Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-10-06

crabs from the massa."
But they are not free. They are
atoms in heaps of dust. They have
no rights-nU liberties"
Sheila was agitated, but she showed
no excitement. She seemed, save for
her dark searching eyes, like one who
had gone through experience which
had disciplined her to control. Only
her hands were demonstrative-yet
quietly so. Any one watching her
closely would have seen that her hands
were sensitive, expressed even more
markedly than her eyes or lips what
were her feelings. Her tragedy had
altered her in one sense. She was
paler and thinner than ever she had
been, but there was enough of her,
and that delicately made, which gave
the governor thrill of desire to make
her his own for the rest Of his life
or hers. He had also gone through
much since they had last met, and he
had seen his own position In the bal
ance-uncertain, troubled, insecure.
He realized that he had lost reputa-
tion, which had scarcely been regained
by his consent to the use of the hounds
and giving Dyck Calhoun free hand,
us temporary head Of the militia. He
could not put him over the regular
troops, but as the general command
ing was, in effect, the slave of Dyck
Calhoun, there was no need for anxi-
ETY..
Dyck Calhoun had smashed the
rebellion, had quieted the island, had
risen above all the dark disturbances
OF revolt like master. He had estab-
Ished barracks and forts at many
points in the island, and had stationed
troops in them; he had cowed and sub
dued MarooNs and slaves by the
hounds. Yet he had punished only the
chief of those who had been in actual
rebellion, and had repressed the 'vio-
lent punishmepts Of the earlier part
of the conflict.
Dyck had built up for himself rep
utation as no one in all the history
of the island had been able to do. He
commanded by more than official AL
thOrity-by personality and achieve
ment. There was no one in the island
but knew they had been saved by his
prudence, foresight and skill. 1t was
to their minds stupendous and roman
tic. Fortunately they showed no
strong feeling against Lord Mallow.
BY placing Kings house at disposal
as a hospital, and by gifts of food and
money to wives and children of SOL
diers and civilians, the governor had
little eradicated his record Of neg
lect.
Lord Mallow had way with him
when he chose to use it. He was not
without the gift for popularity, and
he saw now that he could best attain
1t by treating Dyck Calhoun well. He
saw troops come and go; he listened
to grievances; he corrected abuses |;
he devised q scheme for nursing; he
planned security for the future; he
gave permission for buccaneer trading
with the United States; he had by leg
iSlative order given the Creoles q bet
ter place in the civic organism. He
was not blind to the fact that he might
By discreet courses impress favorably
his visitor. All he did was affected
by that thought. He could not but
think that Sheila would judge Of him
by what he did as much as by what
he said.
He looked at her now with interest
and longing. He loved to hear her
talk, and she had information which
was no doubt truer than most he re-
ceived-was closer to the brine, as it
were
"What more can you tell ME of Mr..
Calhoun and his doings?" he asked
presently. "He is lucky in having so
perfect a narrator Of his histories
yet so unexpected a narrator"
A flush stole slowly up Sheila's face,
and gave a glow even to the roots of
her hair. She could not endure these
references to the dark gulf between
her and Dyck Calhoun.
my lord" she said sharply, ut is
not meet that you should say such
things. Mr.. Calhoun was jailed for
killing my father-let it be at that.
The last time you saw me you offered
me your hand and heart. Well, do
you know / had almost made up my
mind to accept your hand, then the
news of this trouble was brought to
you and you left us-to ourselves and
our dangers
The governor started. "You. are as
unfriendly as 'terral garamighty' ;
you make me draw my breath thick
as the blackamoors, as they say.
did what / thought best in the circum-
stances" he said. 81 did not think
you would be in any danger. l had
not heard of the Maroons being so far
south as Salem"
"Yet it is the man who foreSees
chances that succeeds, rs you should
know by now, your honor. l was
greatly touched by the offer you made
me-indeed yes" she added, seeing the
rapt, eager look in his face. II had
been told what had upset me, that
Dyck Calhoun was guilty Of killing my
father, and all the world seemed dread
full Yes, in the reaction, it was al
most on my tongue to say yes to you,
for you are a good talker, you had
skill in much that you did, and with