Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-10-21
CHAPTER 1.
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.

Stream-tWO young men and girl
Stroke and bow were in heated discus
sion, and the dark brown eyes that
earlier in the afternoon seemed ever
seeking those Of liquid blue before him,
were now turned, sometimes to port,
sometimes to starbOard, sometimes
over the squared shoulders. flashing
on the man in front-a young athlete
with eyes as blue and hair and skin
well-nigh as fair as those of the girl
at the helm. He of the stroke SOULS,
on the contrary. was tawny, almost,
as a son Of the tropics. His head
was crowned by dark brown curls,
tumbling about neck and temples. The
shape of his face had the delicate
beauty of woman's. Among the four
score young fellows prominent in so
ciety of the western metropolis, there
was not one to deny to Paul Ladue the
palm for physical, or at least facial,
charm. Ever since his coming among
them four years before there was
hardly a girl in all their circle in the
busting city that had not declared
him simply lovely"
What his face lacked was strength
and will a physiognomist would have
turned from it speedily TO study the
strong, virile features, the square jaw.
the firm set lips of the stalwart fellow
at his back. 1t required no unusual
power to tell that he and the silent
girl were brother and sister. and that
| between them sat, despite the heat OF
argument, a beloved and cherished
friend.
You'll never do it. even if you
muster in every man north of the Ohio
Fred said he of the dark, flashing
eyes. Our people will fight to the
last man-and then the women and
children will take it up
Fred Benton shook his cad in dis
sent-a sad smile on his face. For
a moment he ceased rowing and bent
earnestly forward:
You at least can have no sympathy
with the south, after the wrong done
your father, Paul, and I'm blessed if
l can understand your taking up the
cudgels for Alabama as you do"
The color deepened in Ladue's face.
Benton had scored a hit. The eyes
of the girl brimmed with tears. There
was something of reproach in the
glance she threw at her stalwarI
brother. Well as the story was known,
people rarely spoke of it to the Ladues
Four years old though it was, it still
cut deep.
some time In 81 the editor of lead
ing journal had received letter COM
I mendiRg to him Francis Ladue, who
| purposed settling in the city and going
| into business there Presently Ladue
| came and with him his little family
| a fragile, sad-faced wife, a slender,
4 \; hoxy ~
| children. Presently, too. marked copies
| of southern papers were received, and
| little by little their story was told to
| an indignant and sympathetic com
| munity. Natives of the south and
| residents for years of beautiful old
| southern metropolis, they had been
banished from the home Of their love.
driven from state to state, forbidden
ever to return, and compelled finally
| to seek refuge among strangers in the
north. because Ladue. senior, owner
| of the finest bookstore on the Gulf
coast. stood charged with having sold
| to an old customer one copy Of Uncle
| Toms Cabin" The business it had
taken Ladue nearly quarter Of a cen
fury to build up was. ruined in day
Ladue was shy and reserved, his wife
a semi-invalid and Paul a sensitive
plant 1t was long before he seemed
to thaw out at all, but Fred Benton,
q near neighbOr when they passed into
the high school, was the youth he
finally tied TO, and then this strangely
assorted pair joined forces. apparently
for good and all. Damon and Pyth1as
they called them; for, after the. first
six months of shyness on Ladue's part
they became inseparable. High school
finished. Ladue was needed as assis,
tant in his fathers growing business.
Benton had begun the study Of law in
| the Office of the famous old firm OF
which his father was the head. But
before either had cast his first vote
the long heraided conflict between the
! north and south had burst upon the
startled land Sumter had fallen The
| president had called, first for $4,000
men 10 defend the capital. then fol
SOC. 600 volunteers to prosecute the war
i For a moment there came no answer
J to Benton's tentative Already he re-
pented him of his words, yet there was
something he longed to know Fo,
upwards of three years there had beer
no secret between him and his chosen
friend Paul Ladue, who hitherto hs6
. held no communication with his nativs
state, was writing letters thither and
feverishly, furtiveiy, perhaps. await,
/ ing reply. What did it portend?
III On every hand. men were quitting
. the desk, the plough or the tools O
; their trade. and focking to the recruit
! ing offces- Benton's name had beer
u sent to the governor for = commission
! In one OF the new regiments Mas
J meetings were being held almost ever
I night, and energetic citizens were pass