Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-09
CHAPTER I.
The Makers Of Maps.

waved ike ugnCln8 crest as ne
made answer:
Not the sort of hope you ask" A
moment later he added: John, l am
ashamed of you"
The cynical smile of the man
called my chief still remained upon
bis lips, the same drawn look of suf
1ering still remained upon his gaunt
features; but in his blue eye l saw a
CLINT which proved that the answer OF
bis old friend had struck out some
unused spark of vitality from the
deep, cold flint of his heart.
II never knew you for coward,
Calhoun" went on DR.. Ward; nor
any of your family. l give you now
the benefit of my personal acquain-
lance with this generation of the Cal
houns. l ask something more of you
than faint-heartedness.
The keen eyes turned upon him
Hgajn with the old flame of flint which
n generation had known-a genera
tson, for the most part, Of enemies.
did not Saul fall upon his own
HWoHo' oohCu JOuH SdluOuu. I1dNc
/ not devoted leaders from the start of
. the world till now sometimes rid the
scene of the responsible figures in
lost fights, the men on whom blame
rested for failures?'
"Cowards!" rejoined DR.. Ward.
'Cowards, every one of them! Were
there not other swords upon which
they might have fallen-those of their
snemies?"
1T is not my own hand-my own
sword. SAM" said Calhoun Not that
You know as well as l that l am
already marked and doomed, even as
sit at my table tonight. A walk of
A wet night here in Washington-a
Lurn along the Heights out there when
The winter wind is keen-yes, Sam,
zee my grave before me, close enough;
nut how can | rest easy in that grave?
Man. we have not yet dreamed how
great country this may be. We
must have Texas. We must have also
Oregon We must have"
Free?" The old doctor shrugged
his shoulders and smiled at the arch
pro-ssavery exponent.
Then, since you mention it. yes!"
retorted Calhoun fretfully. But
shall not go into the old argument of
those who say that black is white,
tsat south is north. 1t is only for my
own race that I plan wider America.
But then" Calhoun raised a long,
thin hand. why" he went on slow
ily, 81 have just told you that | have
failed. And yet you, my old friend,
whom l ought to trust, condemn me
% live on"
Yes" he said. at length, Il condemn
YOU to fight on, john" and he smiled
grimly.
Why, look at you, mani he broke
Jul Hereby, after a moment. "The
Type and picture of combat! Good
bone. fine bone and hard; a hard head
and bony; little eye, set deep; strong,
wiry muscles, not too big-fighting
muscles, not dough- clean limbs;
strong fingers; good arms, legs, neck;
wide chest"
Then you give me hope?" Calhoun
dashed a smile at him.
mo, sir! If you do your duty, there
is no hope for you to live. If you do
not do your duty, there is no hope for
you to die, John Calhoun, for more
Than two years to come-perhaps five
years-six. Keep up this work-as
you must, my friend-and you die as
surely as though l shot you through
as you sit there. Now, is this any
comfort to you?"
A gray pallor overspread my mas
ter's face. That truth is welcome to
no man, morbid or sane, sound or ill;
but brave men meet it as this one did. !
Time to do much!" he murmured |
To himself. Time to mend many
broken vessels, in those two years.
One more fight-yes, let us have it,"
But Calhoun the man was lost once
more in Calhoun the visionary, the |
fanatic statesman. He summed up, as
though to himself something of the |
Situation which then existed at Wash
ington.
Yes, the coast is clearer, now that |
webster is out OF the cabinet, but Mr.. |
Upshur's death last month brings in
new complications. Had he remained
our secretary Of state, much might !
have been done. 1t was only last Oc-
tober he proposed to Texas treaty
Of annexation"
Yes, and found Texas none so
frowned DR.. Ward.
mo; and why not? You and l know
we'll enough. Sir Richard Pakenham,
the English plenipotentiary here, could
tell If he liked. England is busy in
Texas. Texas owes large funds to
England. England want Texas as
There is fire under this smoke
talk Of Texas dividing into two gov
ernments, one, at least, under Eng
lands gentle and unselfish care!
And now look you," Calhoun con
Afuued, rising, and pacing up and
Down, look what is the evidence.
Van zaG1t. charge d'affaires in Wash.