Show in the days 13 of of P poor richard chard K I 1 vy by IRVING BACHELLER copyright by living iia A PRETTY DRAMA SYNOPSIS S solomon binkus veteran scout cout and interpreter and his hl yo young ung companion jack irons iron passing through horse valley now new york in september 1768 to warn settlers ot of an indian uprising rescue from a band 0 ot red redskins skins the wife and daughter ot of colonel hare ot of england jack distinguishes himself lilma elt in the fight and later rescues lt margaret argaret hare from the river jack and margaret garet tall fall in love on reaching fort stanwix colonel ilare hare says baa both are to to marry the hare family sail ball for england and the irons family move to alb albany any unrest unreal grows in the colonies because of the oppressive measures of the Ion ienglish glish government solomen and jack visit alost hoston n in november 1770 jack goes to philadelphia and works in ben jamin r franklins printing plant nearly three years year later margaret writes him from london reminding him that her youth Is passing and saying she has appealed to doctor franklin binkus has received a letter from washington to be carried across the ocean and jack malls with him arriving in england binkus to Is arrested but jack has the letter and proceeds to london jack delivers the papers to rr franklin anklin in london denkus Is released and joins them in the great city jack orders fashionable clothes CHAPTER VI a 8 the lovers the fashionable tailor was done it jacks equipment franklin had seen been and approved tho the admirably shaped and fitted garments the young man and his friend solomon had moved to their new lodgings on bloomsbury square the scout had acquired a suit for street wear and was now able to walk abroad without exciting the multitudes the doctor was planning what he called a snug little party so lie announced when jack and solomon came came adding but bui first you iou are to meet marguret margaret and her mother hero at half after fo four ur 11 jack made careful preparation for that event fortunately it was a clear bright day after foggy weather solo roon mon had refused to go with jack for fear of being in the way 1 I want to see tier her an her folks but I 1 reckon yell have yer hands full today he remarked ye dont need no scout on that kind 0 you go on oil ahead on an git through witt yer sm smacking smack ackIn ln an bym by ril ill straggle tn in precisely at four thirty alve jack presented himself at we the lodgings of his distinguished frend lie ile has said in a letter when his dramatic adventures were ft ere all behind him that this was the most thrilling moment lie he had known the butler utter had told me that hat the ladles were there he wrote upon my word it put me out of breath climbing that little flight of stairs but it was in fact the end of a long journey it Is curious that my feeling then should remind me as it does of moments when I 1 have been close up to the enemy within his lines and lying hard against the ground in some thicket white while british so soldiers idlers were tramping so near I 1 could feel the ground shake in the room I 1 saw lady hare and doctor franklin standing side by side what a smile he wore as lie he looked at met I 1 lave never known knon a human being who bad such a cheering light in ills his countenance te nance I 1 have seen it brighten tho the darkest days of the war aided by the light of ills his words ills fulth faith and good cheer oil eer were immovable I 1 felt the latter when lie he said see the look of 0 alarm in ills his face now for a pretty drama 1 I mrs Af rs hare gave me her hand and I 1 kissed it and said that I 1 had expected bl margaret argaret and hoped that she mie was not III there was a thistledown touch on my cheek from lich behind ind ant and turning I 1 saw the laughing face I 1 bought looking up at me I 1 tell you yon my mother there never was such n pair of eyes their long dark lashes and the glow between them I 1 remember chiefly the latter was the friendly light of tier her spirit to me it was like a candle in the window to guide my feet come it seemed to say here Is a welcome for you I 1 saw the pink in 14 tier her cheeks checks the the crimson in lier her lips the white of her neck the glow of lie her abundant hair the shapeliness of brow and noso nose and chin in that first glance I 1 saw the beating of her heart even I 1 remember there therea 1 I as aan a tiny polo biolo on her temple under the edge of that beautiful golden crown of tiers hera it did not escape my eye 03 e I 1 tell you she was fair as tho the first violets in op on a devy morning of course she was nt at lier her best it was the last moment in years of waiting in which tier her imagination had furnished me with endowments too romantic I 1 liate linver seen great moments I 1 as you jou know but this Is the one I 1 least afford to give gho up I 1 had long been wondering what I 1 should ity do when it came now it was come and there was no taking thought of abat ft hat wea should do that would teem seem to have been settled out ut court I 1 kissed hissed tier her lips and she kissed mine aline end and for ft a few moments I 1 think wp could have stood in a halt half bushel leisure mei ine sure then the doctor laugho laughed and gave tier her ladyship a smack on the cheek 1 I dont know about you ray my lady but it 11 fills me ma with the glow of 0 youth to see such gous golub on he remarked tm im raly twenty one and nobody knows sus suspects it if even these wrinkles and gray geay hair are only a mask that covers the heart of it a boy 1 I confess that such a scene does doea push me back into my girlhood said lady hare alas I 1 I 1 feel fed the old thrill suddenly solomon arrived of course where solomon Is one would expect solecisms they were not wanting I 1 had not tried to prepare him for the ordeal solomon Is bound to be himself wherever tie Is nad alid why not there esno Is no better man living youre as as a golden robin lie said to bl argaret shaking tier her hand in his bs big one 00 lie ile was not so much put out its as I 1 thought lie he would be I 1 ne never saw a gentler man with women As hard bard as iron in a light fight there has always been a curious vein of chivalry clil valry in the old scout ile he stood and joked alth the girl in his odd fashion and so set t us all laughing margaret and her mother enjoyed ills his talk and spoke of it often after that 1 I dressed and went to dine with the hares that evening they lived in a large house on a fashionable road as certain or the streets were called it was a typical upper class english home there were many fine old things in it but no bright colors nothing to dazzle or astonish you like the wooden indian in war paint and feathers and it the stuffed bear and high colored rugs in the parlor of mr air gosport in philadelphia every piece of furniture was like the quiet still tooted footed servants who came and went making the smallest possible demand upon your attention 17 1 I was shown into the library where sir benjamin sat alone reading a newspaper ile he greeted me politely the news Is disquieting he said presently what have yov ou to tell us of the situation in america it Is critical I 1 answered it can be mended however it if the government witt will act promptly what should it do dol make alake concessions sir stop shipping tea for a time dont try to force an export with a duty on it I 1 think the government should not shake the malted mailed fist at us but think of the violence aud and the destruction of property 1 all that will abate and disappear if the cause Is removed we who keep our affection for england have do best to hold the passions of the people in check but we get ge no help from this side of the ocean sir Bei benjamin Jamin sat thoughtfully feeling his slivered silvered mustache ue ile had grown stouter and fuller faced since wa had parted in n albany when he had 0 N KEEP IN DAUGHTER I 1 CR ANSE I 1 0 looked like a prosperous well bred merchant in military dress and had been timbered limbered and soiled by knocking about in the bush now he wore a white wig and ruffles and looked as aa dignified as a tory magistrate in the ruti moment ment of silence I 1 mustered up my courage and spoke oui out sir I 1 said 1 I havo none to claim your daughter under the promise you gave roe me at fort stan I 1 have not ceased to love tier her and it if she continues to love me I 1 am sure that our wishes will have your favor and blessing 1 I hove have not forgotten the prom promise lse he said but america has changed it Is likely to be a hotbed of rebellion 7 perhaps even the scene 0 of a bloody war I 1 must con consider sider my daughters happiness conditions in america sir air fire are fici not so bad as you ou take them to be I 1 assured jiam him 1 I hope you anre he answered II 11 1 I am told that the whole inetter matter rests wit with your dour D doctor octor franklin it if wl we tire are to go go on from bad to worse ho he will be responsible I 1 it if it rests with bilm I 1 can assure you sir air that our troubles ds will end I 1 I 1 said bald looking only at the surface 0 of f the matter and speaking confidently out of the pit of 0 my inexperience peri ence as the he young soung are like to do 1 I believe you aa are right lie he declared and went on with a smile now my young friend the ghr lifts has it a notion thit she lovei you I 1 nm am aware of that so are you I 1 lappen happen to know through doctor franklins influence wo we bave allowed her to receive your letters and to answer them I 1 have no doubt of your sincerity oi or hers but I 1 dad not foresee what has coras to pass she Is our only child and you on can scarcely blame mo me it if I 1 balk at a marriage which promises to turn tier away from us and nil mi our family famil I 1 ith dissension slay may we not respect each other and disagree in politics I 1 asked in politics yes but not in war I 1 begin to see danger of war and that la Is full of the bitterness of deith death it if doctor franklin will to do what he be can to to establish reestablish re loyalty and order in the colonies my fear will be removed and I 1 shall welcome you QU to my family 1 I began to show a glint of intelligence and sald said if the ministers will operate cooperate co it will not be difficult the ministers wilt will do anything it Is 19 in their power to do then the timely entrance of margaret and tier her mother 1 I suppose that I 1 shall shock my father but I 1 cannot help it said the girl as she kissed me you may be sure that I 1 had my part in that gamp game she stood beside me tier her arm around my waist alst and mine around lier her shoulders father can you blame me tor for lov ing this big splendid hero who saved us from the indians and the bandits it la Is unlike you to be such a hardened wretch v but for him you would have neither wife nor daughter she put it on thick but I 1 held my pence peace as I 1 have done many a time la in the presence of a womans comans cunnings cunning 0 Any anyhow liow slie she Is apt to believe herself and lna in a matter of the heart can find her way through difficulties es which would appall a pan man keap keep yourself in bounds my daughter tier her father answered 1 I know his merits and should like to see you married and hope to but I 1 must ask you to be patient until you can go to a n loyal colony with your husband it was a pleasant dinner through which they kept roe me telling of my adventures in the tha bush save the immediate family only mrs alm biggars a sister of lady hare and a young nephew of sir benjamin were at the tha table CHAPTER CHAPT ER vil the dawn franklin whom jack saw the next day liked not the attitude of the baronet lie he Is one of the kings men on tha he big chess board said the old philosopher os all that he be said to you has the sound of strategy I 1 have reason to believe that they are trying to tow us into port and margaret argaret ll Is only one of many ropes hares attitude Is not that of an honest roan man only three days before the philosopher had had a talk with north at the urgent request of howe who to his credit was eager for reconciliation the kings kang s friend and minister was contemptuous 1 I am quite indifferent to war he had cynically declared at last the confiscations it would produce will provide for many of our fr friends lentis 1 it was an astonishing bt of frank ness 1 I talc tale ethis this opportunity of assuring your lordship that for nit nil the property you seize or destroy in america you will pay to the last farthing said franklin this treat treatment meAt was like that chehad he had received from other members of the government since the unfortunate publication li of the rogers and oliver letters they beeme seemed d to entertain the notion that he had forfeited the respect due a gentleman A tow tew days after franklin had given air to its his suspicion that the government party would try to tow him into port three stout british ships had broken their cables on him an invitation not likely to be rec received elved by one who had really forfeited the respect of gentlemen was in his hands the shrewd philosopher did not twice about it it ile he knew that thai here liere was tho the farst step in 1 n a change of tactics he could not properly decline to accept it and so he went to dine and spend the night with a most distinguished company at the country sent seat of lord Howe some of the best people were there lord and lady cathcart lord and lady hyoe lord and lady dartmouth sir william erskene Ersk lne sir henry clinton sir james baird sir benjamin hare and their ladles were also present doctor franklin said that the punch was wag calculated to promote cheerfulness and high sentiment As AJ was the custom at like functions the ladles sat together at one end of the table franklin being seated at the right of lady howe who was most Fra gracious clous lind and entertaining the first toast was to the venerable philosopher the dinner over lady ilowe co conducted n doctor franklin to the library abrar y where she asked him tc bosit sit down there were no other persons in the room she sat near him and began to speak of the misfortunes of the colony of massachusetts bay lord elowe bowe joined them in n moment ile he was most polite 1 I nin am sensible of the fact that you have been mistreated by the ministry he said 1 I have not approved of their conduct I 1 am ain unconnected with those men save through personal friendships STY my zeal for the public welfare Is my on only ly excuse for asking you yon to open your mind the plan is norto now to send a commission to the colonies as you have urged your lordship I 1 am not look ing for fop rewards but only fo for justice TO BE CONTINI TED |