New Britain herald., 1922-02-20

frozen hillsides of Valley Forge. Then George Rogers Clark had passed the fort on his way to Williamsburg to get money and men for his great venture in the Northwest. After Clark was gone the lad got restless and one morning when the first breath Of spring came he mounted his horse, in spite of arguments and protesta- tons, and set forth for Virginia on the wilderness trial. He was going to ,, join Clark, he said but more thar to the outer world.
 What it was he hardly knew, for he was not yet much given to searching his heart or mind. He did know, however, that some strange force had long been working within him that was steadily growing strong CT. With his minds eye he was ever seeing at the end of his journey the face Of his little cousin Barbara Dale.
 A striking figure the lad made riding into the old capital one aft
 
 hind the western woods. The governors palace was closed and deserted. My Lord Dunmore was long in flight. But there was the bust of Sir Walter in front of Ra- leigh Tavern, and there he drew up. before the steps where he was once nigh to taking Dane Grey's life.
 The little tavern was thronged and the air charged with the spirit Of war. Indeed, nothing else was talked.
 Next morning Ersl<ine rode forth along sandy road, amidst the sing ing of birds and through forest of tiny. upshooting leaves, for Red Oaks on the James.
 He had foresworn Colonel Dale to secrecy as to the note 4he had left be- hind giving his birthright to his little cousin Barbara, and he knew the con- fdence would be kept inviolate.
 At the boat landing he hitched his horse to the low swung branch of an oak. There was the sun-dial that had marked every sunny hour since he had been away. For a moment nc stood there, and when he stepped into the open he shrank back hastily "a girl was coming through the opening of boxwood from tho house coming slowly, bareheaded, her hands clasped behind her. her eyes downward.
 His heart throbbed as he waited. throbbed the more when his ears caught even the soft tread of her little feet, and seemed to stop when she paused at the sun-dial, and searched the river with her eyes.
 Soon the girl hVttcred q handker- chief and from the single passenger in the stern came an answering flut- ter of white and glad cry. At the bend of the river the boat dsap- peared from Erskine's sight under the bank. and he watched the girl.
 How she had grown! Her slim fig and her white gown had dropped to her dainty ankles.
 Now her face was flushed and her eyes flashed with eXcitement-it was no mere kinsman in that boat, and the boys heart began to throb fierce ly with racking emotions he had never known before.
 A tiery-looking youth sprang up the landing steps, bowed gallanty over the girls hand, and the two turned up the path, the girl rosy with smiles and the youth bending over her with most protecting and tend CT air. It was Dane Grey. and the heart of the watcher turned mortal sick.
 XTN.
 Barbara saw hin, first and she did not rush forward. Instead she stopped. with widc eyes. 8 stiiled crA and lifting of one hand toward hef htnft. Grey saw too, flushed rather rainftlly. and calmcd himself
 "Why, have changed so much?" ErAkine cried.
 "Of course ] knew you" she falt- cred, pnling a little but gathering her. self rather haughtily--a fact that Err skine seemed not to notice. You took me by surprise and you have