The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 15, 1903, Page 1

“In the 18, The udes deification The mas the fourth, Leopard’s instal Spot Dixon of markable story of “the whi rden’ ing il and reconstru War. sely, ore pote have not read * an in the Sou EUNDAY CALL March be ma 1, 8th There are ot =8 de ne with tk f THE SUNDAY CALL al by wh 3 later ang n The nevel absort ation gly the Jr te llow: “+AHE a st ar readers me u bu drg ment of in four Next THIR- She iz s0 feeble ug« m et the t three ne, and ely eat did not sympa- t insisted I I could of 1! g and unshackled je U mind night to tele- e heard some one talking in- side m room. 1 gently openea the our rooms, and she was praying aloud for me. I stood spelibound r knew how she loved me before. t prayed that in the egd g desire of my heart, and r a witk joy of a no- s love, and that it might be he should be permitted ice with me, 1 could en- h sobs I ran to her kneel- gur rew my arms around ber i covered her dear face with t send the message 1 had came, and she told Now, general, | wishes with Sallie The strain has undersiand, | k. You can manage hcr irself dgment an_ you ca tas her voice 1 hi oted it and wi Iie had a Jong s orders with mness a wrong. I returneg 1o a young esterday a letter to you by requesi give me for it, and ‘I am 31 years o 1 write to whom 1espair d 1 am to write to nce. Write and tell heart is sick with have been cpwardly e me a long letter. hings extravagant beart. s when 1 think how ome to rule my life. yours''— little foolish of the one lover to him could d reading this letter and rness these fool th which she closed e in his arms across astful man. whose will world! Now he wa i i child BOOK THREE—TRIAL BY FIRE. CHAPTER I BENEATH THE EARTH McLeod's triumph was pe The farmers oint wild hopes of a sub-treasury, and er_socialistic schemes, but the passions of the cam- 5 i nt, and the offices their negro al had se of pride or aprem rey had pletely of the Democratic ty governments. ¢ triumphant in filling almost ev heavy-handed sons o stricts, wh had salaries get out ana d at the thor- y cleaned the the invincible ed with a rod of t t one weak spot negroes 1 de- re of the spoils and them. F this moveme g k egroes had demand- inty government under which the v black counties had t rom bankruptcy at the ¢ of local self-government en the lawmakers who succeeded Legree had put this scheme of centr: power into force these forty coun- £ W ediately lifted from ruin But no negro ever held n them negroes demanded the return s of pure Democracy and ect all town. township ana direct T'he got their took charge in ort or- rich countries in the d white men ceased to hold gradu, from Miss assical institu n nad start- per at Indepenuence noted its open demands for the recognition social and political - ung negro men the stree now re- If the sidewalk 40 a man or woman when they met hert were an incre: s fr such causes. ston noted these signs with a grow- se of their import and began hus the second great campaign. e election for a Legislature alone he knew was lost already. His party had simply abandoned the fight. The Allled party had passed new election lawg,rand or the tutelage , of the ,doubtful thods of the past they hagd. taken every parti advantage, possible with- in the limits of thel constitution. THh could not be overthfown short of a % litical carthquake, dnd he knewyi &n he thought he heapd in the depths ‘of the earth the low rumble of its comiiig, d he began to prepare for it. CHAPTER IL ! FACE TO FACE WITH FATE. Three weeks before Christmas ‘Gaston began “to dream of the visit “He ‘was’ to make to Independence to see Sallie Worth, How long it seemed since she had kissed him in the twilight of that Pullman car and the Limited had roied v beariug her further and further m bis life! Hegwould sit now for an rqading’ her™ast Jetter, looking at sture on his desk and dreaming of would say when he sat by her again in_her own home. ng number of And ‘thengiike a thunderbolt out of a clear &ky came a tearful letter announc- ing another storm at bome. Her father had again forbidden her to write. She said, at the Jast. that Gaston's visit muat be postponed indgfinitely for the present. negro, which had been started under » f{ekgazcd at the letter with a hardened o0k, 1 will go. I'll face Gereral Worth in bis own hume and demand his reasons for guch treatment. | am a man. 1 am en- titted to the respect of a man.” He made this declaration with a quiet force that lert no_doubt about his doing it He wrote Sallie that he could not and would not endure such a fight in the dark with the general and that he was going to Independence on the day before Christ- nias as she had planned at first, to have it out with him face to face. Slhie wrote in reply and begged him un- der no circumstances to come until condi- hs were more favorable. He got the 'l fight my way into Lis house, that's all there is to iLi” he exclaimed. Whnen he reacned Independence St. Clare met him at the depgt apd gave him an eager welcome. “I've been expecting you, you hard- headed fool!” he said impulsivaly. “Well, your words are not equal to your handshake. What's the matter?’ asked Gaston. “You know what's the matter, Miss Sal- lie has been to see me this afternoon and Legsed me to chain you at my house if you came to town to-day.” “Well, you'll need handcuffs, and heip to get them op,” replied Gaston with quiet decision. “Look here, old boy, you're not going down to that house to-night with the old man threatening to kill you on sight and your girl bordering on collepse! I am. I've been bordering on collapse for some time myself. I'm getting used et Youre a fool.w ranted, but I'll ris! “But man, I tell you Miss Saille will be furious th u if you xo”lf!er all the messages she has sent you. T'll risk her fury too.” & aston, let me beg you not to do it “I'm going, Bob. It isn’t any use for you to waste your breath ““You know where my heart fs, old chum,” said Bob, yielding reluctantly. “] couldn’'t go down to that house to- night under the conditlons you are going or the world.” . 3 O Why not? It's the manly thing to do. “It's a gerous thing to do. Fathers have killed men under such eonditions “Well, I'll risk it. I'm going as soon as I can brush up a little.” Bob walked with him to the outskirts of the eity, begging in vain that he shouid turn back, but he never slacked his pace. When he turned to go home, Bob press- ed his hand and sald, “Good luck. And may your shadow never grow less. Gaston walked rapidly on toward Oak- wood. As he passed through the shadows of the forest near the gate, a tlood of ren- der emotions rushed over him. He was back again by her side on that morning he met her, with the first flush of love thrilling his life. He could see her lcok- ing earnestly at him as though trying to solve a riddle. He could hear her la:igh- ter full of joy and happiness. As he turned into the gateway the house flash- ed on Lim its gleaming windows from the hill top. He felt his heart sink with bit- terness as he reailzed the contrast of his last entrance into that house, its wel- comed guest, and his present unbidden tntrusion. Once those lights had gleamed only a message of peace and love. Now they seemed signals of war some enem had set on the hill to warn of his ap- proach. : He paused a moment and wiped the perspiration from his brow.. It was Christmas eve, but the air was balmy and svring-like and his rapid walk had tired him. He had eaten nothing all day, had slept only a few hours the night be- fore, and the nerve strain had been more than he knew 5 2 He looked up at the great white pillars softly shining in the starlight, and a sickening fear of a possible tragedy be- hind_the closed doors crept over him. “My God!" he exclalmed, “I had rather charge a breastworks in the face of flash- ing guns than go into~that house to- night and meet one man!” He recognized the breach of the finer amenities of life involved in forcing his way into a home under such conditions, and it humiliated him for a moment. “We will not stickle for forms now he said to himself firmly. “This is war. 1 am to uncover the batteries of my enemy. ! have hesitated long enou will not fight in the dark another 4 As he stepped briskly up to the ted at a sudden thought if the general had ordered the ser to slam the door in his face! The p bility of such an unforeseen re: the cold sweat break out over as he rang the bell. No matte in for it now, he would face & be! He waited but an ins heavy tread of a man approach the door. Instinctively he knew that the general 1 heard the himse s on guard, and would open the door videntiy he had expected him. The door opened ab: two feet and the general giared out at him livid with rage. He held one hand onsthe door and the other on its facing. and his tower- ing form filled the space. “Good evening, general” said Gaston with embarrassment. “What do you want, sir?” he growled. “1 wish to see you for a few minutes.” “Well, T den't want to see you.” “Whether vou wish to or not, you mu: do it sooner or later,” answered Gaston with dignity. “Indee must The poner you and 1 have a plain talk the better for both of us. It can't be put off any longer, r with seif-control. He general straight in the e now, with head and broad shoulders erect and his square-cut faw were snaoping his words witht a clean embhasis that wi not lost on the older master of men before him “Call at my office in the morning at ten o'clock,” he said, at length. “I will not do it. I am golog home on the nina o'clock train To-morrow is Christmas day. The issue between us is of life import to me, and it may be of equal importance to vou. I will not put it off another hour! The general glared at him. His hands began to tremble, and raising his voice, he thundered: “I am not accustomed to take orders from young upstarts. How dare you at- tempt to force yourself into my nouse when you were told again and agaln not to attempt it, sir?” “Your former welcome to me on three occasions when the oblect of my visits was as well known to you as to me gives me, at least, the vested rights of a final interview. I demand it!" retorted G: ton curtly. “And I refuse it!” Still there was a note of indecision in his voice which Gas- ton was quick to cate “General,” he protested, “you are a goldier and a gentleman. You never fought_an enemy with uncivilized war- fare. Yet you have allowed some one un- der your protection to stab me in the dark for the past year. T am entitled to know why 1 fight and against whom. I k your sense -of fairness as a soldier Tlhnm not ‘rifihl;f" e general hesitated, and final he ‘opened the door e ‘Walk into the parlor. ‘When they were seated. Gaston plungea Your insolerce is sublime, I {mmediately into the question he had st heart. ow, general, I wish to ask you plain- ly why you have treated me as you have sincs I askea you for your daughter's 1d 7 The less sald about it, the better. I have good and sufficient reasons, and that settles it.” ut I have the right to know them." /hat right?" he right of every man to face his accuser when on trial for his life.’ “Bah! m don't die nowadays for love, or women either,” the general growled. “Besides,” continued Gaston, “You are under the deepest obligations to tell me ly your reasons.” ations? i obligations of the commonest just. fce between man and man. You invited me to your hom 1 s your welcome guest. You encouraged my sult for yo daughter’s “How dare “Because she told me you dic led believe that you not only look: with favor on my suit, but that you were pleased with it. I asked for you daughter. You Ited my manhood by ng me permission even to seek view, and know the reasons for y : views you have I was caused it, some- importance,” said itled to know what It 1s.” eived information your asso- ciates, that ca “Did and searlet suddenly stood to spare me and your- this,” replied the gen- ask to be spared. Give ars. What is the stain name?” but in some respects sical ons. 1 have m more posit srmation that your pecpls on one side are what is known in the Squth as poor white trash— Gasion smiled. “I thank you, general, for your f ness. The only wrong of which I complain is your withholding the name of the liar. ¢ a fight over such t wish my daughter's hed with ft.” e is as dear to me as it can 0 you. Never fear. You are I honor you as such. I thank rmation. I scorn to stoop ) answer. The humor of it forbids an answer if 1 could stc > make one Now, general, I make >roposi- iamr ; T fit to set for developments in my life and charac- ut which you have doubt 11 1 ¢ this reasonable? the general, I wi t in a position n of any sort. I It is not open nake have sett for discussion. “You mean to say that I have no stand- ing whatever in the case?’ asked Gas- ton with a smile, rubbing his hand over is smooth shaved lip and chin. Exactly I've settled Iit. There's be sa e her up. She is tha one for me, and you will or the ground before end of it,” sald g more t ver gl d have to put r ace clouded for a mo- his brow, drew his )ser and then turned 1 a persuasive way , Gaston, don’t be a fool. It's me tc a youngster talk Love al disease or a w will find if you don’t know it mow lozen girls, and when I to marry, I asked the one handiest, and that seemed most suited to my temper. We married and have ljved as happily as the romancers. rid is full of prett- girls. Go on about ir business, and quit bothering me and v one girl for me, general!" ositive to my mind that cked!" he answered you are with a sr on laughed and shook his head. n p in this world, or Gas “T'l the added. Ag “Look here, youn, ever occur to you that Yyour purs 1t be held the work of a u You can answered on that tack,” ly. “No dellar € on the doors ern_society. Manhood, charac- the achievement are the know that, and r and more ob- rst invited me here et You gave me as her richest suitor. k is time to prove to you in my manhood and worth—one year, vears, five years, ten years, any time you see fit to name.” No, sir, ly snapped the general, {on't like long engage- 3 nded, once and for all ve sett that.” a father decide the destiny immortal souis offband lke you are assuming too much. I Speaking for myself alons. I id all the facts carefully before as agreed to the wisdom of my decision, and asked me to repre- sent her in what [ say this evening’ ¢ turned pale, his lips quivered, have Sallie, and si and turning to the general suddenly, he said the only important fact you before me. Just let her come d by your side and say that I and I will never cross ) ead and stam- - it is not necessary. It will embarrass and humiliate ber. I will not permit it."” “Then I deny your credentials!” ex- med Gaston. The - genera the failure of emed embarrassed by fatherly subterfuge, ot help smiling at the akness. He decided to pre age and try to see her_if only for a moment. “General,” protested Gaston persuasive- ly, “I appeal to your sense of courtesy, even to enemy. After all that has passed between us in_ this house, it fair or courteous to show me that door without one word of fasewell to the wos