy TO 80
to her mother, and Erskine found
himself In the MOONLIGHT on the big
Iporttco with Colonel Dale alone.
"Efskine,. he said. .you make 4
secret. Hugh stone seem to suspect
The mus have got the idea from
Grey. but i have warned him TO say
nothing. The others seem not 70 have