Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-04-28
CHAPTER I.
The Makers Of Maps.

"o'Ou A4hC a uSHIiuS ClSSk dS uS
made answer:
mot the sort of hope you ASK" A
moment later he added John, l am
ashamed of you
The cynical smile of the man l
called my chief still remained upon
his lips, the same drawn look of suf-
fering still remained upon his gaunt
features; but in his blue eye | saw
CLINT which proved that the answer of
his old friend had struck out some
unused spark of vitality from the
deep, cold flint of his heart.
Il never knew you for a 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
nouns. | ask something more of you
than faint-heartedness."
The keen eyes turned upon him
again with the old flame of flint which
generation had known-a genera
ton, for the most part, of enemies.
Did not Saul fall upon his own
sword?" asked John Calhoun. Have
not devoted leaders from the start of
the world till now sometimes rid the
scene of the responsible figures in
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
enemies 2"
1T is not my own hand-my own
sword. Sam" said Calhoun. Not that. |
You know as we'll as | that I am
already marked and doomed, even as
| sit at my table tonight A walk of
wet night here in Washington-a
turn along the Heights out there when
the winter wind is keen-yes, Sam, /
see my grave before me, close enough
but how can | rest easy in that grave?
Man, we have not yet dreamed how
great a 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
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,
that south is north. 1t is only for my
own race that plan wider America |
But then" Calhoun raised long,
thin hand. "Why,' he went on slow
ly, Il have just told you that l have
failed. And yet you, my old friend, |
whom I ought to trust, condemn me
to 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
out tiercely, 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-fghting
muscles, not dough- clean limbs; |
strong fingers; good arms, legs, neck;
wide chest"
Then you give me hope?' Calhoun
flashed 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
ters face. That truth is welcome to
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 lis 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 a treaty
OF annexation"
Yes, and found Texas none so
eager" frowned DR.. Ward
NO; and why not? You and | know
we'll enough Sir Richard P9l<onham |
the English plenipotentiary here, could
tell if he liked. England is busy in
Texas Texas owes large funds to
England. England want Texas as a
colony. There is fire under this smoke
talk of Texas dividing into two gov
ernments, enc, at least, under Eng
lands gentle end unselfsh care,
And now, look you" Calhoun con-
tinued, rising, and pacing up ard
down. 'lCok what is the evidence.
Van Zandt. charge d'affaires in Wash