Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-28

1t was then that Frs snton had his
first difference with h aeher.
''The whole outraa SIR" said he,
us the direct result our partners
efforts. l hold Geor; McT<innon re-
sponsible for every irtune that
has befallen the Ladi this town,
and the only reason thrash him
as 1 did that blackgl freshman is
that he is your partns
1t had startled and angered the
elder man, so loyal devoted had
his son ever been in Il asst. Well he
knew that, though letters had
passed in April betw "A Paul Lacuc
and persons in Alaban it was impos-
sible to prove that ] was planning
to join tie 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 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 McKinr on referred to
when he dared to sugs st that it was
the postmaster's duty to open them
and learn their conten Not yet had
the north reached thep int of violating
the sanctity OF persona. mail.
$50 far from its being McKinnon's
fault" the elder Benton answered. as
soon as he could control his voice, IT
hold your friend Paul solely RESPONSE
BILE. McKinnon is an intensely loyal
man, and he and 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, IL you hope for
commission, to hold aloof from so dan
gerous an association
Fred would not hold aloof. For three
days he was constantly ut the Ladues,
comforting Paul as best he could, and
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 vision
in white seated close to PauPs reclin-
ing chair, and COMPOUNDED and troubled
to find that it was Elinor. Bravely she
had risen and faced him:
"It seems that it is not enough that
Paul should be forbidden our house."
said she, with strangely calm and con-
trolled manner, but this afternoon
father babe me pack my trunk and be
dy ~ t. Arm raj f<,-r nr-
row. / have obeyed and tonight
/ shall tell him that ie here to bid
Paul good-by" Thei bowed head
she hurried away.
what was the mise, Paul?"
asked Benton after moment of ST.
lence.
Il told Elinor ar red.
bat
manded my going back to the land Of
my birth-it is ended. II 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 McKinnonl"
And so perhaps it might have been
haQ IL OCCOA1O hhOWA " nll1 anu u
the public that evening before he had
finished his imprisoned speech and
had exhibited certain letter, but even
as they sat there, hand In hand. the
| sound of cheering grew fierce and fire.
| quent On the broad verarda 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 20 the west, down in the val
ley of the river, 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. 81
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, and
finally hating nearly two blocks away
in front of the little homestead of tn,
LadueS.
Just then the squire appeared
springing from hack that had driver
swiftly on the trail of the crowd, ant
started at sight of his son, standin,
there like sentry at the gate.
Somebody was haranguing the crowd
now completely filing the street from
block to block only 400 yards away
while men and boys, jabbering excited
ly, were still hurrying by the Benton
to join the throng.
A mighty bass was uplifted over tn
clamor and beloved on the night:
They tarred and feathered and rod
our teachers on a rail for no caus
whatever. 1 move, by Godl that be
fore we let Paul Ladue wear q rebe
coat we give him one. Of tar an
feathers. I know where to find him"
1t was the riff raft of the city tina
made up the bulk of the crowd-th