Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-24
Beverly of
.6rduStdrk
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHfON,
b: pa: q: Il: 5:
Author of "Gr.us.ark"
ss
Copyright. 1904. BY Dodd.
Mead and Company

frontiersmen were opening the trails
through the fertile wilds west of the
Alleghanies IL strong branch of the Cal
houn family followed close in their
footsteps. The majors great-grand-
father saw the glories and the possf-
bilities of the new territory. He struck
boldly forward from the old Revolu-
ttonary grounds, abandoning the luXu-
ries and traditions of the Carolinas for
fresh, wild life of promise. His sons
and daughters became solid stones in
the foundation of 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 and
hand Of Betty Haswell the stanchest
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 Washington's social
and diplomatic circles admired the
beautiful Beverly Calhoun. According
to his own loving term of Identified
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
lessly 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 I'M
conscious ally. He held his impene-
trable shield between her heart and
the assaults of u whole army of suit
ors, high and low, great and small 1t
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 a
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. Grenfall 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. 1t 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 and fancy free, she slept
we'll ate well 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
daughter Of the land whose women
are born to expect chivalry and hon.
age.
A couple Of years in New York
finishing school" for young ladies had
served greatly to modify Miss Cal
houn's colloquial charms. Many Of her
delightful "way down south" phrases
and mannerisms We're blighted by the
cold, unromantic atmosphere of a SEM
mary conducted by two ladies from
Boston who were too old to marry, too
penurious to love and too prim to think
that other women might care to do
both. There were times, however-if
she We're excited or enthusiastic-when
pretty Beverly so far forgot her train
ing as to break forth with a very at
tractive "yo' all" "suah 'nough" or Ego
long naow." And when the bands
played "DiXie" she was not afraid to
stand up and wave her handkerchief
The northerner who happened to be
with her on such occasions usually
found himself doing likewise before he
could escape the infection.
Miss Calhoun's face was one that
painters coveted deep down in their
artistic souls. 1t never knew dali in.
slant; there was expression in every
lineament, in every look; life, genuine
life, dwelt in the mobile countenance
that turned the head of every man and
woman who looked upon it. Her hair
was dark brown and abundant; her
eyes We're q deep gray and looked
eagerly from between long lashes Of
black; her lips were red and ever
willing to smile or turn plaintive as oc-
casion required; her brow was broad
and fair, and her frown was as danger
GUS as smile.
As to her age, If the major admitted,
somewhat indiscreetly, that all his chill
dren were old enough to vote, her
mother, with the reluctance born in
women, confessed that she was past
twenty, so year or two either way
will determine Miss Beverly's age so
Tar as the telling of this story is con.
cerned. Her eldest brother, Keith Cal.