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ven oak； buried in its library； with its wainscoted walls crossed with swords and hung with portraits of soldierly faces： all of which pleased him best； he being a home…lover。 So that when facts were lacking； sometimes he would kindle true fancies of her young life in this place： as when she reclined on mats and cushions in the breeze…swept balls； fanned by a slave and reading the Tatler or the Spectator； or if it were the chill twilights of October； perhaps came in from a walk in the cool woods with a red leaf at her white throat； and seated herself at the spinet； while a low blaze from the deep chimney seat flickered over her face； and the low music flickered with the shadows； or when the white tempests of winter raved outside； gave her nights to the reading of 〃Tom Jones；〃 by the light of myrtleberry candles on a slender…legged mahogany table。
But he had heard a great deal of her visits at the other great country places of the day。 Often at Greenway Court； where her father went to ride to hounds with Lord Fairfax and Washington； at Carter's Grove； at the homes of the Berkeleys； the Masons； the Spottswoods； once； indeed； at Castlewood itself； where the stately Madam Esmond Warrington had placed her by her own side at dinner and had kissed her check at leaving； but oftenest at Brandon Mansion where one of her heroines had livedEvelyn Byrd； so that； Sir Godfrey Knell having painted that sad young lady； who now lies with a heavy stone on her heavier heart in the dim old burying…ground at Westover； she would have it that hers must be painted in the same identical fashion； with herself sitting on a green bank； a cluster of roses in her hand； a shepherd's crook across her knees。
And then； just as she was fairly opening into the earliest flower of womanhood； the sudden； awful end of all this half…barbaric； half…aristocratic lifethe revolt of the colonies； the outbreak of the Revolution； the blaze of way that swept the land like a forest fire； and that enveloped in its furies even the great house on the James。 One of her brothers turned Whig； and already gone impetuously away in his uniform of buff and blue； to follow the fortunes of Washington； the other siding with the 〃home〃 across the sea； and he too already ridden impetuously away in scarlet。 Her proud father； his heart long torn between these two and between his two countries； pacing the great hall； his face flushed with wine； his eyes turning confusedly； pitifully； on the soldierly portraits of his ancestors； until at last he too was gone； to keep his sword and his conscience loyal to his king。
And then more dreadful years and still sadder times； as when one dark morning toward daybreak； by the edge of a darker forest draped with snow where the frozen dead lay thick； they found an officer's hat half filled with snow； and near by； her father fallen face downward； and turning him over； saw a bullet…hole over his breast； and the crimson of his blood on the scarlet of his waistcoat； so departed； with manfulness out of this world and leaving behind him some finer things than his debts and mortgages over dice and cards and dogs and wine and lotteries。 Then not long after that； the manor…house on the James turned into the unkindest of battlefields； one brother defending at the head of troops within； the other attacking at the head of troops without； the snowy bedrooms becoming the red…stained wards of a hospital； the staircase hacked by swords； the poor little spinet and the slender…legged little mahogany tables overturned and smashed； the portraits slashed； the library scattered。 Then one night； seen from a distance； a vast flame licking the low clouds； and afterwards a black ruin where the great house had stood； and so the end of it all forever。
During these years； she； herself； had been like a lily in a lake； never uprooted； but buried out of sight beneath the storm that tosses the waves back and forth。
Then white and heavenly Peace again； and the liberty of the Anglo…Saxon race in the New World。 But with wounds harder to heal than those of the flesh； with memories that were as sword…points broken off in the body； with glory to brighten more and more； as time went on； but with starvation close at hand。 Virginia willing to pay her heroes but having naught wherewith to pay； until the news comes from afar； that while all this has been going on in the East； in the West the rude border…folk； the backwoodsmen of the Blue Ridge and the Alleghanies； without generals； without commands； without help or pay； or reward of any kind； but fighting of their own free will and dyeing every step of their advance with their blood； had entered and conquered the great neutral game…park of the Northern and the Southern Indians； and were holding it against all plots： in the teeth of all comers and against the frantic Indians themselves； against England； France； Spain；a new land as good as the best of old EnglandKentucky！ Into which already thousands upon thousands were hurrying in search of homes a new movement of the raceits first spreading…out over the mighty continent upon its mightier destiny。
So had come about her hasty marriage with her young officer； whom Virginia rewarded for his service with land； so had followed the breaking of all ties； to journey by his side into the wilderness； there to undergo hardship； perhaps death itself after captivity and torture such that no man who has ever loved a woman can even look another man in the face and name。
Thus ever on and on unwittingly he wove the fibres of her life about him as his shirt of destiny： following the threads nearer； always nearer； toward the present； until he reached the day on which he had first met her on his in the wilderness。 From that time； he no longer relied upon hearsay； but drew from his own knowledge of her to fill out and so far to end all these fond tapestries of his memory and imagination。
But as one who has traversed a long gallery of pictures； and； turning to look back upon all that he has passed； sees a straight track narrowing away into the dimming distance； and only the last few life scenes standing out lustrous and clear； so the school…master； gazing down this long vista； beheld at the far end of it a little girl； whom he did not know； playing on the silvery ancestral lawns of the James； at the near end； watching by his bedside on this rude border of the West； a woman who had become indispensable to his friendship。
More days passed； and still she did not return。 His eagerness for her rose and followed； and sorrowfully set with every sun。
Meantime he read the book； beginning it with an effort through finding it hard to withdraw his mind from his present。 But soon he was clutching it with a forgotten hand and lay on his bed for hours joined fast to it with unreleasing eyes； draining its last words into his heart； with a thirst newly begotten and growing always the more quenchless as it was always being quenched。 So that having finished it； he read it again； now seeing the high end of it all from the low beginning。 And then a third time； more clingingly； more yearningly yet； thrice lighting the fire in his blood with the same straw。 Like a vital fire it was left in him at last； a red and white of