The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-07
a prrce Tor Tae head OF the unforfunafe
Dantan, now a fugitive in the hills
along the Graustark frontier.
CHAPTER II.
eopnlqst. 1904. by Dodd.
Mead and Company

CHAPTER II.
q rsAJOR GEORGE CALHOUN was
kNAI member Of congress from one
III 4 Of the southern states. His
forefathers had represented the
same commonwealth, and SO, it was
likely, would his descendants, if there
is virtue in the fitness Of things and
the heredity Of love. While intrepid
frontiersmen were opening the trails
through the fertile wilds west Of the
Alleghanies a strong branch Of the Cal
houn family followed close in their
footsteps. The majors great-grand-
father saw the glories and the posi-
bilities Of the new territory. He struck
boldly forward from the old Revolu-
tionary grounds, abandoning the luxu-
ries and traditions Of the Caroi:nas for
a fresh, wild life Of promise. Els sons
and daughters became solid stones in
the foundation Of a commonwealth.
and his grandchildren are still at work
on the structure. State and national
legislatures had known the Calhouns
from the beginning. Battlefelds had
tested their valor, and drawing rooms
had proved their gentility.
Major Calhoun had fought with
Stonewall Jackson and won his spurs,
and at the same time the heart ana
hand of Betty Haswell, the sttanchest
Confederate who ever made flags,
bandages and prayers for the boys in
gray. When the reconstruction came
he went to congress, and later on be-
came prominent in the United States
consular service, for years holding an
important European post. Congress
claimed him once more in the early
nineties, and there he is at this very
time.
Everybody in Washingten's social
and diplomatic circles admired the
beautiful Beverly Calhoun. According
to his own loving term Of identifca-
ton, she was the majors youngest"
The fair southerner had seen two sea-
sons in the nations capital. Cupid,
standing directly in front Of her, had
shot his darts ruthlessly and resist
Iessly into the passing hosts, and mas
culine Washington looked humbly to
her for the balm that might soothe it's
pains. The willy god Of love was fair
enough to protect the girl whom he
forced to be his unwilling, perhaps un-
conscious, ally. He held his impene-
trable shield between her heart and
the. assaults Of a whole army Of suit
ors, high and low, great and small. It
was not idle rumor that said she had
declined coronet or two, that the
millions of more than one American
Midas had been offered to her and that
she had dealt gently but firmly with
score of hearts which had nothing but
love, ambition and poverty to support
them in the conflict.
The Calhouns lived in a handsome
home not far from the residence Of Mr..
and Mrs. Grenfau Lorry. 1t seemed
but natural that the two beautiful
young women should become constant
and loyal friends. Women as lovely
as they have no reason to be jealous.
It is only the woman who does not feel
secure Of her personal charms that
cultivates envy. at the home Of Grau-
stark's princess Beverly met the dukes
and barons from the far east. It was
in the warmth Of the Calhoun hospital
ity that Yetive formed her dearest love
for the American people.
Miss Beverly was neither tall nor
short. She was Of that divine and in
definite height known as medium; slen-
der, but perfectly nodded; strong, but
graceful-an absolutely healthy young
person, whose beauty knew well how
to take care Of itself. Being quite
heart whole md fancy free, she slept
we'll, ate we'll and enjoyed every min
ute Of life In her blood ran the warm.
eager impulses Of the south; hereditary
love Of ease and luxury displayed itself
in every emotion; the perfectly normal
demand upon mems admiration was as
characteristic in her as it is in any
,Ja,1ohter Of fho land whose women