. t . ILLUSTR'JlD d. j.lawj 15 CHAPTER XXII Continued. I "a lowered himself Into the stream, which wu deep to the shore, as silent- 1 AS a irhfinf A Hnun foot wi T lout eight of him entirely amid the dim, dancing shadows. ; Then I fol lowed with equal caution, my face turned up to the sky. It was a dark night, but with' a few stars visible peeping down through rifts of cloud. The Small river was not wide, nor the current particularly swift, and I had . not been carried far down Stream when the overhanging branches of the opposite bank gave shelter. I drew my self ashore, and sat there, shivering in my wet clothes, the night air( chill', and tared anxiously about, and across, to the shore, we had Just left i, I moved down the shore cautiously, keeping well below the concealing bank until I found Brad v. Ha was crouched In the shadow of a great tree root,' his whole attention riveted on the opposite side. " ' ''.''V - "There are no signs of pursuit?" 4 "Not that I can see. I have watched here some minutes, but there has been no movement along the bank. We will move on down stream." " '"''"'."''"' It was hard walking amid the tangled , roots, and we-made slow work of It rady, In advance, stumbled once or twioe, and, I noticed, held one hand pressed against his side as though from pain, breathing heavily". To our left, but some distance away, a voice called, and was" answered by another. So, tolling on, we came to a sharp bend In the stream. ? i , "It must be : about opposite here, Hayward." he said stopping, "the girl told you the boat would be. What is that lumping shadow yonder? Tour eyes are younger than mine." ,,- '' .. I looked where he pointed, shading my eyes, and gradually focusing- the outlines until, they assumed definite shape. . '.''' Sf v''?;';i "It is a big tree bent down, over the river; no uondi we one sne meant "Yon see no movement?" ; . A I strained my eyes, searching the dark shore inch by inch, but could per ceive nothing; the lights of the fires were far away. He shot a swift glance at me, as If the words pleased him little. In the dim starshlne his face appeared ghast ly white. ' ": '. ,; "Perhaps the days of miracles are f t gone," ha said doubtfully, "and Cirty may have played fair. Anyhow there is nothing to be done now. but test it Come on, lad; well take to water again." ' ... The cheerful note la his voice bol stered my own courage. We swam .straight this time, with steady stroke,.; our eyes scanning the bank we were arproaching. And the canoe was there, :led under the leaning tree, bow to Lank, rendered shapeless by a cpv rl)'f of broken branches, y. We lay hoU of the sides, standing waist deep In water; our eyes searching the high tack towering dark above us. There was no movement, no sound, and I low ered the branches one by one into the wa:er, and permitted them to float Si .,.jy down stream. v- '"'-: lr Concealed by the shade of the. great tiYd I waded cautiously ashore and err t out i 'o a maze of roots. The L,, . r li : i rose sheer before me. To tbe r".. t ,o was an opening, as If a t.j.11 led d n to the river, and re vffOod ther-9 siinet the urper sky, t " ethlng n.oviJ. For an instant I '-M t '.I no r -,'re; d,a I recognized ' I .1 f.. -:9 tr. U Z CUl'jUiily tO- ; . (e V " i tl'.i g:.,t,:n. It moved ., and t, y K.rt l- at vp a i slare 1. 3 t- 3 I WCS SlTS. f 5 I t 3i the quick 't ?i you; how : i r V t I ! ) I ; f t 1 y 1 1 f r 1 i, f i 1 ' ' -A. , " V "Never mind that; will you go as I say?" v ' '. : " ' : ,:- There was a silvery gleam of star on her upturned face, and I could see her eyes, startled, puzzled, half frightened, gazing up into mine. Then the long lashes drooped over them. . "Yes, monsieur,'' she said, her Hps trembling, "i will go with you." The dawn found me with the paddle, but Rene still wide awake. There was a thin, gray fog over the river, which turned to purple as the light strength ened, and we were at the apex of a great bend, the course of the stream ahead leading into the northwest That was not our direction, and besides I , felt if there was pursuit it would be safer far ashore. , Just as the sun broke through the mist we came unex pectedly tf the mouth of a small stream leading Into the main river from the south. Bo thoroughly was it concealed by a thick growth of bushes, that we would have slipped by, had I not been skirting the Shore closely, seeking some such opening. I headed the canoe straight in, pressing aside the branches to gain ; passage, and found beyond a narrow creek, up which we managed to paddle for several hun dred 'yards. Then .1 - stepped over board, and dragged the light craft still higher, until I discovered a place of concealment behind' a huge . rotting log. . ,' : ',.'.' :' ; ;';" ".' : , Here we left it, Rene and I bearing with us the guns and our small store of provisions. I had cut a , cane for Brady, and, with Its help, he managed to get along slowly, although sight of his face made my heart ache. Thus in single file we waded up the tiny stream, until we attained a ledge of rocks where our feet would leave no trail, Over these we toiled, helping each other, until we came to the up land, into an open forest, carpeted 'with autumn . leaves. By this time Brady' was too exhausted to go further, sinking helplessly on the ground. Rene also looked worn and heavy-eyed, and I had no heart to urge them on. We ate sparsely of what food we had, but Brady barely touched his portion. ! wrapped him In our only blanket, and the three of us slept :. It was the gray dawn when mademoi selle awoke me, shaking me soundly ere I could be aroused. That some thing was wrong t perceived Instantly from the expression of her face, and sat up. glancing hastily about, expect ing the approach of savages. "What is ltr . ; "He Is gone, monsieur! Monsieur Brady is gone." : ' - "Gone! You mean left camp. Why that Is impossible; be could barely .walk." - . t "But he la not here, monsieur," she insisted. "See; it was there he lay! I will toll yoii all I know. I woke up in the night and thought of him, of how hard It was for so strong a man to be so. weak and 111.' Then I got up and went over quietly to be sure he was all right But he was awake', mon sieur, staring up at the sky with eyes wide open. He saw me, and said he was nervous and could not sleep. No, he told me he was not in pain, but complained of being cold. I spread more leaves over him, and he said that was better. Then then he took my hand and klsBed It, and begged me to go back and and lie down. He was very nice and gentle, and smiled at me. Co 1 went back, and crept into my loaves, and tried to sleep. He did not cove, yet I lay there a long while thl: . I think I crio i a litv.e, mon siei r, for I felt so sorry. At last I situ t age'-n. It was Just a little i:ht when I awoke once more, and my first pi "y w8 of him. I went over there i, :!--;! he was gone. I couU see v ' i ! a had rested in the leaves, evd t" i 1 " t on the ground, but but he v t t'.cre. I sought f.-.r LLn, tit V. : ' 5 no trace nothing. C 3 I i ' v -' 3 you." II : f et a f.--.::rj cf C 1 -; --t if- " tin- i C I V ; I 1 1 ct I i t t f..r. I ' f i r" 1 I ' t ( it cu t": i . ' ... .. . "lie has given his life for others, my glrlfor you and me, and those sol di, rs of at. ( lair's." the stood a moment, silent, tears on her cheeks, looking blindly out at the water. Then she eank upon her knees, holding the crucifix against her face. I could see the movement of her Hps, but heard nothing; only I knew .that she prayed for his soul, and my own eyes were molut as I knelt beside her. Then I lifted her up by the baud, and we went tck op the hill to the camp. There 'was nothing to hope for In waiting, and all our duty lay beyond. Without the exchange of a word we packed what few things we had, and started, following the bank -of the stream.' . : i - " It was a raw November morning that we came unexpectedly upon St Clair's outposts. The ground was covered with snow, and the little pools were skimmed over with thin , Ice.' It had been too cold to rest, and 'we bad walked much of the night, afraid to build' a fire. Chilled to the marrow by the icy wind that swept through the , trees 'and - buffeted us, I had wrapped the girl in our only blanket fastening It about her head and face, hurt as I did. so by the dumb pa tient, bewildered look In her eye. She tried to protest, yet at my first stern word ceased and wrapped herself closely in the folds. I was in front, breaking the trail that she might have easier marching, when suddenly a man stepped put of a thicket, and with gun at my breast roughly 'commanded a halt. I paused Instantly, uncertain as to which side the challenger was on, yet a glance at his face and dress reassured me. ::... " "Who are yer, an what ddt frer want?" he asked suspiciously. "I am an officer of the Fort Harmar garrison,'; I answered, "with, news from the north. To what command do you belong?" s ' . "The Kentucky militia,'' he acknowl edged sullenly. "Colonel Oldham." x "Where is your colonel?" "Back yonder on that rtee o' ground; yon kin go on, but I'll keep- an eye on yer.":v., ;,,;.':" ' - We left him, following the direction pointed but . hearing him call to some one in our rear, yet paying no heed. "He Has Given His Life for Others, ' My Girl." ' '';f '-' C ' The ' very ease with which he had passed us on was evidence enough of lax discipline, and small conception of the danger of the command. There was a plain track through the snow, which led to a camp fire blazing cheer ily in a grove of trees, with maybe a dozen men clustered about it. No one appeared to notice us as we drew near. "Which ie , Cofonel Oldham ?" I asked, glancing about the group. - One stood up, a smooth-faced, ruddy cheeked man of fifty, with iron-gray hair, and eyeB that looked as if they laughed easily, I liked him at first glance. . , " ( - t " ' ' "That is my name," he said shortly. "What 1b It? St. Denis, man!" as his glance swept over me, "you look as if you had teen far from : the settle ments and had a hard trip." "I have, e'r; I come from the Mau mee. I sn an p "cer of regulars with news cf 1 . , ,r,-T v fcri t "TL . that is a you s'7 rumor t i cf the i Know j i . 'Thry 1 . I v i it 1 '.' ry e fill . ace for St Clair." ; on me now and Old i nearer. !" he exclaimed. "Ay. . News for Et, Clair, raws? There was a ' .v that the Indiana t were musterlns. ' j of that?" ! ?y mustered, sir. i "'ous. Even no'v ' ' l -tli9 Whl,:3 Cf : I ', i i r- y 11 V ' i i f . . : l c i '.'a I' i i- "7 WBJ I -r. j i." 1 Cf VC' ' 3, i. ! f i:i ' f g'a&c-i-d lack at her, t:.mu.. g tl 1' "tly behind pie, the blackct drawn over her head and face. ' "Taks it off, Rene," I said quietly. "Yes, monsieur." . ' ' ' Her hands obediently threw the wrapping asido, permitting it to drape over her shoulders. She lifted her head, and stood facing them, with eyes centering upon Oldham. He gasped, and jerked the hat from oft bis head. "I beg your pardon," he stammered. I'A white woman?" .;.'.' , , "A French girl, sir, whom found with the Wyandots. Can you send as back to St Clairr ' ' He stared at kx to long, hat still in hand, that I thought be did not bear. An officer touched him on the shoulder and spoke a word. . v - . ' "Ah, yes, certainly St Clair. . At once, sir, but I don't envy you your reception. By Jove, I lost my wits seeing such a woman as that here in this hole. . Someone send Masters here." Jt.r'yV -'.;' :. He came quickly, a youngish lad, with white hair and eyebrows, but intelligent face, who never took his eyes . off Rene. ; , Oldham spoke brusquely - , s . ' "Take this officer and the the lady to Oeneral St Clair at once. Tell But ler I say It Is' important, that he be given Immediate interview. Here, wait! get the lady a horse somewhere. Cap tain, oan be take yours?" : , ,' "With pleasure, sir; I will fetch the animal.;' . j,. 'y. r ... They watched us depart until we had crossed the ridge, Masters and I trudg ing through the snow at the horse's head. Rene had drawn up her blanket; but I could see her eyes watching me, when I glanced around at her. It was not long, however, until we came out of the forest, into a bit of lowland near the river, where a dozen tent, grimy and dirty looking, stood on the bank. There were soldiers everywhere, gath ered about the camp fires, with a few guards patrolling beats along the for est edge. Masters led the way through the motley crowd up; to the central tent. There was delaythere, Rene sit ting motionless in the laddie, and I waiting impatiently beside her. At last Masters came back. - "He will see you, sir." V 'Very well; are there any women in camp?" ' . .,- ' "A fewVslr; "non-com' wives mostly, washerwomen, and cooks; they are In those two tents . there the officers' kitchens." i ' ' , "Take the lady over there, and leave her in good hands. Rene." . . She looked down at me. , "Yes,' monsieur." "This soldier will take you to some women who will take care of you nntlt I come. You will wait for me.", y "Yes, monsieur." I waited until they started, and then advanced to the tent. A tall, slender man, in; a colonel's uniform, pointed the way within, and I stepped through the narrow opening. The interior was plain a. bearskin stretched on the ground, two officers on campstools against the canvas; a sentry beside the open flap standing motionless; a rude table of one unplaned board, and behind it, Beated, St Clair. He was a spare man, with broad shoulders and prominent nose, wearing a long queue of thick, gray hair, which was plainly visible below his three-cornered hat He was attired in blanket coat, with hood dangling down his back. I had met him once, but it was clear he retained no recollection of me, as he surveyed me coldly across the table. ,i "Well,' eir," he snapped, "Colonel Oldham 'says you bring news.' Who are you?" . - ' , " - "Ensign Hayward of Fort Harmar," I answered, bringing my hand up in salute. "I was sent with a message to the Wjrandots." . . The; stern linei of his face broke Into a grim smile. ' ' , "Ah, yes, I recall that. One of Har mar'a fool notions. Told him as much when I got back. Well, your peace offering didn't do much good, did it? I hear there is hell brewing in those north woods." ; 1 " "It Is already brewed, sir. The tribes have got together io crush you. They rendezvoused on the Maumee," "Huh ! that is a ways away. - No great danger from that source till we're ready, ' What tribes were there, do you know?" ' , "I saw them; sir; Wyandots, Potta wattomies, Shawnees, Delawares and Miamls. There were also some Ojlb was, and a sprinkling of others, mostly yoi- ? war flora." "Who I s th conspiracy?" ." : "Little T. L-tio, .if the . Miamis, but there are : illahmen with them also; Hamilton 1 nself was there." 1 "The ci raed hound; so1 you were there, wK'i t" em, hey? A prisoner?- "Yes, oial; a scout named St phen Bra ' r J I. We got away by means of a c oe on the river." "Where U Crady? I know the old coon." "He die-!, i No one f "It was a were ms-y .' as quick' . think th "Ob, C .t ally. "It v and as t own see young, s " : -a to V . in wi S ' ody c , up c ;j tlie : '" n, a and I came on alone." and I went on. I Journey, and there a on the way. ' I came c iuld, eir, but I don't i are far tt !.lnd." , Indeed," gTcsstla t aJvice I V"" e.'.- T. !3 la fro;.t it rs ir.y e po?'. 5. " I. a't 1 Yu'j're I 1 j I a- -i t a t t' T f t t c 8 i t SAYS CREOLES ARE HOW UP TO DATE ' I Orleans well; but it was the New Creoles who have lived all their lives there into old age who have never been north of Canal street, the main thoroughfare." DIDN'T KNOW COHGRESSr.lAII KENT . : Perhaps the worst of all the petty annoyances that beset a congress man's path Is to have some , of the swarm of employes about the capltol fail to recognize him. ' 1 "And this, irritating at all times, becomes a source of extreme mortifi cation if any of your constituents hap pen to be around," observed Repre sentative Kent of California, comment ing on a recent contact with this briery little thorn along the congres sional trail. -,i .. V ; - .- "Some friends from home, to whom I wished to show' special attention, dropped in on me,", he said, "and 1 devoted myself to showing them about the capltol. They were keenly alive to the distinction of having their rep resentative personally conduct them, ' and were profuse in their expressions of regard for my courtesy hence the situation was all the more embarrass ing when' on seeking to enter the members' gallery, I was incontinently halted by a raw and Ignorant asslstant-eomethlng-or-other and curtly forbid den to enter. , - . " -v-i "Of course, it war all straightened out and the fellow apologized.' But the damage had been done. , After that miserable little episode things were different In that party. The paint had come oft the doll and I could feel that they felt I must be small potatoes If an Insignificant little whiffet like that didn't know who I was. You see, they couldn't get out of their back-hornet way of looking at a congressman,. Back there, everybody knows him; even the boy who brings the groceries knows him by sight and to find some one right here under the very dome who does not! ; "And the worst of it all is you cannot explain to them that there are 400 of us right here; explaining would only magnify it. "So, you Just have to let them take home the memory of you with the sawdust leaking out?" CONGRESSMAN HENRY'S WITNESSES :..s;:si I i J tebUfy! Boreas, the north wind, and snow and sleet and driving storm and , biting cold! They are testifying to their presence here at this season.' : . , cniLLiAru l::.:e. pbi;:cAr,E v Here is a love story-all the way from France. A husband risks mis representation and even ridicule to honor his wife, and he is president! The gallantry and courage of Poln care have made presidents', wives mal to queens. ' . Mme. Poinca-. i position is, of course, as delicate as brilliant. One of the republic's dogmas Is that France requires no queen. For in ta nca, heretofore ' when a French pr-.. "-lit drove In state to Long-ch-'- a, honoring . coaimerce, s;ort t i f Mon in the culmination cf the e l, kotody noticed If his 'e i rtt '5t wl'.h hi:n. ; t "oie. Poincare Is dLTer-'r.t.. J ; ..re la very C." r" t. I"a v t t take her r' :e;'it h l'i 1 ; It is h's J - .And I ! f-' " . lie la r a ' ' I I r It 1 t i r ' L i Representative Albert Estoplnal of Louisiana, himself a Creole, saye that the manners and opinions of inese proua people or me oia regime have undergone marked change within the past generation. . "Within the last thirty years there has been widespread adoption of what may be called up-to-date American, ways of thinking by the Creole. There are those still lert, nowever, who adhere to the old traditions of the blood, for we are all proud of our "Not so very long ago I had oo . casion to go Into the new residential district of New Orleans. " I took with me In my car a relative who was a native and resident of Mew uneans a Creole, like myself. . Now, although he was well along In years, be was as much a Stranger and exhibited as' much novel Interest In that quarter of the city as though he had been fresh' from a foreign land. ,He knew New Orleans of old, the New Orleans of the , JThe effort to change the date of the presidential inauguration from tho 1th of , March to a more seasonable sentatlves from time to time. During the present session a hearing upon the matter before committee was set for a day on or near the 4th of March. rra vA ' ntrnAV tha Attnltal r thai ' TCtrV . morning. As the committee members, witnesses, reporters and others gath-. erea ine niasi romea nerceiy ai iuo casements and the swirling snow, and sleet drifted high against the window, panes. When some remark was made about certain witnesses not appearing on account of the weather Represen tative Henry of Texas, who is an sr seized the opportunity.' . . , . , - "Witnesses!; he exclaimed, dra matically. ... "Witnesses! .There are ' our. ' witnesses!" and pointed out throueh the windows. "Hear them "T A .Mil ' ' I