Evening star., 1924-01-22

of liberty 10 catch it's fire.
1t was near d"wn when the candles
were snufred and those men filed out.
under the stars to part I'm silence with
a grip of hands and a Godspeed.
Harry Corton and Timothy LoveIace
went away together. and Mr. JEFF
ferson walked with Patrick Henry
to the towns edge. to see him mount
-Four more days." he whispered,
as they shook hands at parting, and
If ever you besought your Maker,
Patrick. do so now upon your bended
with tongues Of men and angels. for
if ever the cause will need you in this
world it will be then"
Amen" said Patrick Henry, softly.
CHAPTER y. y.
When Loves Betrays It's Own.
Herr Won Kneibling, stamping In
from the wet outside. shook his heavy
shoulders and muttered an impreca-
tion as he ordered fire in a private
room and ale for six of Master Fair
weather.
OF late the Cocks Feather Inn had
been a favorite meeting place for
staunch loyalists, since all knew the
passionate partisanship of Master
Fairweather and his daughter. Plans
might be made there with no fear
OF a leakage-which. alas! seemed
not the case with his excellency's
own household-and the inn itself
was so far in the forest that stran-
gers were rare at this time OF the
year.
John Fairweather hustled about at
tending his duties. and soon other
gentlemen arrived out OF The mist
Of rain to foregather in the inner
room. There was the governor him
self. and Mr.. Nerwin. and that hot
champion of his majesty. Mr.. Balm
ridge. along with several others whom
Doxey. bringing her famous cakes.
did not recognize. One of these. an
officer by his uniform and smart
carriage, favored the girl with q
leer and wink and as she passed
attempted to chuck her under the
chin.
sir" said Doxey sharply. until I
so comport as to give you leave. your
hands to yourself"'
AT which the officer stared and Won
Kneibling laughed uproariously
Then they fell to low-voiced talk
and the girl, frownipg. went to the
outer room, where She looked from
the mullioned window toward the
dripping forest. She must De near to
wait upon them. but did not wish to
linger. And so, half dreaming. after
the fashion Of maids, she lost the i'm
port OF the voices, hearing only the
low hum.
She was thinking of Lord Lester,
so handsome In his rich apparel. and
wondering why she must say him
why the Glamor Of his wealth
heart, Not a maid in Virginia but
would have looked terderly upon
him. of that she felt sure. And yet
she saw upon the curtain of her
mlnd tail igure in fringed buck
skins whose deep eyes spoke won
drous language and whose mobile
lips shook a. times with tenderness.
At that unbiIde picture she frown-
ed and laid her capable hands.
clenched to truculent fist upon the
ledge before her.
"A traitor" she told herself IAN
enemy to my king"
And even as the. words formed
themselves in her mind there broke
in upon her reverie the name of the
man himself.
This maker of speeches" Won
e!bling was saying, this arch
rick Henry-without him would the
other rebels falter. He it is who
fires them all-verdampt! II this
man. mine friends. gets TO that meet
ing which will be in Richmond held
and soon, we believe-he will lose the
crown it's cause, so help me Gott.''
There was murnur of assent from
the. rest and Won Kneibling went on:
"fie must be kept from Richmond.
gentlemen, at any cost-by any
means"
For one second the dim outline of
the misty forest wavered before the
eyes of the girl listening now with
every sense acute.
. Lose the crown its cause.- -
This man with his fatal gift of
speech: this man who had all but
drawn her upon his breast with the
tones of his voice alone; this fire
brand-yes. he was to- enter that
mighty meeting where the struggle
would be open at last q All,
what would he not do. with the tow
of rebellion already laid for the light
ing!
Doxey felt the sweat break in the
head where the dark curls lay.
Fierce anger rose in her; flooding to
hated him suddenly, with that bitter
hatred which makes men plunge. into
battle with a; shout. She felt as IL
she could strike him dead with her
of rebellion, lifting it's head in her
kings own colonies, might be de-
stroyed.
Long after the gentlemen were
gone from that inner room the girl
had gained. 1t had not seemed pos
sible before that there could be real
danger in these muttering throngs.
what his excel1ency and those with
him, had seen for many months
namely, the size and density or the
descending cloud.
Doxey Fairweather hated herself
~.
to to- shoulder arms and fiing herself
into the conflict. So she tossed on
her bed. while the soft rain fell on
the inns roof, and beat her brain
do to serve her king, cen though
woman's part, in the coming strug-
gle.
While the slow hours dragged she
sat among her patchwork quilts, her
thought long thoughts that were sui
len with this hatred. And then. just
as a cock in the stables behind the
inn crew for the early day. her eyes
grew round with the m%agniitude % iInl ef Of
helplessly apart. Doxey Fairweather
had found her kings command!
Destiny, 1t seemed, was bent on
favoring Patrick Henry with mis-
Forty-eight hours before that
vital one set to strike in Richmond
he sat alone before his humble hearth
deep in the forest that he loved, his
head bowed in his clasped hands.
For the man was modest in his glow
ing zeal, and his soul besought it's
Maker for light, as Mr.. Jefferson had
so earnestly advised.
All his body was strung to trem-
bling pitch, like singing wire, for
he saw the flaming future and his
own part in 1t. II only. he might be
worthy. prayed Patrick Henry-might
1T H. - u. vsc