The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-02-02
farther END Of me room ana mvtiosea

farther end Of me room ana mvicseA
Nathaniel to a seat opposite him.
I'VE are a much prosecuted people,
Captain Plum, very much persecuted
indeed" His wonderful voice trem
bled with a subdued pathos. I'VE
have answered for many sins that
have never been ours, Captain Plum.
and among them are robbery. piracy
and even murder. The people along
the coasts are deadly enemies to us
who would be their friends: they
commit crimes In our name and we do
not retaliate. II was not my people
who waylaid your vessel. They were
fishermen. probably. who came from
the Michigan shore and awaited their
opportunity OF Beaver island. but
shall investigate this; believe me, I
shall investigate this fully. Captain
Pluml"
Nathaniel felt something like a
great choking fist shoot up into his
throat. IL was not a sensation of fear
but OF humiliation-the humiliation of
defeat. the knowledge of his own
weakness In the hands Of this man
who had SO quickly and SO surely
blocked his claim. His quick brain
saw the futility Of argument He
possessed no absolute proof and he
had thought that he needed none
Strang saw the flash of doubt In his
face. the hesitancy In his answer: he
OWNED the working of the others
brain and In his soft voice. purring
with friendship. he followed up his
triumph.
Il sympathize with you." he spoke
gently. and my sympathy and word
shall help you. We do not welcome
strangers among US. for strangers
have usually proved themselves our
enemies and have done us wrong But
to you / give the freedom Of our
kingdom. Search where you will. at
what hours you will. and when you
have found a single proof that your
stolen property is among my people
when you have seen a face that you
recognize as one OF the robbers. re-
turn to me and shall make restitu
ton and punish the evil-doers."
So intensely he spoke, SO filled with
reason and truth were his words, that
Nathaniel thrust out his hand in token
of acceptance Of the kings terms
And as Strang gripped that hand Cap
tain Plum saw the young girls face
over the prophets shoulder face
white as death In its terror, that told
him all he had heard was a lie.
And when you have done with my
people," continued the king. you will
go among that other race. along the
mainland, where men have thrown on
the restraints Of society to give loose
reign to lust and avarice; where the
Indian is brutified that his wife may
be intoxicated by compulsion and
prostituted by violence before his
eyes; where the forest cabins and the
streets of towns are filed with half
breeds; where there stalk wretctes
with withered and fearless eyes. who
are in nowise troubled by recollection
of robbery. rape and murder. And
there you will find whom you are look
ing for!"
Strang had risen to his feet HI,
eyes blazed with the fire of smoth'
cred hatred and passion and his greai
voice rolled through his beard trem
ulous with excitement. but still desI
and rich, like the booming Of soms
melodious instrument. He flung aside
his hat as he paced back and forthi
his shaggy hair fell upon his shoui
ders; huge veins stood out upon hii
forehead-and Nathaniel sat mute a
he watched this lion Of a man whose
great throat quivered with the power
that might have stirred a nation-that
might have made him president in
stead of king. He waited for the
thunder OF that throat and his nerves
keyed themselves to meet It's bursting
passion. But when Strang spoke again
II was In a voice as soft and as gentle
as a woman's.
Those are the men who have Wiz
Ned us, Captain Plum; who have Gov
cred US With crimes that We have
never committed; who have drives
our people into groups that they may
be free from depreciation; who watch
like vultures to despoil our womeni
wild wifeless men, Captain Plum. whs
have left families and character be
hind them and who have sought the
wilderness to escape the penalties a
law and order. II 10 they who would
destroy u.s. Go among my own people
first, Captain Plum, and find yuur lost
property II you can: and II you car
not discover It where In seven years
not one child has been born out oi
vedlock. seek among the Lamanites-s
and my sheriffs shall follow where yus
place the crime!"
He had stretched out his arms like
one whose plea was Of life and deathi
his face shone with earnestness: hii
low words throbbed as II his heart
we're borne upon them for the inspeo
ton Of its truth and honor. lie WA
Strang the tragedian. the orator. the
conqueror OF a legislature. governor
dozen juries--and of human souls
And as he stood silent for a momeui
in this attitude Nathaniel rose to biz