The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-07

a
the new regiments. Mass meetings were
being held almost every night. and ener-
getic citizens were passing subscription pa
pers from desk to desk that a fund might
be raised for the benefit of the families of
the rapidly enlisting husbands and fathers
One OF these papers was brought to Ladue,
ST. He colored, coughed. looked embar-
raised, took cut his checkbook. thought
moment. returned it. and then. going to his
casn drawer, found some twenty dollars in
currency and gave 1T to the collector.
No. said he, when asked to write his
name. Il prefer following the precepts of
the Scriptures-let not my left hand know
what my right hand is doing" The COM
mittee looked queer when they heard the
story He is willing to give, but-dreads
! its being known" said the mayor. "Iis
heart is still with the South
Yet Ladue gave again and gave gladly.
How could L do otherwise?" said he. "You
and these kind people babe me welcome
when life at it's blacklist 1 am a
Southerner. 1 cannot fight against mine
own people, nc matter what they did to
me. / cannot support them, however, in
their revolt against the government which
shields and protects me. L will not refuse
to contribute toward the support of the
/ wives and children of those who so kindly
welcomed my wife and children. 1 and
mine are grateful"
but what is Paul going to dor was the
| question that startled him one fair May
morning. He would not enlist with the
boys here, and he's writing letter after let
ter to somebody there. 1t isn't possible
he would fight for the people who broke
his fathers heart"
1t had never occurred to Ladue. Il was
high time he interposed. Paul was barely
twenty. and, therefore, still subject to his
| fathers will 1t was soft, warm evening
at the very verge of June as the trio came
silently back from their up-river row-Paul
and Elinor side by side, Fred, scull -laden,
| some distance in rear. They looked up at
| the aging Southerner, seated on his narrow
| porch. and smiled and nodded as they
passed, but Fred propped his SOULS against
the tree box. and after lingering gaze at
the two wandering slowly and sorrowfully
! along the almost deserted street, let HIM
self in at the gate for few minutes of
earnest talk. 1t was, indeed, time some
body in authority sought to dissuade the
| young man if it should prove that he were
seeking service with the Alabama troops,
4 u
talk, Fred determined to appeal to the
father.
Meantime the two young people had gone
on toward the Benton homestead The soft
twilight still fingered over roof and spire.
The bells in the cathedral tower had just
rung out the stroke of eight. Away down
town, somewhere, military band was
playing stirring march music, and there
| ~
another mass meeting was being held in
Market square, and gifted orator from
Chicago was being presented to the throng.
Up here near the bluffs overlooking the
great inland sea all was still.
The setreet lamps were only just
being lighted. Some houses seemed
to show no lights at all, as
though all the inmates had gone to listen
to the speaker of the evening. EIinor Ben
ton looked warily within as they reached
the gate in front of the quaint colonial
house that had been her home since baby
hood. Voices in low-toned chat f1oated out
to her from the broad veranda. and with
hardly a shadow of hesitation the girl
turned and followed when he partner said,
Let us go back to the bluff little while. -
Before she fully realized it she found her.
1
word had been spoken. He had simply pos
sessed himself of her pretty, slender white
hand, passed it within his elbow, and then
clasped, or rather clamped. it there. For
few minutes neither seemed to
care to speak. When they reached
the edge of the bluff Ladue flung
open the shawl he was carry
ing, spread double thickness on the sod
and begged her to sit. Silently she obeyed
Then he turned TO her and his voice trem-
bled as he asked:
"You heard Fred's question:"
An almost inaudible YES" was the sole
response.
'What-do you think fought to do?' he
wistfully, slowly asked For moment she
could not reply. When the words came-fol
she was only seventeen and the position
most trying-her clear young voice had a
! pathetic, tremulous undertone.
, How can L Judge? Almost any one would
say your duty was here-yet-I know-youl
heart I'm her own pure young bosom wa.
throbbing hard. For another littl,
while there was silence, broker
only by the sound of distan
|. cheering from the center of tn,
: town-by the rhythmical. soothing plash o
7 | the wavelets on the pebbIy beach beneath
, | Them Far in the eastern armament tn,
: | spangled sky was bathed in silvery light
growing every moment more brilliant, anC
: now. at the edge of the placid waters
glistening point appeared. spreading swift.
into a tiny segment of liquid fire that ros,
!, | with slow, majestic grace at the dim hori
| zon gaining in bulk and brilliancy will
! | every second, and sending toward then
: | along the flawless sheen of the waters
long radiant, tapering stream of dazzlin,
light as, only just beyond her full. tn
sweet May moon began her star-circle,
= | fight to the zenith. Then Elinor. upliftinj
her face. looked upon the clear-eut feature
= | of the slender youth at her side, and saw
: that the dark eyes were filled with sadnes
: and trouble unspeakable. saw that the sof
; lips Just shaded by the silken fringe of tn
h boy mustache. were twitching and trem
bling with uncomfortable emotion, and he
A Young heart brimmed over. as in sympath
: and tenderness that for the moment over
= mastered her, she impulsively bent forwar
and with slender. tapering fingers touche
. his shoulder as though TO turn him to
ward her, while with almost a sob in he