Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-08-17

never known before and he could not
understand. Everybody had surely
been kind. and yet-be turned to his
bed, and all night his brain was fash
ing 10 and fro between the reel OF
vivid pictures etched on 1t In a day
and the grim background that had
hitherto been his life beyond the hills.
From pioneer habit he awOke before
dawn, and for a moment the sOftness
where he lay puzzled him, but he
could smell the dawn and he started
to spring up. He felt hot and stufry,
though Harry had put up his windows,
and he could not lie there wide awake.
He could not go out in the heavy dew
in the gay clothes and fragile shoes
he had taken OFF, SO he slid into his
own buckskln clothes and mOccaslnS
and out the still open front door and
down the path toward the river. In
stinctively he had picked up his rife,
bullet-pouch and pOwder-horn. An
hour later he Hoped back on his own
tracks.
At the front door Harry hailed him
and Barbara came running out.
II forgot to get you another suit Of
clothes last night" he said, "and we
were scared this morning. We thought
you had left us, and Barbara there
nearly cried" Barbara blushed now
and did not deny.
"Come to breakfast" she cried.
"Did you find anything to shoot r
Harry asked.
"Nothin' but some squirrels" said
the lad.
Then Hugh came in pale Of face
and looking rather ashamed. He went
straight to the Kentuckian.
II was rude to you last night and
owe you an apology"
He thrust out his hand and awk-
wardly the boy rose and took 1t.
"And you'll forgive me, too, Bar
bara"
"Of course WILL" she said happily,
but holding up one finger of warn
lng-shOuld he ever do It again. The
rest Of the guests troOped in now,
and some were going out on horse
back, some for a sail. and some visit
ing up the river In a barge, and all
were paired off.
"Tm going to drive Cousin Erskine
over the place with my ponies" said
Barbara, "and-"
"I'm going back to bed" interrupt
ed Hugh, "or read little Latin and
Greek with Mr.. Brockton." There
was impudence as well as humOr in
this, for the tutor had given up Hugh
. in despair long ago.
Barbara shook her head.
"You are going with u.s." she said.
II want Hugh to ride with me-" said
Colonel Dale, sand give Firefiy little
exercise. Nobody else can ride him."
The Kentucky boy turned a chal-
longing eye, as did every young man
at the table, and Hugh felt very COM
Portable. While every one was get
ting ready, Harry. brought out two
foils and two masks on the porch a
little later.
1--WE fight with those" he said,
pointing to the crossed rapiers on the
wall, "but we practice with these.
Hugh, there, is the champion fencer,"
he said, ''and he'll show YOU"
Harry helped the Kentucky boy to
mask and they crossed foils-Hugh
giving instructions all the time and
nodding approval.
You'll learn-you'l learn FAST" he
said. And over mis- shoulder to Harry:
"Why, his wrist is as strong as
mine now, and he's got an eye like
a weasel"
With twist he wrenched the foil
from his antagonists hand and clat-
tered 1t on the steps. The Kentuck-
ian was bewildered and his face
flushed. He ran for the weapon.
"You can't do that again"
II don't believe cam" laughed
Hugh.
"WilI you learn me some moreT'
asked the boy eagerly.
II surely WILL"
A little later Barbara and her
cousin were trotting smartly along a
sandy road through the fields with the
colonel and Hugh Looping in front Of
them. Firefly was a black, mettle-
some gelding. He had reared and
plunged when Hugh mounted, and
even now he was champing his bit
and leaping playfully at times, but
the lad sat him with an unconcern
of his capers that held the Kentucky
boys eyes.
"Gosh." he said, "but Hugh can
ridel I wonder II he could stay on
him bareback"
IT suppose So" Barbara said; "Hugh
can do anything"
Many questions the little girl asked
and some Of the boys answers
made her shudder.
'Papa said last night that several
of our kinsfolk spoke Of going to your
country In a party, and Harry and
Hugh are crazy to go with them.
Papa said people would be swarmin2
over the Cumberland mountains be.
fore long,"
II wish you'd come along"