Evening star., 1924-01-22
Continued from Yesterdays STAR

At the back Of the long room there
was a scarce perceptible shadow a.
some one moved across the opening
of door, and presently Patience
Conwell Joined her mistress wher
she sat In her own room broidering
as was her wont. AT the look on the
girls face Penelope started and held
her needle still.
What ghost have you seen, Pa
tience?" she asked Your eyes are
wide as sauccrs and ! do ayow your
checks have lost their colori'
Mistress" said Patience, straight
~, Il know not how your heart les
IN this matter of the rebellion, but in
tne case or man-one man, mistress.
that we both know for good and gal
iahtmlt tI;, can but ache with mine when
tell you that ] overheard but now a
p!ot to drag him at horses heels,
with Won Kneibling in the saddle
ana there is no stopping planned. To
drag him to his DEATH
for long moment Penelope stared
at her serving maid as one who does
not credit his ears. Then:
This. man-Patience?' she said. al
most whispering--.'th -.'this-rnan----?"
:, "ls Patrick Henry, the blue eyed
our gallant friend. Sir Buckskins. And
l for one she finished with a flash
or the spirit which had ever lain
dormant in her face, would give my
ire 10 save MIN, since he once saved
more than life for me-"
But Penelope Dunmore put MP.
SIN II hand and rubbed her white
throat. where the breath seemed all
but stopping.
: Tis that fiend, Won Kneiblirg. has
plotted this" she said. 'and my ia
ther listens-as do all the rest. Doth
any know you overheard?"
None" ....-
Then said Mistress Penelope. de-
cidedly. you may have duties near
the council room whenever. you deem
it worth while-and tell me All you
learn"
Patience Conwell bent quickly and
kissed the shoulder under the white
kerchief
Hearts" she said ARE sometimes
more cunning than heads. and they
belong to women. Sir Buckskins hath
two friends at court. hath he not, my
MistressT
Aye" answered Penelope, as she
! bent to her broideries once more.
1t was not so long after that when
Patrick Henry, riding far from
! jamestown received by messenger n
little piece of paper, of fine and
delicate texture. such az came from
overseas for use among the beaux and
bellies of Virginia. It was neatly
shut and sealed with good red wax.
and there was in the seal the print
of woman's thumb tiny thumb
shape and fine grained The thing
breathed of the aristocracy in every
essential. Inside il bore. in prim.
tail writing, an earnest, friendly
! warning. and ii. was not signed, sat e
for the small thumb-print again,
dipped this time lightly in the ink
nestiy advise that you come not near
I to jamestown. and that you do take
all precautions 10 guard your body
from attack. for there are those in
I high places who would take and hold
you-ard do worse than that-to still
your fiery tongue
On that wind blown day the woods
man sat long in his saddle. holding
the little missive. and stared hard at
/ the leafiess forest He would fain
/ have questioned the messenger. but
he, serving man of unfamiliar face,
! rad gone away in haste after full
filing his. errand. So Patrick Henry
could but study the prinT script and
! seriously and bestowed the paper in
| n breast for safe-keeping.
Many times, in the days that fol-
lowed, he wondered if perchance
Doxey Fairweather. relenting. had
s87t II to him. but esrh time cputd
not believe. There was too much
against such belief The girls firm
antagonism toward him. for ont
thing; the missfve'S touch of fneness
its look of opuience, for another.
swiftly and he forgot the matter in
his eagerness. Word of the vital
meeting 10 be he at Richmond came
to him far up along the James, and
he came hurrying back as fast as his
good roam horse could bring him, for
his friends had settled on a date; at
last This would be a pregnant time,
q day of white faces and tense nerves
. and the humble patriot felt in his
secret soul preScience of its need
of him-as If the strong young coun-
try, heaving in its travail, sent out to
him a tragic and holy call for help.
As he rode down the reaches of the
dripping. land that wet and early
its high visions. For once he was
deaf to bird call and to river-voics.
He travelled carefd ly, always mind
full of the warning hidden in his
breast, for he knew the timber of
those who would take and hold him"
A little later he met in secret, in
the heart of jamestown. Mr.. Wash
ington, Mr.. Jefferson and many 9TH
ers, all gathered behind drawn blinds,
around diHlly lighted tables. where
history was being made by their ear
nest talk.
He. saw new faces, one of these be-
ing that Of Harry Corton. who sat
with young Tim Lovelace. Both of
these young men were pale with the
magnitude of the great plans they
were hearing made.
"'Tis good to see syou, Patrick"
said Mr. Jefferson, holding his hand
affectionately upon their greeting.-1 Il