Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-01
THE CLAXSMAX.
An Historical Romance Of the
Ku Klux Klan.
BY THOMAS DIXON, JR.
,thor and Published by Doubleday. Page & Co.
Copyright by the Author and Publish'
Book III-The Reign of Terror.
CHAPTER 1.

Piedmont, South Carolina, which Ell
sic and Phil had selected for reasons
best known to themselves as the place
of retreat for their father, was a IA
vorite summer resort or charleston
people before the war.
Ulster county, OF which this village
was the capital, bordered on Nortn
Carolina, lying alongside the ancient
shire Of York. II was settled by the
Scotch folk who came from tne norm norm
of Ireland in the great migrations
which gave America three hundred
thousand people of Covenanter martyr
blood, the largest and most important
addition to our population, larger In
numbers than either the Pur1tans OF
New England or the so-called Caval-
iers Of Virginia and Eastern Caronna !,
and far more important than either, In
the growth Of American nationality.
To a man they had hated Great Brl-
tain. Not q Tory was found among
them. The cries Of their martyred
dead were still ringing in their souls
when George III, started on his career
of oppression. The fiery words OF Pa
trick Henry, their spokesman In the
valley of Virginia, had swept the aris-
tocracy Of the Old Dominion into re-
bellion against the king and on into
triumphant Democracy. They had
made North Carolina the first home OF
freedom in the New World, issued the
first Declaration of Independence IN
Mecklenburg, and lifted the first ban.
ner OF rebellion against the tyranny OF
the Crown.
They grew to the soil wherever they
stopped, always home-lovers and home
builders, loyal to their own people, in
stiactive clan leaders and clan follow
ers. A sturdy. honest, covenant-keep-
ing, God-fearing fighting people,
above AL things they hated sham and
pretence. They never boasted Of their
families, though some Of them might
have Quartered the royal arms or SCOT
land on their shields.
To these sturdy qualities had oeea
added a strain Of Huguenot tenderness
and vivacity.
The culture of cotton as the sole In
dustry had fixed African slavery as
their economic system. With the
heritage Of the Old World had been
blended forces Inherent in the earth
and air Of the new Southland, some
thing Of the breath Of its unbrokeE
forests, the freedom Of It's untrod
mountains, the temper of its sun, and
the sweetness of Its tropic perfumes.
When Mrs. Cameron received Elsie's
letter, asking her to secure for them
six rooms at the palmetto" hotel, she
laughed. The big rambling hostelry
had been burned by rowing negroes,
pigs were wallowing II the sulphur
springs, and along Its walks, where lov-
ers of olden days had s:rolled, the
cows were browsing on the shrubbery.
But she laughed for q more import
ant reason. They had asked for a six
room cottage II accommodations could
not be had In the hotel.
She could put them In the Lenoir
place. The cotton crop from their
farm had been stolen from the gin-the
cotton tax OF 5000 could not be
paid, and a mortgage was about
to be foreclosed on both their farm
and home. She had been brood
Ing over their troubles IN despair. The
Stonemans' coming was godsend.
Mrs. Cameron was helping them set
the house In order to receive the new
tenants.
II declare" said Mrs Lenoir CRATE
fully. 1T seems TOO good to be true.
Just as / was about to give up-the
first time In my life-here came those
rich Yankees and with enough rent to
pay the interest on the mortgages and
our board at the hotel. I'll teach Mar
garet to paint, and she can give Mar
ion lessons on the plano. The darkest
hours just before day. And last week
cried when they told me must lose
the farm"
II was heart-sick over 1t for YOU"
You know, the farm was my dowry
with the dozen slaves papa gave US on
our wedding day. The negroes did as
they pleased, yet we managed 10 live
and were very happy"
Marion entered and placed bouquet
of roses on the table. touching them
daintily until they stood each flower
apart in careless splendor. Their per-
fume, the girls wistful dreamy blue
ohu al, a
a part of the warm sweet air OF the
June morning. Mrs. Lenoir watched
her lovingly.
Mama, I'm to put flowers In every
room. I'm sure they haven't such
lovely ones In Washington" said Mar
ion. eagC rly, as she skipped out.
The two women moved to the open
OF bees and the distant music of the
river falls.
"Marion's greatest charm" whispered
her mother, 'is In her way OF doing
things easily and gently without a
trace Of effort. Watch her bend over
10 get that rose. Did you ever see
anything like the grace and symmetry
OF her figure-she seems living flow
er!"
"Jeannle you're making an idol OF
why not? With all our troubles
and poverty, I'm rich in her! She's fif-
teen years old. her head teeming with
romance. You know l was married al
fifteen. There'll be a half-dozen boys
to see her tonight in our new home
all OF them head over heels In love
with her"
"Oh. Jeannie you must not be so Sill
lyl We should worship God only"
Isn't she Gods message to me, and
to the world?"
But If anything should happen to
her"
The young mother laughed Il never
think Of It, Some things are fixed
Her happiness and beauty are 10 me
the sign of Gods presence"
We'll, I'm glad you're coming to live
with us In the heart of town. This
place Is a cosey nest, just such one
as a poet-lover would build here In the
edge of these deep woods, but it is toe
far out for you to be alone. Dr. Cam
eron has been worrying about you ever
since he came home"
"Pm not afraid of the negroes.
don't know one of them who wouldnh
go out of his way to do me favor
old Aleck Is the only rascal / know
among them, and he's too busy witt
politics now even to steal chicken.
And Gus. the young scamp we useC
to own: you haven't forgotten him
He is DdCk mere, lllSlllDSl VI NllC NN''i
pany of negro troops, and parades be.
fore the house every day to show OF
his uniform. DR. Cameron told hin
Yesterday he'd thrash him II he caugh
him hanging around the place again
He frightened Margaret nearly to deatf
when she went to the barn to feed he
horse"
I've never known the meaning o
fear. We used to roam the woods ant
fields together all hours OF the da!
and night, my lover. Marion and
This panic seems absurd to me-"
We'll, I'll be glad to get you twC
children under my wing. l was afrait
I'd find you in tears over moving IRON
your nest"
mo. where Marion is, I'm at nome
and I'll feel I've mother when l ge
with you"
win you come to the hotel before
they arrive"
mo: I'll welcome and tell them how
glad am they have brought me gooC
luck"
"Tm delighted, JEANNE. wished yol