Evening star., 1924-01-21


hath a tidy boat, cushioned and light
upon its little keel. 1t would greatly
pleasure me to row you, an you tan
ind the time and the desire to 60"
Gladly! The parties are no more
/ and there is so little joyousness left.
III Wear my purple poplin and well
forget the shadows that trouble US
botn, my lord. for little space"
, She rose with him and passed to the
gateway that gave upon the street
AS she stood in its unbarred opening,
picture in her brocade gown, there
came. riding in from the turnpike,
young woman on Sedate white
horse. Her long skirt swept down to
| tied face was glowing in the rim of
her bonnet. pushed bit back upon
her duSky head.
At the tautening Of the young mans
form beside her-the instructive te-
rayal-Penelope knew instantly that
she beheld the simple maiden of the
Wilderness"
And it was none other than Doxey
Fairweather, come to the town on
some errand of her fathers business.
At Lord Testers quick salute she
bowed from her side-saddle and
flashed him 4 smile.
Penelope was not to forget that
face with its fire and fame. for she
when 4 mans life hung in the balance
and her own heart faltcred i'll her
breast.
CHAPTER Ix.
Fair Friends Mt Court.
OF the dreary winter that soon shut
down upon the land the less said the
better. Almost all social life was
in two. Suspicion sat upon every
shoulder and coldness covered the
volcanic fires that slept beneath the
surface.
And so we come, along with those
who love in this little handful OF
people. to the early months OF a year
that was to be momentous above all
other years since that one when two
weary travellers slept in A waySide
stable over whose humble roof a
great star came and stood In that
ether year, so long ago. the Hope of
the World was born. In this one was
10 be born its liberty.
The land bent under weeping sky,
for there was much rain.
The patriots, for such they called
themselves, were organized. They
We're drilled and armed and-waiting.
The powder was laid, needing but the
torch.
The crux of the matter was reached,
the whole plan Of rebellion formed.
the structure all but finished. 1t
needed but the last touch of fire to
weld it solidly together, to make of
the seething mass of wronged and
go smashing forth to fight for liberty
and the future.
And this last moment was already
winging swift toward them in Rich
ferson and Mr.. Lee were working
earnestly toward the elimination.
This elimination was Il gigantic
meeting to be held openly in utter de-
fance of the kings orders. and word
OF which was running through the
nf
Just when it would be called was
n matter which troubled the govern
ment. ard which his excellency
would have given much to know.
81 tell you the cord of royal pa
tience is strained. gentlemen" said
Gov. Dunmore. The rebels have gone
too far! 1t will call for war an they
90 not retrench. and that right hur
riedly. His matesty's commands are
stern, giving full right of military
force to be applied. The devirs scum
know that King George Is harried at
home with his own political troubles,
else they would not dare TO beard the
lion thus
Did I not this thing foretell. your
excellency. long back. when l adj
vised the capture of that threadbare
firebrand who hath ridden the coun-
tryside like a veritable Tam O. Shan
ter with the witch of treason at his
horses tail?' asked Won kneibling,
sharply.
Aye" returned his excellency.
but I dared not seize him for
'tWouid have fired the fabric then;
and God knows we were not ready.
Neither are we now. For though our
soldiery are eager for battle-smoke,
yet they are all too few. and his
majesty hath not as Yet sent over the
new men have beer asking for with
every ship"
Strong measures. your excelien-
cy," returned the German, ARE the
right ones always. This man hath
been abroad too long already"
IF / might make so bold, sir" said
the elder Mr.. Randolph, II believe our
friend speaks the truth. This eager
eyed woodsman has done more to
stir up this hornets nest than any
other in Virginia Why, his fiery
words have travelled north and
south and west until they have be-
come catch-words for the rebels, so
hear on good authority
And his excellency gazed out the
window, frowning at the memory Of
his good horse shot in the dust of
the road. himself looking down. the
muzzle of a travelling gun.
He drummed on the table with his
stout fingers, and grim determlna-
tion crystallized within. him.
Gentlemen" he said. stirring. "1
believe you are right. We must be
ready now, willy-nilly. The taking
of this man will ring the bell. l feel
sure, bringing down upon the loyal
lists nothing less than-War. But-We
will be ready.
"Goot" cried Won Kneibling. spring
ing to his feet, his small eyes spark
ling. "And l. too, your excellency.
shall be ready-to ride again. And
this time there shall be no stopping!
I'll drag him to death!'
(Continued In Tomorrow's star0