Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-05-18
Copyright, 1909, By G. W. Dillingham; %.
CHAPTER II.--CoSrISuEp.

his son ever been in the past. Well he
knew that, though some letters had
passed in April between Paul Ladue
and persons in Alabama, it was impos-
sible to prove that he was planning
to join the southern army, much less
that he was furnishing information, or
laid and comfort to the enemy" Since
the first of May the worst that could be
said of him was that he had sent three
letters to a certain address in st. Louis,
and that three missives had come to
him bearing the st. Louis postmark.
Everybody knew that st. Louis was in
tested with southern sympathizers who
had means of communication with
friends beyond the line, and it was
these letters McKinnon referred to
when he dared to suggest that it was
the postmaster's duty to open them
and learn their contents. Not yet had
the north reached the point of violating
the sanctity Of personal mail.
$50 far from its being McKinnon's
fault the elder Benton answered, as
soon as he could control his voice, Il
hold your friend Paul solely response
BILE. McKinnon is an intensely loyal
man, and he and l both are indignant
that any man should be living here in
our midst and holding reasonable cor
respondence with the enemy. You
will do well, sir, if you hope for a
commission, to hold aloof from SO dan
gerous an association"
Fred would not hold aloof. For three
days he was constantly at the Ladues,
comforting Paul as best he could, ana
on this evening of the third day, after
ruefully, enviously bidding adieu to
many a friend who had marched away
with the Second, he had cut loose from
the crowd and returned to his labor
of love. Entering the shaded gateway
he had been surprised to see a vision
in white seated close to Pauls reclin-
ing chair, and COMPOUNDED and troubled
to find that it was Elinor. Bravely she
had risen and faced him:
TT seems that it is not enough that
Paul should be forbidden u house"
said she, with strangely calm and con-
trolled manner, "but this afternoon
father babe me pack my trunk and be
ready to go to Aunt Margaret to-mor-
row. l have obeyed him, and tonight
] shall tell him that anne here to bid
Paul good-by." Then with bowed head
she hurried away.
"What was the promise, Paul?'
asked Benton after a moment OF 81
lence.
II told Elinor and | tell you, Fred,
that if l had any idea that duty de-
manded my going back to the land Of
my birth-it is ended. If people will
only let me stay in peace-my place is
here
Good God, Paul" was the almost
exultant answer. What a load you've
lifted from my mind! What a facer
this will be to McKinnon!"
And so perhaps it might have been
had it become known to him and to
the public that evening before he had
finished his impassioled speech and
had exhibited a certain letter, but even
as they sat there, hand in hand, the
sound of cheering grew fierce and fire.
uuent. On the broad veranda sat Eli
nor looking at the dim light UP the
street where dwelt the Ladues, and lis
tening to the cheering that told unerr-
ingly the stirring effect of the speakers
words.
Away to the west, down in the val
ley of the river, a confused murmur
rose upon the night. Then to her
amaze came Fred to the front gate,
half lifting, half leading a slim-built,
reluctant youth whose voice she knew
on the instant. you must, Paul." she
heard Fred saying, low and stern. II
can't lick a thousand fellow citizens.
The only thing is to get you in some
safe harbor until this blows over"
Opening the cellar door, he plunged
his unwilling prisoner into the dark
depths and bounded back to the front
gate just in time to see a throng Of
men sweeping silently up the wide
thoroughfare, passing him by with
hardly a CLEAN of recognition, aud
finally hating nearly two blocks away
in front Of the little homestead of the
Ladues.
Just then the squire appeared,
springing from a hack that had driven
swiftly on the trail of the crowd, and
started at sight of his son, standing
there like sentry at the gate.
Somebody was haranguing the crowd,
now completely filling the street from
block to block only 400 yards away,
while men and boys, jabbering excited
ly, were still hurrying by the Bentons
to join the throng.
A mighty bass was uplifted owe the
clamor and beloved on the night:
They tarred and feathered and rode
our teachers on a rail for no cause
whatever. move, by Godt that be-
fore we let Paul Ladue wear a rebel
coat we give him one of tar and
feathers. l know where to find him."
1t was the riff raft Of the city that
made up the bulk of the %crowd-the
idler, the loafer, the saloon hanger
on, the same class precisely that siA
weeks before had mobbed the men Of
Massachusetts in the streets of Balti,
more. or the thousand shouting and
swaying there in the dim light of the
city lamps probably not so men were
respectable citizens, and, all too late
George McKinnon began to realize that
he was now powerless to quencb the
train hic vehament o~ratorv had frod
my God" cried Mr.. Benton. They
are coming here!"
Running toward them along the
sidewalk, ~distancing the crowd, pals
now and trembling, came McKinnon
"Quick!" he cried. Let me take Miss