Evening star., 1924-01-26
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER XII.
The Lighter of Flames.

The Lighter of Flames.
On the jamestown pike the feet of
the big roam horse made steady music.
The dark and che rain We're thick on
every side. The forests that Patrick
Henry loved seemed to reach out hur-
rying hands to push them forward.
The man in tho saddle vIsioned the
coaches far ahead-hQw far ahead
/, lurchlng through the mire as they
neared the fateful Richmond, and st.
Johns Church that stood there. On
the morrow would be gathered within
It's sacred walls those hrebrands of
freedom and their opponents, the
wings and tories, who represented the
best thought and character of their
! respective parties. There would the
crux of the stirring be reached.
There and then would the new land
| heave up to fight for herself and her
| children, or remain forever chained.
Patrick Henry, the patriot raised a
hand and let il fall-and the roam
horse galloped on.
Night and rain and the steady beat
of the faithful feet.
From time to time tho man laid q
/ loving hand oE the flowing name.
| His lips were set and hard.
| Roanie was trim and lean as his mas
| ter, fit in every fiber. He moved like
| an enthusiastically. smoothly, easily.
| The hours passed.
Once and again the man leaned
| down and spoke to him softly, with
| such vibrant feeling in the silver
voice as none but one woman had
ever heard. and the faithful animal
| responded with longer stride, a
| more gallant burst of speed.
Hour by hour the night went by.
| Gray dawn showed them passing
| like ghosts in the rain.
Day-and the two. SO steadily toll
| ing. were gaunt with their effort.
Sometimes Patrick Henry leaped
hand upon the horn. ran by the big
roan's side for weary miles.
When he could not longer run he
remounted to regain his breath, the
good horse galloping on. But there
| was red in R0anie's naring nostrils, his
bloodshot eyes were strained. His
gallant crest was low, and the lean
ribs heaved above the heart that
would not falter. His masters face
was drawn and white, and when he
looked at his friend the blue eyes
grew dim with tears.
ut may mean death, my lad" he
gasped between his laboring breaths
as he ran, but without your help l
cannot win-and what is life TO you
or me in this great moment
The early day was seethfng with
| the travail in the town. The streets
were filed with talking people.
There were hot words, and the
baililfs We're busy right and left: for
war was whining in the rainy winds.
and father was against son, brother
! turned from brother. In the church
upon the green, throngs waited.
changed. shifted, packed themselves
among the pews, and came and went
again. Speakers were already in
hajr Mt nd
| minute.
| In the high pew near the outer
door there sat one whose white face
| was rapt. like martyrs on the rack,
| but whose poor heart lay like a dead
| thing in her brcast--Doxey Fair
! traitor to herself. And for some vague
and pitiful reason she carried. held tight
/ beneath her cape, an ancient violin
! In the tragedy of the desperate time
! it was her only link with the man
! she had betrayed. the last poor Sem
! blance of the great love he had
! offered her. What strange comfort it
| may have given her, what bitter
tears had bathed its fragile form,
| only her own soul knew.
| Back and forth in the little church
! the orators swaycd the masses.
! Stick to the king-and suffer! or
declare for themselves--and fight,
! Mr.. Merwin. but newly arrived with
I MS tAttileHtS Tue 'rONtIDOT Oh VII
| Einia, flung himself before the crowd
and fayed them alive as traitors to
! King George. The fire of his vehe-
tnence swept across them like a fail,
| and here and there the effect was
noticeable. Mr.. jefferson himself,
pale and steady, spoke from heart
surcharged and steadfast.
! Gentlemen from all the colonies
We're there, and all were grave and
tense. Mr.. Randolph. his white head
and venerable mien giving him
| weight and dignity. spoke like a sec
| ond Daniel. And again the effect
| shone out. There were soldiers in
the kings uniform all about the
green. The good man pictured war
and it's inevitable result.
! The colonies prevail against the
armies of the king? Impossible.
And what would he the fate of
| those who uttered treason now when
the rebellion should have been PVT
down? Could any tell him that? He
| begged them to think of their women
and children.
| Mr. Washington, standing by a
| window with folded arms, sighed,
! though his eyes were deep with
| visions. Perchance he felt Il presage
| of Valley Forge, Who can say?
| He sighed again, and drew hand
across his forehead, for the fate of
| his country hung quivering in the