Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-28

That's II, Sne SODDeI, L uOh I,
either, and yet"
"I know. know Ny little girl
must be wise and brave. and maybe
it will all pass and she will be glad.
But she must be brave, Mother is not
we'll and she must not he made un-
happy too. She must not know. Can't
my little girl come back to the house
now? She must he hostess and this Is
Erskine's last night" She looked up
brushing away her tears. e.
"His last nightf" 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!"
"Weh, II isn't Lat bad, but my lit
tie girl must be very nice to him. He
seems to be very unhappy, toe"
Barbara looked thoughtful, but
there was no pretensej 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-
quisfte 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 60 with 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 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 Hamiltons prisoner
to Williamsburg, and then he would
join Harry and Hugh In the militia
IF the war came south and Virginia
were invaded, as some prOphesled by
Tarleton's White Rangers. who had
been ravaging the Carolinas. After
supper the little lady excused herself
with 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 1t
very difficult for me to keep your
secret. Hugh alone seems to suspect
he must have got the idea from
Grey, but I have warned him to say
nothing. The others seem not to have
thought of the matter at all. 1t was
a bOyish impulse of generosity which
you may regret"
''Never," interrupted the boy. 81
have no useless than ever now"
Nevertheless" the colonel went on,
II regard myself as merely your
steward, and l must tell you one thing.
Mr.. Jefferson, as you know, 5 always
at open war with people llk us. His
hand is against coach and fC II, silver
plate, and aristOcrat. He l. fighting
now against the law that gi prop
erty to the eldest son, and he Will pass
the bill. His argument Is rather anus
ing. He says If you will show him that
the eldest son eats more, wears more,
and does more work than his brothers,
lie will grant that that son IS en-
titled to mere. He wants to blot out
all distinctions of class. He can't
do that, but he will pass this BILL"
81 hope he WILL" muttered Erskine.
Barbara would not accept your
sacrifice nor would any of us, and 1t
is only fair that l should warn you
that some day, if you should change
your mind, and I were no longer llv-
ing, you might be too late"
"Please don't, Uncle Harry. 1t Is
done-done. Of course it wasn't fair
for me to consider Barbara alone, but
she will be fair and you understand.
l wish you would regard the whole
matter as though l didn't exist
81 can't do that, my boy. am your
steward and when you want anything
you have only to let me know"
Erskine shook his head.
II don't want anything-I need very
little, and when I'm In the woods, as
expect to be most Of the time, l need
nothing at ALL" Colonel Dale rose.
II wish you would go to college at
Williamsburg for a year or two to
better fit yourself-in case"
"I'd like to gO-to learn TO fence"
smiled the hoy, and the colonel smiled
too.
You'll certainly need to know that,
If you are going to be as reckless as
you were today" Erskine's eyes
darkened. ...
Uncle Harry, you may think me
foolish, but don't like or trust Grey.
What was he doing with those British
traders out In the Northwest?-he
was not buying flrs. It's absurd. Why
was he hand in glove with Lord Dun
more?"
Lord DunmOre had n daughter,
was the dry reply, and Erskina flung
out a gesture that made words I'M
necessary. Colonel Dale crossed the
porch and put his hand on the lad"
shoulders.
"Erskine." he said, don't worry
and-doHft give .uD hope. BE patient,