Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-31
CHAPTER XVIII.

Yorktown broke tho British heart,
and General Dale. still weak from
wounds. went home to Red Oaks. It
was not long before, with gen.
tie inquiry he had pieced out the
full story Of Barbara and Erskine
and Dane Grey and wisely he waited
his chance with each phase Of the
situation . Frankly he told her first
Of Grey's dark treachcry. and the
girl listened with Mortified silence
for she would as o have distr,lsted
that beloved father as the heavenly
Father in her prayers. She left him
tier go without another word All
day she was in he room n at
sunset she gave him her answer,
for she came to him dressed in white.
knelt by his chair and put her head
in his lap. And there was a rose
in her hair.
II have never understood about my
self and-and that man" she said,
"and l never will"
II do" said the general gently.
land 1 understand you through my
sister who was go like you. Frs
kine's father was as indignant az
NSA "o"' liz oiA IyIH6 ~
act toward you as my father did
ward her" The girl pressed her
lips to one of his hands.
Il think. I'd better tell you the
whole story now" said General Dale,
n he told Of Erskine's father, his
wildness and his wanderings, his
marriage, and the capture of his wife
and the little son by the Indians. all of
which she knew. and the girl wonder
ed why he should be telling her again.
h general paused: :
not killed. He found her," The girl
looked up amazed and incredulous.
YES" he went on t white wom-
an whom he found in the Indian viii
lage was his mother"
"Father!" She lifted her head
quickly, leaned back with hands
caught tight in front of her, looked up
into his face-her own crimsoning
and paling as she took in the full
meaning of it all. Her eyes dropped.
Then" h said slowly, that In
sister. Oh, OH" A great pity flooded
her heart and eyes why didn't Frs
kline take them away from the In
dians?"
His mother wouldn't cave them"
And Barbara understood.
Poor Erskine!" she whispered. and
her tears came. Her father leaned
back and for a moment closed his eyes.
Their is MORE" he said finally
"Erskine's father was the eldest BROTH
er-and Red Cakes
The girl sprang to her feet. startled,
agonized, shamed: Belongs to Frs
kline" she finished with her face in
her hands. God pity me-" she whis-
pered, IT drove him from his own
home"
mo" said the old genera with a
gentle smile. He was driving the barb
deep, but sooner or later it had to be
done.
Look here" He ulled an old piece
of paper from his pocket and handed
t to her. Her wide eyes fell upon a
rude boyish scrawl and a rude draw
ing OF a buffalo pierced by an arrow.
TT make me laugh. I have no use.
l give hole dam ~plantashun Barbara"
OH gasped the girl and then
where is he?"
waiting at Williamsburg to get his
discharge" She rushed swiftly down
the steps, calling:
"Ephraim! Ephraim!"
And ten minutes later the happy.
grinninE Ephriam. mounted on the
thoroughbred, was speeding ahead of
a whirlwind of dust with a little
scented note in his battered SLOUGH
hat:
you said you would come when
ever I wanted you. I want you to
come now. BARBARA"
The girl would not go to bed, and
the old general from his window saw
her like some VIII te spirit of the night
mctionless on the porch. And there
through the long hours she sat. Once
she rose and started down the great
path toward the sundial. moving
slowly through the flowers and moon
light until she was opposite a giant
magnolia. Where the shadow of it
touched the light on the grass, she
had last seen Grey's white face and
scarlet breast. With a shudder she
turned back. The night whitened. A
catbird started the morning chorus.
The dawn came and with it Ephraim.
The girl waited where she was. Eph-
rain took off his battered hat.
"Marse Erskine done gone. Miss
Barbary," he said brokenly. He done
gone two days"
h girl sa'd nothing. and there the
old general found her still motionless
the torn bits Of Erskine's scrawling
deed scattered about her feet.