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escapes as a matter of course, a compulsory part of their daily lives. He had
already, in one day, had more excitement than had ever befallen him, an. was
beginning to believe his thirst for a free life of stirring action would be
quenched long before he had learned to become useful in his new sphere. During
the remaining half hour of his call on his lately acquired friends, he took
little part in the conversation, but sat quietly watching the changeful
expressions on Betty's face, and listening to Colonel Zane's jokes. When he
rose to go he bade his host good-night, and expressed a wish that Isaac, who
had fallen asleep, might have a speedy recovery. He turned toward the door to
find that Betty had intercepted him.
"Mr. Clarke," she said, extending a little hand that trembled slightly. "I
wish to say--that--I want to say that my feelings have changed. I am sorry for
what I said over at Lydia's. I spoke hastily and rudely. You have saved my
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brother's life. I will be forever grateful to you. It is useless to try to
thank you. I--I hope we may be friends."
Alfred found it desperately hard to resist that low voice, and those dark
eyes which were raised shyly, yet bravely, to his. But he had been deeply
hurt. He pretended not to see the friendly hand held out to him, and his voice
was cold when he answered her.
"I am glad to have been of some service," he said, "but I think you overrate
my action. Your brother would not have drowned, I am sure. You owe me nothing.
Good-night."
Betty stood still one moment staring at the door through which he had gone
before she realized that her overtures of friendship had been politely, but
coldly, ignored. She had actually been snubbed. The impossible had happened to
Elizabeth Zane. Her first sensation after she recovered from her momentary
bewilderment was one of amusement, and she laughed in a constrained manner;
but, presently, two bright red spots appeared in her cheeks, and she looked
quickly around to see if any of the others had noticed the incident. None of
them had been paying any attention to her and she breathed a sigh of relief.
It was bad enough to be snubbed without having others see it. That would have
been too humiliating. Her eyes flashed fire as she remembered the disdain in
Clarke's face, and that she had not been clever enough to see it in time.
"Tige, come here!" called Colonel Zane. "What ails the dog?"
The dog had jumped to his feet and ran to the door, where he sniffed at the
crack over the threshold. His aspect was fierce and threatening. He uttered
low growls and then two short barks. Those in the room heard a soft moccasined
footfall outside. The next instant the door opened wide and a tall figure
stood disclosed.
"Wetzel!" exclaimed Colonel Zane. A hush fell on the little company after
that exclamation, and all eyes were fastened on the new comer.
Well did the stranger merit close attention. He stalked into the room, leaned
his long rifle against the mantelpiece and spread out his hands to the fire.
He was clad from head to foot in fringed and beaded buckskin, which showed
evidence of a long and arduous tramp. It was torn and wet and covered with
mud. He was a magnificently made man, six feet in height, and stood straight
as an arrow. His wide shoulders, and his muscular, though not heavy, limbs
denoted wonderful strength and activity. His long hair, black as a raven's
wing, hung far down his shoulders. Presently he turned and the light shone on
a remarkable face. So calm and cold and stern it was that it seemed chiselled
out of marble. The most striking features were its unusual pallor, and the
eyes, which were coal black, and piercing as the dagger's point.
"If you have any bad news out with it," cried Colonel Zane, impatiently.
"No need fer alarm," said Wetzel. He smiled slightly as he saw Betty's
apprehensive face. "Don't look scared, Betty. The redskins are miles away and
goin' fer the Kanawha settlement."
CHAPTER III.
Any weeks of quiet followed the events of the last chapter. The settlers
planted their corn, harvested their wheat and labored in the fields during the
whole of one spring and summer without hearing the dreaded war cry of the
Indians. Colonel Zane, who had been a disbursing officer in the army of Lord
Dunmore, where he had attained the rank of Colonel, visited Fort Pitt during
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the summer in the hope of increasing the number of soldiers in his garrison.
His efforts proved fruitless. He returned to Fort Henry by way of the river
with several pioneers, who with their families were bound for Fort Henry. One
of these pioneers was a minister who worked in the fields every week day and
on Sundays preached the Gospel to those who gathered in the meeting house.
Alfred Clarke had taken up his permanent abode at the fort, where he had been
installed as one of the regular garrison. His duties, as well as those of the
nine other members of the garrison, were light. For two hours out of the
twenty-four he was on guard. Thus he had ample time to acquaint himself with
the settlers and their families.
Alfred and Isaac had now become firm friends. They spent many hours fishing
in the river, and roaming the woods in the vicinity, as Colonel Zane would not
allow Isaac to stray far from the fort. Alfred became a regular visitor at
Colonel Zane's house. He saw Betty every day, but as yet, nothing had mended
the breach between them. They were civil to each other when chance threw them
together, but Betty usually left the room on some pretext soon after he
entered. Alfred regretted his hasty exhibition of resentment and would have
been glad to establish friendly relations with her. But she would not give him
an opportunity. She avoided him on all possible occasions. Though Alfred was
fast succumbing to the charm of Betty's beautiful face, though his desire to
be near her had grown well nigh resistless, his pride had not yet broken down.
Many of the summer evenings found him on the Colonel's doorstep, smoking a
pipe, or playing with the children. He was that rare and best company--a good
listener. Although he laughed at Colonel Zane's stories, and never tired of
hearing of Isaac's experiences among the Indians, it is probable he would not
have partaken of the Colonel's hospitality nearly so often had it not been
that he usually saw Betty, and if he got only a glimpse of her he went away
satisfied. On Sundays he attended the services at the little church and
listened to Betty's sweet voice as she led the singing.
There were a number of girls at the fort near Betty's age. With all of these
Alfred was popular. He appeared so entirely different from the usual young man
on the frontier that he was more than welcome everywhere. Girls in the
backwoods are much the same as girls in thickly populated and civilized
districts. They liked his manly ways; his frank and pleasant manners; and when
to these virtues he added a certain deferential regard, a courtliness to which
they were unaccustomed, they were all the better pleased. He paid the young
women little attentions, such as calling on them, taking them to parties and
out driving, but there was not one of them who could think that she, in
particular, interested him.
The girls noticed, however, that he never approached Betty after service, or
on any occasion, and while it caused some wonder and gossip among them, for
Betty enjoyed the distinction of being the belle of the border, they were
secretly pleased. Little hints and knowing smiles, with which girls are so
skillful, made known to Betty all of this, and, although she was apparently
indifferent, it hurt her sensitive feelings. It had the effect of making her
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