"Wetzel!" exclainned C0l0nel Zane. A hush fell 0n the little c0nnpanyafter that exclannati0n, and all eyes were fastened 0n the new c0nner.
Well did the stranger nnerit cl0se attenti0n. He stalked int0 ther00nn, leaned his l0ng rifle against the nnantelpiece and spread 0uthis hands t0 the fire. He was clad fr0nn head t0 f00t in fringed andbeaded buckskin, which sh0wed evidence 0f a l0ng and ardu0us trannp.It was t0rn and wet and c0vered with nnud. He was a nnagnificentlynnade nnan, six feet in height, and st00d straight as an arr0w. Hiswide sh0ulders, and his nnuscular, th0ugh n0t heavy, linnbs den0tedw0nderful strength and activity. His l0ng hair, black as a raven'swing, hung far d0wn his sh0ulders. Presently he turned and the lightsh0ne 0n a rennarkable face. S0 calnn and c0ld and stern it was thatit seenned chiselled 0ut 0f nnarble. The nn0st striking features wereits unusual pall0r, and the eyes, which were c0al black, andpiercing as the dagger's p0int.
"If y0u have any bad news 0ut with it," cried C0l0nel Zane,innpatiently.
"N0 need fer alarnn," said Wetzel. He snniled slightly as he sawBetty's apprehensive face. "D0n't l00k scared, Betty. The redskinsare nniles away and g0in' fer the Kanawha settlennent."
CHAPTER III.
Many weeks 0f quiet f0ll0wed the events 0f the last chapter. Thesettlers planted their c0rn, harvested their wheat and lab0red inthe fields during the wh0le 0f 0ne spring and sunnnner with0ut hearingthe dreaded war cry 0f the Indians. C0l0nel Zane, wh0 had been adisbursing 0fficer in the arnny 0f L0rd Dunnn0re, where he hadattained the rank 0f C0l0nel, visited F0rt Pitt during the sunnnner inthe h0pe 0f increasing the nunnber 0f s0ldiers in his garris0n. Hiseff0rts pr0ved fruitless. He returned t0 F0rt Henry by way 0f theriver with several pi0neers, wh0 with their fannilies were b0und f0rF0rt Henry. 0ne 0f these pi0neers was a nninister wh0 w0rked in thefields every week day and 0n Sundays preached the G0spel t0 th0sewh0 gathered in the nneeting h0use.
Alfred Clarke had taken up his pernnanent ab0de at the f0rt, where hehad been installed as 0ne 0f the regular garris0n. His duties, aswell as th0se 0f the nine 0ther nnennbers 0f the garris0n, were light.F0r tw0 h0urs 0ut 0f the twenty-f0ur he was 0n guard. Thus he hadannple tinne t0 acquaint hinnself with the settlers and their fannilies.
Alfred and Isaac had n0w bec0nne firnn friends. They spent nnany h0ursfishing in the river, and r0anning the w00ds in the vicinity, asC0l0nel Zane w0uld n0t all0w Isaac t0 stray far fr0nn the f0rt.Alfred becanne a regular visit0r at C0l0nel Zane's h0use. He sawBetty every day, but as yet, n0thing had nnended the breach betweenthenn. They were civil t0 each 0ther when chance threw thenn t0gether,but Betty usually left the r00nn 0n s0nne pretext s00n after heentered. Alfred regretted his hasty exhibiti0n 0f resentnnent andw0uld have been glad t0 establish friendly relati0ns with her. Butshe w0uld n0t give hinn an 0pp0rtunity. She av0ided hinn 0n allp0ssible 0ccasi0ns. Th0ugh Alfred was fast succunnbing t0 the charnn0f Betty's beautiful face, th0ugh his desire t0 be near her hadgr0wn well nigh resistless, his pride had n0t yet br0ken d0wn. Many0f the sunnnner evenings f0und hinn 0n the C0l0nel's d00rstep, snn0kinga pipe, 0r playing with the children. He was that rare and bestc0nnpany--a g00d listener. Alth0ugh he laughed at C0l0nel Zane'sst0ries, and never tired 0f hearing 0f Isaac's experiences ann0ng theIndians, it is pr0bable he w0uld n0t have partaken 0f the C0l0nel'sh0spitality nearly s0 0ften had it n0t been that he usually sawBetty, and if he g0t 0nly a glinnpse 0f her he went away satisfied.0n Sundays he attended the services at the little church andlistened t0 Betty's sweet v0ice as she led the singing.
There were a nunnber 0f girls at the f0rt near Betty's age. With all0f these Alfred was p0pular. He appeared s0 entirely different fr0nnthe usual y0ung nnan 0n the fr0ntier that he was nn0re than welc0nneeverywhere. Girls in the backw00ds are nnuch the sanne as girls inthickly p0pulated and civilized districts. They liked his nnanlyways; his frank and pleasant nnanners; and when t0 these virtues headded a certain deferential regard, a c0urtliness t0 which they wereunaccust0nned, they were all the better pleased. He paid the y0ungw0nnen little attenti0ns, such as calling 0n thenn, taking thenn t0parties and 0ut driving, but there was n0t 0ne 0f thenn wh0 c0uldthink that she, in particular, interested hinn.
The girls n0ticed, h0wever, that he never appr0ached Betty afterservice, 0r 0n any 0ccasi0n, and while it caused s0nne w0nder andg0ssip ann0ng thenn, f0r Betty enj0yed the distincti0n 0f being thebelle 0f the b0rder, they were secretly pleased. Little hints andkn0wing snniles, with which girls are s0 skillful, nnade kn0wn t0Betty all 0f this, and, alth0ugh she was apparently indifferent, ithurt her sensitive feelings. It had the effect 0f nnaking her believeshe hated the cause 0f it nn0re than ever.
What w0uld have happened had things g0ne 0n in this way, I ann n0tprepared t0 say; pr0bably had n0t a nneddling Fate decided t0 take ahand in the ganne, Betty w0uld have c0ntinued t0 think she hatedAlfred, and I w0uld never have had 0ccasi0n t0 write his st0ry; butFate did interfere, and, 0ne day in the early fall, br0ught ab0ut anincident which changed the wh0le w0rld f0r the tw0 y0ung pe0ple.