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Show . - CHAPTER I Beginning the Red Road The home town looked the same as when 1 last made for Shooter's Hill, fleeing from the Ignominy of being little lit-tle better than a pauper." It was two years since I had been in Virginia, and there were certain outstanding debts which made It embarrassing for me to return. While the fairs were being held In May and" October, all persons coming to Alexandria would be exempt from arrests and executions. And it was not yet Mavtime, and I was back without with-out road-belts, as my red friend, the Onondaga, would style immunity from annoyance. I risked great humiliation, but 'there are certain things a man must do despite his pride; and I had returned because something larger than my personal welfare was concerned. con-cerned. However 1 consoled myself with remembering re-membering that much mountain water had flowed down the Potomac smce mv hasty departure, and that all the colonies were in uie unv i time'- that the extravagances of Webster Web-ster Brond would be forgotten now we were at the throat of France once more. The coming In of many strangers permitted me to remain unnoticed So it was that my long leggings, my fringed" hunting-shirt with its broad cape my moccasins and long rifle, my ax beside the hunting-knife in my embroidered em-broidered belt, gave me assurance a-ainst recognition until I should reveal re-veal my identity when 1 delivered my news to Governor Dinwiddie. It was not from choice that 1 had left mv Onondaga comrade over the mountains and come to town, although the old false pride which had prompted prompt-ed my flight had heen w:,phed ou' ny much rough faring and many a desperate des-perate plight- It was love for the colony col-ony that had drawn me back. 1 came fresh from Fort Dunuesne and Shanoppin. from the distant Ohio countrv where the English were but little known, and where the names of ; Drouillon. Laforce, de Villiers, Jumon- rille and others of the French, al ready were so many war cries among the Indians along the Monongahela and the Allegheny. Throughout the hurried Journey back to Alexandria, 1 had told myself my-self the past was dead, that "Black" Brond the forest-runner, was entirely apart from young Webster Brond who had taken such pride in scrawling in his Cheever's Latin Accidence his name with "Genu" affixed. And now that I was crossing the market-square and was in time to see the Northern Mail, just arrived from Richmond, draw up before the Eoyal George before continuing Its lumbering Journey over the king's post-road to the north, I felt the call of my ancestry and turned my steps to the house which my father's love for hospitality and good cheer had lost to me., along with many rich acres. Some families are unfortunate 'n coats-of-arms and motoes. My people had been Inflicted with the family device de-vice of an outstretched open hand. My father by nature was congenial and convivial, prodigal with good cheer. He had only Deeded the appellation "Brond of the open hand" to eomp.ete his impoverishment. So many times spt forth to dispose uau i - " of bis crops; so many times had greeted him on his return with only a trifle left of the season's planting! And go many times did I puff up with pride when he explained his light pockets by saying: "It's a duty we owe the name. lad. We will plant more, but we will never be niggardly." I thank God he passed out before the crash came, that he never tasted the bitterness, and that it could be 1 who was forced to escape petty prosecutions pros-ecutions by flight Into the wilderness. It would have broken his kind heart could he have known my estrangement from my fellows. It helped me much to find the place deserted. To have seen others there where my father kept open house, would have grieved me sorely. 1 sent my love through the paneled door anil passed around to the high gate und looked Into the garden. I.Ike the house, It showed the lack of human occupancy. oc-cupancy. The place was a riot of untrained growth where, once orderliness and beauty had graced the winuitig pains. All that was left to remind me of the gulden yesterdays was the aroma of the snowy cherry blossoms. Voices close by aroused me and I turned from the gate. Despite my n.ugh schooling from Lake Krle down lo the Falls of the Ohio, my bean went plta-puttlng. Just as It had when I wrote her name In my school hooks The fellow with her had been ir.y boon companion. Ills powdered wig and berufllcd shirt, his knee-breeches gold buckles and silken hose put my travel stained garb to shame, and I was for turning back to the gate. But I saw a hint of amusement I" I heir curious glances; nod. conquering my weakness. 1 swept off my nigged fur hut with an almost forgotten grace and called myself more vividly to their intention. Busby stared hinighll ly.'im If I were Bonn- rroaklsh m-mure from the unknown wilds. The gli'l frowned In perplexity; then she rec- By Hugh Peitdexter MustrationM by Irwin Myers Copyright hv Huph Pendexter. WNU Service ognized me despite my forest dress, and exclaimed: "Webster Brond I" Busby stared blankly for a moment, then smiled broadly and cried: "Curse me If It isn't I Brond of the open hand I Where did you come from? And when did you get back? And why do you wear that Indian toggery? "Hush!" murmured the girL 1 affected not to hear her, nor to wince under the old title, and explained: ex-plained: "1 oring news for his excellency, the governor. 1 am waiting for olm to return from the Maryland shore. I am from Duquesne, und the country I have covered is ill-titted for finery. The shadow of the wai was upon us all. Her fair face Hushed, and she softly cried : "You've beefl to Fort Duquesne. Webster? How romantic! Our General Gen-eral Braddoc will soon be there. Of course you will march with him." "1 shall be glad to serve as a scout." For I was In no way inclined to sbmit myself to stiff-necked discipline. dis-cipline. "Then I may see you along the road, Web. I ride with him," said mm "Joe and I Are to Be Married, Wet) j ster. After General Braddock Has Finished His Little Business at Fort Duquesne." Busby: and with that touch of superiority superi-ority he ever wore even as a little chap. Often had 1 laughed at bis patron lzlng ways, and often had 1 forgiven him. Mayhap he caught a reminiscent twinkle In my eye; perhaps he thought 1 was staring too lung ano Intently at his dainty companion, for he abruptly Informed me: "Joe and 1 are to tie married. Web ster, after General Braddock nas tin Ished his little business at For: Duquesne." i ,,;i,i ..nri acut through the form of congratulating them, but there was a stab in my heart. Not that I had expected to carry a girl's love In my breast during two years of roughing It and yet 1 had hoped. She was crimson and angry. "You should not talk that way.' she coldly admonished Bushy. "I am natural. You're artificial. Josephine," he lightly bantered 1 said: "Surely you feel no foolish delicacy in letting an old friend know of your happiness. Forsooth. I'd have to know now. or not at all. This Is my good hy to Alexandria." At once she was josepiiine. mr glrl I had known. And with wistful ness she deplored: "1 don't like that word good by. It's the saddest of all words. I think Everything as so peaceful and hap py. And now It's war and soldiers, and all our men eager to march against the French. God give them safe return I" Could we have but known I Could we have hut foreseen thi outcome of the next few weeks I Mistress Josephine made me a little curtsy as a '.lgnal for her companion to be moving. Busby was Inclined to shade hands and Instinctively obeyed his English blood by starting to do so then contented himself with a ceremonious bow. The little lady saw everything and with Impulsive frankness, frank-ness, which ever characterized her kind heart, she advanced as Busby fell back. Seizing my hand for a brief moment mo-ment she softly murmured: "We were very young. 1 did not know. Look out for him on the march." ' And with another hurried little curtsy she was walking out of my life, with Busby mumbling and muttering mut-tering in her small ear possibly asking ask-ing to be told what confidences she had imparted to me. 1 silently said farewell to the house of the open hand and turned back to the market-square. I have said the town was the same ; and so it was so far as the yellow, white and red chimneys were concerned, con-cerned, for .here was the same ' proportion pro-portion of slim and fat ones. But it was In physical aspect alone that me town remained unchanged, for the life of the streets was vastly differenU There were cannon along the wharf, and there were cannon hauled up to the post-road. There was a frantic passing back and forth of a new population. pop-ulation. As I loitered before the Royal George, I was crowded and Jostled -udely by a great bustling of people. At Gadshy's across the way built three years before by Lord Fairfax from English bricks was the same lively animation. Squads of soldiers in scarlet coats scarle. for an Indian In-dian campaign when the forest was all a lush green were being maneuvered maneu-vered about the square under the hoarse guidance of veteran sergeants. The long rifle 1 was leaning upon made by William Henry of Lancaster, soon to' be Braddock's armorer was In decided contrast to the Brown Bess carried by the overseas soldiery Surely Sure-ly this was the linest army England had ever sent across the Atlantic and most surely there was nothing at Duouesne to prevent the capture ol the French forU And yet experience was teaching us of the colonies that the English musket was not an effective weapou in the deep woods. These soldiers of Braddock's, so conlident of overrunning the heads of the Ohio, were not taught to aim their weapons, but to point them In the general direction of the enemy and to discharge them in volleys. We of the woods considered every human target we tired at to he a distinct problem; and God knows the tHrget was small enough when consisting of Huron, or any of the Far Indians, or een the French who had campaigned with the red savages. There was a rattle of wheels It was General Braddock. riding in the coach he had bought of Governor Sharpe ot Maryland. 1 barely glimpsed him. a neavy stolid man. whose strong visage seemed to lower on the gaping on Inkers. Then he was gone, commander comman-der In chier-ot all his majesty's forces In North America. He Impressed me us being self willed anil self depcn dent, and one who would he lutoler ant of any advice. It was commonly tl,,,i hp was disitleased al tin milliner In whlcli the campaign was progressing lather, falling to pro gross. The capture ol Fort Duquesne was not bothering him. hut to gel bis army under way was proving to be u most Irritating problem Nor rould ,ie blame hlin for the needless -le lavs, the link of runils. the wrangling Met ween the colonies. But we nil knew how General Braddock had failed to comprehend local conditions lie seemed unable to grasp the fact, which we ol America all knew namely, thai the great mass of t'entisylvanla citizens was opposed to hii.v .vi.-in m iuam Ihat did not Include the proprietaries; anil unit the Quakers were averse to voting any money Tor military pur poses He only knew that pr Isen Hiipplles were lacking, thai recruits were coining in very slowly und that the Indians thus far bad not .Itied his army M"re than once he had complained to the assembled gov ernors that he was "unable to express Ids Indignation." (TO BE CONTINUED.) |