The Red Cloud chief., 1922-10-26

S'S' ~ ~ utuplCHI CIHuNtuk u
t~race-chalns came from the barnyard
Hungry cattle were moolng and full
uddered mothers were mooing answer
to bawling calves. A peacock screamed
from n distant tree and sailed forth
full-spread-a great cleaning winged
jewel OF the air. In crises the nerves
tighten like violin strings, the memory
plates turn abnormally s~ensitive-and
Erskine was not to forget that hour.
The house was still and not a soul
was In sight as the three, still silent,
walked up h great path. When they
were near the portico Harry came out.
He 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.
ry n Hugh were merely irritated by
the late revelation, but the father was
shocked that his child was no longer
a child. Ersklne remembered the Girl
as she waited for Grey's coming at the
sundial, her face as she walked with
him up the path. For a m 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 n white moth
past the box-hedge and down the
pain. A moment later he saw the tall
FORM OF Colonel Dale follow her-and
both passed from sight. On the thick
turf the colonpl's feet too were noise.
less, and when Barbara stoned at
the sundial he TOO paused. She was
unhappy. and H." colonel's heart ached
sorely. for any urhappiness of hers al
ways trebled his own.
Little girl" he called. and no
lovers voice cor'l have been more
gentle. "Come hcre!"
She turned nnd saw him, with arms
outstretched, tie low noon 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 n
little calmer.
whats the matter, little daugh.
ter?"
"I-I-don't know"
v" understand. You were quite
right to send him away, but you did
not want him harmed"
"I-I-didn't want anybody harmed"
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. / 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 nightT All, wise old
colonel!
"fes-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, 1t isn't that bad, but my lit
tie girl must be very nice to him. lie
seems to be very unhappy, too"
Barbara looked thoughtful, but
there was no pretense of not under.
standing.
"Im sorry" she said. She took
her fathers arm. and when they
the steps Erskine saw her
smiling. And smiling, almost gay,
She was at supper, sitting with ex-
dignity in her mothers place.
Or Erskine, who sat at her right. she
many questions about the com.
ng campaign. Captain Clark had said
ne would go 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
'wn people, and Dave Yandell would
De captain of a company. lie himself
vas going as guide, though he hoped
% act as soldier as well. Perhaps
hey might bring back the Hair
General Hamilton. a prisoner
Williamsburg, and then he would
DIN Harry and Hugh in the militia
t the war came south and Virginia
we're invaded, as some prophesied, by
rarleton's White Rangers, who had
ravaging the Carolinas. After
supper the little lady excused herself
With a smiling courtesy to go to her
ana Erskine found himself
n the moonlight on the big portico
With Colonel Dale alone.
"Erskine," he said, ''you make II
'ery difficult for me to keep your
ecret. Hugh alone seems TO suspect
he must have got the idea from
Trey, but l have warned him to say
The others seem not to have
bought Of the matter at all. II was
hoyish impulse of generosity which
on may regret"
HNaynrp intarruptnl Tho 49,, az