The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-14
By JoHN ROX Dr..

poked at him, and he dropped sui.
lenly on the edge Of the porch and
stared in front Of him.
The little girl saw that his moe.
casins were much worn and that in
one was a hole with the edge blood.
stained And then she began to
watch her fathers face, which
showed that the contents OF the let.
ter were astounding him. He rose
quickly when he had finished and
put out his hand to the stranger.
II am glad TO see you, my boy"
he said with great kindness. "Bar.
bara, this Is little kinsman OF ours
from Kentucky. He was the adopt.
ed son OF an Indian chief, but by
blood he Is your own cousin. His
name is Erskine Dale"
w.
The little girl rose startled, but
her breeding was too fine for be.
trayal, and she went to him with
hand outstretched. The boy took
1t as he had taken her fathers. lin.
ply and without rising. Tho father
frowned and smiled-how could the
lad have learned manners? And
then he, too, saw the hole In THE
moccasin through which the bleed
ing had started again.
"You are hurt-you have Walked
a long way?"
The lad shrugged his shoulders
carelessly.
Take him into the kitchen. Bar
bara, and tell Hannah to wash his
foot and bandage It."
The boy looked uncomfortable
and shook his head. but the little
girl vas smiling and she told him
to come with such sweet imperious.
ness that no rose helplessly. Old
Hannah's eyes made q bewildered
start!
Swiftly the old negress bound his
foot, and with great respect she led
him to a little room in one ell Of the
great house in which was a tub OF
warm water.
"Ole marster say you been travel
lin an mebbe you like TO refresh
yo'self Wild a hot bath. Oars some
O. little marster's clothes on de bed
dar, an a pair o. his shoes, an
know dey'll just fit you snug"
She closed the door. Once, winter
and summer, the boy had daily
plunged into the river with his In
dian companions, but he had never
had q bath in his life, and he did not
know what the word meant: yet he
had learned so much at the fort that
no had no trouble making out what
the tub OF water was for. For the
game reason he felt no surprise
when he picked up the clothes; he
was only puzzled how to get into
them.
The boy began putting on his
own clothes.
Outside Colonel Dale and Bar
bara had strolled down the big path
to the sun.dIal, the colonel telling
the story of the little KentuckJ
klnsman-tho little girl listening
and wide-eyed.
"Is he going to live here with US
papa?"
Perhaps. You must be very nice
to him. He has lived a rude, rough
life, but / can see he Is very sensi
uye."'.
At the bend Of the river there
was the flash OF dripping oars, and
tho song OF the black oarsmen came
across tho yellow flood.
There they comet" cried Bar
bnra. And from his window the lit
tie Kentuckian saw the company
coming up the path, brave with gay
clothes and smiles and, gallantr les
All the men were dressed alike
and not one was dressed like him
Panic assailed him, and once more
he looked at the clothes on the bed
and then without hesitation walked
through the hallway, and stopped
on the threshold Of the front door
A quaint figure he made there. and
for tho moment the gay talk and
laughter quito ceased.
No son Of Powhatan could have
stood there with more dignity. and
young Harry Dnle's face broke into
q smile Of welcome. His father be,
Ing indoors he went forward with
hand outstretched.
II am your cousin Harry" he
said. and taking him by the arm he
led him on tho round OF presenta
ton.
And tho young ladies greeted him
with frank. eager interest, and the
young gentlemen suddenly ropress
ed patronizing smiles and gave him
grave greeting, for II ever a rapieT
flashed from a human head, II
flashed from the piercing black eyes
OF that little Kentucky backwoods
man when his cousin Hugh, with O
rather whimsical smile, bowed with
politeness that was q trifle toe
elaborate.
Harry was quick to notice Hugh's
attitude.
Continued In Our Next Issuo)