produced from scans of public domain material produced by microsoft for their live search books site.) the k. k. k. [illustration: the consecrating bowl.] exposed! by a member. the oaths, signs, ceremonies and objects of the ku-klux-klan. a full exposÉ. by a late member. with illustrations. cleveland. . entered according to act of congress, in the year , in the clerk's office of the district court of the united states for the northern district of ohio. personal. it does not matter who is the writer of the following pages. if it did, no inducement likely to be offered, would tempt him to publish his name. he has no desire to be tracked out by the brothers of the southern cross, and he knows too much of their deathless hatred and hound-like pertinacity, their numbers, and the ramifications of their organization, already encroaching on southern ohio, indiana and illinois, to carelessly take the slightest risk of anything of the kind. it is due to the public, however, that one who pretends to make an exposure like this, in which the whole nation is interested, should offer some plausible explanation of the means by which he became possessed of the information. for this explanation the reader is referred to the narrative following. as to the truthfulness of the exposure, the writer is content to leave its vindication to the events of the future, confident that so far as the workings of the k. k. k. are ever discovered, they will confirm the main facts as given here. of course there are many minor points on which it is not likely there will ever be more positive testimony than that here given. this must be so from the nature of the case, as will plainly appear in the following pages. my initiation. after the war, which had not benefited my purse extravagantly, i wandered off into the interior of georgia, and finally engaged in business in one of the interior counties. i knew the southern people pretty well before the war, had been much among them, and was familiar with their habits, prejudices, etc. for my own convenience and safety, when i went into business i passed as a kentuckian, and thereby avoided many personal and business annoyances. at first this was not particularly disagreeable, as no very decided opinions were expected while the country was still thoroughly under the national armies. gradually, however, it became worse and worse, until at length, to keep up my pretensions, and save my business, i was compelled to profess the most ultra southern views and prejudices. i thought that there would never be further active opposition to the national authority, and so submitted to the situation, rather than lose what little i had by leaving it. to sell it for anything worth taking, was simply impossible in the state of the country. so much for the way i came to know what is about to be told. in the summer of , one of my neighbors called one morning, and said that an important meeting was to come off that night, at a house about three miles from our town. every good southerner, he said, was interested, and he wanted me to go. of course i had heard of organizations throughout the south, and knew from the manner of this man's talk, that something of the kind was in the wind now. i knew, too, that it would not do to disregard the appeal to "every good southerner," and so i went with him. the meeting was not at any house, however. half a mile from the house he had named, my escort turned his horse into a bridle-path, leading up into a wild, hilly district, and i followed, of course. a mile or so on this path, away from any habitation, my companion suddenly slackened his horse's pace, and proceeded very cautiously, bidding me be silent. in a few minutes i distinctly heard the click of a musket lock, as the piece was brought to a full cock. it was too dark to see anything. my companion carried an enfield rifle, and instantly stopping his horse, he cocked his piece and pulled the trigger, almost without a pause. of course i was somewhat alarmed and astonished; but before i could do more than stop my horse, my escort dismounted, handed me his reins, and whispering that i was to remain there, walked slowly forward toward the spot where i had heard the first click of the gun-lock. in a moment or so he returned as quietly, and we proceeded as silently as before. as we passed the spot where i supposed a sentinel to be standing, there was no one there! whatever had been there had vanished, and as i turned to say something about it to my escort, i saw that he too had gone! it was another man riding by my side, his face covered partly by a handkerchief, drawn tightly across the nose. it was too dark in those woods to see much, but to the best of my knowledge i had never seen my new escort before. this operation was repeated twice within three quarters of a mile, and each time i was silently turned over to a new guard, whose face was partially covered, like that of the first. i was thoroughly alarmed, and more than half suspected that i had been tried and condemned beforehand, and was now being led away to be murdered. there was nothing to be done but to go on, for i was completely lost in the woods, and knew nothing of how soon i might stumble on a dozen enemies, if i should attempt to escape. finally my guard halted in a dense thicket, and told me in a low tone to dismount and hitch my horse, while he did the same. then he once more cocked his piece, and at the sound at least a score of gun-locks, in the hands of men all round us, but concealed in the darkness, were cocked and the triggers pulled, as i have described in the case of meeting the first sentinel. it was still as death when we halted, but i now heard horses which were hitched about us, so that i knew the whole party came there mounted. they began to come around us too, moving slowly, and as silently as possible, each man having his gun, and a handkerchief or something of the kind over his face. the man who brought me there spoke to several of the dimly-seen figures, but so low i could not hear. then one stepped toward me, leaving the others standing in a circle about us. this was the captain of the band, and he at once proceeded to my initiation, not a word being spoken by any one but him, and the whole formula being of course repeated from memory, for the place was dark as night could make it. the following was the form, not half of which i could have remembered from hearing it at that time, but which has since become familiar by attendance at the initiations of others: captain.--(addressing me, the candidate for initiation.) "when a noble people are crushed by the servile minions of a tyrant, will they submit tamely and basely?" candidate.--"no." captain.--"when a noble cause is lost in the field, when its spotless banners are trailed in the dust by the base hordes of the oppressor, when appeal to the god of battles is no longer possible, should the friends of that cause fold their arms in abject submission?" candidate.--"no." captain.--"when the homes of a noble people are devastated by fire and pillage, when their women are violated by a brutal soldiery, should that people mete out the same to the destroyers?" candidate.--"yes." captain.--"when a brave people are trampled in the dust by tyrants, what is their remedy?" [the whole band answer this by cocking their pieces and snapping the hammers, and the captain then interprets as follows:] "silence, darkness, and cold lead! do you agree?" candidate.--"yes!" captain.--"to be of us and not with us, is treason, and the reward of treason is death! every southron belongs to us, by birth, by education, by the love of liberty inhaled with the balmy breezes of the sunny south, by the hatred of the northern clans imbibed with his mother's milk, by the inherent detestation of hypocrisy and the myriad social and political abominations of the north! you are of us, you must be with us! the reward of treason is death! you are prepared to take the oath." [the captain here recites the following oath, the candidate repeating it after him:] "by all the loved memories of my native land, by all the hallowed associations of home and family, by the memory of friends and brothers slain, by the lurid flames of war and desolation spread over our happy homes by the lincoln hordes, i swear that by day-light and darkness, at all times and on all occasions, the steel shall pay the debt of steel, the lead shall recompense for lead, the southern cross shall yet defy the world!" the southern cross in the order has a double significance. it represents the dagger of the assassin as well as the cross. the captain then declares: "welcome the new brother of the southern cross!" and thereupon the band make the challenging sign of the order, by cocking and snapping their gun-locks. the captain then proposes the second oath, the candidate repeating it, as follows: "by southern homes despoiled and broken, by southern women outraged, by the lingering torments of northern prisons, by all the desolation brought on our people by famine, pestilence and sword, i swear that desolation shall answer desolation, pestilence shall pay for pestilence, until the southern crescent span the continent, and carry over the north the furies that have desolated the south." the captain then declares again: "welcome the new brother of the southern crescent!" and the band respond as before. then comes the third and final oath, as follows: "by all that is sacred, i swear to remember jackson, and johnston, and the thousands dead; the humiliation of davis, and lee, and bragg, and beauregard; the noble deeds of southrons on many a gory field; and by the memory of all these, i swear to be true to the lone star of the south, till these and all our woes are a thousand times avenged!" the captain again declares: "welcome the new brother of the lone star of the south!" and the band respond as before. the captain then spoke the following adjuration: "let the heavens be lit with the lurid flames of worse than fratricidal war! let the dagger, the bullet, the flames and the pestilence, smite every vulnerable point! let the desolation of death reign in the northern homes enriched by plunder of the south! let the audacious minions of the tyrants in our country be met in silence and darkness, struck down by a power they see not! remember the oath! the crescent is broad enough to include all the enemies of the south! the lone star shines brightest in the darkness! the dagger is the emblem of the silent work! remember the oath! bring the consecrating bowl." the last sentence was responded to by one of the band, and something like a bowl was put into my hands. "dip your finger in the consecrating drink!" said the captain. i did as directed, and the captain then continued: "now drink it to the dregs, to the enemies of the south!" i raised the bowl to my lips, and drank its contents. it was like nothing i had ever tasted before. it was sickening, yet i could not tell what it was! instantly the band closed around us, standing two or three deep, and the captain struck a match. holding the little blazing stick to the hand i had dipped in the bowl, he bid me look. the finger was stained as with blood! he then bid me look at the bowl. it was a human skull! [illustration: the consecrating bowl.] making a new company. some weeks after my initiation, i was detailed with an older brother, to attend to the formation of a new company in a neighboring county. as usual, the source of the order was unknown, except that it came from the captain of our band. the order and detail were announced by our captain, no comment made, and myself and comrade in the duty started next night, in obedience to the order, for the location of the new company, in the adjoining county. he knew the mode of procedure in these cases, and i left the direction of all to him. we reached the place in the morning, and did nothing during the day. at night, by his direction, i notified a well known citizen, in much the same manner i had been notified myself before initiation, and we started after dark, out of the town. my comrade, with another citizen, was with me. reaching a lonely spot in the country, we turned our horses off the road into a wild tract, and being far from all habitations, at length stopped in the woods. here we separated, i taking my man, and my comrade his, and going perhaps a quarter of a mile apart. we were both armed with enfield rifles. the two men to be initiated on this occasion brought no arms with them. had they done so they would have been required to lay them aside before the initiation commenced. the mode of initiation of these men, who were to form the nucleus of a new company, was substantially that already narrated, as experienced by myself, except, of course, that there was no attendant band, and the final ceremony of the consecrating drink was deferred till half a dozen others had been initiated, when it was administered to all at the same time. the instructions in the formation of a new band or company, are to select two prominent citizens at first, as we did in this case, and after they are initiated they are used to bring in others, until the band is strong enough to do its own business. a special instruction to the brothers detailed for the formation of a new band, is, that if the persons selected for initiation refuse any of the oaths, or falter in their devotion to the cause, they are to be killed on the spot. this is the reason why two brothers are always sent together, and take but two for initiation at first, and they are required to be unarmed while the oaths are proposed. at no time are two persons initiated at the same place, even when the band numbers fifty or a hundred. there is but one fate for any one who refuses the oaths. he is never seen again. the brothers of the southern cross visit on him the reward of traitors--death! [illustration: the sign of recognition.] the k. k. k. the order or society commonly known as the ku-klux-klan, has no such name among its members. that is an approximation in letters and sound to the challenging signal of the order. for instance, when a brother approaches the spot where a band is assembled, the sentinels, always concealed, challenge him by bringing their rifles to a full cock. that operation, as every one knows, produces two sounds or clicks, one when the hammer reaches the half cock, and the other when it comes to the full cock. these sounds or clicks are represented by "ku-klux." the "klan" is the sound of the hammer on the nipple of the piece when the trigger is pulled, and the hammer snapped. bringing the piece to full cock is the challenge, and the answer is given by the challenged party full-cocking his piece, and instantly pulling the trigger, snapping the hammer. the society really has no name! it is never spoken of by its members, among themselves, as the ku-klux-klan, or by any other name. the three emblems, the cross, the crescent, and the lone star, are used in the oaths of initiation, and to bring the companies together; but they do not, either singly or together, give the order any name recognised among its members as the proper distinctive designation of the association. the order has no written records. not a line will ever be found of the official records of the society, for it has none! no muster rolls can be produced, for there are none! no orders or communications are ever written, but on the contrary, every thing of the kind is strictly prohibited. the brothers work in silence and in darkness! there are no witnesses against them but human witnesses, who are always liable to their vengeance as traitors! no tell-tale paper-and-ink witness will ever appear against them by their own acts! at the meetings of the oldest companies, the brothers always appear with their faces partially covered. if the meeting is in a building of any kind, there is never a light to show the faces of those assembled; and if there be a fire, the brothers keep away from its light as much as possible. always, when practicable, the meetings are held in some wilderness, and no meeting is ventured upon for any general business, that requires the presence of more men than might accidentally meet, without the utmost precaution in the way of sentinels, etc. the organization includes fully officered companies, regiments and brigades. of course every brother knows the officers of his own company, but that is all he is supposed to know. the commander of the company knows where his orders come from, and that is all he is expected to know. the matter is never discussed, but every one understands that the officers are men who have seen service in the late war, and are qualified for their positions. when a new company is organized, its officers are appointed by the commander of the regiment to which it is to belong, and the order of appointment is transmitted through the captain of a neighboring company, who details men to organize the new one. the orders for my company i knew came from columbus, and that, of course, was the headquarters of the regiment to which i belonged. i never knew the name of our colonel, but he was an old brigade commander in longstreet's corps. <tb> [illustration: the southern cross.] mode of recognition when a brother desires to ascertain whether a stranger belongs regularly to the order, he must not pursue the inquiry in the presence of others. engaging the stranger in conversation, the brother finally says: "i reckon you're a true southerner?" if the stranger answers directly, "yes," the brother continues: "may be, then, you've been tested?" the word "tested" refers to the initiation of the order. if the stranger be also a brother, he replies: "i know what is the work of silence and darkness." the brother then with the right hand makes the sign of recognition, as given in the illustration, and the other responds by repeating the motion, and bringing the fore-finger and thumb together, the whole representing the hammer of a gun as it is cocked and snapped. the brothers are cautioned against the use of these signs without cause, and no one is allowed to seek out members by the above means, merely for the gratification of curiosity. the sign of the crescent is used for summoning meetings of the companies at irregular times, and when business of importance is to be attended to at once. in towns and hamlets this sign is made anywhere, so that it is likely to be seen on a fence, or sketched with a stick on a walk; and sometimes leaves torn in two, so that the halves resemble rude crescents, are dropped about where they will attract the attention of the brothers, while no one else will notice them. it must be understood that the companies never meet to discuss any proposition. that is done without a general meeting, which is only called when some initiation is to take place, or when some action requiring the whole or part of the band has been decided on. a general rallying cry is provided for cases of emergency, as, for instance, if a party of brothers were engaged in any expedition, and should encounter such resistance as to make aid necessary. the cry is: "the cross! the cross! the cross!" i never knew this cry to be used, but when the time comes for active and extended operations in cities, it will be. the work done. in the code of the brothers of the southern cross, every loyal southerner is a traitor, and every loyal northerner is a born enemy. the command is to "smite every vulnerable point," and enough is published every week to show that "vulnerable points" are found every day, when the brothers put an enemy out of the way. details are made from the companies when the death of any person has been decided on. the precise time for the act is never given with the order--the brothers wait the favorable moment for their work of silence and darkness. always enough men are detailed to cover all possible contingences of ordinary resistance. when once detailed for such service, a brother is never free until it is done, even if no opportunity occurs for months. every state in the south has its perfect organization of these brothers, and the order is yet in its infancy. members are at work in the northern border states, organizing among those who are southern born, or who are known to side with the south against the north. this is the principal point where the "lurid flames" are to be brought to the aid of the south, though the brothers have already been in every northern city of any prominence and accessibility. the "pestilence" will go broadcast over the whole north; how, may be readily imagined from the events of the late war. any favorable opportunity during the impeachment proceeding, or afterward, would see this slumbering volcano throughout the south burst forth with frightful violence. impeachment, or the coming presidential election, will, it is calculated, furnish an opportunity when the national power will be so embarrassed as to allow the new outbreak to get head before it can be met. let the people of the north be warned! the grand signal. there is a central organization of the order--a sort of executive council--composed of the commanders of districts, a district being usually a state. this executive body is called the grand council, and has no fixed place of meeting. it met once in nashville, and the last time, in march, at augusta, ga. two or three months ago there were but thirteen members of this council, there being then no greater number of districts. new districts, however, are being constantly added. the sole business of the council, so far, is to extend the organization, and watch for the grand crisis in national affairs, when the brothers need no longer work in secret, and in fear of their necks. the order will strike simultaneously in a thousand places when the day comes, and will leap into light, an army completely organized. the signal for the grand strike at every point, is the lone star. when that emblem appears throughout the south, placarded in cities and towns, published in newspapers, carried everywhere by mail and telegraph and courier, the time for the open triumph of the brothers will come within three days! then will "the heavens be lit with the lurid flames of worse than fratricidal war!" it will be the day of doom for loyalty in the south, and many a northern home will be put in mourning. such is the plan. [illustration: a brother on duty.] the clansman ------------------------------------------------------------------------- the illustrations shown in this edition are reproductions of scenes from the photo-play of "the birth of a nation" produced and copyrighted by the epoch producing corporation, to whom the publishers desire to express their thanks and appreciation for permission to use the pictures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [illustration: the reign of the klan] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- the clansman an historical romance of the ku klux klan by thomas dixon author of the leopard's spots, comrades, etc. illustrated with scenes from the photo-play the birth of a nation produced and copyrighted by epoch producing corporation grosset & dunlap publishers :: new york ------------------------------------------------------------------------- copyright, by thomas dixon, jr. the country life press, garden city, n. y. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to the memory of a scotch-irish leader of the south my uncle, colonel leroy mcafee grand titan of the invisible empire ku klux klan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to the reader "the clansman" is the second book of a series of historical novels planned on the race conflict. "the leopard's spots" was the statement in historical outline of the conditions from the enfranchisement of the negro to his disfranchisement. "the clansman" develops the true story of the "ku klux klan conspiracy," which overturned the reconstruction régime. the organization was governed by the grand wizard commander-in-chief, who lived at memphis, tennessee. the grand dragon commanded a state, the grand titan a congressional district, the grand giant a county, and the grand cyclops a township den. the twelve volumes of government reports on the famous klan refer chiefly to events which occurred after , the date of its dissolution. the chaos of blind passion that followed lincoln's assassination is inconceivable to-day. the revolution it produced in our government, and the bold attempt of thaddeus stevens to africanize ten great states of the american union, read now like tales from "the arabian nights." i have sought to preserve in this romance both the letter and the spirit of this remarkable period. the men who enact the drama of fierce revenge into which i have woven a double love story are historical figures. i have merely changed their names without taking a liberty with any essential historic fact. in the darkest hour of the life of the south, when her wounded people lay helpless amid rags and ashes under the beak and talon of the vulture, suddenly from the mists of the mountains appeared a white cloud the size of a man's hand. it grew until its mantle of mystery enfolded the stricken earth and sky. an "invisible empire" had risen from the field of death and challenged the visible to mortal combat. how the young south, led by the reincarnated souls of the clansmen of old scotland, went forth under this cover and against overwhelming odds, daring exile, imprisonment, and a felon's death, and saved the life of a people, forms one of the most dramatic chapters in the history of the aryan race. thomas dixon, jr. dixondale, va. december , . ------------------------------------------------------------------------- contents book i the assassination chapter page i. the bruised reed ii. the great heart iii. the man of war iv. a clash of giants iv. the battle of love vi. the assassination vii. the frenzy of a nation book ii the revolution chapter page i. the first lady of the land ii. sweethearts iii. the joy of living iv. hidden treasure v. across the chasm vi. the gauge of battle vii. a woman laughs viii. a dream ix. the king amuses himself x. tossed by the storm xi. the supreme test xii. triumph in defeat book iii the reign of terror chapter page i. a fallen slaveholder's mansion ii. the eyes of the jungle iii. augustus cæsar iv. at the point of the bayonet v. forty acres and a mule vi. a whisper in the crowd vii. by the light of a torch viii. the riot in the master's hall ix. at lover's leap x. a night hawk xi. the beat of a sparrow's wing xii. at the dawn of day book iv the ku klux klan chapter page i. the hunt for the animal ii. the fiery cross iii. the parting of the ways iv. the banner of the dragon v. the reign of the klan vi. the counter stroke vii. the snare of the fowler viii. a ride for a life ix. "vengeance is mine" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- leading characters of the story scene: washington and the foothills of the carolinas. time: to . ben cameron grand dragon of the ku klux klan margaret his sister mrs. cameron his mother dr. richard cameron his father hon. austin stoneman radical leader of congress phil his son elsie his daughter marion lenoir ben's first love mrs. lenoir her mother jake a faithful man silas lynch a negro missionary uncle aleck the member from ulster cindy his wife colonel howle a carpet-bagger augustus cæsar of the black guard charles sumner of massachusetts gen. benjamin f. butler of fort fisher andrew johnson the president u. s. grant the commanding general abraham lincoln the friend of the south ------------------------------------------------------------------------- the clansman ------------------------------------------------------------------------- book i--the assassination chapter i the bruised reed the fair girl who was playing a banjo and singing to the wounded soldiers suddenly stopped, and, turning to the surgeon, whispered: "what's that?" "it sounds like a mob----" with a common impulse they moved to the open window of the hospital and listened. on the soft spring air came the roar of excited thousands sweeping down the avenue from the capitol toward the white house. above all rang the cries of struggling newsboys screaming an "extra." one of them darted around the corner, his shrill voice quivering with excitement: "_extra! extra! peace! victory!_" windows were suddenly raised, women thrust their heads out, and others rushed into the street and crowded around the boy, struggling to get his papers. he threw them right and left and snatched the money--no one asked for change. without ceasing rose his cry: "_extra! peace! victory! lee has surrendered!_" at last the end had come. the great north, with its millions of sturdy people and their exhaustless resources, had greeted the first shot on sumter with contempt and incredulity. a few regiments went forward for a month's outing to settle the trouble. the thirteenth brooklyn marched gayly southward on a thirty days' jaunt, with pieces of rope conspicuously tied to their muskets with which to bring back each man a southern prisoner to be led in a noose through the streets on their early triumphant return! it would be unkind to tell what became of those ropes when they suddenly started back home ahead of the scheduled time from the first battle of bull run. people from the south, equally wise, marched gayly north, to whip five yankees each before breakfast, and encountered unforeseen difficulties. both sides had things to learn, and learned them in a school whose logic is final--a four years' course in the university of hell--the scream of eagles, the howl of wolves, the bay of tigers, the roar of lions--all locked in death's embrace, and each mad scene lit by the glare of volcanoes of savage passions! but the long agony was over. the city bells began to ring. the guns of the forts joined the chorus, and their deep steel throats roared until the earth trembled. just across the street a mother who was reading the fateful news turned and suddenly clasped a boy to her heart, crying for joy. the last draft of half a million had called for him. the capital of the nation was shaking off the long nightmare of horror and suspense. more than once the city had shivered at the mercy of those daring men in gray, and the reveille of their drums had startled even the president at his desk. again and again had the destiny of the republic hung on the turning of a hair, and in every crisis, luck, fate, god, had tipped the scale for the union. a procession of more than five hundred confederate deserters, who had crossed the lines in groups, swung into view, marching past the hospital, indifferent to the tumult. only a nominal guard flanked them as they shuffled along, tired, ragged, and dirty. the gray in their uniforms was now the colour of clay. some had on blue pantaloons, some, blue vests, others blue coats captured on the field of blood. some had pieces of carpet, and others old bags around their shoulders. they had been passing thus for weeks. nobody paid any attention to them. "one of the secrets of the surrender!" exclaimed doctor barnes. "mr. lincoln has been at the front for the past weeks with offers of peace and mercy, if they would lay down their arms. the great soul of the president, even the genius of lee could not resist. his smile began to melt those gray ranks as the sun is warming the earth to-day." "you are a great admirer of the president," said the girl, with a curious smile. "yes, miss elsie, and so are all who know him." she turned from the window without reply. a shadow crossed her face as she looked past the long rows of cots, on which rested the men in blue, until her eyes found one on which lay, alone among his enemies, a young confederate officer. the surgeon turned with her toward the man. "will he live?" she asked. "yes, only to be hung." "for what?" she cried. "sentenced by court-martial as a guerilla. it's a lie, but there's some powerful hand back of it--some mysterious influence in high authority. the boy wasn't fully conscious at the trial." "we must appeal to mr. stanton." "as well appeal to the devil. they say the order came from his office." "a boy of nineteen!" she exclaimed. "it's a shame. i'm looking for his mother. you told me to telegraph to richmond for her." "yes, i'll never forget his cries that night, so utterly pitiful and childlike. i've heard many a cry of pain, but in all my life nothing so heartbreaking as that boy in fevered delirium talking to his mother. his voice is one of peculiar tenderness, penetrating and musical. it goes quivering into your soul, and compels you to listen until you swear it's your brother or sweetheart or sister or mother calling you. you should have seen him the day he fell. god of mercies, the pity and the glory of it!" [illustration: "your brother sprang forward and caught him in his arms."] "phil wrote me that he was a hero and asked me to look after him. were you there?" "yes, with the battery your brother was supporting. he was the colonel of a shattered rebel regiment lying just in front of us before petersburg. richmond was doomed, resistance was madness, but there they were, ragged and half starved, a handful of men, not more than four hundred, but their bayonets gleamed and flashed in the sunlight. in the face of a murderous fire he charged and actually drove our men out of an entrenchment. we concentrated our guns on him as he crouched behind this earthwork. our own men lay outside in scores, dead, dying, and wounded. when the fire slacked, we could hear their cries for water. "suddenly this boy sprang on the breastwork. he was dressed in a new gray colonel's uniform that mother of his, in the pride of her soul, had sent him. "he was a handsome figure--tall, slender, straight, a gorgeous yellow sash tasselled with gold around his waist, his sword flashing in the sun, his slouch hat cocked on one side and an eagle's feather in it. "we thought he was going to lead another charge, but just as the battery was making ready to fire he deliberately walked down the embankment in a hail of musketry and began to give water to our wounded men. "every gun ceased firing, and we watched him. he walked back to the trench, his naked sword flashed suddenly above that eagle's feather, and his grizzled ragamuffins sprang forward and charged us like so many demons. "there were not more than three hundred of them now, but on they came, giving that hellish rebel yell at every jump--the cry of the hunter from the hilltop at the sight of his game! all southern men are hunters, and that cry was transformed in war into something unearthly when it came from a hundred throats in chorus and the game was human. "of course, it was madness. we blew them down that hill like chaff before a hurricane. when the last man had staggered back or fallen, on came this boy alone, carrying the colours he had snatched from a falling soldier, as if he were leading a million men to victory. "a bullet had blown his hat from his head, and we could see the blood streaming down the side of his face. he charged straight into the jaws of one of our guns. and then, with a smile on his lips and a dare to death in his big brown eyes, he rammed that flag into the cannon's mouth, reeled, and fell! a cheer broke from our men. "your brother sprang forward and caught him in his arms, and as we bent over the unconscious form, he exclaimed: 'my god, doctor, look at him! he is so much like me i feel as if i had been shot myself!' they were as much alike as twins--only his hair was darker. i tell you, miss elsie, it's a sin to kill men like that. one such man is worth more to this nation than every negro that ever set his flat foot on this continent!" the girl's eyes had grown dim as she listened to the story. "i will appeal to the president," she said firmly. "it's the only chance. and just now he is under tremendous pressure. his friendly order to the virginia legislature to return to richmond, stanton forced him to cancel. a master hand has organized a conspiracy in congress to crush the president. they curse his policy of mercy as imbecility, and swear to make the south a second poland. their watchwords are vengeance and confiscation. four fifths of his party in congress are in this plot. the president has less than a dozen real friends in either house on whom he can depend. they say that stanton is to be given a free hand, and that the gallows will be busy. this cancelled order of the president looks like it." "i'll try my hand with mr. stanton," she said with slow emphasis. "good luck, little sister--let me know if i can help," the surgeon answered cheerily as he passed on his round of work. elsie stoneman took her seat beside the cot of the wounded confederate and began softly to sing and play. a little farther along the same row a soldier was dying, a faint choking just audible in his throat. an attendant sat beside him and would not leave till the last. the ordinary chat and hum of the ward went on indifferent to peace, victory, life, or death. before the finality of the hospital all other events of earth fade. some were playing cards or checkers, some laughing and joking, and others reading. at the first soft note from the singer the games ceased, and the reader put down his book. the banjo had come to washington with the negroes following the wake of the army. she had laid aside her guitar and learned to play all the stirring camp songs of the south. her voice was low, soothing, and tender. it held every silent listener in a spell. as she played and sang the songs the wounded man loved, her eyes lingered in pity on his sun-bronzed face, pinched and drawn with fever. he was sleeping the stupid sleep that gives no rest. she could count the irregular pounding of his heart in the throb of the big vein on his neck. his lips were dry and burnt, and the little boyish moustache curled upward from the row of white teeth as if scorched by the fiery breath. he began to talk in flighty sentences, and she listened--his mother--his sister--and yes, she was sure as she bent nearer--a little sweetheart who lived next door. they all had sweethearts--these southern boys. again he was teasing his dog--and then back in battle. at length he opened his eyes, great dark-brown eyes, unnaturally bright, with a strange yearning look in their depths as they rested on elsie. he tried to smile and feebly said: "here's--a--fly--on--my--left--ear--my--guns--can't--somehow-- reach--him--won't--you--" she sprang forward and brushed the fly away. again he opened his eyes. "excuse--me--for--asking--but am i alive?" "yes, indeed," was the cheerful answer. "well, now, then, is this me, or is it not me, or has a cannon shot me, or has the devil got me?" "it's you. the cannon didn't shoot you, but three muskets did. the devil hasn't got you yet, but he will unless you're good." "i'll be good if you won't leave me----" elsie turned her head away smiling, and he went on slowly: "but i'm dead, i know. i'm sleeping on a cot with a canopy over it. i ain't hungry any more, and an angel has been hovering over me playing on a harp of gold----" "only a little yankee girl playing the banjo." "can't fool me--i'm in heaven." "you're in the hospital." "funny hospital--look at that harp and that big trumpet hanging close by it--that's gabriel's trumpet----" "no," she laughed. "this is the patent office building, that covers two blocks, now a temporary hospital. there are seventy thousand wounded soldiers in town, and more coming on every train. the thirty-five hospitals are overcrowded." he closed his eyes a moment in silence, and then spoke with a feeble tremor: "i'm afraid you don't know who i am--i can't impose on you--i'm a rebel----" "yes, i know. you are colonel ben cameron. it makes no difference to me now which side you fought on." "well, i'm in heaven--been dead a long time. i can prove it, if you'll play again." "what shall i play?" "first, '_o jonny booker help dis nigger_.'" she played and sang it beautifully. "now, '_wake up in the morning_.'" again he listened with wide, staring eyes that saw nothing except visions within. "now, then, '_the ole gray hoss_.'" as the last notes died away he tried to smile again: "one more--'_hard times an' wuss er comin'_.'" with deft, sure touch and soft negro dialect she sang it through. "now, didn't i tell you that you couldn't fool me? no yankee girl could play and sing these songs, i'm in heaven, and you're an angel." "aren't you ashamed of yourself to flirt with me, with one foot in the grave?" "that's the time to get on good terms with the angels--but i'm done dead----" elsie laughed in spite of herself. "i know it," he went on, "because you have shining golden hair and amber eyes instead of blue ones. i never saw a girl in my life before with such eyes and hair." "but you're young yet." "never--was--such--a--girl--on--earth--you're--an----" she lifted her finger in warning, and his eyelids drooped in exhausted stupor. "you musn't talk any more," she whispered, shaking her head. a commotion at the door caused elsie to turn from the cot. a sweet motherly woman of fifty, in an old faded black dress, was pleading with the guard to be allowed to pass. "can't do it, m'um. it's agin the rules." "but i must go in. i've tramped for four days through a wilderness of hospitals, and i know he must be here." "special orders, m'um--wounded rebels in here that belong in prison." "very well, young man," said the pleading voice. "my baby boy's in this place, wounded and about to die. i'm going in there. you can shoot me if you like, or you can turn your head the other way." she stepped quickly past the soldier, who merely stared with dim eyes out the door and saw nothing. she stood for a moment with a look of helpless bewilderment. the vast area of the second story of the great monolithic pile was crowded with rows of sick, wounded, and dying men--a strange, solemn, and curious sight. against the walls were ponderous glass cases, filled with models of every kind of invention the genius of man had dreamed. between these cases were deep lateral openings, eight feet wide, crowded with the sick, and long rows of them were stretched through the centre of the hall. a gallery ran around above the cases, and this was filled with cots. the clatter of the feet of passing surgeons and nurses over the marble floor added to the weird impression. elsie saw the look of helpless appeal in the mother's face and hurried forward to meet her: "is this mrs. cameron, of south carolina?" the trembling figure in black grasped her hand eagerly: "yes, yes, my dear, and i'm looking for my boy, who is wounded unto death. can you help me?" "i thought i recognized you from a miniature i've seen," she answered softly. "i'll lead you direct to his cot." "thank you, thank you!" came the low reply. in a moment she was beside him, and elsie walked away to the open window through which came the chirp of sparrows from the lilac bushes in full bloom below. the mother threw one look of infinite tenderness on the drawn face, and her hands suddenly clasped in prayer: "i thank thee, lord jesus, for this hour! thou hast heard the cry of my soul and led my feet!" she gently knelt, kissed the hot lips, smoothed the dark tangled hair back from his forehead, and her hand rested over his eyes. a faint flush tinged his face. "it's you, mamma--i--know--you--that's--your--hand--or--else--it's--god's!" she slipped her arms about him. "my hero, my darling, my baby!" "i'll get well now, mamma, never fear. you see, i had whipped them that day as i had many a time before. i don't know how it happened--my men seemed all to go down at once. you know--i couldn't surrender in that new uniform of a colonel you sent me--we made a gallant fight, and--now--i'm--just--a--little--tired--but you are here, and it's all right." "yes, yes, dear. it's all over now. general lee has surrendered, and when you are better i'll take you home, where the sunshine and flowers will give you strength again." "how's my little sis?" "hunting in another part of the city for you. she's grown so tall and stately you'll hardly know her. your papa is at home, and don't know yet that you are wounded." "and my sweetheart, marion lenoir?" "the most beautiful little girl in piedmont--as sweet and mischievous as ever. mr. lenoir is very ill, but he has written a glorious poem about one of your charges. i'll show it to you to-morrow. he is our greatest poet. the south worships him. marion sent her love to you and a kiss for the young hero of piedmont. i'll give it to you now." she bent again and kissed him. "and my dogs?" "general sherman left them, at least." "well, i'm glad of that--my mare all right?" "yes, but we had a time to save her--jake hid her in the woods till the army passed." "bully for jake." "i don't know what we should have done without him." "old aleck still at home and getting drunk as usual?" "no, he ran away with the army and persuaded every negro on the lenoir place to go, except his wife, aunt cindy." "the old rascal, when mrs. lenoir's mother saved him from burning to death when he was a boy!" "yes, and he told the yankees those fire scars were made with the lash, and led a squad to the house one night to burn the barns. jake headed them off and told on him. the soldiers were so mad they strung him up and thrashed him nearly to death. we haven't seen him since." "well, i'll take care of you, mamma, when i get home. of course i'll get well. it's absurd to die at nineteen. you know i never believed the bullet had been moulded that could hit me. in three years of battle i lived a charmed life and never got a scratch." his voice had grown feeble and laboured, and his face flushed. his mother placed her hand on his lips. "just one more," he pleaded feebly. "did you see the little angel who has been playing and singing for me? you must thank her." "yes, i see her coming now. i must go and tell margaret, and we will get a pass and come every day." she kissed him, and went to meet elsie. "and you are the dear girl who has been playing and singing for my boy, a wounded stranger here alone among his foes?" "yes, and for all the others, too." mrs. cameron seized both of her hands and looked at her tenderly. "you will let me kiss you? i shall always love you." she pressed elsie to her heart. in spite of the girl's reserve, a sob caught her breath at the touch of the warm lips. her own mother had died when she was a baby, and a shy, hungry heart, long hidden from the world, leaped in tenderness and pain to meet that embrace. elsie walked with her to the door, wondering how the terrible truth of her boy's doom could be told. she tried to speak, looked into mrs. cameron's face, radiant with grateful joy, and the words froze on her lips. she decided to walk a little way with her. but the task became all the harder. at the corner she stopped abruptly and bade her good-bye: "i must leave you now, mrs. cameron. i will call for you in the morning and help you secure the passes to enter the hospital." the mother stroked the girl's hand and held it lingeringly. "how good you are," she said softly. "and you have not told me your name?" elsie hesitated and said: "that's a little secret. they call me sister elsie, the banjo maid, in the hospitals. my father is a man of distinction. i should be annoyed if my full name were known. i'm elsie stoneman. my father is the leader of the house. i live with my aunt." "thank you," she whispered, pressing her hand. elsie watched the dark figure disappear in the crowd with a strange tumult of feeling. the mention of her father had revived the suspicion that he was the mysterious power threatening the policy of the president and planning a reign of terror for the south. next to the president, he was the most powerful man in washington, and the unrelenting foe of mr. lincoln, although the leader of his party in congress, which he ruled with a rod of iron. he was a man of fierce and terrible resentments. and yet, in his personal life, to those he knew, he was generous and considerate. "old austin stoneman, the great commoner," he was called, and his name was one to conjure with in the world of deeds. to this fair girl he was the noblest roman of them all, her ideal of greatness. he was an indulgent father, and while not demonstrative, loved his children with passionate devotion. she paused and looked up at the huge marble columns that seemed each a sentinel beckoning her to return within to the cot that held a wounded foe. the twilight had deepened, and the soft light of the rising moon had clothed the solemn majesty of the building with shimmering tenderness and beauty. "why should i be distressed for one, an enemy, among these thousands who have fallen?" she asked herself. every detail of the scene she had passed through with him and his mother stood out in her soul with startling distinctness--and the horror of his doom cut with the deep sense of personal anguish. "he shall not die," she said, with sudden resolution. "i'll take his mother to the president. he can't resist her. i'll send for phil to help me." she hurried to the telegraph office and summoned her brother. chapter ii the great heart the next morning, when elsie reached the obscure boarding-house at which mrs. cameron stopped, the mother had gone to the market to buy a bunch of roses to place beside her boy's cot. as elsie awaited her return, the practical little yankee maid thought with a pang of the tenderness and folly of such people. she knew this mother had scarcely enough to eat, but to her bread was of small importance, flowers necessary to life. after all, it was very sweet, this foolishness of these southern people, and it somehow made her homesick. "how can i tell her!" she sighed. "and yet i must." she had only waited a moment when mrs. cameron suddenly entered with her daughter. she threw her flowers on the table, sprang forward to meet elsie, seized her hands and called to margaret. "how good of you to come so soon! this, margaret, is our dear little friend who has been so good to ben and to me." margaret took elsie's hand and longed to throw her arms around her neck, but something in the quiet dignity of the northern girl's manner held her back. she only smiled tenderly through her big dark eyes, and softly said: "we love you! ben was my last brother. we were playmates and chums. my heart broke when he ran away to the front. how can we thank you and your brother!" "i'm sure we've done nothing more than you would have done for us," said elsie, as mrs. cameron left the room. "yes, i know, but we can never tell you how grateful we are to you. we feel that you have saved ben's life and ours. the war has been one long horror to us since my first brother was killed. but now it's over, and we have ben left, and our hearts have been crying for joy all night." "i hoped my brother, captain phil stoneman, would be here to-day to meet you and help me, but he can't reach washington before friday." "he caught ben in his arms!" cried margaret. "i know he's brave, and you must be proud of him." "doctor barnes says they are as much alike as twins--only phil is not quite so tall and has blond hair like mine." "you will let me see him and thank him the moment he comes?" "hurry, margaret!" cheerily cried mrs. cameron, reëntering the parlour. "get ready; we must go at once to the hospital." margaret turned and with stately grace hurried from the room. the old dress she wore as unconscious of its shabbiness as though it were a royal robe. "and now, my dear, what must i do to get the passes?" asked the mother eagerly. elsie's warm amber eyes grew misty for a moment, and the fair skin with its gorgeous rose tints of the north paled. she hesitated, tried to speak, and was silent. the sensitive soul of the southern woman read the message of sorrow words had not framed. "tell me, quickly! the doctor--has--not--concealed--his--true--condition--from--me?" "no, he is certain to recover." "what then?" "worse--he is condemned to death by court-martial." "condemned to death--a--wounded--prisoner--of--war!" she whispered slowly, with blanched face. "yes, he was accused of violating the rules of war as a guerilla raider in the invasion of pennsylvania." "absurd and monstrous! he was on general jeb stuart's staff and could have acted only under his orders. he joined the infantry after stuart's death, and rose to be a colonel, though but a boy. there's some terrible mistake!" "unless we can obtain his pardon," elsie went on in even, restrained tones, "there is no hope. we must appeal to the president." the mother's lips trembled, and she seemed about to faint. "could i see the president?" she asked, recovering herself with an effort. "he has just reached washington from the front, and is thronged by thousands. it will be difficult." the mother's lips were moving in silent prayer, and her eyes were tightly closed to keep back the tears. "can you help me, dear?" she asked piteously. "yes," was the quick response. "you see," she went on, "i feel so helpless. i have never been to the white house or seen the president, and i don't know how to go about seeing him or how to ask him--and--i am afraid of mr. lincoln! i have heard so many harsh things said of him." "i'll do my best, mrs. cameron. we must go at once to the white house and try to see him." the mother lifted the girl's hand and stroked it gently. "we will not tell margaret. poor child! she could not endure this. when we return, we may have better news. it can't be worse. i'll send her on an errand." she took up the bouquet of gorgeous roses with a sigh, buried her face in the fresh perfume, as if to gain strength in their beauty and fragrance, and left the room. in a few moments she had returned and was on her way with elsie to the white house. it was a beautiful spring morning, this eleventh day of april, . the glorious sunshine, the shimmering green of the grass, the warm breezes, and the shouts of victory mocked the mother's anguish. at the white house gates they passed the blue sentry pacing silently back and forth, who merely glanced at them with keen eyes and said nothing. in the steady beat of his feet the mother could hear the tramp of soldiers leading her boy to the place of death! a great lump rose in her throat as she caught the first view of the executive mansion gleaming white and silent and ghostlike among the budding trees. the tall columns of the great facade, spotless as snow, the spray of the fountain, the marble walls, pure, dazzling, and cold, seemed to her the gateway to some great tomb in which her own dead and the dead of all the people lay! to her the fair white palace, basking there in the sunlight and budding grass, shrub, and tree, was the judgment house of fate. she thought of all the weary feet that had climbed its fateful steps in hope to return in despair, of its fierce dramas on which the lives of millions had hung, and her heart grew sick. a long line of people already stretched from the entrance under the portico far out across the park, awaiting their turn to see the president. mrs. cameron placed her hand falteringly on elsie's shoulder. "look, my dear, what a crowd already! must we wait in line?" "no, i can get you past the throng with my father's name." "will it be very difficult to reach the president?" "no, it's very easy. guards and sentinels annoy him. he frets until they are removed. an assassin or maniac could kill him almost any hour of the day or night. the doors are open at all hours, very late at night. i have often walked up to the rooms of his secretaries as late as nine o'clock without being challenged by a soul." "what must i call him? must i say 'your excellency?'" "by no means--he hates titles and forms. you should say 'mr. president' in addressing him. but you will please him best if, in your sweet, homelike way, you will just call him by his name. you can rely on his sympathy. read this letter of his to a widow. i brought it to show you." she handed mrs. cameron a newspaper clipping on which was printed mr. lincoln's letter to mrs. bixby, of boston, who had lost five sons in the war. over and over she read its sentences until they echoed as solemn music in her soul: "i feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. but i cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. i pray that our heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. "yours very sincerely and respectfully, "abraham lincoln." "and the president paused amid a thousand cares to write that letter to a broken-hearted woman?" the mother asked. "yes." "then he is good down to the last secret depths of a great heart! only a christian father could have written that letter. i shall not be afraid to speak to him. and they told me he was an infidel!" elsie led her by a private way past the crowd and into the office of major hay, the president's private secretary. a word from the great commoner's daughter admitted them at once to the president's room. "just take a seat on one side, miss elsie," said major hay; "watch your first opportunity and introduce your friend." on entering the room, mrs. cameron could not see the president, who was seated at his desk surrounded by three men in deep consultation over a mass of official documents. she looked about the room nervously and felt reassured by its plain aspect. it was a medium-sized, officelike place, with no signs of elegance or ceremony. mr. lincoln was seated in an armchair beside a high writing-desk and table combined. she noticed that his feet were large and that they rested on a piece of simple straw matting. around the room were sofas and chairs covered with green worsted. when the group about the chair parted a moment, she caught the first glimpse of the man who held her life in the hollow of his hand. she studied him with breathless interest. his back was still turned. even while seated, she saw that he was a man of enormous stature, fully six feet four inches tall, legs and arms abnormally long, and huge broad shoulders slightly stooped. his head was powerful and crowned with a mass of heavy brown hair, tinged with silver. he turned his head slightly and she saw his profile set in its short dark beard--the broad intellectual brow, half covered by unmanageable hair, his face marked with deep-cut lines of life and death, with great hollows in the cheeks and under the eyes. in the lines which marked the corners of his mouth she could see firmness, and his beetling brows and unusually heavy eyelids looked stern and formidable. her heart sank. she looked again and saw goodness, tenderness, sorrow, canny shrewdness, and a strange lurking smile all haunting his mouth and eye. suddenly he threw himself forward in his chair, wheeled and faced one of his tormentors with a curious and comical expression. with one hand patting the other, and a funny look overspreading his face, he said: "my friend, let me tell you something----" the man again stepped before him, and she could hear nothing. when the story was finished, the man tried to laugh. it died in a feeble effort. but the president laughed heartily, laughed all over, and laughed his visitors out of the room. mrs. cameron turned toward elsie with a mute look of appeal to give her this moment of good-humour in which to plead her cause, but before she could move a man of military bearing suddenly stepped before the president. he began to speak, but seeing the look of stern decision in mr. lincoln's face, turned abruptly and said: "mr. president, i see you are fully determined not to do me justice!" mr. lincoln slightly compressed his lips, rose quietly, seized the intruder by the arm, and led him toward the door. "this is the third time you have forced your presence on me, sir, asking that i reverse the just sentence of a court-martial, dismissing you from the service. i told you my decision was carefully made and was final. now i give you fair warning never to show yourself in this room again. i can bear censure, but i will not endure insult!" in whining tones the man begged for his papers he had dropped. "begone, sir," said the president, as he thrust him through the door. "your papers will be sent to you." the poor mother trembled at this startling act and sank back limp in her seat. with quick, swinging stride the president walked back to his desk, accompanied by major hay and a young german girl, whose simple dress told that she was from the western plains. he handed the secretary an official paper. "give this pardon to the boy's mother when she comes this morning," he said kindly to the secretary, his eyes suddenly full of gentleness. "how could i consent to shoot a boy raised on a farm, in the habit of going to bed at dark, for falling asleep at his post when required to watch all night? i'll never go into eternity with the blood of such a boy on my skirts." again the mother's heart rose. "you remember the young man i pardoned for a similar offence in ' , about which stanton made such a fuss?" he went on in softly reminiscent tones. "well, here is that pardon." he drew from the lining of his silk hat a photograph, around which was wrapped an executive pardon. through the lower end of it was a bullet-hole stained with blood. "i got this in richmond. they found him dead on the field. he fell in the front ranks with my photograph in his pocket next to his heart, this pardon wrapped around it, and on the back of it in his boy's scrawl, '_god bless abraham lincoln_.' i love to invest in bonds like that." the secretary returned to his room, the girl who was waiting stepped forward, and the president rose to receive her. the mother's quick eye noted, with surprise, the simple dignity and chivalry of manner with which he received this humble woman of the people. with straightforward eloquence the girl poured out her story, begging for the pardon of her young brother who had been sentenced to death as a deserter. he listened in silence. how pathetic the deep melancholy of his sad face! yes, she was sure, the saddest face that god ever made in all the world! her own stricken heart for a moment went out to him in sympathy. the president took off his spectacles, wiped his forehead with the large red silk handkerchief he carried, and his eyes twinkled kindly down into the good german face. "you seem an honest, truthful, sweet girl," he said, "and"--he smiled--"you don't wear hoop skirts! i may be whipped for this, but i'll trust you and your brother, too. he shall be pardoned." elsie rose to introduce mrs. cameron, when a congressman from massachusetts suddenly stepped before her and pressed for the pardon of a slave trader whose ship had been confiscated. he had spent five years in prison, but could not pay the heavy fine in money imposed. the president had taken his seat again, and read the eloquent appeal for mercy. he looked up over his spectacles, fixed his eyes piercingly on the congressman and said: "this is a moving appeal, sir, expressed with great eloquence. i might pardon a murderer under the spell of such words, but a man who can make a business of going to africa and robbing her of her helpless children and selling them into bondage--no, sir--he may rot in jail before he shall have liberty by any act of mine!" again the mother's heart sank. her hour had come. she must put the issue of life or death to the test, and as elsie rose and stepped quickly forward, she followed; nerving herself for the ordeal. the president took elsie's hand familiarly and smiled without rising. evidently she was well known to him. "will you hear the prayer of a broken-hearted mother of the south, who has lost four sons in general lee's army?" she asked. looking quietly past the girl, he caught sight, for the first time, of the faded dress and the sorrow-shadowed face. he was on his feet in a moment, extended his hand and led her to a chair. "take this seat, madam, and then tell me in your own way what i can do for you." in simple words, mighty with the eloquence of a mother's heart, she told her story and asked for the pardon of her boy, promising his word of honour and her own that he would never again take up arms against the union. "the war is over now, mr. lincoln," she said, "and we have lost all. can you conceive the desolation of _my_ heart? my four boys were noble men. they may have been wrong, but they fought for what they believed to be right. you, too, have lost a boy." the president's eyes grew dim. "yes, a beautiful boy----" he said simply. "well, mine are all gone but this baby. one of them sleeps in an unmarked grave at gettysburg. one died in a northern prison. one fell at chancellorsville, one in the wilderness, and this, my baby, before petersburg. perhaps i've loved him too much, this last one--he's only a child yet----" "you shall have your boy, my dear madam," the president said simply, seating himself and writing a brief order to the secretary of war. the mother drew near his desk, softly crying. through her tears she said: "my heart is heavy, mr. lincoln, when i think of all the hard and bitter things we have heard of you." "well, give my love to the people of south carolina when you go home, and tell them that i am their president, and that i have never forgotten this fact in the darkest hours of this awful war; and i am going to do everything in my power to help them." "you will never regret this generous act," the mother cried with gratitude. "i reckon not," he answered. "i'll tell you something, madam, if you won't tell anybody. it's a secret of my administration. i'm only too glad of an excuse to save a life when i can. every drop of blood shed in this war north and south has been as if it were wrung out of my heart. a strange fate decreed that the bloodiest war in human history should be fought under my direction. and i--to whom the sight of blood is a sickening horror--i have been compelled to look on in silent anguish because i could not stop it! now that the union is saved, not another drop of blood shall be spilled if i can prevent it." "may god bless you!" the mother cried, as she received from him the order. she held his hand an instant as she took her leave, laughing and sobbing in her great joy. "i must tell you, mr. president," she said, "how surprised and how pleased i am to find you are a southern man." "why, didn't you know that my parents were virginians, and that i was born in kentucky?" "very few people in the south know it. i am ashamed to say i did not." "then, how did you know i am a southerner?" "by your looks, your manner of speech, your easy, kindly ways, your tenderness and humour, your firmness in the right as you see it, and, above all, the way you rose and bowed to a woman in an old, faded black dress, whom you knew to be an enemy." "no, madam, not an enemy now," he said softly. "that word is out of date." "if we had only known you in time----" the president accompanied her to the door with a deference of manner that showed he had been deeply touched. "take this letter to mr. stanton at once," he said. "some folks complain of my pardons, but it rests me after a hard day's work if i can save some poor boy's life. i go to bed happy, thinking of the joy i have given to those who love him." as the last words were spoken, a peculiar dreaminess of expression stole over his careworn face, as if a throng of gracious memories had lifted for a moment the burden of his life. chapter iii the man of war elsie led mrs. cameron direct from the white house to the war department. "well, mrs. cameron, what did you think of the president?" she asked. "i hardly know," was the thoughtful answer. "he is the greatest man i ever met. one feels this instinctively." when mrs. cameron was ushered into the secretary's office, mr. stanton was seated at his desk writing. she handed the order of the president to a clerk, who gave it to the secretary. he was a man in the full prime of life, intellectual and physical, low and heavy set, about five feet eight inches in height and inclined to fat. his movements, however, were quick, and as he swung in his chair the keenest vigour marked every movement of body and every change of his countenance. his face was swarthy and covered with a long, dark beard touched with gray. he turned a pair of little black piercing eyes on her and without rising said: "so you are the woman who has a wounded son under sentence of death as a guerilla?" "i am so unfortunate," she answered. "well, i have nothing to say to you," he went on in a louder and sterner tone, "and no time to waste on you. if you have raised up men to rebel against the best government under the sun, you can take the consequences----" "but, my dear sir," broke in the mother, "he is a mere boy of nineteen, who ran away three years ago and entered the service----" "i don't want to hear another word from you!" he yelled in rage. "i have no time to waste--go at once. i'll do nothing for you." "but i bring you an order from the president," protested the mother. "yes, i know it," he answered with a sneer, "and i'll do with it what i've done with many others--see that it is not executed--now go." "but the president told me you would give me a pass to the hospital, and that a full pardon would be issued to my boy!" "yes, i see. but let me give you some information. the president is a fool--a d---- fool! now, will you go?" with a sinking sense of horror, mrs. cameron withdrew and reported to elsie the unexpected encounter. "the brute!" cried the girl. "we'll go back immediately and report this insult to the president." "why are such men intrusted with power?" the mother sighed. "it's a mystery to me, i'm sure. they say he is the greatest secretary of war in our history. i don't believe it. phil hates the sight of him, and so does every army officer i know, from general grant down. i hope mr. lincoln will expel him from the cabinet for this insult." when, they were again ushered into the president's office, elsie hastened to inform him of the outrageous reply the secretary of war had made to his order. "did stanton say that i was a fool?" he asked, with a quizzical look out of his kindly eyes. "yes, he did," snapped elsie. "and he repeated it with a blankety prefix." the president looked good-humouredly out of the window toward the war office and musingly said: "well, if stanton says that i am a blankety fool, it must be so, for i have found out that he is nearly always right, and generally means what he says. i'll just step over and see stanton." as he spoke the last sentence, the humour slowly faded from his face, and the anxious mother saw back of those patient gray eyes the sudden gleam of the courage and conscious power of a lion. he dismissed them with instructions to return the next day for his final orders and walked over to the war department alone. the secretary of war was in one of his ugliest moods, and made no effort to conceal it when asked his reasons for the refusal to execute the order. "the grounds for my action are very simple," he said with bitter emphasis. "the execution of this traitor is part of a carefully considered policy of justice on which the future security of the nation depends. if i am to administer this office, i will not be hamstrung by constant executive interference. besides, in this particular case, i was urged that justice be promptly executed by the most powerful man in congress. i advise you to avoid a quarrel with old stoneman at this crisis in our history." the president sat on a sofa with his legs crossed, relapsed into an attitude of resignation, and listened in silence until the last sentence, when suddenly he sat bolt upright, fixed his deep gray eyes intently on stanton and said: "mr. secretary, i reckon you will have to execute that order." "i cannot do it," came the firm answer. "it is an interference with justice, and i will not execute it." mr. lincoln held his eyes steadily on stanton and slowly said: "mr. secretary, it will have to be done." stanton wheeled in his chair, seized a pen and wrote very rapidly a few lines to which he fixed his signature. he rose with the paper in his hand, walked to his chief, and with deep emotion said: "mr. president, i wish to thank you for your constant friendship during the trying years i have held this office. the war is ended, and my work is done. i hand you my resignation." mr. lincoln's lips came suddenly together, he slowly rose, and looked down with surprise into the flushed angry face. he took the paper, tore it into pieces, slipped one of his long arms around the secretary, and said in low accents: "stanton, you have been a faithful public servant, and it is not for you to say when you will no longer be needed. go on with your work. i will have my way in this matter; but i will attend to it personally." stanton resumed his seat, and the president returned to the white house. chapter iv a clash of giants elsie secured from the surgeon-general temporary passes for the day, and sent her friends to the hospital with the promise that she would not leave the white house until she had secured the pardon. the president greeted her with unusual warmth. the smile that had only haunted his sad face during four years of struggle, defeat, and uncertainty had now burst into joy that made his powerful head radiate light. victory had lifted the veil from his soul, and he was girding himself for the task of healing the nation's wounds. "i'll have it ready for you in a moment, miss elsie," he said, touching with his sinewy hand a paper which lay on his desk, bearing on its face the red seal of the republic. "i am only waiting to receive the passes." "i am very grateful to you, mr. president," the girl said feelingly. "but tell me," he said, with quaint, fatherly humour, "why you, of all our girls, the brightest, fiercest little yankee in town, so take to heart a rebel boy's sorrows?" elsie blushed, and then looked at him frankly with a saucy smile. "i am fulfilling the commandments." "love your enemies?" "certainly. how could one help loving the sweet, motherly face you saw yesterday." the president laughed heartily. "i see--of course, of course!" "the honourable austin stoneman," suddenly announced a clerk at his elbow. elsie started in surprise and whispered: "do not let my father know i am here. i will wait in the next room. you'll let nothing delay the pardon, will you, mr. president?" mr. lincoln warmly pressed her hand as she disappeared through the door leading into major hay's room, and turned to meet the great commoner who hobbled slowly in, leaning on his crooked cane. at this moment he was a startling and portentous figure in the drama of the nation, the most powerful parliamentary leader in american history, not excepting henry clay. no stranger ever passed this man without a second look. his clean-shaven face, the massive chiselled features, his grim eagle look, and cold, colourless eyes, with the frosts of his native vermont sparkling in their depths, compelled attention. his walk was a painful hobble. he was lame in both feet, and one of them was deformed. the left leg ended in a mere bunch of flesh, resembling more closely an elephant's hoof than the foot of a man. he was absolutely bald, and wore a heavy brown wig that seemed too small to reach the edge of his enormous forehead. he rarely visited the white house. he was the able, bold, unscrupulous leader of leaders, and men came to see him. he rarely smiled, and when he did it was the smile of the cynic and misanthrope. his tongue had the lash of a scorpion. he was a greater terror to the trimmers and time-servers of his own party than to his political foes. he had hated the president with sullen, consistent, and unyielding venom from his first nomination at chicago down to the last rumour of his new proclamation. in temperament a fanatic, in impulse a born revolutionist, the word conservatism was to him as a red rag to a bull. the first clash of arms was music to his soul. he laughed at the call for , volunteers, and demanded the immediate equipment of an army of a million men. he saw it grow to , , . from the first, his eagle eye had seen the end and all the long, blood-marked way between. and from the first, he began to plot the most cruel and awful vengeance in human history. and now his time had come. the giant figure in the white house alone had dared to brook his anger and block the way; for old stoneman was the congress of the united states. the opposition was too weak even for his contempt. cool, deliberate, and venomous alike in victory or defeat, the fascination of his positive faith and revolutionary programme had drawn the rank and file of his party in congress to him as charmed satellites. the president greeted him cordially, and with his habitual deference to age and physical infirmity hastened to place for him an easy chair near his desk. he was breathing heavily and evidently labouring under great emotion. he brought his cane to the floor with violence, placed both hands on its crook, leaned his massive jaws on his hands for a moment, and then said: "mr. president, i have not annoyed you with many requests during the past four years, nor am i here to-day to ask any favours. i have come to warn you that, in the course you have mapped out, the executive and legislative branches have come to the parting of the ways, and that your encroachments on the functions of congress will be tolerated, now that the rebellion is crushed, not for a single moment!" mr. lincoln listened with dignity, and a ripple of fun played about his eyes as he looked at his grim visitor. the two men were face to face at last--the two men above all others who had built and were to build the foundations of the new nation--lincoln's in love and wisdom to endure forever, the great commoner's in hate and madness, to bear its harvest of tragedy and death for generations yet unborn. "well, now, stoneman," began the good-humoured voice, "that puts me in mind----" the old commoner lifted his hand with a gesture of angry impatience: "save your fables for fools. is it true that you have prepared a proclamation restoring the conquered province of north carolina to its place as a state in the union with no provision for negro suffrage or the exile and disfranchisement of its rebels?" the president rose and walked back and forth with his hands folded behind him before answering. "i have. the constitution grants to the national government no power to regulate suffrage, and makes no provision for the control of 'conquered provinces.'" "constitution!" thundered stoneman. "i have a hundred constitutions in the pigeonholes of my desk!" "i have sworn to support but one." "a worn-out rag----" "rag or silk, i've sworn to execute it, and i'll do it, so help me god!" said the quiet voice. "you've been doing it for the past four years, haven't you!" sneered the commoner. "what right had you under the constitution to declare war against a 'sovereign' state? to invade one for coercion? to blockade a port? to declare slaves free? to suspend the writ of _habeas corpus_? to create the state of west virginia by the consent of two states, one of which was dead, and the other one of which lived in ohio? by what authority have you appointed military governors in the 'sovereign' states of virginia, tennessee, and louisiana? why trim the hedge and lie about it? we, too, are revolutionists, and you are our executive. the constitution sustained and protected slavery. it _was_ 'a league with death and a covenant with hell,' and our flag 'a polluted rag!'" "in the stress of war," said the president, with a far-away look, "it was necessary that i do things as commander-in-chief of the army and navy to save the union which i have no right to do now that the union is saved and its constitution preserved. my first duty is to re-establish the constitution as our supreme law over every inch of our soil." "the constitution be d----d!" hissed the old man. "it was the creation, both in letter and spirit, of the slaveholders of the south." "then the world is their debtor, and their work is a monument of imperishable glory to them and to their children. i have sworn to preserve it!" "we have outgrown the swaddling clothes of a babe. we will make new constitutions!" "'fools rush in where angels fear to tread,'" softly spoke the tall, self-contained man. for the first time the old leader winced. he had long ago exhausted the vocabulary of contempt on the president, his character, ability, and policy. he felt as a shock the first impression of supreme authority with which he spoke. the man he had despised had grown into the great constructive statesman who would dispute with him every inch of ground in the attainment of his sinister life purpose. his hatred grew more intense as he realized the prestige and power with which he was clothed by his mighty office. with an effort he restrained his anger, and assumed an argumentative tone. "can't you see that your so-called states are now but conquered provinces? that north carolina and other waste territories of the united states are unfit to associate with civilized communities?" "we fought no war of conquest," quietly urged the president, "but one of self-preservation as an indissoluble union. no state ever got out of it, by the grace of god and the power of our arms. now that we have won, and established for all time its unity, shall we stultify ourselves by declaring we were wrong? these states must be immediately restored to their rights, or we shall betray the blood we have shed. there are no 'conquered provinces' for us to spoil. a nation cannot make conquest of its own territory." "but we are acting outside the constitution," interrupted stoneman. "congress has no existence outside the constitution," was the quick answer. the old commoner scowled, and his beetling brows hid for a moment his eyes. his keen intellect was catching its first glimpse of the intellectual grandeur of the man with whom he was grappling. the facility with which he could see all sides of a question, and the vivid imagination which lit his mental processes, were a revelation. we always underestimate the men we despise. "why not out with it?" cried stoneman, suddenly changing his tack. "you are determined to oppose negro suffrage?" "i have suggested to governor hahn of louisiana to consider the policy of admitting the more intelligent and those who served in the war. it is only a suggestion. the state alone has the power to confer the ballot." "but the truth is this little 'suggestion' of yours is only a bone thrown to radical dogs to satisfy our howlings for the moment! in your soul of souls you don't believe in the equality of man if the man under comparison be a negro?" "i believe that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which will forever forbid their living together on terms of political and social equality. if such be attempted, one must go to the wall." "very well, pin the southern white man to the wall. our party and the nation will then be safe." "that is to say, destroy african slavery and establish white slavery under negro masters! that would be progress with a vengeance." a grim smile twitched the old man's lips as he said: "yes, your prim conservative snobs and male waiting-maids in congress went into hysterics when i armed the negroes. yet the heavens have not fallen." "true. yet no more insane blunder could now be made than any further attempt to use these negro troops. there can be no such thing as restoring this union to its basis of fraternal peace with armed negroes, wearing the uniform of this nation, tramping over the south, and rousing the basest passions of the freedmen and their former masters. general butler, their old commander, is now making plans for their removal, at my request. he expects to dig the panama canal with these black troops." "fine scheme that--on a par with your messages to congress asking for the colonization of the whole negro race!" "it will come to that ultimately," said the president firmly. "the negro has cost us $ , , , , the desolation of ten great states, and rivers of blood. we can well afford a few million dollars more to effect a permanent settlement of the issue. this is the only policy on which seward and i have differed----" "then seward was not an utterly hopeless fool. i'm glad to hear something to his credit," growled the old commoner. "i have urged the colonization of the negroes, and i shall continue until it is accomplished. my emancipation proclamation was linked with this plan. thousands of them have lived in the north for a hundred years, yet not one is the pastor of a white church, a judge, a governor, a mayor, or a college president. there is no room for two distinct races of white men in america, much less for two distinct races of whites and blacks. we can have no inferior servile class, peon or peasant. we must assimilate or expel. the american is a citizen king or nothing. i can conceive of no greater calamity than the assimilation of the negro into our social and political life as our equal. a mulatto citizenship would be too dear a price to pay even for emancipation." "words have no power to express my loathing for such twaddle!" cried stoneman, snapping his great jaws together and pursing his lips with contempt. "if the negro were not here would we allow him to land?" the president went on, as if talking to himself. "the duty to exclude carries the right to expel. within twenty years we can peacefully colonize the negro in the tropics, and give him our language, literature, religion, and system of government under conditions in which he can rise to the full measure of manhood. this he can never do here. it was the fear of the black tragedy behind emancipation that led the south into the insanity of secession. we can never attain the ideal union our fathers dreamed, with millions of an alien, inferior race among us, whose assimilation is neither possible nor desirable. the nation cannot now exist half white and half black, any more than it could exist half slave and half free." "yet 'god hath made of one blood all races,'" quoted the cynic with a sneer. "yes--but finish the sentence--'and fixed the bounds of their habitation.' god never meant that the negro should leave his habitat or the white man invade his home. our violation of this law is written in two centuries of shame and blood. and the tragedy will not be closed until the black man is restored to his home." "i marvel that the minions of slavery elected jeff davis their chief with so much better material at hand!" "his election was a tragic and superfluous blunder. i am the president of the united states, north and south," was the firm reply. "particularly the south!" hissed stoneman. "during all this hideous war they have been your pets--these rebel savages who have been murdering our sons. you have been the ever-ready champion of traitors. and you now dare to bend this high office to their defence----" "my god, stoneman, are you a man or a savage!" cried the president. "is not the north equally responsible for slavery? has not the south lost all? have not the southern people paid the full penalty of all the crimes of war? are our skirts free? was sherman's march a picnic? this war has been a giant conflict of principles to decide whether we are a bundle of petty sovereignties held by a rope of sand or a mighty nation of freemen. but for the loyalty of four border southern states--but for farragut and thomas and their two hundred thousand heroic southern brethren who fought for the union against their own flesh and blood, we should have lost. you cannot indict a people----" "i do indict them!" muttered the old man. "surely," went on the even, throbbing voice, "surely, the vastness of this war, its titanic battles, its heroism, its sublime earnestness, should sink into oblivion all low schemes of vengeance! before the sheer grandeur of its history our children will walk with silent lips and uncovered heads." "and forget the prison pen at andersonville!" "yes. we refused, as a policy of war, to exchange those prisoners, blockaded their ports, made medicine contraband, and brought the southern army itself to starvation. the prison records, when made at last for history, will show as many deaths on our side as on theirs." "the murderer on the gallows always wins more sympathy than his forgotten victim," interrupted the cynic. "the sin of vengeance is an easy one under the subtle plea of justice," said the sorrowful voice. "have we not had enough bloodshed? is not god's vengeance enough? when sherman's army swept to the sea, before him lay the garden of eden, behind him stretched a desert! a hundred years cannot give back to the wasted south her wealth, or two hundred years restore to her the lost seed treasures of her young manhood----" "the imbecility of a policy of mercy in this crisis can only mean the reign of treason and violence," persisted the old man, ignoring the president's words. "i leave my policy before the judgment bar of time, content with its verdict. in my place, radicalism would have driven the border states into the confederacy, every southern man back to his kinsmen, and divided the north itself into civil conflict. i have sought to guide and control public opinion into the ways on which depended our life. this rational flexibility of policy you and your fellow radicals have been pleased to call my vacillating imbecility." "and what is your message for the south?" "simply this: 'abolish slavery, come back home, and behave yourself.' lee surrendered to our offers of peace and amnesty. in my last message to congress i told the southern people they could have peace at any moment by simply laying down their arms and submitting to national authority. now that they have taken me at my word, shall i betray them by an ignoble revenge? vengeance cannot heal and purify: it can only brutalize and destroy." stoneman shuffled to his feet with impatience. "i see it is useless to argue with you. i'll not waste my breath. i give you an ultimatum. the south is conquered soil. i mean to blot it from the map. rather than admit one traitor to the halls of congress from these so-called states i will shatter the union itself into ten thousand fragments! i will not sit beside men whose clothes smell of the blood of my kindred. at least dry them before they come in. four years ago, with yells and curses, these traitors left the halls of congress to join the armies of catiline. shall they return to rule?" "i repeat," said the president, "you cannot indict a people. treason is an easy word to speak. a traitor is one who fights and loses. washington was a traitor to george iii. treason won, and washington is immortal. treason is a word that victors hurl at those who fail." "listen to me," stoneman interrupted with vehemence. "the life of our party demands that the negro be given the ballot and made the ruler of the south. this can be done only by the extermination of its landed aristocracy, that their mothers shall not breed another race of traitors. this is not vengeance. it is justice, it is patriotism, it is the highest wisdom and humanity. nature, at times, blots out whole communities and races that obstruct progress. such is the political genius of these people that, unless you make the negro the ruler, the south will yet reconquer the north and undo the work of this war." "if the south in poverty and ruin can do this, we deserve to be ruled! the north is rich and powerful--the south a land of wreck and tomb. i greet with wonder, shame, and scorn such ignoble fear! the nation cannot be healed until the south is healed. let the gulf be closed in which we bury slavery, sectional animosity, and all strifes and hatreds. the good sense of our people will never consent to your scheme of insane vengeance." "the people have no sense. a new fool is born every second. they are ruled by impulse and passion." "i have trusted them before, and they have not failed me. the day i left for gettysburg to dedicate the battlefield, you were so sure of my defeat in the approaching convention that you shouted across the street to a friend as i passed: 'let the dead bury the dead!' it was a brilliant sally of wit. i laughed at it myself. and yet the people unanimously called me again to lead them to victory." "yes, in the past," said stoneman bitterly, "you have triumphed, but mark my word: from this hour your star grows dim. the slumbering fires of passion will be kindled. in the fight we join to-day i'll break your back and wring the neck of every dastard and time-server who fawns at your feet." the president broke into a laugh that only increased the old man's wrath. "i protest against the insult of your buffoonery!" "excuse me, stoneman; i have to laugh or die beneath the burdens i bear, surrounded by such supporters!" "mark my word," growled the old leader, "from the moment you publish that north carolina proclamation, your name will be a by-word in congress." "there are higher powers." "you will need them." "i'll have help," was the calm reply, as the dreaminess of the poet and mystic stole over the rugged face. "i would be a presumptuous fool, indeed, if i thought that for a day i could discharge the duties of this great office without the aid of one who is wiser and stronger than all others." "you'll need the help of almighty god in the course you've mapped out!" "some ships come into port that are not steered," went on the dreamy voice. "suppose pickett had charged one hour earlier at gettysburg? suppose the _monitor_ had arrived one hour later at hampton roads? i had a dream last night that always presages great events. i saw a white ship passing swiftly under full sail. i have often seen her before. i have never known her port of entry, or her destination, but i have always known her pilot!" the cynic's lips curled with scorn. he leaned heavily on his cane, and took a shambling step toward the door. "you refuse to heed the wishes of congress?" "if your words voice them, yes. force your scheme of revenge on the south, and you sow the wind to reap the whirlwind." "indeed! and from what secret cave will this whirlwind come?" "the despair of a mighty race of world-conquering men, even in defeat, is still a force that statesmen reckon with." "i defy them," growled the old commoner. again the dreamy look returned to lincoln's face, and he spoke as if repeating a message of the soul caught in the clouds in an hour of transfiguration: "and i'll trust the honour of lee and his people. the mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the union, when touched again, as they surely will be, by the better angels of our nature." "you'll be lucky to live to hear that chorus." "to dream it is enough. if i fall by the hand of an assassin now, he will not come from the south. i was safer in richmond, this week, than i am in washington, to-day." the cynic grunted and shuffled another step toward the door. the president came closer. "look here, stoneman; have you some deep personal motive in this vengeance on the south? come, now, i've never in my life known you to tell a lie." the answer was silence and a scowl. "am i right?" "yes and no. i hate the south because i hate the satanic institution of slavery with consuming fury. it has long ago rotted the heart out of the southern people. humanity cannot live in its tainted air, and its children are doomed. if my personal wrongs have ordained me for a mighty task, no matter; i am simply the chosen instrument of justice!" again the mystic light clothed the rugged face, calm and patient as destiny, as the president slowly repeated: "with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as god gives me to see the right, i shall strive to finish the work we are in, and bind up the nation's wounds." "i've given you fair warning," cried the old commoner, trembling with rage, as he hobbled nearer the door. "from this hour your administration is doomed." "stoneman," said the kindly voice, "i can't tell you how your venomous philanthropy sickens me. you have misunderstood and abused me at every step during the past four years. i bear you no ill will. if i have said anything to-day to hurt your feelings, forgive me. the earnestness with which you pressed the war was an invaluable service to me and to the nation. i'd rather work with you than fight you. but now that we have to fight, i'd as well tell you i'm not afraid of you. i'll suffer my right arm to be severed from my body before i'll sign one measure of ignoble revenge on a brave, fallen foe, and i'll keep up this fight until i win, die, or my country forsakes me." "i have always known you had a sneaking admiration for the south," came the sullen sneer. "i love the south! it is a part of this union. i love every foot of its soil, every hill and valley, mountain, lake, and sea, and every man, woman, and child that breathes beneath its skies. i am an american." as the burning words leaped from the heart of the president the broad shoulders of his tall form lifted, and his massive head rose in unconscious heroic pose. "i marvel that you ever made war upon your loved ones!" cried the cynic. "we fought the south because we loved her and would not let her go. now that she is crushed and lies bleeding at our feet--you shall not make war on the wounded, dying, and the dead!" again the lion gleamed in the calm gray eyes. chapter iv the battle of love elsie carried ben cameron's pardon to the anxious mother and sister with her mind in a tumult. the name on these fateful papers fascinated her. she read it again and again with a curious personal joy that she had saved a life! she had entered on her work among the hospitals a bitter partisan of her father's school, with the simple idea that all southerners were savage brutes. yet as she had seen the wounded boys from the south among the men in blue, more and more she had forgotten the difference between them. they were so young, these slender, dark-haired ones from dixie--so pitifully young! some of them were only fifteen, and hundreds not over sixteen. a lad of fourteen she had kissed one day in sheer agony of pity for his loneliness. the part her father was playing in the drama on which ben cameron's life had hung puzzled her. was his the mysterious arm back of stanton? echoes of the fierce struggle with the president had floated through the half-open door. she had implicit faith in her father's patriotism and pride in his giant intellect. she knew that he was a king among men by divine right of inherent power. his sensitive spirit, brooding over a pitiful lameness, had hidden from the world behind a frowning brow like a wounded animal. yet her hand in hours of love, when no eye save god's could see, had led his great soul out of its dark lair. she loved him with brooding tenderness, knowing that she had gotten closer to his inner life than any other human being--closer than her own mother, who had died while she was a babe. her aunt, with whom she and phil now lived, had told her the mother's life was not a happy one. their natures had not proved congenial, and her gentle quaker spirit had died of grief in the quiet home in southern pennsylvania. yet there were times when he was a stranger even to her. some secret, dark and cold, stood between them. once she had tenderly asked him what it meant. he merely pressed her hand, smiled wearily, and said: "nothing, my dear, only the blue devils after me again." he had always lived in washington in a little house with black shutters, near the capitol, while the children had lived with his sister, near the white house, where they had grown from babyhood. a curious fact about this place on the capitol hill was that his housekeeper, lydia brown, was a mulatto, a woman of extraordinary animal beauty and the fiery temper of a leopardess. elsie had ventured there once and got such a welcome she would never return. all sorts of gossip could be heard in washington about this woman, her jewels, her dresses, her airs, her assumption of the dignity of the presiding genius of national legislation and her domination of the old commoner and his life. it gradually crept into the newspapers and magazines, but he never once condescended to notice it. elsie begged her father to close this house and live with them. his reply was short and emphatic: "impossible, my child. this club foot must live next door to the capitol. my house is simply an executive office at which i sleep. half the business of the nation is transacted there. don't mention this subject again." elsie choked back a sob at the cold menace in the tones of this command, and never repeated her request. it was the only wish he had ever denied her, and, somehow, her heart would come back to it with persistence and brood and wonder over his motive. the nearer she drew, this morning, to the hospital door, the closer the wounded boy's life and loved ones seemed to hers. she thought with anguish of the storm about to break between her father and the president--the one demanding the desolation of their land, wasted, harried, and unarmed!--the president firm in his policy of mercy, generosity, and healing. her father would not mince words. his scorpion tongue, set on fires of hell, might start a conflagration that would light the nation with its glare. would not his name be a terror for every man and woman born under southern skies? the sickening feeling stole over her that he was wrong, and his policy cruel and unjust. she had never before admired the president. it was fashionable to speak with contempt of him in washington. he had little following in congress. nine tenths of the politicians hated or feared him, and she knew her father had been the soul of a conspiracy at the capitol to prevent his second nomination and create a dictatorship, under which to carry out an iron policy of reconstruction in the south. and now she found herself heart and soul the champion of the president. she was ashamed of her disloyalty, and felt a rush of impetuous anger against ben and his people for thrusting themselves between her and her own. yet how absurd to feel thus against the innocent victims of a great tragedy! she put the thought from her. still she must part from them now before the brewing storm burst. it would be best for her and best for them. this pardon delivered would end their relations. she would send the papers by a messenger and not see them again. and then she thought with a throb of girlish pride of the hour to come in the future when ben's big brown eyes would be softened with a tear when he would learn that she had saved his life. they had concealed all from him as yet. she was afraid to question too closely in her own heart the shadowy motive that lay back of her joy. she read again with a lingering smile the name "ben cameron" on the paper with its big red seal of life. she had laughed at boys who had made love to her, dreaming a wider, nobler life of heroic service. and she felt that she was fulfilling her ideal in the generous hand she had extended to these who were friendless. were they not the children of her soul in that larger, finer world of which she had dreamed and sung? why should she give them up now for brutal politics? their sorrow had been hers, their joy should be hers, too. she would take the papers herself and then say good-bye. she found the mother and sister beside the cot. ben was sleeping with margaret holding one of his hands. the mother was busy sewing for the wounded confederate boys she had found scattered through the hospital. at the sight of elsie holding aloft the message of life she sprang to meet her with a cry of joy. she clasped the girl to her breast, unable to speak. at last she released her and said with a sob: "my child, through good report and through evil report my love will enfold you!" elsie stammered, looked away, and tried to hide her emotion. margaret had knelt and bowed her head on ben's cot. she rose at length, threw her arms around elsie in a resistless impulse, kissed her and whispered: "my sweet sister!" elsie's heart leaped at the words, as her eyes rested on the face of the sleeping soldier. chapter vi the assassination elsie called in the afternoon at the camerons' lodgings, radiant with pride, accompanied by her brother. captain phil stoneman, athletic, bronzed, a veteran of two years' service, dressed in his full uniform, was the ideal soldier, and yet he had never loved war. he was bubbling over with quiet joy that the end had come and he could soon return to a rational life. inheriting his mother's temperament, he was generous, enterprising, quick, intelligent, modest, and ambitious. war had seemed to him a horrible tragedy from the first. he had early learned to respect a brave foe, and bitterness had long since melted out of his heart. he had laughed at his father's harsh ideas of southern life gained as a politician, and, while loyal to him after a boy's fashion, he took no stock in his radical programme. the father, colossal egotist that he was, heard phil's protests with mild amusement and quiet pride in his independence, for he loved this boy with deep tenderness. phil had been touched by the story of ben's narrow escape, and was anxious to show his mother and sister every courtesy possible in part atonement for the wrong he felt had been done them. he was timid with girls, and yet he wished to give margaret a cordial greeting for elsie's sake. he was not prepared for the shock the first appearance of the southern girl gave him. when the stately figure swept through the door to greet him, her black eyes sparkling with welcome, her voice low and tender with genuine feeling, he caught his breath in surprise. elsie noted his confusion with amusement and said: "i must go to the hospital for a little work. now, phil, i'll meet you at the door at eight o'clock." "i'll not forget," he answered abstractedly, watching margaret intently as she walked with elsie to the door. he saw that her dress was of coarse, unbleached cotton, dyed with the juice of walnut hulls and set with wooden hand-made buttons. the story these things told of war and want was eloquent, yet she wore them with unconscious dignity. she had not a pin or brooch or piece of jewellery. everything about her was plain and smooth, graceful and gracious. her face was large--the lovely oval type--and her luxuriant hair, parted in the middle, fell downward in two great waves. tall, stately, handsome, her dark rare southern beauty full of subtle languor and indolent grace, she was to phil a revelation. the coarse black dress that clung closely to her figure seemed alive when she moved, vital with her beauty. the musical cadences of her voice were vibrant with feeling, sweet, tender, and homelike. and the odour of the rose she wore pinned low on her breast he could swear was the perfume of her breath. lingering in her eyes and echoing in the tones of her voice, he caught the shadowy memory of tears for the loved and lost that gave a strange pathos and haunting charm to her youth. she had returned quickly and was talking at ease with him. "i'm not going to tell you, captain stoneman, that i hope to be a sister to you. you have already made yourself my brother in what you did for ben." "nothing, i assure you, miss cameron, that any soldier wouldn't do for a brave foe." "perhaps; but when the foe happens to be an only brother, my chum and playmate, brave and generous, whom i've worshipped as my beau-ideal man--why, you know i must thank you for taking him in your arms that day. may i, again?" phil felt the soft warm hand clasp his, while the black eyes sparkled and glowed their friendly message. he murmured something incoherently, looked at margaret as if in a spell, and forgot to let her hand go. she laughed at last, and he blushed and dropped it as though it were a live coal. "i was about to forget, miss cameron. i wish to take you to the theatre to-night, if you will go?" "to the theatre?" "yes. it's to be an occasion, elsie tells me. laura keene's last appearance in 'our american cousin,' and her one-thousandth performance of the play. she played it in chicago at mcvicker's, when the president was first nominated, to hundreds of the delegates who voted for him. he is to be present to-night, so the _evening star_ has announced, and general and mrs. grant with him. it will be the opportunity of your life to see these famous men--besides, i wish you to see the city illuminated on the way." margaret hesitated. "i should like to go," she said with some confusion. "but you see we are old-fashioned scotch presbyterians down in our village in south carolina. i never was in a theatre--and this is good friday----" "that's a fact, sure," said phil thoughtfully. "it never occurred to me. war is not exactly a spiritual stimulant, and it blurs the calendar. i believe we fight on sundays oftener than on any other day." "but i'm crazy to see the president since ben's pardon. mamma will be here in a moment, and i'll ask her." "you see, it's really an occasion," phil went on. "the people are all going there to see president lincoln in the hour of his triumph, and his great general fresh from the field of victory. grant has just arrived in town." mrs. cameron entered and greeted phil with motherly tenderness. "captain, you're so much like my boy! had you noticed it, margaret?" "of course, mamma, but i was afraid i'd tire him with flattery if i tried to tell him." "only his hair is light and wavy, and ben's straight and black, or you'd call them twins. ben's a little taller--excuse us, captain stoneman, but we've fallen so in love with your little sister we feel we've known you all our lives." "i assure you, mrs. cameron, your flattery is very sweet. elsie and i do not remember our mother, and all this friendly criticism is more than welcome." "mamma, captain stoneman asks me to go with him and his sister to-night to see the president at the theatre. may i go?" "will the president be there, captain?" asked mrs. cameron. "yes, madam, with general and mrs. grant--it's really a great public function in celebration of peace and victory. to-day the flag was raised over fort sumter, the anniversary of its surrender four years ago. the city will be illuminated." "then, of course, you can go. i will sit with ben. i wish you to see the president." at seven o'clock phil called for margaret. they walked to the capitol hill and down pennsylvania avenue. the city was in a ferment. vast crowds thronged the streets. in front of the hotel where general grant stopped the throng was so dense the streets were completely blocked. soldiers, soldiers, soldiers, at every turn, in squads, in companies, in regimental crowds, shouting cries of victory. the display of lights was dazzling in its splendour. every building in every street, in every nook and corner of the city, was lighted from attic to cellar. the public buildings and churches vied with each other in the magnificence of their decorations and splendour of illuminations. they turned a corner, and suddenly the capitol on the throne of its imperial hill loomed a grand constellation in the heavens! another look, and it seemed a huge bonfire against the background of the dark skies. every window in its labyrinths of marble, from the massive base to its crowning statue of freedom, gleamed and flashed with light--more than ten thousand jets poured their rays through its windows, besides the innumerable lights that circled the mighty dome within and without. margaret stopped, and phil felt her soft hand grip his arm with sudden emotion. "isn't it sublime!" she whispered. "glorious!" he echoed. but he was thinking of the pressure of her hand on his arm and the subtle tones of her voice. somehow he felt that the light came from her eyes. he forgot the capitol and the surging crowds before the sweeter creative wonder silently growing in his soul. "and yet," she faltered, "when i think of what all this means for our people at home--their sorrow and poverty and ruin--you know it makes me faint." phil's hand timidly sought the soft one resting on his arm and touched it reverently. "believe me, miss margaret, it will be all for the best in the end. the south will yet rise to a nobler life than she has ever lived in the past. this is her victory as well as ours." "i wish i could think so," she answered. they passed the city hall and saw across its front, in giant letters of fire thirty feet deep, the words: "union, sherman, and grant" on pennsylvania avenue the hotels and stores had hung every window, awning, cornice, and swaying tree-top with lanterns. the grand avenue was bridged by tri-coloured balloons floating and shimmering ghostlike far up in the dark sky. above these, in the blacker zone toward the stars, the heavens were flashing sheets of chameleon flames from bursting rockets. margaret had never dreamed such a spectacle. she walked in awed silence, now and then suppressing a sob for the memory of those she had loved and lost. a moment of bitterness would cloud her heart, and then with the sense of phil's nearness, his generous nature, the beauty and goodness of his sister, and all they owed to her for ben's life, the cloud would pass. at every public building, and in front of every great hotel, bands were playing. the wild war strains, floating skyward, seemed part of the changing scheme of light. the odour of burnt powder and smouldering rockets filled the warm spring air. the deep bay of the great fort guns now began to echo from every hilltop commanding the city, while a thousand smaller guns barked and growled from every square and park and crossing. jay cooke & co's. banking-house had stretched across its front, in enormous blazing letters, the words: "the busy b's--balls, ballots, and bonds" every telegraph and newspaper office was a roaring whirlpool of excitement, for the same scenes were being enacted in every centre of the north. the whole city was now a fairy dream, its dirt and sin, shame and crime, all wrapped in glorious light. but above all other impressions was the contagion of the thunder shouts of hosts of men surging through the streets--the human roar with its animal and spiritual magnetism, wild, resistless, unlike any other force in the universe! margaret's hand again and again unconsciously tightened its hold on phil's arm, and he felt that the whole celebration had been gotten up for his benefit. they passed through a little park on their way to ford's theatre on th street, and the eye of the southern girl was quick to note the budding flowers and full-blown lilacs. "see what an early spring!" she cried. "i know the flowers at home are gorgeous now." "i shall hope to see you among them some day, when all the clouds have lifted," he said. she smiled and replied with simple earnestness: "a warm welcome will await your coming." and phil resolved to lose no time in testing it. they turned into th street, and in the middle of the block stood the plain three-story brick structure of ford's theatre, an enormous crowd surging about its five doorways and spreading out on the sidewalk and half across the driveway. "is that the theatre?" asked margaret. "yes." "why, it looks like a church without a steeple." "exactly what it really is, miss margaret. it was a baptist church. they turned it into a playhouse, by remodelling its gallery into a dress-circle and balcony and adding another gallery above. my grandmother stoneman is a devoted baptist, and was an attendant at this church. my father never goes to church, but he used to go here occasionally to please her. elsie and i frequently came." phil pushed his way rapidly through the crowd with a peculiar sense of pleasure in making a way for margaret and in defending her from the jostling throng. they found elsie at the door, stamping her foot with impatience. "well, i must say, phil, this is prompt for a soldier who had positive orders," she cried. "i've been here an hour." "nonsense, sis, i'm ahead of time," he protested. elsie held up her watch. "it's a quarter past eight. every seat is filled, and they've stopped selling standing-room. i hope you have good seats." "the best in the house to-night, the first row in the balcony dress-circle, opposite the president's box. we can see everything on the stage, in the box, and every nook and corner of the house." "then i'll forgive you for keeping me waiting." they ascended the stairs, pushed through the throng standing, and at last reached the seats. what a crowd! the building was a mass of throbbing humanity, and, over all, the hum of the thrilling wonder of peace and victory! the women in magnificent costumes, officers in uniforms flashing with gold, the show of wealth and power, the perfume of flowers and the music of violin and flutes gave margaret the impression of a dream, so sharp was the contrast with her own life and people in the south. the interior of the house was a billow of red, white, and blue. the president's box was wrapped in two enormous silk flags with gold-fringed edges gracefully draped and hanging in festoons. withers, the leader of the orchestra, was in high feather. he raised his baton with quick, inspired movement. it was for him a personal triumph, too. he had composed the music of a song for the occasion. it was dedicated to the president, and the programme announced that it would be rendered during the evening between the acts by a famous quartet, assisted by the whole company in chorus. the national flag would be draped about each singer, worn as the togas of ancient greece and rome. it was already known by the crowd that general and mrs. grant had left the city for the north and could not be present, but every eye was fixed on the door through which the president and mrs. lincoln would enter. it was the hour of his supreme triumph. [illustration: the assassination.] what a romance his life! the thought of it thrilled the crowd as they waited. a few years ago this tall, sad-faced man had floated down the sangamon river into a rough illinois town, ragged, penniless, friendless, alone, begging for work. four years before he had entered washington as president of the united states--but he came under cover of the night with a handful of personal friends, amid universal contempt for his ability and the loud expressed conviction of his failure from within and without his party. he faced a divided nation and the most awful civil convulsion in history. through it all he had led the nation in safety, growing each day in power and fame, until to-night, amid the victorious shouts of millions of a union fixed in eternal granite, he stood forth the idol of the people, the first great american, the foremost man of the world. there was a stir at the door, and the tall figure suddenly loomed in view of the crowd. with one impulse they leaped to their feet, and shout after shout shook the building. the orchestra was playing "hail to the chief!" but nobody heard it. they saw the chief! they were crying their own welcome in music that came from the rhythmic beat of human hearts. as the president walked along the aisle with mrs. lincoln, accompanied by senator harris' daughter and major rathbone, cheer after cheer burst from the crowd. he turned, his face beaming with pleasure, and bowed as he passed. the answer of the crowd shook the building to its foundations, and the president paused. his dark face flashed with emotion as he looked over the sea of cheering humanity. it was a moment of supreme exaltation. the people had grown to know and love and trust him, and it was sweet. his face, lit with the responsive fires of emotion, was transfigured. the soul seemed to separate itself from its dreamy, rugged dwelling-place and flash its inspiration from the spirit world. as around this man's personality had gathered the agony and horror of war, so now about his head glowed and gleamed in imagination the splendours of victory. margaret impulsively put her hand on phil's arm: "why, how southern he looks! how tall and dark and typical his whole figure!" "yes, and his traits of character even more typical," said phil. "on the surface, easy friendly ways and the tenderness of a woman--beneath, an iron will and lion heart. i like him. and what always amazes me is his universality. a southerner finds in him the south, the western man the west, even charles sumner, from boston, almost loves him. you know i think he is the first great all-round american who ever lived in the white house." the president's party had now entered the box, and as mr. lincoln took the armchair nearest the audience, in full view of every eye in the house, again the cheers rent the air. in vain withers' baton flew, and the orchestra did its best. the music was drowned as in the roar of the sea. again he rose and bowed and smiled, his face radiant with pleasure. the soul beneath those deep-cut lines had long pined for the sunlight. his love of the theatre and the humorous story were the protest of his heart against pain and tragedy. he stood there bowing to the people, the grandest, gentlest figure of the fiercest war of human history--a man who was always doing merciful things stealthily as others do crimes. little sunlight had come into his life, yet to-night he felt that the sun of a new day in his history and the history of the people was already tingeing the horizon with glory. back of those smiles what a story! many a night he had paced back and forth in the telegraph office of the war department, read its awful news of defeat, and alone sat down and cried over the list of the dead. many a black hour his soul had seen when the honours of earth were forgotten and his great heart throbbed on his sleeve. his character had grown so evenly and silently with the burdens he had borne, working mighty deeds with such little friction, he could not know, nor could the crowd to whom he bowed, how deep into the core of the people's life the love of him had grown. as he looked again over the surging crowd his tall figure seemed to straighten, erect and buoyant, with the new dignity of conscious triumphant leadership. he knew that he had come unto his own at last, and his brain was teeming with dreams of mercy and healing. the president resumed his seat, the tumult died away, and the play began amid a low hum of whispered comment directed at the flag-draped box. the actors struggled in vain to hold the attention of the audience, until finally hawk, the actor playing dundreary, determined to catch their ear, paused and said: "now, that reminds me of a little story, as mr. lincoln says----" instantly the crowd burst into a storm of applause, the president laughed, leaned over and spoke to his wife, and the electric connection was made between the stage, the box, and the people. after this the play ran its smooth course, and the audience settled into its accustomed humour of sympathetic attention. in spite of the novelty of this, her first view of a theatre, the president fascinated margaret. she watched the changing lights and shadows of his sensitive face with untiring interest, and the wonder of his life grew upon her imagination. this man who was the idol of the north and yet to her so purely southern, who had come out of the west and yet was greater than the west or the north, and yet always supremely human--this man who sprang to his feet from the chair of state and bowed to a sorrowing woman with the deference of a knight, every man's friend, good-natured, sensible, masterful and clear in intellect, strong, yet modest, kind and gentle--yes, he was more interesting than all the drama and romance of the stage! he held her imagination in a spell. elsie, divining her abstraction, looked toward the president's box and saw approaching it along the balcony aisle the figure of john wilkes booth. "look," she cried, touching margaret's arm. "there's john wilkes booth, the actor! isn't he handsome? they say he's in love with my chum, a senator's daughter whose father hates mr. lincoln with perfect fury." "he is handsome," margaret answered. "but i'd be afraid of him, with that raven hair and eyes shining like something wild." "they say he is wild and dissipated, yet half the silly girls in town are in love with him. he's as vain as a peacock." booth, accustomed to free access to the theatre, paused near the entrance to the box and looked deliberately over the great crowd, his magnetic face flushed with deep emotion, while his fiery inspiring eyes glittered with excitement. dressed in a suit of black broadcloth of faultless fit, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet he was physically without blemish. a figure of perfect symmetry and proportion, his dark eyes flashing, his marble forehead crowned with curling black hair, agility and grace stamped on every line of his being--beyond a doubt he was the handsomest man in america. a flutter of feminine excitement rippled the surface of the crowd in the balcony as his well-known figure caught the wandering eyes of the women. he turned and entered the door leading to the president's box, and margaret once more gave her attention to the stage. hawk, as dundreary, was speaking his lines and looking directly at the president instead of at the audience: "society, eh? well, i guess i know enough to turn you inside out, old woman, you darned old sockdologing man trap!" margaret winced at the coarse words, but the galleries burst into shouts of laughter that lingered in ripples and murmurs and the shuffling of feet. the muffled crack of a pistol in the president's box hushed the laughter for an instant. no one realized what had happened, and when the assassin suddenly leaped from the box, with a blood-marked knife flashing in his right hand, caught his foot in the flags and fell to his knees on the stage, many thought it a part of the programme, and a boy, leaning over the gallery rail, giggled. when booth turned his face of statuesque beauty lit by eyes flashing with insane desperation and cried, "_sic semper tyrannis_," they were only confirmed in this impression. a sudden, piercing scream from mrs. lincoln, quivering, soul harrowing! leaning far out of the box, from ashen cheeks and lips leaped the piteous cry of appeal, her hand pointing to the retreating figure: "the president is shot! he has killed the president!" every heart stood still for one awful moment. the brain refused to record the message--and then the storm burst! a wild roar of helpless fury and despair! men hurled themselves over the footlights in vain pursuit of the assassin. already the clatter of his horse's feet could be heard in the distance. a surgeon threw himself against the door of the box, but it had been barred within by the cunning hand. another leaped on the stage, and the people lifted him up in their arms and over the fatal railing. women began to faint, and strong men trampled down the weak in mad rushes from side to side. the stage in a moment was a seething mass of crazed men, among them the actors and actresses in costumes and painted faces, their mortal terror shining through the rouge. they passed water up to the box, and some tried to climb up and enter it. the two hundred soldiers of the president's guard suddenly burst in, and, amid screams and groans of the weak and injured, stormed the house with fixed bayonets, cursing, yelling, and shouting at the top of their voices: "clear out! clear out! you sons of hell!" one of them suddenly bore down with fixed bayonet toward phil. margaret shrank in terror close to his side and tremblingly held his arm. elsie sprang forward, her face aflame, her eyes flashing fire, her little figure tense, erect, and quivering with rage: "how dare you, idiot, brute!" the soldier, brought to his senses, saw phil in full captain's uniform before him, and suddenly drew himself up, saluting. phil ordered him to guard margaret and elsie for a moment, drew his sword, leaped between the crazed soldiers and their victims and stopped their insane rush. within the box the great head lay in the surgeon's arms, the blood slowly dripping down, and the tiny death bubbles forming on the kindly lips. they carried him tenderly out, and another group bore after him the unconscious wife. the people tore the seats from their fastenings and heaped them in piles to make way for the precious burdens. as phil pressed forward with margaret and elsie through the open door came the roar of the mob without, shouting its cries: "the president is shot!" "seward is murdered!" "where is grant?" "where is stanton?" "to arms! to arms!" the peal of signal guns could now be heard, the roll of drums and the hurried tramp of soldiers' feet. they marched none too soon. the mob had attacked the stockade holding ten thousand unarmed confederate prisoners. at the corner of the block in which the theatre stood they seized a man who looked like a southerner and hung him to the lamp-post. two heroic policemen fought their way to his side and rescued him. if the temper of the people during the war had been convulsive, now it was insane--with one mad impulse and one thought--vengeance! horror, anger, terror, uncertainty, each passion fanned the one animal instinct into fury. through this awful night, with the lights still gleaming as if to mock the celebration of victory, the crowds swayed in impotent rage through the streets, while the telegraph bore on the wings of lightning the awe-inspiring news. men caught it from the wires, and stood in silent groups weeping, and their wrath against the fallen south began to rise as the moaning of the sea under a coming storm. at dawn black clouds hung threatening on the eastern horizon. as the sun rose, tingeing them for a moment with scarlet and purple glory, abraham lincoln breathed his last. even grim stanton, the iron-hearted, stood by his bedside and through blinding tears exclaimed: "now he belongs to the ages!" the deed was done. the wheel of things had moved. vice-president johnson took the oath of office, and men hailed him chief; but the seat of empire had moved from the white house to a little dark house on the capitol hill, where dwelt an old club-footed man, alone, attended by a strange brown woman of sinister animal beauty and the restless eyes of a leopardess. chapter vii the frenzy of a nation phil hurried through the excited crowds with margaret and elsie, left them at the hospital door, and ran to the war department to report for duty. already the tramp of regiments echoed down every great avenue. even as he ran, his heart beat with a strange new stroke when he recalled the look of appeal in margaret's dark eyes as she nestled close to his side and clung to his arm for protection. he remembered with a smile the almost resistless impulse of the moment to slip his arm around her and assure her of safety. if he had only dared! elsie begged mrs. cameron and margaret to go home with her until the city was quiet. "no," said the mother. "i am not afraid. death has no terrors for me any longer. we will not leave ben a moment now, day or night. my soul is sick with dread for what this awful tragedy will mean for the south! i can't think of my own safety. can any one undo this pardon now?" she asked anxiously. "i am sure they cannot. the name on that paper should be mightier dead than living." "ah, but will it be? do you know mr. johnson? can he control stanton? he seemed to be more powerful than the president himself. what will that man do now with those who fall into his hands." "he can do nothing with your son, rest assured." "i wish i knew it," said the mother wistfully. * * * * * a few moments after the president died on saturday morning, the rain began to pour in torrents. the flags that flew from a thousand gilt-tipped peaks in celebration of victory drooped to half-mast and hung weeping around their staffs. the litter of burnt fireworks, limp and crumbling, strewed the streets, and the tri-coloured lanterns and balloons, hanging pathetically from their wires, began to fall to pieces. never in all the history of man had such a conjunction of events befallen a nation. from the heights of heaven's rejoicing to be suddenly hurled to the depths of hell in piteous helpless grief! noon to midnight without a moment between. a pall of voiceless horror spread its shadows over the land. nothing short of an earthquake or the sound of the archangel's trumpet could have produced the sense of helpless consternation, the black and speechless despair. the people read their papers in tears. the morning meal was untouched. by no other single feat could death have carried such peculiar horror to every home. around this giant figure the heartstrings of the people had been unconsciously knit. even his political enemies had come to love him. above all, in just this moment he was the incarnation of the triumphant union on the altar of whose life every house had laid the offering of its first-born. the tragedy was stupefying--it was unthinkable--it was the mockery of fate! men walked the streets of the cities, dazed with the sense of blind grief. every note of music and rejoicing became a dirge. all business ceased. every wheel in every mill stopped. the roar of the great city was hushed, and greed for a moment forgot his cunning. the army only moved with swifter spring, tightening its mighty grip on the throat of the bleeding prostrate south. as the day wore on its gloomy hours, and men began to find speech, they spoke to each other at first in low tones of fate, of life, of death, of immortality, of god--and then as grief found words the measureless rage of baffled strength grew slowly to madness. on every breeze from the north came the deep-muttered curses. easter sunday dawned after the storm, clear and beautiful in a flood of glorious sunshine. the churches were thronged as never in their history. all had been decorated for the double celebration of easter and the triumph of the union. the preachers had prepared sermons pitched in the highest anthem key of victory--victory over death and the grave of calvary, and victory for the nation opening a future of boundless glory. the churches were labyrinths of flowers, and around every pulpit and from every gothic arch hung the red, white, and blue flags of the republic. and now, as if to mock this gorgeous pageant, death had in the night flung a black mantle over every flag and wound a strangling web of crape round every easter flower. when the preachers faced the silent crowds before them, looking into the faces of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and lovers whose dear ones had been slain in battle or died in prison pens, the tide of grief and rage rose and swept them from their feet! the easter sermon was laid aside. fifty thousand christian ministers, stunned and crazed by insane passion, standing before the altars of god, hurled into the broken hearts before them the wildest cries of vengeance--cries incoherent, chaotic, unreasoning, blind in their awful fury! the pulpits of new york and brooklyn led in the madness. next morning old stoneman read his paper with a cold smile playing about his big stern mouth, while his furrowed brow flushed with triumph, as again and again he exclaimed: "at last! at last!" even beecher, who had just spoken his generous words at fort sumter, declared: "never while time lasts, while heaven lasts, while hell rocks and groans, will it be forgotten that slavery, by its minions, slew him, and slaying him made manifest its whole nature. a man cannot be bred in its tainted air. i shall find saints in hell sooner than i shall find true manhood under its accursed influences. the breeding-ground of such monsters must be utterly and forever destroyed." dr. stephen tyng said: "the leaders of this rebellion deserve no pity from any human being. now let them go. some other land must be their home. their property is justly forfeited to the nation they have attempted to destroy!" in big black-faced type stood dr. charles s. robinson's bitter words: "this is the earliest reply which chivalry makes to our forbearance. talk to me no more of the same race, of the same blood. he is no brother of mine and of no race of mine who crowns the barbarism of treason with the murder of an unarmed husband in the sight of his wife. on the villains who led this rebellion let justice fall swift and relentless. death to every traitor of the south! pursue them one by one! let every door be closed upon them and judgment follow swift and implacable as death!" dr. theodore cuyler exclaimed: "this is no time to talk of leniency and conciliation! i say before god, make no terms with rebellion short of extinction. booth wielding the assassin's weapon is but the embodiment of the bowie-knife barbarism of a slaveholding oligarchy." dr. j. p. thompson said: "blot every southern state from the map. strip every rebel of property and citizenship, and send them into exile beggared and infamous outcasts." bishop littlejohn, in his impassioned appeal, declared: "the deed is worthy of the southern cause which was conceived in sin, brought forth in iniquity, and consummated in crime. this murderous hand is the same hand which lashed the slave's bared back, struck down new england's senator for daring to speak, lifted the torch of rebellion, slaughtered in cold blood its thousands, and starved our helpless prisoners. its end is not martyrdom, but dishonour." bishop simpson said: "let every man who was a member of congress and aided this rebellion be brought to speedy punishment. let every officer educated at public expense, who turned his sword against his country, be doomed to a traitor's death!" with the last note of this wild music lingering in the old commoner's soul, he sat as if dreaming, laughed cynically, turned to the brown woman and said: "my speeches have not been lost after all. prepare dinner for six. my cabinet will meet here to-night." while the press was reëchoing these sermons, gathering strength as they were caught and repeated in every town, village, and hamlet in the north, the funeral procession started westward. it passed in grandeur through the great cities on its journey of one thousand six hundred miles to the tomb. by day, by night, by dawn, by sunlight, by twilight, and lit by solemn torches, millions of silent men and women looked on his dead face. around the person of this tall, lonely man, rugged, yet full of sombre dignity and spiritual beauty, the thoughts, hopes, dreams, and ideals of the people had gathered in four years of agony and death, until they had come to feel their own hearts beat in his breast and their own life throb in his life. the assassin's bullet had crashed into their own brains, and torn their souls and bodies asunder. the masses were swept from their moorings, and reason destroyed. all historic perspective was lost. our first assassination, there was no precedent for comparison. it had been over two hundred years in the world's history since the last murder of a great ruler, when william of orange fell. on the day set for the public funeral twenty million people bowed at the same hour. when the procession reached new york the streets were lined with a million people. not a sound could be heard save the tramp of soldiers' feet and the muffled cry of the dirge. though on every foot of earth stood a human being, the silence of the desert and of death! the nation's living heroes rode in that procession, and passed without a sign from the people. four years ago he drove down broadway as president-elect, unnoticed and with soldiers in disguise attending him lest the mob should stone him. to-day, at the mention of his name in the churches, the preachers' voices in prayer wavered and broke into silence while strong men among the crowd burst into sobs. flags flew at half-mast from their steeples, and their bells tolled in grief. every house that flew but yesterday its banner of victory was shrouded in mourning. the flags and pennants of a thousand ships in the harbour drooped at half-mast, and from every staff in the city streamed across the sky the black mists of crape like strange meteors in the troubled heavens. for three days every theatre, school, court, bank, shop, and mill was closed. and with muttered curses men looked southward. across broadway the cortège passed under a huge transparency on which appeared the words: "a nation bowed in grief will rise in might to exterminate the leaders of this accursed rebellion." farther along swung the black-draped banner: "justice to traitors is mercy to the people." another flapped its grim message: "the barbarism of slavery. can barbarism go further?" across the ninth regiment armoury, in gigantic letters, were the words: "time for weeping but vengeance is not sleeping!" when the procession reached buffalo, the house of millard fillmore was mobbed because the ex-president, stricken on a bed of illness, had neglected to drape his house in mourning. the procession passed to springfield through miles of bowed heads dumb with grief. the plough stopped in the furrow, the smith dropped his hammer, the carpenter his plane, the merchant closed his door, the clink of coin ceased, and over all hung brooding silence with low-muttered curses, fierce and incoherent. no man who walked the earth ever passed to his tomb through such a storm of human tears. the pageants of alexander, cæsar, and wellington were tinsel to this. nor did the spirit of napoleon, the corsican lieutenant of artillery who once presided over a congress of kings whom he had conquered, look down on its like even in france. and now that its pomp was done and its memory but bitterness and ashes, but one man knew exactly what he wanted and what he meant to do. others were stunned by the blow. but the cold eyes of the great commoner, leader of leaders, sparkled, and his grim lips smiled. from him not a word of praise or fawning sorrow for the dead. whatever he might be, he was not a liar: when he hated, he hated. the drooping flags, the city's black shrouds, processions, torches, silent seas of faces and bared heads, the dirges and the bells, the dim-lit churches, wailing organs, fierce invectives from the altar, and the perfume of flowers piled in heaps by silent hearts--to all these was he heir. and more--the fierce unwritten, unspoken, and unspeakable horrors of the war itself, its passions, its cruelties, its hideous crimes and sufferings, the wailing of its women, the graves of its men--all these now were his. the new president bowed to the storm. in one breath he promised to fulfil the plans of lincoln. in the next he, too, breathed threats of vengeance. the edict went forth for the arrest of general lee. would grant, the commanding general of the army, dare protest? there were those who said that if lee were arrested and grant's plighted word at appomattox smirched, the silent soldier would not only protest, but draw his sword, if need be, to defend his honour and the honour of the nation. yet--would he dare? it remained to be seen. the jails were now packed with southern men, taken unarmed from their homes. the old capitol prison was full, and every cell of every grated building in the city, and they were filling the rooms of the capitol itself. margaret, hurrying from the market in the early morning with her flowers, was startled to find her mother bowed in anguish over a paragraph in the morning paper. she rose and handed it to the daughter, who read: "dr. richard cameron, of south carolina, arrived in washington and was placed in jail last night, charged with complicity in the murder of president lincoln. it was discovered that jeff davis spent the night at his home in piedmont, under the pretence of needing medical attention. beyond all doubt, booth, the assassin, merely acted under orders from the arch traitor. may the gallows have a rich and early harvest!" margaret tremblingly wound her arms around her mother's neck. no words broke the pitiful silence--only blinding tears and broken sobs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- book ii--the revolution chapter i the first lady of the land the little house on the capitol hill now became the centre of fevered activity. this house, selected by its grim master to become the executive mansion of the nation, was perhaps the most modest structure ever chosen for such high uses. it stood, a small, two-story brick building, in an unpretentious street. seven windows opened on the front with black solid-panelled shutters. the front parlour was scantily furnished. a huge mirror covered one wall, and on the other hung a life-size oil portrait of stoneman, and between the windows were a portrait of washington irving and a picture of a nun. among his many charities he had always given liberally to an orphanage conducted by a roman catholic sisterhood. the back parlour, whose single window looked out on a small garden, he had fitted up as a library, with leather-upholstered furniture, a large desk and table, and scattered on the mantel and about its walls were the photographs of his personal friends and a few costly prints. this room he used as his executive office, and no person was allowed to enter it without first stating his business or presenting a petition to the tawny brown woman with restless eyes who sat in state in the front parlour and received his visitors. the books in their cases gave evidence of little use for many years, although their character indicated the tastes of a man of culture. his pliny, cæsar, cicero, tacitus, sophocles, and homer had evidently been read by a man who knew their beauties and loved them for their own sake. this house was now the mecca of the party in power and the storm-centre of the forces destined to shape the nation's life. senators, representatives, politicians of low and high degree, artists, correspondents, foreign ministers, and cabinet officers hurried to acknowledge their fealty to the uncrowned king, and hail the strange brown woman who held the keys of his house as the first lady of the land. when charles sumner called, a curious thing happened. by a code agreed on between them, lydia brown touched an electric signal which informed the old commoner of his appearance. stoneman hobbled to the folding-doors and watched through the slight opening the manner in which the icy senator greeted the negress whom he was compelled to meet thus as his social equal, though she was always particular to pose as the superior of all who bowed the knee to the old man whose house she kept. sumner at this time was supposed to be the most powerful man in congress. it was a harmless fiction which pleased him, and at which stoneman loved to laugh. the senator from massachusetts had just made a speech in boston expounding the "equality of man," yet he could not endure personal contact with a negro. he would go secretly miles out of the way to avoid it. stoneman watched him slowly and daintily approach this negress and touch her jewelled hand gingerly with the tips of his classic fingers as if she were a toad. convulsed, he scrambled back to his desk and hugged himself while he listened to the flow of lydia's condescending patronage in the next room. "this world's too good a thing to lose!" he chuckled. "i think i'll live always." when sumner left, the hour for dinner had arrived, and by special invitation two men dined with him. on his right sat an army officer who had been dismissed from the service, a victim of the mania for gambling. his ruddy face, iron-gray hair, and jovial mien indicated that he enjoyed life in spite of troubles. there were no clubs in washington at this time except the regular gambling-houses, of which there were more than one hundred in full blast. stoneman was himself a gambler, and spent a part of almost every night at hall & pemberton's faro palace on pennsylvania avenue, a place noted for its famous restaurant. it was here that he met colonel howle and learned to like him. he was a man of talent, cool and audacious, and a liar of such singular fluency that he quite captivated the old commoner's imagination. "upon my soul, howle," he declared soon after they met, "you made the mistake of your life going into the army. you're a born politician. you're what i call a natural liar, just as a horse is a pacer, a dog a setter. you lie without effort, with an ease and grace that excels all art. had you gone into politics, you could easily have been secretary of state, to say nothing of the vice-presidency. i would say president but for the fact that men of the highest genius never attain it." from that moment colonel howle had become his charmed henchman. stoneman owned this man body and soul, not merely because he had befriended him when he was in trouble and friendless, but because the colonel recognized the power of the leader's daring spirit and revolutionary genius. on his left sat a negro of perhaps forty years, a man of charming features for a mulatto, who had evidently inherited the full physical characteristics of the aryan race, while his dark yellowish eyes beneath his heavy brows glowed with the brightness of the african jungle. it was impossible to look at his superb face, with its large, finely chiselled lips and massive nose, his big neck and broad shoulders, and watch his eyes gleam beneath the projecting forehead, without seeing pictures of the primeval forest. "the head of a cæsar and the eyes of the jungle" was the phrase coined by an artist who painted his portrait. his hair was black and glossy and stood in dishevelled profusion on his head between a kink and a curl. he was an orator of great power, and stirred a negro audience as by magic. lydia brown had called stoneman's attention to this man, silas lynch, and induced the statesman to send him to college. he had graduated with credit and had entered the methodist ministry. in his preaching to the freedmen he had already become a marked man. no house could hold his audiences. as he stepped briskly into the dining-room and passed the brown woman, a close observer might have seen him suddenly press her hand and caught her sly answering smile, but the old man waiting at the head of the table saw nothing. the woman took her seat opposite stoneman and presided over this curious group with the easy assurance of conscious power. whatever her real position, she knew how to play the role she had chosen to assume. no more curious or sinister figure ever cast a shadow across the history of a great nation than did this mulatto woman in the most corrupt hour of american life. the grim old man who looked into her sleek tawny face and followed her catlike eyes was steadily gripping the nation by the throat. did he aim to make this woman the arbiter of its social life, and her ethics the limit of its moral laws? even the white satellite who sat opposite lynch flushed for a moment as the thought flashed through his brain. the old cynic, who alone knew his real purpose, was in his most genial mood to-night, and the grim lines of his powerful face relaxed into something like a smile as they ate and chatted and told good stories. lynch watched him with keen interest. he knew his history and character, and had built on his genius a brilliant scheme of life. this man who meant to become the dictator of the republic had come from the humblest early conditions. his father was a worthless character, from whom he had learned the trade of a shoemaker, but his mother, a woman of vigorous intellect and indomitable will, had succeeded in giving her lame boy a college education. he had early sworn to be a man of wealth, and to this purpose he had throttled the dreams and ideals of a wayward imagination. his hope of great wealth had not been realized. his iron mills in pennsylvania had been destroyed by lee's army. he had developed the habit of gambling, which brought its train of extravagant habits, tastes, and inevitable debts. in his vigorous manhood, in spite of his lameness, he had kept a pack of hounds and a stable of fine horses. he had used his skill in shoemaking to construct a set of stirrups to fit his lame feet, and had become an expert hunter to hounds. one thing he never neglected--to be in his seat in the house of representatives and wear its royal crown of leadership, sick or well, day or night. the love of power was the breath of his nostrils, and his ambitions had at one time been boundless. his enormous power to-day was due to the fact that he had given up all hope of office beyond the robes of the king of his party. he had been offered a cabinet position by the elder harrison and for some reason it had been withdrawn. he had been promised a place in lincoln's cabinet, but some mysterious power had snatched it away. he was the one great man who had now no ambition for which to trim and fawn and lie, and for the very reason that he had abolished himself he was the most powerful leader who ever walked the halls of congress. his contempt for public opinion was boundless. bold, original, scornful of advice, of all the men who ever lived in our history he was the one man born to rule in the chaos which followed the assassination of the chief magistrate. audacity was stamped in every line of his magnificent head. his choicest curses were for the cowards of his own party before whose blanched faces he shouted out the hidden things until they sank back in helpless silence and dismay. his speech was curt, his humour sardonic, his wit biting, cruel, and coarse. the incarnate soul of revolution, he despised convention and ridiculed respectability. there was but one weak spot in his armour--and the world never suspected it: the consuming passion with which he loved his two children. this was the side of his nature he had hidden from the eyes of man. a refined egotism, this passion, perhaps--for he meant to live his own life over in them--yet it was the one utterly human and lovable thing about him. and if his public policy was one of stupendous avarice, this dream of millions of confiscated wealth he meant to seize, it was not for himself but for his children. as he looked at howle and lynch seated in his library after dinner, with his great plans seething in his brain, his eyes were flashing, intense, and fiery, yet without colour--simply two centres of cold light. "gentlemen," he said at length. "i am going to ask you to undertake for the government, the nation, and yourselves a dangerous and important mission. i say yourselves, because, in spite of all our beautiful lies, self is the centre of all human action. mr. lincoln has fortunately gone to his reward--fortunately for him and for his country. his death was necessary to save his life. he was a useful man living, more useful dead. our party has lost its first president, but gained a god--why mourn?" "we will recover from our grief," said howle. the old man went on, ignoring the interruption: "things have somehow come my way. i am almost persuaded late in life that the gods love me. the insane fury of the north against the south for a crime which they were the last people on earth to dream of committing is, of course, a power to be used--but with caution. the first execution of a southern leader on such an idiotic charge would produce a revolution of sentiment. the people are an aggregation of hysterical fools." "i thought you favoured the execution of the leaders of the rebellion?" said lynch with surprise. "i did, but it is too late. had they been tried by drum-head court-martial and shot dead red-handed as they stood on the field in their uniforms, all would have been well. now sentiment is too strong. grant showed his teeth to stanton and he backed down from lee's arrest. sherman refused to shake hands with stanton on the grandstand the day his army passed in review, and it's a wonder he didn't knock him down. sherman was denounced as a renegade and traitor for giving joseph e. johnston the terms lincoln ordered him to give. lincoln dead, his terms are treason! yet had he lived, we should have been called upon to applaud his mercy and patriotism. how can a man live in this world and keep his face straight?" "i believe god permitted mr. lincoln's death to give the great commoner, the leader of leaders, the right of way," cried lynch with enthusiasm. the old man smiled. with all his fierce spirit he was as susceptible to flattery as a woman--far more so than the sleek brown woman who carried the keys of his house. "the man at the other end of the avenue, who pretends to be president, in reality an alien of the conquered province of tennessee, is pressing lincoln's plan of 'restoring' the union. he has organized state governments in the south, and their senators and representatives will appear at the capitol in december for admission to congress. he thinks they will enter----" the old man broke into a low laugh and rubbed his hands. "my full plans are not for discussion at this juncture. suffice it to say, i mean to secure the future of our party and the safety of this nation. the one thing on which the success of my plan absolutely depends is the confiscation of the millions of acres of land owned by the white people of the south and its division among the negroes and those who fought and suffered in this war----" the old commoner paused, pursed his lips, and fumbled his hands a moment, the nostrils of his eagle-beaked nose breathing rapacity, sensuality throbbing in his massive jaws, and despotism frowning from his heavy brows. "stanton will probably add to the hilarity of nations, and amuse himself by hanging a few rebels," he went on, "but we will address ourselves to serious work. all men have their price, including the present company, with due apologies to the speaker----" howle's eyes danced, and he licked his lips. "if i haven't suffered in this war, who has?" "your reward will not be in accordance with your sufferings. it will be based on the efficiency with which you obey my orders. read that----" he handed to him a piece of paper on which he had scrawled his secret instructions. another he gave to lynch. "hand them back to me when you read them, and i will burn them. these instructions are not to pass the lips of any man until the time is ripe--four bare walls are not to hear them whispered." both men handed to the leader the slips of paper simultaneously. "are we agreed, gentlemen?" "perfectly," answered howle. "your word is law to me, sir," said lynch. "then you will draw on me personally for your expenses, and leave for the south within forty-eight hours. i wish your reports delivered to me two weeks before the meeting of congress." as lynch passed through the hall on his way to the door, the brown woman bade him good-night and pressed into his hand a letter. as his yellow fingers closed on the missive, his eyes flashed for a moment with catlike humour. the woman's face wore the mask of a sphinx. chapter ii sweethearts when the first shock of horror at her husband's peril passed, it left a strange new light in mrs. cameron's eyes. the heritage of centuries of heroic blood from the martyrs of old scotland began to flash its inspiration from the past. her heart beat with the unconscious life of men and women who had stood in the stocks, and walked in chains to the stake with songs on their lips. the threat against the life of doctor cameron had not only stirred her martyr blood: it had roused the latent heroism of a beautiful girlhood. to her he had ever been the lover and the undimmed hero of her girlish dreams. she spent whole hours locked in her room alone. margaret knew that she was on her knees. she always came forth with shining face and with soft words on her lips. she struggled for two months in vain efforts to obtain a single interview with him, or to obtain a copy of the charges. doctor cameron had been placed in the old capitol prison, already crowded to the utmost. he was in delicate health, and so ill when she had left home he could not accompany her to richmond. not a written or spoken word was allowed to pass those prison doors. she could communicate with him only through the officers in charge. every message from him was the same. "i love you always. do not worry. go home the moment you can leave ben. i fear the worst at piedmont." when he had sent this message, he would sit down and write the truth in a little diary he kept: "another day of anguish. how long, o lord? just one touch of her hand, one last pressure of her lips, and i am content. i have no desire to live--i am tired." the officers repeated the verbal messages, but they made no impression on mrs. cameron. by a mental telepathy which had always linked her life with his her soul had passed those prison bars. if he had written the pitiful record with a dagger's point on her heart, she could not have felt it more keenly. at times overwhelmed, she lay prostrate and sobbed in half-articulate cries. and then from the silence and mystery of the spirit world in which she felt the beat of the heart of eternal love would come again the strange peace that passeth understanding. she would rise and go forth to her task with a smile. in july she saw mrs. surratt taken from this old capitol prison to be hung with payne, herold, and atzerodt for complicity in the assassination. the military commission before whom this farce of justice was enacted, suspicious of the testimony of the perjured wretches who had sworn her life away, had filed a memorandum with their verdict asking the president for mercy. president johnson never saw this memorandum. it was secretly removed in the war department, and only replaced after he had signed the death warrant. in vain annie surratt, the weeping daughter, flung herself on the steps of the white house on the fatal day, begging and praying to see the president. she could not believe they would allow her mother to be murdered in the face of a recommendation of mercy. the fatal hour struck at last, and the girl left the white house with set eyes and blanched face, muttering incoherent curses. the chief magistrate sat within, unconscious of the hideous tragedy that was being enacted in his name. when he discovered the infamy by which he had been made the executioner of an innocent woman, he made his first demand that edwin m. stanton resign from his cabinet as secretary of war. and for the first time in the history of america, a cabinet officer waived the question of honour and refused to resign. with a shudder and blush of shame, strong men saw that day the executioner gather the ropes tightly three times around the dress of an innocent american mother and bind her ankles with cords. she fainted and sank backward upon the attendants, the poor limbs yielding at last to the mortal terror of death. but they propped her up and sprung the fatal trap. a feeling of uncertainty and horror crept over the city and the nation, as rumours of the strange doings of the "bureau of military justice," with its secret factory of testimony and powers of tampering with verdicts, began to find their way in whispered stories among the people. public opinion, however, had as yet no power of adjustment. it was an hour of lapse to tribal insanity. things had gone wrong. the demand for a scapegoat, blind, savage, and unreasoning, had not spent itself. the government could do anything as yet, and the people would applaud. mrs. cameron had tried in vain to gain a hearing before the president. each time she was directed to apply to mr. stanton. she refused to attempt to see him, and again turned to elsie for help. she had learned that the same witnesses who had testified against mrs. surratt were being used to convict doctor cameron, and her heart was sick with fear. "ask your father," she pleaded, "to write president johnson a letter in my behalf. whatever his politics, he can't be _your_ father and not be good at heart." elsie paled for a moment. it was the one request she had dreaded. she thought of her father and stanton with dread. how far he was supporting the secretary of war she could only vaguely guess. he rarely spoke of politics to her, much as he loved her. "i'll try, mrs. cameron," she faltered. "my father is in town to-day and takes dinner with us before he leaves for pennsylvania to-night. i'll go at once." with fear, and yet boldly, she went straight home to present her request. she knew he was a man who never cherished small resentments, however cruel and implacable might be his public policies. and yet she dreaded to put it to the test. "father, i've a very important request to make of you," she said gravely. "very well, my child, you need not be so solemn. what is it?" "i've some friends in great distress--mrs. cameron, of south carolina, and her daughter margaret." "friends of yours?" he asked with an incredulous smile. "where on earth did you find them?" "in the hospital, of course. mrs. cameron is not allowed to see her husband, who has been here in jail for over two months. he cannot write to her, nor can he receive a letter from her. he is on trial for his life, is ill and helpless, and is not allowed to know the charges against him, while hired witnesses and detectives have broken open his house, searched his papers, and are ransacking heaven and earth to convict him of a crime of which he never dreamed. it's a shame. you don't approve of such things, i know?" "what's the use of my expressing an opinion when you have already settled it?" he answered good-humouredly. "you _don't_ approve of such injustice?" "certainly not, my child. stanton's frantic efforts to hang a lot of prominent southern men for complicity in booth's crime is sheer insanity. nobody who has any sense believes them guilty. as a politician i use popular clamour for my purposes, but i am not an idiot. when i go gunning, i never use a popgun or hunt small game." "then you will write the president a letter asking that they be allowed to see doctor cameron?" the old man frowned. "think, father, if you were in jail and friendless, and i were trying to see you----" "tut, tut, my dear, it's not that i am unwilling--i was only thinking of the unconscious humour of _my_ making a request of the man who at present accidentally occupies the white house. of all the men on earth, this alien from the province of tennessee! but i'll do it for you. when did you ever know me to deny my help to a weak man or woman in distress?" "never, father. i was sure you would do it," she answered warmly. he wrote the letter at once and handed it to her. she bent and kissed him. "i can't tell you how glad i am to know that you have no part in such injustice." "you should not have believed me such a fool, but i'll forgive you for the kiss. run now with this letter to your rebel friends, you little traitor! wait a minute----" he shuffled to his feet, placed his hand tenderly on her head, and stooped and kissed the shining hair. "i wonder if you know how i love you? how i've dreamed of your future? i may not see you every day as i wish; i'm absorbed in great affairs. but more and more i think of you and phil. i'll have a big surprise for you both some day." "your love is all i ask," she answered simply. within an hour, mrs. cameron found herself before the new president. the letter had opened the door as by magic. she poured out her story with impetuous eloquence while mr. johnson listened in uneasy silence. his ruddy face, his hesitating manner, and restless eyes were in striking contrast to the conscious power of the tall dark man who had listened so tenderly and sympathetically to her story of ben but a few weeks before. the president asked: "have you seen mr. stanton?" "i have seen him once," she cried with sudden passion. "it is enough. if that man were god on his throne, i would swear allegiance to the devil and fight him!" the president lifted his eyebrows and his lips twitched with a smile: "i shouldn't say that your spirits are exactly drooping! i'd like to be near and hear you make that remark to the distinguished secretary of war." "will you grant my prayer?" she pleaded. "i will consider the matter," he promised evasively. mrs. cameron's heart sank. "mr. president," she cried bitterly, "i have felt sure that i had but to see you face to face and you could not deny me. surely it is but justice that he have the right to see his loved ones, to consult with counsel, to know the charges against him, and defend his life when attacked in his poverty and ruin by all the power of a mighty government? he is feeble and broken in health and suffering from wounds received carrying the flag of the union to victory in mexico. whatever his errors of judgment in this war, it is a shame that a nation for which he once bared his breast in battle should treat him as an outlaw without a trial." "you must remember, madam," interrupted the president, "that these are extraordinary times, and that popular clamour, however unjust, will make itself felt and must be heeded by those in power. i am sorry for you, and i trust it may be possible for me to grant your request." "but i wish it now," she urged. "he sends me word i must go home. i can't leave without seeing him. i will die first." she drew closer and continued in throbbing tones: "mr. president, you are a native carolinian--you are of scotch covenanter blood. you are of my own people of the great past, whose tears and sufferings are our common glory and birthright. come, you must hear me--i will take no denial. give me now the order to see my husband!" the president hesitated, struggling with deep emotion, called his secretary, and gave the order. as she hurried away with elsie, who insisted on accompanying her to the jail door, the girl said: "mrs. cameron, i fear you are without money. you must let me help you until you can return it." "you are the dearest little heart i've met in all the world, i think sometimes," said the older woman, looking at her tenderly. "i wonder how i can ever pay you for half you've done already." "the doing of it has been its own reward," was the soft reply. "may i help you?" "if i need it, yes. but i trust it will not be necessary. i still have a little store of gold doctor cameron was wise enough to hoard during the war. i brought half of it with me when i left home, and we buried the rest. i hope to find it on my return. and if we can save the twenty bales of cotton we have hidden we shall be relieved of want." "i'm ashamed of my country when i think of such ignoble methods as have been used against doctor cameron. my father is indignant, too." the last sentence elsie spoke with eager girlish pride. "i am very grateful to your father for his letter. i am sorry he has left the city before i could meet and thank him personally. you must tell him for me." at the jail the order of the president was not honoured for three hours, and mrs. cameron paced the street in angry impatience at first and then in dull despair. "do you think that man stanton would dare defy the president?" she asked anxiously. "no," said elsie, "but he is delaying as long as possible as an act of petty tyranny." at last the messenger arrived from the war department permitting an order of the chief magistrate of the nation, the commander-in-chief of its army and navy, to be executed. the grated door swung on its heavy hinges, and the wife and mother lay sobbing in the arms of the lover of her youth. for two hours they poured into each other's hearts the story of their sorrows and struggles during the six fateful months that had passed. when she would return from every theme back to his danger, he would laugh her fears to scorn. "nonsense, my dear, i'm as innocent as a babe. mr. davis was suffering from erysipelas, and i kept him in my house that night to relieve his pain. it will all blow over. i'm happy now that i have seen you. ben will be up in a few days. you must return at once. you have no idea of the wild chaos at home. i left jake in charge. i have implicit faith in him, but there's no telling what may happen. i will not spend another moment in peace until you go." the proud old man spoke of his own danger with easy assurance. he was absolutely certain, since the day of mrs. surratt's execution, that he would be railroaded to the gallows by the same methods. he had long looked on the end with indifference, and had ceased to desire to live except to see his loved ones again. in vain she warned him of danger. "my peril is nothing, my love," he answered quietly. "at home, the horrors of a servile reign of terror have become a reality. these prison walls do not interest me. my heart is with our stricken people. you must go home. our neighbour, mr. lenoir, is slowly dying. his wife will always be a child. little marion is older and more self-reliant. i feel as if they are our own children. there are so many who need us. they have always looked to me for guidance and help. you can do more for them than any one else. my calling is to heal others. you have always helped me. do now as i ask you." at last she consented to leave for piedmont on the following day, and he smiled. "kiss ben and margaret for me and tell them that i'll be with them soon," he said cheerily. he meant in the spirit, not the flesh. not the faintest hope of life even flickered in his mind. in the last farewell embrace a faint tremor of the soul, half sigh, half groan, escaped his lips, and he drew her again to his breast, whispering: "always my sweetheart, good, beautiful, brave, and true!" chapter iii the joy of living within two weeks after the departure of mrs. cameron and margaret, the wounded soldier had left the hospital with elsie's hand resting on his arm and her keen eyes watching his faltering steps. she had promised margaret to take her place until he was strong again. she was afraid to ask herself the meaning of the songs that were welling up from the depth of her own soul. she told herself again and again that she was fulfilling her ideal of unselfish human service. ben's recovery was rapid, and he soon began to give evidence of his boundless joy in the mere fact of life. he utterly refused to believe his father in danger. "what, my dad a conspirator, an assassin!" he cried, with a laugh. "why, he wouldn't kill a flea without apologising to it. and as for plots and dark secrets, he never had a secret in his life and couldn't keep one if he had it. my mother keeps all the family secrets. crime couldn't stick to him any more than dirty water to a duck's back!" "but we must secure his release on parole, that he may defend himself." "of course. but we won't cross any bridges till we come to them. i never saw things so bad they couldn't be worse. just think what i've been through. the war's over. don't worry." he looked at her tenderly. "get that banjo and play 'get out of the wilderness!'" his spirit was contagious and his good humour resistless. elsie spent the days of his convalescence in an unconscious glow of pleasure in his companionship. his handsome boyish face, his bearing, his whole personality, invited frankness and intimacy. it was a divine gift, this magnetism, the subtle meeting of quick intelligence, tact, and sympathy. his voice was tender and penetrating, with soft caresses in its tones. his vision of life was large and generous, with a splendid carelessness about little things that didn't count. each day elsie saw new and striking traits of his character which drew her. "what will we do if stanton arrests you one of these fine days?" she asked him one day. "afraid they'll nab me for something?" he exclaimed. "well, that is a joke. don't you worry. the yankees know who to fool with. i licked 'em too many times for them to bother me any more." "i was under the impression that you got licked," elsie observed. "don't you believe it. we wore ourselves out whipping the other fellows." elsie smiled, took up the banjo, and asked him to sing while she played. she had no idea that he could sing, yet to her surprise he sang his camp songs boldly, tenderly, and with deep, expressive feeling. as the girl listened, the memory of the horrible hours of suspense she had spent with his mother when his unconscious life hung on a thread came trooping back into her heart and a tear dimmed her eyes. and he began to look at her with a new wonder and joy slowly growing in his soul. chapter iv hidden treasure ben had spent a month of vain effort to secure his father's release. he had succeeded in obtaining for him a removal to more comfortable quarters, books to read, and the privilege of a daily walk under guard and parole. the doctor's genial temper, the wide range of his knowledge, the charm of his personality, and his heroism in suffering had captivated the surgeons who attended him and made friends of every jailer and guard. elsie was now using all her woman's wit to secure a copy of the charges against him as formulated by the judge advocate general, who, in defiance of civil law, still claimed control of these cases. to the boy's sanguine temperament the whole proceeding had been a huge farce from the beginning, and at the last interview with his father he had literally laughed him into good humour. "look here, pa," he cried. "i believe you're trying to slip off and leave us in this mess. it's not fair. it's easy to die." "who said i was going to die?" "i heard you were trying to crawl out that way." "well, it's a mistake. i'm going to live just for the fun of disappointing my enemies and to keep you company. but you'd better get hold of a copy of these charges against me--if you don't want me to escape." "it's a funny world if a man can be condemned to death without any information on the subject." "my son, we are now in the hands of the revolutionists, army sutlers, contractors, and adventurers. the nation will touch the lowest tide-mud of its degradation within the next few years. no man can predict the end." "oh, go 'long!" said ben. "you've got jail cobwebs in your eyes." "i'm depending on you." "i'll pull you through if you don't lie down on me and die to get out of trouble. you know you _can_ die if you try hard enough." "i promise you, my boy," he said with a laugh. "then i'll let you read this letter from home," ben said, suddenly thrusting it before him. the doctor's hand trembled a little as he put on his glasses and read: _my dear boy_: i cannot tell you how much good your bright letters have done us. it's like opening the window and letting in the sunlight while fresh breezes blow through one's soul. margaret and i have had stirring times. i send you enclosed an order for the last dollar of money we have left. you must hoard it. make it last until your father is safe at home. i dare not leave it here. nothing is safe. every piece of silver and everything that could be carried has been stolen since we returned. uncle aleck betrayed the place jake had hidden our twenty precious bales of cotton. the war is long since over, but the "treasury agent" declared them confiscated, and then offered to relieve us of his order if we gave him five bales, each worth three hundred dollars in gold. i agreed, and within a week another thief came and declared the other fifteen bales confiscated. they steal it, and the government never gets a cent. we dared not try to sell it in open market, as every bale exposed for sale is "confiscated" at once. no crop was planted this summer. the negroes are all drawing rations at the freedman's bureau. we have turned our house into a hotel, and our table has become famous. margaret is a treasure. she has learned to do everything. we tried to raise a crop on the farm when we came home, but the negroes stopped work. the agent of the bureau came to us and said he could send them back for a fee of $ . we paid it, and they worked a week. we found it easier to run a hotel. we hope to start the farm next year. our new minister at the presbyterian church is young, handsome, and eloquent--rev. hugh mcalpin. mr. lenoir died last week--but his end was so beautiful, our tears were half joy. he talked incessantly of your father and how the country missed him. he seemed much better the day before the end came, and we took him for a little drive to lovers' leap. it was there, sixteen years ago, he made love to jeannie. when we propped him up on the rustic seat, and he looked out over the cliff and the river below, i have never seen a face so transfigured with peace and joy. "what a beautiful world it is, my dears!" he exclaimed, taking jeannie and marion both by the hand. they began to cry, and he said with a smile: "come now--do you love me?" and they covered his hands with kisses. "well, then you must promise me two things faithfully here, with mrs. cameron to witness!" "we promise," they both said in a breath. "that when i fall asleep, not one thread of black shall ever cloud the sunlight of our little home, that you will never wear it, and that you will show your love for me by making my flowers grow richer, that you will keep my memory green by always being as beautiful as you are to-day, and make this old world a sweeter place to live in. i wish you, jeannie, my mate, to keep on making the young people glad. don't let their joys be less even for a month because i have laid down to rest. let them sing and dance----" "oh, papa!" cried marion. "certainly, my little serious beauty--i'll not be far away, i'll be near and breathe my songs into their hearts, and into yours--you both promise?" "yes, yes!" they both cried. as we drove back through the woods, he smiled tenderly and said to me: "my neighbour, doctor cameron, pays taxes on these woods, but i own them! their sighing boughs, stirred by the breezes, have played for me oratorios grander than all the scores of human genius. i'll hear the choir invisible play them when i sleep." he died that night suddenly. with his last breath he sighed: "draw the curtains and let me see again the moonlit woods!" they are trying to carry out his wishes. i found they had nothing to eat, and that he had really died from insufficient nourishment--a polite expression meaning starvation. i've divided half our little store with them and send the rest to you. i think marion more and more the incarnate soul of her father. i feel as if they are both my children. my little grandchick, hugh, is the sweetest youngster alive. he was a wee thing when you left. mrs. lenoir kept him when they arrested your father. he is so much like your brother hugh i feel as if he has come to life again. you should hear him say grace, so solemnly and tenderly, we can't help crying. he made it up himself. this is what he says at every meal: "god, please give my grandpa something good to eat in jail, keep him well, don't let the pains hurt him any more, and bring him home to me quick, for jesus' sake. amen." i never knew before how the people loved the doctor, nor how dependent they were on him for help and guidance. men, both white and coloured, come here every day to ask about him. some of them come from far up in the mountains. god alone knows how lonely our home and the world has seemed without him. they say that those who love and live the close sweet home life for years grow alike in soul and body, in tastes, ways, and habits. i find it so. people have told me that your father and i are more alike than brother and sister of the same blood. in spirit i'm sure it's true. i know you love him and that you will leave nothing undone for his health and safety. tell him that my only cure for loneliness in his absence is my fight to keep the wolf from the door, and save our home against his coming. lovingly, your mother. when the doctor had finished the reading, he looked out the window of the jail at the shining dome of the capitol for a moment in silence. "do you know, my boy, that you have the heritage of royal blood? you are the child of a wonderful mother. i'm ashamed when i think of the helpless stupor under which i have given up, and then remember the deathless courage with which she has braved it all--the loss of her boys, her property, your troubles and mine. she has faced the world alone like a wounded lioness standing over her cubs. and now she turns her home into a hotel, and begins life in a strange new world without one doubt of her success. the south is yet rich even in its ruin." "then you'll fight and go back to her with me?" "yes, never fear." "good! you see, we're so poor now, pa, you're lucky to be saving a board bill here. i'd 'conspire' myself and come in with you but for the fact it would hamper me a little in helping you." chapter v across the chasm when ben had fully recovered and his father's case looked hopeful, elsie turned to her study of music, and the southern boy suddenly waked to the fact that the great mystery of life was upon him. he was in love at last--genuinely, deeply, without one reservation. he had from habit flirted in a harmless way with every girl he knew. he left home with little marion lenoir's girlish kiss warm on his lips. he had made love to many a pretty girl in old virginia as the red tide of war had ebbed and flowed around stuart's magic camps. but now the great hour of the soul had struck. no sooner had he dropped the first tender words that might have their double meaning, feeling his way cautiously toward her, than she had placed a gulf of dignity between them, and attempted to cut every tie that bound her life to his. it had been so sudden it took his breath away. could he win her? the word "fail" had never been in his vocabulary. it had never run in the speech of his people. yes, he would win if it was the only thing he did in this world. and forthwith he set about it. life took on new meaning and new glory. what mattered war or wounds, pain or poverty, jails and revolutions--it was the dawn of life! he sent her a flower every day and pinned one just like it on his coat. and every night found him seated by her side. she greeted him cordially, but the gulf yawned between them. his courtesy and self-control struck her with surprise and admiration. in the face of her coldness he carried about him an air of smiling deference and gallantry. she finally told him of her determination to go to new york to pursue her studies until phil had finished the term of his enlistment in his regiment, which had been ordered on permanent duty in the west. he laughed with his eyes at this announcement, blinking the lashes rapidly without moving his lips. it was a peculiar habit of his when deeply moved by a sudden thought. it had flashed over him like lightning that she was trying to get away from him. she would not do that unless she cared. "when are you going?" he asked quietly. "day after to-morrow." "then you will give me one afternoon for a sail on the river to say good-bye and thank you for what you have done for me and mine?" she hesitated, laughed, and refused. "to-morrow at four o'clock i'll call for you," he said firmly. "if there's no wind, we can drift with the tide." "i will not have time to go." "promptly at four," he repeated as he left. ben spent hours that night weighing the question of how far he should dare to speak his love. it had been such an easy thing before. now it seemed a question of life and death. twice the magic words had been on his lips, and each time something in her manner chilled him into silence. was she cold and incapable of love? no; this manner of the north was on the surface. he knew that deep down within her nature lay banked and smouldering fires of passion for the one man whose breath could stir it into flame. he felt this all the keener now that the spell of her companionship and the sweet intimacy of her daily ministry to him had been broken. the memory of little movements of her petite figure, the glance of her warm amber eyes, and the touch of her hand--all had their tongues of revelation to his eager spirit. he found her ready at four o'clock. "you see i decided to go after all," she said. "yes, i knew you would," he answered. she was dressed in a simple suit of navy-blue cloth cut v-shaped at the throat, showing the graceful lines of her exquisite neck as it melted into the plump shoulders. she had scorned hoop skirts. he admired her for this, and yet it made him uneasy. a woman who could defy an edict of fashion was a new thing under the sun, and it scared him. they were seated in the little sailboat now, drifting out with the tide. it was a perfect day in october, one of those matchless days of indian summer in the virginia climate when an infinite peace and vast brooding silence fill the earth and sky until one feels that words are a sacrilege. neither of them spoke for minutes, and his heart grew bold in the stillness. no girl could be still who was unmoved. she was seated just in front of him on the left, with her hand idly rippling the surface of the silvery waters, gazing at the wooded cliff on the river banks clothed now in their gorgeous robes of yellow, purple, scarlet, and gold. the soft strains of distant music came from a band in the fort, and her hand in the rippling water seemed its accompaniment. ben was conscious only of her presence. every sight and sound of nature seemed to be blended in her presence. never in all his life had he seen anything so delicately beautiful as the ripe rose colour of her cheeks, and all the tints of autumn's glory seemed to melt into the gold of her hair. and those eyes he felt that god had never set in such a face before--rich amber, warm and glowing, big and candid, courageous and truthful. "are you dead again?" she asked demurely. "well, as the irishman said in answer to his mate's question when he fell off the house, 'not dead--but spacheless.'" he was quick to see the opening her question with its memories had made, and took advantage of it. "look here, miss elsie, you're too honest, independent, and candid to play hide-and-seek with me. i want to ask you a plain question. you've been trying to pick a quarrel of late. what have i done?" "nothing. it has simply come to me that our lives are far apart. the gulf between us is real and very deep. your father was but yesterday a slaveholder----" ben grinned: "yes, your slave-trading grandfather sold them to us the day before." elsie blushed and bristled for a fight. "you won't mind if i give you a few lessons in history, will you?" ben asked softly. "not in the least. i didn't know that southerners studied history," she answered, with a toss of her head. "we made a specialty of the history of slavery, at least. i had a dear old teacher at home who fairly blazed with light on this subject. he is one of the best-read men in america. he happens to be in jail just now. but i haven't forgotten--i know it by heart." "i am waiting for light," she interrupted cynically. "the south is no more to blame for negro slavery than the north. our slaves were stolen from africa by yankee skippers. when a slaver arrived at boston, your pious puritan clergyman offered public prayer of thanks that 'a gracious and overruling providence had been pleased to bring to this land of freedom another cargo of benighted heathen to enjoy the blessings of a gospel dispensation----'" she looked at him with angry incredulity and cried: "go on." "twenty-three times the legislature of virginia passed acts against the importation of slaves, which the king vetoed on petition of the massachusetts slave traders. jefferson made these acts of the king one of the grievances of the declaration of independence, but a massachusetts member succeeded in striking it out. the southern men in the convention which framed the constitution put into it a clause abolishing the slave trade, but the massachusetts men succeeded in adding a clause extending the trade twenty years----" he smiled and paused. "go on," she said, with impatience. "in colonial days a negro woman was publicly burned to death in boston. the first abolition paper was published in tennessee by embree. benjamin lundy, his successor, could not find a single abolitionist in boston. in over half the people of tennessee favoured abolition. at this time there were one hundred and forty abolition societies in america--one hundred and three in the south, and not one in massachusetts. it was not until that massachusetts led in abolition--not until all her own slaves had been sold to us at a profit and the slave trade had been destroyed----" she looked at ben with anger for a moment and met his tantalizing look of good humour. "can you stand any more?" "certainly, i enjoy it." "i'm just breaking down the barriers--so to speak," he said, with the laughter still lurking in his eyes, as he looked steadily ahead. "by all means go on," she said soberly. "i thought at first you were trying to tease me. i see that you are in earnest." "never more so. this is about the only little path of history i'm at home in--i love to show off in it. i heard a cheerful idiot say the other day that your father meant to carry the civilization of massachusetts to the rio grande until we had a democracy in america. i smiled. while massachusetts was enforcing laws about the dress of the rich and the poor, founding a church with a whipping-post, jail, and gibbet, and limiting the right to vote to a church membership fixed by pew rents, carolina was the home of freedom where first the equal rights of men were proclaimed. new england people worth less than one thousand dollars were prohibited by law from wearing the garb of a gentleman, gold or silver lace, buttons on the knees, or to walk in great boots, or their women to wear silk or scarfs, while the quakers, maryland catholics, baptists, and scotch-irish presbyterians were everywhere in the south the heralds of man's equality before the law." "but barring our ancestors, i have some things against the men of this generation." "have i, too, sinned and come short?" he asked with mock gravity. "our ideals of life are far apart," she firmly declared. "what ails my ideal?" "your egotism, for one thing. the air with which you calmly select what pleases your fancy. northern men are bad enough--the insolence of a southerner is beyond words!" [illustration: lillian gish as elsie, and the sentinel.] "you don't say so!" cried ben, bursting into a hearty laugh. "isn't your aunt, mrs. farnham, the president of a club?" "yes, and she is a very brilliant woman." "enlighten me further." "i deny your heaven-born male kingship. the lord of creation is after all a very inferior animal--nearer the brute creation, weaker in infancy, shorter lived, more imperfectly developed, given to fighting, and addicted to idiocy. i never saw a female idiot in my life--did you?" "come to think of it, i never did," acknowledged ben with comic gravity. "what else?" "isn't that enough?" "it's nothing. i agree with everything you say, but it is irrelevant. i'm studying law, you know." "i have a personality of my own. you and your kind assume the right to absorb all lesser lights." "certainly, i'm a man." "i don't care to be absorbed by a mere man." "don't wish to be protected, sheltered, and cared for?" "i dream of a life that shall be larger than the four walls of a home. i have never gone into hysterics over the idea of becoming a cook and housekeeper without wages, and snuffing my life out while another grows, expands, and claims the lordship of the world. i can sing. my voice is to me what eloquence is to man. my ideal is an intellectual companion who will inspire and lead me to develop all that i feel within to its highest reach." she paused a moment and looked defiantly into ben's brown eyes, about which a smile was constantly playing. he looked away, and again the river echoed with his contagious laughter. she had to join in spite of herself. he laughed with boyish gayety. it danced in his eyes, and gave spring to every movement of his slender wiry body. she felt its contagion enfold her. his laughter melted into a song. in a voice vibrant with joy he sang, "if you get there before i do, tell 'em i'm comin' too!" as elsie listened, her anger grew as she recalled the amazing folly that had induced her to tell the secret feelings of her inmost soul to this man almost a stranger. whence came this miracle of influence about him, this gift of intimacy? she felt a shock as if she had been immodest. she was in an agony of doubt as to what he was thinking of her, and dreaded to meet his gaze. and yet, when he turned toward her, his whole being a smiling compound of dark southern blood and bone and fire, at the sound of his voice all doubt and questioning melted. "do you know," he said earnestly, "that you are the funniest, most charming girl i ever met?" "thanks. i've heard your experience has been large for one of your age." ben's eyes danced. "perhaps, yes. you appeal to things in me that i didn't know were there--to all the senses of body and soul at once. your strength of mind, with its conceits, and your quick little temper seem so odd and out of place, clothed in the gentleness of your beauty." "i was never more serious in my life. there are other things more personal about you that i do not like." "what?" "your cavalier habits." "cavalier fiddlesticks. there are no cavaliers in my country. we are all covenanter and huguenot folks. the idea that southern boys are lazy loafing dreamers is a myth. i was raised on the catechism." "you love to fish and hunt and frolic--you flirt with every girl you meet, and you drink sometimes. i often feel that you are cruel and that i do not know you." ben's face grew serious, and the red scar in the edge of his hair suddenly became livid with the rush of blood. "perhaps i don't mean that you shall know all yet," he said slowly. "my ideal of a man is one that leads, charms, dominates, and yet eludes. i confess that i'm close kin to an angel and a devil, and that i await a woman's hand to lead me into the ways of peace and life." the spiritual earnestness of the girl was quick to catch the subtle appeal of his last words. his broad, high forehead, straight, masterly nose, with its mobile nostrils, seemed to her very manly at just that moment and very appealing. a soft answer was on her lips. he saw it, and leaned toward her in impulsive tenderness. a timid look on her face caused him to sink back in silence. they had now drifted near the city. the sun was slowly sinking in a smother of fiery splendour that mirrored its changing hues in the still water. the hush of the harvest fullness of autumn life was over all nature. they passed a camp of soldiers and then a big hospital on the banks above. a gun flashed from the hill, and the flag dropped from its staff. the girl's eyes lingered on the flower in his coat a moment and then on the red scar in the edge of his dark hair, and somehow the difference between them seemed to melt into the falling twilight. only his nearness was real. again a strange joy held her. he threw her a look of tenderness, and she began to tremble. a sea gull poised a moment above them and broke into a laugh. bending nearer, he gently took her hand, and said: "i love you!" a sob caught her breath and she buried her face on her arm. "i am for you, and you are for me. why beat your wings against the thing that is and must be? what else matters? with all my sins and faults my land is yours--a land of sunshine, eternal harvests, and everlasting song, old-fashioned and provincial perhaps, but kind and hospitable. around its humblest cottage song birds live and mate and nest and never leave. the winged ones of your own cold fields have heard their call, and the sky to-night will echo with their chatter as they hurry southward. elsie, my own, i too have called--come; i love you!" she lifted her face to him full of tender spiritual charm, her eyes burning their passionate answer. he bent and kissed her. "say it! say it!" he whispered. "i love you!" she sighed. chapter vi the gauge of battle the day of the first meeting of the national congress after the war was one of intense excitement. the galleries of the house were packed. elsie was there with ben in a fever of secret anxiety lest the stirring drama should cloud her own life. she watched her father limp to his seat with every eye fixed on him. the president had pursued with persistence the plan of lincoln for the immediate restoration of the union. would congress follow the lead of the president or challenge him to mortal combat? civil governments had been restored in all the southern states, with men of the highest ability chosen as governors and lawmakers. their legislatures had unanimously voted for the thirteenth amendment of the constitution abolishing slavery, and elected senators and representatives to congress. mr. seward, the secretary of state, had declared the new amendment a part of the organic law of the nation by the vote of these states. general grant went to the south to report its condition and boldly declared: "i am satisfied that the mass of thinking people of the south accept the situation in good faith. slavery and secession they regard as settled forever by the highest known tribunal, and consider this decision a fortunate one for the whole country." would the southerners be allowed to enter? amid breathless silence the clerk rose to call the roll of members-elect. every ear was bent to hear the name of the first southern man. not one was called! the master had spoken. his clerk knew how to play his part. the next business of the house was to receive the message of the chief magistrate of the nation. the message came, but not from the white house. it came from the seat of the great commoner. as the first thrill of excitement over the challenge to the president slowly subsided, stoneman rose, planted his big club foot in the middle of the aisle, and delivered to congress the word of its new master. it was ben's first view of the man of all the world just now of most interest. from his position he could see his full face and figure. he began speaking in a careless, desultory way. his tone was loud yet not declamatory, at first in a grumbling, grandfatherly, half-humorous, querulous accent that riveted every ear instantly. a sort of drollery of a contagious kind haunted it. here and there a member tittered in expectation of a flash of wit. his figure was taller than the average, slightly bent, with a dignity which suggested reserve power and contempt for his audience. one knew instinctively that back of the boldest word this man might say there was a bolder unspoken word he had chosen not to speak. his limbs were long, and their movements slow, yet nervous as from some internal fiery force. his hands were big and ugly, and always in ungraceful fumbling motion as though a separate soul dwelt within them. the heaped-up curly profusion of his brown wig gave a weird impression to the spread of his mobile features. his eagle-beaked nose had three distinct lines and angles. his chin was broad and bold, and his brows beetling and projecting. his mouth was wide, marked, and grim; when opened, deep and cavernous; when closed, it seemed to snap so tightly that the lower lip protruded. of all his make-up, his eye was the most fascinating, and it held ben spellbound. it could thrill to the deepest fibre of the soul that looked into it, yet it did not gleam. it could dominate, awe, and confound, yet it seemed to have no colour or fire. he could easily see it across the vast hall from the galleries, yet it was not large. two bold, colourless dagger-points of light they seemed. as he grew excited, they darkened as if passing under a cloud. a sudden sweep of his huge apelike arm in an angular gesture, and the drollery and carelessness of his voice were riven from it as by a bolt of lightning. he was driving home his message now in brutal frankness. yet in the height of his fiercest invective he never seemed to strengthen himself or call on his resources. in its climax he was careless, conscious of power, and contemptuous of results, as though as a gambler he had staked and lost all and in the moment of losing suddenly become the master of those who had beaten him. his speech never once bent to persuade or convince. he meant to brain the opposition with a single blow, and he did it. for he suddenly took the breath from his foes by shouting in their faces the hidden motive of which they were hoping to accuse him! "admit these southern representatives," he cried, "and with the democrats elected from the north, within one term they will have a majority in congress and the electoral college. the supremacy of our party's life is at stake. the man who dares palter with such a measure is a rebel, a traitor to his party and his people." a cheer burst from his henchmen, and his foes sat in dazed stupor at his audacity. he moved the appointment of a "committee on reconstruction" to whom the entire government of the "conquered provinces of the south" should be committed, and to whom all credentials of their pretended representatives should be referred. he sat down as the speaker put his motion, declared it carried, and quickly announced the names of this imperial committee with the hon. austin stoneman as its chairman. he then permitted the message of the president of the united states to be read by his clerk. "well, upon my soul," said ben, taking a deep breath and looking at elsie, "he's the whole thing, isn't he?" the girl smiled with pride. "yes; he is a genius. he was born to command and yet never could resist the cry of a child or the plea of a woman. he hates, but he hates ideas and systems. he makes threats, yet when he meets the man who stands for all he hates he falls in love with his enemy." "then there's hope for me?" "yes, but i must be the judge of the time to speak." "well, if he looks at me as he did once to-day, you may have to do the speaking also." "you will like him when you know him. he is one of the greatest men in america." "at least he's the father of the greatest girl in the world, which is far more important." "i wonder if you know how important?" she asked seriously. "he is the apple of my eye. his bitter words, his cynicism and sarcasm, are all on the surface--masks that hide a great sensitive spirit. you can't know with what brooding tenderness i have always loved and worshipped him. i will never marry against his wishes." "i hope he and i will always be good friends," said ben doubtfully. "you must," she replied, eagerly pressing his hand. chapter vii a woman laughs each day the conflict waxed warmer between the president and the commoner. the first bill sent to the white house to africanize the "conquered provinces" the president vetoed in a message of such logic, dignity, and power, the old leader found to his amazement it was impossible to rally the two-thirds majority to pass it over his head. at first, all had gone as planned. lynch and howle brought to him a report on "southern atrocities," secured through the councils of the secret oath-bound union league, which had destroyed the impression of general grant's words and prepared his followers for blind submission to his committee. yet the rally of a group of men in defence of the constitution had given the president unexpected strength. stoneman saw that he must hold his hand on the throat of the south and fight another campaign. howle and lynch furnished the publication committee of the union league the matter, and they printed four million five hundred thousand pamphlets on "southern atrocities." the northern states were hostile to negro suffrage, the first step of his revolutionary programme, and not a dozen men in congress had yet dared to favour it. ohio, michigan, new york, and kansas had rejected it by overwhelming majorities. but he could appeal to their passions and prejudices against the "barbarism" of the south. it would work like magic. when he had the south where he wanted it, he would turn and ram negro suffrage and negro equality down the throats of the reluctant north. his energies were now bent to prevent any effective legislation in congress until his strength should be omnipotent. a cloud disturbed the sky for a moment in the senate. john sherman, of ohio, began to loom on the horizon as a constructive statesman, and without consulting him was quietly forcing over sumner's classic oratory a reconstruction bill restoring the southern states to the union on the basis of lincoln's plan, with no provision for interference with the suffrage. it had gone to its last reading, and the final vote was pending. the house was in session at a. m., waiting in feverish anxiety the outcome of this struggle in the senate. old stoneman was in his seat, fast asleep from the exhaustion of an unbroken session of forty hours. his meals he had sent to his desk from the capitol restaurant. he was seventy-four years old and not in good health, yet his energy was tireless, his resources inexhaustible, and his audacity matchless. sunset cox, the wag of the house, an opponent but personal friend of the old commoner, passing his seat and seeing the great head sunk on his breast in sleep, laughed softly and said: "mr. speaker!" the presiding officer recognized the young democrat with a nod of answering humour and responded: "the gentleman from new york." "i move you, sir," said cox, "that, in view of the advanced age and eminent services of the distinguished gentleman from pennsylvania, the sergeant-at-arms be instructed to furnish him with enough poker chips to last till morning!" the scattered members who were awake roared with laughter, the speaker pounded furiously with his gavel, the sleepy little pages jumped up, rubbing their eyes, and ran here and there answering imaginary calls, and the whole house waked to its usual noise and confusion. the old man raised his massive head and looked to the door leading toward the senate just as sumner rushed through. he had slept for a moment, but his keen intellect had taken up the fight at precisely the point at which he left it. sumner approached his desk rapidly, leaned over, and reported his defeat and sherman's triumph. "for god's sake throttle this measure in the house or we are ruined!" he exclaimed. "don't be alarmed," replied the cynic. "i'll be here with stronger weapons than articulated wind." "you have not a moment to lose. the bill is on its way to the speaker's desk, and sherman's men are going to force its passage to-night." the senator returned to the other end of the capitol wrapped in the mantle of his outraged dignity, and in thirty minutes the bill was defeated, and the house adjourned. as the old commoner hobbled through the door, his crooked cane thumping the marble floor, sumner seized and pressed his hand: "how did you do it?" stoneman's huge jaws snapped together and his lower lip protruded: "i sent for cox and summoned the leader of the democrats. i told them if they would join with me and defeat this bill, i'd give them a better one the next session. and i will--negro suffrage! the gudgeons swallowed it whole!" sumner lifted his eyebrows and wrapped his cloak a little closer. the great commoner laughed as he departed: "he is yet too good for this world, but he'll forget it before we're done this fight." on the steps a beggar asked him for a night's lodging, and he tossed him a gold eagle. * * * * * the north, which had rejected negro suffrage for itself with scorn, answered stoneman's fierce appeal to their passions against the south, and sent him a delegation of radicals eager to do his will. so fierce had waxed the combat between the president and congress that the very existence of stanton's prisoners languishing in jail was forgotten, and the secretary of war himself became a football to be kicked back and forth in this conflict of giants. the fact that andrew johnson was from tennessee, and had been an old-line democrat before his election as a unionist with lincoln, was now a fatal weakness in his position. under stoneman's assaults he became at once an executive without a party, and every word of amnesty and pardon he proclaimed for the south in accordance with lincoln's plan was denounced as the act of a renegade courting favour of traitors and rebels. stanton remained in his cabinet against his wishes to insult and defy him, and stoneman, quick to see the way by which the president of the nation could be degraded and made ridiculous, introduced a bill depriving him of the power to remove his own cabinet officers. the act was not only meant to degrade the president; it was a trap set for his ruin. the penalties were so fixed that its violation would give specific ground for his trial, impeachment, and removal from office. again stoneman passed his first act to reduce the "conquered provinces" of the south to negro rule. president johnson vetoed it with a message of such logic in defence of the constitutional rights of the states that it failed by one vote to find the two-thirds majority needed to become a law without his approval. the old commoner's eyes froze into two dagger-points of icy light when this vote was announced. with fury he cursed the president, but above all he cursed the men of his own party who had faltered. as he fumbled his big hands nervously, he growled: "if i only had five men of genuine courage in congress, i'd hang the man at the other end of the avenue from the porch of the white house! but i haven't got them--cowards, dastards, dolts, and snivelling fools----" his decision was instantly made. he would expel enough democrats from the senate and the house to place his two-thirds majority beyond question. the name of the president never passed his lips. he referred to him always, even in public debate, as "the man at the other end of the avenue," or "the former governor of tennessee who once threatened rebels--the late lamented andrew johnson, of blessed memory." he ordered the expulsion of the new member of the house from indiana, daniel w. voorhees, and the new senator from new jersey, john p. stockton. this would give him a majority of two thirds composed of men who would obey his word without a question. voorhees heard of the edict with indignant wrath. he had met stoneman in the lobbies, where he was often the centre of admiring groups of friends. his wit and audacity, and, above all, his brutal frankness, had won the admiration of the "tall sycamore of the wabash." he could not believe such a man would be a party to a palpable fraud. he appealed to him personally: "look here, stoneman," the young orator cried with wrath, "i appeal to your sense of honour and decency. my credentials have been accepted by your own committee, and my seat been awarded me. my majority is unquestioned. this is a high-handed outrage. you cannot permit this crime." the old man thrust his deformed foot out before him, struck it meditatively with his cane, and looking voorhees straight in the eye, boldly said: "there's nothing the matter with your majority, young man. i've no doubt it's all right. unfortunately, you are a democrat, and happen to be the odd man in the way of the two-thirds majority on which the supremacy of my party depends. you will have to go. come back some other time." and he did. in the senate there was a hitch. when the vote was taken on the expulsion of stockton, to the amazement of the leader it was a tie. he hobbled into the senate chamber, with the steel point of his cane ringing on the marble flags as though he were thrusting it through the vitals of the weakling who had sneaked and hedged and trimmed at the crucial moment. he met howle at the door. "what's the matter in there?" he asked. "they're trying to compromise." "compromise--the devil of american politics," he muttered. "but how did the vote fail--it was all fixed before the roll-call?" "roman, of maine, has trouble with his conscience! he is paired not to vote on this question with stockton's colleague, who is sick in trenton. his 'honour' is involved, and he refuses to break his word." "i see," said stoneman, pulling his bristling brows down until his eyes were two beads of white gleaming through them. "tell wade to summon every member of the party in his room immediately and hold the senate in session." when the group of senators crowded into the vice-president's room the old man faced them leaning on his cane and delivered an address of five minutes they never forgot. his speech had a nameless fascination. the man himself with his elemental passions was a wonder. he left on public record no speech worth reading, and yet these powerful men shrank under his glance. as the nostrils of his big three-angled nose dilated, the scream of an eagle rang in his voice, his huge ugly hand held the crook of his cane with the clutch of a tiger, his tongue flew with the hiss of an adder, and his big deformed foot seemed to grip the floor as the claw of a beast. "the life of a political party, gentlemen," he growled in conclusion, "is maintained by a scheme of subterfuges in which the moral law cuts no figure. as your leader, i know but one law--success. the world is full of fools who must have toys with which to play. a belief in politics is the favourite delusion of shallow american minds. but you and i have no delusions. your life depends on this vote. if any man thinks the abstraction called 'honour' is involved, let him choose between his honour and his life! i call no names. this issue must be settled now before the senate adjourns. there can be no to-morrow. it is life or death. let the roll be called again immediately." the grave senators resumed their seats, and wade, the acting vice-president, again put the question to stockton's expulsion. the member from new england sat pale and trembling, in his soul the anguish of the mortal combat between his puritan conscience, the iron heritage of centuries, and the order of his captain. when the clerk of the senate called his name, still the battle raged. he sat in silence, the whiteness of death about his lips, while the clerk at a signal from the chair paused. and then a scene the like of which was never known in american history! august senators crowded around his desk, begging, shouting, imploring, and demanding that a fellow senator break his solemn word of honour! for a moment pandemonium reigned. "vote! vote! call his name again!" they shouted. high above all rang the voice of charles sumner, leading the wild chorus, crying: "vote! vote! vote!" the galleries hissed and cheered--the cheers at last drowning every hiss. stoneman pushed his way among the mob which surrounded the badgered puritan as he attempted to retreat into the cloakroom. "will you vote?" he hissed, his eyes flashing poison. "my conscience will not permit it," he faltered. "to hell with your conscience!" the old leader thundered. "go back to your seat, ask the clerk to call your name, and vote, or by the living god i'll read you out of the party to-night and brand you a snivelling coward, a copperhead, a renegade, and traitor!" trembling from head to foot, he staggered back to his seat, the cold sweat standing in beads on his forehead, and gasped: "call my name!" the shrill voice of the clerk rang out in the stillness like the peal of a trumpet: "mr. roman!" and the deed was done. a cheer burst from his colleagues, and the roll-call proceeded. when stockton's name was reached he sprang to his feet, voted for himself, and made a second tie! with blank faces they turned to the leader, who ordered charles sumner to move that the senator from new jersey be not allowed to answer his name on an issue involving his own seat. it was carried. again the roll was called, and stockton expelled by a majority of one. in the moment of ominous silence which followed, a yellow woman of sleek animal beauty leaned far over the gallery rail and laughed aloud. the passage of each act of the revolutionary programme over the veto of the president was now but a matter of form. the act to degrade his office by forcing him to keep a cabinet officer who daily insulted him, the civil rights bill, and the freedman's bureau bill followed in rapid succession. stoneman's crowning reconstruction act was passed, two years after the war had closed, shattering the union again into fragments, blotting the names of ten great southern states from its roll, and dividing their territory into five military districts under the control of belted satraps. when this measure was vetoed by the president, it came accompanied by a message whose words will be forever etched in fire on the darkest page of the nation's life. amid hisses, curses, jeers, and cat-calls, the clerk of the house read its burning words: "_the power thus given to the commanding officer over the people of each district is that of an absolute monarch. his mere will is to take the place of law. he may make a criminal code of his own; he can make it as bloody as any recorded in history, or he can reserve the privilege of acting on the impulse of his private passions in each case that arises._ "_here is a bill of attainer against nine millions of people at once. it is based upon an accusation so vague as to be scarcely intelligible, and found to be true upon no credible evidence. not one of the nine millions was heard in his own defence. the representatives even of the doomed parties were excluded from all participation in the trial. the conviction is to be followed by the most ignominious punishment ever inflicted on large masses of men. it disfranchises them by hundreds of thousands and degrades them all--even those who are admitted to be guiltless--from the rank of freemen to the condition of slaves._ "_such power has not been wielded by any monarch in england for more than five hundred years, and in all that time no people who speak the english tongue have borne such servitude._" when the last jeering cat-call which greeted this message of the chief magistrate had died away on the floor and in the galleries, old stoneman rose, with a smile playing about his grim mouth, and introduced his bill to impeach the president of the united states and remove him from office. chapter viii a dream elsie spent weeks of happiness in an abandonment of joy to the spell of her lover. his charm was resistless. his gift of delicate intimacy, the eloquence with which he expressed his love, and yet the manly dignity with which he did it, threw a spell no woman could resist. each day's working hours were given to his father's case and to the study of law. if there was work to do, he did it, and then struck the word care from his life, giving himself body and soul to his love. great events were moving. the shock of the battle between congress and the president began to shake the republic to its foundations. he heard nothing, felt nothing, save the music of elsie's voice. and she knew it. she had only played with lovers before. she had never seen one of ben's kind, and he took her by storm. his creed was simple. the chief end of life is to glorify the girl you love. other things could wait. and he let them wait. he ignored their existence. but one cloud cast its shadow over the girl's heart during these red-letter days of life--the fear of what her father would do to her lover's people. ben had asked her whether he must speak to him. when she said "no, not yet," he forgot that such a man lived. as for his politics, he knew nothing and cared less. but the girl knew and thought with sickening dread, until she forgot her fears in the joy of his laughter. ben laughed so heartily, so insinuatingly, the contagion of his fun could not be resisted. he would sit for hours and confess to her the secrets of his boyish dreams of glory in war, recount his thrilling adventures and daring deeds with such enthusiasm that his cause seemed her own, and the pity and the anguish of the ruin of his people hurt her with the keen sense of personal pain. his love for his native state was so genuine, his pride in the bravery and goodness of its people so chivalrous, she began to see for the first time how the cords which bound the southerner to his soil were of the heart's red blood. she began to understand why the war, which had seemed to her a wicked, cruel, and causeless rebellion, was the one inevitable thing in our growth from a loose group of sovereign states to a united nation. love had given her his point of view. secret grief over her father's course began to grow into conscious fear. with unerring instinct she felt the fatal day drawing nearer when these two men, now of her inmost life, must clash in mortal enmity. she saw little of her father. he was absorbed with fevered activity and deadly hate in his struggle with the president. brooding over her fears one night, she had tried to interest ben in politics. to her surprise she found that he knew nothing of her father's real position or power as leader of his party. the stunning tragedy of the war had for the time crushed out of his consciousness all political ideas, as it had for most young southerners. he took her hand while a dreamy look overspread his swarthy face: "don't cross a bridge till you come to it. i learned that in the war. politics are a mess. let me tell you something that counts----" he felt her hand's soft pressure and reverently kissed it. "listen," he whispered. "i was dreaming last night after i left you of the home we'll build. just back of our place, on the hill overlooking the river, my father and mother planted trees in exact duplicate of the ones they placed around our house when they were married. they set these trees in honour of the first-born of their love, that he should make his nest there when grown. but it was not for him. he had pitched his tent on higher ground, and the others with him. this place will be mine. there are forty varieties of trees, all grown--elm, maple, oak, holly, pine, cedar, magnolia, and every fruit and flowering stem that grows in our friendly soil. a little house, built near the vacant space reserved for the homestead, is nicely kept by a farmer, and birds have learned to build in every shrub and tree. all the year their music rings its chorus--one long overture awaiting the coming of my bride----" elsie sighed. "listen, dear," he went on eagerly. "last night i dreamed the south had risen from her ruins. i saw you there. i saw our home standing amid a bower of roses your hands had planted. the full moon wrapped it in soft light, while you and i walked hand in hand in silence beneath our trees. but fairer and brighter than the moon was the face of her i loved, and sweeter than all the songs of birds the music of her voice!" a tear dimmed the girl's warm eyes, and a deeper flush mantled her cheeks, as she lifted her face and whispered: "kiss me." chapter ix the king amuses himself with savage energy the great commoner pressed to trial the first impeachment of a president of the united states for high crimes and misdemeanours. his bill to confiscate the property of the southern people was already pending on the calendar of the house. this bill was the most remarkable ever written in the english language or introduced into a legislative body of the aryan race. it provided for the confiscation of ninety per cent. of the land of ten great states of the american union. to each negro in the south was allotted forty acres from the estate of his former master, and the remaining millions of acres were to be divided among the "loyal who had suffered by reason of the rebellion." the execution of this, the most stupendous crime ever conceived by an english lawmaker, involving the exile and ruin of millions of innocent men, women, and children, could not be intrusted to andrew johnson. no such measure could be enforced so long as any man was president and commander-in-chief of the army and navy who claimed his title under the constitution. hence the absolute necessity of his removal. the conditions of society were ripe for this daring enterprise. not only was the ship of state in the hands of revolutionists who had boarded her in the storm stress of a civic convulsion, but among them swarmed the pirate captains of the boldest criminals who ever figured in the story of a nation. the first great railroad lobby, with continental empires at stake, thronged the capitol with its lawyers, agents, barkers, and hired courtesans. the cotton thieves, who operated through a ring of treasury agents, had confiscated unlawfully three million bales of cotton hidden in the south during the war and at its close, the last resource of a ruined people. the treasury had received a paltry twenty thousand bales for the use of its name with which to seize alleged "property of the confederate government." the value of this cotton, stolen from the widows and orphans, the maimed and crippled, of the south was over $ , , in gold--a capital sufficient to have started an impoverished people again on the road to prosperity. the agents of this ring surrounded the halls of legislation, guarding their booty from envious eyes, and demanding the enactment of vaster schemes of legal confiscation. the whiskey ring had just been formed, and began its system of gigantic frauds by which it scuttled the treasury. above them all towered the figure of oakes ames, whose master mind had organized the _crédit mobilier_ steal. this vast infamy had already eaten its way into the heart of congress and dug the graves of many illustrious men. so open had become the shame that stoneman was compelled to increase his committees in the morning, when a corrupt majority had been bought the night before. he arose one day, and looking at the distinguished speaker, who was himself the secret associate of oakes ames, said: "mr. speaker: while the house slept, the enemy has sown tares among our wheat. the corporations of this country, having neither bodies to be kicked nor souls to be lost, have, _perhaps_ by the power of argument alone, beguiled from the majority of my committee the member from connecticut. the enemy have now a majority of one. i move to increase the committee to twelve." speaker colfax, soon to be hurled from the vice-president's chair for his part with those thieves, increased his committee. everybody knew that "the power of argument alone" meant ten thousand dollars cash for the gentleman from connecticut, who did not appear on the floor for a week, fearing the scorpion tongue of the old commoner. a congress which found it could make and unmake laws in defiance of the executive went mad. taxation soared to undreamed heights, while the currency was depreciated and subject to the wildest fluctuations. the statute books were loaded with laws that shackled chains of monopoly on generations yet unborn. public lands wide as the reach of empires were voted as gifts to private corporations, and subsidies of untold millions fixed as a charge upon the people and their children's children. the demoralization incident to a great war, the waste of unheard-of sums of money, the giving of contracts involving millions by which fortunes were made in a night, the riot of speculation and debauchery by those who tried to get rich suddenly without labour, had created a new capital of the nation. the vulture army of the base, venal, unpatriotic, and corrupt, which had swept down, a black cloud, in wartime to take advantage of the misfortunes of the nation, had settled in washington and gave new tone to its life. prior to the civil war the capital was ruled, and the standards of its social and political life fixed, by an aristocracy founded on brains, culture, and blood. power was with few exceptions intrusted to an honourable body of high-spirited public officials. now a negro electorate controlled the city government, and gangs of drunken negroes, its sovereign citizens, paraded the streets at night firing their muskets unchallenged and unmolested. a new mob of onion-laden breath, mixed with perspiring african odour, became the symbol of american democracy. a new order of society sprouted in this corruption. the old high-bred ways, tastes, and enthusiasms were driven into the hiding-places of a few families and cherished as relics of the past. washington, choked with scrofulous wealth, bowed the knee to the almighty dollar. the new altar was covered with a black mould of human blood--but no questions were asked. a mulatto woman kept the house of the foremost man of the nation and received his guests with condescension. in this atmosphere of festering vice and gangrene passions, the struggle between the great commoner and the president on which hung the fate of the south approached its climax. the whole nation was swept into the whirlpool, and business was paralyzed. two years after the close of a victorious war the credit of the republic dropped until its six per cent. bonds sold in the open market for seventy-three cents on the dollar. the revolutionary junta in control of the capital was within a single step of the subversion of the government and the establishment of a dictator in the white house. a convention was called in philadelphia to restore fraternal feeling, heal the wounds of war, preserve the constitution, and restore the union of the fathers. it was a grand assemblage representing the heart and brain of the nation. members of lincoln's first cabinet, protesting senators and congressmen, editors of great republican and democratic newspapers, heroes of both armies, long estranged, met for a common purpose. when a group of famous negro worshippers from boston suddenly entered the hall, arm in arm with ex-slaveholders from south carolina, the great meeting rose and walls and roof rang with thunder peals of applause. their committee, headed by a famous editor, journeyed to washington to appeal to the master at the capitol. they sought him not in the white house, but in the little black house in an obscure street on the hill. the brown woman received them with haughty dignity, and said: "mr. stoneman cannot be seen at this hour. it is after nine o'clock. i will submit to him your request for an audience to-morrow morning." "we must see him to-night," replied the editor, with rising anger. "the king is amusing himself," said the yellow woman, with a touch of malice. "where is he?" her catlike eyes rolled from side to side, and a smile played about her full lips as she said: "you will find him at hall & pemberton's gambling hell--you've lived in washington. you know the way." with a muttered oath the editor turned on his heel and led his two companions to the old commoner's favourite haunt. there could be no better time or place to approach him than seated at one of its tables laden with rare wines and savoury dishes. on reaching the well-known number of hall & pemberton's place, the editor entered the unlocked door, passed with his friends along the soft-carpeted hall, and ascended the stairs. here the door was locked. a sudden pull of the bell, and a pair of bright eyes peeped through a small grating in the centre of the door revealed by the sliding of its panel. the keen eyes glanced at the proffered card, the door flew open, and a well-dressed mulatto invited them with cordial welcome to enter. passing along another hall, they were ushered into a palatial suite of rooms furnished in princely state. the floors were covered with the richest and softest carpets--so soft and yielding that the tramp of a thousand feet could not make the faintest echo. the walls and ceilings were frescoed by the brush of a great master, and hung with works of art worth a king's ransom. heavy curtains, in colours of exquisite taste, masked each window, excluding all sound from within or without. the rooms blazed with light from gorgeous chandeliers of trembling crystals, shimmering and flashing from the ceilings like bouquets of diamonds. negro servants, faultlessly dressed, attended the slightest want of every guest with the quiet grace and courtesy of the lost splendours of the old south. the proprietor, with courtly manners, extended his hand: "welcome, gentlemen; you are my guests. the tables and the wines are at your service without price. eat, drink, and be merry--play or not, as you please." a smile lighted his dark eyes, but faded out near his mouth--cold and rigid. at the farther end of the last room hung the huge painting of a leopard, so vivid and real its black and tawny colours, so furtive and wild its restless eyes, it seemed alive and moving behind invisible bars. just under it, gorgeously set in its jewel-studded frame, stood the magic green table on which men staked their gold and lost their souls. the rooms were crowded with congressmen, government officials, officers of the army and navy, clerks, contractors, paymasters, lobbyists, and professional gamblers. the centre of an admiring group was a congressman who had during the last session of the house broken the "bank" in a single night, winning more than a hundred thousand dollars. he had lost it all and more in two weeks, and the courteous proprietor now held orders for the lion's share of the total pay and mileage of nearly every member of the house of representatives. over that table thousands of dollars of the people's money had been staked and lost during the war by quartermasters, paymasters, and agents in charge of public funds. many a man had approached that green table with a stainless name and left it a perjured thief. some had been carried out by those handsomely dressed waiters, and the man with the cold mouth could point out, if he would, more than one stain on the soft carpet which marked the end of a tragedy deeper than the pen of romancer has ever sounded. stoneman at the moment was playing. he was rarely a heavy player, but he had just staked a twenty-dollar gold piece and won fourteen hundred dollars. howle, always at his elbow ready for a "sleeper" or a stake, said: "put a stack on the ace." he did so, lost, and repeated it twice. "do it again," urged howle. "i'll stake my reputation that the ace wins this time." with a doubting glance at howle, old stoneman shoved a stack of blue chips, worth fifty dollars, over the ace, playing it to win on howle's judgment and reputation. it lost. without the ghost of a smile, the old statesman said: "howle, you owe me five cents." as he turned abruptly on his club foot from the table, he encountered the editor and his friends, a western manufacturer and a wall street banker. they were soon seated at a table in a private room, over a dinner of choice oysters, diamond-back terrapin, canvas-back duck, and champagne. they presented their plea for a truce in his fight until popular passion had subsided. he heard them in silence. his answer was characteristic: "the will of the people, gentlemen, is supreme," he said with a sneer. "we are the people. 'the man at the other end of the avenue' has dared to defy the will of congress. he must go. if the supreme court lifts a finger in this fight, it will reduce that tribunal to one man or increase it to twenty at our pleasure." "but the constitution----" broke in the chairman. "there are higher laws than paper compacts. we are conquerors treading conquered soil. our will alone is the source of law. the drunken boor who claims to be president is in reality an alien of a conquered province." "we protest," exclaimed the man of money, "against the use of such epithets in referring to the chief magistrate of the republic!" "and why, pray?" sneered the commoner. "in the name of common decency, law, and order. the president is a man of inherent power, even if he did learn to read after his marriage. like many other americans, he is a self-made man----" "glad to hear it," snapped stoneman. "it relieves almighty god of a fearful responsibility." they left him in disgust and dismay. chapter x tossed by the storm as the storm of passion raised by the clash between her father and the president rose steadily to the sweep of a cyclone, elsie felt her own life but a leaf driven before its fury. her only comfort she found in phil, whose letters to her were full of love for margaret. he asked elsie a thousand foolish questions about what she thought of his chances. to her own confessions he was all sympathy. "of father's wild scheme of vengeance against the south," he wrote, "i am heartsick. i hate it on principle, to say nothing of a girl i know. i am with general grant for peace and reconciliation. what does your lover think of it all? i can feel your anguish. the bill to rob the southern people of their land, which i hear is pending, would send your sweetheart and mine, our enemies, into beggared exile. what will happen in the south? riot and bloodshed, of course--perhaps a guerilla war of such fierce and terrible cruelty humanity sickens at the thought. i fear the rebellion unhinged our father's reason on some things. he was too old to go to the front; the cannon's breath would have cleared the air and sweetened his temper. but its healing was denied. i believe the tawny leopardess who keeps his house influences him in this cruel madness. i could wring her neck with exquisite pleasure. why he allows her to stay and cloud his life with her she-devil temper and fog his name with vulgar gossip is beyond me." seated in the park on the capitol hill the day after her father had introduced his confiscation bill in the house, pending the impeachment of the president, she again attempted to draw ben out as to his feelings on politics. she waited in sickening fear and bristling pride for the first burst of his anger which would mean their separation. "how do i feel?" he asked. "don't feel at all. the surrender of general lee was an event so stunning, my mind has not yet staggered past it. nothing much can happen after that, so it don't matter." "negro suffrage don't matter?" "no. we can manage the negro," he said calmly. "with thousands of your own people disfranchised?" "the negroes will vote with us, as they worked for us during the war. if they give them the ballot, they'll wish they hadn't." ben looked at her tenderly, bent near, and whispered: "don't waste your sweet breath talking about such things. my politics is bounded on the north by a pair of amber eyes, on the south by a dimpled little chin, on the east and west by a rosy cheek. words do not frame its speech. its language is a mere sign, a pressure of the lips--yet it thrills body and soul beyond all words." elsie leaned closer, and looking at the capitol, said wistfully: "i don't believe you know anything that goes on in that big marble building." "yes, i do." "what happened there yesterday?" "you honoured it by putting your beautiful feet on its steps. i saw the whole huge pile of cold marble suddenly glow with warm sunlight and flash with beauty as you entered it." the girl nestled still closer to his side, feeling her utter helplessness in the rapids of the niagara through which they were being whirled by blind and merciless forces. for the moment she forgot all fears in his nearness and the sweet pressure of his hand. chapter xi the supreme test it is the glory of the american republic that every man who has filled the office of president has grown in stature when clothed with its power and has proved himself worthy of its solemn trust. it is our highest claim to the respect of the world and the vindication of man's capacity to govern himself. the impeachment of president andrew johnson would mark either the lowest tide-mud of degradation to which the republic could sink, or its end. in this trial our system would be put to its severest strain. if a partisan majority in congress could remove the executive and defy the supreme court, stability to civic institutions was at an end, and the breath of a mob would become the sole standard of law. congress had thrown to the winds the last shreds of decency in its treatment of the chief magistrate. stoneman led this campaign of insult, not merely from feelings of personal hate, but because he saw that thus the president's conviction before the senate would become all but inevitable. when his messages arrived from the white house they were thrown into the waste-basket without being read, amid jeers, hisses, curses, and ribald laughter. in lieu of their reading, stoneman would send to the clerk's desk an obscene tirade from a party newspaper, and the clerk of the house would read it amid the mocking groans, laughter, and applause of the floor and galleries. a favourite clipping described the president as "an insolent drunken brute, in comparison with whom caligula's horse was respectable." in the senate, whose members were to sit as sworn judges to decide the question of impeachment, charles sumner used language so vulgar that he was called to order. sustained by the chair and the senate, he repeated it with increased violence, concluding with cold venom: "andrew johnson has become the successor of jefferson davis. in holding him up to judgment i do not dwell on his beastly intoxication the day he took the oath as vice-president, nor do i dwell on his maudlin speeches by which he has degraded the country, nor hearken to the reports of pardons sold, or of personal corruption. these things are bad. but he has usurped the powers of congress." conover, the perjured wretch, in prison for his crimes as a professional witness in the assassination trial, now circulated the rumour that he could give evidence that president johnson was the assassin of lincoln. without a moment's hesitation, stoneman's henchmen sent a petition to the president for the pardon of this villain that he might turn against the man who had pardoned him and swear his life away! this scoundrel was borne in triumph from prison to the capitol and placed before the impeachment committee, to whom he poured out his wondrous tale. the sewers and prisons were dragged for every scrap of testimony to be found, and the day for the trial approached. as it drew nearer, excitement grew intense. swarms of adventurers expecting the overthrow of the government crowded into washington. dreams of honours, profits, and division of spoils held riot. gamblers thronged the saloons and gaming-houses, betting their gold on the president's head. stoneman found the business more serious than even his daring spirit had dreamed. his health suddenly gave way under the strain, and he was put to bed by his physician with the warning that the least excitement would be instantly fatal. elsie entered the little black house on the hill for the first time since her trip at the age of twelve, some eight years before. she installed an army nurse, took charge of the place, and ignored the existence of the brown woman, refusing to speak to her or permit her to enter her father's room. his illness made it necessary to choose an assistant to conduct the case before the high court. there was but one member of the house whose character and ability fitted him for the place--general benj. f. butler, of massachusetts, whose name was enough to start a riot in any assembly in america. his selection precipitated a storm at the capitol. a member leaped to his feet on the floor of the house and shouted: "if i were to characterize all that is pusillanimous in war, inhuman in peace, forbidden in morals, and corrupt in politics, i could name it in one word--butlerism!" for this speech he was ordered to apologize, and when he refused with scorn they voted that the speaker publicly censure him. the speaker did so, but winked at the offender while uttering the censure. john a. bingham, of ohio, who had been chosen for his powers of oratory to make the principal speech against the president, rose in the house and indignantly refused to serve on the board of impeachment with such a man. general butler replied with crushing insolence: "it is true, mr. speaker, that i may have made an error of judgment in trying to blow up fort fisher with a powder ship at sea. i did the best i could with the talents god gave me. an angel could have done no more. at least i bared my own breast in my country's defence--a thing the distinguished gentleman who insults me has not ventured to do--his only claim to greatness being that, behind prison walls, on perjured testimony, his fervid eloquence sent an innocent american mother screaming to the gallows." the fight was ended only by an order from the old commoner's bed to bingham to shut his mouth and work with butler. when the president had been crushed, then they could settle kilkenny-cat issues. bingham obeyed. when the august tribunal assembled in the senate chamber, fifty-five senators, presided over by salmon p. chase, chief justice of the supreme court, constituted the tribunal. they took their seats in a semicircle in front of the vice-president's desk at which the chief justice sat. behind them crowded the one hundred and ninety members of the house of representatives, the accusers of the ruler of the mightiest republic in human history. every inch of space in the galleries was crowded with brilliantly dressed men and women, army officers in gorgeous uniforms, and the pomp and splendour of the ministers of every foreign court of the world. in spectacular grandeur no such scene was ever before witnessed in the annals of justice. the peculiar personal appearance of general butler, whose bald head shone with insolence while his eye seemed to be winking over his record as a warrior and making fun of his fellow-manager bingham, added a touch of humour to the solemn scene. the magnificent head of the chief justice suggested strange thoughts to the beholder. he had been summoned but the day before to try jefferson davis for the treason of declaring the southern states out of the union. to-day he sat down to try the president of the united states for declaring them to be in the union! he had protested with warmth that he could not conduct both these trials at once. the chief justice took oath to "do impartial justice according to the constitution and the laws," and to the chagrin of sumner administered this oath to each senator in turn. when benjamin f. wade's name was called, hendricks, of indiana, objected to his sitting as judge. he could succeed temporarily to the presidency, as the presiding officer of the senate, and his own vote might decide the fate of the accused and determine his own succession. the law forbids the vice-president to sit on such trials. it should apply with more vigour in his case. besides, he had without a hearing already pronounced the president guilty. sumner, forgetting his motion to prevent stockton's voting against his own expulsion, flew to the defence of wade. hendricks smilingly withdrew his objection, and "bluff ben wade" took the oath and sat down to judge his own cause with unruffled front. when the case was complete, the whole bill of indictment stood forth a tissue of stupid malignity without a shred of evidence to support its charges. on the last day of the trial, when the closing speeches were being made, there was a stir at the door. the throng of men, packing every inch of floor space, were pushed rudely aside. the crowd craned their necks, senators turned and looked behind them to see what the disturbance meant, and the chief justice rapped for order. suddenly through the dense mass appeared the forms of two gigantic negroes carrying an old man. his grim face, white and rigid, and his big club foot hanging pathetically from those black arms, could not be mistaken. a thrill of excitement swept the floor and galleries, and a faint cheer rippled the surface, quickly suppressed by the gavel. the negroes placed him in an armchair facing the semicircle of senators, and crouched down on their haunches beside him. their kinky heads, black skin, thick lips, white teeth, and flat noses made for the moment a curious symbolic frame for the chalk-white passion of the old commoner's face. no sculptor ever dreamed a more sinister emblem of the corruption of a race of empire builders than this group. its black figures, wrapped in the night of four thousand years of barbarism, squatted there the "equal" of their master, grinning at his forms of justice, the evolution of forty centuries of aryan genius. to their brute strength the white fanatic in the madness of his hate had appealed, and for their hire he had bartered the birthright of a mighty race of freemen. the speaker hurried to his conclusion that the half-fainting master might deliver his message. in the meanwhile his eyes, cold and thrilling, sought the secrets of the souls of the judges before him. he had not come to plead or persuade. he had eluded the vigilance of his daughter and nurse, escaped with the aid of the brown woman and her black allies, and at the peril of his life had come to command. every energy of his indomitable will he was using now to keep from fainting. he felt that if he could but look those men in the face they would not dare to defy his word. he shambled painfully to his feet amid a silence that was awful. again the sheer wonder of the man's personality held the imagination of the audience. his audacity, his fanaticism, and the strange contradictions of his character stirred the mind of friend and foe alike--this man who tottered there before them, holding off death with his big ugly left hand, while with his right he clutched at the throat of his foe! honest and dishonest, cruel and tender, great and mean, a party leader who scorned public opinion, a man of conviction, yet the most unscrupulous politician, a philosopher who preached the equality of man, yet a tyrant who hated the world and despised all men! his very presence before them an open defiance of love and life and death, would not his word ring omnipotent when the verdict was rendered? every man in the great courtroom believed it as he looked on the rows of senators hanging on his lips. he spoke at first with unnatural vigour, a faint flush of fever lighting his white face, his voice quivering yet penetrating. "upon that man among you who shall dare to acquit the president," he boldly threatened, "i hurl the everlasting curse of a nation--an infamy that shall rive and blast his children's children until they shrink from their own name as from the touch of pollution!" he gasped for breath, his restless hands fumbled at his throat, he staggered and would have fallen had not his black guards caught him. he revived, pushed them back on their haunches, and sat down. and then, with his big club foot thrust straight in front of him, his gnarled hands gripping the arms of his chair, the massive head shaking back and forth like a wounded lion, he continued his speech, which grew in fierce intensity with each laboured breath. the effect was electrical. every senator leaned forward to catch the lowest whisper, and so awful was the suspense in the galleries the listeners grew faint. when this last mad challenge was hurled into the teeth of the judges, the dazed crowd paused for breath and the galleries burst into a storm of applause. in vain the chief justice rose, his lionlike face livid with anger, pounded for order, and commanded the galleries to be cleared. they laughed at him. roar after roar was the answer. the chief justice in loud angry tones ordered the sergeant-at-arms to clear the galleries. men leaned over the rail and shouted in his face: "he can't do it!" "he hasn't got men enough!" "let him try if he dares!" the doorkeepers attempted to enforce order by announcing it in the name of the peace and dignity and sovereign power of the senate over its sacred chamber. the crowd had now become a howling mob which jeered them. senator grimes, of iowa, rose and demanded the reason why the senate was thus insulted and the order had not been enforced. a volley of hisses greeted his question. the chief justice, evidently quite nervous, declared the order would be enforced. senator trumbull, of illinois, moved that the offenders be arrested. in reply the crowd yelled: "we'd like to see you do it!" at length the mob began to slowly leave the galleries under the impression that the high court had adjourned. suddenly a man cried out: "hold on! they ain't going to adjourn. let's see it out!" hundreds took their seats again. in the corridors a crowd began to sing in wild chorus: "old grimes is dead, that poor old man." the women joined with glee. between the verses the leader would curse the iowa senator as a traitor and copperhead. the singing could be distinctly heard by the court as its roar floated through the open doors. when the senate chamber had been cleared and the most disgraceful scene that ever occurred within its portals had closed, the high court impeachment went into secret session to consider the evidence and its verdict. within an hour from its adjournment it was known to the managers that seven republican senators were doubtful, and that they formed a group under the leadership of two great constitutional lawyers who still believed in the sanctity of a judge's oath--lyman trumbull, of illinois, and william pitt fessenden, of maine. around them had gathered senators grimes, of iowa, van winkle, of west virginia, fowler, of tennessee, henderson, of missouri, and ross, of kansas. the managers were in a panic. if these men dared to hold together with the twelve democrats, the president would be acquitted by one vote--they could count thirty-four certain for conviction. the revolutionists threw to the winds the last scruple of decency, went into caucus and organized a conspiracy for forcing, within the few days which must pass before the verdict, these judges to submit to their decree. fessenden and trumbull were threatened with impeachment and expulsion from the senate and bombarded by the most furious assaults from the press, which denounced them as infamous traitors, "as mean, repulsive, and noxious as hedgehogs in the cages of a travelling menagerie." a mass meeting was held in washington which said: "resolved, that we impeach fessenden, trumbull, and grimes at the bar of justice and humanity, as traitors before whose guilt the infamy of benedict arnold becomes respectability and decency." the managers sent out a circular telegram to every state from which came a doubtful judge: "great danger to the peace of the country if impeachment fails. send your senators public opinion by resolutions, letters, and delegates." the man who excited most wrath was ross, of kansas. that kansas of all states should send a "traitor" was more than the spirits of the revolutionists could bear. a mass meeting in leavenworth accordingly sent him the telegram: "kansas has heard the evidence and demands the conviction of the president. "d. r. anthony and , others." to this ross replied: "i have taken an oath to do impartial justice. i trust i shall have the courage and honesty to vote according to the dictates of my judgment and for the highest good of my country." he got his answer: "your motives are indian contracts and greenbacks. kansas repudiates you as she does all perjurers and skunks." the managers organized an inquisition for the purpose of torturing and badgering ross into submission. his one vote was all they lacked. they laid siege to little vinnie ream, the sculptress, to whom congress had awarded a contract for the statue of lincoln. her studio was in the crypt of the capitol. they threatened her with the wrath of congress, the loss of her contract, and ruin of her career unless she found a way to induce senator ross, whom she knew, to vote against the president. such an attempt to gain by fraud the verdict of a common court of law would have sent its promoters to prison for felony. yet the managers of this case, before the highest tribunal of the world, not only did it without a blush of shame, but cursed as a traitor every man who dared to question their motives. as the day approached for the court to vote, senator ross remained to friend and foe a sealed mystery. reporters swarmed about him, the target of a thousand eyes. his rooms were besieged by his radical constituents who had been imported from kansas in droves to browbeat him into a promise to convict. his movements day and night, his breakfast, his dinner, his supper, the clothes he wore, the colour of his cravat, his friends and companions, were chronicled in hourly bulletins and flashed over the wires from the delirious capital. chief justice chase called the high court of impeachment to order, to render its verdict. old stoneman had again been carried to his chair in the arms of two negroes, and sat with his cold eyes searching the faces of the judges. the excitement had reached the highest pitch of intensity. a sense of choking solemnity brooded over the scene. the feeling grew that the hour had struck which would test the capacity of man to establish an enduring republic. the clerk read the eleventh article, drawn by the great commoner as the supreme test. as its last words died away the chief justice rose amid a silence that was agony, placed his hands on the sides of the desk as if to steady himself, and said: "call the roll." each senator answered "guilty" or "not guilty," exactly as they had been counted by the managers, until fessenden's name was called. a moment of stillness and the great lawyer's voice rang high, cold, clear, and resonant as a puritan church bell on sunday morning: "not guilty!" a murmur, half groan and sigh, half cheer and cry, rippled the great hall. the other votes were discounted now save that of edmund g. ross, of kansas. no human being on earth knew what this man would do save the silent invisible man within his soul. over the solemn trembling silence the voice of the chief justice rang: "senator ross, how say you? is the respondent, andrew johnson, guilty or not guilty of a high misdemeanor as charged in this article?" the great judge bent forward; his brow furrowed as ross arose. his fellow senators watched him spellbound. a thousand men and women, hanging from the galleries, focused their eyes on him. old stoneman drew his bristling brows down, watching him like an adder ready to strike, his lower lip protruding, his jaws clinched as a vise, his hands fumbling the arms of his chair. every breath is held, every ear strained, as the answer falls from the sturdy scotchman like the peal of a trumpet: "not guilty!" the crowd breathes--a pause, a murmur, the shuffle of a thousand feet---- the president is acquitted, and the republic lives! the house assembled and received the report of the verdict. old stoneman pulled himself half erect, holding to his desk, addressed the speaker, introduced his second bill for the impeachment of the president, and fell fainting in the arms of his black attendants. chapter xii triumph in defeat upon the failure to convict the president, edwin m. stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier secretary of war opened the prison doors. ben cameron and his father hurried southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the black plague of reconstruction. for two weeks the old commoner wrestled in silence with death. when at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside. turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly: "i wonder whom i'll get to carry me when you boys die!" elsie hurried to his side and kissed him tenderly. for a week his mind hovered in the twilight that lies between time and eternity. he seemed to forget the passions and fury of his fierce career and live over the memories of his youth, recalling pathetically its bitter poverty and its fair dreams. he would lie for hours and hold elsie's hand, pressing it gently. in one of his lucid moments he said: "how beautiful you are, my child! you shall be a queen. i've dreamed of boundless wealth for you and my boy. my plans are napoleonic--and i shall not fail--never fear--aye, beyond the dreams of avarice!" "i wish no wealth save the heart treasure of those i love, father," was the soft answer. "of course, little day-dreamer. but the old cynic who has outlived himself and knows the mockery of time and things will be wisdom for your foolishness. you shall keep your toys. what pleases you shall please me. yet i will be wise for us both." she laid her hand upon his lips, and he kissed the warm little fingers. in these days of soul-nearness the iron heart softened as never before in love toward his children. phil had hurried home from the west and secured his release from the remaining weeks of his term of service. as the father lay watching them move about the room, the cold light in his deep-set wonderful eyes would melt into a soft glow. as he grew stronger, the old fierce spirit of the unconquered leader began to assert itself. he would take up the fight where he left it off and carry it to victory. elsie and phil sent the doctor to tell him the truth and beg him to quit politics. "your work is done; you have but three months to live unless you go south and find new life," was the verdict. "in either event i go to a warmer climate, eh, doctor?" said the cynic. "perhaps," was the laughing reply. "good. it suits me better. i've had the move in mind. i can do more effective work in the south for the next two years. your decision is fate. i'll go at once." the doctor was taken aback. "come now," he said persuasively. "let a disinterested englishman give you some advice. you've never taken any before. i give it as medicine, and i won't put it on your bill. slow down on politics. your recent defeat should teach you a lesson in conservatism." the old commoner's powerful mouth became rigid, and the lower lip bulged: "conservatism--fossil putrefaction!" "but defeat?" "defeat?" cried the old man. "who said i was defeated? the south lies in ashes at my feet--the very names of her proud states blotted from history. the supreme court awaits my nod. true, there's a man boarding in the white house, and i vote to pay his bills; but the page who answers my beck and call has more power. every measure on which i've set my heart is law, save one--my confiscation act--and this but waits the fulness of time." the doctor, who was walking back and forth with his hands folded behind him, paused and said: "i marvel that a man of your personal integrity could conceive such a measure; you, who refused to accept the legal release of your debts until the last farthing was paid--you, whose cruelty of the lip is hideous, and yet beneath it so gentle a personality, i've seen the pages in the house stand at your back and mimic you while speaking, secure in the smile with which you turned to greet their fun. and yet you press this crime upon a brave and generous foe?" "a wrong can have no rights," said stoneman calmly. "slavery will not be dead until the landed aristocracy on which it rested is destroyed. i am not cruel or unjust. i am but fulfilling the largest vision of universal democracy that ever stirred the soul of man--a democracy that shall know neither rich nor poor, bond nor free, white nor black. if i use the wild pulse-beat of the rage of millions, it is only a means to an end--this grander vision of the soul." "then why not begin at home this vision, and give the stricken south a moment to rise?" "no. the north is impervious to change, rich, proud, and unscathed by war. the south is in chaos and cannot resist. it is but the justice and wisdom of heaven that the negro shall rule the land of his bondage. it is the only solution of the race problem. lincoln's contention that we could not live half white and half black is sound at the core. when we proclaim equality, social, political, and economic for the negro, we mean always to enforce it in the south. the negro will never be treated as an equal in the north. we are simply a set of cold-blooded liars on that subject, and always have been. to the yankee the very physical touch of a negro is pollution." "then you don't believe this twaddle about equality?" asked the doctor. "yes and no. mankind in the large is a herd of mercenary gudgeons or fools. as a lawyer in pennsylvania i have defended fifty murderers on trial for their lives. forty-nine of them were guilty. all these i succeeded in acquitting. one of them was innocent. this one they hung. can a man keep his face straight in such a world? could negro blood degrade such stock? might not an ape improve it? i preach equality as a poet and seer who sees a vision beyond the rim of the horizon of to-day." the old man's eyes shone with the set stare of a fanatic. "and you think the south is ready for this wild vision?" "not ready, but helpless to resist. as a cold-blooded, scientific experiment, i mean to give the black man one turn at the wheel of life. it is an act of just retribution. besides, in my plans i need his vote; and that settles it." "but will your plans work? your own reports show serious trouble in the south already." stoneman laughed. "i never read my own reports. they are printed in molasses to catch flies. the southern legislatures played into my hands by copying the laws of new england relating to servants, masters, apprentices, and vagrants. but even these were repealed at the first breath of criticism. neither the freedman's bureau nor the army has ever loosed its grip on the throat of the south for a moment. these disturbances and 'atrocities' are dangerous only when printed on campaign fly-paper." "and how will you master and control these ten great southern states?" "through my reconstruction acts by means of the union league. as a secret between us, i am the soul of this order. i organized it in to secure my plan of confiscation. we pressed it on lincoln. he repudiated it. we nominated frémont at cleveland against lincoln in ' , and tried to split the party or force lincoln to retire. frémont, a conceited ass, went back on this plank in our platform, and we dropped him and helped elect lincoln again." "i thought the union league a patriotic and social organization?" said the doctor in surprise. "it has these features, but its sole aim as a secret order is to confiscate the property of the south. i will perfect this mighty organization until every negro stands drilled in serried line beneath its banners, send a solid delegation here to do my bidding, and return at the end of two years with a majority so overwhelming that my word will be law. i will pass my confiscation bill. if ulysses s. grant, the coming idol, falters, my second bill of impeachment will only need the change of a name." the doctor shook his head. "give up this madness. your life is hanging by a thread. the southern people even in their despair will never drink this black broth you are pressing to their lips." "they've got to drink it." "your decision is unalterable?" "absolutely. it's the breath i breathe. as my physician you may select the place to which i shall be banished. it must be reached by rail and wire. i care not its name or size. i'll make it the capital of the nation. there'll be poetic justice in setting up my establishment in a fallen slaveholder's mansion." the doctor looked intently at the old man: "the study of men has become a sort of passion with me, but you are the deepest mystery i've yet encountered in this land of surprises." "and why?" asked the cynic. "because the secret of personality resides in motives, and i can't find yours either in your actions or words." stoneman glanced at him sharply from beneath his wrinkled brows and snapped. "keep on guessing." "i will. in the meantime i'm going to send you to the village of piedmont, south carolina. your son and daughter both seem enthusiastic over this spot." "good; that settles it. and now that mine own have been conspiring against me," said stoneman confidentially, "a little guile on my part. not a word of what has passed between us to my children. tell them i agree with your plans and give up my work. i'll give the same story to the press--i wish nothing to mar their happiness while in the south. my secret burdens need not cloud their young lives." dr. barnes took the old man by the hand: "i promise. my assistant has agreed to go with you. i'll say good-bye. it's an inspiration to look into a face like yours, lit by the splendour of an unconquerable will! but i want to say something to you before you set out on this journey." "out with it," said the commoner. "the breed to which the southern white man belongs has conquered every foot of soil on this earth their feet have pressed for a thousand years. a handful of them hold in subjection three hundred millions in india. place a dozen of them in the heart of africa, and they will rule the continent unless you kill them----" "wait," cried stoneman, "until i put a ballot in the hand of every negro and a bayonet at the breast of every white man from the james to the rio grande!" "i'll tell you a little story," said the doctor with a smile. "i once had a half-grown eagle in a cage in my yard. the door was left open one day, and a meddlesome rooster hopped in to pick a fight. the eagle had been sick a week and seemed an easy mark. i watched. the rooster jumped and wheeled and spurred and picked pieces out of his topknot. the young eagle didn't know at first what he meant. he walked around dazed, with a hurt expression. when at last it dawned on him what the chicken was about, he simply reached out one claw, took the rooster by the neck, planted the other claw in his breast, and snatched his head off." the old man snapped his massive jaws together and grunted contemptuously. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- book iii--the reign of terror chapter i a fallen slaveholder's mansion piedmont, south carolina, which elsie and phil had selected for reasons best known to themselves as the place of retreat for their father, was a favourite summer resort of charleston people before the war. ulster county, of which this village was the capital, bordered on the north carolina line, lying alongside the ancient shore of york. it was settled by the scotch folk who came from the north of ireland in the great migrations which gave america three hundred thousand people of covenanter martyr blood, the largest and most important addition to our population, larger in number than either the puritans of new england or the so-called cavaliers of virginia and eastern carolina; and far more important than either, in the growth of american nationality. to a man they had hated great britain. not a tory was found among them. the cries of their martyred dead were still ringing in their souls when george iii started on his career of oppression. the fiery words of patrick henry, their spokesman in the valley of virginia, had swept the aristocracy of the old dominion into rebellion against the king and on into triumphant democracy. they had made north carolina the first home of freedom in the new world, issued the first declaration of independence in mecklenburg, and lifted the first banner of rebellion against the tyranny of the crown. they grew to the soil wherever they stopped, always home lovers and home builders, loyal to their own people, instinctive clan leaders and clan followers. a sturdy, honest, covenant-keeping, god-fearing, fighting people, above all things they hated sham and pretence. they never boasted of their families, though some of them might have quartered the royal arms of scotland on their shields. to these sturdy qualities had been added a strain of huguenot tenderness and vivacity. the culture of cotton as the sole industry had fixed african slavery as their economic system. with the heritage of the old world had been blended forces inherent in the earth and air of the new southland, something of the breath of its unbroken forests, the freedom of its untrod mountains, the temper of its sun, and the sweetness of its tropic perfumes. when mrs. cameron received elsie's letter, asking her to secure for them six good rooms at the "palmetto" hotel, she laughed. the big rambling hostelry had been burned by roving negroes, pigs were wallowing in the sulphur springs, and along its walks, where lovers of olden days had strolled, the cows were browsing on the shrubbery. but she laughed for a more important reason. they had asked for a six-room cottage if accommodations could not be had in the hotel. she could put them in the lenoir place. the cotton crop from their farm had been stolen from the gin--the cotton tax of $ could not be paid, and a mortgage was about to be foreclosed on both their farm and home. she had been brooding over their troubles in despair. the stonemans' coming was a godsend. mrs. cameron was helping them set the house in order to receive the new tenants. "i declare," said mrs. lenoir gratefully. "it seems too good to be true. just as i was about to give up--the first time in my life--here came those rich yankees and with enough rent to pay the interest on the mortgages and our board at the hotel. i'll teach margaret to paint, and she can give marion lessons on the piano. the darkest hour's just before day. and last week i cried when they told me i must lose the farm." "i was heartsick over it for you." "you know, the farm was my dowry with the dozen slaves papa gave us on our wedding-day. the negroes did as they pleased, yet we managed to live and were very happy." marion entered and placed a bouquet of roses on the table, touching them daintily until she stood each flower apart in careless splendour. their perfume, the girl's wistful dreamy blue eyes and shy elusive beauty, all seemed a part of the warm sweet air of the june morning. mrs. lenoir watched her lovingly. "mamma, i'm going to put flowers in every room. i'm sure they haven't such lovely ones in washington," said marion eagerly, as she skipped out. the two women moved to the open window, through which came the drone of bees and the distant music of the river falls. "marion's greatest charm," whispered her mother, "is in her way of doing things easily and gently without a trace of effort. watch her bend over to get that rose. did you ever see anything like the grace and symmetry of her figure--she seems a living flower!" "jeannie, you're making an idol of her----" "why not? with all our troubles and poverty, i'm rich in her! she's fifteen years old, her head teeming with romance. you know, i was married at fifteen. there'll be a half dozen boys to see her to-night in our new home--all of them head over heels in love with her." "oh, jeannie, you must not be so silly! we should worship god only." "isn't she god's message to me and to the world?" "but if anything should happen to her----" the young mother laughed. "i never think of it. some things are fixed. her happiness and beauty are to me the sign of god's presence." "well, i'm glad you're coming to live with us in the heart of town. this place is a cosey nest, just such a one as a poet lover would build here in the edge of these deep woods, but it is too far out for you to be alone. dr. cameron has been worrying about you ever since he came home." "i'm not afraid of the negroes. i don't know one of them who wouldn't go out of his way to do me a favour. old aleck is the only rascal i know among them, and he's too busy with politics now even to steal a chicken." "and gus, the young scamp we used to own; you haven't forgotten him? he is back here, a member of the company of negro troops, and parades before the house every day to show off his uniform. dr. cameron told him yesterday he'd thrash him if he caught him hanging around the place again. he frightened margaret nearly to death when she went to the barn to feed her horse." "i've never known the meaning of fear. we used to roam the woods and fields together all hours of the day and night: my lover, marion, and i. this panic seems absurd to me." "well, i'll be glad to get you two children under my wing. i was afraid i'd find you in tears over moving from your nest." "no, where marion is i'm at home, and i'll feel i've a mother when i get with you." "will you come to the hotel before they arrive?" "no; i'll welcome and tell them how glad i am they have brought me good luck." "i'm delighted, jeannie. i wished you to do this, but i couldn't ask it. i can never do enough for this old man's daughter. we must make their stay happy. they say he's a terrible old radical politician, but i suppose he's no meaner than the others. he's very ill, and she loves him devotedly. he is coming here to find health, and not to insult us. besides, he was kind to me. he wrote a letter to the president. nothing that i have will be too good for him or for his. it's very brave and sweet of you to stay and meet them." "i'm doing it to please marion. she suggested it last night, sitting out on the porch in the twilight. she slipped her arm around me and said: "'mamma, we must welcome them and make them feel at home. he is very ill. they will be tired and homesick. suppose it were you and i, and we were taking my papa to a strange place.'" * * * * * when the stonemans arrived, the old man was too ill and nervous from the fatigue of the long journey to notice his surroundings or to be conscious of the restful beauty of the cottage into which they carried him. his room looked out over the valley of the river for miles, and the glimpse he got of its broad fertile acres only confirmed his ideas of the "slaveholding oligarchy" it was his life-purpose to crush. over the mantel hung a steel engraving of calhoun. he fell asleep with his deep, sunken eyes resting on it and a cynical smile playing about his grim mouth. margaret and mrs. cameron had met the stonemans and their physician at the train, and taken elsie and her father in the old weather-beaten family carriage to the lenoir cottage, apologising for ben's absence. "he has gone to nashville on some important legal business, and the doctor is ailing, but as the head of the clan cameron he told me to welcome your father to the hospitality of the county, and beg him to let us know if he could be of help." the old man, who sat in a stupor of exhaustion, made no response, and elsie hastened to say: "we appreciate your kindness more than i can tell you, mrs. cameron. i trust father will be better in a day or two, when he will thank you. the trip has been more than he could bear." "i am expecting ben home this week," the mother whispered. "i need not tell you that he will be delighted at your coming." elsie smiled and blushed. "and i'll expect captain stoneman to see me very soon," said margaret softly. "you will not forget to tell him for me?" "he's a very retiring young man," said elsie, "and pretends to be busy about our baggage just now. i'm sure he will find the way." elsie fell in love at sight with marion and her mother. their easy genial manners, the genuineness of their welcome, and the simple kindness with which they sought to make her feel at home put her heart into a warm glow. mrs. lenoir explained the conveniences of the place and apologized for its defects, the results of the war. "i am sorry about the window curtains--we have used them all for dresses. marion is a genius with a needle, and we took the last pair out of the parlour to make a dress for a birthday party. the year before, we used the ones in my room for a costume at a starvation party in a benefit for our rector--you know we're episcopalians--strayed up here for our health from charleston among these good scotch presbyterians." "we will soon place curtains at the windows," said elsie cheerfully. "the carpets were sent to the soldiers for blankets during the war. it was all we could do for our poor boys, except to cut my hair and sell it. you see my hair hasn't grown out yet. i sent it to richmond the last year of the war. i felt i must do something when my neighbours were giving so much. you know mrs. cameron lost four boys." "i prefer the floors bare," elsie replied. "we will get a few rugs." she looked at the girlish hair hanging in ringlets about mrs. lenoir's handsome face, smiled pathetically, and asked: "did you really make such sacrifices for your cause?" "yes, indeed. i was glad when the war was ended for some things. we certainly needed a few pins, needles, and buttons, to say nothing of a cup of coffee or tea." "i trust you will never lack for anything again," said elsie kindly. "you will bring us good luck," mrs. lenoir responded. "your coming is so fortunate. the cotton tax congress levied was so heavy this year we were going to lose everything. such a tax when we are all about to starve! dr. cameron says it was an act of stupid vengeance on the south, and that no other farmers in america have their crops taxed by the national government. i am so glad your father has come. he is not hunting for an office. he can help us, maybe." "i am sure he will," answered elsie thoughtfully. marion ran up the steps lightly, her hair dishevelled and face flushed. "now, mamma, it's almost sundown; you get ready to go. i want her awhile to show her about my things." she took elsie shyly by the hand and led her into the lawn, while her mother paid a visit to each room, and made up the last bundle of odds and ends she meant to carry to the hotel. "i hope you will love the place as we do," said the girl simply. "i think it very beautiful and restful," elsie replied. "this wilderness of flowers looks like fairyland. you have roses running on the porch around the whole length of the house." "yes, papa was crazy over the trailing roses, and kept planting them until the house seems just a frame built to hold them, with a roof on it. but you can see the river through the arches from three sides. ben cameron helped me set that big beauty on the south corner the day he ran away to the war----" "the view is glorious!" elsie exclaimed, looking in rapture over the river valley. the village of piedmont crowned an immense hill on the banks of the broad river, just where it dashes over the last stone barrier in a series of beautiful falls and spreads out in peaceful glory through the plains toward columbia and the distant sea. the muffled roar of these falls, rising softly through the trees on its wooded cliff, held the daily life of the people in the spell of distant music. in fair weather it soothed and charmed, and in storm and freshet rose to the deep solemn growl of thunder. the river made a sharp bend as it emerged from the hills and flowed westward for six miles before it turned south again. beyond this six-mile sweep of its broad channel loomed the three ranges of the blue ridge mountains, the first one dark, rich, distinct, clothed in eternal green, the last one melting in dim lines into the clouds and soft azure of the sky. as the sun began to sink now behind these distant peaks, each cloud that hung about them burst into a blazing riot of colour. the silver mirror of the river caught their shadows, and the water glowed in sympathy. as elsie drank the beauty of the scene, the music of the falls ringing its soft accompaniment, her heart went out in a throb of love and pity for the land and its people. "can you blame us for loving such a spot?" said marion. "it's far more beautiful from the cliff at lover's leap. i'll take you there some day. my father used to tell me that this world was heaven, and that the spirits would all come back to live here when sin and shame and strife were gone." "are your father's poems published?" asked elsie. "only in the papers. we have them clipped and pasted in a scrapbook. i'll show you the one about ben cameron some day. you met him in washington, didn't you?" "yes," said elsie quietly. "then i know he made love to you." "why?" "you're so pretty. he couldn't help it." "does he make love to every pretty girl?" "always. it's his religion. but he does it so beautifully you can't help believing it, until you compare notes with the other girls." "did he make love to you?" "he broke my heart when he ran away. i cried a whole week. but i got over it. he seemed so big and grown when he came home this last time. i was afraid to let him kiss me." "did he dare to try?" "no, and it hurt my feelings. you see, i'm not quite old enough to be serious with the big boys, and he looked so brave and handsome with that ugly scar on the edge of his forehead, and everybody was so proud of him. i was just dying to kiss him, and i thought it downright mean in him not to offer it." "would you have let him?" "i expected him to try." "he is very popular in piedmont?" "every girl in town is in love with him." "and he in love with all?" "he pretends to be--but between us, he's a great flirt. he's gone to nashville now on some pretended business. goodness only knows where he got the money to go. i believe there's a girl there." "why?" "because he was so mysterious about his trip. i'll keep an eye on him at the hotel. you know margaret, too, don't you?" "yes; we met her in washington." "well, she's the slyest flirt in town--it runs in the blood--has a half-dozen beaux to see her every day. she plays the organ in the presbyterian sunday school, and the young minister is dead in love with her. they say they are engaged. i don't believe it. i think it's another one. but i must hurry, i've so much to show and tell you. come here to the honeysuckle----" marion drew the vines apart from the top of the fence and revealed a mocking-bird on her nest. "she's setting. don't let anything hurt her. i'd push her off and show you her speckled eggs, but it's so late." "oh, i wouldn't hurt her for the world!" cried elsie with delight. "and right here," said marion, bending gracefully over a tall bunch of grass, "is a pee-wee's nest, four darling little eggs; look out for that." elsie bent and saw the pretty nest perched on stems of grass, and over it the taller leaves drawn to a point. "isn't it cute!" she murmured. "yes; i've six of these and three mocking-bird nests. i'll show them to you. but the most particular one of all is the wren's nest in the fork of the cedar, close to the house." she led elsie to the tree, and about two feet from the ground, in the forks of the trunk, was a tiny hole from which peeped the eyes of a wren. "whatever you do, don't let anything hurt her. her mate sings '_free-nigger! free-nigger! free-nigger!_' every morning in this cedar." "and you think we will specially enjoy that?" asked elsie, laughing. "now, really," cried marion, taking elsie's hand, "you know i couldn't think of such a mean joke. i forgot you were from the north. you seem so sweet and homelike. he really does sing that way. you will hear him in the morning, bright and early, '_free-nigger! free-nigger! free-nigger!_' just as plain as i'm saying it." "and did you learn to find all these birds' nests by yourself?" "papa taught me. i've got some jay-birds and some cat-birds so gentle they hop right down at my feet. some people hate jay-birds. but i like them, they seem to be having such a fine time and enjoy life so. you don't mind jay-birds, do you?" "i love every bird that flies." "except hawks and owls and buzzards----" "well, i've seen so few i can't say i've anything particular against them." "yes, they eat chickens--except the buzzards, and they're so ugly and filthy. now, i've a chicken to show you--please don't let aunt cindy--she's to be your cook--please don't let her kill him--he's crippled--has something the matter with his foot. he was born that way. everybody wanted to kill him, but i wouldn't let them. i've had an awful time raising him, but he's all right now." marion lifted a box and showed her the lame pet, softly clucking his protest against the disturbance of his rest. "i'll take good care of _him_, never fear," said elsie, with a tremor in her voice. "and i have a queer little black cat i wanted to show you, but he's gone off somewhere. i'd take him with me--only it's bad luck to move cats. he's awful wild--won't let anybody pet him but me. mamma says he's an imp of satan--but i love him. he runs up a tree when anybody else tries to get him. but he climbs right up on my shoulder. i never loved any cat quite as well as this silly, half-wild one. you don't mind black cats, do you?" "no, dear; i like cats." "then i know you'll be good to him." "is that all?" asked elsie, with amused interest. "no, i've the funniest yellow dog that comes here at night to pick up the scraps and things. he isn't my dog--just a little personal friend of mine--but i like him very much, and always give him something. he's very cute. i think he's a nigger dog." "a nigger dog? what's that?" "he belongs to some coloured people, who don't give turn enough to eat. i love him because he's so faithful to his own folks. he comes to see me at night and pretends to love me, but as soon as i feed him he trots back home. when he first came, i laughed till i cried at his antics over a carpet--we had a carpet then. he never saw one before, and barked at the colours and the figures in the pattern. then he'd lie down and rub his back on it and growl. you won't let anybody hurt him?" "no. are there any others?" "yes, i 'most forgot. if sam ross comes--sam's an idiot who lives at the poorhouse--if he comes, he'll expect a dinner--my, my, i'm afraid he'll cry when he finds we're not here! but you can send him to the hotel to me. don't let aunt cindy speak rough to him. aunt cindy's awfully good to me, but she can't bear sam. she thinks he brings bad luck." "how on earth did you meet him?" "his father was rich. he was a good friend of my papa's. we came near losing our farm once, because a bank failed. mr. ross sent papa a signed check on his own bank, and told him to write the amount he needed on it, and pay him when he was able. papa cried over it, and wouldn't use it, and wrote a poem on the back of the check--one of the sweetest of all, i think. in the war mr. ross lost his two younger sons, both killed at gettysburg. his wife died heartbroken, and he only lived a year afterward. he sold his farm for confederate money and everything was lost. sam was sent to the poorhouse. he found out somehow that we loved him and comes to see us. he's as harmless as a kitten, and works in the garden beautifully." "i'll remember," elsie promised. "and one thing more," she said hesitatingly. "mamma asked me to speak to you of this--that's why she slipped away. there one little room we have locked. it was papa's study just as he left it, with his papers scattered on the desk, the books and pictures that he loved--you won't mind?" elsie slipped her arm about marion, looked into the blue eyes, dim with tears, drew her close and said: "it shall be sacred, my child. you must come every day if possible, and help me." "i will. i've so many beautiful places to show you in the woods--places he loved, and taught us to see and love. they won't let me go in the woods any more alone. but you have a big brother. that must be very sweet." mrs. lenoir hurried to elsie. "come, marion, we must be going now." "i am very sorry to see you leave the home you love so dearly, mrs. lenoir," said the northern girl, taking her extended hand. "i hope you can soon find a way to have it back." "thank you," replied the mother cheerily. "the longer you stay, the better for us. you don't know how happy i am over your coming. it has lifted a load from our hearts. in the liberal rent you pay us you are our benefactors. we are very grateful and happy." elsie watched them walk across the lawn to the street, the daughter leaning on the mother's arm. she followed slowly and stopped behind one of the arbor-vitæ bushes beside the gate. the full moon had risen as the twilight fell and flooded the scene with soft white light. a whippoorwill struck his first plaintive note, his weird song seeming to come from all directions and yet to be under her feet. she heard the rustle of dresses returning along the walk, and marion and her mother stood at the gate. they looked long and tenderly at the house. mrs. lenoir uttered a broken sob, marion slipped an arm around her, brushed the short curling hair back from her forehead, and softly said: "mamma, dear, you know it's best. i don't mind. everybody in town loves us. every boy and girl in piedmont worships you. we will be just as happy at the hotel." in the pauses between the strange bird's cry, elsie caught the sound of another sob, and then a soothing murmur as of a mother bending over a cradle, and they were gone. chapter ii the eyes of the jungle elsie stood dreaming for a moment in the shadow of the arbor-vitæ, breathing the sensuous perfumed air and listening to the distant music of the falls, her heart quivering in pity for the anguish of which she had been a witness. again the spectral cry of the whippoorwill rang near-by, and she noted for the first time the curious cluck with which the bird punctuated each call. a sense of dim foreboding oppressed her. she wondered if the chatter of marion about the girl in nashville were only a child's guess or more. she laughed softly at the absurdity of the idea. never since she had first looked into ben cameron's face did she feel surer of the honesty and earnestness of his love than to-day in this quiet home of his native village. it must be the queer call of the bird which appealed to superstitions she did not know were hidden within her being. still dreaming under its spell, she was startled at the tread of two men approaching the gate. the taller, more powerful-looking man put his hand on the latch and paused. "allow no white man to order you around. remember you are a freeman and as good as any pale-face who walks this earth." she recognized the voice of silas lynch. "ben cameron dare me to come about de house," said the other voice. "what did he say?" "he say, wid his eyes batten' des like lightnen', 'ef i ketch you hangin' 'roun' dis place agin', gus, i'll jump on you en stomp de life outen ye.'" "well, you tell him that your name is augustus, not 'gus,' and that the united states troops quartered in this town will be with him soon after the stomping begins. you wear its uniform. give the white trash in this town to understand that they are not even citizens of the nation. as a sovereign voter, you, once their slave, are not only their equal--you are their master." "dat i will!" was the firm answer. the negro to whom lynch spoke disappeared in the direction taken by marion and her mother, and the figure of the handsome mulatto passed rapidly up the walk, ascended the steps and knocked at the door. elsie followed him. "my father is too much fatigued with his journey to be seen now; you must call to-morrow," she said. the negro lifted his hat and bowed: "ah, we are delighted to welcome you, miss stoneman, to our land! your father asked me to call immediately on his arrival. i have but obeyed his orders." elsie shrank from the familiarity of his manner and the tones of authority and patronage with which he spoke. "he cannot be seen at this hour," she answered shortly. "perhaps you will present my card, then--say that i am at his service, and let him appoint the time at which i shall return?" she did not invite him in, but with easy assurance he took his seat on the joggle-board beside the door and awaited her return. against her urgent protest, stoneman ordered lynch to be shown at once to his bedroom. when the door was closed, the old commoner, without turning to greet his visitor or moving his position in bed, asked: "are you following my instructions?" "to the letter, sir." "you are initiating the negroes into the league and teaching them the new catechism?" "with remarkable success. its secrecy and ritual appeal to them. within six months we shall have the whole race under our control almost to a man." "_almost_ to a man?" "we find some so attached to their former masters that reason is impossible with them. even threats and the promise of forty acres of land have no influence." the old man snorted with contempt. "if anything could reconcile me to the satanic institution it is the character of the wretches who submit to it and kiss the hand that strikes. after all, a slave deserves to be a slave. the man who is mean enough to wear chains ought to wear them. you must teach, _teach_, teach these black hounds to know they are men, not brutes!" the old man paused a moment, and his restless hands fumbled the cover. "your first task, as i told you in the beginning, is to teach every negro to stand erect in the presence of his former master and assert his manhood. unless he does this, the south will bristle with bayonets in vain. the man who believes he is a dog, is one. the man who believes himself a king, may become one. stop this snivelling and sneaking round the back doors. i can do nothing, god almighty can do nothing, for a coward. fix this as the first law of your own life. lift up your head! the world is yours. take it. beat this into the skulls of your people, if you do it with an axe. teach them the military drill at once. i'll see that washington sends the guns. the state, when under your control, can furnish the powder." "it will surprise you to know the thoroughness with which this has been done already by the league," said lynch. "the white master believed he could vote the negro as he worked him in the fields during the war. the league, with its blue flaming altar, under the shadows of night, has wrought a miracle. the negro is the enemy of his former master and will be for all time." "for the present," said the old man meditatively, "not a word to a living soul as to my connection with this work. when the time is ripe, i'll show my hand." elsie entered, protesting against her father's talking longer, and showed lynch to the door. he paused on the moonlit porch and tried to engage her in familiar talk. she cut him short, and he left reluctantly. as he bowed his thick neck in pompous courtesy, she caught with a shiver the odour of pomade on his black half-kinked hair. he stopped on the lower step, looked back with smiling insolence, and gazed intently at her beauty. the girl shrank from the gleam of the jungle in his eyes and hurried within. she found her father sunk in a stupor. her cry brought the young surgeon hurrying into the room, and at the end of an hour he said to elsie and phil: "he has had a stroke of paralysis. he may lie in mental darkness for months and then recover. his heart action is perfect. patience, care, and love will save him. there is no cause for immediate alarm." chapter iii augustus cÆsar phil early found the home of the camerons the most charming spot in town. as he sat in the old-fashioned parlour beside margaret, his brain seethed with plans for building a hotel on a large scale on the other side of the square and restoring her home intact. the cameron homestead was a large brick building with an ample porch looking out directly on the court house square, standing in the middle of a lawn full of trees, flowers, shrubbery, and a wilderness of evergreen boxwood planted fifty years before. it was located on the farm from which it had always derived its support. the farm extended up into the village itself, with the great barn easily seen from the street. phil was charmed with the doctor's genial personality. he often found the father a decidedly easier person to get along with than his handsome daughter. the rev. hugh mcalpin was a daily caller, and margaret had a tantalizing way of showing her deference to his opinions. phil hated this preacher from the moment he laid eyes on him. his pugnacious piety he might have endured but for the fact that he was good-looking and eloquent. when he rose in the pulpit in all his sacred dignity, fixed his eyes on margaret, and began in tenderly modulated voice to tell about the love of god, phil clinched his fist. he didn't care to join the presbyterian church, but he quietly made up his mind that, if it came to the worst and she asked him, he would join anything. what made him furious was the air of assurance with which the young divine carried himself about margaret, as if he had but to say the word and it would be fixed as by a decree issued from before the foundations of the world. he was pleased and surprised to find that his being a yankee made no difference in his standing or welcome. the people seemed unconscious of the part his father played at washington. stoneman's confiscation bill had not yet been discussed in congress, and the promise of land to the negroes was universally regarded as a hoax of the league to win their followers. the old commoner was not an orator. hence his name was scarcely known in the south. the southern people could not conceive of a great leader except one who expressed his power through the megaphone of oratory. they held charles sumner chiefly responsible for reconstruction. the fact that phil was a yankee who had no axe to grind in the south caused the people to appeal to him in a pathetic way that touched his heart. he had not been in town two weeks before he was on good terms with every youngster, had the entrée to every home, and ben had taken him, protesting vehemently, to see every pretty girl there. he found that, in spite of war and poverty, troubles present and troubles to come, the young southern woman was the divinity that claimed and received the chief worship of man. the tremendous earnestness with which these youngsters pursued the work of courting, all of them so poor they scarcely had enough to eat, amazed and alarmed him beyond measure. he found in several cases as many as four making a dead set for one girl, as if heaven and earth depended on the outcome, while the girl seemed to receive it all as a matter of course--her just tribute. every instinct of his quiet reserved nature revolted at any such attempt to rush his cause with margaret, and yet it made the cold chills run down his spine to see that presbyterian preacher drive his buggy up to the hotel, take her to ride, and stay three hours. he knew where they had gone--to lover's leap and along the beautiful road which led to the north carolina line. he knew the way--margaret had showed him. this road was the way of romance. every farmhouse, cabin, and shady nook along its beaten track could tell its tale of lovers fleeing from the north to find happiness in the haven of matrimony across the line in south carolina. everything seemed to favour marriage in this climate. the state required no license. a legal marriage could be celebrated, anywhere, at any time, by a minister in the presence of two witnesses, with or without the consent of parent or guardian. marriage was the easiest thing in the state--divorce the one thing impossible. death alone could grant divorce. he was now past all reason in love. he followed the movement of margaret's queenly figure with pathetic abandonment. beneath her beautiful manners he swore with a shiver that she was laughing at him. now and then he caught a funny expression about her eyes, as if she were consumed with a sly sense of humour in her love affairs. what he felt to be his manliest traits, his reserve, dignity, and moral earnestness, she must think cold and slow beside the dash, fire, and assurance of these southerners. he could tell by the way she encouraged the preacher before his eyes that she was criticizing and daring him to let go for once. instead of doing it, he sank back appalled at the prospect and let the preacher carry her off again. he sought solace in dr. cameron, who was utterly oblivious of his daughter's love affairs. phil was constantly amazed at the variety of his knowledge, the genuineness of his culture, his modesty, and the note of youth and cheer with which he still pursued the study of medicine. his company was refreshing for its own sake. the slender graceful figure, ruddy face, with piercing, dark-brown eyes in startling contrast to his snow-white hair and beard, had for phil a perpetual charm. he never tired listening to his talk, and noting the peculiar grace and dignity with which he carried himself, unconscious of the commanding look of his brilliant eyes. "i hear that you have used hypnotism in your practice, doctor," phil said to him one day, as he watched with fascination the changing play of his mobile features. "oh, yes! used it for years. southern doctors have always been pioneers in the science of medicine. dr. crawford long, of georgia, you know, was the first practitioner in america to apply anesthesia to surgery." "but where did you run up against hypnotism? i thought this a new thing under the sun?" the doctor laughed. "it's not a home industry, exactly. i became interested in it in edinburgh while a medical student, and pursued it with increased interest in paris." "did you study medicine abroad?" phil asked in surprise. "yes; i was poor, but i managed to raise and to borrow enough to take three years on the other side. i put all i had and all my credit in it. i've never regretted the sacrifice. the more i saw of the great world, the better i liked my own world. i've given these farmers and their families the best god gave to me." "do you find much use for your powers of hypnosis?" phil asked. "only in an experimental way. naturally i am endowed with this gift--especially over certain classes who are easily the subjects of extreme fear. i owned a rascally slave named gus whom i used to watch stealing. suddenly confronting him, i've thrown him into unconsciousness with a steady gaze of the eye, until he would drop on his face, trembling like a leaf, unable to speak until i allowed him." "how do you account for such powers?" "i don't account for them at all. they belong to the world of spiritual phenomena of which we know so little and yet which touch our material lives at a thousand points every day. how do we account for sleep and dreams, or second sight, or the day dreams which we call visions?" phil was silent, and the doctor went on dreamily: "the day my boy richard was killed at gettysburg, i saw him lying dead in a field near a house. i saw some soldiers bury him in the corner of that field, and then an old man go to the grave, dig up his body, cart it away into the woods, and throw it into a ditch. i saw it before i heard of the battle or knew that he was in it. he was reported killed, and his body has never been found. it is the one unspeakable horror of the war to me. i'll never get over it." "how very strange!" exclaimed phil. "and yet the war was nothing, my boy, to the horrors i feel clutching the throat of the south to-day. i'm glad you and your father are down here. your disinterested view of things may help us at washington when we need it most. the south seems to have no friend at court." "your younger men, i find, are hopeful, doctor," said phil. "yes, the young never see danger until it's time to die. i'm not a pessimist, but i was happier in jail. scores of my old friends have given up in despair and died. delicate and cultured women are living on cowpeas, corn bread, and molasses--and of such quality they would not have fed it to a slave. children go to bed hungry. droves of brutal negroes roam at large, stealing, murdering, and threatening blacker crimes. we are under the heel of petty military tyrants, few of whom ever smelled gunpowder in a battle. at the approaching election, not a decent white man in this country can take the infamous test oath. i am disfranchised because i gave a cup of water to the lips of one of my dying boys on the battlefield. my slaves are all voters. there will be a negro majority of more than one hundred thousand in this state. desperadoes are here teaching these negroes insolence and crime in their secret societies. the future is a nightmare." [illustration: henry walthall as ben cameron.] "you have my sympathy, sir," said phil warmly, extending his hand. "these reconstruction acts, conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity, can bring only shame and disgrace until the last trace of them is wiped from our laws. i hope it will not be necessary to do it in blood." the doctor was deeply touched. he could not be mistaken in the genuineness of any man's feeling. he never dreamed this earnest straightforward yankee youngster was in love with margaret, and it would have made no difference in the accuracy of his judgment. "your sentiments do you honour, sir," he said with grave courtesy. "and you honour us and our town with your presence and friendship." as phil hurried home in a warm glow of sympathy for the people whose hospitality had made him their friend and champion, he encountered a negro trooper standing on the corner, watching the cameron house with furtive glance. instinctively he stopped, surveyed the man from head to foot and asked: "what's the trouble?" "none er yo' business," the negro answered, slouching across to the opposite side of the street. phil watched him with disgust. he had the short, heavy-set neck of the lower order of animals. his skin was coal black, his lips so thick they curled both ways up and down with crooked blood marks across them. his nose was flat, and its enormous nostrils seemed in perpetual dilation. the sinister bead eyes, with brown splotches in their whites, were set wide apart and gleamed apelike under his scant brows. his enormous cheekbones and jaws seemed to protrude beyond the ears and almost hide them. "that we should send such soldiers here to flaunt our uniform in the faces of these people!" he exclaimed, with bitterness. he met ben hurrying home from a visit to elsie. the two young soldiers whose prejudices had melted in the white heat of battle had become fast friends. phil laughed and winked: "i'll meet you to-night around the family altar!" when he reached home, ben saw, slouching in front of the house, walking back and forth and glancing furtively behind him, the negro trooper whom his friend had passed. he walked quickly in front of him, and blinking his eyes rapidly, said: "didn't i tell you, gus, not to let me catch you hanging around this house again?" the negro drew himself up, pulling his blue uniform into position as his body stretched out of its habitual slouch, and answered: "my name ain't 'gus.'" ben gave a quick little chuckle and leaned back against the palings, his hand resting on one that was loose. he glanced at the negro carelessly and said: "well, augustus cæsar, i give your majesty thirty seconds to move off the block." gus' first impulse was to run, but remembering himself he threw back his shoulders and said: "i reckon de streets free----" "yes, and so is kindling wood!" quick as a flash of lightning the paling suddenly left the fence and broke three times in such bewildering rapidity on the negro's head he forgot everything he ever knew or thought he knew save one thing--the way to run. he didn't fly, but he made remarkable use of the facilities with which he had been endowed. ben watched him disappear toward the camp. he picked up the pieces of paling, pulled a strand of black wool from a splinter, looked at it curiously and said: "a sprig of his majesty's hair--i'll doubtless remember him without it!" chapter iv at the point of the bayonet within an hour from ben's encounter he was arrested without warrant by the military commandant, handcuffed, and placed on the train for columbia, more than a hundred miles distant. the first purpose of sending him in charge of a negro guard was abandoned for fear of a riot. a squad of white troops accompanied him. elsie was waiting at the gate, watching for his coming, her heart aglow with happiness. when marion and little hugh ran to tell the exciting news, she thought it a joke and refused to believe it. "come, dear, don't tease me; you know it's not true!" "i wish i may die if 'tain't so!" hugh solemnly declared. "he run gus away 'cause he scared aunt margaret so. they come and put handcuffs on him and took him to columbia. i tell you grandpa and grandma and aunt margaret are mad!" elsie called phil and begged him to see what had happened. when phil reported ben's arrest without a warrant, and the indignity to which he had been subjected on the amazing charge of resisting military authority, elsie hurried with marion and hugh to the hotel to express her indignation, and sent phil to columbia on the next train to fight for his release. by the use of a bribe phil discovered that a special inquisition had been hastily organized to procure perjured testimony against ben on the charge of complicity in the murder of a carpet-bag adventurer named ashburn, who had been killed at columbia in a row in a disreputable resort. this murder had occurred the week ben cameron was in nashville. the enormous reward of $ , had been offered for the conviction of any man who could be implicated in the killing. scores of venal wretches, eager for this blood money, were using every device of military tyranny to secure evidence on which to convict--no matter who the man might be. within six hours of his arrival they had pounced on ben. they arrested as a witness an old negro named john stapler, noted for his loyalty to the camerons. the doctor had saved his life once in a dangerous illness. they were going to put him to torture and force him to swear that ben cameron had tried to bribe him to kill ashburn. general howle, the commandant of the columbia district, was in charleston on a visit to headquarters. phil resorted to the ruse of pretending, as a yankee, the deepest sympathy for ashburn, and by the payment of a fee of twenty dollars to the captain, was admitted to the fort to witness the torture. they led the old man trembling into the presence of the captain, who sat on an improvised throne in full uniform. "have you ordered a barber to shave this man's head?" sternly asked the judge. "please, marster, fer de lawd's sake, i ain' done nuttin'--doan' shave my head. dat ha'r been wropped lak dat fur ten year! i die sho' ef i lose my ha'r." "bring the barber, and take him back until he comes," was the order. in an hour they led him again into the room blindfolded, and placed him in a chair. "have you let him see a preacher before putting him through?" the captain asked. "i have an order from the general in charleston to put him through to-day." "for gawd's sake, marster, doan' put me froo--i ain't done nuttin' en i doan' know nuttin'!" the old negro slipped to his knees, trembling from head to foot. the guards caught him by the shoulders and threw him back into the chair. the bandage was removed, and just in front of him stood a brass cannon pointed at his head, a soldier beside it holding the string ready to pull. john threw himself backward, yelling: "goddermighty!" when he scrambled to his feet and started to run, another cannon swung on him from the rear. he dropped to his knees and began to pray. "yas, lawd, i'se er comin'. i hain't ready--but, lawd, i got ter come! save me!" "shave him!" the captain ordered. while the old man sat moaning, they lathered his head with two scrubbing-brushes and shaved it clean. "now stand him up by the wall and measure him for his coffin," was the order. they snatched him from the chair, pushed him against the wall, and measured him. while they were taking his measure, the man next to him whispered: "now's the time to save your hide--tell all about ben cameron trying to hire you to kill ashburn." "give him a few minutes," said the captain, "and maybe we can hear what mr. cameron said about ashburn." "i doan' know nuttin', general," pleaded the old darkey. "i ain't heard nuttin'--i ain't seed marse ben fer two monts." "you needn't lie to us. the rebels have been posting you. but it's no use. we'll get it out of you." "'fo' gawd, marster, i'se telling de truf!" "put him in the dark cell and keep him there the balance of his life unless he tells," was the order. at the end of four days, phil was summoned again to witness the show. john was carried to another part of the fort and shown the sweat-box. "now tell all you know or in you go!" said his tormentor. the negro looked at the engine of torture in abject terror--a closet in the walls of the fort just big enough to admit the body, with an adjustable top to press down too low for the head to be held erect. the door closed tight against the breast of the victim. the only air admitted was through an auger-hole in the door. the old man's lips moved in prayer. "will you tell?" growled the captain. "i cain't tell ye nuttin' 'cept'n' a lie!" he moaned. they thrust him in, slammed the door, and in a loud voice the captain said: "keep him there for thirty days unless he tells." he was left in the agony of the sweat-box for thirty-three hours and taken out. his limbs were swollen and when he attempted to walk he tottered and fell. the guard jerked him to his feet, and the captain said: "i'm afraid we've taken him out too soon, but if he don't tell he can go back and finish the month out." the poor old negro dropped in a faint, and they carried him back to his cell. phil determined to spare no means, fair or foul, to secure ben's release from the clutches of these devils. he had as yet been unable to locate his place of confinement. he continued his ruse of friendly curiosity, kept in touch with the captain, and the captain in touch with his pocketbook. summoned to witness another interesting ceremony, he hurried to the fort. the officer winked at him confidentially, and took him out to a row of dungeons built of logs and ceiled inside with heavy boards. a single pane of glass about eight inches square admitted light ten feet from the ground. there was a commotion inside, curses, groans, and cries for mercy mingling in rapid succession. "what is it?" asked phil. "hell's goin' on in there!" laughed the officer. "evidently." a heavy crash, as though a ton weight had struck the floor, and then all was still. "by george, it's too bad we can't see it all!" exclaimed the officer. "what does it mean?" urged phil. again the captain laughed immoderately. "i've got a blue-blood in there taking the bluin' out of his system. he gave me some impudence. i'm teaching him who's running this country!" "what are you doing to him?" phil asked with a sudden suspicion. "oh, just having a little fun! i put two big white drunks in there with him--half-fighting drunks, you know--and told them to work on his teeth and manicure his face a little to initiate him into the ranks of the common people, so to speak!" again he laughed. phil, listening at the keyhole, held up his hand: "hush, they're talking----" he could hear ben cameron's voice in the softest drawl: "say it again." "please, marster!" "now both together, and a little louder!" "_please, marster_," came the united chorus. "now what kind of a dog did i say you are?" "the kind as comes when his marster calls." "both together--the under dog seems to have too much cover, like his mouth might be full of cotton." they repeated it louder. "a common--stump-tailed--cur-dog?" "yessir." "say it." "a common--stump-tailed--cur-dog--marster!" "a pair of them." "a pair of 'em." "no, the whole thing--all together--'we--are--a--pair!'" "yes--marster." they repeated it in chorus. "with apologies to the dogs----" "apologies to the dogs----" "and why does your master honour the kennel with his presence to-day?" "he hit a nigger on the head so hard that he strained the nigger's ankle, and he's restin' from his labours." "that's right, towser. if i had you and tige a few hours every day i could make good squirrel-dogs out of you." there was a pause. phil looked up and smiled. "what does it sound like?" asked the captain, with a shade of doubt in his voice. "sounds to me like a sunday-school teacher taking his class through a new catechism." the captain fumbled hurriedly for his keys. "there's something wrong in there." he opened the door and sprang in. ben cameron was sitting on top of the two toughs, knocking their heads together as they repeated each chorus. "walk in, gentlemen. the show is going on now--the animals are doing beautifully," said ben. the captain muttered an oath. phil suddenly grasped him by the throat, hurled him against the wall, and snatched the keys from his hand. "now open your mouth, you white-livered cur, and inside of twenty-four hours i'll have you behind the bars. i have all the evidence i need. i'm an ex-officer of the united states army, of the fighting corps--not the vulture division. this is my friend. accompany us to the street and strike your charges from the record." the coward did as he was ordered, and ben hurried back to piedmont with a friend toward whom he began to feel closer than a brother. when elsie heard the full story of the outrage, she bore herself toward ben with unusual tenderness, and yet he knew that the event had driven their lives farther apart. he felt instinctively the cold silent eye of her father, and his pride stiffened under it. the girl had never considered the possibility of a marriage without her father's blessing. ben cameron was too proud to ask it. he began to fear that the differences between her father and his people reached to the deepest sources of life. phil found himself a hero at the cameron house. margaret said little, but her bearing spoke in deeper language than words. he felt it would be mean to take advantage of her gratitude. but he was quick to respond to the motherly tenderness of mrs. cameron. in the groups of neighbours who gathered in the evenings to discuss with the doctor the hopes, fears, and sorrows of the people, phil was a charmed listener to the most brilliant conversations he had ever heard. it seemed the normal expression of their lives. he had never before seen people come together to talk to one another after this fashion. more and more the simplicity, dignity, patience, courtesy, and sympathy of these people in their bearing toward one another impressed him. more and more he grew to like them. marion went out of her way to express her open admiration for phil and tease him about margaret. the rev. hugh mcalpin was monopolizing her on the wednesday following his return from columbia and phil sought marion for sympathy. "what will you give me if i tease you about margaret right before her?" she asked. he blushed furiously. "don't you dare such a thing on peril of your life!" "you know you like to be teased about her," she cried, her blue eyes dancing with fun. "with such a pretty little friend to do the teasing all by ourselves, perhaps----" "you'll never get her unless you have more spunk." "then i'll find consolation with you." "no, i mean to marry young." "and your ideal of life?" "to fill the world with flowers, laughter, and music--especially my own home--and never do a thing i can make my husband do for me! how do you like it?" "i think it very sweet," phil answered soberly. at noon on the following friday, the piedmont _eagle_ appeared with an editorial signed by dr. cameron, denouncing in the fine language of the old school the arrest of ben as "despotism and the usurpation of authority." at three o'clock, captain gilbert, in command of the troops stationed in the village, marched a squad of soldiers to the newspaper office. one of them carried a sledge-hammer. in ten minutes he demolished the office, heaped the type and their splintered cases on top of the battered press in the middle of the street, and set fire to the pile. on the courthouse door he nailed this proclamation: _to the people of ulster county_: the censures of the press, directed against the servants of the people, may be endured; but the military force in command of this district are not the servants of the people of south carolina. we are your masters. the impertinence of newspaper comment on the military will not be brooked under any circumstances whatever. g. c. gilbert, captain in command. not content with this display of power, he determined to make an example of dr. cameron, as the leader of public opinion in the county. he ordered a squad of his negro troops to arrest him immediately and take him to columbia for obstructing the execution of the reconstruction acts. he placed the squad under command of gus, whom he promoted to be a corporal, with instructions to wait until the doctor was inside his house, boldly enter it and arrest him. when gus marched his black janizaries into the house, no one was in the office. margaret had gone for a ride with phil, and ben had strolled with elsie to lover's leap, unconscious of the excitement in town. dr. cameron himself had heard nothing of it, having just reached home from a visit to a country patient. gus stationed his men at each door, and with another trooper walked straight into mrs. cameron's bedroom, where the doctor was resting on a lounge. had an imp of perdition suddenly sprung through the floor, the master of the house of cameron would not have been more enraged or surprised. a sudden leap, as the spring of a panther, and he stood before his former slave, his slender frame erect, his face a livid spot in its snow-white hair, his brilliant eyes flashing with fury. gus suddenly lost control of his knees. his old master transfixed him with his eyes, and in a voice, whose tones gripped him by the throat, said: "how dare you?" the gun fell from the negro's hand, and he dropped to the floor on his face. his companion uttered a yell and sprang through the door, rallying the men as he went: "fall back! fall back! he's killed gus! shot him dead wid his eye. he's conjured him! git de whole army quick." they fled to the commandant. gilbert ordered the negroes to their tents and led his whole company of white regulars to the hotel, arrested dr. cameron, and rescued his fainting trooper, who had been revived and placed under a tree on the lawn. the little captain had a wicked look on his face. he refused to allow the doctor a moment's delay to leave instructions for his wife, who had gone to visit a neighbour. he was placed in the guard-house, and a detail of twenty soldiers stationed around it. the arrest was made so quickly, not a dozen people in town had heard of it. as fast as it was known, people poured into the house, one by one, to express their sympathy. but a greater surprise awaited them. within thirty minutes after he had been placed in prison, a lieutenant entered, accompanied by a soldier and a negro blacksmith who carried in his hand two big chains with shackles on each end. the doctor gazed at the intruders a moment with incredulity, and then, as the enormity of the outrage dawned on him, he flushed and drew himself erect, his face livid and rigid. he clutched his throat with his slender fingers, slowly recovered himself, glanced at the shackles in the black hands and then at the young lieutenant's face, and said slowly, with heaving breast: "my god! have you been sent to place these irons on me?" "such are my orders, sir," replied the officer, motioning to the negro smith to approach. he stepped forward, unlocked the padlock, and prepared the fetters to be placed on his arms and legs. these fetters were of enormous weight, made of iron rods three quarters of an inch thick and connected together by chains of like weight. "this is monstrous!" groaned the doctor, with choking agony, glancing helplessly about the bare cell for some weapon with which to defend himself. suddenly looking the lieutenant in the face, he said: "i demand, sir, to see your commanding officer. he cannot pretend that these shackles are needed to hold a weak unarmed man in prison, guarded by two hundred soldiers?" "it is useless. i have his orders direct." "but i must see him. no such outrage has ever been recorded in the history of the american people. i appeal to the magna charta rights of every man who speaks the english tongue--no man shall be arrested or imprisoned or deprived of his own household, or of his liberties, unless by the legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land!" "the bayonet is your only law. my orders admit of no delay. for your own sake, i advise you to submit. as a soldier, dr. cameron, you know i must execute orders." "these are not the orders of a soldier!" shouted the prisoner, enraged beyond all control. "they are orders for a jailer, a hangman, a scullion--no soldier who wears the sword of a civilized nation can take such orders. the war is over; the south is conquered; i have no country save america. for the honour of the flag, for which i once poured out my blood on the heights of buena vista, i protest against this shame!" the lieutenant fell back a moment before the burst of his anger. "kill me! kill me!" he went on passionately, throwing his arms wide open and exposing his breast. "kill--i am in your power. i have no desire to live under such conditions. kill, but you must not inflict on me and on my people this insult worse than death!" "do your duty, blacksmith," said the officer, turning his back and walking toward the door. the negro advanced with the chains cautiously, and attempted to snap one of the shackles on the doctor's right arm. with sudden maniac frenzy, dr. cameron seized the negro by the throat, hurled him to the floor, and backed against the wall. the lieutenant approached and remonstrated: "why compel me to add the indignity of personal violence? you must submit." "i am your prisoner," fiercely retorted the doctor. "i have been a soldier in the armies of america, and i know how to die. kill me, and my last breath will be a blessing. but while i have life to resist, for myself and for my people, this thing shall not be done!" the lieutenant called a sergeant and a file of soldiers, and the sergeant stepped forward to seize the prisoner. dr. cameron sprang on him with the ferocity of a tiger, seized his musket, and attempted to wrench it from his grasp. the men closed in on him. a short passionate fight and the slender, proud, gray-haired man lay panting on the floor. four powerful assailants held his hands and feet, and the negro smith, with a grin, secured the rivet on the right ankle and turned the key in the padlock on the left. as he drove the rivet into the shackle on his left arm, a spurt of bruised blood from the old mexican war wound stained the iron. dr. cameron lay for a moment in a stupor. at length he slowly rose. the clank of the heavy chains seemed to choke him with horror. he sank on the floor, covering his face with his hands and groaned: "the shame! the shame! o god, that i might have died! my poor, poor wife!" captain gilbert entered and said with a sneer: "i will take you now to see your wife and friends if you would like to call before setting out for columbia." the doctor paid no attention to him. "will you follow me while i lead you through this town, to show them their chief has fallen, or will you force me to drag you?" receiving no answer, he roughly drew the doctor to his feet, held him by the arm, and led him thus in half-unconscious stupor through the principal street, followed by a drove of negroes. he ordered a squad of troops to meet him at the depot. not a white man appeared on the streets. when one saw the sight and heard the clank of those chains, there was a sudden tightening of the lip, a clinched fist, and an averted face. when they approached the hotel, mrs. cameron ran to meet him, her face white as death. in silence she kissed his lips, kissed each shackle on his wrists, took her handkerchief and wiped the bruised blood from the old wound on his arm the iron had opened afresh, and then with a look, beneath which the captain shrank, she said in low tones: "do your work quickly. you have but a few moments to get out of this town with your prisoner. i have sent a friend to hold my son. if he comes before you go, he will kill you on sight as he would a mad dog." with a sneer, the captain passed the hotel and led the doctor, still in half-unconscious stupor, toward the depot down past his old slave quarters. he had given his negroes who remained faithful each a cabin and a lot. they looked on in awed silence as the captain proclaimed: "fellow citizens, you are the equal of any white man who walks the ground. the white man's day is done. your turn has come." as he passed jake's cabin, the doctor's faithful man stepped suddenly in front of him, looking at the captain out of the corners of his eyes, and asked: "is i yo' equal?" "yes." "des lak any white man?" "exactly." the negro's fist suddenly shot into gilbert's nose with the crack of a sledge-hammer, laying him stunned on the pavement. "den take dat f'um yo' equal, d--n you!" he cried, bending over his prostrate figure. "i'll show you how to treat my ole marster, you low-down slue-footed devil!" the stirring little drama roused the doctor and he turned to his servant with his old-time courtesy, and said: "thank you, jake." "come in here, marse richard; i knock dem things off'n you in er minute, 'en i get you outen dis town in er jiffy." "no, jake, that is not my way; bring this gentleman some water, and then my horse and buggy. you can take me to the depot. this officer can follow with his men." and he did. chapter v forty acres and a mule when phil returned with margaret, he drove at mrs. cameron's request to find ben, brought him with all speed to the hotel, took him to his room, and locked the door before he told him the news. after an hour's blind rage, he agreed to obey his father's positive orders to keep away from the captain until his return, and to attempt no violence against the authorities. phil undertook to manage the case in columbia, and spent three days collecting his evidence before leaving. swifter feet had anticipated him. two days after the arrival of dr. cameron at the fort in colombia, a dust-stained, tired negro was ushered into the presence of general howle. he looked about timidly and laughed loudly. "well, my man, what's the trouble? you seem to have walked all the way, and laugh as if you were glad of it." "i 'spec' i is, sah," said jake, sidling up confidentially. "well?" said howle good-humouredly. jake's voice dropped to a whisper. "i hears you got my ole marster, dr. cameron, in dis place." "yes. what do you know against him?" "nuttin', sah. i des hurry 'long down ter take his place, so's you can sen' him back home. he's erbleeged ter go. dey's er pow'ful lot er sick folks up dar in de country cain't git 'long widout him, an er pow'ful lot er well ones gwiner be raisin' de debbel 'bout dis. you can hol' me, sah. des tell my ole marster when ter be yere, en he sho' come." jake paused and bowed low. "yessah, hit's des lak i tell you. fuddermo', i 'spec' i'se de man what done de damages. i 'spec' i bus' de capt'n's nose so 'tain gwine be no mo' good to 'im." howle questioned jake as to the whole affair, asked him a hundred questions about the condition of the county, the position of dr. cameron, and the possible effect of this event on the temper of the people. the affair had already given him a bad hour. the news of this shackling of one of the most prominent men in the state had spread like wildfire, and had caused the first deep growl of anger from the people. he saw that it was a senseless piece of stupidity. the election was rapidly approaching. he was master of the state, and the less friction the better. his mind was made up instantly. he released dr. cameron with an apology, and returned with him and jake for a personal inspection of the affairs of ulster county. in a thirty-minutes' interview with captain gilbert, howle gave him more pain than his broken nose. "and why did you nail up the doors of that presbyterian church?" he asked suavely. "because mcalpin, the young cub who preaches there, dared come to this camp and insult me about the arrest of old cameron." "i suppose you issued an order silencing him from the ministry?" "i did, and told him i'd shackle him if he opened his mouth again." "good. the throne of russia needn't worry about a worthy successor. any further ecclesiastical orders?" "none, except the oaths i've prescribed for them before they shall preach again." "fine! these scotch covenanters will feel at home with you." "well, i've made them bite the dust--and they know who's runnin' this town, and don't you forget it." "no doubt. yet we may have too much of even a good thing. the league is here to run this country. the business of the military is to keep still and back them when they need it." "we've the strongest council here to be found in any county in this section," said gilbert with pride. "just so. the league meets once a week. we have promised them the land of their masters and equal social and political rights. their members go armed to these meetings and drill on saturdays in the public square. the white man is afraid to interfere lest his house or barn take fire. a negro prisoner in the dock needs only to make the sign to be acquitted. not a negro will dare to vote against us. their women are formed into societies, sworn to leave their husbands and refuse to marry any man who dares our anger. the negro churches have pledged themselves to expel him from their membership. what more do you want?" "there's another side to it," protested the captain. "since the league has taken in the negroes, every union white man has dropped it like a hot iron, except the lone scallawag or carpet-bagger who expects an office. in the church, the social circle, in business or pleasure, these men are lepers. how can a human being stand it? i've tried to grind this hellish spirit in the dirt under my heel, and unless you can do it they'll beat you in the long run! you've got to have some southern white men or you're lost." "i'll risk it with a hundred thousand negro majority," said howle with a sneer. "the fun will just begin then. in the meantime, i'll have you ease up on this county's government. i've brought that man back who knocked you down. let him alone. i've pardoned him. the less said about this affair, the better." * * * * * as the day of the election under the new régime of reconstruction drew near, the negroes were excited by rumours of the coming great events. every man was to receive forty acres of land for his vote, and the enthusiastic speakers and teachers had made the dream a resistless one by declaring that the government would throw in a mule with the forty acres. some who had hesitated about the forty acres of land, remembering that it must be worked, couldn't resist the idea of owning a mule. the freedman's bureau reaped a harvest in $ marriage fees from negroes who were urged thus to make their children heirs of landed estates stocked with mules. every stranger who appeared in the village was regarded with awe as a possible surveyor sent from washington to run the lines of these forty-acre plots. and in due time the surveyors appeared. uncle aleck, who now devoted his entire time to organizing the league, and drinking whiskey which the dues he collected made easy, was walking back to piedmont from a league meeting in the country, dreaming of this promised land. he lifted his eyes from the dusty way and saw before him two surveyors with their arms full of line stakes painted red, white, and blue. they were well-dressed yankees--he could not be mistaken. not a doubt disturbed his mind. the kingdom of heaven was at hand! he bowed low and cried: "praise de lawd! de messengers is come! i'se waited long, but i sees 'em now wid my own eyes!" "you can bet your life on that, old pard," said the spokesman of the pair. "we go two and two, just as the apostles did in the olden times. we have only a few left. the boys are hurrying to get their homes. all you've got to do is to drive one of these red, white, and blue stakes down at each corner of the forty acres of land you want, and every rebel in the infernal regions can't pull it up." "hear dat now!" "just like i tell you. when this stake goes into the ground, it's like planting a thousand cannon at each corner." "en will the lawd's messengers come wid me right now to de bend er de creek whar i done pick out my forty acres?" "we will, if you have the needful for the ceremony. the fee for the surveyor is small--only two dollars for each stake. we have no time to linger with foolish virgins who have no oil in their lamps. the bridegroom has come. they who have no oil must remain in outer darkness." the speaker had evidently been a preacher in the north, and his sacred accent sealed his authority with the old negro, who had been an exhorter himself. aleck felt in his pocket the jingle of twenty gold dollars, the initiation fees of the week's harvest of the league. he drew them, counted out eight, and took his four stakes. the surveyors kindly showed him how to drive them down firmly to the first stripe of blue. when they had stepped off a square of about forty acres of the lenoir farm, including the richest piece of bottom land on the creek, which aleck's children under his wife's direction were working for mrs. lenoir, and the four stakes were planted, old aleck shouted: "glory ter god!" "now," said the foremost surveyor, "you want a deed--a deed in fee simple with the big seal of the government on it, and you're fixed for life. the deed you can take to the courthouse and make the clerk record it." the man drew from his pocket an official-looking paper, with a red circular seal pasted on its face. uncle aleck's eyes danced. "is dat de deed?" "it will be if i write your name on it and describe the land." "en what's de fee fer dat?" "only twelve dollars; you can take it now or wait until we come again. there's no particular hurry about this. the wise man, though, leaves nothing for to-morrow that he can carry with him to-day." "i takes de deed right now, gemmen," said aleck, eagerly counting out the remaining twelve dollars. "fix 'im up for me." the surveyor squatted in the field and carefully wrote the document. they went on their way rejoicing, and old aleck hurried into piedmont with the consciousness of lordship of the soil. he held himself so proudly that it seemed to straighten some of the crook out of his bow legs. he marched up to the hotel where margaret sat reading and marion was on the steps playing with a setter. "why, uncle aleck!" marion exclaimed, "i haven't seen you in a long time." aleck drew himself to his full height--at least, as full as his bow legs would permit, and said gruffly: "miss ma'ian, i axes you to stop callin' me 'uncle'; my name is mr. alexander lenoir----" "until aunt cindy gets after you," laughed the girl. "then it's much shorter than that, uncle aleck." he shuffled his feet and looked out at the square unconcernedly. "yaas'm, dat's what fetch me here now. i comes ter tell yer ma ter tell dat 'oman cindy ter take her chillun off my farm. i gwine 'low no mo' rent-payin' ter nobody off'n my lan'!" "your land, uncle aleck? when did you get it?" asked marion, placing her cheek against the setter. "de gubment gim it ter me to-day," he replied, fumbling in his pocket, and pulling out the document. "you kin read it all dar yo'sef." he handed marion the paper, and margaret hurried down and read it over her shoulder. both girls broke into screams of laughter. aleck looked up sharply. "do you know what's written on this paper, uncle aleck?" margaret asked. "cose i do. dat's de deed ter my farm er forty acres in de land er de creek, whar i done stuck off wid de red, white, an' blue sticks de gubment gimme." "i'll read it to you," said margaret. "wait a minute," interrupted marion. "i want aunt cindy to hear it--she's here to see mamma in the kitchen now." she ran for uncle aleck's spouse. aunt cindy walked around the house and stood by the steps, eying her erstwhile lord with contempt. "got yer deed, is yer, ter stop me payin' my missy her rent fum de lan' my chillun wucks? yu'se er smart boy, you is--let's hear de deed!" aleck edged away a little, and said with a bow: "dar's de paper wid de big mark er de gubment." aunt cindy sniffed the air contemptuously. "what is it, honey?" she asked of margaret. margaret read in mock solemnity the mystic writing on the deed: _to whom it may concern_: as moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness for the enlightenment of the people, even so have i lifted twenty shining plunks out of this benighted nigger! selah! as uncle aleck walked away with aunt cindy shouting in derision, "dar, now! dar, now!" the bow in his legs seemed to have sprung a sharper curve. chapter vi a whisper in the crowd the excitement which preceded the first reconstruction election in the south paralyzed the industries of the country. when demagogues poured down from the north and began their raving before crowds of ignorant negroes, the plow stopped in the furrow, the hoe was dropped, and the millennium was at hand. negro tenants, working under contracts issued by the freedman's bureau, stopped work, and rode their landlords' mules and horses around the county, following these orators. the loss to the cotton crop alone from the abandonment of the growing plant was estimated at over $ , , . the one thing that saved the situation from despair was the large grain and forage crops of the previous season which thrifty farmers had stored in their barns. so important was the barn and its precious contents that dr. cameron hired jake to sleep in his. this immense barn, which was situated at the foot of the hill some two hundred yards behind the house, had become a favourite haunt of marion and hugh. she had made a pet of the beautiful thoroughbred mare which had belonged to ben during the war. marion went every day to give her an apple or lump of sugar, or carry her a bunch of clover. the mare would follow her about like a cat. another attraction at the barn for them was becky sharpe, ben's setter. she came to marion one morning, wagging her tail, seized her dress and led her into an empty stall, where beneath the trough lay sleeping snugly ten little white-and-black spotted puppies. the girl had never seen such a sight before and went into ecstasies. becky wagged her tail with pride at her compliments. every morning she would pull her gently into the stall just to hear her talk and laugh and pet her babies. whatever election day meant to the men, to marion it was one of unalloyed happiness: she was to ride horseback alone and dance at her first ball. ben had taught her to ride, and told her she could take queen to lover's leap and back alone. trembling with joy, her beautiful face wreathed in smiles, she led the mare to the pond in the edge of the lot and watched her drink its pure spring water. when he helped her to mount in front of the hotel under her mother's gaze, and saw her ride out of the gate, with the exquisite lines of her little figure melting into the graceful lines of the mare's glistening form, he exclaimed: "i declare, i don't know which is the prettier, marion or queen!" "i know," was the mother's soft answer. "they are both thoroughbreds," said ben, watching them admiringly. "wait till you see her to-night in her first ball dress," whispered mrs. lenoir. at noon ben and phil strolled to the polling-place to watch the progress of the first election under negro rule. the square was jammed with shouting, jostling, perspiring negroes, men, women, and children. the day was warm, and the african odour was supreme even in the open air. a crowd of two hundred were packed around a peddler's box. there were two of them--one crying the wares, and the other wrapping and delivering the goods. they were selling a new patent poison for rats. "i've only a few more bottles left now, gentlemen," he shouted, "and the polls will close at sundown. a great day for our brother in black. two years of army rations from the freedman's bureau, with old army clothes thrown in, and now the ballot--the priceless glory of american citizenship. but better still the very land is to be taken from these proud aristocrats and given to the poor down-trodden black man. forty acres and a mule--think of it! provided, mind you--that you have a bottle of my wonder-worker to kill the rats and save your corn for the mule. no man can have the mule unless he has corn; and no man can have corn if he has rats--and only a few bottles left----" "gimme one," yelled a negro. "forty acres and a mule, your old masters to work your land and pay his rent in corn, while you sit back in the shade and see him sweat." "gimme er bottle and two er dem pictures!" bawled another candidate for a mule. the peddler handed him the bottle and the pictures and threw a handful of his labels among the crowd. these labels happened to be just the size of the ballots, having on them the picture of a dead rat lying on his back, and above, the emblem of death, the crossbones and skull. "forty acres and a mule for every black man--why was i ever born white? i never had no luck, nohow!" phil and ben passed on nearer the polling-place, around which stood a cordon of soldiers with a line of negro voters two hundred yards in length extending back into the crowd. the negro leagues came in armed battalions and voted in droves, carrying their muskets in their hands. less than a dozen white men were to be seen about the place. the negroes, under the drill of the league and the freedman's bureau, protected by the bayonet, were voting to enfranchise themselves, disfranchise their former masters, ratify a new constitution, and elect a legislature to do their will. old aleck was a candidate for the house, chief poll-holder, and seemed to be in charge of the movements of the voters outside the booth as well as inside. he appeared to be omnipresent, and his self-importance was a sight phil had never dreamed. he could not keep his eyes off him. "by george, cameron, he's a wonder!" he laughed. aleck had suppressed as far as possible the story of the painted stakes and the deed, after sending out warnings to the brethren to beware of two enticing strangers. the surveyors had reaped a rich harvest and passed on. aleck made up his mind to go to columbia, make the laws himself, and never again trust a white man from the north or south. the agent of the freedman's bureau at piedmont tried to choke him off the ticket. the league backed him to a man. he could neither read nor write, but before he took to whiskey he had made a specialty of revival exhortation, and his mouth was the most effective thing about him. in this campaign he was an orator of no mean powers. he knew what he wanted, and he knew what his people wanted, and he put the thing in words so plain that a wayfaring man, though a fool, couldn't make any mistake about it. as he bustled past, forming a battalion of his brethren in line to march to the polls, phil followed his every movement with amused interest. besides being so bow-legged that his walk was a moving joke he was so striking a negro in his personal appearance, he seemed to the young northerner almost a distinct type of man. his head was small and seemed mashed on the sides until it bulged into a double lobe behind. even his ears, which he had pierced and hung with red earbobs, seemed to have been crushed flat to the side of his head. his kinked hair was wrapped in little hard rolls close to the skull and bound tightly with dirty thread. his receding forehead was high and indicated a cunning intelligence. his nose was broad and crushed flat against his face. his jaws were strong and angular, mouth wide, and lips thick, curling back from rows of solid teeth set obliquely in their blue gums. the one perfect thing about him was the size and setting of his mouth--he was a born african orator, undoubtedly descended from a long line of savage spell-binders, whose eloquence in the palaver houses of the jungle had made them native leaders. his thin spindle-shanks supported an oblong, protruding stomach, resembling an elderly monkey's, which seemed so heavy it swayed his back to carry it. the animal vivacity of his small eyes and the flexibility of his eyebrows, which he worked up and down rapidly with every change of countenance, expressed his eager desires. he had laid aside his new shoes, which hurt him, and went barefooted to facilitate his movements on the great occasion. his heels projected and his foot was so flat that what should have been the hollow of it made a hole in the dirt where he left his track. he was already mellow with liquor, and was dressed in an old army uniform and cap, with two horse pistols buckled around his waist. on a strap hanging from his shoulder were strung a half-dozen tin canteens filled with whiskey. a disturbance in the line of voters caused the young men to move forward to see what it meant. two negro troopers had pulled jake out of the line, and were dragging him toward old aleck. the election judge straightened himself up with great dignity: "what wuz de rapscallion doin'?" "in de line, tryin' ter vote." "fetch 'im befo' de judgment bar," said aleck, taking a drink from one of his canteens. the troopers brought jake before the judge. "tryin' ter vote, is yer?" "'lowed i would." "you hear 'bout de great sassieties de gubment's fomentin' in dis country?" "yas, i hear erbout 'em." "is yer er member er de union league?" "na-sah. i'd rudder steal by myself. i doan' lak too many in de party!" "en yer ain't er no'f ca'liny gemmen, is yer--yer ain't er member er de 'red strings?'" "na-sah, i come when i'se called--dey doan' hatter put er string on me--ner er block, ner er collar, ner er chain, ner er muzzle----" "will yer 'splain ter dis cote----" railed aleck. "what cote? dat ole army cote?" jake laughed in loud peals that rang over the square. aleck recovered his dignity and demanded angrily: "does yer belong ter de heroes ob americky?" "na-sah. i ain't burnt nobody's house ner barn yet, ner hamstrung no stock, ner waylaid nobody atter night--honey, i ain't fit ter jine. heroes ob americky! is you er hero?" "ef yer doan' b'long ter no s'iety," said aleck with judicial deliberation, "what is you?" "des er ole-fashun all-wool-en-er-yard-wide nigger dat stan's by his ole marster 'cause he's his bes' frien', stays at home, en tends ter his own business." "en yer pay no 'tenshun ter de orders i sent yer ter jine de league?" "na-sah. i ain't er takin' orders f'um er skeer-crow." aleck ignored his insolence, secure in his power. "you doan b'long ter no s'iety, what yer git in dat line ter vote for?" "ain't i er nigger?" "but yer ain't de right kin' er nigger. 'res' dat man fer 'sturbin' de peace." they put jake in jail, persuaded his wife to leave him, and expelled him from the baptist church, all within the week. as the troopers led jake to prison, a young negro apparently about fifteen years old approached aleck, holding in his hand one of the peddler's rat labels, which had gotten well distributed among the crowd. a group of negro boys followed him with these rat labels in their hands, studying them intently. "look at dis ticket, uncle aleck," said the leader. "mr. alexander lenoir, sah--is i yo' uncle, nigger?" the youth walled his eyes angrily. "den doan' you call me er nigger!" "who' yer talkin to, sah? you kin fling yer sass at white folks, but, honey, yuse er projeckin' wid death now!" "i ain't er nigger--i'se er gemman, i is," was the sullen answer. "how ole is you?" asked aleck in milder tones. "me mudder say sixteen--but de buro man say i'se twenty-one yistiddy, de day 'fo' 'lection." "is you voted to-day?" "yessah; vote in all de boxes 'cept'n dis one. look at dat ticket. is dat de straight ticket?" aleck, who couldn't read the twelve-inch letters of his favourite bar-room sign, took the rat label and examined it critically. "what ail it?" he asked at length. the boy pointed at the picture of the rat. "what dat rat doin', lyin' dar on his back, wid his heels cocked up in de air--'pear ter me lak a rat otter be standin' on his feet!" aleck reëxamined it carefully, and then smiled benignly on the youth. "de ignance er dese folks. what ud yer do widout er man lak me enjued wid de sperit en de power ter splain tings?" "you sho' got de sperits," said the boy impudently, touching a canteen. aleck ignored the remark and looked at the rat label smilingly. "ain't we er votin', ter-day, on de constertooshun what's ter take de ballot away f'um de white folks en gib all de power ter de cullud gemmen--i axes yer dat?" the boy stuck his thumbs under his arms and walled his eyes. "yessah!" "den dat means de ratification ob de constertooshun!" phil laughed, followed, and watched them fold their tickets, get in line, and vote the rat labels. ben turned toward a white man with gray beard, who stood watching the crowd. he was a pious member of the presbyterian church but his face didn't have a pious expression to-day. he had been refused the right to vote because he had aided the confederacy by nursing one of his wounded boys. he touched his hat politely to ben. "what do you think of it, colonel cameron?" he asked with a touch of scorn. "what's your opinion, mr. mcallister?" "well, colonel, i've been a member of the church for over forty years. i'm not a cussin' man--but there's a sight i never expected to live to see. i've been a faithful citizen of this state for fifty years. i can't vote, and a nigger is to be elected to-day to represent me in the legislature. neither you, colonel, nor your father are good enough to vote. every nigger in this county sixteen years old and up voted to-day--i ain't a cussing man, and i don't say it as a cuss word, but all i've got to say is, if there be such a thing as a d--d shame--that's it!" "mr. mcallister, the recording angel wouldn't have made a mark had you said it without the 'if.'" "god knows what this country's coming to--i don't," said the old man bitterly. "i'm afraid to let my wife and daughter go out of the house, or stay in it, without somebody with them." ben leaned closer and whispered, as phil approached: "come to my office to-night at ten o'clock; i want to see you on some important business." the old man seized his hand eagerly. "shall i bring the boys?" ben smiled. "no. i've seen them some time ago." chapter vii by the light of a torch on the night of the election mrs. lenoir gave a ball at the hotel in honour of marion's entrance into society. she was only in her sixteenth year, yet older than her mother when mistress of her own household. the only ambition the mother cherished was that she might win the love of an honest man and build for herself a beautiful home on the site of the cottage covered with trailing roses. in this home dream for marion she found a great sustaining joy to which nothing in the life of man answers. the ball had its political significance which the military martinet who commanded the post understood. it was the way the people of piedmont expressed to him and the world their contempt for the farce of an election he had conducted, and their indifference as to the result he would celebrate with many guns before midnight. the young people of the town were out in force. marion was a universal favourite. the grace, charm, and tender beauty of the southern girl of sixteen were combined in her with a gentle and unselfish disposition. amid poverty that was pitiful, unconscious of its limitations, her thoughts were always of others, and she was the one human being everybody had agreed to love. in the village in which she lived wealth counted for naught. she belonged to the aristocracy of poetry, beauty, and intrinsic worth, and her people knew no other. as she stood in the long dining-room, dressed in her first ball costume of white organdy and lace, the little plump shoulders peeping through its meshes, she was the picture of happiness. a half-dozen boys hung on every word as the utterance of an oracle. she waved gently an old ivory fan with white down on its edges in a way the charm of which is the secret birthright of every southern girl. now and then she glanced at the door for some one who had not yet appeared. phil paid his tribute to her with genuine feeling, and marion repaid him by whispering: "margaret's dressed to kill--all in soft azure blue--her rosy cheeks, black hair, and eyes never shone as they do to-night. she doesn't dance on account of her sunday-school--it's all for you." phil blushed and smiled. "the preacher won't be here?" "our rector will." "he's a nice old gentleman. i'm fond of him. miss marion, your mother is a genius. i hope she can plan these little affairs oftener." it was half-past ten o'clock when ben cameron entered the room with elsie a little ruffled at his delay over imaginary business at his office. ben answered her criticisms with a strange elation. she had felt a secret between them and resented it. at mrs. lenoir's special request, he had put on his full uniform of a confederate colonel in honour of marion and the poem her father had written of one of his gallant charges. he had not worn it since he fell that day in phil's arms. no one in the room had ever seen him in this colonel's uniform. its yellow sash with the gold fringe and tassels was faded and there were two bullet holes in the coat. a murmur of applause from the boys, sighs and exclamations from the girls swept the room as he took marion's hand, bowed and kissed it. her blue eyes danced and smiled on him with frank admiration. "ben, you're the handsomest thing i've ever seen!" she said softly. "thanks. i thought you had a mirror. i'll send you one," he answered, slipping his arm around her and gliding away to the strains of a waltz. the girl's hand trembled as she placed it on his shoulder, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had a wistful dreamy look in their depths. when ben rejoined elsie and they strolled on the lawn, the military commandant suddenly confronted them with a squad of soldiers. "i'll trouble you for those buttons and shoulder straps," said the captain. elsie's amber eyes began to spit fire. ben stood still and smiled. "what do you mean?" she asked. "that i will not be insulted by the wearing of this uniform to-day." "i dare you to touch it, coward, poltroon!" cried the girl, her plump little figure bristling in front of her lover. ben laid his hand on her arm and gently drew her back to his side: "he has the power to do this. it is a technical violation of law to wear them. i have surrendered. i am a gentleman and i have been a soldier. he can have his tribute. i've promised my father to offer no violence to the military authority of the united states." he stepped forward, and the officer cut the buttons from his coat and ripped the straps from his shoulders. while the performance was going on, ben quietly said: "general grant at appomattox, with the instincts of a great soldier, gave our men his spare horses and ordered that confederate officers retain their side-arms. the general is evidently not in touch with this force." "no: i'm in command in this county," said the captain. "evidently." when he had gone, elsie's eyes were dim. they strolled under the shadow of the great oak and stood in silence, listening to the music within and the distant murmur of the falls. "why is it, sweetheart, that a girl will persist in admiring brass buttons?" ben asked softly. she raised her lips to his for a kiss and answered: "because a soldier's business is to die for his country." as ben led her back into the ballroom and surrendered her to a friend for a dance, the first gun pealed its note of victory from the square in the celebration of the triumph of the african slave over his white master. ben strolled out in the street to hear the news. the constitution had been ratified by an enormous majority, and a legislature elected composed of negroes and white men. silas lynch had been elected lieutenant-governor, a negro secretary of state, a negro treasurer, and a negro justice of the supreme court. when bizzel, the wizzen-faced agent of the freedman's bureau, made this announcement from the courthouse steps, pandemonium broke lose. an incessant rattle of musketry began in which ball cartridges were used, the missiles whistling over the town in every direction. yet within half an hour the square was deserted and a strange quiet followed the storm. old aleck staggered by the hotel, his drunkenness having reached the religious stage. "behold, a curiosity, gentlemen," cried ben to a group of boys who had gathered, "a voter is come among us--in fact, he is the people, the king, our representative elect, the honourable alexander lenoir, of the county of ulster!" "gemmens, de lawd's bin good ter me," said aleck, weeping copiously. "they say the rat labels were in a majority in this precinct--how was that?" asked ben. "yessah--dat what de scornful say--dem dat sets in de seat o' de scornful, but de lawd er hosts he fetch 'em low. mistah bissel de buro man count all dem rat votes right, sah--dey couldn't fool him--he know what dey mean--he count 'em all for me an' de ratification." "sure-pop!" said ben; "if you can't ratify with a rat, i'd like to know why?" "dat's what i tells 'em, sah." "of course," said ben good-humouredly. "the voice of the people is the voice of god--rats or no rats--if you know how to count." as old aleck staggered away, the sudden crash of a volley of musketry echoed in the distance. "what's that?" asked ben, listening intently. the sound was unmistakable to a soldier's ear--that volley from a hundred rifles at a single word of command. it was followed by a shot on a hill in the distance, and then by a faint echo, farther still. ben listened a few moments and turned into the lawn of the hotel. the music suddenly stopped, the tramp of feet echoed on the porch, a woman screamed, and from the rear of the house came the cry: "fire! fire!" almost at the same moment an immense sheet of flame shot skyward from the big barn. "my god!" groaned ben. "jake's in jail to-night, and they've set the barn on fire. it's worth more than the house." the crowd rushed down the hill to the blazing building, marion's fleet figure in its flying white dress leading the crowd. the lowing of the cows and the wild neighing of the horses rang above the roar of the flames. before ben could reach the spot marion had opened every stall. two cows leaped out to safety, but not a horse would move from its stall, and each moment wilder and more pitiful grew their death cries. marion rushed to ben, her eyes dilated, her face as white as the dress she wore. "oh, ben, queen won't come out! what shall i do?" "you can do nothing, child. a horse won't come out of a burning stable unless he's blindfolded. they'll all be burned to death." "oh! no!" the girl cried in agony. "they'd trample you to death if you tried to get them out. it can't be helped. it's too late." as ben looked back at the gathering crowd, marion suddenly snatched a horse blanket, lying at the door, ran with the speed of a deer to the pond, plunged in, sprang out, and sped back to the open door of queen's stall, through which her shrill cry could be heard above the others. as the girl ran toward the burning building, her thin white dress clinging close to her exquisite form, she looked like the marble figure of a sylph by the hand of some great master into which god had suddenly breathed the breath of life. as they saw her purpose, a cry of horror rose from the crowd, her mother's scream loud above the rest. ben rushed to catch her, shouting: "marion! marion! she'll trample you to death!" he was too late. she leaped into the stall. the crowd held their breath. there was a moment of awful suspense, and the mare sprang through the open door with the little white figure clinging to her mane and holding the blanket over her head. a cheer rang above the roar of the flames. the girl did not loose her hold until her beautiful pet was led to a place of safety, while she clung to her neck and laughed and cried for joy. first her mother, then margaret, mrs. cameron, and elsie took her in their arms. as ben approached the group, elsie whispered to him: "kiss her!" ben took her hand, his eyes full of unshed tears, and said: "the bravest deed a woman ever did--you're a heroine, marion!" before she knew it he stooped and kissed her. she was very still for a moment, smiled, trembled from head to foot, blushed scarlet, took her mother by the hand, and without a word hurried to the house. poor becky was whining among the excited crowd and sought in vain for marion. at last she got margaret's attention, caught her dress in her teeth and led her to a corner of the lot, where she had laid side by side her puppies, smothered to death. she stood and looked at them with her tail drooping, the picture of despair. margaret burst into tears and called ben. he bent and put his arm around the setter's neck and stroked her head with his hand. looking at up his sister, he said: "don't tell marion of this. she can't stand any more to-night." the crowd had all dispersed, and the flames had died down for want of fuel. the odour of roasting flesh, pungent and acrid, still lingered a sharp reminder of the tragedy. ben stood on the back porch, talking in low tones to his father. "will you join us now, sir? we need the name and influence of men of your standing." "my boy, two wrongs never made a right. it's better to endure awhile. the sober commonsense of the nation will yet save us. we must appeal to it." "eight more fires were seen from town to-night." "you only guess their origin." "i know their origin. it was done by the league at a signal as a celebration of the election and a threat of terror to the county. one of our men concealed a faithful negro under the floor of the school-house and heard the plot hatched. we expected it a month ago--but hoped they had given it up." "even so, my boy, a secret society such as you have planned means a conspiracy that may bring exile or death. i hate lawlessness and disorder. we have had enough of it. your clan means ultimately martial law. at least we will get rid of these soldiers by this election. they have done their worst to me, but we may save others by patience." "it's the only way, sir. the next step will be a black hand on a white woman's throat!" the doctor frowned. "let us hope for the best. your clan is the last act of desperation." "but if everything else fail, and this creeping horror becomes a fact--then what?" "my boy, we will pray that god may never let us live to see the day!" [illustration: the black masters of the south during reconstruction.] chapter viii the riot in the master's hall alarmed at the possible growth of the secret clan into which ben had urged him to enter, dr. cameron determined to press for relief from oppression by an open appeal to the conscience of the nation. he called a meeting of conservative leaders in a taxpayers' convention at columbia. his position as leader had been made supreme by the indignities he had suffered, and he felt sure of his ability to accomplish results. every county in the state was represented by its best men in this gathering at the capitol. the day he undertook to present his memorial to the legislature was one he never forgot. the streets were crowded with negroes who had come to town to hear lynch, the lieutenant-governor, speak in a mass-meeting. negro policemen swung their clubs in his face as he pressed through the insolent throng up the street to the stately marble capitol. at the door a black, greasy trooper stopped him to parley. every decently dressed white man was regarded a spy. as he passed inside the doors of the house of representatives the rush of foul air staggered him. the reek of vile cigars and stale whiskey, mingled with the odour of perspiring negroes, was overwhelming. he paused and gasped for breath. the space behind the seats of the members was strewn with corks, broken glass, stale crusts, greasy pieces of paper, and picked bones. the hall was packed with negroes, smoking, chewing, jabbering, pushing, perspiring. a carpet-bagger at his elbow was explaining to an old darkey from down east why his forty acres and a mule hadn't come. on the other side of him a big negro bawled: "dat's all right! de cullud man on top!" the doctor surveyed the hall in dismay. at first not a white member was visible. the galleries were packed with negroes. the speaker presiding was a negro, the clerk a negro, the doorkeepers negroes, the little pages all coal-black negroes, the chaplain a negro. the negro party consisted of one hundred and one--ninety-four blacks and seven scallawags, who claimed to be white. the remains of aryan civilization were represented by twenty-three white men from the scotch-irish hill counties. the doctor had served three terms as the member from ulster in this hall in the old days, and its appearance now was beyond any conceivable depth of degradation. the ninety-four africans, constituting almost its solid membership, were a motley crew. every negro type was there, from the genteel butler to the clodhopper from the cotton and rice fields. some had on second-hand seedy frock-coats their old master had given them before the war, glossy and threadbare. old stovepipe hats, of every style in vogue since noah came out of the ark, were placed conspicuously on the desks or cocked on the backs of the heads of the honourable members. some wore the coarse clothes of the field, stained with red mud. old aleck, he noted, had a red woollen comforter wound round his neck in place of a shirt or collar. he had tried to go barefooted, but the speaker had issued a rule that members should come shod. he was easing his feet by placing his brogans under the desk, wearing only his red socks. each member had his name painted in enormous gold letters on his desk, and had placed beside it a sixty-dollar french imported spittoon. even the congress of the united states, under the inspiration of oakes ames and speaker colfax, could only afford one of domestic make, which cost a dollar. the uproar was deafening. from four to six negroes were trying to speak at the same time. aleck's majestic mouth with blue gums and projecting teeth led the chorus as he ambled down the aisle, his bow-legs flying their red-sock ensigns. the speaker singled him out--his voice was something which simply could not be ignored--rapped and yelled: "de gemman from ulster set down!" aleck turned crestfallen and resumed his seat, throwing his big flat feet in their red woollens up on his desk and hiding his face behind their enormous spread. he had barely settled in his chair before a new idea flashed through his head and up he jumped again: "mistah speaker!" he bawled. "orda da!" yelled another. "knock 'im in de head!" "seddown, nigger!" the speaker pointed his gavel at aleck and threatened him laughingly: "ef de gemman from ulster doan set down i gwine call 'im ter orda!" uncle aleck greeted this threat with a wild guffaw, which the whole house about him joined in heartily. they laughed like so many hens cackling--when one started the others would follow. the most of them were munching peanuts, and the crush of hulls under heavy feet added a subnote to the confusion like the crackle of a prairie fire. the ambition of each negro seemed to be to speak at least a half-dozen times on each question, saying the same thing every time. no man was allowed to talk five minutes without an interruption which brought on another and another until the speaker was drowned in a storm of contending yells. their struggles to get the floor with bawlings, bellowings, and contortions, and the senseless rap of the speaker's gavel, were something appalling. on this scene, through fetid smoke and animal roar, looked down from the walls, in marble bas-relief, the still white faces of robert hayne and george mcduffie, through whose veins flowed the blood of scottish kings, while over it brooded in solemn wonder the face of john laurens, whose diplomatic genius at the court of france won millions of gold for our tottering cause, and sent a french fleet and army into the chesapeake to entrap cornwallis at yorktown. the little group of twenty-three white men, the descendants of these spirits, to whom dr. cameron had brought his memorial, presented a pathetic spectacle. most of them were old men, who sat in grim silence with nothing to do or say as they watched the rising black tide, their dignity, reserve, and decorum at once the wonder and the shame of the modern world. at least they knew that the minstrel farce being enacted on that floor was a tragedy as deep and dark as was ever woven of the blood and tears of a conquered people. beneath those loud guffaws they could hear the death rattle in the throat of their beloved state, barbarism strangling civilization by brute force. for all the stupid uproar, the black leaders of this mob knew what they wanted. one of them was speaking now, the leader of the house, the honourable napoleon whipper. dr. cameron had taken his seat in the little group of white members in one corner of the chamber, beside an old friend from an adjoining county whom he had known in better days. "now listen," said his friend. "when whipper talks he always says something." "mr. speaker, i move you, sir, in view of the arduous duties which our presiding officer has performed this week for the state, that he be allowed one thousand dollars extra pay." the motion was put without debate and carried. the speaker then called whipper to the chair and made the same motion, to give the leader of the house an extra thousand dollars for the performance of his heavy duties. it was carried. "what does that mean?" asked the doctor. "very simple; whipper and the speaker adjourned the house yesterday afternoon to attend a horse race. they lost a thousand dollars each betting on the wrong horse. they are recuperating after the strain. they are booked for judges of the supreme court when they finish this job. the negro mass-meeting to-night is to indorse their names for the supreme bench." "is it possible!" the doctor exclaimed. when whipper resumed his place at his desk, the introduction of bills began. one after another were sent to the speaker's desk, a measure to disarm the whites and equip with modern rifles a negro militia of , men; to make the uniform of confederate gray the garb of convicts in south carolina, with a sign of the rank to signify the degree of crime; to prevent any person calling another a "nigger"; to require men to remove their hats in the presence of all officers, civil or military, and all disfranchised men to remove their hats in the presence of voters; to force black and whites to attend the same schools and open the state university to negroes; to permit the intermarriage of whites and blacks; and to inforce social equality. whipper made a brief speech on the last measure: "before i am through, i mean that it shall be known that napoleon whipper is as good as any man in south carolina. don't tell me that i am not on an equality with any man god ever made." dr. cameron turned pale, and trembling with excitement, asked his friend: "can that man pass such measures, and the governor sign them?" "he can pass anything he wishes. the governor is his creature--a dirty little scallawag who tore the union flag from fort sumter, trampled it in the dust, and helped raise the flag of confederacy over it. now he is backed by the government at washington. he won his election by dancing at negro balls and the purchase of delegates. his salary as governor is $ , a year, and he spends over $ , . comment is unnecessary. this legislature has stolen millions of dollars, and already bankrupted the treasury. the day howle was elected to the senate of the united states every negro on the floor had his roll of bills and some of them counted it out on their desks. in your day the annual cost of the state government was $ , . this year it is $ , , . these thieves steal daily. they don't deny it. they simply dare you to prove it. the writing paper on the desks cost $ , . these clocks on the wall $ each, and every little radical newspaper in the state has been subsidized in sums varying from $ , to $ , . each member is allowed to draw for mileage, per diem, and 'sundries.' god only knows what the bill for 'sundries' will aggregate by the end of the session." "i couldn't conceive of this!" exclaimed the doctor. "i've only given you a hint. we are a conquered race. the iron hand of fate is on us. we can only wait for the shadows to deepen into night. president grant appears to be a babe in the woods. schuyler colfax, the vice-president, and belknap, the secretary of war, are in the saddle in washington. i hear things are happening there that are quite interesting. besides, congress now can give little relief. the real lawmaking power in america is the state legislature. the state lawmaker enters into the holy of holies of our daily life. once more we are a sovereign state--a sovereign negro state." "i fear my mission is futile," said the doctor. "it's ridiculous--i'll call for you to-night and take you to hear lynch, our lieutenant-governor. he is a remarkable man. our negro supreme court judge will preside--" uncle aleck, who had suddenly spied dr. cameron, broke in with a laughing welcome: "i 'clar ter goodness, dr. cammun, i didn't know you wuz here, sah. i sho' glad ter see you. i axes yer ter come across de street ter my room; i got sumfin' pow'ful pertickler ter say ter you." the doctor followed aleck out of the hall and across the street to his room in a little boarding-house. his door was locked, and the windows darkened by blinds. instead of opening the blinds he lighted a lamp. "ob cose, dr. cammun, you say nuffin 'bout what i gwine tell you?" "certainly not, aleck." the room was full of drygoods boxes. the space under the bed was packed, and they were piled to the ceiling around the walls. "why, what's all this, aleck?" the member from ulster chuckled: "dr. cammun, yu'se been er pow'ful frien' ter me--gimme medicine lots er times, en i hain't nebber paid you nuttin'. i'se sho' come inter de kingdom now, en i wants ter pay my respects ter you, sah. des look ober dat paper, en mark what you wants, en i hab 'em sont home fur you." the member from ulster handed his physician a printed list of more than five hundred articles of merchandise. the doctor read it over with amazement. "i don't understand it, aleck. do you own a store?" "na-sah, but we git all we wants fum mos' eny ob 'em. dem's 'sundries,' sah, dat de gubment gibs de members. we des orda what we needs. no trouble 'tall, sah. de men what got de goods come roun' en beg us ter take 'em." the doctor smiled in spite of the tragedy back of the joke. "let's see some of the goods, aleck--are they first class?" "yessah; de bes' goin'. i show you." he pulled out a number of boxes and bundles, exhibiting carpets, door mats, hassocks, dog collars, cow bells, oilcloths, velvets, mosquito nets, damask, irish linen, billiard outfits, towels, blankets, flannels, quilts, women's hoods, hats, ribbons, pins, needles, scissors, dumb bells, skates, crape skirt braids, tooth brushes, face powder, hooks and eyes, skirts, bustles, chignons, garters, artificial busts, chemises, parasols, watches, jewellery, diamond earrings, ivory-handled knives and forks, pistols and guns, and a webster's dictionary. "got lots mo' in dem boxes nailed up dar--yessah, hit's no use er lettin' good tings go by yer when you kin des put out yer han' en stop 'em! some er de members ordered horses en carriages, but i tuk er par er fine mules wid harness en two buggies an er wagin. dey 'roun at de libry stable, sah." the doctor thanked aleck for his friendly feeling, but told him it was, of course, impossible for him at this time, being only a taxpayer and neither a voter nor a member of the legislature, to share in his supply of "sundries." he went to the warehouse that night with his friend to hear lynch, wondering if his mind were capable of receiving another shock. this meeting had been called to indorse the candidacy, for justice of the supreme court, of napoleon whipper, the leader of the house, the notorious negro thief and gambler, and of william pitt moses, an ex-convict, his confederate in crime. they had been unanimously chosen for the positions by a secret caucus of the ninety-four negro members of the house. this addition to the court, with the negro already a member, would give a majority to the black man on the last tribunal of appeal. the few white men of the party who had any sense of decency were in open revolt at this atrocity. but their influence was on the wane. the carpet-bagger shaped the first convention and got the first plums of office. now the negro was in the saddle, and he meant to stay. there were not enough white men in the legislature to force a roll-call on a division of the house. this meeting was an open defiance of all pale-faces inside or outside party lines. every inch of space in the big cotton warehouse was jammed--a black living cloud, pungent and piercing. the distinguished lieutenant-governor, silas lynch, had not yet arrived, but the negro justice of the supreme court, pinchback, was in his seat as the presiding officer. dr. cameron watched the movements of the black judge, already notorious for the sale of his opinions, with a sense of sickening horror. this man was but yesterday a slave, his father a medicine man in an african jungle who decided the guilt or innocence of the accused by the test of administering poison. if the poison killed the man, he was guilty; if he survived, he was innocent. for four thousand years his land had stood a solid bulwark of unbroken barbarism. out of its darkness he had been thrust upon the seat of judgment of the laws of the proudest and highest type of man evolved in time. it seemed a hideous dream. his thoughts were interrupted by a shout. it came spontaneous and tremendous in its genuine feeling. the magnificent figure of lynch, their idol, appeared walking down the aisle escorted by the little scallawag who was the governor. he took his seat on the platform with the easy assurance of conscious power. his broad shoulders, superb head, and gleaming jungle eyes held every man in the audience before he had spoken a word. in the first masterful tones of his voice the doctor's keen intelligence caught the ring of his savage metal and felt the shock of his powerful personality--a personality which had thrown to the winds every mask, whose sole aim of life was sensual, whose only fears were of physical pain and death, who could worship a snake and sacrifice a human being. his playful introduction showed him a child of mystery, moved by voices and inspired by a fetish. his face was full of good humour, and his whole figure rippled with sleek animal vivacity. for the moment, life was a comedy and a masquerade teeming with whims, fancies, ecstasies and superstitions. he held the surging crowd in the hollow of his hand. they yelled, laughed, howled, or wept as he willed. now he painted in burning words the imaginary horrors of slavery until the tears rolled down his cheeks and he wept at the sound of his own voice. every dusky hearer burst into tears and moans. he stopped, suddenly brushed the tears from his eyes, sprang to the edge of the platform, threw both arms above his head and shouted: "hosannah to the lord god almighty for emancipation!" instantly five thousand negroes, as one man, were on their feet, shouting and screaming. their shouts rose in unison, swelled into a thunder peal, and died away as one voice. dead silence followed, and every eye was again riveted on lynch. for two hours the doctor sat transfixed, listening and watching him sway the vast audience with hypnotic power. there was not one note of hesitation or of doubt. it was the challenge of race against race to mortal combat. his closing words again swept every negro from his seat and melted every voice into a single frenzied shout: "within five years," he cried, "the intelligence and the wealth of this mighty state will be transferred to the negro race. lift up your heads. the world is yours. take it. here and now i serve notice on every white man who breathes that i am as good as he is. i demand, and i am going to have, the privilege of going to see him in his house or his hotel, eating with him and sleeping with him, and when i see fit, to take his daughter in marriage!" as the doctor emerged from the stifling crowd with his friend, he drew a deep breath of fresh air, took from his pocket his conservative memorial, picked it into little bits, and scattered them along the street as he walked in silence back to his hotel. chapter ix at lover's leap in spite of the pitiful collapse of old stoneman under his stroke of paralysis, his children still saw the unconquered soul shining in his colourless eyes. they had both been on the point of confessing their love affairs to him and joining in the inevitable struggle when he was stricken. they knew only too well that he would not consent to a dual alliance with the camerons under the conditions of fierce hatreds and violence into which the state had drifted. they were too high-minded to consider a violation of his wishes while thus helpless, with his strange eyes following them about in childlike eagerness. his weakness was mightier than his iron will. so, for eighteen months, while he slowly groped out of mental twilight, each had waited--elsie with a tender faith struggling with despair, and phil in a torture of uncertainty and fear. in the meantime, the young northerner had become as radical in his sympathies with the southern people as his father had ever been against them. this power of assimilation has always been a mark of southern genius. the sight of the black hand on their throats now roused his righteous indignation. the patience with which they endured was to him amazing. the southerner he had found to be the last man on earth to become a revolutionist. all his traits were against it. his genius for command, the deep sense of duty and honour, his hospitality, his deathless love of home, his supreme constancy and sense of civic unity, all combined to make him ultraconservative. he began now to see that it was reverence for authority as expressed in the constitution under which slavery was established which made secession inevitable. besides, the laziness and incapacity of the negro had been more than he could endure. with no ties of tradition or habits of life to bind him, he simply refused to tolerate them. in this feeling elsie had grown early to sympathize. she discharged aunt cindy for feeding her children from the kitchen, and brought a cook and house girl from the north, while phil would employ only white men in any capacity. in the desolation of negro rule the cameron farm had become worthless. the taxes had more than absorbed the income, and the place was only kept from execution by the indomitable energy of mrs. cameron, who made the hotel pay enough to carry the interest on a mortgage which was increasing from season to season. the doctor's practice was with him a divine calling. he never sent bills to his patients. they paid something if they had it. now they had nothing. ben's law practice was large for his age and experience, but his clients had no money. while the camerons were growing each day poorer, phil was becoming rich. his genius, skill, and enterprise had been quick to see the possibilities of the waterpower. the old eagle cotton mills had been burned during the war. phil organized the eagle & phoenix company, interested northern capitalists, bought the falls, and erected two great mills, the dim hum of whose spindles added a new note to the river's music. eager, swift, modest, his head full of ideas, his heart full of faith, he had pressed forward to success. as the old commoner's mind began to clear, and his recovery was sure, phil determined to press his suit for margaret's hand to an issue. ben had dropped a hint of an interview of the rev. hugh mcalpin with dr. cameron, which had thrown phil into a cold sweat. he hurried to the hotel to ask margaret to drive with him that afternoon. he would stop at lover's leap and settle the question. he met the preacher, just emerging from the door, calm, handsome, serious, and margaret by his side. the dark-haired beauty seemed strangely serene. what could it mean? his heart was in his throat. was he too late? wreathed in smiles when the preacher had gone, the girl's face was a riddle he could not solve. to his joy, she consented to go. as he left in his trim little buggy for the hotel, he stooped and kissed elsie, whispering: "make an offering on the altar of love for me, sis!" "you're too slow. the prayers of all the saints will not save you!" she replied with a laugh, throwing him a kiss as he disappeared in the dust. as they drove through the great forest on the cliffs overlooking the river, the southern world seemed lit with new splendours to-day for the northerner. his heart beat with a strange courage. the odour of the pines, their sighing music, the subtone of the falls below, the subtle life-giving perfume of the fullness of summer, the splendour of the sun gleaming through the deep foliage, and the sweet sensuous air, all seemed incarnate in the calm, lovely face and gracious figure beside him. they took their seat on the old rustic built against the beech, which was the last tree on the brink of the cliff. a hundred feet below flowed the river, rippling softly along a narrow strip of sand which its current had thrown against the rocks. the ledge of towering granite formed a cave eighty feet in depth at the water's edge. from this projecting wall, tradition said a young indian princess once leaped with her lover, fleeing from the wrath of a cruel father who had separated them. the cave below was inaccessible from above, being reached by a narrow footpath along the river's edge when entered a mile downstream. the view from the seat, under the beech, was one of marvellous beauty. for miles the broad river rolled in calm, shining glory seaward, its banks fringed with cane and trees, while fields of corn and cotton spread in waving green toward the distant hills and blue mountains of the west. every tree on this cliff was cut with the initials of generations of lovers from piedmont. they sat in silence for awhile, margaret idly playing with a flower she had picked by the pathway, and phil watching her devoutly. the southern sun had tinged her face the reddish warm hue of ripened fruit, doubly radiant by contrast with her wealth of dark-brown hair. the lustrous glance of her eyes, half veiled by their long lashes, and the graceful, careless pose of her stately figure held him enraptured. her dress of airy, azure blue, so becoming to her dark beauty, gave phil the impression of eiderdown feathers of some rare bird of the tropics. he felt that if he dared to touch her she might lift her wings and sail over the cliff into the sky and forget to light again at his side. "i am going to ask a very bold and impertinent question, miss margaret," phil said with resolution. "may i?" margaret smiled incredulously. "i'll risk your impertinence, and decide as to its boldness." "tell me, please, what that preacher said to you to-day." margaret looked away, unable to suppress the merriment that played about her eyes and mouth. "will you never breathe it to a soul if i do?" "never." "honest injun, here on the sacred altar of the princess?" "on my honour." "then i'll tell you," she said, biting her lips to keep back a laugh. "mr. mcalpin is very handsome and eloquent. i have always thought him the best preacher we have ever had in piedmont----" "yes, i know," phil interrupted with a frown. "he is very pious," she went on evenly, "and seeks divine guidance in prayer in everything he does. he called this morning to see me, and i was playing for him in the little music-room off the parlour, when he suddenly closed the door and said: "'miss margaret, i am going to take, this morning, the most important step of my life----' "of course i hadn't the remotest idea what he meant---- "'will you join me in a word of prayer?' he asked, and knelt right down. i was accustomed, of course, to kneel with him in family worship at his pastoral calls, and so from habit i slipped to one knee by the piano stool, wondering what on earth he was about. when he prayed with fervour for the lord to bless the great love with which he hoped to hallow my life--i giggled. it broke up the meeting. he rose and asked me to marry him. i told him the lord hadn't revealed it to me----" phil seized her hand and held it firmly. the smile died from the girl's face, her hand trembled, and the rose tint on her cheeks flamed to scarlet. "margaret, my own, i love you," he cried with joy. "you could have told that story only to the one man whom you love--is it not true?" "yes. i've loved you always," said the low, sweet voice. "always?" asked phil through a tear. "before i saw you, when they told me you were as ben's twin brother, my heart began to sing at the sound of your name----" "call it," he whispered. "phil, my sweetheart!" she said with a laugh. "how tender and homelike the music of your voice! the world has never seen the match of your gracious southern womanhood! snowbound in the north, i dreamed, as a child, of this world of eternal sunshine. and now every memory and dream i've found in you." "and you won't be disappointed in my simple ideal that finds its all within a home?" "no. i love the old-fashioned dream of the south. maybe you have enchanted me, but i love these green hills and mountains, these rivers musical with cascade and fall, these solemn forests--but for the black curse, the south would be to-day the garden of the world!" "and you will help our people lift this curse?" softly asked the girl, nestling closer to his side. "yes, dearest, thy people shall be mine! had i a thousand wrongs to cherish, i'd forgive them all for your sake. i'll help you build here a new south on all that's good and noble in the old, until its dead fields blossom again, its harbours bristle with ships, and the hum of a thousand industries make music in every valley. i'd sing to you in burning verse if i could, but it is not my way. i have been awkward and slow in love, perhaps--but i'll be swift in your service. i dream to make dead stones and wood live and breathe for you, of victories wrung from nature that are yours. my poems will be deeds, my flowers the hard-earned wealth that has a soul, which i shall lay at your feet." "who said my lover was dumb?" she sighed, with a twinkle in her shining eyes. "you must introduce me to your father soon. he must like me as my father does you, or our dream can never come true." a pain gripped phil's heart, but he answered bravely: "i will. he can't help loving you." they stood on the rustic seat to carve their initials within a circle, high on the old beechwood book of love. "may i write it out in full--margaret cameron--philip stoneman?" he asked. "no--only the initials now--the full names when you've seen my father and i've seen yours. jeannie campbell and henry lenoir were once written thus in full, and many a lover has looked at that circle and prayed for happiness like theirs. you can see there a new one cut over the old, the bark has filled, and written on the fresh page is 'marion lenoir' with the blank below for her lover's name." phil looked at the freshly cut circle and laughed: "i wonder if marion or her mother did that?" "her mother, of course." "i wonder whose will be the lucky name some day within it?" said phil musingly as he finished his own. chapter x a night hawk when the old commoner's private physician had gone and his mind had fully cleared, he would sit for hours in the sunshine of the vine-clad porch, asking elsie of the village, its life, and its people. he smiled good-naturedly at her eager sympathy for their sufferings as at the enthusiasm of a child who could not understand. he had come possessed by a great idea--events must submit to it. her assurance that the poverty and losses of the people were far in excess of the worst they had known during the war was too absurd even to secure his attention. he had refused to know any of the people, ignoring the existence of elsie's callers. but he had fallen in love with marion from the moment he had seen her. the cold eye of the old fox hunter kindled with the fire of his forgotten youth at the sight of this beautiful girl seated on the glistening back of the mare she had saved from death. as she rode through the village every boy lifted his hat as to passing royalty, and no one, old or young, could allow her to pass without a cry of admiration. her exquisite figure had developed into the full tropic splendour of southern girlhood. she had rejected three proposals from ardent lovers, on one of whom her mother had quite set her heart. a great fear had grown in mrs. lenoir's mind lest she were in love with ben cameron. she slipped her arm around her one day and timidly asked her. a faint flush tinged marion's face up to the roots of her delicate blonde hair, and she answered with a quick laugh: "mamma, how silly you are! you know i've always been in love with ben--since i can first remember. i know he is in love with elsie stoneman. i am too young, the world too beautiful, and life too sweet to grieve over my first baby love. i expect to dance with him at his wedding, then meet my fate and build my own nest." old stoneman begged that she come every day to see him. he never tired praising her to elsie. as she walked gracefully up to the house one afternoon, holding hugh by the hand, he said to elsie: "next to you, my dear, she is the most charming creature i ever saw. her tenderness for everything that needs help touches the heart of an old lame man in a very soft spot." "i've never seen any one who could resist her," elsie answered. "her gloves may be worn, her feet clad in old shoes, yet she is always neat, graceful, dainty, and serene. no wonder her mother worships her." sam ross, her simple friend, had stopped at the gate, and looked over into the lawn as if afraid to come in. when marion saw sam, she turned back to the gate to invite him in. the keeper of the poor, a vicious-looking negro, suddenly confronted him, and he shrank in terror close to the girl's side. "what you doin' here, sah?" the black keeper railed. "ain't i done tole you 'bout runnin' away?" "you let him alone," marion cried. the negro pushed her roughly from his side and knocked sam down. the girl screamed for help, and old stoneman hobbled down the steps, following elsie. when they reached the gate, marion was bending over the prostrate form. "oh, my, my, i believe he's killed him!" she wailed. "run for the doctor, sonny, quick," stoneman said to hugh. the boy darted away and brought dr. cameron. "how dare you strike that man, you devil?" thundered the old statesman. "'case i tole 'im ter stay home en do de wuk i put 'im at, en he all de time runnin' off here ter git somfin' ter eat. i gwine frail de life outen 'im, ef he doan min' me." "well, you make tracks back to the poorhouse. i'll attend to this man, and i'll have you arrested for this before night," said stoneman, with a scowl. the black keeper laughed as he left. "not 'less you'se er bigger man dan gubner silas lynch, you won't!" when dr. cameron had restored sam, and dressed the wound on his head where he had struck a stone in falling, stoneman insisted that the boy be put to bed. turning to dr. cameron, he asked: "why should they put a brute like this in charge of the poor?" "that's a large question, sir, at this time," said the doctor politely, "and now that you have asked it, i have some things i've been longing for an opportunity to say to you." "be seated, sir," the old commoner answered, "i shall be glad to hear them." elsie's heart leaped with joy over the possible outcome of this appeal, and she left the room with a smile for the doctor. "first, allow me," said the southerner pleasantly, "to express my sorrow at your long illness, and my pleasure at seeing you so well. your children have won the love of all our people and have had our deepest sympathy in your illness." stoneman muttered an inaudible reply, and the doctor went on: "your question brings up, at once, the problem of the misery and degradation into which our country has sunk under negro rule----" stoneman smiled coldly and interrupted: "of course, you understand my position in politics, doctor cameron--i am a radical republican." "so much the better," was the response. "i have been longing for months to get your ear. your word will be all the more powerful if raised in our behalf. the negro is the master of our state, county, city, and town governments. every school, college, hospital, asylum, and poorhouse is his prey. what you have seen is but a sample. negro insolence grows beyond endurance. their women are taught to insult their old mistresses and mock their poverty as they pass in their old, faded dresses. yesterday a black driver struck a white child of six with his whip, and when the mother protested, she was arrested by a negro policeman, taken before a negro magistrate, and fined $ for 'insulting a freedman.'" stoneman frowned: "such things must be very exceptional." "they are everyday occurrences and cease to excite comment. lynch, the lieutenant-governor, who has bought a summer home here, is urging this campaign of insult with deliberate purpose----" the old man shook his head. "i can't think the lieutenant-governor guilty of such petty villainy." "our school commissioner," the doctor continued, "is a negro who can neither read nor write. the black grand jury last week discharged a negro for stealing cattle and indicted the owner for false imprisonment. no such rate of taxation was ever imposed on a civilized people. a tithe of it cost great britain her colonies. there are , homes in this county-- , of them are advertised for sale by the sheriff to meet his tax bills. this house will be sold next court day----" stoneman looked up sharply. "sold for taxes?" "yes; with the farm which has always been mrs. lenoir's support. in part her loss came from the cotton tax. congress, in addition to the desolation of war, and the ruin of black rule, has wrung from the cotton farmers of the south a tax of $ , , . every dollar of this money bears the stain of the blood of starving people. they are ready to give up, or to spring some desperate scheme of resistance----" the old man lifted his massive head and his great jaws came together with a snap: "resistance to the authority of the national government?" "no; resistance to the travesty of government and the mockery of civilization under which we are being throttled! the bayonet is now in the hands of a brutal negro militia. the tyranny of military martinets was child's play to this. as i answered your call this morning i was stopped and turned back in the street by the drill of a company of negroes under the command of a vicious scoundrel named gus who was my former slave. he is the captain of this company. eighty thousand armed negro troops, answerable to no authority save the savage instincts of their officers, terrorize the state. every white company has been disarmed and disbanded by our scallawag governor. i tell you, sir, we are walking on the crust of a volcano----" old stoneman scowled as the doctor rose and walked nervously to the window and back. "an appeal from you to the conscience of the north might save us," he went on eagerly. "black hordes of former slaves, with the intelligence of children and the instincts of savages, armed with modern rifles, parade daily in front of their unarmed former masters. a white man has no right a negro need respect. the children of the breed of men who speak the tongue of burns and shakespeare, drake and raleigh, have been disarmed and made subject to the black spawn of an african jungle! can human flesh endure it? when goth and vandal barbarians overran rome, the negro was the slave of the roman empire. the savages of the north blew out the light of ancient civilization, but in all the dark ages which followed they never dreamed the leprous infamy of raising a black slave to rule over his former master! no people in the history of the world have ever before been so basely betrayed, so wantonly humiliated and degraded!" stoneman lifted his head in amazement at the burst of passionate intensity with which the southerner poured out his protest. "for a russian to rule a pole," he went on, "a turk to rule a greek, or an austrian to dominate an italian is hard enough, but for a thick-lipped, flat-nosed, spindle-shanked negro, exuding his nauseating animal odour, to shout in derision over the hearths and homes of white men and women is an atrocity too monstrous for belief. our people are yet dazed by its horror. my god! when they realize its meaning, whose arm will be strong enough to hold them?" "i should think the south was sufficiently amused with resistance to authority," interrupted stoneman. "even so. yet there is a moral force at the bottom of every living race of men. the sense of right, the feeling of racial destiny--these are unconquered and unconquerable forces. every man in south carolina to-day is glad that slavery is dead. the war was not too great a price for us to pay for the lifting of its curse. and now to ask a southerner to be the slave of a slave----" "and yet, doctor," said stoneman coolly, "manhood suffrage is the one eternal thing fixed in the nature of democracy. it is inevitable." "at the price of racial life? never!" said the southerner, with fiery emphasis. "this republic is great, not by reason of the amount of dirt we possess, the size of our census roll, or our voting register--we are great because of the genius of the race of pioneer white freemen who settled this continent, dared the might of kings, and made a wilderness the home of freedom. our future depends on the purity of this racial stock. the grant of the ballot to these millions of semi-savages and the riot of debauchery which has followed are crimes against human progress." "yet may we not train him?" asked stoneman. "to a point, yes, and then sink to his level if you walk as his equal in physical contact with him. his race is not an infant; it is a degenerate--older than yours in time. at last we are face to face with the man whom slavery concealed with its rags. suffrage is but the new paper cloak with which the demagogue has sought to hide the issue. can we assimilate the negro? the very question is pollution. in hayti no white man can own land. black dukes and marquises drive over them and swear at them for getting under their wheels. is civilization a patent cloak with which law-tinkers can wrap an animal and make him a king?" "but the negro must be protected by the ballot," protested the statesman. "the humblest man must have the opportunity to rise. the real issue is democracy." "the issue, sir, is civilization! not whether a negro shall be protected, but whether society is worth saving from barbarism." "the statesman can educate," put in the commoner. the doctor cleared his throat with a quick little nervous cough he was in the habit of giving when deeply moved. "education, sir, is the development of that which _is_. since the dawn of history the negro has owned the continent of africa--rich beyond the dream of poet's fancy, crunching acres of diamonds beneath his bare black feet. yet he never picked one up from the dust until a white man showed to him its glittering light. his land swarmed with powerful and docile animals, yet he never dreamed a harness, cart, or sled. a hunter by necessity, he never made an axe, spear, or arrowhead worth preserving beyond the moment of its use. he lived as an ox, content to graze for an hour. in a land of stone and timber he never sawed a foot of lumber, carved a block, or built a house save of broken sticks and mud. with league on league of ocean strand and miles of inland seas, for four thousand years he watched their surface ripple under the wind, heard the thunder of the surf on his beach, the howl of the storm over his head, gazed on the dim blue horizon calling him to worlds that lie beyond, and yet he never dreamed a sail! he lived as his fathers lived--stole his food, worked his wife, sold his children, ate his brother, content to drink, sing, dance, and sport as the ape! "and this creature, half child, half animal, the sport of impulse, whim, and conceit, 'pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw,' a being who, left to his will, roams at night and sleeps in the day, whose speech knows no word of love, whose passions, once aroused, are as the fury of the tiger--they have set this thing to rule over the southern people----" the doctor sprang to his feet, his face livid, his eyes blazing with emotion. "merciful god--it surpasses human belief!" he sank exhausted in his chair, and, extending his hand in an eloquent gesture, continued: "surely, surely, sir, the people of the north are not mad? we can yet appeal to the conscience and the brain of our brethren of a common race?" stoneman was silent as if stunned. deep down in his strange soul he was drunk with the joy of a triumphant vengeance he had carried locked in the depths of his being, yet the intensity of this man's suffering for a people's cause surprised and distressed him as all individual pain hurt him. dr. cameron rose, stung by his silence and the consciousness of the hostility with which stoneman had wrapped himself. "pardon my apparent rudeness, doctor," he said at length, extending his hand. "the violence of your feeling stunned me for the moment. i'm obliged to you for speaking. i like a plain-spoken man. i am sorry to learn of the stupidity of the former military commandant in this town----" "my personal wrongs, sir," the doctor broke in, "are nothing!" "i am sorry, too, about these individual cases of suffering. they are the necessary incidents of a great upheaval. but may it not all come out right in the end? after the dark ages, day broke at last. we have the printing press, railroad, and telegraph--a revolution in human affairs. we may do in years what it took ages to do in the past. may not the black man speedily emerge? who knows? an appeal to the north will be a waste of breath. this experiment is going to be made. it is written in the book of fate. but i like you. come to see me again." dr. cameron left with a heavy heart. he had grown a great hope in this long-wished-for appeal to stoneman. it had come to his ears that the old man, who had dwelt as one dead in their village, was a power. it was ten o'clock before the doctor walked slowly back to the hotel. as he passed the armoury of the black militia, they were still drilling under the command of gus. the windows were open, through which came the steady tramp of heavy feet and the cry of "hep! hep! hep!" from the captain's thick cracked lips. the full-dress officer's uniform, with its gold epaulets, yellow stripes, and glistening sword, only accentuated the coarse bestiality of gus. his huge jaws seemed to hide completely the gold braid on his collar. the doctor watched, with a shudder, his black bloated face covered with perspiration and the huge hand gripping his sword. they suddenly halted in double ranks and gus yelled: "odah, arms!" the butts of their rifles crashed to the floor with precision, and they were allowed to break ranks for a brief rest. they sang "john brown's body," and as its echoes died away a big negro swung his rifle in a circle over his head, shouting: "here's your regulator for white trash! en dey's nine hundred ob 'em in dis county!" "yas, lawd!" howled another. "we got 'em down now en we keep 'em dar, chile!" bawled another. the doctor passed on slowly to the hotel. the night was dark, the streets were without lights under their present rulers, and the stars were hidden with swift-flying clouds which threatened a storm. as he passed under the boughs of an oak in front of his house, a voice above him whispered: "a message for you, sir." had the wings of a spirit suddenly brushed his cheek, he would not have been more startled. "who are you?" he asked, with a slight tremor. "a night hawk of the invisible empire, with a message from the grand dragon of the realm," was the low answer, as he thrust a note in the doctor's hand. "i will wait for your answer." the doctor fumbled to his office on the corner of the lawn, struck a match, and read: "a great scotch-irish leader of the south from memphis is here to-night and wishes to see you. if you will meet general forrest, i will bring him to the hotel in fifteen minutes. burn this. ben." the doctor walked quickly back to the spot where he had heard the voice, and said: "i'll see him with pleasure." the invisible messenger wheeled his horse, and in a moment the echo of his muffled hoofs had died away in the distance. chapter xi the beat of a sparrow's wing dr. cameron's appeal had left the old commoner unshaken in his idea. there could be but one side to any question with such a man, and that was his side. he would stand by his own men, too. he believed in his own forces. the bayonet was essential to his revolutionary programme--hence the hand which held it could do no wrong. wrongs were accidents which might occur under any system. yet in no way did he display the strange contradictions of his character so plainly as in his inability to hate the individual who stood for the idea he was fighting with maniac fury. he liked dr. cameron instantly, though he had come to do a crime that would send him into beggared exile. individual suffering he could not endure. in this the doctor's appeal had startling results. he sent for mrs. lenoir and marion. "i understand, madam," he said gravely, "that your house and farm are to be sold for taxes." "yes, sir; we've given it up this time. nothing can be done," was the hopeless answer. "would you consider an offer of twenty dollars an acre?" "nobody would be fool enough to offer it. you can buy all the land in the county for a dollar an acre. it's not worth anything." "i disagree with you," said stoneman cheerfully. "i am looking far ahead. i would like to make an experiment here with pennsylvania methods on this land. i'll give you ten thousand dollars cash for your five hundred acres if you will take it." "you don't mean it?" mrs. lenoir gasped, choking back the tears. "certainly. you can at once return to your home. i'll take another house, and invest your money for you in good northern securities." the mother burst into sobs, unable to speak, while marion threw her arms impulsively around the old man's neck and kissed him. his cold eyes were warmed with the first tear they had shed in years. he moved the next day to the ross estate, which he rented, had sam brought back to the home of his childhood in charge of a good-natured white attendant, and installed in one of the little cottages on the lawn. he ordered lynch to arrest the keeper of the poor, and hold him on a charge of assault with intent to kill, awaiting the action of the grand jury. the lieutenant-governor received this order with sullen anger--yet he saw to its execution. he was not quite ready for a break with the man who had made him. astonished at his new humour, phil and elsie hastened to confess to him their love affairs and ask his approval of their choice. his reply was cautious, yet he did not refuse his consent. he advised them to wait a few months, allow him time to know the young people, and get his bearings on the conditions of southern society. his mood of tenderness was a startling revelation to them of the depth and intensity of his love. when mrs. lenoir returned with marion to her vine-clad home, she spent the first day of perfect joy since the death of her lover husband. the deed had not yet been made of the transfer of the farm, but it was only a question of legal formality. she was to receive the money in the form of interest-bearing securities and deliver the title on the following morning. arm in arm, mother and daughter visited again each hallowed spot, with the sweet sense of ownership. the place was in perfect order. its flowers were in gorgeous bloom, its walks clean and neat, the fences painted, and the gates swung on new hinges. they stood with their arms about one another, watching the sun sink behind the mountains, with tears of gratitude and hope stirring their souls. ben cameron strode through the gate, and they hurried to meet him with cries of joy. "just dropped in a minute to see if you are snug for the night," he said. "of course, snug and so happy we've been hugging one another for hours," said the mother. "oh, ben, the clouds have lifted at last!" "has aunt cindy come yet?" he asked. "no, but she'll be here in the morning to get breakfast. we don't want anything to eat," she answered. "then i'll come out when i'm through my business to-night, and sleep in the house to keep you company." "nonsense," said the mother, "we couldn't think of putting you to the trouble. we've spent many a night here alone." "but not in the past two years," he said with a frown. "we're not afraid," marion said with a smile. "besides, we'd keep you awake all night with our laughter and foolishness, rummaging through the house." "you'd better let me," ben protested. "no," said the mother, "we'll be happier to-night alone, with only god's eye to see how perfectly silly we can be. come and take supper with us to-morrow night. bring elsie and her guitar--i don't like the banjo--and we'll have a little love feast with music in the moonlight." "yes, do that," cried marion. "i know we owe this good luck to her. i want to tell her how much i love her for it." "well, if you insist on staying alone," said ben reluctantly, "i'll bring miss elsie to-morrow, but i don't like your being here without aunt cindy to-night." "oh, we're all right!" laughed marion, "but what i want to know is what you are doing out so late every night since you've come home, and where you were gone for the past week?" "important business," he answered soberly. "business--i expect!" she cried. "look here, ben cameron, have you another girl somewhere you're flirting with?" "yes," he answered slowly, coming closer and his voice dropping to a whisper, "and her name is death." "why, ben!" marion gasped, placing her trembling hand unconsciously on his arm, a faint flush mantling her cheek and leaving it white. "what do you mean?" asked the mother in low tones. "nothing that i can explain. i only wish to warn you both never to ask me such questions before any one." "forgive me," said marion, with a tremor. "i didn't think it serious." ben pressed the little warm hand, watching her mouth quiver with a smile that was half a sigh, as he answered: "you know i'd trust either of you with my life, but i can't be too careful." "we'll remember, sir knight," said the mother. "don't forget, then, to-morrow--and spend the evening with us. i wish i had one of marion's new dresses done. poor child, she has never had a decent dress in her life before. you know i never look at my pretty baby grown to such a beautiful womanhood without hearing henry say over and over again--'beauty is a sign of the soul--the body is the soul!'" "well, i've my doubts about your improving her with a fine dress," he replied thoughtfully. "i don't believe that more beautifully dressed women ever walked the earth than our girls of the south who came out of the war clad in the pathos of poverty, smiling bravely through the shadows, bearing themselves as queens though they wore the dress of the shepherdess." "i'm almost tempted to kiss you for that, as you once took advantage of me!" said marion, with enthusiasm. the moon had risen and a whippoorwill was chanting his weird song on the lawn as ben left them leaning on the gate. * * * * * it was past midnight before they finished the last touches in restoring their nest to its old homelike appearance and sat down happy and tired in the room in which marion was born, brooding and dreaming and talking over the future. the mother was hanging on the words of her daughter, all the baffled love of the dead poet husband, her griefs and poverty consumed in the glowing joy of new hopes. her love for this child was now a triumphant passion, which had melted her own being into the object of worship, until the soul of the daughter was superimposed on the mother's as the magnetized by the magnetizer. "and you'll never keep a secret from me, dear?" she asked marion. "never." "you'll tell me all your love affairs?" she asked softly, as she drew the shining blonde head down on her shoulder. "faithfully." "you know i've been afraid sometimes you were keeping something back from me, deep down in your heart--and i'm jealous. you didn't refuse henry grier because you loved ben cameron--now, did you?" the little head lay still before she answered: [illustration: mae marsh as the victim of reconstruction.] "how many times must i tell you, silly, that i've loved ben since i can remember, that i will always love him, and when i meet my fate, at last, i shall boast to my children of my sweet girl romance with the hero of piedmont, and they shall laugh and cry with me over----" "what's that?" whispered the mother, leaping to her feet. "i heard nothing," marion answered, listening. "i thought i heard footsteps on the porch." "maybe it's ben, who decided to come anyhow," said the girl. "but he'd knock!" whispered the mother. the door flew open with a crash, and four black brutes leaped into the room, gus in the lead, with a revolver in his hand, his yellow teeth grinning through his thick lips. "scream now, an' i blow yer brains out," he growled. blanched with horror, the mother sprang before marion with a shivering cry: "what do you want?" "not you," said gus, closing the blinds and handing a rope to another brute. "tie de ole one ter de bedpost." the mother screamed. a blow from a black fist in her mouth, and the rope was tied. with the strength of despair she tore at the cords, half rising to her feet, while with mortal anguish she gasped: "for god's sake, spare my baby! do as you will with me, and kill me--do not touch her!" again the huge fist swept her to the floor. marion staggered against the wall, her face white, her delicate lips trembling with the chill of a fear colder than death. "we have no money--the deed has not been delivered," she pleaded, a sudden glimmer of hope flashing in her blue eyes. gus stepped closer, with an ugly leer, his flat nose dilated, his sinister bead eyes wide apart, gleaming apelike, as he laughed: "we ain't atter money!" the girl uttered a cry, long, tremulous, heart-rending, piteous. a single tiger spring, and the black claws of the beast sank into the soft white throat and she was still. chapter xii at the dawn of day it was three o'clock before marion regained consciousness, crawled to her mother, and crouched in dumb convulsions in her arms. "what can we do, my darling?" the mother asked at last. "die--thank god, we have the strength left!" "yes, my love," was the faint answer. "no one must ever know. we will hide quickly every trace of crime. they will think we strolled to lover's leap and fell over the cliff, and my name will always be sweet and clean--you understand--come, we must hurry----" with swift hands, her blue eyes shining with a strange light, the girl removed the shreds of torn clothes, bathed, and put on the dress of spotless white she wore the night ben cameron kissed her and called her a heroine. the mother cleaned and swept the room, piled the torn clothes and cord in the fireplace and burned them, dressed herself as if for a walk, softly closed the doors, and hurried with her daughter along the old pathway through the moonlit woods. at the edge of the forest she stopped and looked back tenderly at the little home shining amid the roses, caught their faint perfume and faltered: "let's go back a minute--i want to see his room, and kiss henry's picture again." "no, we are going to him now--i hear him calling us in the mists above the cliff," said the girl--"come, we must hurry. we might go mad and fail!" down the dim cathedral aisles of the woods, hallowed by tender memories, through which the poet lover and father had taught them to walk with reverent feet and without fear, they fled to the old meeting-place of love. on the brink of the precipice, the mother trembled, paused, drew back, and gasped: "are you not afraid, my dear?" "no; death is sweet now," said the girl. "i fear only the pity of those we love." "is there no other way? we might go among strangers," pleaded the mother. "we could not escape ourselves! the thought of life is torture. only those who hate me could wish that i live. the grave will be soft and cool, the light of day a burning shame." "come back to the seat a moment--let me tell you my love again," urged the mother. "life still is dear while i hold your hand." as they sat in brooding anguish, floating up from the river valley came the music of a banjo in a negro cabin, mingled with vulgar shout and song and dance. a verse of the ribald senseless lay of the player echoed above the banjo's pert refrain: "chicken in de bread tray, pickin' up dough; granny, will your dog bite? no, chile, no!" the mother shivered and drew marion closer. "oh, dear! oh, dear! has it come to this--all my hopes of your beautiful life!" the girl lifted her head and kissed the quivering lips. "with what loving wonder we saw you grow," she sighed, "from a tottering babe on to the hour we watched the mystic light of maidenhood dawn in your blue eyes--and all to end in this hideous, leprous shame. no--no! i will not have it! it's only a horrible dream! god is not dead!" the young mother sank to her knees and buried her face in marion's lap in a hopeless paroxysm of grief. the girl bent, kissed the curling hair, and smoothed it with her soft hand. a sparrow chirped in the tree above, a wren twittered in a bush, and down on the river's bank a mocking-bird softly waked his mate with a note of thrilling sweetness. "the morning is coming, dearest; we must go," said marion. "this shame i can never forget, nor will the world forget. death is the only way." they walked to the brink, and the mother's arms stole round the girl. "oh, my baby, my beautiful darling, life of my life, heart of my heart, soul of my soul!" they stood for a moment, as if listening to the music of the falls, looking out over the valley faintly outlining itself in the dawn. the first far-away streaks of blue light on the mountain ranges, defining distance, slowly appeared. a fresh motionless day brooded over the world as the amorous stir of the spirit of morning rose from the moist earth of the fields below. a bright star still shone in the sky, and the face of the mother gazed on it intently. did the woman-spirit, the burning focus of the fiercest desire to live and will, catch in this supreme moment the star's divine speech before which all human passions sink into silence? perhaps, for she smiled. the daughter answered with a smile; and then, hand in hand, they stepped from the cliff into the mists and on through the opal gates of death. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- book iv--the ku klux klan chapter i the hunt for the animal aunt cindy came at seven o'clock to get breakfast, and finding the house closed and no one at home, supposed mrs. lenoir and marion had remained at the cameron house for the night. she sat down on the steps, waited grumblingly an hour, and then hurried to the hotel to scold her former mistress for keeping her out so long. accustomed to enter familiarly, she thrust her head into the dining-room, where the family were at breakfast with a solitary guest, muttering the speech she had been rehearsing on the way: "i lak ter know what sort er way dis--whar's miss jeannie?" ben leaped to his feet. "isn't she at home?" "been waitin' dar two hours." "great god!" he groaned, springing through the door and rushing to saddle the mare. as he left he called to his father: "let no one know till i return." at the house he could find no trace of the crime he had suspected. every room was in perfect order. he searched the yard carefully and under the cedar by the window he saw the barefoot tracks of a negro. the white man was never born who could make that track. the enormous heel projected backward, and in the hollow of the instep where the dirt would scarcely be touched by an aryan was the deep wide mark of the african's flat foot. he carefully measured it, brought from an outhouse a box, and fastened it over the spot. it might have been an ordinary chicken thief, of course. he could not tell, but it was a fact of big import. a sudden hope flashed through his mind that they might have risen with the sun and strolled to their favourite haunt at lover's leap. in two minutes he was there, gazing with hard-set eyes at marion's hat and handkerchief lying on the shelving rock. the mare bent her glistening neck, touched the hat with her nose, lifted her head, dilated her delicate nostrils, looked out over the cliff with her great soft half-human eyes and whinnied gently. ben leaped to the ground, picked up the handkerchief, and looked at the initials, "m. l.," worked in the corner. he knew what lay on the river's brink below as well as if he stood over the dead bodies. he kissed the letters of her name, crushed the handkerchief in his locked hands, and cried: "now, lord god, give me strength for the service of my people!" he hurriedly examined the ground, amazed to find no trace of a struggle or crime. could it be possible they had ventured too near the brink and fallen over? he hurried to report to his father his discoveries, instructed his mother and margaret to keep the servants quiet until the truth was known, and the two men returned along the river's brink to the foot of the cliff. they found the bodies close to the water's edge, marion had been killed instantly. her fair blonde head lay in a crimson circle sharply defined in the white sand. but the mother was still warm with life. she had scarcely ceased to breathe. in one last desperate throb of love the trembling soul had dragged the dying body to the girl's side, and she had died with her head resting on the fair round neck as though she had kissed her and fallen asleep. father and son clasped hands and stood for a moment with uncovered heads. the doctor said at length: "go to the coroner at once and see that he summons the jury _you_ select and hand to him. bring them immediately. i will examine the bodies before they arrive." ben took the negro coroner into his office alone, turned the key, told him of the discovery, and handed him the list of the jury. "i'll hatter see mr. lynch fust, sah," he answered. ben placed his hand on his hip pocket and said coldly: "put your cross-mark on those forms i've made out there for you, go with me immediately, and summon these men. if you dare put a negro on this jury, or open your mouth as to what has occurred in this room, i'll kill you." the negro tremblingly did as he was commanded. the coroner's jury reported that the mother and daughter had been killed by accidentally failing over the cliff. in all the throng of grief-stricken friends who came to the little cottage that day, but two men knew the hell-lit secret beneath the tragedy. when the bodies reached the home, doctor cameron placed mrs. cameron and margaret outside to receive visitors and prevent any one from disturbing him. he took ben into the room and locked the doors. "my boy, i wish you to witness an experiment." he drew from its case a powerful microscope of french make. "what on earth are you going to do, sir?" the doctor's brilliant eyes flashed with a mystic light as he replied: "find the fiend who did this crime--and then we will hang him on a gallows so high that all men from the rivers to ends of the earth shall see and feel and know the might of an unconquerable race of men." "but there's no trace of him here." "we shall see," said the doctor, adjusting his instrument. "i believe that a microscope of sufficient power will reveal on the retina of these dead eyes the image of this devil as if etched there by fire. the experiment has been made successfully in france. no word or deed of man is lost. a german scholar has a memory so wonderful he can repeat whole volumes of latin, german, and french without an error. a russian officer has been known to repeat the roll-call of any regiment by reading it twice. psychologists hold that nothing is lost from the memory of man. impressions remain in the brain like words written on paper in invisible ink. so i believe of images in the eye if we can trace them early enough. if no impression were made subsequently on the mother's eye by the light of day, i believe the fire-etched record of this crime can yet be traced." ben watched him with breathless interest. he first examined marion's eyes. but in the cold azure blue of their pure depths he could find nothing. "it's as i feared with the child," he said. "i can see nothing. it is on the mother i rely. in the splendour of life, at thirty-seven she was the full-blown perfection of womanhood, with every vital force at its highest tension----" he looked long and patiently into the dead mother's eye, rose and wiped the perspiration from his face. "what is it, sir?" asked ben. without reply, as if in a trance, he returned to the microscope and again rose with the little, quick, nervous cough he gave only in the greatest excitement, and whispered: "look now and tell me what you see." ben looked and said: "i can see nothing." "your powers of vision are not trained as mine," replied the doctor, resuming his place at the instrument. "what do you see?" asked the younger man, bending nervously. "the bestial figure of a negro--his huge black hand plainly defined--the upper part of the face is dim, as if obscured by a gray mist of dawn--but the massive jaws and lips are clear--merciful god--yes--it's gus!" the doctor leaped to his feet livid with excitement. ben bent again, looked long and eagerly, but could see nothing. "i'm afraid the image is in your eye, sir, not the mother's," said ben sadly. "that's possible, of course," said the doctor, "yet i don't believe it." "i've thought of the same scoundrel and tried blood hounds on that track, but for some reason they couldn't follow it. i suspected him from the first, and especially since learning that he left for columbia on the early morning train on pretended official business." "then i'm not mistaken," insisted the doctor, trembling with excitement. "now do as i tell you. find when he returns. capture him, bind, gag, and carry him to your meeting-place under the cliff, and let me know." on the afternoon of the funeral, two days later, ben received a cypher telegram from the conductor on the train telling him that gus was on the evening mail due at piedmont at nine o'clock. the papers had been filled with accounts of the accident, and an enormous crowd from the county and many admirers of the fiery lyrics of the poet father had come from distant parts to honour his name. all business was suspended, and the entire white population of the village followed the bodies to their last resting-place. as the crowds returned to their homes, no notice was taken of a dozen men on horseback who rode out of town by different ways about dusk. at eight o'clock they met in the woods near the first little flag-station located on mcallister's farm four miles from piedmont, where a buggy awaited them. two men of powerful build, who were strangers in the county, alighted from the buggy and walked along the track to board the train at the station three miles beyond and confer with the conductor. the men, who gathered in the woods, dismounted, removed their saddles, and from the folds of the blankets took a white disguise for horse and man. in a moment it was fitted on each horse, with buckles at the throat, breast, and tail, and the saddles replaced. the white robe for the man was made in the form of an ulster overcoat with cape, the skirt extending to the top of the shoes. from the red belt at the waist were swung two revolvers which had been concealed in their pockets. on each man's breast was a scarlet circle within which shone a white cross. the same scarlet circle and cross appeared on the horse's breast, while on his flanks flamed the three red mystic letters, k. k. k. each man wore a white cap, from the edges of which fell a piece of cloth extending to the shoulders. beneath the visor was an opening for the eyes and lower down one for the mouth. on the front of the caps of two of the men appeared the red wings of a hawk as the ensign of rank. from the top of each cap rose eighteen inches high a single spike held erect by a twisted wire. the disguises for man and horse were made of cheap unbleached domestic and weighed less than three pounds. they were easily folded within a blanket and kept under the saddle in a crowd without discovery. it required less than two minutes to remove the saddles, place the disguises, and remount. at the signal of a whistle, the men and horses arrayed in white and scarlet swung into double-file cavalry formation and stood awaiting orders. the moon was now shining brightly, and its light shimmering on the silent horses and men with their tall spiked caps made a picture such as the world had not seen since the knights of the middle ages rode on their holy crusades. as the train neared the flag-station, which was dark and unattended, the conductor approached gus, leaned over, and said: "i've just gotten a message from the sheriff telling me to warn you to get off at this station and slip into town. there's a crowd at the depot there waiting for you and they mean trouble." gus trembled and whispered: "den fur gawd's sake lemme off here." the two men who got on at the station below stepped out before the negro, and as he alighted from the car, seized, tripped, and threw him to the ground. the engineer blew a sharp signal, and the train pulled on. in a minute gus was bound and gagged. one of the men drew a whistle and blew twice. a single tremulous call like the cry of an owl answered. the swift beat of horses' feet followed, and four white-and-scarlet clansmen swept in a circle around the group. one of the strangers turned to the horseman with red-winged ensign on his cap, saluted, and said: "here's your man, night hawk." "thanks, gentlemen," was the answer. "let us know when we can be of service to your county." the strangers sprang into their buggy and disappeared toward the north carolina line. the clansmen blindfolded the negro, placed him on a horse, tied his legs securely, and his arms behind him to the ring in the saddle. the night hawk blew his whistle four sharp blasts, and his pickets galloped from their positions and joined him. again the signal rang, and his men wheeled with the precision of trained cavalrymen into column formation three abreast, and rode toward piedmont, the single black figure tied and gagged in the centre of the white-and-scarlet squadron. chapter ii the fiery cross the clansmen with their prisoner skirted the village and halted in the woods on the river bank. the night hawk signalled for single file, and in a few minutes they stood against the cliff under lover's leap and saluted their chief, who sat his horse, awaiting their arrival. pickets were placed in each direction on the narrow path by which the spot was approached, and one was sent to stand guard on the shelving rock above. through the narrow crooked entrance they led gus into the cave which had been the rendezvous of the piedmont den of the clan since its formation. the meeting-place was a grand hall eighty feet deep, fifty feet wide, and more than forty feet in height, which had been carved out of the stone by the swift current of the river in ages past when its waters stood at a higher level. to-night it was lighted by candles placed on the ledges of the walls. in the centre, on a fallen boulder, sat the grand cyclops of the den, the presiding officer of the township, his rank marked by scarlet stripes on the white-cloth spike of his cap. around him stood twenty or more clansmen in their uniform, completely disguised. one among them wore a yellow sash, trimmed in gold, about his waist, and on his breast two yellow circles with red crosses interlapping, denoting his rank to be the grand dragon of the realm, or commander-in-chief of the state. the cyclops rose from his seat: "let the grand turk remove his prisoner for a moment and place him in charge of the grand sentinel at the door, until summoned." the officer disappeared with gus, and the cyclops continued: "the chaplain will open our council with prayer." solemnly every white-shrouded figure knelt on the ground, and the voice of the rev. hugh mcalpin, trembling with feeling, echoed through the cave: "lord god of our fathers, as in times past thy children, fleeing from the oppressor, found refuge beneath the earth until once more the sun of righteousness rose, so are we met to-night. as we wrestle with the powers of darkness now strangling our life, give to our souls to endure as seeing the invisible, and to our right arms the strength of the martyred dead of our people. have mercy on the poor, the weak, the innocent and defenceless, and deliver us from the body of the black death. in a land of light and beauty and love our women are prisoners of danger and fear. while the heathen walks his native heath unharmed and unafraid, in this fair christian southland our sisters, wives, and daughters dare not stroll at twilight through the streets or step beyond the highway at noon. the terror of the twilight deepens with the darkness, and the stoutest heart grows sick with fear for the red message the morning bringeth. forgive our sins--they are many--but hide not thy face from us, o god, for thou art our refuge!" as the last echoes of the prayer lingered and died in the vaulted roof, the clansmen rose and stood a moment in silence. again the voice of the cyclops broke the stillness: "brethren, we are met to-night at the request of the grand dragon of the realm, who has honoured us with his presence, to constitute a high court for the trial of a case involving life. are the night hawks ready to submit their evidence?" "we are ready," came the answer. "then let the grand scribe read the objects of the order on which your authority rests." the scribe opened his book of record, "_the prescript of the order of the invisible empire_," and solemnly read: "to the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, and to the shades of the venerated dead, greeting: "this is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism: embodying in its genius and principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose: its particular objects being, "first: to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and the oppressed: to succour the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and the orphans of confederate soldiers. "second: to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, and all the laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. "third: to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land." "the night hawks will produce their evidence," said the cyclops, "and the grand monk will conduct the case of the people against the negro augustus cæsar, the former slave of dr. richard cameron." dr. cameron advanced and removed his cap. his snow-white hair and beard, ruddy face and dark-brown brilliant eyes made a strange picture in its weird surroundings, like an ancient alchemist ready to conduct some daring experiment in the problem of life. "i am here, brethren," he said, "to accuse the black brute about to appear of the crime of assault on a daughter of the south----" a murmur of thrilling surprise and horror swept the crowd of white-and-scarlet figures as with one common impulse they moved closer. "his feet have been measured and they exactly tally with the negro tracks found under the window of the lenoir cottage. his flight to columbia and return on the publication of their deaths as an accident is a confirmation of our case. i will not relate to you the scientific experiment which first fixed my suspicion of this man's guilt. my witness could not confirm it, and it might not be to you credible. but this negro is peculiarly sensitive to hypnotic influence. i propose to put him under this power to-night before you, and, if he is guilty, i can make him tell his confederates, describe and rehearse the crime itself." the night hawks led gus before doctor cameron, untied his hands, removed the gag, and slipped the blindfold from his head. under the doctor's rigid gaze the negro's knees struck together, and he collapsed into complete hypnosis, merely lifting his huge paws lamely as if to ward a blow. they seated him on the boulder from which the cyclops rose, and gus stared about the cave and grinned as if in a dream seeing nothing. the doctor recalled to him the day of the crime, and he began to talk to his three confederates, describing his plot in detail, now and then pausing and breaking into a fiendish laugh. old mcallister, who had three lovely daughters at home, threw off his cap, sank to his knees, and buried his face in his hands, while a dozen of the white figures crowded closer, nervously gripping the revolvers which hung from their red belts. doctor cameron pushed them back and lifted his hand in warning. the negro began to live the crime with fearful realism--the journey past the hotel to make sure the victims had gone to their home; the visit to aunt cindy's cabin to find her there; lying in the field waiting for the last light of the village to go out; gloating with vulgar exultation over their plot, and planning other crimes to follow its success--how they crept along the shadows of the hedgerow of the lawn to avoid the moonlight, stood under the cedar, and through the open windows watched the mother and daughter laughing and talking within---- "min' what i tells you now--tie de ole one, when i gib you de rope," said gus in a whisper. "my god!" cried the agonized voice of the figure with the double cross--"that's what the piece of burnt rope in the fireplace meant!" doctor cameron again lifted his hand for silence. now they burst into the room, and with the light of hell in his beady, yellow-splotched eyes, gus gripped his imaginary revolver and growled: "scream, an' i blow yer brains out!" in spite of doctor cameron's warning, the white-robed figures jostled and pressed closer---- gus rose to his feet and started across the cave as if to spring on the shivering figure of the girl, the clansmen with muttered groans, sobs, and curses falling back as he advanced. he still wore his full captain's uniform, its heavy epaulets flashing their gold in the unearthly light, his beastly jaws half covering the gold braid on the collar. his thick lips were drawn upward in an ugly leer and his sinister bead eyes gleamed like a gorilla's. a single fierce leap and the black claws clutched the air slowly as if sinking into the soft white throat. strong men began to cry like children. "stop him! stop him!" screamed a clansman, springing on the negro and grinding his heel into his big thick neck. a dozen more were on him in a moment, kicking, stamping, cursing, and crying like madmen. doctor cameron leaped forward and beat them off: "men! men! you must not kill him in this condition!" some of the white figures had fallen prostrate on the ground, sobbing in a frenzy of uncontrollable emotion. some were leaning against the walls, their faces buried in their arms. again old mcallister was on his knees crying over and over again: "god have mercy on my people!" when at length quiet was restored, the negro was revived, and again bound, blindfolded, gagged, and thrown to the ground before the grand cyclops. a sudden inspiration flashed in doctor cameron's eyes. turning to the figure with yellow sash and double cross he said: "issue your orders and despatch your courier to-night with the old scottish rite of the fiery cross. it will send a thrill of inspiration to every clansman in the hills." "good--prepare it quickly!" was the answer. doctor cameron opened his medicine case, drew the silver drinking-cover from a flask, and passed out of the cave to the dark circle of blood still shining in the sand by the water's edge. he knelt and filled the cup half full of the crimson grains, and dipped it into the river. from a saddle he took the lightwood torch, returned within, and placed the cup on the boulder on which the grand cyclops had sat. he loosed the bundle of lightwood, took two pieces, tied them into the form of a cross, and laid it beside a lighted candle near the silver cup. the silent figures watched his every movement. he lifted the cup and said: "brethren, i hold in my hand the water of your river bearing the red stain of the life of a southern woman, a priceless sacrifice on the altar of outraged civilization. hear the message of your chief." the tall figure with the yellow sash and double cross stepped before the strange altar, while the white forms of the clansmen gathered about him in a circle. he lifted his cap, and laid it on the boulder, and his men gazed on the flushed face of ben cameron, the grand dragon of the realm. he stood for a moment silent, erect, a smouldering fierceness in his eyes, something cruel and yet magnetic in his alert bearing. he looked on the prostrate negro lying in his uniform at his feet, seized the cross, lighted the three upper ends and held it blazing in his hand, while, in a voice full of the fires of feeling, he said: "men of the south, the time for words has passed, the hour for action has struck. the grand turk will execute this negro to-night and fling his body on the lawn of the black lieutenant-governor of the state." the grand turk bowed. "i ask for the swiftest messenger of this den who can ride till dawn." the man whom doctor cameron had already chosen stepped forward: "carry my summons to the grand titan of the adjoining province in north carolina whom you will find at hambright. tell him the story of this crime and what you have seen and heard. ask him to report to me here the second night from this, at eleven o'clock, with six grand giants from his adjoining counties, each accompanied by two hundred picked men. in olden times when the chieftain of our people summoned the clan on an errand of life and death, the fiery cross, extinguished in sacrificial blood, was sent by swift courier from village to village. this call was never made in vain, nor will it be to-night, in the new world. here, on this spot made holy ground by the blood of those we hold dearer than life, i raise the ancient symbol of an unconquered race of men----" high above his head in the darkness of the cave he lifted the blazing emblem---- "the fiery cross of old scotland's hills! i quench its flames in the sweetest blood that ever stained the sands of time." he dipped its ends in the silver cup, extinguished the fire, and handed the charred symbol to the courier, who quickly disappeared. chapter iii the parting of the ways the discovery of the captain of the african guards lying in his full uniform in lynch's yard send a thrill of terror to the triumphant leagues. across the breast of the body was pinned a scrap of paper on which was written in red ink the letters k. k. k. it was the first actual evidence of the existence of this dreaded order in ulster county. the first lieutenant of the guards assumed command and held the full company in their armoury under arms day and night. beneath his door he had found a notice which was also nailed on the courthouse. it appeared in the piedmont _eagle_ and in rapid succession in every newspaper not under negro influence in the state. it read as follows: "headquarters of realm no . "dreadful era, black epoch, "hideous hour. "general order no. i. "the negro militia now organized in this state threatens the extinction of civilization. they have avowed their purpose to make war upon and exterminate the ku klux klan, an organization which is now the sole guardian of society. all negroes are hereby given forty-eight hours from the publication of this notice in their respective counties to surrender their arms at the courthouse door. those who refuse must take the consequences. "by order of the g. d. of realm no. . "by the grand scribe." the white people of piedmont read this notice with a thrill of exultant joy. men walked the streets with an erect bearing which said without words: "stand out of the way." for the first time since the dawn of black rule negroes began to yield to white men and women the right of way on the streets. on the day following, the old commoner sent for phil. "what is the latest news?" he asked. "the town is in a fever of excitement--not over the discovery in lynch's yard--but over the blacker rumour that marion and her mother committed suicide to conceal an assault by this fiend." "a trumped-up lie," said the old man emphatically. "it's true, sir. i'll take doctor cameron's word for it." "you have just come from the camerons?" "yes." "let it be your last visit. the camerons are on the road to the gallows, father and son. lynch informs me that the murder committed last night, and the insolent notice nailed on the courthouse door, could have come only from their brain. they are the hereditary leaders of these people. they alone would have the audacity to fling this crime into the teeth of the world and threaten worse. we are face to face with southern barbarism. every man now to his own standard! the house of stoneman can have no part with midnight assassins." "nor with black barbarians, father. it is a question of who possesses the right of life and death over the citizen, the organized virtue of the community, or its organized crime. you have mistaken for death the patience of a generous people. we call ourselves the champions of liberty. yet for less than they have suffered, kings have lost their heads and empires perished before the wrath of freemen." "my boy, this is not a question for argument between us," said the father with stern emphasis. "this conspiracy of terror and assassination threatens to shatter my work to atoms. the election on which turns the destiny of congress, and the success or failure of my life, is but a few weeks away. unless this foul conspiracy is crushed, i am ruined, and the nation falls again beneath the heel of a slaveholders' oligarchy." "your nightmare of a slaveholders' oligarchy does not disturb me." "at least you will have the decency to break your affair with margaret cameron pending the issue of my struggle of life and death with her father and brother?" "never." "then i will do it for you." "i warn you, sir," phil cried, with anger, "that if it comes to an issue of race against race, i am a white man. the ghastly tragedy of the condition of society here is something for which the people of the south are no longer responsible----" "i'll take the responsibility!" growled the old cynic. "don't ask me to share it," said the younger man emphatically. the father winced, his lips trembled, and he answered brokenly: "my boy, this is the bitterest hour of my life that has had little to make it sweet. to hear such words from you is more than i can bear. i am an old man now--my sands are nearly run. but two human beings love me, and i love but two. on you and your sister i have lavished all the treasures of a maimed and strangled soul--and it has come to this! read the notice which one of your friends thrust into the window of my bedroom last night." he handed phil a piece of paper on which was written: "the old club-footed beast who has sneaked into our town, pretending to search for health, in reality the leader of the infernal union league, will be given forty-eight hours to vacate the house and rid this community of his presence. "k. k. k." "are you an officer of the union league?" phil asked in surprise. "i am its soul." "how could a southerner discover this, if your own children didn't know it?" "by their spies who have joined the league." "and do the rank and file know the black pope at the head of the order?" "no, but high officials do." "does lynch?" "certainly." "then he is the scoundrel who placed that note in your room. it is a clumsy attempt to forge an order of the klan. the white man does not live in this town capable of that act. i know these people." "my boy, you are bewitched by the smiles of a woman to deny your own flesh and blood." "nonsense, father--you are possessed by an idea which has become an insane mania----" "will you respect my wishes?" the old man broke in angrily. "i will not," was the clear answer. phil turned and left the room, and the old man's massive head sank on his breast in helpless baffled rage and grief. he was more successful in his appeal to elsie. he convinced her of the genuineness of the threat against him. the brutal reference to his lameness roused the girl's soul. when the old man, crushed by phil's desertion, broke down the last reserve of his strange cold nature, tore his wounded heart open to her, cried in agony over his deformity, his lameness, and the anguish with which he saw the threatened ruin of his life-work, she threw her arms around his neck in a flood of tears and cried: "hush, father, i will not desert you. i will never leave you, or wed without your blessing. if i find that my lover was in any way responsible for this insult, i'll tear his image out of my heart and never speak his name again!" she wrote a note to ben, asking him to meet her at sundown on horseback at lover's leap. ben was elated at the unexpected request. he was hungry for an hour with his sweetheart, whom he had not seen save for a moment since the storm of excitement broke following the discovery of the crime. he hastened through his work of ordering the movement of the klan for the night, and determined to surprise elsie by meeting her in his uniform of a grand dragon. secure in her loyalty, he would deliberately thus put his life in her hands. using the water of a brook in the woods for a mirror, he adjusted his yellow sash and pushed the two revolvers back under the cape out of sight, saying to himself with a laugh: "betray me? well, if she does, life would not be worth the living!" when elsie had recovered from the first shock of surprise at the white horse and rider waiting for her under the shadows of the old beech, her surprise gave way to grief at the certainty of his guilt, and the greatness of his love in thus placing his life without a question in her hands. he tied the horses in the woods, and they sat down on the rustic. he removed his helmet cap, threw back the white cape showing the scarlet lining, and the two golden circles with their flaming crosses on his breast, with boyish pride. the costume was becoming to his slender graceful figure, and he knew it. "you see, sweetheart, i hold high rank in the empire," he whispered. from beneath his cape he drew a long bundle which he unrolled. it was a triangular flag of brilliant yellow edged in scarlet. in the centre of the yellow ground was the figure of a huge black dragon with fiery red eyes and tongue. around it was a latin motto worked in scarlet: "_quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus_"--what always, what everywhere, what by all has been held to be true. "the battle-flag of the klan," he said; "the standard of the grand dragon." elsie seized his hand and kissed it, unable to speak. "why so serious to-night?" "do you love me very much?" she answered. "greater love hath no man than this, that he lay his life at the feet of his beloved," he responded tenderly. "yes, yes; i know--and that is why you are breaking my heart. when first i met you--it seems now ages and ages ago--i was a vain, self-willed, pert little thing----" "it's not so. i took you for an angel--you were one. you are one to-night." "now," she went on slowly, "in what i have lived through you i have grown into an impassioned, serious, self-disciplined, bewildered woman. your perfect trust to-night is the sweetest revelation that can come to a woman's soul and yet it brings to me unspeakable pain----" "for what?" "you are guilty of murder." ben's figure stiffened. "the judge who pronounces sentence of death on a criminal outlawed by civilized society is not usually called a murderer, my dear." "and by whose authority are you a judge?" "by authority of the sovereign people who created the state of south carolina. the criminals who claim to be our officers are usurpers placed there by the subversion of law." "won't you give this all up for my sake?" she pleaded. "believe me, you are in great danger." "not so great as is the danger of my sister and mother and my sweetheart--it is a man's place to face danger," he gravely answered. "this violence can only lead to your ruin and shame----" "i am fighting the battle of a race on whose fate hangs the future of the south and the nation. my ruin and shame will be of small account if they are saved," was the even answer. "come, my dear," she pleaded tenderly, "you know that i have weighed the treasures of music and art and given them all for one clasp of your hand, one throb of your heart against mine. i should call you cruel did i not know you are infinitely tender. this is the only thing i have ever asked you to do for me----" "desert my people! you must not ask of me this infamy, if you love me," he cried. "but, listen; this is wrong--this wild vengeance is a crime you are doing, however great the provocation. we cannot continue to love one another if you do this. listen: i love you better than father, mother, life, or career--all my dreams i've lost in you. i've lived through eternity to-day with my father----" "you know me guiltless of the vulgar threat against him----" "yes, and yet you are the leader of desperate men who might have done it. as i fought this battle to-day, i've lost you, lost myself, and sunk down to the depths of despair, and at the end rang the one weak cry of a woman's heart for her lover! your frown can darken the brightest sky. for your sake i can give up all save the sense of right. i'll walk by your side in life--lead you gently and tenderly along the way of my dreams if i can, but if you go your way, it shall be mine; and i shall still be glad because you are there! see how humble i am--only you must not commit crime!" "come, sweetheart, you must not use that word," he protested, with a touch of wounded pride. "you are a conspirator----" "i am a revolutionist." "you are committing murder!" "i am waging war." elsie leaped to her feet in a sudden rush of anger and extended her hand: "good-bye. i shall not see you again. i do not know you. you are still a stranger to me." he held her hand firmly. "we must not part in anger," he said slowly. "i have grave work to do before the day dawns. we may not see each other again." she led her horse to the seat quickly and without waiting for his assistance sprang into the saddle. "do you not fear my betrayal of your secret?" she asked. he rode to her side, bent close, and whispered: "it's as safe as if locked in the heart of god." a little sob caught her voice, yet she said slowly in firm tones: "if another crime is committed in this county by your klan, we will never see each other again." he escorted her to the edge of the town without a word, pressed her hand in silence, wheeled his horse, and disappeared on the road to the north carolina line. chapter iv the banner of the dragon ben cameron rode rapidly to the rendezvous of the pickets who were to meet the coming squadrons. he returned home and ate a hearty meal. as he emerged from the dining-room, phil seized him by the arm and led him under the big oak on the lawn: "cameron, old boy, i'm in a lot of trouble. i've had a quarrel with my father, and your sister has broken me all up by returning my ring. i want a little excitement to ease my nerves. from elsie's incoherent talk i judge you are in danger. if there's going to be a fight, let me in." ben took his hand: "you're the kind of a man i'd like to have for a brother, and i'll help you in love--but as for war--it's not your fight. we don't need help." at ten o'clock ben met the local den at their rendezvous under the cliff, to prepare for the events of the night. the forty members present were drawn up before him in double rank of twenty each. "brethren," he said to them solemnly, "i have called you to-night to take a step from which there can be no retreat. we are going to make a daring experiment of the utmost importance. if there is a faint heart among you, now is the time to retire----" "we are with you!" cried the men. "there are laws of our race, old before this republic was born in the souls of white freemen. the fiat of fools has repealed on paper these laws. your fathers who created this nation were first conspirators, then revolutionists, now patriots and saints. i need to-night ten volunteers to lead the coming clansmen over this county and disarm every negro in it. the men from north carolina cannot be recognized. each of you must run this risk. your absence from home to-night will be doubly dangerous for what will be done here at this negro armoury under my command. i ask of these ten men to ride their horses until dawn, even unto death, to ride for their god, their native land, and the womanhood of the south! "to each man who accepts this dangerous mission i offer for your bed the earth, for your canopy the sky, for your bread stones; and when the flash of bayonets shall fling into your face from the square the challenge of martial law, the protection i promise you--is exile, imprisonment, and death! let the ten men who accept these terms step forward four paces." with a single impulse the whole double line of forty white-and-scarlet figures moved quickly forward four steps! the leader shook hands with each man, his voice throbbing with emotion as he said: "stand together like this, men, and armies will march and countermarch over the south in vain! we will save the life of our people." the ten guides selected by the grand dragon rode forward, and each led a division of one hundred men through the ten townships of the county and successfully disarmed every negro before day without the loss of a life. the remaining squadron of two hundred and fifty men from hambright, accompanied by the grand titan in command of the province of western hill counties, were led by ben cameron into piedmont as the waning moon rose between twelve and one o'clock. they marched past stoneman's place on the way to the negro armoury, which stood on the opposite side of the street a block below. the wild music of the beat of a thousand hoofs on the cobblestones of the street waked every sleeper. the old commoner hobbled to his window and watched them pass, his big hands fumbling nervously, and his soul stirred to its depths. the ghostlike shadowy columns moved slowly with the deliberate consciousness of power. the scarlet circles on their breasts could be easily seen when one turned toward the house, as could the big red letters k. k. k. on each horse's flank. in the centre of the line waved from a gold-tipped spear the battle-flag of the klan. as they passed the bright lights burning at his gate, old stoneman could see this standard plainly. the huge black dragon with flaming eyes and tongue seemed a living thing crawling over a scarlet-tipped yellow cloud. at the window above stood a little figure watching that banner of the dragon pass with aching heart. phil stood at another, smiling with admiration for their daring: "by george, it stirs the blood to see it! you can't crush men of that breed!" the watchers were not long in doubt as to what the raiders meant. they deployed quickly around the armoury. a whistle rang its shrill cry, and a volley of two hundred and fifty carbines and revolvers smashed every glass in the building. the sentinel had already given the alarm, and the drum was calling the startled negroes to their arms. they returned the volley twice, and for ten minutes were answered with the steady crack of two hundred and fifty guns. a white flag appeared at the door, and the firing ceased. the negroes laid down their arms and surrendered. all save three were allowed to go to their homes for the night and carry their wounded with them. the three confederates in the crime of their captain were bound and led away. in a few minutes the crash of a volley told their end. the little white figure rapped at phil's door and placed a trembling hand on his arm: "phil," she said softly, "please go to the hotel and stay until you know all that has happened--until you know the full list of those killed and wounded. i'll wait. you understand?" as he stooped and kissed her, he felt a hot tear roll down her cheek. "yes, little sis, i understand," he answered. chapter v the reign of the klan in quick succession every county followed the example of ulster, and the arms furnished the negroes by the state and national governments were in the hands of the klan. the league began to collapse in a panic of terror. a gale of chivalrous passion and high action, contagious and intoxicating, swept the white race. the moral, mental, and physical earthquake which followed the first assault on one of their daughters revealed the unity of the racial life of the people. within the span of a week they had lived a century. the spirit of the south "like lightning had at last leaped forth, half startled at itself, its feet upon the ashes and the rags," its hands tight-gripped on the throat of tyrant, thug, and thief. it was the resistless movement of a race, not of any man or leader of men. the secret weapon with which they struck was the most terrible and efficient in human history--these pale hosts of white-and-scarlet horsemen! they struck shrouded in a mantle of darkness and terror. they struck where the power of resistance was weakest and the blow least suspected. discovery or retaliation was impossible. not a single disguise was ever penetrated. all was planned and ordered as by destiny. the accused was tried by secret tribunal, sentenced without a hearing, executed in the dead of night without warning, mercy, or appeal. the movements of the klan were like clockwork, without a word, save the whistle of the night hawk, the crack of his revolver, and the hoofbeat of swift horses moving like figures in a dream, and vanishing in mists and shadows. the old club-footed puritan, in his mad scheme of vengeance and party power, had overlooked the covenanter, the backbone of the south. this man had just begun to fight! his race had defied the crown of great britain a hundred years from the caves and wilds of scotland and ireland, taught the english people how to slay a king and build a commonwealth, and, driven into exile into the wilderness of america, led our revolution, peopled the hills of the south, and conquered the west. as the young german patriots of had organized the great struggle for their liberties under the noses of the garrisons of napoleon, so ben cameron had met the leaders of his race in nashville, tennessee, within the picket lines of thirty-five thousand hostile troops, and in the ruins of an old homestead discussed and adopted the ritual of the invisible empire. within a few months this empire overspread a territory larger than modern europe. in the approaching election it was reaching out its daring white hands to tear the fruits of victory from twenty million victorious conquerors. the triumph at which they aimed was one of incredible grandeur. they had risen to snatch power out of defeat and death. under their clan leadership the southern people had suddenly developed the courage of the lion, the cunning of the fox, and the deathless faith of religious enthusiasts. society was fused in the white heat of one sublime thought and beat with the pulse of the single will of the grand wizard of the klan of memphis. women and children had eyes and saw not, ears and heard not. over four thousand disguises for men and horses were made by the women of the south, and not one secret ever passed their lips! with magnificent audacity, infinite patience, and remorseless zeal, a conquered people were struggling to turn his own weapon against their conqueror, and beat his brains out with the bludgeon he had placed in the hands of their former slaves. behind the tragedy of reconstruction stood the remarkable man whose iron will alone had driven these terrible measures through the chaos of passion, corruption, and bewilderment which followed the first assassination of an american president. as he leaned on his window in this village of the south and watched in speechless rage the struggle at that negro armoury, he felt for the first time the foundations sinking beneath his feet. as he saw the black cowards surrender in terror, noted the indifference and cool defiance with which those white horsemen rode and shot, he knew that he had collided with the ultimate force which his whole scheme had overlooked. he turned on his big club foot from the window, clinched his fist and muttered: "but i'll hang that man for this deed if it's the last act of my life!" the morning brought dismay to the negro, the carpet-bagger, and the scallawag of ulster. a peculiar freak of weather in the early morning added to their terror. the sun rose clear and bright except for a slight fog that floated from the river valley, increasing the roar of the falls. about nine o'clock a huge black shadow suddenly rushed over piedmont from the west, and in a moment the town was shrouded in twilight. the cries of birds were hushed and chickens went to roost as in a total eclipse of the sun. knots of people gathered on the streets and gazed uneasily at the threatening skies. hundreds of negroes began to sing and shout and pray, while sensible people feared a cyclone or cloud-burst. a furious downpour of rain was swiftly followed by sunshine, and the negroes rose from their knees, shouting with joy to find the end of the world had after all been postponed. but that the end of their brief reign in a white man's land had come, but few of them doubted. the events of the night were sufficiently eloquent. the movement of the clouds in sympathy was unnecessary. old stoneman sent for lynch, and found he had fled to columbia. he sent for the only lawyer in town whom the lieutenant-governor had told him could be trusted. the lawyer was polite, but his refusal to undertake the prosecution of any alleged member of the klan was emphatic. "i'm a sinful man, sir," he said with a smile. "besides, i prefer to live, on general principles." "i'll pay you well," urged the old man, "and if you secure the conviction of ben cameron, the man we believe to be the head of this klan, i'll give you ten thousand dollars." the lawyer was whittling on a piece of pine meditatively. "that's a big lot of money in these hard times. i'd like to own it, but i'm afraid it wouldn't be good at the bank on the other side. i prefer the green fields of south carolina to those of eden. my harp isn't in tune." stoneman snorted in disgust: "will you ask the mayor to call to see me at once?" "we ain't got none," was the laconic answer. "what do you mean?" "haven't you heard what happened to his honour last night?" "no." "the klan called to see him," went on the lawyer with a quizzical look "at a. m. rather early for a visit of state. they gave him forty-nine lashes on his bare back, and persuaded him that the climate of piedmont didn't agree with him. his honour, mayor bizzel, left this morning with his negro wife and brood of mulatto children for his home, the slums of cleveland, ohio. we are deprived of his illustrious example, and he may not be a wiser man than when he came, but he's a much sadder one." stoneman dismissed the even-tempered member of the bar, and wired lynch to return immediately to piedmont. he determined to conduct the prosecution of ben cameron in person. with the aid of the lieutenant-governor he succeeded in finding a man who would dare to swear out a warrant against him. as a preliminary skirmish he was charged with a violation of the statutory laws of the united states relating to reconstruction and arraigned before a commissioner. against elsie's agonizing protest, old stoneman appeared at the courthouse to conduct the prosecution. in the absence of the united states marshal, the warrant had been placed in the hands of the sheriff, returnable at ten o'clock on the morning fixed for the trial. the new sheriff of ulster was no less a personage than uncle aleck, who had resigned his seat in the house to accept the more profitable one of high sheriff of the county. there was a long delay in beginning the trial. at : not a single witness summoned had appeared, nor had the prisoner seen fit to honour the court with his presence. old stoneman sat fumbling his hands in nervous, sullen rage, while phil looked on with amusement. "send for the sheriff," he growled to the commissioner. in a moment aleck appeared bowing humbly and politely to every white man he passed. he bent halfway to the floor before the commissioner and said: "marse ben be here in er minute, sah. he's er eatin' his breakfus'. i run erlong erhead." stoneman's face was a thundercloud as he scrambled to his feet and glared at aleck: "_marse_ ben? did you say _marse_ ben? who's he?" aleck bowed low again. "de young colonel, sah--marse ben cameron." "and you the sheriff of this county trotted along in front to make the way smooth for your prisoner?" "yessah!" "is that the way you escort prisoners before a court?" "dem kin' er prisoners--yessah." "why didn't you walk beside him?" aleck grinned from ear to ear and bowed very low: "he say sumfin' to me, sah!" "and what did he say?" aleck shook his head and laughed: "i hates ter insinuate ter de cote, sah!" "what did he say to you?" thundered stoneman. "he say--he say--ef i walk 'longside er him--he knock hell outen me, sah!" "indeed." "yessah, en i 'spec' he would," said aleck insinuatingly. "la, he's a gemman, sah, he is! he tell me he come right on. he be here sho'." stoneman whispered to lynch, turned with a look of contempt to aleck, and said: "mr. sheriff, you interest me. will you be kind enough to explain to this court what has happened to you lately to so miraculously change your manners?" aleck glanced around the room nervously. "i seed sumfin'--a vision, sah!" "a vision? are you given to visions?" "na-sah. dis yere wuz er sho' 'nuff vision! i wuz er feelin' bad all day yistiddy. soon in de mawnin', ez i wuz gwine 'long de road, i see a big black bird er settin' on de fence. he flop his wings, look right at me en say, 'corpse! corpse! corpse!'"--aleck's voice dropped to a whisper--"'en las' night de ku kluxes come ter see me, sah!" stoneman lifted his beetling brows. "that's interesting. we are searching for information on that subject." "yessah! dey wuz sperits, ridin' white hosses wid flowin' white robes, en big blood-red eyes! de hosses wuz twenty feet high, en some er de sperits wuz higher dan dis cote-house! dey wuz all bal' headed, 'cept right on de top whar dere wuz er straight blaze er fire shot up in de air ten foot high!" "what did they say to you?" "dey say dat ef i didn't design de sheriff's office, go back ter farmin' en behave myself, dey had er job waitin' fer me in hell, sah. en shos' you born dey wuz right from dar!" "of course!" sneered the old commoner. "yessah! hit's des lak i tell yer. one ob 'em makes me fetch 'im er drink er water. i carry two bucketsful ter 'im 'fo' i git done, en i swar ter god he drink it all right dar 'fo' my eyes! he say hit wuz pow'ful dry down below, sah! en den i feel sumfin' bus' loose inside er me, en i disremember all dat come ter pass! i made er jump fer de ribber bank, en de next i knowed i wuz er pullin' fur de odder sho'. i'se er pow'ful good swimmer, sah, but i nebber git ercross er creek befo' ez quick ez i got ober de ribber las' night." "and you think of going back to farming?" "i done begin plowin' dis mornin', marster!" "_don't_ you call me marster!" yelled the old man. "are you the sheriff of this county?" aleck laughed loudly. "na-sah! dat's er joke! i ain't nuttin' but er plain nigger--i wants peace, judge." "evidently we need a new sheriff." "dat's what i tell 'em, sah, dis mornin'--en i des flings mysef on de ignance er de cote!" phil laughed aloud, and his father's colourless eyes began to spit cold poison. "about what time do you think your master, colonel cameron, will honour us with his presence?" he asked aleck. again the sheriff bowed. "he's er comin' right now, lak i tole yer--he's er gemman, sah." ben walked briskly into the room and confronted the commissioner. without apparently noticing his presence, stoneman said: "in the absence of witnesses we accept the discharge of this warrant, pending developments." ben turned on his heel, pressed phil's hand as he passed through the crowd, and disappeared. the old commoner drove to the telegraph office and sent a message of more than a thousand words to the white house, a copy of which the operator delivered to ben cameron within an hour. president grant next morning issued a proclamation declaring the nine scotch-irish hill counties of south carolina in a state of insurrection, ordered an army corps of five thousand men to report there for duty, pending the further necessity of martial law and the suspension of the writ of _habeas corpus_. chapter vi the counter stroke from the hour he had watched the capture of the armoury old stoneman felt in the air a current against him which was electric, as if the dead had heard the cry of the clansmen's greeting, risen and rallied to their pale ranks. the daring campaign these men were waging took his breath. they were going not only to defeat his delegation to congress, but send their own to take their seats, reinforced by the enormous power of a suppressed negro vote. the blow was so sublime in its audacity, he laughed in secret admiration while he raved and cursed. the army corps took possession of the hill counties, quartering from five to six hundred regulars at each courthouse; but the mischief was done. the state was on fire. the eighty thousand rifles with which the negroes had been armed were now in the hands of their foes. a white rifle-club was organized in every town, village, and hamlet. they attended the public meetings with their guns, drilled in front of the speakers' stands, yelled, hooted, hissed, cursed, and jeered at the orators who dared to champion or apologize for negro rule. at night the hoofbeat of squadrons of pale horsemen and the crack of their revolvers struck terror to the heart of every negro, carpet-bagger, and scallawag. there was a momentary lull in the excitement, which stoneman mistook for fear, at the appearance of the troops. he had the governor appoint a white sheriff, a young scallawag from the mountains who was a noted moonshiner and desperado. he arrested over a hundred leading men in the county, charged them with complicity in the killing of the three members of the african guard, and instructed the judge and clerk of the court to refuse bail and commit them to jail under military guard. to his amazement the prisoners came into piedmont armed and mounted. they paid no attention to the deputy sheriffs who were supposed to have them in charge. they deliberately formed in line under ben cameron's direction and he led them in a parade through the streets. the five hundred united states regulars who were camped on the river bank were westerners. ben led his squadron of armed prisoners in front of this camp and took them through the evolutions of cavalry with the precision of veterans. the soldiers dropped their games and gathered, laughing, to watch them. the drill ended with a double-rank charge at the river embankment. when they drew every horse on his haunches on the brink, firing a volley with a single crash, a wild cheer broke from the soldiers, and the officers rushed from their tents. ben wheeled his men, galloped in front of the camp, drew them up at dress parade, and saluted. a low word of command from a trooper, and the westerners quickly formed in ranks, returned the salute, and cheered. the officers rushed up, cursing, and drove the men back to their tents. the horsemen laughed, fired a volley in the air, cheered, and galloped back to the courthouse. the court was glad to get rid of them. there was no question raised over technicalities in making out bail-bonds. the clerk wrote the names of imaginary bondsmen as fast as his pen could fly, while the perspiration stood in beads on his red forehead. another telegram from old stoneman to the white house, and the writ of _habeas corpus_ was suspended and martial law proclaimed. enraged beyond measure at the salute from the troops, he had two companies of negro regulars sent from columbia, and they camped in the courthouse square. he determined to make a desperate effort to crush the fierce spirit before which his forces were being driven like chaff. he induced bizzel to return from cleveland with his negro wife and children. he was escorted to the city hall and reinstalled as mayor by the full force of seven hundred troops, and a negro guard placed around his house. stoneman had lynch run an excursion from the black belt, and brought a thousand negroes to attend a final rally at piedmont. he placarded the town with posters on which were printed the civil rights bill and the proclamation of the president declaring martial law. ben watched this day dawn with nervous dread. he had passed a sleepless night, riding in person to every den of the klan and issuing positive orders that no white man should come to piedmont. a clash with the authority of the united states he had avoided from the first as a matter of principle. it was essential to his success that his men should commit no act of desperation which would imperil his plans. above all, he wished to avoid a clash with old stoneman personally. the arrival of the big excursion was the signal for a revival of negro insolence which had been planned. the men brought from the eastern part of the state were selected for the purpose. they marched over the town yelling and singing. a crowd of them, half drunk, formed themselves three abreast and rushed the sidewalks, pushing every white man, woman, and child into the street. they met phil on his way to the hotel and pushed him into the gutter. he said nothing, crossed the street, bought a revolver, loaded it and put it in his pocket. he was not popular with the negroes, and he had been shot at twice on his way from the mills at night. the whole affair of this rally, over which his father meant to preside, filled him with disgust, and he was in an ugly mood. lynch's speech was bold, bitter, and incendiary, and at its close the drunken negro troopers from the local garrison began to slouch through the streets, two and two, looking for trouble. at the close of the speaking stoneman called the officer in command of these troops, and said: "major, i wish this rally to-day to be a proclamation of the supremacy of law, and the enforcement of the equality of every man under law. your troops are entitled to the rights of white men. i understand the hotel table has been free to-day to the soldiers from the camp on the river. they are returning the courtesy extended to the criminals who drilled before them. send two of your black troops down for dinner and see that it is served. i wish an example for the state." "it will be a dangerous performance, sir," the major protested. the old commoner furrowed his brow. "have you been instructed to act under my orders?" "i have, sir," said the officer, saluting. "then do as i tell you," snapped stoneman. ben cameron had kept indoors all day, and dined with fifty of the western troopers whom he had identified as leading in the friendly demonstration to his men. margaret, who had been busy with mrs. cameron entertaining these soldiers, was seated in the dining-room alone, eating her dinner, while phil waited impatiently in the parlour. the guests had all gone when two big negro troopers, fighting drunk, walked into the hotel. they went to the water-cooler and drank ostentatiously, thrusting their thick lips coated with filth far into the cocoanut dipper, while a dirty hand grasped its surface. they pushed the dining-room door open and suddenly flopped down beside margaret. she attempted to rise, and cried in rage: "how dare you, black brutes?" one of them threw his arm around her chair, thrust his face into hers, and said with a laugh: "don't hurry, my beauty; stay and take dinner wid us!" margaret again attempted to rise, and screamed, as phil rushed into the room with drawn revolver. one of the negroes fired at him, missed, and the next moment dropped dead with a bullet through his heart. the other leaped across the table and through the open window. margaret turned, confronting both phil and ben with revolvers in their hands, and fainted. ben hurried phil out the back door and persuaded him to fly. "man, you must go! we must not have a riot here to-day. there's no telling what will happen. a disturbance now, and my men will swarm into town to-night. for god's sake go, until things are quiet!" "but i tell you i'll face it. i'm not afraid," said phil quietly. "no, but i am," urged ben. "these two hundred negroes are armed and drunk. their officers may not be able to control them, and they may lay their hands on you--go--go!--go!--you must go! the train is due in fifteen minutes." he half lifted him on a horse tied behind the hotel, leaped on another, galloped to the flag-station two miles out of town, and put him on the north-bound train. "stay in charlotte until i wire for you," was ben's parting injunction. he turned his horse's head for mcallister's, sent the two boys with all speed to the cyclops of each of the ten township dens with positive orders to disregard all wild rumours from piedmont and keep every man out of town for two days. as he rode back he met a squad of mounted white regulars, who arrested him. the trooper's companion had sworn positively that he was the man who killed the negro. within thirty minutes he was tried by drum-head court-martial and sentenced to be shot. chapter vii the snare of the fowler sweet was the secret joy of old stoneman over the fate of ben cameron. his death sentence would strike terror to his party, and his prompt execution, on the morning of the election but two days off, would turn the tide, save the state, and rescue his daughter from a hated alliance. he determined to bar the last way of escape. he knew the klan would attempt a rescue, and stop at no means fair or foul short of civil war. afraid of the loyalty of the white battalions quartered in piedmont, he determined to leave immediately for spartanburg, order an exchange of garrisons, and, when the death warrant was returned from headquarters, place its execution in the hands of a stranger, to whom appeal would be vain. he knew such an officer in the spartanburg post, a man of fierce, vindictive nature, once court-martialed for cruelty, who hated every southern white man with mortal venom. he would put him in command of the death watch. he hired a fast team and drove across the county with all speed, doubly anxious to get out of town before elsie discovered the tragedy and appealed to him for mercy. her tears and agony would be more than he could endure. she would stay indoors on account of the crowds, and he would not be missed until evening, when safely beyond her reach. when phil arrived at charlotte he found an immense crowd at the bulletin board in front of the _observer_ office reading the account of the piedmont tragedy. to his horror he learned of the arrest, trial, and sentence of ben for the deed which he had done. he rushed to the office of the division superintendent of the piedmont air line railroad, revealed his identity, told him the true story of the tragedy, and begged for a special to carry him back. the superintendent, who was a clansman, not only agreed, but within an hour had the special ready and two cars filled with stern-looking men to accompany him. phil asked no questions. he knew what it meant. the train stopped at gastonia and king's mountain and took on a hundred more men. the special pulled into piedmont at dusk. phil ran to the commandant and asked for an interview with ben alone. "for what purpose, sir?" the officer asked. phil resorted to a ruse, knowing the commandant to be unaware of any difference of opinion between him and his father. "i hold a commission to obtain a confession from the prisoner which may save his life by destroying the ku klux klan." he was admitted at once and the guard ordered to withdraw until the interview ended. phil took ben cameron's place, exchanging hat and coat, and wrote a note to his father, telling in detail the truth, and asked for his immediate interference. "deliver that, and i'll be out of here in two hours," he said, as he placed the note in ben's hand. "i'll go straight to the house," was the quick reply. the exchange of the southerner's slouch hat and prince albert for phil's derby and short coat completely fooled the guard in the dim light. the men were as much alike as twins except the shade of difference in the colour of their hair. he passed the sentinel without a challenge, and walked rapidly toward stoneman's house. on the way he was astonished to meet five hundred soldiers just arrived on a special from spartanburg. amazed at the unexpected movement, he turned and followed them back to the jail. they halted in front of the building he had just vacated, and their commander handed an official document to the officer in charge. the guard was changed and a cordon of soldiers encircled the prison. the piedmont garrison had received notice by wire to move to spartanburg, and ben heard the beat of their drums already marching to board the special. he pressed forward and asked an interview with the captain in command. the answer came with a brutal oath: "i have been warned against all the tricks and lies this town can hatch. the commander of the death watch will permit no interview, receive no visitors, hear no appeal, and allow no communication with the prisoner until after the execution. you can announce this to whom it may concern." "but you've got the wrong man. you have no right to execute him," said ben excitedly. "i'll risk it," he answered, with a sneer. "great god!" ben cried beneath his breath. "the old fool has entrapped his son in the net he spread for me!" chapter viii a ride for a life when ben cameron failed to find either elsie or her father at home, he hurried to the hotel, walking under the shadows of the trees to avoid recognition, though his resemblance to phil would have enabled him to pass in his hat and coat unchallenged by any save the keenest observers. he found his mother's bedroom door ajar and saw elsie within, sobbing in her arms. he paused, watched, and listened. never had he seen his mother so beautiful--her face calm, intelligent, and vital, crowned with a halo of gray. she stood, flushed and dignified, softly smoothing the golden hair of the sobbing girl whom she had learned to love as her daughter. her whole being reflected the years of homage she had inspired in husband, children, and neighbours. what a woman! she had made war inevitable, fought it to the bitter end; and in the despair of a negro reign of terror, still the prophetess and high priestess of a people, serene, undismayed, and defiant, she had fitted the uniform of a grand dragon on her last son, and sewed in secret day and night to equip his men. and through it all she was without affectation, her sweet motherly ways, gentle manner and bearing always resistless to those who came within her influence. "if he dies," cried the tearful voice, "i shall never forgive myself for not surrendering without reserve and fighting his battles with him!" "he is not dead yet," was the mother's firm answer. "doctor cameron is on queen's back. your lover's men will be riding to-night--these young dare-devil knights of the south, with their life in their hands, a song on their lips, and the scorn of death in their souls!" "then i'll ride with them," cried the girl, suddenly lifting her head. ben stepped into the room, and with a cry of joy elsie sprang into his arms. the mother stood silent until their lips met in the long tender kiss of the last surrender of perfect love. "how did you escape so soon?" she asked quietly, while elsie's head still lay on his breast. "phil shot the brute, and i rushed him out of town. he heard the news, returned on the special, took my place, and sent me for his father. the guard has been changed and it's impossible to see him, or communicate with the new commandant----" elsie started and turned pale. "and father has hidden to avoid me--merciful god--if phil is executed----" "he isn't dead yet, either," said ben, slipping his arm around her. "but we must save him without a clash or a drop of bloodshed, if possible. the fate of our people may hang on this. a battle with united states troops now might mean ruin for the south----" "but you will save him?" elsie pleaded, looking into his face. "yes--or i'll go down with him," was the steady answer. "where is margaret?" he asked. "gone to mcallister's with a message from your father," mrs. cameron replied, "tell her when she returns to keep a steady nerve. i'll save phil. send her to find her father. tell him to hold five hundred men ready for action in the woods by the river and the rest in reserve two miles out of town----" "may i go with her?" elsie asked eagerly. "no. i may need you," he said. "i am going to find the old statesman now, if i have to drag the bottomless pit. wait here until i return." ben reached the telegraph office unobserved, called the operator at columbia, and got the grand giant of the county into the office. within an hour he learned that the death warrant had been received and approved. it would be returned by a messenger to piedmont on the morning train. he learned also that any appeal for a stay must be made through the honourable austin stoneman, the secret representative of the government clothed with this special power. the execution had been ordered the day of the election, to prevent the concentration of any large force bent on rescue. "the old fox!" ben muttered. from the grand giant at spartanburg he learned, after a delay of three hours, that stoneman had left with a boy in a buggy, which he had hired for three days, and refused to tell his destination. he promised to follow and locate him as quickly as possible. it was the afternoon on the day following, during the progress of the election, before ben received the message from spartanburg that stoneman had been found at the old red tavern where the roads crossed from piedmont to hambright. it was only twelve miles away, just over the line on the north carolina side. he walked with margaret to the block where queen stood saddled, watching with pride the quiet air of self-control with which she bore herself. "now, my sister, you know the way to the tavern. ride for your sweetheart's life. bring the old man here by five o'clock, and we'll save phil without a fight. keep your nerve. the commandant knows a regiment of mine is lying in the woods, and he's trying to slip out of town with his prisoner. i'll stand by my men ready for a battle at a moment's notice, but for god's sake get here in time to prevent it." she stooped from the saddle, pressed her brother's hand, kissed him, and galloped swiftly over the old way of romance she knew so well. on reaching the tavern, the landlord rudely denied that any such man was there, and left her standing dazed and struggling to keep back the tears. a boy of eight, with big wide friendly eyes, slipped into the room, looked up into her face tenderly, and said: "he's the biggest liar in north carolina. the old man's right upstairs in the room over your head. come on; i'll show you." margaret snatched the child in her arms and kissed him. she knocked in vain for ten minutes. at last she heard his voice within: "go away from that door!" "i'm from piedmont, sir," cried margaret, "with an important message from the commandant for you." "yes; i saw you come. i will not see you. i know everything, and i will hear no appeal." "but you cannot know of the exchange of men," pleaded the girl. "i tell you i know all about it. i will not interfere----" "but you could not be so cruel----" "the majesty of the law must be vindicated. the judge who consents to the execution of a murderer is not cruel. he is showing mercy to society. go, now; i will not hear you." in vain margaret knocked, begged, pleaded, and sobbed. at last, in a fit of desperation, as she saw the sun sinking lower and the precious minutes flying, she hurled her magnificent figure against the door and smashed the cheap lock which held it. the old man sat at the other side of the room, looking out of the window, with his massive jaws locked in rage. the girl staggered to his side, knelt by his chair, placed her trembling hand on his arm, and begged: "for the love of jesus, have mercy! come with me quickly!" with a growl of anger, he said: "no!" [illustration: miriam cooper as margaret cameron.] "it was a mad impulse, in my defence as well as his own." "impulse, yes! but back of it lay banked the fires of cruelty and race hatred! the nation cannot live with such barbarism rotting its heart out." "but this is war, sir--a war of races, and this an accident of war--besides, his life had been attempted by them twice before." "so i've heard, and yet the negro always happens to be the victim----" margaret leaped to her feet and glared at the old man for a moment in uncontrollable anger. "are you a fiend?" she fairly shrieked. old stoneman merely pursed his lips. the girl came a step closer, and extended her hand again in mute appeal. "no, i was foolish. you are not cruel. i have heard of a hundred acts of charity you have done among our poor. come, this is horrible! it is impossible! you cannot consent to the death of your son----" stoneman looked up sharply: "thank god, he hasn't married my daughter yet----" "your daughter!" gasped margaret. "i've told you it was phil who killed the negro! he took ben's place just before the guards were exchanged----" "phil!--phil?" shrieked the old man, staggering to his club foot and stumbling toward margaret with dilated eyes and whitening face; "my boy--phil?--why--why, are you crazy?--phil? did you say--_phil_?" "yes. ben persuaded him to go to charlotte until the excitement passed to avoid trouble. come, come, sir, we must be quick! we may be too late!" she seized and pulled him toward the door. "yes. yes, we must hurry," he said in a laboured whisper, looking around dazed. "you will show me the way, my child--you love him--yes, we will go quickly--quickly! my boy--my boy!" margaret called the landlord, and while they hitched queen to the buggy, the old man stood helplessly wringing and fumbling his big ugly hands, muttering incoherently, and tugging at his collar as though about to suffocate. as they dashed away, old stoneman laid a trembling hand on margaret's arm. "your horse is a good one, my child?" "yes; the one marion saved--the finest in the county." "and you know the way?" "every foot of it. phil and i have driven it often." "yes, yes--you love him," he sighed, pressing her hand. through the long reckless drive, as the mare flew over the rough hills, every nerve and muscle of her fine body at its utmost tension, the father sat silent. he braced his club foot against the iron bar of the dashboard and gripped the sides of the buggy to steady his feeble body. margaret leaned forward intently watching the road to avoid an accident. the old man's strange colourless eyes stared straight in front, wide open, and seeing nothing, as if the soul had already fled through them into eternity. chapter ix "vengeance is mine" it was dark long before margaret and stoneman reached piedmont. a mile out of town a horse neighed in the woods, and, tired as she was, queen threw her head high and answered the call. the old man did not notice it, but margaret knew a squadron of white-and-scarlet horsemen stood in those woods, and her heart gave a bound of joy. as they passed the presbyterian church, she saw through the open window her father standing at his elder's seat leading in prayer. they were holding a watch service, asking god for victory in the eventful struggle of the day. margaret attempted to drive straight to the jail, and a sentinel stopped them. "i am stoneman, sir--the real commander of these troops," said the old man, with authority. "orders is orders, and i don't take 'em from you," was the answer. "then tell your commander that mr. stoneman has just arrived from spartanburg and asks to see him at the hotel immediately." he hobbled into the parlour and waited in agony while margaret tied the mare. ben, her mother and father, and every servant were gone. in a few moments the second officer hurried to stoneman, saluted, and said: "we've pulled it off in good shape, sir. they've tried to fool us with a dozen tricks, and a whole regiment has been lying in wait for us all day. but at dark the captain outwitted them, took his prisoner with a squad of picked cavalry, and escaped their pickets. they've been gone an hour, and ought to be back with the body----" old stoneman sprang on him with the sudden fury of a madman, clutching at his throat. "if you've killed my son," he gasped--"go--go! follow them with a swift messenger and stop them! it's a mistake--you're killing the wrong man--you're killing my boy--quick--my god, quick--don't stand there staring at me!" the officer rushed to obey his order as margaret entered. the old man seized her arm, and said with laboured breath: "your father, my child, ask him to come to me quickly." margaret hurried to the church, and an usher called the doctor to the door. he read the question trembling on the girl's lips. "nothing has happened yet, my daughter. your brother has held a regiment of his men in readiness every moment of the day." "mr. stoneman is at the hotel and asks to see you immediately," she whispered. "god grant he may prevent bloodshed," said the father. "go inside and stay with your mother." when doctor cameron entered the parlour stoneman hobbled painfully to meet him, his face ashen, and his breath rattling in his throat as if his soul were being strangled. "you are my enemy, doctor," he said, taking his hand, "but you are a pious man. i have been called an infidel--i am only a wilful sinner--i have slain my own son, unless god almighty, who can raise the dead, shall save him! you are the man at whom i aimed the blow that has fallen on my head. i wish to confess to you and set myself right before god. he may hear my cry, and have mercy on me." he gasped for breath, sank into his seat, looked around, and said: "will you close the door?" the doctor complied with his request and returned. "we all wear masks, doctor," began the trembling voice. "beneath lie the secrets of love and hate from which actions move. my will alone forged the chains of negro rule. three forces moved me--party success, a vicious woman, and the quenchless desire for personal vengeance. when i first fell a victim to the wiles of the yellow vampire who kept my house, i dreamed of lifting her to my level. and when i felt myself sinking into the black abyss of animalism, i, whose soul had learned the pathway of the stars and held high converse with the great spirits of the ages----" he paused, looked up in terror, and whispered: "what's that noise? isn't it the distant beat of horses' hoofs?" "no," said the doctor, listening; "it's the roar of the falls we hear, from a sudden change of the wind." "i'm done now," stoneman went on, slowly fumbling his hands. "my life has been a failure. the dice of god are always loaded." his great head drooped lower, and he continued: "mightiest of all was my motive of revenge. fierce business and political feuds wrecked my iron mills. i shouldered their vast debts, and paid the last mortgage of a hundred thousand dollars the week before lee invaded my state. i stood on the hill in the darkness, cried, raved, cursed, while i watched the troops lay those mills in ashes. then and there i swore that i'd live until i ground the south beneath my heel! when i got back to my house they had buried a confederate soldier in the field. i dug his body up, carted it to the woods, and threw it into a ditch----" the hand of the white-haired southerner suddenly gripped old stoneman's throat--and then relaxed. his head sank on his breast, and he cried in anguish: "god be merciful to me a sinner! would i, too, seek revenge!" stoneman looked at the doctor, dazed by his sudden onslaught and collapse. "yes, he was somebody's boy down here," he went on, "who was loved perhaps even as i love--i don't blame you. see, in the inside pocket next to my heart i carry the pictures of phil and elsie taken from babyhood up, all set in a little book. they don't know this--nor does the world dream i've been so soft-hearted----" he drew a miniature album from his pocket and fumbled it aimlessly: "you know phil was my first-born----" his voice broke, and he looked at the doctor helplessly. the southerner slipped his arm around the old man's shoulders and began a tender and reverent prayer. the sudden thunder of a squad of cavalry with clanking sabres swept by the hotel toward the jail. stoneman scrambled to his feet, staggered, and caught a chair. "it's no use," he groaned, "--they've come with his body--i'm slipping down--the lights are going out--i haven't a friend! it's dark and cold--i'm alone, and lost--god--has--hidden--his--face--from--me!" voices were heard without, and the tramp of heavy feet on the steps. stoneman clutched the doctor's arm in agony: "stop them!--stop them! don't let them bring him in here!" he sank limp into the chair and stared at the door as it swung open and phil walked in, with ben and elsie by his side, in full clansman disguise. the old man leaped to his feet and gasped: "the klan!--the klan! no? yes! it's true--glory to god, they've saved my boy--phil--phil!" "how did you rescue him?" doctor cameron asked ben. "had a squadron lying in wait on every road that led from town. the captain thought a thousand men were on him, and surrendered without a shot." * * * * * at twelve o'clock ben stood at the gate with elsie. "your fate hangs in the balance of this election to-night," she said. "i'll share it with you, success or failure, life or death." "success, not failure," he answered firmly. "the grand dragons of six states have already wired victory. look at our lights on the mountains! they are ablaze--range on range our signals gleam until the fiery cross is lost among the stars!" "what does it mean?" she whispered. "that i am a successful revolutionist--that civilization has been saved, and the south redeemed from shame." the end a letter to hon. charles sumner, with "statements" of outrages upon freedmen in georgia, and an account of my expulsion from andersonville, ga., by the ku-klux klan. by rev. h. w. pierson, d.d., formerly president of cumberland college, kentucky; author of jefferson at monticello, or the private life of thomas jefferson; corresponding member n. y. historical society, etc. compliments of the author. washington: chronicle print., ninth street. . [copy.] new york, _november, _ to the rev. h. w. pierson, d.d., _president of cumberland college, kentucky:_ dear sir: the undersigned beg leave respectfully to suggest to you the propriety of repeating your paper read before the historical society at a recent meeting, on the private life of thomas jefferson, and making public a larger portion of your ample materials, in the form of public lectures. the unanimous expression of approbation on the part of the society, which your paper elicited, is an earnest of the satisfaction with which your consent to lecture will be received by the public at large. we have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, george bancroft, hamilton fish, wm. m. evarts, frederic de peyster, benj. h. field, george folsom, l. bradish, isaac ferris, gorham d. abbot, samuel osgood, george potts, henry w. bellows, joseph g. cogswell, horace webster, and many others. lawlessness in georgia. washington, d. c., _march , _. my dear sir: it would not become me to express an opinion upon any of the legal questions involved in the georgia bill now before the senate, but i respectfully call your attention to the following "statements" of facts. i certainly am not surprised that honorable gentlemen whom i greatly esteem, should express their belief that the outrages committed upon the freedmen and union men in georgia have been greatly exaggerated in the statements that have been presented to congress and the country. i know that to persons and communities not intimately acquainted with the state of society, and the civilization developed by the institution of slavery, they seem absolutely incredible. allow me to say, from my personal knowledge, and profoundly conscious of my responsibility to god and to history, that the statements that have been given to the public in regard to outrages in georgia come far short of the real facts in the case. permit me to add that i went to andersonville, ga., to labor as a pastor and teacher of the freedmen, _without pay_, as i had labored during the war in the service of the _christian commission_; that i had nothing at all to do with the political affairs of the state; that i did not know, and, so far as i am aware, i did not see or speak to any man who held a civil office in the state, except the magistrate at andersonville; that a few days after my arrival there i performed the first religious services, and participated in the first public honors that were ever rendered to the , "brave boys" who sleep there, by decorating the cemetery with procession, prayer, and solemn hymns to god, as described in appendix a. my time and labors were sacredly given to the freedmen. in addition to the usual sabbath services i visited them in their cabins around the stockades, and in the vicinity of the cemetery, reading the bible to them, and talking and praying with them. it was in the prosecution of these labors that i saw and heard more of sufferings and horrible outrages inflicted upon the freedmen than i saw and heard of as inflicted upon slaves in any five years of constant horseback travel in the south before the war, when i visited thousands of plantations as agent of the american tract society, the american bible society, and as president of cumberland college, princeton, kentucky. as illustrations of the sufferings of these oppressed, outraged people, and of their utter helplessness and want of protection from the state or federal courts, i give a few of the "statements" that i wrote down from their own lips. i know these men, and have entire confidence in their "statements." statement of cane cook. cane cook now lives near americus, sumter county, georgia. i heard through the colored people of the inhuman outrages committed upon him, and sent word to him to come to me if possible, that i might get a statement of the facts from his own lips. with the greatest difficulty he got into the cars at americus, and came here to-day. he says: "i worked for robert hodges, last year, who lives about two and-a-half miles from andersonville, georgia. i had my own stock, and rented land from him, agreeing to give him one-third of the corn, and one-fourth of the cotton for rent. we divided the corn by the wagon load, and had no trouble about that. i made three bags of cotton, weighing , , and pounds when it was packed. mr. hodges weighed it again, and i don't know what he has got it down, but that was the right weight; one-fourth was his, and three-fourths mine. he told me he would buy my cotton and pay me the market price, which was twenty-one cents that day, and i told him he might have it. i got some meat and corn and other things from him during the year, and he paid me $ in cash christmas. i went to him last friday a week ago, (january th, ) for a settlement. when he read over his account he had a gallon of syrup charged to me, and i told him i had not had any syrup of him. he asked me if i disputed his word. i told him that i did not want to dispute his word, but i had not had any syrup from him. he got up very angry, and took a large hickory stick and came towards me. i went backwards towards the door, and he followed me. he is a strong man and i did not want to have any trouble with him, and i gave him no impudence. i had a small piece of clap-board in my hand, that i had walked with. he told me to throw it down. i made no attempt to strike him, but held it up to keep off his blow. i went backwards to the door and to the edge of the porch, and he followed me. as i turned to go down the steps--there are four steps--he struck me a powerful blow on the back of my head, and i fell from the porch to the ground. i was not entirely senseless, but i was stiff and could not move hand or foot. i lay a long time--i do not know how long--but he did not touch me. jolly low was at work upon the house, and he came down where i was, and mr. hodges told him he might lift me up if he was a mind to. he lifted me up and set me on the steps. mr. hodges then sent about three miles for dr. westbrook, and he came and bled me in both arms; but i was so cold my left arm would not bleed at all, and my right arm bled but a very little. the doctor then told me to go to my friend's house and let him take care of me. two colored men--anthony dukes and edward corrillus--took me under each arm and carried me to burrell corrillus' house, about one hundred and fifty yards. i could not bear my weight upon my feet or stand at all. the doctor rode by and told mrs. corrillus to take good care of me and keep me there a couple of days. i staid there until sunday afternoon, when two men lifted me into a buggy and mr. corrillus carried me to my wife near americus. my hands, arms, back, and legs are almost useless. i have not been able to lift a bit of food to my mouth. i have to be fed like a baby. i have not gone before any of the courts. i have no money to pay a lawyer, and i know it would do no good. mr. hodges has not paid me for my cotton, and says he will not settle with me, but will settle with any man i will send him. while i lay before his door he told me that if i died he would pay my wife $ . i hope there will be some law sometime for us poor oppressed people. if we could only get land and have homes we could get along; but they won't sell us any land." andersonville, ga., _feb. , _. mr. cook is about fifty years old, has a large frame, has been an industrious, hard-working man, but is now almost entirely paralized and helpless. he is the most shattered, complete, and pitiable wreck from human violence i have ever seen. mr. hodges, i am told, owns about six thousand acres of land, and is one of the most prominent and respected citizens of sumter county. he is a methodist preacher, and mr. reese informs me, as i write, that he has heard him preach a great many times in the last twenty years to both white and colored people at camp-meetings and different meeting-houses in this region. he refuses to sell any of his land to the colored people, and will not allow them to build a school-house on it. statement of floyd snelson. floyd snelson, foreman of the hands employed by the government in the national cemetery, andersonville, georgia, says: "that in july, , after the work was suspended in the cemetery, and the lieutenant in charge had gone to marietta, georgia, and the schools for the freedmen were closed, and the teachers had left for the north, mr. b. b. dikes notified all the colored people who occupied buildings on the land now claimed by him, formerly occupied by the confederate government, in connection with the andersonville prison, that they must get out of their buildings within four days, or he would have them put out by the sheriff, and they would have the cost to pay. nearly all of these men had been in the employ of the government, at work in the national cemetery, many of them from the commencement of this work after the surrender. they all occupied these buildings by permission of the officer in charge of the cemetery, by whom they were employed. many of them had built these houses at their own expense, and cleared, fenced, and cultivated gardens of from one to four acres, which were covered with corn, potatoes, and other vegetables, which, with their houses, they were required to leave without any compensation. including these laborers and their families, about two hundred persons occupied these buildings. on account of the great difficulty of getting homes for so many on such short notice, most of these colored people applied to mr. dikes for the priviledge of occupying their houses and paying rent, either in money or a part of the crops that they were growing. but he refused, and said they could not stay on any terms. on the day appointed by mr. dikes, (wednesday, july th, ,) the most of the white people in from six to ten miles around, appeared in andersonville, with their arms, and mr. souber, the magistrate of the district, and mr. raiford, the sheriff of the county, accompanied by a party of some twenty-six or thirty armed white men, went to the houses of all these people, (except a very few who had vacated their premises,) and threw all their furniture, and provisions of every kind, out of doors. they then nailed up the doors of all their cabins, on the inside, and punched off a part of the roofs, and got out in this way. by about two p. m., all these people, with their furniture, bedding, provisions, and everything that they possessed, were turned out of doors. "about four o'clock, the most violent rain storm, accompanied with the most terrific thunder and lightning ever known here, commenced and continued the most of the night. every mill-dam and many of the mills in a circle of ten miles were washed away and so completely destroyed that but one of them has been repaired so as to be used. the women--some of them about to be confined--children and invalids were exposed to this storm during the night. their beds, clothing, provisions, and themselves were as completely drenched as if they had been thrown into a brook. some of these people got homes by working for their board. some able-bodied men got twenty-five cents a day. some of them, (deacon turner hall, of the congregational church, andersonville, among the number,) walked from ten to twenty miles a day, and could get neither homes nor work at any price at all. many women and children lay out of doors guarding their things, and exposed to the weather nearly a week, before they could get any shelter at all--their husbands and fathers roaming over the country to find some kind of a home. the rev. f. haley, of the american missionary association, arrived the next day, to look after the property of the mission. his life was threatened, but the colored people rallied around him to protect him, and he left the next day unharmed. large numbers of the white people, from the neighborhood, assembled at andersonville every day until saturday night, when they set fire to nine ( ) of the buildings, that had been built by the colored people, and burnt them up, and tore down their fences and destroyed their crops. the colored people, supposing that they intended to burn the buildings occupied for the "teacher's home" and the "freedmen's school," rallied and protected them. no one of the men engaged in these outrages, has ever been arrested or punished in any way, and no one of these freedmen has ever had any redress for his sufferings and losses. i will make oath to these statements." andersonville, ga., _feb. , _. statement of george smith. george smith now resides five miles from ellaville, in schley county, georgia. he says: "before the election of grant, large bodies of men were riding about the country in the night for more than a month. they and their horses were covered with large white sheets, so that you could not tell them or their horses. they gave out word that they would whip every radical in the country that intended to vote for grant, and did whip all they could get hold of. they sent word to me that i was one of the leaders of the grant club, and they would whip me. i saw them pass my house one night, and i should think there were thirty or forty of them. they looked in the night like jersey wagons. i supposed they were after me, and i took my blanket and gun and ran to the woods and lay out all night, and a good many other nights. nearly all the radicals in the neighborhood lay in the woods every night for two weeks before election. the kuklux would go to the houses of all that belonged to the grant club, call them to the door, throw a blanket over them and carry them off and whip them, and try and make them promise to vote for seymour and blair. the night i saw them they went to the house of mr. henry davis and ordered him out. he refused to come out and they tore down both of his doors. he fired at them and escaped. i heard a good many shots fired at him. he lay out about a week in the woods, and then slipped back in the night and got his family and moved off. he had bought a place and paid $ on it but he could not get a deed, and he has gone off and left it. they then went to the house of tom pitman and jonas swanson, called them to the door, threw blankets over their heads, carried them off and whipped them tremendously. they told them that they were damned radicals and leaders of the grant club, and that they would whip every one that voted for grant, and would not give any work to any but democrats. "bob wiggins, a preacher, was whipped all most to death because they said he was preaching radical doctrines to the colored people. it was supposed for a good many days that he would die, but he finally recovered. "i attended the election at ellaville. none of the radicals that had been ku-kluxed tried to vote; but a good many radicals did try to vote, but the judges made them all show their tickets, and if they were for grant they would not let them vote. i saw how they treated others and did not try to put my vote in. i went early in the morning, and the white and colored democrats voted until about noon, when i went home." andersonville, _february , _. statement of richard reese. richard reese, president of the grant club of schley county, confirms the statements of george smith in regard to the treatment of the radicals in schley county. he says: "when the ku-klux commenced riding about the country i was at macon attending the colored convention. when i got home some white men, democrats, who were friends of mine, told me that the ku-klux would certainly kill me if i staid at home at nights. i took my blanket and hid in the woods. i have never had a gun or pistol in my life. i lay in the woods every night until after election. day times i came home and worked my crop. one day, as i was in my yard, mr. jack childers, a democrat, came along from americus, and said to me, 'where is old dick, the damned old radical?' i said, 'here i am.' he said, 'well, you will be certain to be killed.' i said, 'well, if they kill me they will kill a good old radical, and i haven't got much longer to live noway.' he then started to get out of his buggy and come at me, but the man with him held him in and drove on. i had the grant tickets in my house, and went to the bumphead precinct, but there were more radicals than democrats there, and they would not open the polls at all. we staid there till twelve o'clock, then started for ellaville. the white and colored democrats were voting, but they would not let a radical vote until about two o'clock, when charley hudson got upon a stump and said no man could vote unless he had paid his taxes. he then got down, and he and nearly every white man there went around to the colored voters and told them that if they would vote the democratic ticket their tax was paid. i offered my ticket, and they said my tax was not paid, and if i put in my ticket they would put me in jail, and send me to the penitentiary. i had already agreed with a white man, who owed me $ , to pay my tax, and he said he had done it, but when i found him, and he found what was the matter, he said he had not paid it. they demanded $ . poll-tax, and i paid it and put in my vote. they were determined that i should not vote, and i was determined that i would vote for grant any way, as i was the president of the club. they told me if i would vote for seymour and blair i need not pay my taxes. after i got my vote in i took all my grant tickets and scattered them among the crowd, and told my club they need not try to vote, it would do no good. grant would be elected without schley county, and we all went home. "last spring we built a school-house, and hired a white lady to teach our school for several months. we held meetings and schools every sunday. friday night, february , , our school-house was burned up. "last night we had a meeting to see what we could do about building another house. we have a deed of one-and-a-half acres of land, but there is no timber on it, and the owners of the land around have put up a paper forbidding us to cut a stick on their's, and see how tight they have got us. we want the government or somebody to help us build. we want some law to protect us. we know that we could burn their churches and schools, but it is against the law to burn houses, and we don't want to break the law or harm anybody. we want the law to protect us, and all we want is to live under the law." andersonville, _feb. , _. statement of rev. charles ennis. charles ennis informs me that he was sixty-two years old last june; that he was the slave of mr. g. c. mcbee, who kept the ferry on the holston river, fifteen miles from knoxville tennessee; that he has often ferried the hon. messrs. brownlow and maynard over the river; that he learned to read when a small boy, and that he is now a preacher and teacher. he is the most intelligent colored man i have seen at andersonville. he says: "my wife has been a midwife for many years, and has attended upon a good many white and colored women in child-birth. last year we lived in mitchell county, and mr. henry adams, of baker county, sent for her to attend his wife, who was about to be confined. the child was born and did well. after the riot at camilla we were afraid to remain in mitchell county. i lived within three miles of camilla, and a good many of the dead were very near me, but i did not see any of them. i was afraid to go from home. dr. sanders, who attended upon those who were shot, told me that more than fifty were killed and wounded. mr. adams said his wife liked my wife so well that he wanted us to go to houston county with him, and he would pay our expenses there; and then he would certainly get me a school, and i could live on his place with my wife, and he would pay her $ a year wages. i told him we would not engage by the year, but only by the month, so long as we could agree. mr. robert adams, his uncle, was his partner, and managed the plantation. on the th of january, , he told my wife he wanted breakfast very early, as he was going to attend the burying of his nephew's wife next morning. she got up before day and got it, and i carried it to him and he ate it by candle light. after breakfast, as my wife was going to milk, he came out doors, and when he saw her he said: 'o you d----d old b----h, i have catched up to you, you g----d d----d old rogue,' and a good deal more of the same sort. i was surprised at this, as i knew she had got the breakfast all right, and i had carried it in to him. i went out and asked him in a mild manner, 'mr. adams, what is the matter? what has she done?' he made no reply at all, but rushed at me and caught me by the hair and commenced beating me. he struck me several times on the head. i made no resistance at all, but said, 'mr. adams, i will make you pay, for this.' this made him still worse, and he took out his knife and said he would give me something to make him pay for--he would kill me. "henry ottrecht, a german, and a colored boy named wash caught him and begged him not to kill me, and told me to promise him that i would not report him. he held on to me until i promised him that i would not report him, and then let me go. he told these men that he would have killed me if they had not prevented him. as he started away to attend the burying of his nephew's wife, he said to me, 'now you may go to perry,' (the county seat,) 'and report me if you want; but if you do i'll be d----d if i don't kill you.' at night my wife heard him tell charles evart, a freedman, about the scrape, and he said he would have killed me if they had not held him, and he would kill me anyway, if i reported him. i was a slave until freed the by war, but i never received such treatment during all my life as a slave. i waited on officers in the confederate army from until the surrender. the last six months i was with lt. col. jones, second georgia reserves, at andersonville. i never received a blow or a harsh word from one of them. i have traveled a great deal before and since the war. i know that the colored people are more brutally treated now than they were in slavery times. a great many more are beaten, wounded and killed now than then. i know a great many cases where they have been beaten to death with clubs, killed with knives and dirks, shot and hung. we have no protection at all from the laws of georgia. we had rather die than go back into slavery, but we are worse treated than we ever were before. we cannot protect ourselves; we want the government to protect us. a great many freedmen have told me that we should be obliged to rise and take arms and protect ourselves, but i have always told them this would not do; that the whole south would then come against us and kill us off, as the indians have been killed off. i have always told them the best way was for us to apply to the government for protection, and let them protect us." andersonville, ga., _february , _. why i was ku kluxed. mr. b. b. dikes, referred to in the foregoing statement of floyd snelson, is not the only claimant who has endeavored to secure possession of the grounds in and around the stockades at _andersonville, georgia_. i should have said that he has entered a suit in the u. s. court for the possession of these lands, but in the absence of the military he judged the ejectment of the freedmen, and getting possession in the manner i have described, as more sure and speedy than the "law's delay." a mr. crawford claims that the land which lies within and around the south stockade, in which are the hospital sheds, where so many of our soldiers died, where even now the bare ground upon which they lay shows the indenture made by the bodies of our suffering dying soldiers, belongs to certain heirs, and he, too, has been endeavoring to get possession of these grounds. my pastoral visitations led me to the cabins in and around the stockades, that have been built upon the land now claimed by mr. crawford. as was most natural, they poured into my ears the sad, the almost incredible, accounts of the wrongs they have suffered "since freedom came," or, as they more frequently expressed it, "since the surrender came through." one of these men came to me in january, in great distress, and told me that the day before he had been notified by mr. souber, the magistrate of the district, that he must leave his house by the next monday night, or he would bring the sheriff and turn him out. mr. souber told him that he had charge of the land for mr. crawford, _and that he was agoing to fence it in, and raise a cotton crop in and around these stockades_. there are thousands who know how this soil has been ensanguined and enriched. i had frequently walked over these grounds, and seen evidences of what is both too indelicate and too horrible to be described. i confess that my indignation was roused to the highest degree. i sat down immediately and wrote a statement of these facts to hon. j. m. ashley, and begged him to call on general grant, and see if there was any power in the government to prevent these outrages. the lieutenant in charge at andersonville called upon me some days later, and informed me that my letter to congressman ashley had been referred, by general grant to general meade, who had referred it to him. i furnished him the facts upon which it was based, and also wrote general meade as follows: [copy.] andersonville, ga., _january , _. general: i send you the accompanying "statements" in regard to the matters referred to in my letter to the hon. j. m. ashley, m.c. my letter was based upon _part_ of these statements. those additional to what had then been communicated to me are the result of investigations made since lieutenant corliss informed me that my letter had been referred to general meade and to himself. i have been acquainted with colored people in the south more than twenty-five years i know the difficulty of getting at the truth in such matters. but i think these "statements" can be depended upon. with great respect, yours very truly, h. w. pierson. to major general meade. statements of albert williams, martha randall, jane rogers, and benjamin weston. albert williams states to me that in january after the surrender he was employed by the government to work in the cemetery, and worked there until last spring. that mr. van dusen, supt. of the cemetery, gave him the privilege of moving into the house he now occupies, near the stockade that enclosed the hospital buildings; that afterwards captain rench gave him the privilege of clearing off the ground east of the stockade and raising a crop; that he hired hands and cleared and fenced about fifteen acres; that his wife and children helped to raise a crop; that after it was "laid by," mr. crawford, who claims the land, called on him and demanded rent, that he also called on lewis williams, howard ingraham, and butler johnson, who were raising crops around the stockades by permission of captain rench, and demanded rent, that mr. crawford called upon us four, with mr. b. b. dikes and esquire souber, and compelled us to sign a written contract, which they had prepared, that each of us four would pay forty bushels of corn each for rent; that he (williams) was unable to pay the forty bushels of corn, but did pay ten dollars in money, ten bushels of corn which he gathered and hauled to mr. dikes' crib, for which he was allowed fifteen dollars in rent. none of the four men were able to pay the forty bushels of corn; but mr. crawford brought the bailiff, john law, and took what corn he could, and a sow and pig from howard ingraham. all these men but me have left their places that they had cleared and fenced, because they could not pay such rent, and mr. crawford has put the places in charge of mr. souber, and brought him two males to cultivate the grounds. mr. williams states that twice the stockade has been set on fire in the night, and he and his boys have toted water and put it out. mr. williams states that mr. souber came to his house some two or three weeks ago, and told him he must get out of the house and leave the place, that he had charge of it now, that he was going to fence in the grounds and raise a crop in and around the stockade, and that he would not let any body live there but those that worked the place. that some time after this mr. souber sent him word by bob stevens that he had rented the place to him, and that he must get out or mr. souber would have him put out by the sheriff, mr. raiford; that mr. stevens and his wife have both been to his house several times with this message from mr. souber; that last saturday (january , ,) his wife told him that mr. souber came to his house while he was away and told her we must get out by monday night or he would bring the sheriff and have us put out. mr. williams says he will make oath to these statements. mrs. martha randall and mrs. jane rogers live very near mr. williams. they state to me that they occupy the house by permission of mr. souber, as they have agreed to work for him. they both say to me that they heard mr. souber tell mrs. williams, last saturday, that "they must get out of the house or he would have the sheriff put them out." note--you will see that there are three witnesses to these statements of mr. souber. i saw each of them "separate and apart" from the others, and no one knew what the others had said, and their statements agreed in every particular. benjamin weston states to me that major anthony gave him permission to raise a crop east of the stockade, where the small-pox hospital was located. that he cleared and fenced about six acres; that there was no clearing on the land--only some of the underbrush was cut out; that there was not a rail on the place; that he cut and split all the rails and made a good fence, and raised a crop of corn; that about the first of august mr. crawford came to him and said the land was his, and demanded thirty-five bushels of corn for rent, and required him to sign a contract and give security for that amount; that the place only yielded about twenty bushels, of which his family and stock used ten bushels, and he gave ten bushels for rent. mr. weston states that he heard that mr. souber had charge of the land, and about the first of january he applied to him to rent what he had cleared and fenced. mr. souber told him that he had charge of the land but it was not for rent; he was agoing to tend it himself. he then asked me what mr. williams was agoing to do. i told him i did not know. he said well, he had better hunt him a house, for i am agoing to tend that place myself. mr. weston says he has never had any pay for clearing and fencing the land, only about ten bushels of corn, as above stated. he says he will make oath to the above statements. _january , ._ general: i do not know the boundaries of the land claimed by crawford, but as far as i am able to learn, the mob that burnt the buildings here last summer, and threats and treatment like that detailed above, have driven off all the families that occupied these grounds by authority of officers of the united states government, except mr. williams, and mr. rhodes who occupies a building in the large stockade, which he tells me he has been warned to leave. through the means above detailed mr. c. has very nearly secured possession, which is nine-tenths in law. with great respect, yours, very truly, h. w. pierson. to major general meade. on the th of february, , captain bean called on me and introduced himself as a member of general meade's staff, and said he had come from atlanta to andersonville by order of general meade to make investigations in regard to the matters referred to in my letters. i went with him to the stockade and pointed out the new fences made and the grounds claimed by mr. souber. at his request i went with him to the office of mr. williams, the superintendent of the cemetery, and in my presence he told him _to notify mr. souber to suspend all work upon these grounds_. i confess that i was exceedingly gratified at this complete success of my efforts. i felt that these historic grounds, this gethsemane of the nation, had been rescued from what i could but esteem a sacrilegious use and possession, and that the flag that floated over the dead at andersonville had been honored by this order. when i told the freedmen the result of captain bean's visit their joy was great. in describing to me, as they often had, the suffering and losses they had endured when they were driven from their homes, and their cabins were burnt last summer, they always, in their simplicity, spoke of it as the time "when the government busted up." and this truly described the condition of the government from that time to the present, so far as they were concerned, for these facts show that no matter how horrible and brutal the outrage and personal violence committed upon them there had been no punishment to the perpetrators and no redress to the freedmen. now they felt that the government would again afford them some protection. but great as was my joy, and the joy of the suffering freedmen, it was nothing to the _rage_ of those who, after so long a struggle, had been defeated in their efforts to get possession of these grounds just as they were about to become completely successful. captain bean visited and left andersonville on the th. on the th i received a ku-klux letter, of which the following is a true copy: **************** * skull and * * cross-bones. * **************** "february , . "dr. pearson (so-called). "sir: for your especial benefit i am instructed to write you this special communication of warning and instruction. "the citizens of this place are aware of a few facts relative to yourself that i will proceed to designate: in the first place, they know you to be a wandering _vagrant carpet bagger_, without visible means of support, and living at present on the earnings of those who are endeavoring to make an honest living by teaching. you have also proved yourself a _scoundrel_ of the deepest dye by maliciously interfering in matters which do not in the least concern you, to the detriment of some of our citizens. "this, therefore, is to warn you to leave this county forthwith. twenty-four ( ) hours from the above date is the time allowed for you to leave. if after the said time your devilish countenance is seen at _this place or vicinity your worthless life will pay the forfeit_. congressional reconstruction, the military, nor anything else under heaven, will prevent summary justice being meted out to such an incarnate fiend as yourself. "by order of committee." i should do great injustice to mr. dikes, mr. souber, and mr. crawford, and their sympathising friends, the author and inspirers of the above letter, were i to say, or convey the impression, that they were worse men than their neighbors. from what i have seen and heard of them i am sure that in _mental culture_, in _kindness of heart_, in _loyalty_, and in _christian civilization_ they are decidedly _above_ rather than _below_ the over-whelming majority of their fellow citizens. they represent not the _lowest_ but the _highest_ type of patriotism, philanthropy, and christianity prevailing in that region. i challenge their late congressional representative, the hon. nelson tift, to go before his constituents and deny my statements in regard to the social standing of these men. the above letter states my offence: "you have proved yourself a _scoundrel_ of the deepest dye, by maliciously interfering in matters which do not in the least concern you, to the _detriment_ of some of our citizens." but general grant, general wade, and captain bean interfered far more potentially than i did. if i am a "_scoundrel_ of the deepest dye" what must they be? the "skull and bones," the insignia of the ku-klux klan and not the stars and stripes, represent the dominant power in that region. "congressional reconstruction, the military, &c.," are successfully defied. the power of the united states government is not felt or feared. they only know it as powerless to prevent the atrocities enacted before their eyes during and since the war. the flag that i had united with others to honor with procession, songs, and cheers, was powerless to protect me, and floats dishonored above the graves of the , martyr heroes who suffered and died in the stockades at andersonville, as prisoners of war never suffered and died before. i need hardly say that with my knowledge of the condition of things around me, as presented _only in part_ in this communication, i left andersonville as desired by the _ku-klux klan_. i knew that human life--that my life was not worth as much as the life of a chicken in any law-abiding, law-governed community, for should any evil disposed person there maliciously kill his neighbor's chicken he would be compelled to pay some slight fine or endure some brief imprisonment; but no one of all the perpetrators of the crimes i have named has suffered or has dreamed or suffering any fine, imprisonment, or punishment whatever. i knew that in their own language my life was "_worthless_." i went south to reside in , and there are few who know it as thoroughly. as agent of the american bible society, and in other capacities, i have traveled tens of thousands of miles over different states on horseback before the war. bishop kavenaugh, of the methodist episcopal church south, in introducing me to the louisville conference in , told them that though a presbyterian i had "out itinerated the itineracy itself." and yet i have never seen or heard as much of outrage and personal violence upon the colored people in any five years of slavery as i heard and saw at andersonville, georgia, from december , , to february , . i have never known crime to be committed in any community with such perfect impunity. i have yet to learn of a _single_ instance where the civil courts in that part of the state have rendered any punishment or redress for outrages like those i have detailed. the fact that such crimes have for years been committed with perfect impunity--that the men who perpetrate them have not the slightest fear or thought of ever being punished--that the freedmen who have suffered outrages such as these, and others entirely too gross for me to repeat, have not the faintest shadow of a hope that their wrongs will ever be redressed, has reduced these poor people to a state of almost utter hopelessness and despair. turner hall, a freedman, a deacon in the congregational church in andersonville, under whose black skin beats one of the most patriotic and noble christian hearts i have ever known, writes: "we seem to be forsaken of god and man." i have talked with many of these men, who in the late presidential election, with a spirit as noble as ever beat in the heart of a martyr, slept in swamps for weeks, were hunted like wild beasts, and perilled all means of livelihood for their wives and children, and their own lives, that they might vote for general grant for president. those of them that were employed in the national cemetery at andersonville, georgia, were threatened with dismission in case they voted for general grant. notwithstanding this threat some of them went to the polls, voted for general grant, and were immediately dismissed by henry williams, superintendent of the cemetery. this was done to deter the others, but they went forward and executed a "freeman's will" by voting for general grant. (mr. williams has since been removed.) and what to this hour has been their reward from their friends? i forbear to press this question. but with facts like these in mind can anyone suppose that a fair election--an election in which the thousands of freedmen in georgia shall give expression to their political wishes--can be held in that state in . the thing is simply impossible. until these ignorant, outraged people shall have some demonstration that there is power, either in the state or federal government, to afford them protection, and punish such outrages as that of rev. robert hodges upon cane cook, the freedmen cannot be expected again to risk their _livings_ and their _lives_ in voting for those whom they know to be their only friends. it will be proper for me to add that i did not come to washington at the suggestion or with the knowledge of any party in georgia. i belong to no "delegation." i came here at my own charges, in the interests of patriotism and suffering humanity, to lay these facts before congress and the highest officers of the government. all my self respect and honor as a man, all my regard for the rights of _american citizenship_, all my toils for the triumph of the starry banner, all my labors for the education and protection of the ignorant and outraged freedmen, and all the emotions stirred in my soul as again and again i have walked amid the graves of the nation's martyred dead at andersonville, compelled me to the performance of these unsought labors. _i ask that these freedmen may be protected and their wrongs redressed. i ask for the vindication of the rights of american citizenship in georgia and everywhere beneath our own flag upon our own soil._ with great respect, your obedient servant, h. w. pierson. hon. charles sumner, _united states senate_. appendix a. emancipation day in andersonville, ga. january , . by rev. h. w. pierson, d.d. this day so full of interest to the freedmen, so identified with the name and fame of the lamented lincoln, and so glorious in the history of our country, was duly celebrated in andersonville, georgia. if called upon to state what have been the instrumentalities at work among this people that have led to what i think all must esteem a most appropriate and beautiful celebration of the day, i must name as first and most efficient the _school for freedmen_, established here by the american missionary association, in the fall of , and successfully carried on up to the present time. its first teachers were miss m. l. root, of sheffield, ohio, and miss m. f. battey, of providence, r. i., who labored here for two years, with a christian heroism, wisdom and success that have left their names indelibly engraved upon the grateful hearts of all those for whom they toiled. during the second year, miss m. c. day, of sheffield, ohio, aided them, and was a worthy and efficient co-laborer. for reasons unknown to the writer, none of these ladies returned the third year, but were succeeded by miss laura parmelee, of toledo, ohio, and miss amelia johnson, of enfield, conn., who are carrying forward the work so successfully inaugurated with undiminished success. the colored people have become so impressed with the value of the school that they are contributing to its support with increasing liberality and enthusiasm. as the schools for the freedmen are all suspended during the christmas holidays, a number of teachers and their friends, in other places, had availed themselves of this opportunity to visit andersonville. at a social gathering at the "teachers' home" it was found that, including the visitors, the clerks in the service of the government, and the teachers here, there were present representatives of seven northern states, and all were ready to unite heartily with the freedmen in the celebration of emancipation day. they were miss russell, of maine; miss champney and miss stowell, of massachusetts; miss johnson and misses smith, of connecticut: mr. pond, of rhode island; mr. north, of indiana; mr. haughton, of new york; miss parmelee, of ohio, and rev. dr. h. w. pierson. the committee appointed to make arrangements for the appropriate celebration of the day, anxious to make the fullest possible exhibition of the loyalty of all who were to unite with them in its celebration, determined that it should include ( st,) services in the freedmens' chapel; ( d,) the decoration of the cemetery; and ( d,) the salutation of the "dear old flag," at the depot. all entered with alacrity and delight upon the work of preparation for these services. the colored people ranged the woods to find the choicest evergreens, and the young ladies, with willing hearts and skillful hands wrought the most elaborate and beautiful wreaths from the magnolia, bay, holly, cedar, and other boughs with which they were so bountifully furnished. songs were rehearsed, and all arrangements were duly completed. on new year's morning a deeply interested audience met in the room occupied both for school-room and chapel, and at a. m., mr. floyd snelson, (colored.) president of the day, called the meeting to order, and services were conducted as follows: ( .) singing--"from all that dwell below the skies." ( ) reading the scriptures, by miss johnson, of enfield, connecticut. ( .) prayer, by deacon stickney, (colored) ( .) reading of the emancipation proclamation, by miss parmelee, of toledo, ohio. ( ) singing--"oh, praise and thanks,"--whittier. ( ) address by rev. dr. h. w. pierson. this programme having been carried out, the entire audience was formed into a procession and marched to the cemetery, about half a mile north of us, under the direction of mr. houghton, of brooklyn, new york, marshal of the day. that procession, embracing so many happy freedmen and representatives from so many states, moving with so much order, and bearing such beautiful wreaths, was certainly one of the most impressive and beautiful i have ever seen. i am sure the sight would have melted tens of thousands of hearts could they have looked upon it. onward they marched upon their sacred mission, singing at times most appropriate and beautiful songs: winding down the hillside, crossing upon a single scantling the muddy stream that furnished water for our own prisoners, passing near the rude cabin where the blood-hounds were penned, in full view of the stockades where so many thousands yielded up their lives, moving onward and up the gentle elevation with slow and solemn tread, they at length reached the front (south) entrance of the cemetery, where the procession halted. on the right (east) of the gate is a post and tablet in the form of a cross, bearing this inscription: "national cemetery, andersonville, georgia." on the left (west) of the gate is a similar post and tablet, bearing this inscription: "on fame's eternal camping-ground their silent tents are spread, and glory guards, with solemn round, this bivouac of the dead." a young lady, designated for the purpose, left the procession and hung one of our most beautiful wreaths upon the cross above this inscription. the gates were then thrown open, and the entire procession entered the cemetery. but how shall i describe the scene spread out before us as we entered this solemn, silent city of the nation's dead? the cemetery contains forty-three acres, which are enclosed by a high board fence. it is divided into four principal sections by broad avenues, running north and south, and east and west, intersecting each other at right angles at the center of the grounds. there is a sidewalk and row of young trees on each side of these avenues. and then on either side of these avenues and walks, what fields, what fields of white head-boards, stretching away in long white parallel lines to the north and south, each with its simple record of the name, regiment, and date of death of him who lies beneath it. so they sleep their long sleep, lying shoulder to shoulder in their graves as they had stood together in serried ranks on many a field of battle. resuming our march, and moving up the broad avenue, with rank upon rank, and thousands upon thousands of these solemn sentinels upon either side of us, we find on the left (west) side of the avenue, a tablet with this inscription: "the hopes, the fears, the blood, the tears, that marked the bitter strife, are now all crowned by victory that saved the nation's life." we paused, and hung a wreath above this inscription, and then moved on to a tablet on the right (east) side of the avenue, with this inscription: "whether in the prison drear, or in the battle's van, the fittest place for man to die, is where he dies for man." we hung a wreath here, and again our procession moved forward and halted on the left (west) side of the avenue, at a tablet bearing the inspired words: "then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto god who gave it." here we placed another wreath, and moved onward to a tablet on the right (east) side of the avenue, where we read-- "a thousand battle-fields have drunk the blood of warriors brave, and countless homes are dark and drear, thro' the land they died to save." another wreath was placed here, and we marched to the last tablet in the north of the cemetery, standing in the midst of a section of graves numbering thousands, and inscribed-- "through all rebellion's horrors bright shines our nation's fame, our gallant soldiers, perishing, have won a deathless name." after hanging a wreath here, we marched to the center of the cemetery, and hung our last wreath upon the flag-staff from which the stars and stripes shall ever float above those who died in its defence. it was no place for speech. the surroundings were too solemn. our only other services were to unite in singing "my native country, thee," (america,) and rev. dr. pierson offered prayer. and so we decorated the national cemetery at andersonville, georgia. it was little, very little, we did, but we could not do more, and we dared not do less. here are the graves of , "brave boys," who died as prisoners of war in the stockades. eight hundred and sixty-eight other soldiers have been disinterred and brought here from macon, columbus, eufaula, americus, and other places in georgia, so that now this cemetery numbers , graves. we could not decorate them all, and we dared not decorate those of the states we represented, or of any particular class. we dared not single out any for special honors. we felt that all were worthy of equal honor from us, and from the nation they died to save. and so we decorated the cemetery as a whole, as best we could, and our tribute of affection was bestowed equally upon each one of all these , hallowed graves. and most earnestly did we implore the blessing of almighty god to rest upon our whole country, and upon all the fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, widows, and orphans, whose "dead" we thus attempted to honor. it will gratify the relatives and friends of all those buried here, to know that the nation is watching over their dead with pious care. hundreds of men have been employed in making the improvements already mentioned, and many others i have not time to notice, and a number are still at work. they are planting trees, making and improving walks, placing sod upon the graves, and otherwise beautifying the grounds. but i am detaining my readers too long from what i have already indicated as the third and final part of our programme. day after day the starry banner, the banner of peace ("let us have peace") is thrown to the breeze from the flag staff in front of the office of first lieutenant a. w. corliss, near the andersonville depot. this is the most beautiful sight; indeed, almost the only beautiful sight that greets the vision of a lover of his country here. we wished to give expression to the warm feelings of our own hearts, and also to make a demonstration of our loyalty and love for the flag in the presence of the unusual concourse of people assembled at the station for the business or pleasure of new year's day. our procession was re-formed in the cemetery, and taking the broad avenue that has been constructed by the government from the depot, a distance of about half a mile, we marched slowly back in the same order, and singing beautiful songs, as when we came. a part of the way our procession was in full view of the residents of the place, and the visitors there. fortunately, as we reached the depot, the passenger train arrived from the south, and witnessed our loyal demonstrations. arriving at the flag-staff, the entire procession formed in a circle around it, and sang with enthusiasm mr. william b. bradbury's "see the flag, the dear old flag," with the heart-stirring chorus-- "wave the starry banner high, strike our colors, never! here we stand to live or die, the stripes and stars forever." mr. snelson, the president of the day, then proposed three cheers for the "dear old flag," which were given with a will. three cheers were then proposed for lieutenant corliss and others, which were given in the same hearty manner. other patriotic songs were then sung, and after a brief prayer and the benediction, by rev. dr. pierson, the audience quietly dispersed. so we celebrated emancipation day in andersonville, georgia. to all of us who participated in it, it was a joyful day. we also hope our services may gladden and cheer many other hearts all over our broad land. note.--i may be mistaken in the name of the captain who made the brief visit to andersonville, february , .--see page . i shall regret if i have not properly honored one whose bearing was so gallant and gentlemanly. h. w. p. transcriber's notes: passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_. additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as presented in the original text. the following misprints have been corrected: "aad" corrected to "and" (page ) "confedearte" corrected to "confederate" (page ) "immedately" corrected to "immediately" (page ) "andersonvile" corrected to "andersonville" (page ) "sacreligious" corrected to "sacrilegious" (page ) "govvernment" corrected to "government" (page ) "cherrs" corrected to "cheers" (page ) all other spelling is presented as in the original. when referring to a specific county, the "c" in the word "county" has been capitalized for standard presentation. * * * * * +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | transcriber's note: | | | | inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | | been preserved. | | | | the pages in appendix i and ii are preserved as printed, | | with latin headers and page numbers marked like so: | | [header: 'text' 'page number'], and latin footers like | | so: [footer: 'text'.] a compiled version is included at | | the end for the benefit of the reader. | | | | many of the illustrations are facsimiles, so have | | bleedthrough in the original images. also the first | | image is missing in the original. | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ * * * * * ku klux klan its origin, growth and disbandment by j.c. lester and d.l. wilson with appendices containing the prescripts of the ku klux klan, specimen orders and warnings with introduction and notes by walter l. fleming, ph. d. _professor of history in west virginia university; author of "civil war and reconstruction in alabama."_ note of acknowledgment. assistance was given to me while searching for information in regard to ku klux klan, by many former members of the order, and by their friends and relatives. of especial value were the details given to me by major james r. crowe, of sheffield, alabama; the late ryland randolph, esq., and his son, ryland randolph, jr., of birmingham, alabama; judge z.t. ewing, of pulaski, tennessee; miss cora r. jones, of birmingham, alabama, niece of one of the founders of the klan; mr. lacy h. wilson, of bristol, tennessee, the son of one of the authors of the history printed within, major s.a. cunningham and mr. a.v. goodpasture, of nashville, and dr. john a. wyeth, of new york city. there is still much that is obscure about ku klux klan and i shall be glad to obtain additional information in regard to the order, and also to receive notice of mistakes and errors in this account. w.l.f. contents page introduction. by walter l. fleming. ku klux klan. by j.c. lester and d.l. wilson. page chapter i. the origin chapter ii. the spread of the klan chapter iii. the transformation chapter iv. the decline chapter v. disbandment appendices. page appendix i. prescript of ku klux klan appendix ii. revised and amended prescript of ku klux klan appendix iii. constitution of a local order appendix iv. ku klux orders, warnings, and oaths index illustrations . badge worn by high officials of the klan. see outside cover. page . some klansmen . general nathan bedford forrest, grand wizard . general john b. gordon . room in which the klan was organized . costumes worn in mississippi and west alabama . costumes worn in tennessee and north alabama . carpetbaggers listening to a ku klux report, (cartoon) . the fate of the carpetbagger and the scalawag, (cartoon) . a specimen warning sent by the klan "when laws become lawless contrivances to defeat the ends of justice, it is not surprising that the people resort to lawless expedients for securing their rights."--_s.s. cox, in "three decades," p. ._ introduction by walter l. fleming introduction. by walter l. fleming, ph. d., professor of history in west virginia university. twenty-one years ago there was privately printed in nashville, tennessee, a little book by j.c. lester and d.l. wilson, that purported to be an account, from inside information, of the great secret order of reconstruction days, known to the public as ku klux klan. it attracted little notice then; and since that time it has not been given the attention it deserved as a historical document.[ ] at the time of writing, sectional feeling was still inflamed; the northern people were not ready to hear anything favorable about the ku klux klan, which they considered a band of outlaws and murderers; and the southern people were not desirous of being reminded of the dreadful reconstruction period. many of the members of the klan who had been hunted for their lives, and who were still technically outlawed, were unwilling to make known their connection with the order and some even considered their oaths still binding. but since the book was printed, the prescripts or constitutions of the order have come to light, and the ex-members are now generally willing to tell all they know about the organization. as yet, no other member has written an account of the klan, though several have been projected, and lester and wilson's history seems likely to remain the only one written altogether from inside sources. the authors, capt. john c. lester and rev. d.l. wilson, were in , when the booklet was written, residents in pulaski, tennessee, where the first den of the klan was founded. major lester was one of the six original members of the pulaski den or circle. he made a fine record as a soldier in the civil war in the third tennessee (confederate) infantry, and afterwards became a lawyer and an official in the methodist church, and was a member of the tennessee legislature at the time of writing the book. rev. d.l. wilson, who put the account into its present form, was born in , in augusta county, virginia. he went to school to jed hotchkiss and was graduated as valedictorian of his class from washington and lee university, in , and a year later from the union theological seminary, near hampden-sidney, virginia. from to he was pastor of a presbyterian church at broadway, virginia, and from to he served a church in pulaski, tennessee. he died in after a six months' residence in bristol, tennessee, as pastor of the first presbyterian church. he was not a member of the klan, but was acquainted with the founders and with many other former members, and had access to all the records of the order that had not been destroyed. in addition to information received from other members, wilson was assisted by captain lester, who furnished most of the facts used, revised the manuscript and the book was printed with both names on the title page. as a general account of the ku klux movement lester and wilson's history leaves something to be desired. it is colored too much by conditions in tennessee. no knowledge is shown of other organizations similar to ku klux klan, when in fact there were several other very important ones, such as the white brotherhood, the white league, the pale faces, the constitutional union guards, and one, the knights of the white camelia,[ ] that was larger than the klan and covered a wider territory. then, too, in an attempt to make a moderate statement that would be generally accepted, the authors failed to portray clearly the chaotic social, economic and political conditions that caused the rise of such orders, and in endeavoring to condemn the acts of violence committed under cloak of the order they went too far in the direction of apologetic explanation. consequently, the causes seem somewhat trivial and the results not very important.[ ] it would seem from their account that after a partial success, the movement failed in its attempt to regulate society, and degenerated into general disorder. this is a superficial conclusion and is not concurred in by the survivors of the period and those who understand the conditions of that time. the remnants of such a secret, illegal order were certain to degenerate finally into violence, but before it reached this stage it had accomplished much good in reducing to order the social chaos.[ ] [illustration: some klansmen . d.l. wilson, one of the authors of "ku klux klan." . major j.r. crowe, one of the founders. . captain john c. lester, one of the founders. . general albert pike, chief judicial officer. . general w.j. hardee. . calvin jones, one of the founders. . ryland randolph.] in view of the fact that the lester and wilson account does not mention names it will be of interest to examine the _personnel_ of the original pulaski circle, out of which the klan developed. (see p. ). there were six young men in the party that first began to meet in the fall and winter of : ( ) captain john c. lester, of whom something has been said. ( ) major james richard crowe, now of sheffield, alabama, who was a native of pulaski and was educated at waterbury academy and giles college. when the civil war began he was studying law in marion, alabama, and enlisted at once in the marion rifles, company "g," fourth alabama infantry. later he was transferred to the th tennessee infantry. he was in the battles of manassas, fort donelson, shiloh, shelton's hill, white farm, richmond, perrysville, and others of less importance. three times he was severely wounded and twice discharged for disability. he was captured with sam davis and both were tried as spies; crowe was acquitted and davis was hanged. he has held high rank in the masonic order and has been an official in the cumberland presbyterian church. ( ) john kennedy, the only survivor of the original six except major crowe. he was a soldier in the rd tennessee infantry during the civil war, is a presbyterian, and an honored citizen of lawrenceburg, tennessee. ( ) calvin jones, son of judge thomas m. jones, was a lawyer, and a member of the episcopal church. he was adjutant of the nd tennessee infantry during the civil war. ( ) richard r. reed was a lawyer, a presbyterian, and during the war had served in the rd tennessee infantry. ( ) frank o. mccord was editor of the _pulaski citizen_, a methodist, and had been a private soldier in the confederate service. two others came in at the second or third meeting--capt. j.l. pearcy, later of nashville, now of washington, d.c., and james mccallum.[ ] the founders were all of scotch-irish descent and most of them were presbyterians. in regard to the founding of the pulaski circle, major j.r. crowe says: "frank o. mccord was elected grand cyclops, and james r. crowe, grand turk. a committee composed of richard r. reed and calvin jones[ ] was appointed to select a name for the organization. the greek for _circle_ was chosen. we called it kuklos, which was changed to ku klux afterward when the name was proposed to the circle. john kennedy suggested that we add another _k_, and the order was then called ku klux klan.... the mysterious lights seen floating about the ruins (see p. ) presented a weird and uncanny appearance and filled the superstitious with dread of the place; so we were never disturbed, and it only required a quaint garb and a few mysterious sounds to convince the uninitiated that we were spirits from the other world. we were quick to catch on to this idea and we governed ourselves accordingly.... during our parades or appearances in public the darkies either hid out or remained close in their houses.... the origin of the order had no political significance. it was at first purely social and for our amusement. it proved a great blessing to the entire south and did what the state and federal officials could not do--it brought order out of chaos and peace and happiness to our beloved south.... the order was careful in the admission of members and i have never known of a betrayal of the secrets of the order. i am proud to say that i never knew of one single act done by the genuine ku klux klan that i am ashamed of or do not now endorse." major crowe and other members repeatedly mention the fact that the membership of the klan was largely of scotch-irish descent. this was bound to be the case since in the territory covered by the klan proper the great majority of the scotch-irish of the south were settled. the ku klux klan extended from virginia to mississippi through the white county section--the piedmont and mountain region. it seldom extended into the black belt, though it was founded on its borders. there another similar order--the knights of the white camelia--held sway. in the piedmont region before the spread of the klan, there were numerous secret protective societies among the whites, and these were later absorbed into the klan. the klan led a more strenuous existence than the black belt orders. in most of its territory, social conditions were worse than in the black counties. it is a mistake to consider that in - , the whites in the densest black districts were in the place of greatest danger. there the blacks were usually the best behaved; there the whites were never divided and never lost their grip on society; there the negro still respected the white people as beings almost superhuman. but race relations were worse in the white districts where there was a lower class of whites, some of whom mistreated the negro and others encouraged him to violence. here the negro had never had the great respect for _all_ whites that the black belt negro had, and here the whites were somewhat divided among themselves. during the war the "tories," so called, or those who claimed to be union sympathizers and the confederates, alternately mistreated one another, and the close of the war brought no peace to such communities. to this region escaped the outlaws, deserters, etc., of both armies during the war, and here the wreckage of war was worst. such was the nature of the country where the klan flourished. it was a kind of ex-confederate protest against the doings of the "tories," unionists and outlaws, and the negroes banded in the union league. for several years neither the federal government nor the state government gave protection to the ex-confederates of this region, and naturally secret associations were formed for self-defense. this method of self-defense is as old as history.[ ] the members of ku klux klan are nowadays inclined to consider that their order comprehended all that took shape in resistance to the africanization of society and government during the reconstruction period. as one ex-member said: "nearly all prominent men--ex-confederates--in all the southern states were connected in some way with the klan." this is true only indirectly. nearly all white men, it may be said, took part in the movement now called the "ku klux movement." but more of them belonged to other organizations than were members of the klan. the klan had the most striking name and it was later applied to the whole movement. the more prominent politicians, it is said, had no direct connection with any such orders. such connection would have embarrassed and hampered them in their work, but most of them were in full sympathy with the objects of the ku klux movement, and profited by its successes. many of the genuine unionists later joined in the movement, and there were some few negro members, i have been told. some prominent men were honorary members, so to speak, of the order. they sympathized with its objects, and gave advice and encouragement, but were not initiated and did not take active part. general john b. gordon, of georgia, and general w.j. hardee, of alabama, were such members. the active members were, as a rule, young men. in this respect the klan differed from the order of white camelia, which discouraged the initiation of very young men. some well-known members of the klan were general john c. brown, of pulaski, tennessee; captain john w. morton, now secretary of state of tennessee; ryland randolph, of tuscaloosa, alabama, editor of the _independent monitor_, the official organ of the klan in alabama; general n.b. forrest and general george w. gordon, of memphis, tennessee; generals john b. gordon, a.h. colquitt, g.t. anderson and a.r. lawton, of georgia; general w.j. hardee, of alabama; colonel joseph fussell, of columbia, tennessee. general albert pike, who stood high in the masonic order, was the chief judicial officer of the klan. general forrest heard of the order after it began to spread, and after investigation consented to become its head as grand wizard. he was initiated by captain john w. morton, who had formerly been his chief of artillery. under him the order, which was becoming demoralized, was reorganized. as soon as it had done its work he disbanded it. an enterprising newspaper reporter interviewed general forrest, in , on the subject of ku klux klan and extracted much information;[ ] but when before the ku klux committee of congress, in , the general would make only general statements and he evaded some of the interrogatories. to the committee he appeared to be wonderfully familiar with the principles of the order, but very ignorant as to details. the average member of congress, ignorant of southern conditions, did not understand that the members of the order considered themselves bound by the supreme oath of the klan and that other oaths, if in conflict with it, were not binding. that is, the ex-confederates under the command of forrest, grand wizard of the invisible empire, were obeying the first law of nature and were bound to reveal nothing to injure the cause, just as when confederates under forrest, lieutenant-general of the confederate army, they were bound not to reveal military information to the hostile forces. the government, in their view, had not only failed to protect them, but was being used to oppress them. consequently they were disregarding its claim to obedience. [illustration: general n.b. forrest grand wizard of ku klux klan facing page ] now that general forrest's connection with the klan is known it is amusing to read the testimony he gave before the ku klux committee of congress in .[ ] though evading questions aimed to elicit definite information, yet he was willing to speak of the general conditions that caused the development of the organization in tennessee. he stated that it was meant as a defensive organization among the southern whites to offset the work of the union league, which had organized, armed and drilled the negroes, and had committed numerous outrages on the whites; to protect ex-confederates from extermination by brownlow's "loyal" militia, to prevent the burning by negroes of gins, mills, dwellings, and villages, which was becoming common; to protect white women from criminal negro men; in short to make life and property safe and keep the south from becoming a second san domingo. he stated that about the time the order arose he was getting as many as fifty letters a day from his old soldiers who were suffering under the disordered conditions that followed the war, whose friends and relatives were being murdered, whose wives and daughters were being insulted, etc. they wanted advice and assistance from him. not being able to write himself, on account of a wounded shoulder, he kept a secretary busy answering such letters. most of the defensive bodies, forrest stated, had no names and had no connection with one another. he admitted that he had belonged to the pale faces, and that he fully approved of the objects of the klan. a copy of the original prescript was shown to him and he was able to say that he had never seen it before. in his day, the revised and amended prescript was used, which was never discovered by any investigating committee. he maintained that the order was careful in admitting new members, only sober, mature, discreet gentlemen being allowed to join. at one time, forrest estimated, so a newspaper reporter stated, that the klan had , members in tennessee and , in the entire south. this estimate was probably not exaggerated if the entire membership of all the orders similar to the klan be counted in. forrest refused to give the names of members. it is likely, from several bits of evidence, that he had much to do with consolidating the order, giving it a military organization, and making its work effective. general john b. gordon, the most prominent military man, next to forrest, who was connected with the klan, gave a clear account of the conditions in georgia that led to the organization of the defensive societies of whites.[ ] in georgia the state of affairs where general gordon lived was in some respects unlike conditions in tennessee. in tennessee the whites were somewhat divided among themselves and there were not so many blacks. in georgia, according to gordon, the principal danger was from blacks, incited to hostility and violence by alien whites of low character. the latter organized the negroes into armed union leagues, taught them that the whites were hostile to all their rights, and that the lands of the whites were to be, or ought to be, divided among the blacks. under such influences the negroes who had not made trouble began to show signs of restlessness; some of them banded together to plunder the whites, and serious crimes became frequent, especially that of rape, and men were afraid to leave their families in order to attend to their business. the whites feared a general insurrection of the blacks, and as gordon stated, "if the sort of teachings given [to the negroes] in georgia had been carried out to its logical results the negroes would have slaughtered whole neighborhoods." that they did not do so, was, in his opinion, due to the forbearance and self-control of the whites, and to the natural kindness and good disposition of the negroes and their remembrance of former pleasant relations with the whites. there was no great danger, as one can see today, of the negro uprisings, but the whites thought then that there was. the religious frenzy of the blacks during the year after the war also alarmed the whites. the black troops stationed in georgia were frequently guilty of gross outrages against white citizens and were a constant incitement to violence on the part of their fellow blacks. the carpetbag government pardoned and turned loose upon society the worst criminals. there was no law for several years. the whites were subject to arbitrary arrest and trials by drumhead courts-martial; military prisoners were badly mistreated. in general, society and government were in a condition of anarchy; the white race was disorganized, and the blacks organized, but not for good purposes. [illustration: general john b. gordon head of klan in georgia facing page ] general gordon spoke of another matter often mentioned by the best class of ex-confederate soldiers: the southern soldier believed that the "appomattox program" had not been carried out. at appomattox the magnanimity of general grant and the victorious soldiers had impressed very favorably the defeated confederates. the latter believed that if grant and the soldiers who had defeated them had been allowed to settle matters, there would have been no more trouble. instead, the politicians had taken charge and had stirred up endless strife. no effort at conciliation had been made; and the magnanimity of grant gave way to the vindictive policies of politicians.[ ] the whites believed that the "understanding of appomattox" had been violated and that they had been deliberately humiliated by the washington government. such were some of the influences, in general gordon's opinion, that caused the spread of the klan in georgia. he says that he heartily approved the objects of the order, that it was purely for self-protection, an organization for police purposes, a peace police, which kept the peace, prevented riots, and restrained the passionate whites as well as the violent blacks. its membership was, he said, of the best citizens, mostly ex-confederates, led by the instinct of self-preservation to band together. it was secret because the leaders were sure that the sympathy of the federal government would be against them and would consider a public organization a fresh rebellion. it took no part in politics and died out when the whites were able to obtain protection from the police and the courts. these were the explanations of men who were high in the order but who never attended a meeting and were never in actual contact with its workings. private members--ghouls they were called--could have told more thrilling stories. but deficient as the accounts of gordon and forrest are in detail they supplement the history of lester and wilson in explaining the causes that lay at the bottom of the secret revolution generally called the ku klux movement. as to the success or failure of the movement, lester and wilson, condemning the violence that naturally resulted from the movement, cause the impression (ch. ) that the main result was disorder. such was not the case, nor was it the intention of the writers to create such an impression. the important work of the klan was accomplished in regaining for the whites control over the social order and in putting them in a fair way to regain political control. in some states this occurred sooner than in others. when the order accomplished its work it passed away. it was formally disbanded before the evil results of carpet bag governments could be seen. when it went out of existence in , there had been few outrages, but its name and prestige lived after it and served to hide the evil deeds of all sorts and conditions of outlaws. but these could be crushed by the government, state or federal. in a wider and truer sense the phrase "ku klux movement" means the attitude of southern whites toward the various measures of reconstruction lasting from until , and, in some respects, almost to the present day. * * * * * two elaborate prescripts or constitutions were adopted by the ku klux klan--the original prescript (see appendix i) and the revised and amended prescript (see appendix ii). the ritual and initiatory ceremonies and obligations were never printed. the by-laws and the ritual of the pulaski circle or den were elaborate but were in manuscript only. they were quite absurd and were intended only to furnish amusement to the members at the expense of the candidates for initiation. no oaths were prescribed--only a pledge of secrecy. as the klan spread among neighboring towns, the pulaski by-laws and ritual were modified for the use of new dens. after the klan had changed character and become a body of regulators, and it was decided that the administration should be centralized, a convention of delegates from the dens met in nashville, in april, , and adopted the original prescript already referred to. lester and wilson are mistaken in saying (ch. ) that the revised and amended prescript was adopted at this convention. where and how this prescript was printed no one now knows. a copy was sent, without notice or explanation, from memphis to the grand cyclops of each den. it must have been printed in a small printing office since in the last pages the supply of *'s and +'s ran out and other characters were substituted. many dens used only this prescript, and most of the members have never heard of more than one prescript. in some respects this first constitution was found defective and in the revised and amended prescript was adopted. who framed it we do not know, but it is known how it was printed. frank o. mccord, one of the founders of the pulaski circle, was editor of the _pulaski citizen_. a relative of his who worked in the printing office of the _citizen_, made the following statement some years ago in reference to a copy of the revised and amended prescript.[ ] "this is an exact copy of the original prescript printed in the office of the pulaski (tennessee) _citizen_, l.w. mccord, proprietor, in . i was a printer boy, and with john h. kirk, the father of the rev. harry kirk, recently of nashville, set the type. my brother, l.w. mccord, received a communication one day, delivered to him by means of a hole in the wall near the door, in which the ku klux deposited all their communications for the paper, asking for an estimate for printing this pamphlet, describing it. he delivered his reply in the same hole, and the following morning the copy in full, the money, and minute directions as to the disposition of the books when completed, were in the hole. we did it all under seal of secrecy and concealment, hid the galleys of type as they were set up, stitched them with our own hands in a back room over shapard's store, and trimmed them with a shoe knife on the floor. when finished they were tied into a bundle and deposited late at night just outside the office door, whence they were immediately taken by unseen hands. i knew personally all the originators of the ku klux klan, and the history of its origin, its deeds, purposes and accomplishments. "laps d. mccord."[ ] it will be noticed on comparing the two prescripts that there are some considerable differences between the two. the revised and amended prescript is eight pages longer than the other; the name of the order is longer; the poetical selections that introduce the first are omitted from the second; the second has latin quotations only at the top of the page; and the second prescript throws much more light on the character and objects of the order; the register is changed, and important changes in the administration are provided for. the imperfect prescript printed in appendix iii was used in the carolinas and was evidently written out from memory by some person who had belonged to the genuine klan. the members were widely scattered and to many of them the entire contents of the prescript were never known. when the klan was disbanded strict orders were issued that all documents relating to the order should be destroyed and few prescripts escaped. at present only one copy of the original copy is known to be in existence. that one was used by ryland randolph, of tuscaloosa, alabama, formerly grand giant of a province of the order, and was given to me by him. it is a little brown pamphlet of sixteen pages, and is reprinted in appendix i. randolph stated that he never saw the revised prescript. there are two copies of the revised and amended prescript, one in the library of the southern society of new york, which is now deposited with the columbia university library; the other belongs to mr. j.l. pearcy, formerly of nashville, now of washington, d.c. from the latter copy the late dr. w.r. garrett, of nashville, had the plates made that are now used in reproducing the revised and amended prescript in appendix ii. * * * * * the curious orders and warnings printed in appendix iv had several purposes. they were meant to warn and frighten evil-doers, to mystify the public, and to give notice to members. parts of the orders were written in cypher which could be interpreted by the initiated. the rest was gloomy sounding nonsense calculated to alarm some obnoxious person or persons. the cypher used is found in the register of the prescript. all orders that i have seen were written according to the register of the first prescript. this may be accounted for by the fact that in it was generally forbidden by law or by military order to print or distribute notices from the ku klux klan. about all that the cypher was used for, i have been told, was to fix dates, etc. there are thirty-one adjectives in the register, one for each day of the month, the first twelve for the morning hours, the last twelve for the evening hours, and the seven in the middle for the days of the week. the last word--"cumberland"--is said to have been a general password. at first the orders were printed in the newspapers, and during the winter of - and the spring of many of them appeared. as to the significance of the orders printed in appendix iv, ryland randolph wrote: "i well remember those notices you saw in _the monitor_ for they were concocted and posted by my own hand, disguised, of course." ... "you ask if any of the notices you saw in _the monitor_ had any real meaning. well, they had this much meaning: the very night of the day on which these notices made their appearances, three notably offensive negro men were dragged out of their beds, escorted to the old bone-yard (¾ mile from tuscaloosa) and thrashed in the regular ante-bellum style until their unnatural nigger pride had a tumble, and humbleness to the white man reigned supreme." * * * * * some of the illustrations used are of historical interest. the cartoon opposite p. is taken from the _independent monitor_ of tuscaloosa, alabama, a ku klux newspaper. the hanging carpetbagger was rev. a.s. lakin, of ohio, a northern methodist missionary to the negroes, who had succeeded in getting himself elected president of the university of alabama. the other hanging figure represents dr. n.b. cloud, the scalawag superintendent of public instruction who was assisting lakin to get his position. they were both driven from tuscaloosa by the klan. the wood-cut from which this picture was printed was fashioned by randolph himself in _the monitor_ office. the picture was eagerly welcomed by the reconstructionists as an evidence of the state of affairs in alabama, and it was reproduced far and wide during the presidential campaign of . randolph's brother democrats were furious because he had furnished such excellent campaign material to the other side. in one of randolph's letters he states: "the name of the ohio newspaper that republished my famous wood-cut was the _cincinnati commercial_. i have good authority for stating that said paper issued , copies for distribution throughout ohio during the seymour-grant campaign. not only this, but a columbus, ohio, paper also issued a large edition." the cartoon opposite p. is reproduced from "the loil legislature," a pamphlet by capt. b.h. screws, of montgomery. the alabama reconstruction legislature was the first to make an investigation of ku klux klan and _sibley_ and _coon_ were two carpetbaggers active in the investigation. opposite p. is a typical warning sent to persons obnoxious to the klan. it is taken from the ku klux report, alabama testimony. the costumes represented opposite p. were captured in mississippi and were worn both in mississippi and in western alabama. the costumes represented opposite p. were captured after the famous ku klux parade in huntsville, alabama, in . federal soldiers donned the captured disguises and were photographed. during the campaign of the pictures were reproduced in the reconstructionist newspapers. miss cora r. jones kindly furnished a drawing (see outside cover) of the badge worn by the higher officials of the klan, and a sketch of the room (see p. ) in which the klan was founded. her uncle, calvin jones, was one of the founders, the father, charles p. jones, was also a member and the badge mentioned belonged to him. the text of the lester and wilson history is reprinted without change. _west virginia university, october, ._ footnotes: [ ] cutler, in his "lynch law," p. , is the first writer outside of the south who has paid serious attention to this history of ku klux klan. [ ] the constitution and ritual of the knights of the white camelia have been printed in west virginia university documents relating to reconstruction, no. . [ ] tourgee's "invisible empire" gives the carpetbagger's view of the ku klux movement, and, though filled with worthless testimony from the ku klux report, it shows a very clear conception of the real meaning of the movement and a correct appreciation of its results. the best later interpretation is that of mr. william garrott brown in "the lower south," ch. . [ ] for a full account of its work in alabama see fleming's "civil war and reconstruction in alabama," ch. . [ ] other well-known members of the pulaski den were: captain robert mitchell, captain thomas mccoy, dr. m.s. waters, dr. james bowers, milton voorheis, c.p. jones, robert martin, dr. c.c. abernathy, i.l. shappard, robert shappard, j.l. nelson, john moore, f.m. crawford, alexander mckissick, w.h. rose. [ ] charles p. jones, brother of calvin jones, joined later. he now lives in birmingham, alabama. [ ] examples in european history are the carbonari of italy, the tugenbund and the vehmgericht of germany, the klephts of greece, young italy, the nihilists of russia, the masonic order in most catholic countries during the first half of the nineteenth century, beati paoli of sicily, the illuminati, etc. the "confréries" of medieval france were similar illegal societies formed "pour dèfendre les innocentes et reprimer les violences iniques."--lavisse et rambaud, histoire generale, vol. , p. . [ ] see ku klux report, vol. , p. . [ ] ku klux report, vol. , florida and miscellaneous, p. . [ ] see ku klux report, georgia testimony, p. . [ ] general clanton, of alabama, complained that the southern people had passed "out of the hands of warriors into the hands of squaws." general edmund w. pettus, now u.s. senator from alabama, said that the entire reconstruction was in violation of the understanding made at the surrender of the confederate armies. the confederate soldier surrendered with arms in hand and in return a certain contract was made in his parole according to which, as long as he was law-abiding, he was not to be disturbed. this contract had been violated. the government of the united states had made a promise to men with arms in their hands and had violated this promise by passing the reconstruction measures, which amounted to punishment of individuals for alleged crime without trial by law. see ku klux report, alabama testimony, pp. , , . [ ] it is the copy he refers to that is reproduced in appendix ii. [ ] _american historical magazine_, vol. , p. . ku klux klan its origin, growth and disbandment by j.c. lester and d.l. wilson ku klux klan chapter i. the origin. there is no stranger chapter in american history than the one which bears for a title "ku klux klan." the organization which bore this name went out of life as it came into it, shrouded in deepest mystery. its members would not disclose its secrets; others could not. even the investigation committee, appointed by congress, were baffled. the voluminous reports containing the results of that committee's tedious and diligent inquiry do not tell when and where and how the ku klux klan originated. the veil of secrecy still hangs over its grave. we propose to lift it. the time has now arrived when the history of the origin, growth and final decay of "the invisible empire" may be given to the public. circumstances not necessary to detail have put it in the power of the writer to compile such a history. for obvious reasons the names of individuals are withheld. but the reader may feel assured that this narrative is drawn from sources which are accurate and authentic. the writer does not profess to be able to disclose the secret signs, grips and pass-words of the order.[ ] these have never been disclosed and probably never will be. but we claim to narrate facts relating to the order, which have a historic and philosophic value. it is due to the truth of history; to the student of human nature; to the statesmen, and to the men who were engaged in this movement, that the facts connected with this remarkable episode in our nation's history be frankly and fairly told. a wave of excitement, spreading by contagions till the minds of a whole people are in a ferment, is an event of frequent occurrent. the ku klux movement was peculiar by reason of the causes which produced and fed the excitement. it illustrates the weird and irresistible power of the unknown and mysterious over the minds of men of all classes and conditions in life. and it illustrates how men, by circumstances and conditions, in part of their own creation, may be carried away from their moorings and drifted along in a course against which reason and judgment protest. the popular idea supposes the ku klux movement to have been conceived in malice, and nursed by prejudice and hate, for lawlessness, rapine and murder. the circumstances which brought the klan into notice and notoriety were of a character to favor such conclusions. no other seemed possible. the report of the congressional investigating committee confirmed it.[ ] even if that report be true, like everything else which is known of the ku klux, it is fragmentary truth. the whole story has never been told. and the impression prevails that the ku klux klan was conceived and carried out in pure and unmixed deviltry. the reader who follows this narrative to its end will decide, with the facts before him, whether this impression is just and true. the ku klux klan was the outgrowth of peculiar conditions, social, civil and political, which prevailed at the south from to . it was as much a product of those conditions as malaria is of a swamp and sun heat. its birthplace was pulaski, the capital of giles, one of the southern tier of counties in middle tennessee. pulaski is a town of about three thousand inhabitants. previous to the war its citizens possessed wealth and culture--they retain the second--the first was lost in the general wreck. the most intimate association with them fails to disclose a trace of the diabolism which, according to the popular idea, one would expect to find characterizing the people among whom the ku klux klan originated. a male college and a female seminary are located at pulaski, and receive liberal patronage. it is a town of churches. there, in , the name ku klux first fell from human lips. there began a movement which in a short time spread as far north as virginia[ ] and as far south as texas, and which for a period convulsed the country and attracted the attention of the civilized world. proclamations were fulminated against the klan by the president and by the governors of states; and hostile statutes were enacted both by state and national legislatures. it was finally quieted, but not until there had become associated with the name ku klux gross mistakes and lawless deeds of violence. to this day there are localities where the utterance of it awakens awe and fear. during the entire period of the klan's organized existence, pulaski continued to be its central seat of authority. some of its highest officers resided there. this narrative, therefore, will relate principally to the growth of the klan and the measures taken to suppress it in tennessee. it is necessary to a clear understanding of the movement to observe that the history of the klan is marked by two distinct and well defined periods. the first period covers the time from its organization, in , to the summer of . the second from the summer of to the date of its disbandment in the early part of the year .[ ] the first period contains but little of general interest, but it is necessary to describe it somewhat minutely, because of its bearing on subsequent events. when the war ended, the young men of pulaski, who had escaped death on the battlefield, returned home and passed through a period of enforced inactivity. in some respects it was more trying than the ordeal of war which lay behind them. the reaction which followed the excitement of army scenes and service was intense. there was nothing to relieve it. they could not engage at once in business or professional pursuits. in the case of many, business habits were broken up. few had capital to enter mercantile or agricultural enterprises. there was a total lack of the amusements and social diversions which prevail wherever society is in a normal condition. [illustration: room in which the klan was founded law office of judge thomas m. jones, pulaski, tennessee. from sketch by miss cora r. jones facing page ] one evening in may, ,[ ] a few of these young men met in the office of one of the most prominent members of the pulaski bar.[ ] in the course of the conversation one of the number said: "boys, let us get up a club or society of some description." the suggestion was discussed with enthusiasm. before they separated it was agreed to invite others, whose names were mentioned, to join them, and to meet again the next evening at the same place. at the appointed time eight or[ ] ten young men had assembled. a temporary organization was effected by the election of a chairman and a secretary. there was entire unanimity among the members in regard to the end in view, which was diversion and amusement. the evening was spent in discussing the best means of attaining the object for which they were seeking. two committees were appointed, one to select a name,[ ] the other[ ] to prepare a set of rules for the government of the society, and a ritual for the initiation of new members. the club adjourned to meet the following week to hear and act upon the reports of these committees. before the arrival of the appointed time for the next meeting, one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of pulaski went on a business trip to columbus, miss., taking his family with him. before leaving he invited one of the leading spirits of the new society to take charge of and sleep at his house during his absence. this young man invited his comrades to join him there. and so the place of meeting was changed from the law office to this residence. the owner of it outlived the ku klux klan and died ignorant of the fact that his house was the place where its organization was fully effected. this residence afterwards came into the possession of judge h.m. spofford, of spofford-kellogg fame.[ ] it was his home at the time of his death, and is still owned by his widow. the committee appointed to select a name reported that they had found the task difficult, and had not made a selection. they explained that they had been trying to discover or invent a name which would be, to some extent, suggestive of the character and objects of the society. they mentioned several which they had been considering. in this number was the name "kukloi" from the greek word _kuklos_ (kuklos), meaning a band or circle. at mention of this some one cried out: "call it ku klux." "klan" at once suggested itself, and was added to complete the alliteration. so instead of adopting a name, as was the first intention, which had a definite meaning, they chose one which to the proposer of it, and to every one else, was absolutely meaningless. this trivial and apparently accidental incident had a most important bearing on the future of the organization so singularly named. looking back over the history of the klan, and at the causes under which it developed, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the order would never have grown to the proportions which it afterwards assumed, or wielded the power it did, had it not borne this name or some other equally as meaningless and mysterious--mysterious because meaningless. had they called themselves the "jolly jokers" or the "adelphi," or by some similar appellation, the organization would doubtless have had no more than the mere local and ephemeral existence which those who organized it contemplated for it. hundreds of societies have originated just as this one did, and after a brief existence have passed away. but in this case there was a weird potency in the very name ku klux klan. let the reader pronounce it aloud. the sound of it is suggestive of bones rattling together! the potency of the name was not wholly in the impression made by it on the general public. it is a singular fact that the members of the klan were themselves the first to feel its weird influence; they had adopted a mysterious name. thereupon the original plan was modified so as to make everything connected with the order harmonize with the name. amusement was still the end in view. but now the method by which they propose to win it were those of secrecy and mystery. so when the report of the committee on rules and ritual came up for consideration, the recommendations were modified to adapt them to the new idea. the report as finally adopted, provided for the following officers: a grand cyclops, or president; a grand magi, or vice-president; a grand turk, or marshal; a grand exchequer, or treasurer; and two lictors. these were the outer and inner guards of the "den," as the place of meeting was designated. the one obligation exacted from members was to maintain profound and absolute secrecy with reference to the order and everything pertaining to it. this obligation prohibited those who assumed it from disclosing that they were ku klux, or the name of any other member, and from soliciting any one to become a member. the last requirement was a singular one. it was enacted for two reasons. first, it was in keeping with the determination to appear as mysterious as possible, and thus play upon the curiosity of the public. secondly, and mainly, it was designed to prevent unpleasantness following initiations. they wished to be able to say to novices: "you are here on your own solicitation, and not by invitation from us." they desired accessions; to have them was indispensable; but they knew human nature well enough to know that if they made the impression that they wished to be exclusive and select, then applications for membership would be numerous. the result showed that they reasoned correctly. each member was required to provide himself with the following outfit: a white mask for the face, with orifices for the eyes and nose; a tall, fantastic cardboard hat, so constructed as to increase the wearer's apparent height; a gown, or robe, of sufficient length to cover the entire person. no particular color or material were prescribed. these were left to the individual's taste and fancy, and each selected what in his judgment would be the most hideous and fantastic, with the aim of inspiring the greatest amount of curiosity in the novice. these robes, of different colors, often of the most flashy patterns of "dolly varden" calicos, added vastly to the grotesque appearance of the assembled klan.[ ] [illustration: costumes worn in mississippi and west alabama facing page ] each member carried also a small whistle, with which, by means of a code of signals agreed upon, they held communications with one another. the only utility of this device was to awaken inquiry.[ ] and the object of all this was amusement--"only this, and nothing more." a few young men debarred for the time by circumstances from entering any active business or professional pursuits, and deprived of the ordinary diversions of social life, were seeking in this way to amuse and employ themselves. the organization of this klan was to them both diversion and occupation. but where, it may be asked, did the fun come in? partly in exciting the curiosity of the public, and then in baffling it; but mainly in the initiation of new members. the ritual used in the initiation was elaborate, but not worthy of reproduction. it is enough to say that it was modeled on and embraced the leading features of the ritual of an order which has long been popular in colleges and universities under various names.[ ] in one place it is the "sons of confucius;" in another, the "guiasticutus;" but everywhere, the "ancient and the honorable," and the "mirth-provoking." the initiations were at first conducted in the law office, where the suggestion for the formation of the klan had been made. but it was not a suitable place. the room was small. it was near the business portion of the town, and while in session there, they never felt entirely free from apprehensions of interruption.[ ] they soon found a place in every respect better adapted to their purposes. on the brow of a ridge, that runs along the western outskirts of the town, there used to stand a handsome and commodious residence. the front, or main building, was of brick, the "l" of wood. in december, , the brick portion of this house was demolished by a cyclone. the "l" remained standing, but tenantless. it consisted of three rooms. a stairway led from one of them to a large cellar beneath. no other house stood near. around these ruins were the storm-torn, limbless trunks of trees, which had once formed a magnificent grove. now, they stood up, grim and gaunt, like spectre sentinels. a dreary, desolate, uncanny place it was. but it was, in every way, most suitable for a "den," and the klan appropriated it.[ ] when a meeting was held, one lictor was stationed near the house, the other fifty yards from it on the road leading into town. these were dressed in the fantastic regalia of the order and bore tremendous spears as the badge of their office. as before stated, and for the reasons assigned, the ku klux did not solicit any one to join them; yet, they had applications for membership. while members were not allowed to disclose the fact of their membership, they were permitted to talk with others in regard to anything that was a matter of common report with reference to the order. if they chose, members were allowed to say to outsiders: "i am going to join the ku klux." if the persons addressed expressed a desire to do likewise, the ku klux would say, if the party was a desirable one: "well, i think i know how to get in. meet me at such a place, on such a night, at such an hour, and we will join together." other similar subterfuges were resorted to, to secure members without direct solicitation. usually, curiosity would predominate over every other consideration, and the candidate would be found waiting at the appointed place. as the ku klux and the candidate approached the sentinel lictor, they were hailed and halted and questioned. having received the assurance that they desired to become ku klux, the lictor blew the signal for his companion to come and take charge of the novices. the candidate, under the impression that his companion was similarly treated, was blindfolded and led to the "den." the preliminaries of the initiation consisted in leading the candidate around the rooms and down into the cellar, now and then placing before him obstructions which added to his discomfort, if not to his mystification. after some rough sport of this description, he was led before the grand cyclops who solemnly addressed to him numerous questions. some of these questions were grave, and occasionally a faulty answer resulted in the candidate's rejection. for the most part they were absurd to the last degree. if the answers were satisfactory, the obligation to secrecy, already administered, was exacted a second time. then the grand cyclops commanded: "place him before the royal altar and adorn his head with the regal crown." the "royal altar" was a large looking glass. the "regal crown" was a huge hat bedecked with two enormous donkey ears. in this headgear the candidate was placed before the mirror and directed to repeat the couplet: "o wad some power the giftie gie us to see oursel's as ithers see us." as the last word was falling from his lips, the grand turk removed the bandage from his eyes, and before the candidate was his own ludicrous image in the mirror. to increase the discomfiture and chagrin which any man in such a situation would naturally feel, the removal of the bandage was the signal to the klan for indulgence in the most uproarious and boisterous mirth. the grand cyclops relaxed the rigor of his rule, and the decorum hitherto maintained disappeared, and the "den" rang with shouts and peals of laughter; and worse than all, as he looked about him, he saw that he was surrounded by men dressed in hideous garb and masked, so that he could not recognize one of them. the character of these initiatory proceedings explains why, from the very first, secrecy was so much insisted on. a single "tale out of school" would have spoiled the fun. for the same reason the klan, in its early history, was careful in regard to the character of the men admitted. rash and imprudent men--such as could not be confidently relied upon to respect their obligation to secrecy--were excluded. nor were those admitted who were addicted to the use of intoxicants. later on in the history they were not so careful, but in the earlier period of its existence the klan was composed of men of good habits.[ ] in some instances, persons not regarded as eligible to membership, or not desirable, were persistent even to annoyance in their efforts to gain admission to the order. such persistence was occasionally rebuked in a manner more emphatic than tender. one young man had a consuming desire to be a ku klux. the sole objection, to him was his youth. when he presented himself to the lictor, the latter received him kindly, and led him blindfold, "over the hill and far away" to a secluded spot, and left him with the admonition to "wait there till called for." after hours of weary waiting, the young man removed the bandage from his eyes and sought the shelter of the paternal roof. another of riper years, but for some reason not acceptable to the order, made repeated efforts to join the klan. for his special benefit they arranged to have an initiation not provided for in the ritual. a meeting was appointed to be held on the top of a hill that rises by a gentle slope to a considerable height, on the northern limits of pulaski. the candidate, in the usual way--blindfold excepted--was led into the presence of the grand cyclops. this dignitary was standing on a stump. the tall hat, the flowing robe, and the elevated position made him appear not less than ten feet tall. he addressed to the candidate a few unimportant and absurd questions, and then, turning to the lictors, said: "blindfold the candidate and proceed." the "procedure" in this case was to place the would-be ku klux in a barrel, provided for the purpose, and to send him whirling down the hill! to his credit, be it said, he never revealed any of the secrets of the ku klux klan.[ ] these details have an important bearing on the subsequent history of the ku klux. they show that the originators of the klan were not meditating treason or lawlessness in any form. yet the klan's later history grew naturally out of the measures and methods which characterized this period of it. its projectors did not expect it to spread. they thought it would "have its little day and die." it lived; it grew to vast proportions. footnotes: [ ] the writer, d.l. wilson, was not a member. the secrets of the klan were not printed or written, but were communicated orally. in appendix iv, p. , will be found versions of the oath taken by the members.--_editor._ [ ] in - a committee of congress made an investigation of affairs in the south. its report, with the testimony collected, was published in volumes, and is usually called the ku klux report. see fleming, civil war and reconstruction in alabama, p. ; garner, reconstruction in mississippi, p. .--_editor._ [ ] see above, p. . [ ] general forrest said that the order was disbanded in the fall of . see ku klux report, vol. xiii., pp. - .--_editor._ [ ] wilson's account in the _century magazine_, july, , says that the order was founded in june, .--_editor._ [ ] this was the law office of judge thomas m. jones, father of one of the originators.--_editor._ [ ] survivors say that six men organized the club and that others joined soon after.--_editor._ [ ] this committee was composed of calvin jones and r.r. reed.--_editor._ [ ] in this committee were j.r. crowe, j.c. lester and john kennedy.--_editor._ [ ] spofford was a brother of a.r. spofford, librarian of congress. he was a native of new hampshire, who removed to louisiana and held high judicial office there before the civil war. after he spent much of his time in pulaski. in he was elected to the united states senate from louisiana, but the senate seated w.p. kellogg, a carpetbagger from illinois, who had been voted for by the "packard legislature."--_editor._ [ ] "their robes used in these nocturnal campaigns consisted simply of sheets wrapped around their bodies and belted around the waist. the lower portion reached to the heels, whilst the upper had eye-holes through which to see and mouth-holes through which to breathe. of course, every man so caparisoned had one or more pistols in holsters buckled to his waist."--_ryland randolph._ [ ] it is said that the members of the pulaski den wore small metal badges.--_editor._ [ ] in the southern colleges of today the peculiar greek letter fraternity known as alpha sigma sigma, and the institution of "snipe hunting" most nearly resemble the klan in its early stages.--_editor._ [ ] after leaving the law office of judge jones the klan met for a while in a room of the _pulaski citizen_ building. the editor of the _citizen_ was a member of the klan and his paper published the orders, proclamations and warnings sent out by the officials.--_miss cora r. jones._ [ ] this building was the property of dr. benjamin carter, grandfather of the present postmaster of birmingham, alabama.--_miss cora r. jones._ [ ] "my information was that they admitted no man who was not a gentleman and a man who could be relied upon to act discreetly; not men who were in the habit of drinking, boisterous men, or men liable to commit error or wrong."--general _forrest in ku klux report, vol. xiii, p. ._ [ ] later, when brownlow's administration was endeavoring to crush out the ku klux klan, one of his detectives sought to gain admission to the order. his purposes became known and the nashville den, which he was trying to join, put him into a barrel and rolled it into the cumberland river, drowning the detective.--_washington post_, _august , ._ chapter ii. the spread of the klan. the devices for attracting attention were eminently successful. during the months of july and august, , the klan was much talked about by the citizens of pulaski. its mysteriousness was the sensation of the hour. every issue of the local paper contained some notice of the strange order. these notices were copied into other papers, and in this manner the way was prepared for the rapid growth and spread of the klan which soon followed. six weeks or less from the date of the organization the sensation in pulaski had reached its height and was waning. curiosity in regard to it had abated to such a degree that the klan would have certainly fallen to pieces but for the following circumstances: by the time the eligible material in the town had been used up, the young men from the country, whose curiosity had been inflamed by the newspaper notices, began to come in and apply for admission to the klan. some of these applications were accepted. in a little while the members from the country asked permission to establish "dens" at various points in the county. no provision had been made for such a contingency, but the permission was granted; had it not been, the result in all probability would have been the same. as the ritual followed by the pulaski klan could not be conveniently carried out in the country, various modifications and changes were permitted. but the strictest injunctions were laid on these new lodges, or dens, in regard to secrecy, mystery and the character of the men admitted. the growth in the rural districts was more rapid than it had been in the town. applications for permission to establish "dens" multiplied rapidly. the news that the ku klux were spreading to the country excited the attention of the country people more generally than the existence of the klan in town had done. the same cause rekindled the waning interest of the town people. every issue of the local papers in the "infected regions" bristled with highly mysterious and exciting accounts of the doings of the "fantastic gentry." during the fall and winter of the growth of the klan was rapid. it spread over a wide extent of territory. sometimes, by a sudden leap, it appeared in localities far distant from any existing "dens." a stranger from west tennessee, mississippi, alabama or texas, visiting in a neighborhood where the order prevailed, would be initiated, and on his departure carry with him permission to establish a "den" at home. in fact, it was often done without such permission. the connecting link between these "dens" was very fragile. by a sort of tacit agreement the pulaski klan was regarded as the source of power and authority. the grand cyclops of this "den" was virtually the ruler of the order, but as he had no method of communicating with subjects or subordinates, and no way in which to enforce his mandates, his authority was more fancy than fact. but so far there had appeared no need for compact organization, rigid rules and close supervision. the leading spirits of the ku klux klan were contemplating nothing more serious than amusement. they enjoyed the baffled curiosity and wild speculations of a mystified public even more than the rude sport afforded by the ludicrous initiations. such is the account of the ku klux klan in the first period of its history from june, to april, ;[ ] yet all this time it was gradually, in a very natural way, taking on new features not at first remotely contemplated by the originators of the order; features which finally transformed the ku klux klan into a band of "regulators." the transformation was effected by the combined operation of several causes: ( ) the impressions made by the order upon the minds of those who united with it; ( ) the impressions upon the public by its weird and mysterious methods; ( ) the anomalous and peculiar condition of affairs in the south at this time. the mystery and secrecy with which the klan veiled itself made a singular impression on the minds of many who united with it. the prevalent idea was that the klan contemplated some great and important mission. this idea aided in its rapid growth. and on the other hand the rapid extensions of the klan confirmed this idea of its purposes. when admitted to membership this conclusion, in the case of many, was deepened rather than removed by what they saw and heard. there was not a word in the ritual or in the obligation or in any part of the ceremony to favor such a conclusion; but the impression still remained that this mysteriousness and secrecy, the high-sounding titles of the officers, the grotesque dress of the members, and the formidable obligation, all meant more than real sport. this impression was ineradicable, and the attitude of many of the members continued to be that of expecting great developments. each had his own speculations as to what was to be the character of the serious work which the klan had to do. but they were satisfied that there was such work. it was an unhealthy and dangerous state of mind for men to be in; bad results in some cases very naturally followed from it. the impression made by the klan on the public was the second cause which contributed to its transformation into a band of regulators. when the meetings first began to be held in the dilapidated house on the hill, passers-by were frequent. most of them passed the grim and ghostly sentinel on the roadside in silence, but always with a quickened step. occasionally one would stop and ask: "who are you?" in awfully sepulchral tones the invariable answer was: "a spirit from the other world. i was killed at chickamauga." such an answer, especially when given to a superstitious negro, was extremely terrifying, and if, in addition, he heard the uproarous noises issuing from the "den" at the moment of a candidate's investiture with the "regal crown," he had the foundation for a most awe-inspiring story. there came from the country similar stories. the belated laborer, passing after nightfall, some lonely and secluded spot, heard horrible noises and saw fearful sights. these stories were repeated with such embellishments as the imagination of the narrator suggested, till the feeling of the negroes and of many of the white people, at mention of the ku klux, was one of awe and terror. in a short time the lictor of the pulaski "den" reported that travel along the road on which he had his post had almost entirely stopped. in the country it was noticed that the nocturnal perambulation of the colored population diminished, or entirely ceased, wherever the ku klux appeared. in many ways there was a noticeable improvement in the habits of a large class who had hitherto been causing great annoyance. in this way the klan gradually realized that the most powerful devices ever constructed for controlling the ignorant and superstitious were in their hands. even the most highly cultured were not able wholly to resist the weird and peculiar feeling which pervaded every community where the ku klux appeared. each week some new incident occurred to illustrate the amazing power of the unknown over the minds of men of all classes. circumstances made it evident that the measures and methods employed for sport might be effectually used to subserve the public welfare--to suppress lawlessness and protect property. when propositions to this effect began to be urged, there were many who hesitated, fearing danger. the majority regarded such fears as groundless. they pointed to the good results which had already been produced. the argument was forcible--almost unanswerable. and the question was decided without formal action. the very force of circumstances had carried the klan away from its original purpose. so that in the beginning of the summer of it was virtually, though not yet professedly, a band of regulators, honestly, but in an injudicious and dangerous way, trying to protect property and preserve peace and order.[ ] after all, the most powerful agency in effecting this transformation, the agency which supplied the conditions under which the two causes just mentioned became operative, was the peculiar state of affairs existing at the south at that time. as every one knows, the condition of things was wholly anomalous, but no one can fully appreciate the circumstances by which the people of the south were surrounded except by personal observation and experience; and no one who is not fully acquainted with all the facts in the case is competent to pronounce a just judgment on their behavior. on this account, not only the ku klux, but the mass of the southern people, have been tried, convicted and condemned at the bar of public opinion, and have been denied the equity of having the sentence modified by mitigating circumstances, which in justice, they have a right to plead. at that time the throes of the great revolution were settling down to quiet. the almost universal disposition of the better class of the people was to accept the arbitrament which the sword had accorded them. on this point there was practical unanimity. those who had opportunity and facilities to do so, engaged at once in agricultural, professional or business pursuits. there was but little disposition to take part in politics. but there were two causes of vexation and exasperation which the people were in no good mood to bear. one of these causes related to that class of men who, like scum, had been thrown to the surface in the great upheaval.[ ] it was not simply that they were union men from conviction. that would have been readily forgiven then, as can be shown by pointing to hundreds of cases. but the majority of the class referred to had played traitor to both sides, and were union men now only because that was the successful side. and worse than all, they were now engaged in keeping alive discord and strife between the sections, as the only means of preventing themselves from sinking back into the obscurity from which they had been upheaved. their conduct was malicious in the extreme and exceedingly exasperating. these men were a "thorn in the flesh" of the body, politic and social; and the effort to expel it set up an inflammation which for a time awakened the gravest apprehensions as to the result. the second disturbing element was the negroes. their transition from slavery to citizenship was sudden. they were not only not fitted for the cares of self-control, and maintenance so suddenly thrust upon them, but many of them entered their new role in life under the delusion that freedom meant license. they regarded themselves as freedmen, not only from bondage to former masters, but from the common and ordinary obligations of citizenship. many of them looked upon obedience to the laws of the state--which had been framed by their former owners--as in some measure a compromise of the rights with which they had been invested. the administration of civil law was only partially re-established. on that account, and for other reasons, there was an amount of disorder and violence prevailing over the country which has never been equaled at any period of its history. if the officers of the law had had the disposition and ability to arrest all law-breakers, a jail and court-house in every civil district would have been required. the depredations on property by theft and by wanton destruction for the gratification of petty revenge, were to the last degree annoying. a large part of these depredations was the work of bad white men, who expected that their lawless deeds would be credited to the negroes. but perhaps the most potent of all causes which brought about this transformation was the existence in the south of a spurious and perverted form of the "union league."[ ] it would be as unfair to this organization as it existed at the north, to charge it with the outrages committed under cover of its name, as it is to hold the ku klux klan responsible for all the lawlessness and violence with which it is credited. but it is a part of the history of those times that there was a widespread and desperately active organization called the "union league." it was composed of the disorderly element of the negro population and was led and controlled by white men of the basest and meanest type just now referred to. they met frequently, went armed to the teeth, and literally "breathed out threatening and slaughter." they not only uttered, but in many instances executed the most violent threats against the persons, families and property of men, whose sole crime was that they had been in the confederate army. it cannot be truthfully denied that the ku klux committed excesses and were charged with wrongdoing. but they were never guilty of the disorderly and unprovoked deeds of deviltry which mark the history of the southern "union league." it was partly, i may say chiefly, to resist this aggressive and belligerent organization that the ku klux transformed themselves into a protective organization.[ ] whatever may be the judgment of history, those who know the facts will ever remain firm in the conviction that the ku klux klan was of immense service at this period of southern history. without it, in many sections of the south, life to decent people would not have been tolerable. it served a good purpose. wherever the ku klux appeared the effect was salutary. for a while the robberies ceased. the lawless class assumed the habits of good behavior. the "union league" relaxed its desperate severity and became more moderate. under their fear of the dreaded ku klux, the negroes made more progress, in a few months, in the needed lessons of self-control, industry, and respect for the rights of property and general good behavior, than they would have done in as many years, but for this or some equally powerful impulse. it was a rough and a dangerous way to teach such lessons, but under all the circumstances it seemed the only possible way. of course, these men were trying a dangerous experiment. many of them knew it at the time, and did not expect it on the whole to turn out more successfully than others of a similar character. but there seemed to be no other alternative at the time. events soon occurred which showed that the fears of those who apprehended danger were not groundless, and it became evident, unless the klan should be brought under better control than its leaders at this time exercised over it, that while it suppressed some evils, it would give rise to others almost, if not fully, as great.[ ] footnotes: [ ] it will be remembered that in march, , the reconstruction acts were passed and that in april, , the reconstruction was beginning.--_editor._ [ ] "it originated with returned soldiers for the purpose of punishing those negroes who had become notoriously and offensively insolent to white people, and, in some cases, to chastise those white skinned men who, at that particular time, showed a disposition to affiliate socially with negroes. the impression sought to be made upon these latter was that these white-robed night prowlers were the ghosts of the confederate dead, who had arisen from their graves in order to wreak vengeance on an undesirable class of both white and black men."--_ryland randolph._ [ ] the class called "tories" during the civil war. they should not be confused with the genuine unionists.--_editor._ [ ] sometimes called "loyal league." see in regard to this secret society--fleming, civil war and reconstruction in alabama, ch. , and (west virginia university) documents relating to reconstruction, no. .--_editor._ [ ] on this point the testimony of generals forrest, john b. gordon and e.w. pettus, and j.a. minnis, in the ku klux report, is instructive.--_editor._ [ ] pease, "in the wake of war," (fiction) gives a very good description of affairs in tennessee by one who was thoroughly familiar with conditions there. chapter iii. the transformation. until the beginning of the year , the movements of the klan had, in the main, been characterized by prudence and discretion; but there were some exceptions. in some cases there had been a liberal construction of orders and of what was by common consent the law of the klan. in some, the limits, which tacitly it had been agreed upon not to pass, had been overstepped. attempts had been made to correct by positive means evils which menaces had not been sufficient to remove. rash, imprudent and bad men had gotten into the order. the danger which the more prudent and thoughtful had apprehended as possible was now a reality. had it been possible to do so, some of the leaders would have been in favor of disbanding. that could not well be done, because at that time the organization was so loose and imperfect. so to speak, the tie that bound them together was too shadowy to be cut or untied. they had evoked a spirit from "the vasty deep." it would not down at their bidding. and, besides, the klan was needed. the only course which seemed to promise any satisfactory solution of the difficulty was this: to reorganize the klan on a plan corresponding to its size and present purposes; to bind the isolated dens together; to secure unity of purpose and concert of action; to hedge the members up by such limitations and regulations as were best adapted to restrain them within proper limits; to distribute the authority among prudent men at local centres, and exact from them a close supervision of those under their charge. in this way it was hoped the impending dangers would be effectually guarded against. with these objects in view the grand cyclops of the pulaski den sent out a request to all the dens of which he had knowledge, to appoint delegates to meet in convention at nashville, tenn., in the early summer of .[ ] at the time appointed this convention was held. delegates were present from tennessee, alabama, and a number of other states. a plan of reorganization, previously prepared, was submitted to this convention and adopted. after the transaction of some further business, the convention adjourned, and the delegates returned home without having attracted any attention. at this convention the territory covered by the klan was designated as the "invisible empire." this was subdivided into "realms" coterminous with the boundaries of states. the "realms" were divided into "dominions," corresponding to congressional districts; the "dominions" into "provinces" coterminous with counties; and the "provinces" into "dens." to each of these departments officers were assigned. except in the case of the supreme officer, the duties of each were minutely specified. these officers were: the grand wizard of the invisible empire and his ten genii. the powers of this officer were almost autocratic. the grand dragon of the realm and his eight hydras. the grand titan of the dominion and his six furies. the grand cyclops of the den and his two night hawks. a grand monk. a grand scribe. a grand exchequer. a grand turk. a grand sentinel. the genii, hydras, furies, goblins and night hawks were staff officers. the gradation and distribution of authority was perfect. but for one source of weakness, the klan, under this new organization, was one of the most perfectly organized orders that ever existed in the world. as we shall see presently, it was vulnerable and failed because of the character of its methods. secrecy was at first its strength. it afterwards became its greatest weakness. as long as mystery was conjoined with it, it was strength. when masks and disguises ceased to be mysterious, secrecy was weakness. one of the most important things done by this nashville convention was to make a positive and emphatic declaration of the principles of the order. it was in the following terms: "we recognize our relations to the united states government; the supremacy of the constitution; the constitutional laws thereof; and the union of states thereunder." if these men were plotting treason, it puzzles us to know why they should make such a statement as that in setting forth the principles of the order. the statement above quoted was not intended for general circulation and popular effect. so far as is known, it is now given to the public for the first time. we must regard it, therefore, as accurately describing the political attitude which the ku klux proposed and desired to maintain. every man who became a member of the klan really took an oath to support the constitution of the united states. this nashville convention also defined and set forth the peculiar objects of the order, as follows:[ ] ( .) "to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless, from the indignities, wrongs and outrages of the lawless, the violent and the brutal; to relieve the injured and the oppressed; to succor the suffering, and especially the widows and orphans of confederate soldiers. ( .) "to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. ( .) "to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land." this last clause was the result of the infamous and barbarous legislation of that day. on the rd of june, , the thirty-fourth general assembly of tennessee revived the sedition law and restricted the right of suffrage.[ ] a negro militia, ignorant and brutal, were afterwards put over the state, and spread terror throughout its borders. men felt that they had no security for life, liberty, or property. they were persecuted if they dared to complain. it was no strange thing if they resorted to desperate measures for protection. the emergency was desperate. taking all the circumstances and aggravations into consideration one cannot but be surprised that men so persecuted and oppressed remained so moderate and forbearing. the legislation of the nashville convention of ku klux bears internal evidence of what we know from other sources to be true. whilst devising measures for protection to life and property, and for the resistance of lawlessness and oppression, whether from irresponsible parties or from those who professed to be acting legally and under cover of authority, they were anxious also to control the klan itself and to keep it within what they conceived to be safe limits. up to this time the majority had shown a fair appreciation of the responsibilities of their self-imposed task of preserving social order. but under any circumstances the natural tendency of an organization such as this is to violence and crime--much more under such circumstances as those then prevailing. excesses had been committed. whether justly so or not, they were credited to the klan. and it was foreseen and feared that if such things continued or increased the hostility of state and federal governments would be kindled against the klan and active measures taken to suppress it. the hope was entertained that the legislations taken by the convention and the reorganization would not only enable the klan to enact its _role_ as regulators with greater success, but would keep its members within the prescribed limits, and so guard against the contingencies referred to. they desired on the one hand, to restrain and control their own members; on the other to correct evils and promote order in society; and to do the latter _solely_ by utilizing for this purpose the means and methods originally employed for amusement. in each direction the success was but partial, as will be told presently. by the reorganization no material change was made in the methods of the klan's operations. some of the old methods were slightly modified; a few new features were added. the essential features of mystery, secrecy and grotesqueness were retained, and steps were taken with a view to deepening and intensifying the impressions already made upon the public mind. they attempted to push to the extreme limits of illustration the power of the mysterious over the minds of men. henceforth they courted publicity as assiduously as they had formerly seemed to shun it. they appeared at different points at the same time, and always when and where they were the least expected. devices were multiplied to deceive people in regard to their numbers and everything else, and to play upon the fears of the superstitious. as it was now the policy of the klan to appear in public, an order was issued by the grand dragon of the realm of tennessee to the grand giants of the provinces for a general parade in the capital town of each province on the night of the th of july, . it will be sufficient for this narrative to describe that parade as witnessed by the citizens of pulaski. similar scenes were enacted at many other places. on the morning of the th of july, , the citizens of pulaski found the sidewalks thickly strewn with slips of paper bearing the printed words:[ ] "the ku klux will parade the streets to-night." this announcement created great excitement. the people supposed that their curiosity, so long baffled, would now be gratified. they were confident that this parade would at least afford them the opportunity to find out who were the ku klux. soon after nightfall the streets were lined with an expectant and excited throng of people. many came from the surrounding country. the members of the klan in the county left their homes in the afternoon and traveled alone or in squads of two or three, with their paraphernalia carefully concealed. if questioned, they answered that they were going to pulaski to see the ku klux parade. after nightfall they assembled at designated points near the four main roads leading into town. here they donned their robes and disguises and put covers of gaudy materials on their horses. a skyrocket sent up from some point in the town was the signal to mount and move. the different companies met and passed each other on the public square in perfect silence; the discipline appeared to be admirable.[ ] not a word was spoken. necessary orders were given by means of the whistles. in single file, in death-like stillness, with funeral slowness, they marched and counter-marched throughout the town. while the column was headed north on one street it was going south on another. by crossing over in opposite directions the lines were kept up in almost unbroken continuity. the effect was to create the impression of vast numbers. this marching and counter-marching was kept up for about two hours, and the klan departed as noiselessly as they came. the public were more than ever mystified. curiosity had not been satisfied, as it was expected it would be. the efforts of the most curious and cunning to find out who were ku klux failed. one gentleman from the country, a great lover of horses, who claimed to know every horse in the county, was confident that he would be able to identify the riders by the horses. with this purpose in view, he remained in town to witness the parade. but, as we have said, the horses were disguised as well as the riders. determined not to be baffled, during a halt of the column he lifted the cover of a horse that was near him--the rider offering no objection--and recognized his own steed and saddle upon which he had ridden into town. the town people were on the alert also to see who of the young men of the town would be with the ku klux. all of them, almost without exception, were marked, mingling freely and conspicuously with the spectators. those of them who were members of the klan did not go into the parade. this demonstration had the effect for which it was designed. perhaps the greatest illusion produced by it was in regard to the numbers participating in it. reputable citizens--men of cool and accurate judgment--were confident that the number was not less than three thousand. others, whose imaginations were more easily wrought upon, were quite certain there were ten thousand. the truth is, that the number of ku klux in the parade did not exceed four hundred. this delusion in regard to numbers prevailed wherever the ku klux appeared. it illustrates how little the testimony of even an eye-witness is worth in regard to anything which makes a deep impression on him by reason of its mysteriousness. the klan had a large membership; it exerted a vast, terrifying and wholesome power; but its influence was never at any time dependent on, or proportioned to, its membership. it was in the mystery in which the comparatively few enshrouded themselves. gen. forrest, before the investigating committee, placed the number of ku klux in tennessee at , ,[ ] and in the entire south at , . this was with him only a guessing estimate.[ ] careful investigation leads to the conclusion that he overshoots the mark in both cases. it is an error to suppose that the entire male population of the south were ku klux, or that even a majority of them were privy to its secrets and in sympathy with its extremest measures. to many of them, perhaps to a majority, the ku klux klan was as vague, impersonal and mysterious as to the people of the north, or of england. they did attribute to it great good and to this day remember with gratitude the protection it afforded them in the most trying and perilous period of their history, when there was no other earthly source to which to appeal.[ ] [illustration: costumes worn in tennessee and north alabama facing page ] one or two illustrations may here be given of the methods resorted to to play upon the superstitious fears of the negroes and others.[ ] at the parade in pulaski, while the procession was passing a corner on which a negro man was standing, a tall horseman in hideous garb turned aside from the line, dismounted, and stretched out his bridle rein toward the negro, as if he desired him to hold his horse. not daring to refuse, the frightened african extended his hand to grasp the rein. as he did so, the ku klux took his own head from his shoulders and offered to place that also in the outstretched hand. the negro stood not upon the order of his going, but departed with a yell of terror. to this day he will tell you: "he done it, suah, boss. i seed him do it." the gown was fastened by a draw-string over the top of the wearer's head. over this was worn an artificial skull made of a large gourd or of pasteboard. this with the hat could be readily removed, and the man would then appear to be headless. such tricks gave rise to the belief--still prevalent among the negroes--that the ku klux could take themselves all to pieces whenever they wanted to. some of the ku klux carried skeleton hands. these were made of bone or wood with a handle long enough to be held in the hand, which was concealed by the gown sleeve. the possessor of one of these was invariably of a friendly turn and offered to shake hands with all he met, with what effect may be readily imagined. a trick of frequent perpetration in the country was for a horseman, spectral and ghostly looking, to stop before the cabin of some negro needing a wholesome impression and call for a bucket of water. if a dipper or gourd was brought it was declined, and the bucket full of water demanded. as if consumed by raging thirst the horseman grasped it and pressed it to his lips. he held it there till every drop of the water was poured into a gum or oiled sack concealed beneath the ku klux robe. then the empty bucket was returned to the amazed negro with the remark: "that's good. it is the first drink of water i have had since i was killed at shiloh." then a few words of counsel as to future behavior made an impression not easily forgotten or likely to be disregarded. under ordinary circumstances such devices are unjustifiable. but in the peculiar state of things then existing they served a good purpose. it was not only better to deter the negroes from theft and other lawlessness in this way than to put them in the penitentiary; but it was the only way, at this time, by which they could be controlled. the jails would not contain them. the courts could not or would not try them. the policy of the klan all the while was to deter men from wrongdoing. it was only in rare, exceptional cases, and these the most aggravated, that it undertook to punish.[ ] footnotes: [ ] "in the spring of ," says wilson in the _century magazine_, july, . may was the month of meeting. this was just after the reconstruction acts had been passed.--_editor._ [ ] i am convinced that the authors are mistaken in saying that the first convention adopted the prescript containing these declarations. the prescript adopted was the one reproduced in appendix i. the other one, reproduced in appendix ii, was adopted, it is believed, in .--_editor._ [ ] ex-confederates were practically all excluded from the suffrage.--_editor._ [ ] notices were posted in every public place, and even pasted on the backs of hogs and cows running loose in the streets.--_miss cora r. jones._ [ ] most members of the klan had been confederate soldiers and were familiar with military drill and discipline.--_editor._ [ ] a later estimate places the membership of ku klux klan at , in tennessee alone.--_washington post, august , ._ [ ] forrest denied that he had made such an estimate. there were many other orders similar to ku klux klan and the total membership was probably about half a million.--_editor._ [ ] it made the women feel safer. "and then came the reign of martial law, and the freedmen's bureau. those dark days of the reconstruction period rapidly followed the horrors of civil war, and the reign of the carpetbagger began, goading the people to desperation. for their protection the younger and more reckless men of the community now formed a secret society, which masqueraded at night in grotesque and grewsome character called the ku klux klan. always silent and mysterious, mounted on horses, they swept noiselessly by in the darkness with gleaming death's heads, skeletons and chains. it struck terror into the heart of the evil-doer, while the peaceful citizen knew a faithful patrol had guarded his premises while he slept."--_mrs. stubbs, in "saunders' early settlers of alabama_," p. . [ ] a practice not mentioned here was that of sending out the peculiar warnings and orders, specimens of which are printed in appendix iv.--_editor._ [ ] "we had regular meetings about once a week, at which the conduct of certain offensive characters would be discussed, and if the majority voted to punish such it would be accordingly done on certain prescribed nights. sometimes it was deemed necessary only to post notices of warning, which, in some cases, were sufficient to alarm the victims sufficiently to induce them to reform in their behavior."--_ryland randolph._ chapter iv. the decline. for a while after the reorganization of the klan, those concerned for its welfare and right conduct congratulated themselves that all was now well. closer organization and stricter official supervision had a restraining influence upon the members. many things seemed to indicate that the future work of the klan would be wholly good. these hopes were rudely shattered. ere long official supervision grew less rigid or was less regarded. the membership was steadily increasing. among the new material added were some bad men who could not be--at least were not--controlled. in the winter and spring of and many things were done by members, or professed members, of the klan, which were the subject of universal regret and condemnation. in many ways the grave censure of those who had hitherto been friendly to it was evoked against the klan, and occasion, long sought for, was given its enemies to petition the intervention of the government to suppress it. the end came rapidly. we must now trace the causes which wrought the decay and downfall of the "invisible empire." in regard to the doings of the ku klux two extreme positions have been advocated. on the one hand, it is asserted that the ku klux committed no outrages. on the other, that they were the authors of all the depredations committed by masked and disguised men in the southern states from to . the truth lies between these two extremes. great outrages were committed by bands of disguised men during those years of lawlessness and oppression. and the fact must be admitted that some of these outrages were committed, if not by the order and approbation of the klan, at least by men who were members of it.[ ] the thoughtful reader will readily understand how this came about. there was a cause which naturally and almost necessarily produced the result. men of the character of the majority of those who composed the klan do not disregard their own professed principles and violate self-assumed obligations without cause. we have seen that the klan was in the main composed of the very best men in the country--peaceable, law-loving and law-abiding men--men of good habits and character--men of property and intelligence. we have seen that the organization had no political significance; they expressly and in solemn secret compact declared their allegiance to the constitution and all constitutional laws, and pledged themselves to aid in the administration of all such laws. to see such men defying law and creating disorder, is a sight singular enough to awake inquiry as to the causes which had been at work upon them. the transformation of the ku klux klan, from a band of regulators, honestly trying to preserve peace and order, into the body of desperate men who, in , convulsed the country and set at defiance the mandates of both state and federal governments, is greater than the transformation which we have already traced. in both cases there were causes at work adequate to the results produced; causes from which, as remarked before, the results followed naturally and necessarily. these have never been fully and fairly stated. they may be classed under three general heads: ( ). unjust charges. ( ). misapprehension of the nature and objects of the order on the part of those not members of it. ( ). unwise and over-severe legislation. as has already been pointed out, the order contained within itself, by reason of the methods practiced, sources of weakness. the devices and disguises by which the klan deceived outsiders enabled all who were so disposed, even its own members, to practice deception on the klan itself. it placed in the hands of its own members the facility to do deeds of violence for the gratification of personal feeling, and have them credited to the klan. to evilly-disposed men membership in the klan was an inducement to wrongdoing. it presented to all men a dangerous temptation, which, in certain contingencies at any time likely to arise, it required a considerable amount of moral robustness to resist. many did not withstand it. and deeds of violence were done by men who were ku klux, but who, while acting under cover of their connection with the klan, were not under its orders. but because these men were ku klux, the klan had to bear the odium of wrongdoing.[ ] in addition to this, the very class which the klan proposed to hold in check and awe into good behavior, soon became wholly unmanageable. those who had formerly committed depredations to be laid to the charge of the negroes, after a brief interval of good behavior, assumed the guise of ku klux and returned to their old ways, but with less boldness and more caution, showing the salutary impression which the klan had made upon them. in some cases the negroes played ku klux. outrages were committed by masked men in regions far remote from any ku klux organizations. the parties engaged took pains to assert that they were ku klux, _which the members of the klan never did_. this was evidence that these parties were simply aping ku klux disguises. the proof on this point is ample and clear. after the passage of the anti ku klux statute by the state of tennessee, several instances occurred of parties being arrested in ku klux disguises; but in every instance they proved to be either negroes or "radical" brownlow republicans. this occurred so often that the statute was allowed by the party in power to become a dead letter before its repeal. it bore too hard on "loyal" men when enforced. the same thing occurred in georgia and other states. (see testimony of general gordon and others before the investigating committee.) _no single instance occurred of the arrest of a masked man who proved to be--when stripped of his disguises--a ku klux._ but it came to pass that all the disorder done in the country was charged upon the ku klux, because done under disguises which they had invented and used. the klan had no way in which to disprove or refute the charges. they felt that it was hard to be charged with violence of which they were innocent. at the same time they felt that it was natural, and, under the circumstances, not wholly unjust that this should be the case. they had assumed the office of regulators. it was therefore due society, due themselves, and due the government, which, so far, had not molested them, that they should, at least, not afford the lawless classes facilities for the commission of excesses greater than any they had hitherto indulged in, and above all, that they should restrain their own members from lawlessness. the klan felt all this; and in its efforts to relieve itself of the stigma thus incurred, it acted in some cases against the offending parties with a severity well merited, no doubt, but unjustifiable.[ ] as is frequently the case they were carried beyond the limits of prudence and right by a hot zeal for self-vindication against unjust aspersions. they felt that the charge of wrong was unfairly brought against them. to clear themselves of the charge they did worse wrong than that alleged against them. the klan from the first shrouded itself in deepest mystery; out of this fact grew trouble not at first apprehended. they wished people not to understand. they tried to keep them profoundly ignorant. the result was that the klan and its objects were wholly misunderstood and misinterpreted. many who joined the klan and many who did not, were certain it contemplated something far more important than its overt acts gave evidence of. some were sure it meant treason and revolution. the negroes and the whites whose consciences made them the subjects of guilty fears, were sure it boded no good to them. when the first impressions of awe and terror which the klan had inspired, to some extent, wore off, a feeling of intense hostility towards the ku klux followed. this feeling was the more bitter because founded, not on overt acts which the ku klux had done, but on vague fears and surmises as to what they intended to do. those who entertained such fears were in some cases impelled by them to become the aggressors. they attacked the ku klux before receiving from them any provocation. the negroes formed organizations of a military character and drilled by night, and even appeared in the day armed and threatening. the avowed purpose of these organizations was "to make war upon and exterminate the ku klux." on several occasions the klan was fired into. the effect of such attacks was to provoke counter hostility from the klan, and so there was irritation and counter-irritation, till, in some places, the state of things was little short of open warfare. in some respects it was worse; the parties wholly misunderstood each other. each party felt that its cause was the just one. each justified its deed by the provocation. the ku klux, intending wrong, as they believed, to no one, were aggrieved that acts which they had not done should be charged to them; and motives which they did not entertain imputed to them and outraged that they should be molested and assaulted. the other party satisfied that they were acting in self-defense felt fully justified in assaulting them, and so each goaded the other on from one degree of exasperation to another. the following extracts from a general order of the grand dragon of the realm of tennessee will illustrate the operation of both these causes. it was issued in the fall of the year . it shows what were the principles and objects which the klan still professed, and it also shows how it was being forced away from them: headquarters realm no. ,} dreadful era, black epoch,} dreadful hour.} _general order no. ._ whereas, information of an authentic character has reached these headquarters that the blacks in the counties of marshall, maury, giles and lawrence are organized into military companies, with the avowed purpose to make war upon and exterminate the ku klux klan, said blacks are hereby solemnly warned and ordered to desist from further action in such organizations, if they exist. the g. d. [grand dragon] regrets the necessity of such an order. but this klan shall not be outraged and interfered with by lawless negroes and meaner white men, who do not and never have understood our purposes. in the first place this klan is not an institution of violence, lawlessness and cruelty; it is not lawless; it is not aggressive; it is not military; it is not revolutionary. it is, essentially, originally and inherently a protective organization. it proposes to execute law instead of resisting it; and to protect all good men, whether white or black, from the outrages and atrocities of bad men of both colors, who have been for the past three years a terror to society, and an injury to us all. the blacks seem to be impressed with the belief that this klan is especially their enemy. we are not the enemy of the blacks, as long as they behave themselves, make no threats upon us, and do not attack or interfere with us. but if they make war upon us they must abide the awful retribution that will follow. this klan, while in its peaceful movements, and disturbing no one, has been fired into three times. this will not be endured any longer; and if it occurs again, and the parties be discovered, a remorseless vengeance will be wreaked upon them. we reiterate that we are for peace and law and order. no man, white or black, shall be molested for his political sentiments. this klan is not a political party; it is not a military party; it is a protective organization, and will never use violence except in resisting violence. outrages have been perpetrated by irresponsible parties in the name of this klan. should such parties be apprehended, they will be dealt with in a manner to insure us future exemption from such imposition. these impostors have, in some instances, whipped negroes. this is wrong! wrong! it is denounced by this klan as it must be by all good and humane men. the klan now, as in the past, is prohibited from doing such things. we are striving to protect all good, peaceful, well-disposed and law-abiding men, whether white or black. the g. d. deems this order due to the public, due to the klan, and due to those who are misguided and misinformed. we, therefore, request that all newspapers who are friendly to law, and peace, and the public welfare, will publish the same. by order of the g. d., realm no. . by the grand scribe. this order doubtless expresses the principles which the klan, as a body, was honestly trying to maintain. it also illustrates how they were driven to violate them by the very earnestness and vehemence with which they attempted to maintain them. the question naturally arises, why, under the embarrassing circumstances, did not the klan disband and close its operations?[ ] the answer is, that the members felt that there was now more reasons than ever for the klan's existence. they felt that they ought not to abandon their important and needful work because they encountered unforeseen difficulties in accomplishing it. it is an illustration of the fatuity which sometimes marks the lives of men that they did not perceive what seems perfectly clear and plain to others. nothing is more certain than that a part of the evils which the klan was combating at this period of its history grew out of their own methods, and might be expected to continue as long as the klan existed. men are not always wise. but even in cases where their conduct does not permit of vindication and excuse, justice requires that a fair and truthful statement be made of the temptations and embarrassments which surrounded them. placing all the circumstances before us fully, who of us is prepared to say that we would have acted with more wisdom and discretion than these men? [illustration: carpetbaggers listening to a ku klux report coon and sibly of the alabama legislature. cartoon from screw's "lost legislature." facing page ] matters grew worse and worse, till it was imperatively necessary that there should be interference on the part of the government. in september, , the legislature of tennessee, in obedience to the call of governor brownlow, assembled in extra session and passed a most stringent and bloody anti-ku klux statute.[ ] this was the culmination of a long series of the most infamous legislations which ever disgraced a statute book. it began in , as we have seen, in the passage of the alien and sedition act, and grew worse and worse till the passage of the anti-ku klux statute in . sixteen years have passed since then, and many into whose hands this book will come have never seen the "anti-ku klux law." we quote it entire, to show the character of the legislation of those times as well as for the sake of its bearing on the matter in hand: sec. . _be it enacted, by the general assembly of tennessee_, that if any person or persons shall unite with, associate with, promote or encourage any secret organization of persons who shall prowl through the country or towns of this state, by day or by night, disguised or otherwise, for the purpose of disturbing the peace, or alarming the peaceable citizens of any portion of this state, on conviction by any tribunal of this state, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars, imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than five years, and shall be rendered infamous. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that it shall be the duty of all the courts in this state, before the impaneling of any grand jury or petit jury in any cause whatever, to inquire of the juror, on oath, whether he shall be associated in any way obnoxious to the first section of this act; and if such juror shall decline to give a voluntary answer, or shall answer affirmatively, such persons shall be disqualified as a juror in any case in any court in this state. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that, for the purpose of facilitating the execution of the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorneys of this state or grand jurors, or either of them, to summons or cause to be summoned, any persons he shall have a well-grounded belief has any knowledge of such organization as described by the first section of this act, and if any person shall fail or refuse to obey such summons, or shall appear and refuse to testify, such persons so summoned shall suffer the penalty imposed by the first section of this act; and if such witness shall avoid the service of said subpoena or summons, the sheriff, or other officer, shall return such fact on said process, when the court shall order a copy of said process to be left at the last place of residence of such persons sought to be summoned; and if such person shall fail to appear according to the command of said process, said court shall enter a judgment _nisi_ against such person for the sum of five hundred dollars, for which _sci. fa._ shall issue, as in other cases of forfeiture of subpoena. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that no prosecutor shall be required on any indictment under the provisions of this act; and all the courts of the state shall give a remedial construction to the same; and that no presentment or indictment shall be quashed, or declared insufficient for want of form. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that it shall be the duty of all the courts of this state, at every term, for two years from and after the passage of this act, to call before it all the officers thereof, who shall be sworn, and have this act read or explained to them; and the court shall ask said officers if they shall have any knowledge of any person of the state, or out of it, that shall be guilty of any of the offenses contained in this act, and that, if at any time they shall come to such knowledge, or shall have a well-grounded belief that any person or persons shall be guilty of a violation of this act or any of its provisions, that they will immediately, inform the prosecuting attorney for the state thereof; and if such prosecuting attorney, upon being so informed, shall fail, refuse, or neglect to prosecute such person or persons so informed on, he shall be subject to the same penalties imposed by the first section of this act, and shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys in said court. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any officer, or other person, shall inform any other person that he or she is to be summoned as a witness under any of the provisions of this act, or any other statute or law of this state, with the intent and for the purpose of defeating any of the provisions of this act, or any criminal law of this state; or if any officer, clerk, sheriff or constable shall refuse or fail to perform any of the duties imposed by this act, upon conviction, shall suffer the penalties by the first section of this act, and shall be disqualified from holding office in this state for two years. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person shall voluntarily inform on any person guilty of any of the provisions of this act, upon conviction such informant shall be entitled and receive one-half of the fine imposed; and if any officer, three-fourths. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person, guilty of any of the provisions or offenses enumerated in this act, that shall appear before any jury or prosecuting officer of the state, and shall inform him or them of any offense committed by any person or persons against the criminal laws of this state, such person or witness shall not be bound to answer to any charge for the violation of any provisions of any law about which such person or witness shall be examined; and the court shall protect such witness from any prosecution whatever. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that where any process shall be issued against the person of any citizen in any county of this state, for any violation of the provisions of this act, and such shall be returned not executed, for any cause whatever, by the sheriff or other officer, to the court from which it was issued, with an affidavit appended thereto, plainly setting forth the reason for the non-execution of such process, then it shall be the duty of the clerk, without delay, to issue an _alias capias_ to the same county, if the home of the defendant shall be in said county, either in part or in whole, when said sheriff or other officer shall give notice to the inhabitants of said county by posting such notice at the court-house of said county, of the existence of said capias; and if the inhabitants of such county shall permit such defendant to be or to live in said county, in part or in whole, the inhabitants shall be subject to an assessment of not less than five hundred dollars, nor more than five thousand dollars, at the discretion of the court, which said assessment shall be made in the following manner, to-wit: when the sheriff or other officer shall return his _alias capias_, showing that said defendant is an inhabitant of said county, in part or in whole, and that the citizens thereof have failed or refused to arrest said defendant, which every citizen is hereby authorized to do or perform. said court shall order _sci. fa._ to issue to the proper officer to make known to the chairman, judge, or other presiding officer of the county court, to appear and show cause why final judgment should not have been entered up accordingly; which, if any county court fails or refuses to do and perform, any judge, in vacation, shall grant a _mandamus_ to compel said county court to assess and collect said assessment, to be paid into the state treasury for the benefit of the school fund; provided, said assessment shall not be made of the sheriff or other officer, upon the return of the original, or _alias_ writs, show cause why the same cannot be executed, which may be done by his affidavit and two respectable witnesses known to the court as such. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that all the inhabitants in this state shall be authorized to arrest any person defendant, under the provisions of this act, in any county in this state without process. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person or persons shall write, publish, advise, entreat or persuade, privately or publicly, any class of persons, or any individual, to resist any of the laws of this state calculated to molest or disturb the good people and peaceable citizens of the state, such persons shall be subject to the penalties of the first section of this act; and if an attorney at law, he shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys and be prevented from practicing in any court in this state. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person shall make threats against any elector or person authorized to exercise the elective franchise, with the intention of intimidating or preventing such person or persons from attending any election in this state, they shall be subject to the penalties inflicted by the first section of this act. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person or persons shall attempt to break up any election in this state, or advise the same to be done, with a view of preventing the lawful or qualified citizens of this state from voting, they shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by the first section of this act; and the attorney of the state in all convictions under the provisions of this act, shall be entitled to a tax fee of one hundred dollars, to be taxed in the bill of costs, and to be paid by the defendant. and the attorney prosecuting for the state shall keep all information given him a secret, unless it shall be necessary, in the opinion of the court, that the same should be made public. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that it shall be the duty of all the judges in this state to read this act to the grand juries, and give it especially in charge to said juries. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that the treasurer of this state shall not be authorized to pay any judge in this state any salary, or to any clerk, sheriff, or attorney, any fee or bill of costs that may accrue to such parties under the provisions of this act, until such judge or other officer shall have filed with the comptroller or treasurer an affidavit plainly setting forth that he has fully complied with the provisions of this act. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person or citizen of this state shall voluntarily feed, or lodge, or entertain, or conceal in the woods, or elsewhere, any offender known to such person to be charged with any criminal offense under this act, such person shall suffer the penalty prescribed by the first section of this act; provided, that this section shall not apply to persons who, under the ancient law, might feed or conceal the party charged. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person, guilty of any of the offenses enumerated in this act, shall have, own or possess any real estate held by deed, or grant, or entry, or by fee, or entail in law, or equity, the same shall be bound for costs, fines or penalties imposed by any of the provisions of this act; and a lien is hereby declared to attach to all estates in law or equity, as above, dating from the day or night of the commission of the offense, which fact may be found by the jury trying the cause, or any other jury impaneled for that purpose; and if in the opinion of the court the defendant has evaded the law, the jury shall find such fact, and the estate of the defendant shall be made liable for the costs of the state; and there shall be no limitation to the recovery of the same. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person or persons shall be guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of this act, to the prejudice or injury of any individual, the jury trying the defendant shall, or may find such fact with the amount of injury sustained, which shall be paid to the injured party or person entitled to the same, by the laws of descent of this state, with all costs, and who shall have the same lien on the property of the defendant that is possessed or given to the state by this act. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that if any person shall knowingly make or cause to be made, any uniform or regalia, in part or in whole, by day or night, or shall be found in possession of the same, he, she or they shall be fined at the discretion of the court, and shall be rendered infamous. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that in addition to the oath prescribed by the constitution and oath of office, every public officer shall swear that he has never been a member of the organization known as the ku klux klan, or other disguised body of men contrary to the laws of the state, and that he has neither directly nor indirectly aided, encouraged, supported, or in any manner countenanced said organization. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that the attorneys or prosecuting officers for the state, shall be entitled to and receive five per cent, on all forfeitures or assessments made by this act, on compensations to be paid by the defendant. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that the standard of damages for injuries to individuals shall be as follows: for disturbing any of the officers of the state or other person, by entering the house or houses, or place of residence of any such individual in the night, in a hostile manner, or against his will, the sum of ten thousand dollars; and it shall be lawful for the person so assailed to kill the assailant. for killing any individual in the night twenty thousand dollars; provided, such person killed was peaceable at that time. that all other injuries shall be assessed by the court and jury in proportion; and the court trying said causes may grant as many new trials as may, in his opinion, be necessary to attain the end of justice. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that all persons present, and not giving immediate information on the offenders, shall be regarded as guilty of a misdemeanor against the law, and shall be punished accordingly. sec. . _be it further enacted_, that it shall not be lawful for any persons to publish any proffered or pretended order of said secret, unlawful clans; and any person convicted under any of the provisions of this act, shall not claim, hold, or possess any property, real or personal, exempt from execution, fine, penalty or costs, under this act; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent or exempt any person heretofore guilty of any of the offenses herein contained from prosecution under the law as it now stands. this act to take effect from after its passage.[ ] the same legislature passed a bill authorizing the governor to organize, equip and call into active service, at his discretion, a volunteer force, to be known as the tennessee state guards; to be composed of one or more regiments from each congressional district of the state; provided always that said tennessee state guards shall be composed of loyal men. and it was further provided by the "militia law," that upon the representation of "ten union men, or three justices of the peace in any county in the state," that the presence of these troops were needed, that the governor might declare martial law in such counties, and send thither troops in such numbers as, in his judgment, were necessary for the preservation of peace and order. and it was provided that the expense of these troops to the state should be collected from the counties where they were quartered. the reader has now some insight into the character of the legislation direct against the ku klux. he will not only note the general severity and harshness of it, but the following features in particular: ( ). the anti-ku klux statute was _ex post facto_, as expressly declared by section of it. ( ). it presented no way in which a man could relieve himself from liability to it, except by turning informer, and as an inducement to do this a large bribe was offered. ( ). it encouraged strife, by making every inhabitant of the state an officer extraordinary with power "to arrest without process" when he had ground to suspect. ( ). it must be remembered that in those days in tennessee "to be loyal" had a very limited meaning. it meant simply to be a subservient tool and supporter of governor brownlow. if a man was not that, no matter what his past record, or what his political opinion, he was not "loyal." ( ). while the law professed to be aimed at the suppression of all lawlessness, it was not so construed and enforced by the party in power. the "union" or "loyal" league was never molested, though this organization met frequently, and its members appeared by day and by night, armed, threatening and molesting the life and property of as peaceable and quiet citizens as any in the state. no attempt was ever made to arrest men except in ku klux disguises. but as before remarked there is no instance on record of a ku klux being arrested, tried and convicted. invariably the party arrested while depredating as ku klux turned out to be, when stripped of their disguises, "loyal" men. in some sections of the state a perfect reign of terror followed this anti-ku klux statute. the members of the klan were now in the attitude of men fighting for life and liberty. hundreds, perhaps thousands, of them were not lawbreakers, and did not desire to be. there had been no law against association with the klan; they had conceived and done no wrong during their connection with it. they had had no participation in or knowledge of the excesses in which some of the klan had indulged or were charged with having indulged in. but now their previous connection with the klan was made a penal offense; and they had no hope except on terms which to men of honor and right principle were more odious than death. these men were made infamous, made liable to fine and imprisonment, exposed to arrest without process by any malicious negro or mean white man; and even their wives and children were outlawed and exposed to the same indignities; and it is no strange thing if they were driven to the very verge of desperation. it is not denied that they did many things for which the world has been exceedingly slow to accept apology or excuse. but history is challenged to furnish an instance of a people bearing gross wrong and brutal outrage perpetrated in the name of law and loyalty with patience, forbearance or forgiveness, comparable to that exhibited by the people of the southern states, and especially of tennessee, during what is called the "reconstruction period," and since. there may be in their conduct some things to regret, and some to condemn; but he who gets a full understanding of their surroundings, social, civil and political, if he is not incapable of noble sentiment, will also find many things to awaken his sympathy and call forth his admiration. footnotes: [ ] see major crowe's statement on p. . [ ] "at this late day ( ) i am gratified to be able to say that my company did much good service to tuscaloosa county. had these organizations confined their operations to their legitimate object, viz: punishing impudent negroes and negro-loving whites, then their performances would have effected only good. unfortunately, the klan began to degenerate into a vile means of wreaking revenge for personal dislikes or personal animosities, and in this way many outrages were perpetrated, ultimately resulting in casting so much well-deserved odium on the whole concern that about the year there was almost a universal collapse; all the good and brave men abandoning it in disgust. many outrages were committed in the name of ku klux that really were done by irresponsible parties who never belonged to the klan."--_ryland randolph._ [ ] i have been told that in tennessee several members of the klan were executed by its orders for committing evil deeds under name of the klan.--_editor._ [ ] some of the "dens" disbanded in . "as soon as our object was effected, viz., got the negroes to behave themselves, we disbanded."--_ryland randolph._ [ ] most of the carpetbag and negro legislatures of the other southern states passed similar laws, and congress enacted a series of three "force laws" in - . see burgess' "reconstruction and the constitution," pp. , ; fleming's "civil war and reconstruction in alabama," p. .--_editor._ [ ] this is a good specimen of the "force laws" which were meant to uphold the radical governments in the south against popular disaffection.--_editor._ chapter v. disbandment. on the th day of february, , governor brownlow resigned his position as governor to take the seat in the united states senate, to which he had been elected. the last paper to which he affixed his signature as governor of tennessee, proclaimed martial law in certain counties, and ordered troops to be sent thither. this proclamation was dated february , . in a short while it was followed by a proclamation from the "grand wizard of the invisible empire" to his subjects. this proclamation recited the legislation directed against the klan, and stated that the order had now, in large measure, accomplished the objects of its existence. at a time when the civil law afforded inadequate protection to life and property, when robbery and lawlessness of every description were unrebuked, when all the better elements of society were in constant dread for the safety of their property, persons and families, the klan had afforded protection and security to many firesides, and, in many ways contributed to the public welfare. but greatly to the regret of all good citizens, some members of the klan had violated positive orders; others, under the name and disguises of the organization, had assumed to do acts of violence, for which the klan was held responsible. the grand wizard had been invested with the power to determine questions of paramount importance to the interests of the order. therefore, in the exercise of that power, the grand wizard declared that the organization heretofore known as the ku klux klan was dissolved and disbanded. members were directed to burn all regalia and paraphernalia of every description, and to desist from any further assemblies or acts as ku klux.[ ] the members of the klan were counseled in the future as heretofore, to assist all good people of the land in maintaining and upholding the civil laws, and in putting down lawlessness. this proclamation was directed to all realms, dominions, provinces and "dens" in "the empire." it is reasonably certain that there were portions of the empire never reached by it. the klan was widely scattered and the facilities for communication exceedingly poor. the grand wizard was a citizen of tennessee. under the statute just now quoted newspapers were forbidden to publish anything emanating from the klan. so that there was no way in which this proclamation could be generally disseminated. where it was promulgated, obedience to it was prompt and implicit. whether obeyed or not, this proclamation terminated the klan's organized existence as decisively and completely as general lee's last general order, on the morning of the th of april, , disbanded the army of northern virginia. when the office of grand wizard was created and its duties defined, it was explicitly provided that he should have "the power to determine questions of paramount importance, and his decision shall be final." to continue the organization or to disband it was such a question. he decided in favor of disbanding, and so ordered. therefore the ku klux klan had no organized existence after march, .[ ] the report of the congressional investigating committee contains some disreputable history, which belongs to a later date, and is attributed to the klan, but not justly so. for several years, after march, , the papers reported and commented on "ku klux outrages" committed at various points. the authors of these outrages may have acted in the name of the klan, and under its disguises; it may be that in some cases they were men who had been ku klux. but it cannot be charged that they were acting by the authority of an order which had formally disbanded. they were acting on their own responsibility. thus lived, so died, this strange order. its birth was an accident; its growth was a comedy; its death a tragedy. it owed its existence wholly to the anomalous condition of social and civil affairs in the south during the years immediately succeeding the unfortunate contest in which so many brave men in blue and gray fell, martyrs to their convictions. there never was, before or since, a period of our history when such an order could have lived. may there never be again! footnotes: [ ] in the copy of the revised and amended prescript owned by columbia university library is bound a letter in which is mentioned this order of destruction.--_editor._ [ ] the local "dens" were not affected by this order. many had already disbanded; many more remained active as long as the reconstruction régime lasted.--_editor._ appendix i. prescript of ku klux klan adopted at a convention of the order held in nashville, april, copied from the original prescript, line for line and page for page. the type used here is slightly larger than in the original document. [page header: damnant quod non intelligunt. ] prescript of the * * what may this mean, that thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, making night hideous; and we fools of nature, so horridly to shake our disposition, with thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? an' now auld cloots, i ken ye're thinkin', a certain _ghoul_ is rantin', drinkin', some luckless night will send him linkin', to your black pit; but, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin', and cheat you yet. [header: amici humani generis. ] creed. we the * * reverently acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. preamble. we recognize our relations to the united states government and acknowledge the supremacy of its laws. appellation. article i. this organization shall be styled and denominated the * * titles. art. ii. the officers of this * shall consist of a grand wizard of the empire and his ten genii; a grand dragon of the realm and his eight hy- dras; a grand titan of the dominion and his six furies; a grand giant of the province and his four goblins; a grand cyclops of the den and his two night hawks; a grand magi, a grand monk, a grand exchequer, a grand turk, a grand scribe, a grand sentinel, and a grand ensign. sec. . the body politic of this * shall be des- ignated and known as "ghouls." divisions. art. iii. this * shall be divided into five de- partments, all combined, constituting the grand * of the empire. the second department to be called the grand * of the realm. the third, the grand * of the dominion. the fourth, the grand * of the province. the fifth, the * of the den. duties of officers. grand wizard. art. iv. sec. i. it shall be the duty of the grand wizard, who is the supreme officer of the empire to communicate with and receive reports from the [footer: magna est veritas, et prevalebit.] [header: nec scire fas est omnia. ] grand dragons of realms, as to the condition, strength, efficiency and progress of the *s within their respective realms. and he shall com- municate from time to time, to all subordinates *s, through the grand dragon, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the *s throughout his vast empire; and such other information as he may deem expedient to impart. and it shall further be his du- ty to keep by his g scribe a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the grand dragons of the different realms of his empire, and shall number such realms with the arabic nume- rals, , , , &c., _ad finem_. and he shall instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement which he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this prescript, through his subalterns and deputies, for the organ- ization and establishment of subordinate *s. and he shall have the further power to appoint his ge- nii; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain special deputy grand wizards to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- lishment of the * throughout his empire. he is further empowered to appoint and instruct depu- ties, to organize and control realms, dominions, provinces, and dens, until the same shall elect a grand dragon, a grand titan, a grand giant, and a grand cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provid- ded. and when a question of paramount impor- tance to the interest or prosperity of the * arises, not provided for in this prescript, he shall have power to determine such question, and his decision shall be final, until the same shall be provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. [footer: ne vile fano.] [header: ars est celare artem. ] grand dragon. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand dragon who is the chief officer of the realm, to report to the grand wizard when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the * within his realm, and to transmit through the grand titan to the subordinate *s of his realm, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand wizard for that purpose, and all such oth- er information or instruction as he may think will promote the interests of the *. he shall keep by his g. scribe a list of the names (without any caption) of the grand titans of the different dominions of his realm, and shall report the same to the grand wizard when required; and shall number the do- minions of his realm with the arabic numerals, , , , &c, _ad finem_. he shall instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disburse- ment of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have the power to appoint his hydras; also, a grand scribe and a grand exche- quer for his department, and to appoint and ordain special deputy grand dragons to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- lishment of the * throughout his realm. he is further empowered to appoint and instruct depu- ties to organize and control dominions, provinces and dens, until the same shall elect a grand titan, a grand giant, and grand cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provided. grand titan. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand titan who is the chief officer of the dominion, to report to the grand dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the * within his dominion, and to transmit through the grand giants to the subordinate *s [footer: nusquam tuta fides.] [header: quid faciendum? ] of his dominion, all information or intelligence con- veyed to him by the grand dragon for that pur pose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interests of the *. he shall keep, by his g. scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the grand giants of the differ- ent provinces of his dominion, and shall report the same to the grand dragon when required; and he shall number the provinces of his dominion with the arabic numerals, , , , &c., _ad finem_. and he shall instruct and direct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have power to appoint his furies; also to appoint a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and appoint and ordain special deputy grand ti- tans to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his dominion. he shall have further power to appoint and instruct deputies to organize and con- trol provinces and dens, until the same shall elect a grand giant and a grand cyclops, in the man- ner hereinafter provided. grand giant. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand giant, who is the chief officer of the province, to super- vise and administer general and special in- struction in the formation and establishment of *s within his province, and to report to the grand titan, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, progress and efficiency of the * through- out his province, and to transmit, through the grand cyclops, to the subordinate *s of his pro- vince, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand titan for that purpose, and such other information and instruction as he may think [footer: fide non armis.] [header: fiat justia. ] will advance the interests of the *. he shall keep by his g. scribe a list of the names (without caption) of the grand cyclops of the various dens of his prov- ince, and shall report the same to the grand titan when required; and shall number the dens of his province with the arabic numerals, , , , &c., _ad finem._ and shall determine and limit the number of dens to be organized in his province. and he shall instruct and direct his grand exchequer as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have power to appoint his goblins; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his de- partment, and to appoint and ordain special depu- ty grand giants to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his province. he shall have the further power to appoint and instruct deputies to organize and control dens, until the same shall elect a grand cyclops in the manner hereinafter provided. and in all cases, he shall preside at and conduct the grand council of yahoos. grand cyclops. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand cyclops to take charge of the * of his den after his election, under the direction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the grand giant, and in accordance with, and in conformity to the provisions of this prescript, a copy of which shall in all cases be obtain- ed before the formation of a * begins. it shall fur- ther be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of his * and to preside at the same--to appoint irregu- lar meetings when he deems it expedient, to preserve order in his den, and to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders, and to receive and initiate candidates for admission into the * after the same shall have been pronounced competent and wor- [footer: hic manent vestigia morientis libertatis.] [header: curae leves loquntur, ingentes stupent. ] thy become members by the investigating com- mittee. he shall make a quarterly report to the grand giant, of the condition, strength and ef- ficiency of the * of his den, and shall convey to the ghouls of his den, all information or intelli- gence conveyed to him by the grand giant for that purpose, and all other such information or instruc- tion as he may think will conduce to the interests and welfare of the *. he shall preside at and con- duct the grand council of centaurs. he shall have power to appoint his night hawks, his grand scribe, his grand turk, his grand sentinel, and his grand ensign. and he shall instruct and di- rect the grand exchequer of his den, as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. and for any small offense he may punish any mem- ber by fine, and may reprimand him for the same: and he may admonish and reprimand the * of his den for any imprudence, irregularity or trans- gression, when he is convinced or advised that the interests, welfare and safety of the * demand it. grand magi. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand magi, who is the second officer, in authority, of the den, to assist the grand cyclops and to obey all the proper orders of that officer. to preside at all meetings in the den in the absence of the grand cyclops; and to exercise during his absence all the powers and authority conferred upon that officer. grand monk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand monk, who is the third officer, in authority, of the den, to assist and obey all the proper orders of the grand cyclops and the grand magi. and in the absence of both of these officers, he shall preside at and con- duct the meetings in the den, and shall exercise all [footer: dat deus his quoque finem.] [header: cessante causa, cessat effectus. ] the powers and authority conferred upon the grand cyclops. grand exchequer. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand exche- quers of the different departments of the * to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the * that shall come to their hands, and shall make no appro- priation or disbursement of the same except under the orders and direction of the chief officer of their respective departments. and it shall further be the duty of the grand exchequer of dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the grand cyclops. grand turk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand turk, who is the executive officer of the grand cyclops, to notify the ghouls of the den of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the grand cyclops and to obey and execute all the lawful orders of that officer in the control and government of his den. it shall further be his duty to receive and question at the out posts, all candidates for admission into the *, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obligation required, and then to conduct such can- didate or candidates to the grand cyclops at his den, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. and it shall further be his duty to act as the ex- ecutive officer of the grand council of centaurs. grand scribe. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand scribes of the different departments to conduct the corres- pondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their departments, when required. and it shall further be the duty of the grand scribes of the den to keep a list of the names (without caption) of the ghouls of the den--to call the roll at all regular meetings and to make the quarterly report under the direc- tion of the grand cyclops. [footer: droit et avant.] [header: cave quid dicis, quando, et cui. ] grand sentinel. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand senti- nel to detail, take charge of, post and instruct the grand guard under the direction and orders of the grand cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by that officer. grand ensign. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand ensign to take charge of the grand banner of the *, to preserve it sacredly, and protect it carefully, and to bear it on all occasions of parade or ceremony, and on such other occasions as the grand cyclops may direct it to be flung to the night breeze. election of officers. art. v. sec. . the grand cyclops, the grand magi, the grand monk, and the grand exchequer of dens, shall be elected semi-annually by the ghouls of dens. and the first election for these officers may take place as soon as seven ghouls have been initiated for that purpose. sec. . the grand wizard of the empire, the grand dragons of realms, the grand titans of do- minions, and the grand giants of provinces, shall be elected biennially, and in the following man- ner, to wit: the grand wizard by a majority vote of the grand dragons of his empire, the grand dragons by a like vote of the grand titans of his realm; the grand titans by a like vote of the grand giants of his dominion, and the grand gi- ant by a like vote of the grand cyclops of his pro- vince. the first election for grand dragon may take place as soon as three dominions have been organ- ized in a realm, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of the grand titans, through- out the realm, and biennially as aforesaid. the first election for grand titan may take place [footer: dormitur aliquando jus, moritur nunquam.] [header: deo adjuvante, non timendum. ] as soon as three provinces have been organized in a dominion, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of all the grand giants throughout the dominion and biennially as aforesaid. the first election for grand giant may take place as soon as three dens have been organized in a province, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of all the grand cyclops throughout the province, and biennially as aforesaid. the grand wizard of the empire is hereby cre- ated, to serve three years from the first monday in may, , after the expiration of which time, biennial elections shall be held for that office as aforesaid. and the incumbent grand wizard shall notify the grand dragons, at least six months be- fore said election, at what time and place the same will be held. judiciary. art. vi. sec. . the tribunal of justice of this * shall consist of a grand council of yahoos, and a grand council of centaurs. sec. . the grand council of yahoos, shall be the tribunal for the trial of all elected officers, and shall be composed of officers of equal rank with the accused, and shall be appointed and presided over by an officer of the next rank above, and sworn by him to administer even handed justice. the tribu- nal for the trial of the grand wizard, shall be com- posed of all the grand dragons of the empire, and shall be presided over and sworn by the senior grand dragon. they shall have power to summon the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the same. and they shall have power to appoint an executive officer to attend said council while in session. [footer: spectemur agendo.] [header: nemo nos impune lacessit. ] sec. . the grand council of centaurs shall be the tribunal for the trial of ghouls and non-elective officers, and shall be composed of six judges appoint- ed by the grand cyclops from the ghouls of his den, presided over and sworn by him to give the ac- cused a fair and impartial trial. they shall have power to summon the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the same. said judges shall be selected by the grand cyclops with reference to their intelligence, integri- ty and fair-mindedness, and shall render their ver- dict without prejudice or partiality. revenue. art. vii. sec. . the revenue of this * shall be derived as follows: for every copy of this pre- script issued to the *s of dens, ten dollars will be required. two dollars of which shall go into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand gi- ant; two into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand titan; two into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand dragon, and the remaining four into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand wizard. sec. . a further source of revenue to the empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the realms, and a tax upon realms, when the grand wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of domin- ions, and a tax upon dominions when the grand dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- sable. sec. . a further source of revenue to domin- ions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of pro- [footer: patria cara, carior libertas.] [header: ad unum omnes. ] vinces, and a tax upon provinces when the grand titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- sable. sec. . a further source of revenue to provinces shall be ten per cent. on all the revenue of dens, and a tax upon the dens, when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . the source of revenue to dens, shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, when- ever the grand cyclops shall deem such tax indis- pensable to the interests and purposes of the *. sec. . all of the revenue obtained in the man- ner herein aforesaid, shall be for the exclusive ben- efit of the *. and shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a fund to meet any disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the *, and to secure the protection of the same. obligation. art. viii. no one shall become a member of this *, unless he shall take the following oath or obligation: "i, ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of almighty god, do solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal to any one, not a member of the * * by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner what- ever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass words, mysteries or purposes of the * * or that i am a member of the same or that i know any one who _is_ a member, and that i will abide by the prescript and edicts of the * *. so help me god." sec. . the preliminary obligation to be adminis- tered before the candidate for admission is taken to the grand cyclops for examination, shall be as follows: "i do solemnly swear or affirm that i will never [footer: deo duce, ferro comitante.] [header: tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. ] reveal any thing that i may this day (or night) learn concerning the * *. so help me god." admission. art. ix. sec. . no one shall be presented for admission into this *, until he shall have been recommended by some friend or intimate, who _is_ a member, to the investigating committee, which shall be composed of the grand cyclops, the grand magi and the grand monk, and who shall investi- gate his antecedents and his past and present stand- ing and connections, and if after such investigation, they pronounce him competent and worthy to become a member, he may be admitted upon taking the ob- ligation required and passing through the ceremo- nies of initiation. _provided_, that no one shall be admitted into this * who shall have not attain- ed the age of eighteen years. sec. . no one shall become a member of a dis- tant * when there is a * established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity. nor shall any one become a member of any * after he shall have been rejected by any other *. ensign. art. x. the grand banner of this * shall be in the form of an isosceles triangle, five feet long and three wide at the staff. the material shall be yellow, with a red scalloped border, about three inches in width. there shall be painted upon it, in black, a dracovolans, or flying dragon[ ] with the following motto inscribed above the dragon, "quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus."[ ] amendments. art. xi. this prescript or any part or edicts thereof, shall never be changed except by a two- [footer: o tempora! o mores!] [header: ad utrumque paratus. ] thirds vote of the grand dragons of the realms, in convention assembled, and at which convention the grand wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. and upon the application of a majority of the grand dragons, for that purpose, the grand wizard shall appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when assembled, shall pro- ceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the utility and more thoroughly effectuate the purpo- ses of the *. interdiction. art. xii. the origin, designs, mysteries and ritual of this * shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. register. st--dismal. th--dreadful. nd--dark. th--terrible. rd--furious. th--horrible. th--portentous. th--melancholy. th--wonderful. th--mournful. th--alarming. th--dying. ii. i--white. iv--black. ii--green. v--yellow. iii--blue. vi--crimson. vii--purple. iii. --fearful. --doleful. --startling. --sorrowful. --awful. --hideous. --woeful. --frightful. --horrid. --appalling. --bloody. --last. edicts. i. the initiation fee of this * shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the *. ii. no member shall be allowed to take any in- toxicating spirits to any meeting of the *. nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such a condition, he shall be fined the [footer: cavendo tutus.] [header: astra castra, numen lumen. ] sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the *. iii. any member may be expelled from the * by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the den to which he belongs, and if after such expulsion such member shall assume any of the duties, rega- lia or insignia of the * or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punish- ed. his obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were then a member. iv. every grand cyclops shall read or cause to be read, this prescript and these edicts to the * of his den, at least once in every three months,-- and shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him for person- al perusal. v. each den may provide itself with the grand banner of the *. vi. the *s of dens may make such addition- al edicts for their control and government as they shall deem requisite and necessary. _provided_, no edict shall be made to conflict with any of the pro- visions or edicts of this prescript. vii. the strictest and most rigid secrecy, con- cerning any and everything that relates to the * shall at all times be maintained. viii. any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets or purposes of this * shall suffer the ex- treme penalty of the law. hush, thou art not to utter what i am. bethink thee; it was our covenant. i said that i would see thee once again. [footer: ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat.] [header: amici usque ad aras. ] l' envoi. to the lovers of law and order, peace and jus- tice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the venerated dead, we affectionately dedicate the * * [footer: nos ducit amor libertatis.] footnotes: [ ] see webster's unabridged pictorial. [ ] "what always, what every where, what by all is held to be true." appendix ii. revised and amended prescript of ku klux klan adopted in (?) reprinted _in facsimile_ revised and amended prescript of the order of the * * * _damnant quod non intelligunt._ appellation. this organization shall be styled and denominated, the order of the * * *. creed. we, the order of the * * *, rever- entially acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. and we recognize our relation to the united states govern- ment, the supremacy of the constitu- tion, the constitutional laws thereof, and the union of states thereunder. character and objects of the order. this is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being first: to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and espe- cially the widows and orphans of confederate soldiers. second: to protect and defend the constitu- tion of the united states, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. third: to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. article i. titles. section . the officers of this order shall consist of a grand wizard of the empire, and his ten genii; a grand dragon of the realm, [header: _nec scire fas est omnia._ ] and his eight hydras; a grand titan of the do- minion, and his six furies; a grand giant of the province, and his four goblins; a grand cyclops of the den, and his two night-hawks; a grand magi, a grand monk, a grand scribe, a grand exchequer, a grand turk, and a grand sentinel. sec. . the body politic of this order shall be known and designated as "ghouls." article ii. territory and its divisions. section . the territory embraced within the jurisdiction of this order shall he coterminous with the states of maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, florida, ala- bama, mississippi, louisiana, texas, arkansas, missouri, kentucky, and tennessee; all com- bined constituting the empire. sec. . the empire shall be divided into four departments, the first to be styled the realm, and coterminus with the boundaries of the several states; the second to be styled the do- minion, and to be coterminous with such coun- ties as the grand dragons of the several realms may assign to the charge of the grand titan. the third to be styled the province, and to be co- terminous with the several counties; _provided_, the grand titan may, when he deems it neces- sary, assign two grand giants to one province, prescribing, at the same time, the jurisdiction of [header: _amici humani generis._ ] each. the fourth department to be styled the den, and shall embrace such part of a province as the grand giant shall assign to the charge of a grand cyclops. article iii. powers and duties of officers. grand wizard. section . the grand wizard, who is the supreme officer of the empire, shall have power, and he shall be required to, appoint grand dragons for the different realms of the empire; and he shall have power to appoint his genii, also a grand scribe, and a grand exchequer for his department, and he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this prescript, through his subalterns, for the organization and dissemi- nation of the order; and when a question of paramount importance to the interests or pros- perity of the order arises, not provided for in this prescript, he shall have power to determine such question, and his decision shall be final until the same shall be provided for by amend- ment as hereinafter provided. it shall be his duty to communicate with, and receive reports from, the grand dragons of realms, as to the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within their respective realms. and, it shall further be his duty to keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the grand dragons, of the different realms of the empire, and shall [header: _quemeunque miserum videris, hominem scias._ ] number such realms with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_; and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appro- priation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand dragon. sec. . the grand dragon, who is the chief officer of the realm, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand titan for each dominion of his realm, (such dominion not to exceed three in number for any congressional district) said appointments being subject to the approval of the grand wizard of the empire. he shall have power to appoint his hydras; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand wizard, when required by that officer, the con- dition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his realm, and to transmit, through the grand titan, or other authorized sources, to the order, all information, intelli- gence, or instruction conveyed to him by the grand wizard for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will promote the interest and utility of the or- der. he shall keep by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the grand titans of the different dominions of his realm, and shall report the same to the grand wizard when required, and shall number the domin- [header: _magna est veritas, et prevalebit._ ] ion of his realm with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. and he shall direct and in- struct his grand exchequer as to the appropria- tion and disbursement he shall make of the reve- nue of the order that comes to his hands. grand titan. sec. . the grand titan, who is the chief officer of the dominion, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand giant for each province of his dominion, such appointments, however, being subject to the ap- proval of the grand dragon of the realm. he shall have the power to appoint his furies; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his dominion, and to trans- mit through the grand giant, or other author- ized channels, to the order, all information, in- telligence, instruction or directions conveyed to him by the grand dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interest or efficiency of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the grand giants of the different provinces of his dominion, and shall report the same to the grand dragon when required; and shall num- [header: _ne tentes aut perfice._ ] ber the provinces of his dominion with the ar- abic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand giant. sec. . the grand giant, who is the chief officer of the province, shall have power, and he is required, to appoint and instruct a grand cy- clops for each den of his province, such ap- pointments, however, being subject to the ap- proval of the grand titan of the dominion. and he shall have the further power to appoint his goblins; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to supervise and admin- ister general and special instructions in the or- ganization and establishment of the order within his province, and to report to the grand titan, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his province, and to transmit through the grand cyclops, or other legitimate sources, to the order, all information, intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed to him by the grand titan or other higher authority for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think would advance the purposes or prosperity of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without cap- [header: _quid faciendum?_ ] tion or explanation) of the grand cyclops of the various dens of his province, and shall report the same to the grand titan when required; and shall number the dens of his province with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. he shall determine and limit the number of dens to be organized and established in his province; and he shall direct and instruct his grand ex- chequer as to the appropriation and disburse- ment he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand cyclops. sec. . the grand cyclops, who is the chief officer of the den, shall have power to appoint his night-hawks, his grand scribe, his grand turk, his grand exchequer, and his grand sen- tinel. and for small offenses he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for the same. and he is further empowered to admonish and reprimand his den, or any of the members thereof, for any imprudence, irregu- larity, or transgression, whenever he may think that the interests, welfare, reputation or safety of the order demand it. it shall be his duty to take charge of his den under the instruction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the grand giant, and in accordance with and in con- formity to the provisions of this prescript--a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before the formation of a den begins. it shall [header: _fiat justitia ruat coelum._ ] further be his duty to appoint all regular meet- ings of his den, and to preside at the same; to appoint irregular meetings when he deems it ex- pedient; to preserve order and enforce discipline in his den; to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders; and to receive and initi- ate candidates for admission into the order, after the same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy to become members, by the investi- gating committee herein after provided for. and it shall further be his duty to make a quar- terly report to the grand giant of the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of his den, and shall communicate to the officers and ghouls of his den, all information, intelligence, instruction, or direction, conveyed to him by the grand gi- ant or other higher authority for that purpose; and shall from time to time administer all such other counsel, instruction or direction, as in his sound discretion, will conduce to the interests, and more effectually accomplish, the real objects and designs of the order. grand magi. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand magi, who is the second officer in authority of the den, to assist the grand cyclops, and to obey all the orders of that officer; to preside at all meetings in the den, in the absence of the grand cyclops; and to discharge during his absence all the duties and exercise all the powers and authority of that officer. [header: _dormitus aliquando jus, moritus nunquam._ ] grand monk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand monk, who is the third officer in authority of the den, to assist and obey all the orders of the grand cyclops and the grand magi; and, in the absence of both of these officers, he shall pre- side at and conduct the meetings in the den, and shall discharge all the duties, and exercise all the powers and authority of the grand cyclops. grand exchequer. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand ex- chequers of the different departments to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the order that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by them; and shall make no appropriation or dis- bursement of the same except under the orders and direction of the chief officer of their respect- ive departments. and it shall further be the duty of the exchequers of dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the grand cyclops, or the officer discharging his functions. grand turk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand turk, who is the executive officer of the grand cyclops, to notify the officers and ghouls of the den, of all informal or irregular meetings ap- pointed by the grand cyclops, and to obey and execute all the orders of that officer in the con- trol and government of his den. it shall further be his duty to receive and question at the out- [header: _quieta non movere._ ] posts, all candidates for admission into the order, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obli- gation required, and then to conduct such candi- date or candidates to the grand cyclops, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. grand scribe. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand scribes of the different departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their departments, when required. and it shall further be the duty of the grand scribes of dens, to keep a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the officers and ghouls of the den, to call the roll at all meetings, and to make the quarterly reports under the direction and instruction of the grand cyclops. grand sentinel. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand sentinel to take charge of post, and instruct the grand guard, under the direction and orders of the grand cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by that officer. the staff. sec. . the genii shall constitute the staff of the grand wizard; the hydras, that of the grand dragon; the furies, that of the grand titan; the goblins, that of the grand giant; and the night-hawks, that of the grand cyclops, [header: _quid verum alque decens._ ] removal. sec. . for any just, reasonable and sub- stantial cause, any appointee may be removed by the authority that appointed him, and his place supplied by another appointment. article iv election of officers. section . the grand wizard shall be elected biennially by the grand dragons of realms. the first election for this office to take place on the st monday in may, , (a grand wizard having been created, by the original prescript, to serve three years from the st monday in may, ); all subsequent elections to take place every two years thereafter. and the incumbent grand wizard shall notify the grand dragons of the different realms, at least six months before said election, at what time and place the same will be held; a majority vote of all the grand dragons _present_ being necessary and sufficient to elect a grand wizard. such election shall be by ballot, and shall be held by three commis- sioners appointed by the grand wizard for that purpose; and in the event of a tie, the grand wizard shall have the casting-vote. sec. . the grand magi and the grand monk of dens shall be elected annually by the ghouls of dens; and the first election for these officers may take place as soon as ten ghouls have been initiated for the formation of a den. all subse- [header: _art est colare artem._ ] quent elections to take place every year there- after. sec. . in the event of a vacancy in the office of grand wizard, by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the senior grand dragon of the empire shall immediately assume and enter upon the discharge of the duties of the grand wizard, and shall exercise the powers and per- form the duties of said office until the same shall be filled by election; and the said senior grand dragon, as soon as practicable after the happen- ing of such vacancy, shall call a convention of the grand dragons of realms, to be held at such time and place as in his discretion he may deem most convenient and proper. _provided_, however, that the time for assembling such con- vention for the election of a grand wizard shall in no case exceed six months from the time such vacancy occurred; and in the event of a va- cancy in any other office, the same shall imme- diately be filled in the manner herein before mentioned. sec. . the officers heretofore elected or ap- pointed may retain their offices during the time for which they have been so elected or appointed, at the expiration of which time said offices shall be filled as herein-before provided. article v judiciary. section . the tribunal of justice of this order shall consist of a court at the head-quar- [header: _nusquam tuta fides._ ] ters of the empire, the realm, the dominion, the province, and the den, to be appointed by the chiefs of these several departments. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the empire shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand dragons, and the officers and at- tachés belonging to the head-quarters of the empire. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the realm shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand titans, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head-quarters of the realm. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the dominion shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand giants, and the officers and at- tachés belonging to the head-quarters of the dominion. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the province shall consist of five judges for the trial of grand cyclops, the grand magis, grand monks, and the grand exchequers of dens, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head- quarters of the province. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the den shall consist of seven judges appointed from the den for the trial of ghouls and the officers belonging to the head-quarters of the den. sec. . the tribunal for the trial of the grand wizard shall be composed of at least seven grand dragons, to be convened by the senior grand dragon upon charges being preferred against the [header: _fide non armis._ ] grand wizard; which tribunal shall be organ- ized and presided over by the senior grand dragon _present_; and if they find the accused guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the senior grand dragon of the empire shall cause the same to be executed. sec. . the aforesaid courts shall summon the accused and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the pen- alty, and the officers convening the court shall cause the same to be executed. _provided_ the ac- cused shall always have the right of appeal to the next court above, whose decision shall be final. sec. . the judges constituting the aforesaid courts shall be selected with reference to their intelligence, integrity, and fair-mindedness, and shall render their verdict without prejudice, favor, partiality, or affection, and shall be so sworn, upon the organization of the court; and shall further be sworn to administer even-handed justice. sec. . the several courts herein provided for shall be governed in their deliberations, pro- ceedings, and judgments by the rules and regu- lations governing the proceedings of regular courts-martial. article vi. revenue. section . the revenue of this order shall be derived as follows: for every copy of this pre- [header: _dat deus his quoque finem._ ] script issued to dens, $ will be required; $ of which shall go into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand giant, $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand titan, $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand dragon, and the remaining $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand wizard. sec. . a further source of revenue to the empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the realms, and a tax upon realms when the grand wizard shall deem it necessary and in- dispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of do- minions, and a tax upon dominions when the grand dragon shall deem it necessary and in- dispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to domin- ions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of provinces, and a tax upon provinces when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . a further source of revenue to provin- ces shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dens, and a tax upon dens when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indis- pensable. sec. . the source of revenue to dens shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the grand cyclops shall deem such [header: _cessante causa, cessat effectus._ ] tax necessary and indispensable to the interests and objects of the order. sec. . all the revenue obtained in the man- ner aforesaid, shall be for the _exclusive_ benefit of the order, and shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same and to the creation of a fund to meet any disbursement that it may be- come necessary to make to accomplish the ob- jects of the order and to secure the protection of the same. article vii. eligibility for membership. section . no one shall be presented for ad- mission into the order until he shall have first been recommended by some friend or intimate who _is_ a member, to the investigating commit- tee, (which shall be composed of the grand cy- clops, the grand magi, and the grand monk,) and who shall have investigated his antecedents and his past and present standing and connec- tions; and after such investigation, shall have pronounced him competent and worthy to become a member. _provided_, no one shall be presented for admission into, or become a member of, this order who shall not have attained the age of eighteen years. sec. . no one shall become a member of this order unless he shall _voluntarily_ take the follow- ing oaths or obligations, and shall _satisfactorily_ answer the following interrogatories, while kneel- [header: _cave quid dicis, quando, et cui._ ] ing, with his right hand raised to heaven, and his left hand resting on the bible: preliminary obligation. "i ---- solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal any thing that i may this day (or night) learn concerning the order of the * * *, and that i will true answer make to such interrog- atories as may be put to me touching my com- petency for admission into the same. so help me god." interrogatories to be asked: st. have you ever been rejected, upon appli- cation for membership in the * * *, or have you ever been expelled from the same? d. are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the radical republican party, or either of the organizations known as the "loyal league" and the "grand army of the re- public?". d. are you opposed to the principles and policy of the radical party, and to the loyal league, and the grand army of the republic, so far as you are informed of the character and purposes of those organizations? th. did you belong to the federal army during the late war, and fight against the south during the existence of the same? th. are you opposed to negro equality, both social and political? th. are you in favor of a white man's gov- ernment in this country? [header: _nemo tenetur seipsum accusare._ ] th. are you in favor of constitutional liberty, and a government of equitable laws instead of a government of violence and oppression? th. are you in favor of maintaining the con- stitutional rights of the south? th. are you in favor of the re-enfranchise- ment and emancipation of the white men of the south, and the restitution of the southern people to all their rights, alike proprietary, civil, and political? th. do you believe in the inalienable right of self-preservation of the people against the ex- ercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power? if the foregoing interrogatories are satisfacto- rily answered, and the candidate desires to go further (after something of the character and na- ture of the order has thus been indicated to him) and to be admitted to the benefits, mysteries, secrets and purposes of the order, he shall then be required to take the following final oath or obligation. but if said interrogatories are not satisfactorily answered, or the candidate declines to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after being solemnly admonished by the initiating offi- cer of the deep secresy to which the oath already taken has bound him, and that the extreme pen- alty of the law will follow a violation of the same. final obligation. "i ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of almighty god, do sol- emnly swear or affirm, that i will never reveal to [header: _deo adjuvante, non timendum._ ] any one not a member of the order of the * * *, by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the order of the * * *, or that i am a member of the same, or that i know any one who _is_ a member; and that i will abide by the prescript and edicts of the order of the * * * so help me god." the initiating officer will then proceed to ex- plain to the new members the character and ob- jects of the order, and introduce him to the mys- teries and secrets of the same; and shall read to him this prescript and the edicts thereof, or present the same to him for personal perusal. article viii. amendments. this prescript or any part or edicts thereof shall never be changed, except by a two-thirds vote of the grand dragons of the realms, in convention assembled, and at which convention the grand wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. and upon the application of a ma- jority of the grand dragons for that purpose, the grand wizard shall call and appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when as- sembled, shall proceed to make such modifica- tions and amendments as it may think will promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the order. [header: _spectemus agendo._ ] article ix. interdiction. the origin, mysteries, and ritual of this order shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. article x. edicts. . no one shall become a member of a distant den, when there is a den established and in ope- ration in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall any one become a member of any den, or of this order in any way after he shall have been once rejected, upon application for membership. . no den, or officer, or member, or members thereof, shall operate beyond their prescribed limits, unless invited or ordered by the proper authority so to do. . no member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any meeting of the den; nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting while intoxicated; and for every ap- pearance at a meeting in such condition, he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the order. . any member may be expelled from the order by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the den to which he belongs; and if after such expulsion, such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia, or insignia of the or- [header: _nemo nos impune lacissit._ ] der, or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punished. his obli- gation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held ac- countable in the same manner as if he were then a member. . upon the expulsion of any member from the order, the grand cyclops, or the officer act- ing in his stead, shall immediately report the same to the grand giant of the province, who shall cause the fact to be made known and read in each den of his province, and shall transmit the same, through the proper channels, to the grand dragon of the realm, who shall cause it to be published to every den in his realm, and shall notify the grand dragons of contiguous realms of the same. . every grand cyclops shall read, or cause to be read, this prescript and these edicts to his den, at least once in every month; and shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him for personal perusal. . the initiation fee of this order shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the order. . dens may make such additional edicts for their control and government as they may deem requisite and necessary. _provided_, no edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provi- sions or edicts of this prescript. [header: _ad unum omnes._ ] . the most profound and rigid secrecy con- cerning any and everything that relates to the order, shall at all times be maintained. . any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets of this order, shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. admonition. hush! thou art not to utter what i am, be- think thee! it was our covenant! register. i. . dismal, . painful, . mystic, . portentous, . stormy, . fading, . peculiar, . melancholy, . blooming, . glorious, . brilliant, . gloomy. ii. i. white, ii. green, iii. yellow, iv. amber, v. purple, vi. crimson, vii. emerald. iii. . fearful, . hideous, . startling, . frightful, . wonderful, . awful, . alarming, . horrible, . mournful, . dreadful, . appalling, . last. iv. cumberland. l'envoi. to the lovers of law and order, peace and jus- tice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the order of the * * * _resurgamus._ appendix iii. constitution of a local order modeled upon ku klux klan used in south carolina and in north carolina from the ku klux report, north carolina testimony constitution article i. this organization shall be known as the ---- order, no. --, of the ku klux klan of the state of south carolina. article ii. the officers shall consist of a cyclops and a scribe, both of whom shall be elected by a majority vote of the order, and to hold their office during good behavior. article iii. section . it shall be the duty of the c. to preside in the order, enforce a due observance of the constitution and by-laws, and an exact compliance to the rules and usages of the order; to see that all the members perform their respective duties; to appoint all committees before the order; inspect the arms and dress of each member on special occasions; to call meetings when necessary; draw upon members for all sums needed to carry on the order. sec. . the s. shall keep a record of the proceedings of the order; write communications; notify other klans when their assistance is needed; give notice when any member has to suffer the penalty for violating his oath; see that all books, papers or other property belonging to his office, are placed beyond the reach of any one not a member of the order. he shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by the c. article iv. section . no person shall be initiated into this order under eighteen years of age. sec. . no person of color shall be admitted into this order. sec. . no person shall be admitted into this order who does not sustain a good moral character, and who is in any way incapacitated to perform the duties of a ku klux. sec. . the name of a person proposed for membership must be proposed by the committee appointed by the chief, verbally, stating age, residence, and occupation; state if he was a soldier in the late war, his rank, whether in the federal or confederate service, and his command. article v. section . any member who shall offend against these articles, or the by-laws shall be subject to be fined and reprimanded by the c., as two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting may determine. sec. . every member shall be entitled to a fair trial for any offense involving reprimand or criminal punishment. by-laws article i. section . this order shall meet at ----. sec. . five members shall constitute a quorum, provided the c. or s. be present. sec. . the c. shall have power to appoint such members of the order to attend the sick, the needy, and those distressed, and those suffering from radical misrule, as the case may require. sec. . no person shall be appointed on a committee unless the person is present at the time of appointment. members of committees neglecting to report shall be fined cents. article ii. section . every member, on being admitted, shall sign the constitution and by-laws and pay the initiation fee. sec. . a brother of the klan wishing to become a member of this order, who shall present his application with the proper papers of transfer from the order of which he was a member formerly, shall be admitted to the order only by a unanimous vote of the members present. article iii. section . the initiation fee shall be ----. article iv. section . every member who shall refuse or neglect to pay his fine or dues shall be dealt with as the chief thinks proper. sec. . sickness or absence from the country or being engaged in any important business shall be a valid excuse for any neglect of duty. article v. section . each member shall provide himself with a pistol, ku klux gown and signal instruments. sec. . when charges have been preferred against a member in proper manner, or any matters of grievance between brother ku klux are brought before the order, they shall be referred to a committee of three or more members, who shall examine the parties and determine the matters in question, reporting their decision to the order. if the parties interested desire, two-thirds of the members present voting in favor of the report, it shall be carried. article vi. section . it is the duty of every member who has evidence that another has violated article ii. to prefer the charges and specify the offense to the order. sec. . the charge for violating article ii. shall be referred to a committee of five or more members, who shall as soon as practicable, summon the parties and investigate the matter. sec. . if the committee agree that the charges are sustained, that the member on trial has intentionally violated his oath, or article ii., they shall report the fact to the order. sec. . if the committee agree that the charges are not sustained, that the member is not guilty of violating his oath or article ii., they shall report to that effect to the order and the charges shall be dismissed. sec. . when the committee report that the charges are sustained, and the unanimous vote of the members is given thereof, the offending person shall be sentenced to death by the chief. sec. . the person, through the cyclops of the order of which he is a member, can make application for pardon to the great grand cyclops of nashville, tennessee, in which case execution of the sentence can be stayed until pardoning power is heard from. article vii. section . any member who shall betray or divulge any of the matters of the order shall suffer death. article viii. section . the following shall be the rules of any order to any matter herein not provided for; shall be managed in strict accordance with the ku klux rules. sec. . when the chief takes his position on the right, the scribe, with the members forming a half-circle around them, and at the sound of the signal instrument there shall be profound silence. sec. . before proceeding to business, the scribe shall call the roll and note the absentees. sec. . business shall be taken up in the following order: . reading the minutes. . excuse of members at preceding meeting. . report of committee of candidates for membership. . collection of dues. . are any of the order sick or suffering? . report of committees. . new business. appendix iv. ku klux orders, warnings and oaths ku klux orders, warnings, oaths. ku klux klan. alert! (crossed muskets) (and pistol.) (spade ax ax.) alert! alert! t t t t t t t t t t t the b. g. c. of the k. k. k. is in town. you who know the signal of his presence and have seen it be on the _alert_. you who do not--to a brother--_mark the nail of the finger and the_ (?) must be organized in the future. _traitors_ to their race _will not always flemish like the bay. dimity marks them. look out. and meet at the cave where the greased lightning slumbers._ by order of the b. g. c. in pro., per. d. w. s. forerunner.[ ] ku klux. serpent's den--death's retreat hollow tomb--misery cave of the great ku klux klan, no. , . windy month--bloody moon, muddy night--twelfth hour. _general orders no. ._ make ready! make ready! make ready! the mighty hobgoblins of the confederate dead in hell-a-bulloo assembled! revenge, revenge! be secret, be cautious, be terrible! by special grant, hell freezes over for your passage. offended ghosts, put on your skates, and cross over to mother earth! work! work!! work!!! double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. ye white men who stick to black, soulless beasts! the time arrives for you to part. q. w. x. w. v. u., and so, from omega to alpha. cool it with a baboon's blood then the charm is firm and good. ye niggers who stick to low whites! begone, begone, begone! the world turns around--the thirteenth hour approacheth. s. one, two, and three--beware! white and yellow. j. and t---- p---- and l---- begone.--the handwriting on the wall warns you! from the murderer's gibbet, throw into the flame. come high and low. by order of the great blufustin. g. s. k. k. k. a true copy, peterloo. p. s. k. k. k. ku klux. hell-a-bulloo hole--den of skulls. bloody bones--headquarters of the great ku klux klan, no. , . windy month--new moon. cloudy night--thirteenth hour. _general orders no. ._ the great chief simulacre summons you! be ready! crawl slowly! strike hard! fire around the pot! sweltered venom, sleeping got boil thou first i' the charmed pot! like a hell-broth boil and bubble! the great high priest cyclops! c. j. f. y. varnish, tar and turpentine! the fifth ghost sounds his trumpet! the mighty genii wants two black wethers! make them, make them, make them! presto! the great giantess must have a white barrow. make him, make him, make him! presto! meet at once--the den of snakes--the giants jungle--the hole of hell! the second hobgoblin will be there, a mighty ghost of valor! his eyes of fire, his voice of thunder! clean the streets--clean the serpents' dens. red hot pincers! bastinado!! cut clean!!! no more to be born. fire and brimstone. leave us, leave us, leave us! one, two, three tonight! others soon! hell freezes! on with skates--glide on. twenty from atlanta. call the roll. _bene dicite!_ the great ogre orders it! by order of the great blufustin. g. s. k. k. k. a true copy, peterloo. p. s. k. k. k. ku klux. hollow hell, devil's den, horrible shadows. ghostly sepulchre. head quarters of the immortal ate of the k. k. k. gloomy month. bloody moon. black night, last hour. _general orders no. ._ shadowed brotherhood! murdered heroes! fling the bloody dirt that covers you to the four winds! erect thy goddess on the banks of the avernus. mark well your foes! strike with the red hot spear! prepare charon for his task! enemies reform! the skies shall be blackened! a single star shall look down upon horrible deeds! the night owl shall hoot a requiem o'er ghostly corpses! beware! beware! beware! the great cyclops is angry! hobgoblins report! shears and lash! tar and feathers! hell and fury! revenge! revenge! revenge! bad men! white, black, yellow, repent! the hour is at hand! be ye ready! life is short. j. h. s. y. w.!!! ghosts! ghosts!! ghosts!!! drink thy tea made of distilled hell, stirred with the lightning of heaven, and sweetened with the gall of thine enemies! all will be well!!! by order of the great blufustin. g. s. k. k. k. a true copy, peterloo. p. s. k. k. k.[ ] [illustration: prospective scene in the "city of oaks," th of march, . "hang, curs, hang! * * * * * _their_ complexion is perfect gallows. stand fast, good fate, to _their_ hanging! * * * * * if they be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable." the above cut represents the fate in store for those great pests of southern society--the carpet-bagger and scallawag--if found in dixie's land after the break of day on the th of march next. the genus carpet-bagger is a man with a lank head of dry hair, a lank stomach and long legs, club knees and splay feet, dried legs and lank jaws with eyes like a fish and mouth like a shark. add to this a habit of sneaking and dodging about in unknown places--habiting with negroes in dark dens and back streets--a look like a hound and the smell of a polecat. words are wanting to do full justice to the genus scallawag. he is a cur with a contracted head, downward look, slinking and uneasy gait; sleeps in the woods, like old crossland, at the bare idea of a ku-klux raid. our scallawag is the local leper of the community. unlike the carpet-bagger, he is native, which is so much the worse. once he was respected in his circle; his head was level, and he would look his neighbor in the face. now, possessed of the itch of office and the salt rheum of radicalism, he is a mangy dog, slinking through the alleys, haunting the governor's office, defiling with tobacco juice the steps of the capitol, stretching his lazy carcass in the sun on the square, or the benches of the mayor's court. he waiteth for the troubling of the political waters, to the end that he may step in and be healed of the itch by the ointment of office. for office he 'bums' as a toper 'bums' for the satisfying dram. for office, yet in prospective, he hath bartered respectability; hath abandoned business, and ceased to labor with his hands, but employs his feet kicking out boot-heels against lamp post and corner curb, while discussing the question of office the fate of the carpetbagger and the scalawag cartoon by ryland randolph in _independent monitor_, september , .] to the public k. k. k. taken by habeas corpus. in silence and secrecy thought has been working, and the benignant efficacies of concealment speak for themselves. once again have we been forced by force to use _force_. justice was lame, and she had to lean upon us. information being obtained that a "doubting thomas," the inferior of nothing, the superior of nothing, and of consequence the equal of nothing, who has neither eyes to see the scars of oppression, nor ears to hear the cause of humanity, even though he wears the judicial silk, had ordered some guilty prisoners from union to the city of columbia, and of injustice and prejudice, for an _unfair trial of life_; thus clutching at the wheel-spokes of destiny--then this thing was created and projected; otherwise it would never have been. we yield to the inevitable and inexorable, and account this the _best_. "let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth," is our motto. we want peace, but this cannot be till justice returns. we want and will have justice, but this cannot be till the bleeding fight of freedom is fought. until then the moloch of iniquity will have his victims, even if the michael of justice must have his martyrs. k. k. k.[ ] another ku klux proclamation.[ ] the following document was discovered on yesterday morning posted on the "legal advertisement" board hanging at the court-house door. we have examined the original and find it is in the same handwriting as the one left with the jailer on the night of the late raid on the jail: headquarters k. k. k, department of s. c., _general orders no. ._ _from the g. g. c., s. s._ we delight not in speech, but there is language which, when meant in earnest, becomes desperate. we raise the voice of warning, beware! beware! persons there are, (_and not unknown to us_,) who, to gratify some private grudge or selfish end, like wheeler's men, so called, are executing their low, paltry, and pitiful designs at the expense, not only of the noble creed we profess and act, but also to the great trouble and annoyance of their neighbors in various communities. we stay our hand for once; but if such conduct is frightening away laborers, robbery, and connivance at the secrets of our organization is repeated, then the mockers _must_ suffer and the traitors meet their merited doom. we dare not promise what we do not perform. we want no substitutes or conscripts in our ranks. we can be as generous as we are terrible; but, _stand back_. we've said it, and there can be no interference. by order of the grand chief, a.o., _grand secretary._ ku klux manifesto.[ ] below we publish a document which we received through the postoffice on monday last, it having been dropped into the letter box the previous night, as we are informed by the postmaster. as to whether or not the paper is genuine, and emanates from the mysterious ku klux klan, we have no means of knowing, as the handwriting is evidently disguised. although it is our rule to decline the publication of all anonymous communications, we have decided to waive the rule in this instance, and print the document for what it is worth. here it is in full: extract of minutes. article . whereas there are malicious and evil disposed persons, who endeavor to perpetrate their malice, serve notices, and make threats under the cover of our august name, now we warn all such bogus organizations that we will not allow of any interference. stop it. article . there shall be no interference with any honest, decent, well-behaved person, whether white or black; and we cordially invite all such to continue at their appropriate labor, and they shall be protected therein by the whole power of this organization. but we do intend that the honest, intelligent white people (the tax payers) of this county shall rule it! we can no longer put up with negro rule, black bayonets, and a miserably degraded, thievish set of lawmakers, (god save the mark!) the scum of the earth, the scrapings of creation. we are pledged to stop it; we are determined to end it, even if we are "forced by force to use force." article . our attention having been called to the letter of one rose, county treasurer of york, we brand it as a lie! our lieutenant was ordered to arrest him, that he might be tried on alleged charges of incendiarism, (and if convicted he will be executed). but there were no shots fired at him and no money stolen; that is not in our line, the legislature of the state of south carolina have a monopoly in that line. by command of the chief. official: k. k. k., a. a. g. k. k. k.[ ] headquarters; ninth division, s.c., _special orders no. , k. k. k._ "ignorance is the curse of god." for this reason we are determined that the members of the legislature, the school commissioners, and the county commissioners of union, shall no longer officiate. fifteen ( ) days' notice from this date is therefore given and if they, _one and all_, do not _at once and forever resign_ their present inhuman, disgraceful, and outrageous rule, then retributive justice will as surely be used as night follows day. also, "an honest man is the noblest work of god." for this reason, if the clerk of the said board of county commissioners and school commissioners does not _immediately_ renounce and relinquish his present position, then harsher measures than these will most assuredly and _certainly_ be used. for confirmation, reference to the orders heretofore published in the _union weekly times_ and _yorkville enquirer_ will more fully and completely show our intention. a.o., _grand secretary._ march , . [illustration: "dam your soul. the horrible _sepulchre_ and bloody moon has at last arrived. some live to-day to-morrow "_die._" we the undersigned understand through our grand "_cyclops_" that you have recommended a big black nigger for male agent on our nu rode; wel, sir, jest you understand in time if he gets on the rode you can make up your mind to pull roape. if you have any thing to say in regard to the matter, meet the grand cyclops and conclave at den no. at o'clock midnight, oct. st, . "when you are in calera we warn you to hold your tounge and not speak so much with your mouth or otherwise you will be taken on supprise and led out by the klan and learnt to stretch hemp. beware. beware. beware. beware. (signed) "phillip isenbaum, "_grand cyclops_. "john bankstown. "esau daves. "marcus thomas. "bloody bones. "you know who. and all others of the klan." warning sent by the klan from ku klux report, alabama testimony.] the oath.[ ] i, before the great immaculate god of heaven and earth, do take and subscribe to the following sacred binding oath and obligation: i promise and swear that i will uphold and defend the constitution of the united states as it was handed down by our forefathers in its original purity. i promise and swear that i will reject and oppose the principles of the radical party in all its forms, and forever maintain and contend that intelligent white men shall govern this country. i promise and pledge myself to assist, according to my pecuniary circumstances, all brothers in distress. females, widows, and their households shall ever be specially in my care and protection. i promise and swear that i will obey all instructions given me by my chief, and should i ever divulge or cause to be divulged any secrets, signs or pass-words of the invisible empire, i must meet with the fearful and just penalty of the traitor, which is death, death, death, at the hands of my brethren.[ ] * * * * * i, t. a. hope, before the great immaculate judges of heaven and earth, and upon the holy evangelist of almighty god, do, of my own free will and accord, subscribe to the following sacred, binding obligation: i. i am on the side of justice and humanity, and constitutional liberty as bequeathed to us by our forefathers in its original purity. ii. i reject and oppose the principles of the radical party. iii. i pledge aid to a brother of the ku klux klan in sickness, distress, or pecuniary embarrassments; females, friends, and widows, and their households shall be the special object of my care and devoted protection. iv. should i ever divulge, or cause to be divulged, any of the secrets of this order, or any of the foregoing obligations, i must meet with the fearful punishment of death and traitor's doom, which is death, death, death, at the hands of the brethren.[ ] * * * * * i do solemnly swear that i will support and defend the invisible circle; that i will defend our families, our wives, our children, and brethren; that i will assist a brother in distress to the best of my ability; that i will never reveal the secrets of this order or anything in regard to it that may come to my knowledge, and if i do may i meet a traitor's doom, which is death, death, death: so help me god, and so punish me my brethren.[ ] footnotes: [ ] montgomery mail, march , . [ ] this and the two preceding orders were written by ryland randolph and printed in his paper _the independent monitor_, of tuscaloosa, alabama. [ ] from the _weekly union times_ of unionville, s.c., february , ; south carolina testimony, pp. , . the negro militia of south carolina had killed a man who refused to sell whisky to them. several were arrested and imprisoned. a radical judge named thomas, in columbia, or miles away and out of the district where the crime was committed, directed that the prisoners be removed to columbia for trial. the whites believed that this was done as the first step toward releasing the criminals. a mob came in, took the men from jail, shot them and gave to the sheriff the above notice with instructions to have it published in the newspapers. [ ] weekly union times, unionville, s.c., february , ; ku klux report, south carolina testimony, p. . the ku klux klan had many imitators, and lawless conduct was often carried on under the protection of the name and prestige of the klan. the above warning was meant for those who had been using the name of the order to cloak evil deeds. [ ] _yorkville enquirer_, yorkville, s.c., march , ; south carolina testimony, p. . another warning to those engaged in lawlessness and using the name of the klan. [ ] _union weekly times_, march , ; south carolina testimony, p. . this order illustrates one method of getting rid of obnoxious officials. [ ] the oath of ku klux klan was not printed. the three versions here given were given from memory. the similarity is marked, however. [ ] ku klux report. north carolina testimony. court proceedings, p. . [ ] ku klux report, north carolina testimony, pp. , . [ ] south carolina testimony, p. . index a. abernathy, dr. c.c., a member of the klan, admission of members, , admonition, alabama, costumes worn in, , , ; investigation in, ; klan extends to, amendment of prescript, , "american historical magazine," cited, anderson, gen. g.t., a member of the klan, appellation official, of the order, , "appomattox program," not carried out, b. badges worn by high officials, (see also outside cover.) beati paoli, black belt, ku klux klan mainly outside of, bowers, dr. james, a member, brown, gen. john c., a member, brown, w.g., "the lower south," cited, brownlow, w.g., governor of tennessee, - , ; his militia a cause of the ku klux movement, ; proclaims martial law, ; has "force laws" passed, ; his detective drowned by the klan, brownlow republicans in ku klux disguise, burgess, j.w., "reconstruction and the constitution," cited, c. carbonari, carpetbag and negro legislators pass "force laws", carpetbag rule a cause of the ku klux movement,. , , , carter, dr. benjamin, a member, cartoon from the "independent monitor," , ; from the "loil legislature", , causes of the ku klux movement, , , , , - (see also ku klux klan.) centaurs, grand council of, "century magazine," cited, , certificate of laps d. mccord, "cincinnati commercial," prints the randolph cartoons, , "civil war and reconstruction in alabama," by w.l. fleming, cited, , , character and objects of ku klux klan, clanton, gen. james h., cloud, dr. n.b., driven from tuscaloosa by the klan, ; see cartoon facing page, colquitt, gen. a.h. colquitt, a member, conditions in the south, , confederates disfranchised, confréries, congress investigates ku klux klan, , , , , , , ; passes "force laws", constitutions, see prescript. constitutional union guards, convention of ku klux klan, , , , coon and sibley, carpetbaggers, cartoon of, , and facing, costumes worn in the klan, , , , council of centaurs, ; of yahoos, cox, s.s., "three decades," quotation from. crawford, f.m., a member, creed of the klan, , crowe, major james r., one of the founders of the klan, ; first grand turk, ; statement in regard to origin of the pulaski den, ; one of committee to prepare a constitution and a ritual, cutler, "lynch law," cited, cyclops, grand, an official of the klan, ; ruler of a den, ; duties, , ; election of, ; appointment of, ; in a local order, cypher code, , (see also register.) d. decline of the klan, - ; causes of, dedication of prescript, , den, the lowest division of the order, , , ; at pulaski, tennessee, - , disbandment of the klan, , , , - divisions of the invisible empire of ku klux klan, "documents relating to reconstruction," cited, , dominions or congressional districts, , , dracovolans, or flying dragon, dragon, grand, ruler of a realm, ; duties, , ; how elected, ; appointed, duties of officials, - , - e. edicts, or by-laws of the order, , empire, the, , ensign, grand, duties, ensign or banner of the ku klux klan, exchequer, grand, or treasurer, , ; duties, , ; how elected, ; appointed, - expansion of the klan's territory, - , expulsion of members, , f. fleming, w.l., "civil war and reconstruction in alabama," cited, , , flying dragon, "force laws," effect on klan, , forrest, gen. nathan bedford, grand wizard, , , ; testimony before ku klux committee of congress, - , ; his estimate of the number of members, ; his opinion of the character of members, ; belongs to the order of pale faces, ; disbands the klan, , , , - founders of the klan, furies, the staff of the grand titan, , , , , fussell, col. joseph, a member, g. garner, j.w., "reconstruction in mississippi," cited, garrett, dr. w.r., makes plates used on pages - genii, the staff of the grand wizard, , , , georgia, candidates in georgia, ghouls, private members, , ; elect officials , giant, grand, ruler of a province, duties, , ; how elected, ; appointed giles county, tennessee goblins, , , , gordon, gen. john b., , , ; testimony before the ku klux committee of congress, - , , grand army of the republic grant, gen. u.s., magnanimity of, h. hanging picture, cartoon by ryland randolph, , ; republished in the north hardee, gen. w.j., a member, "histoire générale," by lavisse & rambaud, cited huntsville, alabama, parade of klan in, hydras, the staff of the grand dragon, , , , i. "independent monitor," cited , , initiations into the pulaski den, , , interrogations to be asked candidates for admission, investigation of ku klux klan, by congress, , , , , , , ; by alabama, invisible circle invisible empire, , , j. jones, calvin, one of the founders, , ; on committee to choose a name for the order, ; charles p., a member, ; miss cora r., daughter of charles p., and niece of calvin, article in "advance," cited, , ; judge thomas m., father of calvin and charles p., , judiciary of the klan, , , k. kennedy, john, one of the founders of the klan, , ; on committee to prepare constitution and ritual, kirk, john h., aided in printing the prescript, klephts, knights of the white camelia, , ku klux committee of congress, ku klux klan, causes of, , , , , , , , - , - ; founded at pulaski, tennessee, , , , ; headquarters at pulaski, ; initiations at pulaski, - ; original object, ; selection of name, , , ; costumes worn, , , , ; expansion, - ; transformation, , - ; reorganized, - ; territorial extent, , , , , ; prescripts, , , - , - ; officers and their duties, - , ; oaths and obligations, , , , ; parades, , ; character and objects, , , - , , - ; creed, , ; declaration of principles, ; edicts, , ; admission of members, , ; character and conduct of members, , , , ; numbers, , ; secrets, , , ; revenue, , ; judiciary, , , ; convention at nashville, , ; methods, - , , - , - ; orders and warnings, , , - ; disciplines its members, ; outrages, ; decline and disbandment, , - , - ; regalia destroyed, ; investigation by congress, , , , , , , , ; effect of "force laws;" popular idea of the klan, ; results of the ku klux movement, , , , ; other secret orders, ku klux klan, lester and wilson's history of, - , , , ku klux movement, ku klux report, cited, , , , , , , , , , , l. lakin, rev. a.s., president of university of alabama, driven away by the klan, ; see cartoon, lavisse and rambaud, "histoire générale," cited, lawton, gen. a.r., a member, lester, capt. j. c, one of the founders of the klan and one of the authors of the history of ku klux klan, , , , ; on committee to prepare constitution and ritual, lictor, an official title, "loil legislature," by capt. b.h. screws, cartoon from, , "lower south," by w.g. brown, cited, loyal league, , , (see also union league.) "loyalty," meaning of, "lynch law," by cutler, cited, m. mccallum, james, a member, mccoy, capt. thomas, a member, mccord, frank o., one of the founders of the klan, , ; first grand cyclops, ; laps d., prints the prescripts, ; l.w., editor of the "pulaski citizen," a ku klux newspaper, mckissick, alex., a member, magi, grand, ; duties, , ; how elected, , martial law proclaimed in tennessee, masonic order, members, admission of, , , ; expulsion, , ; none ever arrested, methods employed by the klan, , , , - militia law of tennessee, mississippi, klan extends to, ; costumes worn in, , minnis, j.a., testimony, mitchell, capt. robert, a member, monk, grand, ; duties, , ; how elected, , "montgomery mail," cited, moore, john a., a member, morton, capt. john w., a member, , ; initiates general forrest, motto, on ensign, n. name of the order, selection of, , ; influence of name on the career of the order, , , , nashville convention of the klan, , ; adopts prescript, nashville den drowns a detective, negro equality, klan opposed to, negro members of the klan, negro troops, conduct of, negroes, , , , , , , ; conduct of, ; frightened by klan, - nelson, j.l., a member, newspapers forbidden to print ku klux notices, , night hawks, the staff of a cyclops, , , , , nihilists, north carolina, a local order in, - number of members, , o. oaths and obligations, , , , , , officials of the klan, duties, , ; how elected, , order issued by the grand dragon of tennessee, - orders and warnings sent by the klan, , , - origin of ku klux klan, - outrages attributed to the klan, p. pale faces, ; gen. forrest a member of, parades of the klan, , - pearcy, capt. j.l., a member, ; owns a revised and amended prescript, penalty for betrayal of secrets, , pettus, gen. edmund w, , pike, gen. albert, chief judicial officer, principles of the klan, , , , province, or county, , , pulaski, tennessee, description of, ; conditions in , ; ku klux klan founded there, , ; ku klux parade, - pulaski den, origin and membership, - , , , prescripts, , , , , ; original, adopted at nashville convention, , , - ; revised and amended, , , , - ; an imperfect copy used by a local order, , - ; sold by grand wizard, , , , ; dedication, , ; amendment, , ; register, , purpose of the original den, q. quotations, poetical, in original prescript, ; latin, in the prescripts, _passim_, - r. radical republican party, radicals in ku klux disguise, randolph, ryland, , ; quoted, , ; author of orders and warnings, , - ; publishes cartoon of coon and sibley, , realm, or state, , , reconstruction acts, , "reconstruction of the constitution," by j.w. burgess, cited, "reconstruction in mississippi," by j.w. garner, cited, reed, richard r., one of the founders, , ; on committee to choose a name for the order, regalia and records of klan destroyed, register of the prescript, , , regulators, , , results of the ku klux movement, revenue of the klan, , revised and amended prescript, , - ritual of pulaski den, , rose, w.h., a member, s. saunders, "early settlers of alabama," quoted, scotch-irish descent of the members of the klan, , screws, capt. b.h., "loil legislature," cartoon from, , scribe, of a local order, scribe, grand, ; duties, , secrets of the klan, , ; penalty for betrayal of, , sentinel, grand, ; duties, , shapard, i.l. and robt., members, , sibley and coon, carpetbaggers, , south carolina, local order in, - ; warnings sent by klan in, - southern society of new york, owns a revised and amended prescript, spofford, judge h.m., residence used by klan staff officers, , state guards of tennessee, stubbs, mrs. elizabeth, in "early settlers of alabama," quoted, t. taxes levied in klan, , tennessee, conditions in, , ; the klan in , , ; confederates disfranchised, ; state guards, ; militia law, ; order of a grand dragon, - ; anti-ku klux law, - term of office, , texas, klan extends to, "three decades," by s.s. cox, quoted, titan, grand, ruler of a dominion, ; duties, , ; how elected, ; appointed, titles of officials, , tories, , tourgee, "invisible empire," cited, transformation of the klan, , - tribunal of justice, tugenbund, turk, grand, , ; duties, , ; office first held by major j.r. crowe, tuscaloosa, alabama, klan at, u. "understanding of appomattox," violated, union league, a cause of the ku klux movement, , , , - , unionists, , , university of alabama, v. vehmgericht, voorheis, milton, a member, w. warnings sent by the klan, , , "washington post," cited, , waters, dr. m.s., a member, webster's "unabridged pictorial," cited, "weekly union times," cited, , , white brotherhood, white camelia, white league, "white man's government", wilson, rev. d.l., one of the authors of the history of ku klux klan , , , ; article in "century magazine" cited, , wizard, grand, ; duties, , ; how elected, , , ; term of office, , ; disbands the klan, - y. yahoos, grand council of, "yorkville enquirer," cited, young italy, * * * * * compiled versions of appendix i and appendix ii * * * * * appendix i. prescript of ku klux klan adopted at a convention of the order held in nashville, april, copied from the original prescript, line for line and page for page. the type used here is slightly larger than in the original document. prescript of the * * what may this mean, that thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, making night hideous; and we fools of nature, so horridly to shake our disposition, with thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? an' now auld cloots, i ken ye're thinkin', a certain _ghoul_ is rantin', drinkin', some luckless night will send him linkin', to your black pit; but, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin', and cheat you yet. creed. we the * * reverently acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. preamble. we recognize our relations to the united states government and acknowledge the supremacy of its laws. appellation. article i. this organization shall be styled and denominated the * * titles. art. ii. the officers of this * shall consist of a grand wizard of the empire and his ten genii; a grand dragon of the realm and his eight hydras; a grand titan of the dominion and his six furies; a grand giant of the province and his four goblins; a grand cyclops of the den and his two night hawks; a grand magi, a grand monk, a grand exchequer, a grand turk, a grand scribe, a grand sentinel, and a grand ensign. sec. . the body politic of this * shall be designated and known as "ghouls." divisions. art. iii. this * shall be divided into five departments, all combined, constituting the grand * of the empire. the second department to be called the grand * of the realm. the third, the grand * of the dominion. the fourth, the grand * of the province. the fifth, the * of the den. duties of officers. grand wizard. art. iv. sec. i. it shall be the duty of the grand wizard, who is the supreme officer of the empire to communicate with and receive reports from the grand dragons of realms, as to the condition, strength, efficiency and progress of the *s within their respective realms. and he shall communicate from time to time, to all subordinates *s, through the grand dragon, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the *s throughout his vast empire; and such other information as he may deem expedient to impart. and it shall further be his duty to keep by his g scribe a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the grand dragons of the different realms of his empire, and shall number such realms with the arabic numerals, , , , &c., _ad finem_. and he shall instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement which he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this prescript, through his subalterns and deputies, for the organization and establishment of subordinate *s. and he shall have the further power to appoint his genii; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain special deputy grand wizards to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his empire. he is further empowered to appoint and instruct deputies, to organize and control realms, dominions, provinces, and dens, until the same shall elect a grand dragon, a grand titan, a grand giant, and a grand cyclops, in the manner hereinafter providded. and when a question of paramount importance to the interest or prosperity of the * arises, not provided for in this prescript, he shall have power to determine such question, and his decision shall be final, until the same shall be provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. grand dragon. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand dragon who is the chief officer of the realm, to report to the grand wizard when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the * within his realm, and to transmit through the grand titan to the subordinate *s of his realm, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand wizard for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will promote the interests of the *. he shall keep by his g. scribe a list of the names (without any caption) of the grand titans of the different dominions of his realm, and shall report the same to the grand wizard when required; and shall number the dominions of his realm with the arabic numerals, , , , &c, _ad finem_. he shall instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have the power to appoint his hydras; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain special deputy grand dragons to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his realm. he is further empowered to appoint and instruct deputies to organize and control dominions, provinces and dens, until the same shall elect a grand titan, a grand giant, and grand cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provided. grand titan. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand titan who is the chief officer of the dominion, to report to the grand dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the * within his dominion, and to transmit through the grand giants to the subordinate *s of his dominion, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interests of the *. he shall keep, by his g. scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the grand giants of the different provinces of his dominion, and shall report the same to the grand dragon when required; and he shall number the provinces of his dominion with the arabic numerals, , , , &c., _ad finem_. and he shall instruct and direct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have power to appoint his furies; also to appoint a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and appoint and ordain special deputy grand titans to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his dominion. he shall have further power to appoint and instruct deputies to organize and control provinces and dens, until the same shall elect a grand giant and a grand cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provided. grand giant. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand giant, who is the chief officer of the province, to supervise and administer general and special instruction in the formation and establishment of *s within his province, and to report to the grand titan, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, progress and efficiency of the * throughout his province, and to transmit, through the grand cyclops, to the subordinate *s of his province, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand titan for that purpose, and such other information and instruction as he may think will advance the interests of the *. he shall keep by his g. scribe a list of the names (without caption) of the grand cyclops of the various dens of his province, and shall report the same to the grand titan when required; and shall number the dens of his province with the arabic numerals, , , , &c., _ad finem._ and shall determine and limit the number of dens to be organized in his province. and he shall instruct and direct his grand exchequer as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. he shall have power to appoint his goblins; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain special deputy grand giants to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his province. he shall have the further power to appoint and instruct deputies to organize and control dens, until the same shall elect a grand cyclops in the manner hereinafter provided. and in all cases, he shall preside at and conduct the grand council of yahoos. grand cyclops. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand cyclops to take charge of the * of his den after his election, under the direction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the grand giant, and in accordance with, and in conformity to the provisions of this prescript, a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before the formation of a * begins. it shall further be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of his * and to preside at the same--to appoint irregular meetings when he deems it expedient, to preserve order in his den, and to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders, and to receive and initiate candidates for admission into the * after the same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy come members by the investigating committee. he shall make a quarterly report to the grand giant, of the condition, strength and efficiency of the * of his den, and shall convey to the ghouls of his den, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the grand giant for that purpose, and all other such information or instruction as he may think will conduce to the interests and welfare of the *. he shall preside at and conduct the grand council of centaurs. he shall have power to appoint his night hawks, his grand scribe, his grand turk, his grand sentinel, and his grand ensign. and he shall instruct and direct the grand exchequer of his den, as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. and for any small offense he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for the same: and he may admonish and reprimand the * of his den for any imprudence, irregularity or transgression, when he is convinced or advised that the interests, welfare and safety of the * demand it. grand magi. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand magi, who is the second officer, in authority, of the den, to assist the grand cyclops and to obey all the proper orders of that officer. to preside at all meetings in the den in the absence of the grand cyclops; and to exercise during his absence all the powers and authority conferred upon that officer. grand monk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand monk, who is the third officer, in authority, of the den, to assist and obey all the proper orders of the grand cyclops and the grand magi. and in the absence of both of these officers, he shall preside at and conduct the meetings in the den, and shall exercise all the powers and authority conferred upon the grand cyclops. grand exchequer. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand exchequers of the different departments of the * to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the * that shall come to their hands, and shall make no appropriation or disbursement of the same except under the orders and direction of the chief officer of their respective departments. and it shall further be the duty of the grand exchequer of dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the grand cyclops. grand turk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand turk, who is the executive officer of the grand cyclops, to notify the ghouls of the den of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the grand cyclops and to obey and execute all the lawful orders of that officer in the control and government of his den. it shall further be his duty to receive and question at the out posts, all candidates for admission into the *, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obligation required, and then to conduct such candidate or candidates to the grand cyclops at his den, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. and it shall further be his duty to act as the executive officer of the grand council of centaurs. grand scribe. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand scribes of the different departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their departments, when required. and it shall further be the duty of the grand scribes of the den to keep a list of the names (without caption) of the ghouls of the den--to call the roll at all regular meetings and to make the quarterly report under the direction of the grand cyclops. grand sentinel. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand sentinel to detail, take charge of, post and instruct the grand guard under the direction and orders of the grand cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by that officer. grand ensign. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand ensign to take charge of the grand banner of the *, to preserve it sacredly, and protect it carefully, and to bear it on all occasions of parade or ceremony, and on such other occasions as the grand cyclops may direct it to be flung to the night breeze. election of officers. art. v. sec. . the grand cyclops, the grand magi, the grand monk, and the grand exchequer of dens, shall be elected semi-annually by the ghouls of dens. and the first election for these officers may take place as soon as seven ghouls have been initiated for that purpose. sec. . the grand wizard of the empire, the grand dragons of realms, the grand titans of dominions, and the grand giants of provinces, shall be elected biennially, and in the following manner, to wit: the grand wizard by a majority vote of the grand dragons of his empire, the grand dragons by a like vote of the grand titans of his realm; the grand titans by a like vote of the grand giants of his dominion, and the grand giant by a like vote of the grand cyclops of his province. the first election for grand dragon may take place as soon as three dominions have been organized in a realm, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of the grand titans, throughout the realm, and biennially as aforesaid. the first election for grand titan may take place as soon as three provinces have been organized in a dominion, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of all the grand giants throughout the dominion and biennially as aforesaid. the first election for grand giant may take place as soon as three dens have been organized in a province, but all subsequent elections shall be by a majority vote of all the grand cyclops throughout the province, and biennially as aforesaid. the grand wizard of the empire is hereby created, to serve three years from the first monday in may, , after the expiration of which time, biennial elections shall be held for that office as aforesaid. and the incumbent grand wizard shall notify the grand dragons, at least six months before said election, at what time and place the same will be held. judiciary. art. vi. sec. . the tribunal of justice of this * shall consist of a grand council of yahoos, and a grand council of centaurs. sec. . the grand council of yahoos, shall be the tribunal for the trial of all elected officers, and shall be composed of officers of equal rank with the accused, and shall be appointed and presided over by an officer of the next rank above, and sworn by him to administer even handed justice. the tribunal for the trial of the grand wizard, shall be composed of all the grand dragons of the empire, and shall be presided over and sworn by the senior grand dragon. they shall have power to summon the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the same. and they shall have power to appoint an executive officer to attend said council while in session. sec. . the grand council of centaurs shall be the tribunal for the trial of ghouls and non-elective officers, and shall be composed of six judges appointed by the grand cyclops from the ghouls of his den, presided over and sworn by him to give the accused a fair and impartial trial. they shall have power to summon the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the same. said judges shall be selected by the grand cyclops with reference to their intelligence, integrity and fair-mindedness, and shall render their verdict without prejudice or partiality. revenue. art. vii. sec. . the revenue of this * shall be derived as follows: for every copy of this prescript issued to the *s of dens, ten dollars will be required. two dollars of which shall go into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand giant; two into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand titan; two into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand dragon, and the remaining four into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand wizard. sec. . a further source of revenue to the empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the realms, and a tax upon realms, when the grand wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dominions, and a tax upon dominions when the grand dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . a further source of revenue to dominions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of provinces, and a tax upon provinces when the grand titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . a further source of revenue to provinces shall be ten per cent. on all the revenue of dens, and a tax upon the dens, when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . the source of revenue to dens, shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the grand cyclops shall deem such tax indispensable to the interests and purposes of the *. sec. . all of the revenue obtained in the manner herein aforesaid, shall be for the exclusive benefit of the *. and shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a fund to meet any disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the *, and to secure the protection of the same. obligation. art. viii. no one shall become a member of this *, unless he shall take the following oath or obligation: "i, ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of almighty god, do solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal to any one, not a member of the * * by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass words, mysteries or purposes of the * * or that i am a member of the same or that i know any one who _is_ a member, and that i will abide by the prescript and edicts of the * *. so help me god." sec. . the preliminary obligation to be administered before the candidate for admission is taken to the grand cyclops for examination, shall be as follows: "i do solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal any thing that i may this day (or night) learn concerning the * *. so help me god." admission. art. ix. sec. . no one shall be presented for admission into this *, until he shall have been recommended by some friend or intimate, who is a member, to the investigating committee, which shall be composed of the grand cyclops, the grand magi and the grand monk, and who shall investigate his antecedents and his past and present standing and connections, and if after such investigation, they pronounce him competent and worthy to become a member, he may be admitted upon taking the obligation required and passing through the ceremonies of initiation. _provided_, that no one shall be admitted into this * who shall have not attained the age of eighteen years. sec. . no one shall become a member of a distant * when there is a * established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity. nor shall any one become a member of any * after he shall have been rejected by any other *. ensign. art. x. the grand banner of this * shall be in the form of an isosceles triangle, five feet long and three wide at the staff. the material shall be yellow, with a red scalloped border, about three inches in width. there shall be painted upon it, in black, a dracovolans, or flying dragon[ a] with the following motto inscribed above the dragon, "quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus.[ a]" amendments. art. xi. this prescript or any part or edicts thereof, shall never be changed except by a two-thirds vote of the grand dragons of the realms, in convention assembled, and at which convention the grand wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. and upon the application of a majority of the grand dragons, for that purpose, the grand wizard shall appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when assembled, shall proceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the utility and more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the *. interdiction. art. xii. the origin, designs, mysteries and ritual of this * shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. register. st--dismal. th--dreadful. nd--dark. th--terrible. rd--furious. th--horrible. th--portentous. th--melancholy. th--wonderful. th--mournful. th--alarming. th--dying. ii. i--white. iv--black ii--green. v--yellow iii--blue. vi--crimson vii--purple iii. --fearful. --doleful. --startling. --sorrowful. --awful. --hideous. --woeful. --frightful. --horrid. --appalling. --bloody. --last. edicts. i. the initiation fee of this * shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the *. ii. no member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any meeting of the *. nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such a condition, he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the *. iii. any member may be expelled from the * by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the den to which he belongs, and if after such expulsion such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia or insignia of the * or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punished. his obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were then a member. iv. every grand cyclops shall read or cause to be read, this prescript and these edicts to the * of his den, at least once in every three months,--and shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him for personal perusal. v. each den may provide itself with the grand banner of the *. vi. the *s of dens may make such additional edicts for their control and government as they shall deem requisite and necessary. _provided_, no edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provisions or edicts of this prescript. vii. the strictest and most rigid secrecy, concerning any and everything that relates to the * shall at all times be maintained. viii. any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets or purposes of this * shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. hush, thou art not to utter what i am. bethink thee; it was our covenant. i said that i would see thee once again. l' envoi. to the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the venerated dead, we affectionately dedicate the * * footnotes: [ a] see webster's unabridged pictorial. [ a] "what always, what every where, what by all is held to be true." appendix ii. revised and amended prescript of ku klux klan adopted in (?) revised and amended prescript of the order of the * * * _damnant quod non intelligunt._ appellation. this organization shall be styled and denominated, the order of the * * *. creed. we, the order of the * * *, reverentially acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. and we recognize our relation to the united states government, the supremacy of the constitution, the constitutional laws thereof, and the union of states thereunder. character and objects of the order. this is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being first: to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of confederate soldiers. second: to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. third: to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. article i. titles. section . the officers of this order shall consist of a grand wizard of the empire, and his ten genii; a grand dragon of the realm, and his eight hydras; a grand titan of the dominion, and his six furies; a grand giant of the province, and his four goblins; a grand cyclops of the den, and his two night-hawks; a grand magi, a grand monk, a grand scribe, a grand exchequer, a grand turk, and a grand sentinel. sec. . the body politic of this order shall be known and designated as "ghouls." article ii. territory and its divisions. section . the territory embraced within the jurisdiction of this order shall he coterminous with the states of maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, florida, alabama, mississippi, louisiana, texas, arkansas, missouri, kentucky, and tennessee; all combined constituting the empire. sec. . the empire shall be divided into four departments, the first to be styled the realm, and coterminus with the boundaries of the several states; the second to be styled the dominion, and to be coterminous with such counties as the grand dragons of the several realms may assign to the charge of the grand titan. the third to be styled the province, and to be coterminous with the several counties; _provided_, the grand titan may, when he deems it necessary, assign two grand giants to one province, prescribing, at the same time, the jurisdiction of each. the fourth department to be styled the den, and shall embrace such part of a province as the grand giant shall assign to the charge of a grand cyclops. article iii. powers and duties of officers. grand wizard. section . the grand wizard, who is the supreme officer of the empire, shall have power, and he shall be required to, appoint grand dragons for the different realms of the empire; and he shall have power to appoint his genii, also a grand scribe, and a grand exchequer for his department, and he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this prescript, through his subalterns, for the organization and dissemination of the order; and when a question of paramount importance to the interests or prosperity of the order arises, not provided for in this prescript, he shall have power to determine such question, and his decision shall be final until the same shall be provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. it shall be his duty to communicate with, and receive reports from, the grand dragons of realms, as to the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within their respective realms. and, it shall further be his duty to keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the grand dragons, of the different realms of the empire, and shall number such realms with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_; and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand dragon. sec. . the grand dragon, who is the chief officer of the realm, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand titan for each dominion of his realm, (such dominion not to exceed three in number for any congressional district) said appointments being subject to the approval of the grand wizard of the empire. he shall have power to appoint his hydras; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand wizard, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his realm, and to transmit, through the grand titan, or other authorized sources, to the order, all information, intelligence, or instruction conveyed to him by the grand wizard for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will promote the interest and utility of the order. he shall keep by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the grand titans of the different dominions of his realm, and shall report the same to the grand wizard when required, and shall number the dominion of his realm with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand titan. sec. . the grand titan, who is the chief officer of the dominion, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand giant for each province of his dominion, such appointments, however, being subject to the approval of the grand dragon of the realm. he shall have the power to appoint his furies; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his dominion, and to transmit through the grand giant, or other authorized channels, to the order, all information, intelligence, instruction or directions conveyed to him by the grand dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interest or efficiency of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the grand giants of the different provinces of his dominion, and shall report the same to the grand dragon when required; and shall number the provinces of his dominion with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand giant. sec. . the grand giant, who is the chief officer of the province, shall have power, and he is required, to appoint and instruct a grand cyclops for each den of his province, such ap-pointments, however, being subject to the approval of the grand titan of the dominion. and he shall have the further power to appoint his goblins; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to supervise and administer general and special instructions in the organization and establishment of the order within his province, and to report to the grand titan, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his province, and to transmit through the grand cyclops, or other legitimate sources, to the order, all information, intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed to him by the grand titan or other higher authority for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think would advance the purposes or prosperity of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the grand cyclops of the various dens of his province, and shall report the same to the grand titan when required; and shall number the dens of his province with the arabic numerals , , , etc., _ad finem_. he shall determine and limit the number of dens to be organized and established in his province; and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand cyclops. sec. . the grand cyclops, who is the chief officer of the den, shall have power to appoint his night-hawks, his grand scribe, his grand turk, his grand exchequer, and his grand sentinel. and for small offenses he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for the same. and he is further empowered to admonish and reprimand his den, or any of the members thereof, for any imprudence, irregularity, or transgression, whenever he may think that the interests, welfare, reputation or safety of the order demand it. it shall be his duty to take charge of his den under the instruction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the grand giant, and in accordance with and in conformity to the provisions of this prescript--a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before the formation of a den begins. it shall further be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of his den, and to preside at the same; to appoint irregular meetings when he deems it expedient; to preserve order and enforce discipline in his den; to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders; and to receive and initiate candidates for admission into the order, after the same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy to become members, by the investigating committee herein after provided for. and it shall further be his duty to make a quarterly report to the grand giant of the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of his den, and shall communicate to the officers and ghouls of his den, all information, intelligence, instruction, or direction, conveyed to him by the grand giant or other higher authority for that purpose; and shall from time to time administer all such other counsel, instruction or direction, as in his sound discretion, will conduce to the interests, and more effectually accomplish, the real objects and designs of the order. grand magi. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand magi, who is the second officer in authority of the den, to assist the grand cyclops, and to obey all the orders of that officer; to preside at all meetings in the den, in the absence of the grand cyclops; and to discharge during his absence all the duties and exercise all the powers and authority of that officer. grand monk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand monk, who is the third officer in authority of the den, to assist and obey all the orders of the grand cyclops and the grand magi; and, in the absence of both of these officers, he shall preside at and conduct the meetings in the den, and shall discharge all the duties, and exercise all the powers and authority of the grand cyclops. grand exchequer. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand exchequers of the different departments to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the order that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by them; and shall make no appropriation or disbursement of the same except under the orders and direction of the chief officer of their respective departments. and it shall further be the duty of the exchequers of dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the grand cyclops, or the officer discharging his functions. grand turk. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand turk, who is the executive officer of the grand cyclops, to notify the officers and ghouls of the den, of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the grand cyclops, and to obey and execute all the orders of that officer in the control and government of his den. it shall further be his duty to receive and question at the outposts, all candidates for admission into the order, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obligation required, and then to conduct such candidate or candidates to the grand cyclops, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. grand scribe. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand scribes of the different departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their departments, when required. and it shall further be the duty of the grand scribes of dens, to keep a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the officers and ghouls of the den, to call the roll at all meetings, and to make the quarterly reports under the direction and instruction of the grand cyclops. grand sentinel. sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand sentinel to take charge of post, and instruct the grand guard, under the direction and orders of the grand cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by that officer. the staff. sec. . the genii shall constitute the staff of the grand wizard; the hydras, that of the grand dragon; the furies, that of the grand titan; the goblins, that of the grand giant; and the night-hawks, that of the grand cyclops, removal. sec. . for any just, reasonable and substantial cause, any appointee may be removed by the authority that appointed him, and his place supplied by another appointment. article iv election of officers. section . the grand wizard shall be elected biennially by the grand dragons of realms. the first election for this office to take place on the st monday in may, , (a grand wizard having been created, by the original prescript, to serve three years from the st monday in may, ); all subsequent elections to take place every two years thereafter. and the incumbent grand wizard shall notify the grand dragons of the different realms, at least six months before said election, at what time and place the same will be held; a majority vote of all the grand dragons _present_ being necessary and sufficient to elect a grand wizard. such election shall be by ballot, and shall be held by three commissioners appointed by the grand wizard for that purpose; and in the event of a tie, the grand wizard shall have the casting-vote. sec. . the grand magi and the grand monk of dens shall be elected annually by the ghouls of dens; and the first election for these officers may take place as soon as ten ghouls have been initiated for the formation of a den. all subsequent elections to take place every year thereafter. sec. . in the event of a vacancy in the office of grand wizard, by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the senior grand dragon of the empire shall immediately assume and enter upon the discharge of the duties of the grand wizard, and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of said office until the same shall be filled by election; and the said senior grand dragon, as soon as practicable after the happening of such vacancy, shall call a convention of the grand dragons of realms, to be held at such time and place as in his discretion he may deem most convenient and proper. _provided_, however, that the time for assembling such convention for the election of a grand wizard shall in no case exceed six months from the time such vacancy occurred; and in the event of a vacancy in any other office, the same shall immediately be filled in the manner herein before mentioned. sec. . the officers heretofore elected or appointed may retain their offices during the time for which they have been so elected or appointed, at the expiration of which time said offices shall be filled as herein-before provided. article v judiciary. section . the tribunal of justice of this order shall consist of a court at the head-quarters of the empire, the realm, the dominion, the province, and the den, to be appointed by the chiefs of these several departments. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the empire shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand dragons, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head-quarters of the empire. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the realm shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand titans, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head-quarters of the realm. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the dominion shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand giants, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head-quarters of the dominion. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the province shall consist of five judges for the trial of grand cyclops, the grand magis, grand monks, and the grand exchequers of dens, and the officers and attachés belonging to the head-quarters of the province. sec. . the court at the head-quarters of the den shall consist of seven judges appointed from the den for the trial of ghouls and the officers belonging to the head-quarters of the den. sec. . the tribunal for the trial of the grand wizard shall be composed of at least seven grand dragons, to be convened by the senior grand dragon upon charges being preferred against the grand wizard; which tribunal shall be organized and presided over by the senior grand dragon _present_; and if they find the accused guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the senior grand dragon of the empire shall cause the same to be executed. sec. . the aforesaid courts shall summon the accused and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the officers convening the court shall cause the same to be executed. _provided_ the accused shall always have the right of appeal to the next court above, whose decision shall be final. sec. . the judges constituting the aforesaid courts shall be selected with reference to their intelligence, integrity, and fair-mindedness, and shall render their verdict without prejudice, favor, partiality, or affection, and shall be so sworn, upon the organization of the court; and shall further be sworn to administer even-handed justice. sec. . the several courts herein provided for shall be governed in their deliberations, proceedings, and judgments by the rules and regulations governing the proceedings of regular courts-martial. article vi. revenue. section . the revenue of this order shall be derived as follows: for every copy of this prescript issued to dens, $ will be required; $ of which shall go into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand giant, $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand titan, $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand dragon, and the remaining $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand wizard. sec. . a further source of revenue to the empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the realms, and a tax upon realms when the grand wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dominions, and a tax upon dominions when the grand dragon shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to dominions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of provinces, and a tax upon provinces when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . a further source of revenue to provinces shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dens, and a tax upon dens when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . the source of revenue to dens shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the grand cyclops shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable to the interests and objects of the order. sec. . all the revenue obtained in the manner aforesaid, shall be for the _exclusive_ benefit of the order, and shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same and to the creation of a fund to meet any disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the order and to secure the protection of the same. article vii. eligibility for membership. section . no one shall be presented for admission into the order until he shall have first been recommended by some friend or intimate who _is_ a member, to the investigating committee, (which shall be composed of the grand cyclops, the grand magi, and the grand monk,) and who shall have investigated his antecedents and his past and present standing and connections; and after such investigation, shall have pronounced him competent and worthy to become a member. _provided_, no one shall be presented for admission into, or become a member of, this order who shall not have attained the age of eighteen years. sec. . no one shall become a member of this order unless he shall _voluntarily_ take the following oaths or obligations, and shall _satisfactorily_ answer the following interrogatories, while kneeling, with his right hand raised to heaven, and his left hand resting on the bible: preliminary obligation. "i ---- solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal any thing that i may this day (or night) learn concerning the order of the * * *, and that i will true answer make to such interrogatories as may be put to me touching my competency for admission into the same. so help me god." interrogatories to be asked: st. have you ever been rejected, upon application for membership in the * * *, or have you ever been expelled from the same? d. are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the radical republican party, or either of the organizations known as the "loyal league" and the "grand army of the republic?". d. are you opposed to the principles and policy of the radical party, and to the loyal league, and the grand army of the republic, so far as you are informed of the character and purposes of those organizations? th. did you belong to the federal army during the late war, and fight against the south during the existence of the same? th. are you opposed to negro equality, both social and political? th. are you in favor of a white man's government in this country? th. are you in favor of constitutional liberty, and a government of equitable laws instead of a government of violence and oppression? th. are you in favor of maintaining the constitutional rights of the south? th. are you in favor of the re-enfranchisement and emancipation of the white men of the south, and the restitution of the southern people to all their rights, alike proprietary, civil, and political? th. do you believe in the inalienable right of self-preservation of the people against the exercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power? if the foregoing interrogatories are satisfactorily answered, and the candidate desires to go further (after something of the character and nature of the order has thus been indicated to him) and to be admitted to the benefits, mysteries, secrets and purposes of the order, he shall then be required to take the following final oath or obligation. but if said interrogatories are not satisfactorily answered, or the candidate declines to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after being solemnly admonished by the initiating offi-cer of the deep secresy to which the oath already taken has bound him, and that the extreme pen-alty of the law will follow a violation of the same. final obligation. "i ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of almighty god, do solemnly swear or affirm, that i will never reveal to any one not a member of the order of the * * *, by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the order of the * * *, or that i am a member of the same, or that i know any one who _is_ a member; and that i will abide by the prescript and edicts of the order of the * * * so help me god." the initiating officer will then proceed to explain to the new members the character and objects of the order, and introduce him to the mysteries and secrets of the same; and shall read to him this prescript and the edicts thereof, or present the same to him for personal perusal. article viii. amendments. this prescript or any part or edicts thereof shall never be changed, except by a two-thirds vote of the grand dragons of the realms, in convention assembled, and at which convention the grand wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. and upon the application of a majority of the grand dragons for that purpose, the grand wizard shall call and appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when assembled, shall proceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think will promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the order. article ix. interdiction. the origin, mysteries, and ritual of this order shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. article x. edicts. . no one shall become a member of a distant den, when there is a den established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall any one become a member of any den, or of this order in any way after he shall have been once rejected, upon application for membership. . no den, or officer, or member, or members thereof, shall operate beyond their prescribed limits, unless invited or ordered by the proper authority so to do. . no member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any meeting of the den; nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting while intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such condition, he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the order. . any member may be expelled from the order by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the den to which he belongs; and if after such expulsion, such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia, or insignia of the order, or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punished. his obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were then a member. . upon the expulsion of any member from the order, the grand cyclops, or the officer acting in his stead, shall immediately report the same to the grand giant of the province, who shall cause the fact to be made known and read in each den of his province, and shall transmit the same, through the proper channels, to the grand dragon of the realm, who shall cause it to be published to every den in his realm, and shall notify the grand dragons of contiguous realms of the same. . every grand cyclops shall read, or cause to be read, this prescript and these edicts to his den, at least once in every month; and shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him for personal perusal. . the initiation fee of this order shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the order. . dens may make such additional edicts for their control and government as they may deem requisite and necessary. _provided_, no edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provisions or edicts of this prescript. . the most profound and rigid secrecy concerning any and everything that relates to the order, shall at all times be maintained. . any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets of this order, shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. admonition. hush! thou art not to utter what i am, bethink thee! it was our covenant! register. i. . dismal, . painful, . mystic, . portentous, . stormy, . fading, . peculiar, . melancholy, . blooming, . glorious, . brilliant, . gloomy. ii. i. white, ii. green, iii. yellow, iv. amber, v. purple, vi. crimson, vii. emerald. iii. . fearful, . hideous, . startling, . frightful, . wonderful, . awful, . alarming, . horrible, . mournful, . dreadful, . appalling, . last. iv. cumberland. l'envoi. to the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the order of the * * * _resurgamus._ * * * * * district in the south--words of a northern tourist--widespread destitution--the curse of slavery--how its sudden abolition affected community wealth in the southern states--the political situation even more distressing--president johnson--how the work of reconstruction was inaugurated--the law-making power vested in dummy legislatures--disfranchisement--enfranchisement--the color issue which these measures brought--a singular peace policy--the war of the conservatives in the south against radicalism did not revive issues concluded by the late civil struggle, as the latter boasted--loyal epithets--"traitor," "guerilla," "southern bandit," etc.--radical rule in the south--the shamelessness of the state officials--the uneducated negro a law-giver--organization of the loyal league--carpet-bag administration thereof--negro draft--some of its peculiarities--the k. k. k. movement as an offset to the league. when the clouds of passion and prejudice that brooded over the american states in the beginning of the latter half of the present century had dropped into the ocean of carnage, which during four years of severe revolutionary penance deluged all their borders, the return to those opposite tempers that beget in men a desire to renew the pledges of ancient covenants, and practise the _ultima thule_ of the messianic idea, as delivered to us by the teachers of the cross (forgiveness), was pronounced in degree; but while it exceeded the bare tendency looked for by men, as an outgrowth of the changed order of things, this moral rehabilitation of the body politic was effected by slow and painful stages. legions of men might have been found on either side of the sectional dead-line who cherished animosities which no philosophy born of the emotions could preach down, and before which even those ministers of red havoc that had invaded their homes were content to lower their weapons and view in forbearance a virtue. it cannot be denied that while the widespread diffusion of the war burden and general travail had a tendency to equalize the feeling of the masses, and awaken a desire to return to the arts of peace, that in not uncommon instances inhumanities had been practised, and bloody reprisals sought, whose issues were wounds, for which the angel of peace brought no healing on his wings. those more dignified passions which, in the outset of hostilities, had swayed the common breast in the rush to arms, where they had not become wholly extinct in a desire for reunion and renewed fraternity, as we have shown, had thus degenerated into the more human instincts of individual hate and revenge which, if sometimes less blameworthy, are far more implacable. those who cherished the latter, however, were discounted in all their efforts to discourage peace proposals by the feeling of distrust which their former actions had inspired, and, very soon after the grant and sherman dictation of peace terms, were left to those weaker subterfuges that might not hope for organized support. many of this discontented class were domiciled on southern soil, and it may be surmised that the genius of desolation that walked forth to meet them on their homeward passage from appomattox and gainesville inspired them with yet warmer resentments against the authors of the ignominious defeat under which they suffered. the war district of the south, in the year of grace which brought about military amnesty, furnished one of those pictures of "crownless desolation" in the history of the world's wars for which the art that decorated st. peter's with the images of purgatorial griefs could have possessed no adequate coloring, and in the attempt to portray which talents and scholarship less consummate than those of the divine angelo must have issued in utter failure. cities destroyed; towns and villages laid waste; churches, schools, and public buildings rotting under the hospital plague, or, more fortunate, sleeping in the ashes of licensed incendiarism; wealthy plantations stripped of their agricultural paraphernalia, and relegated to the domain whence they had been lately redeemed by the good offices of the pioneer; and in room of these--landscape horrors; vast cemeteries, whose enforced tribute reached unto all kindreds; flame-scarred wastes memorializing a past civilization, and extending from the alleghany hills to the georgian forests, and from the rivers to the sea; and brooding over all, sole relic of the conqueror's power, that grim sentinelcy that looked down from dismantled ruins, and bleak, wind-shaken towers, upon the burial-place of the domestic arts. a northern tourist, who, soon after the close of hostilities, followed the trail of sherman's army half across the state of georgia, and explored the shenandoah valley from the mountains at its source to the mountains at its foot, thus comments upon the scenes which beguiled the earlier and later moments of his journey: "and this lovely heritage, interspersed by hills and valleys, lakes and rivers, which but as yesterday, under the transforming hand of wealth and art combined, blossomed as the rose, and was lighted by the torch of america's best civilization, now, and under these severe conditions--alas! that we should be driven to concede it--has sunk back into aboriginal unsightliness, and many portions thereof become the fitting abode of those monsters who, warned by an instinct of their nature, shun the haunts of human progress." but not only did this ghost of desolation hold its solemn rounds where wealth and its monumental insignia had erst been set up--more practical subjects were included in the fearful summing up of federal conquest. the grain crop of four years had been consumed by the requirements of both armies, or ruthlessly committed to the flames through the weak policy of military commanders; export products were sacrificed to confiscation needs; the agricultural districts were bereft of all labor aids, and stood tenantless and barren; nothing of practical value--not even the currency of the country, which had been demonetized months before the events of which we particularly write--greeted the impoverished inhabitant, who, standing in this presence, could scarce look back upon four years of bootless strife with regret unmingled with repining. slavery, which was undoubtedly a great evil, and is at this period conceded to have been such by its most clamorous apologists of _ante bellum_ times, was nevertheless the great prop of community wealth in those states where it had been recognized by the government; and when (keeping in view the wide-spread destitution to which we have called attention) this pet institution was wrecked on the breakers of war, property affairs in all their borders reached an ebb beyond which, it would have seemed, they could not have been impelled by even a retribution born of that highest example of social evil--state treason. the male inhabitants of the south thus found themselves, at the close of the war, not only stripped of fortune, and all that pertained to a farmer's inheritance, in the strictly agricultural communities to which they belonged, but without business capacity or business employ, had the former been supplied, and under the explicit disfavor of the government administration, in all its branches, with all that that implied. but while the physical straits to which the inhabitants of these states were driven almost exceeded belief, and challenged the sympathies of christendom, they were met at this time with a yet more incorrigible evil, as we have already prevised, and one from which all attempts at escape seemed likely to plunge them into deeper miseries. despite the generous policy inaugurated by the commanders of the federal forces at the close of the civil conflict, and the good intentions of president johnson, who had lately succeeded to the chief magistracy, the congress of the united states at this time resolved upon a system of oppressions towards this people whose parallel is not to be found in modern history. this work was inaugurated by the passage of laws whose effect was a virtual dismemberment of the union; all the efforts of these states to participate in the administration of the affairs of the general government being in pursuance thereof promptly discountenanced. the movement which followed was in keeping therewith, and involved the withdrawal from the state governments of all their prerogatives as such. the civil power was vested in military satraps, who were commissioned to govern these provinces (for such they had become); or where the work of reconstructing or radicalizing the populace was more advanced, and it was necessary to preserve the form of the civil machine, state elections were improvised and conducted under the shadow of overawing bayonets. the administration of justice was as summarily withdrawn from the legal functionaries, and given over to the federal judicatories; or, what was far worse, placed in the hands of that most ignorant and despotic of all judiciary systems--military courts-martial. the law-making power, in its turn, was farmed out to dummy legislatures, which in their constitution, if not in the modus of their creation, were _fac-similes_ of the great "rump" model which had made laws before them, and which, with its two-thirds majority and grand faculty for caucusing, was quite equal to all the devices of vetoing chief magistrates. the provision disfranchising the white men of the south had been contemporaneously declared, and was a part of that remarkable series which had empanoplied the negro race with all the political belongings of freedom. the policy adopted by the southern people in concerting resistance to the attacks of these modern sejanus was the only one which could have succeeded, and, whatever else may be said regarding its morality, was just to themselves and disinterested mankind. they did not as a class, nor as individuals, conceive for a moment that their allegiance to the constitution and laws of their country was involved in the issues of the political war which they waged against radicalism, though constantly reminded to that intent by their enemies, whose vocabulary of loyal epithets included such choice terms as "rebel," "traitor," "guerilla," "southern bandit," etc., and their integrity as citizens of the united states government they never ceased to insist upon, though their leaders foretold (and it has since been verified) that they would never succeed in _establishing_ it until the movement, which they had inaugurated under so many difficulties, had accomplished the _disestablishment_ of radicalism at the national capitol. the details of the political strife of those years are unimportant to our narrative; but the intelligent reader will perceive nothing occult in our purpose if we call attention to the long imprisonments to which many of the leaders of the southern movement were subjected, the causeless sequestration of public and private properties, the numberless criminal prosecutions inaugurated in obedience to the whims of the "trooly loil," the immense peculations chargeable to the state governments under radical rule, and, lastly, the open robberies perpetrated under the name and with the sanction of the national legislature. the governments in the south--state, district, and municipal--were negro governments, and if, in a few exceptions, this characterization was but partial, it was where the negro alternated with that pestiferous nomad--the carpet-bagger--in administering government for his late master. favored by this condition of public affairs, that remarkable secret order--the loyal league--found its way into the southern country, and was recommended to the negro by its politics, its dark lantern, its facilities for the transaction of evil deeds, its avenues of escape afforded to the criminal, and, finally, its picturesque ceremonial, in which latter we can see no cause to dispute his taste or judgment. some description of this singular body, which was, we believe, in a measure unknown to the great mass of the people of the northern states, will not be deemed digressive at this point. the order was subdivided into neighborhood organizations, and the heads of these were white men, while their vertebral force was recruited from the voting population above described; the _chéf_ being as completely _en rapport_ with his african brother as if he had been in truth his congener, and not simply dependent on him for patronage. their _locus in quo_ was nowhere and everywhere,--each city and town numbering its lodges and sub-lodges, and the diffusion thereof, throughout the agricultural districts, being in the somewhat extravagant ratio of one to the square mile. their object was plunder. their raids, directed against the white trash, contemplated everything that might be classed under the term _commissaries_, and ranged from the pig-pen to the poultry-yard, and from an ear of corn to a well-grown tuber. the "wee sma' hours ayont the twal" was the festive time of night selected by the "loil" moses and his dusky israel for their exodus from forest or cavern, and, as they marched, the flesh-pots of the enemy disgorged their treasure, and animated nature held its breath. the goods and chattels of the unreconstructed were, by act of congress, their lawful prey, and if their foraging expeditions were conducted by moonlight, it was from constitutional considerations, and not through any well-grounded fear of resistance on the part of the intimidated whites. the conclaves of the society were held nightly, and during the election campaigns, which progressed with tolerable regularity during eight months of the year, their _en masse_ assemblages, or political rallies, occupied each alternate day of the week (the off day being devoted to itinerant duty among neighboring lodges). a weak solution of the christian religion involved in the superstitions which they everywhere practised, aided them in their delusions concerning politics; and it is not exaggeration to state that the remaining four months of the year, under the above estimate, were devoted to their so-called revival meetings, which never failed to prove an insufferable burden to the pork- and vegetable-raising communities on which they were billeted. their religion was, in truth, a part of their politics, and, on occasion, their ministry their most serviceable performers on the hustings. these twin ideas of religion and politics having been introduced into the league, dominated the order so completely that its secular business was often arrested by a call to prayers, and more frequently than otherwise its order of business terminated by a twilight homily on the total cussedness and final unreliability of all who anchored their faith to the conservative idea in politics. this new element, however, was far from benefiting the league; its morals grew infinitely worse; its larcenies became more frequent, and were prosecuted on a larger scale; it became more arrogant in its assumption of exclusive political right on unreconstructed territory; and, finally, assayed, through the medium of politics, to accomplish a social reform that would elevate the ignorant and semi-savage race which it represented to family equality with a class of beings who recognized no title to such a claim, but that of honorable ancestry and a spotless name. beyond the attempt, however, which was warmly seconded by the national congress, it is needless to say that nothing was ever done; and this extreme of rash legislation, undertaken, it would seem at this date, with no other object in view than the humiliation of a proud and constitutionally sensitive enemy, proved in the end the downfall of the league. from this moment, it was met by a counter movement, which, while possessing an organization in many respects superior to its own, covered its movements with the same veil of secrecy; caucused with the same regularity; foraged on its enemies with equal pertinacity and greed; and, finally, proceeded on its mission with the same fell purpose of triumphing by fair means or foul. chapter iii. the klan. a stirring episode--raising the dead--night-hawk abroad--moving toward the rendezvous--grand cyclops of den no. --forming the magic circle--raiding command--k. k. k. drill--on the march--the _tout ensemble_ of a raiding body--weird costuming--arms and accoutrements--banners inscribed with the k. k. k. escutcheon--how the scene impressed beholders. in the month of november, a. d. , in that portion of western tennessee known to dwellers as the kentucky purchase, was enacted a scene which possessed romantic features entitling it to rank with the most exquisite fancies of lamartine or moore, and which, conscious of our inability to improve on its smallest detail, is presented to the reader without any fictitious adornment whatever. in one of the apartments of the elegant mansion of paul thorburn, esq., was assembled a company of pale watchers, who seemed thoroughly enlisted in behalf of their sick charge--an adult son of this gentleman, who for weeks had been prostrated by a virulent fever. it was plainly to be seen from the countenances of the good samaritans who had been lingering near the couch--but now conversed apart, or telegraphed signals to those who waited without--that all hope of the invalid's recovery had vanished. since the physician had passed from the apartment, whispering an attendant that he would return no more, the furniture of the room had been readjusted as if in obedience to the crisis in the affairs of its owners; that portion of the attendants who lingered had left their seats, and stood with folded arms and reclined heads, and the entire surroundings wore that abstracted and melancholy air which the reader cannot fail to have associated in fancy with such scenes. the mother of the young man, pale and distraught from long weeping, had imprinted a kiss of heartbreaking farewell on the brow of her son, and removed her station to a neighboring window, whence she looked out upon the autumn landscape, and anon, as if seeking aid from afar, up at the pale empress of night, which, as it neared the meridian, projected great bars of golden light into the apartment. her attitude had not changed for many minutes, as if the burden of grief that pressed inwardly upon her had taken away the power of motion, and now reclined against the casement--in form and feature immobile as sculptured psyche, the tableau engrossed the attention of all who lingered in the vicinity. it may have been, too, that by means of that subtle, unperceivable line of communications, established between the emotions of beings and coming events which are to effect their destinies, a signal had been telegraphed to the waiting company; for from the moment that they had been attracted towards this scene, their gaze had not once been removed from the form of the pale watcher, who suddenly, and as if wrought upon by the conditions of some outward wonder, developed a strong twitching of the facial muscles, and a dilatation of the pupils of the eye, which took in the landscape in the direction of the public road; then a nervousness of manner, betokening strong inward excitement; then an expansion of frame, whose lineaments, clear cut against the bas-relief of starlight, took on titanic proportions; and instantly, as if in keeping with this strange pantomime, a hush, deep, all-pervading, filled the apartment, broken at length by an audible sigh from the couch of the invalid, followed by the frightened whisper, "mother!" the reply, exploded in clear, ringing tones, was addressed to nobody, transfixed everybody, and started waves of sound that chased each other through every nook and angle of the large building--"ku klux!" six hours before the occurrence narrated here, a solitary horseman, mounted on a strong charger, might have been seen galloping along the highways, and thridding the bridle-paths of the voting precinct, since famous as crow hide township. except a brace of pistols attached to the pommel of his saddle, and a something in his deportment which said as plainly as words, "stand out of the way," there was nothing in the appearance of the cavalier to excite special wonder; yet he succeeded so well in drawing upon himself the attention of mortality thereabouts that there was scarce an inhabitant in all crow hide who had not obtained a glimpse of himself, or his foam-flecked steed, as they flashed by, convoyed by clouds of dust, and imprecated by all the choristers of the farm-yard. the windows of habitations along the route were thrown open ere the apparition was fairly in sight; children at play were attracted by the strange cynosure, and hurried to obtain counsel of parents regarding it; horsemen, who were met under whip and spur, drew rein suddenly, and gazed anxiously after their strange counterpart, and anon, as if slow in making up their minds at the object which hid him from view; and in fact it was as clearly apparent, to even such of the hogs and chickens as were not frightened out of their wits, that a seven days' wonder was being enacted in crow hide, as it was to more sentient creatures that the intangible something in the wind was not lawful subject for gossip. but if the majority were involved in doubt, and resolved to forget the incident as the most comfortable way of disposing of it, some there were who had cracked the conundrum, as was evident from their knowing deportment, their desire to avoid conversation on this topic, and finally, a disposition, plainly manifested, to convert the remainder of the afternoon into a holiday season. as the twilight hour approached, stables were visited, trappings placed in readiness, and all those indispensables of a scout's toilet which might be performed in secrecy, executed. these preparations required brief time, and within an hour after night had fallen, steeds were being caparisoned, riders were mounting in hot haste and moving off by clandestine routes, the roads were filling with cavalcades of armed men, who seemed bent on some undertaking of "pith and moment;" and all these movements proceeding with such secrecy that even the watch-dogs of the vicinity, though vaguely notified of the affair, hesitated to interfere. though moving by different routes, the various squadrons seemed tending to a common rendezvous (located at a point on the outskirts of the settlement), a fact which was made further apparent by the constant recruits which were being added to each, at points where the highway was intersected by country-roads and by-paths. approaching a dense forest, a sound resembling the hooting of an owl was heard, and, turning their horses' heads in the direction whence it proceeded, the various companies, as yet unorganized, galloped forward. the grand cyclops of den no. , realm no. , accompanied by two of his faithful night-hawks (scouts of the body), had been on the ground in advance of his most punctual followers, and when the magic circle had been formed, and the password circulated, that officer presented himself in their midst, and by the use of a monosyllable, whose signification was understood by all, indicated that the council-fires would not be lighted. nothing was added, and no word spoken in reply; but so thoroughly had his full meaning been anticipated, that, within thirty minutes from the time this vague proclamation was issued, the weird brotherhood had dispersed, and, in full raiding costume and bearing aloft the banners of the order, were awaiting the commands of their trusted leader at a point two miles distant. the command moved in obedience to signs, and on this occasion, notified by a signal which must have been unintelligible to persons not versed in their strange drill, they wheeled rapidly into line, and instantly broke off from the right of the column in double files, the leaders pushing their horses to a gallop. no word was spoken as the command moved, and so completely had that ghostly spell that attended all the movements of the night-riders fallen upon the weird column, that even the horses trod warily, and beasts of the forest, startled by a glimpse of the dim procession, in vain consulted their organs of hearing for confirmatory sounds. this body of raiders was that viewed from the sick chamber in the thorburn mansion, described in the opening of this chapter; and we shall seek at this juncture to present to the reader a pen-picture of the formidable apparition as it passed along the highway, in full view, and within fifty paces of the groups of excited observers who looked out from its windows. perhaps the feature of the pageant that would have been soonest apparent to the beholder was that representing its means of locomotion. the horses of the raid were powerful specimens of their race, and furnished with all those _cap-a-pie_ appointments of k. k. k. regalia that were prominent in other departments of the expedition. their bodies were completely enveloped in curtains of black cloth, worn under the saddle, and fastened at the neck to a corselet of the same material, the skirts of the former extending below their knees. over their heads were masks, much of the same description as those worn by their riders, the material being of a dark color, and openings of suitable width having been contrived for the eyes and nostrils. each steed was decorated also with a white plume, carried vertically above the head; and on the right and left of the housings of black cloth which enveloped their bodies, appeared the mystical letters k. k. k. their trappings otherwise were army saddles of uniform pattern, and bridles supplied with the regulation bit, used in both armies at the close of the war. the riders who bestrode these steeds were even more fantastically arrayed, and in the uniforms which they wore the same sacrifice of taste to picturesqueness was to be observed. the most prominent feature of their ghostly toilet was a long black robe, extending from the head to the feet, and decorated with innumerable tin buttons, an inch and a half in diameter, which, under the influence of the starlight, shone like miniature moons. these robes were slit in front and rear, in order that they might not impede the movements of the rider, and were secured about the waist with scarfs of red silk. over their faces they wore masks of some heavy material; the apertures for the eyes, nose, and mouth (which were ample for these purposes) being lined with red cloth. the head-dress was even more unique, and consisted of tall black caps, helmet-shaped, and provided with havelocks, resembling those used by the military in the late war. these were also decorated with the regulation button, and, when worn by officers of commissioned rank, supplemented by gorgeous plumes, white, red, or blue, according to rank. each individual wore about his waist, in addition to the scarf to which we have called attention, a belt supporting two large army pistols, in scabbards; and on the flaps of the latter, embroidered in white characters, appeared the devices of the order--skull and cross-bones, and mystical k. k. k. the banners which were three in number, and carried at intervals in the procession, were of black silk, supporting in the centre two lions rampant on either side of the regulation skull and cross-bones, and on the right, left, and middle, at top, the mystic "k." absolute stillness reigned over the weird column, no man being permitted to speak, even in a whisper, while the large bridle-bits, texas spurs, and other appendages of a cavalry outfit likely to create alarm in passing through quiet neighborhoods were carefully muffled. these details completed the unsightly pageant; and of the party who viewed it, as it moved, at funereal pace, through the moonlit precincts of the thorburn estate, on the evening referred to, no individual ever forgot the scene, or was ever known to whisper an irreverent word concerning the objects, plans, or creed of the festive k. k. k. chapter iv. superstitions regarding k. k. k. impressions after a k. k. k. raid--will morning never come?--conjectures regarding the subject in the minds of those who should have been prepared to render an opinion--what superstitious people thought--the mill council--boys and colored men--k. k. k. arraigned on various charges, and acquitted for want of testimony--the subject an enigma--man a superstitious animal--education the best and a poor antidote. on the immemorial night referred to crow hide slept uneasily, for besides an indefinable something in the air, that brooded over men's spirits like a spell from the other world, there were strange sounds from without creeping into hallways and banging at the doors of apartments; dogs were disconsolate, and whined incessantly; barn-yard echoes stole in on every breeze; and the moon-beams, falling into windows, and past the forms of sleepers, by their jerky, undecided motion, said, as plainly as words, "we are dissatisfied with ourselves." children tossed their arms about wildly as they slept, and when wakened, requested that their couches might be removed from the neighborhood of windows. a weird somnambulism took possession of the forms of men and women, leading them to doors and windows, and sometimes rents in the wall, where they awoke to find themselves in listening attitudes, and to listen. horses neighed, cattle lowed, and chains which might have been attached to watch-dogs, but were not, made the circuit of buildings, or were tossed against the boundaries of closes. would morning never come? girls and timid boys revolved this query in their minds, building a faint hope thereon; but when they held their breaths and listened, they found, as their fears had informed them, that the clock pendulums, hammering away at the seconds, made no gap in time. others, who felt no certain fear, but a boding uneasiness, thought to count the moments on their fingers while the gloom lasted; but so frequently were they interrupted by strange sounds from without, that they found themselves ever recurring to the point where they began. even the chickens on their roosts were witch-ridden, and crowed lustily for day, when the half-grown moon had not yet passed meridian. but "the longest lane has its turn," at one or both ends, and when the shadows slept, and the gray messengers of morn tripped along the eastern hills, the enchanter's wand was lifted from its hills and valleys, and crow hide, unclosing its eyes, gave thanks. now a breath of peacefulness had come upon its affairs, and so radiant seemed the morning skies, and so innocent of evil the sweet landscapes lying bathed in dew-sparkles, that there were few who looked abroad without being inspired with doubts of the existence of the latter, even as an abstraction. even those who had been controlled by the most abject emotions while the terrors of the night lasted, when morning came, stood up boldly for a common sense solution of the mystery. those who had all their lives been troubled with superstitious fears, and were in danger of becoming imbued with the error in its grosser forms, by the aid of such experiences as that through which they had recently passed, admitted the possibility of this. if, therefore, it did not come as a positive revelation, it was a relief to all to be informed, as they were at an early hour, that the initials of the monster haunt who during the night had managed to reflect as many individualities as there were farm-houses in the district were k. k. k. but though this was accepted as a fact by all, seeing that no other theory was advanced, yet the question remained, did it furnish a satisfactory solution of the mystery, or, indeed, any solution whatever? according to the neighborhood version, the ku-klux themselves were about as intangible examples of ghostliness as were ever wrapped in loose-fitting bombazine; and if so, wherein was gossip made the wiser? the very difficulty which the most scholarly person would experience in seeking out the words indexed by the famous k(u) k(lu) k(lan), was enough to evince to the world that there was something radically wrong with its genealogy. on the morning in question, the chore emissaries (boys and negroes) of the farms for miles around had assembled at the neighborhood mill, awaiting their turns of grinding, and when rumor brought the subject into the mill council, the conflict of opinion, involving original arguments advanced and the weight of authorities adduced, became truly brobdignagian. the night raiders had been seen by some of the party, and of this number all had crossed the boundaries of persuasion, and were absolutely convinced regarding some physical (if the term may be used) peculiarity of the ghostly phalanx. an urchin of twelve summers, who confessed to _sub rosa_ practices while the paternal premises were being raided, but nevertheless claimed to get one eye squarely on them as they rounded a hill, one and three-quarters of a mile distant, was convinced that the heads of the rear files (front not visible) extended above the tops of the trees. this statement was delivered with much earnestness of manner, and at its conclusion all the saints and martyrs in the calendar were invited to give it their indorsement. * * * * * peter burleson, aged fifteen, who saw the party ride out of the village cemetery (a whim of the raiders, inducing the belief that they had undergone a partial hibernation amid these surroundings), was able to state something as to its numbers in keeping with the above. according to this witness, the weird force was composed of two battalions and a squadron, or about two thousand men and horses, exclusive of a section of artillery, and an indefinite number of pack-mules. the horses composing the procession were deep black in color, emitted columns of smoke and flame from their nostrils (_vide_ pictorial papers), and varied in height from a lamppost to a telegraph pole. of the raiders themselves he would say nothing (under the impression, doubtless, that the theme had been exhausted); but as to the "rig" they wore, he was morally certain that an inverted churn constituted the head-dress, a wagon sheet of mammoth pattern the shoulder-garb, and army canteens (probably bisected and thus made to do double duty) the button ornaments. observing something at this point in the countenances of his auditors which he did not quite like, he availed himself of their knowledge of dictionary superlatives in an exhortation of some length, and concluded by submitting as his wish that he be "hung, drawn, and quartered," and such further disposition made of his remains as the skeptics of the crowd might propose. it is really a subject of regret with the writer to be compelled to state that, notwithstanding the remarkable strength of emphasis employed by this young man, the beautiful consistency of his narrative (its parts we mean), and his apparent desire to anticipate and provide against attacks of this character, that his evidence was discredited in some leading points, if not altogether overthrown, by the testimony of the witness who followed. this was jerry stubbs, a mill-boy oracle, and a youth whose antecedents were otherwise good. his first onset was directed against the figures of his predecessor, which were given a very crooked appearance indeed, when placed against the fact that the entire raid--artillery, baggage-wagons, horse, foot, and buttons--had been self-immured in the paternal horse-lot ( x feet) of the said stubbs, for the space of from one to twenty minutes, or considerably more, or a great deal less--could not be exact as to time. he had likewise made a critical examination into the equestrian belongings of the raid, and the horses were not black, but white; and finally, he felt morally assured, despite the confident utterances of those who had preceded him, that the raiders were not mounted, but rode in covered ambulances. when the witness had concluded, there was a general clamor of dissent; a dozen voices were heard attempting to speak at once; and when, by courtesy of the hearers, each had been allotted a chance at the salient features of his narrative, perhaps no one was better convinced than j. s. himself that he had seen none of the occurrences which he had attempted to relate. oliver (colored), the miller, was, perhaps, a more reliable witness than any of those who had preceded him, not simply because he had greater experience of men and things, but his opportunities of informing himself on the occasion referred to had been likewise superior. he had not only seen the raiders, but had actually been interviewed by them. he slept in the mill, and during the night had been aroused from his sleep could not tell how, nor exactly when, but did not doubt that the agency was supernatural. proceeding to the door, he saw what he supposed to be "sperrits," mounted on what he thought resembled horses, though he afterwards satisfied himself of the fallacy of the latter conclusion. he could not take observations with any degree of system, however, as he was kept busy carrying water from the tank to the "thirsty sperrits," who had made this call, it thus seems, with a selfish end in view. one of the party, after having replenished his boilers to the tune of a bucketful, loosened his belt and called for more, remarking aside to him, and apparently in extenuation of the act, that it was the first he had quaffed since being condemned to death by fate and the enemy's bullets at shiloh. he confessed to having become somewhat alarmed at this; but when, a moment later, another individual of the party, mistaking him for the mill owner, offered sympathies in view of the fact, as he alleged, that the party had drank the creek in two, at a point a few miles nearer its source, his courage failed him, and here his narrative suddenly breaks off. this witness was sharply cross-questioned by the attorneys, who had by this time volunteered on both sides of the controversy, but could not be prevailed on to amend or otherwise detract from the material allegations set forth in his examination. neither would he add anything thereto--a healthy sign which the defence did not fail to appropriate and magnify. one other witness remained to be examined, and while his testimony possessed that trait which shone so conspicuously in the allegations of all those who had preceded him, viz., a tendency to found his own airy fabric on the spot he had rendered untenable for that of his predecessor, it was in the main reliable; and if, as was urged against it, its facts were produced at a late hour, it was altogether attributable to the witness's modesty, and the fact--which was now elicited for the first time--that, notwithstanding he had been standing on his head (metaphorically) for the opportunity, and his well-known dexterity in wielding syntactical figures of speech, he had been unable to explode his items fast enough to anticipate those who had occupied the time. this boy, dick shuttail (white), age not known to self or parents, had obtained a view of the kluxes from the airy depths of the family rag-box, situated in the rear garret, and he was, therefore, able to speak with emphasis on certain points which had been barely touched upon by less-favored observers. he testified that the raiders were mounted on elephants or camels; could not distinguish certainly, but his bias led him to say the former, and that these beasts were branded on the side with three corn-droppers (k. k. k.), or, more probably (as suggested by a hearer), one corn-dropper three times. the raiders were veritable spooks, as, in the place where eyes, mouth, and nose should have been roundly visible, the crows had supped, and instead of hair, they were driven to a subterfuge which closely resembled an inferior article of mosquito bar, worn, however, _a la pompadour_. their saddle-bags, loaded, most probably, with munitions of war, were borne in front of them, and their uniforms were ornamented not with buttons, but spangles of bright hue and extraordinary size. he was going on to relate that the horses they rode were neither black nor white, but br----, when he was interrupted by hisses from his audience,--a circumstance which either aided memory, or sharpened his introspective organs, for almost immediately afterwards he hung his head, and, covering by this movement a very sour expression of countenance, retired from view. to say, notwithstanding, the beautiful start he made, and the high dramatic turn he was giving the events of his narrative up to the fatal moment of collapse, that this witness's testimony went absolutely for nothing, and that his explanation, tendered at some length and supported by all those texts of mill-boy verity which had been successfully adduced by his rivals respectively, was rejected by an indignant auditory, is to anticipate the reader. when, at length, the mill-wheel had performed its last revolution, and the mill boys, astride their sacks of flour, dispersed to their homes, it was with the solemn conviction that some great mystery had dawned upon their young lives, to whose after developments they must look for that rational sequel which had thus far been denied them. hundreds there were in this and other localities of the south who, while they rejected the idea of a ku-klux phantom, were equally slow in accepting the current theories which dissociated them and their plans from all preternatural agencies. in every man's breast there is more or less of that mysterious element which, under proper conditions of time and place, sees ghosts in shadows, and hears them in the faintest echo. these attributes (if the term be admissible) implanted in the breast of the child at its birth, though weeded with ever so careful a hand during the years of training, still retain some tendril hold, which no process of metaphysics can uproot, and which in the future years send out fruit-bearing branches that make and unmake human destiny. of the majority of human kind, it may be said that their lives and possible achievements are covered under a great incubus of superstitious thought and feeling. and if, at some late period of existence they take the tide at a favorable turn and struggle up into the pure surroundings of an honest life, the effort frequently comes too late, for they see in this change only some postponed dispensation of _luck_ in their favor, and so are worse bondmen than before. some men there are who will even confess to you that they are governed by these strange impulses in what they term the "trifling details of life," but as men who admit "trifling details" into their lives rarely attain to a higher life than is constituted by the sum of these, their admission covers a greater scope than they probably intended. others, equally candid, adopt a different mode of imparting the same confidence, and naively tell you that in "the more _important_ concerns of life" they are indebted for guidance to an unseen agency. but as these men wholly mistake the meaning of the adjective they use, adjusting it to such retail considerations as flow from their daily business or dwell at the bottom of their post-prandial cup, we must take their confession to include both froth and sediment, the top and bottom of so many human lives. after having devoted much thought to this subject, and made many empirical journeys along the route which leads to men's confidences, without being suspected of any such deep-laid treason as that which we here confess in the light of a laudable undertaking, it is our candid opinion that if the unsuperstitious of earth were doomed to fall by the knife of some avenging elijah, the bodies of the slain would no more constitute a waterloo than fifty swallows would make a tolerable month of july. so that when we say this ku-klux breeze blew consternation to many timid hearts, both young and old, great and small, in crow hide, we only state in a small way what might have been true, under slightly amended conditions, of the best educated of the _oi polloi_ of the largest cities of the greatest republics. chapter v. k. k. k. dealings with the loyal league. a train which brought welcome passengers--caucusing in the open air a dangerous proceeding--correct surmises--an old church, bequeathed from generation to generation, and liable to many uses--brothers and sisters all--the l. l. in full bloom--storm succeeded by a calm--weird visitors--what they left behind them--dummy constructed of cow-bones, and habited in full ku-klux regalia--height, ten feet--sudden panic--the rally--still in doubt--the chairman's stratagem--how it didn't work--despondent leaguers taught to act for themselves--finale. on the day preceding the evening to which the fates referred the k. k. k. demonstration, as aforesaid, a crowd of sable politicians might have been seen lounging in the neighborhood of the village depot; and a few moments later, as the train drew up, edging their way through the crowd to the vicinity of two small dark objects, which, though partially concealed by the crowd, undoubtedly constituted a part of it, as they were seen to wave above the heads of the tallest what could hardly have been mistaken for anything less startlingly suggestive than two glazed carpet-bags. when the tumult subsided, and the crowd, after hovering for an instant in the neighborhood of this pantomime, melted away as depot assemblages are wont to do, it was plainly to be seen that the sable electors had been in search of the two men with the glazed carpet-bags, and the two men with the glazed carpet-bags in search of the sable electors; for these elements of the crowd had now amalgamated (so to speak) in a loving embrace. the ceremony of greeting, as witnessed from a distance by the villagers, extended to a thousand little personal liberties, which white men would no more tolerate from each other than would the more dignified of the beasts of the forest. and when its honey had been extracted by the parties respectively, they were seen to place their upper extremities near together in consultation. some observation of amazing pithiness ran the gauntlet of woolly crowns; and immediately afterwards a burly politician withdrew from the caucus, followed by all eyes, and at a point not far distant drew a diagram on the platform with his cane. completing the demonstration, and using, the same weapon, he smote upon the echoing timbers with loud emphasis, and immediately the olfactory charm was renewed around the quadrilateral wonder, which, having been viewed by the crowd with the air of savants, became at once the subject of animated discussion; and then, as suddenly, of perfect agreement and harmonious handshaking. this seemed a favorable moment for dispersion; and, indeed, the latter movement must have had partial reference thereto, for instantly the crowd developed as many moral agents as it had possessed caucusing elements, who, adopting their several courses, looked neither to the right nor left, but pushed for the interior with all commendable speed. this cloud, "no bigger than a man's hand," but nevertheless boding a political shower of no mean consequence to dwellers thereabouts had been viewed, as we have anticipated, by a number of persons, who, in their anxiety to conceal impressions, did not linger in the vicinity after being informed, by a glance, of its ominous character. the horseman whom we have seen in another chapter speeding through the neighborhood on courier duty, took his cue from a friendly sun-glint shot from the glazed surface of one of the carpet-bags; and, indeed, all the details of preparation culminating in the forest meeting of the weird brotherhood, which we have described, and those events connected therewith, which will demand our attention as we proceed, were suspended on one of those mere accidents of discovery which frequently have so much to do with the fate of communities in times of political disquiet. in a retired forest grove, distant from any settlement, was a dismantled church building, which had been resigned by the white settlers of crow hide to the slave population of the township in _ante bellum_ times, and the title to which, in obedience to a policy of non-interference on the part of lawful claimants, had survived to their descendants in the golden era of freedom. this building performed innumerable offices for the foundlings of emancipation in those parts--marriages, funerals, revival meetings, society gatherings, etc., occupying it in turn, and even once in a while the dark-lantern fiend invading its precincts. from its sacred desk, battered with age and apostolic blows, and warped by the sunbeams of three generations, the venerable "parson" was wont to deliver castigations to the erring of his people on holy days, and anon, to receive from the high tycoon of the league--enthroned on the same heights--the most bitter denunciations of his political shortcomings. here, the firstlings of the flock were dedicated to the higher life of christian rectitude in the holy rite of baptism. and here, too, the candidate for political preferment was made to feel the responsibilities of the step by being dipped seven times in the "witches' cauldron" ere he was referred for those special services which constitute the "heated gridiron," the most beautifully suggestive of the ritualistic conditions of league membership. here sisters and brothers, giving way to their better instincts, harmonized on meeting days; and here, brothers and sisters, with a broader display of those principles which govern human nature--if with less consistency--refused to harmonize on league days. here, shouting and singing constituted the mercurial forces "jurin de roasen 'ere and kant meetin'" solstice, and here (_in hoc signo_) broken heads and scattered fragments of benches marked the political temperature, when the league machine held right on its course, over those sensitive members of the brotherhood, which it might not be proper to denominate "sore tails" without this circumlocution. it was on this spot, and amid these venerable surroundings, contemporaneously with the ku-klux demonstration to which attention has been directed, that a scene was enacted which fills an excruciating passage in our narrative, and which we have only been debarred from presenting to the reader by the obtrusion of details which could not be excerpted from the latter without injuring its consistency. to say that the l. l. was in full bloom, and moving unflinchingly forward in the discharge of the numerous obligations which devolved upon it as a member of society, would be to depose facts that will be brought nearer to the comprehension of the reader, if we explain that three of its ablest-(bodied) speakers were coquetting for the favors of the chair, and denouncing each other in the most incendiary language--despite the remonstrance of the chair--in the same breath; that the speaker was hammering on his desk with a vehemence born of despair, and occasionally interlarding this performance with scowls that would have made his fortune in the lion-taming business; that the house had risen to its feet for the third time in a solid vote of remonstrance; and, finally, that two other members had felt themselves called upon to explain to the rebellious trio aforesaid the treasonable quality of their offence, the positive madness of their course, and, when called to order by the speaker, had flown in the face of that functionary with some very defiant language regarding their rights as citizens of a free country. maddened by a sense of the cold-blooded contempt aimed at him through this repeated disregard of his most cherished prerogative, the speaker (a white man) arose to his feet, and was in the act of aiming an inkstand at the pyramid of wool which served one of the malefactors the double purpose of a crown of glory and emblem of loyalty, when, lo! there was a crash, a mighty upheaval of moral forces, so to speak, a thunderous resurge of the waves of faction, and _presto_! the scene changes. now the echoes have gone to rest, and a palpable hush reigns over the assembly. instead of those savage principles--war and rebellion--how emphatic the terms of contrast; meek-eyed peace sits enthroned on every brow. what means that half-suppressed sigh, that groan smothered in parturition? but hold! "'sdeath" a creeping dread moves along the serried benches, laying its hand on the pulse-beat, invading the pants' legs, and nestling close to the seat of life of the _tableaux vivantes_ who await destiny (horrible reflection) on the ragged edge of "unfinished business." where late stood those mentors of the scene--shaken by the impulse of "thoughts that breathe," and bandying hot invectives with unsparing wrath--how changed, alas! the forms of cringing suppliants whose counterparts might have been spaded from the theban catacombs any day for a thousand years. at yonder extremity of the building, surrounded by the insignia of more than despotic rule, where towered the "thunderer of the scene," transfixed _in articulo jactanti_, lo! an ajax defying the lightning. and now what weird forms from the "night's plutonian shore" are those which, joined in close procession, invade the folding doors, and with thunderous steps--matched in echo--storm down the quaking aisles? doomed spirits, or ministers of heaven's delayed vengeance, it matters little; and 'neath such a materialized spell from the echoless lands, who could doubt, or doubting, live? on they come, looking neither to the right nor left, neither mending their gait nor halting, until they have plunged _in medias res_, when, with a scarcely perceptible pause--those ponderous boot-heels, describing a half circle, smite the puncheon floor--every limb is adjusted to the most graceful of company manoeuvres; and turning on their march, they move with the same echoing tread down the aisles, out at the folding-doors and into the darkness--away--away. but stop, ha! that sigh of relief springing to a hundred throats was premature--the fiend hath but dismissed his attendants, himself remains. standing ten feet in his boots, and clad in full ku-klux regalia (described in a previous chapter), an embodiment of rank ghostliness, he now occupied the centre of the building, and if anything was wanting to that "ghastly, grim, ungainly" ideal, which those who placed it there were seeking to embody, it was supplied in the most threatening of tragic postures, and a gesture whose very fixedness was not its least eloquent feature. this latter described a horizontal line from the shoulder to the finger-tips, and, _horribile dictu_, the index-finger was pointed squarely at the anatomy of the august personage who was--had been, we should say--presiding over the deliberations of the body. for about twenty seconds that individual had been viewing the landscape from the _de mortuis_ standpoint; but being recalled to animation by the excessive personality of this proceeding, he executed three handslings and a somersault, and was at rest for the time being in a pile of superannuated furniture at the far end of the hall. then there was a rush from the "third person" element, who could but feel that the grammatical situation was getting momentarily worse. benches and desks were overturned; stoves and stove furniture came tumbling about their heads; a pillar, swept from its moorings by the human wave, fell with a boom like cannon at sea, and, hark! louder still, and rising above the din, a human voice hoarsely bawling, "take him out!" who is there that has not witnessed examples of fell panic converted into a gallant defence, or brave onset, by the most seemingly trivial occurrence? it was so on the present occasion. a section of stove-pipe being projected against the uplifted arm of the ghostly personage,--who had, perhaps, contributed more than any other being to the tumult by which he was surrounded,--that member fell to the floor with a crash, and this movement having been witnessed by one of the refugees, his emotions took that form of expression which perhaps was best adapted to arrest the panic, if not to restore confidence. the flying leaguers turning their heads to discover the author of this seeming sacrilege, beheld, instead, the accident which inspired it, and instantly faced about with changed resolution. the individual who first sounded the alarm, though, evidently, still frightened by the tones of his voice, repeated it in the same words; and this second reminder was followed by a feeble rally, directed at the rear of the speaker's body. while this manoeuvre was in course of evolution, a voice from the rear files shouted, "forward!" but the effect of the command was so visible in widening the distance between the assaulting column and the object of attack, that a dead silence fell on the assembly, and, for the space of several minutes, each was busy for himself examining the salient points of the enemy's position. the gallant chairman having recovered his legs by this time, and seeing, by the spasmodic movement in the crowd, answering to that muscular feat, that something was expected of him, proceeded instantly to measures. wearing a severe countenance, he called the house to order, and, looking around upon the assembly, announced a committee of five (greatly to the relief of the remaining threescore), whose duty it should be to rid the camp of the fell intruder. why this had not been thought of before is one of the unsolved conundrums, and why it ever was thought of, the committee aforesaid are not yet prepared with a reply. neither is there any good reason for the state of things which immediately followed, as a dead calm fell upon the assembly, which probably would not have been disturbed until this moment, if another of those fortunate occurrences, which seemed made to order for the occasion, had not reached the tide of league affairs at its swell. whether the machine was an eight-day affair, and had accomplished the moments of its destiny, or simply a piece of mechanism poorly planned, we are quite unable to say. but at the moment when the quaker period of the aforesaid conference had reached its most eloquent passage, a cracking sound was heard in the vicinity of his ghostship, followed by a rattling explosion, whose fussiness could hardly be resembled to anything but an avalanche of dry bones hurled from some upper region; and, instantly, in obedience to this warning, a desire to forsake present surroundings for some less melancholy region took the form of an inspiration in the breast of each "politishun." in what way this manoeuvre would have been executed, if the chairman had persisted in the high-tragedy rôle he had assigned himself, by remaining to announce some plan of retreat, is another mystery connected with this event, with which we are not concerned beyond the bare announcement. but it is certain that that individual, taking time by the forelock, had made a successful advance on the rear window, carrying the sash with him, and that his followers were engaged in a very animated game of leap-frog, directed towards similar advantages at other angles of the building. in less time than is consumed by a record of the event, the doors were blocked with a mass of rolling, tumbling, somersaulting leaguers. the windows had their full quota of struggling, sweating passengers. a large crack in the wall was in labor with three burly forms, and yet a score or more were unaccommodated, and, with heads ducked, were hurling themselves endwise against the retreating columns, with an energy which evinced the strong determination of each to avoid the fate of that hindmost unfortunate, whom satan, from time immemorial, has exacted for toll. but, though some confusion waited upon this exodus from the neighborhood of the big haunt, it was conducted with greater dispatch than had characterized any similar movement in the history of the rickety old building, and soon the boss straggler, having eluded the individual on two sticks by pigeon-winging it through a hole in the roof, rolled upon the green sward beneath with a grunt of overpowering relief. when the building was completely deserted, and the swallows, half in doubt, had returned to their perch under its eaves, a sound, which could scarcely have been mistaken for aught but the hooting of an owl, broke the stillness of the neighboring forest, and was quickly replied to at the distance of perhaps a furlong in the opposite direction. the echoes awakened by these signals were still busy at hide-and-seek with the shadows in the old building, when two forms, clad in long robes and wearing high-peaked caps, crossed the plateau to its threshold, and giving way to an involuntary chuckle as they gazed first upon the wrecked surroundings, passed to its inner precincts. perhaps a full minute elapsed before they reappeared at the entrance way, and, being joined here by a companion with two led horses, they placed their bags of cow-bones on the latter, and, mounting, galloped swiftly into the darkness. chapter vi. ghost feature of the movement. its philosophy. contrasted views of the organization inspired by its dealings with the public--its political bearing--its _objects_ not deemed harmful to society--new england transcendentalists, and the ponderous science which they put before the world under the title of "negropholism"--the colored man in the south--kindly feeling for the race cherished by native southerners--households presided over by colored matrons--superstitious tendencies of cuffey--one of the conditions of his tropical nativity--heathenish lapses--his ideas about "ghosts," and the realm which they inhabit--interviewing the former--spook kinsfolk--he holds them in the highest veneration--the ideal "uncle tom's cabin"--wherein it was a failure--the "infantile sex" and their greed for ghost-lore--fighting their way through legions of shadowy foes to their "curtained rest"--young professors of the spiritual science--painful reminiscences--use to which the aged patriarch, or beldam, as the case might be, put their prerogative--talent for relating ghost stories--the young white men of the south trained up in this school--insight into negro character obtained therefrom--k. k. k. affectation of the supernatural based upon the latter. the two preceding chapters may occur to those who were not informed of the nature and degree of the excitement which waited upon the movements of these secret organizations in obscure and uninformed neighborhoods, and among the negroes in various localities, as partaking of the hypercritical in narrative. but those who, by reason of residence or other accident, were made conversant with such scenes almost every week in the year, and who were not unfrequently drawn away from the contemplation of social misdemeanors or crimes of the most serious import to split their sides over some ludicrous _faux pas_, or intended farce, of the perpetrators, will not be slow to discover their basis of fact, nor accord to the author that honesty of purpose to which he lays claim in the conduct of these pages. it was stated in a previous chapter that the secret organization known as the ku klux klan was a political movement intended to offset what was known as the loyal league, an order whose draft was taken from the negro population, but which was controlled by, and in the interest of, a class of political harpies known as carpet-baggers. the latter element, by means of this political engine, dominated the politics of the south for a period of more than five years, and while its power may not have been broken by the influences set in motion by the counter movement, and though the latter must be condemned on general principles, yet among the people where it had its origin, and stripped of the analogies which the imaginations of fault-finders would be apt to supply, its objects were not deemed harmful to society. as to its wisdom, there can be no doubt that it was aimed at the most salient of the enemy's weak points. in treating this proposition, we shall seek to avoid that ponderous science which that branch of transcendentalists who acknowledge mr. wendell phillips as their leader put before the world under the title of negropholism, and deal with the article as we find it--so much on the greasy surface of the native that the temptation of the carpet-bagger to use it for base ends must be regarded an uncommon one. [the people of the south, young and old, who were brought up under that social regimen which embodied the negro as a prominent and necessary feature, will appreciate the feelings of the writer when he states that he has not, and never can have, any feeling of enmity towards this race. some of the tenderest passages in his heart history he is glad to refer to that period when negroes were not only admitted _en famille_ among the whites, but in innumerable instances given absolute control over the household affairs of their masters. he numbers among his cultured acquaintance scores of young men and maidens who never knew any other parentage, and who can never admit a dearer relation than their adopted paternity. the negroes, if vicious and mean, owe it to that cruel divorcement from the southern social plan effected by their political leaders, and to the life of vagabondage to which they are doomed under the new system; they are not more so by nature than other men. if, therefore, the writer is tempted to speak of their weaknesses, it is in no irreverential sense, and with a laudable object in view, to which this policy will be seen to be strictly antecedent.] that the negro is by nature grossly superstitious, no one who has had even tolerable means of information will deny. in another chapter we have prevised something on general principles concerning the superstition of mankind, but the comparison to be drawn between the negro and all other branches of the adamic tree, as to this particular fruitage, is so unequal, that we shall ask the reader to accept the former as a very modified presentation of a theory that was made to order for the crown of cuffey. and however much this may be untrue with regard to other animals, this faculty of the individual under discussion has nothing whatever to do with his æsthetical being. it does not in any sense enlist that high poetic principle which is one of the conditions of his tropical nativity. left to himself, with all the appliances of civilization and the encouragement of its examples about him, his superstition will subject him, in the short space of a twelvemonth, to heathenish lapses which the weak-headed mongolian, under the same outward conditions, has resisted for a period of six thousand years. voudooism is, perhaps, the weakest form of heathen worship which this moral condition has developed, and, despite the few occasions admitted by the structure of our laws, it is strictly a native product. those who contend that it is an african transplant, or borrowed from the congeners of the race on those shores, are surely not guided by convictions derived from an examination into its philosophy. but it is a very radical form of savagism in worship, including human sacrifices among its rites, and as we have anticipated that it had its birth in the rice- and cotton-fields of the south, further remark on this division of the argument is deemed unnecessary. in contrast with other races of beings, the world of shadows is to the imagination of the black man a thing of gloom. the existences who people this realm are hobgoblins, and the standard of the latter a mild abridgment of the arch-fiend. he, nevertheless, holds them in the highest veneration, and is prepared to accept their revelations concerning himself, and indeed all other subjects of mundane philosophy, as oracular. he even holds familiar converse with them--when an interview can be contrived without endangering those barriers of etiquette which preserve to either a fair start in a foot-race--and calculates with tolerable accuracy that the churchyard spawn who affect this characterization are counterfeits. on the latter subject he has doubts, however, which on occasion might be turned to his disadvantage. whether it is affectation with him, or a kind of prescience with which he is gifted in view of his moral structure, we do not pretend to decide; but he boasts a knowledge of the private affairs of his spook kinsfolk (they are invariably uncles, aunts, grand relations, etc.) which would be considered sacrilege in another being. if he deems you worthy of such confidence, he will describe to you the ghostly raiment they wear, diversified in other particulars, but always sombre-hued, and in no recorded instance cut bias. he is rarely at fault in assigning the period of antiquity from which they date, and if opportunity served, could lead you to the exact spot where their archæological remains "smell sweet." he can give, with that emphasis of detail which grows out of perfect familiarity with his subject, their occupations--ranging from yacht-building, horse-culture, and other of the fine arts, all the way down to book-making. and finally, if pressed for information, can state some astonishing facts with regard to their phrenological development. with him these essences are always evil spirits, and though he views them in the constant performance of deeds that would quickly promote them to the hangman's offices if enterprised in the flesh, yet his philosophy so confounds the means and extremes relating to the transaction, that he can see no way out of the difficulty but to respect the latter as proceeding from the former. though they cherish a causeless animosity against himself and his kind, and war on the latter with a chronic wastefulness of the vital spark, which could only proceed from a want of appreciation of this blessing inseparable from their standpoint, yet he cannot go behind his apotheosis to find fault with the system of government upon which it proceeds. in fact, though he avoids the "ghoul-haunted" precincts with which his neighborhood abounds, and trembles when he recites the deeds of valor performed by some warlike example against fleshly hosts, yet when he has taken his distance, and duly calculated the chances in his favor, he delights, above all things, to gather about himself the philosophic weaklings of his race, and, having launched upon his theme, observe the absolute failure of the kink in the woolly crown of each as a thing to be depended on in time of emergency. the ideal "uncle tom's cabin" had very little of the ghost element in its construction. in this respect, as in some others, it was a miserable failure. the real structure was a ghost's palace, where they came and went at pleasure, and not unfrequently took up their abode. to this habitation, in _ante bellum_ times, presided over by uncle dick or aunt rachel, it mattered little--for both were magicians of no mean order--the juveniles of both races flocked after nightfall for supplies of ghost-lore; and to say that they were accommodated will but faintly describe, we fear, that anguished state of soul (what southern boy or man does not drop a tear on this reminiscence?) with which, a few hours later, they passed out into the darkness and fought their way through legions of shadowy foes to their "curtained rest." these ghost stories, which always resulted disastrously for flesh and blood, and had a churchyard twang about them that came with peculiar relish to the youngster under a strong glare of candle- or fire light, were the very apple-pie of farm-life to the "infantile sex," despite the after-piece, which, after all, was a contingency that might be disposed of at will by the philanthropic source of the mischief. how often have we observed a circle of these young professors of the spiritual science defiantly "lean back" in their proclivities when the crooning narration began, and the great fireplace sent out effulgent rays, suddenly alter their manner for one of marked deference as the ghost-character came on with stately tread and took its place in the forefront of thrilling reminiscence; and then, as the rays of firelight went to sleep with the embers one by one, hitch up their seats within the margin that remained, getting nearer by degrees, until at length, as the story grew towards its denouement and the fire hung over its ashy tomb, crowding from all quarters, they threatened to overturn the narrator--so great was the terror inspired by the shadows which lay behind them. but to no one had these performances such constant and deep relish as the aged patriarch or beldam, as the case might be, who was elevated by their young suffragans to the post of mentor for the time being. they revelled in this employment, first, because it suited their talents; and second, because it was perfectly adapted to their emotional nature. an african, moreover, is gratified beyond expression by the knowledge that he possesses authority, no matter how brief or weak in extent, which may be exercised over his fellows; and there is not, we believe, a living party to such a bequest of social right and liberty over conscience as that to which we have referred, who was not a sufferer under the arrangement to an extent which he rarely admits to stranger confidences. but this improvement of the occasion which came to him on the part of the fiction-vender was not always done in mere wantonness. not unfrequently the result achieved was without design, and when the contrary was true, the design was quite an intelligent one. when he acted intelligently, the object kept in view was to gain such an ascendency over the minds of his young auditory that he might reap either present benefits, or call it up to advantage in the future; and when we reflect that his audiences were largely composed of his young masters and mistresses, whose influence was great at head-quarters, and who would one day succeed to the estate, the wisdom of his conclusions must be conceded. trained up in this school, and knowing by their later experience of men the precise extent to which the plantation darkey was controlled by the superstitious notions which he disseminated (for he was no hypocrite), the young white men of the south were at no loss in adopting countervailing forces when the loyal league storm burst upon the country. the superstition of the negro was not a weakness, but a ruling characteristic; and at this central idea of his being the ku-klux movement was directed. being thus addressed to his fears, it will be seen, by any one wishing information on the subject, that the latter was designed to whip him into obedience to what was then thought, but is now known, to be the ruling element in southern politics. we do not assert that it was a just expedient; we cannot believe, in view of later developments in our local politics, that it was a wise one; but its transactions have passed into history, and it is with them that we are concerned. chapter vii. details of organization. a band of regulators whose force at this time numbered a half million well-organized and perfectly drilled men--who composed its draft--considerations which recommended it to the better classes of society--its haunts--oath-bound covenant, and penalties attached--panoply of lower regions--its raiding rendezvous--galloping forth to predestined conquest--it proceeded under a rigid constitutional system--territorial subdivisions--empire--realm--province--den--grand wizard and his cabinet--grand giant--the commander of a den--grand cyclops--night-hawks, etc.--recruiting agents--how members were initiated--proposed initiates might retire if displeased with the conditions of membership--how far the klan was "rebel" in its draft--members of state legislatures, congressmen, and governors of states, took its vows upon them--its political suffrages--compelling ignorant colored men to relinquish the franchise--k. k. k. placards--empty coffins containing ukase of banishment carted to the doors of obnoxious white citizens--its ideas of social decorum. the mystic order of k. k. k. had scarcely emerged from its swaddling-clothes, as things go in the material universe, ere it had developed into a giant that filled the southern zodiac, as effectually as the almanac dummy comprehends in his physical outlines the cardinal points of the seasons. moving from county to county, and from one state to another, it invaded the most remote communities--until within three months from the time that the slogan call had been sounded on the eastern shore of the mississippi, its bannerets formed a cordon around the gulf and atlantic coasts, and its dominion over the trans-mississippi country was undisputed. a band of regulators, whose force at this time numbered a half million well-organized and perfectly drilled men, it aimed at nothing less than the subjection of the pending elements in the southern state governments, and as a means thereto, the total overthrow and dispersion of all secret subsidiary agencies. in its ranks all conditions of white society in the south were represented--attracted partly by the weighty political considerations upon which the movement rested, and in not a few instances by its outside of novelty and vague promise of sensation. proceeding under an oath-bound covenant, it invoked, seemingly--by adopting the emblems of their rule--the powers of darkness to assume the protectorate over its affairs, and levied on the code of pirates for a rule of discipline that should awe the stoutest hearts into meek submissiveness. to break the least of its commandments was esteemed a crime for which death would be a weak expiation, and to retreat from its enterprises, good or evil, bold or weak, was to be exposed to a fate more horrible than the chain and vulture. their periodical gatherings, or dark seances, were held in caves in the bowels of the earth, where they were surrounded by what might be aptly termed the panoply of the lower regions--rows of skulls, coffins and their furniture, human skeletons, ominous pictures _copied_ from the darkest passages of the inferno or paradise lost; and, brooding over all, that spell-like mystery which waited ever as an inspiration from the tomb upon the movements of the weird brotherhood. here, habited in full regalia, and seated in alignment on raised benches, the members of the order were wont to receive trembling initiates, commune together about affairs of government, and plan midnight raids against mortal enemies. frequently these conferences were brief, but the fires were always lighted, in order that the still inspiration of the scene might not be wanting to the business of the evening--the ever-recurring raid on jail, or state-house, or forest league. gowned and helmeted, and mounted on strong chargers, invested, as far as possible, with the character of their riders, the ghostly phalanx galloped forth to predestined conquest, for an invisible host fought at its side, and each man bore a talisman in his outer garb which might have affrighted the armies of an empire from the field. the government of the klan proceeded under a rigid constitutional system that was rarely or never amended. its chief officer, or ruler of what was known as the _empire_, was elected to an unlimited term of office, and entrusted with the means of despotic rule. his official title was grand wizard, and he was, by virtue of his first appointment, commander-in-chief of the army or military force constituted under the empire. the officers under the latter held their appointment from him, and composed his counsel, or cabinet. the grand division, or empire, was subdivided into realms, provinces, and dens. the geographical boundaries of the realm corresponded with those of the congressional districts in the several states under klan dominion, and hence were equal in number. the chief officer of a realm was distinguished by the title of grand vizier. his territory, as we have indicated, was subdivided into provinces, whose territorial limits were identical with those of counties in the same location. the ruler of a province was termed a grand giant. under provinces, dens were organized, which, so far as territorial dominion is concerned, had only a neighborhood signification. but they were really the executive force, and through them, as individuals, all the work was accomplished. the commander of a den, contradistinguished from those of realms and provinces, owed his rank and authority to the suffrages of those whom he immediately ruled. he was entitled grand cyclops, and under him was an officer known as exchequer, whose duties had a twofold signification, and applied to the administration of the treasury and recording secretaryship. there were from four to six scouts belonging to the den, who performed courier duty, and to whom was applied the titular distinction of night-hawks; and in addition to these, and also in the non-commissioned rank, each thoroughly organized den had its conductors and guardians, who were local, and the tenor of whose duties is sufficiently indicated by their titles respectively. the dens were the recruiting agencies, and the officers to whom was assigned this duty conducted the work with the utmost secrecy and caution. no individual was approached who was not known by his voluntary avowals to be in sympathy with the movement. when such a confession (which must have been made in public) was reported to the den council, if no objection was alleged against the individual, a committee was appointed to canvass the subject and report at some future day. afterwards, if no local disqualifications were still urged, recruiting agents were sent to interview the candidate, who proceeded with such circumspection that they rarely failed to obtain a reply to the inquiries they brought without committing themselves or their cause. a candidate for membership who had been approved was conducted to the den council in the night season and by circuitous and unknown routes. he was also securely blindfolded, and the conductors (officers of escort) were forbidden to communicate with him, until their destination had been reached. arriving in some sequestered forest grove, he was commanded to dismount, and with eyes still bandaged, and the former policy of secrecy maintained in all particulars, was conducted into the presence of the council. here, without being permitted to ask questions, he was requested to give heed to what was about to be said, and when the cyclops, or some individual commissioned by him, had revealed to him the objects and polity of the organization known as k. k. k., and the quality of allegiance exacted from those who entered its ranks, he was requested to state whether he still wished to carry out his original design of connecting himself with the order. if this interrogatory was replied to in the negative, some very positive oaths and threats enjoining secrecy as to what had transpired were delivered to him, and he was permitted to retire. [this policy was invariably pursued by the klan, and it is not probable that its vows were ever committed to an individual who had not obtained the full consent of his mind to the concessions he was required to make.] on the contrary, if an affirmative reply was given, the ceremony of initiation was proceeded with,--a formula which we shall not describe in this place, further than to say that the vows, which were delivered in a kneeling posture, were of the most approved iron-clad pattern, and that to each was attached a string of penalties, categorically presented, which aimed at nothing less than the annihilation of the transgressor. it is wrong to infer, as many have done, that because the political views maintained by the klan corresponded to those which were avowedly held by ex-confederate soldiers at that period, that the former was recruited from the latter in large measure, or, as the enemies of both were apt to suggest, as an entirety. though occupying the territory in which they were domiciled, it is improbable that one-half the available force which the former boasted was derived from the latter source, and it is certain that a majority of the latter did not give their sanction nor countenance to the measures adopted by the klan in seeking redress for alleged political wrongs. but a very large number of ex-confederates entered its ranks, and, perhaps for prudential (not political) reasons, the administration of klan affairs was, in a large measure, committed to this element. its force, as has been anticipated, was recruited from the entire white population of the states which it occupied; and it certainly was not wanting in that _respect_ for which such movements are almost wholly dependent on the character of their constituency. members of state legislatures, congressmen, and governors of states, took its vows upon them, and were not unfrequently to be found at its midnight gatherings. in all national and state elections the klan gave its political suffrages to members of the order, or known sympathizers. indeed, to effect its political ends (which were the ends of its organization), there were few extremes of contumacious conduct which it did not practise towards the existing state governments. not only did it throw the weight of its suffrages in behalf of favorites--it forbade others the exercise of this privilege. freedmen who were deemed too ignorant to cast an intelligent ballot were visited at their homes in the small hours of the night, and by measures of intimidation, which not unfrequently included the lash, were driven to accept an oath of lengthy abstinence from the league and the polls. white men, who were obnoxious because of their too active instrumentality in league affairs, or their excessive fondness for the class of society which they encountered at its meetings, were equally unfortunate. during the quiet hours of the night ghostly placards, bearing the caption k. k. k. in large letters, and inscribed with the escutcheon of the order (skull and cross-bones), were posted on their doors, commanding them to "skip out" (a technicality invented by the klan), or expect the utmost vengeance of the order. where the rank of the offender required that some more dignified means of notification be employed, or where the individual was deemed to represent very obdurate qualities of soul, instead of the ordinary method aforesaid, an empty coffin was carted to his door, and in this horrible symbol of its anathemas was placed the order of ejectment. the social system was sought to be renovated in the use of the same summary methods, and upon crimes of this nature the severest examples of klan disfavor were constantly visited. the carpet-bag element recently introduced into the country suffered most frequently in this category; and it is not too much to say, that the strict construction placed upon the social laws of the country, and upon social decorum as an abstraction, by the weird fraternity, was to this class one of the most intolerable burdens of southern exile. to miscegenate was quite bad enough (and a privilege which the state laws denied them), but to be permitted to go a step further, and "conglomerate," was not to be thought of, and klan discipline was brought to bear--one of its few acts which has received the unconditional endorsement of both northern and southern society. chapter viii. k. k. k. customs. the klan never did its work by halves--how general orders were transmitted--form of general order--its imbroglios with the league--avoided conflict with united states troops--ku-klux prosecutions a weakness of the courts--league informers--k. k. k. intimidation of witnesses--_memento mori_--crusade of the ermined ranks--misdirected prosecutions--obligation to disregard judicial oaths when they conflicted with the plans and policy of the order--no patch-spots in its system of government--weird drill--absenteeism not one of the strong points of the brotherhood--the klan a bitter enemy of those unorganized parties of ruffians who made war on their kind in the former's name--its right to borrow sympathy on this exchange a grave question of doubt--vendettas conducted against the "shams." the klan never did its work by halves, nor never pronounced a meaningless threat. if an individual was warned to leave the country at a certain date, there was no help for it, neither were there any extensions of time or modifications of original orders. had members of the order been incarcerated in a county prison for klan offences, and a rescue been planned, the bars must yield at a certain hour. if some poor wretch was doomed by order of the council to suffer under its laws of extradition, the weird scout was "over the borders and away" ere its absence could be noted, or electric messages sent to notify the authorities of the impending outrage. when the grand wizard wished to promulgate an order, the newspapers were the medium commonly sought. his commands in the use of this means were delivered to the next in rank, and by him transmitted to the grand giant of the province named, an officer who maintained constant communications with the den system. no den was required to execute a general order within the territory which it occupied, and in but rare instances did it proceed to enforce its own _local_ measures. this force was, in almost every instance, employed beyond its own boundaries, and not unfrequently crossed the borders of the province, and even the realm to which it belonged, in the execution of raiding commands. the territorial subdivisions of the order were each numbered according to class, a precaution which was found to be indispensable in the transmission of "general orders." the latter were usually in the following form: _to the grand cyclops of den no. , province no. , realm no. ._ greeting: you are hereby commanded to report with your entire command to the grand giant of your province for duty in d. , p. , r. . speed. g. w. these titles were not always employed in the published orders; but where they were omitted, some descriptive term equally well understood was substituted. the raiding force always moved in the night season, and members of the order never exhibited themselves in the ku-klux rôle in the daytime. when the cock crew, no churchyard edition of the animal ever sought the friendly shadow of the daisies with greater precipitancy than did the individual k. k. k. the inner chambers of the den. their imbroglios were in almost all cases with the organization known as the loyal league; but though they bore arms, and waged a campaign whose avowed object was the annihilation of this hated enemy, yet in their dealings with its members their ultimatum rarely bore an emphasis strong enough to excite the opposition of the local authorities. and to their credit it must likewise be said (a fact that was considered by the state authorities at a recent date in promulgating pardons to members of the klan), that they avoided collisions with the united states troops, and in no instance, though frequently pursued, and sometimes driven to the wall by the exertions of the latter when employed in behalf of their enemies, were they ever known to burn powder against their country's armed servitors. neither did they interfere with the courts of the country in administering the laws from a national standpoint, though in some instances criminals were taken from the county jails before "oyer" had been pronounced in their cases. members of the order did not, nor could not, according to their construction of klan government, belong to the jurisdiction of the courts, more especially the federal courts. and though trials were never interfered with until their officers had satisfied themselves that it would be impossible to convict one of its members on a charge of complicity in its affairs, yet in the event of an unfavorable verdict and attempted sentence, it is certain that resistance of some character would have been offered. ku-klux trials were one of the weaknesses of the courts at this period, and while numbers were arraigned on this charge who were guilty, and merited discipline, it may be safely estimated that a majority of these prosecutions were conducted against persons who were not only innocent of collusion in its affairs, but who execrated the klan as heartily as did their over zealous inquisitors. members of the league were the informers, and not unfrequently the only witnesses in these trials; and when it is remembered that their zeal for justice, as the blind goddess was viewed by them, burned with about equal warmth against that portion of the white population who were symbolized in this way and those who were not, the farcical nature of these proceedings in numberless instances will be understood. but when it was known that testimony had been suborned against members of the order, the klan proceeded to extreme lengths in construing the statute for perjury, and in visiting its penalties on the offender. not only so, but on the eve of these judicial examinations, the dens, as well as individual members thereof, were particularly active in the work of destroying testimony by intimidating witnesses, a common form of the threats employed being the words _memento mori_ written plainly on a blank sheet of paper, and clandestinely conveyed to the suspected party. to ignorant persons, the mystery of this latter proceeding alone went not a little way towards accomplishing the object in view. while such precautions were taken, and no doubt proved of vast service in enabling the order to resist that crusade of the ermined ranks to which we have referred, the leaders of the k. k. k. succeeded in obtaining, from the membership at large, a very important concession in morals affecting this subject, and one which we believe has been hitherto resisted by the draft of secret societies on this continent, viz., an obligation to disregard judicial oaths where they conflicted with the plans and policy of the order. to illustrate this point, a leading form of the interrogatory propounded to witnesses in these trials was: "are you aware of the existence of a secret political organization known as the ku klux klan?" and though parties thus addressed were often possessed of the most incontestable evidence of the truth sought to be elicited, it was not deemed dishonest, nor in any sense immoral, to reply negatively. the oath of secrecy which members (voluntarily) took upon themselves when they entered the klan was supposed to extinguish the guilt of this transaction, though we are not told precisely in what way the _double entendres_ and tricks of evasion, practised by such witnesses at subsequent stages of the trial, were to be construed. but as we shall have occasion to refer to this topic from time to time, as the work progresses, we will not at present allude further to the subject of ku-klux trials and their furniture of fiction. the klan was thoroughly organized. there were no patch-spots in its system of government. its tactics of drill were in some sense peculiar, but it sufficiently resembled that adopted by the cavalry branch of the united states army to be mistaken for it in all the leading manoeuvres. the men were perfect in company drill, and were required to attend all den meetings, or be assessed onerous fines or other penalties. absenteeism was not, however, one of the strong points of the brotherhood; and a den rarely moved towards raiding territory without its full quota of men. the raids moved with astonishing celerity--a circumstance which was rendered necessary to the most perfect secrecy of these movements, and was also imperative in view of the long distances to be traversed. the hours between twilight in the evening and dawn, according to a medean law of the k. k. k., as we have anticipated, could only be appropriated to this labor; and when it is explained that companies of men frequently left the den rendezvous for raiding objectives forty miles distant, and returned to the former point without dismounting, our conclusion above will be seen to be authorized. the grand cyclops was not only the chief of the den council and an absolutist in authority as to its domestic affairs, but was also the chief officer in command of a raid, and must have been looked to for all special directions regarding its conduct. the exchequer possessed a similar prerogative, and became the orderly or adjutant on the march. the klan was the bitter enemy of those unorganized parties of ruffians who made war on their kind in the former's name, and the sum of whose villanies never failed to be debited in this way. hardly a week passed, during the excitement which gave rise to both, and which they, in turn, converted into a reign of terror whose strong points the duke of alva might have studied to advantage, in which the secret organization was not made to suffer under some such confidence arrangement; and to say that its adipose suffered under this bereavement of men's regards which it could so illy spare, will not, we fear, adequately present the situation. it, however, had placed itself in a position by which its motives were liable to be misinterpreted; and as one of its professed foibles was its ability to cover up its tracks in the least mysterious of its transactions; and, as during the french renaissance, times analogous to these, to wear a mask was esteemed a crime from which all other crimes might be inferred, we doubt whether its right to borrow sympathy on this exchange could be logically maintained. but while the klan was doomed to nurse its woes of this character in not a few instances, they proved immedicable wounds; and where the perpetrators became known, or even suspected, it conducted a vendetta against the individual conspirators which proved far more effective than all the organized efforts of the "best government." chapter ix. the klan in tennessee. misgovernment in tennessee--the loyal league and the state administration--the k. k. k. an outgrowth of the conditions which the former inspired--rapid development of the order on tennessee soil--its purposes of revenge--legislation on the subject--a governor's proclamation--militia called out and detectives employed--the state pronounced a ku-klux barracks--the loyal league in various localities succumbing to the new element of conquest--a state council of the league summoned to meet at nashville--the governor to preside--the secret out, and counter measures resolved upon by the rival party--spies sent to nashville--league places of rendezvous throughout the state subjected to espionage--a war of extermination against the latter--a simultaneous uprising of the k. k. k. throughout the state and concerted raids against the l. l. rendezvous in various neighborhoods--military accomplishments of the grand wizard--subcommanders in charge of the expedition--capture of secret papers--ku-klux hollow-square--oath administered to captives--success of the undertaking--shifting of conditions. as early as the spring of , the head of the order announced that the recruiting-books for the state of tennessee showed a force of eighty thousand men; and it was here, and about this date, that some of the most eventful scenes connected with the history of the k. k. k. were enacted. this state had been committed to league control early after peace was declared by the general government, and the bitter proscription at once inaugurated against the white race, under the combined patronage of the league and the existing state government, not only excited the strenuous opposition of all those who anchored their faith to the conservative idea in politics throughout this and neighboring states, but called forth a warm protest from those disinterested partisans at the north who had recently been erected into what is known as the moderate republican or independent party. disfranchisement, in its most radical form, excluded the intelligent voters of the state from all participation in its affairs; tax laws came up for amendment at each session of the state legislature, and in connection with other expenses of government (for such they had become), were sextupled in the end; the most quiet and law-abiding neighborhoods were placed under military surveillance, or driven to suffer the penalty of confiscation acts whose terms might have included the entire race of mankind; and finally, every device of ignorant and intemperate legislation applied, whose effect would be to render the government unsuited to the wants of the people, and convert the latter into a body of malcontents. this end appears, indeed, to have been contemplated by the league faction at that stage of its supremacy when its attainment seemed most improbable; but when the reality, or something which very much resembled it, came upon them, they disowned the abortion, and invited their friends at the north to behold with what consistency the old rebel stump was putting forth green shoots of disunion. we shall not express a preference for either of these bad extremes of the politics of that period, but in order to a proper understanding of the question, we deem it no impropriety to state that it was a fact well known, and illustrated elsewhere, that wheresoever the league animal deposited its spawn, with due regard for atmospheric conditions, the k. k. k. insect would shortly drop its chrysalis. in looking over the history of those times in tennessee, the student need be at no loss in seeking out the exact causes of the ku-klux movement as it existed on her soil, nor of finding its dimensions from this given mean. as large as was the klan force, it probably did not exceed the league in numbers, and had many disadvantages to meet which the latter, helped forward by its government patronage, did not regard as impediments. but it had injuries to redress, burning wrongs to avenge, and cherishing these incentives, it laughed at legislative penalties, and burned to join battle with those dispensers of ku-klux halters who dealt in this and like judicial pleasantries at their expense. having had its birth in the western district of the state, where the elements of a rapid growth were found, it was quickly communicated to the central counties and the neighborhood of the capital, and finding its way thence over the cumberland mountains--before its presence was even suspected in that loyal quarter--developed a shamrock growth on the soil of east tennessee. within three months from the time the first den was organized on her territory, the k. k. k. had reached its highest growth in numbers and strength of resources, and announced itself ready and anxious to meet the army in buckram, whom it asserted represented the cause of misgovernment on tennessee soil. its plans were quickly developed, and the destruction of a half dozen or more dark-lantern societies, which lay more on the surface of things than was thought to be polite, alarmed the state functionaries, and called attention to their proceedings in a form quite as disagreeable as the most ultra of the party could have desired. the subject first came before the legislature, and steps were taken which it was presumed would "put a head on the monster" (to literally quote one of the buncombe addresses before that august body), but the indescribable nonchalance of the proceedings, which seemed directed at a child's toy-house rather than a nest of boa constrictors, only excited the k.'s to new activity. a governor's proclamation was next called for; soon afterwards secret measures were instituted looking to the employment of a force of detectives; and finally, the militia were summoned to assemble, but, despite all, the crooked wonder grew, and the more industrious the efforts put forth to curtail its existence the more it grew and the greater the occasion it saw for this exertion. in the summer of this year, the members of the legislature of tennessee, in council assembled, pronounced the state a ku-klux barracks, and resolved themselves unsafe in their granite citadel at nashville. the league head-quarters in various parts of the state were succumbing one by one to the new element of conquest, and, indeed, the state seemed on the eve of a revolution, by which, if no more serious results were attained, its territory would be rendered untenable for that class of its population which was known to its enemies as the dark-lantern faction. in this emergency, the leaders of the l. l. resolved to call a state council of the order, over whose deliberations the governor should preside, and whose object would be to devise ways and means for the destruction of their troublesome enemies. great preparations were made accordingly, and without divulging their plans, it was resolved, at the conclusion of the secret proceedings, to hold a mass meeting at the capital which should review the whole subject. this body assembled at the specified date, but not before the rival party had become fully acquainted with its plans and purposes, and in convention assembled resolved upon counter measures. on the very evening which the council had set apart for its introductory proceedings (in the city of nashville), the indefatigable k.'s had issued commands throughout the state requiring every member of the order to report at his den head-quarters for special service. a force of spies was dispatched to the neighborhood of the league council, and the brief period which was to elapse before the solons would arrive and enter upon the solemn business in hand was appropriated by these secret agents, and their co-conspirators in other neighborhoods, to the work of obtaining information from deserters, chance prisoners, etc., as to the exact location and surroundings of the league places of rendezvous throughout the state. indeed, while the league had busied itself with a very red conflagration devoted to the ku-klux fat, whensoever they should overtake that slippery substance, the much persecuted "krookeds" had doubled back on them, and only awaited a fair wind to convert their little game into a "double reversible," quite as complicated as any that had dawned upon the patent-machine mind previous to that date. a war of extermination against the league had been resolved upon months before by the leaders of the klan, but a favorable moment for a decisive blow, or the emergency requiring it, had not arrived, until both were visible in the proposed state council of the order and the objects it would consider. now, destiny seemed rushing upon them, and the time almost too brief to make an intelligent feint on the enemy's front. but promptness of stratagem, and rapid development of passing advantages, was perhaps the strongest point in the military character of the distinguished leader of this movement, for where others halted, awed by the proportions of an undertaking, or the suddenness of combinations effected in their front, he only felt an inspiration to go forward. the force which participated in the attack on the evening of ---- th, , did not fall far short of one hundred thousand men, and yet, thirty-six hours previous to this time, the occasion had not presented itself to the mind of the veteran who planned the attack as suitable therefor. a well organized and lightly-equipped force proved unquestionably a _sine qua non_ in rendering the dispositions of the commander successful; but we doubt if it would be fair to subtract this circumstance from the glory of the undertaking, if the reader is informed that it had been developed from the same ingenious source with special reference thereto. in the attack which followed, each den constituted an independent force, and was under the immediate command of the grand cyclops. indeed, no other officer was known on the field, though it was sufficiently apparent, at the time, that each had received his allotted task from a superior, and it was afterwards divulged that they had acted under written orders. at ten o'clock precisely, the commands moved (from the various points of rendezvous selected), and were allotted one hour to each ten miles of distance to be traversed. they were in full uniform, and though they carried arms, were commanded not to fire, nor to return a fire, except under orders. _en route_ they avoided public roads and dense settlements, and on approaching their destination changed the order of march (by twos) to close column by fours, when the command was "charge." after the building, which formed the object of attack, came in view, no time was to be lost, and its investment completed as rapidly as possible. attempted refugees were to be forced back within the walls, and in no event was an escape to be permitted. a party of six resolute men were detached from each squadron for special duty, in securing the papers, books, and other written documents of the league meeting, and this movement was so far pivotal in its character, that their comrades were commanded to keep their proceedings in view, and be ready at a signal to render them assistance. after a thorough search of the premises had been accomplished, the dismounted men without were commanded to take their station within the building, and form the hollow-square of the order. as so much has been said concerning this feature of their drill, and so little really known, we give the exact figure in the cut below. it may be imitated by arranging two letters k with their backs to each other, and doubtless originated from this device. [illustration: ku-klux hollow-square.] this ghostly evolution having been performed, and the trembling leaguers finding themselves invested at every point, the grand cyclops had orders to ascend the rostrum, and from that elevated position deliver to the (constructive) culprits an oath whose principal features were as follows: to forever abjure all allegiance to the secret organization known as the loyal league; to cease to employ the elective franchise as an instrument of oppression against the white population of the state; to forsake the acquaintance of all men, irrespective of party, who sought to profit by their votes; and finally, to abstain, under pain of the severest penalties; from all efforts to investigate or otherwise disturb the mystical beings who stood before them, and who, at some future time, if deemed expedient, would accord them further and more convincing proofs of their ghostly genealogy. this command having been executed, the lights were to be blown out at a signal, and the parties, disappearing by the most secret routes possible, to hasten forward to a point of rendezvous one mile distant. such was the plan of campaign resolved upon by the grand wizard and his advisers; and that it was successful in every particular is a fact which we need hardly repeat, in view of the numerous hints conveyed in the written history of those times. while the state council of the loyal league was guessing itself dry over the great "konundrum," and, at the same time, making such a _sine die_ disposition of its remains as was rendered feasible by broadsides of eloquence and sixthlies of courageous resolve, that lively "korps(e)" had frisked from its abode, and with the alacrity of a "monkey on a trapeze-bar" (in the language of the oil-regions) "went through them." chapter x. the loyal league in council. speech of hon. bones button before the state council of the loyal league--what followed--amusing contretemps. mr. cheermon, and gemmens: der crisis am upon us. i repeats, surs, and wishes dat dis obserwashun should sink down into de conclusibness ob ebery individooal who heers me. der ku--crisis am upon us. as a member of dis spectifle body, i am de las' pusson who would wish to use my perfesshun to cover up dis sollum trufe. we is stannin', mr. cheermon, upon de ragged confouns ob de bloody kazzum; and i repeats, dat de question for us to solve dis ebenin' is: shall we go fowards, or be pushed fowards. [sensation.] fur be it frum me to "sing de song ob de sirum" when de liberties ob de black man am inwaded, and de nasshumal honor is bein' piled in de dust by de rabble (rebel) asstocracy. but, surs, lookin' up to de umbragus folds ob dat spar-strangled banner, i is impressed with anoder conclushun, and it is in dese wurds follerin, to wit: we is occupyin' de ticklish edge ob a dillemmer, in de lite ob which de man who crossed de rubimcom am but a faint epistle. yes, my spectifle feller-bredren, to use a catephoricle flower ob de tropics, we have arriv' at a tite spot. we am obfusticated, so to speak. [assenting groans throughout the assembly.] den de riddle for us to read dis ebenin', in de light ob dese distressin' surkumstances, is: what ar' to be did? in addressin' de collectiv' wisdum of dis orguss resemblage, i axes, is we to go fowards? is we to wait till de nex' ebenin' or de nex' year? is we to fold our hans behind our bax, and hole our bref suspinely until de klu-krux animile has squatted hisself squar' down on our liberties? is we, i ax, to bump down in de middle ob dat rode whar' de klu-krux juggernox goes tootin' majestercally along over de dethroned carcasses ob de black man, and whar you may holler peace! peace! but you can't be heard; and you wouldn't be notissed if you was. but, mr. cheermon, before perceedin' fudder wid de docturnal pints of dis discusshun, i shall have sumfin to say in respex to klu-krux-klam from a scienticular pint of obserwashun. how is dis, i ax? whar is de gettin' out place, de tail, so to speak, of dis conundrum? [a pause, during which several members are observed to scratch their heads meditatively.] dar am a proverb which says, "ketch a klu-krux before you puts him to _def_," or words to dat effec. dat feature of de bizness i disposes to ten' to in pusson, mr. cheermon, and if i can git de contention of de brilyunt dissembly what sits in judgment upon dis and oder topics dis ebenin', i will open de merits of dis opinyun to de verymost chile in understandin'. sposen dat we takes dese wurds, "klu krux klam," as dey 'peers in de original greek, and transplants dem into de original inglish. take de word klu, dat wurd about which dare has been so much unsiantickle sputin, and what is dare in it? is dare an individooal under de soun' of my voice who duzzent know de orfograthy of a wurd of three monysimples? is dare, i axes, in dis orguss body, a pusson who is sich a babe in understandin' dat he duzzent know dat b-a-k-e-r spells baccer? den i say to my spectifle feller-sitterzens, dat if you will take de wurd klu, and hang its ole fashyun'd inglish close on it, dat it will spell "clew," and if dat is so, what fudder clew could you have to dis whole subjec'? [a member here rose to a point of order, objecting to the "orfograthy" of the hon. bones' premise, and claiming that the word under discussion was not "klu," but "ku." there is no telling what this might have resulted in, if the individual had been provided with documentary proof of his statement; but as he was not, he was compelled to retire amid the jeers of the audience and the loud taunts of the speaker, who elevated himself on a bench in order that his rhetoric in this instance might have its full effect.] den, my feller-sitterzens, if de wurd "klu" means what it says it duz, de wurd "krux" means krux, and de wurd "klam" means klam--dat is to say, if the wurd klu means _clew_, neither of dese wurds means nuffin'. dat pint is suffishuntly clur to a man up a tree, and no doubt is understood by de gemmen who spells "klu" widout a l. but, cummin' back to de merits of de discushun, i disposes now, mr. cheermon, to angeline de word klu, which, as i has before tuk occashun to say, is de clew to dis whole mystery. let us taik de consummant k, which is de indecks letter, and pints to what follers. duz dis letter have any siggerfication apart from its connectin' links in dis wurd, or duz it hav such a siggerfication? i beleevs dat de intellumgence of every pusson in dis orgunce, if i may except one individooal, will bar me out dat it duz. dat pint bein' settled in a excloosive way, which, i may sugges', is much de smallest part of de wurk, we must now perceed to find de siggerfication aforesed, and de logickle delusions upon which it rests. what, may i ax, duz de letter k stan' fur? duz it stan' for cow? is dare a pusson in dis orgunce, who will lif' his head and dissert that k stans for cow? wall, if it duzzent stan' for cow, is it a far prejux for crow? would a cup set on its flatness, mr. cheermon, with rich a handle as k to it? will the gemmen who spells klu widout a l, pertend to spell cat widout a c? i persoom not. wall, then, my feller-sitterzens, if k duzzent stan' for cow; if it is too crooked for cup; if it wooldn't spell crow widout bein' turned wrong side foremos'; if it duzzent suit the gemmen's noshuns of cat; an' is too crooked and not crooked enough for "crooked," den what, may i ax, duz dis unekest of alfybetic frenonymongs outline wid de adumkate purpyscruity. if it am eber used as de forefix fur knife, knot, knob, knock-under, and sich like, it ar' bekase its crookedness let it out'n de rite paf, and not 'kase it felt called on in de way of tendin' to its own bizness. but no diffunce if it do fail in oder respex, my feller-sitterzens, it won't do to say dat dis consummant k am a failure, and ostrumsize it from de langwidge. i am not one ob dose dat am committed to de beleef dat it am a bow-legged nonjuscrip, a onaccountable freak of de english alfybet, an' good for nuffin but to lean up agin more spectifle consummants, and thow de lines out'n shape. an' if dat be de sollum trufe, i pauses once more to ax whar is de stitch in de temple of langwidge dat dis alfumbettycle beformity was made to order to fit into, so to speak. what ar' its mishun in de worl', and how is we to arrive at dat pint. in diggin' about de roots of dis boss conundrum, mr. cheermon, we wants to have nuffin to do wid scientifficle reductions, nor logickle abscraptions, as we understans de metumsquizzicle bearin' ob dose terms; but, on de oder han', if the court am exquainted wid her own diktum, and she think she do, we feels bemooved to argify strate to de pint in hand. now, in respex to de consummant beforesed, i taiks de hi groun' dat if dere is any offis dat it can fill better than any oder consummant, dat, dat am its mishun. or to miscomterpret my persac meanin' wid more purpyscruity, if dare is enny spot in de presinks of de langwidge dat can't navumgate widout it, and dat it can't navumgate widout, dat, _dat_ am de shoo fur it to war. havin' adjostled dat pint to de weakes' understandin', we nex' inquire if dere is enny wurd in de dickshummary dat can't be spelt into a syllumble widout de ade of dis consummant. i taix it upon miself to say, mr. cheermon, dat dere is such a word, and widout enny furder surcumloscrution, or bein' too pertickler about de orrytorrycal effec of mere metumsquorricle figgurs of speech, i will perceed to denounce it in your heerin'. (sotto voce.) kill. (a pause, followed by a lumbering sound and the disappearance of two woolly crowns.) i trus', mr. cheermon, dat dis am considered no interbumption, an' if enny oder brudder should feel discomposed to roll off de bench jurin de fudder discontinuance of dese remarks, it won't be tuk as no mark of misrespex to the gemmen who has de floor. but, to rejerk to de subjec' in ban'. de bes' excepted, and de only excepted, siggerfication of de consummant k, am de mistickle wurd just denounced in your hearin', and i shall ax you to squeeze dat pint, while i maix a rapid sarch over dickshummary groun' for de indecks belongins of de rejineder part of dis word klu, dat is, de consummant l, and de avowal u. in respex to de consummant l, i would wish to say in de fust place, fustly, dat the mixtur' of learned doubts enterin' into its conjugation am not near so obfusticatin' as de las' beforesed, an' dat havin' obtaned de persac fractional squantum of de befogoin, we can, as it wur, look fowards to subsumquent revolutions of de topic. darfore, widout enterin' into de rejux system of argyfyin fudder dan to appli de rools dat was foun' to wurk so hamboniously in respex to de las' named, we arrives at de delusion dat de mos' acceptumble renderation of de consummant l is to be foun' in de mistickle terms lick, licks, and "lick 'em," or de las' beforesed in purtickler, or all three in purpentickler. now, if enny brudder whose sperience and obserwashun am purtickler sensitiv on dis pint, feels cauled upon to say dat de most pinted complication of dis consummant is to be foun' in de word "lam," or dat it was made to order for de word "lash," or was put into de alfumbet wid special reffermence to de wurd "larrup," or was made out'n whole clof as a prehitch for "lambaste," i will 'low him dat privumlege, and widout been outdone in dishonorableness, will give him de floor when i discludes. in pointrefax, mr. cheermon, when we looks at all de crosses and dotses of dis argyment, when we sees all its pros and cros, de delusion am forced upon us, _roles bolus_ (nolens volens), so to speak, and in de langwidge of one of our country's most illustrious poicks, "dat do settle it." havin' foun' den, my feller-sitterzens, by jiggernometrical injuction, de persac valyer of de quantitums k and l in de trombonial k-l-u, we will now perceed to exburden our conshusness of sum thoughts havin' reffermence to de avowal u. if dat which needs no splainin' may be made de subjec' of splainatory logic, widout on de oder han' rejucin' de speaker to de distressin' condishun of hyperbolus, i shall, in a brefe space of time, more or less, egshibit to dis orgunce de close anallumgy dat exists betwixt de avowal u, and de pussonal pronoun "you." i takes it for granted, mr. cheermon, dat every individooal dat has a place in dis orguss resemblage, am fermilliar, either by "hearsay" or "theysay," wid dat principul of de common law dat purvides dat whar wurds are to be miscomterpreted, dat de meanin' is to be fastened onto um what am neares' at han', and dat if dey am already purvided wid a resonably far siggerfication, dat it shall be onlawful to prowl off in sarch of one what soots yer better. dat pint bein' settled, i will not do enny gemmen in dis orgunce de misrespex to persoom dat if a klu-krux wur to pint a six-bar'l blunderbuss under his oil-factory of smell, and say "you," as loud and suddint as a clap of armytillery, dat he would disclude dat he meant sum odder feller, and fail to locomoshy in de odder direction. takin' den, my feller-sitterzens, de consummants k and l in de trombonial (trinomial) k-l-u, and it will be seen dat dey have close refermence to de avowal u, and _visum versum_, and dat in dese three alfumbettycle cosines, and de mistickle siggerfication detached to each, ar' de whole substanshuation of de mystiffercation of de klu-krux-klam. den, mr. cheermon and feller-sitterzens, if dese be de mos' obdurous intenshuns of dose ruffumlians, duz it not, let me ax, bemoove this loil body to take immejit steps to surcumvalidate, deturrimerate, homswogglemerate, and murder-r-r-- [this expression stuck in the speaker's throat, for, being attracted from the up-stairs of his eloquence by what he at first mistook for an outburst of enthusiasm on the part of his hearers, but was afterwards induced to believe proceeded from some more serious cause, he looked around him upon great waves of panic that lashed the building from side to side--at first converting all obstacles into a causeway for their terror, but at length flowing into currents that beat strongest where the drifts of wrecked and storm-tossed furniture formed artificial banks. having the organ of comparison well developed among the other faculties, the brain of the statesman took in the situation at once; for, observing with what success doors and windows were swept from their moorings at the heads of the retreating columns, he saw the twenty or more ghostly embodiments that occupied his rear in imagination only, and, hesitating for one instant, he joined the assault on the "imminent breach," ballasting his flight with cries that bore a marvellous resemblance to the changes of which the last word of the "befogoin" is susceptible. reaching a neighboring window at the end of two vigorous jumps, he passed out into the night--a distance of "eighteen foot in the clur," as he afterwards testified--and regaining his feet and the top of his bent simultaneously, "the startled ear of outer darkness" heard something like the report "murder," at brief intervals of time accommodated to long intervals of space, for about the period employed by an erie express train in exhausting a winter horizon.] chapter xi. effects produced. a period of alarm. excitement throughout the state--scenes at the capitol--metropolitan arrests resisted--secret police--government officials notified of the extent of the disaster--a quorum of the legislative or judicial bodies not attainable--no departures from the city--the k. k. k. cabal receiving that attention from caucusing legislators which its importance demanded--what the state judiciary demanded--a mob at the state-house--at sunset the situation unchanged--a sortie from the capitol--mobs along the route--seeking refuge from the excited populace--out of danger--the new situation--governor brownlow escaping from the temporary fortress by an alley-way--an ugly specimen of the genus ku-klux--the governor recovers from the attitude of a suppliant--an amusing episode--"but how many suns, o man, would look upon the deed unavenged?"--a canard which grew out of this affair. on the day following the grand _coup de main_ of the klan to which we have directed attention in the previous chapters, and which, in bringing depression to league affairs, sent the former's mercury to a feverish height, great excitement prevailed throughout the state; and at the business centres, and more especially the capital, something like a popular demonstration greeted the arrival of news from provincial quarters. the wires had been buzzing with intelligence of the disaster since early dawn, and yet the news and telegraph offices found it impossible to throw off the steaming bulletins giving additional particulars, or summing up the history of the exploit in localities already heard from, with sufficient speed to meet the cravings of the multitude. the streets of the capital were filled with passengers, who, with white faces and lips compressed, seemed as firmly intent on reaching some point of general rendezvous as it was indubitably certain that they had nothing definite in view, but were tossed to and fro by a burning thirst for news that must and would not be satisfied. occasionally, as the crowd kept this frantic pace, individuals would suffer themselves buttonholed, and made the subjects of lengthy confidences, but rarely, as one man's property in the commodity of the hour was something which all might share at the bulletin-board; and so all day long the human tides ebbed and flowed along the news-channels, never manifesting impatience, but ever quickening their speed to keep pace with the now fairly excited messengers. merchants and shop-keepers stood in their doors wearing prurient countenances, and anon, sending would-be purchasers away with curt replies; for since the sun rose on that eventful morn, had not traffic grown out of fashion? women and children kept within doors without commands to that effect, for there was something in the very air of the crowds without that not only did not invite confidence, but positively frowned upon all advances thereto. the metropolitan guards, who had special instructions, and whose force had been doubled since morning, moved along their beats wearing grave countenances, and occasionally scanning the faces of the crowd with furtive stare, as if in search of some secret which they half suspected lay hidden there. once they ventured upon an arrest, being guided by their suspicions only, as was evident from their embarrassed movements; but though they employed a strong guard, and sought out the most thinly peopled avenues in making away with their prisoner, they had not proceeded above two blocks before they were set upon by the crowd, and compelled not only to relinquish their charge, but to seek safety in flight. it was even whispered that there was a secret police force abroad, deriving its authority from the opposition element in politics; but this was industriously denied in quarters where the facts should have been known, and after it became a rumor, every effort was made to quell suspicion. but, however that may have been, after the unsuccessful feint to which we have called attention, no further effort was made to interfere with the calm-faced crowds which, looking neither to the right nor left, persevered in that unvarying procession which led them to and from the news centres. a k. k. k. placard, which had been posted at a popular street corner during the previous night, and which, for contrasted reasons, had been given a wide berth by the rival factions, became, as the evening wore along, the one subject which seemed to possess sufficient interest to attract the regards of passers-by, and it is probable that its importance (like some sentient wonders that we wot of) was derived from the circumstance of its connection with weightier subjects. it was probably past the hour of noon before the extent of the ku-klux raid was certainly known to the state authorities, and to say that the intelligence cast a palpable gloom over the various departments of government, would hardly particularize the situation with that definiteness which the curiosity of the reader may demand. after the noon recess it was found impossible to assemble a quorum of either the legislative or judicial functionaries, and when visitors sought individuals belonging to these branches, with a view to conference on private topics, they were, oftener than not, sent away with the intelligence that they had left the city. but this was scarcely true in any case, for not only was there no hegira of state officers from the scene of their labors on this day, but out-bound trains flew along the landscapes with hardly any reasonable ballast in the way of passengers. the secret of the whole business, as revealed soon after, showed that some very extensive caucusing was being done, and that the k. k. k. cabal, for the first time in its history, was receiving that attention from the government authorities which its importance demanded. it is not known with certainty what was resolved upon at these meetings, but it may be guessed, with tolerable assurance, that those bold measures soon afterwards instituted in the house (though enterprised too late for any practical use) received their inspiration from this excited period. and it was soon after published as an item of news, that the judiciary demanded of their law-making colleagues some immediate legislation that would enable them to grapple with the new problem in jurisprudence which the movement presented. about the middle of the afternoon there was a popular demonstration in the neighborhood of the capitol, the crowds lounging in that direction in an objectless kind of way, but when, finding themselves under the shadow of the great building, developing a sudden enthusiasm for something, or some individual, they scarce knew what. for more than an hour they besieged the state functionaries with loud huzzahs, and only when they saw that the demonstration had been misunderstood, or that they would be given the cold shoulder, in any event, did they relinquish the purpose of hearing some report from their law-givers, and being heard in return. but when the countermarch movement began, very little time was consumed by the crowd in transporting itself out of sight and hearing--individuals, and especially those who had been conspicuous in the movement, walking hurriedly, and with their heads down, as if to conceal an expression of chagrin that lurked in their countenances. at sunset the situation was unchanged, the main streets emptying themselves of their human currents, in obedience to some suburban attraction at intervals, only to be filled next hour with the chaffering multitudes, who resumed their fatuous pursuit of the unknown quantity in the news-problem with the same heat that it had been undertaken in the early portion of the day. it was at this precise hour that the governor was observed to leave the state-house, accompanied by two gentlemen of his staff, and walk hurriedly along cedar street, in the direction of the public square. the crowds seemed determined to place their own interpretation on this movement, and having assembled in large force at the point where college street intersects that along which the party were passing, loud hootings were indulged in, and in forcing a passage through the crowd, the obnoxious individuals subjected to rougher jostling than was thought to be required by the emergency. turning to reply to some taunt volunteered from the crowd, one of the gentlemen lost his hat by a blow from behind, and was deprived of the gratification which he might otherwise have received upon relieving himself of a few sentences of eloquent invective, by a storm of derisive cheers, which drowned every other sound. at the next crossing the demonstration was equally as large, if not so aggressive, and when the official trio reached a neighboring building, and immured themselves within its walls, they doubtless looked back upon the reminiscence with feelings of relief. but from after developments, it may be inferred that they had no sooner felt themselves exempt from the perils which had lately beset them, than they entered upon a conference to devise ways and means of escape from their temporary fortress (for such the building in which they had taken refuge proved to be). this would not have been difficult of accomplishment, in any event, and the tactics resolved upon by the besieged rendered it comparatively easy of attainment. in less than ten minutes the throngs, who had assembled with no more serious object in view than to gratify an idle curiosity, and express their unfriendliness to their taskmasters by the methods usually adopted, had been taken up by the absorbent elements of the crowd flowing newsward, and were no more. if the governor's party had expected resistance of this character, they were to be deceived, for by the time the lamps were lighted, almost a calm pervaded that quarter; and when, a few moments later, the first of the party (who proved to be governor brownlow) left the building by a postern-gate in the rear, he was seen by none but the spies who had been set to watch. hurrying along an alleyway, the honorable refugee had crossed two squares ere he emerged upon the broad street which led across an unfrequented portion of the city, to the vicinity of the mansion which he occupied. halting here to reconnoitre and indulge a moment of quiet reflection, after the exciting events through which he had passed, he was suddenly encountered by a form of the peril from which he was seeking to escape that had more than once been suggested to his fancy, but which now presented itself in such palpable outline, and with an attitude so positively menacing, that his courage forsook him for the moment, and he recovered from the manner of a suppliant just in time to save himself from a very humiliating scene. the _thing_ in question was an ugly and even frightful embodiment of the genus ku-klux, which, having been successful in its contemplated surprise, was very naturally disposed to dictate terms to its victim. as no violence was intended, it had time, however, for but a few tragic sentences, adopted from a repertory prepared for the occasion, before the frightened official had recovered his wits and his greek. raising himself to his full stature, the governor denied the assumed ghostliness of his interlocutor in these precise words: "do you not know, fiend, that i possess the authority to have you shot or hung, and that i am strongly persuaded to exercise it?" to which the "fiend" retorted in the following laconism "but how many suns, o man! would look upon the deed unavenged?" and realizing that they were quits, the parties to this amusing by-comedy went their respective ways. the report of this transaction reaching the public ear via the sensation-mongers, a few hours later, it was taken up in its amended form and bandied about the coffee houses and street-corner gatherings until it finally lost all proportions, and at nine o'clock, precisely, was guilty of sending an old gentleman to bed, on the outskirts of the city, under the conviction that governor brownlow had been murdered by the ku-klux. but though for twenty hours her streets had flowed with lava tides of that wild element of which mobs are made, and whatsoever was leonine in her temperament had been appealed to by rumors of war, that rode past on every breeze, somewhere in the "wee sma' hours ayont the twal," the last star had paled in the news' firmament without witnessing anything more tragical than may be found among the occurrences related in this chapter, and the tired city slept. chapter xii. ku-klux horrors in tennessee. the klan outlawed--a price set upon the heads of its membership--a rash act of one of its dens--strong provocations--negro insurrectionists placed in the jail at trenton--prisoners wrested from the county authorities by two hundred men disguised as ku-klux--subsequent massacre--detectives in pursuit--members of the order indicted--efforts to convict the accused--failure of prosecution--affair in obion--why these horrors are classed as twin editions--description of madrid bend--k. k. k. transactions in this remote quarter--planters' jealousy--message from mr. j. to the leaders of the party--cool treatment it received--the k.'s declare their intention of punishing one of the laborers on j.'s farm--his defiance--arming the blacks--a fierce skirmish--j.'s flight--massacre of fleeing blacks--eight colored men taken from the county jail at troy--their fate a mystery. in tennessee, where the klan took the form of a political party, which bitterly antagonized the brownlow administration in every issue of government, the principles which it supported (despite the bad qualities inherent in its organization) gave it a success altogether unproportioned to the means employed. notwithstanding it was outlawed by act of the legislature, and a price set upon the heads of its membership, it continued to flourish long after brownlowism had ceased to be an element in the politics of the state. but, after a comparatively uneventful history during the years which intervened, in the summer of a rash act of one of its dens, located in gibson county, in the western portion of the state, operated such a loss of influence to the body throughout the state, that it at once became ineffective; and here, in the autumn of this year, the latest remnant of the organization on southern soil fell into disintegration, and ceased to exist. a brief history of this transaction may prove not uninteresting to the reader, as it was one of the most daring and venal of all the acts of these regulators, and influenced national affairs as has no other local event within the present century. in a remote settlement in the eastern portion of this county, a party of negroes had organized themselves into a military company, which not only conducted night drills and made occasional raids into the surrounding settlements, but threatened that at no distant day they would devastate the neighboring country, and prove the heralds of an insurrection that would give the southern country into the hands of their race. the whites in the immediate vicinity bore their midnight levies with tolerable resignation, and would, doubtless, have dismissed their taunts as meaningless, if these had not been supported by acts which left no doubt as to the warlike quality of their designs. they had proceeded so far as to procure arms and ammunition, and nominate a day for the threatened outbreak before any interference was attempted, and when this was finally resolved upon, it was effected quietly by arresting some of the more prominent conspirators at their homes. these parties were incarcerated in the county jail at trenton, and though the feeling of indignation ran high in every portion of the county, it is believed that a resolution to drop the subject here, or submit to such meagre satisfaction as it was in the power of the courts to render in such cases, was general. such peaceful and eminently wise counsels were not to prevail, however, and on the night succeeding that upon which these prisoners had been committed to the county authorities for safe keeping, a large body of men (estimated at from two to three hundred), disguised as ku-klux, rode into the town, and laying siege to the jail, soon effected their object of taking from thence the alleged insurrectionists. in view of the formidable force employed, no resistance was offered, and the prisoners, being tied securely on horses, which had been provided for that purpose, were placed at the head of the column and conducted six miles from trenton in an easterly direction. here a parley was called, and some dispute arising as to what disposition should be made of the prisoners, they were commanded to make their escape, and at the same instant fired upon, the volley being repeated twice. of the company of ten who were commended to this terrible fate, two were killed outright, two were badly wounded, and the remainder (disappointing the wishes of their captors, it is thought), made good their escape. the news of this event spread rapidly, and as it met with almost universal condemnation, a vigorous pursuit was organized, and every effort which a thoroughly aroused and indignant community would be likely to employ, undertaken to discover and arrest the perpetrators. knowing that disaffection had existed among the raiders, and a large portion, if not a majority of their number, had refused to participate in the massacre, this clew was adopted by the authorities, and a detective force employed, which it was thought could not fail of success. several days were consumed in the pursuit and investigation, and at the end of that time it was announced that one of the party had become "state's witness," and that a full expose of the affair would follow. the faith that was reposed in this story shows how unequal was the estimate which the state authorities placed upon the resources and influence of their secret enemy, and how illy adapted to the ends in view was the machinery of prosecution employed by the courts in this and similar causes. the party who had professed a willingness to betray his associates in this affair could only be prevailed upon to embrace a very small number in the accusations he made, and, at the subsequent trial, completely failed to sustain the points of the indictment which had been founded on his sworn admissions. the arrests were made, however, and after a long and tedious contest between the state and federal courts, regarding the subject of their jurisdiction--which could not fail to prove advantageous to the accused--the trial, or something which bore a resemblance thereto, was proceeded with. viewing the resources of the two parties to the presentment, and the efforts put forth by each, it could not have been a success on any terms, and, under the existing conditions, proved a judicial farce of the first magnitude. the negroes who had made their escape from the scene of the massacre, and who had held out promises that they could identify their would-be lynchers, failed to meet the tests which were imposed at the trial; and the state's witness, mainly relied upon, either could not, or would not, criminate his associates beyond a few general statements, that would not have justified even a partial verdict. after a lengthy trial, pending which the state authorities put forth their utmost exertions to establish the guilt of the accused, it was announced that an _alibi_ had been proven in each case; and so ended the gibson county horror. in obion, a county adjoining gibson on the west, the details of even a bloodier affair than that recounted above were given to the public a few years earlier, but which, for some reason, never found its way into the courts. we give the outlines in this place, because these horrors, in view of the _locus in quo_, will always be classed as twin editions in future histories of the ku-klux riots. in what is known as madrid bend, a peninsular territory formed by a curve in the mississippi river at its junction with reelfoot lake (which occupies the rear of the district), are situated a number of large farms, supporting hundreds of negro laborers, and here, as might have been expected, that doctrine of cause and effect, inversely applied, to which we have referred in a previous chapter, had its perfect work. on such soil the k. k. k. vine could not fail to prosper; and accordingly, at an early day, a den was organized, which soon afterwards took upon itself the duty of regulating the affairs of the little kingdom. loyal league meetings were broken up; carpet-baggers were requested to skip on brief notice; the enfranchised masses were not permitted to vote too early, nor too often; but, what is sincerely to be regretted by the honest historian, called upon to chronicle these events, and the law-loving public at large, matters did not stop here. the weird brotherhood went further still, in enforcing their ideas of good government, and were wont, at those periods of the "calm, still night" when the queen of its realm did not exercise her beams too freely, to visit the neighboring farms, and, at the end of the lash, administer lessons in morals, social polity, etc. the "man and brother" was not permitted to offend in too palpable breaches of morals, even on his own territory, and certain home duties were strictly enjoined upon him. these _ex cathedra_ performances proceeded in fact to great lengths, and naturally gave dissatisfaction to the controllers of the farming interests in the bend. one of these, whom we shall designate as mr. j., a large proprietor, who felt himself particularly outraged, in view of the fact that his farm had been several times visited in this clandestine manner, finally protested, and signified to those whom he regarded as the leaders of the movement his perfect ability to control his own affairs. no reply was made at the time, but not long after this one of the negro laborers on j.'s farm had the misfortune to commit a misdemeanor amenable to severe punishment under the k. k. k. code, and it soon after became apparent that the neighborhood den would adopt the usual plan in meting out justice to the offender. upon receiving this intelligence, j., seeing that his authority was not only set at nought, but defied, became enraged, and notified the parties that they must proceed at their peril, as he would arm the negroes on his plantation, and lead them in an effort to resist the proposed attack. unawed by this proclamation, the klan made its dispositions, and at about twelve o'clock on the night designated, appeared on the scene. a fierce skirmish ensued, as was to have been expected. the negroes had not only been fully equipped, as their employer had threatened, but were stationed behind barricades, with which their wooden houses were lined, and hence fought to the best advantage. the attacking party, on the other hand, was compelled to occupy open ground, and so far from being shielded by the darkness, the relative situation of the parties adjudged that circumstance favorable to the enemy. the combat was a brief one, and under the conditions which they were forced to accept, could not have resulted favorably to the besiegers. they finally withdrew, having had one man killed and three wounded in this ill-advised affair. the negroes, on their part, suffered no loss whatever. but the end was not yet, and while fortune favored the cause of the resisting faction in the skirmish of which we have given brief particulars, they must have realized, from their knowledge of their surroundings, that the blood which had been shed would be required at their hands. the scene, moreover, was remote from any garrisoned point whence they might have received aid from government troops in the event that the attack was renewed. the news of the affair, as was to have been expected, spread rapidly, and as great excitement ensued, j., feeling the insecurity of his position, fled by steamer to memphis, at the same time counselling the negroes to place themselves under the protection of the authorities. troy, the seat of justice of obion, was distant from the scene of rencontre about twenty miles, and thither, at an early hour of the day, the negroes, adopting by-paths and unfrequented routes, turned their steps. but despite the precautions against discovery which they adopted, their movements were closely spied, and before they had proceeded many miles a large force of their enemies was in pursuit. riding at a break-neck speed, the pursuing party gained on them rapidly, and as they kept out flankers, in order that none of the party might be overran and thus suffered to escape, ten of the refugees were overtaken and put to death ere the raiders were warned that they were trespassing too far on neutral territory. eight of the eighteen succeeded in reaching troy, and at their request were placed in jail, and a strong guard detailed for their protection. even these extraordinary precautions, however, proved unavailing, and on the first night of their incarceration a large force of disguised men invested the prison, and having intimidated the guard, carried them away prisoners. further than this, no report has ever been given of the affair, but it may be guessed, with tolerable assurance, that they shared the fate of their companions. this affair created a profound sensation throughout the entire country, and to it, as much as any other single deed of the night-riders, are due those prompt measures on the part of the general and state governments which operated as such an emphatic check on their movements. soon after this the congress of the united states passed a law virtually outlawing the body; and later, in view of certain phases of the subject which best adapted it to the special legislation of which they were capable, relegated the question to the state governments, reserving only the right to adjudicate such causes where states were indisposed to afford their citizens adequate protection. chapter xiii. ku-klux law. any person, under color of law, etc., of any state, depriving another of any rights, etc., secured by the constitution of the united states, made liable to the party injured, --penalty for conspiring, by force, to put down the government of the united states, etc., --conspirator's doing, etc., any act in furtherance of the object of the conspiracy, and injuring another, liable to damages therefor, --what to be deemed a denial by any state to any class of its people of their equal protection under the laws, --what unlawful combination to be deemed a rebellion against the government of the united states (obsolete), --certain persons not to be jurors in certain cases, --jurors to take oath; false swearing, in taking this oath, to be perjury, --any person knowing that certain wrongs are about to be done, and having power to prevent, etc., neglects so to do, and any such wrong is done, is made liable for all damages caused thereby, . _act of the congress of the united states. an act to enforce the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the united states, and for other purposes._ art. . [ .] any person, who, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any state, shall subject, or cause to be subjected, any person within the jurisdiction of the united states, to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities, secured by the constitution of the united states, shall, any such law, statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of the state to the contrary, notwithstanding, be liable to the party injured in any action at law, suit in equity, or other proceeding for redress; such proceeding to be prosecuted in the several district or circuit courts of the united states, with, and subject to the same rights of appeal, review upon error, and other remedies provided in like cases, in such courts under the provisions of the act of the th of april, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, entitled "an act to protect all persons in the united states in their civil rights, and to furnish the means of their vindication," and the other remedial laws of the united states which are, in their nature, applicable in such cases. art. . [ .] ( .) if two or more persons within any state or territory of the united states, shall conspire together to overthrow, or to put down, or to destroy by force the government of the united states, or to levy war against the united states, or to oppose, by force, the authority of the government of the united states, or by force, intimidation, or threat, to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the united states, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the united states, contrary to the authority thereof, or by force, intimidation, or threat, to prevent any person from accepting or holding any office of trust, or place of confidence, under the united states, or from discharging the duties thereof, or by force, intimidation, or threat, to induce any officer of the united states to leave any state, district, or place where his duties, as such officer might lawfully be performed, or to injure him in his person or property on account of his lawful discharge of the duties of his office, or to injure his person while engaged in the lawful discharge of the duties of his office, or to injure his property, so as to molest, interrupt, hinder, or impede him in the discharge of his official duty, or by force, intimidation, or threat, to deter any party or witness in any court of the united states from attending such court, or from testifying in any matter pending in such court, fully, freely, and truthfully, or to injure any such party or witness, in his person or property, on account of his so having attended or testified, or by force, intimidation, or threat to influence the verdict, presentment, or indictment of any juror or grand juror, in any court of the united states, or to injure such juror in his person or property, on account of any verdict, presentment, or indictment, lawfully assented to by him, or on account of his being or having been such juror, or shall conspire together, or go in disguise upon the public highway, or upon the premises of another for the purpose, either directly or indirectly, of depriving any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges or immunities under the laws, or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities of any state from giving or securing to all persons within such state the equal protection of the laws, or shall conspire together for the purpose of in any manner impeding, obstructing, hindering, or defeating the due course of justice in any state or territory, with intent to deny to any citizen of the united states the due and equal protection of the laws, or to injure any person in his person or property for lawfully enforcing the right of any person or class of persons to the equal protection of the laws, or by force, intimidation, or threat, to prevent any citizen of the united states lawfully entitled to vote from giving his support or advocacy, in a lawful manner, towards or in favor of the election of any lawfully qualified person as an elector of president or vice-president of the united states, or as a member of the congress of the united states, or to injure any such person in his person or property, on account of such support or advocacy: each, and every person so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a high crime, and upon conviction thereof, in any district or circuit court of the united states, or district or supreme court of any territory of the united states, having jurisdiction of similar offences, shall be punished by a fine not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment, with or without hard labor, as the court may determine, for a period not less than six months, nor more than six years, as the court may determine, or by both such fine and imprisonment, as the court shall determine. ( .) and if any one or more persons engaged in any such conspiracy shall do, or cause to be done, any act in furtherance of the object of such conspiracy, whereby any person shall be injured in his person or property, or deprived of having and exercising any right or privilege of a citizen of the united states, the person so injured or deprived of such rights and privileges may have and maintain an action for the recovery of damages, occasioned by such injury or deprivation of rights and privileges against any one or more of the persons engaged in such conspiracy, such action to be prosecuted in the proper district or circuit of the united states, with and subject to the same rights of appeal, review upon error, and other remedies provided in like cases in such courts under the provisions of the act of april ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, entitled "an act to protect all persons in the united states in their civil rights, and to furnish the means of their vindication." art. . [ .] in all cases where insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combinations or conspiracies in any state shall so obstruct or hinder the execution of the laws thereof, and of the united states, so as to deprive any portion or class of the people of such state of the rights, privileges, immunities, or protection named in the constitution and secured by this act, and the constituted authorities of such state shall either be unable to protect, or shall from any cause fail in or refuse protection of the people in such rights, such facts shall be deemed a denial by such state of equal protection of the laws of the united states, to which they are entitled under the constitution of the united states; and in all such cases; or whenever any such insurrection, violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy shall oppose or obstruct the laws of the united states, or the due execution thereof, or impede, or obstruct the due course of justice under the same, it shall be lawful for the president, and it shall be his duty, to take such measures, by the employment of the militia or the land and naval forces of the united states, or of either, or by other means, as he may deem necessary for the suppression of such insurrection, domestic violence, or combinations; and any person who shall be arrested under the provisions of this and the preceding section, shall be delivered to the marshal of the proper district, to be dealt with according to law. art. . [ .] whenever in any state, or part of a state, the unlawful combinations named in the preceding section of this act shall be organized and armed, and so numerous and powerful as to be able by violence to either overthrow or set at defiance the constituted authorities of such state and of the united states, within such states, or when the constituted authorities are in complicity with or shall connive at the unlawful purposes of such powerful and armed combinations; and whenever, by reason of either or all of the causes aforesaid, the conviction of such offenders and the preservation of the public safety shall become in such district impracticable, in every such case such combinations shall be deemed a rebellion against the government of the united states, and during the continuance of such rebellion, and within the limits of the district which shall be so under the sway thereof, such limits to be prescribed by proclamation, it shall be lawful for the president of the united states, when in his judgment the public safety shall require it, to suspend the privileges of the writ of _habeas corpus_, to the end that such rebellion may be overthrown. _provided_, that all the privileges of the second section of an act entitled "an act relating to _habeas corpus_, and regulating judicial proceedings in certain cases," approved march third, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, which relates to the discharge of prisoners other than prisoners of war, and to the penalty for refusing to obey the orders of the court, shall be in full force, so far as the same are applicable to the provisions of this section. _provided, further_, that the president shall first have made proclamation, as now provided by law, commanding such insurgents to disperse. _and provided, also_, that the provisions of this section shall not be enforced after the end of the next regular session of congress. . the foregoing section was re-enacted in the senate ( ) but it failed in the house. hence, by limitation, it became obsolete june th, . action was taken under it by president grant in several counties in south carolina while the law was in force. art. . [ .] no person shall be a grand or petit juror in any court of the united states upon any inquiry, hearing, or trial of any suit, proceeding, or prosecution based upon or arising under the provisions of this act who shall, in the judgment of the court, be in complicity with any such combination or conspiracy; and every such juror shall, before entering upon any such inquiry, hearing, or trial, take and subscribe an oath in open court that he has never, directly or indirectly, counselled, advised, or voluntarily aided any such combination or conspiracy; and each and every person who shall take this oath, and shall therein swear falsely, shall be guilty of perjury, and shall be subject to the laws and penalties declared against that crime; and the first section of the article entitled "an act defining additional causes of challenge, and prescribing an additional oath for grand and petit juries in the united states' courts," approved june th, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, be, and the same is hereby repealed. art. . [ .] any person or persons having knowledge that any of the wrongs conspired to be done and mentioned in the second section of this act are about to be committed, and having power to prevent or aid in preventing the same, shall neglect or refuse so to do, and such wrongful act shall be committed, such person or persons shall be liable to the person injured, or his legal representatives, for all damages caused by any such wrongful act, which first-named person or persons by reasonable diligence could have prevented; and such damages may be recovered in an action on the case in the proper circuit court of the united states, and any number of persons guilty of such wrongful neglect or refusal may be joined as defendants in such action. _provided_, that such action shall be commenced within one year after such cause of action shall have occurred; and if the death of any person shall be caused by any such wrongful act and neglect, the legal representative of such deceased person shall have such action therefor, and may recover not exceeding five thousand dollars' damages therein, for the benefit of the widow of such deceased person, if any there be, or if there be no widow, for the benefit of the next of kin of such deceased person. art. . [ .] nothing herein contained shall be construed to supersede or repeal any former act or law, except so far as the same may be repugnant thereto; and any offences heretofore committed against the tenor of any former act shall be prosecuted; and any proceeding already commenced for the prosecution thereof, shall be continued and completed, the same as if this act had not been passed, except so far as the provisions of this act may go to sustain and validate such proceedings. chapter xiv. the k. k. k. in louisiana. adventists--how they practised on the parasitical blacks--a little power is a dangerous thing--the political situation in ' --whites refraining from participation in election campaigns--the state press--the order of k. k. k. in louisiana--when the government officials were first notified of its presence--the feeling in grant parish, a shire division of the state created for political purposes--riot growing out of a personal difficulty--blacks entrenched in the court-house at colfax--besieged by a force of from three hundred to four hundred men--parley--negroes refuse to surrender--a second defiance--building fired--massacre and termination of the bloody affair--statistics of losses in the fight--who were responsible--the white league or camelias--occupied the k. k. k. basis in externals--new orleans riots--their effect on the returning boards--coushatta--k. k. k. in texas--border history uneventful--texas legislature interferes. in the states of louisiana and south carolina the war between the k.'s and loyal league waged fiercest, and was longest protracted, for here the fires of political proscription were earliest lighted, and the boundaries of party maintained with the greatest fortitude. in the former state, a party of men, who were known in certain quarters by the derisive title of "adventists," had assumed to control its affairs, not so much in the interest of, as by the use of, as a means, the negro element of its population. practising upon the credulity of this unenlightened class, it is not too much to say that they effected their object; and for a period of more than seven years around these central suns of the political firmament the parasitical blacks fluttered. governors, congressmen, and legislators were created from this material without any reference whatever to the legal attainments or other qualifications of the aspirants, and with a view only to such class legislation as could be made available to the negro rings, and destructive to the people's interests in that quarter. placed in control of affairs, these men, having suffered under the dispensation which the poet sought to describe in the words, "a little learning is a dangerous thing, etc.," and suspecting, moreover, that his meaning had not been fully brought out in that expressive stanza, astonished even their followers with an example which said "a little power is a dangerous thing." legislating, mainly, with a view to continuance in authority, and arbitrarily seizing the elective machinery of the state, they had, independently of the league, under the existing conditions, an unlimited lease of the state administration. nor did they fail to realize the advantages that came to them under the system of government which they had adopted. having found a precedent for the most pronounced transgressions of a written law in the acts of their co-conspirators in other states, and an excuse in the resistance which they inspired, they proceeded to lengths of usurpation which those interested for the cause of liberty on those shores viewed with surprise and dismay. the fullest use was made of every prerogative, and in innumerable instances they were subjected to that stretching process which has been commonly found so destructive to the article. so rapid was the transition from the war period to that of political anarchy, which followed in obedience to these conditions, that as early as the year the state was hopelessly committed to an ignorant and unprincipled minority, and in every portion thereof the white masses refrained from even attending the polls, so well assured were they that the fair majorities which they could score would be displaced by the most barefaced fictions. the opposition or conservative press, on the other hand, never ceased to perform its whole duty, representing to the people the true condition of affairs at the capital, the constant abuses of the legislative functions, the enormous treasury shortages, judicial tyrannies, etc., etc.; though, as was indicated by their course subsequently, to the more intelligent of those whom were addressed, this seemed but a citation of evils that were remediless; and where plans of relief were suggested, of remedies that were placed hopelessly beyond their reach. even in the city of new orleans, where these exhortations were most frequently heard, the municipal elections not unoften went by default to the minority representatives; and multitudes (who have since testified their devotion to the cause of right), attracted by the patronage of the winning power, while refusing to give them aid, tendered them congratulations. others to whom these philippics came, and who in their country homes had been subjected to the intolerable rigors of league politics, took the appeals even more seriously than they were intended, and began that secret warfare on the agents of oppression in their midst, which, however effectual it may have proven in the end, must always be deprecated on the ground of those inequalities of principle which it represented, and of means it employed. the first secret political organization enterprised against the radical power in louisiana was unquestionably that edition of the k. k. k. which we have been treating, and which proved so effective in disestablishing the various isms of the party in other sections; but it is no less certain that, at no advanced stage of its existence on louisiana soil, it underwent a very positive metempsychosis, and became, thereafter, the white league, or white camelias as sometimes addressed representatively. but no matter by what appellative known, nor under what constitutional emendations proceeding, the idea was nowhere more aggressively employed in the work of uprooting the radical succession, and rendering southern hospitality, as applicable to its agents, a thing of unmitigated terror. for a year or more after its organization had been completed, little was done apparently, but during this time the league in all its departments had been subjected to a rigid espionage, and the communications of the former with the transactions of government at the capital, established by the same means. a slight difficulty in one of the northern parishes, growing out of an election issue, was perhaps the first intimation conveyed to the louisiana state authorities that they were to encounter opposition of this character. it, however, was local in its belongings, and though widely published by the organs of the league at the north, was not deemed worthy of attention by the state press. in grant parish, a new shire division of the state, created with a view to political ends, the quarrel of the factions assumed a serious shape at an early day, and here eventually transpired one of the most fearful tragedies of this bloody epoch. a remarkable feature of this affair was that it grew out of a purely personal matter, if we may except the contrast of races involved. the details of the private quarrel would of course be uninteresting, and the bloody particulars which followed may be recited in a few words. an issue of races having been distinctly made, the two parties assembled in force; the blacks, after some preliminary manoeuvring, entrenching themselves in the court-house at colfax, and bidding defiance to their enemies. they were at once closely besieged by a force equalling, or possibly barely exceeding, their own (three hundred to four hundred men), and, after some parleying, an unconditional surrender demanded. this was resisted on the expressed condition that the entrenched force, though in the minority, were "able to defend themselves," and would do so at every hazard. an irregular skirmish followed, pending which no advantage resulted to the attacking party, and seeing which, the leaders of the movement resolved on bolder measures: the blacks were again notified that they must vacate their quarters, or submit to the torch, as the besiegers were fully resolved upon dispossessing them of that stronghold. this they seem to have regarded as a mere threat, impossible of execution, and continued to throw out defiances and fire an occasional shot into the enemy's ranks. the whites, on the other hand, unawed by their manner, and fully decided to adopt this measure as a _dernier ressort_, sent forward parties commissioned for the dangerous service. it is not known what resistance, if any, was offered to this stratagem, but very soon the building was in flames from pillar to turret, and the terrified blacks rushing forth in mad haste, to encounter a fate scarcely less terrible than that of being roasted in the flames. as they emerged from the burning building, the attacking columns threw themselves on their flanks, and poured volley after volley into their now fairly stampeded ranks. scores fell under the first deadly assault, and as they passed on in their flight they were intercepted or overtaken by their infuriated pursuers, the massacre continuing a full hour after the terrified rout had begun to issue from the building. the statistics of the loss on either side in this engagement have never been given with accuracy, and there is good reason to believe that many of the approximations that have gone to the world have embodied intentional errors. from those who were participating in the affair, and represented the hostile factions in about equal proportion, we obtain the following estimate of their respective losses: blacks killed, ninety; wounded, twenty-five. whites killed, five; wounded, three. in the skirmish but few of the whites wore masks, and this affair has generally been regarded the fruit of a popular uprising, and not strictly chargeable to any secret organization, or body of men banded together for political purposes. it occurred, moreover, at a time when partisan feeling in that section had reached a strong ebb, and men were incensed against each other as they rarely become in the light of such incentives. that the klan was officially represented in the affair was generally conceded. it was about this time, or a little previously, that the famous white league came into existence, occupying the k. k. k. basis as to politics, and in all essentials of its organization formulated upon the same model. this society assumed the duty of regulating the political affairs of the state, and that it succeeded to some extent in purifying the constitutions of the returning boards, those monster instrumentalities of fraud belonging to the radical elective system here, there can be no doubt. it was, however, open to many objections, and on equitable grounds must have been defeated by the same testimony that in some instances was made available against the klan. it was responsible for the new orleans riots of december , in which hundreds of lives were sacrificed, and which subjected the party which it assumed to represent to a manifest loss of influence. the kellogg, or radical faction, however, received severe punishment at their hands, and made many valuable concessions under the election issues, from which the troubles grew; and it was in this affair, likewise, that the returning boards, above mentioned, were made to feel their power, and "by the same sign" induced to amend their ways. a bloody affair at coushatta, in the red river country, followed in the succeeding year; but as the transactions of this body are not strictly within the purview of the present work, we refrain from a statement of the particulars. the klan, finding its services no longer available here, in obedience to its nomadic instincts crossed the texas border, and for a year or two following [davis, radical, being at that time governor], assisted in the administration of texas affairs. but while it proved a factor of no mean consequence in almost every political measure which agitated the border mind, and numerous local raids were reported by the state journals, its frontier history was made up of unimportant details, whose want of adaptation to the plan of this volume must be our excuse for omitting them. the following statute, referring to the subject, was enacted by the texas legislature of contemporaneous date: _unlawfully appearing in disguise as ku-klux, white camelias, and other deviltry, punished._ art. . [ .] the penal code for the state of texas shall be amended as follows, by inserting after act the following: [ ] _a_ if the purpose of the unlawful assembly be to alarm and frighten any person, or persons, by appearing in disguise, so that the real persons so acting and assembling can not be readily known, and by using language or gestures calculated to produce in such person or persons the fear of bodily harm, all persons engaged therein shall be punished by fine not less than one hundred, nor more than one thousand dollars each; and if such unlawful assembly shall take place at any time of the night--that is, between sunset and sunrise--the fine shall be doubled; and if three or more persons are found together disguised and armed with deadly weapons, the same shall be _primâ facie_ evidence of the guilty purpose of such persons, as above described; and if any other unlawful assembly, mentioned in this chapter, consist in whole or in part of persons disguised and armed with deadly weapons, the fine to be assessed upon each person so offending shall be double the penalty hereinbefore described. chapter xv. tally-ho! the situation in georgia--bullock usurpation--some things which may be explained--negro criminals--taking refuge in the ocmulgee swamps--a brutal murder--ku-klux ambushed--a terrible oath--uncle jack b.--a brief memoir--"nigger dogs" in the "goober state"--uncle jack interviewed by the ku-klux--what came of it--getting ready for the chase--a pack of "negro dogs" described--in the swamps--the opening chorus--a warm trail--swimming the ocmulgee--disappointment--the lull is past--the cheering notes of the chase--blood of the martyrs! can it be?--a last effort--another crime added to the calendar--a fresh start--baffled again--at bay--tragical scene. as the k. k. k. influence was not felt in the politics of the south-west after the events which we have narrated, and the scope of this work forbids our entering into such details as comprised the chicot county affair in arkansas, and the vicksburg (miss.) _emeute_, which was unquestionably due in part to other influences, we yield to the eccentricities of our theme, and find ourselves under the shadow of that towering usurpation--the bullock administration in georgia. the organization of the klan in this state was perhaps more extensive and efficient than elsewhere on southern soil,--proving a complete offset to the loyal league in the important work of influencing party discipline, and, after a time, effecting its other aim--of rendering it physically _hors du combat_. we shall not pretend, however, to follow it through the various stages of its development on georgia soil, nor give what might be deemed a correct history of its movements, as we are concerned rather with the issues which grew out of the latter, and that which will prove far more interesting to the reader--the _modus_ of its operations. a single feature of the campaign in this region we will endeavor to make prominent, without a design of saddling its individuality on this state, or insinuating that that branch of the pet institution vulgarly known as "nigger dogs" was not as widely diffused as its popular derivative, and far too fossilized in its structure to submit to any merely sentimental changes in types of government. so far as that phase of the subject may tend to obtrude difficulties upon the reader, the writer will volunteer the information that he was recently placed by accident at a point where his sensorium covered three large well-trained kennels of these brutes; and that it has been his good fortune, on more occasions than one, since liberty resumed its old-time inheritance in the "land we love," to follow the panting "ketch," where none dare go before, along the redolent trail of the criminal--black or white. nor is there anything more remarkable about the circumstance that the body of men known as ku-klux should, upon certain contingencies, avail themselves of the services of this sagacious brute, than that the same men, by accident or otherwise, should be employed on a righteous mission like the following: in the year , in that portion of telfair county where the _elk_ river has its confluence with the ocmulgee, a larger stream, a negro slave of mr. ---- committed a brutal rape on one of his master's household, and fled to the neighboring wilderness. he was not pursued at the time, as, in view of the recent conscript levies and the unsettled state of the country, there were no available means at hand; and, aided by individuals of his own color, whose race prejudices at this time had reached a state of savage excitement, he found safe harborage and a precarious livelihood in the river-swamps during the entire period of the war. pending his exile, and soon after it began, he was joined by an only brother, a brother-criminal likewise, who had been forced to fly the settlements; and, having formed an alliance--_sun_ and _ek_--the predatory excursions of this twain became thereafter the special terror of dwellers in that exposed region. nothing, however, particularly worthy of mention marked their exploits until the year following the close of hostilities, when they emerged from their fastnesses, and having made their way to a neighboring settlement, occupied by an old gentleman and an only son, a youth of twelve years, put them both to death with every circumstance of horrible detail. this affair occurred in the latter part of the year , and, as was to have been expected, created a wide-spread sensation. within a few hours after the deed had been committed, a well-equipped party of horsemen started in pursuit, and for more than a week conducted a thorough campaign through that division of the ocmulgee swamps that was supposed to have furnished a retreat to the murderers. they did not succeed, however, further than to obtain a view of the refugees, and salute them with a volley at long range; and seeing that their efforts would prove fruitless, returned to their homes. here the matter rested until the following spring, when a party of ku-klux, raiding in that vicinity, were fired upon from the brush, and one of their number killed, by two men who were positively recognized as the swamp-ruffians. having buried their dead companion, in obedience to the strange ceremonies in vogue with them, the members of the klan assembled around his grave, and recorded an oath "never to relent from their purpose of revenge, nor cease the pursuit of his murderers, while the ocmulgee contained water, and the region fertilized by it and its tributaries supported an inch of unexplored territory." not far from the scene of the last occurrence lived uncle jack b----, a character in the neighborhood prior to sherman's raid and reconstruction, but who, since those events, in view of a somewhat disproportioned record, had been singing exceedingly small. in _ante bellum_ times, this old gentleman had been looked up to, by both whites and blacks of his vicinity, as in some sense the reigning monarch of the locality, and one between whose smiles and frowns lay considerations that might engage the attention of much weightier personages than any whom the countryside supported. in brief, uncle jack had been the proud proprietor of the largest and best known pack of "nigger dogs" in the "goober state," with all that that implied in the language of the reconstructionists; and if he did not still possess that distinction, it was altogether attributable to the circumstance that the office which it involved had ceased to be a sinecure, and the property in question was no longer quoted among commercial values. but though the old man and his beasts bowed their heads under the in _terrorem_ of the new order of things, they well knew that this _dies iræ_ could not last always, and were, moreover, fully persuaded of the truth of the old proverb which insures to every well-behaved canine a "dish" in passing events. that they were not sophists in this matter will be sufficiently demonstrated by the remaining events of this chapter. at precisely twelve o'clock on the night succeeding that which witnessed the tragical event last narrated above, uncle jack held a long conference, at the outer gate of his premises, with three mounted men, and shortly thereafter might have been observed to visit his stable and dog-kennel, lingering for some time in the vicinity of each. a half-hour or more was consumed by the details of a preparation from which it was plain to be seen some mystery was in course of evolution, and the old man, mounted on his now full-rigged hunter, and swept forward in a tempest of dolorous howlings, turned an angle of the close, and joined his weird visitors. it will hardly be necessary to inform the reader that these men were k. k. k. emissaries, who had been dispatched to secure the hunter and his dogs to aid them in the difficult enterprise which they had undertaken; and looking from one to the other of the new levies, he would have no hesitancy in making up his mind that "barkis was willin'," and the "yaller beauties," as he was wont to term them, "spilin'" for nigger meat. these latter were composed of a dozen brace of the best florida breed of the hybrid blood- and sleuth-hound, fat and frolicsome, wearing sleek coats of yellow, and as to size, if put to the test, the runtiest of the runts would have kicked the beam at fifty pounds. leashed in couples, they made rapid circuits around the now galloping horsemen, filling the night with the music of their weird chorus, and falling to an indiscriminate and discordant baying whenever hog or cow or other animate thing, startled from their covert, stood still to guess at the intrusion. three miles from the point of starting, the main company was reached, and soon afterwards, passing into the edge of the bottom, the dogs were released from their slips, and at a word from the hunter, and directing a premonitory sniff at their surroundings, sped into the darkness. for an hour or more the hunters pressed their way through the pitchy swamps, now following a scarcely distinguishable stock trail, now lightened upon by a gleam of starlight from above, and not unfrequently committed for guidance to the instincts of the animals they bestrode, without other report from the excited yelpers than was too timidly given to be accounted much worth, or called forth the response from some guttural cavity of the forest, "a lie." reaching the banks of the river, at a point five miles below the swamp line at which their road had intersected the bottom, a halt was called, and the company sat peering into the darkness, for the first time doubtful of their enterprise, when lo! within ten feet of the rearmost file a welcome sound broke the stillness--at first low and doubtful, but gaining in volume and flowing into blended notes--one--two--three--and then a stunning, wagnerian chorus, that lifted every horseman from his stirrups, and sent the wood echoes rolling in sonorous waves along the breast of the forest. a loud hurrah from the hunters attested their equal joy, and hue and cry being joined, the panic of pursuit began. straight up the river bank the roaring pack held on their course, not once veering to the right nor left, nor never slackening speed, and timid horsemen, that erst had shivered if their steeds but stumbled in the darkness, now rode abreast of the panting "leader," swelling the volume of sound with their loud halloos, and leaping branch and inlet sound with the agility of the frightened deer that sped before. even the "ketch," usually sedate and disallowing confidences, had been momentarily thawed by the all-pervading enthusiasm, and joining the pack just where the fun grew furious, howled a dismal accompaniment to the cheering notes of the chase. on, on, into the darkness beyond, sped the tempest of pursuit--now wedged into narrow passes and involved in a hundred confused knots, now unravelling on the open plains beyond and flowing on in currents bold and free as those that kissed the shore beneath them, now leaping brake and fell, now skirting hazardous banks, now hugging obtrusive shores, and hark! at a sharp signal from the "leader" all sounds are hushed,--followed by a plunging boom, and, churned into a thousand eddies, the bold ocmulgee supports the rout of panting men and beasts, who have no sooner recovered from the chilling baptism than each bends forward in a mad struggle to reach first the yonder shore and herald this clamorous invasion to its phantoms of darkness. but so close on the heels of the dripping "leader" pressed the frantic crew--who owed him fealty come life or death--that his opening chorus was echoed by a hundred lesser sounds that were not echoes, and with a mighty effort the panting "ketch," leaping sheer from the waves to the upper bank, was not too late with his base variation. and now the wild pursuit is begun anew, for the tardiest horseman is spurring into the depth of the forest beyond, and skurrying out of sight and hearing if that were possible--the wailing wood notes have a story to whisper to the deserted shore. but "the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglee," and not above a half mile from their watery exodus the puzzled yelpers vary their chorus and slacken speed, and, warned by a ringing blast on the huntsman's horn, the whole company of baffled pursuers double on their track, and by twos, and threes, and then in larger squads, rejoin their river base. here the huntsmen consult together, and the pack renew their frenzy, frisking along the river shore, scouring the woods, and soon afterwards, indicating by a yelping chorus far down the stream that the stratagem of the refugees led them that way. the impatient horsemen soon gallop at their heels, and after one or two dissentient howls from the aged skeptics of the pack, they one and all run full upon the warm scent, with a clamor that causes the woods to "ring again," and sends the vital current tingling along the veins of the coldest-blooded horseman. and now the lull is past, and the thunder of pursuit once more greets the forest echoes. away, away, distancing the swamp tracts and riding into the region of the morning, for its first beams, striking through the tree-boughs, sprinkle their forms and play in feathered jets along the bosom of the forest. away, away, riding neck and neck with the fleet-footed swamp-hare, and crossing the hurricane's track with a rush and sound that might have been its refrain. away, away, emerging upon the broad plateau, and yelling, yelping, whooping, cursing, but never slackening speed. away, away, vanishing through lanes, disappearing over hill-tops, and clattering through the valleys beyond, with a mighty hubbub that jars the base of the hills, and sends the round echoes careering at their backs. blood of the martyrs! can it be? just at the apex of yonder rise which the feet of the pursuers take hold upon, lives an unprotected widow and her daughter, and with ominous precision of stride the hue and cry points that way. the instincts of both men and beasts instantly acquaint them with the situation, and, bending forward in one last despairing effort, they emulate the rush of the tornado as they bear down the enclosures and sweep up the incline, just in time to witness the most piteous spectacle that men with emotions were ever invited to commiserate. the panting pack, first on the scene, leap on the frightened and weeping women with furious growls, licking their faces and hands, sniffing at their forms, and baying from all quarters, until, driven from thence, they rush into the single apartment, leap on the beds, drag them to the floor, and falling to, with the fury of wild beasts disappointed of their prey, tear them into shreds.[a] being expelled from thence, the hunters hear the dolorous narrative of the women, cross-question them as to particulars which may aid them in the pursuit, and having lost but little time, follow the now furious hounds in a noisy detour around the little farm. again and again this is repeated, and men and dogs are fairly baffled. the former dismount and examine the ground for visible signs, but are unrewarded, and seem ready to despair, when one of the pack, having leaped to the close fence, follows it for some distance, and finally breaks forth into that ominous bark which criminal never heard undaunted. instantly he is joined by his impatient companions, and the welkin rings with their loud acclaim. the hunters follow, but almost too late, as the sequel proves; for having invaded the barn, a few rods distant, and discovered there the objects of their rage, the excited pack had well-nigh ended this series of tragedies. the mangled remains of one of the criminals was dragged forth a lifeless corpse, and his associate, defending himself with a clubbed gun, had disabled half the number of his assailants when he in turn was overpowered, and but for the intervention of his pursuers must have suffered a like fate. but the rescue proved ill-timed, in one sense at least, for no sooner had the ruffian been disengaged from his dilemma and lifted from the building, than a shot was heard from behind, and, bleeding from twenty wounds, he rolled lifeless on the sward. looking in the direction whence the report came, the hunters saw the form of the girl who, a little while ago, had engaged their attention as a pale and woe-begone lucrece, now expanded into a hebe, and, still unrevenged, levelling her smoking weapon at the form of the african. chapter xvi. the "shams." the klan in south carolina--officious interference in politics--atrocious performances of men in masks--the "shams," or counterfeit editions of k. k. k.--how organized--purposes of the organization--their vocabulary of crime--south carolina fanatics--how the "sham" movement affected the k. k. k.--parodied out of the field--a resolution of _sine die_ adjournment--k. k. k. horrors on the increase--the "shams" were opposed in their movements not only by the party who had formerly upheld the k. k. k., etc.--rotten-egg battalions--citizens sometimes took the execution of the law into their own hands--a case in point. while the k. k. k. influence was bad enough, in all conscience, and the k. k. k. embodiment a trifle worse, it had imitators in both these elements of its being who cherished even satanic designs, and we doubt if so much could be written of the former. that the klan was organized on south carolina soil, and did much mischief to the conservative party and influence there by assuming to be its exponent on the most untoward occasions, and at the moment when its services were least desired, is something which is admitted in the former case, and its stupidity heartily cursed with in the latter. but it is equally true that many of the atrocious performances of men in masks which invariably fell to the k. k. k. score were bastardies, and unless, for the sake of imaginative persons, it is admitted that satan was involved in the fatherhood of both, it may be doubted if even the claim of _illegitimate_ kinship could be sustained. the "sham," or counterfeit edition of the k. k. k., had no organized existence in either of the remaining southern states; but here it not only possessed this groundwork of system, but possessed it to advantage, and in numbers and influence (if political rank can bestow the latter) probably excelled the body which they affected to parody, and, giving the joke a serious turn, did injure. their plan embodied as many of the k. k. k. secrets as they could contrive to capture, and scorning illiberality even in outward things, prescribed the regalia and mask feature, with an expansiveness of detail that must have affected the cotton-market. its chief place of rendezvous was the capital of the state, and it is believed by many that his excellency, the governor, was, if not its visible head, at least its trusted adviser and friend. their object was the aggrandizement of party; and this they proposed to accomplish by rendering the state a revolutionary hell, tenantable only for soldiers, black militia, and that currish type of the politician then in vogue, and who had been found, by actual experience, best adapted to these elements. if a county, state, or general election were to be held, these men, getting themselves up in approved ku-klux toilet, went forth to lay their knives at the throats of a sufficient number of innocents to afford a text for bloody-shirt invectives, and straightway the political sky rained soldiers enough to garrison the polls of a small empire. murder, arson, rape, robbery, etc., all had a place in their vocabulary, not indeed as we would speak of them in the abstract, but with all those horrible belongings of sentimentality which attach to each when enterprised wilfully, cheerfully, and with scarcely a selfish end in view. warring against women and children was a foible of the society, which they carried to such a state of development that it became first an _attribute_, and then a furious _passion_; insomuch that, if a faithful history of their exploits were written, the noble patriots of maine and massachusetts would execrate them, as they do not, could not, those secret enemies who war against social virtue in their midst, and the book could have no other title than "murderers of the innocents." but, in exposing the _wrongs_ of this people, we do not become their champion, nor even so much as pretend to assume that they possessed _rights_. if fanaticism, or, to use a stronger term, transcendentalism, morally speaking, or radicalism in politics, exists in the south (and we leave this problem to the _science monthly_), it has its fullest development on south carolina soil. her people have always shown themselves jealous of individual rights, and disposed to clannishness, where concessions affecting these have been made. they have attempted to secede from the union on two occasions, and the latter of these became the political herald of the great civil war, whose incidents are remembered with tears by every patriot. the k. k. k. found her climate congenial, and from the first her people were mad against reconstruction; and while the writer may express no opinion on the subject, these things are spoken of to her disadvantage. but admitting that they were true, and that she occupies that revolutionary extreme in politics assigned her by the most reliable histories of the period, could that justify the course of her domestic enemies towards her, and should it chain the expression of the undissembling chronicler of such events? we need hardly state that this emetic proved too much for the k. k. k. animal, and that all its movements thereafter indicated not only a badly disordered stomach, but moral functions so much impaired that it was constantly ruled by a tendency to ask everybody pardon for sustaining this relation to society, and to accuse itself of crimes for which it could only assign somnambulistic causes. indeed, about the year , it was completely parodied out of the field, and if ku-klux horrors were far more frequent in this state after that period than previously, the reader, with the lights before him, is asked to assume the responsibility of the seeming paradox. it not only had no government patronage at its back, but, on the other hand, viewed a brilliant perspective of government halters, and seeing how unequal the rivalry must prove in more respects than one, wisely concluded to retire from business. a resolution of _sine die_ adjournment was actually passed, and the members having exchanged sad farewells and wept on each other's necks in view of the gloomy prospect before them, the "shams," as they were derisively called, became masters of the situation. (if we except the hamburg affair in the summer of , and one other occurrence of merely local import, the white element of south carolina has been guilty of no overt act since the period named implying contumacy towards the state government or the constitutional rights of the citizen.) the "shams" were opposed in their movements not only by the party who had formerly upheld the k. k. k. idea as an alleged necessity of the times, but by that more conservative influence which, though maintaining the same political views as the latter, contemned the use of all secret agencies in politics. when it was possible to anticipate their raids, rotten-egg battalions were formed, which, in their efforts to deter them from their purpose, employed every character of violence that did not involve the commission of crime. not unfrequently their places of meeting were discovered, and when this was the case, a descent was planned, and the subject of "unfinished business" rendered one of lively interest to its membership. but, frequently, organized resistance, from the very nature of the case, was out of the question, and where citizens were placed at the mercy of their raids, they sometimes took the execution of the law into their own hands. an instance in point, which has been given to the public in different forms, but never correctly, has been related to the writer. in the western portion of the state lived a farmer who had so frequently suffered from the incursions of these gentry, that he resolved on retaliatory measures, and loading his shot-gun lay in waiting. the corn-crib seemed to have been a favorite objective with them, and as he had stationed himself where his gun commanded the approaches thereto, he quietly bided the moments. his calculations were well taken, for in a brief time a party of five men, gowned and otherwise disguised, rode to the neighborhood of his concealment, and taking sacks from their saddles proceeded to the crib. here their movements were guided by a plan that was unique if not original. obtaining a rail from a neighboring fence, one end thereof was inserted under the corner of the building, and their combined strength applied to the other; a leverage which easily gave a sufficient aperture to admit their bodies. one of their number was now stationed on the end of the improvised lever as a teetering weight, and the party proceeded to business. while matters were progressing thus favorably for the marauders, our hero's feelings may be better imagined than described, and observing with what a saucy air the individual who balanced the fulcrum performed his other duty of sentinelcy, he took steady aim and fired. the result, as ascertained some hours afterwards, was truly wonderful, and deserves, if it has not received, a place in the archives of the moses' administration. the bodies of four dead negroes were found, one pierced with bullets, and the remainder having their necks broken. we will not offend against good taste by giving further details, and especially desire that the plausibility of this story may be seen in the readiness with which the reader comprehends the mystery of their deaths respectively. it is needless to state that this affair was heralded to the world as a ku-klux murder, and as the parties wore uniforms, and affected the characterization, some doubt touching the integrity of the announcement may have existed in the minds of those best acquainted with the facts. chapter xvii. a moral pointed. a problem for the phrenologists--"self-preservation is [said to be] the first law of life"--a mooted question put at rest--experiments in metaphysics--an anecdote dealing with the characteristics of some people--another--peculiarities of the caucasian--ditto of the african--an "awakening" among the children of the new abrahamic covenant--"brudder jones's preechin'"--what it wrought--unpleasant truths--sins of omission and commission--the pale-faced settlers in distress--an "artifice" of retrenchment--eloquent discourse--nineteenthly, and what followed--k. k. k. _redivivus_--"tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, etc."--a break for tall timber--the best time on record. whether it is located in the brain, or has its seat in that sentient organ of the body which physiologists indicate as the seat of life, we are left to conjecture; but it is certain that there exists somewhere in the anatomy of man an essence, or attribute, which, under certain outward conditions, becomes the tyrant of his movements, and renders the disposition to cultivate acquaintance with other vistas a passion too strong to be resisted. philosophers tell us that "self-preservation is the first law of life," but their efforts to connect this postulate with some rational conclusion deduced from the organism of the animal under discussion, is so egregiously wanting in the elements of a sound syllogism, that we are led to believe that it has no foundation in fact, and that they only meant to say that where the emotion denominated _fear_ assumes the reigns of physical government, an open road and fair play are all that is required to render the proposed achievement a success. it is useless to tell us that men, adopting the improved modes of destroying life which this christian age has developed, stand up to explode missiles at each other under the persuasion that they are doing something that will tend to preserve life; or, if that were not false doctrine, who that ever attended one of these tournaments of bad shooting is unable to testify to the overpowering conviction that the parties thereto would have enjoyed themselves better in a free exercise of their limbs-- "over the meadows and far away." having examined into the philosophy of this question, with a view solely of removing certain doubts inherited from the professions of a warlike ancestry, and, predisposed to err in the opposite direction, we have arrived at the conclusion, _once for all_, that the "git up and git" tendencies of mankind, when the proper incentives are at hand, are as absolutely irresistible as the water-fall at niagara, and as necessary to the happiness of the subject as the barriers that separate him from his mother-in-law. having solved this problem, and satisfied ourselves of the universality of its conditions, it next occurred to us to examine its terms as applicable to the different races of men. and here we found that while all races are equally gifted in this respect, yet its elementary conditions are not always the same in different branches of the adamic tree. taking the extremes in color as the representatives of a fair contrast in other respects, we have confined our investigations to the white and black races,--and with a view to our own profit, and to being fully comprehended by the reader,--these races as they exist on our own shores. without any reference whatever to the vain science known as metaphysics, our conclusions are as follows: with the white man this element of his being is less on the surface, and he wears it uneasily, as though it were foreign to his genius, and at the same time a curb on his actions. with the other it is a loose-fitting garment, worn on the outside, and he seems rather pleased than otherwise that he is thus rendered a spectacle to his fellow-men. the white man attempts to conceal it, and above all would persuade himself that it is an illusion of the fancy. the black, contrariwise, has no qualms of conscience on the subject, and if pressed for argument, might adduce it as a crowning evidence of his homogeneity. two incidents have come under our notice which set forth this distinction more forcibly than any form of words we could employ. a farmer living in the back country, near the city of shreveport, brought his son--a youth whose adolescency would hardly have escaped the notice of strangers--to that thriving burg to view the sights. the steamboat feature was down in the programme, of course, and reaching the wharf, the youngster was commissioned to go aboard and obtain the exact "geography" of "the thing." this he proceeded to do with all haste, exploring the quarter-deck, rummaging through the cabins, and finally bringing up before the engine with a manner that said as plainly as words, "the thing is inconceivable." the engineer, standing not far off, observed this movement, and, probably without contemplating such serious results, stepped briskly forward and touched the safety-valve. startled beyond all "fancy fathoms" by the earthquake of sound, "country" accomplished a rapid retrograde movement, which soon involved him in conflict with the waves, whence, floundering and spluttering, after the fashion of a porpoise, and having absorbed a barrel or more of river water, he was with difficulty rescued. being dragged ashore, and before the agonies of drowning had fairly relinquished his frame, a sympathizing bystander asked if he had been much scared. his reply was characteristic of the caucasian blood, "no-o-o (splutter); i've (splutter) seen the critters afore." not many hundred miles north of the city of galveston, while the texas central railroad was in course of construction, and at a little town which formed its northern terminus for the time being, occurred the following: two individuals of african lineage, hailing from the upper districts of the state, who had never seen an "ingine," but had long promised themselves that felicity, stood at the depôt awaiting with some impatience the arrival of the evening train. standing hand in hand, and conversing excitedly on the topic uppermost in their minds, their _outre_ appearance, coupled with the exceeding verdancy of some of their observations, became the subject of attention, and then of amused remark from the bystanders. this they were unable to appreciate for various reasons, and soon the appearance of the winged monster around a neighboring curve, with appalling and most unpreconceived suddenness, took away their breaths and rocked their bodies with shivers of dread. their first impulse was to dismiss their corner of the meeting and pass to the rear; but, looking around upon the broadly smiling crowd, they were reassured for the moment, and each grasping the other's horny palm with a grip which evinced their respective determinations not to be left, whatever might happen, they stood hearkening to the thunderous echoes, and noting with special wonder the cow-catching and other aggressive features of the steadily approaching monster. it had now stolen by slow degrees to within twenty feet of the spot which they occupied, and the whistle breaking into a peculiarly loud accompaniment to the huff--huff--huff of the bellowing engine, the expression, "dar, she's busted!" startled even the man of iron at the throttle-valve, and prefacing the exertion with a ten-feet leap into the air, the panic-stricken darkies broke across the landscape with a yearning desire for tall timber that was eloquently depicted on every motion of the supple limbs, and in each sway of the backward leant and pendulous cerebellums. the cheers of the crowd, and a few extra flourishes on the big horn, served to augment their weight of conviction, and buckling to their labor with saw-mill regularity of stroke, and a settled determination not to be overtaken by slower time, they soon blended with the verge of the horizon, and took that leap into space which rescues them from all further connection with this narrative. so thin is the partition wall that separates the real from the ideal with these beings, that they continually advertise themselves for a scare, and should they by any accident be deprived of their weekly supply of the element, loss of appetite and other serious bodily symptoms would undoubtedly ensue. we have volunteered these remarks and illustrations, pertaining to the philosophy of this question, with a view of introducing the following occurrence: in that portion of the state of mississippi where the pumpkins grow largest, and the mosquitoes are supplied with blood-letting apparatus at both extremities, and at about that period of _post bellum_ history when the k. k. k. rabies had taken strongest hold upon the chivalry of the neighboring hills and valleys, a great "awakening" occurred among the children of the new abrahamic covenant. in other words, and to quote the language of one of the communicants, "a ole fashyun'd whoopin', bumpin', jumpin,' tumblin,' rousation of de dry bones had superseemed froo de inscroomentality of brudder jones's preechin'." for a period of six weeks the lame, halt, and blind of the neighboring plantations had been led into the troubled waters with manifestations of relief that the most skeptical would hardly question, and still, to quote further, "zion was a wavin', and de onregenerate milyums flockin' abode of de 'gospil car.'" indeed, the "orfumdoxeky of de new doctorin'" was having its effect everywhere, and old soggy timber that had resisted the improvements in wedges for half a century went to atoms under the vigorous mauling of "brudder jones." no sooner had one squad of penitents been "bumped" through and converted into stools for the sisters, than the raw material for another and larger was at hand, and "swingin', whoopin', rollin'," the "thing" held right on its course over the rheumatic toes of the aged and infirm, and into the combative "buzzums" of the young, vigorous, and "kick-him-hard-and-let-him-go." but though nothing could be more delightful to the writer than to continue the narrative in this strain, recording only the triumphs of "suvverin grace," and concerning himself most with the æsthetic beauties of its "sperimental terms," yet duty compels him to state that while brother jones and his militant hosts were pressing hard upon the enemy from their entrenched position, their campaign was far from embodying all the gospel conditions. though we could wish the sentence blotted out after we had written it, it behooves us to say, in plain words, that sins both of omission and commission soiled their robes, and wrought, or should have done so, a languishing effect on their hosannas. the grassy cotton-fields and rioting pumpkin vines testified to the former, while the _commission_ department of the offence, with such a paraphrase of that word as may be effected by a slight transposition of accent, was directed with most fatal precision of aim at the henneries and "piggeries" of the neighboring white trash. so constant and regular were their visits to the haunts of the feathered domestics, that the fashion of noting absentees from roll-call became obsolete; and a full chorus of grunts was so foreign to the morning habits of the pig-pen, that such an outburst in that quarter must have affected the nerves of the strongest. indeed, that division of the pale-faced settlers whose springtime felicity depended largely on this class of commissaries, had arrived at such a desperate strait that, in convention assembled, it was resolved to retrench, and, if we must write it, their "artifice" of retrenchment was levelled at brother jones and his "band of robbers," as they were politely termed. the scheme "hit upon," and the success which followed it, may be gathered from the following scene: that period of the night equally removed from the departed and the coming day, had accomplished its fiftieth revolution, and now hung fire over the eighteenthly of the most eloquent discourse that was ever flattened out over the crowns of an equal proportion of unsuspecting listeners for the same number of times. the cries of the stricken arose from every quarter of the vast audience, and hundreds of the slain had submitted to that elongating process by which their contorted frames were made to do duty for the greatest number of "squatter sovereigns." one brother arose to testify, in a series of whoops, to the pungency of "de brudder's doctorin'," and immediately went to bed to a mass of excruciating hurts on the outskirts of the assembly. a sister, racked by the "alloverishes," and knowing the penalty for interrupting the services at this interesting stage, screamed out in affright, and reaching that point over a causeway of the best boston built brogans, was content to embrace her toes around a neighboring sycamore. nineteenthly stood up for duty,--arranged its cravat,--tip-toed,--and lo! instead of a chorus of grunts, a chorus of gasps, full-chested, deep drawn, and suffocating. there he stood, or rather towered, just where the rays of light fell strongest, garbed in funereal black, and full twelve feet from crown to sole.[b] steadying himself after an awkward, but ghostlily impressive bow, there issued from that portion of his corporeal frame which might be supposed to represent the mean in a mathematical estimate of his inches, the following announcement: "i am a ku-klux!" and then from the upper extreme the following confirmation of this report: "i have just forded the tallahatchie river, and am the advance guard of the old original whoopers, surnamed k. k. k.;" and then from mean and extreme, in dismal chorus, "tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, etc." nothing could be further from our purpose than to injure that excellent person, either in the eyes of his contemporaries or of that posterity which he was wont to invoke so confidently from the more thrilling promontories of his discourse; but a decent regard for the "proprieties" of this narrative compels us to state that the reverend orator observing, or fancying that he observed, something mandatory, and withal personal in the terms of this refrain, at once inaugurated the "tramp" exercise over the heads of the assembly, and reaching _terra firma_, one mile from the point of embarkation, and seeing nothing in the homogeneity of a mob particularly attractive to a man of genius, proceeded to divest himself of his surroundings in the best executed "lonesome" since the days of ahimaaz, the son of zadok. this movement, moreover, possessed a striking appropriateness, inasmuch as it rendered him _practically_ the leader of his flock, and perhaps on no former occasion of his extended ministry did he ever discharge the duties of the "relation" with the same yearning solicitude for the success of the issue, even admitting, in extenuation of the past, that the most lukewarm of his constituency did their whole duty on this memorable occasion. as the writer has never been successful at equating distances since he was gobbled by the greyhound in connection with his more legitimate prey in the good old days of "academicia," he declines to state just how many furlongs the panic-stricken multitude had traversed, when a gloaming of red in the east warned them that they had nothing further to fear from the "nocturnal beasts," who had obtruded their heathenish "doxullumgy" on the late exercises, and will not commit himself as to the sequel, further than to say that the results of the "great awakening" were soon after visible in a certain rejoicing tendency of the cotton plant and pumpkin vine of that fertile region. chapter xviii. k. k. k. as a factor in politics. late announcement of the earl of beaconsfield before an assembly of englishmen--the secret societies of europe--men of influence in the southern states disclaim the alleged good offices of the klan in the work of southern redemption--its true status with regard to current politics--combining the offices of regulator and _vigilante_ with that of politician--an absolutist in all society matters--many who advance the idea that that complete renovation of the social system effected through its means could not have been accomplished in the use of less radical measures--inhuman butcheries, etc., figments of the scalawag imagination--many of its acts were lawless, etc.--a logical presentation of the true theory--how it injured the common cause--its generical belongings--few friends unconnected with its patronage--negative issue which it introduced into the great campaign--occupying a voice in southern counsels--unprincipled plagiaries--dangerous sentimentalism awakened at the north--what the imaginative prose of the news-reporter was calculated to do--how it (k. k. k.) prolonged the "carpet-bag" reign of terror. the late announcement of the earl of beaconsfield (mr. d'israeli), before an assembly of englishmen, that the pending war against turkey was the war of the secret societies of europe, conducted through prince milan, as their agent, may induce incredulous persons to give greater heed to the statement which we here make that the movement inaugurated by the secret order known as the ku-klux-klan was a war against radicalism as it formerly existed in the southern states, waged through its ... allies. if the english premier speaks truth, there is a strong probability that the secret purveyors to whom he refers will achieve their aim, and be crowned with the same reflected glory that has availed to cover a multitude of sins in the instance of the american order, though reflecting people, who take into account the incentives to such measures, can but regard them as intermeddlers of a very base stamp. the cause of religious liberty on the turkish frontier will not be benefited by this revelation; and, continuing the analogy, there are few men of influence in the southern states who do not make it a point, whenever occasion offers, to disclaim the alleged good offices of the klan in the work of southern redemption. we have before intimated that, in one of these states, the cause of the allied democrats and republicans did receive essential aid from this source, and while we shall not enter into any such exegesis of the question as would show just how far the common cause was aided or retarded by the secret measure, we must be permitted to record a belief that its influence was commonly hurtful. every secret society, enterprised with a political end in view, must, in the nature of the case, prove unpopular with the masses of those who wield the franchise, and in not unfrequent instances, as we have anticipated, be deprehended by the very individuals, or parties of individuals, whom they seek to succor. in the instance of the klan, these conditions were felt with peculiar weight; inasmuch as the people among whom it was domiciled cherished, beside this common feeling, a natural aversion to such influences in politics, derived from their _ante bellum_ experience; and the people of the north, unacquainted with its aims, and grossly unenlightened as to its _materiel_ and claims to social rank, wrote it down a very monster of sedition. it was denounced in public, scoffed at in private, declared to be an outlaw by the legislatures, interpreted as the very essence of crookedness in morals by the courts, fulminated against by the national and state executives, and how, under these severe conditions, it contrived to even exist, is, and must remain, one of the unsolved problems of the "gilded age." but, aside from any inherited odium of the quality which we have been discussing, the klan had obliquities of its own, and a record compiled therefrom which could not fail to photograph it to the world in a very disagreeable light, and obtain for it enemies (and sometimes potential enemies), where it would not otherwise have possessed them. even its interference in politics was of an illegitimate and unnatural kind, and called forth the constant criticisms of such unprejudiced judges as those who were to reap the benefits of their enterprises would likely prove. but it did not stop here, and combined the offices of regulator and _vigilante_ with that of politician. it was an absolutist in all society matters, and those who offended in this regard could rarely base a hope of immunity from visitation upon any well-defined precedents to be found among its domus dei records. [we have seen, in the various sketches of incidents connected with the order, and based on its history, which have been given in the progress of this work, the idea of its officiousness in such details rendered prominent, and this has been done, in every instance, with a view to subserve the intelligent aim upon which the work is based: in a word, to render it a true reflector of the k. k. k. idea, as it has existed in southern society and politics.] but, leaving out of the estimate the cruel measures sometimes resorted to in executing its plans, there will be found many who advance the opinion that that complete renovation of the social system accomplished through its means was a necessity of the times which would hardly have been effected so quickly and so thoroughly in the use of less radical measures. and in this connection, it may not be deemed digressive to say, that the many inhuman butcheries with which it was debited by a _not too discriminative public_, never in reality occurred (in no instance unless through accident or mistake), and were pure figments of the scalawag imagination--an imperent element of southern politics, whose acts had provoked the reign of terror which it took this dishonest means of deprecating. but as nothing could be further from our purpose than to become the champion of this secret movement--which might be inferred from a too ready condemnation of its enemies--we hasten to add our conviction that many of its acts were lawless, many of its correctives applied to social maladies improportioned in severity, and its entire administration, social and political, an incontinent abuse of usurped prerogative. we have said that in politics its influence was hurtful to those in whose behalf it was officiously employed, and we wish to verify this statement in a logical manner. assuming that our position is fully understood by the reader, the information may be volunteered in its support, that the rank and file of the order comprised the radical element in southern politics (native), democrats and republicans (and not a few of the latter), a force, which it was reasonable to presume, would enterprise radical measures only in support of its aims. the organization, then, standing alone, and segregated from any influences which itself may have set in motion, could not have failed of ungracious treatment from those domestic surroundings which it had ignored, but upon which it was confessedly dependent. the great _party_ from which it had seceded, controlled by a rigid system of morals in politics, viewed from habit all such movements with suspicion; and as there was nothing in either the manners or the policy of this departure calculated to remove the antipathies of the prejudiced, or to win the affections of the disengaged, reflector of opinion, it failed altogether to secure discriminations in its favor, which would have placed it above such considerations. from this standpoint (_i. e._, its individuality) it conciliated nobody, for even its externals were forbidding; and the ignorant and educated classes alike--though perhaps from diverse considerations--cherished a suppressed sentiment unfavorable to its affectation of the supernatural, and its partiality for the shadowy in nature. but while it lost popularity where it should have gained it,--through generical belongings which, possibly, could not have been rendered more in harmony with the public fancy,--there was certainly nothing reassuring to its fellow-citizens in the record which it put before the world. while, as we have said, there was nothing monstrous, nor even designedly criminal in its acts, there was so much that offended against propriety, and required explanation withal, that those who had not been estranged before, as well as those who had, became hopelessly so. it had not been in existence a twelvemonth, before its name, in the localities which it frequented most, became a by-word signifying something very forbidding and disagreeable, if not actually criminal. in the dozen states or more whence its force was recruited, it had not half a hundred friends unconnected with its patronage, and these could hardly have been induced to have made a public profession of their preference. its influence on southern politics, then, could not have been favorable; and having said so much as to the positive effect wrought, we shall briefly examine the negative issue which it introduced into the great campaign. and in doing this, we shall not attempt to penetrate its motives, nor inquire how far it was responsible for acts which but reflected an evil tendency. the reader has, doubtless, anticipated us in the statement that it alienated the political mind of the north, reopened the dead issues of secession and war, and licensed a political persecution which, in extent and malignity of design, has not been equalled since the roman empire dictated government to its conquered dependencies. reconstruction, having been inaugurated under favorable auspices, was not to be pretermitted, nor even abated, while this sage ahithophel occupied a voice in southern counsels (rendering a war of races possible); and who will affect to say that this policy had no basis of sound reason? the society, a mystery to itself, and sorely misinterpreted by the people among whom it was domesticated, became, of course, a monster of blended secretiveness and iniquity to those who had small means of becoming acquainted with even its aims through unprejudiced sources. added to this, the most unprincipled plagiaries of its actual history--perpetrated by those local enemies who had most to fear from the movement--found their way constantly into the news mediums of the country, awakening, in the north at least, that dangerous sentimentalism which, more than politics and religion combined, influences the mind of the nation. atrocities of which the body could not have been guilty, even in thought--horrors from which it would have shrunk with the same symptoms of dismay that clouded the brow of the northern reader at their bare relation--were rescued from the carpet-bagger dialect, and rendered into the imaginative prose of the news-reporter, with the design of securing enemies, not for the ku-klux movement, but the cause of conservatism in the south. many of these slanders never reached the individuals or communities who would have been authorized to refute them, and when their disclaimers were uttered they were either unheard or unheeded. we do not, of course, affect to say how long the evils of reconstruction were prolonged in the south by means of this influence, but there can be no doubt that it excited such a tendency, and for a long time proved the forlorn hope of the enemies of good government in this section. many of the wise and good men who had joined the movement in its inception soon became aware of their mistake, and abandoned all connection therewith. others followed at a later date, and about the year a general disbandment ensued, leaving only guerillas in the field. chapter xix. the last of the k.'s. a popular fallacy--karl konstant esq.--a fit companion for the wandering jew--awaiting events--the first visitation--an intricate subject for the hospitals and doctors--getting even with the latter--put away--yellow jack on a raid--k. k. k., esq., in his prison cell--promoted to the hospital--an uncommon defiance--a picturesque outside--waiting for the end--k. konstant kain struggles back to shore--"do not weep"--a critical moment--a new cast and entire change of scenery--"gruel" did it--waited upon by a deputation of citizens--"young man, go west"--the new orleans pest-house--konfounded, krooked konundrum. some dealer in those cheap apothegms which commend themselves to the public gullibility, through the public tendency to moralize concerning subjects of which it knows nothing, has rendered himself famous, and the great majority of mankind asses, by the announcement that "everything must have an end." without a design of reopening a dead controversy, or so much as mentioning the word "fossil," we must be permitted to record a belief that the author of this sage prophecy had never heard of the mathematician's war involving the crookedness of the half circle, and was grossly uninformed on the topic of the great woman's rights movement and those leaders who have concerned themselves about its temperature for the past two hundred years. and while the cause of orthodoxy might be safely entrusted to two such examples of "the few immortal _things_ that were not born to die," it is in no sense of triumphing over a fallen adversary that we add the conviction that the beaming countenance of karl konstant kain, the last of the k.'s, had never dawned upon this prophet's sense of the ridiculous. we shall introduce him to the reader as he was, and is, and without any reference to a future--that with him is but a name, a fleeting shadow. and in order that this reminiscence may be perfect, it will be needful to relate that he had reached, at this period of his existence, a climax of loneliness and gaunt despair that would have rendered him a fit companion for the "wandering jew," and a most unfit one for anything less ludicrously ideal. though it had been of his own choosing, a shadow pursued him and would not let him rest: it was the ghost of the murdered k. k. k. he had been with it in its prosperity; had eaten its bread in its adversity; and since above the spot of its interment the daisies were developing into types of its departed beauty, he had given himself to the magnanimous resolve of perpetuating its genius in other climes. having chalked a freight car, "through without delay," he deposited his remains on the inside, and four days thereafter found himself at the door of a cheap hashery, in the thriving little city of columbus, texas. here he refreshed the inner man on a promise to pay, rendered subsequent to the meal, and having been damned for a "blister," and a "cooter," and a "scorpion," wandered forth, that image of "blank dismay" which we have already depicted to the reader. destiny was now begun with him in earnest, and it was only necessary for him to sit still and "administer upon the fluttering pasteboards," with that resignation of soul which should characterize the man who has given five points in the game, and occupies the losing seat. mounting a goods-box on a neighboring corner, he adjusted his unshapeliness to its angles in a posture that would have been an easy one for another man, and awaited events. they were not slow in coming. in fact they came in troops, and awaited their turn with a constancy of resolve that would have frightened a less napoleonic structure. the first visitation comprised two hibernians of smiling aspect, who, observing this unusual tableau, affected to note a disposition to sneeze in the subject. instantly our hero accepted the challenge (_ad hominem et sine exceptione_), and leaping from his perch engaged his persecutors with the desperation of a man who feels that he would be made happier if soundly whipped. striking right and left, he provoked his adversaries to do their worst, and soon brandishing huge knives, they made inroads upon his anatomy which left him an intricate subject for the hospitals and doctors. twenty-two wounds in all had severally penetrated his lungs, severed his carotid artery, atrophied his liver, wasp-nested his umbilicus, riddled his facial parts, and bereft him of five fingers and the arm to which their five fellows were attached,--and yet he would not die, could not see it to his interest to die, felt that it would not be destiny to die,--and four weeks thereafter exhibited himself in public to a goodly number of false prophets, who, excusing him and themselves on the ground of a miracle, tendered him congratulations. but if karl konstant was some the worse for wear, he was none the worse for something to wear, having levied on a full cloth rig and watch, belonging to one of the hospital doctors, as some remuneration for the torturing exercises in surgery which had been directed at his corporosity. walking the streets with the air of a man whom melancholy has marked for her own, and yet attracting the notice of passers-by through a subdued emphasis of gait and manner, which could hardly have proceeded from a less philosophic cause than good clothes, and a chronometer that would unfailingly chronicle the hash hour, he was next interviewed by two policemen with drawn clubs, who, by virtue of his late condition of mayhem, subjected him to but one-half the regulation mauling, and having divested him of his borrowed plumage, jugged him, and corked him, and expressed through the bars a wish to kiss him for his mother-in-law. about this time "yellow jack," in making his decennial tour of the southern cities of texas, debarked at columbus, and for a period of four weeks lent his energies to a most devastating epidemic. thousands were stricken, hundreds rendered their final account, and the undertakers, protesting that it was an ill-wind, took orders for coffins. karl konstant kain beheld the public dismay through his prison bars, and despaired. he knew that it would come; fate had whispered him that it would come--and feeling this, his anxiety on the subject soon developed into a wish that it might come. he was not disappointed; and when it came and lodged a great pain in his side, and touched up his pulse an half hundred degrees or so, it did not conclude its labors, but promoted him to the hospital and doctors, and bade him look about him for means of offsetting the latter. but we regret to state that, notwithstanding these small but disinterested attentions, k. k. k., esq., murmured, and the very day upon which he was transferred to hospital sumptuousness, confronted his yellow-visaged enemy with a challenge to do his worst. that individual hesitated, and objected that the combat would prove an unequal one; but soon seeing that any explanation which might be rendered would be construed into a possible desire to avoid defeat (and becoming the least bit enraged in view of such an uncommon defiance), began his dispositions. and now the battle of the giants raged in good earnest; and as there was a kind of pindaric grotesqueness about it which could not fail to attract observers, it became first the hospital talk, and then the subject of no inconsiderable amount of by-betting, with the odds in favor of "yellow jack." one week from the period of his inoculation, the victim had developed the most picturesque outside that it is possible for any man to possess east or west of the malayan dominions, and inwardly, a type of the black vomit that would have set an undertaker's teeth on edge. the doctors, examining their watches at a safe distance, thought that he could not last twenty-four hours, and the subject of the disorder, transferring an abandoned kerchief to the rear of his shirt front, gave himself but half that time. but doctors, though controlling the other features of the business with tolerable accuracy, are not always infallible as to "time when." it was three days before a coffin was ordered, and pending the half hour required to produce a fair example of pest-house carpentry, karl konstant struggled back to shore with the announcement that he had changed his mind, and a sarcastic appeal to his medical attendants "not to weep." the "box" was found to square the dimensions of a stiff in a neighboring ward, who had accomplished the stormy voyage in forty-eight hours, and into it he was jammed, and committed to the cartman with an injunction to drive fast. k. k. k., esq., was now billed "for five days, only with a new cast and entire change of scenery," the latter part of this announcement referring to an abandoned hut on the river shore, one mile below the city. the doctors, despairing of the disease, declared that the stench in his body would suffocate him in twenty-four hours (extending the time as above, to avoid accidents), and dismissed him to an aged negress, with instructions to draw on the city for boneyard supplies. situated in this quiet retreat, our hero could lie "heels uppermost," and number his waning breaths, or hearken to the death-rattle in his throat, without aught to molest or make him afraid, and controlled by that sweet imperturbability of temper so necessary to perfect rest amid such scenes. he had enjoyed his new lease of happiness two full days before it was thought necessary to apply to his city correspondents, and as there was some delay in forwarding the stipulated articles, it is needless to say that when they arrived the subject had "limbered up," and the cartman found it necessary to imitate his example, and drive back a sadder man. five days came and went, and still karl konstant kain lingered above ground, viewing the shadows go up and down on the pine box destined for his remains (a standing menace of this character now occupied one corner of his apartment), and realizing that his symptoms grew hourly worse. his old friends, the doctors, feeling some anxiety, came to examine into the matter, but after a careful diagnosis of the patient, they left with very marked abridgments of countenance and their pills. under the circumstances, they felt that pills would only hasten the sad event. and, indeed, their prognostications seemed not ill-founded. six hours later, a fearful coma seized his struggling anatomy and held it fast, and in a few minutes, at farthest, the last mournful rites would be in order. the pulse had become quite motionless, the suppressed breathing grew momentarily fainter,--and, aha! hold a light, nurse. what a moral is pointed in that much quoted sentiment referring to the "fate of men and empires." 'twas but a drop of water trickling from the rain-drenched roof, and yet it had power to call a human being to life. k. k. kain, esq., now sat bolt upright in his straw-bed and demanded--shall we write it--would it be politic--in a word, would it be accepted as true? in such an emergency there is no alternative left to the undissembling chronicler of fact, nor do we seek one. k. konstant kain demanded gruel, and indeed from this moment conceived such an attachment for gruel, that it was with difficulty that their separation could be accomplished for any considerable portion of his waking moments. nor can it be denied that gruel aided his convalescence and his complexion as nothing else but tolerably regular doses of blooming cereus could have done. (this joke is paid for, and on that ground it is hoped there will be no objection to it.) in two weeks, time gruel stood him on his two legs and bade him "view, the landscape o'er." in three it had brought its magician's art to bear on his sunken cheeks, and converted the yellow rose of texas into a lively peach bloom. and in the short space of one month it had so far rehabilitated his battered hulk, that he was enabled to receive a deputation of citizens with a purse of mexican coin, and a "gruel" request to convey himself across that border. it is needless to say that mr. kain accepted the _doucéur_ and stood not upon the order of his going. arrived in that sun-burnt clime, one of his first acts, according to the texas journalists, was to involve himself in a railroad smash-up, with a loss of his dexter leg and a head, but as he was shortly afterwards advertised to appear in a greaser circus combination as a tight-rope performer, it is apprehended that some of the facts were suppressed. terminating his engagement in debt to the managers, he reached the city of new orleans by "hook or crook," or both, and more of the former, and a good deal of the latter, and was last heard of as one of the inmates of the famous pest-house of that city. how he escaped from this institution, and resumed his peripatetic career, would doubtless make a very pretty romance, but we must be pardoned, if we assert that we know no more about this _konfounded, krooked konundrum_ than does the reader, and drop our quill. chapter xx. conclusion. the author has no explanations to offer--such as it is, it is--the chief of two reasons for holding it in esteem--a whim that has been gratified--mischievous results of confiding a secret to one female acquaintance instead of fifty--can anything be more ridiculous than to suppose that there is a word of fiction connected with the foregoing chapters?--lakeside publishers--the public invited to pocket their scruples and read history--finale. positively, we must depart from a time-honored custom of the bookmaker, as we confess with blushes that we have no confidences to exchange with the reader, no explanations to offer to the public, and no fine epigrams to repeat concerning that aged word--farewell. such as it is, it is, and we have no idea of making it better, by any such _supra legem_ performance. if the reader is satisfied, we are; and if he is not, and will signify that remarkable conclusion to the author, he shall have his money back, together with fair wages for such portion of his valuable time as may have been squandered on its pages. we could not think of taking such a mean advantage of any one's talent for promiscuous reading, and beg to repeat this announcement as a request. if anybody's party-feeling has been ruffled, it may be taken in some sense as a natural conclusion, for, besides having none ourselves, and treating the subject from all sides, we may have had some such _dernier_ purpose in view. political tastes are so varied that they can rarely be consulted with success in a literary venture of reasonable magnitude, and where this is true, it can be no more than fair to ignore them. the work has many imperfections, as all can see--imperfections which cannot be cured, and hence resemble it so much to human nature that we must be pardoned for alleging that circumstance as the chief of two reasons (both disconnected from those philoprogenitive impulsions that we sometimes hear of from mawkish writers) for holding it in esteem. the sun has spots, and we once knew a critic whose grammar was execrable. lest, however, some persons should officiously infer that we mean to wrong a very excellent class of people, we will state that the analogy between the last-named objects does not cease here. what we wish to say most in this concluding chapter, is that the work was not written to invite anybody's pique, nor to avoid it, nor to flatter anybody, nor to parody anybody, but to gratify a whim, and as it has been announced that there would be no explanation, and the completion of the task leaves us in a mood for conundrums, we shall not interfere with the reader's prerogative of guessing its import. but it was a mere whim, and now that it has been gratified, we feel better--vastly improved, in fact--so much improved that, in order to reach a superlative that will fit our case precisely, we find it necessary to go beyond the dictionary standard, and adopt the beautiful newsboy euphemism, hunky-dory. and then, too, the author has that self gratulation which could not fail to proceed from the knowledge that, from the beginning, a brave effort was maintained to avoid that notoriety which comes of even remote connection with such labor as he has performed,--and which must have succeeded but for his inadvertence in confiding the secret to one female acquaintance instead of fifty. now that the mischief has been performed, his partiality for the sex leads him to say that he will be more thoughtful in the future. an old friend, whose sagacity regarding such subjects is approved, has informed us confidentially that the book will sell, and if it sells, can it be anybody's business whether it is read or not? after revolving this query in our mind, and inducing a fair analogy between what would be just to the outside world and profitable to ourselves, we are left _statu quo_ until such time as the neighborhood debating society can be heard from. can anything be more ridiculous than to suppose that there is a word of fiction connected with the foregoing chapters? a half-wit acquaintance, who plumes himself on the accident which enables him to write m. c. after his name, has obtruded this difficulty upon the author, and been handsomely objurgated for his pains. did we not do right? and why is it that these men are permitted to lounge away from their places of confinement at the most dangerous season of the year? we here make the announcement, boldly and without fear of successful contradiction (this form of expression is copied from j. billings, with some amendments in spelling), that nobody's facetiousness is chargeable with one syllable of these sketches; and if they do not suit the public palate, it is altogether attributable to the fact that that organ is in a badly disordered state, and requires stimulants of a nature which the lakeside publishers will have no difficulty in supplying at the regulation price for compounded drinks. more than this we do not feel at liberty to divulge at present, but we do sincerely trust that those who compromise their doubts far enough to purchase the book, will pocket their scruples and read history. the end. footnotes: [a] the reader's fancy, aided by the hints supplied in the text, has doubtless informed him that these females had fallen victims to the lust of the flying desperadoes; for, perceiving the hand of fate in the impending catastrophe, and having nothing to hope from the indulgence of their pursuers, they realized that this startling crime could only hasten the denouement, not add to their weight of doom. [b] an individual of the gowned fraternity, six feet six inches in height, borne upon the shoulders of a comrade, who approximated the latter condition. produced from images generously made available by the internet archive.) when the ku klux rode when the ku klux rode by eyre damer new york the neale publishing company copyright, , by the neale publishing company introduction this work is undertaken with the wish to gratify a popular desire for addition to the scant literature relating to the reconstruction era and that most remarkable organization of modern times--begotten of conditions unparalleled in history, conditions which can never recur, and vanishing with the emergency which created it--the militant ku klux klan. only one writer has ventured far into this field of research, which until then seemed forbidden, and in his contribution to history, fact and fiction are so interwoven as to be almost indistinguishable. but the widespread and intense interest manifested in his revelations of the origin and purposes of the klan indicates that the present generation eagerly imbibes knowledge of the sacrifices and achievements of the men who in the awful crisis of reconstruction, and against almost insuperable obstacles, rescued the commonwealth from the control of corrupt adventurers and ignorant freedmen, and established orderly government, without which the subsequent marvelous development of natural resources and advancement in education which have placed the state in the forefront of progress would have been impossible. this evident interest encourages the hope that a simple narrative of facts connected with the struggle in that part of the black belt of alabama which formed the fourth congressional district, by one who was in the midst of it and a close observer, will receive a welcome. contents page chapter one--provisional government chapter two--native government chapter three--military government chapter four--a grave problem chapter five--the freedmen's bureau chapter six--military regulations chapter seven--the union league chapter eight--a republican blunder chapter nine--carpetbag government chapter ten--ruinous misgovernment chapter eleven--the whites aroused chapter twelve--the ku klux klan chapter thirteen--a miscarriage chapter fourteen--a convention supplements ku klux chapter fifteen--foiled the ku klux chapter sixteen--in tuscaloosa chapter seventeen--a series of tragedies chapter eighteen--disappearance of price chapter nineteen--riots in marengo chapter twenty--killings and rioting in greene chapter twenty-one--restoration of white supremacy when the ku klux rode chapter one provisional government in a proclamation which issued on may , , the president of the united states declared the civil war at an end. april , the date of general lee's surrender, was recognized as the date of the actual termination of the war. on may , , the president, by proclamation, directed the restoration of seized private property, except "as to slaves"; and on june , , restored commercial intercourse between all the states. relying on the promises made by federal generals while southern armies were in the field; on the terms arranged between generals grant and lee and sherman and johnston when the southern armies capitulated, and on the proclamation of the president, the people of alabama believed that as soon as they could in the proper way repeal the ordinance of secession and comply with other immediate requirements, alabama and the people thereof would be restored to their former coequal condition in the union. the real issue of the war had been the right of the southern people to renounce allegiance to and citizenship in the union; in its triumph at arms the united states sustained its contention that there could be no such renunciation; and consequently the southern people laid down their arms as citizens of the united states defeated in the attempt at renunciation. the authorities at washington could not fairly avoid this conclusion, and certainly president johnson reached it instantly. that there would be permitted prompt resumption of equal rights, except in a few cases, was more than hoped for,--it was confidently expected; and for some time there was no indication that there would be disappointment. president johnson's attitude toward the southern states encouraged the hope of speedy restoration of order and a large measure of prosperity. the president was as generous as lincoln would have been, had he survived the conflict. in order that readers may clearly understand the situation as it then existed, a brief explanation of president johnson's attitude is necessary here: immediately following the surrender of the confederate armies and the declaration of peace, president johnson formally stated his view of the situation to be that the war had neither destroyed nor impaired the union; that the southern states had no right to withdraw from the compact, and having failed by resort to arms to accomplish separation, they emerged from the strife as they entered it, states and members of the union, still possessing their constitutions, laws and territorial boundaries as they had been prior to the adoption of the ordinance of secession; that the constitutions and laws of those states, however, must be suspended pending unavoidable acceptance by the people of the fact that slavery having been a stake in the struggle, the accomplished abolition of that institution was irreversible; also, that debts contracted by the states during the war should be repudiated; that with acquiescence in these requirements the states should be restored to their former relations with the union. he therefore announced as his policy that while the southern states were adjusting themselves to the change, provisional state governments should be established as necessary and constitutional agencies; that the citizens who were included in the proclamation of amnesty, together with those who, having been leaders in the secession movement, were pardoned, should participate in the work of restoration; that citizens of the states were best entitled to fill the public offices, and should be appointed to them; that the emancipated slaves were not qualified to take part in such work, nor had the president of the united states power to confer upon them the right of suffrage, because the determination of their political status was a function of the states. in the light of subsequent events, there can be no doubt that president johnson's views and purposes were wise and statesmanlike, and had they prevailed, the horrors caused by congressional enactments would not have afflicted the people, nor would the relations between the races have become unfriendly, as they did, and continue to be. but, unfortunately, the embittered and aspiring leaders in congress were planning at cross-purposes with the president. his moderate and conservative course, and scrupulous respect for his oath to support the constitution, seemed along in to have won popular favor; but his indiscreet expressions in public addresses in western cities created hostility so strong that in the congressional elections his enemies triumphed over him. by two-thirds votes in congress they nullified his vetoes of oppressive legislation; and in the senate reinstated secretary of war stanton, whom he had during the previous year suspended from office. out of this transaction grew the unsuccessful attempt to impeach him. while this attempt failed, the president's influence with his party was destroyed and he was powerless to enforce his beneficent policies. chapter two native government but meanwhile, having announced his policy in reorganizing the southern states, president johnson in the summer of appointed lewis e. parsons, of talladega, provisional governor of the state of alabama, and that gentleman entered upon the discharge of his duties. there was popular approval of the appointment. parsons was a native of new york, but long a resident and practicing lawyer in talladega, an uncompromising whig and union man, possessing fine abilities and much dignity. on july governor parsons published a proclamation directing that an election be held in each county on august for delegates to a state convention to assemble on september , . accordingly, intelligent and patriotic delegates were chosen in all the counties, and the convention met at the capitol in montgomery, with benjamin fitzpatrick presiding. that convention, dealing with the constitution, abolished the ordinance in relation to the institution of slavery, declared null and void the ordinance of secession and other ordinances and proceedings of the convention of ; adopted ordinances repudiating the war debt, and provided for an election for state, county and municipal officers and members of congress, and assembling of the legislature on the third monday in november, . the convention then adjourned, subject to call of the presiding officer. worthy of note here is the fact that alabama, in its sovereignty, and represented by some of its best citizens, abolished slavery within its borders. alexander white, who subsequently was among the first to adopt "the new departure" (acquiescence in all the measures of reconstruction), was the only delegate in the convention who voted against the proposition to make abolition of slavery constitutional; but outside the convention, governor parsons and samuel rice, also to become "new departurists," concurred with him; while general clanton, who was the wise and fearless leader of the democratic party from its reorganization until the day of his tragic death, advocated both that measure and the extension of civil rights to the negroes. and also worthy of note is the fact that judge brooks, of selma, judge goldthwaite, of montgomery, and others of unquestioned loyalty to their people, shortly after in the legislature advocated qualified suffrage for negroes. this was prior to the advent of carpetbaggers and organization in alabama of the republican party. under this authority, an election was held, and the legislature then elected assembled on november , , and ratified the amendments to the federal constitution, excepting the fourteenth. that was regarded as equivalent to a bill of attainder, depriving vast numbers of the rights of citizenship without trial. the legislature comprised a majority of men who had been anti-secessionists--the senate at least two-thirds; but they had held offices before the war and served the confederate government. the legislature rejected the fourteenth amendment; its adoption would have been political suicide for the members. it enacted a law to protect freedmen in alabama in their rights of person and property. the federal authorities were duly notified of the proceedings, and on december , , governor parsons received from secretary of state seward a telegram saying that "in the judgment of the president the time had arrived when the care and conduct of the affairs of alabama could be remitted to the constitutional authorities chosen by the people thereof without danger to the peace and safety of the united states", and directing him to transfer to his excellency the governor of alabama, the papers and property in his hands. accordingly, on december , , robert m. patton, of lauderdale, was inaugurated governor, and parsons retired. (patton was a virginian, long settled as a merchant in northern alabama. as a whig, he had served in both houses of the legislature and become president of the senate. in the election of , he defeated colonel m. j. bulger. he was intelligent and painstaking in the discharge of duties. patton continued in the office of governor until , several months beyond the full term, pending action by congress respecting the results of the election of that year, when he was displaced by operation of the reconstruction acts. during his incumbency a federal military commander, supported by soldiers stationed in the capitol, supervised all of his appointments and official acts.) as evidence of confidence, the legislature elected former governor parsons united states senator for the term ending march , . at the same time, it chose george s. houstan for the term ending march , , and john anthony winston for the term of six years, commencing march , . at the election in november, , c. c. langdon was elected to congress from the first district: george c. freemen, from the second; cullen a. battle, from the third; joseph w. taylor, from the fourth; burwell t. pope, from the fifth, and thomas j. foster, from the sixth. then came early rumblings of the storm that was soon to break. these chosen men were not permitted to take their seats as representatives, and the state was not represented in congress until . chapter three military government march , , after two years of peace, congress passed over president johnson's veto a bill relegating the southern states to the condition of conquered provinces. a military commander was appointed and authorized to supersede civil and judicial tribunals by military courts of his own creation, with power to inflict usual punishments, excepting only death. this act was supplemented with another, of july , forbidding state authorities to interfere with the military commander, who was given the additional power to displace any official and appoint his successor. this act provided that military rule should cease within a state when a convention of the people thereof should frame, and the voters adopt, a constitution ratifying the amendment to the federal constitution which conferred the suffrage on negroes, and being otherwise acceptable to congress, and when the legislature also should ratify that amendment. the new constitution was to be framed by delegates to be chosen by votes of all male citizens of legal age, excepting those disfranchised by the fourteenth amendment; and it was to be ratified by an affirmative vote of a majority of voters registered under the supervision of the military commander and his subalterns. under the reconstruction acts of , in april of that year, alabama became a part of the department comprising, with itself, the states of georgia and florida. the military commander called a convention to frame a constitution. at the election for delegates the polls were kept open for five days. the whites held aloof from it. the gathering of delegates thus elected was stigmatized as "the carpetbaggers' convention." the men who composed it and framed the constitution were in many cases grossly corrupt and ignorant. as an illustration of the character of the men sent to the convention, samuel hale, a brother of united states senator hale, one of the few union men and later republicans resident in sumter county, wrote senator wilson in january, , a letter protesting against recognition by congress of radicals in the south, in which he said that the men who sat in the convention and framed the constitution were, "so far as i am acquainted with them, worthless vagabonds, homeless, houseless, drunken knaves"; that the sumter delegates were a negro and two whites--yordy and rolfe. rolfe, he said, left his family in new york and had not seen them for four years, during which period he had led an immoral life with negroes; that he was known as the "hero of two shirts," having left at a hotel in selma, as security for an unpaid hotel bill, his carpetbag containing only two shirts: that his name was not signed to the constitution which he helped to frame because he was too drunk to write it. these men and hays and price, all strangers, were the only white men in sumter county who took part in the election for delegates. as an early indication of future leadership, at that election price ordered the negroes to secure their arms and prevent expulsion from the booth of one of their members who was vauntingly flourishing a gun. only intervention by cool-headed whites prevented trouble. mr. hale, in the letter quoted from, stigmatized the election thus: "as shameless a fraud as was ever perpetrated upon the face of the earth." rolfe and hays were wheelwrights, but their talents found employment in more lucrative occupations. rolfe's first "get-rich-quick" scheme was the selling to negroes of badges, which he said he was engaged in by order of general grant. while agent of the freedmen's bureau hays defrauded negroes of a thousand dollars derived from sales of cotton with which they had entrusted him. that was his disappearing act. that convention deprived of the right to vote all men who were proscribed by the fourteenth amendment from holding office. the constitution framed called for an election in february, , to which it was to be submitted for ratification, and at which time officers were to be elected. it was submitted under a solemn congressional provision that if it should not receive in its favor the ballots of a majority of the registered voters, it was to be considered as rejected. the democratic convention of entrusted to the party's state executive committee, of which general james h. clanton was chairman, all matters of policy. when the military order for the convention issued, general clanton called into council with the executive committee one hundred of the leading men of the state. after deliberation, they concluded that the wisest course for the party to pursue would be to go to the polls and endeavor to defeat the constitution, but, in view of the possibility of failure in this, to place candidates in the field, to be voted for under it. having agreed on this policy, the council was about to adjourn, when the chairman received from ex-governor parsons, who was the accredited agent in washington of the democratic party, a dispatch, saying: "i am on my way to montgomery; will be there to-night. don't adjourn your convention; don't act till i get there." the council waited, and the former governor arrived and delivered a speech, in which he uttered the memorable sentence: "so far as the reconstruction measures are concerned, and this constitution, touch not, taste not, handle not the unclean thing." he said that this was in accordance with the advice of president johnson. messrs. samuel rice and alexander white supported the ex-governor, and the council was persuaded to reverse its decision and advise the voters to refrain from taking any part in the election. mr. white prepared the address to the voters. accordingly, the democratic voters abstained from voting, and only one democratic state senator was elected, and he was not endorsed. negroes in battalions, armed with muskets and stepping to the beat of drums, marched to the polls, stacked arms, placed guards about them, and cast their ballots for the constitution and their candidates. the registration of voters for the election of was under military supervision and regulation. registration was kept open at polling places up to and including time of election. the registers of voters and election officers were appointed by military officers, and nearly every register was a candidate for office. he was given power to reject any applicant for registration. soldiers were present at all polling places to enforce the regulations, which forbade the challenging of illegal voters: citizens were forbidden under severe penalties to warn election judges or expose the fact even if they should see a non-resident or minor or repeater offer to deposit a ballot. voters were permitted to cast their ballots at any precinct in the county. negroes were eligible to all offices. the returns of the election disclosed the fact that the majority of the registered voters had abstained from participation in the election, and hence the constitution was not adopted by the people--according to the declaration of the military authorities, lacking , of the requisite number of votes. in view of this authoritative declaration, the radical candidates did not claim the offices to which they had aspired, and the incumbents for the time being were not disturbed. but, to the amazement of the people and its own dishonor, congress in june, , accepted the constitution as ratified by the people, and recognized the candidates as elected officers, and in july they were installed by military power, the former officers retiring under protest. in order that the reader may understand the situation and how poorly prepared were the people for such a reign, we must go back to the beginning and note other occurrences which had a direct bearing on that situation. chapter four a grave problem at the termination of the war between the sections, the southern people had thrust upon them for solution the gravest and most difficult problem with which the white race on this continent was ever perplexed,--how to preserve their civilization with the government operating in opposition to their efforts. after four years of warfare, the south was prostrate before the victorious people of the north, whose armies were quartered in garrisons everywhere in the surrendered territory, to enforce with arms, if necessary, whatever oppressive and humiliating measures might be conceived in hatred and vengeance by fanatics whose intolerance had made the bloody conflict irrepressible, and who were determined to extend and perpetuate the political power gained by conquest. the means adopted were enfranchisement of the emancipated slaves and disfranchisement of all white men who had at all distinguished themselves as leaders, while extending favors to those who would ally themselves with the oppressors and betray their countrymen. the difficulties of the situation in which the defeated southerners were placed were appalling. naught of the former wealth of the country was left save the land--which in the disorganized state of labor was almost a burden to the possessors--and some cotton which had accumulated because exportation was prevented by the blockade of the ports; and upon this the federal government imposed an unconstitutional tax of three cents a pound. farm implements were crude and scarce; the necessities of the confederate government in its expiring struggles had stripped the country of the best of the draft and food animals; in the black belt there were no factories; development of transportation had been checked in its incipiency; education was almost abandoned, and the civil laws suspended. everything had to be organized or reorganized. cotton was one of the principal resources left to the people at the close of the war. in great demand and readily convertible into money at prices ranging from fifty cents a pound upward, and in considerable quantities, it would have furnished means for a "fresh start" had the people been permitted to hold it in undisputed possession; but the government begrudged even this remnant of lost fortunes. unfortunately, during the war agents of the confederacy from time to time contracted for quantities of cotton, to be paid for in bonds, but in most cases there had been no actual transfer of either bonds or cotton, and the latter remained on the plantations. after the surrender of general taylor to general canby, the federal commander promulgated an order requiring all persons who held such cotton to surrender it to the united states agents, under penalty of confiscation of their property. the military authorities claimed this cotton as a prize of war, and treasury agents--some of them fictitious, as afterward proven--were soon ranging the country in search for it. the holders believed that the question of ownership was at least debatable. prior to the surrender, the confederate government, fearing that federal raiders would seize the cotton, ordered that it be destroyed by the holders; but the authority of that government was not then potent, and the planters, instead of obeying the order, conveyed the bales to places of concealment in swamps and elsewhere, and believed that this act confirmed their claim to ownership. some of the cotton was thus concealed when the agents began their search. the order of seizure was subsequently so modified as to permit the original holders to claim one-fourth of the cotton as compensation for caretaking. very few took advantage of this concession; and, indeed, the greedy agents actually suppressed the order for months while the seizures were in progress. attorneys who contested before military tribunals the right of seizure argued that, by reason of non-delivery, sales to the confederate government had not been completed, and that the federal government had no right to capture the cotton after final surrender of the confederate armies; but in some instances these attorneys were arrested and threatened with imprisonment unless they abated their zeal in behalf of clients. there was in resulting evil practices a touch of picturesqueness. the unconquered and unconquerable veterans of the vanquished southern armies, in many instances impoverished, were ripe for any enterprise which promised congenial adventure and spoils which they regarded as legitimate. the agents went about supported by federal troops, and many were the clashes between the latter and so-called guerrilla bands composed of their late antagonists on other and more glorious fields. these bands were actuated by the conviction that the confederate government having had no clear title to ownership of the cotton, the conquerors succeeded to none; and so they took up the contest where the intimidated attorneys dropped it, and contested with the agents and their armed supporters. these agents were well supplied with army teams and wagons, and often these, falling into the hands of the "guerrillas," served the captors as a convenient means of transportation of booty. yet, it sometimes happened that the guerrillas were the captives, and when in the toils were in sore straits to raise the ransom which was exacted in lieu of arrest and arraignment for trial. even steamboats were hauled to and relieved of cargoes. that was the golden era for steamboatmen, when freight charges and salaries, especially of pilots, were phenomenal. these transactions soon degenerated into plunder pure and simple, involving private cotton to which the government could lay no sort of claim. perhaps there had been collusion between holders of "confederate" cotton and the raiding bands which seized and bore it off; anyhow, the inevitable effect was that unscrupulous men, taking advantage of popular tolerance of practices which originally sprang from patriotic impulses, disregarded private rights and indiscriminately stole. planters paid for guards as high as thirty dollars each per night at critical times. men who were unaccustomed to the command of money grew rich in a brief space and correspondingly lavish in their expenditures. extravagance and demoralization which left their enduring impress ensued. admissions were made in high quarters in after years that not one-tenth of the proceeds of cotton seized by agents ever went into the treasury of the united states. one example will suffice: an agent in demopolis claimed and was allowed for four months' services, on the basis of one-fourth of the cotton seized by him, $ , ; and the settlement was between him and military authorities who were quite as adept as he in the art of pilfering. thus in a time of stress the producers were despoiled and adventurers enriched by the ungenerous policy of the victorious government. * * * * * the following facts are gathered from evidence taken before the committee in congress in the investigation as to general howard: at the close of the war there were held in the south at least five million bales of cotton, worth in liverpool $ , , . only a fraction of this cotton was owned by the confederate states government, and this was turned over to general e. r. s. canby by general e. kirby smith on may , . besides the swarm of official agents, informers and spies sent down by the treasury department in search of confederate cotton, contracts were made with private individuals to engage in the work. much cotton was taken from plantations before the owners returned to their homes after the disbandment of the armies. seizures were indiscriminate. proof of private ownership had to be supported by tender of toll; there was no redress. a treasury department regulation required that all cotton seized in the atlantic and gulf states should be shipped to simon draper, united states cotton agent in new york city; and that seized on the upper mississippi river and in northern georgia and northern alabama to william p. mellen, agent in cincinnati. these agents sold by samples which were spurious and inferior to the cotton which they represented. accordingly, cotton worth sixty cents to one dollar per pound was sold for ten to fifteen cents. the purchasers were in collusion with the agent. by the system of "plucking," the weight of bales was reduced anywhere from one hundred to two hundred pounds before they were sold: the plucked cotton was termed "waste cotton," packed and sold as "trash" to mills, but not at trash prices. these terms figured only in the reports to the department. sometimes owners traced stolen cotton to the new york or cincinnati agency; and if a thousand bales were involved, the agent reported that only two hundred had been received, and of very inferior quality, and was sold for ten or fifteen cents per pound, which his books would prove; that transportation, storage and commissions left only a small sum. draper, when he became cotton agent, was a bankrupt. subsequently he settled his debts and when he died was a multimillionaire. fifty million dollars' worth of cotton was shipped to draper; the government derived only $ , , net from that source as the reward for the wrong which it had committed in entrusting the enforcement of its doubtful claim against the impoverished southern people to dishonest and unscrupulous agents. the confederate states government imposed a tax in kind upon all provisions produced on plantations--one-tenth. the first year after the war this tax was enforced in some isolated sections by orders of minor military officers, and collected by agents. of course this was fraudulent, and was stopped after a while. chapter five the freedmen's bureau meanwhile, the freedmen's bureau had been established. general swayne promulgated an order recognizing as agents of the bureau former civil magistrates who could and would obtain endorsement of negroes; but, as a rule, carpetbaggers filled the places. offices were opened at the county seats, where complaints of freedmen were lodged and investigations conducted. the agents prescribed a uniform division of products of the soil between planters and hands. they supervised all contracts and regulated the conduct of affairs between employer and employe, and their dicta were absolute and final, being enforced, if necessary, by soldiers of the garrison. the agents gave notice that nobody would be allowed to employ freedmen unless the contracts were submitted to and approved by them and left in their custody. they gave ear to any tale of complaining freedmen, arrested the white man complained of, tried and punished him, unless he proved willing to purchase immunity. sometimes after the planter had contracted in the prescribed manner with freedmen, and had his crops in process of cultivation, the hands would quit work, and only intervention by the agent would make them return. such intervention cost as high as ten dollars per hand, and the occasion for it might recur before the crops could be gathered. some of the agents secured plantations and used them as refuges for dissatisfied freedmen, who were fed and clothed. the agents were as a rule "fanatics without character or responsibility, and were selected as fit instruments to execute the partisan and unconstitutional behests of a most unscrupulous head." (senator beck, in an official report.) some of them were preachers, and had been selected as being the most devout, zealous and loyal of a certain religious sect. in league meetings they told the negroes that although they had been married according to plantation custom for many years, they must procure licenses and be remarried. thus they made large sums in fees, in many instances from old couples who had grandchildren and great-grandchildren. all of this was humiliating and irritating to the planters, but submitted to so long as the agents confined their activities to legitimate functions. but they soon became mischievously meddlesome, and discovered in their powers means for promoting their political fortunes. as a body, the negroes had been conducting themselves with propriety, and good feeling prevailed. their greatest delight was in the dignity of unaccustomed surnames, duster coats, gauntlet gloves, albums, clocks and other wares, with which enterprising northern peddlers tempted them. their childish delight in these novel possessions for a while filled the measure of their happiness. but some of them who had been following armies contracted nomadic habits; others were incapable of rational exercise of their novel privileges, and became disturbers of the peace. their depredations soon rendered stock raising impracticable. every plantation had a gin-house, and these houses, with their valuable contents, were exposed to incendiaries seeking revenge for real or fancied grievances, and many were destroyed. men with the "easy money" acquired during the period of cotton stealing set up crossroad stores at every available point and dispensed vile whiskey in barter for bags of loose cotton and corn, ostensibly the "shares" of those offering them, but really often stolen from lint rooms and cribs, and even from the ungarnered crops in the fields. these traders did an immense business, many of them setting up gins and baling screws. the existing "sundown and sunrise" law was enacted to destroy this nefarious traffic. it prohibited the sale of farm products between sunset and sunrise. chapter six military regulations another cause of irritation was the offensive conduct of soldiers composing the garrisons, which provoked collisions with the more impetuous citizens. in the federal soldiers in tuscaloosa, greensboro, eutaw and other towns subjected the people to very offensive regulations. only a few examples need be mentioned as exhibiting the temper of both sides: the former soldiers of the confederacy, having no means with which to replenish their wardrobes, wore their uniforms. the federals threatened, and sometimes attempted, to cut the buttons from the old gray coats, and the proud wearers were forced to resort to the expedient of covering them with thin cloth rather than let them serve as a pretext for insults. flags were stretched across the sidewalks, so that pedestrians would have to pass under them. to defeat the obvious purpose, men and women, in going about, resorted to the roadway or diverged from the sidewalks at points where the flags were placed. in some instances these unwilling and protesting people were seized and forced under the flags. these and other practices, devised to provoke the people to exhibitions of hostility, caused severe smarting. perhaps many young men who had received war schooling were not reluctant to encounter their former antagonists. a memorable tragedy, with annoying consequences, resulted from such an encounter. august , , election day, the brothers tom and toode cowan, formerly heroic members of forrest's cavalry, became involved in a controversy with a squad of soldiers of the garrison in greensboro; in the resulting affray pistols were used; the younger cowan killed one of the soldiers, while his brother dangerously wounded another. the slayer mounted a horse and escaped, but the intrepid tom scorned flight and yielded only to overpowering numbers. intense excitement prevailed; the enraged soldiers sprang to arms, seized cowan, and, defying their officers, prepared to hang the prisoner. at the critical moment came a message from the wounded man, generously acknowledging he was the aggressor and pleading for a fair trial for cowan. this appeased the military mob and the prisoner was locked up. that night squads of cavalry roamed the country, ostensibly seeking the fugitive, but really to disarm and arrest the planters. mr. cowan was tried and acquitted. his brother was not apprehended. in some cases the soldiers were insubordinate and manifested hostility to the people. one notable example in illustration is recalled: during the hours of darkness soldiers burned the episcopal church in demopolis. some of them were detected with articles stolen from the sacred edifice, and the colonel was requested to have the impious robbers arrested. that officer declined to make the order, because the guilty men were dangerous characters and would seek revenge if called to account. indeed, they threatened that when transferred from demopolis they would set fire to the town. to prevent the execution of this purpose, another colonel was substituted for the commander of the regiment, and he placed sentinels around the quarters and marched the men away in ignorance of the fact that it was their final departure. in greensboro, in , was enacted another regrettable tragedy, the attendant circumstances of which intensified the growing hostility between the races. john c. orick shot and killed aleck webb, negro register of voters. the shooting occurred in daylight and on one of the principal sidewalks. orick calmly retired from the scene, locked the doors of his store, and in disguise fled the town. orick was a bold, dashing and handsome young man who had won enviable laurels in the war. when hardly more than a boy, his adventurous spirit impelled him to leave home without parental consent and attach himself to colonel mosby's command. one of his achievements is worthy of mention here: as an "observer" he visited baltimore and washington, and in the latter city ascertained the time of departure of the army pay train on the baltimore and ohio railroad. reporting to his commander the valuable information he had acquired, successful plans were formed for the capture of the train by mosby's command. with his share of the booty obtained in this enterprise, orick, after the final surrender, purchased a stock of goods and established himself in business in greensboro. the negroes of the town and vicinity bitterly resented the killing of webb, and during the night large bands of them roamed the surrounding country, avowedly seeking the slayer, but really bent on any mischief for which opportunity might offer. one band went to the gewin premises. a young man, a member of the family, in his night clothes and barefooted, was encountered in the yard. seeing that the marauders intercepted retreat to the house, gewin fled to the woods, hotly pursued. after a chase which extended for a mile, over rough fields and woods, the fleeing man was overhauled, tied to the bare back of a horse and conveyed to the office of dr. blackford, in greensboro. after a lengthy parley, his friends secured his release. at dusk the town was thronged with infuriated armed negroes, who threatened to apply the torch. after some of the leading citizens had vainly expostulated with them, the whites armed themselves and prepared to expel them by force; but when gewin was released, the negroes retired, sullenly, and a clash was averted. the gewin family and its connections comprised a considerable number of brave and resolute men, of remarkably fine physique, and they and their friends were indignant with blackford, the probate judge, because of the suspicion that he had directed the negroes who committed the outrage,--a suspicion justified by the fact that gewin was conveyed to blackford's office. everybody sympathized with them. it was said that blackford told the negroes they should avenge the killing of webb, and that he instigated the incendiary threats, and he was thenceforward regarded as a factor of disturbance in the community. as a result of these occurrences, an organization was formed in greensboro for public defense, and arms were obtained. the members were, in event of necessity, to assemble at the ringing of a certain bell, and a rendezvous was selected. no oath was required of the members. the first attempt to enforce the flag regulation in the case of a woman, in tuscaloosa, was the last. intrepid ryland randolph, editor of the _monitor_, in uncontrollable indignation seized a sabre and in person challenged the responsible commander to mortal combat. declining the proposed close encounter, that official thenceforward was more circumspect in his conduct. the story of randolph's career is an interesting part of the history of tuscaloosa. as an editor, he was belligerent, and relentless in his denunciation of radical maladministration of public affairs. so effective was his hostility that publication of his paper (official organ of the ku klux) was suppressed by military order. he accepted a challenge to a duel provoked by attacks upon the chief justice of the state supreme court, addressed to him by the judge's son-in-law; but on the field mutual friends effected an amicable and honorable settlement. a less dignified encounter involved him in more serious difficulties. opposite the _monitor_ office a number of negroes were assembled one day, and two of them assaulted a white man. suddenly randolph, with pistol and bowie-knife in hand, appeared in the midst of the struggling throng. one shot was fired by him, when he, in turn, became the object of attack. one of the assailants, a political leader, received in his side a thrust from randolph's bowie, and another in the back, where the broken point of the knife remained. within a few minutes the prostrate leader was the only one who remained on the scene. but the negroes, with augmented numbers, reassembled a short distance away. randolph returned to his office and reappeared with a shotgun. his dauntless bearing discouraged further hostile demonstration by the blacks. in consequence of this affair, randolph was arrested by the soldiers and taken to montgomery for trial. en route, by stage-coach, he was made a spectacle for gloating negroes. he was acquitted, and his return was made an occasion of popular manifestation of esteem. a cavalcade met him some miles outside of tuscaloosa, and on nearer approach to town was magnified into a vast procession of carriages and marchers, embracing men and women and school children. the procession moved to the sound of bells. a great meeting, with speechmaking, followed. at that time the university of alabama, at tuscaloosa, was controlled by the radicals and boycotted by the whites. a brother of governor smith was a regent of the institution, and this regent's son a student. one of the professors, vaughan, had been persistently assailed by the _monitor_, which charged him with incompetence and drunkenness. it was said that vaughan enlisted smith as a champion. anyhow, the two sought randolph on the streets and found him in conversation with a friend. while vaughan stood some distance away, smith approached randolph and insultingly jostled him. simultaneously and without hesitation, the two men drew pistols and began firing, each discharging five chambers of his revolver. one shot struck a thick book in randolph's coat pocket and lodged therein; another struck above the knee and ranged up the thigh, his leg being crooked at the moment. this shot necessitated amputation of the injured limb. an innocent bystander on the opposite side of the street was killed by a stray bullet. smith and vaughan were arrested. the former was rescued by fellow students and fled to utah. randolph survived the reconstruction period and enjoyed the restoration of white supremacy. he died in from the effects of a fall in a streetcar. an incident of the military régime in eutaw early embittered relations between the people and their rulers. an "undesirable citizen" was given a ride on a rail. in the court martial trial of the accused, james a. steele, thomas w. roberts, f. h. mundy, john cullen, hugh l. white, william pettigrew and mr. strayhorn were sentenced to hard labor at dry tortugas for periods ranging from two to six years. the circumstances attending their treatment as prisoners exhibited harshness which aroused indignation. handcuffed and chained, they were conveyed by a squad to new orleans and thence by sea to the island prison. they were not permitted to communicate with their families or friends nor to receive funds to relieve their wants. their sufferings and indignities were severe and humiliating. an appeal in their behalf, with a presentation of the facts connected with the trial, was made to general meade, and that commander remitted the sentence. the return of the victims to their homes was made the occasion of a memorable demonstration of popular feeling. chapter seven the union league in pursuance of their schemes which culminated at the election in , the carpetbag adventurers early in organized everywhere in alabama branches of the union league, a secret, oathbound political society, with all the mysticism of grips, signs, signals and passwords, national in scope, with grand national and grand state councils. secrecy and obedience to commands were enjoined under severest penalties, including even death. their meeting places were guarded by armed sentinels. the negro members were taught to disregard the feelings and interests of the whites, and told that if their former masters should obtain control of the government, they would re-enslave them; and this was an irresistible appeal to ignorant people enjoying the first delights of release from bondage. on the other hand, they were promised that if the republicans should gain control, they would enact such oppressive tax laws that the landowners would be unable to meet the exactions, and consequently their lands would be forfeited; after which the republicans would allot them in parcels of forty acres, together with a mule, to each head of a negro family resident thereon; they were told, further, that, in order to facilitate and expedite this process of confiscation and apportionment, they should slight their work and thus increase the difficulties under which their former masters would have to struggle to save their properties from spoliation. the student of history should not be harsh in judgment of the negro because of his susceptibility to a lure so enticing. he was ignorant, and regarded every pretentious white stranger as one of that great army which had liberated him from bondage. serious as was the situation, it was not without amusement in its demonstration of the negro's gullibility. a bogus "land agent" circulated slips conveying directions regarding "preëmption of homesteads," and the credulous negroes bought them, and, besides, painted sticks with pointed ends to be driven into the ground to mark their boundaries; they also purchased chances in a sort of lottery for the distribution of parcels of land. all of these were sold under alleged authority received from the government at washington, all dependent on the success of the republican party. by request of president johnson, general grant in made a tour of the southern states, to learn the feelings and intentions of the people and to ascertain to what extent, in the interest of economy, the military forces there could be reduced. he reported that white troops excited no opposition: thinking men would offer no violence to them. but black troops demoralized labor, "and the late slaves seem to be infused with the idea that the property of their late masters should by right belong to them, or at least should have no protection from the colored soldiers. there is danger of collision being brought by such causes." the so-called abandoned lands on the coast of south carolina and georgia--lands from which whites had fled to escape dangers of the war--were actually seized and colonized with wandering negroes, though the lands were afterward restored to the owners. the germ of the "forty acres and a mule" idea, no doubt, originated in those colonies. the idea was of early conception, as the grant report shows. the first annoyances caused by the league were the neglect of field work by negroes in order to attend political meetings in daylight, and taking hard-worked mules from lots at night and riding them to league meetings. but in the course of time the organization assumed a military aspect, drilling regularly. bodies appeared in procession, in regular company order, with arms, banners, drums and fifes, the officers wearing side-arms. at the election they were met outside the towns by emissaries and furnished with tickets, and then proceeded to the polling places and deposited them as directed. all of this appealed to the negroes' taste for novelty and spectacle. chapter eight a republican blunder this narrative is now brought again to the point at which it digressed, the election on the constitution, but before resuming that subject a few words of comment here will not be out of place. the perfidy of congress in imposing upon the people of alabama, in violation of its own solemn covenant, a constitution which they had rejected in a lawful manner, was a blunder fatal to the future influence of the republican party in alabama. the fourteenth amendment had already injured the party because of its application to great numbers of men who might have allied themselves with it if they had not been involved in the proscription. they had opposed secession as long as there was any reason in opposition, and then reluctantly adapted themselves to the situation. jefferson davis had been in prison, demanding trial and ready to abide the result; he was discharged, and the proceedings looking to personal punishment abandoned. other leaders, including admiral semmes, "the pirate," as he was termed in intensity of hatred, were at their homes, pursuing the vocations of peace and ready to try the issue. the excuse for abandoning the prosecution was that, the fourteenth amendment having imposed the penalty of deprivation of citizen rights, the courts could not inflict other punishment. thus, the men who had, at the cost of popular good will and private friendship, opposed with all their abilities severance of the union were equally subject to a penalty deemed adequate for "the arch traitor" and "the pirate," so called. then, there were thousands of men in northern alabama not subject to the proscription, who were nursing the grievance that democrats had precipitated secession without permitting the people to vote on the ordinance. they believed that, had it been submitted, it would have been defeated. northern alabama was so loyal to the union that leaders there proposed separation of that section at the line of the mountains, and that its people organize and "fight it out" in the foothills. but the promptness with which the confederate authorities organized the military forces discouraged such a project. the strong resentment of the summary accomplishment of secession was rendered bitter by conscription laws. sections of the mountains in which drastic measures were necessary to enforce those laws became easy recruiting grounds for the federal army. it is recorded that , men from walker, winston and fayette counties enlisted in one federal command. north alabama was more than once occupied by contending armies, and partisan organizations embittered the contest. in central and southern alabama were many whigs and union men who had no liking for the democratic party. in this state of affairs, convinced that not many of the proud confederates would sue for relief from fourteenth amendment disabilities, and that the constitution which disqualified thousands of white voters would perpetuate negro supremacy in alabama, the republican leaders in congress committed a wrong which to this day bears heavily upon their party. chapter nine carpetbag government the negroes had exercised without hindrance their new privilege of the suffrage. their incapacity as voters was illustrated in the character of the men who assumed office after the election in . in sumter county, tobias lane was elected probate judge, but during the period of uncertainty when the constitution was in abeyance, concluding that congressional action respecting it would be unfavorable, he packed his carpetbag and returned to ohio, having been one of the migrants from that state, so prolific of birds of his feather. beville, the sheriff, was an appointee of general swayne. he was unable to give bond, but swayne waived that formality and ordered him to continue in office without bond. in richard harris, a negro, who could neither read nor write, became his worthy successor. as solicitor the discriminating voters chose ben bardwell, a negro, who was wholly deficient in the knowledge of reading and writing, a deficiency which made him "an easy mark" for one of the most learned bars in the state. george houston, a freedman, was sent to the lower house of the legislature. as his colleague ben inge, another "person of color," absolutely illiterate, was selected. an army captain, one yordy, received the state senatorial honors, which he wore while serving uncle sam in the custom house at mobile. he was a long-distance representative, having no domicile in sumter, nor ever making his appearance there. john b. cecil, reputed federal army sutler and coming with the influx from fecund ohio, was elected treasurer. he gradually and logically degenerated into a partnership with a negro in a grog-shop enterprise. badger, another bird of passage, became tax assessor. the revenue and road commission was a motley aggregation which comprised one carpetbagger and three negroes. edward herndon, a native union man, by grace of appointment and election, simultaneously devoted his talents to the offices of circuit clerk, register in chancery, notary public, justice of the peace, keeper of the poorhouse and guardian _ad litem_,--and perhaps felt aggrieved that he didn't have "all that was coming to him." it would seem that, with this multiplicity of trusts, mr. herndon monopolized the privilege of plurality in office holding; but not so, for mr. daniel price, a typical scalawag, with the reputation of a jailbird and desperado, made flight from wetumpka to sumter, and was endowed with a bunch of federal and county jobs,--register of voters, superintendent of education, postmaster and census taker. insatiable, like oliver twist he wanted more, and as a side line to his multifarious activities, employed his scholarly attainments in the conduct of a negro school, meanwhile boarding and associating with negroes. the harmony of the "color scheme" of the official colony in perry county, adjoining hale county, was never broken by a trace of the ebony hue. without exception, all of the county offices were held by carpetbaggers, officers of the th wisconsin regiment, originally sent on garrison duty. their characters are illustrated by the fact that, under the guise of selling properties which they had acquired in the county, all of them sold their offices in the time of political regeneration and betook themselves to the north. during lindsay's administration the sheriff, charged with conniving at the escape from jail of a prisoner incarcerated for murder, sold his job for $ , . democrats succeeded the aliens. in marengo county there were more places than "loyal and reconstructed" place-seekers, and consequently charles l. drake, who made his advent in as an army captain, was burdened with the cares and responsibilities of register in chancery, circuit clerk, united states commissioner and agent of the freedmen's bureau; yet had time for political activity which made him especially obnoxious. another conspicuous character in marengo was one burton, a carpetbagger, who established in demopolis a weekly newspaper, _the southern republican_. he had incorporated in the oppressive tax laws a provision that where a deed was made to a purchaser at a tax sale, it should be made conclusive evidence, whether the sale was legal or illegal, that all requisites to a valid sale had been complied with. in order to increase the advertising, a section of land was divided into sixteen parts and each part advertised separately. legal advertising was confined to "loyal" papers, the test of loyalty being allegiance to the radical party. _the southern republican_, being the only loyal paper in all that unreconstructed region, was designated as the official organ of marengo, greene, perry and choctaw counties. the newspaper statute referred to was in these words: "that it shall be the duty of the probate judge in each county of this state to designate a newspaper in which all local advertisements, notices, or publications of any and every character required by law to be made in his county shall be published. provided, that no newspaper shall be designated as such official organ which does not in its columns sustain and advocate the maintenance of the government of the united states and of the government of the state of alabama, which is recognized by the congress of the united states as the legal government of this state; and if there be no such paper published in the county, then the probate judge, whose decision upon the question shall be final, shall designate the paper published nearest the county seat of his county which does sustain said government." the "loyal" papers so designated had no circulation beyond a small free distribution among office-holders. few of the negroes in their general illiteracy could read them, and none of them were concerned in the advertisements. the white people, to whom all of the advertisements were addressed, would not permit a copy of the publications to be sent to them. consequently, the payment of fees was a waste of public money. the purpose of the law was to create and sustain a detestable press at the expense of the taxpayers, or seduce the existing papers. in burton was nominee for lieutenant-governor. on account of some personally offensive publication, mr. e. c. meredith, of eutaw, a democratic leader ("bravest of the brave"), severely chastised him in eutaw. thereafter the "trooly loil" journalist made his periodical collections of fees in greene county by proxy. about the time when frost touched with withering chill his budding political aspiration, burton received an ominous communication, not intended for publication, but for his own guidance. it was embellished with pictures of cross-bones, skull and dagger, and inscribed with a legend which he interpreted as a sort of "move on" ordinance. and he stood not on the order of his going, but hiked. general dustin, a northern soldier, of good family connections, who settled in demopolis and allied himself by marriage with one of the old and prominent families of the town, was appointed major general of militia, and endeavored, but unsuccessfully, to organize a force. the law provided that whenever forty or more men should enroll themselves and choose officers, the governor upon application should recognize them as a volunteer company. governor smith could not be persuaded to encourage the formation of a militia force; he preferred federal regulars, and they were always available. while awaiting opportunity for employment of his warrior genius and acquirements, general dustin, equally soldier and statesman, served the people of his adopted county in the legislature. his colleague in that august assembly of solons was levi wells, a "ward of the nation." others who made reconstruction history in marengo county will be mentioned incidentally as this narrative progresses. they were a rare lot, and equally with the others worthy of a place on the scroll of fame. choctaw county officials distinguished themselves in some features of their administration of affairs, according to testimony before a government commission. dr. foster was appointed probate judge and elected state senator, and served in the dual capacity. receiving the appointment of revenue collector at mobile, he discarded the probate judgeship, to which hill was appointed, but polygamously refused to be divorced from the other love, the senatorship. hill had been appointed treasurer before receiving the appointment to the judgeship. withdrawing from the former place, his brother, alexander, succeeded. it may not too much confuse the already complex situation to mention incidentally that the industrious alexander filled in spare time by discharging the humble duties of justice of the peace, having before him the example of his eminent brother, who scorned not the lesser duties of register in chancery, with which also he was charged. in the progress of time, an inquisitive grand jury, nosing into matters, ascertained that treasurer aleck had received from the county tax collector fees to the amount of $ , . while the jury was investigating, a disturbance occurred on the streets; the sheriff resigned, rather than interfere with the disturbers, and sought pastoral scenes. circuit judge j. q. smith, serving as a substitute for luther r. smith, adjourned court without receiving the jury's report. immediately after adjournment probate judge hill, who had received a significant communication, with skull and dagger adornment, and maybe had been playfully shot at, retired to his farm, leaving his office in the care of the overburdened but willing aleck. the circuit clerk accompanied the probate judge to his sylvan retreat, and imposed more work on aleck by making him custodian of his office also. by the way, this clerk was first elected, but failed to qualify, whereupon judge smith cured the defect by appointing him to the place. such was the situation of affairs when, at midnight, april , the structure burned, and, excepting documents in the hands of the jury, all of the records of the two offices, together with the treasurer's account of moneys received and disbursed, fed the hungry flames. the treasurer said that all the funds were in the safe, but only charred packages of confederate "shinplasters" were found therein when the safe was opened. the succeeding treasurer, an expert accountant, under instructions from the commissioners' court, investigated accounts between the collector and former treasurer, and reported that the latter was in default to the extent of about $ , , and the tax collector about $ , . meanwhile, the tax collector had sought a change of air in "the glorious climate of california." before his departure he related a tale of woe, the burden of which was that highwaymen had despoiled him of official collections of between $ , and $ , . the fire fiend had marked choctaw officials for its victims. according to his own statement, the dwelling of the county superintendent of education was the repository of $ , of county funds when said "fiend" consumed it. the superintendent was the author of his own official bond, and in his inexperience omitted therefrom the customary penalty clause, which omission rendered the instrument non-enforceable. feeling the inadequacy of local employment for his talents, he took up residence across the line in sumter county, and thus qualified for election to the legislature, but there was no requisition for his services. the superintendent was law partner of joshua morse, attorney general of the state. they were jointly indicted for the murder of editor thomas of the county paper at butler, the county seat; they obtained a change of venue and were tried and acquitted in mobile, the principal witness against them having disappeared. william miller, a former slaveowner and one of the largest landowners, became probate judge of greene county in . judge oliver, the incumbent, refused to recognize his claim, and miller invoked the ever-responsive military powers; the soldiers forced entrance to the office and inducted the claimant. oliver filed a protest and retired. alexander boyd, a nephew of miller, became county solicitor and register in chancery. judge luther r. smith had a brother, arthur a., who was languishing in massachusetts, with talents unemployed and maybe unrecognized. the judge imported his brother and made him county superintendent of education. there were not many white republicans in greene, and it happened that the circuit court clerkship was "lying around loose," and the judge thought arthur was the man for the place. the latter accepted the gift, but failed to relinquish the superintendency of education. one yordy figured as agent of the freedmen's bureau. these officials were unable to obtain board and lodging at either of the taverns or elsewhere, and jointly established and maintained for some time a bachelor establishment, duly ostracised by the people of the town and county. hale county had a complement of officials in keeping with the layout common to the counties of the district, including a negro legislator. the most troublesome was dr. blackford, probate judge. he had served as a delegate to the constitutional convention of . he displaced judge hutchinson, a popular gentleman who had lost three brothers in one of the battles in virginia, members of the famous greensboro guards. blackford was a skillful physician and surgeon, and of fair education. he served as surgeon in the confederate army, and was stationed at vicksburg during the siege. subsequently a story circulated that he was there court-martialed on a charge of appropriating to his own use hospital stores, including liquors. however that may be, his services were dispensed with and he took up abode in greensboro, and began to practice his profession with much success. in an evil hour he was tempted to cast his lot with the adventurers who were greedily fastening their clutches upon the substance of the country, and fell. going from bad to worse, he affiliated with negroes and soon obtained absolute control of them. claiming, as probate judge, that he had the right to supervise contracts between them and their employers, he constantly meddled in private affairs. calling league meetings and taking the hands away from their work, he caused much vexation and loss to the planters. about the time when he became probate judge an incident occurred in greensboro in which was exhibited by the soldiers an unusual disapprobation of the administration of affairs. the agent of the freedmen's bureau, one clause, incurred the displeasure of some of them who were inclined to insubordination, and they administered to him a beating. varying the proceeding, they seized a negro school teacher and conveyed him to a pond, in which they ducked him repeatedly. blackford became alarmed at this manifestation of displeasure, and fled to the hills north of the town. there he was pursued by the rioters in uniform, and, resuming his flight, sought refuge at the home of a citizen, who apprised leading citizens of greensboro of his whereabouts and peril. they informed the military commander, who, in turn, dispatched a squad of cavalry to rescue him and conduct him to town. blackford, on his return, renounced his political heresies and aspirations to the judgeship, which he declared he would not accept; but, recovering his confidence in the stability of the military powers and his negro backing, he quickly recanted and relapsed into arrogance. tuscaloosa county was not neglected by place-hunters, but the preponderance of whites in that county was a restraining influence. luther r. smith, a carpetbagger from michigan, provisional circuit judge in , was elected to that position in , and simultaneously a member of the legislature, but had decency to resign the latter trust. notwithstanding he subsequently violated the judicial proprieties by presiding over a radical state convention in selma. he was one of the most respectable of the intruders, and reputed to be just, impartial and courteous on the bench. nevertheless he shared, in a lesser measure, the odium which attached to all. the feeling of the people was that no right-minded man would thrust himself into public position under the peculiar circumstances. all the members of the united states house of representatives from alabama were carpetbaggers--officers in the united states army. charles w. pierce represented the fourth district. he held a commission as major. his course in the interval when the constitution was in abeyance was the same as that of colonel callis, who caused more discussion. colonel callis was elected to congress from the huntsville district, in competition with general joseph w. burke, a man of character and education. general burke was the republican nominee, and callis bolted. callis was a federal soldier and agent of the freedmen's bureau, at huntsville. while canvassing, he was attired in the uniform of a colonel. when the constitution was rejected and declared rejected by general meade, and the fact communicated to general grant and by him communicated to congress, and the action of congress looked to the rejection of the constitution, colonel callis left huntsville and went upon duty to mississippi as an army officer. when congress accepted the constitution and admitted alabama under the "omnibus" measure, callis hurried to washington and took his seat as a representative from alabama, notwithstanding he had never been a citizen of the state and was then a resident of mississippi. pierce was succeeded by charles hays, of greene county, in november, . the state was represented in the federal senate by willard warner and george e. spencer, the first named a northern general, the other, an army contractor. judge busteed, under oath, said that when elected warner was not a citizen of alabama; that when summoned a short while before as a juror in his court, warner claimed exemption on the plea that he was a senator of the state of ohio. governor william h. smith, in a letter published in the _huntsville advocate_, said: "spencer lives upon the passions and prejudices of the races. the breath of peace would leave him on the surface, neglected and despised." and spencer characterized his colleague as a "a trifling and worthless man." being unobjectionable as to "loyalty," all of these non-citizens were permitted to take their seats; and for the first time since alabama was represented (?) in the federal congress, notwithstanding the fact that during a part of that period the people were taxed by the government which denied them representation--taxed unconstitutionally (in the case of cotton), as the supreme court subsequently decided. william h. smith, of randolph county, displaced governor patton. his character will be revealed as these pages multiply. the state supreme court justices were evicted, and s. w. peck, thomas m. peters and b. f. saffold substituted for them. there is little to be said of them by a layman, except that the first named favored suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, during the ku klux era, and the last named declared unconstitutional the law under which a justice of the peace was convicted of solemnizing the rites of matrimony between a white man and a negro, and reversed the judgment of the lower court. president lincoln in appointed richard busteed united states district judge, and in the appointee came to the state and assumed the bench. whatever else may be said of him, he was bold in expression of opinion, judicial and personal; and during the carpetbag régime he testified that "the general character of alabama office-holders for intelligence and honesty was not good." in francis s. lyon, of demopolis, testified that a bill was filed in judge busteed's court to foreclose two mortgages on the alabama central railroad (selma to meridian), and the cost of that suit, paid by new york creditors of the road, amounted to $ , . the institution presided over by judge busteed was costly to litigants, to say the least. a. j. applegate became lieutenant-governor. mr. william m. lowe, of huntsville, testifying before the congressional commission in , said of him: "i had occasion to look into his record, and published a statement in reference to his character, in which i proved conclusively that any petit jury in any new england state would have convicted him of grand larceny upon the evidence by his own declarations,--his own letters. these charges were made by me when he was living. every opportunity was given him to make his defense; he had no defense to make but a lie. he had been a member of mcpherson's body-guard that stopped near mrs. jacob thompson's residence in mississippi. he was there taken sick and taken into her house and nursed and kindly treated by her. at that time and under those circumstances, he, or some one with his knowledge and connivance, stole the deeds and patents and valuable papers belonging to the thompson estate. after the war he settled here and wrote a letter to mrs. thompson. in his first letter he thanked her for her kind and christian treatment of him while he was sick, although he was an enemy to her cause, saying that he would ever hold it in remembrance. the second letter called to her mind the fact that she had lost those valuable papers, and offered to return them or have them returned to her for a consideration. she wrote him back. the correspondence was published in full. finally, he wrote to her if she wanted these papers better than she wanted $ , , to send him on the money and get the papers. that was about his language, written in the most abominable and illiterate style." the matter was placed in the hands of lawyers, who induced applegate with $ to surrender the papers. general james h. clanton, under oath, spoke thus of harrington, speaker of the house of representatives: "mr. harrington came to mobile very poor, from the northeast somewhere. he was never a soldier that we knew of. he is now very rich. just after the war he was charged with running free negroes into cuba. i do not know whether it is true or not. the present sheriff of montgomery county showed me a reward offered for him, from what purported to be a northwestern paper, on a charge of bank robbery. he requested me to say nothing about it lest harrington should get away. he said he was going for him that night; that he had his accomplice in jail, and the accomplice said harrington was the man. the description he showed me was lifelike." asked whether it could not be a mistake, the general replied: "no, sir; a man of marked physique. i did not give this information at the time to any of my law partners, but they smiled when i told them that harrington would pay more reward to barbour (the sheriff) and we would never hear of it again. and we never did hear of it till we published it in the last campaign, to which harrington, who still lives there, made no response whatever. colonel thomas h. herndon, a prominent lawyer of mobile, said to me that a friend saw harrington, during the last session of the legislature at which he presided, take a crowd off to drink champagne at a barroom known as the rialto, in montgomery, and when remonstrated with for his extravagance, he ran his hand in his pocket and pulled out seventeen one-hundred-dollar bills, with the remark that he could afford it, as he had made that much in one day in engineering a bill through the house." the general further testified that eugene beebe, of montgomery, told him he paid harrington a sum of money to advocate a lottery charter before the house. he said that of the representatives whom he "approached" on the subject of the lottery, only one, a negro, exhibited any qualms, and he accepted fifty dollars, protesting that it was only "as a loan." when colonel joseph hodgson became superintendent of education, he said that county superintendents had embezzled between $ , and $ , of school funds. two sons of the former state superintendent were fugitives on that account. mr. p. t. sayer, speaking of the montgomery county representatives in the lower house of the legislature, said: "one of them is a man who came from austria, by the name of stroback. i understood that he was a sutler or something of that kind in the federal army. i further understood that he never has been naturalized; i do not know about that. he was said to be a gentleman in his own country; i do not know about that, but he certainly is not one in montgomery. he is a man of a great deal of sense, and i think a dangerous man in any community situated as ours is. the others are three negroes." these character sketches of radical officials might be multiplied indefinitely, but the monotony would weary the reader. necessarily others will be mentioned incidentally as this story of reconstruction progresses. chapter ten ruinous misgovernment only misrule could be expected from such officials. nothing was sacred from their greedy grasp. the most cherished institutions were debased to their purposes. in time the university was avoided by all who were unwilling to forfeit public esteem. one of the early arrivals from fruitful ohio was rev. a. s. lakin. he was commissioned by bishop clark, of the cincinnati conference of the methodist episcopal church, to organize negro churches in alabama. he was a fanatic of the extreme type, and his work of the politico-religious character. he regarded the methodist episcopal church, south, as an aggregation of rebels, and aimed to array his negro proselytes against it by preaching political sermons, in which he reminded his audiences of their former bondage and alleged there was danger of its renewal. according to his own statements, he was the unterrified victim of a concatenation of ku klux attacks. in prosecuting his roving missions in the mountains of northern alabama, lakin's morbid fancy distorted every lone hunter encountered on the roadside into a lurking assassin, and every innocent group of gossiping rustics into a band of ku klux. he organized a camp-meeting, and one night at an early hour during its progress a party of horsemen rode through. lakin wrote for publication in one of the church organs a hair-raising story of the incident, magnifying it into a ku klux foray. his explanation of the cause of the intrusion was that the klansmen were offended because of a rumor circulating in the camp that an infant born in the neighborhood was "a ku klux child," an exact image in miniature of a disguised ku klux, horns and hood included. lakin solemnly affirmed the fact of the birth of the monstrosity, but ungenerously robbed it of distinction by adding that six other infants in that klan-infested region were similarly "ku klux marked." the woods must have been full of human curios! in the regents elected this superstitious and prejudiced emissary president of the university of alabama! accompanied by dr. n. b. cloud, state superintendent of education, lakin journeyed to tuscaloosa to assume the station which the people once hoped would be graced by the illustrious henry tutwiler. professor wyman was in charge of the institution and held the keys; the former president had withdrawn and appointed him custodian. on the ground that the board of regents was illegally constituted, professor wyman refused to yield to lakin, and the latter, discerning signs of popular displeasure, lost the courage which had nerved him to assert his claim, mounted his horse and hurriedly rode away in the direction of huntsville, while dr. cloud departed with equal celerity in the direction of montgomery. some time afterward lakin related a blood-curdling story of pursuit from tuscaloosa by a band of ku klux and his almost miraculous escape from the horrible death to which the band had condemned him. this story provoked the publication of a counter charge,--that while lakin was preaching somewhere in new york state he ill requited the hospitality of an entertainer by dishonoring the household. and this man's ultimate aspiration was to represent alabama in the united states senate! one of the most scandalous chapters in the history of the republican régime relates to railroad subsidies. the lindsay administration favored encouragement to the building of railroads, as means for development of natural resources, and in the legislature passed, and the governor approved, an act which authorized the state to indorse bonds of new railroads to the extent of $ , per mile, with an additional endorsement for bridges; but indorsement was safeguarded carefully, and no wrongs were committed in connection with the execution of the law until the radicals assumed control. then there began a riot of bribery and corruption. november , , i. f. grant, state treasurer, submitted to the congressional commission investigating affairs in the southern states a statement from which the following extracts are made: "bonded debt of the state january , , $ , , . "the state is and was bound to pay in perpetuity for annual interest on the school fund the sum of $ , . . "interest unpaid during the war, accrued up to and including january , , was then funded and new bonds issued for the sum of $ , , which made the total bonded debt on january , $ , , "the war debt, amounting to $ , , . was repudiated. "eight per cent. bonds sold in - , "eight per cent. bonds sold in - , "total bonded debt january , $ , , "cause of increase, sale of bonds to carry on the government. "there is a prospective liability for an indefinite amount growing out of the passage of an act, approved february , , and amended august, , whereby the state is required to indorse railroad bonds to the amount of $ , per mile, which act was further amended in march, , so as to increase the indorsement to $ , per mile. "the same legislature in march, , made a loan to the alabama and chattanooga railroad company of $ , , in alabama % bonds, over and above the indorsement of $ , per mile for the entire length of the road, thereby adding to the direct and collateral liability of the state for this one road the sum of $ , , . in addition to this, the republican governor, w. h. smith, issued to the road bonds to the amount of $ , above what the road could ever by any possibility claim under the law. "the said road made default in payment of january and july, , interest, which the state paid as its owner and creditor, $ , . "there are eight or ten other roads for which the state, under the law above referred to, is liable as indorser." the state auditor reported this summary of liabilities september , : direct indebtedness $ , , present conditional indebtedness , , conditional indebtedness provided by law , , under democratic administration, a committee of the legislature investigated the railroad deals and reported that "two millions of state bonds which the law authorized the governor to issue in aid of said company (alabama and chattanooga) in sums sufficient to pay off the cost of having constructed a certain amount of road in excess of the state indorsement of $ , per mile, were issued in bulk, with reckless haste, and were hurried away to the money marts of europe"; that "there has been no record kept by any officer of the state of the number and amount of the bonds issued or indorsed by the state in favor of the various railroads entitled by law to the aid of the state, except as to loans of bonds to the montgomery and eufaula railroad company, $ , in amount, and the indorsement of bonds in favor of the mobile and montgomery railroad company." r. m. patton testified that although he had accepted the presidency of the alabama and chattanooga railroad company, he was ignored because he opposed the loan bill. d. n. stanton, of boston, was elected president, and patton "was not invited or expected at the consultation of friends of the road. he said: "i do not think the stockholders ever paid in any of the capital stock of the company." arthur bingham, state treasurer from to , asked whether he knew of any fraud or illegality in connection with the issue or indorsement of the railroad bonds, declined to answer upon the ground that by so doing he would criminate himself. mr. holmes testified that on the last day of the session of the legislature of - mr. gilmer, president of the north and south railroad, borrowed from him and mr. farley $ , . next day mr. gilmer complained that john hardy, of dallas county, chairman of the committee of the legislature, had treated him shabbily; that "he had agreed to pass the bill for him for $ , , but that at the eleventh hour he went back on him and made him pay $ , more, making in all $ , ." jere haralson, colored, mr. hardy's colleague from dallas, was a shrewd negro, but at that time a cheap commodity. later he appraised himself more highly. ben turner, a negro (successor to the carpetbag congressman), continued for some time after regeneration to represent the dallas district in congress, and jere spent much time with him in washington, engaged in profitable political work. but at the montgomery distribution only fifty dollars was apportioned to him. he ingenuously explained that he accepted it as a loan. when the state, some years later, attempted to make mr. hardy disgorge the $ , (bonds) and imprisoned him, he escaped on the plea that it was imprisonment for debt. ex-governor patton published a statement in which he said that, when in boston, parties to the alabama and chattanooga railroad complained to him because legislation in alabama had cost the company $ , . j. p. stowe, a montgomery county representative, asserted, and the assertion was published, that john hardy took away the night the legislature adjourned not less than $ , , but not all of it was his--he had much of it for distribution. construction of the alabama and chattanooga (now the great southern) railroad, extending from meridian to chattanooga, referred to in the report quoted from, was under direction of d. n. stanton. he was a skilled and unscrupulous lobbyist and get-rich-quick builder. there was testimony to the effect that the only money used in construction work was that which was derived from state indorsement. the indorsement for bridges was $ . per lineal foot of structure. in the hill country, beginning in tuscaloosa county, the line of road described a serpentine trail among the hills. mere increase of mileage presented no great disadvantage to stanton, but tunneling, cutting and filling were difficulties studiously avoided. consequently, when the road passed into other hands and reorganization was effected, changes necessary in straightening left the landscape with marks of peculiar interest to civil engineers. travelers by that road may observe from car windows at many points abandoned roadbeds to right and left, winding among the low places and avoiding hills which were so formidable to stanton, reminding the observer of meandering brooks seeking lower levels. lines of least resistance were most attractive to stanton, regardless of circuitousness. while government was thus growing in costliness, the resources of the people who had to foot the bills were diminishing. state treasurer grant's statement showed that the average cost of state government in alabama for and was $ , ; for , , , $ , , ; and the increase, he said, was partly due to increase of bonded debt, but mainly to ignorant and corrupt legislation. the report of the superintendent of census showed: assessed valuation of property in alabama, including slaves, in $ , , assessed valuation in , , state taxation in , state taxation in , , county taxation in , county taxation in , , now consider, as representing average conditions in the counties of the black belt, these facts derived from the report of judge hill, an expert, employed to investigate affairs in marengo county. taxes in were threefold greater than in . the value of subjects of taxation had diminished two-thirds; , slaves, of an average value of $ each, had ceased to be enumerated as taxable property; lands had depreciated in value sixty per cent.; there was less than one-half as much live stock as formerly; two townships had been lopped off and given to the newly-created county of hale. chapter eleven the whites aroused the people of the black belt had borne with all possible patience the multiplied grievous wrongs recited in the foregoing pages. during the transition from master and slave to the new relations between them there was a strong disposition in both races to live in peace and harmony and make the best of their altered relations; the negroes were civil and confiding, scarcely realizing the change in their status, while the whites appreciated their good behavior during the war, when families of men in the army were unprotected, and were disposed to gratitude for it. but since the establishment of the league friendly intercourse between the races had been growing rarer, and now ceased altogether; the estrangement was complete. with the imposition of the constitution began the reign of the carpetbagger--"demon of discord and anarchy"--and the negro, and the infliction of "the horrors of reconstruction"; a civil convulsion in which the foundations of society were broken up; "a vast sluice of ignorance and vice was opened; a race which never had evolved anything of its own motion was given the ballot, the highest right of american citizenship," and never regarded it as more than a personal perquisite, while white men of the highest type were disqualified from voting by the constitution of their state; negroes were made eligible to all offices, while the federal constitution deprived the people of the wisdom, knowledge and experience in office of former leaders at a time when they were most needed. a comment of the time was, that a proscribed white man could not have been bailiff to his former slave if that former slave was a justice of the peace, as he might well have been, if he was not in fact. democrats had not opposed negro suffrage in order to oppress the negroes, but to prevent negroes from crushing them; and the situation produced by the imposition of the constitution attested the reasonableness of their fear of the effect of the endowment of the negro with the ballot. they realized that "in popular government where two races exist in mass who are from any cause so different that they cannot mingle in marriage and become one, the exercise of political power must be confined to one or the other of those races if there be a wish for security and peace." in the fourth district, the whites were greatly outnumbered by the blacks, and, comparing voting strength, a contest with them at the polls seemed hopeless. the census of credited choctaw county with , whites and , blacks; greene county, , whites and , blacks; hale county, , whites and , blacks; marengo county, , whites and , blacks; sumter county, , whites and , blacks; tuscaloosa county, , whites and , blacks. thus, excepting the first- and last-named counties, the whites were outnumbered by more than three to one. all of the towns in the section under review were small, the populations ranging from , to , . greensboro in hale, eutaw in greene, demopolis in marengo, butler in choctaw, livingston in sumter, and tuscaloosa in the county of the same name, were the seats of government of their respective counties, centers of religion, education and sociability. at tuscaloosa were located the state university and a fine girls' school; in marion were the seminary, the institute, judson, and howard college; in greensboro, the methodist southern university and an advanced girls' school. these towns had been founded as the home places of wealthy and cultured planter families whose plantations were in the fertile prairies and canebrakes. office-holding had always been their honorable distinction, gained by highest merit. an epitome of conditions in the southern states at that period will serve to portray those in alabama: "legislatures in some instances composed in part of pardoned felons and penitentiary convicts enacting laws; the judiciary in the hands of charlatans and bribe-takers; every office, from the highest to the lowest, filled with ignorance, vice and unblushing corruption; with the land swarming with libelers and malignant slanderers; the country divided into military districts and garrisoned with troops, whose officers were ever ready, at the slightest bidding, to annoy and oppress an unarmed people." but the whites realized that in this section, at least, civilization itself was at stake, and notwithstanding the adverse odds and other disadvantages, resolved to risk all in combat with the forces arrayed against them. they were acquainted with the character of the union league; aware of its horrible objects and aims; the almost daily crimes of lustful fiends, assassins and incendiaries were regarded as the fruits of its teachings; its responsibility for the existence of courts of law void of decency and recognized authority, and for officials incapable of enforcing law and order, for injury to public credit by prodigal pledges, and waste of public money, was fixed by its foolish and persistent allegiance to false leaders. this league was the institution marked for destruction. an organization pledged to undertake the task relentlessly and unflinchingly was regarded as a necessity. as the mighty anglo-saxon race on this continent had ever proved equal to emergencies, so now the men of this race, war-trained in arms and horsemanship, sensible that the great stake of christianity and civilization lay in the balance, nerved themselves for the conflict. the rule of the carpetbagger and scalawag and freedman was a "reign of terror," and thrilling as well as deplorable were the incidents of the struggle to throw off the yoke. the mere recital of them, without comment, would fill volumes. only those regarded as culminating events in the several counties of the district will be related. and in the relation sworn testimony of the time supports the writer's statements where personal observation was lacking. they illustrate the sacrifices of the devoted men who were impelled to deeds distasteful but regarded as a necessary choice of evils, and who rescued that garden spot of the state from savage domination and again made it fit abiding place for the race which before had dispossessed the aborigines. these men knew that the negroes were misguided dupes of designing and ruthless leaders, and pitied them, but for the ultimate good of both races sternly resolved that they should be compelled to discard those leaders and submit to the legitimate rulers of the land. chapter twelve the ku klux klan before proceeding with the narrative, an explanation of the origin and purposes of the ku klux klan may interest the reader. the facts mentioned were derived from authentic and official sources. the first den was organized in pulaski, giles county, tennessee, in , and pulaski continued to be the centre of the order throughout its existence as an interstate organization. six men organized the den for diversion and amusement in a community where life was dull and monotonous. the original name was ku kloi (from the greek word ku klos), meaning band or circle. it was changed to ku klux and klan was added. the constitution of tennessee was imposed by a fraction of the people. the legislature passed an act restricting suffrage which disfranchised three-fourths of the native population of the middle and western parts of the state. this obsequious legislature also passed acts ratifying the illegal edicts of the autocratic and tyrannical governor brownlow ("the parson"); the sedition law was revived and amplified; freedom of speech and press was overthrown, and a large militia force composed of negroes was created and made responsible to the governor alone. at an election enough men had been permitted to register to thwart brownlow's plans. he threw out the entire vote of twenty-eight counties. registrars were removed, registration set aside, the counties placed under martial law, and negro militia quartered therein. the legislature had become unanimously republican in both branches. the people began to consider means of counteracting this high-handed tyranny. the pulaski ku klux organization had attracted much attention and branches of it had been organized in many parts of the state. leaders of the people quickly saw that it could be utilized for the purpose in view. and this was done. the order, thus perverted, soon spread from virginia to texas. the ritual was simple and easily memorized and was never printed; but a copy of the prescript was obtained and used in a trial in tennessee and reproduced in united states government publications. at a meeting in nashville of delegates from all dens this was modified. that convention designated the southern territory as "the invisible empire." it was subdivided into "realms" (corresponding to states); realms were divided into "dominions" (congressional districts); dominions into "provinces" (counties); provinces into "dens." officers were designated as follows: grand wizard of invisible empire and his ten genii (and the grand wizard's powers were almost autocratic), grand dragon of realm and his eight hydras, grand titan of dominion and his six furies, grand cyclops of den and his two night hawks, grand monk, grand scribe, grand exchequer, grand turk, grand sentinel, the genii, hydras, furies, gobbins and night hawks were staff officers. it is said that the gradation and distribution of authority were perfect, and that no more perfectly organized order ever existed in the world. the costume consisted of a mask with openings for the nose and eyes; a tall, pointed hat of stiff material; a gown or robe to cover the entire person. each member was provided with a whistle, and with this, and by means of a code of signals, communicated with his comrades. they used a cypher to fix dates, etc., and published their notices in the newspapers, until repressive laws forbade this. their horses were robed and their hoofs muffled. meanwhile, other orders formed: white brotherhood, white league, pale faces, constitutional union guards and knights of white camelia; but all evidence shows that they were for the most part short-lived, the very name of ku klux having caught the fancy of the members. general forrest is credited with having consolidated all of them into the one grand order. an interview with general forrest was published in the _cincinnati commercial_ in september, , in which he was quoted as saying that in tennessee the klan embraced a membership of , , and in all the states , . he said to the congressional commission that the order was disbanded by him when it had fulfilled its purpose. no doubt he meant that the general organization was disbanded, for certainly detached bodies existed after the date fixed by him as that of the disbandment. fleming says that the general was initiated by captain john w. morton, formerly his chief of artillery, and became grand wizard. in his testimony general forrest said that the klan in tennessee was intended as a defensive organization to offset the union league; to protect ex-confederates from extermination by brownlow's militia; to prevent the burning of gins, mills and residences. congress and the radical legislatures resorted to all possible means to break up the klans, but they existed until after white supremacy was restored. even then, counterfeit bodies perverted the name until they were suppressed by the natural rulers of the land. congress passed a bill which provided for suspension of civil government in any district in which ku klux lawlessness existed, thus depriving all the people of trial by jury and other rights, and placing whole communities under the ban of military power. the alabama legislative enactment pronounced anyone found in disguise a felon and outlaw. it also provided that if a person was whipped or killed by men in disguise, the county could be sued for a penalty ranging from $ , to $ , ; and it made it the duty of the prosecuting attorney of the county to institute suit for and in behalf of the victim or his relatives, in any case where no indictment was found. after the nashville convention the order courted publicity, in order to inspire respect for its powers, and the ku klux sometimes paraded in daylight. their appearance in public was sudden and unheralded; and they disappeared as silently and mysteriously. the perfection of their movements in drill revealed the training which the members had received as cavalrymen during the war. sometimes the parades were at night, and then the mystery of their sudden appearance and the weirdness of the spectacle were heightened. one of the night parades was in huntsville, and the story of it was circulated throughout the north as evidence that another revolution was imminent. it was in the nature of an acceptance of challenge, and the circumstances connected with it were as follows: on october , , c. c. sheets, a grant candidate for elector, made a speech in florence. about ten o'clock that night a band of disguised men visited his sleeping apartment. he attempted to escape by way of a gallery, but was caught and taken back to his room. after a short stay the band retired without having in any way harmed him. sheets said that they exacted from him a promise that he would desist from making inflammatory speeches. later in the same month sheets delivered a speech in huntsville. it was reported that in the course of that speech he told his colored audience that he had been interfered with a few nights before in florence by ku klux, and that he had promised them then that he would not make the abusive and inflammatory speeches that he had been making; but up there, where there were so many colored people, he wasn't afraid to say what he pleased, and that if the colored people would do what was becoming in them, they would carry with them weapons and shoot down those disguised men wherever they found them; that the reason the ku klux paraded the country was because the negroes were weak-kneed. the speech excited the negroes. they remained in town all day, and at night a meeting was held in the court-house and many negroes, with guns, attended. during the day leading negroes loudly proclaimed that ku klux would never again be permitted to enter the town; that if they attempted to do so, they would be shot on sight. a federal military officer had said it would be lawful to do this. a rumor circulated that ku klux were assembling at a point some miles distant, and about dark two large posses of negroes, under command of deputy sheriffs, repaired to points along principal roads to intercept them. while the speaking at the court-house was in progress, fugitive negroes from the posses, which had suddenly dissolved at the approach of danger, rushed to the court-house and announced that ku klux were marching on the town. the meeting broke up in confusion and the people hurried into the yard. all the near-by streets and the sidewalks surrounding the square were thronged with people, white and black. suddenly the cavalcade, numbering about two hundred, fully uniformed in tall conical hats, long gowns, and hoods with eyeholes, some armed with guns and sabres, wheeled into the square, and without sound save the whistle signals--then almost as awe-inspiring as had been the "rebel yell"--rode in military order completely around the court-house, and then turned into one of the streets. proceeding along this some distance, the column halted and formed into battle line. after maintaining this formation for a few minutes, the march was resumed and the band disappeared. there was stationed in hunstville at that time a regiment of regular troops, and their commander, general cruger, with some of his staff officers, from a hotel veranda viewed the spectacle of the ku klux parade. his comment was that "it was fine but absurd." there was an unfortunate episode of the event: just as the ku klux withdrew there was a discharge of firearms in the courtyard. some witnesses said that the first discharge, an accidental one, due to nervousness, caused the others. judge thurlow, a visitor, was mortally wounded, and said a short while before his death that he was shot accidentally by his republican friends. a negro seated on the court-house steps was killed instantly. two white men and a negro were wounded. this tragedy was without design, and the excitement was quickly quieted. a rumor that a few undisguised ku klux were posted about the square was supported by the fact that after the departure of the troop three men, having disguises in hand, were arrested by soldiers while in the act of mounting horses in one of the side streets. later in the night they were rescued from jail by their comrades, and were never officially identified. but their paraphernalia was retained by the officials and often exhibited and photographed. perhaps none other was ever captured directly from a wearer. chapter thirteen a miscarriage there were some miscarriages in the operations of the klan. a memorable one of this character is recalled. a cavalcade, supposed to have started from the western side of the warrior river, rode through greensboro and proceeded to marion, a distance of about thirty-five miles, presumably to take from jail and execute a negro who had, with but slight provocation, killed a white man with a paling which he wrenched from a fence. the riders visited the jail and demanded the keys. the jailer's wife appeared and implored them to desist. the jailer himself, a member of a fraternal order, made an appeal which was recognized and respected by members of the party and was successful, and after much parleying, the invaders withdrew without molesting the custodian of the county bastile or his charge. but an episode of the foray was embarrassing and dangerous. the riders had proceeded only a short distance when one of the horses fell and expired, in full mock panoply. here was an awkward situation for the raiders. a comrade, far away from home, unhorsed and subjected to inevitable detection should he be abandoned! it is not known by what means he escaped and regained the realms of the "grand cyclops." the warning to evil-disposed persons conveyed by this raid perhaps obviated the necessity for another in that particular part of the county. across the border line of mississippi occurred a lamentable disaster, due to incompetent leadership and ignorance of locality. in the carpetbag government in mississippi reached the zenith of its power, and its baleful influence pervaded every nook and corner of the state. the effects of misgovernment were deplorable. lands which in ante-bellum days were appraised at twenty-five to seventy-five dollars per acre had so depreciated in value that at forced sales only about one dollar per acre could be obtained. there were few real estate transfers; some of the lands were depopulated; the only immigrants were carpetbaggers seeking offices; taxation was oppressive, especially for the support of schools, and almost the entire burden was laid upon the whites; the scanty possessions of negroes were within the limits of exemption; even the poll tax, devoted to school purposes, was evaded by them. in some counties tax-payers bore the expense of schooling three negro pupils to one white pupil. at length they resisted collection of the tax. robert w. flournoy, of pontotoc, distinguished himself in the resultant controversy. when not engaged as deputy postmaster and county superintendent of education, he conducted a weekly newspaper, and made it and himself odious. in his paper he bitterly denounced the ku klux as "midnight prowlers and assassins," and responsible for the suppression of public schools. he insisted that in the schools there should be no separation of races, and engaged in a prolonged and heated controversy with the governor over the question of admitting negroes to the state university. colonel flournoy received from the grand cyclops a communication, intimating that at an early date he would receive a visit from the men whom he had denounced. about midnight, may , , flournoy's office foreman and a companion aroused him from sleep with the startling announcement that a band of ku klux had appeared in the village, and the leader was inquiring where the colonel's residence was located. he had some shotguns, and, arming himself and his callers, departed from home and repaired to a blacksmith shop near by. at this place a number of townsmen, well armed, had already assembled. the colonel subsequently accounted for their presence with arms with the statement that during the afternoon they had been hunting, and when the foreman had alarmed them they were engaged in a game of cards. altogether, these men constituted a strong force, and proceeded to arrange an ambuscade at the shop. meanwhile the ku klux, who, according to later revelations, were strangers, wholly unacquainted with the locality, having learned the situation of the flournoy residence, were approaching it, unconscious of the state of affairs. fronting the place and extending a long distance were deep and tortuous gulleys, and in their progress the horsemen became entangled and bewildered as in a maze and their formation broken. extricating themselves in groups and singly, they approached the shop. chancellor pollard and deputy sheriff todd were with the concealed villagers, and the former emerged from the rear of the shop and commanded the riders to surrender. simultaneously, someone in concealment fired a shot, and instantly the ambushers sprang from cover and discharged a volley in the direction of the disordered klansmen. the surprise was complete and overwhelming. horses, becoming unruly, frantically turned and fled. the riders in advance were thus thrown back upon those emerging from the gulleys. in the resultant confusion there was desultory firing back and forth, but the unfortunate strangers were unable to rally at any point, and singly and in small groups they withdrew to the main street, where they found themselves in little less embarrassing a situation. no one knew in what direction they should retreat. they had lost their bearings and knew not how to reach the road over which they had entered the village. disbanded, they fled in different directions. colonel flournoy's supporters, for the most part, were ignorant of the character of the men whom they had assaulted and the object of the foray, and were easily led into the mistake of pressing the advantage they had gained. consequently, led by flournoy, they intercepted a small body of the raiders and fired on them. stampeded as they were, the resolute riders halted and returned the fire. after daybreak a man, fully costumed and still in mask, badly shot, was found at the place where he and his comrades had been waylaid. the unfortunate was tenderly cared for, but expired a few hours later. three others were wounded, but escaped. sixteen horses, abandoned by their riders, together with the disguises of those riders, were picked up next day. the original party comprised thirty men. there was profound sorrow in the little town when the inhabitants learned what an awful mistake had been made. chapter fourteen a convention supplements ku klux throughout the reconstruction period there was perhaps more turbulence in choctaw than in any other county of the district, but, after all, the climax in the struggle for restoration of white supremacy was in an orderly and regularly-organized meeting of citizens, without any attempt at secrecy of proceedings. judge j. q. smith, as substitute for judge luther r. smith, as previously chronicled, undertook to hold the regular term of the circuit court at butler. the sheriff attempted to arrest a boisterous man outside the court-house and met defiance and resistance; consequently, in alarm he resigned, and the judge, after some deliberation, concluded he could not proceed without a sheriff and returned to his own proper jurisdiction. the people in attendance and the residents of butler held a meeting and adopted a resolution requesting resignations from all public officials. more cautious men dissuaded the leaders from promulgating the resolution, and a movement started to have meetings in all the precincts and delegates to a county meeting chosen. this project was successfully accomplished, and the county meeting adopted a resolution which had been adopted at a meeting in sumter county. but in the interval between the impromptu gathering and the regularly-organized county meeting most of the officials had taken time by the forelock and anticipated the request that they vacate the offices. the resolution adopted declared devotion to law and order and opposition to any violation thereof, but recited the fact that the objectionable officials held office, not by choice of the people, but contrary to their will; that the officers had demonstrated their incapacity to enforce the laws, and, therefore, in the interest of the public they should resign. chapter fifteen foiled the ku klux throughout the reconstruction period there was less lawlessness in hale than in the counties adjoining, and overthrow of the radical administration was effected without bloodshed. january , , in the wee sma' hours, a cyclops and his retinue of seventy unceremoniously called at judge blackford's apartments to pay their respects. the call was intended as a sort of "surprise party"; but coming events had cast their shadows before, and those shadows were as premonitions of an early nocturnal visit, and the judge was "not at home." he was cautiously domiciled in a room adjoining his office, in another part of town. here, in the embrace of morpheus, perhaps reveling in dreams of a blessed land beyond the jurisdiction of the grand wizard, he was aroused with the cry of "ku klux!" by an alert negro, who had hastened from the judge's home to apprise him of the presence there of the unwelcome visitors. the alarm was not premature, for the horsemen were hotfooting in the wake of the negro and reached the office almost as soon as he. the judge needed no repetition of the dreadful tidings. his transition from dreamland to earth was instantaneous, and his plunge in dishabille through an open window was a disappearing act worthy of reproduction on a dramatic stage. the weird sound of a whistle close at hand broke discordantly into the sweet concert of frogs, katydids and other melodists of the nights and accelerated the speed of him who sought asylum and ghostly solitude in the boneyard in the depths of the forest. recounting the thrilling incidents of that awful night, and his sojourn of three nights in the gruesome refuge, dr. blackford, expressed bitter resentment of the rude treatment to which his glossy tile, which he abandoned in vanishing through the window, was subjected by the klansmen; they placed it on the end of a staff and bore it as a sort of mock pennant at the head of the cavalcade. often trivial incidents, if ridiculous or amusing, eclipse those that are grave. it was so in the eutaw riot, when a "plug hat" diverted dangerous men from an unlawful purpose,--but that is another story, and will be told in due time. for the next few days, dr. blackford camped at night and returned to his office in the morning. according to his own statement, a prominent confederate general took him to his quarters in a hotel and promised him protection temporarily. one evening, in general conversation, the subject of the ku klux was broached, and the host imparted to his very receptive guest much information thereon. the klans pervaded the country, and were better organized than the confederate army had ever been. there was no escape for a proscribed man if he should tarry when ordered to be on the move; when they dealt with a man, a klan from some other county or state did the work, and all residents could be seen pursuing their accustomed walks. "you are watched," he said, "day and night, and your whereabouts cannot long be concealed. on that night when the ku klux were after you, not more than one or two persons in the vicinity had knowledge of their coming." [there were at that time in greensboro two distinguished confederate generals, forrest and rucker, engaged in building the selma and memphis railroad.] judge blackford conferred with some prominent citizens, and at his request they consented to purchase his property on condition that he resign and betake himself to other parts. after prolonged negotiations, the arrangement was effected. governor lindsay appointed as blackford's successor to the probate judgeship mr. james m. hobson, father of congressman richmond p. hobson. dr. blackford, with his grievances, repaired to washington, where an emollient in the form of a special agency of the postoffice department diverted his thoughts from the enemies he had left behind. the details of dr. blackford's statement of information derived from the confederate general should be taken with a grain of salt, because his memory was not accurate. in washington he testified in regard to another occurrence in greensboro, and general blair's inquisitiveness exposed the infirmity referred to. he said the citizens regarded the soldiers "as a set of niggers and offscourings of creation" whom they could "buy with two dollars and a drink of whisky," and make them do their will. then he related that "while probate judge" there was an election in greensboro, and soldiers in charge at the polls got drunk and changed negroes' votes. he interfered, and one of them asked: "what the devil have you got to do with it?" the doctor replied: "i have simply this much, i am the presiding officer here of this county; i propose to keep the peace and enforce my rights as the presiding officer of the county, and i will deal with you myself if you do not leave." the valiant doctor then drew a pistol and said, "if you do not leave here now, i will shoot you." comrades of the obstreperous soldier interposed and bore him away, leaving the doctor in serene enjoyment of his rights as "presiding officer of the county." after he had testified further at considerable length, senator blair suddenly projected himself into the inquiry with the question: "on what occasion was it you drew your pistol upon a united states soldier and told him you would shoot him if he would not desist?" "it was on the day of the election." "what election?" "for the constitution; the day we voted on the constitution, i think that was the day." "what office did you hold then?" "no, sir; it was not the day of the constitutional election; it was the day on which the election, i think, of officers took place, and i know that i was--or at least my impression is that i was probate judge at the time; that is my impression, that i was probate judge at the time." "the officers were elected on the same day the constitution was voted on. so you could not have been a probate judge until you were elected and commissioned." "no, sir; my impression is, that it was after i was probate judge that that occurred. i think i told him that by virtue of the office that i held, if he did not desist from this--i know that was my assertion to the soldier." "was that a proper act for an officer, a conservator of the peace?" "i do not know that it was, but the acts of violence going on, i thought, demanded it, and the sheriff of the county had left,--and left these soldiers there to do just what they pleased, and they were drunk; and when i asked them several times to desist from this thing, and this fellow clapped his hand on his pistol,--and i had a large derringer in my pocket, and i told him he should do it." "you drew your pistol on him?" "yes, sir; i drew my pistol." "was it your duty to arrest him?" "perhaps it might have been, sir. i did not think so; in the midst of that excitement, i did not think so, sir." "if a peace officer set such examples, they cannot complain that they are followed by others." "yes, sir; that may be all true, but the peace officers had all forsaken me and i was there, either to let the election go by default or else to pursue that course,--and i resolved on that to get him away from there." "would not the course have been just as effectual if you had arrested him in the name of the law?" "i think the parties around him would have resisted arrest." "would not they have equally resisted your firing upon him?" chapter sixteen in tuscaloosa two young men belonging in the hills of tuscaloosa county, were journeying in a wagon, bound homeward from a trading trip to northport (across the river from tuscaloosa). passing a negro lad, they jestingly pretended that they would kidnap him. in alarm, the boy fled to his home and informed his father that he had been mistreated; and the man armed himself with a gun and pursued the unconscious young men. overtaking them, he leveled his gun menacingly and cursed the unarmed and defenseless white men. that night they, with some friends, repaired to the negro's house to chastise him. he had assembled a number of armed friends in anticipation of an attack. he had loosened some of the flooring, and through the opening thus provided crawled to the edge of the house, and, emerging from this position, crept unperceived to the near-by bushes. while the whites were parleying with the inmates of the house, he discharged both barrels of his gun, and young finley fell dead. shots from the house succeeded. attacked front and rear, the whites withdrew in disorder. news of the occurrence quickly spread far and wide. next day one of the negroes implicated was caught and killed. later, another, who had been captured and incarcerated in jail at tuscaloosa, was taken therefrom by a band of men and executed. the ringleader escaped temporarily. twice in pursuit of him steamboats were stopped and searched. the fugitive had been on one of them, but debarked at one of the landings. about twelve months after the unsuccessful chase, the fugitive was traced to a plantation in hale county, where the habit of wearing a heavy revolver even while at field work rendered him an object of suspicion, and caused an investigation which revealed his identity. his dead body, weapon in hand, was found one day on the roadside, and his taking off was associated in the minds of the people with the brief visit to that neighborhood of two white men, who departed in the direction of tuscaloosa county. consequences of this affair were a change in the office of sheriff, recall of troops, and other tragedies, but the ultimate effect was a better understanding between the races. chapter seventeen a series of tragedies in sumter county affairs were approaching a climax when enoch townsend, a negro, about dark one evening waylaid and repeatedly stabbed mr. bryant richardson, a planter, and fled after mr. richardson, despite his wounds, bravely struggled to overcome his assailant. a warrant for the arrest of the assailant issued, and officers sought him on the plantation of dr. choutteau. choutteau was of french descent and migrated to sumter from louisiana, where, it was rumored, he had been involved in serious trouble. he is described as a swaggerer. during his early residence in sumter he expressed intense dislike of freedmen and lost caste with the whites by seriously advocating wholesale poisoning as a means of relieving the county of the surplus of its negro population. later he yielded to the temptation of office, and identified himself with the league and gained odious notoriety by his radicalism. he had constantly about him at his plantation armed negro guards; the league met there and picketed the roads thereabout. at length he became intolerable. to this plantation officers with the warrant of arrest repaired and searched the cabins in the negro quarters. after the search was nearly completed, a negro scrambled from the chimney of a cabin to the roof, sprang thence to the ground and fled. disobeying the summons to halt, he was fired upon by the posse and killed. poor fellow! he was the wrong man, and no one ever learned why he acted so like a criminal. the dead man proved to be yankee ben, president of the loyal league at sumterville. (the fugitive townsend was arrested by two law-abiding freedmen and lodged in jail at livingston.) the killing of yankee ben excited the negroes, and a meeting was called at choutteau's place for the purpose of formulating plans to avenge it. sixty armed negroes assembled accordingly on saturday, but were dispersed. on monday one hundred and fifty met at choutteau's. simultaneously, twelve white men went there to hold an inquest on the remains of yankee ben, which had previously been interrupted by the proceedings narrated. on the latter occasion choutteau refused to permit an inquest unless by a jury composed of negroes. in this his dusky adherents supported him, and were insulting in demeanor. one hundred whites reinforced the jury and scattered the negroes. thereupon choutteau withdrew his objection. moreover, he promised that if permitted to remain on his place undisturbed for a few days, he would leave the neighborhood, adding that he had for some time contemplated the move. he was told that what he purposed to do was unnecessary, and that he was required only to cease his turbulent practices. choutteau moved to livingston, and shortly afterward his plantation house was destroyed by fire. he then posed as a victim of ku klux incendiarism, magnified his losses, memorialized the legislature for reimbursement, published exaggerated stories of the occurrence, and vociferously threatened revenge. he was regarded as a menace to the safety of the community in which he had taken up his residence. shortly after midnight august , , his house was attacked by a small band of men, who forced an entrance into the hall. doors on each side gave entrance to sleeping quarters, and an invader broke out a panel of one of them, struck a match and thrust his face into the opening. a gun was fired from within the room and the man fell to the floor. the weapon was discharged by a german named coblentz, whom choutteau had hired as a guard. the intruder's head was blown to pieces, and the entire brain, with one hemisphere intact, together with the mask the unfortunate had worn, was found on the floor next morning. when the victim fell back from the door, a comrade sprang to the vacated place and fired several shots at coblentz, inflicting wounds from which he died an hour or so later. believing they had killed choutteau, the band departed, taking the fallen comrade. blood drippings marked for some miles, to the river, the trail of the retiring invaders. the negro ferryman testified that they ferried themselves over the stream. the dead man's identity was never disclosed to the public, but there was a rumor that he was a young doctor, and that his remains were interred by companions, who sent to his home his watch and other valuables which he had about his person, with information regarding the place of burial. in some unhappy home, a mother, wife or other loved ones long mourned the fate of him who had died so tragically. choutteau did not tarry. he was given employment in washington, and disappeared from view. the party which visited livingston that fateful night divided and a detachment went to the house of george houston, one of the negro legislators. when the firing began at houston's home, someone sprang from a window and fled to the brush. thinking it was houston and that he had escaped, this band reunited itself with the others and all departed. it was houston's son who escaped. houston himself was wounded, but recovered, and left for montgomery, returning no more. houston was accused of having repeatedly uttered the threat that if the whites did not cease their regulating activities he would have livingston laid in ashes. on august , of the same year leading citizens of livingston received telegrams advising them that one hundred armed negroes, en route to livingston, had stopped at gainesville, in the same county, and purchased quantities of ammunition. very soon thereafter captain johnson, commander of a steamer on the tombigbee river, telegraphed to livingston that in steaming up the stream he had seen groups of negroes on the banks,--all with guns,--who said they were going to livingston to attend a nominating meeting, to be held next day; that they had been ordered to attend with arms. another dispatch was received from eutaw saying that congressman hays had engaged transportation next day for one hundred negroes. the white people of livingston, on receipt of these dispatches, bestirred themselves and summoned reinforcements from other points. the night preceding the day set for the meeting the negroes camped outside of town. next day, when they entered livingston, they were confronted by a body of white men, who told them they would not be permitted to retain their guns while in town and must take them back to the camp. the negroes, after some disputation, on learning that the congressman would not be present, retired. burke, the negro legislator and president of the league, went to the camp and harangued them. he urged them to return to town with their guns and resist any interference that might be offered. he wrought them into a state of excitement. one negro, hayne richardson, refused to lay down his gun, and was shot on the road some distance out of town. the report of the gun attracted attention both in town and camp, and suddenly a party of horsemen dashed toward the latter, firing their weapons. the sudden attack abruptly terminated burke's fervid oratory and his audience fled. some were shot. richardson was badly hurt, but escaped and left the county. the following night twenty horsemen surrounded burke's dwelling. he escaped from it and fled, under fire. early in the morning his body was found stretched in a path leading to the dwelling of his former master. price, the man of multifarious official employment, called the meeting, and the negroes who testified in the investigation said that his runners told them he directed that they attend with guns. price took final leave of sumter before the shooting commenced. congressman hays said he was prevented from attending by sickness of a member of his family. he disavowed any responsibility for the negroes going armed. "i only want to state this," he said, while testifying in livingston, "in connection with that matter--i do not know that it is worth stating: that i understood from friends of mine here that there was a regular mob down there to assassinate me the very moment i got off the train. i heard that afterward,--that if i had come here, i would have been killed instantly. if i had been, i would have been killed innocently." congressman hays was unfortunate in being placed in alleged false situations. there was another memorable occasion when appearances were against him, however innocent of evil designs he may have been: there was to be a meeting at boligee, in greene county, and colonel j. j. jolly, of eutaw, was invited to address the gathering. the boligee democratic club sent a committee to major charles hays with an invitation to discuss jointly with colonel jolly the issues of the campaign. the invitation was accepted. when major hays arrived there was gathered a party of armed negroes. according to his own statement under oath, hays, in relating the incidents of the abortive meeting, said that a half-hour after his arrival "there came some fifteen young men riding up, with double-barreled guns and a few hounds following them. i saw this demonstration at once and i came to the conclusion that it was gotten up for a row." he had been present for a half-hour and was all the time aware that a crowd of armed negroes was gathered, but said nothing in remonstrance, but as soon as the party of young white men rode up he immediately stepped to the door of the building in which he was waiting, and said to the negroes: "you have come here with guns in your hands, and you know that i have expressly said to you that i would never speak to you on any occasion whatever when you brought arms to a political meeting at any place, and i shall decline to have anything to do with this matter in any way whatever." then, turning to the white men, "i hope, gentlemen, you will excuse me; i'm going home." chapter eighteen disappearance of price price was the most turbulent and desperate character among the radicals. one of his own ilk declared that price had not brought with him even so much as a carpetbag, but was soon grasping everything in sight. after the trouble in livingston, just described, he fled to meridian, and continued there to be a disturbing element. lauderdale county, mississippi, of which meridian is the capital, and sumter county, alabama, adjoin. a negro of livingston went to meridian to obtain some farm laborers. on his return he reported that he had been assaulted by disguised negroes, in whose leader he recognized price. an officer went from livingston to investigate, and was assaulted by price and others. price was arrested by the meridian authorities, and when the trial was due a number of alabamians were gathered in that town. the trial was to be before the mayor. some of the county and city officials requested the mayor not to permit the trial to proceed, because if he did there would certainly be an outbreak. in compliance with the request, the trial was postponed and price permitted to escape. he never reappeared and nothing is known of his subsequent career. but he entailed trouble on the people, and there was a bloody sequel to his arrest and release. negroes held a meeting and resolved that they would repel with force any future "raids" by alabamians. after the meeting adjourned an incendiary fire started, and leading negroes at the scene discharged revolvers recklessly. this caused much excitement, and some colored men were arrested and held under guard. monday morning at eleven o'clock white citizens met and adopted a resolution asking the mayor to resign and leave the city. at three o'clock the trial of the negro prisoners began. many alabamians were in town, among them, according to statements, the noted steve renfroe, of sumter, and joe reynolds, of eutaw ("captain jenks"). the trial or investigation was before a justice named bramlette. a white witness concluded his testimony and was about to retire, when one of the accused negroes, tyler, insultingly asked him to continue on the stand a few minutes, as he wished to impeach his testimony with that of some negro witnesses whom he would introduce. the witness picked up a cane which was lying on the table and moved toward tyler. a pistol was fired from the direction of that part of the room in which tyler and a number of others were grouped. bramlette sank back in his chair, dead. firing of pistols became general and there was great disorder and confusion. clopton, one of the negroes under arrest and charged with incendiary utterances, was wounded and thrown from a window of the room, which was in the second story. he was taken into the sheriff's office, and in the uproar there killed. tyler escaped from the building and hid in a shop some distance away. pursuers found and killed him. few doubted that he fired the shot which killed the justice. excitement continued through the afternoon. three other negro leaders were arrested and placed under a guard for protection. two nights afterward they were taken from the guards and executed. the mayor abandoned his office and left the state. an obnoxious member of the legislature was sought, but fled and did not return. one of the utterances of tyler at the negro meeting recalled a remarkable incident in the history of meridian. in a drunken brawl an indian belonging to the mississippi choctaw tribe was killed there. a band of his tribesmen, in a spirit of retaliation, visited meridian and killed the slayer. tyler referred to this action of the choctaws as an example worthy of emulation by his people. chapter nineteen riots in marengo in the campaign of , a former slave owner was one of the republican candidates for office in marengo county, and made what was regarded as an inflammatory speech to negroes gathered at shiloh, a hamlet, situated in a section of marengo county largely populated by negroes. a few white men were present, and between them and the candidate an angry controversy arose. the immediate result was cessation of the speechmaking and dissolution of the meeting. the orator was escorted by white men to a buggy and departed in safety. he was a pugnacious man and had a record of at least one victim to attest his prowess in rencontre. some days later he repaired to linden, the county seat, accompanied by two negro men, ostentatiously bearing a united states flag. there had assembled a great crowd of negroes, who were, as usual, armed. with him on the platform was captain c. l. drake, the man of many offices, and above them floated old glory. an offensive reference to the disturbance at shiloh provoked a quick retort from one of a small group of white men who were listening to the speech. the orator paused, dramatically removed from his pockets his watch and purse, and from its fastening a diamond pin, handed them to the sheriff, with the request that he convey them to the candidate's wife, in the event of a fatality, drew a pistol, and, remarking that he had been mistreated and would "fight it out," descended from the platform. negroes with guns sprang into double ranks, enclosing him on two sides. the group of whites promptly seized and disarmed him, and meanwhile white men with arms were rushing to the scene from all quarters. somewhere on the outskirts of the throng a pistol was fired which caused a stampede in that quarter. the negroes about the platform, confronted by a line of determined whites, yielded and retired from the scene. drake fled to his office and thence to tall timber. the candidate, forsaken by his followers, asked for protection, and was hurried into a room of the court-house and locked in with two or three citizens. the angry crowd outside was clamorous and the beleaguered man, rejecting all suggestions of plans for flight, himself finally proposed as a means of quieting the uproar to sign a paper relinquishing his candidacy for sheriff and withdrawing from politics. duplicate copies of the paper were drawn up and signed; he retained one of them, and the other was taken outside and read to the people. it produced the desired effect. the candidate was placed in a buggy and, accompanied by an escort, proceeded to his home. and thus ended "the linden riot." but the candidate was irrepressible and speedily repudiated his act of self-abnegation as having been done under intimidation. he spoke at belmont, a small settlement, and became involved in an affray with a resident. this created a general disturbance, in which the meeting was broken up and the negroes sullenly retired from the scene. they threatened to burn the place, and a white man was shot at from ambush. so unusually hostile and aggressive were the negroes that warrants issued for the arrest of certain of their leaders, among them zeke high. there were posted notices of a meeting of negroes at belmont on july , . white men in considerable numbers assembled there on that date, and the meeting was prudently postponed. a negro was whipped that night, and next night he assembled at his house, in a dense swamp near the river, a number of armed friends. a scouting party of whites, seeking information respecting the purposes of the negroes, approached their stronghold in the darkness of night; one of them (melton) entered the yard and was fired at. melton dropped to the ground and feigned death to escape another volley. both sides, thinking he was dead, ceased firing, and the whites withdrew to give the alarm. a warrant of arrest was placed in the hands of an officer, but he was unwilling to attempt to serve it at night. a young man named collins, bold and fond of excitement and adventure, volunteered to serve the warrant and was duly commissioned. collins, with three companions, approached the house, but before he had time to summon the inmates to capitulate, a volley was fired by the latter and collins sank from his horse in death. two of his companions were slightly injured, and the party, after returning the fire, retired. this occurrence created intense excitement and indignation. whites gathered from the surrounding country. the negroes were greatly reinforced and fortified a position in an almost impenetrable part of the swamp. some of the whites favored an immediate assault, but other counsels prevailed, and the sheriff, with a small posse, proceeded to the scene and demanded collins' body. the demand was refused. next day the sheriff rode into the midst of the mob and again demanded the body, and got it. a few hours later the white forces made a quick and determined forward movement to dislodge the negroes from their almost impregnable position, and found it abandoned,--the negroes had disbanded and fled in terror. this terminated "the belmont riot"; but it had a sequel in the retributive death of the negro leader, zeke high, who boasted that his shot killed collins. on his own boastful confession high was arrested and lodged in the sumter county jail at livingston. september a party of mounted and disguised men from the direction of marengo forced the sheriff to surrender the jail keys, entered the prison and took high from his cell, conveyed him a short distance away and hung and shot him to death. this high was a desperate and dangerous character, and even when seized by his executioners fought ferociously. when the leader entered the dark cell in which high and three other prisoners were incarcerated, he was assaulted and struck in the face with a heavy piece of furniture, the blow dislodging several front teeth. chapter twenty killings and rioting in greene in eutaw, the seat of government of the rich county of greene, contained a population of , or , , and prospered greatly in trade with farmers in the surrounding country. it was a typical southern court-house town,--busy in fall and winter, almost dormant in late spring and summer. its men were among the earliest to volunteer for service in the confederate armies and latest to retire from that service; they were also amongst the earliest to organize resistance to carpetbag rule and to throw off the yoke. on the morning of april , , the people of eutaw were shocked when informed of a tragedy which had been enacted during the night--alexander boyd, county solicitor and register in chancery, had been shot to death by ku klux! at first most persons discredited the gruesome story as an "april fool" hoax, but incredulity gave place to amazement when the scene of the awful tragedy was visited. of all the acts attributed to the klan, perhaps none was bolder than the slaying of boyd. a bachelor, he had for a long time occupied sleeping quarters in a detached office building situated in a corner of the court-house yard; but having received a warning note, he became alarmed and abandoned these quarters and obtained an apartment on the second floor of the cleveland hotel only a few nights previous to his death. this hotel was situated on a corner diagonally opposite the court-house, and was the principal rendezvous of townsmen with a taste for gossip. witnesses at the investigation into the circumstances testified that at half-past eleven o'clock forty or fifty horsemen, in the regulation garb and armed with revolvers, their horses robed and hooded, approached to within a short distance of the hotel, where all except the customary horse-holders dismounted and quickly and unhesitatingly entered the hotel office, posted guards at all entrances, and then commanded the clerk to take up a candle and show them to mr. boyd's apartment. obediently the clerk led the way until he reached the corridor upon which opened the room they sought. pausing here, in his speechlessness he indicated the door by pointing, and then fled the scene. within a brief space an agonized scream, heard blocks away, issued from the room of the doomed man, and was almost instantly succeeded by a heavy volley of pistol shots. the panic-stricken clerk had hardly resumed his seat upon the office stool, with hands to ears and head bowed upon his ledger, when the dread invaders reappeared in the office. signaling with whistles the recall of sentinels, they quietly withdrew, remounted and rode around the square, in military order, and then departed in the direction from which they first appeared. [they were traced to the mississippi border line.] after their departure, officials and others repaired to the corridor and discovered the dead body, robed in night dress, perforated with many bullets and almost completely drained of blood. not a shot had missed the mark. inside the room a table, bearing a lighted lamp, his revolver and watch, stood close to the head of the bed. he had not attempted to use the weapon. evidently the purpose of his slayers was to remove him from the building, for one of them carried a suggestive coil of rope, but his outcry and struggles settled his fate. boyd was a nephew of william miller, probate judge. some years before the war he was convicted of killing a young man named charner brown, and sentenced to a term in the penitentiary. a petition in his behalf was presented to governor winston, and in response thereto the sentence was commuted to one year's imprisonment in the county jail. having served the sentence, boyd departed for another state. at the close of the war he reappeared, and, following the example of his uncle, sought office in at the hands of the negroes, and was made county solicitor and register in chancery. he was not distinguished as a prosecutor, but regarded as indifferent. december , , dr. samuel snoddy left the village of union, in the northern part of greene county, to return to his farm. night overtook him en route, and he became confused. reaching the cabin of some negroes with whom he was acquainted, he engaged one of them to pilot him. early next morning dr. snoddy's badly mutilated remains were discovered on the roadside. the unfortunate man had been murdered and robbed of a considerable sum which he had on his person. sam caldwell, henry miller and sam colvin, negroes, were arrested, accused of the crime, and lodged in jail at eutaw. the scene of the murder had become notorious on account of being a centre of league activities and disorders, and the murder of snoddy aggravated the sense of wrong under which the whites had long been restive; and when, a few days later, the prisoners were released, one of them on bond, they were seized and executed summarily. solicitor boyd, it was alleged, manifested no zeal in the investigation of the snoddy murder, but became exceedingly active in the inquisition in connection with the subsequent and consequent affair, and exultantly declared that he had ascertained the names of all the men engaged in it, would send for soldiers to effect their arrest, and vigorously prosecute them, and if necessary hold the jury for six months. all of these facts were related in explanation of popular displeasure with boyd, which revealed itself first in the note of warning and finally in the taking of his life. mr. boyd's tombstone in the messopotamia cemetery, eutaw, erected by judge miller, is inscribed: "murdered by ku klux." greene county continued in a state of disorder, which grew worse as the election approached. the republican state executive committee advertised that on october , , senator warner, congressman hays, governor smith and ex-governor parsons would deliver addresses at the court-house in eutaw. on that day the party of visitors, accompanied by general crawford, military commander of the department, and others, arrived in town. they were informed that the democratic county committee had invited the voters to hear an address by the democratic candidate for the legislature, and had chosen the same time and place. thereupon the republican leaders held a conference and decided to invite the democratic committee to hold with them a joint meeting. accordingly, judge miller, congressman hays and mr. cockrell were commissioned to convey to the democratic committee the following note: "we propose to appoint a committee of two to meet a committee of two from your party, to arrange the terms of a discussion for the day, to meet immediately at the circuit clerk's office." to this note the following reply was sent: "gentlemen,--in answer to your note of this date, we, the committee appointed by the president of the democratic and conservative council of greene county, are instructed to say, that we do not consider the questions in the present political canvass debatable, either as to men or measures; and we therefore, in behalf of the democratic and conservative party of greene county, decline any discussion whatever. "j. j. jolly, "j. g. pierce, "_committee_." this reply was ominous. so apprehensive were the leaders that congressman hays, who was exceedingly unpopular, decided, with the concurrence of the others, that it would be safer if he should refrain from speaking. the garrison troops were quartered a half-mile away from the court-house, and governor smith requested general crawford to have the entire body brought to the court-house; but after conference with the sheriff, the general concluded that a detachment posted two blocks distant would be a sufficient safeguard. immediately after the note of reply was sent, the democrats called their meeting to order on the north side of the court-house, and soon thereafter the republicans assembled on the south side. the democratic meeting lasted only a short time, and at its conclusion the auditors repaired to points where they could listen to the republican orators. corridors run through the court-house, crossing each other in the centre of the building. these spaces were thronged by white men. for the accommodation of the republican speakers, an improvised platform, formed of a table, was placed against a window opening from the clerk's office. all of the republican visitors and local officials occupied chairs in this office. by request of senator warner, the office door was locked from the inside, in order, as said, that "whatever danger there might be would be in front." senator warner spoke without unusual interference. ex-governor parsons followed and was listened to attentively. when he retired through the window, the negroes called for congressman hays. a democrat, major pierce, approached governor parsons, who was seated inside near the window, and advised him to restrain hays. parsons, in response, endeavored to attract the attention of hays, who had mounted the platform with the intention, as he subsequently testified, not to deliver an address, but merely to dismiss the audience. if this was true, his purpose was misunderstood, for the table was suddenly tilted and hays precipitated. as he fell a pistol was fired, and the ball passed through major pierce's clothing. some witnesses testified that hays fired it, and parsons afterward admitted that hayes was armed with a derringer; others, that the shot came from the direction in which the negroes were massed. however this may be, there was an impulsive forward rush by the negroes, and, as warner admitted, they had weapons in their hands. the first shot was instantly succeeded by a volley from the corridors, and the onrush was halted. suddenly, in a resonant voice, someone in a corridor shouted: "go in, boys, now is your time!" continuous firing followed, and the negroes fled in great disorder, leveling the stout fence which enclosed the yard, a few discharging pistols as they fled. even in this grave situation there was an amusing incident. in his testimony before an investigating commission senator warner, describing the riot, related it accurately. beaver hats were not worn in eutaw at that period. mr. parsons' attire was similar to that of quakers and included a light-colored beaver hat. senator warner's tile was conventional, black and glossy. "i caught up the papers in my hands," he said, "and walked very deliberately to the right, in order to get out of the way of the firing. there came from the right-hand side of the court-house a pretty good line of men, thirty or forty, i should think. they came around all together, and formed a tolerable line across from the corner of the court-house to the fence, and commenced firing on the negroes, who had broken down the court-house fence and were fleeing as fast as they could. these men cocked their revolvers and fired upon them as rapidly as they could. i looked at them for a moment, and then walked up to them as they were firing. i saw some colored men falling on the grass and then scrambling up and moving off. i walked up to these men and held up my hand in a deprecating manner, and said, 'for god's sake, stop this!' one of them who was nearest to me turned around and cast a kind of defiant but yet somewhat surprised look at me. one of them leveled his pistol upon us, governor parsons, mr. brown and myself; he was standing about the length of this table distant from us. he leveled his pistol at governor parsons. the governor said: 'for god's sake, don't shoot at me; i have done you no harm.' the crowd stopped firing and turned their attention to us. just at that instant the sheriff came around with his arms spread out, and said: 'stop this! stop this!' the man stopped for a moment and seemed to be deliberating whether he should shoot parsons. he then saw mr. hays on my right; turning a little to one side to avoid me, he threw his pistol down upon hays and mr. brown, who were both together, and tried to shoot them. they both sprang behind me; i saw them getting behind me and squatting on the ground to avoid his fire. by that time the negroes had been driven out of the court-house yard and across the street, where they had stopped and turned, and began to fire back. a few were firing back. just at that moment i heard somebody call out, 'boys, hold your fire!' the firing then ceased. i started and walked through the crowd, right among them. i suppose there were forty or fifty of them, all standing there with their revolvers in their hands, smoking, as they had been firing. just as i was getting out of the crowd somebody from behind struck at me and knocked my hat off; i just felt the blow on my head, but i could not tell who it was, for when i turned around his hands were dropped, whoever it was. i guess it was pretty lucky i did not know, for the blow aroused me a great deal, and i am afraid i should have lost my self-possession. i turned around to pick up my hat, when another man kicked it; then another kicked it; and then the whole crowd, one after another, played football with it and kicked it across the yard. i started back to get it, when a man by the name of dunlap, a democrat, who seemed to be in accord with the party there, walked up to me and took me by the arm in a friendly sort of way, and said, 'general, you had better get away from here or you will get hurt!'" the senator's hat furnished diversion at a critical moment, and in all probability was the means of saving his life and the lives of his friends. there had been firing from the clerk's office, and mr. cowan (one of the actors in the greensboro tragedy mentioned in an earlier chapter), was slightly grazed on the left thigh. he was brandishing a pistol and calling to the white men to rally about him, and standing near a window of the clerk's office. he believed that he was made a target by a prominent republican who was in the office. two other white men, near mr. cowan, were struck by missiles from the negro ranks just before they fled from the yard. some of the party with or about senator warner had, a moment before the scene described by him, emerged from the office and were retreating to the cleveland hotel, and a determined group of men, including reynolds, with a shotgun, were pursuing them when the fun with the hat commenced. while it was yet in progress, the soldiers wheeled around the nearest corner and rescued the imperilled republican leaders. meanwhile the negroes, having fled in two directions to points where they had guns concealed in wagons, secured these arms and resolutely moved back toward the scene of their rout. they were aware of their preponderating numbers, and counted on the sympathy of the soldiers. those on prairie street had not proceeded far when they encountered a squad of mounted men commanded by the marshal and a few sharpshooters posted behind trees in private yards, who speedily checked their advance. at the intersection of the two streets which were scenes of reviving combat a line of white men, armed with guns, all men of tested courage, was formed to prevent a junction of the two bodies of negroes. just then the soldiers, at double-quick, made their appearance and were halted opposite the line of armed citizens. after a brief hesitation, the officer gave the command to move and the soldiers proceeded down prairie street. the negroes quickly lost courage and retreated, and before long none could be seen within miles of the town. and so ended the eutaw riot, in which, according to the local newspaper, the _whig and observer_, and the testimony of witnesses, men were shot, and from to white men and from , to , negroes were engaged. the number of wounded was probably exaggerated. the pistol shot which followed so quickly the rude interruption of hays' remarks was not the real cause of the riot; it was but the signal for the opening of a conflict which had been impending for some time, and it gave vent to indignation which had been suppressed with difficulty. the explanation is found in earlier occurrences. in october the white people of greene county were much disturbed by rumors that a number of bands of negroes had been drilling with arms in parts of the county where plantations were largest and the negro population densest. a country store was burned by incendiaries, and threats were made that the several bands would be consolidated and eutaw attacked by the combined force. lieutenant charles harkins, commanding the detachment of troops garrisoning the town, reported to his superior officer at huntsville as follows: "i have the honor to report that on the evening of the th instant, reports were brought to this town, by both colored and white men, to the effect that a band of armed colored men intended burning the town that night. the rumor seemed to be generally credited by the citizens, which caused great alarm and excitement. armed parties of citizens were immediately formed, under the direction of the sheriff, and patrols and pickets sent to the suburbs of the town, where they remained all night. no demonstration was made by the colored men, if they had any such intention, which i am inclined to doubt. the excitement has abated, but there is still a feeling of distrust and anxiety among all classes. "the real facts of the case, and cause of the present alarm, i believe to be as follows: the colored men and republicans generally of this county, feeling aggrieved at the many murders and outrages perpetrated on men of their party by the ku klux organization, have determined to protect themselves in future and have banded together for that purpose only, not to assume the offensive, or interfere with the peaceful, law-abiding portion of the community." the relation of cause and effect in this thwarted conspiracy to destroy eutaw and the riot which followed so soon is indisputable. the trend of lieutenant harkins' sympathies is equally plain. he was inclined to doubt that the banded negroes intended to burn the town, but readily intimated that they had provocation in "the many murders and outrages perpetrated on men of their party by the ku klux organization." not a word is there in the report concerning the burning of the store, nor of the fact that refugee white families from the widely-separated plantations were moving into eutaw for protection against the menacing bands of negroes, nor that the "patrols and pickets" were necessary precautions not of one night only, but of three nights, and served to deter the negroes from prosecuting their design. the prompt action of the whites in driving the negroes out of town on october would seem precipitate and unjustifiable if not considered in connection with the facts just recited. nearly two thousand negroes attended that meeting, and they took with them guns, which were secreted in wagons at the foot of prairie street. they were aware that the commanding officer of the garrison was in sympathy with them, and that they would encounter only a small body of white men should there be a collision. no doubt they counted much on the presence of the radical governor of the state, the military commander of the department, a senator and a congressional representative, all in sympathy with them, and all smarting under indignities received only a few days before at a meeting in an adjoining county. the white men remembered the nights of anxiety for the safety of the women and children and property of the town, and realized the danger of the situation in which they were placed by the group of official republicans who heedlessly and recklessly assembled thousands of negroes who had so recently been frustrated in a design to obtain revenge for punishment administered to evildoers of their race. those white men had courage and resolution to meet the emergency, and they met it promptly and terribly. and they taught a lesson for which there has never since been occasion for repetition. chapter twenty-one restoration of white supremacy the state election in resulted in a victory for the democratic and conservative party, but there was a persistent effort to deprive that party of the fruits of victory. there was instituted on behalf of the incumbent governor and treasurer a proceeding in the chancery court to enjoin the presiding officer of the senate from counting the votes for candidates for those two offices. the legislature met november , and the law required that the vote be counted, with the two houses assembled jointly, within the first week. in the proceedings instituted, governor smith alleged irregularity in the election. the judge of the circuit court refused to grant an injunction, on the ground that the legislature could not be enjoined by a court. it was then filed with a supreme court judge. it prayed that the presiding officer of the senate be restrained from counting the vote until the legislature could provide rules by which the proposed contest should be tried. judge saffold, as chancellor, granted the injunction. lieutenant-governor applegate was dead, and barr, an ohio man, was presiding. the injunction was served on barr, and he very cheerfully obeyed it. there are some interesting facts in relation to this senate. the radical constitution gerrymandered the senatorial districts, in some instances apportioning a senator to a single county; in others, a senator to a group of three or four counties, with nearly threefold greater population. the constitution provided that representatives in the legislature should be elected for two years, and senators for four years; that one-half of the seats of senators first elected (in ) should be declared vacant at the end of two years, thus providing for continuation of a certain number. in accordance with this provision, at the session in november the question whether the senators should draw for the long and short terms was discussed; nobody wished to vacate his seat, and by hocus-pocus they reached the conclusion that all should hold over. consequently, one-half of them sat four years and the others for six. this procedure contributed much to the complication of affairs. this senate connived at the attempt to prevent the count of returns. at noon on the last day of the week the two houses assembled and barr proceeded to count the returns for other officers, declaring that for lieutenant-governor e. h. moren had received a majority of the votes cast at the election; that for secretary of state j. j. parker had defeated j. t. rapier; that w. a. sanford had defeated joshua morse in the race for attorney-general; that joseph hodgson succeeded n. b. cloud as superintendent of public instruction. these winners were all democrats. as soon as he had declared these results. barr and the radical senators withdrew. lieutenant-governor moren then appeared, took the oath of office, assumed the chair of the presiding officer, and directed that the returns for governor and treasurer be brought in. this being done, he proceeded forthwith to count them and declared that robert b. lindsay, for governor, and james f. grant, for treasurer, had received majorities, and to proclaim them duly elected. these officers were sent for and sworn in. consternation seized the republican leaders. they were caught in their own trap, for the injunction had been served on barr and he had qualified his own successor in the person of dr. moren, who as lieutenant-governor was unaffected by the injunction. lindsay lost no time in demanding possession of the office, but smith refused to yield and had federal soldiers guarding all entrances to the offices of governor and treasurer. judge j. q. smith went from selma to montgomery, and before him lindsay and grant instituted proceedings, demanding that the seal and all books and papers and other property pertaining to the offices of governor and treasurer be delivered to them, respectively. the proceedings lasted several days. meanwhile, montgomery was fast filling up with young men, strangers in the community, and there were rumors that bodies of men in near-by towns were awaiting summons to the capital, and that locomotives with steam up and cars attached, ready for service, were side-tracked at a number of stations. judge smith's court-room was daily crowded with strange men. excitement was intense. lindsay in his complaint alleged that he was the qualified successor of governor smith; that he had made a demand upon him for the books, papers and paraphernalia of the office of governor, and that smith refused to deliver them. the trial was set for three o'clock in the afternoon, and governor smith was ordered to appear in person in court and show cause why he should not be compelled to deliver the property demanded. governor smith did not like the appearance which montgomery had assumed, nor did he relish the necessity of appearing in that court-room and before that audience contesting the right of the people's representatives to assume the offices to which they had elected them, nor the certainty that as soon as judgment should be given against him an order for commitment to custody would issue. accordingly, he had a conference with general pettus, and soon thereafter announced that he "would yield, upon the ground that, although he was satisfied he was fairly and lawfully re-elected, his continuance of the litigation and the contest in the palpable excitement that surrounded the whole matter would tend to disturb the public peace; and the detriment to the material interests of the people of the state would be infinitely greater than the possession of the office itself by any particular man could possibly compensate." thus negro domination in alabama was overcome. and the ku klux rode no more. file was produced from scans of public domain material produced by microsoft for their live search books site.) transcriber's note: minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. in keeping with the facsimile style of the prescript section, original page breaks (shown as '. . .') and footers (latin text) remain as printed. [illustration] the ku klux klan by annie cooper burton _president, wade hampton chapter, no. , united daughters of the confederacy, los angeles, california_ cover design by howard willard typography by taylor's printery warren t. potter publisher and bookmaker - baker-detwiler building los angeles, cal. copyright, , by warren t. potter all rights reserved to father the ku klux klan the great ku klux klan sprang up like a mushroom, a southern organization formed in a time when no other power in the world could have saved the suffering south from the utter disorder which prevailed during the awful period following the war between the states. the stigma attached to the name ku klux klan by the uninformed masses has, at this late day, been practically removed, thanks to that southern author, thomas j. dixon, who through "the clansman" swayed public opinion the right way; and thanks again to that master director, david w. griffith, another southerner, who filmed this wonderful story and set the people to exclaiming, "why, the ku klux klan was a grand and noble order! it ranks with the best." every clubhouse of the united daughters of the confederacy should have a memorial tablet dedicated to the ku klux klan; that would be a monument not to one man, but to five hundred and fifty thousand men, to whom all southerners owe a debt of gratitude; for how our beloved southland could have survived that reign of terror is a big question. the very name ku klux shows that the order was formed among men of letters. it is a greek word meaning circle. klan suggested itself; the name complete in turn suggested mystery. originally the order was purely a social organization, formed in pulaski, tennessee, may, , and gave diversion to the restless young men after the reaction of war. they found vast amusement in belonging to a club which excited and baffled curiosity; great sport, too, was found in initiating new members. but it was when the klan realized that it had a great, vital work to perform that it rose majestically to the gigantic task. when the order at the end of a year had grown throughout the south to such a size that a master hand was needed to guide it, nathan bedford forrest, famous cavalry general of the southern army, he of the charmed life, a man who was in "more than one hundred battles and had twenty-seven horses shot under him," a leader famous for his military strategy, was elected grand wizard of the invisible empire. forrest always stressed the order that no fighting would be allowed. if they needed to fight they would throw off their disguise and fight like soldiers. their purpose was to scare into submission the unruly free negroes and the trouble-making carpetbaggers; and this purpose they accomplished, without one drop of blood being shed, except in the most extreme cases. whenever an undesirable citizen was not wanted, he generally found a note tacked to his door saying that if he did not move on within twenty-four hours he would be visited by the ku klux klan. signed "k. k. k." the man generally "moved on" long before the stipulated time. the negroes, being naturally superstitious and imaginative, helped the order to gain power. in nashville, tennessee, among the five dens, there was one formed of medical students from the university. one of the favorite pranks of these young doctors was to ask a negro to hold their horse, and then place in his hand as he reached out to take the lines a finger or a hand taken from a corpse. the negro generally went a mile before he stopped running. another effective trick practiced by the klan was, when they had a negro on trial, to sprinkle beforehand a little powder on the floor--"hell fire," they called it--and when the negro would be looking down at the floor one of the klansmen would surreptitiously run his foot over the powder line, and a fiery-looking trail would show. the negro would be paralyzed with fright, and was always careful in the future never to have cause to be brought before the order again. the klan practiced numerous clever devices. fancy the impression made on a negro when a robed klansman asked him for a drink of water, to see a whole pail go down without any effort (a rubber bag concealed in the uniform aided in this deception), and then to hear a sepulchral voice say, "this is the first drink i have had since i was killed at chickamauga!" one never knew when nor where to expect a body of ku klux; they would spring up out of the ground, to all appearances; their ghostly figures multiplying like magic; they had a manner of forming their companies which made a band of one hundred men appear like a thousand. their horses' feet were always muffled, making their approach completely noiseless. but it was only the guilty who feared them; and fear was what the klan worked to effect. to kill was not their aim, and only where absolutely necessary was it ever resorted to. a rare instance was that of the hanging of a northern spy by the pulaski klan. this man came to pulaski and took up carpentry; he made the people like him, and worked himself into the klan; got their pass-words, everything in fact that they knew; then made ready to get away to the north and expose the secrets of the order. they found it out before he got away, and when he boarded the train in pulaski, a number of the klan boarded the car as it turned out of the city, took the man off the train and hung him at the bridge, thus saving their order a gigantic tragedy. it was never known who did it, the government could find out nothing. the matter was never discussed by any of the klan, even long years afterward. in preparing this sketch of the ku klux klan, i have been most fortunate in having capt. h. w. head, th tennessee regiment, now a popular physician of santa ana, california, a former grand cyclops of one of the nashville dens, to draw upon for material, and through his generosity in lending me his treasured prescript, which has never been out of his possession since , i am enabled to give a verbatim copy of their secret oath and ritual. when mrs. s. e. f. rose, historian of the mississippi division, wrote her interesting booklet on the ku klux klan, she was anxious to secure a copy of this oath. she wrote to a lady in tennessee who had one in her possession and asked if she would, for the sake of history, give her a copy. the lady replied that she regretted not being able to comply with her request, as she was not able to write it herself, and prized it too highly to allow it out of her possession for even an hour to have a typewritten copy made. she said that her ku klux papers, together with her husband's parole of honor obtained at appomatox, virginia, were to her treasures whose price was far above rubies. so you see what a treasure we have secured through capt. head's gallantry and generosity. i am sure the daughters appreciate the interest he has taken in helping compile this data. it was my aim to get information first-hand. my father, capt. james c. cooper, was grand cyclops of a den in mt. pleasant, tennessee, but i never saw his uniform, as it was burned when the klan disbanded. capt. head buried his uniform, and thus saved it. he obliged me by posing for a photograph in this interesting outfit. it was strange how the old feeling came back to him. he felt, he said, as if he were breaking his secret oath in thus displaying his uniform. certainly he did look guilty and a little self-conscious as he emerged from the funny-looking garment. the buttons you see so generously distributed are made of tin; the cloth is of black calico with white trimmings; the only color used is a touch of red around the mouth and over the eyes. a woman, who was sworn to secrecy, was generally appointed by the dens to make their uniforms, so that they would all be alike. as in masonry, no one was asked outright to join the klan. if a man happened to be talking to a klansman and showed a kindly interest in the order and a desire to join it, the klansman would talk around the subject, and if the man was of good character, would suggest that they might find out something about it, the klansman hinting that he thought he knew some one who belonged to it, and who might get them into the order. capt. head had a funny experience with his own father. they were talking one day about the new order when the father asked: "do you know who these people are who call themselves the ku klux klan?" the son replied that he might be able to take him to a place where they could find out. at the next meeting of his den, capt. head asked his father to go with him, an invitation which was accepted. the old gentleman was blindfolded and plied with the regulation questions, all of which he answered satisfactorily. when the blindfold was removed he was greatly surprised and pleased to see two of his own sons members of the den, capt. head himself taking his father into the order. the ku klux klan lasted for three years; they disbanded as quietly and as quickly as they formed. when martial law was declared, and the work was done, forrest sent out this order, through word of mouth, from den to den, throughout the vast empire: "the invisible empire has accomplished the purpose for which it was organized. civil law now affords ample protection to life, liberty and property; robbery and lawlessness are no longer unrebuked; the better elements of society are no longer in dread for the safety of their property, their persons, and their families. the grand wizard, being invested with power to determine questions of paramount importance, in the exercise of the power so conferred, now declares the invisible empire and all the subdivisions thereof dissolved and disbanded forever." uniforms, oaths, and rituals were ordered burned, because it meant death to a klansman to have them found in his possession, so strong had grown the feeling against the order, due to unscrupulous outsiders who committed horrible deeds in the guise of the klan. but the grand old order had accomplished what it set out to do. its work was nobly done; and our rescued south still sings her gratitude to her heaven-sent protectors, the mysterious k. k. k. exact copy of the revised and amended prescript of the order of the * * * =damnant quod intelligent= (first page of the ritual of the ku klux klan.) (the cover of the book has no writing, a simple, cheap, yellow paper back; the book measures - / by - / inches.) . . . appellation this organization shall be styled and denominated, the order of the (then follows three stars; no other name given). creed we, the order of the * * *, reverentially acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. and we recognize our relation to the united states government, the supremacy of the constitution, the constitutional laws thereof, and the union of states thereunder. character and objects of the order this is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar object being, first: to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages, of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of confederate soldiers. second: to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source, whatever. =nec seire fas est omnia.= . . . third: to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. article i. titles section . the officers of the order shall consist of a grand wizard of the empire, and his ten genii; a grand dragon of the realm, and his eight hydras; a grand titan of the dominion, and his six furies; a grand giant of the province, and his four goblins; a grand cyclops of the den, and his two nighthawks; a grand magi, a grand monk, a grand scribe, a grand exchequer, a grand turk, and a grand sentinel. section . the body politic of the order shall be known and designated as "ghouls." article ii. territory and its divisions section . the territory embraced within the jurisdiction of this order shall be coterminous with the states of maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, florida, alabama, mississippi, louisiana, texas, arkansas, missouri, kentucky, and tennessee; all combined constituting the empire. section . the empire shall be divided into four departments, the first to be styled the realm, and coterminous with the boundaries of the several states; the second to be styled the dominion, and =amiei humani generis.= . . . to be coterminous with such counties as the grand dragons of the several realms may assign to the charge of the grand titan. the third to be styled the province, and to be coterminous with the several counties; =provided=, the grand titan may, when he deems it necessary, assign two grand giants to one province, prescribing, at the same time, the jurisdiction of each. the fourth department to be styled the den, and shall embrace such part of a province as the grand giant shall assign to the charge of a grand cyclops. article iii. powers and duties of officers grand wizard section . the grand wizard, who is the supreme officer of the empire, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint grand dragons for the different realms of the empire; and he shall have power to appoint his genii, also a grand scribe, and a grand exchequer for his department, and he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this prescript, through his subalterns, for the organization and dissemination of the order; and when a question of paramount importance to the interests or prosperity of the order arises, not provided for in this prescript, he shall have the power to determine such question, and his decision shall be final until the same shall be provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. it shall be his duty to communicate with, and receive reports from the grand dragons of realms as to the condition, strength, and progress of the order within their respective realms. and =quemcunque miserum videris, hominem scias.= . . . it shall further be his duty to keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the grand dragons of the different realms of the empire, and shall number such realms with the arabic numerals , , , etc., =ad finem=; and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand dragon sec. . the grand dragon, who is the chief officer of the realm, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand titan for each dominion of his realm, (such dominion not to exceed three in number for any congressional district) said appointments being subject to the approval of the grand wizard of the empire. he shall have power to appoint his hydras; also a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand wizard, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his realm, and to transmit, through the grand titan, or other authorized sources, to the order, all information, intelligence, or instruction conveyed to him by the grand wizard for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will promote the interest and utility of the order. he shall keep by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the grand titans of the different dominions of his realm, and shall report the same to the grand wizard when required, and =magna est veritas, et prevalebit.= . . . shall number the dominions of his realm with the arabic numerals, , , , etc., =ad finem=. and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. grand titan sec . the grand titan, who is the chief officer of the dominion, shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a grand giant for each province of his dominion, such appointments, however, being subject to the approval of the grand dragon of the realm. he shall have the power to appoint his furies; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to report to the grand dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his dominion, and to transmit through the grand giant, or other authorized channels, to the order, all information, intelligence, instruction or directions conveyed to him by the grand dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interest or efficiency of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the grand giants of the different provinces of his dominion, and shall report the same to the grand dragon when required; and shall number the provinces of his dominion with the arabic numerals, , , , etc., =ad finem=. and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. =ne tentes aut perfice.= . . . grand giant sec. . the grand giant, who is the chief officer of the province, shall have power, and he is required, to appoint and instruct a grand cyclops for each den of his province, such appointments, however, being subject to the approval of the grand titan of the dominion. and he shall have the further power to appoint his goblins; also, a grand scribe and a grand exchequer for his department. it shall be his duty to supervise and administer general and special instructions in the organization and establishment of the order within his province, and to report to the grand titan, when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the order within his province, and to transmit through the grand cyclops, or other legitimate sources, to the order, all information, intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed to him by the grand titan or other higher authority for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think would advance the purposes or prosperity of the order. he shall keep, by his grand scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the grand cyclops of the various dens of his province, and shall report the same to the grand titan when required; and shall number the dens of his province with the arabic numerals , , , etc., =ad finem=. he shall determine and limit the number of dens to be organized and established in his province; and he shall direct and instruct his grand exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the order that comes to his hands. =quid faciendum?= . . . grand cyclops sec. . the grand cyclops, who is the chief officer of the den, shall have power to appoint his nighthawks, his grand scribe, his grand turk, his grand exchequer, and his grand sentinel. and for small offenses he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for the same. and he is further empowered to admonish and reprimand his den, or any of the members thereof, for any imprudence, irregularity, or transgression, whenever he may think that the interests, welfare, reputation, or safety of the order demands it. it shall be his duty to take charge of his den under the instruction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the grand giant, and in accordance with and in conformity to the provisions of this prescript,--a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before the formation of a den begins. it shall further be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of his den, and to preside at the same; to appoint irregular meetings when he deems it expedient; to preserve order and enforce discipline in his den; to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders; and to receive and initiate candidates for admission into the order, after the same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy to become members, by the investigating committee hereinafter provided for. and it shall further be his duty to make a quarterly report to the grand giant of the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of his den, and shall communicate to the officers and ghouls of his den, all information, intelligence, instruction, or direction, conveyed to him by the grand giant or other higher authority for that =fiat justicia coelum.= . . . purpose; and shall from time to time administer all other counsel, instruction or direction, as in his sound discretion, will conduce to the interests, and more effectually accomplish, the real objects and designs of the order. grand magi sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand magi, who is the second officer in authority of the den, to assist the grand cyclops, and to obey all the orders of that officer; to preside at all meetings in the den, in the absence of the grand cyclops; and to discharge during his absence all the duties and exercise all the powers and authority of that officer. grand monk sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand monk, who is the third officer in authority of the den, to assist and obey all the orders of the grand cyclops and the grand magi; and in the absence of both of these officers he shall preside at and conduct the meetings in the den, and shall discharge all the duties, and exercise all the powers and authority of the grand cyclops. grand exchequer sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand exchequers of the different departments to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the order that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by them; and shall make no appropriation or disbursement of the same except under the orders and direction of =dormitus aliquando jus, moritus nunquam.= . . . the chief officer of their respective departments. and it shall further be the duty of the exchequers of dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the grand cyclops, or the officer discharging his functions. grand turk sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand turk, who is the executive officer of the grand cyclops, to notify the officers and ghouls of the den, of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the grand cyclops, and to obey and execute all the orders of that officer in the control and government of his den. it shall further be his duty to receive and question at the outposts, all candidates for admission into the order, and shall =there= administer the preliminary obligation required, and then conduct such candidate or candidates to the grand cyclops, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. grand scribe sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand scribes of the different departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their departments, when required. and it shall further be the duty of the grand scribes of dens, to keep a list of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the officers and ghouls of the den, to call the roll at all meetings, and to make the quarterly reports under the direction and instruction of the grand cyclops. =quieta no movere.= . . . grand sentinel sec. . it shall be the duty of the grand sentinel to take charge of post and instruct the grand guard, under the direction and orders of the grand cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by that officer. the staff sec. . the genii shall constitute the staff of the grand wizard; the hydras, that of the grand dragon; the furies, that of the grand titan; the goblins, that of the grand giant; and the nighthawks, that of the grand cyclops. removal sec. . for any just, reasonable, and substantial cause, any appointee may be removed by the authority that appointed him, and his place supplied by another appointment. article iv. election of officers section . the grand wizard shall be elected biennially by the grand dragons of realms. the first election for this office to take place on the first monday in may, (a grand wizard having been created, by the original prescript, to serve three years from the first monday in may ); all subsequent elections to take place every two years thereafter. and the incumbent grand wizard shall notify the grand dragons of the different realms, at least six months before said election, at what time =quid verum atque decens.= . . . and place the same shall be held; a majority vote of all the grand dragons present being necessary and sufficient to elect a grand wizard. such election shall be by ballot, and shall be held by three commissioners appointed by the grand wizard for that purpose; and in the event of a tie, the grand wizard shall have the casting vote. sec. . the grand magi and the grand monk of dens shall be elected annually by the ghouls of dens; and the first election for these officers may take place as soon as ten ghouls have been initiated for the formation of a den. all subsequent elections to take place every year thereafter. sec. . in the event of a vacancy in the office of grand wizard, by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the senior grand dragon of the empire shall immediately assume and enter upon the discharge of the duties of the grand wizard, and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of said office until the same shall be filled by election; and the said senior grand dragon, as soon as practicable after the happening of such vacancy, shall call a convention of the grand dragons of the realms, to be held at such time and place as in his discretion he may deem most convenient and proper. =provided=, however, that the time for assembling such convention for the election of a grand wizard shall in no case exceed six months from the time such vacancy occurred; and in the event of a vacancy in any other office, the same shall immediately be filled in the manner hereinbefore mentioned. sec. . the officers heretofore elected or appointed may retain their offices during the time for =art est colare artem.= . . . which they have been so elected or appointed, at the expiration of which time said offices shall be filled as hereinbefore provided. article v. judiciary section . the tribunal of justice of this order shall consist of a court at the headquarters of the empire, the realm, the dominion, the province, and the den, to be appointed by the chiefs of these several departments. sec. . the court at the headquarters of the empire shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand dragons, and the officers and attaches belonging to the headquarters of the empire. sec. . the court at the headquarters of the realm shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand titans, and the officers and attaches belonging to the headquarters of the realm. sec. . the court at the headquarters of the dominion shall consist of three judges for the trial of grand giants, and the officers and attaches belonging to the headquarters of the dominion. sec. . the court at the headquarters of the province shall consist of five judges for the trial of grand cyclops, the grand magis, the grand monks, and the grand exchequers of dens, and the officers and attaches belonging to the headquarters of the province. sec. . the court at the headquarters of the den shall consist of seven judges appointed from =nusquam tuta fides.= . . . the den for the trial of ghouls and the officers belonging to the headquarters of the den. sec. . the tribunal for the trial of the grand wizard shall be composed of at least seven grand dragons, to be convened by the senior grand dragon upon charges being preferred against the grand wizard; which tribunal shall be organized and presided over by the senior grand dragon =present=; and if they find the accused guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the senior grand dragons of the empire shall cause the same to be executed. sec. . the aforesaid courts shall summon the accused and witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the officers convening the court shall cause the same to be executed. =provided=, the accused shall always have the right of appeal to the next court above, whose decision shall be final. sec. . the judges constituting the aforesaid courts shall be selected with reference to their intelligence, integrity, and fair-mindedness and shall render their verdict without prejudice, favor, partiality, or affection, and shall be so sworn, upon the organization of the court; and shall further be sworn to administer even-handed justice. sec. . the several courts herein provided for shall be governed in their deliberations, proceedings, and judgments by the rules and regulations governing the proceedings of regular court-martial. =fide non armis.= . . . article vi. revenue section . the revenue of this order shall be derived as follows: for every copy of this prescript issued to dens $ will be required; $ of which shall go into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand giant; $ into the hands of grand exchequer of the grand titan; $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand dragon, and the remaining $ into the hands of the grand exchequer of the grand wizard. sec. . a further source of revenue to the empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the realms, and a tax upon realms when the grand wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dominions, and a tax upon dominions when the grand dragon shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same. sec. . a further source of revenue to dominions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of provinces, and a tax upon provinces when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. sec. . a further source of revenue to provinces shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of dens, and a tax upon dens when the grand giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. =dat deus his quoque finem.= . . . sec. . the source of revenue to dens shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a =per capita= tax, whenever the grand cyclops shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable to the interests and objects of the order. sec. . all the revenue obtained in the manner aforesaid, shall be for the =exclusive= benefit of the order, and shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same and to the creation of a fund to meet any disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the order and to secure the protection of the same. article vii. eligibility for membership section . no one shall be pressed for admission into the order until he shall have first been recommended by some friend or intimate who is a member, to the investigating committee (which shall be composed of the grand cyclops, the grand magi, and the grand monk), and who shall have investigated his antecedents and his past and present standing and connections, and after such investigation, shall have pronounced him competent and worthy to become a member. =provided=, no one shall be presented for admission into, or become a member of this order, who shall not have attained the age of eighteen years. sec. . no one shall become a member of this order unless he shall =voluntarily= take the following oaths or obligations, and shall =satisfactorily= answer the following interrogatories, while kneeling, with =cessante causa, cessat effectus.= . . . his right hand raised to heaven, and his left hand resting on the bible. preliminary obligation "i ---- solemnly swear or affirm that i will never reveal anything that i may this day (or night) learn concerning the order of the * * * and that i will true answer make to such interrogatories as may be put to me touching my competency for admission into the same. so help me god." interrogatories to be asked st. have you ever been rejected, upon application for membership in the * * *, or have you ever been expelled from the same? nd. are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the radical republican party, or either of the organizations known as the "loyal league" and the "grand army of the republic?" rd. are you opposed to the principles and policy of the radical party, and to the loyal league, and the grand army of the republic, so far as you are informed of the character and purposes of these organizations? th. did you belong to the federal army during the late war, and fight against the south during the existence of the same? th. are you opposed to negro equality, both social and political? th. are you in favor of a white man's government in this country? =cave quid, dicis, quando, et cui.= . . . th. are you in favor of constitutional liberty and a government of equitable laws instead of a government of violence and oppression? th. are you in favor of maintaining the constitutional rights of the south? th. are you in favor of the re-enfranchisement and emancipation of the white men of the south, and the restitution of the southern people to all their rights, alike proprietary, civil, and political? th. do you believe in the inalienable right of self-preservation of the people against the exercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power? if the foregoing interrogatories are satisfactorily answered, and the candidate desires to go further (after something of the character and nature of the order has thus been indicated to him) and to be admitted to the benefits, mysteries, secrets, and purposes of the order, he shall then be required to take the following final oath or obligation. but if said interrogatories are not satisfactorily answered, or the candidate declines to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after being solemnly admonished by the initiating officer of the deep secrecy to which the oath already taken has bound him, and that the extreme penalty of the law will follow a violation of the same. final obligation "i ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of almighty god, do solemnly swear or affirm, that i will never reveal to any one, not even a member of the order of the * * *, by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any =nemo tenetur seipsum accura.= . . . other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the order of the * * *, or that i am a member of the same, or that i know any one who is a member; and that i will abide by the prescript and edicts of the order of the * * *. so help me god." the initiating officer will then proceed to explain to the new member the character and objects of the order, and introduce him to the mysteries and secrets of the same; and shall read to him this prescript and the edicts thereof, or present the same to him for personal perusal. article viii. amendments this prescript or any part of the edicts thereof shall never be changed, except by a two-thirds vote of the grand dragons of the realms, in convention assembled, and at which convention the grand wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. and upon the application of a majority of the grand dragons for that purpose, the grand wizard shall call and appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when assembled, shall proceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think will promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the order. article ix. interdiction the origin, mysteries, and ritual of this order shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. =deo adjuvante, non timendum.= . . . article x. edicts . no one shall become a member of a distant den, where there is a den established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall any one become a member of any den, or of this order in any way, after he shall have been once rejected, upon application for membership. . no den, or officer, or member, or members thereof, shall operate beyond their prescribed limits, unless invited or ordered by the proper authority to do so. . no member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any meeting of the den; nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting while intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such condition he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the order. . any member may be expelled from the order by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the den to which he belongs; and if after such expulsion, such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia, or insignia of the order, or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punished. his obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after his expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were then a member. . upon the expulsion of any member from the order, the grand cyclops, or the officer acting in =spectemus agendo.= . . . his stead, shall immediately report the same to the grand giant of the province, who shall cause the fact to be made known and read in each den of his province, and shall transmit the same, through the proper channels, to the grand dragon of the realm, who shall cause it to be published to every den in the realm, and shall notify the grand dragons of contiguous realms of the same. . every grand cyclops shall read, or cause to be read, this prescript and these edicts to his den, at least once in every month; and shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him for his personal perusal. . the initiation fee of this order shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the order. . dens may make such additional edicts for their control and government as they may deem requisite and necessary. =provided=, no edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provisions or edicts of this prescript. . the most profound and rigid secrecy concerning any and everything that relates to the order, shall at all times be maintained. . any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets of this order, shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. admonition hush! thou art not to utter what i am; bethink thee, it was our covenant! =nemo nos impune lacissit.= . . . register i. . dismal, . painful, . mystic, . portentous, . stormy, . fading, . peculiar, . melancholy, . blooming, . glorious, . brilliant, . gloomy. ii. i. white, ii. green, iii. yellow, iv. amber, v. purple, vi. crimson, vii. emerald. iii. . fearful, . hideous, . startling, . frightful, . wonderful, . awful, . alarming, . horrible, . mournful, . dreadful, . appalling, . last. iv. cumberland. l'envoi to the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the order, of the * * *. =ad unum omnes.= =resurgamus= * * * * * +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | transcriber's note: | | | | inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | | been preserved. | | | | obvious typographical errors have been corrected. for | | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ * * * * * ku klux klan secrets exposed attitude toward jews, catholics, foreigners and masons. fraudulent methods used. atrocities committed in name of order. ezra a. cook, publisher (incorporated) e. van buren st. chicago copyright applied for contents page the old ku klux klan the new ku klux klan how the modern ku klux klan was organized how the ku klux klan gets members oath of the ku klux klan the old pledge of loyalty modern kleagles pledge of loyalty how the dollars roll in the ku klux klan and the jews the ku klux klan and the catholics the ku klux klan and the masons the ku klux klan and the negroes the ku klux klan and women atrocities committed in the name of the order ku klux klan secrets exposed chapter i the old ku klux klan to the old ku-klux klan which rode through the south in the days following the civil war the new ku-klux klan is a relative only in name. it is not tied by blood. it holds the same position to its southern aristocratic forbear as an imposter in social life does to some illustrious gentleman of the same name of whom he claims to be a descendant. the old ku-klux klan was a historical development. the new is a man's contrivance. the old ku-klux klan movement was an outcome of conditions that prevailed in the southern states after the war. the present klan, apparently, is an outcome of a group of men's desire to make money. widespread, spontaneous, popular, the movement of grew out of a disordered society, not as a "movement" at all at first, but as a scheme for having fun, a source of amusement among a group of young, full-blooded southern men to puzzle outsiders. its use as a weapon against the stranger in the old south came later. the "stranger" was the northern carpetbagger. to the south he was the pestilence that follows war. he was the blunderer who entered the land whose social customs were unknown to him, in a year when the fabric by those social customs was in need of mending. no religious test when southern society seized the ku-klux klan as an instrument with which to resist there were only two classes, carpet-bagger and unruly negro, against which it operated. to join the ranks of the white-robed horsemen, there were no qualifications of religion. the klan made no mention of jew or catholic. its purpose was to restore order, not to fan prejudice, and therein lies the difference between the old klan and the present klan which makes the latter a maverick. the first unit of the horseback riding knights was founded in the village of pulaski, tenn., with the same motive for its organization as the old-time college hazing society. its members were young men who had come back from the war, poor, exhausted, discouraged, and bored with the tameness of a country town. how it started according to the story which has lived south of the mason and dixon line since those post-bellum days, a group of youths cooling their heels in a law office one may evening in organized a society for a good time. if anyone had suggested to them at that time that five years later a committee of congress would devote thirteen volumes to a history of their "movement" and pass a law to suppress it, or that before the child of their wits was fully grown it would have developed into a terrorizing "hobgoblin" sheeted for lawlessness, they would have thought it a jest. when their mere joke had become a grim joke, neighbors who feared it found in its name "ku-klux" the suggestion of a clicking rifle. but the name itself was proposed by its charter members in tennessee as a derivative of the greek word "kuklos," meaning a circle. from "kuklos" to "ku-klux" was an easy transition. the "klan" followed because these youthful students of greek had an ear for the alliterative. from the pulaski law office the society migrated to a haunted house on the outskirts of the village. its members found their first source of amusement in initiation rites. they named their chief officer a grand cyclops and their vice president a grand magi. other officers were the grand turk, or marshal; a grand exchequer or treasurer, and two lictors. wore white masks the only germ in their constitution from which the "imperial wizard" simmons of the twentieth century klan could breed his present organization was the promise of absolute secrecy. for his copying years later, the first klan also contrived a disguise. it consisted of a white mask, a tall cardboard hat, a gown or robe, and for the night riding excursions, a cover for the horses' bodies and mufflers for their feet. only after the pulaski organization had entertained itself for many nights did the phenomenon present itself which was to make the klan a weapon in the progress of post-war reconstruction. it was the discovery that the african negro was twice as fearful of mysticism and mystery as the white man. it taught the white men of tennessee and neighboring states that they had a means of their own of preventing what they considered political mismanagement and social insolence in the control by northerners and freedmen of the state government. becomes military organization the pulaski riders made themselves popular. young men of neighboring towns organized brother klans. when southern society found itself a humpty dumpty fallen from the wall, it grasped the pulaski idea as the means for pulling itself up again. the klan became a military organization, with the purpose of keeping order among the negroes by intimidating them. mysticism in the order grew. humor grew with it, and by the time the states of the north discovered that the south had an organization which was in purpose a society of regulators, the young southern war veterans were donning their white robes and cardboard hats with a human skull and two thigh bones as the symbols of allegiance. the oath which the grand cyclops administered has been preserved in southern diaries and documents. it was taken in a solemn manner as the knights were grouped amid the bones. the oath follows. "we (or i, as the case might be) do solemnly swear before almighty god and these witnesses, and looking upon these human bones, that i will obey and carry into effect every order made by any cyclops or assistant cyclops, and if i fail strictly to conform and execute every order made, as above required of me, unless i am prevented from some cause which shall be no fault of mine, or if i shall give any information to any person or persons except members of this order, that the doom of all traitors shall be meted out to me, and that my bones may become as naked and dry as the bones i am looking upon. and i take this oath voluntarily, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever, for the causes set out in said order, so help me god." ku-klux horsemen who rode white-sheeted through the south in the nights of regarded themselves as upholders of sectional patriotism. they considered themselves the spiritual descendants of the new englanders who threw the english tea overboard into boston harbor nearly years before. their protests, and the acts of intimidation by which they enforced their protests were against the white "carpetbagger" from the north, the negro freedman to whom liberty meant arrogant office-holding, and the "scalawag," by which terms they designated those deserters from the southern aristocracy who had joined the ranks of the northern stranger. the second stage came within a year after the secret body had its birth, when the band of burlesquers became a band of regulators. to the south, the reconstruction acts which congress passed in were pernicious. the one-time white confederate soldier believed that the congressional legislation made official mismanagement permanent. he saw negroes organized into the militia. he saw his former slaves voting twice and thrice at elections where he himself had to pass, literally, under bayonets to reach the polls. he disliked the freedman's bureau, which substituted northern alien machinery for the old patriarchal relation between white employer and black employe. he heard drunken negroes at his gates in the night. he saw the "carpetbagger" urging upon the freedman civic rights which he knew the latter was not educated enough to perform. first objects political these were the prejudices against which the original ku-klux klan threw itself. they were surface indications of an historical development. they had nothing to do with the racial and religious biases which the present klan attempted to propagate. to the present klan, the old klan, in its first stage, was unrelated. in its second stage it was related only in its methods of terrorism and its removal of justice from the courts to the masques until its own leaders were powerless to check it. the klan early fell a victim to the abuses inseparable from secrecy. it happened that tennessee, the birthplace of the hooded institution, was also the first southern state to find itself turned upside down in reconstruction. "dem ku-kluxes," as the negro called the mysterious union, became a band of regulators. their first official convention was held in nashville early in . the klan, which, until then, had been bound together only by the deference which priority rights gave to the grand cyclops of the parental pulaski "den," was organized into the "invisible empire of the south." it was ruled by a grand wizard of the whole empire, a grand dragon of each realm, or state, a grand titan of each dominion, or county, a grand cyclops of each den, and staff officers with names as equally suggestive of arabian nights. laws define objects for the first time its laws defined serious objects. first was the duty of protecting people, presumably white southerners, from indignities and wrongs; second was the duty of succoring the suffering, particularly among the families of dead confederate soldiers; finally was the oath to defend "the constitution of the united states and all laws passed in conformity thereto," and of the states also, to aid in executing all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizures and from trial otherwise than by jury. it is these purposes which imperial wizard simmons of the modern clan pretends to perpetuate, plus persecutions of jews, catholics and negroes, while denying charges of terrorizing outbreaks. the nashville convention chose gen. nathan b. forrest, the confederate cavalry leader, as its supreme ruler. he is known to have increased the membership of the hooded horsemen in the old south to , . among his aides were generals john b. gordon, a.h. colquitt, g.t. anderson, a.b. lawton, w.j. hardee, john c. brown, george w. gordon and albert pike. the latter became one of the foremost authorities of masonry. terrorism spread, until during the political campaign which preceded the presidential election, , persons were killed and injured in louisiana by ku-klux klansmen, who rode at night, disguised as freebooters, and according to james g. blaine, defeated candidate for the presidency at a later date, hesitated at no cruelty. in the north, in the years immediately after the civil war, the original ku-klux klan was called a conspiracy. in the south, where society was being ground in the mills of reconstruction, the klan started its midnight rovings as an instrument of moral force. but within three years its period of usefulness, as the white southerner saw it useful, was over. its founders had played with it as with an exciting bonfire. during the months, however, when former confederate soldiers used it to frighten away northern officeholders with oppressive tactics, it had leaped in size until when the moment came for smothering it out its leaders discovered it beyond control. not until the full fire department of federal and state law had been called out did the invisible empire cease to operate. tennessee acts against it by the white-robed knights of midnight, whose purpose to enforce law had in itself yielded to lawlessness, were for the most part disappeared. but so, in one state after another, had the northern carpetbagger and the southern scalawag. tennessee, where the klan was founded, was the first to take legislative action against it. in september, , its legislature passed a statute making membership in the klan punishable by a fine of $ and imprisonment for not less than five years. as a result, in february, , gen. nathan b. forrest, former cavalry officer of the confederate army, who was grand wizard of the order, officially proclaimed the ku-klux klan and invisible empire dissolved and disbanded forever. but members of the adventurous law-assuming organization were reluctant to yield their mysterious power. the wizard's order went into effect. klan property was burned. new bands spring up but immediately in southern states, as far west as arkansas, there sprang up disguised bands, some of them neighborhood groups only, some of them bands of ruffians who traveled in the night to win personal ends, still others new orders founded in imitation of the ku-klux and using similar methods. of the last, the knights of the white camellia was the largest. in some private notebooks of the south its membership was said to be even larger than the parent klan. from new orleans early in , it spread across to texas and back to the carolinas. racial supremacy was its purpose. only white men years or older were invited to the secrets of its initiation, and in their oath they promised not only to be obedient and secret, but to "maintain and defend the social and political superiority of the white race on this continent." initiates were enjoined, notwithstanding, to show fairness to the negroes and to concede to them in the fullest measure "those rights which we recognize as theirs." "pale faces" and others other bands of nightriders responded to the names of "pale faces," "white leaguers," the "white brotherhood" and the "constitutional union guards." surviving members are hazy as to their aims and methods, the character of their membership, their members, and the connection between them. federal recognition that the invisible empire, whether it was the original klan or not, was everywhere a real empire came in the spring of , when a senate committee presented majority and minority reports on the result of its investigations of the white man's will to rule against the freedmen's militia in the south. the majority report found that the ku-klux klan was a criminal conspiracy of a distinctly political nature against the laws and against the colored citizens. the minority found that ku-klux disorder and violence was due to misgovernment and an exploitation of the states below the mason and dixon line by radicals. congress acts against klan the first ku-klux bill was passed in april, , "to enforce the fourteenth amendment." power of the president to use troops to put down the white-hooded riders was hinted at. in the next month the second ku-klux bill was passed to enforce "the right of citizens in the united states to vote." in federal troops were sent into the south to back up his anti-ku-klux proclamation. by the end of the "conspiracy" was thought to be overthrown. at various times individuals in the south and elsewhere have tried to put breath into the klan's dead body. it was left for "grand wizard" simmons of atlanta to accomplish it. his new organization, he explains, is imbued with the ku-klux "spirit." "that this spirit may live always to warm the hearts of many men," he says, "is the paramount ideal of the knights of the ku-klux klan." president grant answered: "thou shalt not" to the ku-klux klan in . he backed up his word with armed troops. during the whole of one session of congress senators and representatives serving in washington in the years just after the civil war occupied themselves in stripping the masques off the southern night-riders. into the country south of the mason and dixon line they dispatched congressional investigators, whose duty it was to enter the "portals of the invisible empire" and discover what was hiding behind them. when they reported that the ku-klux klan, decked out in the uniform of ghosts, was waging midnight warfare on the negro and carpet-bagger congress passed legislation which suppressed the order. puts robes out of fashion action was quick. almost before the government printing presses had finished turning out ten volumes in which the committee recorded the results of their investigation the white robes and hoods of the ku-kluxes had gone out of fashion in the old south. president grant in was without precedent. his law enforcers, just getting acquainted with the amendment which freed the slaves, were without a statute to deal with the armed clique which proposed to keep the negro down in the day by frightening him in the night. the emergency bill which congress passed at that period empowers the regular army or the navy to put down any unlawful combination which is doing domestic violence. when congress met for its forty-second session in , the cross bones and skull and coffin with which the ku-klux were marking their threats had become the symbols of terrorism in the south. so grave was the situation that speakers on the floor of the house, when the session opened, classed the conspiracy of the klan "less formidable, but not less dangerous to american liberty" than the just-ended war of the rebellion. they charged that as well as binding its members to execute crimes against its opponents in the social-political life of the south, it protected them against conviction and punishment by perjury on the witness stand and in the jury box. representatives asked why, of all offenders, not one had been convicted. president urges action on march , , president grant sent a message to both houses in which he recommended that all other business be postponed until the klan was made subservient to the flag. "a condition of affairs now exists in some of the states of the union rendering life and property insecure and the carrying of the mails and the collection of revenue dangerous," his message said. "the proof that such a condition of affairs exists in some localities is now before the senate. that the power to correct these evils is beyond the control of the senate authorities i do not doubt; that the power of the executive of the united states, acting within the limits of existing laws is sufficient for present emergencies, is not clear. therefore, i urgently recommend such legislation as in the judgment of congress shall effectually secure, life, liberty and property and the enforcement of law in all parts of the united states. it may be expedient to provide that such law as shall be passed in pursuance of this recommendation shall expire at the end of the next session of congress. there is no other subject on which i would recommend legislation during the present session." "force bill at disposal" the law which was at the disposal of president harding was popularly known as "the force bill." under congressional passage it was entitled "an act to enforce the fourteenth amendment of the constitution of the united states and for other purposes." president grant approved it april , . it is aimed at two or more persons who conspire to use force and intimidation "outside the law." it forbids them to go in disguise along a public highway or upon the premises of another person for the purpose, either directly or indirectly, of depriving that person of equal privileges under the law. punishment for the offense may be imprisonment from six months to six years, a fine not less than $ , nor more than $ , , or both. the act took particular action against the practice of the klanists of protecting each other in court. it provides that every man called for service on a jury in a klan case shall take oath in open court that he is not a member of nor has ever aided or advised any such "unlawful, combination or conspiracy." disguise is barred that individual was declared a violator of the law who shall "go in disguise upon the public highway or upon the premises of another for the purpose, either directly or indirectly, of depriving any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges or immunities under the laws, or by force, intimidation or threat to prevent any citizen lawfully entitled to vote from giving his support or advocacy in a lawful manner toward the election of any lawfully qualified person for office." the act states further: "that in all cases where insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combinations or conspiracies in any state shall so obstruct or hinder the execution of the laws thereof, and of the united states, as to deprive any portion or class of the people of any rights, privileges or immunities or protection, and the constituted authorities of such state shall either be unable to protect, or shall fail in or refuse protection, it shall be unlawful for the president, and it shall be his duty, to take such measures by the employment of the militia or the land and naval forces of the united states for the suppression of such insurrection." "ku-klux" fills records pages of the congressional globe, as the present congressional record was then called, were filled during the months before the passage of this act with the word "ku-klux." the verb "kukluxed" became in the mouths of senators and representatives arguing over the bill a synonym for "intimidated." friends of the nightriders termed them "modern knights of the round table," and "conservators of law and order." opponents on the floor of the house advocated a policy of "amnesty for every rebel, hanging for every ku-klux." black and white victims of the gun-toting ghosts were brought from tennessee, georgia, louisiana, texas and other states where the klan rode to recount before the congressional committee the details of their persecutions. their accounts as the government documents preserve them might well have been a primer, it has been said, for the acts of later lenines and trotzkys. report of offenses varies the report of the congressional committee is a recital varying from mirth to murder. in one county the victim of the hooded klan might be an itinerant minister who had offended by teaching a negro mammy to pray. next door a ku-klux sign, with a coffin painted in blood, might be hung over the dead body of a "bad" negro whose freedom had made him officious. one negro was whipped for stealing a beef. another was tarred and feathered because his daughter ran away from the white man who had employed her. colored cooks were beaten for talking saucily to their southern mistresses. northern white women were threatened for hiring colored cooks. ignores note, dies when a negro ignored a note carrying the ku-klux skull and cross bones and voted "republican" instead of "conservative," his body, ornamented with skull and bones in blood, might be found the next morning in the middle of the road--lifeless. the congressional minutes report a bold, public display of the klan's official orders. they might appear in a whisk of the wind on the post office window. they might be pinned on a tree or pole or building. on one occasion, when a member of the klan was on trial in a county court, a band of white masquers, riding through the courtyard on horse, dropped a note addressed to the court, grand jury and sheriff. "go slow," it commanded. at the bottom was a drawing of a coffin and on each side a rope. the signature was "k.k.k." ku-klux rule in the south half a century ago was an attempt to govern by masque. secret covenants arrived at by a sheeted brotherhood, veiled signs, orders written in blood and posted at midnight on the victim's door--by such means did the klan substitute the masque for the ballot. congressional investigating committees who stripped the night-riding organization of secrecy during the administration of president grant, were entertained during a session of congress by tales of lares and lemures howling at night in fields or on crossroads, bad luck omens for the negroes. under martial law in organization the klan was military, and its town, county and state rule, as recorded in the congressional globe, operated as under martial law. as the revolt of the white southerner to colored and northern domination reared itself into giant-size, towns under klan domination came to take their rule and law from the k.k.k. note, flapping in the wind on a tree or fencepost, with the coffin on its signature, urging that it be obeyed. warn carpet baggers in south carolina, according to the report of the federal committee, townsfolk journeyed to the postoffice, not to get their mail, but to read the daily ku-klux bulletin. one such, reprinted in the ten-volume report of the committee which examined southern outrages, was a warning against further "carpet bagger" administration. it is as follows: headquarters, ninth division, s.c. special orders, no. , k.k.k. ignorance is the curse of god. for that reason we are determined that members of the legislature, the school committee and the county commissioners of union county shall no longer officiate. fifteen days' notice from this date is given, and if they, and all, do not at once and forever resign their present inhuman, disgraceful and outrageous rule, then retributive justice will as surely be used as night follows day. by order of the grand chief, a.o., grand secretary. threaten negroes for fires another "special order," this one warning that the colored race in general would be punished for all malicious fires in particular, was made public in the charleston news, jan. , . headquarters, k.k.k. january , . resolved: that in all cases of incendiarism, ten of the leading colored people and two white sympathizers shall be executed. that if any armed bands of colored people are found hereafter picketing the roads, the officers of the company to which the pickets belong shall be executed. southern speakers on the floor of the house in the debates which preceded the passage of the "act to enforce the fourteenth amendment," traced the origin of the ku-klux to the union league, an association in the south composed chiefly of northerners. charges were also made by statesmen once in the confederate army that "tammany hall" in new york furnished arms to the klanists, in order that they might murder southern republicans. suppressed in when the act suppressing the klan was approved by president grant on april , , it was estimated that the night riders were operating in eleven states of the south. six months later, in october, president grant issued a proclamation calling on members of illegal associations in nine counties in south carolina to disperse and surrender their arms and disguises in five days. five days afterwards, another proclamation was issued suspending the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus in the counties named. more than persons were arrested within a few days. it is believed that the ku-klux klan was practically overthrown by the middle of the following january. chapter ii the new ku klux klan _must every citizen be a slave of fear spread by masked night-riders, or will he live under the protection of the constitution of the united states?_ are you a citizen of the united states? if you are it is to your interest to inform yourself about the ku-klux klan. as a citizen you are under the protection of the constitution of the united states. the ku klux klan has set itself above the constitution. it has made laws of its own. its members have inaugurated a reign of lawlessness that may drag you out of your bed at midnight and submit you to a coat of tar and feathers through the whims of some neighbor who does not like the country in which you were born, or who objects to your religion, your color, your opinions, your personal habits or anything else about you that does not suit his fancy. the constitution guarantees that your house, your person and your papers and effects are free from unlawful search and seizure; that you cannot be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, which law must be publicly enforced in god's sunshine by persons legally chosen; that when you are accused of any delinquency or crime you shall have a speedy, public trial before a judge and an impartial jury; that you may be a member of any religious denomination or sect with whom you may worship as you please; that you have the right of free speech; that you cannot be held in involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime, for which you have been found guilty in a legal way; that you cannot be denied the right to vote on account of your color. masked men defy constitution masked riders of the night disagree with these guarantees of freedom. they break into your house under cover of darkness unlawfully seize your person and ride away with you, depriving you of liberty without due process of law. they accuse you of charges that may or may not be true, without giving you the opportunity of knowing the identity of your accusers, because they are masked. they try you without giving you a chance to defend yourself. they make themselves accuser, judge, jury and executioner. they deny that you have the right to worship god as you please. they deny your right to free speech, because they forbid you to criticise what they do. the ku klux klan clamps involuntary servitude on its own members by making them take oaths to uphold their leaders, even when they violate the constitution. it aims to place those whom it opposes under its heel. it openly defies the article of the constitution that guarantees race equality, by binding its members to put the black race under the supremacy of the white. the american constitution says that if you were born abroad, but have become a naturalized citizen of the united states, you have as many rights here as though you were actually born here. the ku klux klan is against the constitution on that point. the ku klux klan wants to make the foreigner a serf. the ku klux klan has set itself up as a regulator of morals. persons against whom there has been neighborhood gossip have been tarred and feathered. thanks to the _new york world_, court records have been published showing that some of the highest persons in the ku klux have been involved in proceedings as disgraceful as those for which tar and feather parties have been organized by the klan or persons masquerading as ku klux. mistreat whites and blacks men and women, white and black--have been mistreated by masked men. the number of these attacks grows as the klan increases in size. at present the klan has branches in all states of the union except three--new hampshire, montana and utah. in each state the law would be enforced by legal officials against any persons guilty of crime if public spirited citizens would make it their business to assist public officials to round up law breakers. the klan, however, believes in its own method of punishment against those whom it opposes. it protects its own members and there is no case on record where a klansman has been outraged. the klan has one law for itself and another for its victims. the revelations of scandal among its leaders have not resulted in any movement on the part of its members to "clean house." its motto seems to be "a klansman can do no wrong." the lesson to be drawn from the revelations is that those in high places in the klan have played on the gullibility of tens of thousands of otherwise sensible americans. these leaders have become rich by dealing in the hocuspocus of mysticism, secret rites and high sounding phrases and by inflaming the passions of dupes by false stories involving religions and races. in the south they have preached and conspired against the negroes. this hatred also has been carried into certain sections of large cities of the north where there are large negro populations. in some states they have played upon the feelings of those who might be drawn into the klan by a crusade against catholics. they have made use of counterfeit documents in secret bids for membership on this score. in cities like new york and chicago, where the populations are largely jewish, they have fanned the flames of religious hatred by propaganda against the jews. where foreign-born residents are living in large numbers the klan has secretly intrigued against them. on the pacific coast this propaganda is made against the japanese; on the eastern seaboard it has been against persons born in european and asiatic countries. a gold mine for promoters those who have investigated the klan are convinced that its principal promoters are not inspired by a zeal for the welfare of the united states, but on the other hand they are certain that the promoters are in the ku klux klan business to make money out of it; that they have profited by millions of dollars and that for this filthy money they have spread loose seeds of discontent and disorder that must be raked out of the body politic by the united action of all patriotic organizations and individuals. as far as its chief protagonists are concerned the ku klux is a huge money-making hoax--a gold mine. the poor dupes who have been "soaked" for regalia and dues will wake up some time and discover how they have been deluded and misled. in the meantime, however, it is the duty of every true american to inform himself about the klan so that in whatever way may come to his lot he may counteract the terrible consequences of its teachings and practices. chapter iii how the modern ku klux klan was organized _something about those who sit in judgment on the affairs of the "invisible empire"; their troubles in court._ william j. simmons (who carries a bogus title as "colonel") is the "imperial wizard" of the "invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan." he organized the masked men on thanksgiving night in . some of the organizers associated with him had belonged to the original ku klux klan which rampaged in the southern states after the civil war, killing hundreds of negroes and whites, and which was put out of business by president u.s. grant after the states had failed to do so. simmons and thirty-four others secured a charter from the state of georgia on december , . it is signed by philip cook, who was then secretary of state of that commonwealth. later, on july , , a special charter was issued by the supreme court of fulton county, ga. the granting of the charters followed the organization of the klan which occurred with midnight ceremonies on the top of stone mountain, near atlanta, thanksgiving night. that cold winter night in referring to the first ceremonies, simmons has written as follows in the official records of the ku klux: "on thanksgiving night, , men were seen emerging from the shadows and gathering round the spring at the base of stone mountain, the world's greatest rock, near atlanta, ga., and from thence repaired to the mountain top, and there under a blazing fiery cross they took the oath of allegiance to the invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan. "and thus on the mountain top that night at the midnight hour, while men braved the surging blasts of wild wintry mountain winds and endured a temperature far below freezing, bathed in the sacred glow of the fiery cross, the invisible empire was called from its slumber of half a century to take up a new task and fulfill a new mission for humanity's good, and to call back to mortal habitation the good angel of practical fraternity among men." it will be noticed that simmons refers to "a temperature far below freezing." the official weather reports of the region for that night show that the temperature was thirty degrees above the freezing point. simmons had a fraternal order in mind when he organized the ku klux. he had been an itinerant methodist preacher and organizer for the modern woodmen of the world and had not met with success in either capacity. he was a good talker but lacked the "punch" to put things over. the ku klux klan did not prosper under his direction. then he met edward y. clarke and mrs. elizabeth tyler. clarke and mrs. tyler were the owners of the southern publicity association of atlanta. during the war they had been publicity agents for various "drives," managed for the y.m.c.a., such y.w.c.a., the salvation army and such enterprises. clarke saw the value of the publicity that could be coined from the old name of the ku klux klan and entered into an arrangement with simmons to promote the klan. he agreed to give simmons $ a week if simmons would follow his directions. simmons was to brush up on delivering speeches and writing articles for _the searchlight_, a magazine which clarke founded as the official organ of the ku klux. from this joining of forces simmons, clarke and mrs. tyler have become rich. the klan has extended its membership to all except three states and it claims that , to , klansmen are in its ranks. clarke is the "imperial kleagle," or boss salesman of memberships. mrs. tyler is grand chief of staff in charge of the woman's division of the klan. what police records show investigation of the police and court records of atlanta disclosed that clarke and mrs. tyler were arrested in their night clothes in a house that mrs. tyler owned at no. south pryor street, atlanta. this occurred in october, . clarke gave the name of "jim slaton" and mrs. tyler gave the name of "mrs. elizabeth carroll." the cases were on the book of the recorder's court as city of atlanta versus e.y. clarke and city of atlanta versus mrs. elizabeth tyler, page of the docket of , case numbers , and , . the police were put on the trail of clarke and mrs. tyler by clarke's wife. in addition to the charge of disorderly conduct, a charge of possessing whisky illegally was placed against mrs. tyler and clarke. this was an amazing charge against clarke because he had been known as one of the leaders of the anti-saloon movement in georgia. the whisky charge was dropped when j.q. jett, son-in-law of mrs. tyler, claimed ownership of the whisky and was fined $ . the klan is supposed to stand for respect of women and children. the records of the atlanta courts still contain charges against clarke that he deserted and abandoned his wife and child. he never has denied the charges. mrs. clarke went to work to support herself and her little son. a suit for divorce was filed in october, , by mrs. clarke, who charged that her husband had deserted her three years previously. after his arrest with mrs. tyler clarke agreed to pay his wife $ a month. since clarke has become prosperous in the ku klux klan he has bought his wife a $ , house. records are stolen when newspaper men began to investigate mrs. tyler and clarke, they discovered that the official records of the atlanta police department and the recorder's office had been mutilated. somebody had stolen the pages from the books containing the records of the cases. members of the ku klux klan are numbered among the police and official attaches of the city and newspaper comment indicates that they helped smother the case in behalf of their leaders. scandal of "chaplain" ridley another leader of the ku klux klan is "rev." caleb a. ridley, who is the "imperial chaplain" of the order. he is a right-hand assistant of mrs. tyler and helps her to edit _the searchlight_. ridley also has had an experience in the recorder's court. he was arrested on complaint of the husband of mrs. j.b. hamilton, who lives on cooper street, atlanta, not a great distance from the central baptist church, where ridley preaches. recorder johnson dismissed the case against ridley. mrs. hamilton testified that ridley used to walk past her house when she sat on the porch and smile up at her. one day, without being invited and with no encouragement from her, he walked up on the porch and sat next to her on a swing. she said he chatted with her about church questions, although she was not a member of his church. then he placed his arm around her, tried to embrace her and said something that she thought was not proper. one witness testified that he had seen ridley go on the porch and sit on the swing. he had seen mrs. hamilton push ridley away from her. ridley was supported by his flock. several women testified in behalf of his character. he said he visited mrs. hamilton because she looked lonely. chapter iv how the ku klux klan gets members _first approached by mysterious notes, the candidate is soaked for a "donation" and money for his robes._ the man who is invited to join the ku klux klan is kidded into the belief that he is one of the chosen of god's beings and that he is being honored because his presence in the ranks is an honor to himself as well as to the klan. a kleagle is a common salesman. he has charge of a small district. he works under a king kleagle, who has charge of a state. he is the state salesmanager. a cyclops is in charge of the king kleagles and the kleagles in several states. here is the way one group of kleagles work. they are given the name of a person who is eligible. one kleagle is assigned to catch him. the kleagle sends the sucker the following message: "sir (or brother)--six thousand men who are preparing for eventualities have their eyes on you. you are being weighed in the balance! "the call is coming! are you able and qualified to respond? "discuss this matter with no one." "yu-bu-tu" a few days later this card is sent: "sir--you have heard from us because we believe in you. we are for you and need you! "the impenetrable veil of mystery is drawing aside. soon you will appear exactly as you are. "are you a real man? "lift your eyes to the fiery cross and falter not, but go forward to the light. "discuss this matter with no one. "yu-bu-tu" after another short wait this third message is sent: "sir: "you have been weighed in the balance and found not wanting! "strong men--brave men--r-e-a-l men. we need such men. we know you are one. "the goblins of the invisible empire will shortly issue their call. be discreet, preserve silence and bide its coming. "discuss this matter with no one. "yu-bu-tu" by this time the candidate is supposed to be in a mood to fall, and the kleagle calls on him personally. questions for the candidate the kleagle presents the prospective initiate with the following list of questions to be answered: (note the questions marked with stars. they are used to bar out jews, catholics, negroes and foreign born.) . is the motive prompting your inquiry serious? . what is you age? . what is your occupation? . where where you born? . how long have you resided in your present locality? . are you married, single or widower? * . were your parents born in the united states of america? * . are you a gentile or jew? * . are you of the white race or of a colored race? . what educational advantages have you? . color of eyes? hair? weight? height? * . do you believe in the principles of pure americanism? * . do you believe in white supremacy? . what is your politics? * . what is your religious faith? * . of what church are you a member (if any)? * . of what religious faith are your parents? . what secret, fraternal orders are you a member of (if any)? . do you honestly believe in the practice of real fraternity? * . do you owe any kind of allegiance to any foreign nation, government, institution, sect, people, ruler or person? i most solemnly assert and affirm that each question above is truthfully answered by me and in my own handwriting and that below is my real signature. signed ..................... inquirer. business address ...................... telephone no. ......................... date ............................. .. residence address ..................... telephone no. ......................... n.b.--if space above is not sufficient to answer questions, then make your answer on the other side of this sheet. number the answer to correspond with the question. if the candidate answers the question satisfactorily, he must pay his initiation fees, called "donation" and provide money to pay for his mask, robe, etc. this will be explained later. with his money affairs settled, he is ready for the initiation, together with whatever other candidates there are in the vicinity. the initiation services are held at midnight, with a flaming cross, an american flag, a sword or dagger, and a bible as the chief outward signs of the order. there is also a bottle of water on the "altar." chapter v oath of ku klux klan _those who join the order must pledge blind allegiance to constitution. they do not see._ blind and unconditional obedience to the "constitution, laws, regulations usages and requirements" of the ku klux klan, even to the extent of indorsing the principle of secret mob violence, is accepted by every person who takes the oath of grand wizard simmons' invisible empire. that every klansman, under penalty of death, also agrees to carry out the mandates, degrees, edicts, rulings and "instructions" of emperor simmons also is shown in a reproduction of the oath as supplied by klan organizers and officials. the first section of this oath that carries veiled hints of violence to back it binds the members to unconditional obedience to a constitution he has never seen. not only that but it binds him to obey any laws that may be enacted in the future, whether or not he approves of them. when he takes this obligation he gives a lease on his life to simmons. swears to absolute secrecy absolute secrecy even in the face of death is his second obligation and he promises that he "will pay promptly all just and legal demands made upon me to defray the expenses of my klan when same are due or called for." then, with his left hand over his heart and his right hand raised to heaven and with the promise that "this oath i will seal with my blood," the candidate takes oath that he "will most zealously and valiantly shield and preserve by any and all justifiable means and methods (not legal means and methods) the sacred constitutional rights and privileges of free public schools, free speech, free press, separation of church and state, liberty, white supremacy, just laws and the pursuit of happiness, against any encroachment of any nature by any person or persons, political party or parties, religious sect or people, native, naturalized or foreign, of any race, color, creed, lineage or tongue whatsoever." mystery in authority who defines the permissible limits of zeal and valor is not stated. neither is it stated who decides when schools are free, speech and press free, nor when church and state are sufficiently separated. it is not stated whether it is the individual klansman, the local klan, the supreme council or the imperial wizard. it has been revealed, however, that this phase of the klan movement has been much fathered by the sales crew selling subscriptions at $ each under the direction of wizard simmons and imperial kleagle clarke. the exact text of the oath of allegiance administered to new members of the ku klux klan is given herewith. the asterisks are printed to take place of the ku klux klan and also the officers of the order. these places are left blank in the printed oath because it is carried by klan officials and might be lost, revealing their secret. the oath: you will place your left hand over your heart and raise your right hand to heaven. sec. i.--obedience (you will say) "i" ---- (pronounce your full name ---- and repeat after me) "in the presence of god and man ---- most solemnly pledge, promise and swear ---- unconditionally ---- that i will faithfully obey ---- the constitution and laws ---- and will willingly conform to ---- all regulations, usages and requirements ---- of the * * * * ---- which do now exist ---- or which may be hereafter enacted ---- and will render at all times ---- loyal respect and steadfast support ---- to the imperial authority of same ---- and will heartily heed ---- all official mandates ---- decrees ---- edicts ---- rulings and instructions ---- of the i* w* thereof. ---- i will yield prompt response ---- to all summonses ---- i having knowledge of same ---- providence alone preventing. sec. ii.--secrecy "i most solemnly swear ---- that i will forever ---- keep sacredly secret ---- the signs, words and grip ---- and any and all other ---- matters and knowledge ---- of the * * * * ---- regarding which a most rigid secrecy ---- must be maintained ---- which may at any time ---- be communicated to me ---- and will never divulge same ---- nor even cause the same to be divulged ---- to any person in the whole world ---- unless i know positively ---- that such person is a member of this order ---- in good and regular standing ---- and not even then ---- unless it be ---- for the best interest of this order. "i most sacredly vow ---- and most positively swear ---- that i will not yield to bribe ---- flattery ---- threats ---- passion ---- punishment ---- persecution ---- persuasion ---- nor any enticements whatever ---- coming from or offered by ---- any person or persons ---- male or female ---- for the purpose of ---- obtaining from me ---- a secret or secret information ---- of the * * * * ---- i will die rather than divulge same ---- so help me god ---- amen!" you will drop your hands. gentlemen (or sir): you will wait in patience and peace until you are informed of the decision of the e* c* and his * in klonklave assembled * * * * * you will place your left hand over your heart and raise your right hand to heaven. sec. iii.--fidelity (you will say) "i" ---- (pronounce your full name ---- and repeat after me) "before god ---- and in the presence of ---- these mysterious *smen ---- on my sacred honor ---- do most solemnly and sincerely pledge ---- promise and swear ---- that i will diligently guard and faithfully foster ---- every interest of the * * * * ---- and will maintain ---- its social cast and dignity. "i swear that i will not recommend ---- any person for membership in this order ---- whose mind is unsound ---- or whose reputation i know to be bad ---- or whose character is doubtful ---- or whose loyalty to our country ---- is in any way questionable. "i swear that i will pay promptly ---- all just and legal demands ---- made upon me to defray the expenses ---- of my * and this order ---- when same are due or called for. "i swear that i will protect the property ---- of the * * * * ---- of any nature whatsoever ---- and if any should be intrusted to my keeping ---- i will properly keep ---- or rightly use same ---- and will freely and promptly surrender same ---- on official demand ---- or if ever i am banished from ---- or voluntarily discontinue ---- my membership in this order. "i swear that i will most determinedly ---- maintain peace and harmony ---- in all the deliberations ---- of the gatherings or assemblies ---- of the i* e* ---- and of any subordinate jurisdiction ---- or * thereof. "i swear that i will most strenuously ---- discourage selfishness ---- and selfish political ambition ---- on the part of myself or any *sman. "i swear that i will never allow ---- personal friendship ---- blood or family relationship ---- nor personal ---- political ---- or professional prejudice ---- malice nor ill-will ---- to influence me in casting my vote ---- for the election or rejection ---- of an applicant ---- for membership in this order ---- god being my helper ---- amen!" you will drop your hands. * * * * * you will place your left hand over your heart and raise your right hand to heaven. sec. iv.--*ishness (you will say) "i" ---- (pronounce your full name ---- and repeat after me) "most solemnly pledge, promise and swear ---- that i will never slander ---- defraud ---- receive ---- or in any manner wrong ---- the * * * * ---- a *sman ---- nor a *sman's family ---- nor will i suffer the same to be done ---- if i can prevent it. "i swear that i will be faithful ---- in defending and protecting ---- the home ---- reputation ---- and physical and business interest ---- of a *sman ---- and that of a *sman's family. "i swear that i will at any time ---- without hesitating ---- go to the assistance or rescue ---- of a *sman in any way ---- at his call i will answer ---- i will be truly *ish toward *smen ---- in all things honorable. "i swear that i will not allow ---- any animosity ---- friction nor ill-will ---- to arise and remain ---- between myself and a *sman ---- but will be constant in my efforts ---- to promote real *ishness ---- among the members of this order. "i swear that i will keep secure to myself ---- a secret of a *sman ---- when same is committed to me ---- in the sacred bond of *smanship ---- the crime of violating this solemn oath ---- treason against the united states of america ---- rape ---- and malicious murder ---- alone excepted. "i most solemnly assert and affirm ---- that to the government of the united states of america ---- and any state thereof ---- of which i may become a resident ---- i sacredly swear ---- an unqualified allegiance ---- above any other and every kind of government ---- in the whole world ---- i here and now ---- pledge my life ---- my property ---- my vote ---- and my sacred honor ---- to uphold its flag ---- its constitution ---- and constitutional laws ---- and will protect ---- defend ---- and enforce same unto death. "i swear that i will most zealously ---- and valiantly ---- shield and preserve ---- by any and all ---- justifiable means and methods ---- the sacred constitutional rights ---- and privileges of ---- free public schools ---- free speech ---- free press ---- separation of church and state ---- liberty ---- white supremacy ---- just laws ---- and the pursuit of happiness ---- against any encroachment ---- of any nature ---- by any person or persons ---- political party or parties ---- religious sect or people ---- native, naturalized or foreign ---- of any race ---- color ---- creed ---- lineage or tongue whatsoever. "all to which i have sworn by this oath ---- i will seal with my blood ---- be thou my witness ---- almighty god ---- amen!" you will drop your hands. old pledge of loyalty appellation this organization shall be styled and denominated, the order of the (then follows three stars; no other name given). creed we, the order of the * * *, reverentially acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the divine being, and recognize the goodness and providence of the same. and we recognize our relation to the united states government, the supremacy of the constitution, the constitutional laws thereof, and the union of states thereunder. objects of the order this is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar object being, first: to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages, of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of confederate soldiers. second: to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. third: to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. note the vast difference between this and the following page. one, the pledge to all that is right and uplifting--the other to a single autocrat. the above was formed for the protection and enforcement of law--the kleagle's pledge, merely a vow to do anything that the imperial wizard simmons might see fit. modern kleagle's pledge of loyalty i, the undersigned, in order to be a regular appointed kleagle of the invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan (incorporated), do freely and voluntarily promise, pledge and fully guarantee a lofty respect, whole-hearted loyalty and an unwavering devotion at all times and under any and all circumstances and conditions from this day and date forward to william joseph simmons as imperial wizard and emperor of the invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan (incorporated). i shall work in all respects in perfect harmony with him and under his authority and directions, in all his plans for the extension and government of the society, and under his directions, with any and all of my officially superior officers duly appointed by him. i shall at any and all times be faithful and true in all things, and most especially in preventing and suppressing any factions, cisms or conspiracies against him or his plans and purposes or the peace and harmony of the society which may arise or attempt to arise. i shall discourage and strenuously oppose any degree of disloyalty or disrespect on the part of myself or any klansman, any where and at any time or place, towards him as the founder and as the supreme chief governing head of the society above named. this pledge, promise and guarantee i make is a condition precedent to my appointment stated above, and the continuity of my appointment as a kleagle, and it is fully agreed that any deviation by me from this pledge will instantly automatically cancel and completely void my appointment together with all its prerogatives, my membership in the society, and i shall forfeit all remunerations which may be then due me. i make this solemn pledge on my oath of allegiance and on my integrity and honor as a man and as a klansman, with serious purpose to keep same inviolate. done in the city of ...................., state of ........................... on this the .......... day of .................... a.d. ... signed .............................. address ............................. witness: ......................................... address .......................................... this is the oath taken by kleagles in the ku klux klan. it binds the kleagle to "imperial wizard" simmons personally in an almost slavish fashion. the oath is taken as a pledge of loyalty to simmons and not to the order. chapter vi how the dollars roll in _the klan claims to have , to , members. plan to get college boys._ the ku klux klan claims to have , to , members. as a matter of fact it is generally believed that that number is a hot air figure. it offers a basis for some interesting figures on the money that has changed hands, however. every person initiated must pay $ as an initiation fee. kleagles who have left the order say that the "initiation" fee is called a "donation" so that the klan can escape paying income tax to the government, because dues in clubs and societies are taxable. of the $ , the kleagle who enrolls the member gets $ . the king kleagle, or state salesmanager, gets $ . the cyclops, or division manager, gets cents. clarke, the imperial kleagle, gets $ and the office of imperial wizard simmons gets $ . . on this basis of , members, clarke has collected more than $ , , . so far as known no public accounting ever has been made. in addition the person initiated pays $ . for a mask, or helmet, and a robe. this he must purchase from the gate city manufacturing company of atlanta, owned by clarke. clarke's fortune grows every time a new member is taken in. if the klansman rides a horse in ceremonies he must buy a robe for $ --also from clarke's company. water at $ a quart another source of revenue to clarke is the water used in initiations. it comes from the chattahoochee river (indian for "muddy water") near atlanta. it is sent around the country as special ku klux klan liquid without which an initiation cannot be held. it costs $ a quart, money to be paid to clarke. simmons and clarke live in costly houses on peachtree road, outside of atlanta. it is explained that their homes were presented to them by the klan. it also is explained that some of the money of the klan goes to lanier university, near atlanta, where young students are to be trained to spread the ku klux klan to every village of the country. after the college boys in addition to the general membership, simmons started a plan to get college boys into the ku klux klan at $ a head and with a charge of $ for masks and regalia. the watchword for the college boys was to be "kuno." simmons, according to kleagles who deserted him, explained that he got the college idea from the german militarism system, which started to train boys for the army when they were in school. simmons wrote this inspiration to attract college boys: "klannishners is your creed and faith; therefore, let no angel, man or devil break you from its glorious anchorage. then when the end of your initiation shall have been reached in this life and you have been summoned to take your place as an inhabitant of the invisible empire, as you pass through the veil you can say to the world in tones of truth triumphant: "i have kept the faith!" thus preserving your honor by a faithful allegiance your life shall not have been lived in vain." the book of "kloran" the ceremony of initiation is contained in a copyrighted book called the kloran written by imperial wizard simmons. the bible is opened at the th chapter of romans. these songs are sung: we meet in cordial greetings in this our sacred cave to pledge anew our compact with hearts sincere and brave; a band of faithful klansmen knights of the k.k.k. we all will stand together forever and for aye. chorus: home, home, country and home; klansmen, we'll live and die for our country and home. her honor, love and justice must actuate us all, before our sturdy phalanx all hate and strife shall fall. in union we'll labor wherever we may roam, to shield a klansman's welfare, his country, name and home. klexology (tune--america) "god of eternity, guide, guard our great country, our homes and store. keep our great state to thee; its people right and free in us thy glory be forevermore." chapter vii ku klux klan and the jews _"drive them out of the united states" are the words that are used to enlist jew-haters into the ranks._ in spite of the fact that ever since the beginning of the american colonies, in the war of the revolution and in other national crises, great jews have helped to make the united states what it is today, the ku klux klan recruits misguided members on the representation that it has found a scheme to drive the jews out of the country. anti-jewish propaganda is used particularly in large cities and in smaller communities where racial and religious flames may be fanned in order to win members and money for the ku klux. _the searchlight_, the official paper of the klan, teems with anti-jewish literature. secret documents and stories are passed around privately among the organizers and used in gaining recruits. "chaplain" ridley is one of the most rabid of the campaigners against the jews. he never lets an opportunity go by to ridicule jews and stir up prejudice. in the first place, jews are barred from the ku klux klan. in a questionnaire that must be filled in by those who are initiated these questions are asked: "are you a gentile or a jew? what is your religious faith? of what church are you a member (if any)? of what religious faith are your parents?" chaplain attacks jews "chaplain" ridley in _the searchlight_, writes: "i cannot help being what i am racially. i am not a jew, nor a negro nor a foreigner. i am an anglo-saxon white man, so ordained by the hand and will of god, and so constituted and trained that i cannot conscientiously take either my politics or my religion from some secluded ass on the other side of the world. "now, if somebody else happens to be a jew, i can't help it any more than he can. or if he happens to be black, i can't help that, either. if he were born under a foreign flag, i couldn't help it--but there is one thing i can do. i can object to his un-american propaganda being preached in my home or practiced in the solemn assembly of real americans." _the searchlight_ constantly mixes jews and negroes in ridiculous "movements." for instance, one writer in the issue of july , , declares that his investigations have demonstrated that jewish plotters are stirring up the negroes to make a race war so that the government will be destroyed. the writer goes on: "for the same reason, the jew is interested in overthrowing christian russia. but remember, he does not intend to stop at russia. through his third internationale of moscow he is working to overthrow all the gentile governments of the world. i am enclosing an editorial clipped from the new york _world_ of saturday, july . you will keep in mind that _the world_ is jew-owned, as is every other newspaper in new york city except the tribune. * * * in all my twenty-five years traveling about over this continent i have never met a disloyal american who failed to be either foreign-born or a semite. with the best wishes for the success of the ku klux klan." how to throw jews out in the instructions to kleagles, who sell memberships in the klan, the anti-jewish feeling in some communities is appealed to in this manner: "the jew patronizes only the jew unless it is impossible to do so. therefore, we klansmen, the only real americans, must, by the same methods, protect ourselves, and practice by actual application the teachings of klannishness. with this policy faithfully adhered to, it will not be long before the jew will be forced out of business by our practice of his own business methods, for when the time comes when klansmen trade only with klansmen then the days of the jews' success in business will be numbered and the invisible empire can drive them from the shores of our own america." another favorite way to create interest in the anti-jewish movement is to represent that imperial kleagle clarke has in hand the organization of a nation-wide jewish society to oppose the sons of israel. this society is to be created by jews who are in the pay of kleagle clarke and who are really traitors to their own co-religionists. spies working in the ranks of the sons of israel will keep the ku klux klan informed of what the sons of israel are doing and finally a clash between the two organizations is to be engineered, to the destruction of both. of course this is the wildest sort of propaganda, but it demonstrates how the agents play with fire in order to get members. "searchlight" and the jews among the articles in _the searchlight_ there are those headed, "a message from jerusalem--esau the wanderer must pay for his pottage--the mightiest weapons for the jews are pounds and pence." "doesn't think much of the jews." "jewish rabbi gets rabid." a paragraph from "doesn't think much of the jews," published feb. , , contains this passage: "their religion is to control wealth and thereby control all nations. and you cannot deny but they are doing so under false names. jews are entering into every government, every nation on earth except china and japan, where their heavenly god received little recognition. they spread their ingenious religion that strangled the ignorant and credulous by causing dissension to their advantage." chapter viii ku klux klan and the catholics _misrepresentation of oath of knights of columbus is used to excite religious hatred in order to get money._ just as the organizers of the ku klux klan misrepresent the jews in order to get members and money for their order, they go to great lengths to create prejudice against catholics. in some communities anti-catholic arguments are thought to be those that will bring the most members into the fold. fake documents and false statements on printed cards that can be slyly passed from hand to hand are used for this purpose. anti-catholic lies that can be hurled at klansmen at meetings to inspire them to get in more members and increase the incomes of the "imperial wizard," the kleagles and other officers are spread around. one of these documents is a card entitled "do you know?" a kleagle of the klan asked the king kleagle of his state for some literature that he could employ to stir up interest in the klan. in a short time the kleagle received the literature from the gate city manufacturing company of atlanta, ga., a company promoted by "imperial kleagle" clarke. the supply of literature contained copies of a card bearing the heading "do you know?" another document that is sent broadcast to foment religious unrest and hatred is a fake oath ascribed to the knights of columbus, which is composed of catholics and which has published the oath that its members take. before reading the fake oath, it will be well to examine the real oath. real k. of c. oath the bona fide oath that is taken by men initiated into the knights of columbus, and which, it has been proven, is the correct oath follows: "i swear to support the constitution of the united states. i pledge myself, as a catholic citizen and knight of columbus, to enlighten myself fully upon my duties as a citizen and to conscientiously perform such duties entirely in the interest of my country and regardless of all personal consequences. i pledge myself to do all in my power to preserve the integrity and purity of the ballot, and to promote reverence and respect for law and order. i promise to practice my religion openly and consistently, but without ostentation, and to so conduct myself in public affairs, and in the exercise of public virtue as to reflect nothing but credit upon our holy church, to the end that she may flourish and our country prosper to the greater honor and glory of god." bogus k. of c. oath we can now appreciate the animus behind the bogus oath that is ascribed to the knights of columbus by the ku klux klan. this fraudulent oath, as used by the recruiting organization of kleagles of ku klux follows: "i, ---- ----, now in the presence of almighty god, the blessed virgin mary, the blessed st. john the baptist, the holy apostles, st. peter and st. paul, and all the saints, sacred host of heaven, and to you, my ghostly father, the superior general of the society of jesus, founded by st. ignatius loyola, in the pontification of paul the iii, and continued to the present, do by the womb of the virgin, the matrix of god, and the rod of jesus christ, declare and swear that his holiness the pope is christ's vicegerent and is the true and only head of the catholic or universal church throughout the earth; and that by virtue of the keys of binding and loosing given his holiness by my saviour, jesus christ, he hath power to depose heretical kings, princes, states, commonwealths and governments and they may be safely destroyed. therefore to the utmost of my power i will defend this doctrine and his holiness's right and custom against all usurpers of the heretical or protestant authority whatever, especially the lutheran church of germany, holland, denmark, sweden and norway, and the now pretended authority and churches of england and scotland, and the branches of same now established in ireland and on the continent of america and elsewhere, and all adherents in regard that they may be usurped and heretical opposing the sacred mother church of rome. "i do now denounce and disown any allegiance as due to any heretical king, prince, or state, named protestant or liberals, or obedience to any of their laws, magistrates, or officers. "i do further declare that the doctrine of the churches of england and scotland, of the calvinists, huguenots and others of the name of protestants or masons to be damnable, and they themselves to be damned who will not forsake the same. "i do further declare that i will help, assist and advise all or any of his holiness' agents, in any place where i should be, in switzerland, holland, ireland or america, or in any other kingdom or territory i shall come to, and do my utmost to extirpate the heretical protestant or masonic doctrines and to destroy all their pretended powers, legal or otherwise. more of it "i do further promise and declare that, notwithstanding that i am dispensed with to assume any religion heretical for the propaganda of the mother church's interest, to keep secret and private all her agents' counsels from time to time, as they instruct me, and not divulge, directly or indirectly, by word, writing or circumstances whatever, but to execute all that should be proposed, given in charge or discovered unto me by you, my ghostly father, or any of this sacred order. "i do further promise and declare that i will have no opinion or will of my own or any mental reservation whatsoever, even as a corpse or cadaver (perinde ac cadaver), but will unhesitatingly obey each and every command that i may receive from my superiors in the militia of the pope and of jesus christ. "that i will go to any part of the world whithersoever i may be sent, to the frozen regions north, jungles of india, to the centers of civilization of europe or to the wild haunts of the barbarous savages of america without murmuring or repining, and will be submissive in all things whatsoever is communicated to me. and still more "i do further promise and declare that i will, when opportunity presents, make and wage relentless war, secretly and openly, against all heretics, protestants and masons, as i am directed to do, to extirpate them from the face of the whole earth; and that i will spare neither age, sex or condition, and that i will hang, burn, waste, boil, flay, strangle, and bury alive these infamous heretics; rip up the stomachs and wombs of their women and crash their infants' heads against the walls in order to annihilate their execrable race. that when the same cannot be done openly, i will secretly use the poisonous cup, strangulation cord, the steel of the poniard or the leaden bullet, regardless of the honor, rank, dignity or authority of the persons, whatever may be their condition in life, either public or private, as i at any time may be directed so to do by any agents of the pope or superior of the brotherhood of the holy father of the society of jesus. "in confirmation of which i hereby dedicate my life, soul and all corporate powers, and with the dagger which i now receive i will subscribe my name written in my blood in testimony thereof; and should i prove false or weaken in my determination, may my brethren and fellow soldiers of the militia of the pope cut off my hands and feet and my throat from ear to ear, my belly opened and sulphur burned therein with all the punishment that can be inflicted upon me on earth and my soul shall be tortured by demons in eternal hell forever. nearing the end now "that i will in voting always vote for a k. of c. in preference to a protestant, especially a mason, and that i will leave my party so to do; that if two catholics are on the ticket i will satisfy myself which is the better supporter of mother church and vote accordingly. "that i will not deal with or employ a protestant if in my power to deal with or employ a catholic. that i will place catholic girls in protestant families, that a weekly report may be made of the inner movements of the heretics. "that i will provide myself with arms and ammunition that i may be in readiness when the word is passed or i am commanded to defend the church, either as an individual or with the militia of the pope. "all of which i, ---- ----, do swear by the blessed trinity and blessed sacrament which i am now to receive to perform and on my part to keep this, my oath. "in testimony whereof, i take this most holy and blessed sacrament of the eucharist and witness the same further with my name written with the point of this dagger dipped in my own blood and seal it in the face of this holy sacrament." (excerpts from "contested election case of eugene c. bonniwell against thomas s. butler," as appears in the congressional record ---- house, feb. , , at pages , &c., and ordered printed therein "by unanimous consent." attached thereto and printed (on page ) as a part of said report as above.) the above spurious oath, and others like it, have been found to be fraudulent, both by the courts and by an investigation made by masonic bodies. the above oath made its appearance according to a book published by maurice francis egan, for eleven years united states minister to denmark, and john b. kennedy, in . messrs. egan and kennedy explain it as follows: "it was filed by mr. eugene c. bonniwell of pennsylvania in his charge against thomas s. butler before the committee of elections no. , in congress, when mr. bonniwell stated that it had been used against him as a fourth degree knight of columbus in an election contest. mr. butler, in his defense, stated that he had refrained from condemning the 'oath,' until election day, although he did not believe it to be genuine, because he feared to give it notoriety. "far from being disconcerted by the airing of this delectable document in congress, those profiting by its circulation seized upon its inclusion in the congressional record to give it an air of authority by printing on future copies the annotation 'copied from the congressional record, &c.,' not pausing, however, to explain the circumstances under which it was allowed to appear in that official journal." editors are convicted a.m. morrison and garfield e. morrison, editors of the _morning journal_ of mankato, minn., charged e.m. lawless, editor of the waterville, minn., _sentinel_ with having taken the bogus oath. lawless took the case to court and the two morrisons were convicted. the foreman of the jury was a methodist minister. in the bogus oath came to light in california. the knights of columbus asked a committee of two, nd and rd degree, masons, past or past grand masters of masonry of that state, to make an investigation of all the rituals, pledges and oaths used by the knights of columbus. the masonic committee gave out a report saying that they had made such an investigation. they found that the ceremonies of the knights of columbus were embodied in four degrees "intended to teach and inculcate principles that lie at the foundations of every great religion and every great state." what masons reported their report continued: "our examination was made primarily to ascertain whether or not a certain alleged oath * * * which has been printed and widely circulated was in fact used by the order and whether * * * any oath, obligation or pledge was used which was or would be offensive to protestants or masons. * * * we find that neither the alleged oath nor any such oath or pledge bearing the remotest resemblance thereto in matter, manner, spirit or purpose is used or forms a part of the ceremonies of any degree of the knights of columbus. the alleged oath is scurrilous, wicked and libelous and must be the invention of an impious and venomous mind. * * * there is no propaganda proposed or taught against protestants or masons or persons not of catholic faith. * * * we can find nothing in the entire ceremonials of the order that to our minds could be objected to by any person." _the searchlight_, official organ of the ku klux, contains many articles that misrepresent the catholics. for instance, of feb. , , _the searchlight_ had an article which was captioned: "facts gathered by the knights of luther from the washington bureau of statistics": charges of "knights of luther" without one word to support them, the following were printed as "facts": "the national democratic committee is by majority a roman catholic body. it usually has a roman catholic president and secretary. "catholics influenced the national campaign which elected wilson. "the president's private secretary is a roman catholic. "over per cent. of all appointments made by president wilson are catholics. their influence is so powerful it compels the homage of those in authority. "five states now have catholic administrations. "thirty-one states have roman catholic democratic central committees. "twenty thousand public schools have one-half catholic teachers. "over , public schools now contribute a part or all of the school tax to catholic churches and schools. "six hundred public schools use catholic readers and teach from them the roman catholic catechism. "sixty-two per cent. of all offices of the united states, both elective and appointive, are now held by roman catholics. "new york, chicago, baltimore, philadelphia, buffalo, cleveland, toledo, st. louis, los angeles, san francisco and boston now have per cent. catholic teachers in their public schools. "in all the cities and towns of the united states of , or more inhabitants an average of over per cent. of the police force are roman catholics. "roman catholics are in the majority of the city council of , cities and towns of the united states." more of the same stuff _the searchlight_ continues: "we will now look at the results of catholic teaching on vice and virtue. the history of assassins of heads of governments in the past is a history of murderous roman catholics. in per cent. of the cases where criminals are executed for crimes committed, the victims of the execution have a priest at their elbow to administer the last sacrament. "the man who shot roosevelt was a roman catholic. "the man who shot president garfield was a roman catholic. "the man who shot president lincoln was a roman catholic. "the plot that took the life of lincoln emanated from roman catholic influence in the house of a roman catholic. "abraham lincoln said, 'i do not pretend to be a prophet but, though not a prophet, i see a very dark cloud on our horizon, and that cloud is coming from rome. it is filled with tears and blood. the true motive power is secreted behind the walls of the vatican, the colleges and schools of the jesuits, the convents of the nuns, and the confessional boxes of rome,' and such opinions cost the nation his life. "over per cent. of prison convicts of all grades and of all kinds of prisoners are roman catholics, while less than per cent. are graduates of our public schools. "these statements are astounding when we remember that only about -½ per cent. of the entire population of the united states are roman catholics, while the other -½ per cent. are not." chapter ix ku klux klan and the masons _iowa and missouri jurisdiction grand masters issue public denunciations against the klan_. promoters of the ku klux klan brag that most of its members are masons. whether this is true no one on the outside can tell. it is known, however, that the kleagles or salesmen, who solicit members in a community try to play upon the masonic spirit to help along their game. that this is done with the disapproval of the leading masonic bodies of the country is shown by the action of the grand commanders of the iowa and missouri jurisdictions. they have issued public denunciations of the operations and purposes of the klan, especially that feature that resorts to the masking of members when they are taking part in klan rites. the examples of iowa and missouri are being followed by masons in other states. iowa grand master's statement amos n. alberson of washington, iowa, grand master of that state, has directed a communication to all masonic lodges under his jurisdiction as follows: "whereas, it has become known to your grand master that a certain 'ku klux klan' has been and is now organizing within this jurisdiction an alleged 'secret and invisible empire'; and, "whereas, it is reported that its organizers and agents have stated and intimated to members of our craft that the said 'ku klux klan' is in effect an adjunct of freemasonry and in accord with its principles and purposes; and, "whereas, any such statement or intimation is absolutely false and untrue, in that masonry can not and does not approve of or ally itself with any organization or movement, secret or public, that proposes to subvert or supersede the processes of orderly representative government 'of the people, for the people, and by the people'; nor one that appeals to bigotry and endeavors to foster hatred of any nationality, class, religious faith or sect, as such. the solemn charge "therefore, i, amos n. alberson, grand master of masons in iowa, do solemnly charge each and all of the regular masons in iowa, now as heretofore when you were made a mason, that 'in the state you are to be a quiet and peaceable subject, true to your government and just to your country; you are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country in which you live.' cites masonic obligation "furthermore, i charge each and all, that as our fathers have framed the truly masonic principles of liberty and conscience, equality before the law, and fraternity among men into the constitutions of this nation and state, we as free masons and citizens of this republic are obligated to perform our full moral and civic duty, to promote and enforce an orderly administration of justice and equity, acting openly that it may be known of all men." grand master alberson further orders and directs "that this letter to the craft be read aloud at the next meeting, whether regular or special, of each lodge throughout this jurisdiction; that it shall be made of record, and due notice of the same circulated among the brethrens, that it may come to the knowledge of all masons in iowa." missouri's action on klan william f. johnson, grand master of the carterlin grand lodge of missouri ancient-free and accepted masons made this statement at the annual meeting of the grand lodge, which indorsed it: "as the impression seems to prevail in some sections, that the masonic fraternity is directly or indirectly associated with or furthering this secret organization (ku klux klan), and as i have been asked on numerous occasions what relations, if any, our fraternity bears to such secret society or order, it is well that the seal of disapproval be positively placed by this grand lodge upon this secret organization, which assumes to itself the right and authority to administer law and punish crimes. "nothing is more destructive of free government than secret control. the arraying of race against race, color against color, sect against sect is destructive of peace and harmony, which is the great end we, as free masons, have in view. we profess and boast that we are true to our government and just to our country. is subversive of the republic "we can not, as free masons and good citizens, recognize the right of any secret society or combination of men to assume unto themselves the right to administer law and to inflict punishment upon their fellow men. such an assumption is subversive of our republican institutions, contrary to the great principles of free masonry. "an organization that practices censorship of private conduct behind the midnight anonymity of mask and robe, and enforces its secret decrees with the weapons of whips and tar and feathers must ultimately merit and receive the condemnation of those who believe in courts, open justice and good citizenship." chapter x ku klux klan and the negro _members of the klan take an oath to bring about white supremacy, notwithstanding the constitution, which guarantees the negro equal rights._ under the constitution of the united states, the negro is guaranteed equal rights with all other citizens. when the president of the united states is sworn into office he takes an oath to uphold the constitution and the laws passed under it. every senator, congressman, governor and other important officer in the united states and in each of the states is sworn to uphold the constitution. but the members of the ku klux klan take an oath that puts the constitution at naught. they swear to bring about "white supremacy." taken in conjunction with the speeches and writings of their leaders, this oath shows that the klansmen intend to work together to create strife against the negro, to belittle him and his family, his churches, his business, his social societies and other things that are dear to him. the klan is determined to put the negro out of business in the united states and to drive him back to africa. as is all other main objects--the warfare on jews, catholics and foreign born--the klan intends to follow its own laws in dealing with the negro. the writings of its leaders are very plain on that point. in his oath the klansman swears: "i swear that i will most zealously and valiantly shield and preserve by any and all justifiable means and methods white supremacy---- "all to which i have sworn by this oath. i will seal with my blood by thou my witness, almighty god. amen." prominent lawyers who have examined this oath declare that it really is an oath upholding mob rule and that any time the klansman is given orders he will follow his leaders in a crusade outside the constitution of the united states that might lead to serious trouble and bloodshed. chaplain ridley of the ku klux klan has written in _the searchlight_ on white supremacy as follows: "back in the days of the reconstruction the fathers gathered at the call of the low, shrill whistle and rode into immortal fame, rescuing a threatened civilization and making real once more the white man's supremacy. klansmen of to-day, whether they assemble in the mountains of maine, or 'neath the shadows of the great rockies, or on the plains of the wonderful west, or amid the trailing vines and wild flowers of dixie, meet to keep alive the memory of these men and preserve the traditions of those days when the souls of men were tried as if by fire." in texas a white man who testified in behalf of an accused negro--he merely told the truth under oath as he knew it--was tarred and feathered by masked men. _the searchlight_ has printed column after column of anti-negro stuff, mostly under anonymous names or under the titles of organizations whose addresses are not given. one such resolution adopted by the "patriotic societies of atlanta" condemns rev. ashby jones, a minister, for inviting an honorable negro to an interracial meeting and for addressing the negro as "mister." here are some of the titles of articles in _the searchlight_, showing its evident purpose of stirring up racial feelings: "social equality put under ban." "negroes must serve on chain gangs now." "separate cars for negroes." "white woman marries a negro." _the searchlight_ condemned president harding for appointing henry lincoln johnson, a negro, as register of deeds. chapter xi the ku klux klan and women here is the proclamation issued by imperial wizard simmons, making mrs. elizabeth tyler his "grand chief of staff" to have charge of the women's organization to be affiliated with the ku klux klan: "to all genii, grand dragons and hydras of realms, grand goblins and kleagles of domains, grand titans and furies of provinces, giants, exalted cyclops and terrors of cantons, and to all citizens of the invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan, in the name of our valiant and venerated dead, i affectionately greet you: "in view of our nation's need and as an additional force in helping on the great work of conserving, protecting and making effective the great principles of our anglo-saxon civilization and american ideals and institutions, the imperial kloncilium, in regular session assembled, after deliberate care and earnest prayer, decided that there shall be established within the bounds and under the supreme authority and government of the invisible empire an organization that will admit the splendid women of our great national commonwealth, who are now citizens with us in directing the affairs of the nation. which decision of the imperial kloncilium i have officially ratified after serious, careful and devoted consideration of all matters and things involved by this move. "in view of the foregoing, i hereby officially declare and proclaim that such organization does now exist in prospect. plans, methods, ritualism and regulations of same are now in process of formation and will be perfected at an early date and officially announced. "i do farther proclaim that in order to have the proper assistance in the formation and perfecting of this organization, i have this day and date selected and officially appointed mary elizabeth tyler of atlanta, fulton county, ga., to be my grand chief of staff, to have immediate charge of work pertaining to said woman's organization under my authority and direction. "further information will be duly and officially communicated from time to time. "done in the aulic of his majesty, imperial wizard, emperor of the invisible empire, knights of the ku klux klan, in the imperial city of atlanta, commonwealth of georgia, united states of america, on this, the ninth day of the ninth month of the year of our lord, . "duly signed and sealed by his majesty, william joseph simmons, "imperial wizard." chapter xii atrocities committed in the name of ku klux klan _ku klux klan knights of beaumont, texas, issue a justification for taking the law into their own hands._ confession that the ku klux klan uses tar and feathers and the lash to punish persons whose actions it condemns is made by the klansmen of beaumont, tex. the beaumont ku klux klan organization tarred and feathered dr. j.s. paul and r.f. scott and later acknowledged, under its official seal, that its members did the job. "knights of the ku klux klan, no. , beaumont, texas," admitted taking the law into their own hands in a statement dated july , . this statement was made to the editors of two newspapers of beaumont. it sought to justify the "tar and feather party" and gave warning that the "heavy hand of the ku klux klan" was waiting to yank other persons from their beds in case they came into its displeasure. show simmons misrepresents grand wizard william j. simmons has declared publicly that the ku klux did not indulge in midnight raids on defenseless victims whom it tarred and feathered. he has defended the ku klux klan by ascribing these unlawful actions to imposters who use the regalia of the ku klux. the beaumont incident proves that the ku klux not only was responsible for assaults on dr. paul and scott, but that it boasted of its exploits with them. letter admits use of tar the paul-scott "party" occurred on may . its details were telegraphed all over the country. the letter to the two beaumont newspapers the following july read: "your publication since the organization of the ku klux klan in the city of beaumont has on various occasions published information concerning and pertaining to the affairs of this organization. we believe, as you do, that a newspaper should serve the best interests of its constituency and that all legitimate news should be given the public through its columns. during the past two months items have appeared in your paper relative to the case of the ku klux klan and its connection with dr. j.s. paul. "now, that you and the public may be fully informed of the true facts in the case, the klan has assembled and herewith hands you an intelligent, true and correct history of the entire matter. the klan suggests that this summary of facts be published in the columns of your paper not later than sunday, july , , and that it be published verbatim, according to the enclosed copy, typographical errors excepted. knights of the ku klux klan." physician is accused the "intelligent, true and correct history of the entire matter" was a lengthy statement. it accused dr. paul of being a physician who for years had sold whisky and narcotic drugs and had performed illegal operations on women. because he had political and financial backing grand jury proceedings against him had been squelched. about the middle of december, , r.f. scott, who lived in deweyville, texas (scott was a former member of the united states marine corps), consulted dr. paul and arranged for an illegal operation. the statement declares the girl became seriously ill as a result of malpractice on dr. paul's part and was taken from her residence to a hospital, where a serious operation was performed. after this occurrence the girl demanded that dr. paul assist her in defraying the extra expense due to his negligence, and he offered her $ to leave beaumont. this bargain he broke and is accused of having threatened to cause her arrest for attempted blackmail, or with death if she exposed him. moral law above written her predicament was reported to the klan and the statement says her cry was heard by men who respect the "great moral law more than the technicalities of the legal code." the statement goes on: "the eyes of the unknown had seen and had observed the wrong to be redressed. dr. paul was wealthy. his victim was a poor girl. between the two stood the majesty of the law, draped in technicalities of changes of venue, mistrials, appeals, postponements, eminent counsel skilled in the esoteric art of protecting crime and interpreting laws involved in a mass of legal verbiage, the winding and unwinding of red tape, instead of the sinewy arm of justice, wielding the unerring sword. the law of the klan is justice. "dr. paul was approached in his office by three men on the night of may and instructed to go with them. he was placed in a waiting automobile and escorted a few miles out of town. the judgment of the klan was read to him and charges were related to him, none of which he would deny. "lashed, tarred and feathered" "in a cowardly, whimpering plea, he pleaded that others were as guilty as he. the lash was laid on his back and the tar and feathers applied to his body. he was then informed of the will of the klan that he should leave the city within forty-eight hours. upon the return of the party to beaumont, dr. paul was discharged from an automobile at the intersection of two of the main streets of the city, that he might be a warning to all of his ilk that decent men and women no longer wanted him in the community. "dr. paul complied with the instructions of the klan that he leave the city and returned for a few days to his former home at lufkin. during this time he was constantly under the surveillance of the klan. within a few days he had surrounded himself with relatives and hired hench-men of his own tribe and character and returned to beaumont. scott also tarred and feathered "scott, who had been constantly watched by the klan, whose number is legion and whose eye is all-seeing and whose methods of gathering information are not known to the alien world, was apprehended and punished in the same manner dr. paul had been dealt with. he was taken to the woods and guarded until nightfall. his captors during this time treated him with kindness and consideration. they provided him with food and fruit to eat and ice water to drink. during the day he was questioned and admitted all the charges the klan had accused him of. the judgment of the klan was that he was to be given ten lashes across the bare back and that he was to be tarred and feathered. eyes of "unknown" on him "scott left beaumont on monday, july , and spent the major portion of the day in orange parading the streets and proclaimed the diabolical lie that he had been subjected to the tortures of the inquisition. he posed to the gullible public and sensational newspapers as a patriot and a hero. all these things the eyes of the unknown have seen and their ears have heard. we can not be deceived and justice will no longer be mocked." the seal of the beaumont klan was attached to the end of the statement. rev. caleb ridley, known as the imperial chaplain of the order, acknowledged that the klan's purpose was to set itself up as prosecutor, jury, judge and sheriff. pastor gives warning on aug. , , he issued to the citizens of dallas county, texas, the following warning: "to the citizens of dallas county, greetings: this organization has caused to be posted the following proclamation: "be it known and hereby proclaimed "that this organization is composed of native-born americans and none other. "that its purpose is to uphold the dignity and the authority of the law. * * * "that this organization * * * recognizes * * * that situations frequently arise where no existing law offers a remedy. "that this organization does * * * not countenance and will not stand for social parasites remaining in this city. it is equally opposed to the gambler, the trickster, the moral degenerate and the man who lives by his wits and is without visible means of support. "the eye of the unknown hath seen and doth constantly observe all, white or black, who disregard this warning. 'whatsoever thou sowest that shall you also reap.' regardless of official, social or financial position, this warning applies to all living within the jurisdiction of this klan. "this warning will not be repeated. "'mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.' "hereafter all communications from us will bear the official seal of the klan. "knights of the ku klux klan." ku klux klan shoots sheriff the attitude of members of the ku klux klan toward officers of the law was demonstrated on october , , in lorena, tex., when the ku klux klan shot sheriff bob buchanan of mclennan county, when he attempted to stop a parade of masked knights. without getting an official permit to hold the parade, the ku klux klan announced that it would be held at : p.m. the sheriff notified the community that the parade was against the law and that he would not allow it. the word was carried to the ku klux klan leaders. messages were sent back and forth, and the ku kluxers tried to scare the sheriff into a retreat. he refused to back down, however, and ended the negotiations by telling the klansmen that they had to obey the law as well as other citizens. the sheriff said there was a law against uncertain masked men who refused to divulge their identity. he would agree to the parade if the names of the masked men were furnished to him. this the klan leaders refused to do. the klansmen held a council of war at which the sheriff was denounced for daring to give them orders. they decided to show the people of lorena that they were bigger than the sheriff or the law that he represented. the chief of the klansmen gave the order for the parade to start. with a posse of citizens and deputies, sheriff buchanan met the parade at the intersection of the main streets. thousands of persons were out to witness the test of strength between the law and the ku klux klan. the sheriff approached a masked klansman who carried a fiery cross. he attempted to seize the cross. there was a shot. a bullet hit the sheriff in the right arm. a general gun fight followed and ten persons were injured. the masked knights hurriedly departed, carrying one of their number who was wounded. sheriff buchanan is hailed as a hero in texas by the law-abiding element. the united states needs more public officials like him--men with the courage to stand by their oaths of office. other outrages since the ku klux klan was organized night outrages in which masked men are involved have increased to a frequency not known in the united states since the years just following the civil war, when the original ku klux klan was active in the southern states against "carpet baggers" and negroes. a murder was committed on june , , at sea breeze, fla., by masked men who said they were ku klux klan. they took thomas l. reynolds from his bed and punched and kicked him. then one of the masked men shot him. he died later. official investigation failed to involve the ku klux klan. wizard simmons denies in the case of paul and scott in beaumont, tex., an organization claiming to be the ku klux klan admitted under a seal that it was responsible. in many other instances the masked riders have openly boasted that they were ku kluxers. in other cases they have worn regalia like that of the ku klux. imperial wizard simmons has denied that the ku klux is responsible for any outrages. whether he knows what he is talking about probably will be determined only by a congressional investigation. meanwhile the people of the country have the big fact on which to form their judgment--namely, that since the ku klux has extended its membership and influence by influencing hundreds of thousands to get down on their knees and take the oath of "white supremacy," bands of night riders who take the law into their own hands have been carrying on these disgraceful marauding "parties" with a boldness that challenges public attention. in daytona, fla., h.c. sparkman, an editor, carried on a campaign against the ku klux klan. on june , , sparkman received by mail a threat warning him that if he did not let the ku klux alone the klan would take up his case and that he might be killed. in pensacola, fla., on july , , a band of men wearing white robes like those of the ku klux klan in their initiation ceremonies appeared at the store of chris lochas, a restaurant keeper, and while the chief of police was looking on gave him a written order to leave town because of certain charges. the warning was signed "k.k.k." ku klux klansman killed in the city of atlanta, ga., where the ku klux klan is strongest a killing resulted from a raid by masked men on j.c. thomas, who had a lunch room at -½ decatur street. thomas had received letters threatening him with violence unless he "let alone" a certain woman in his employ. on march , , four men got thomas to enter an automobile and drove him to a spot in a lonely neighborhood. there they took him from the car and told him that he was to be punished because he had not observed their warnings. when they started to strike thomas, he took a knife from his pocket and killed fred thompson who was later identified as a member of the ku klux klan. the case of killing against thomas was put before a grand jury but the jury refused to indict him. at the inquest into the death of thompson, homer pitts was identified as the driver of the car in which thomas had been kidnapped. pitts was represented in the proceedings by attorney w.s. coburn. in the official list of ku kluxers there is a h.r. pitts who is a kleagle at fresno, cal., and a w.s. coburn who is a grand goblin with headquarters at los angeles, cal. outrages in texas texas, where the ku klux klan is strong, has been the scene of nearly unlawful punishments by masked men. in one case the initials "k.k.k." were branded on the forehead of a negro who was horsewhipped on the charge of having been found in a white woman's room. something the same treatment that was given dr. paul was handed out to j.s. allen, an attorney of houston, tex., who on april , , was whisked from a downtown street, driven to the country and tarred and feathered. the masked men then took him back to the city and threw him out of the automobile into a crowd. he was nude except for his coat of tar and feathers. secret society rituals revised freemasonry illustrated. the complete and accurate ritual of the first seven masonic degrees of the blue lodge and chapter, by jacob o. doesburg, past master of unity lodge, holland, michigan, a royal arch mason, with full monitorial and scripture readings and the secret work profusely illustrated. the exact michigan "work," with a historical sketch of the order and a critical analysis of each degree by president j. blanchard. also the legal attestation of the accuracy of the ritual by the author and others. paper cover $ . cloth . first three degrees, paper . cloth . the master's carpet; by edmond ronayne, past master of keystone lodge, no. , chicago. the work contains pages, illustrated with engravings, and is substantially bound in cloth. price $ . explains the true source and meaning of every ceremony and symbol of the blue lodge, showing the basis on which the ritual is founded. by a careful perusal of this work, a more thorough knowledge of the principles of the order can be obtained than by attending the lodge for years. every mason, every person contemplating becoming a member, and even those who are indifferent on the subject, should procure and carefully read this work. mah-hah-bone; by edmond ronayne. bound in fine cloth, pages, illustrations. price $ . comprises the "hand book of free masonry" and "master's carpet" in one volume. the value and convenience of this combined book will be seen at once. as the master's carpet frequently refers by foot notes to the hand book, and the hand book as frequently refers to the "carpet," by having both books under one cover, reference can be made in an instant. it is cheaper; as the carpet at $ . and the hand book at $ . would make $ . , while the combined book sells in fine cloth binding at $ . ezra a. cook, publisher (incorporated) e. van buren st. chicago hand book of free masonry; by edmond ronayne, past master of keystone lodge, no. , chicago. latest revised edition, with portraits enlarged to pages, illustrations this work gives the correct or "standard" work and ritual of masonry; the proper position of each officer in the lodge room, order of opening and closing the lodge, dress of candidate, ceremony of initiation, the correct method of conferring the three degrees of "ancient craft masonry," entered apprentice, fellow craft and master mason, the proper manner of conducting the business of the lodge, and giving the signs, grips, pass-words, etc., all of which are accurately illustrated with engravings. paper cover, pocket size $ . flexible cloth, pocket size . blue lodge and chapter. by edmond ronayne. bound in fine cloth, pages. price $ . this book comprises the hand book of free masonry, which gives the written and the "unwritten" work of the three degrees of blue lodge masonry, and the complete work of the four degrees of chapter masonry, including the royal arch degree. this makes a compact, handy and economical volume. revised illinois freemasonry, ill'd. the complete and accurate ritual of the first seven masonic degrees of the blue lodge and chapter, by a past high priest, with all monitorial and scripture readings and the secret work fully illustrated. the exact illinois "work." nearly foot-notes from the highest masonic authorities. complete work of pages, the first seven degrees comprising the blue lodge and the chapter degrees. cloth $ . first degrees, cloth. price . pocket lexicon of freemasonry. by j.w. morris. a reliable companion to the young mason on the ritual and customs of the order, as well as a memory-aid to the older brethren. pages, cloth bound. price $ . paper covers . ezra a. cook, publisher (incorporated) e. van buren st. chicago * * * * * +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | typographical errors corrected in text: | | | | page : aids replaced with aides | | page : agres replaced with agrees | | page : "if the klansmen rides a horse" replaced with | | "if the klansman rides a horse" | | page : bulter replaced with butler | | page : orgaization replaced with organization | | page : law-aboding replaced with law-abiding | | page : maurading replaced with marauding | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ * * * * * produced from images generously made available by the internet archive.) the nation's peril. twelve years' experience in the south. then and now. the ku klux klan a complete exposition of the order: its purpose, plans, operations, social and political significance the nation's salvation. wherefore say unto the children of israel, i am the lord, and i will bring you out from under the burdens of the egyptians, and i will rid you out of their bondage, and i will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments.--_exodus_, vi, . new york: published by the friends of the compiler. . entered, according to act of congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, by e. a. ireland, in the office of the librarian of congress, at washington. introductory. the facts contained in the succeeding pages, have been compiled from authenticated sources, and with especial reference to their truthfulness. that portion derived from the diary of a gentleman, twelve years a resident of the south, was not originally intended for public circulation; but this, with a variety of other matter obtained from official records, formed the basis of a lecture delivered at tremont temple, in the city of boston, on the evening of march th, , and excited a great degree of interest among the people to learn more of the subject-matter treated upon. communications relating thereto came in from all parts of the country, and it was decided by the friends of the compiler to present all the facts in convenient form for general circulation, as the best means of complying with this demand. they are here given with such additions to the original matter, as will enable the general reader more fully to comprehend the origin, rise and progress of the various orders of the ku klux klans, their social and political significance, and their general bearing upon the welfare of the nation at large. the thrilling stories of outrage and crime herein narrated, are authenticated beyond the power of refutation. "against all such crimes, as well as against incompetency and corruption in office, the power of an intelligent public sentiment and of the courts of justice should be invoked and united; and appealing for patience and forbearance in the north, while time and these powers are doing their work, let us also appeal to the good sense of southern men, if they sincerely desire to accomplish political reforms through a change in the negro vote. if their theory is true that he votes solidly now with the republican party, and is kept there by his ignorance and by deception, all that is necessary to keep him there is to keep up by their countenance, the ku klux organization. having the rights of a citizen and a voter, neither of those rights can be abrogated by whipping him. if his political opinions are erroneous, he will not take kindly to the opposite creed when its apostles come to inflict the scourge upon himself, and outrage upon his wife and children. if he is ignorant, he will not be educated by burning his school houses and exiling his teachers. if he is wicked, he will not be made better by banishing to liberia his religious teachers. if the resuscitation of the state is desired by his labor, neither will be secured by a persecution which depopulates townships, and prevents the introduction of new labor and of capital." that these pages may be received in the same spirit of charity and kindly feeling in which they have been penned, is the sincere and earnest wish of the compiler. the nation's peril. the transition of the social status of the colored classes in the south, from a condition of abject servitude to one of the most enlarged freedom, crowned with that dearest of all rights to the heart of the freeman, the elective franchise, although gradual, and attended with difficulties that have seemed at times almost insurmountable, goes steadily forward, under the hand of a beneficent and all seeing god, who watcheth alike over the just and the unjust, enjoining upon them, in return for his goodness, a strict observance of his commands towards one another. human progress in this country, during the past ten years, has taken giant strides, although met by obstacles of a character so formidable as to impose a most extraordinary task upon those engaged in the great work of social reform and the establishment of the rights of all to civil, religious and political liberty, as guaranteed by the constitution. the spirit of the age is reformatory. religion, politics, art and the sciences have ever been the subjects of reformation and progression, and by these have been lifted from comparative darkness in the past to the broad fields of light in the more intelligent present. in the grand plan of an all-wise creator, nothing has been allowed to permanently obstruct the onward march of the races and nations of the earth; and for the accomplishment of this glorious purpose, no sacrifice, it appears, has been deemed too great that would aid in its fulfillment. the travail and labor of nations, the desolation and destruction of whole communities, and in some instances the entire annihilation of races of men, have been the penalties demanded and paid for their long persistence in the ways of sin and wickedness. the american republic has been no exception to the imperative rule. it bore within its folds the crime and curse of slavery, a foul and corroding ulcer that could only be burned out and destroyed by the terrible visitations of fire and the sword, and in the eradication of which all the wisdom of the nation's greatest counselors, all the terrible enginery of modern warfare, and the skill and persistence of the chosen leaders of the people were to be brought into requisition. a fierce and sanguinary contest of four years' duration ended, under the hand of god, in the grand triumph of the right; but the war of the rebellion left the south in a state of social disintegration, in which the leading spirits who had fomented the internecine contest assumed to control the masses, and perpetuate under another form, and accomplish by other means, that which had been lost to them in the surrender and disorganization of their armies. the condition of the south, during the past twelve years, is vividly illustrated in a series of letters written by mr. justin knight, a gentleman of undoubted integrity, a resident of the south during the period referred to, and which are here given in a narrative form for the better convenience of the reader. speaking of himself and the peculiar circumstances that brought him to the southern states, mr. knight says: "born in close proximity to the metropolis of new england, where i received the advantages of a collegiate education, and the religious instruction of parents who, without bigotry, were opposed to every species of wrong, i early conceived a desire to enter upon the ministry, which i did in , almost immediately after the close of my collegiate life. my constitution, at no time robust, was entirely inadequate to the labors imposed upon me by the duties of this new position. my health continued gradually to give way until the winter of , when my physician decided that a change of climate was essentially necessary to my well-being, and under his advice i proceeded to charleston, s. c., and took up my residence with a married sister, then living there in affluent circumstances. at this peculiar epoch in the history of the country the political atmosphere of the south was literally pestilential. under the manipulation of skillful, but unscrupulous leaders, whole communities had become imbued with a spirit hostile to the governing powers. they were led to believe that the time for argument had past, and that nothing was now left them, but to make a demand for what they were pleased to consider their inherent rights;--that of keeping their fellow men in bondage--and if this were refused, to declare themselves for war. the portentious clouds of the impending crisis continued gathering thick and fast, and it required no prophet's eye to discern, or voice to foretell that they must soon burst upon the country in a deluge that could only be stayed by an enormous waste of blood and treasure. a sojourn of nearly eighteen months among the southern people, and the facilities afforded me from the position occupied by my sister's family, gave me an unusual opportunity to observe the passing pageant of events. the masses had been gradually worked over to the interests of the more intelligent leaders, until reason and argument ceased further to influence them. they seemed wholly given up to the one idea of slavery, or war, and they had been led to believe that the first demonstration of organized resistance to the regularly constituted powers, would bring the north at their feet in abject supplication for peace. i was anxious to know how the defiant and belligerent attitude that was being assumed would be received in the land of my birth, and as my health had sufficiently improved to warrant my again returning there, i did so at the earliest opportunity, only to realize that the people of the north were buckling on their armor, with the deep seated purpose of going forth to battle for the right. there was a significance in all "this busy note of preparation," that i could fully understand and appreciate. i had seen enough to convince me that nothing but the severest chastisement, administered by the hands of the lord through the instrumentality of his chosen people, could bring our misguided brethren of the south to a just and proper sense of their duty to god and their fellow-men. they had long "eaten of the bread of wickedness; and drank the wine of violence," and they had utterly forgotten that "righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." an opportunity was speedily afforded me to accompany a regiment to the field as chaplain, and i soon found myself marching southward with a body of noble men who had been foremost in responding to the call of president lincoln, to defend the union and preserve the integrity of the nation. the incidents of the four years of bloody strife that ensued, need not be alluded to here. they were passed by me, in the midst of danger, offering consolation to the dying, caring tenderly for the dead, when circumstances permitted, and coming out of all, through the hand of god, unscathed. the results aimed at upon the part of the ruling powers, seemed to have been accomplished. the proclamation of emancipation had gone forth from the executive head of the nation, and solid rows of glittering steel had followed it up, and compelled its enforcement. the foulest blot upon the pages of our history as a republic had been erased, and its down-trodden children liberated from a thraldom more humiliating in design, and wicked in purpose, than that which yoked the children of israel under the hands of the egyptian task masters. in them the promise of the great jehovah had been verified: "wherefore:--say unto the children of israel, i am the lord, and i will bring you out from under the burden of the egyptians." the right had been vindicated; the shock of contending armies was over, and the nation waited patiently to see in what condition the contest had left the conquered. it is my purpose, in these pages, to give the exact facts, "nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." i shall endeavor neither to exaggerate the history, or conceal the truth. i am aware that the revelations which follow are so terrible in their nature as to almost pass the bounds of belief; that the agonizing scenes herein depicted, and which have been the results of the same demoniac spirit which actuated and prolonged the war, had they been told as occurring among the semi-barbaric nations in the uttermost parts of the earth, might be the more readily received by my countrymen as truthful relations; but which, transpiring at our own doors, within the sound and under the shadow of the gospel, appear like the mythical creations of a distorted imagination rather than actual revelations from real life. in the interest of all progress, and for the sake of god and humanity, i would it were so; but the contrary is the fact. hundreds of living witnesses stand ready to verify the statements under oath. scores of the unoffending skeletons of gibbeted negroes and whites attest the solemn truth. the exact localities, the names and residences of the victims, the hour and day, the month and year of their murderous whipping and ignominious death, are given with a fidelity that challenges contradiction, and forms an array of evidence at once incontrovertable and overwhelming. the ever changing current of events again called me to the south. my sister's family had been almost destroyed by the death of her husband, who had cast his fortunes with the cause of the rebellion and had paid the penalty with his life, and it was necessary i should aid her in adjusting the affairs of the estate which had been left in a very unsettled condition, and required much time to properly arrange. i was glad of the opportunity thus afforded me to observe the effects of the struggle that had just closed; and prepared my mind to take a calm and dispassionate view of the situation, as became a seeker for the truth who was desirous of arriving at the hidden springs underlying the social crust, with a view to the remedy of the impending evil, if such could be found. i believed in the integrity of the great mass of the people, and could see that they had been deceived and led on to destruction by the ingenious plans of men, skilled in human diplomacy, and having a profound knowledge of the character of the people whom they designed to move for their own wicked purposes. the spirits of these leaders chafed under the bitter disappointment of defeat. it was apparent they would continue to foster seditions, organize conspiracies against the powers that be, and use every effort to fan into life the dying embers of the "lost cause." these men controlled certain portions of the local press, and either threw obstacles in the way of the dissemination of proper and just principles, or used the power in their hands to sow the seeds of dissention broadcast throughout the states so lately in insurrection. all the misery that had accrued from the war, the families that had been sundered; the blood of loved ones that had watered the various battle-fields of the south, and the bones of beloved kindred that lay whitening there; the numerous sacrifices of wealth, family, and social position that had been made, the property lost and destroyed; the general stagnation and prostration of business, and the feeling of dread and insecurity that followed, were all attributed to the rule of the republican north. there were mutterings of revenge and breathings of threats and slaughter against the race that had just been raised up out of bondage. slavery, the former bane and curse of this country, was already dead. its putrid carcass was no longer of the material things of earth, but its ghostly spirit still stalked abroad among its mourners to keep alive the memory of its wicked example in the minds of those who, born and reared in the folds of its garments, and nurtured at its breast, could not cast aside their early prejudices and banish from their hearts, its former evil influences. they no longer remembered that "the way of the lord is strength to the upright," and that "destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity." thousands of misguided and misdirected men cherished in their bosoms a spirit of animosity toward those who had aided with their blood and money in the liberation of the slave; and it was this very spirit of hatred which had in a manner demoralized the south and created a feeling of uncertainty and insecurity among men of capital, that proved a serious barrier to their investing in our railroads and factories, and the improvement of our lands; and, as a natural sequence, retarded our social and financial progress. society at this time was divided into several classes. many who were disposed to accept and abide by the new order of things, dared not express their real sentiments from fear of social and political ostracism. men of intelligence and education, but who had allowed the thirst for power and political preferment to absorb and swallow up the promptings of their better nature, had begun the process of gaining over to their interests the very worst elements in the social circle beneath them, with a view to carrying out their unholy designs. this class in turn, and under the management of the more intelligent, intimidated still another class and compelled them to join in a crusade that had for its objects the most infamous ends ever attempted to be gained by men. a complete connection had thus been formed, reaching from the unscrupulous leaders, to the masses, and embracing in its chain every class of society needed for the success of the general plan. the standard bearers of the devil himself, coming direct from the lowest depths of the infernal regions, with seething vials of wrath and an earnest intention to do the bidding of their master, could scarcely have set on foot a conspiracy more damnable than this. men, women and children were to be included in the portending storm, religion and human decency were to be outraged, the law of the land and its administrators defied, and justice scoffed at in the pillory. the ordinary safe-guards to the social well being of the community were to be swept away whenever they became inimical to the designs and objects of the unholy alliance thus formed. men were to be banded together and bound by oaths that ignored all others and made these supreme. where the life or liberty of one of the brotherhood was in jeopardy, he was to be saved at all hazards. perjury and subornation of perjury were to over-ride courts of justice and render abortive, any attempt to bring these lawless bands to punishment through their instrumentality. nothing was to be too sacred for the vandal hands of these marauders who, under the guidance of the more intelligent leaders, were to go abroad like a consuming flame, until the land, that god had made pre-eminently beautiful for the abode of peace and contentment, had been smitten with a scourge of fire and blood, and their own wicked purposes had been accomplished. it seemed as if the voice of the lord had again spoken through the prophet ezekiel, "say to the forest of the south, hear the word of the lord. thus saith the lord god: behold i will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree; the flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein." it was to be a dual struggle. the colored races were to be subjugated or destroyed; and the humane efforts of the government and the administration to restore peace and harmony, and commercial prosperity, and to give to the citizens, of every creed and color, free and equal rights was everywhere to be opposed, that the experiment of reconstruction might become a hissing and a by-word, and go forth to the world an ignominious failure. the masses were kept in utter ignorance of these designs. they were in a state bordering upon absolute frenzy at the losses they had incurred from the fratricidal war that had left them bankrupt as individuals and communities, and with the peculiar anxiety that seems to pervade the hearts of all men, to endeavor to find some reasonable excuse for sins committed, they accepted the theories that had been so ingeniously prepared, and so carefully put before them, and became, like the clay in the hands of the potter, ready to be fashioned in any manner of form that might be decided upon by their wicked counselors. there was an oppressive and an ominous calm in the atmosphere of the south at this time ( ) that foreboded no good. men viewed each other with distrust. those who seemed well-disposed at first, and who had been casting about themselves and gathering up the fragments, with a view to renewing their peaceful pursuits, suddenly abandoned their labors. rumors of outrages upon persons and property, vague at first and without apparent authenticity, began to fill the air. bands of armed and disguised men were said to be travelling the highways, burning the dwellings, and robbing and murdering inoffensive citizens under the most revolting circumstances. the scriptural command to "devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee," had seemingly become obsolete among the people. it was evident that the mysterious order, the existence of which had so long been hinted at, had begun its fearful work, and under the then complexion of affairs in the nation at large, none could divine the end. the death of president lincoln had left the executive, in this the hour of the nation's great peril, in the hands of one from whom the disorganizing elements of the south had much to hope. the hand of justice was for the time being paralyzed, and the occasion seemed most opportune for the conspirators to perfect their terrible organization, and set in motion the secret machinery by which it was hoped to accomplish their base purposes. it was evident from such facts as could be gathered relative to these outrages, that there was a distinction as to the classes of people who were the sufferers. the negroes were, of course, the objects upon which the wrath of the new order was vented; but there were numerous instances, as will be observed in the succeeding pages, where whites were scourged and murdered as well. the fact that certain citizens, who had committed no offense against the laws, were selected from the various communities, and subjected to the grossest indignities, led to inquiry as to the causes that had brought these inflictions upon them. it was ascertained that, in the preponderance of cases, warnings had been sent to the victims demanding that they must retract their political faith, cease to side with radicals, and abandon their interest in the negro, or they must leave the country; failing in this, they were to be scourged to death. negroes who approached the ballot-box to exercise the newly conferred right of suffrage were watched as to how they voted, and warned that they must not vote the "radical ticket." if they paid no heed to this warning, and were detected in the independent exercise of the right of suffrage, they received a visitation; their houses were pillaged, the persons of their women violated, their children scattered, and themselves hung, shot or whipped to death. the reader, in perusing the chapter of authenticated outrages that follows will agree with the writer that there is no exaggeration of language here, nor need of any. nothing is stated that has not been put to the severest test of truth; and nowhere are these incidents recorded, in which the living witnesses have not been found, and the facts obtained from them. i was long in believing that such deeds, worthy alone of the incarnate fiend himself, could be perpetrated in a civilized community. i made all possible allowance for the political and social situation. i determined to know whereof i affirmed, and resolved that when i obtained this knowledge, i would give the information to the country. i was as free from political bias as it was possible for a man to be who felt it to be a part of the duty he owed to society to exercise the elective franchise. i had never mingled in politics, but had uniformly cast my vote with either political party which i deemed had the best interests of the nation, and the welfare and advancement of the people, at heart, and could not bring my mind to believe, at first, that there was a deep political significance underlying this movement, and that it had its ramifications from state to state, all leading to one great center, with one common head who, in the interest of any political party, governed and directed the dreadful machine, and that it meant nothing less than the subversion of the popular government. the facts and figures gradually undeceived me. i could see that there was a mysterious something at work that had closed men's mouths most effectually, and that disaffection, consternation and terror gained ground daily. even, my brethren of the pulpit, with whom i was associated in the different places i visited, were affected to such a degree that they no longer dared to preach the free sentiments of their hearts. no one but an actual resident of the south, at this time, can form anything like an adequate idea of the reign of terror, that this condition of affairs had inaugurated during the succeeding two years and more, of president johnson's administration. everywhere throughout the south that i travelled, the hydra headed monster met me. i tried to believe in all charity that the movement sprung from the ignorant and uneducated masses who saw, or thought they saw, the origin and cause of all their misfortunes in the negro, and the liberal minded whites of the south who had countenanced and urged his enfranchisement in the interest of human progress; but the facts were everywhere against the theory. it was evident that a formidable organization, the result of intelligent men counseling together, and devising wicked plans for the accomplishment of wicked purposes, existed in all the southern states; that it had its ritual, its oaths, its signs, tokens and passwords, its constitution, by-laws and governing rules, its edicts, warnings, disguises, secret modes of communication, intelligent concert of action, and all framed and planned in a manner that showed the authors to be men of education and superior minds. in north and south carolina, in georgia, alabama and tennessee, in florida, mississippi and kentucky, arkansas, louisiana and texas, it existed in a greater or less degree, and its advent was everywhere marked with the most brutal outrages. the intelligence of these wrongs was not spread from one community to another by the newspapers. these, when not in the interest of the order itself, were intimidated into silence. when the outrages were so flagrant as to compel some show of attention, such as necessitated the action of a coroner, juries were selected, the members of which were members of this mysterious order, and the verdict usually was that the victim came to his death by injuries inflicted by himself or by negroes. the disaffection spread daily. the seeds of the order, and their fruits everywhere manifested, were sown in the courts and grand juries. under such a condition of affairs there was no longer security for life or property. the idea of obtaining justice for any of the wrongs perpetrated, passed out of the minds of the sufferers entirely. the effect was generally demoralizing. official incompetency and corruption aided rather than stemmed the rushing torrent that was bearing this section of the republic to anarchy and financial ruin. a large class of persons not heretofore alluded to, but who formed a very important part of society, looked on without apparent interest. these were men of wealth and education, who neither sought to justify the wrongs being done, or made any attempt to oppose them, but by their very silence gave a tacit consent to the wicked plans of the conspirators. they were a class "who rejoice to do evil and delight in the forwardness of the wicked." a system arose exactly in counterpart with that of the old spanish inquisition. personal hatred toward a citizen, black or white, was sufficient warrant for reporting his name and residence to the members of the order as a "radical republican" and a "negro worshiper," and he was forthwith warned to leave the place on penalty of being whipped, or suffering a worse fate. hundreds of young men with whom the writer has conferred, pointed to men of maturer age, property holders and men of influence, and confessed that they had been induced to enter the general conspiracy, because they were told these men were at its head and after joining it learned that they had not been deceived in this respect, and yet they found the order so arranged that they could discover nothing, and were allowed to know nothing, of its workings, beyond the circle to which they had been admitted, and however revolting the practices of their associates were to them, the oath they had taken, and the feeling of terror inspired by the initiation and the penalty attached to recanting members, compelled them to continue their allegiance, and acquiesce and aid in the outrages. even the women seemed to have caught the general infection, and sought to justify the dreadful events transpiring about them upon the ground that this was the only way in which the rights and liberties of the south could be preserved. that men holding high official positions, and moving in the most respectable circles, organized these outrages, selected the victims and accompanied the rabble in the execution of their designs, is indisputable. inoffensive women seeing their husbands, fathers, and brothers torn from their sides and scourged in their presence, became infuriated at the indecent spectacle, and in their agonized frenzy, rushed upon the assailants and wrenched off the masks behind which they skulked, only to behold the faces of men who, up to that hour, they had deemed the ones to whom, from their superior intelligence, they should have looked for counsel. traveling from place to place and directing the general movement, were men who had held positions as generals in the armies of the rebellion. disappointed political tricksters aiming to elevate to power a party whom they claimed had been in sympathy with the rebel cause north and south; and determined to do this though the land of their birth should go to ruin. anarchy and confusion usurp the places of law and order, and the blood of the outraged ones reach up to heaven in cries for vengence. these men overlooked the fact that they were setting in motion a power that was destined to pass from their control, and make them as a people of whom it was written: "i will even give them unto the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be as meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth." they desired to heed no note of warning regarding the future so that the ends of the present were accomplished; and under their guidance, lust and rapine and murder stalked abroad, and the land seemed to be wholly given up to the machinations of the evil one and the unbridled license of his chosen servants. nowhere upon the dial plate of the nineteenth century did the index finger of the hand of god point with such unerring and terrible certainty. it seemed as if the lord had spoken once more as he spake in the days of the prophet isaiah: "what could have been done more to my vineyard, that i have not done in it? wherefore, when i looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? and now go to. i will tell you what i will do to my vineyard. i will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the walls thereof, and it shall be trodden down. and i will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns * * * for the vineyard of the lord of hosts is the house of israel, and the men of judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry." good men bowed their heads in anguish. they had lifted their eyes to the far north, from whence should come their help, and they had looked in vain. the body corporate was too fatally diseased to cure itself rottenness and corruption hung upon its borders, and were slowly sapping the foundations of its life. its energies were prostrated, its internal recuperative power destroyed. help must come from without; and the earnest prayers of the devoted and doomed went up to the throne of god in heartfelt supplication, that wisdom might dwell in the hearts of the counsellors to whom the destinies of the nation had been confided; but it seemed as if the heavens were as adamant that could not be pierced, and that no answer would be vouchsafed to the sincere appeal." such was the situation at the close of president johnson's term of office, and the elevation of general grant to the presidential chair. it remained to be seen whether the incoming administration would turn the deaf ear to the suffering and disorganized south as its predecessor had done, or whether, under the guidance of its new executive head, order should be brought out of chaos, the crooked paths made straight, and the prophecy fulfilled: "behold, i will redeem them with an outstretched arm." the recitals that follow give answer to this query more conclusively than the most elaborate of arguments. they show, from statistics gathered under the most favorable circumstances by the writer in person, the existence of a numerous and formidable organization of armed men, working in secret, disguising themselves beyond all hope of recognition, committing depredations upon persons and property, frequently resulting in the total destruction of both, and instituting the most bitter and inhuman persecutions, for opinion's sake, that ever disgraced the history of a nation. the facts are beyond all hope of successful denial. they are born out by the records of the local and federal courts, by the testimony of the surviving sufferers and by the voluntary confession of recanting members of the organization. a full expose of the order, its origin and secrets, its designs and purposes, its operations and results, are related with an unswerving fidelity to the truth, and with all charity to the people with whom it had its rise, and among whom, by the grace of god, and under the firm but humane course pursued by the present administration in the enforcement of the law, and the establishment of the right, it must have its fall. the information came to the knowledge of the writer through those who had been active members of the order, and who had abandoned it the moment the strong arm of the government had been felt in the vigorous enforcement of the laws, through its secret agents, thus rendering it safe for them to do so. the revelations that follow, speak in tones that must reverberate throughout the length and breadth of the continent, and are submitted as terrible evidences of the fearful condition to which communities may be reduced, when, ignoring the cardinal principles of right and justice, they abandon themselves to the control of unscrupulous men, whose overweening ambition destroy every other sentiment, and who esteem no measures too vile or inhuman that will lead to the accomplishment of their own base ends. orders of the ku klux klans. the constitutional union guards.--knights of the white camelia.--order of invisible empire.--the white brotherhood.--union and young men's democracy. origin, organization, initiation, oaths, objects and operations. _he discovereth deep things out of darkness; and bringeth out to light the shadow of death._ job. xii., . in the early part of , or nearly a year after the close of the war of the rebellion, there was organized in the southern states, a secret order, known as the "constitutional union guards," having a constitution, by-laws, oaths of allegiance, modes of recognition and approach, and a ritual, all of which were legendary and unwritten. its places of meetings were styled camps. its officers were: a "commander," "south commander," "grand commander," "chief of dominion," and "grand cyclops," or supreme head of the order. the commander is the chief officer of a local camp. he issues the call for, and presides over, all its meetings. initiates members; administers the oath; invests them with the signs, grips, and passwords necessary in making themselves known as members of the order; and imparts to them the signal code of sounds by which they are governed in their excursions, and at times when, for obvious reasons, it is not expedient to utter words of command. the south commander is, to all appearances, a lay member of the camp. his power, however, when he chooses to exercise it, is superior to that of the commander. he is an officer without apparent function, and yet it is a portion of the oath attached to the second, or supreme degree, that he shall be obeyed in preference to any other known or constituted authority. he can prorogue the camp, or dissolve it altogether, whenever he deems fit, and is amenable to no one inside of the camp of which he is a member. the office of this functionary is not an elective one. whenever a camp is formed, the authority under which it works assigns to it a south commander, and he is the only person through whom communications can be received from, or made to, that authority. all the doings of the camp, the number and names of its members, the warnings issued, the persons visited, and all other proceedings, are carefully noted by the south commander, and reported by him to the grand commander of the district in which the camp is located, and he is the only member of the camp who has knowledge of that officer. the south commander is not permitted to know any grand commander save the one to whom he reports, nor does he know to whom his superior is amenable. the grand commander has charge of a district comprising a certain number of camps (usually seven), from the south commanders of which he receives reports as above stated. it is his duty to condense these reports into cypher, which he transmits to the officer above him, known as the chief of dominion, and from whom he receives the general instructions and orders to be transmitted to the various camps of his district through the south commander. he in turn is not permitted to know any chief of dominion save the one to whom he reports; and, like his inferiors, is in utter ignorance as to whom his superior is amenable. the chief of dominion has charge of all the operations of the order in some state assigned to his care. he receives reports from the grand commanders thereof; and transmits the same to the "grand cyclops," or supreme head of the order, and president ex-officio of the "supreme grand council." this supreme grand council is composed of the chiefs of dominions, and from them emanate the instructions which, being decided upon in the conclave of the council, are promulgated to the rank and file through the grand commanders, south commanders, and commanders of camps. by this peculiar system of organization the moving spirits of the order are conversant with all that transpires below them, while their own identity is carefully concealed from the masses whom they design to move for their own vile purposes. the objects of the order are somewhat covertly set forth in the oaths administered to the members, but previous to this time the grand designs intended to be accomplished were known only to the members of the supreme grand council. the initiation is comprised in two degrees, the first or probationary degree being intended to test the members, and the second or supreme degree for those of the first who have been found worthy of advancement. the signs, grips, &c., are the same in both degrees, with the exception of one test word, and a supplementary ritual hereafter to be explained. order of initiation. first, or probationary degree. the first or probationary degree of the order is intended for the masses. the candidate for initiation is selected, so far as possible, with reference to his political proclivities, if he has any. he must be known to the member proposing him to be opposed to the radical party; to be or to have been in sympathy with the cause of the rebellion; to be opposed to the elevation of the negro to a social and political equality with the whites; and to have a hatred of negro worshipers, carpet-baggers, and scallawags, as those terms are interpreted in the order. these points being satisfactorily settled, he is notified to proceed to a secluded place on a designated night. there he is met by three conductors, who blindfold and lead him to the vicinity of the camp, which, in order the more effectually to guard against surprise, rarely assembles twice in the same place. on the way he and his conductors are encountered by a guard or sentinel, who challenges the party with: "who comes here?" his conductors reply: "a friend." the guard asks: "a friend to what?" he is answered: "my country." the candidate is then allowed to pass into the camp, and is conducted to the center of the assembled members, when the following oath is administered to him by the commander: initiatory oath. "you solemnly swear, in the presence of almighty god and these witnesses, that you will never reveal the secrets that are about to be imparted to you, and that you will be true to the principles of this brotherhood and its members; that you are not now a member of the grand army of the republic, the red string order, the union league, heroes of america, or any other organization whose aim and intention is to destroy the rights of the south, or to elevate the negro to a political equality with yourself; and that you will never assist at the initiation into this order of any member of the grand army of the republic, the red string order, the union league, heroes of america, or any one holding radical views or opinions. you furthermore swear that you will oppose all radicals and negroes in all of their political designs, and that, should any radical or negro impose on or abuse or injure any member of this brotherhood, you will assist in punishing him in any manner the camp may direct; and you furthermore swear that you will never reveal any of the orders, acts, or edicts of this brotherhood, and that you will obey all calls and summonses from the chief of your camp or brotherhood, should it be in your power to do so; and that, should any member of the brotherhood or his family be in jeopardy, you will inform them of their danger, and go to their assistance. you further swear that you will never give the word of distress unless you are in great need of assistance; and should you hear it given by any brother, you will go to his or their assistance; and should any member of this brotherhood reveal any of its secrets, acts, orders, or edicts, you will assist in punishing him in any way the camp may direct or approve, so help you god." during the administration of this oath, the members surround the initiate, dressed in long, white gowns, high, conical shaped, white hats, and their faces shrouded in white masks. at the conclusion of the oath, the candidate is made to kiss the book. the bandage is then removed from his eyes. the commander approaches, and proceeds to instruct him in the signs, grips, and password. signs of recognition and approach: _first._--strike the fingers of the right hand briskly upon the hair over the right ear, bringing the hand forward and partially around the ear, as if describing a half moon. _answer._--same sign made with left hand over left ear. _second._--thrust the right hand into the pant's pocket, with the exception of the thumb, at the same time bringing the right heel into the hollow of the left foot. _answer._--same sign with the left hand, bringing the left heel into the hollow of the right foot. as a farther precaution search is made by the hailing party as if for a pin in the right lappel of the coat. _answer._--a similar search in the left lappel of the coat. the grip is given by placing the forefinger on the pulse of the person you shake hands with. _countersign._--if halted by a camp or picket on the public highway at night, the following colloquy ensues: "who comes there?" "a friend!" "a friend of what?" "my country!" "what country?" "i, s, a, y." (repeating each letter slowly.) "n, o, t, h, i, n, g." (repeating each letter slowly.) "the word?" "retribution!" these countersigns are issued every three months. the one here given was in vogue at the time of the discovery of the order. a member of any order of the ku klux klan of the first or probationary degree, in distress, and requiring speedy aid, will use a word signal, or cry of distress: "shiloh!" in expeditions conducted under direction of the commander, or any of the brethren detailed by him to act as head, a code of signals by sounds, made with whistles, is used, in order that the members may not be recognized by their voices. divisions of the order. there are several divisions of the order of the ku klux klans, all working under the same ritual and oaths, and having the same signs, grips, passwords, modes of approach, and general conduct of raids and midnight excursions. these are known under the names of "knights of the white camelia," "the invisible empire," "the white brotherhood," "the unknown multitude," "the union and young men's democracy." all work in disguise, with the exception of the latter, who work openly as well as in disguise, and are all under the instructions of the "grand cyclops" and the supreme grand council. they all have one and the same object, which is as plainly set forth in the oath as it well can be in an obligation of that character. the difference in names and styles has been adopted for a two-fold purpose. first, to conceal the origin, object, and design of the order, and its founders and directors; secondly, to conceal its extent and numbers, and make it appear a mere local affair that has cropped out in different places without reference to any organized combination with one grand center. the workings of the klans over all the southern country show more conclusively than any amount of subterfuge on the part of the leaders, that one common tie binds them all; that one common interest actuates them; that one common end is to be accomplished. the oath differs slightly in phraseology in different localities, to accommodate the varied circumstances under which it is administered, and with a view to greater concealment--the words "unknown multitude," "invisible empire," and "white brotherhood" being substituted in north and south carolina; the words "union and young men's democracy," in georgia and mississippi; and the words "knights of the white camelia," in louisiana and texas and other states. the second or supreme degree. this degree differs from the first or probationary degree in the fact that those upon whom it is conferred are of the better class of the masses, and take upon themselves a more binding oath, administered under circumstances intended to be more impressive in character. the candidate for this degree is brought blind-folded into the center of the camp, and caused to kneel at an altar erected for the occasion, his right hand placed upon a bible, and his left upon a human skull. the commander then says: "brethren, _must_ it be done?" the members respond, "_it must!_" and this in a tone intended to strike terror to the heart of the novitiate. the candidate, of course, has no knowledge of what is meant by the ominous "_must it be done?_" and there is a mournful groaning in the response "_it must!_" indicating that a terrible experience awaits him, which the brotherhood would gladly spare him if they could. a death-like silence ensues for a few moments, which seem ages to the candidate, and affords ample opportunity for his imagination to picture the unheard-of horrors through which he may possibly be called to pass. the silence is finally broken by the commander, who says: "brethren, this brother _now_ kneels at the altar of our faith, and asks to be bound to our fortunes by the more solemn and mysterious provisions of our order. fortunately for him in this hour of peril, he has been found worthy, and in commemoration of his being made one of the great 'unknown multitude,' i again ask, '_must it be done?_'" the brethren, in solemn tones, again respond, "_it must!_" the commander then says, in a stentorian tone of voice, "_let the blood of the traitor be spilled: bring the victim forth._" the members here make a rustling noise, to resemble a struggle, a heavy blow is struck upon some appropriate substance, and a few drops of blood are trickled over the hand of the initiate that rests upon the skull. the brethren then surround him with knives and pistols presented in a circle about his head and neck, when the commander then says: "must i swear him by the oath that shall forever bind, and never be broken?" the brethren, placing their hands upon their left breasts, respond sepulchrally as before, "_swear him!_" the commander now addresses the candidate as follows: "_my brother_, kneeling at the solemn altar of our faith, as one who desires that no government but the white man's shall live in this country; and as one who will fight to the death all schisms, and factions, and parties, coming from whatsoever source they may, which have for their design the elevation of the negro to an equality with the white man, i am now about to administer to you the oath of this, the supreme degree, of our order--that oath which shall forever bind, and never be broken; at the same time informing you that this oath, being taken in a cause which has for its object the deliverance of your country and the land of your birth from the rule of the negro-worshiper and the fanatic, is paramount to every other oath which you have taken, or may hereafter take, outside of this order. you will now repeat after me, pronouncing your name in full, and your words aloud, on pain of instant death: _oath of the second or supreme degree._ "i, a. b., in the presence of almighty god, and these my friends here assembled, kneeling at this altar, with my right hand upon the holy bible, and my left washed in the blood of a traitor, and resting upon the skull of his brother in iniquity, and being fully impressed with the sacredness of this act, do solemnly swear that i will uphold and defend the constitution of the united states, as it was handed down by our forefathers, in its original purity; that i will reject and oppose the principles of the radical party in all its forms, and forever maintain and contend that intelligent white men shall govern this country. and i furthermore swear that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the order of the constitutional union guards, and will never make known, by sign, word, or deed, any of its secrets now about to be, or that may hereafter be confided to me; that i will obey all its precepts, mandates, orders, instructions, and directions issued through the commander, and aid and assist the brethren in carrying out and enforcing the same; and that i will keep secret, even unto death, the plans and movements of this society. i furthermore swear to obey the south commander in the camp, in preference to any known law, precept, or authority whatever, and to defend the brethren, if need be, with the sacrifice of my life. i swear that the enemies of the white man's race, and the white man's government, and the friends of negro equality shall be my enemies, and that i will uphold and defend the white man's government against all comers, whether in the name of radicals, negro-worshipers, carpet-baggers, scallawags, or spies in the land. i swear to forever oppose the social and political elevation of the negro to an equality with the whites, and that i will come at every hour of the moon to execute the trust confided to me by the commander and the brethren. i furthermore swear that, in case of our being interrupted in the establishment of the principles for which we are contending, that i will regard no oath that will convict one of the members of this order, but under all circumstances will stand by the order in blood and death. i furthermore swear that i will not give the signal cry of distress, only when in real distress, and that i will yield my life, if necessary, in aid of a brother giving the double cry of this degree. lastly, i swear by this bible, and this skull, and this blood, that should i ever prove unfaithful in any particular to the obligation i have now assumed, i hope to meet with the fearful and just penalty of the traitor, which is _death_, death, death, at the hands of the brethren. so help me god." the candidate having kissed the book, the bandage is removed from his eyes. he sees before him a human skull upon one side of the bible, and a small chalice or cup filled with blood upon the other. the brethren are all disguised in long black gowns, covering them completely from neck to heels. black masks and black conical shaped hats of enormous height, decorated with representations of death's head and cross bones, complete the costume. some of the members bear pine torches, which throw a wierd and unearthly glare upon the unholy scene, and render it a fit counterpart to the abode of the demons who seem to have instigated the proceedings. when the bandage is removed, these torches are swung violently to and fro, and the brethren simultaneously utter a loud cry. the candidate is now informed that the signs, grips, and passwords of the preceding degree are used in this, with the exception that the signal cry of distress in this is composed of two words: "shiloh, avalanche." operations of the ku klux klan. an authenticated account of outrages committed in the south.--the perpetrators and their victims. the murder of edward thompson. from the close of the war, up to the fall of , there resided in lowndes county, georgia, an exceedingly intelligent colored man, named edward thompson. he was noted for his piety, and the peculiar influence he exerted over the members of his race who resided in lowndes county, and hamilton county, florida; and being thoroughly imbued with republican principles, lost no opportunity in disseminating them among those of his race with whom he associated. through his exertion, and by the force of his example, the negroes voted the ticket of the republican party at every election, always seeking his advice before going to the polls to deposit their ballots. thompson's case was brought before the camp of hamilton county, florida--at that time, presided over by one elihu horn, commander of the camp--as one requiring energetic action upon the part of the order. a warning was issued to thompson, the import of which could hardly be mistaken. the following is a verbatim copy of the same taken from the original. "k. k. k. "_his supreme highness of hamilton to edward thompson._ "his supreme and mighty highness has heard of your seditious practices in leading others astray, and encouraging them in opposition to the white man's government. time is given you to repent and submit as your fathers have done. now this is to warn you, and all such as you, on pain of punishment and death, to abandon your vicious harangues, and abide by our orders. the moon is yet bright; it may turn to blood. "by order, "k. k. k." thompson paid no heed to this warning, but continued to pursue the even tenor of his way. he had resided so long in the place, and been so favorably known there, both among the whites and blacks, that he scouted the idea that this meant anything more than a threat intended to intimidate him, and he continued exerting his influence in the republican cause with his brethren, as had been his custom. several warnings were subsequently sent to him with no better effect, and it was finally decided in the solemn conclave of the camp, that he should receive the long threatened "visitation." on the th of september, , thompson retired to his bed between nine and ten o'clock, as was his usual custom. his family consisted of his wife and two children, all of whom occupied the same sleeping apartment. between eleven and twelve o'clock they were aroused from their slumbers by the door being broken in with a tremendous crash, and before thompson had time to collect himself, he was rudely seized and dragged from his bed by a number of men, armed and disguised, two of whom fired their revolvers into the roof of the cabin, as a menace, and assured thompson they would turn the weapons upon him, if he offered the slightest resistance. his wife and children were also dragged from their beds, being at the same time severely struck by some members of the band, and told to remain quiet. "in the name of the lord, what is this?" asked thompson, as soon as he could command his voice. the response was a blow upon the head from the butt of a pistol, delivered with a brutality that convinced him that he was in the hands of those to whose hearts mercy was a stranger. he was then told to ask no questions, and make no noise, but to dress himself and go with the band. his wife was subjected to the most revolting indecencies. the last garment that covered her nakedness was wrenched from her person and torn into shreds, leaving her utterly exposed to the malicious and lecherous eyes of the intruders. she was then told "to get her rags on," and go with the party. the children terrified at seeing their parents thus brutally assailed, uttered the most piercing screams, but were ordered to remain behind and not leave the house, or they would be killed. the band started out with their captives in the direction of the house of john and samuel hogan, two white men who were known to be republicans, and had thus rendered themselves obnoxious to the camp. they compelled the hogans to accompany them, and started for the woods, nearly a mile from thompson's house. one micajah amerson, a colored man living near the scene of this outrage, hearing the report of the fire arms, arose, and dressed himself, and taking a shot gun, started for his son's house on the joseph howell plantation. amerson was just in time to meet the band having thompson and his wife and the two hogans in custody, and was at once seized and compelled to go with the party. amerson seems to be the only one of the captives able or willing to give an intelligent account of what subsequently transpired, which he did to the writer as follows: "i saw the company in the road, and knew they were the ku klux from their disguises. i saw it was no use to try and get away from them, and one of them told me to go along, at the same time striking me with a club. edward thompson and his wife (colored), and john and samuel hogan, two white men, were with them. thompson said nothing but his wife moaned all the way on the road to the woods. we went about a quarter of a mile into the woods, and were then ordered to halt. when the halt was made, one of the band gave a peculiar whistle, which was answered almost directly by a similar sound. this proved to be the signal for the appearance of a party who was addressed as the captain, and who at once took charge of the proceedings. "i and the two white men were ordered to sit down, a pistol being placed at our heads to enforce obedience. the colored man (thompson) was then told to strip himself naked. this he commenced very reluctantly to do, begging for mercy, and asking what he was going to be whipped for. the members of the band seemed to be enraged at this, and taking out their knives, commenced cutting his clothes off, wounding him in several places. the captain then struck him a powerful blow with a gun, shattering the stock and knocking thompson senseless. "no one paid any attention to him as he lay upon the ground,--the captain and two or three of the band holding a consultation. the captain then asked for the "executioners." two men came forward and said: "where are the warrants?" at this another of the party produced two long leather straps, and handing them to the two men, said: "here they are." "these two then commenced to beat thompson and his wife in a dreadful manner. the punishment on the wife was brief though cruel. that upon thompson was continued until the "executioner" was thoroughly exhausted. he then handed the strap to another member of the band, who renewed the assault with great fury. thompson, at first, made no exclamations, but on being struck in the more delicate parts of his body, screeched fearfully. he was brought to his feet several times while the punishment was being inflicted, only to be knocked down by the strap, and kicked by those who were standing around him. the members of the band laughed at his agony and said to the executioners: "give it to the damned radical; learn the son of a b...h to keep his piety and politics to himself; we'll teach him how to lead the niggers." "thompson finally ceased to scream. his body was a mass of blood, and he appeared to be unconscious long before the beating was through with. i thought he must be dead, but dared not say anything. when the executioners had ceased, he lay perfectly still. one of the members said: "the d....d skunk is playing possum." he then jumped at thompson, kicked him several times in the side and back with great violence, and turning him over, ground his boot heel in his face. he lay for a long time unconscious, and was several times raised to his feet, but could not stand. his wife continued to pray during a portion of the time, asking god to bring her husband to life, and begging the captain to spare him for the sake of his family, and let her try and get him home. "the captain finally said, she might do what she liked. it was easy to see that thompson could not live, but some of the band were not satisfied. one of them called out: "'captain smart, can i shoot the dirty radical?' to which the captain replied: "'no! the black son of a b....h is dead enough.' the captain then said to me and the two white men: "'now, you take this for a warning, and if we ever hear of you divulging anything about this, you may expect the same treatment.' "the white men and myself were then taken to the road, where we were met by another party, also in disguise, making about forty in all. i was then told to go to the joseph howell plantation, and remain there two hours, or the rest of the band would take me and put me up the spout. "i done as directed, and returned to my own house about o'clock in the morning; i then went over to thompson's house, and found him dead. how he came there, i do not know; i heard that his wife got him home, and that he was not entirely dead, when he got there." in addition to the testimony of amerson, as to the terrible details of this brutal murder, we have that of mrs. thompson and the two hogans. dr. mapp, a physician residing near thompson, was called to see him, and at the earnest entreaty of the wife dressed his wounds, although he saw that the poor victim could not live possibly. he was literally beaten to a jelly. one of his eyes had been forced completely out of its socket, and he was otherwise almost totally unrecognizable. elihu horn, _alias_ capt. smart, was known at the time as a respectable member of society in hamilton county, fla., and a leader in the democratic ranks in that vicinity, and violently opposed to the present administration. he was determined that no one should preach what he was pleased to term "the heresy of radicalism" in that county, and live, and his threat was fully carried out upon the body of the unfortunate thompson. in the light of such an outrage, can any one, of whatever creed or faith, question the policy of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and the proclamation of martial law in such a community, or doubt the wisdom of the executive head of the nation, in his efforts to suppress the unlawful assemblages, who aspired to hold the life and liberty of our citizens in the hollow of their hands, and annihilate the hopes of newly-made freemen, by imposing upon them a bondage infinitely worse than that from which the nation, through the blood of her sons, had but so recently released them? brutal whipping of a white man for opinion's sake. shortly after the outrage which resulted in the death of edward thompson, a mr. driggers, residing in the county of echols, and not far from where thompson had been murdered, received a warning from the ku klux klan, that he must change his political opinions, or leave the state. mr. driggers was a prominent republican, and had made no secret of his political faith. he had freely expressed his opinions in that regard whenever he desired to do so, and had steadily voted the republican, or what was known to the ku klux as the radical, ticket. he was generally esteemed among his fellows, and especially among the colored people, in whose welfare he took a great interest, and this latter fact was deemed an offense not to be tolerated by the defenders of the white man's government. warning after warning was sent to him, and he was thus duly reminded, that, unless he recanted, the fate of thompson would surely be his; but, he still regarded the matter as merely an idle threat, and time passed on until the night of the th of august, , when a party of five men, armed, and disguised in black gowns and masks, visited his residence. mr. driggers at once divined the object of this visitation, and was expostulating with the leader, when he was quickly overpowered and stripped in the presence of his family, and beaten with straps similar to those used upon thompson. he was dreadfully punished about the head, face, and back, and was informed by the klan, that for the present they would accord him the mercy to live, but, unless he left the county, they would return and kill him, and destroy his property. from similar outrages that had been perpetrated in the vicinity, mr. driggers was fully satisfied that this threat would be carried out to the letter. he was familiar with the brutal details of thompson's death, and was now convinced that the members of this terrible brotherhood would respect neither color, social standing, or respectability, and at once made hasty preparations, and abandoned his once happy home to become a wanderer. the visitation upon him was made solely for political reasons. he was a man that stood above reproach in the community, and no person could be found in echol county that could impugn his character as a man, a gentleman, and an upright citizen. it was not contended that he had committed any other offense than that of being a radical republican, who, being too obstinate to change his politics, must be whipped into renouncing a faith that he could not be argued out of. is it any wonder that men who substitute brute force for argument, should so strenuously object to the efforts of the executive officers to enforce the law and bring order out of the chaos, into which their wild and licentious acts have plunged the respective communities in which they live? thinking men will say "nay," and will ask and demand that the policy now being pursued by the administration shall be continued until the supremacy of the law is fully established, and men of all shades of color and political faith may "sit under their own vine and fig tree, with none to molest or make them afraid." allen wicker, william smith, butcher smith, james king, and lewis kinsey, all residents of echol county, ga., and members of the camp that had decided that mr. drigger must surrender his political opinions, leave his home, or die, were the persons upon whom the officers of the united states secret service fastened the guilt of this outrage. an appalling tragedy. terrible death of a white man in wilkinson county, georgia. one of the most appalling tragedies ever resulting from the free expression of political opinions, was that enacted at irwinton, wilkinson county, georgia, on the night of the st of august, . for more than a year previous to this date, a white man, familiarly known throughout the county as sheriff deason, had taken a very active part in politics, having espoused the republican cause, as one might say, in the very den of the lion himself, and standing almost alone, in what he considered a contest for the right. deason was a large, powerfully built, and muscular man, inured to hardship from his youth, resolute in his purpose, tenacious of his principles, and ready under all circumstances to expound them, whenever it seemed good to him to do so. he was a man whose good nature was proverbial. he delighted to get into the country grocery, and there, surrounded by an admiring audience of colored men, and such of the whites as sympathized with him, although secretly, express his opinion, that the principles of the republican party were the only ones upon which a righteous government could be founded, and which would eventually bring the ship of state safely to a secure anchorage. among his hearers were many of those who had sworn to uphold the "white man's government," and who believed that deason's arguments were calculated to damage their labors in this respect, but, bold as they were, when in bands of twenty, armed and disguised, they assailed defenseless men and helpless women, they dare not single handed to make even so much as an utterance against his outspoken logic, and they writhed and twisted under it in silence. they comprehended, however, that seeds were being sown that would take root in the minds of thinking men, and produce results which they did not desire to see accomplished. a formal presentation of deason's case was made to the irwinton camp of the c. u. g., to which order, at that time, two-thirds of the white population of wilkinson county belonged. as was usual in such cases, it was decided to issue a warning to the intended victim, which was forthwith done. deason replied to it by pasting the warning upon the door of his house, where it remained an ever present witness to the contempt in which he held its authors, until it was washed away by the fall rains. this was regarded as an act of defiance upon deason's part, that could not be overlooked. to add to this, he continued uttering his political views with the same freedom as before, and it was resolved that he must be stopped. this, however, was easier said than done; deason was known to be thoroughly armed, a man of undoubted courage, and a terrible opponent when thoroughly aroused, although very quietly disposed when left to himself. the camp saw they had a serious subject to deal with, and for nearly a year after the first warning, he was little less than a thorn in their side. his example worked steadily upon thinking minds, and it was evident that he must be put out of the way, as the only measure whereby the spread of the peculiar political principles advocated by him could be stayed. a final warning was sent to him, the substance of which was, that he "must leave the country, change his politics, or make up his mind to become buzzard bait." in the conclave of the klan, when this warning was directed to be issued, it was announced that this was positively the last opportunity that would be given deason to repent of his ways, and that in the event of its failure to bring him to a change of his views, or his location, the full penalty attached to the "negro worshiper" would be enforced. this, however, had no more effect than the previous warnings, and his death was resolved upon. on the night of the st of august, , twenty-five of the klan who had been selected by the commander, armed and disguised themselves for the purpose, and proceeded to deason's house on the outskirts of the place. deason had retired for the night, having carefully locked and barred his doors and windows as usual. it was about midnight when he was aroused by a heavy knock at his door. he arose from his bed and requested to know who was there. the reply was a demand for him to come out and surrender himself to the klan. deason responded to this with a defiant remark, telling them if they wanted him, they must come and take him. the band then commenced battering at the door, when deason, placing his gun at a loop-hole which he had previously prepared, discharged both barrels. it appears, however, from some great misfortune to him, that neither of the shots produced any damaging effect upon the assailing party. the band were somewhat disconcerted at this, however, and withdrew a short distance from the house and held a consultation. at the time of this visitation, deason's wife was away upon a visit, and the only other person in the house was a colored woman who was a servant in the family. she had already arisen and expressed her determination to assist deason in the fight, to the extent of her ability. the latter had reloaded his gun and had just set it down when a sudden rushing noise, as of men running, drew his attention, and in a second afterwards, the door was crushed in by a joist, which the band, using as a battering ram, had forced against it. the klan poured in at once, and in full force. a terrible hand to hand fight ensued. deason fought with great desperation, as did the colored woman. one after another of the klan were stretched out upon the floor of the cabin, but the odds were too great, and deason's immense strength became exhausted under his tremendous exertions and the loss of blood which he sustained. he finally sank down pierced with over-twenty bullet and knife wounds, and died fighting to the last in the maintenance of the principles he had so long and so earnestly advocated. the woman was soon dispatched, and the klan then retired, taking their wounded with them. deason's mutilated body was found the next morning on the floor of the room in which he had met his dreadful fate, while that of the woman was found doubled up in one corner of the apartment, as if she had been thrown there like a bundle of worthless rags. the frontal bone of the dead man's head had been broken, and the base of his skull crushed in, apparently by a club. the body had been shot and stabbed in more than twenty different places, and presented a most revolting spectacle. the facts of the double murder soon spread abroad, and were reported to a mr. bush, coroner of irwinton, and that gentleman, being a member of the camp that had ordered deason's death, empanelled a jury of his fellow-brethren, and, according to his own confession, made since that time, went through the form of an inquest, the result of which was a verdict that the man deason and the colored woman had met their death at the hands of certain _colored_ persons, to the jury unknown. the death of this noble martyr to the cause of truth, effected important changes. there were signs of dissatisfaction among some portions of the community, to whom the details of the awful tragedy had become known, and it was necessary that some measures should be taken to appease the feeling of indignation that was beginning to gain ground. the grand jury of the county was summoned to sit for the purpose of taking some measures to suppress crime. every member of the jury was a member of the c. u. g., or ku klux klan. their first step was to issue an address to the people of the county, stating that evidence had been brought before them to show that certain negroes had been guilty of gross outrages in the county, which all good men should deprecate, and calling upon the citizens to look out for the evil doers. this had but little effect, however, other than to confirm the few well-meaning ones in their former belief that wilkinson county was in the hands of men who would leave no measures unturned, to drive out of it, every one known to differ from them politically. deason is not the first nor the last in the long procession of illustrious martyrs who, in all ages of the world have forfeited their lives in the maintenance of their principles. unlettered, uncouth, uncultivated in life, resolute and unyielding even in death, he stands recorded upon the pages of this brief history, a noble and brilliant example of the lineal descendants of those who came from the shores of a distant continent, more than an hundred years ago, to seek that freedom of thought, that civil and religious liberty that had been denied them at home. many such as he, now live and suffer in the deluded and misguided land of his birth, and like him, have for years carried their lives in their hands, for opinion's sake. in the good providence of an all-seeing god--who has indeed imbued the present heads of the nation with the wisdom necessary to appreciate the situation, and devise the appropriate remedy--light begins to appear in the dark places, verifying the saying that, "sooner or later, insulted virtue avenges itself on states as well as on private individuals." the murder of brinton porter. while the grand jury were holding their sessions as previously stated, and only a short time after deason's death, a band of twenty armed and disguised men rode into irwinton and murdered one brinton porter, an intelligent citizen whose offense consisted like deason's in his having disseminated republican principles and voted the republican ticket. porter had received a warning similar to that sent to deason, but had said nothing about it, even to the members of his own family. after receiving the warning he had neither openly expressed his radical views, nor made recantation of his political faith, but as he had not left the country, as the warning stated he must do, his doom was pronounced in the conclave of the camp, and it was ordered that he should die. on the th of september, , after concluding the business of the day, and taking tea with his family, mr. porter left the family table, and, taking a chair, went out to his door stoop. his only child, a daughter of tender years, accompanied him and sat at his feet. he saw the band of disguised men approaching the house, and deeming himself in danger, immediately arose and was in the act of entering the house when he fell across the threshold pierced by half a dozen bullets, which had been discharged at him by the klan. the child escaped unhurt. the klan seeing they had accomplished their purpose, wheeled around and with derisive yells passed out of the town at a sharp trot. the agony of porter's family beggars description. a wife widowed, and a child orphaned in a moment, because their natural protector had assumed the right guaranteed to him by the constitution and the laws, to exercise the elective franchise according to his own opinion, and the dictates of his own conscience. can one believe, that in the civilization of the th century, and upon the american continent, the boasted refuge for the down-trodden, and the oppressed of all nations, such a scene as that above related could be enacted in the broad light of day, and the whole community not rise up against it? alas, for the degradation to which political bigotry and a disregard of law, reduces a people, it is only too true. the data upon which this truthful narration of the murder of brinton porter is founded, is a matter of record in the archives of the government. the facts can neither be gainsaid nor palliated. it is to be hoped that the firm policy of the present administration may bring the people of the community in which porter lived to such a sense of the great injustice done among them, that they will rally to aid the government, in bursting the bands thrown about them by the subtletry of their own unprincipled leaders, and stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are doing all that human wisdom can devise to restore order and harmony, and promote prosperity and happiness among the people. exterminating the negro race. _fiendish designs of the ku klux of wilkinson county._ the emasculation of henry lowther. in some parts of wilkinson county, there seemed to be a disposition to destroy every member of the colored race who should be found voting the radical ticket. it was contended that scourgings and general maltreatment had not produced satisfactory results; and, on the other hand, blood was accumulating on the heads of the klan, too fast even for their blunted consciences. still the war must go on in some way, and something must be done to destroy the little leaven that bid fair to "leaven the whole lump." the subject was discussed in the conclave of the camp, and it was finally decided that a more effectual way could be devised to accomplish the extermination of the colored race than either by whipping or murder. this was the fiendish resolve to castrate every negro who was guilty of radical proclivities, and who voted the radical ticket, a design worthy alone of the men who originated it. in that county, and at that particular time, there were many colored men known as republicans; and an opportunity was speedily afforded the klan, to carry out this terrible species of cruelty; a greater crime against nature than all the others since it looked to the entire destruction of the species. there had been, for sometime previous to september, , a colored man in wilkinson county, by the name of henry lowther. this person was favorably known among the negroes of the county, and expended a good deal of his leisure time in going from place to place, and talking republican sentiments to members of his race, and urging them to vote the republican ticket, as the only means of maintaining their right to freedom. previous to the dreadful visitation which subsequently came upon him, he had voted the republican ticket upon two occasions, and had expressed his intentions to continue on in his political course in the future. this had roused the indignation of the ku klux camp at irwinton beyond measure. a meeting of the klan was called in which the edict was promulgated, that since lowther would not abandon the propagation of his political opinions, he should be deprived of the power to propagate his race, and further, that he should receive no "warning" in the matter, but be proceeded against summarily, and "at once" was the time fixed for this outrage. lowther had been followed all the day previous, and just after dusk was seized and thrown into a carriage, and driven rapidly away to the woods near irwinton, by four men armed and disguised. while in the carriage, he was told that if he moved or made any resistance, his life would pay the forfeit; but that, otherwise, it would be spared. upon arriving at the woods, he was taken out of the carriage, and found himself in the midst of nearly one hundred persons. notwithstanding the promise made by his first captors, he supposed his time had arrived and begged for his life. he was then told that he would not be killed, if he did not make too much resistance; that he had been preaching too much politics, and they intended to fix all the d--d radical breeders in the country; and had made up their minds to begin on him. lowther did not fully comprehend them at first, but soon learned the awful significance of the words. his arms were then firmly pinioned, and he was thrown upon the ground where he was tightly held by several of the band, and castrated in a most rude and brutal manner, begging piteously and writhing under the pains inflicted by his tormentors. after the operation had been performed, he was unpinioned and asked if he knew the residence of any doctors and on his replying that he did, he was told to go for one as he valued his life; and further, that if he ever voted the radical ticket again, or influenced any one else to do so, he should suffer death. although shockingly mutilated and bleeding from the dreadful manner in which he had been treated, lowther started to find a physician. three different surgeons were applied to before he found one sufficiently humane to afford him assistance in dressing his wounds. it was several weeks before the unfortunate negro was in a condition to walk about. the facts coming to the ears of the officers of the u. s. secret service, they made diligent search for lowther, whom they learned dared not complain of his treatment for fear of death; and having found and assured him of protection, he made affidavit to the facts as above set forth, affirming that, with other parties who instigated and consummated this outrage, were eli cummings, the mayor of irwinton, lewis peacock, then sheriff of wilkinson county, and others of equal prominence. shall it be said after this that only the ignorant and uninfluential whites are engaged in the gross outrages charged upon the southern community? and that there is no need there of the rigorous enforcement of the laws to secure to the well-meaning citizen, black and white, the security for life and property denied them under the rule of the lawless mob? outrages by the ku klux klan. persecution of the furguson family for opinion's sake.--aged women and young girls stripped naked, and brutally whipped.--an awful history. _for whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, i will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but i will chastise you with scorpions._ ii chronicles, x, . the terrible narration that here ensues shows more conclusively, perhaps, than any that has preceded it, the extent of the moral degradation to which the community in which it was enacted was so surely and steadily drifting. it would seem that the authors of the outrage had forgotten that they were born of mothers, who had nursed them tenderly in infancy, or that there were any longer left in the bosoms of women those feelings of virtue and modesty usually ascribed to and found in the sex, and the writer will here premise that the facts herein contained, dreadful though they are in their disgusting details, have been verified beyond cavil or the hope of questioning. just previous to the breaking out of the rebellion, dennis furguson, an intelligent and hard-working white man, resided with his family in chatham county, north carolina. the family consisted of himself, his wife catherine, a daughter, susan j. furguson, and three sons, john, henry and daniel. the head of the household was one of the few devoted unionists who were thoroughly opposed to the principles then being disseminated by those who were endeavoring to plunge the country into a civil war, and exerted all his influence to avoid the great catastrophe. mr. furguson was known as being favorable to the republicans, and had voted in the interest of the principles of the party of that name, whenever opportunity had offered. he had educated his children in a love of the union, and taught them the blessings of civil and religious liberty with their evening prayers, and had succeeded in imbuing them with his own opinions to such an extent that the family became noted throughout chatham county as unionists and radicals. at the breaking out of the war, furguson determined to remain a non-combatant, seeking as far as possible not to render himself obnoxious to his neighbors, but resolving at the same time to maintain a neutral position. in this, however, he was doomed to a bitter disappointment, being conscripted into the rebel army and sent to the front. he was taken prisoner at fort caswell, n. c., and was sent to elmira, n. y., where he died, never having seen his family from the night he was so rudely torn from their embrace, and compelled to serve in the army of the rebellion. neither this great calamity, nor the numerous other hardships suffered by this family for opinion's sake, could shake their firm adherence to the union cause. the daughter was a beautiful girl, of great natural intelligence, but who had been wholly without the advantages of an education. she was attached to her father with a rare devotion, and believed it to be a filial duty, which she owed to his memory, to continue to enunciate the principles in which he had so thoroughly instructed her. his conscription had strengthened rather than weakened these sentiments, and she publicly spoke of his death as chargeable to the wicked designs of the men who had endeavored to overturn and destroy the country. at the time of the organization of the first camp of the "constitutional union guards," or ku klux klan, in chatham county, susan furguson was in her eighteenth year. her case was the first one brought to the consideration of the camp; but no special action was taken thereon until it was observed that the sons were following in the footsteps of the father, and were advocating the same principles of unionism and republicanism that he had taught them. they also learned that miss furguson lost no opportunity to express her convictions to the colored people with whom she came in contact, and in their eyes her course became intolerable. during the october of , the case of the furguson family was again brought before the camp as a flagrant violation of the principles of the white man's government, and it was resolved that an example should be made of them. a warning was sent to the family to renounce their political faith, and cease the promulgation of their opinions, or leave the country. to this, and subsequent warnings of a similar character, no attention was paid, and an edict was finally issued by the commander of the camp, to have some, if not all the members of the family, scourged. on the night of the th of november, , the furgusons retired to bed at about o'clock. the family was then composed of the widow, mrs. catherine furguson, the daughter susan, and the three sons. between eleven and twelve o'clock, the attention of the daughter was called to a noise outside the house, resembling the tramp of horses' feet, and the running of men. in a moment afterwards, a voice shouted, "open the door." the daughter arose hastily, threw a wrapper over her person, and went to the door and asked, "who is there?" the response to this was another command, delivered in more peremptory tones than at first--"open the door!" and on her refusing to comply therewith, the frail structure was broken in, and a man, disguised beyond all hope of recognition, sprang into the apartment, confronting the girl with a most terrible oath. in the dim glare of the candle which miss furguson had lighted, and now held above her head, this hideous looking object presented an appearance well calculated to terrify a stouter heart. a long black gown hung over his person to his knees, and his legs were encased in huge army boots, ornamented with a brace of iron spurs. over his face was a black mask, with apertures for the eyes, nose, and mouth, and around these were drawn ghastly circles of white and red, rendering the face of the figure exceedingly repulsive. on his breast was the representation of a human skull worked in white, on a black ground, and surrounded with grotesque figures worked in red. his head was surmounted with a high conical-shaped black hat, on which were curious figures worked in white, and edged with red and yellow. he commenced his interrogations by asking miss furguson if she had ever seen a ku klux; to which the brave girl replied she never had, nor did she wish to, unless it were more comely than he. this seemed to enrage him, and turning to the door, he shouted, "come in!" a horde of twenty men, similarly disguised, rushed into the room, and the indecent orgies commenced. the mother and the three brothers had remained in bed, at the earnest request of the sister, but were speedily dragged from their resting place. daniel was the first one assailed. his night clothes were torn from him in myriads of pieces, leaving him in an entirely nude state. he was then thrown down upon the floor, and stretched out at full length; four of the band seizing and holding him fast while two others came forward and administered to him upwards of an hundred lashes on the naked person, drawing the blood at every blow, and raising the quivering flesh in great ridges upon his back and limbs. the boy fainted under the terrible punishment, and was then thrown aside to make room for his brothers, henry and john, who were each castigated in an equally severe manner. john furguson, who was more delicate than his brothers, uttered such piercing shrieks, as the heavy gum switches descended upon his back and loins, that his sister became almost insane. in her terrible agony she sprang upon the leader, and before she could be prevented, tore off his mask, and, to her horror and amazement, disclosed the face of richard taylor, one of her nearest neighbors, to whom she had often, since the death of her father, gone for advice and counsel. taylor threw her rudely to the floor and replaced his mask as quickly as possible. the girl was severely stunned by the fall, but as soon as she recovered, cried out, "i know you, dick taylor, and i will have you punished for what you have done this night." taylor immediately discharged his revolver at her, but, in the dim light shed over the room by the candle, and the excitement of the moment, shot wide of the object. he then exclaimed, with an oath, "if you move again, i will kill you dead; and if i ever hear of your telling anybody of this affair, we will come back and kill you all." turning to mrs. furguson, he said, "now, you take your folks and leave this country. if you are not gone in ten days, we will be here again and you shall all die." during the entire time of this whipping the three sons, two of them men grown, were completely naked, and when the mother and daughter sought to avert their heads from the shameful spectacle, they were ordered to turn them back again on pain of instant death, the command being enforced with pistols presented at their heads, by the hands of men whom they now felt assured would not hesitate to use them if ordered. having issued the edict for the family to leave the country or suffer death, the gallant defenders of the "white man's government" and the protectors of the "white man's race" departed. for more than three weeks succeeding this visitation, the furguson brothers were confined to their beds, and the mother and daughter nursed their wounds, and labored for their support with untiring energy. during these three weeks susan furguson had spread the news of the outrage to all parts of chatham county, characterizing the attack upon them as brutal and savage--a crime that, if left unpunished by men, would surely be punished by the hand of the lord. she applied to the justices of the peace for relief, stated that she recognized dick taylor, and george and joseph blaylock, citizens of the place, as being present on the night of the assault, and participating therein, and would make her affidavit to the facts, and support it with undeniable testimony. she was everywhere laughed to scorn. the few who sympathized with her and her family, dared not give expression to their thoughts for fear of a similar fate. chatham county was in the hands of the ku klux; a reign of terror had been inaugurated there; the mob had made laws for themselves, and justice was not to be had. an aged woman whipped upon her naked person. on the fourth week after the visitation above recorded, and just when the furguson brothers had about recovered from the effects of the brutal whipping, and were able to attend to their ordinary duties, the family were subjected to a second raid, far more revolting and indecent in its character than the first, and such as the sensitive mind naturally recoils from the contemplation of. the details are given here with a strict adherence to the truth, all the facts herein set forth having been personally verified to the writer by the sufferers themselves. on the night of the th of december, , susan furguson, and a young man named eli phillips, who had long known, and loved, and sympathized with her, were sitting before the fire in the room which had been the scene of the former outrage; the other members of the family, with the exception of john furguson, had retired to bed. mrs. furguson, the mother, was in very delicate health, caused by the shock produced by the visitation of the klan four weeks previous, and the labor consequent upon nursing and caring for her sons. one of the brothers, daniel, lay stricken with a fever that had prostrated him two days before, and was in an almost helpless condition. about ten o'clock in the evening, the doors upon both sides of the house were broken in simultaneously, without previous warning, and a band of men, armed and disguised as before, and much larger in numbers, rushed into the room, uttering the most demoniac yells. a portion of the number proceeded directly to the bed where the mother was lying, terror-stricken and paralyzed from fear at their approach, and after first charging her with having exposed their former visit, dragged her from the bed and threw her violently to the floor. they then stood her up, and ordered her to remove her night dress and chemise. this she refused to do, pointing to her gray hairs and imploring mercy in the name of god, and for the sake of the mothers who had borne them. her appeals were made in vain. at the order of the commander, the members commenced tearing off the only garments that concealed her nakedness, and this with the most shocking brutality. the daughter, maddened by the sight, rushed upon the assailants, but was anticipated by other members of the band, with whom she had a severe struggle, displacing the masks of four of them enough to enable her to recognize their faces. she was quickly overpowered, and then beheld her mother completely naked, her brother john bleeding profusely from the blow of a club, and her brother henry and the young man phillips firmly secured. the mother was then thrown upon the floor and there securely held, while two of the band beat her with twisted sticks, administering upwards of one hundred blows upon various parts of her person, and bandying the most obscene remarks and jests in relation to her. the daughter plead for her mother most eloquently, she informed them that she was in delicate health, and might die under the punishment, but this had no effect upon the executioners. the interest of the "white man's race" was at stake, and they had sworn to uphold the "white man's government," and would not stay their hands. having chastised the mother until there seemed but little life left, they commanded john and henry, and the young man phillips, to remove their clothes, and upon their refusing to do so, tore them off until not a vestige was left upon their persons. they were then whipped one after another, with great severity, the beating of john being so terrible that his life was despaired of for several days afterwards. the bed upon which the helpless and fever-stricken daniel lay, was knocked down from under him, and his already infirm body bruised and lacerated without stint. it was indeed "a chastisement with scorpions;" but the most indecent spectacle was reserved to the last. outrage upon a young girl. she is whipped in a nude state in the presence of thirty men. the girl susan, whose bravery and devotion to her family should have challenged the admiration of these lawless marauders, instead of drawing upon her their contempt, was next ordered to disrobe. overwhelmed and confused at the merest thought, even, of such indignity, she could hardly command herself sufficiently to speak her denials; as soon as she did, she utterly refused to comply with the order. the more lecherous and brutal of the band sprang upon and threw her to the floor, with no more regard for her person than if she had been a brute, whom they were leading to slaughter. they stretched her out at full length, and took her measure, as an intimation that they were going to dig her grave. "we will put her and her radical lies where she can't enjoy their good company, without further trouble," said one. this was responded to by another, who, with a coarse oath, ejaculated, "six foot under ground makes a good place for solitary confinement, by ----." the work of "taking the measure" having been completed, miss furguson, already suffering from the indelicate treatment she had received, was then allowed to rise, and again ordered to divest herself of her clothes. "is it possible," she asked, "that you will submit _me_ to such an outrage?" she had never conceived it possible these men, depraved as they were, would really carry out a threat against which her whole nature revolted. the reply was a sardonic laugh. the band had learned where the punishment would sting the most, and they meant to apply it and spare not. for the first time in all her hated experience with these desperate men, she faltered and felt her courage failing her. to the high-toned and sensitive spirit of this brave and beautiful girl, there was something in this contemplated exposure of her person far more torturing than any number of lashes, however mercilessly inflicted. death itself were a thousand times preferable, and, for the first moment in all her life, she felt like supplicating for mercy. her hands dropped nervously and motionless at her side, and the stout-hearted heroine of the previous hour, stood in the presence of her persecutors almost stricken dumb with shame and confusion. there was no sympathy in the glaring eyes that peered with lustful and revengeful fires from behind the hideous masks of their tormentors; no sentiment of pity, no hope, no help. she was given but little time to decide. they fell upon her like hungry wolves famishing for their prey, tearing one garment off after another, she resisting with all the strength she could command, and entreating them to take her life, if they must, but to spare her this last indignity. neither her piteous appeals nor her stubborn resistance availed her, and she lay upon the hard floor at last, naked as when born into the world, ashamed, degraded, broken in spirit, and her maidenly feelings outraged beyond any power of description. four of the defenders of the "white man's race" seized her limbs and arms; stretched them to their fullest tension, and placing their knees thereon, held her brutally and forcibly to the floor. her punishment was to be terrible. the "executioners" were called, and five of the band came forward. "number one!" shouted the leader, and a stalwart member of the klan that had sworn to uphold the "white man's government," raising his knotted strap in the air, brought it down upon the naked person of the helpless girl with the terrible force of his muscular arm, cutting through the delicate white skin and causing the blood to spurt at every stroke. he administered thirty lashes, and was succeeded by "number two" and "number three," until, as the witnesses state, one hundred and fifty lashes had been administered, and her shoulders, loins, and limbs, were literally cut into mince meat. her screams had ceased, and her unoffending body lay still and motionless long before the punishment had ended. there was something in her young heart far beyond the dread cruelty of this infliction, and she inwardly prayed to god for death, to end her mental and bodily suffering. lying under this great mountain of sorrow and shame, she heeded not the rude and obscene observations of her tormentors; and the unconsciousness produced by the punishment, soon placed her beyond the power to listen to them. leaving her as one dead, and issuing the edict that if the family did not leave the country, it would be "_death!_ death! death!" to all, the band departed. thousands of honest hearts of all shades of political opinions, upon perusing this truthful narration, will feel to wish that they could have been present with power at this time to have utterly destroyed this band of midnight raiders; but, let them remember the words of holy writ, "vengeance is mine, saith the lord, i will repay".... "neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the lord's wrath: but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy, for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." it was an hour after the departure of the band, before any of the party exhibited evidences of life or animation. henry furguson, and the young man phillips, were the first to come to a realizing consciousness of the awful scenes through which they had just passed. wounded and bleeding as they were, they felt the necessity for immediate action. the mother and daughter still lay upon the floor, naked, lacerated and motionless. john furguson had fainted from the loss of blood he had sustained, and was still unconscious, while daniel was lying amid the debris of the bed, groaning in the agony of the fever, and the wounds upon his body. hastily gathering up the dresses of the women, and throwing them over their nude bodies, the young men lifted them tenderly to the bed, and gave them such attention as they felt able to bestow. the remaining members of the family were cared for as well as the circumstances permitted. not a doctor could be had in the vicinity, who was not in sympathy with the klan, and not a neighbor came to their assistance, although fully aware of their distressed condition. the neglect of the neighbors was in no way attributable to their indifference or their inhumanity. it was one of the legitimate results of the feeling of terror that then pervaded the community. a show of sympathy towards these unfortunates, they feared, would place them under the ban, and subject them to a visitation, and they dared not incur the risk. in ten days another warning came to the furgusons, that they must leave the country within twenty-four hours, or the penalty of death would surely be inflicted. they knew this warning must be heeded, and with broken hearts and crushed spirits, they crawled out into the woods, under cover of the darkness, and secreted themselves as they best could. in an interview held with the writer, subsequent to this last outrage, miss furguson stated that the weather, at this time, was cold and disagreeable, sometimes frosting and sometimes raining; that they had to lie out without a shelter, and suffered with the cold and hunger, sometimes going twenty-four hours without food. occasionally the neighbors gave them something to eat, and finally the unfortunate wanderers sold to them the right to what furniture they had left behind in the house, and thus procured something upon which to subsist. she stated further, that they were in the woods nearly a month, and that as soon as they were able to travel they left the vicinity and procured a home with a mr. dixon, on the lower edge of chatham county. an affidavit, based upon the statements of this young lady, was made before the hon. a. w. schaffer, u. s. commissioner at raleigh, n. c., on the th day of september, . it charged the men, recognized by this girl, as being present and concerned in the outrages above related. warrants were issued, and the officers of the u. s. secret service went to chatham county and arrested the parties and brought them before the commissioner. the more wealthy and influential members of the klan rallied to their rescue, became their bondsmen, and they were released to await trial. miss furguson's description of the dreadful indignities to which she and the other members of the family were subjected, was of the most graphic and thrilling character, and aroused the sympathies of many who heard it. the defenders of the "white man's government" were alone amazed and enraged at the persistency and courage of this young girl of the "white man's race," and they determined to ferret her out and punish her again. in this they were successful, although for greater safety, the family had broken up, and the mother and daughter had secreted themselves, as they supposed, beyond the knowledge of their persecutors. on the night of the th of september, , three men, armed and disguised, and who had been detailed by the camp for the purpose, appeared suddenly before the miserable hut in which these unfortunates had taken refuge. an entrance was easily effected, and the women were told that their doom was sealed, and they were to be whipped to death. these three protectors of the "white man's race," then fell upon the women, beating them brutally. susan recognized one of them, by his voice, as a man named jesse dixon, whom she knew. the moment she called his name, the three ran away, leaving their victims, who passed the remnant of the night in the woods. on the following day, the mother and daughter made their way to raleigh, where fresh complaints were entered, and the secret service officers, armed with warrants, went out and succeeded in capturing two of the murderous assailants, who were brought in and held for trial. mrs. furguson and her daughter were then retained in the city as witnesses, at the expense of the government, and to protect them from further outrages. susan j. furguson, the heroine of the terrible experiences above related, is now twenty-one years of age. she is a girl of commanding presence, is endowed with a powerful constitution, great energy and force of character, and an indomitable spirit. her p. o. address is "snow camp foundry, chatham co., n. c.," where herself and other members of the family can be found, in verification of the facts above related. there are few narrations in the annals of "persecutions for opinion's sake," more shocking in their inhuman details than the foregoing; certainly, none that cry with a louder and more earnest voice to the government, and the right-minded people of the country, for help for those who have been the subjects thereof. no amount of retributive justice can erase one solitary scar from the knout-welted bodies of the furgusons, or remove from their spirits the dreadful memory of their disgrace; but to those who went forth to battle in the days of "the nation's peril," who stood shoulder to shoulder amid the roar of cannon, and, in vindication of the right, successfully withstood the shock of rebellious armies, it must ever remain a matter of profound gratification that the victories _then_ achieved in the field are _now_ being perpetuated in such a firm and vigorous enforcement of the laws as will have a tendency to make them substantial ones in the repression of any and all such outrages in the future. george w. ashburn. shot to death for opinion's sake. the shocking murder of this gentleman is still fresh in the minds of most readers of the daily journals, north and south. mr. ashburn was a sterling patriot, who entertained radical opinions, and through his fluency and ability, as well as his outspoken friendliness towards the colored race, had gained their confidence and support alike, with that of the republican whites of the vicinity. he was a member of the constitutional convention of georgia which met at columbus, in the winter of - , and during his stay there, was refused admittance as a guest at the principal hotels of the place on account of the political prejudice existing against him. he occupied private rooms upon one of the main streets of the city, where he lived in an unostentatious and unpretending manner. he was a man of extraordinary natural talents, a good speaker, of fair educational qualifications, and a most earnest defender and supporter of true republican principles. on all occasions, and wherever he appeared, to discuss the political situation of the trying times he moved in, he spoke his sentiments unreservedly. he was far from ever having been a huckster or trickster in politics, but he was fearless and able, and his enemies doomed him! at midnight, on the st day of march, , a band of about forty men, who were armed and thoroughly disguised, made their appearance in an open lot of ground near his residence, and just opposite his private quarters. he had gone to bed in his room, and the door was just closed, when a summons from without called the servant, who opened it, and the klan burst into the hall. mr. ashburn heard the noise, sprang out of bed, struck a light, and opened the door of his sleeping apartment. he did not fear death at the hands of these intruders, but he was alarmed at the rude demonstrations they made, and demanded to know what was their purpose. with an oath and a brief exclamation of unwarrantable abuse, the foremost members of the klan immediately fired upon and shot him down in his tracks like a dog. a white and colored woman in the house recognized three or four of the leading assailants, whom they subsequently identified, and these were among the first residents of the city of columbus. the names of these parties, whose identity was sworn to, and who were afterwards placed on trial, are as follows: elisha j. kirksey, columbus c. bedell, james w. barber, william a. duke, robert hudson, william d. chipley, alva c. roper, james l. wiggins, robert a. wood, henry hennis, herbert w. blair, and milton malone. the morning after the assassination, a coroner's jury was summoned, and, as was usual in such cases, the verdict of these men--who were all members of the ku klux klan--was, that mr. ashburn came to his death "from wounds received from parties to the jury unknown." the local authorities made a faint show of investigating the matter, but really did nothing towards actually ferreting out and bringing to justice the murderers. this outrage was so revolting in its inception and consummation, that the military authorities considered it right that they should undertake to do what the local police and citizens of columbus had apparently been so indifferent in performing. in the then condition of affairs nobody dared to appear against the suspected parties, and consequently witnesses could not be had in the ordinary way. at this juncture general geo. g. meade, then in command of the military department there--for the state of georgia was at this time under martial law--telegraphed to gen. grant, in washington, that he desired the services of a competent and able detective to assist in bringing the guilty parties to justice. a second dispatch was sent by gen. meade, requesting that col. h. c. whitley, of the united states internal revenue service (then absent under department orders in kansas), should be directed to report to him in person for the duty indicated. in pursuance of this request col. whitley went to columbus and commenced his labors, which resulted in the arrest of the parties above named. a military commission was at once convened to try the accused. the witnesses for the government gave their testimony in a straightforward manner, their evidence being fully corroborated by that of the people in the house where the deed had been consummated, and the conviction of the parties seemed inevitable. the citizens of columbus raised a hue and cry; the local newspapers sharply criticized the proceedings; a furore of excitement was engendered; the ablest legal counsel to be had for the defence, with alexander h. stephens at the head, were engaged, and large sums of money were expended in behalf of the prisoners. all parties were astounded, however, at the evidence which was produced against the accused. its preparation showed a skill and ingenuity such as had never before been exhibited in working up a case before the courts of the district, and it was necessary that some measures should be devised to save the participants in the fearful tragedy from their justly merited punishment. this could only be accomplished in one way--by the adoption of the th amendment to the constitution of the united states, it being a clause in the law that, upon the adoption of this amendment by the legislature of any state, all cases of civilians pending before military tribunals organized in said state, should be taken cognizance of by the civil courts therein. the democratic members of the georgia legislature were between two fires; the th amendment was a bitter pill, but the necks of their confreres were in danger, and they were compelled to vote solid with the republicans, and thus end the proceedings before the military tribunal. by this means, the trials of the ashburn murderers were taken out of the hands of the military authorities, the prisoners put under bail, the witnesses compelled to flee for their lives, and there the matter rests. to the unobserving mind the murder of george w. ashburn would seem totally unavenged; but to him who sees in every great event the hand of an over-ruling providence, evolving good from evil, a different conclusion must be arrived at. in his life, he fought manfully for the establishment of civil rights, and the political equality of the oppressed race of which he was the chosen champion. in his death that result was consummated, in the state of georgia, sooner perhaps by years than it would otherwise have been without this sacrifice. "wherever a few great minds have made a stand against violence and fraud in the cause of liberty and reason," there shall we find just such sacrifices as this, and there, too, "in the eternal fitness of things" and the onward march of law and the establishment of order, shall we find the triumphal vindication of those principles for which the republic has labored and travailed, and george w. ashburn died. a thrilling narrative. desperate encounter and defeat of a band of ku klux. as an instance of what the courage of one man can do in a righteous cause, against a multitude of those who are actuated by wicked and unlawful motives, the case of mr. j. k. halliday, a resident of jackson county, near jefferson, ga., is perhaps one of the most extraordinary on record. mr. halliday is a native of jackson county, ga., where he has always lived and done business. he was opposed to secession and rebellion from the first; was continually counselling peaceful measures, and openly avowed himself a unionist. during the war, he utterly refused to take up arms against the government, and being a man of great influence and large means, was enabled to avoid conscription into the rebel ranks. he was a thriving business man, the proprietor of two plantations and a mill, and kept a large number of hands engaged at work. after the close of the rebellion and as a measure of concession to the turbulent spirits by whom he was surrounded, he employed white men to do his labor. mr. halliday soon found, to his inconvenient cost, that these men demanded exorbitant wages; that they were indisposed to perform a fair day's work, sometimes not working at all, and then but for a half day, but always charging him for full time--and he finally became disgusted with, and discharged them altogether. this was sufficient to bring him into contempt with the klan, who charged him with being a "negro lover," as well as a union sympathizer, and an open-mouthed radical. threats of his assassination and the destruction of his mill and other buildings were freely uttered. he was formally "warned" by the k. k. k.'s, that he must change his course, politically, or he would certainly suffer death. halliday's reply to this threat and warning was simply to proceed to jefferson, and procure some of the best modern weapons, for defense, that he could find. with these he returned to his dwelling, awaited results, pursuing his usual course, advocating such political principles as he please, and employing colored men as before. during the spring of , at a meeting of the ku klux camp of jefferson county, it was solemnly resolved that halliday should be killed, and his property destroyed. the night for the "visitation" was duly decided on; and through an anonymous note this information was conveyed to halliday, the writer begging him as he valued his life, to leave the place, and thus save himself. to less resolute men this would have appeared a serious matter, but upon halliday the threatened danger had an entirely different effect. it nerved rather than weakened his brave spirit, and he resolved to "stick." he was a man full six feet in stature, and well proportioned; he had been long accustomed to out-of-door life, and was considered one of the most powerful men, physically, in the county; he knew his strength, and relying upon that and an unswerving faith in god, he determined to defend himself and his family to the last. on the night of the anticipated visit, he placed his wife and his two children in the upper room of the house, and barricaded the passage way leading thereto, as best he could. mrs. halliday well knew the desperate character and murderous designs of the klan. she clung to her husband, to whom she was devotedly attached, and expressed her fears as he passed down the stairway, that she would never see him again, alive! to this mr. halliday responded: "you forget that the great master is with me! trust him as _i_ do," and kissing her and the little ones, he descended to the ground floor, where he intended to remain and await the advent of the party. some of the more faithful of the negroes observing the unusual care with which mr. h. adjusted the fastenings upon the doors and shutters, that night, hinted to him that they "reck'nd he 'spected trouble," and they would like to be near him. "no," said he, "go to your own places and don't come out; if they come in here, i had rather be alone, for then i can shoot and cut at random and be sure not to hit any of my own friends. every man i strike will surely be one who ought to be stricken." mr. halliday was armed with two rifles, two revolvers, and a long bowie knife. shortly before midnight, the klan made their appearance in front of the house, to the number of about twenty. halliday saw them through a small half-moon shaped aperture at the top of the shutter. they were all masked, and appeared each to wear a long rubber cape, falling from the shoulders to the waist. they came straight to the door, and, without saying a word, commenced to batter it in. the door gave way in a few moments, and as they rushed in, halliday discharged his firearms with such fatal effect, that three of the klan dropped dead upon the floor. the room was intensely dark, and a desperate fight ensued, in which the assailants more frequently encountered each other than the victim for whom they were in search. halliday was finally grappled by one of the foremost of the party. he speedily freed himself through his superior strength and the prompt use of his bowie knife, thrusting it into his assailant's bowels, and throwing him violently back on to the crowd. the wounded man exclaimed: "he's got a knife! i'm murdered!" this caused a panic among the marauders, and the entire crowd left the house, taking their dead and wounded with them. after making certain that all of their own number were out, they discharged their firearms through the open doorway, and beat a retreat, taking a circuitous route, to avoid being traced by the blood that oozed from the wounds of several of the number, two of whom died soon after reaching their homes, thus making five in all who had paid the forfeit of their lives in the unholy cause. during all the time of this desperate encounter, the feelings of the wretched wife and frightened children in the upper room, may only be imagined. the father and husband, single handed, fighting against a horde of ruffians bent upon his murder; their own fate depending upon his, and not daring to cry out lest they should be discovered, and thus bring destruction upon their own heads, their situation was agonizing in the extreme. mrs. halliday did not forget the last words of her husband, so full of the strong faith that characterized the man: "_you forget that the great master is with me. trust him as i do!_" and sinking upon her knees, she poured her spirit out in silent and earnest prayer to god for help. the dead calm that had ensued after the uproarious tumult of the firearms, and the fierce struggle of the combatants in the room below, alarmed mrs. halliday more than all else. whether her husband had been overpowered at last and taken away, or had been left dead upon the floor, with some of the murderous crew watching to see who would come for the body, she knew not. possibly he might be lying there alone, wounded and insensible, with the life-blood ebbing away, and no friendly hand to stay the crimson tide, and the thought was terrible and agonizing. an hour went by. an hour into which years of misery were crowded to the forlorn woman, and yet no sound of life, no ray of light gleaming through the impenetrable darkness, to relieve the awful gloom and suspense, or give her one faint shadow of hope. halliday was indeed lying there, exhausted and unconscious from the numerous wounds and contusions he had received. in his right hand he still held the bowie knife firmly grasped, as if awaiting the further onslaught of the foe, while his left was clenched with the determination of his iron will. the cool wind blowing off the mill-stream and coming in through the open doorway, aroused him at length to consciousness. the remembrance of the fight, his successful resistance, the retreat of the assailing party, and, above all, his wife and children, saved--and by his own right arm!--came back to his recollection and nerved him to action. he roused himself from his lethargy, and groping his way to the stairs, he called out: "are you there, mother! and our darlings!" who shall tell the feelings of that wife-mother's heart, bowed in its terrible anguish, and now so suddenly raised to the highest pinnacle of happiness as she responded, "here! and safe, thank god, and our husband and father." who shall describe the music that will compare, in halliday's bosom, to the pattering feet of his darlings, as they rushed to meet his strong and loving embraces, and shouted, "papa, papa!" amid their fast falling tears. halliday's wounds, though not fatal, were still serious enough to alarm his wife, and as early in the morning as she dared, she sent one of the negroes for a doctor; but it appeared that every doctor in the vicinity was busy with patients who had been "taken suddenly ill during the night." one of these was the only son of a widow, the nearest neighbor to the hallidays. he had received a "severe fall" the night previous, they said, upon a sharp instrument that had pierced his bowels and caused his death. this proved to be the man halliday had cut. five funerals attested the energy and strength of the hero's arm, and the dead bodies of the victims remained as lasting "warnings" to the "defenders of the white man's government," and that it was not always wise to attack the members of the "white man's race." it is almost needless to add that mr. halliday was left free from that time forth to pursue his own course, politically and otherwise as he deemed best, and that his persecutors came to realize with him that "the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong," and that in the struggle of the right for supremacy over the wrong, "god and one constitute a majority." slaughter of an united states official. john springfield, a deputy united states marshal, residing in st. clair county, alabama, had drawn upon himself the odium of the ku klux of that county by accepting a position under the united states government, the duties of which he endeavored faithfully to discharge. he had been approached on several occasions by members of the klan, who had made propositions to him to pervert his office, and shield certain parties who were engaged in the illicit distillation of whiskey; but had utterly refused to listen to any of these overtures, and was bold enough to proclaim the fact that he should use his best endeavors to bring to punishment the violators of the law wherever he found them. the customary warning was sent to this intrepid officer, informing him that "st. clair county was getting hot for him," but that if he kept on in his course he would "be sent to a hotter place in a hurry." he was somewhat alarmed at this threat and moved about with great caution, but was unremitting in his attention to his duties until the spring of , when the klan decided that he must be stopped. an edict was issued, sealing springfield's doom, and the second night thereafter he was followed by three members of the klan, disguised in black gowns and with their faces blackened, and was shot dead within a few feet of his house. this murder was charged upon the negroes, and up to the present writing, the instigators and perpetrators have escaped punishment. the assault upon asa thompson. _singular conduct of the klan._ in the latter part of the year , there resided in clinch county, georgia, a gentleman by the name of asa thompson, who, although a southerner by birth and education, was an outspoken radical unionist, and had directly identified himself with the republican party. in his intercourse with the people he was frank and free in the expression of his sentiments, and always exercised the right of suffrage, conducting himself in an orderly and acceptable manner, at all times, as a good citizen should do. he was proprietor of a thrifty plantation, upon which he employed a large number of hands, and stood well generally in the community. these essential requisites to a good citizen were altogether insufficient, in the eyes of the ku klux klan in that vicinity, to balance the bad points (in their esteem) which characterized him, inasmuch as he was a radical in principle. this fault was considered good cause for forwarding to thompson a sharp "warning" from the camp, which was sent him in the customary form, and he was ordered to restrain himself in the utterance of his radicalism, or quit the country. if he failed to obey, then he would receive a visitation from the k. k. k.'s, and that meant death. to this notice he gave no attention, but laughed at the threat and awaited events. a second warning was then sent him, couched in the following terms:-- "one of three things will happen to you, very shortly. you will leave the country, so that we can never find you--change your politics--or be turned into buzzard bait. k. k. k." to this expressive, but not over polite missive, thompson returned a somewhat defiant reply, proceeded at once to fortify his cotton gin-house, in which he remained at night, and dared the klan to come for him. during the month of september, , matters had assumed such a position in this man's case, that the klan felt that thompson must be annihilated, or the "reign of terror," which they had inaugurated in the county, would be broken--and a reaction take place among the people, inimical to themselves. numbers of the band were accordingly detailed by the commander of the camp of clinch county, to put thompson out of the way. they were headed by shimmie timmerson, formerly sheriff of that county; a man notable for his unusual brute force and personal resolution. the klan approached thompson's gin-house on the night of the assault, cautiously, and as they supposed, unobserved. each one of them was well armed, and disguised in black gowns, masks and hats. thompson, who had been constantly on the watch, discovered them upon their first appearance. he relied upon the solid door of the gin-house, which he supposed would withstand a much heavier shock than it did. it gave way upon the first assault, which was made with a heavy piece of timber, battered against it by the assailants; and which shivered it to splinters. as the door crashed in, thompson opened such a rapid fire upon the marauders, as to lead them to suppose that the gin-house was full of armed men. this belief had been strengthened, from the fact that its only occupant shouted simultaneously with the discharge of his weapons: "give it to 'em, boys! don't spare a man." timmerman (the ex-sheriff), who led this gang, fell at the first fire, seriously though not mortally wounded. several others of the party bit the dust, and the entire band at once beat an ignominous retreat--bearing with them their wounded; and leaving their single-handed and brave opponent master of the situation. the most singular and unexpected result of this was, that the band were so thoroughly chagrined at their failure, that they had a quarrel among themselves after leaving the place, and charged their defeat upon timmerman, who led the van--and whom they adjudged guilty of death on the spot, on the ground that their defeat was due to his bad management. this sentence would actually have been executed upon him, but for the interposition of some of the klan, who declared their belief that timmerman could not recover from the wounds he had already received, and that he might as well be left to die in the woods; that they did not think he was a traitor, and hence ought not to suffer a traitor's doom. the ex-sheriff was greatly weakened from the loss of blood, caused by these wounds, and was so thoroughly panic-stricken at the idea that he might possibly be murdered by his associates, that he swooned, and his body was carried nearly a mile into the wood, where his "brethren" of the camp threw it down, and left him. on the following day mrs. timmerman, having missed her husband, employed a gang of negroes to go in search of him. the hunt was successful, and the wounded man was removed to his house; where, after the most careful nursing, he was partially restored to health, but was so badly crippled as to be unable ever again to perform manual labor. the treachery and inhumanity of these men towards one of their own number so enraged timmerman that he declared himself ready to expose their whole operations, their modes of working, and their secrets; and it was from him and mr. thompson that the writer obtained the facts, as herein set forth. this raid ended the operations of the clinch county ku klux klan, for sometime, so far as the influential whites were concerned. outrages upon negroes were continued, however, but with less severity--the subsequent vigorous action of the government in enforcing the laws, in other parts of the country, being felt to some degree in that place. brutal whipping of women. the outrages committed by members of the klans, upon both individuals and property, in the county of chatham, and in moore county, n. c., were so numerous and oppressive, during the spring of , and finally became so brutal in their character as to occasion the direst consternation among the whole negro population, as well as among such of the whites as dared to exercise the right of suffrage in accordance with their own convictions, which were not in accord with the tenets maintained by the ku klux or democracy of the place. about this period, the more intelligent of the colored people were in the habit of gathering together at stated times, for consultation in company with the friendly whites, as to the course it was deemed best for them to pursue for the protection and security of their lives. a favorite place for holding these meetings, was at the dwelling of mrs. sallie gilmore--a woman then residing with her family in moore county. these frequent assemblages were soon brought to the notice of the camp in moore county, and it was decided that such an example should be made of the parties as would deter others from pursuing a similar course; and compel these to abandon their radical views, or quit the country. the house occupied by mrs. gilmore, was rather of the better class, and mrs. g. was known as an intelligent woman, who, in her sympathy with the colored race, was anxious for the day when the rights and privileges guaranteed them by the constitution and the laws, could be enjoyed without molestation. the opinions and teachings of mrs. gilmore becoming known, the heresy was sufficient for the klan to commence a crusade upon her and her family, and an edict was issued that she, and all the others found upon her premises, should be scourged. thirty men of the klan were, accordingly, detailed to carry out the order, and the "visitation" was fixed for the night of april th, . the klan were disguised, as usual, and were under the leadership of roderick j. bryan, a prominent citizen of moore county, who was violently opposed to republican principles. they met and organized in a field about a mile from mrs. gilmore's house, where they held a counsel, and finally completed arrangements for making the proposed raid. saturday night (the night in question) was the favorite time when the negroes met there, but, on this particular evening there chanced to be but three present, besides mrs. gilmore, her son and daughter, and a young woman named mary godfrey. for greater security, no lights were used when these meetings were held, and when the klan arrived, the place was found to be entirely darkened. the doors were at once broken in, and murkerson mclane, one of the negroes, taking advantage of the darkness, crept through the doorway stealthily, and darted towards the woods; but he was observed by some of the klan, who pursued and soon came up with him. they had fired upon him as he ran, and when overtaken, he had sank down exhausted, and begged hard for his life. roderick bryan and garner watson replied to his earnest supplications for life by discharging their revolvers at him a second time. both shots took effect. mclane gave a spasmodic leap into the air, and dropped motionless by the roadside. supposing him dead the band left him there, where he lingered through the night in great agony, and died next morning. having murdered mclane, his pursuers returned to mrs. gilmore's house, where the rest of their party were awaiting them before commencing their inhuman indecencies. a light had been struck, and mrs. gilmore, her son and daughter, the negroes, and mary godfrey, were found fastened to the bed, in the most indecent positions. the negroes were first released, and were fearfully beaten with clubs and twisted switches, until they became utterly unconscious, when they were rudely dragged to the doorway, and their bleeding bodies tumbled, unceremoniously, into the mud. mrs. gilmore's son and daughter were then stripped of their clothing and compelled, in this condition, to _dance_, for the edification of their tormentors; the music of this wretched exhibition being provided by the switches in the hands of the klan, who applied them to the naked bodies of their victims with terrible severity, mocking them wickedly, meantime, as they were forced through the unwilling and miserable antics they performed! the son was entirely nude, but the daughter was allowed to retain her chemise. both became exhausted, and sank down under the terrible punishment inflicted upon them, and the vigorous switching kept up, failed to revive them into further action. the attentions of the klan were then directed towards mrs. gilmore. one of the band said, "let's make the old she radical dance now!" "we can do better than that," said another; "we can lick the d-- nigger-loving blood out of her." mrs. gilmore, now upwards of fifty years old, was then seized and thrown violently upon the floor. her clothes were drawn up over her head, and the cotton under garments covering her limbs were rudely torn off, exposing her naked person to the demons in human form who surrounded her. the switches were then applied with all the vigor of which the executioners were capable. the old lady uttered a few heart-rending shrieks, but speedily fainted, and continued unconscious during the remainder of the infliction. the punishment of the young woman, mary godfrey, was reserved to the last. she was stripped of every thread of clothing, and was thus compelled to experience the shame of indecent exposure, added to her other tortures. during the process of scourging this young woman the vilest and most obscene epithets were bandied about by the klan, and she was subjected to many other indignities. she sank under the treatment at last, and lie upon the floor, her life apparently extinct. cold water was dashed over the faces and bodies of these unfortunate women, who, by this means, were rallied sufficiently to render them conscious enough to listen to the final edict of the klan, which was, "to cease indulging in and promulgating their heresies, from that hour forward, and abandon the country, on pain of certain death!" with this admonition the defenders of the white man's government left the house. of a truth, "all cruelty springs from wickedness." but the weakness which could prompt the brutality--exhibited in such cases as those above recorded--is utterly inexcusable in any being wearing the shape of man. the brutal whipping of these inoffensive women, and the murder of the negro mclane, add one more to the many evidences of the degradation to which the members of the ku klux klan had reduced themselves, in their endeavors to crush out freedom of thought and expression, and compel adherence to their own peculiar tenets. thank god, and the wisdom that now guides and controls the destinies of the nation, these dark hours of the republic, fruitful with scenes like those described above, are passing away. a gleam of light appears in the horizon, as a glad harbinger of the dawn that shall usher in the day when "all crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail; returning justice lift aloft her scale; peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, and white robed innocence from heaven descend." miscellaneous outrages. whipping of stanford and nash. on the night of the th of june, , two negroes, named john stanford and edward nash, were proceeding to their homes, near oltewah, hamilton county, tennessee, when they were met in the road by some fifteen men armed and disguised, who ordered them to stop. they were then interrogated by the leader of the band as to why they had voted the radical ticket at the previous election. stanford replied that they had done it because it was right. one of the band said: "there's a sting in that ticket, and you may as well have the whole of it," at the same time striking at stanford with a wooden club. the latter is a very powerful negro, and having some spirit, resented the attempted injury, dodged the blow, and instantly seizing his assailant, threw him heavily to the earth. nash showed fight also, but being a much weaker man, was soon overpowered and pinioned fast. several of the band seized stanford, who, from his superior strength, dashed them one side, and darted away, followed by half a dozen of the klan. as he ran, he managed to pick up a piece of board in the road with which he turned on his pursuers with the intention of defending himself, when a well-directed shot struck his elbow, shattering the bone, and compelling him to drop the board, and again attempt to save himself by flight. a second shot struck him in the ankle, and impeded his further progress. his pursuers again came up with and secured him, and conveyed him back to where nash was pleading for his life. a council was held by the klan, in which it was decided that the negroes should be severely whipped, and if ever known to again vote the radical ticket, they should die. stanford was tied to a tree, his immense strength still being feared by the band, and was beaten until entirely insensible. nash received a similar castigation. both the negroes were then untied and placed across the driveway of the road so that a wagon in passing would be likely to run over them, unless they should in the mean time become conscious, and get out of the way. in his desperate struggle with the band, stanford had displaced one of the masks, which enabled him to recognize a man named goal martin, who lived in the vicinity. upon the statement of these negroes, and from evidence furnished by other corroborating circumstances, several of the members of the band committing these outrages were arrested and brought to appropriate punishment. outrage upon william fletcher. on the night of the d of november, , there assembled in the woods near cross plains, alabama, a band of men armed and disguised as the white brotherhood. their persons were enveloped in long white gowns, white masks covered their faces, high white conical hats surmounted their heads, their hands were encased in white gloves, and white stockings were drawn over and completely covered their boots. the object of this gathering was the punishment of one william fletcher, a white unionist and radical, who had the temerity to vote the republican ticket, advocate the supremacy of the government, and aid the officers thereof in the enforcement of the laws. these were crimes in the eyes of the ku klux klan sufficient to warrant their taking the offender in hand. the customary warning was not sent in this case, but a friendly hand penned a note to fletcher, informing him of the danger, but this, unfortunately, never reached him. at the time of the assembling of the band, as above stated, the "night hawks"[ ] of the camp came up with the intelligence that fletcher was then in a grocery store kept by a man named flanders, and that it would be better to decoy him out of there, and get him on the road towards the woods, where he could be the more easily mastered. fletcher was a cool, resolute and brave man, was supposed to be well armed, and the members of the klan knew that unless some strategy was used with him, some of their number must suffer the consequences. one of the klan, named n. g. scott, was accordingly detailed to decoy fletcher away. scott removed his disguise, and started for the store, followed at a convenient distance by several members of the band. he was successful in his undertaking, and in about twenty minutes he and his intended victim were walking down the road, in the direction of the ambuscade. in a moment more, the klan sprang upon and overpowered fletcher. pistols were presented at his head, threatenings of death were made if he uttered a cry; a towel was tied tightly across his eyes as a bandage, and he was led away to the woods on the north side of cross plains. upon reaching the woods, his coat and vest were removed, and he was stood up with his face pressed hard against a tree. his arms were drawn around the trunk of the tree, and tied together, and his legs were firmly secured by ropes. john yeateman, who had charge of the proceedings of the klan that night, then stepped forward, and told fletcher to say his prayers, as he had but a short time to live; that it had first been the intention to give him a whipping and let him go, but that they had now decided to whip him to death. fletcher replied by asking if there was no mercy to be accorded him, and inquired to know for what he was to be killed. the only answer to this was that they never gave mercy to the "infernal radicals, who wanted niggers to rule the country." this remark was followed by his shirt being torn completely off his back. meantime the "executioners," who had gone for the "rods," returned, and upon the order of their leader fell to their work, cutting the back of the poor victim most dreadfully, and causing him to lose all his stoicism at last, and shriek from the effects of the blows. the "executioners" becoming exhausted, yeateman himself seized a knife, and cutting away the garments that encased fletcher's lower limbs, took a "rod," and commenced beating him about the loins with great ferocity. fletcher fainted under the punishment, and as his screams had ceased, yeateman desisted, remarking, "there's one radical vote less, by ----." the band continued consulting together for some time, when, fletcher being heard to groan, one of the klan, named james bierd, said: "he ain't finished yet; i reckon he'd better have the whole of it." yeateman then approached the miserable victim, and having succeeded in arousing him to consciousness, asked: "have you anything to say before you die?" fletcher responded faintly, saying: "write to my mother, mrs. william fletcher, hamilton, ontario, canada, and say how and why i died." in a moment afterwards he asked: "is there no chance to live?" the band consulted together again, when yeateman said: "there is just one chance for you, and that is that you agree to leave the state in three hours, and never come back." fletcher gladly gave the required promise. he was then untied, and two of the band supporting him upon either side, led him to the railroad track. the bandage was then taken from his eyes, and he was told he must walk on, and that if he looked back, he would be shot. a row of revolvers pointed at him gave evidence that he was not being trifled with, and summoning all the resolution and strength which he could command, he slowly hobbled away. william fletcher is no mythical creation. he lives to-day, a scarred and maimed monument of the demoniac brutality that instigated his scourging for opinion's sake; his property destroyed, his health ruined for life, his spirit crushed and broken. the naturally indignant reader will ask if justice has overtaken the miscreants who committed this outrage, and will be gratified to know that it has; and that the principal offenders have felt the weight of the strong arm of the law, now being vigorously enforced throughout the south against the execrable klan to which they belonged, and in whose interest, and that of bigotry and persecution, they committed this dreadful outrage. a significant conversation. the preceding stories of wrongs and outrages committed by the ku klux klan, and those that follow, serve in a degree to show the extent to which persecutions for opinion's sake were carried. it was the intention of the leaders to intimidate the masses, that further opposition to the principles promulgated by the ku klux klan, or southern democracy, should cease altogether. they were wiley enough to see, however, that silence, while it may often give assent, can rarely be construed as an endorsement of that which is utterly repugnant to the human heart. hence, plans were adopted for the dissemination of principles in violent antagonism to the government and the administration. it was not only hinted at that a change of administration would effect the ends desired by the ku klux orders; but it was openly declared by the bolder ones that such an event would give the south more than it had ever hoped to obtain, even had the war been a success to them instead of to the nation at large. as an illustration of the feeling of some of these leaders, who were men of property and influence, and owned plantations in the interior, the following conversation is given. this conversation actually occurred upon the moore plantation, situated upon the tuscaloosa and lexington turnpike. moore had been a most uncompromising rebel, and was one of the first to join the ku klux camp in his vicinity. he was continually haranguing his laborers in the interest of ku kluxism and democracy, cursing the government and the administration, and swearing death to all who upheld them. one of his hands, whom he had but recently employed (september, ), said to him: "what shall we do to break up this cursed government, and have things as we want them?" moore replied: "there is a movement on foot all over the south that will drive every d----d yankee out of it before long, and give us things all our own way." "good," said the laborer, "i'd like to know the programme, and get posted in that thing; i'd take a big hand in it!" moore being now convinced that he had the right kind of a tool for the intended work, then said: "we've got the right thing now to fix all the niggers and yankees with that don't go as we want them to; we don't care a d---- for the general government. it can go to ----, where it ought to. they may pass an hundred more ku klux bills, and it won't do them a bit of good. the ku klux are resting just now; but they are not asleep. they have got the niggers and radicals in pretty good train, so they don't dare say anything. all we want is a democratic president, and that must come sure the next election, and then we can run things to suit ourselves." if mr. moore ever sees this faithful transcript of his disloyal speech, delivered upon his own plantation, on the th of september, , he may begin to get some idea that the farm hands by whom he was surrounded were not all as badly poisoned with hatred to the radicals as he was, and that one of them at least had the temerity to treasure up and repeat the above conversation. it is here produced as an evidence of the sentiments that pervaded the minds of the leaders; and to set all doubt at rest as to its authenticity, it may be added that it is a matter of record, to be seen and read of all men. outrage upon persons in texas. as an evidence that neither color or nationality formed any protection against the evil machinations of the ku klux klan, the case of henry kaufmann, a well-to-do german residing in bell county, texas, may be cited. kaufmann had come to this country after the war of the rebellion, and, having some means and an extensive knowledge as a stock raiser, made his way south, finally locating in texas, as the place best adapted for the business of raising stock, which was one he intended to pursue. his family consisted of his wife and two children, a boy and girl, aged respectively nine and eleven years. texas at this time was the scene of many outrages, but the good-natured german was for a long time unable to comprehend their significance. like most of his countrymen, he entertained republican sentiments; they were the sentiments of his heart, while at home, in the land of his fathers, and he had supposed, that in america, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, he would find them in all their purity, upheld and expressed without fear, and honored by all. in this respect, he was doomed to bitter disappointment. the nearest neighbor to kaufmann, was a man named mcpherson, originally from the north, but who had for some years resided in texas, and was a thorough-going unionist. he did not hesitate, even among all the tumult and disorder, by which he was surrounded, to express his union sentiments, and had been repeatedly warned by the ku klux that he must change his course. as he paid no heed to these threats, he received a visitation during the spring of , which utterly ruined him, and from which he escaped with his life, only by the aid of kaufmann. it appears that the klan having beat mcpherson almost to death, gave him twenty-four hours in which to leave the country, threatening to kill him if he did not do so. suffering terribly from the dreadful scourging, mcpherson was just able to get as far as kaufmann's house, where he sought protection until such time as he might be able to travel and get away from the place. the good-natured german, filled with the humane instincts, natural to his people, at once took the refugee into his house, and cared for him for several days, without dreaming that he would incur the displeasure of anyone for such an act. he nursed mcpherson tenderly for some four days, when the latter, dreading that the klan might discover, and destroy, not only him, but his generous benefactor, left the house at night, and removed himself as far as possible from his persecutors. the fact of his having been harbored by kaufmann, became known to the klan, however, by some means, and they forthwith classed the latter as a radical. on the third night after mcpherson's departure, about eight o'clock in the evening, the unsuspecting german was sitting with his wife and children before a log-fire--as the weather was still chilly--when the door was unceremoniously burst in and a score of the klan filled the room. kaufmann was rudely seized and a demand made upon him to know what he had done with that d--d radical mcpherson. to this he made reply that he "didn't know such mans." upon this, one of the band struck him a severe blow, telling him they meant to learn him not to interfere with their business. mrs. kaufmann implored them in broken english, not to hurt her husband; he had done nothing, and they had made a mistake. "he's done enough," said butch williams, the leader of the crowd, "you can't make any mistake on these dutchmen, they are all d--d radicals anyhow. its born in 'em, but by ---- they shan't spit it out here." kaufmann was then securely pinioned and whipped until he became unconscious. when the castigation was ended, the leader turning to mrs. kaufmann, and pointing to the bruised and bleeding body of her husband, as it lie upon the floor, said:-- "now if that dirty, dutch scallawag ever comes to himself, you tell him to sell out and get away from here, or we'll be the death of the whole of you and burn the house over your heads. we'll give him just ten days to do it in." kaufmann did revive at last, and when he learned the dread message which the klan had left behind, saw with sorrow that he must relinquish his pleasant home, and become a wanderer; but the necessities of the case admitted of no other course. his property was disposed of at a ruinous sacrifice, and with his wife and little ones, he made his way to illinois, where he now is. it would seem that the nationality of kaufmann, and his probable ignorance of what constituted an offence in the eyes of the ku klux, should have saved him from this terrible visitation, so fraught with physical chastisement and financial ruin; but to the vision of men who regarded no law, who only saw the attainment of their despicable ends, through fraud and violence, he appeared a "radical by nature."--one, who being a german, must necessarily be a republican, and hence they could make no mistake in scourging him. a slave's former experience revived. in the month of may, , an intelligent mulatto--in whose veins flowed the blood of some ardent advocate of the _white_ man's race, unquestionably judging from his light color--whose name was william washington, resided in a small shanty or cabin, about two miles and a-half from tuscaloosa, alabama. washington had been a slave in the early part of his life, and was one of those unfortunates who chafed under the abuses and the yoke that held him in servitude to a "master." he was high-spirited, and had learned to read and write before the emancipation proclamation had given him freedom, to act upon his own volition, untrammelled by his nominal "owner." upon becoming a freeman, he left montgomery county, ala., near which place he had been reared, and settled in the vicinity of tuscaloosa. he was quiet in his deportment, orderly and well disposed. he had given general satisfaction to all who had employed him. but in the early part of the year , it began to be observed that washington was actively exerting an influence over the negroes in the vicinity, to such an extent as to cause the ku klux camp organized under philip j. brady, as commander to take the alarm. the mulatto washington was charged with being a republican, of the radical sort, with presuming to teach the negroes to read, (shocking offence?) and of instructing them in northern principles. this wouldn't answer, surely. and so william was "warned" by the camp that he must cease this kind of practice, and leave the country at once. he paid no heed to this warning, and a second one came, notifying him that unless he departed within the succeeding thirty days, he should suffer death--for "though the moon was then bright, it would turn to blood--k. k. k." instead of seeing this fearful summons in the light it was intended he should, the mulatto industriously circulated the story that he went well armed always, and was ready to die, if he must, in defence of his principles. but that "he wouldn't run away--no how." matters went on thus for nearly a year. on the night of the th of may, , washington shut and barred his cabin door, as was his custom upon retiring, placed his gun and a single barrelled pistol by his bedside, and turned in, to sleep. about eleven o'clock, he was suddenly awaked by a thumping upon the closed shutter of the only window in the hut, and upon inquiring who was there, he recognized the voice of a friendly negro, outside, who answered-- "day's a pow'r o' men a comin' up der road, yender--an' yer muss look out for yar se'f wash'n't'n, dass a fack." this timely and kindly warning from his friend was very gratefully listened to by washington, who replied that his informer must try to get help to him, if possible. and quickly dressing himself, the former slave awaited the assault which he now anticipated, from the look of affairs outside, so near his hut. the mounted band rode up very soon afterwards, and having been refused admittance, some of them dashed in the door. washington was a powerful man, well built and very muscular--while his self-possession was always remarkable, when in peril. the interior of the shanty being quite dark, he crouched down in one corner, and fired upon his assailants with the pistol first and then immediately discharged the gun. both shots took effect, and two of the klan fell heavily to the floor. clubbing his musket, he then desperately rushed upon the enemy, determined, if he must die, that he would sell his life as dearly as possible; but the odds were altogether too heavy against him. the gun-stock in his brawny hands, was shattered at the first blow struck by his powerful arm, and then the band sprang forward and secured him, though not without a furious struggle. he was at once taken out of the cabin, a rope was placed about his neck, and thrown over the projecting limb of the nearest convenient tree, from which his body was quickly dangling, a lifeless corpse. they hung him without accusation, judge or jury, until he was dead, dead, dead--in accordance with the terms of the bitter oath of the ku klux klan, whose victims are doomed "for opinion's sake!" one of the gang had been mortally wounded by washington's first shots, and died on the following day. two others had been seriously hurt, and one of them was crippled for life. the body of washington was left hanging beneath the tree for several days after this conflict, and until the negroes in the neighborhood gathered courage sufficient to cut it down, and give it decent burial; which they did at night, secretly and mournfully, for their late friend's sudden and violent death, proved an affliction indeed to the poor creatures, towards whom he had been so kind and clever an instructor and companion. and thus this poor negro paid the penalty of his offence in being a radical, and like many a one before him who had been similarly sacrificed, "his soul goes marching on." scourging radical teachers and banishing ministers of the gospel. judging from information gathered from the most available sources, it appears that all measures, whether of a political, a religious or educational character, looking to the elevation of the negro, were strenuously opposed by the ku klux klans, as they had sworn they should be. the education of the negro was regarded as an especial heresy, not to be tolerated under any circumstances. it was an offence second in magnitude only to that of his voting the radical ticket, and the face of the klan was set against it with a resolution that made it a dangerous avocation for any one to engage in. school houses, erected for the purpose of teaching colored children, were burned to the ground, and the teachers scourged, banished or whipped to death. the testimony of col. a. p. huggins, formerly of the union army, and subsequently of monroe county, mississippi, is pertinent to the point. col. huggins, is known as a brave and gallant officer, a man of great physical and moral courage, and of unquestioned veracity. during the month of may, , he became county superintendent of schools, for monroe county, and on the th of march following, went into the interior, some eight or ten miles from aberdeen, the county seat, on business connected with the school department. he was at this time an assistant assessor of internal revenue, and improved the opportunity to make several assessments of revenue in the vicinity, staying, by invitation, at the house of a mr. ross. on the night of the day after his arrival at the house of mr. ross, (the th of march) a band of the ku klux, armed and disguised, and numbering about one hundred and twenty, came to the house and compelled col. huggins to come out. the chief of the klan then informed him that they had come to warn him that he must quit the country within ten days that it had been decreed in the camp that he should first be warned, that the warning should be enforced by whipping, and if that did not produce the desired effect, he should be killed by the klan, and if circumstances were such that he could not be killed by the klan in a body, then they were sworn to assassinate him publicly or privately. col. huggins asked them what his offense consisted of, and was answered by the chief, who said:--"you are collecting obnoxious taxes from southern gentlemen, to keep damned old radicals in office. now i want you to understand that no laws can be enforced in this country, that we do not make ourselves. we don't like your radical ways, and we want you to understand it." col. huggins then asked them if their operations were against the radical party, and the chief replied that they were; that they had stood the radicals just as long as they intended to, and they meant to banish or kill every one of them. the chief then said, "will you leave the country in ten days." the colonel replied that he would leave the country when he got ready, and not before. he was then taken about a quarter of a mile from the residence of mr. ross, where they halted. he was then ordered to take off his coat, which he refused to do, and it was removed by force. twenty-five lashes were then given col. huggins, when he was asked if he would leave the country. to this he replied that he would not, that now that they had commenced, they might go on as far as they pleased, as he had just as soon die, as take what he had already received. the whipping was resumed. col. huggins remembered hearing the executioners count the number of lashes up to seventy-five, when he fainted. the klan left him in charge of mr. ross, and rode away. the main reason assigned for the punishment of col. huggins was that he was a radical and in favor of educating the negroes. the case of cornelius mcbride, a young scotchman who taught a colored school near sparta, chickasaw county, is one of unusual cruelty. being teacher of a colored school, mcbride was classed as a radical, and beside this, he had come from the north. he was accordingly doomed by the klan for a visitation. between twelve and one o'clock of the thursday night of the last week in march, , a number of the klan came to his house, and presenting rifles through the window, ordered mcbride to come out. he asked what was wanted, when one of them replied, "come out you d--d yankee." mcbride saw that nothing less than taking his life was intended, and determined to make an effort to escape. he gave a sudden spring through the window, landing directly between the two men who were pointing their rifles, dashed past them and ran to the house of a colored man whom he knew, and where he thought he could get a gun. while he was running, the members of the klan commenced firing upon him, ordering him to stop, or they would blow his brains out. none of the shots took effect upon him, and he entered the cabin, but before he could get the gun, of which he was in search, the klan were upon him and secured him. mcbride was then taken about a mile away from the place, having nothing on but his night dress. this was rudely torn from his person, and the executioners were about to commence their work, when he asked them what he was to be whipped for. the leader said, "you want to make the niggers equal to a white man. this is a white man's country." the whipping was then commenced with black gum switches, that stung the flesh and raised it in great ridges at every blow. the torture was so great that the poor victim begged them in god's name to kill him at once and put him out of misery. the leader said "shooting is too good for this fellow, we'll hang him when we get through whipping him." another one said, "do you want to be shot?" to which mcbride replied, "yes, i can't stand this torture, it is horrible." he then partially raised himself upon his knees and determined to make one more effort for his life. standing directly in front of him was one of the klan, the only one who stood directly in his way, if he should attempt to run. stung by the terrible pain of the switch, mcbride sprang to his feet, dealt the man in the front of him a tremendous blow, and darting past him scaled a fence, and ran across the open field. the klan discharged their fire-arms after him, but in a few moments gave up the pursuit. mcbride reached the house of a mr. walser, and there found protection through the remainder of the night. other teachers of colored schools received similar visitations, and colored schools were burned there and in the adjoining counties. the crusade against ministers of the gospel who preached to the freedmen, was then commenced. the rev. john avery, of winston county, was notified that he must appear at a meeting of the ku klux; that he must join in with the klan, and cease his interest in free schools, and upon his refusal, his house was burned over his head. mr. avery was a southern man, and a pastor in the methodist episcopal church. rev. mr. galloway, a congregationalist minister, of monroe county, was in the habit occasionally of preaching to the freedmen. during april, , a band of the ku klux called upon him at night, and notified him that he must not preach to these people. he continued doing so, however, and received a second warning, accompanied by an intimation, which he did not dare disregard, and he was compelled to relinquish his good work, on pain of banishment or death. the rev. mr. mclachlin, a methodist episcopal preacher, of oktibbeha county, received various warnings to the same effect, but persisted in his course until he was finally driven from that county, and dared not return to it. scores of similar cases might be cited, all of which are matters of public record, but those above given, serve to show, that the order of the ku klux klan, is inimical to religion and education, as well as to the politics of those differing with them in their avowed opposition to republicanism, and their adherence to the democratic party. these gallant defenders of the white man's race were determined that no government but the white man's should live in the country, and these results they hoped to obtain through the banishment, scourging and killing of negroes, radicals and republicans, by which means also, with the aid of their sympathizers at the north, they expected to have a democratic administration. warnings and edicts of the klan. it would seem to have been the design of the leaders of the ku klux klans, in issuing their warnings, to play as much as possible upon the superstitions of the people. these documents were written in a disguised hand, sometimes in coarse language, and contained sentiments intended to inspire terror in the minds of the recipients. they were usually bordered with designs, representing daggers piercing bleeding hearts, death's heads and cross bones, and various grotesque devices. some of them had a spice of grim humor, which, although fun to the klan who issued these missives, meant banishment, scourging or death to those who received them. specimens of these, the originals of which fell into the hands of the united states officials during their attempts to break up the ku klux organization are here given _verbatim et literatim_. five persons residing in white county, georgia, having made themselves politically obnoxious to the klan, received the following:-- "read the contents, k. k. k. o ye, horsemen of manassas. bounce, ye dead men that is now living on earth. we are the men that i am talking about. we are of k. k. k. now sandy holcumb, green holcumb, daniel mccollum, and e. dickson, your days are numbered. we shot the old belt weather[ ] a little too low. we aimed to shoot him through the heart; and if you don't all get away from this country very soon, your radical hearts will be shot out of you, and we had just as leave shoot you as for you to get away. k. k. k." the parties named in the above warning did not leave, as the united states officials came into the county about that time and arrested nearly one hundred members of the camp from which the document was issued. at irwington, ga., the colored people determined upon holding a "protracted meeting," and colored preachers assembled there from all quarters. the meetings are described as having been most orderly, but they were deemed inimical to the interests of the ku klux, and the following warning was issued and posted near the place of meeting. "k. k. k. the devil is getting up a new team, and wants some nigger preachers to work in the lead. if you stay here until we come again, the devil will be certain to have his team completed. k. k. k." the consternation of the freedmen was so great upon the receipt of the above warning that not a colored preacher dared to show himself in the vicinity for months afterwards. the klan oppressed everyone not members of or in sympathy with their organization, and sought to over-ride all law and equity, upon the principle that might made right. to this end they issued warnings to business men who had come into their vicinity from the north, and who were disposed to invest capital and establish trade, but who were not of the right stripe politically--and this meant who were not sound democrats. numerous instances of this kind are on record. two enterprising business men--messrs. gottschalk and hughes--purchased a mill property in atalla, ala., belonging to one j. b. spitzer, and made their arrangements to get out lumber. messrs. gottschalk and hughes were under suspicion of not sympathizing with the klan, politically, and a pretence was made that mr. spitzer, from whom they had purchased the saw mill, was indebted to persons, whom the new firm were politely requested to accept as their creditors. this they refused to do, and the following warning was sent them. "den of the great grand high cyclops of etowah county, ala. to messrs. gottschalk & hughes: his royal highness, your great, grand high worthy master, notices with much pleasure that you have purchased and become the owners of the saw mill, lately owned by mr. j. b. spitzer. he understands very well, everything connected with that mill transaction, and it is his great pleasure that you call on the creditors of j. b. spitzer in the morning, and approve of the debts of mr. spitzer. he wishes an answer to-night what you will do in the matter. by order of his royal highness, _the great grand cyclops of etowah county, ala._" messrs. gottschalk & hughes paid no heed to this missive, and on the night of the th of november, , the klan assembled and set fire to the mill, destroying it entirely, and compelling its new proprietors to leave the place. mr. william gober, residing in dade county, georgia, was an avowed unionist and republican. he was active in politics and expressed his sentiments with great freedom, and was consequently classed by the ku klux as a carpet-bagger and a scallawag, and warned to leave the country, in the following terms:-- "death. k. k. k. death. take heed for the pale horse is coming. his step is terrible; lightning is in his nostrils. he looks for a rider. now this is to warn you william gober, that carpet-baggers and scallawags cannot live in this country. if you are not gone in ten days, we shall come to you, and the pale horse shall have his rider. by order. k. k. k." mr gober smiled at this document, but the sequel shew that it meant something more than a threat. at midnight on the th of september, , his house was surrounded by about twenty of the klan, armed and disguised. he was then dragged out and whipped with great severity. previous to the infliction of the punishment he fought desperately with his assailants, and succeeded in displacing several of their masks, and recognizing them. he was left for dead by the klan, but recovered his consciousness, and secretly made his way to atlanta, where he made an affidavit, upon which six of the parties were arrested and held for trial. thousands of warnings, similar to the above, many of them obscene and blasphemous, were sent to as many persons in various parts of the south. one more is herewith appended, as showing one of the extremes to which the ku klux went in their crusade against radicals. it was found hanging to a small dagger, stuck into one of the doors of the university, at tuscaloosa, ala., with several others of similar import, addressed to some of the students of the university, and read as follows:-- "k. k. k. student's university. david smith.--you have received one notice from us and this shall be our last. you, nor no other d--d son of a d--d radical traitor, shall stay at our university. leave here in less than ten days, for in that time we will visit the place, and it will not be well for you to be found out there. the state is ours and so shall the university be. written by the secretary. by order of the klan." the murder of wm. c. luke and five negroes. one of the most brutal outrages to be found, even among the dark and bloody records of the ku klux klan, was enacted on the night of the th of april, , at the village of cross plains, near paytona, ala. the details of this occurrence here given, have been collated from various sources, a portion of them having been obtained from eye witnesses to the affair. william c. luke, a canadian by birth, and a gentleman of education, had come to paytona, and taken charge of the day school there. he was a prominent worker in the cause of religion, entertained and advocated republican principles and took an earnest interest in the welfare of the colored people, by whom he was surrounded. this drew down upon him the malice of the klan, and he was doomed to death. luke had preached to the negroes at times, and had taken occasion in his sermons to express his opinion that negroes were now entitled to the same rights and privileges under the constitution of the united states as the whites. this course could not be tolerated by the k. k. k., and they only awaited a favorable opportunity for carrying out the edict of the camp. on the th of april, mr. luke had preached at paytona, and on the evening of that day had returned to cross plains. he was there informed that the ku klux had determined to come for him that night, and at once returned to paytona, accompanied by several negroes, who seemed fearful that he might meet with violence. up to ten o'clock nothing had transpired to cause alarm, and mr. luke retired. between twelve and one o'clock he was aroused from his slumbers by three armed and disguised men, who informed him there had been a fracas in the village of cross plains, about which it was thought he knew something, and he was requested to go with them to the latter place. he signified his willingness to do so, dressed himself and went out with the party. upon getting out of the house he was surprised at seeing a large number of men similarly disguised, and who had in custody the five negroes who had accompanied him to paytona. one of the negroes named jacob moore, endeavored to break loose from his captors, and had a severe fight with them. being a very powerful man he succeeded in breaking away and run down the road. the klan fired several shots after him, two of which took effect, and he dropped by the road side. mr. luke and the remaining negroes were then taken to the northern border of paytona, on the cross plains line, where the band halted. the intended victim was now convinced that his death was meditated, and he said to the leader of the klan, one clem reid, "am i about to die." "yes, you have preached your d--d heresies long enough," was the answer. "if you've got any prayers to say, you had better be about it." mr. luke replied calmly, "i am not afraid to die, nor for such a cause. it is hard to die in such a way." leave having been granted him to pray he uttered a most fervent appeal to god, soliciting mercy for himself and the negroes, and forgiveness for those who were persecuting them and him for righteousness and opinion's sake. his prayers were rudely cut short, a rope was placed about his neck, the end thrown over the limb of a tree and his body suspended in the air. the four negroes were next dispatched. john goff, an eye witness to the proceedings states that the klan tried to hang two of the negroes, named cæsar fredericks and william hall, at once, but not being able to make the bodies balance, pat craig, a member of the klan, shot fredericks in the mouth, while clay keith murdered hall in a similar manner. the other negroes were then hung singly, their bodies being drawn up slowly to increase their torture. the defenders of the "white man's race" then separated, fully satisfied with having performed one more service in support of the "white man's government." this outrage was so flagrant that the farce of an investigation was gone through with, and the suspected parties arrested. an examination resulted in their being discharged. the witnesses were all members of the ku klux klan, and had sworn to regard no oath that would injure one of the brotherhood, and the murderers of william c. luke still go unwhipt of justice. and these are the people who talk of their rights, of the oppression of radical rule, of their determination to establish a democratic administration. proscription. it seemed to be the intent of the orders of the ku klux klan everywhere throughout the south, to impress upon the people, the fallacy of attempting to entertain any opinion inimical to those put forth by the klan. the attacks of the klan were first directed to such of the people as were bold enough to declare themselves unionists and republicans. scourging, banishment or murder were the measures adopted to enforce silence, and these terrible agents proved fully potent to accomplish the end. this enforced silence, however, appeared to be dangerous, and was certainly more ominous to the order, than the freest utterances of the most radical views. "those not with the order, must certainly be against it," said the leaders, and a new crusade was forthwith inaugurated. the object of the new movement was to compel every able-bodied white man to join the order and become bound to it by oaths, administered in the camp. notices were accordingly issued by the respective chiefs of dominion from every camp, requiring the presence of parties, for initiation into the order. when these were not heeded, they were followed by warnings. if the parties were still refractory, then they received a visitation. the two first cases arising under this new arrangement, were those of paul myers and john chapman, of jefferson county, ala. these gentlemen were joint proprietors of a small store, and while inwardly opposed to the principles of the ku klux, had outwardly conducted themselves in such a manner as to give no cause of offence to the klan. they were surprised in common with many others, upon receiving a notice to appear for initiation into the jefferson county camp of the k. k., and they resolutely refused to comply with the request. they were then warned, that they would be "ku kluxed" if they did not come, and the threat was carried out, both of them being severely whipped, and their store pillaged. a second warning was sent to them, and this was succeeded by a second visitation, more terrible than the first. they were so badly beaten at this time, that their lives were despaired of, and as soon as they were able, they closed their store and left the place. they then placed themselves in communication with the united states officials, and under their advice returned, signified their willingness to join the order, and did so. by this means they were enabled to arrive at the names of parties engaged in various raids, and obtain all information necessary to the arrest and conviction of the leaders. this was one of the first steps that led to the breaking up of the klan in jefferson county. messrs. myers and chapman managed to impart information to the united states officers, upon which several of the prominent members of the order were arrested and lodged in jail, and the visitations ceased. in white county, georgia, mr. william carson received a notice from the ku klux of that county, that he must join the order. carson was the head of an intelligent family, a republican in principle, but who avoided expressing his opinions as much as possible. he paid no heed to the notices and warnings sent him, but pursued the even tenor of his way, remaining home as much of the time as his business would admit, and being especially careful about going abroad at night. during november, , he received the long promised visitation. the evening meal was through with, the early evening prayers of the children had been said, the latter were about retiring, when a number of the klan, armed, mounted and disguised dashed up to the door. mr. carson opened the door and mildly asked to know the object of their visit. the reply was a rifle shot, which was immediately followed by a second, and mr. carson fell dead across the door step. the klan disappeared as suddenly as they had come. the grief stricken family raised up the inanimate form of the beloved husband and father, only to realize that the voice which had so long been the comfort and consolation of the little household would never be heard by them again. this in a christian land! within the sound of the sabbath bells, and almost under the shadow of the sanctuary of the living god. a christian gentleman refusing to bind himself with those who had sworn to overthrow the government, and scourge and kill the negro and the radical; shot down within his own door, in sight of his wife and little ones, because, forsooth, he had the temerity to think and act, politically, as his conscience seemed to dictate. thinking men throughout the nation will stand for many years to come with william carson, on the spot where he met his awful and untimely fate, and they will stand there in the power of consolidated right, beating back the onslaughts of the powers of darkness, and raising a monument to the justice of that course, which by the vigorous action of the nation's counsellors, and under the provident rule of a beneficent god, is fast being established on a solid foundation. shocking fate of a quadroon family. gaston county, n. c., in the lower part of that state, adjoins york county, south carolina, the state line dividing these two districts. in the north-easterly part of gaston county, in the outskirts of hoylestown, there came to live a family of mulatto people--or quadroons--in , who were refugees from oppression, brutality and abuse of the ku klux klan in moore county, n. c., whence they had been banished after the husband had been shockingly scourged, and the lives of himself, wife, and three children threatened, unless he left moore county within a fortnight from the night he was whipped. at the earnest entreaties of his wife, who feared the next threatened visitation of the klan, her husband consented to quit the place he had dwelt in some years, but where he had rendered himself obnoxious to the democratic party around him, through his persistent advocacy of republican sentiments, which he promulgated among his own race, causing them to cast their votes for the radical ticket. and for this offence he was terribly whipped and ruthlessly driven from his home. the name of this family was noye, aleck and elfie, the father and mother had both been slaves, belonging originally to the noye estate, in moore county. aleck was an ingenious fellow, and his brother felix, had, twenty years previously, invented a peculiar reclining chair for the use of invalids; which to this day is manufactured largely in new england, upon the identical principle, originated by felix, for which his old master took out a patent, and from the royalty of which he has realized a fortune first and last. aleck was a first rate mechanic and earned a good living. after the war, when he became free to exercise his natural talent for his own benefit, and had the right to vote, he became an ardent radical, and proved a damaging subject among his brethren in the estimation of the southern democrats. he was a brave fellow, and only at the urgent solicitation of elfie, did he decide to quit his former residence, after the scourging above alluded to. but he went to gaston county, found occupation readily and pursued his labor faithfully. the old love of "freedom of opinion" went with him, and his zeal for his colored fellow brethren soon cropped out, in his new location. he was "warned" to leave hoylestown, just as he had been compelled by the mandate of the klan to flee from moore county, but refused to go. on the night of february , , aleck was sitting with his family before the fire in his little cabin, after a hard day's work; and the children were about the room, one of the little girls being at the moment beside his knee. the mother was busy getting the homely evening meal ready, and was just in the act of removing from before the glowing fire the pone and hoe cakes for supper, when the door of the hut flew open, suddenly, a musket shot rang out, and _she_ fell head-foremost in upon the blazing logs, with a bullet through her brain! aleck sprang from his stool, caught his wife in his arms, and drew her out of the flames upon the floor. she never spoke from that instant, and, amid the screams of the terrified children, aleck found himself in the gripe of two or three disguised ruffians, who entered in advance of half a dozen others of the klan, who quickly pinioned him, and informed him that "his time had come." his wife, whom he tenderly loved, lay dead before his startled and dumfounded gaze, and he could not command himself to speak for a moment. then he commenced to struggle with the brutes, the screams of his little ones bringing him back to himself. "what is this for," he exclaimed. "come along!" was the sharp reply of the leader of the gang, "you're played out, and now you're _our_ meat!" and they swiftly bore the wretched father out of the hut, and away from his slaughtered wife and horrified crying babes. aleck was taken to the woods, half a mile distant, where the gang tore and cut his clothes off of him, and then proceeded to flay him, in accordance with the decision of the camp in that county; the members of which had first been put upon his track by members of the moore county klan. upon this second visitation, the edict was to "whip the nigger to death." and they did the bidding of their leader, as the sequel proved, to the letter. he was cut and slashed, and beaten until the breath of life was almost gone out of his poor defenceless body, and then their victim was hurled into the chapparal, and left to the night wolves of the forest to devour. it sometimes occurs that our strength increases in proportion to the strain that is imposed upon it. wounds and rough hardship enure the sturdy, and provoke their courage, oftentimes, and there is a natural instinct in the heart of man, which, under the severest trials and abuses, steels his very nerves _not_ to yield to the heaviest blows of calamity or adversity--mental or physical. aleck was brave-hearted to a fault. he was likewise physically courageous, and could bear the worst kind of punishment, ordinarily, without flinching. he was now vanquished, for hours he lay like one who had "given up the ghost," beyond conjecture. still he did not die until the following night. he was providentially discovered by some negroes, in the woods, taken to his cabin, and brought to consciousness. before he expired he told his dreadful story to four witnesses, who gave it in substance to the united states authorities, as we have now stated the details; but unfortunately--on account of the disguises of his heartless tormenters and murderers--he could give no description that pointed to the personal identity of the offenders. he learned that his wife was dead, before his own lamp of life went out, and simply asking of the colored friends who gathered about his death-bed-side, that the humble pair might be laid in the same grave, poor aleck noye sank to his final rest, and yielded up his spirit to the god who gave it. the children were taken away by some of the poor neighbors who esteemed the quadroon family for their virtues, and universal kindness towards them, and thus closed another awful tragedy in north carolina--of which over six hundred came under the knowledge of the united states district attorney, in a single county, (not all of them fatal, to be sure), and which have been duly reported by him, officially, within a comparatively limited period, since the close of the war. is there no "combination of purpose or design" in all these instances of wrong? does there exist "no organization among these men" for evil? and have these terrible doings no "political significance" as is asserted in the minority report of the congressional committee upon the ku klux klan outrages? in the face of this accumulated, overwhelming, damning evidence--will _any_ one believe that the honorable gentlemen (who have put forth this paper in opposition to the majority report of that committee), are not themselves convinced that all this is true; and that not one half of the shocking story of the infamy of this wretched klan has been told? will it be impressed upon the minds of the public of this enlighted nation, north or south, through any sophistry, argument or theorising, that all these living witnesses and victims are liars, and perjurors? have not these events occurred? and if so, what is the _cause_ of the wrong doing? it happens, unfortunately, for the "union democracy," who flout at these accounts of the doings of the klans, that none _but_ radicals or negroes are assailed. and also that _never_ has a radical been found associating with these ku klux midnight marauders and, butchers, in an attack upon one of their victims! is there "no political significance" in this fact? it is simply idle to propose such a fallacious and utterly groundless doctrine. the fact is patent, and the matter is clear as that the sun shines over the earth at mid-day--to the mind of every intelligent being who can see or read--that the opponents of the republican party, in the guise of ku klux klans, supported unblushingly by the "union democracy" of the country, and their democratic allies, are the combined movers, operators, sustainers and abettors of this crusade, and that their first and last and continuous aim and hope is to weaken or destroy the radical sentiment in the land. thus far, however, thanks be to god! the american people have not been deceived by the theories or the assertions of those who would tear down the fabric of our wholesome republican government. and far distant be the day when such attempts to overturn that government may succeed. "there is a right way for us and for our children, and the hand of god is upon all them for good, that seek him; but his wrath is against all them that forsake him."... and it is written, that "he who shunneth iniquity and oppression, and followeth after righteousness, alone findeth life, righteousness and honor." then and now. the nation's salvation! the outrages narrated in the preceding pages are ample for the purposes of this work, in giving such authenticated facts as show the existence of a deep-seated conspiracy against law, and the well-being of society. they have been selected at random, from hundreds of similar instances that have come under the personal observation of the writer, and that bear with them the same irrefutable evidences of the truth, and serve to enable the general reader to comprehend the awful scenes that have been enacted in various parts of the south since the close of the war of the rebellion. in the light of these outrages, and the positive manner in which the responsibility of their authorship has been fixed upon those who had determined to ride into power, even though fraud and violence were necessary to that end, who shall say that the unfortunate south has not suffered vastly more from its pretended friends than from those whom, by corrupt means, its people had been led to suppose were their worst enemies. under the pernicious rule of andrew johnson, the disturbing elements of the south gathered renewed hope for the final success of the ambitious aspirations which had been dissipated by a long and bloody war. that which had been lost to them through the unswerving integrity of our great captains in the field, they thought would be secured through the treason of the traitor in the cabinet, and they marshalled their forces with that end in view, and initiated a reign of terror, such as had hitherto been unknown even in the darkest hours of adversity within the history of the republic. the accession of general grant to the presidency, caused a halt in this wild and mad career, and there was a momentary lull in the operations of the conspirators. it remained to be seen whether one, coming so fresh from the people--a plain and unassuming man, although laden with honors second to that of no military chieftain of ancient or modern time--would be indifferent to the cry for help which was coming up from all parts of the then famished land, and fail to apply the appropriate remedy, or whether he would appreciate the true situation of affairs there, and would be able to say to the disturbing elements of the south, in language which they could not well mistake: let us have peace. time, which gives the just solution to the most intricate of social and political problems, has informed the nation that it had not long to remain in doubt. the results thus far attained, show the elaboration of a plan, conceived in wisdom, founded upon reason and righteousness, and prosecuted with an even regard for the rights of all, that has commended itself to civilization everywhere. the writer has taken especial pains to ascertain, from persons well versed in the political situation at this juncture, the policy to be pursued by this administration, and the wisdom of which seems to have been amply verified by what followed. the plan to be adopted, they state, was decided upon only after the most mature deliberations into which the counsels of the best minds of the country were called. it was necessary that the condition of affairs in the south should be arrived at with an accuracy that would place the information sought to be obtained beyond all doubt as to its genuineness and reliability, as the only means by which such an intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the evil could be obtained as would enable president grant to inforce the laws applicable to the case, or, in the absence of such, to recommend to congress the enactment of those commensurate with the magnitude of the subject. this was accordingly done. agents for the work were selected, with no reference whatever to their political principles. they were placed under the general charge of a competent officer, in whose judgment great confidence was reposed, and were instructed to get at the facts regardless of political bias. each one of these agents supposed that he had been sent on a special mission to ascertain if a certain condition of affairs, said to exist in a certain locality, did so exist, and had not the remotest idea that several others had been sent on similar missions to sections of the southern country remote from his field of operations. the evidence of the existence of an armed organization, pernicious in its policy and its tendencies, and looking to the disruption of society and the compelling of the adoption of political principles obnoxious to the people upon whom they were attempted to be forced, came in from all quarters. the reports differed in minor details, but had a general correspondence that was remarkable. some of these agents--and to whom the writer is indebted for many of the facts herein contained--stated that all strangers in the localities visited by them were looked upon with the greatest suspicion, and they soon learned that the security of their lives depended largely upon the enunciation of principles according with the democracy; that the word democrat was the _open sesame_ to the confidence of the leading spirits in the various communities through which they passed; that democracy in the south meant rebellion, and that ku kluxism meant both, and they governed themselves accordingly. to attain the object, and get the most comprehensive view possible of the condition of the people, these men, for the time being, were "democrats," and "rebels," and would gladly be "ku klux." by adroit and skillful management they procured themselves to be initiated into the various orders of the k. k. k., and were enabled thus to discover the numbers, resources, operations, designs, and ultimate purposes of the same. the names and residences of the victims, the outrages committed by the klan, were also obtained, until an array was presented that almost challenged belief. the information was full, thorough, and reliable. it left no longer room for doubt. action--vigorous and energetic action--based upon laws enacted with special reference to the evil to be met, must be had. the suffering sons and daughters of the south demanded it; the cause of human justice and human freedom demanded it; the enforcement of the rights of the recently emancipated bondmen demanded it; and in the interest of law and order everywhere throughout the land, there came a demand for the adoption of such measures as would save the people of the south from themselves, and thus verify the scriptural saying: "and it shall come to pass, that like as i have watched over them to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to afflict, so will i watch over them to build and to plant, saith the lord." it was evident that if they were left to their own devices, the people must fall into complete anarchy and ruin. urgent as were these demands, nothing could be done hastily. the salvation of a people and the well being of a nation was in the balance, and the most profound and mature deliberation was necessary at every step. it was wisely deemed by the executive that a continuation of the policy adopted by him at the outset of his official career with regard to all sections of the country would apply to this, viz., the judicious enforcement of appropriate laws, enacted with special reference to the existing emergency. this was considered a measure which, while it could give no just grounds of offense to _any_, would afford the most available means for securing the rights of _all_, and attaining the desired end. there must be no halting by the wayside. the noblest and best blood of the nation had been expended for a purpose not yet accomplished. nothing save the complete restoration of order, the harmonization of conflicting elements, and the vindication of the rights of _all_ to their own individual opinion, and the expression of the same through the ballot-box, as their conscience might dictate, could be in any manner commensurate with this great sacrifice. the words of a just and righteous god to a suffering people must be redeemed: "and thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee and thou shalt take thy rest in safety; also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid." on the d of march, , president grant sent to congress a message, in which he touched delicately but unmistakably upon this subject, as follows: _"a condition of affairs now exists in some of the states of the union rendering life and property insecure, and the carrying of the mails and the collection of the revenue dangerous. the proof that such a condition of affairs exists in some localities is now before the senate. that the power to correct these evils is beyond the control of state authorities, i do not doubt. that the power of the executive of the united states, acting within the limits of existing laws, is sufficient for present emergencies is not clear."_ it was further suggested that such legislation should be had as would secure life, liberty, and property in all parts of the united states; and in pursuance of this recommendation, an act was passed by congress, and approved april th, , entitled, "an act to enforce the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the united states, and for other purposes." this was a blow under which the various orders of the ku klux klans reeled and staggered like quivering aspens. the leaders of these klans had so long disregarded law as to come to think, apparently, that they were no longer amenable to it, and might be a law unto themselves. they predicted that any attempt to interfere with them would lead to results in comparison with which the scenes enacted during the war of the rebellion would sink to insignificance; but, as the results have thus far shown, they had reckoned without their host. they sought to stand upon something like tenable ground and to fortify their position before the world, by arguments that were worn threadbare long before the war of the rebellion, and they failed most signally. their fallacious reasonings were impotent to justify their acts, and they neither enlisted the sympathies, nor gained the support of those to whom they appealed. the march of progressive republicanism, irresistible in the force of its teachings, and the spread of the god-like principles of truth, justice, and equality among men, without distinction of race or color, which had _then_ encountered the fiercest obstruction within the power of the slaveocracy to throw in its way, _now_ swept over the country, uprooting the tyrannical oligarchy of the south, tearing asunder the flimsy veil behind which the great wrongs done to the bondmen were sought to be hid, and destined, in its onward course, to remove every vestige of those pernicious principles so inimical to sound doctrine and the stability of governments. the results produced by the spread of these principles, and the enforcement of the laws based thereon, can hardly be estimated. taking the condition of the southern states both before and after the war-- then and now-- and we have an array of facts in support of these principles, surpassing all theories and arguments. then, only white male citizens, twenty-one years of age and over, were voters. now, _all_ male citizens of twenty-one years and over, having the necessary qualifications of residence, etc., have the right of suffrage. then, voting was _viva voce_. now, it is by ballot. then, there was no registry of voters. now, all electors are required to register before voting. then, "returning officers," and those issuing commissions, were bound by the arithmetical results of the polls, and were required to give the commission or certificate of election to the person having the highest number of votes. now, there are boards of canvassers who are required not only to count the returns, but to pass upon questions of violence and fraud, and to exclude returns from precincts where they find the elections to have been controlled by such means. then, the basis of representation was property, or property and slaves, or slaves by enumerating three-fifths of all. now, it is all the _inhabitants_ of the land. then, white male citizens, and, in some localities, property holders only, were eligible to office. now, _all_ male citizens, save the few under disabilities by the constitution of the united states, are eligible. coming down to a later period in the history of the country, from the time when the death of the lamented lincoln had left the republic in the hands of its worst enemies, to the presidential election in , and what is the situation? then, the leaders had succeeded in ripening the people for a revolution against law and order, if that were necessary for the maintenance of issues, differing in character, but similar in design and spirit, to those sought to be gained by the war of the rebellion. then, a reign of terror had been inaugurated in the community which compelled the tacit acquiescence of those who, desiring to express their opinions, were denied the right through the fear of social and political ostracism and physical violence. then, the government was in the hands of andrew johnson, and the hopes of good and just men everywhere, in all sections of the country, of arriving at a peaceful solution of the difficulties through reconstruction, were blasted, and gave no signs of verification in fruition. then, the same spirit was rampant that plunged the country into a sanguinary war, and did not hesitate to express itself in a determined resistance to the new order of things produced by that war. then, men embraced and kissed their wives and children at night, as if leaving them for a far-off journey, not knowing, when they lay down, whether they should awake to peaceful sunlight or to a cabin strewn with the bodies of the loved ones. then had begun the first fruits of the great judgments through which the people were eventually to pass, and by which alone, it appeared they could be redeemed. and now came the promise of a new order of things. the political situation of the country had changed. the reins of government passed into the hands of men of whom much was expected. three years have intervened. the false issues that had been raised among the masses are _now_ being swept away. the disorganizing elements are tottering to a fall, and those who had fostered them are seeking to excuse and palliate their course. they complain that the civil government of the southern states had passed into the hands of carpet-baggers, who had been forced upon them, who were engaged in plundering the people, encouraging the negroes to pillage and destroy the property of the country, and placing them in positions where they could rule over white men. but this was not in any manner the real trouble. the same oppressive spirit that actuated these men during the days when slavery was a recognized institution among them, still obtained. neither the men of the south nor the sojourners from the north were allowed in those days to freely express their opinions, if those opinions chanced to be in opposition to slavery. what was treason _then_ against the social and political rights of these would-be-masters of a race, is treason _now_ in their minds; for they have not yet learned to tolerate the free expression of sentiments in such exact antipodes to their early educational training. to preach the principles of republicanism, to advocate the education of the negro, to urge his right to the elective franchise, were deemed seditious practices, and were opposed _then_ just as they are _now_; there is simply a difference in the mode by which this opposition is manifested. then, it was by argument, supported by local and federal legislation. now, it is by violence, and the subversion of all law. then the north reasoned and counselled with the south; endeavored to show them the great wrongs done to the bondman, and that the nation could not prosper under the terrible curse of slavery. now the strong arm of the government is put forth to compel a respect for the rights accorded to _all_ under the law; a situation which, it appears, nothing but the determined front presented by the administration will lead the people of the south finally to accept. the efforts of the wicked leaders to misguide the masses are persistent. many right-minded people of the south are misled by the false statements put forth by those who should, and do know, better, and the pernicious results of whose influence time and the dissemination of truthful intelligence can alone eradicate. in many instances republicans have been elected to office, and these are the so-called carpet-baggers. in some localities negroes and mulattoes have been elevated to places of power and trust, and, for this, the people of the south are largely indebted to their own willful neglect. the joint select committee to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, allude to this subject in the following language: "the refusal of a large portion of the wealthy and educated men to discharge their duties as citizens, has brought upon them the same consequences which are being suffered in northern cities and communities from the neglect of their business and educated men to participate in all the movements of the people which make up self-government. the citizen in either section who refuses or neglects from any motive to take his part in self-government, has learned that he must now suffer and help to repair the evils of bad government. the newly-made voters of the south at the close of the war, it is testified, were kindly disposed toward their former masters. the feeling between them, even yet, seems to be one of confidence in all other than their political relations. the refusal of their former masters to participate in political reconstruction necessarily left the negroes to be influenced by others. many of them were elected to office and entered it with honest intentions to do their duty, but were unfitted for its discharge. through their instrumentality, many unworthy white men, having obtained their confidence, also procured public positions. in legislative bodies, this mixture of ignorant but honest men with better educated knaves, gave opportunity for corruption, and this opportunity has developed a state of demoralization on this subject which may and does account for many of the wrongs of which the people justly complain." had the evil ended simply in a neglect upon the part of leading citizens to discharge their duties as such, the remedy might have the more speedily been applied. but the views of these men were to be carried far beyond a mere declination to take part in the political reconstruction. they determined that others should not do it and live at peace. threats and violence were brought into requisition to intimidate and prevent the well meaning from using their efforts to render the political situation such that society could improve rather than be retarded under it. evidences of the wide-spread defection are not wanting. that the various orders of the ku klux klans, were guided by men of intelligence, is amply shown these pages; and the fact is corroborated by testimony taken before the investigating committee above referred to. one of the witnesses before this committee was gen. n. b. forrest, of tennessee, late of the rebel army, and to whom a vast array of circumstances pointed as being the grand cyclops of the ku klux orders. the fact that he was in receipt of from fifty to one hundred letters per day from all parts of the south upon the subjects of the order; that he was present in person in districts of the south where its members were placed upon trial; that he had the general conduct and management of affairs at such trials, hovering near the courts, though not appearing in them; that when asked if he had taken any steps in organizing the order, he made reply that he did not think he was compelled to answer any question that would implicate him in anything; that when asked if he knew the names of any members of the order, he declined to answer, and finally said he could only recollect one name, and that was jones; these, and numerous other circumstances which the investigations have developed, but which a want of space forbids reciting here, lead to the inevitable conclusion that gen. forrest was at the head of the order. some care has been taken to arrive at this fact, as it is evident that a man of enlarged experience and liberal education, as general forrest is known to be, would draw about him men of equal caliber, thus substantiating the assertions that the operations of the ku klux klans were guided by men of intelligence, education, and influence, who had been violent secessionists, who had rebelled against the government, and who were determined to thwart all its endeavors to restore peace and harmony to the distracted country. general terry, commanding military district of georgia, makes report as early as august, , to the secretary of war, in which he says: "there can be no doubt of the existence of numerous insurrectionary organizations, known as the ku klux klans, who shielded by their disguises, by the secrecy of their movements, and by the terror which they inspire, perpetrate crimes with impunity. there is great reason to believe that in some cases _the local magistrates are in sympathy with the members of these organizations_." general terry's testimony is borne out by that of the united states officials and secret agents and the evidence of recanting members of the order. the cases of harry lowther, ex-sheriff deason, susan j. furguson, edward thompson, and hosts of others, show men to have been engaged in these murderous outrages, who were leading lights in the various communities in which they lived. it is not therefore true, as has been attempted to be made out by the democratic party, that it is the rabble only who are engaged in the treasonable movement. it is not contended here that all the democrats of the south are ku klux, but it has been most conclusively shown that all the ku klux are democrats, and that they are sworn to oppose the spread of republican principles. they are determined to rule, and to rule with a rod of iron. they have settled in their minds that "no government but the white man's shall live in this country, and that they will forever oppose the political elevation of the negro to an equality with the whites." the report of the above committee, alluding to this condition of affairs, very justly says: "the facts demonstrate that it requires the strong arm of the government to protect its citizens in the enjoyment of their rights, to keep the peace, and prevent this threatened--rather to say this initiated--war of races, until the experiment which it has inaugurated, and which many southern men pronounce now, and many more have sworn shall be made a failure, can be determined in peace. the race so recently emancipated, against which banishment or serfdom is thus decreed, but which has been clothed by the government with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, ought not to be, and we feel assured will not be left hereafter without protection against the hostilities and sufferings it has endured in the past, as long as the legal and constitutional powers of the government are adequate to afford it. communities suffering such evils, and influenced by such extreme feelings, may be slow to learn that relief can come only from a ready obedience to and support of constituted authority." that communities in some portions of the south are still suffering from the evils herein referred to is an established fact, and the testimony is not confined to the cloud of witnesses herein cited. the existence of the orders of ku klux klans, and the allegations of the outrages perpetrated by its members, have been proven before courts of justice. the most learned advocates employed to defend these criminals have not attempted to deny it. no less a legal light than the hon. reverdy johnson, of counsel, who appeared, to defend persons charged with the commission of crimes similar to those narrated in the foregoing pages, has admitted it. the trials in which mr. johnson appeared as such counsel were had before the november ( ) term of the united states circuit court, at columbia, s. c. on the sixteenth day of the proceedings, the evidence for the government having closed, mr. johnson made his opening for the defense; and although standing before the court as the legal defender of the members of one of the most terrible organizations known to modern times, he was compelled, in justice to human decency, and in acknowledgment of the truth of the statements presented to the court by the united states attorney, to use the following language in his address to the jury: "i have listened with unmixed horror to some of the testimony which has been brought before you. the outrages proved are shocking to humanity; they admit of neither excuse or justification; they violate every obligation which law and nature impose upon them; they show that the parties engaged were brutes, insensible to the obligations of humanity and religion. the day will come, however, if it has not already arrived, when they will deeply lament it. even if justice shall not overtake them, there is one tribunal from which there is no escape. it is their own judgment--that tribunal which sits in the breast of every living man--that small, still voice that thrills through the heart, the soul of the mind, and as it speaks gives happiness or torture--the voice of conscience--the voice of god. "if it has not already spoken to them in tones which have startled them to the enormity of their conduct, i trust, in the mercy of heaven, that that voice will so speak as to make them penitent, and that, trusting in the dispensations of heaven--whose justice is dispensed with mercy--when they shall be brought before the bar of their great tribunal, so to speak, that incomprehensible tribunal, there will be found in the fact of their penitence, or in their previous lives, some grounds upon which god may say: pardon." the statistics, as to the number of those who have been the victims of outrages perpetrated by the ku klux klans, are necessarily meagre. many of them are recorded alone in the blood of the unoffending victims; thousands of mouths that could speak the unwelcome truth, have been sealed, and are sealed to-day, through fear, and dare not make the terrible revelations; but sufficient have come to light to afford an approximate idea of the extent to which the pernicious designs of the order have been carried. with all the figures before us, and with a desire to keep within, rather than exceed the bounds, the awful truth must be confessed, that _not less than twenty-three thousand persons_, black and white, have been scourged, banished, or murdered by the ku klux klans, since the close of the rebellion: an average of more than two thousand in each of the states lately in insurrection. great care has been had in arriving at these figures. all the available sources of information have been exhausted by research, and the facts obtained have been in a manner borne out by collateral evidence, tending to confirm the accuracy of the statement. the committee appointed by the legislature of tennessee (special session of ), to investigate the subject, reported to that body, that: "the murders and outrages perpetrated in many counties in middle and west tennessee, during the past few months ( ), have been so numerous and of such an aggravated character, as to almost baffle investigation. the terror inspired by the secret organizations, known as the ku klux klans is so great, that the officers of the law are powerless to execute its provisions. your committee believe that, during the last six months, _the murders alone_, to say nothing of other outrages, would average _one a day_, or one for every twenty-four hours." gen. reynolds, as commander of the fifth military district--comprising the state of texas--in his report to the secretary of war, - , says: "armed organizations, generally known as ku klux klans, exist in many parts of texas but are most numerous, bold, and aggressive east of the trinity river. the precise object of the organization in this state, seems to be to disarm, rob, and in many cases, murder union men and negroes. _the murder of negroes is so common as to render it impossible to keep accurate account of them._" gen. o. o. howard, reporting to the secretary of war ( - ), says, of the state of arkansas: "lawlessness, violence, and ruffianism, have prevailed to an alarming extent. ku klux klans, disguised by night, have burned the dwellings and shed the blood of unoffending freemen." in the louisiana contested election cases ( ), the terrible extent to which these outrages were carried, was shown by most conclusive evidence. one of the members of the committee selected to take testimony in those cases, says: "the testimony shows that over _two thousand persons_ were killed, wounded, and otherwise injured in that state, within a few weeks prior to the presidential election; that half of the state was overrun by violence; that midnight raids, secret murders and open riots, kept the people in constant terror until the republicans surrendered all claims, and then the election was carried by the democracy." referring to the well-authenticated massacre by the ku klux, at the parish of st. landry, in , the report says: "here (st. landry) occurred one of the bloodiest riots on record, in which _the ku klux killed and wounded over two hundred republicans in two days_. a pile of twenty-five bodies of the victims was found half buried in the woods. the ku klux captured the masses, marked them with badges of red flannel, enrolled them in clubs, marched them to the polls, and made them vote the democratic ticket." it is estimated that, in north and south carolina, not less than five thousand were scourged and killed, while more than that number were compelled to flee for their lives. in florida and georgia, the outrages were not so numerous, but they were marked with greater atrocity and brutality. in further consideration of this question, the numbers and extent of the various orders of the ku klux klan, may be taken as a partial guide. the testimony of gen. n. b. forrest is pertinent to the point. his position as grand cyclops of the order, lends to his testimony the probability of truth which it would not otherwise possess; and when it is considered that he gave it with the greatest reluctance, one readily arrives at the conclusion that his figures are by no means exaggerated. according to the statements made by gen. forrest, the order numbered not less than _five hundred and fifty thousand men_. according to his estimate, there were _forty thousand ku klux in the state of tennessee_ alone, and he believed the organization still stronger in other states. here, then, we have a vast array of men banded together with the secret purpose of banishing from the country, or scourging and murdering all who differed from them politically. in view of the numbers and extent of this organization, and the positive evidence of the fearful work of its members, the statement that twenty-three thousand persons have suffered scourging and death at their hands, may be considered under, rather than over, the real numbers. in north carolina alone, eighteen hundred members of the order stand indicted for their participation in outrages upon persons and property. in south carolina, the number reaches over seven hundred. florida, alabama, tennessee, louisiana, texas, and other states, swells the aggregate to more than five thousand, and the investigations upon which these indictments have been procured, disclose a condition of affairs, which, it is difficult to conceive, could exist in a civilized community;--much less in a republic, noted among the nations of the earth for its liberality, its progression, its enlarged freedom, the security of life, liberty, property, and the equal rights of all. the existence of the evils herein enumerated is placed beyond all doubt and cavil. in the light of the recorded and corroborated facts, the nation will demand to know:-- _first._ how far the present administrators of the government have fulfilled the duties and responsibilities confided to them by the people? _second._ what has been done to remedy the evils that have made life in southern communities intolerable and unsafe? _third._ what steps are necessary to prevent a recurrence of these evils in the future? happily the first two questions have been amply answered in the acts of the administration. a careful study of the necessities of the case, the enactment of appropriate laws, applicable thereto, and their vigorous, but humane enforcement, constitute a plan, the successful elaboration of which gives answer to the third question, of "how a recurrence of these evils may be prevented in the future." to those who may have entertained the idea, that the work of restoring order and securing to _all_ the citizens equal rights, nothing can be more comprehensive than the language of the committee of investigation. in alluding to this point, the report says:-- "looking to the modes provided by law for the redress of all grievance--the fact that southern communities do not yield ready obedience at once, should not deter the friends of good government in both sections of the country, from hoping and working for that end. "the strong feeling which led to rebellion and sustained brave men, however, mistaken in resisting the government which demanded their submission to its authority; the sincerity of whose belief was attested by their enormous sacrifice of life and treasure, this feeling cannot be expected to subside at once, nor in years. it required full forty years to develop disaffection into sedition, and sedition into treason. should we not be patient if in less than ten, we have a fair prospect of seeing so many who were armed enemies, becoming obedient citizens?" during the three brief years in which the present administration has held sway over the destinies of the nation, what has been accomplished? upon its accession to power, the people of the south were struggling under political disabilities, and a consequent social condition that had detached them from the onward march of civilization, and was hurrying them back to anarchy and ruin. they had become morose, bigoted, violent. the law of revenge had usurped that of order. they writhed under the results of the war and the downfall of their cherished institutions, and they had sworn that what could not be gained by a war upon the nation at large, should be had by a local war of extermination upon the--to them--offensive portions of the races, black and white, that opposed, or would not coincide with them. it was a delicate question; but the wisdom of the newly chosen leaders of the nation have been equal to the emergency, and, to-day, light begins to dawn in the dark places; the supremacy of the law is being established, and by a continuation of the same wise and humane policy in the future, the people of _all_ the states may abundantly hope for the restoration of peace and harmony in the south, where, but so recently, all was chaos and confusion. in view of what has thus far been said, i call upon my countrymen, everywhere, not to be deceived as to the real issues of the hour. addenda. a retrospective glance at the field of american politics during the past twelve years discloses several significant facts worthy of especial attention. the most casual observer cannot fail to have been impressed with the fact that there has been a growing disposition in the minds of the people to make the welfare of the country and not the advancement of party, the issue, in the struggle for political supremacy. the political opinions of the masses are based upon foundations materially different from those usually accorded them by the would-be leaders, who attempt to form opinions for, and force the same upon the people. there is a spirit in politics that rises superior to party clap-trap and unhealthy journalism, and which determines the problem of government with far greater accuracy than any amount of machinery designed for the accomplishment of any special end. political organizations live or die by their _acts_ and not by their _machinery_. without that spirit that seeks the greatest good of the greatest number, they inevitably go to decay and final dissolution. with that spirit they rise to the grandeur of well ordered governments. principles may be outraged and promises disregarded for a time but the end must come sooner or later, and re-action in such cases usually means annihilation. during the past twelve years the principles and promises of the two great political parties of the united states--the republican and the democrat--have been more severely tried and tested than at any similar period of time since the foundation of the republic. upon the maintenance of certain principles and the fulfilment of certain promises, either party have based their claims to the confidence of the american people. it matters but little how seductive these principles may appear in their enunciation, or how glowing the promises for future good, one must judge of them, and the people will judge of them as they have been illustrated in the acts of either party to whom the reins of government have been confided. given that both parties announce that they have the interests of the whole people at heart, then the results that have accrued from the accession of either to power must be the standard by which their principles must be measured, and their good or bad faith established. these results give rise to momentous questions. they lead thinking men to ask, if within the democratic ranks, slavery has not always found its ablest advocates. if it was not the democratic party that formed a compact and coalition with the slave holders of the south, with the understanding that if slavery could be maintained, slave holders would help to keep the democrats in power. was it not through the supineness of a democratic administration that the rebellion was engendered and the fortifications and other property in the southern states belonging to the government allowed to pass unquestioned into the hands of its sworn enemies? was it not to the democratic party that the south looked for assistance in deed and word to carry on a war aiming at the destruction of the union? did not the south rest its hope in the democratic party to oppose every measure taken by the loyal north in defence of the government and the salvation of the union? did not the democratic party in the interest of their brethren in the south, resist the draft in the north, thus causing the bloody riots of ' ? was it not the democratic party that opposed emancipation, the policy of reconstruction, universal freedom and universal suffrage? did not the weakness and vacillation of a democratic administration plunge the country into a contest by which hundreds of thousands of citizens were slain upon the field of battle, their widows and orphans left to the charities of the republic, and the nation saddled with an enormous debt? is it not the democratic party which has striven for years, and which is still struggling, to maintain itself in power through its tammany organization at the north, and its ku klux organization at the south; the one stealing the money of the people to sustain the other in scourging them? is it not upon the success of the democratic party that the ku klux klans base their hopes for the future? and do they not expect, through the aid of their democratic allies to rescind the present ku klux laws, and thereafter to scourge and kill radicals and negroes with impunity? is it not to the democratic party that the leaders of the ku klux klans look for help and shelter from the consequences of the numerous outrages perpetrated by them in the southern states? was it not a democratic administration that bequeathed to the country, foreign complications of a delicate nature, the foreshadowings of internecine war, a depleted treasury, an impaired credit, a general feeling of insecurity in business and financial circles, and an almost dismembered nation? has it not been for years the record of the democratic party that it has conspired against humanity and justice, aided to rivet the fetters of the slave, sown the seeds of demoralization in politics, and by its cringing subserviency to the slaveocracy of the south aimed a blow at the national life? is the democratic party sincere in its profession to accept in good faith the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the constitution, while strenuously objecting to all laws designed for the enforcement of the provisions of those amendments? does the democratic party hope to blind the people by its shallow pretence of a new departure from the principles advocated by it since its organization? do the old democratic party ring-masters expect to mislead the people by a mere visionary reconstruction of tammany, and can they hope to erase the foul stains upon their party linen to such an extent as to have them accepted as pure and unspotted garments? these are some of the questions at present mooted in the silent heart of the nation. they are the questions of the hour and upon them the people of the whole country are called to decide, as to which of the two great political parties the future welfare of the republic may be confided with the greatest safety. in making this decision the minds of the people naturally revert to the records of the republican party as manifested through its administration of the government, its vindication of its professed principles, its fulfilment of its promises for the redemption of the nation. and what is that record? upon its accession to power in the republican party found the country upon the verge of a civil war. some of the nation's strongholds were already in the hands of the traitors, and the incompetency and weakness of its predecessor were everywhere apparent. never in all its history had such an opportunity been presented it to redeem the pledges it had made in the interests of human justice and human freedom. true to its loyal instincts it rose to the dignity and the grandeur of the occasion. it at once instituted the most vigorous measures for the national defence. by it the most wicked rebellion ever organized among men was put down. through the republican party the integrity of the union was preserved, and its place maintained among the nations of the earth as one of the leading powers. by it financial measures were inaugurated and carried out that have brought unparalleled prosperity to the country. by it the credit of the nation has become firmly established at home and abroad. through its labors in the cause of human freedom the bondmen have become emancipated and assume equal rights with freemen. by a wise administration in its foreign relations the country is at peace with all nations, and the citizens of the american republic traveling in foreign climes are honored and respected. by a vigorous enforcement of the laws, criminals of every degree, in all sections of the country, have been brought to justice. by it bands of deadly assassins, skulking at midnight behind hideous disguises, and warring upon innocent women and children have been suppressed and broken up. and by it they have been compelled to answer for their numerous crimes. through the unwearied efforts of the republican party universal suffrage has become a law of the nation, freedom of speech and freedom of opinion everywhere vindicated throughout the land, and the right to exercise the elective franchise as their consciences might dictate, guaranteed to all. by it the states lately in insurrection have been reconstructed upon a prosperous basis, and brought back into the folds of the union. by it the public lands have been opened to settlers; manufactures stimulated through the establishment of a judicious tariff, and labor dignified and made prosperous through an enhanced remuneration for services performed, and a reduction in the hours of toil. * * * * * these are but a few only of the acts of the republican party. they are based upon principles through the consummation of which the government has been administered with more than ordinary honor and integrity. principles that have given birth and sustenance to an administration in which every appearance of evil has been scrutinized, every unworthy public servant ferreted out and punished, every effort put forth to prevent frauds upon the revenue and the treasury. an administration in which the most trivial charges made against it by the most personally bitter and partizan newspapers have been probed to the bottom. an administration in which every law upon the statute books has been enforced with the whole power of the government. an administration by which the rights of the laboring classes have been maintained; the status of the newly emancipated citizens defined and enforced; the dignity of the flag and the honor of the nation everywhere upheld. an administration whose chief executive was, in the dark hours of civil war, "the hope of america and of liberty." a chief executive who resolutely set his face against the enemy upon the field of battle until victory crowned our banners. under whose wise and skillful leadership might and right joined hands in solid union, and the nation drew the long and refreshing breath of freedom. a chief executive whom the nation sought out as its chosen leader, general grant, the hero of vicksburg--the wilderness--richmond. by his bravery in the camp and his sagacity in the cabinet the fires of liberty burn bright and unextinguishable. by his stern and uncompromising adherence to the interests of the whole people, unbounded prosperity rests upon the country. by the extraordinary financial policy of his administration the public debt has been reduced three hundred millions of dollars; the people relieved of a burden of taxation amounting to nearly one hundred millions of dollars annually, gold brought from to , and the public credit restored. under his administration every loyal soldier of the war of the rebellion who served ninety days in the union army acquires the right to a homestead upon the public lands, or if dead the right reverts to his heirs. these are some of the truthful remembrances that come back to the minds of the people, and they cast about them in vain for any measure which general grant has ever enforced against the will of the masses, for any act to lessen their faith in his personal purity and official integrity, for one solitary principle of the party that elevated him to power, which he has not vindicated, for one single promise which he has not fulfiled. to general grant, the hero of the war of the rebellion, who wrested victory from doubtful battle fields, who stood unflinchingly at his post in the darkest days of the nation's history, the people turn instinctively as the standard bearer in the coming political contest. by his utter self abnegation and his preference for the welfare of the masses rather than the political aggrandisement of a few leaders, he has acquired the most malevolent partizan opposition ever encountered by any chief magistrate of the nation. by the strong voices of the people reverberating over the country, and by the more recent utterances from the granite hills of new hampshire, the thrifty valleys of connecticut, the loyal voters of rhode island, his policy is endorsed and his future political status insured. footnotes: [ ] the night hawk is an attache of the ku klux camp, whose business it is to scour about, and locate the victims upon whom visitations are ordered to be made. [ ] alluding to the shooting of a mr. cason a few days before. transcriber's notes: passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. punctuation has been corrected without note. the following misprints have been corrected: "transspires" corrected to "transpires" (page ) "deacon's" corrected to "deason's" (page ) "of of" corrected to "of" (page ) "straighforward" corrected to "straightforward" (page ) "rise rise" corrected to "rise" (page ) other than the corrections listed above, inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original. generously made available by internet archive (http://www.archive.org) note: project gutenberg also has an html version of this file which includes the original illustrations. see -h.htm or -h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/ / -h/ -h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/ / -h.zip) images of the original pages are available through internet archive. see http://www.archive.org/details/sinsoffatherroma dixo the sins of the father [illustration: "she blushed scarlet, took the rosebud from her bosom and pinned it on his coat." [page ]] the sins of the father a romance of the south by thomas dixon author of the leopard's spots, the clansman, comrades, the root of evil, etc. illustrated by john cassel grosset & dunlap publishers :: :: new york copyright, , by thomas dixon all rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the scandinavian. published march, . printed in the united states of america. to the memory of randolph shotwell of north carolina soldier, editor, clansman patriot to the reader _i wish it understood that i have not used in this novel the private life of captain randolph shotwell, to whom this book is dedicated. i have drawn the character of my central figure from the authentic personal history of major daniel norton himself, a distinguished citizen of the far south, with whom i was intimately acquainted for many years._ thomas dixon. new york march , contents book i--sin chapter page i. the woman in yellow ii. cleo enters iii. a beast awakes iv. the arrest v. the rescue vi. a traitor's ruse vii. the irony of fate viii. a new weapon ix. the words that cost x. man to man xi. the unbidden guest xii. the judgment bar xiii. an old story xiv. the fight for life xv. cleo's silence xvi. the larger vision xvii. the opal gates xviii. questions xix. cleo's cry xx. the blow falls xxi. the call of the blood book ii--atonement i. the new life purpose ii. a modern scalawag iii. his house in order iv. the man of the hour v. a woman scorned vi. an old comedy vii. trapped viii. behind the bars ix. andy's dilemma x. the best laid plans xi. a reconnoitre xii. the first whisper xiii. andy's proposal xiv. the folly of pity xv. a discovery xvi. the challenge xvii. a skirmish xviii. love laughs xix. "fight it out!" xx. andy fights xxi. the second blow xxii. the test of love xxiii. the parting xxiv. father and son xxv. the one chance xxvi. between two fires xxvii. a surprise xxviii. via dolorosa xxix. the dregs in the cup xxx. the mills of god xxxi. sin full grown xxxii. confession xxxiii. healing the sins of the father _book one--sin_ chapter i the woman in yellow the young editor of _the daily eagle and phoenix_ straightened his tall figure from the pile of papers that smothered his desk, glanced at his foreman who stood waiting, and spoke in the quiet drawl he always used when excited: "just a moment--'til i read this over----" the foreman nodded. he scanned the scrawled pencil manuscript twice and handed it up without changing a letter: "set the title in heavy black-faced caps--_black_--the blackest you've got." he read the title over again musingly, his strong mouth closing with a snap at its finish: the black league and the ku klux klan down with all secret societies the foreman took the manuscript with a laugh: "you've certainly got 'em guessing, major----" "who?" "everybody. we've all been thinking until these editorials began that you were a leader of the klan." a smile played about the corners of the deep-set brown eyes as he swung carelessly back to his desk and waved the printer to his task with a friendly sweep of his long arm: "let 'em think again!" a shout in the court house square across the narrow street caused him to lift his head with a frown: "salesday--of course--the first monday--doomsday for the conquered south--god, the horror of it all!" he laid his pencil down, walked to the window and looked out on the crowd of slouching loafers as they gathered around the auctioneer's block. the negroes outnumbered the whites two to one. a greasy, loud-mouthed negro, as black as ink, was the auctioneer. "well, gemmen an' feller citizens," he began pompously, "de fust piece er property i got ter sell hain't no property 'tall--hit's dese po' folks fum de county po' house. fetch 'em up agin de wall so de bidders can see 'em----" he paused and a black court attendant led out and placed in line against the weatherbeaten walls fifty or sixty inmates of the county poor house--all of them white men and women. most of them were over seventy years old, and one with the quickest step and brightest eye, a little man of eighty-four with snow-white hair and beard, was the son of a hero of the american revolution. the women were bareheaded and the blazing southern sun of august beat down piteously on their pinched faces. the young editor's fists slowly clinched and his breath came in a deep quivering draught. he watched as in a trance. he had seen four years' service in the bloodiest war in history--seen thousands swept into eternity from a single battlefield without a tear. he had witnessed the sufferings of the wounded and dying until it became the routine of a day's work. yet no event of all that fierce and terrible struggle had stirred his soul as the scene he was now witnessing--not even the tragic end of his father, the editor of the _daily eagle_--who had been burned to death in the building when sherman's army swept the land with fire and sword. the younger man had never referred to this except in a brief, hopeful editorial in the newly christened _eagle and phoenix_, which he literally built on the ashes of the old paper. he had no unkind word for general sherman or his army. it was war, and a soldier knew what that meant. he would have done the same thing under similar conditions. now he was brushing a tear from his cheek. a reporter at work in the adjoining room watched him curiously. he had never before thought him capable of such an emotion. a brilliant and powerful editor, he had made his paper the one authoritative organ of the white race. in the midst of riot, revolution and counter revolution his voice had the clear ring of a bugle call to battle. there was never a note of hesitation, of uncertainty or of compromise. in the fierce white heat of an unconquered spirit, he had fused the souls of his people as one. at this moment he was the one man hated and feared most by the negroid government in power, the one man most admired and trusted by the white race. and he was young--very young--yet he had lived a life so packed with tragic events no one ever guessed his real age, twenty-four. people took him to be more than thirty and the few threads of gray about his temples, added to the impression of age and dignity. he was not handsome in the conventional sense. his figure was too tall, his cheek bones too high, the nostrils too large and his eyebrows too heavy. his great height, six feet three, invariably made him appear gaunt and serious. though he had served the entire four years in the confederate army, entering a private in the ranks at eighteen, emerging a major in command of a shattered regiment at twenty-two, his figure did not convey the impression of military training. he walked easily, with the long, loose stride of the southener, his shoulders slightly stooped from the habit of incessant reading. he was lifting his broad shoulders now in an ominous way as he folded his clenched fists behind his back and listened to the negro auctioneer. "come now, gemmens," he went on; "what's de lowes' offer ye gwine ter start me fer dese folks? 'member, now, de lowes' bid gets 'em, not de highes'! 'fore de war de black man wuz put on de block an' sole ter de _highes'_ bidder! times is changed----" "yas, lawd!" shouted a negro woman. "times is changed, i tells ye!--now i gwine ter sell dese po' white folks ter de lowes' bidder. whosomever'll take de po' house and bode 'em fer de least money gits de whole bunch. an' you has de right ter make 'em all work de po' farm. dey kin work, too, an' don' ye fergit it. dese here ones i fotch out here ter show ye is all soun' in wind and limb. de bedridden ones ain't here. dey ain't but six er dem. what's de lowes' bid now, gemmens, yer gwine ter gimme ter bode 'em by de month? look 'em all over, gemmens, i warrants 'em ter be sound in wind an' limb. sound in wind an' limb." the auctioneer's sonorous voice lingered on this phrase and repeated it again and again. the watcher at the window turned away in disgust, walked back to his desk, sat down, fidgeted in his seat, rose and returned to the window in time to hear the cry: "an' sold to mister abum russ fer fo' dollars a month!" could it be possible that he heard aright? abe russ the keeper to the poor!--a drunkard, wife beater, and midnight prowler. his father before him, "devil tom russ," had been a notorious character, yet he had at least one redeeming quality that saved him from contempt--a keen sense of humor. he had made his living on a ten-acre red hill farm and never used a horse or an ox. he hitched himself to the plow and made abe seize the handles. this strange team worked the fields. no matter how hard the day's task the elder russ never quite lost his humorous view of life. when the boy, tired and thirsty, would stop and go to the spring for water, a favorite trick of his was to place a piece of paper or a chunk of wood in the furrow a few yards ahead. when the boy returned and they approached this object, the old man would stop, lift his head and snort, back and fill, frisk and caper, plunge and kick, and finally break and run, tearing over the fields like a maniac, dragging the plow after him with the breathless boy clinging to the handles. he would then quietly unhitch himself and thrash abe within an inch of his life for being so careless as to allow a horse to run away with him. but abe grew up without a trace of his father's sense of humor, picked out the strongest girl he could find for a wife and hitched her to the plow! and he permitted no pranks to enliven the tedium of work except the amusement he allowed himself of beating her at mealtimes after she had cooked his food. he had now turned politician, joined the loyal black league and was the successful bidder for keeper of the poor. it was incredible! the watcher was roused from his painful reverie by a reporter's voice: "i think there's a man waiting in the hall to see you, sir." "who is it?" the reporter smiled: "mr. bob peeler." "what on earth can that old scoundrel want with me? all right--show him in." the editor was busy writing when mr. peeler entered the room furtively. he was coarse, heavy and fifty years old. his red hair hung in tangled locks below his ears and a bloated double chin lapped his collar. his legs were slightly bowed from his favorite mode of travel on horseback astride a huge stallion trapped with tin and brass bespangled saddle. his supposed business was farming and the raising of blooded horses. as a matter of fact, the farm was in the hands of tenants and gambling was his real work. of late he had been displaying a hankering for negro politics. a few weeks before he had created a sensation by applying to the clerk of the court for a license to marry his mulatto housekeeper. it was common report that this woman was the mother of a beautiful octoroon daughter with hair exactly the color of old peeler's. few people had seen her. she had been away at school since her tenth year. the young editor suddenly wheeled in his chair and spoke with quick emphasis: "mr. peeler, i believe?" the visitor's face lighted with a maudlin attempt at politeness: "yes, sir; yes, sir!--and i'm shore glad to meet you, major norton!" he came forward briskly, extending his fat mottled hand. norton quietly ignored the offer by placing a chair beside his desk: "have a seat, mr. peeler." the heavy figure flopped into the chair: "i want to ask your advice, major, about a little secret matter"--he glanced toward the door leading into the reporters' room. the editor rose, closed the door and resumed his seat: "well, sir; how can i serve you?" the visitor fumbled in his coat pocket and drew out a crumpled piece of paper which he fingered gingerly: "i've been readin' your editorials agin' secret societies, major, and i like 'em--that's why i made up my mind to put my trust in you----" "why, i thought you were a member of the loyal black league, mr. peeler?" "no, sir--it's a mistake, sir," was the smooth lying answer. "i hain't got nothin' to do with no secret society. i hate 'em all--just run your eye over that, major." he extended the crumpled piece of paper on which was scrawled in boyish writing: "we hear you want to marry a nigger. our advice is to leave this country for the more congenial climate of africa. "by order of the grand cyclops, ku klux klan." the young editor studied the scrawl in surprise: "a silly prank of schoolboys!" he said at length. "you think that's all?" peeler asked dubiously. "certainly. the ku klux klan have more important tasks on hand just now. no man in their authority sent that to you. their orders are sealed in red ink with a crossbones and skull. i've seen several of them. pay no attention to this--it's a fake." "i don't think so, major--just wait a minute, i'll show you something worse than a red-ink crossbones and skull." old peeler tipped to the door leading into the hallway, opened it, peered out and waved his fat hand, beckoning someone to enter. the voice of a woman was heard outside protesting: "no--no--i'll stay here----" peeler caught her by the arm and drew her within: "this is lucy, my housekeeper, major." the editor looked in surprise at the slender, graceful figure of the mulatto. he had pictured her coarse and heavy. he saw instead a face of the clean-cut aryan type with scarcely a trace of negroid character. only the thick curling hair, shining black eyes and deep yellow skin betrayed the african mother. peeler's eyes were fixed in a tense stare on a small bundle she carried. his voice was a queer muffled tremor as he slowly said: "unwrap the thing and show it to him." the woman looked at the editor and smiled contemptuously, showing two rows of perfect teeth, as she slowly drew the brown wrapper from a strange object which she placed on the desk. the editor picked the thing up, looked at it and laughed. it was a tiny pine coffin about six inches long and two inches wide. a piece of glass was fitted into the upper half of the lid and beneath the glass was placed a single tube rose whose peculiar penetrating odor already filled the room. peeler mopped the perspiration from his brow. "now, what do you think of that?" he asked in an awed whisper. in spite of an effort at self-control, norton broke into a peal of laughter: "it does look serious, doesn't it?" "serious ain't no word for it, sir! it not only looks like death, but i'm damned if it don't smell like it--smell it!" "so it does," the editor agreed, lifting the box and breathing the perfume of the pale little flower. "and that ain't all," peeler whispered, "look inside of it." he opened the lid and drew out a tightly folded scrap of paper on which was written in pencil the words: "you lying, hypocritical, blaspheming old scoundrel--unless you leave the country within forty-eight hours, this coffin will be large enough to hold all we'll leave of you. k. k. k." the editor frowned and then smiled. "all a joke, peeler," he said reassuringly. but peeler was not convinced. he leaned close and his whiskey-laden breath seemed to fill the room as his fat finger rested on the word "blaspheming:" "i don't like that word, major; it sounds like a preacher had something to do with the writin' of it. you know i've been a tough customer in my day and i used to cuss the preachers in this county somethin' frightful. now, ye see, if they should be in this ku klux klan--i ain't er skeered er their hell hereafter, but they sho' might give me a taste in this world of what they think's comin' to me in the next. i tell you that thing makes the cold chills run down my back. now, major, i reckon you're about the level-headest and the most influential man in the county--the question is, what shall i do to be saved?" again norton laughed: "nothing. it's a joke, i tell you----" "but the ku klux klan ain't no joke!" persisted peeler. "more than a thousand of 'em--some say five thousand--paraded the county two weeks ago. a hundred of 'em passed my house. i saw their white shrouds glisten in the moonlight. i said my prayers that night! i says to myself, if it don't do no good, at least it can't do no harm. i tell you, the klan's no joke. if you think so, take a walk through that crowd in the square to-day and see how quiet they are. last court day every nigger that could holler was makin' a speech yellin' that old thad stevens was goin' to hang andy johnson, the president, from the white house porch, take every foot of land from the rebels and give it to the loyal black league. now, by gum, there's a strange peace in israel! i felt it this mornin' as i walked through them crowds--and comin' back to this coffin, major, the question is--what shall i do to be saved?" "go home and forget about it," was the smiling answer. "the klan didn't send that thing to you or write that message." "you think not?" "i know they didn't. it's a forgery. a trick of some devilish boys." peeler scratched his red head: "i'm glad you think so, major. i'm a thousand times obliged to you, sir. i'll sleep better to-night after this talk." "would you mind leaving this little gift with me, peeler?" norton asked, examining the neat workmanship of the coffin. "certainly--certainly, major, keep it. keep it and more than welcome! it's a gift i don't crave, sir. i'll feel better to know you've got it." the yellow woman waited beside the door until peeler had passed out, bowed her thanks, turned and followed her master at a respectful distance. the editor watched them cross the street with a look of loathing, muttering slowly beneath his breath: "oh, my country, what a problem--what a problem!" he turned again to his desk and forgot his burden in the joy of work. he loved this work. it called for the best that's in the strongest man. it was a man's work for men. when he struck a blow he saw the dent of his hammer on the iron, and heard it ring to the limits of the state. dimly aware that some one had entered his room unannounced, he looked up, sprang to his feet and extended his hand in hearty greeting to a stalwart farmer who stood smiling into his face: "hello, macarthur!" "hello, my captain! you know you weren't a major long enough for me to get used to it--and it sounds too old for you anyhow----" "and how's the best sergeant that ever walloped a recruit?" "bully," was the hearty answer. the young editor drew his old comrade in arms down into his chair and sat on the table facing him: "and how's the wife and kids, mac?" "bully," he repeated evenly and then looked up with a puzzled expression. "look here, bud," he began quietly, "you've got me up a tree. these editorials in _the eagle and phoenix_ cussin' the klan----" "you don't like them?" "not a little wee bit!" the editor smiled: "you've got scotch blood in you, mac--that's what's the matter with you----" "same to you, sir." "but my great-great-grandmother was a huguenot and the french, you know, had a saving sense of humor. the scotch are thick, mac!" "well, i'm too thick to know what you mean by lambastin' our only salvation. the ku klux klan have had just one parade--and there hasn't been a barn burnt in this county or a white woman scared since, and every nigger i've met to-day has taken off his hat----" "are you a member of the klan, mac?" the question was asked with his face turned away. the farmer hesitated, looked up at the ceiling and quietly answered: "none of your business--and that's neither here nor there--you know that every nigger is organized in that secret black league, grinning and whispering its signs and passwords--you know that they've already begun to grip the throats of our women. the klan's the only way to save this country from hell--what do you mean by jumpin' on it?" "the black league's a bad thing, mac, and the klan's a bad thing----" "all right--still you've got to fight the devil with fire----" "you don't say so?" the editor said, while a queer smile played around his serious mouth. "yes, by golly, i do say so," the farmer went on with increasing warmth, "and what i can't understand is how you're against 'em. you're a leader. you're a soldier--the bravest that ever led his men into the jaws of death--i know, for i've been with you--and i just come down here to-day to ask you the plain question, what do you mean?" "the klan _is_ a band of lawless night raiders, isn't it?" "oh, you make me tired! what are we to do without 'em, that's the question?" "scotch! that's the trouble with you"--the young editor answered carelessly. "have you a pin?" the rugged figure suddenly straightened as though a bolt of lightning had shot down his spine. "what's--what's that?" he gasped. "i merely asked, have you a pin?" was the even answer, as norton touched the right lapel of his coat with his right hand. the farmer hesitated a moment, and then slowly ran three trembling fingers of his left hand over the left lapel of his coat, replying: "i'm afraid not." he looked at norton a moment and turned pale. he had been given and had returned the signs of the klan. it might have been an accident. the rugged face was a study of eager intensity as he put his friend to the test that would tell. he slowly thrust the fingers of his right hand into the right pocket of his trousers, the thumb protruding. norton quietly answered in the same way with his left hand. the farmer looked into the smiling brown eyes of his commander for a moment and his own filled with tears. he sprang forward and grasped the outstretched hand: "dan norton! i said last night to my god that you couldn't be against us! and so i came to ask--oh, why--why've you been foolin' with me?" the editor tenderly slipped his arm around his old comrade and whispered: "the cunning of the fox and the courage of the lion now, mac! it was easy for our boys to die in battle while guns were thundering, fifes screaming, drums beating and the banners waving. you and i have something harder to do--we've got to live--our watchword, '_the cunning of the fox and the courage of the lion!_' i've some dangerous work to do pretty soon. the little scalawag governor is getting ready for us----" "i want that job!" macarthur cried eagerly. "i'll let you know when the time comes." the farmer smiled: "i _am_ a scotchman--ain't i?" "and a good one, too!" with his hand on the door, the rugged face aflame with patriotic fire, he slowly repeated: "the cunning of the fox and the courage of the lion!--and by the living god, we'll win this time, boy!" norton heard him laugh aloud as he hurried down the stairs. gazing again from his window at the black clouds of negroes floating across the square, he slowly muttered: "yes, we'll win this time!--but twenty years from now--i wonder!" he took up the little black coffin and smiled at the perfection of its workmanship: "i think i know the young gentleman who made that and he may give me trouble." he thrust the thing into a drawer, seized his hat, strolled down a side street and slowly passed the cabinet shop of the workman whom he suspected. it was closed. evidently the master had business outside. it was barely possible, of course, that he had gone to the galleries of the capitol to hear the long-expected message of the governor against the klan. the galleries had been packed for the past two sessions in anticipation of this threatened message. the capital city was only a town of five thousand white inhabitants and four thousand blacks. rumors of impending political movements flew from house to house with the swiftness of village gossip. he walked to the capitol building by a quiet street. as he passed through the echoing corridor the rotund figure of schlitz, the carpetbagger, leader of the house of representatives, emerged from the governor's office. the red face flushed a purple hue as his eye rested on his arch-enemy of the _eagle and phoenix_. he tried to smile and nodded to norton. his smile was answered by a cold stare and a quickened step. schlitz had been a teamster's scullion in the union army. he was not even an army cook, but a servant of servants. he was now the master of the legislature of a great southern state and controlled its black, ignorant members with a snap of his bloated fingers. there was but one man norton loathed with greater intensity and that was the shrewd little scalawag governor, the native traitor who had betrayed his people to win office. a conference of these two cronies was always an ill omen for the state. he hurried up the winding stairs, pushed his way into a corner of the crowded galleries from which he could see every face and searched in vain for his young workman. he stood for a moment, looked down on the floor of the house and watched a black parliament at work making laws to govern the children of the men who had created the republic--watched them through fetid smoke, the vapors of stale whiskey and the deafening roar of half-drunken brutes as they voted millions in taxes, their leaders had already stolen. the red blood rushed to his cheeks and the big veins on his slender swarthy neck stood out for a moment like drawn cords. he hurried down to the court house square, walked with long, leisurely stride through the thinning crowds, and paused before a vacant lot on the opposite side of the street. a dozen or more horses were still tied to the racks provided for the accommodation of countrymen. "funny," he muttered, "farmers start home before sundown, and it's dusk--i wonder if it's possible!" he crossed the street, strolled carelessly among the horses and noted that their saddles had not been removed and the still more significant fact that their saddle blankets were unusually thick. only an eye trained to observe this fact would have noticed it. he lifted the edge of one of the blankets and saw the white and scarlet edges of a klan costume. it was true. the young dare-devil who had sent that message to old peeler had planned an unauthorized raid. only a crowd of youngsters bent on a night's fun, he knew; and yet the act at this moment meant certain anarchy unless he nipped it in the bud. the klan was a dangerous institution. its only salvation lay in the absolute obedience of its members to the orders of an intelligent and patriotic chief. unless the word of that chief remained the sole law of its life, a reign of terror by irresponsible fools would follow at once. as commander of the klan in his county he must subdue this lawless element. it must be done with an iron hand and done immediately or it would be too late. his decision to act was instantaneous. he sent a message to his wife that he couldn't get home for supper, locked his door and in three hours finished his day's work. there was ample time to head these boys off before they reached old peeler's house. they couldn't start before eleven, yet he would take no chances. he determined to arrive an hour ahead of them. the night was gloriously beautiful--a clear star-gemmed sky in the full tide of a southern summer, the first week in august. he paused inside the gate of his home and drank for a moment the perfume of the roses on the lawn. the light from the window of his wife's room poured a mellow flood of welcome through the shadows beside the white, fluted columns. this home of his father's was all the wreck of war had left him and his heart gave a throb of joy to-night that it was his. behind the room where the delicate wife lay, a petted invalid, was the nursery. his baby boy was there, nestling in the arms of the black mammy who had nursed him twenty odd years ago. he could hear the soft crooning of her dear old voice singing the child to sleep. the heart of the young father swelled with pride. he loved his frail little wife with a deep, tender passion, but this big rosy-cheeked, laughing boy, which she had given him six months ago, he fairly worshipped. he stopped again under the nursery window and listened to the music of the cradle. the old lullaby had waked a mocking bird in a magnolia beside the porch and he was answering her plaintive wail with a thrilling love song. by the strange law of contrast, his memory flashed over the fields of death he had trodden in the long war. "what does it matter after all, these wars and revolutions, if god only brings with each new generation a nobler breed of men!" he tipped softly past the window lest his footfall disturb the loved ones above, hurried to the stable, saddled his horse and slowly rode through the quiet streets of the town. on clearing the last clump of negro cabins on the outskirts his pace quickened to a gallop. he stopped in the edge of the woods at the gate which opened from peeler's farm on the main road. the boys would have to enter here. he would stop them at this spot. the solemn beauty of the night stirred his soul to visions of the future, and the coming battle which his klan must fight for the mastery of the state. the chirp of crickets, the song of katydids and the flash of fireflies became the martial music and the flaming torches of triumphant hosts he saw marching to certain victory. but the klan he was leading was a wild horse that must be broken to the bit or both horse and rider would plunge to ruin. there would be at least twenty or thirty of these young marauders to-night. if they should unite in defying his authority it would be a serious and dangerous situation. somebody might be killed. and yet he waited without a fear of the outcome. he had faced odds before. he loved a battle when the enemy outnumbered him two to one. it stirred his blood. he had ridden with forrest one night at the head of four hundred daring, ragged veterans, surrounded a crack union regiment at two o'clock in the morning, and forced their commander to surrender men before he discovered the real strength of the attacking force. it stirred his blood to-night to know that general forrest was the commander-in-chief of his own daring clansmen. half an hour passed without a sign of the youngsters. he grew uneasy. could they have dared to ride so early that they had reached the house before his arrival? he must know at once. he opened the gate and galloped down the narrow track at a furious pace. a hundred yards from peeler's front gate he drew rein and listened. a horse neighed in the woods, and the piercing shriek of a woman left nothing to doubt. they were already in the midst of their dangerous comedy. he pressed cautiously toward the gate, riding in the shadows of the overhanging trees. they were dragging old peeler across the yard toward the roadway, followed by the pleading voice of a woman begging for his worthless life. realizing that the raid was now an accomplished fact, norton waited to see what the young fools were going to do. he was not long in doubt. they dragged their panting, perspiring victim into the edge of the woods, tied him to a sapling and bared his back. the leader stepped forward holding a lighted torch whose flickering flames made an unearthly picture of the distorted features and bulging eyes. "mr. peeler," began the solemn muffled voice behind the cloth mask, "for your many sins and blasphemies against god and man the preachers of this county have assembled to-night to call you to repentance----" the terror-stricken eyes bulged further and the fat neck twisted in an effort to see how many ghastly figures surrounded him, as he gasped: "oh, lord--oh, hell--are you all preachers?" "all!" was the solemn echo from each sepulchral figure. "then i'm a goner--that coffin's too big----" "yea, verily, there'll be nothing left when we get through--selah!" solemnly cried the leader. "but, say, look here, brethren," peeler pleaded between shattering teeth, "can't we compromise this thing? i'll repent and join the church. and how'll a contribution of fifty dollars each strike you? now what do you say to that?" the coward's voice had melted into a pious whine. the leader selected a switch from the bundle extended by a shrouded figure and without a word began to lay on. peeler's screams could be heard a mile. norton allowed them to give him a dozen lashes and spurred his horse into the crowd. there was a wild scramble to cover and most of the boys leaped to their saddles. three white figures resolutely stood their ground. "what's the meaning of this, sir?" norton sternly demanded of the man who still held the switch. "just a little fun, major," was the sheepish answer. "a dangerous piece of business." "for god's sake, save me, major norton!" peeler cried, suddenly waking from the spell of fear. "they've got me, sir--and it's just like i told you, they're all preachers--i'm a goner!" norton sprang from his horse and faced the three white figures. "who's in command of this crowd?" "i am, sir!" came the quick answer from a stalwart masquerader who suddenly stepped from the shadows. norton recognized the young cabinet-maker's voice, and spoke in low tense tones: "by whose authority are you using these disguises, to-night?" "it's none of your business!" the tall sinewy figure suddenly stiffened, stepped close and peered into the eyes of the speaker's mask: "does my word go here to-night or must i call out a division of the klan?" a moment's hesitation and the eyes behind the mask fell: "all right, sir--nothing but a boyish frolic," muttered the leader apologetically. "let this be the end of such nonsense," norton said with a quiet drawl. "if i catch you fellows on a raid like this again i'll hang your leader to the first limb i find--good night." a whistle blew and the beat of horses' hoofs along the narrow road told their hurried retreat. norton loosed the cords and led old peeler to his house. as the fat, wobbling legs mounted the steps the younger man paused at a sound from behind and before he could turn a girl sprang from the shadows into his arms, and slipped to her knees, sobbing hysterically: "save me!--they're going to beat me--they'll beat me to death--don't let them--please--please don't let them!" by the light from the window he saw that her hair was a deep rich red with the slightest tendency to curl and her wide dilated eyes a soft greenish grey. he was too astonished to speak for a moment and peeler hastened to say: "that's our little gal, cleo--that is--i--mean--of--course--it's lucy's gal! she's just home from school and she's scared to death and i don't blame her!" the girl clung to her rescuer with desperate grip, pressing her trembling form close with each convulsive sob. the man drew the soft arms down, held them a moment and looked into the dumb frightened face. he was surprised at her unusual beauty. her skin was a delicate creamy yellow, almost white, and her cheeks were tinged with the brownish red of ripe apple. as he looked in to her eyes he fancied that he saw a young leopardess from an african jungle looking at him through the lithe, graceful form of a southern woman. and then something happened in the shadows that stood out forever in his memory of that day as the turning point of his life. laughing at her fears, he suddenly lifted his hand and gently stroked the tangled red hair, smoothing it back from her forehead with a movement instinctive, and irresistible as he would have smoothed the fur of a yellow persian kitten. surprised at his act, he turned without a word and left the place. and all the way home, through the solemn starlit night, he brooded over the strange meeting with this extraordinary girl. he forgot his fight. one thing only stood out with increasing vividness--the curious and irresistible impulse that caused him to stroke her hair. personally he had always loathed the southern white man who stooped and crawled through the shadows to meet such women. she was a negress and he knew it, and yet the act was instinctive and irresistible. why? he asked himself the question a hundred times, and the longer he faced it the angrier he became at his stupid folly. for hours he lay awake, seeing in the darkness only the face of this girl. chapter ii cleo enters the conference of the carpetbagger with the little governor proved more ominous than even norton had feared. the blow struck was so daring, so swift and unexpected it stunned for a moment the entire white race. when the editor reached his office on the second morning after the raid, his desk was piled with telegrams from every quarter of the state. the governor had issued a proclamation disarming every white military company and by wire had demanded the immediate surrender of their rifles to the negro adjutant-general. the same proclamation had created an equal number of negro companies who were to receive these guns and equipments. the negroid state government would thus command an armed black guard of fifty thousand men and leave the white race without protection. evidently his excellency was a man of ambitions. it was rumored that he aspired to the vice-presidency and meant to win the honor by a campaign of such brilliance that the solid negro-ruled south would back him in the national convention. beyond a doubt, this act was the first step in a daring attempt inspired by the radical fanatics in congress to destroy the structure of white civilization in the south. and the governor's resources were apparently boundless. president johnson, though a native southerner, was a puppet now in the hands of his powerful enemies who dominated congress. these men boldly proclaimed their purpose to make the south negro territory by confiscating the property of the whites and giving it to the negroes. their bill to do this, house bill number twenty-nine, introduced by the government leader, thaddeus stevens, was already in the calendar and mr. stevens was pressing for its passage with all the skill of a trained politician inspired by the fiercest hate. the army had been sent back into the prostrate south to enforce the edicts of congress and the negro state government could command all the federal troops needed for any scheme concocted. but the little governor had a plan up his sleeve by which he proposed to startle even the black radical administration at washington. he was going to stamp out "rebellion" without the aid of federal troops, reserving his right to call them finally as a last resort. that they were ready at his nod gave him the moral support of their actual presence. that any man born of a southern mother and reared in the south under the conditions of refinement and culture, of the high ideals and the courage of the old régime, could fall so low as to use this proclamation, struck norton at first as impossible. he refused to believe it. there must be some misunderstanding. he sent a messenger to the capitol for a copy of the document before he was fully convinced. and then he laughed in sheer desperation at the farce-tragedy to which the life of a brave people had been reduced. it was his business as an editor to record the daily history of the times. for a moment in imagination he stood outside his office and looked at his work. "future generations simply can't be made to believe it!" he exclaimed. "it's too grotesque to be credible even to-day." it had never occurred to him that the war was unreasonable. its passions, its crushing cost, its bloodstained fields, its frightful cruelties were of the great movements of the race from a lower to a higher order of life. progress could only come through struggle. war was the struggle which had to be when two great moral forces clashed. one must die, the other live. a great issue had to be settled in the civil war, an issue raised by the creation of the constitution itself, an issue its creators had not dared to face. and each generation of compromisers and interpreters had put it off and put it off until at last the storm of thundering guns broke from a hundred hills at once. it had never been decided by the builders of the republic whether it should be a mighty unified nation or a loose aggregation of smaller sovereignties. slavery made it necessary to decide this fundamental question on which the progress of america and the future leadership of the world hung. he could see all this clearly now. he had felt it dimly true throughout every bloody scene of the war itself. and so he had closed the eyes of the lonely dying boy with a reverent smile. it was for his country. he had died for what he believed to be right and it was good. he had stood bareheaded in solemn court martials and sentenced deserters to death, led them out in the gray morning to be shot and ordered them dumped into shallow trenches without a doubt or a moment's hesitation. he had walked over battlefields at night and heard the groans of the wounded, the sighs of the dying, the curses of the living, beneath the silent stars and felt that in the end it must be good. it was war, and war, however cruel, was inevitable--the great high court of life and death for the nations of earth. but this base betrayal which had followed the honorable surrender of a brave, heroic army--this wanton humiliation of a ruined people by pot-house politicians--this war on the dead, the wounded, the dying, and their defenseless women--this enthronement of savagery, superstition, cowardice and brutality in high places where courage and honor and chivalry had ruled--these vandals and camp followers and vultures provoking violence and exciting crime, set to rule a brave people who had risked all for a principle and lost--this was a nightmare; it was the reduction of human society to an absurdity! for a moment he saw the world red. anger, fierce and cruel, possessed him. the desire to kill gripped and strangled until he could scarcely breathe. nor did it occur to this man for a moment that he could separate his individual life from the life of his people. his paper was gaining in circulation daily. it was paying a good dividend now and would give his loved ones the luxuries he had dreamed for them. the greater the turmoil the greater his profits would be. and yet this idea never once flashed through his mind. his people were of his heart's blood. he had no life apart from them. their joys were his, their sorrows his, their shame his. this proclamation of a traitor to his race struck him in the face as a direct personal insult. the hot shame of it found his soul. when the first shock of surprise and indignation had spent itself, he hurried to answer his telegrams. his hand wrote now with the eager, sure touch of a master who knew his business. to every one he sent in substance the same message: "submit and await orders." as he sat writing the fierce denunciation of this act of the chief executive of the state, he forgot his bitterness in the thrill of life that meant each day a new adventure. he was living in an age whose simple record must remain more incredible than the tales of the arabian nights. and the spell of its stirring call was now upon him. the drama had its comedy moments, too. he could but laugh at the sorry figures the little puppets cut who were strutting for a day in pomp and splendor. their end was as sure as the sweep of eternal law. water could not be made to run up hill by the proclamation of a governor. he had made up his mind within an hour to give the scalawag a return blow that would be more swift and surprising than his own. on the little man's reception of that counter stroke would hang the destiny of his administration and the history of the state for the next generation. on the day the white military companies surrendered their arms to their negro successors something happened that was not on the programme of the governor. the ku klux klan held its second grand parade. it was not merely a dress affair. a swift and silent army of drilled, desperate men, armed and disguised, moved with the precision of clockwork at the command of one mind. at a given hour the armory of every negro military company in the state was broken open and its guns recovered by the white and scarlet cavalry of the "invisible empire." within the next hour every individual negro in the state known to be in possession of a gun or pistol was disarmed. resistance was futile. the attack was so sudden and so unexpected, the attacking party so overwhelming at the moment, each black man surrendered without a blow and a successful revolution was accomplished in a night without a shot or the loss of a life. next morning the governor paced the floor of his office in the capitol with the rage of a maddened beast, and schlitz, the carpetbagger, was summoned for a second council of war. it proved to be a very important meeting in the history of his excellency. the editor sat at his desk that day smiling in quiet triumph as he read the facetious reports wired by his faithful lieutenants from every district of the klan. an endless stream of callers had poured through his modest little room and prevented any attempt at writing. he had turned the columns over to his assistants and the sun was just sinking in a smother of purple glory when he turned from his window and began to write his leader for the day. it was an easy task. a note of defiant power ran through a sarcastic warning to the governor that found the quick. the editorial flashed with wit and stung with bitter epigram. and there was in his consciousness of power a touch of cruelty that should have warned the scalawag against his next act of supreme folly. but his excellency had bad advisers, and the wheels of fate moved swiftly toward the appointed end. norton wrote this editorial with a joy that gave its crisp sentences the ring of inspired leadership. he knew that every paper in the state read by white men and women would copy it and he already felt in his heart the reflex thrill of its call to his people. he had just finished his revision of the last paragraph when a deep, laughing voice beside his chair slowly said: "may i come in?" he looked up with a start to find the tawny figure of the girl whose red hair he had stroked that night bowing and smiling. her white, perfect teeth gleamed in the gathering twilight and her smile displayed two pretty dimples in the brownish red cheeks. "i say, may i come in?" she repeated with a laugh. "it strikes me you are pretty well in," norton said good-humoredly. "yes, i didn't have any cards. so i came right up. it's getting dark and nobody saw me----" the editor frowned and moved uneasily "you're alone, aren't you?" she asked. "the others have all gone to supper, i believe." "yes, i waited 'til they left. i watched from the square 'til i saw them go." "why?" he asked sharply. "i don't know. i reckon i was afraid of 'em." "and you're not afraid of me?" he laughed. "no." "why not?" "because i know you." norton smiled: "you wish to see me?" "yes." "is there anything wrong at mr. peeler's?" "no, i just came to thank you for what you did and see if you wouldn't let me work for you?" "work? where--here?" "yes. i can keep the place clean. my mother said it was awful. and, honest, it's worse than i expected. it doesn't look like it's been cleaned in a year." "i don't believe it has," the editor admitted. "let me keep it decent for you." "thanks, no. it seems more home-like this way." "must it be so dirty?" she asked, looking about the room and picking up the scattered papers from the floor. norton, watching her with indulgent amusement at her impudence, saw that she moved her young form with a rhythmic grace that was perfect. the simple calico dress, with a dainty little check, fitted her perfectly. it was cut low and square at the neck and showed the fine lines of a beautiful throat. her arms were round and finely shaped and bare to an inch above the elbows. the body above the waistline was slender, and the sinuous free movement of her figure showed that she wore no corset. her step was as light as a cat's and her voice full of good humor and the bubbling spirits of a perfectly healthy female animal. his first impulse was to send her about her business with a word of dismissal. but when she laughed it was with such pleasant assurance and such faith in his friendliness it was impossible to be rude. she picked up the last crumpled paper and laid it on a table beside the wall, turned and said softly: "well, if you don't want me to clean up for you, anyhow, i brought you some flowers for your room--they're outside." she darted through the door and returned in a moment with an armful of roses. "my mother let me cut them from our yard, and she told me to thank you for coming that night. they'd have killed us if you hadn't come." "nonsense, they wouldn't have touched either you or your mother!" "yes, they would, too. goodness--haven't you anything to put the flowers in?" she tipped softly about the room, holding the roses up and arranging them gracefully. norton watched her with a lazy amused interest. he couldn't shake off the impression that she was a sleek young animal, playful and irresponsible, that had strayed from home and wandered into his office. and he loved animals. he never passed a stray dog or a cat without a friendly word of greeting. he had often laid on his lounge at home, when tired, and watched a kitten play an hour with unflagging interest. every movement of this girl's lithe young body suggested such a scene--especially the velvet tread of her light foot, and the delicate motions of her figure followed suddenly by a sinuous quick turn and a childish laugh or cry. the faint shadows of negro blood in her creamy skin and the purring gentleness of her voice seemed part of the gathering twilight. her eyes were apparently twice the size as when first he saw them, and the pupils, dilated in the dusk, flashed with unusual brilliance. she had wandered into the empty reporters' room without permission looking for a vase, came back and stood in the doorway laughing: "this is the dirtiest place i ever got into in my life. gracious! isn't there a thing to put the flowers in?" the editor, roused from his reveries, smiled and answered: "put them in the pitcher." "why, yes, of course, the pitcher!" she cried, rushing to the little washstand. "why, there isn't a drop of water in it--i'll go to the well and get some." she seized the pitcher, laid the flowers down in the bowl, darted out the door and flew across the street to the well in the court house square. the young editor walked carelessly to the window and watched her. she simply couldn't get into an ungraceful attitude. every movement was instinct with vitality. she was alive to her finger tips. her body swayed in perfect rhythmic unison with her round, bare arms as she turned the old-fashioned rope windlass, drew the bucket to the top and dropped it easily on the wet wooden lids that flapped back in place. she was singing now a crooning, half-savage melody her mother had taught her. the low vibrant notes of her voice, deep and tender and quivering with a strange intensity, floated across the street through the gathering shadows. the voice had none of the light girlish quality of her age of eighteen, but rather the full passionate power of a woman of twenty-five. the distance, the deepening shadows and the quiet of the town's lazy life, added to the dreamy effectiveness of the song. "beautiful!" the man exclaimed. "the negro race will give the world a great singer some day----" and then for the first time in his life the paradox of his personal attitude toward this girl and his attitude in politics toward the black race struck him as curious. he had just finished an editorial in which he had met the aggressions of the negro and his allies with the fury, the scorn, the defiance, the unyielding ferocity with which the anglo-saxon conqueror has always treated his inferiors. and yet he was listening to the soft tones of this girl's voice with a smile as he watched with good-natured indulgence the light gleam mischievously from her impudent big eyes while she moved about his room. yet this was not to be wondered at. the history of the south and the history of slavery made such a paradox inevitable. the long association with the individual negro in the intimacy of home life had broken down the barriers of personal race repugnance. he had grown up with negro boys and girls as playmates. he had romped and wrestled with them. every servant in every home he had ever known had been a negro. the first human face he remembered bending over his cradle was a negro woman's. he had fallen asleep in her arms times without number. he had found refuge there against his mother's stern commands and sobbed out on her breast the story of his fancied wrongs and always found consolation. "mammy's darlin'" was always right--the world cruel and wrong! he had loved this old nurse since he could remember. she was now nursing his own and he would defend her with his life without a moment's hesitation. and so it came about inevitably that while he had swung his white and scarlet legions of disguised clansmen in solid line against the governor and smashed his negro army without the loss of a single life, he was at the same moment proving himself defenseless against the silent and deadly purpose that had already shaped itself in the soul of this sleek, sensuous young animal. he was actually smiling with admiration at the beautiful picture he saw as she lifted the white pitcher, placed it on the crown of red hair, and crossed the street. she was still softly singing as she entered the room and arranged the flowers in pretty confusion. norton had lighted his lamp and seated himself at his desk again. she came close and looked over his shoulder at the piles of papers. "how on earth can you work in such a mess?" she asked with a laugh. "used to it," he answered without looking up from the final reading of his editorial. "what's that you've written?" the impudent greenish gray eyes bent closer. "oh, a little talk to the governor----" "i bet it's a hot one. peeler says you don't like the governor--read it to me!" the editor looked up at the mischievous young face and laughed aloud: "i'm afraid you wouldn't understand it." the girl joined in the laugh and the dimples in the reddish brown cheeks looked prettier than ever. "maybe i wouldn't," she agreed. he resumed his reading and she leaned over his chair until he felt the soft touch of her shoulder against his. she was staring at his paste-pot, extended her tapering, creamy finger and touched the paste. "what in the world's that?" she cried, giggling again. "paste." another peal of silly laughter echoed through the room. "lord, i thought it was mush and milk--i thought it was your supper!--don't you eat no supper?" "sometimes." the editor looked up with a slight frown and said: "run along now, child, i've got to work. and tell your mother i'm obliged for the flowers." "i'm not going back home----" "why not?" "i'm scared out there. i've come in town to live with my aunt." "well, tell her when you see her." "please let me clean this place up for you?" she pleaded. "not to-night." "to-morrow morning, then? i'll come early and every morning--please--let me--it's all i can do to thank you. i'll do it a month just to show you how pretty i can keep it and then you can pay me if you want me. it's a bargain, isn't it?" the editor smiled, hesitated, and said: "all right--every morning at seven." "thank you, major--good night!" she paused at the door and her white teeth gleamed in the shadows. she turned and tripped down the stairs, humming again the strangely appealing song she had sung at the well. chapter iii a beast awakes within a week norton bitterly regretted the arrangement he had made with cleo. not because she had failed to do her work properly, but precisely because she was doing it so well. she had apparently made it the sole object of her daily thought and the only task to which she devoted her time. he couldn't accustom his mind to the extraordinary neatness with which she kept the office. the clean floor, the careful arrangement of the chairs, the neat piles of exchanges laid on a table she had placed beside his desk, and the vase of fresh flowers he found each morning, were constant reminders of her personality which piqued his curiosity and disturbed his poise. he had told her to come at seven every morning. it was his habit to reach the office and begin reading the exchanges by eight-thirty and he had not expected to encounter her there. she had always managed, however, to linger over her morning tasks until his arrival, and never failed to greet him pleasantly and ask if there were anything else she could do. she also insisted on coming at noon to fill his pitcher and again just before supper to change the water in the vase of flowers. at this last call she always tried to engage him in a few words of small talk. at first this program made no impression on his busy brain except that she was trying to prove her value as a servant. gradually, however, he began to notice that her dresses were cut with remarkable neatness for a girl of her position and that she showed a rare talent in selecting materials becoming to her creamy yellow skin and curling red hair. he observed, too, that she had acquired the habit of hanging about his desk when finishing her tasks and had a queer way of looking at him and laughing. she began to make him decidedly uncomfortable and he treated her with indifference. no matter how sullen the scowl with which he greeted her, she was always smiling and humming snatches of strange songs. he sought for an excuse to discharge her and could find none. she had the instincts of a perfect servant--intelligent, careful and loyal. she never blundered over the papers on his desk. she seemed to know instinctively what was worthless and what was valuable, and never made a mistake in rearranging the chaotic piles of stuff he left in his wake. he thought once for just a moment of the possibility of her loyalty to the negro race. she might in that case prove a valuable spy to the governor and his allies. he dismissed the idea as preposterous. she never associated with negroes if she could help it and apparently was as innocent as a babe of the nature of the terrific struggle in which he was engaged with the negroid government of the state. and yet she disturbed him deeply and continuously, as deeply sometimes when absent as when present. why? he asked himself the question again and again. why should he dislike her? she did her work promptly and efficiently, and for the first time within his memory the building was really fit for human habitation. at last he guessed the truth and it precipitated the first battle of his life with the beast that slumbered within. feeling her physical nearness more acutely than usual at dusk and noting that she had paused in her task near his desk, he slowly lifted his eyes from the paper he was reading and, before she realized it, caught the look on her face when off guard. the girl was in love with him. it was as clear as day now that he had the key to her actions the past week. for this reason she had come and for this reason she was working with such patience and skill. his first impulse was one of rage. he had little of the vanity of the male animal that struts before the female. his pet aversion was the man of his class who lowered himself to vulgar association with such girls. the fact that, at this time in the history of the south, such intrigues were common made his determination all the more bitter as a leader of his race to stand for its purity. he suddenly swung in his chair, determined to dismiss her at once with as few words as possible. she leaped gracefully back with a girlish laugh, so soft, low and full of innocent surprise, the harsh words died on his lips. "lordy, major," she cried, "how you scared me! i thought you had a fit. did a pin stick you--or maybe a flea bit you?" she leaned against the mantel laughing, her white teeth gleaming. he hesitated a moment, his eyes lingered on the graceful pose of her young figure, his ear caught the soft note of friendly tenderness in her voice and he was silent. "what's the matter?" she asked, stepping closer. "nothing." "well, you made an awful fuss about it!" "just thought of something--suddenly----" "i thought you were going to bite my head off and then that something bit you!" again she laughed and walked slowly to the door, her greenish eyes watching him with studied carelessness, as a cat a mouse. every movement of her figure was music, her smile contagious, and, by a subtle mental telepathy, she knew that the man before her felt it, and her heart was singing a savage song of triumph. she could wait. she had everything to gain and nothing to lose. she belonged to the pariah world of the negro. her love was patient, joyous, insistent, unconquerable. it was unusually joyous to-night because she felt without words that the mad desires that burned a living fire in every nerve of her young body had scorched the man she had marked her own from the moment she had first laid eyes on his serious, aristocratic face--for back of every hysterical cry that came from her lips that night in the shadows beside old peeler's house lay the sinister purpose of a mad love that had leaped full grown from the deeps of her powerful animal nature. she paused in the doorway and softly said: "good night." the tone of her voice was a caress and the bold eyes laughed a daring challenge straight into his. he stared at her a moment, flushed, turned pale and answered in a strained voice: "good night, cleo." but it was not a good night for him. it was a night never to be forgotten. until after twelve he walked beneath the stars and fought the beast--the beast with a thousand heads and a thousand legs; the beast that had been bred in the bone and sinew of generations of ancestors, wilful, cruel, courageous conquerors of the world. before its ravenous demands the words of mother, teacher, priest and lawgiver were as chaff before the whirlwind--the beast demanded his own! peace came at last with the vision of a baby's laughing face peeping at him from the arms of a frail little mother. he made up his mind and hurried home. he would get rid of this girl to-morrow and never again permit her shadow to cross his pathway. with other men of more sluggish temperament, position, dignity, the responsibility of leadership, the restraints of home and religion might be the guarantee of safety under such temptations. he didn't propose to risk it. he understood now why he was so nervous and distracted in her presence. the mere physical proximity to such a creature, vital, magnetic, unmoral, beautiful and daring, could only mean one thing to a man of his age and inheritance--a temptation so fierce that yielding could only be a question of time and opportunity. and when he told her the next morning that she must not come again she was not surprised, but accepted his dismissal without a word of protest. with a look of tenderness she merely said: "i'm sorry." "yes," he went on curtly, "you annoy me; i can't write while you are puttering around, and i'm always afraid you'll disturb some of my papers." she laughed in his face, a joyous, impudent, good-natured, ridiculous laugh, that said more eloquently than words: "i understand your silly excuse. you're afraid of me. you're a big coward. don't worry, i can wait. you'll come to me. and if not, i'll find you--for i shall be near--and now that you know and fear, i shall be very near!" she moved shyly to the door and stood framed in its white woodwork, an appealing picture of dumb regret. she had anticipated this from the first. and from the moment she threw the challenge into his eyes the night before, saw him flush and pale beneath it, she knew it must come at once, and was prepared. there was no use to plead and beg or argue. it would be a waste of breath with him in this mood. besides, she had already found a better plan. so when he began to try to soften his harsh decision with kindly words she only smiled in the friendliest possible way, stepped back to his desk, extended her hand, and said: "please let me know if you need me. i'll do anything on earth for you, major. good-by." it was impossible to refuse the gracefully outstretched hand. the southern man had been bred from the cradle to the most intimate and friendly personal relations with the black folks who were servants in the house. yet the moment he touched her hand, felt its soft warm pressure and looked into the depths of her shining eyes he wished that he had sent her away with downright rudeness. but it was impossible to be rude with this beautiful young animal that purred at his side. he started to say something harsh, she laughed and he laughed. she held his hand clasped in hers for a moment and slowly said: "i haven't done anything wrong, have i, major?" "no." "you are not mad at me for anything?" "no, certainly not." "i wonder why you won't let me work here?" she looked about the room and back at him, speaking slowly, musingly, with an impudence that left little doubt in his mind that she suspected the real reason and was deliberately trying to tease him. he flushed, hurriedly withdrew his hand and replied carelessly: "you bother me--can't work when you're fooling around." "all right, good-bye." he turned to his work and she was gone. he was glad she was out of his sight and out of his life forever. he had been a fool to allow her in the building at all. he could concentrate his mind now on his fight with the governor. chapter iv the arrest the time had come in norton's fight when he was about to be put to a supreme test. the governor was preparing the most daring and sensational movement of his never-to-be-forgotten administration. the audacity and thoroughness with which the klan had disarmed and made ridiculous his army of fifty thousand negroes was at first a stunning blow. in vain schlitz stormed and pleaded for national aid. "you must ask for federal troops without a moment's delay," he urged desperately. the scalawag shook his head with quiet determination. "congress, under the iron rule of stevens, will send them, i grant you----" "then why hesitate?" "because their coming would mean that i have been defeated on my own soil, that my administration of the state is a failure." "well, isn't it?" "no; i'll make good my promises to the men in washington who have backed me. they are preparing to impeach the president, remove him from office and appoint a dictator in his stead. i'll show them that i can play my part in the big drama, too. i am going to deliver this state bound hand and foot into their hands, with a triumphant negro electorate in the saddle, or i'll go down in ignominious defeat." "you'll go down, all right--without those troops--mark my word," cried the carpetbagger. "all right, i'll go down flying my own flag." "you're a fool!" schlitz roared. "union troops are our only hope!" his excellency kept his temper. the little ferret eyes beneath their bushy brows were drawn to narrow lines as he slowly said: "on the other hand, my dear schlitz, i don't think i could depend on federal troops if they were here." "no?" was the indignant sneer. "frankly i do not," was the even answer. "federal officers have not shown themselves very keen about executing the orders of reconstruction governors. they have often pretended to execute them and in reality treated us with contempt. they hold, in brief, that they fought to preserve the union, not to make negroes rule over white men! the task before us is not to their liking. i don't trust them for a moment. i have a better plan----" "what?" "i propose to raise immediately an army of fifty thousand loyal white men, arm and drill them without delay----" "where'll you get them?" schlitz cried incredulously. "i'll find them if i have to drag the gutters for every poor white scamp in the state. they'll be a tough lot, maybe, but they'll make good soldiers. a soldier is a man who obeys orders, draws his pay, and asks no questions----" "and then what?" "and then, sir!----" the governor's leathery little face flushed as he sprang to his feet and paced the floor of his office in intense excitement. "i'll tell you what then!" schlitz cried with scorn. the pacing figure paused and eyed his tormentor, lifting his shaggy brows: "yes?" "and then," the carpetbagger answered, "the ku klux klan will rise in a night, jump on your mob of ragamuffins, take their guns and kick them back into the gutter." "perhaps," the governor said, musingly, "if i give them a chance! but i won't!" "you won't? how can you prevent it?" "very simply. i'll issue a proclamation suspending the _writ_ of _habeas corpus_----" "but you have no right," schlitz gasped. the ex-scullion had been studying law the past two years and aspired to the supreme court bench. "my right is doubtful, but it will go in times of revolution. i'll suspend the _writ_, arrest the leaders of the klan without warrant, put them in jail and hold them there without trial until the day after the election." schlitz's eyes danced as he sprang forward and extended his fat hand to the scalawag: "governor, you're a great man! only a great mind would dare such a plan. but do you think your life will be safe?" the little figure was drawn erect and the ferret eyes flashed: "the governor of a mighty commonwealth--they wouldn't dare lift their little finger against me." schlitz shook his head dubiously. "a pretty big job in times of peace--to suspend the civil law, order wholesale arrests without warrants by a ragged militia and hold your men without trial----" "i like the job!" was the quick answer. "i'm going to show the smart young man who edits the paper in this town that he isn't running the universe." again the adventurer seized the hand of his chief: "governor, you're a great man! i take my hat off to you, sir." his excellency smiled, lifted his sloping shoulders, moistened his thin lips and whispered: "not a word now to a living soul until i strike----" "i understand, sir, not a word," the carpetbagger replied in low tones as he nervously fumbled his hat and edged his way out of the room. the editor received the governor's first move in the game with contempt. it was exactly what he had expected--this organization of white renegades, thieves, loafers, cut-throats, and deserters. it was the last resort of desperation. every day, while these dirty ignorant recruits were being organized and drilled, he taunted the governor over the personnel of his "loyal" army. he began the publication of the history of its officers and men. these biographical stories were written with a droll humor that kept the whole state in a good-humored ripple of laughter and inspired the convention that nominated a complete white man's ticket to renewed enthusiasm. and then the bolt from the blue--the governor's act of supreme madness! as the editor sat at his desk writing an editorial congratulating the state on the brilliant ticket that the white race had nominated and predicting its triumphant election, in spite of negroes, thieves, cut-throats, scalawags and carpetbaggers, a sudden commotion on the sidewalk in front of his office stopped his pencil in the midst of an unfinished word. he walked to the window and looked out. by the flickering light of the street lamp he saw an excited crowd gathering in the street. a company of the governor's new guard had halted in front. an officer ripped off the palings from the picket fence beside the building and sent a squad of his men to the rear. the tramp of heavy feet on the stairs was heard and the dirty troopers crowded into the editor's room, muskets in hand, cocked, and their fingers on the triggers. norton quietly drew the pencil from his ear, smiled at the mottled group of excited men, and spoke in his slow drawl: "and why this excitement, gentlemen?" the captain stepped forward: "are you major daniel norton?" "i am, sir." "you're my prisoner." "show your warrant!" was the quick challenge. "i don't need one, sir." "indeed! and since when is this state under martial law?" "will you go peaceable?" the captain asked roughly. "when i know by whose authority you make this arrest." the editor walked close to the officer, drew himself erect, his hands clenched behind his back and held the man's eye for a moment with a cold stare. the captain hesitated and drew a document from his pocket. the editor scanned it hastily and suddenly turned pale: "a proclamation suspending the _writ_ of _habeas corpus_--impossible!" the captain lifted his dirty palms: "i reckon you can read!" "oh, yes, i can read it, captain--still it's impossible. you can't suspend the law of gravitation by saying so on a scrap of paper----" "you are ready to go?" the editor laughed: "certainly, certainly--with pleasure, i assure you." the captain lifted his hand and his men lowered their guns. the editor seized a number of blank writing pads, a box of pencils, put on his hat and called to his assistants: "i'm moving my office temporarily to the county jail, boys. it's quieter over there. i can do better work. send word to my home that i'm all right and tell my wife not to worry for a minute. every man to his post now and the liveliest paper ever issued! and on time to the minute." the printers had crowded into the room and a ringing cheer suddenly startled the troopers. the foreman held an ugly piece of steel in his hand and every man seemed to have hold of something. "give the word, chief!" the foreman cried. the editor smiled: "thanks, boys, i understand. go back to your work. you can help best that way." the men dropped their weapons and crowded to the door, jeering and howling in derision at the awkward squad as they stumbled down the stairs after their commander, who left the building holding tightly to the editor's arm, as if at any moment he expected an escape or a rescue. the procession wended its way to the jail behind the court house through a crowd of silent men who merely looked at the prisoner, smiled and nodded to him over the heads of his guard. an ominous quiet followed the day's work. the governor was amazed at the way his sensational coup was received. he had arrested and thrown into jail without warrant the leaders of the white party in every county in the state. he was absolutely sure that these men were the leaders of the ku klux klan, the one invisible but terrible foe he really feared. he had expected bluster, protests, mass meetings and fiery resolutions. instead his act was received with a silence that was uncanny. in vain his carpetbagger lieutenant congratulated him on the success of his napoleonic move. his little ferret eyes snapped with suppressed excitement. "but what the devil is the meaning of this silence, schlitz?" he asked with a tremor. "they're stunned, i tell you. it was a master stroke. they're a lot of cowards and sneaks, these night raiders, anyhow. it only took a bold act of authority to throw them into a panic." the scalawag shook his head thoughtfully: "doesn't look like a panic to me--i'm uneasy----" "the only possible mistake you've made was the arrest of norton." "yes, i know public sentiment in the north don't like an attempt to suppress free speech, but i simply had to do it. damn him, i've stood his abuse as long as i'm going to. besides his dirty sheet is at the bottom of all our trouble." when the governor scanned his copy of the next morning's _eagle and phoenix_ his feeling of uneasiness increased. instead of the personal abuse he had expected from the young firebrand, he read a long, carefully written editorial reviewing the history of the great _writ_ of _habeas corpus_ in the evolution of human freedom. the essay closed with the significant statement that no governor in the records of the state or the colony had ever dared to repeal or suspend this guarantee of anglo-saxon liberty--not even for a moment during the chaos of the civil war. but the most disquieting feature of this editorial was the suggestive fact that it was set between heavy mourning lines and at the bottom of it stood a brief paragraph enclosed in even heavier black bands: "we regret to announce that the state is at present without a chief executive. our late unlamented governor passed away in a fit of insanity at three o'clock yesterday." when the little scalawag read the sarcastic obituary he paled for a moment and the hand which held the paper trembled so violently he was compelled to lay it on the table to prevent his secretary from noting his excitement. for the first time in the history of the state an armed guard was stationed at the door of the governor's mansion that night. the strange calm continued. no move was made by the negroid government to bring the imprisoned men to trial and apparently no effort was being made by the men inside the jails to regain their liberty. save that his editorials were dated from the county jail, no change had occurred in the daily routine of the editor's life. he continued his series of articles on the history of the state each day, setting them in heavy black mourning lines. each of these editorials ended with an appeal to the patriotism of the reader. and the way in which he told the simple story of each step achieved in the blood-marked struggle for liberty had a punch in it that boded ill for the little man who had set himself the task of dictatorship for a free people. no reference was made in the _eagle and phoenix_ to the governor. he was dead. the paper ignored his existence. each day of this ominous peace among his enemies increased the terror which had gripped the little scalawag from the morning he had read his first obituary. the big black rules down the sides of those editorials seemed a foot wide now when he read them. twice he seated himself at his desk to order the editor's release and each time cringed and paused at the thought of the sneers with which his act would be greeted. he was now between the devil and the deep sea. he was afraid to retreat and dared not take the next step forward. if he could hold his ground for two weeks longer, and carry the election by the overwhelming majority he had planned, all would be well. such a victory, placing him in power for four years and giving him an obedient negro legislature once more to do his bidding, would strike terror to his foes and silence their assaults. the negro voters far outnumbered the whites, and victory was a certainty. and so he held his ground--until something happened! it began in a semi-tropical rain storm that swept the state. all day it poured in blinding torrents, the wind steadily rising in velocity until at noon it was scarcely possible to walk the streets. at eight o'clock the rain ceased to fall and by nine glimpses of the moon could be seen as the fast flying clouds parted for a moment. but for these occasional flashes of moonlight the night was pitch dark. the governor's company of nondescript soldiers in camp at the capitol, drenched with rain, had abandoned their water-soaked tents for the more congenial atmosphere of the low dives and saloons of the negro quarters. the minute the rain ceased to fall, norton's wife sent his supper--but to-night by a new messenger. cleo smiled at him across the little table as she skillfully laid the cloth, placed the dishes and set a tiny vase of roses in the center. "you see," she began, smiling, "your wife needed me and i'm working at your house now, major." "indeed!" "yes. mammy isn't well and i help with the baby. he's a darling. he loved me the minute i took him in my arms and hugged him." "no doubt." "his little mother likes me, too. i can pick her up in my arms and carry her across the room. you wouldn't think i'm so strong, would you?" "yes--i would," he answered slowly, studying her with a look of increasing wonder at her audacity. "you're not mad at me for being there, are you? you can't be--mammy wants me so"--she paused--"lordy, i forgot the letter!" she drew from her bosom a note from his wife. he looked curiously at a smudge where it was sealed and, glancing at the girl who was busy with the tray, opened and read: "i have just received a message from macarthur's daughter that your life is to be imperilled to-night by a dangerous raid. remember your helpless wife and baby. surely there are trusted men who can do such work. you have often told me that no wise general ever risks his precious life on the firing line. you are a soldier, and know this. please, dearest, do not go. baby and little mother both beg of you!" norton looked at cleo again curiously. he was sure that the seal of this note had been broken and its message read by her. "do you know what's in this note, cleo?" he asked sharply. "no, sir!" was the quick answer. he studied her again closely. she was on guard now. every nerve alert, every faculty under perfect control. he was morally sure she was lying and yet it could only be idle curiosity or jealous interest in his affairs that prompted the act. that she should be an emissary of the governor was absurd. "it's not bad news, i hope?" she asked with an eagerness that was just a little too eager. the man caught the false note and frowned. "no," he answered carelessly. "it's of no importance." he picked up a pad and wrote a hurried answer: "don't worry a moment, dear. i am not in the slightest danger. i know a soldier's duty and i'll not forget it. sleep soundly, little mother and baby mine!" he folded the sheet of paper and handed it to her without sealing it. she was watching him keenly. his deep, serious eyes no longer saw her. his body was there, but the soul was gone. the girl had never seen him in this mood. she was frightened. his life _was_ in danger. she knew it now by an unerring instinct. she would watch the jail and see what happened. she might do something to win his friendship, and then--the rest would be easy. her hand trembled as she took the note. "give this to mrs. norton at once," he said, "and tell her you found me well and happy in my work." "yes, sir," the soft voice answered mechanically as she picked up the tray and left the room watching him furtively. chapter v the rescue cleo hurried to the house, delivered the message, rocked the baby to sleep and quietly slipped through the lawn into the street and back to the jail. a single guard kept watch at the door. she saw him by a flash of moonlight and then passed so close she could have touched the long old-fashioned musket he carried loosely across his shoulder. the cat-like tread left no echo and she took her stand in the underbrush that had pushed its way closer and closer until its branches touched the rear walls of the jail. for two hours she stood amid the shadows, her keen young ears listening and her piercing eyes watching. again and again she counted the steps the sentinel made as he walked back and forth in front of the entrance to the jail. she knew from the sound that he passed the corner of the building for three steps in full view from her position, could she but see him through the darkness. twice she had caught a glimpse of his stupid face as the moon flashed a moment of light through a rift of clouds. "the lord help that idiot," she muttered, "if the major's men want to pass him to-night!" she turned with a sharp start. the bushes softly parted behind her and a stealthy step drew near. her heart stood still. she was afraid to breathe. they wouldn't hurt her if they only knew she was the major's friend. but if they found and recognized her as old peeler's half-breed daughter, they might kill her on the spot as a spy. she hadn't thought of this terrible possibility before. it was too late now to think. to run meant almost certain death. she flattened her figure against the wall of the jail and drew the underbrush close completely covering her form. she stood motionless and as near breathless as possible until the two men who were approaching a step at a time had passed. at the corner of the jail they stopped within three feet of her. she could hear every word of their conference. "now, mac, do as i tell you," a voice whispered. "jump on him from behind as he passes the corner and get him in the gills." "i understand." "choke him stiff until i get something in his mouth." "ah, it's too easy. i'd like a little excitement." "we'll get it before morning----" "sh! what's that?" "i didn't hear anything!" "something moved." a bush had slipped from cleo's hand. she gripped the others with desperation. ten minutes passed amid a death-like silence. a hundred times she imagined the hand of one of these men feeling for her throat. at last she drew a deep breath. the men began to move step by step toward the doomed sentinel. they were standing beside the front corner of the jail now waiting panther-like for their prey. they allowed him to pass twice. he stopped at the end of his beat, blew his nose and spoke to himself: "god, what a lonely night!" the girl heard him turn, his feet measure three steps on his return and stop with a dull thud. she couldn't see, but she could feel through the darkness the grip of those terrible fingers on his throat. the only sound made was the dull thud of his body on the wet ground. in two minutes they had carried him into the shadows of a big china tree in the rear and tied him to the trunk. she could hear their sharp order: "break those cords now or dare to open your mouth and, no matter what happens, we'll kill you first--just for luck." in ten minutes they had reported the success of their work to their comrades who were waiting and the men who had been picked for their dangerous task surrounded the jail and slowly took up their appointed places in the shadows. the attacking group stopped for their final instructions not five feet from the girl's position. a flash of moonlight and she saw them--six grim white and scarlet figures wearing spiked helmets from which fell a cloth mask to their shoulders. their big revolvers were buckled on the outside of their disguises and each man's hand rested on the handle. one of them quietly slipped his robe from his shoulders, removed his helmet, put on the sentinel's coat and cap, seized his musket and walked to the door of the jail. she heard him drop the butt of the gun on the flagstone at the steps and call: "hello, jailer!" some one stirred inside. it was not yet one o'clock and the jailer who had been to a drinking bout with the soldiers had not gone to bed. in his shirt sleeves he thrust his head out the door: "who is it?" "the guard, sir." "well, what the devil do you want?" "can't ye gimme a drink of somethin'? i'm soaked through and i've caught cold----" "all right, in a minute," was the gruff reply. the girl could hear the soft tread of the shrouded figures closing in on the front door. a moment more and it opened. the voice inside said: "here you are!" the words had scarcely passed his lips, and there was another dull crash. a dozen masked clansmen hurled themselves into the doorway and rushed over the prostrate form of the half-drunken jailer. he was too frightened to call for help. he lay with his face downward, begging for his life. it was the work of a minute to take the keys from his trembling fingers, bind and gag him, and release norton. the whole thing had been done so quietly not even a dog had barked at the disturbance. again they stopped within a few feet of the trembling figure against the wall. the editor had now put on his disguise and stood in the centre of the group giving his orders as quietly as though he were talking to his printers about the form of his paper. "quick now, mac," she heard him say, "we've not a moment to lose. i want two pieces of scantling strong enough for a hangman's beam. push one of them out of the center window of the north end of the capitol building, the other from the south end. we'll hang the little scalawag on the south side and the carpetbagger on the north. we'll give them this grim touch of poetry at the end. your ropes have ready swinging from these beams. keep your men on guard there until i come." "all right, sir!" came the quick response. "my hundred picked men are waiting?" "on the turnpike at the first branch----" "good! the governor is spending the night at schlitz's place, three miles out. he has been afraid to sleep at home of late, i hear. we'll give the little man and his pal a royal escort for once as they approach the capitol--expect us within an hour." a moment and they were gone. the girl staggered from her cramped position and flew to the house. she couldn't understand it all, but she realized that if the governor were killed it meant possible ruin for the man she had marked her own. a light was still burning in the mother's room. she had been nervous and restless and couldn't sleep. she heard the girl's swift, excited step on the stairway and rushed to the door: "what is it? what has happened?" cleo paused for breath and gasped: "they've broken the jail open and he's gone with the ku klux to kill the governor!" "to kill the governor?" "yessum. he's got a hundred men waiting out on the turnpike and they're going to hang the governor from one of the capitol windows!" the wife caught the girl by the shoulders and cried: "who told you this?" "nobody. i saw them. i was passing the jail, heard a noise and went close in the dark. i heard the major give the orders to the men." "oh, my god!" the little mother groaned. "and they are going straight to the governor's mansion?" "no--no--he said the governor's out at schlitz's place, spending the night. they're going to kill him, too----" "then there's time to stop them--quick--can you hitch a horse?" "yessum!" "run to the stable, hitch my horse to the buggy and take a note i'll write to my grandfather, old governor carteret--you know where his place is--the big red brick house at the edge of town?" "yessum----" "his street leads into the turnpike--quick now--the horse and buggy!" the strong young body sprang down the steps three and four rounds at a leap and in five minutes the crunch of swift wheels on the gravel walk was heard. she sprang up the stairs, took the note from the frail, trembling little hand and bounded out of the house again. the clouds had passed and the moon was shining now in silent splendor on the sparkling refreshed trees and shrubbery. the girl was an expert in handling a horse. old peeler had at least taught her that. in five more minutes from the time she had left the house she was knocking furiously at the old governor's door. he was eighty-four, but a man of extraordinary vigor for his age. he came to the door alone in his night-dress, candle in hand, scowling at the unseemly interruption of his rest. "what is it?" he cried with impatience. "a note from mrs. norton." at the mention of her name the fine old face softened and then his eyes flashed: "she is ill?" "no, sir--but she wants you to help her." he took the note, placed the candle on the old-fashioned mahogany table in his hall, returned to his room for his glasses, adjusted them with deliberation and read its startling message. he spoke without looking up: "you know the road to schlitz's house?" "yes, sir, every foot of it." "i'll be ready in ten minutes." "we've no time to lose--you'd better hurry," the girl said nervously. the old man lifted his eyebrows: "i will. but an ex-governor of the state can't rush to meet the present governor in his shirt-tail--now, can he?" cleo laughed: "no, sir." the thin, sprightly figure moved quickly in spite of the eighty-four years and in less than ten minutes he was seated beside the girl and they were flying over the turnpike toward the schlitz place. "how long since those men left the jail?" the old governor asked roughly. "about a half-hour, sir." "give your horse the rein--we'll be too late, i'm afraid." the lines slacked over the spirited animal's back and he sprang forward as though lashed by the insult to his high breeding. the sky was studded now with stars sparkling in the air cleared by the rain, and the moon flooded the white roadway with light. the buggy flew over the beaten track for a mile, and as they suddenly plunged down a hill the old man seized both sides of the canopy top to steady his body as the light rig swayed first one way and then the other. "you're going pretty fast," he grumbled. "yes, you said to give him the reins." "but i didn't say to throw them on the horse's head, did i?" "no, sir," the girl giggled. "pull him in!" he ordered sharply. the strong young arms drew the horse suddenly down on his haunches and the old man lurched forward. "i didn't say pull him into the buggy," he growled. the girl suppressed another laugh. he was certainly a funny old man for all his eighty odd winters. she thought that he must have been a young devil at eighteen. "stop a minute!" he cried sharply. "what's that roaring?" cleo listened: "the wind in the trees, i think." "nothing of the sort--isn't this buffalo creek?" "yes, sir." "that's water we hear. the creek's out of banks. the storm has made the ford impassable. they haven't crossed this place yet. we're in time." the horse lifted his head and neighed. another answered from the woods and in a moment a white-masked figure galloped up to the buggy and spoke sharply: "you can't cross this ford--turn back." "are you one of norton's men?" the old man asked angrily. "none of your damned business!" was the quick answer. "i think it is, sir! i'm governor carteret. my age and services to this state entitle me to a hearing to-night. tell major norton i must speak to him immediately--immediately, sir!" his voice rose to a high note of imperious command. the horseman hesitated and galloped into the shadows. a moment later a tall shrouded figure on horseback slowly approached. "cut your wheel," the old governor said to the girl. he stepped from the buggy without assistance. "now turn round and wait for me." cleo obeyed, and the venerable statesman with head erect, his white hair and beard shining in the moonlight calmly awaited the approach of the younger man. norton dismounted and led his horse, the rein hanging loosely over his arm. "well, governor carteret"--the drawling voice was low and quietly determined. the white-haired figure suddenly stiffened: "don't insult me, sir, by talking through a mask--take that thing off your head." the major bowed and removed his mask. when the old man spoke again, his voice trembled with emotion, he stepped close and seized norton's arm: "my boy, have you gone mad?" "i think not," was the even answer. the deep brown eyes were holding the older man's gaze with a cold, deadly look. "were you ever arrested, governor, by the henchmen of a peanut politician and thrown into a filthy jail without warrant and held without trial at the pleasure of a master?" "no--by the living god!" "and if you had been, sir?" "i'd have killed him as i would a dog--i'd have shot him on sight--but you--you can't do this now, my boy--you carry the life of the people in your hands to-night! you are their chosen leader. the peace and dignity of a great commonwealth are in your care----" "i am asserting its outraged dignity against a wretch who has basely betrayed it." "even so, this is not the way. think of the consequences to-morrow morning. the president will be forced against his wishes to declare the state in insurrection. the army will be marched back into our borders and martial law proclaimed." "the state is under martial law--the _writ_ has been suspended." "but not legally, my boy. i know your provocation has been great--yes, greater than i could have borne in my day. i'll be honest with you, but you've had better discipline, my son. i belong to the old régime and an iron will has been my only law. you must live in the new age under new conditions. you must adjust yourself to these conditions." "the man who calls himself governor has betrayed his high trust," norton broke in with solemn emphasis. "he has forfeited his life. the people whom he has basely sold into bondage will applaud his execution. the klan to-night is the high court of a sovereign state and his death has been ordered." "i insist there's a better way. your klan is a resistless weapon if properly used. you are a maniac to-night. you are pulling your own house down over your head. the election is but a few weeks off. use your men as an army to force this election. the ballot is force--physical force. apply that force. your men can master that rabble of negroes on election day. drive them from the polls. they'll run like frightened sheep. their enfranchisement is a crime against civilization. every sane man in the north knows this. no matter how violent your methods, an election that returns the intelligent and decent manhood of a state to power against a corrupt, ignorant and vicious mob will be backed at last by the moral sentiment of the world. there's a fiercer vengeance to be meted out to your scalawag governor----" "what do you mean?" the younger man asked. "swing the power of your klan in solid line against the ballot-box at this election, carry the state, elect your legislature, impeach the governor, remove him from office, deprive him of citizenship and send him to the grave with the brand of shame on his forehead!" the leader lifted his somber face, and the older man saw that he was hesitating: "that's possible--yes----" the white head moved closer: "the only rational thing to do, my boy--come, i love you and i love my granddaughter. you've a great career before you. don't throw your life away to-night in a single act of madness. listen to an old man whose sands are nearly run"--a trembling arm slipped around his waist. "i appreciate your coming here to-night, governor, of course." "but if i came in vain, why at all?" there were tears in his voice now. "you must do as i say, my son--send those men home! i'll see the governor to-morrow morning and i pledge you my word of honor that i'll make him revoke that proclamation within an hour and restore the civil rights of the people. none of those arrests are legal and every man must be released." "he won't do it." "when he learns from my lips that i saved his dog's life to-night, he'll do it and lick my feet in gratitude. won't you trust me, boy?" the pressure of the old man's arm tightened and his keen eyes searched norton's face. the strong features were convulsed with passion, he turned away and the firm mouth closed with decision: "all right. i'll take your advice." the old governor was very still for a moment and his voice quivered with tenderness as he touched norton's arm affectionately: "you're a good boy, dan! i knew you'd hear me. god! how i envy you the youth and strength that's yours to fight this battle!" the leader blew a whistle and his orderly galloped up: "tell my men to go home and meet me to-morrow at one o'clock in the court house square, in their everyday clothes, armed and ready for orders. i'll dismiss the guard i left at the capitol." the white horseman wheeled and galloped away. norton quietly removed his disguise, folded it neatly, took off his saddle, placed the robe between the folds of the blanket and mounted his horse. the old governor waved to him: "my love to the little mother and that boy, tom, that you've named for me!" "yes, governor--good night." the tall figure on horseback melted into the shadows and in a moment the buggy was spinning over the glistening, moonlit track of the turnpike. when they reached the first street lamps on the edge of town, the old man peered curiously at the girl by his side. "you drive well, young woman," he said slowly. "who taught you?" "old peeler." "you lived on his place?" he asked quickly. "yes, sir." "what's your mother's name?" "lucy." "hm! i thought so." "why, sir?" "oh, nothing," was the gruff answer. "did you--did you know any of my people, sir?" she asked. he looked her squarely in the face, smiled and pursed his withered lips: "yes. i happen to be personally acquainted with your grandfather and he was something of a man in his day." [illustration: "'you are a maniac to-night.'"] chapter vi a traitor's ruse the old governor had made a correct guess on the line of action his little scalawag successor in high office would take when confronted by the crisis of the morning. the clansmen had left the two beams projecting through the windows of the north and south wings of the capitol. a hangman's noose swung from each beam's end. when his excellency drove into town next morning and received the news of the startling events of the night, he ordered a double guard of troops for his office and another for his house. old governor carteret called at ten o'clock and was ushered immediately into the executive office. no more striking contrast could be imagined between two men of equal stature. their weight and height were almost the same, yet they seemed to belong to different races of men. the scalawag official hurried to meet his distinguished caller--a man whose administration thirty years ago was famous in the annals of the state. the acting governor seemed a pigmy beside his venerable predecessor. the only prominent feature of the scalawag's face was his nose. its size should have symbolized strength, yet it didn't. it seemed to project straight in front in a way that looked ridiculous--as if some one had caught it with a pair of tongs, tweaked and pulled it out to an unusual length. it was elongated but not impressive. his mouth was weak, his chin small and retreating and his watery ferret eyes never looked any one straight in the face. the front of his head was bald and sloped backward at an angle. his hair was worn in long, thin, straight locks which he combed often in a vain effort to look the typical long-haired southern gentleman of the old school. his black broadcloth suit with a velvet collar and cuffs fitted his slight figure to perfection and yet failed to be impressive. the failure was doubtless due to his curious way of walking about a room. sometimes sideways like a crab or a crawfish, and when he sought to be impressive, straight forward with an obvious jerk and an effort to appear dignified. he was the kind of a man an old-fashioned negro, born and bred in the homes of the aristocratic régime of slavery, would always laugh at. his attempt to be a gentleman was so obvious a fraud it could deceive no one. "i am honored, governor carteret, by your call this morning," he cried with forced politeness. "i need the advice of our wisest men. i appreciate your coming." the old governor studied the scalawag for a moment calmly and said: "thank you." when shown to his seat the older man walked with the unconscious dignity of a man born to rule, the lines of his patrician face seemed cut from a cameo in contrast with the rambling nondescript features of the person who walked with a shuffle beside him. it required no second glance at the clean ruffled shirt with its tiny gold studs, the black string tie, the polished boots and gold-headed cane to recognize the real gentleman of the old school. and no man ever looked a second time at his roman nose and massive chin and doubted for a moment that he saw a man of power, of iron will and fierce passions. "i have called this morning, governor," the older man began with sharp emphasis, "to advise you to revoke at once your proclamation suspending the _writ_ of _habeas corpus_. your act was a blunder--a colossal blunder! we are not living in the dark ages, sir--even if you were elected by a negro constituency! your act is four hundred years out of date in the english-speaking world." the scalawag began his answer by wringing his slippery hands: "i realize, governor carteret, the gravity of my act. yet grave dangers call for grave remedies. you see from the news this morning the condition of turmoil into which reckless men have plunged the state." the old man rose, crossed the room and confronted the scalawag, his eyes blazing, his uplifted hand trembling with passion: "the breed of men with whom you are fooling have not submitted to such an act of tyranny from their rulers for the past three hundred years. your effort to set the negro up as the ruler of the white race is the act of a madman. revoke your order to-day or the men who opened that jail last night will hang you----" the governor laughed lamely: "a cheap bluff, sir, a schoolboy's threat!" the older man drew closer: "a cheap bluff, eh? well, when you say your prayers to-night, don't forget to thank your maker for two things--that he sent a storm yesterday that made buffalo creek impassable and that i reached its banks in time!" the little scalawag paled and his voice was scarcely a whisper: "why--why, what do you mean?" "that i reached the ford in time to stop a hundred desperate men who were standing there in the dark waiting for its waters to fall that they might cross and hang you from that beam's end you call a cheap bluff! that i stood there in the moonlight with my arm around their leader for nearly an hour begging, praying, pleading for your damned worthless life! they gave it to me at last because i asked it. no other man could have saved you. your life is mine to-day! but for my solemn promise to those men that you would revoke that order your body would be swinging at this moment from the capitol window--will you make good my promise?" "i'll--i'll consider it," was the waning answer. "yes or no?" "i'll think it over, governor carteret--i'll think it over," the trembling voice repeated. "i must consult my friends----" "i won't take that answer!" the old man thundered in his face. "revoke that proclamation here and now, or, by the lord god, i'll send a message to those men that'll swing you from the gallows before the sun rises to-morrow morning!" "i've got my troops----" "a hell of a lot of troops they are! where were they last night--the loafing, drunken cowards? you can't get enough troops in this town to save you. revoke that proclamation or take your chances!" the old governor seized his hat and walked calmly toward the door. the scalawag trembled, and finally said: "i'll take your advice, sir--wait a moment until i write the order." the room was still for five minutes, save for the scratch of the governor's pen, as he wrote his second famous proclamation, restoring the civil rights of the people. he signed and sealed the document and handed it to his waiting guest: "is that satisfactory?" the old man adjusted his glasses, read each word carefully, and replied with dignity: "perfectly--good morning!" the white head erect, the visitor left the executive chamber without a glance at the man he despised. the governor had given his word, signed and sealed his solemn proclamation, but he proved himself a traitor to the last. with the advice of his confederates he made a last desperate effort to gain his end of holding the leaders of the opposition party in jail by a quick shift of method. he wired orders to every jailer to hold the men until warrants were issued for their arrest by one of his negro magistrates in each county and wired instructions to the clerk of the court to admit none of them to bail no matter what amount offered. the charges on which these warrants were issued were, in the main, preposterous perjuries by the hirelings of the governor. there was no expectation that they would be proven in court. but if they could hold these prisoners until the election was over the little scalawag believed the klan could be thus intimidated in each district and the negro ticket triumphantly elected. the governor was explicit in his instructions to the clerk of the court in the capital county that under no conceivable circumstances should he accept bail for the editor of the _eagle and phoenix_. the governor's proclamation was issued at noon and within an hour a deputy sheriff appeared at norton's office and served his warrant charging the preposterous crime of "treason and conspiracy" against the state government. norton's hundred picked men were already lounging in the court house square. when the deputy appeared with his prisoner they quietly closed in around him and entered the clerk's room in a body. the clerk was dumfounded at the sudden packing of his place with quiet, sullen looking, armed men. their revolvers were in front and the men were nervously fingering the handles. the clerk had been ordered by the governor under no circumstances to accept bail, and he had promised with alacrity to obey. but he changed his mind at the sight of those revolvers. not a word was spoken by the men and the silence was oppressive. the frightened official mopped his brow and tried to leave for a moment to communicate with the capitol. he found it impossible to move from his desk. the men were jammed around him in an impenetrable mass. he looked over the crowd in vain for a friendly face. even the deputy who had made the arrest had been jostled out of the room and couldn't get back. the editor looked at the clerk steadily for a moment and quietly asked: "what amount of bail do you require?" the officer smiled wanly: "oh, major, it's just a formality with you, sir; a mere nominal sum of $ will be all right." "make out your bond," the editor curtly ordered. "my friends here will sign it." "certainly, certainly, major," was the quick answer. "have a seat, sir, while i fill in the blank." "i'll stand, thank you," was the quick reply. the clerk's pen flew while he made out the forbidden bail which set at liberty the arch enemy of the governor. when it was signed and the daring young leader quietly walked out the door, a cheer from a hundred men rent the air. the shivering clerk cowered in his seat over his desk and pretended to be very busy. in reality he was breathing a prayer of thanks to god for sparing his life and registering a solemn vow to quit politics and go back to farming. the editor hurried to his office and sent a message to each district leader of the klan to secure bail for the accused men in the same quiet manner. chapter vii the irony of fate his political battle won, norton turned his face homeward for a struggle in which victory would not come so easily. he had made up his mind that cleo should not remain under his roof another day. how much she really knew or understood of the events of the night he could only guess. he was sure she had heard enough of the plans of his men to make a dangerous witness against him if she should see fit to betray the facts to his enemies. yet he was morally certain that he could trust her with this secret. what he could not and would not do was to imperil his own life and character by a daily intimate association with this willful, impudent, smiling young animal. his one fear was the wish of his wife to keep her. in her illness she had developed a tyranny of love that brooked no interference with her whims. he had petted and spoiled her until it was well-nigh impossible to change the situation. the fear of her death was the sword that forever hung over his head. [illustration: "sitting astride her back, laughing his loudest."] he hoped that the girl was lying when she said his wife liked her. yet it was not improbable. her mind was still a child's. she could not think evil of any one. she loved the young and she loved grace and beauty wherever she saw it. she loved a beautiful cat, a beautiful dog, and always had taken pride in a handsome servant. it would be just like her to take a fancy to cleo that no argument could shake. he dreaded to put the thing to an issue--but it had to be done. it was out of the question to tell her the real truth. his heart sank within him as he entered his wife's room. mammy had gone to bed suffering with a chill. the doctors had hinted that she was suffering from an incurable ailment and that her days were numbered. her death might occur at any time. cleo was lying flat on a rug, the baby was sitting astride of her back, laughing his loudest at the funny contortions of her lithe figure. she would stop every now and then, turn her own laughing eyes on him and he would scream with joy. the little mother was sitting on the floor like a child and laughing at the scene. in a flash he realized that cleo had made herself, in the first few days she had been in his house, its dominant spirit. he paused in the doorway sobered by the realization. the supple young form on the floor slowly writhed on her back without disturbing the baby's sturdy hold, his little legs clasping her body tight. she drew his laughing face to her shoulder, smothering his laughter with kisses, and suddenly sprang to her feet, the baby astride her neck, and began galloping around the room. "w'oa! january, w'oa, sir!" she cried, galloping slowly at first and then prancing like a playful horse. her cheeks were flushed, eyes sparkling and red hair flying in waves of fiery beauty over her exquisite shoulders, every change of attitude a new picture of graceful abandon, every movement of her body a throb of savage music from some strange seductive orchestra hidden in the deep woods! its notes slowly stole over the senses of the man with such alluring power, that in spite of his annoyance he began to smile. the girl stopped, placed the child on the floor, ran to the corner of the room, dropped on all fours and started slowly toward him, her voice imitating the deep growl of a bear. "now the bears are going to get him!--boo-oo-oo." the baby screamed with delight. the graceful young she-bear capered around her victim from side to side, smelling his hands and jumping back, approaching and retreating, growling and pawing the floor, while with each movement the child shouted a new note of joy. the man, watching, wondered if this marvelous creamy yellow animal could get into an ungraceful position. the keen eyes of the young she-bear saw the boy had worn himself out with laughter and slowly approached her victim, tumbled his happy flushed little form over on the rug and devoured him with kisses. "don't, cleo--that's enough now!" the little mother cried, through her tears of laughter. "yessum--yessum--i'm just eatin' him up now--i'm done--and he'll be asleep in two minutes." she sprang to her feet, crushing the little form tenderly against her warm, young bosom, and walked past the man smiling into his face a look of triumph. the sombre eyes answered with a smile in spite of himself. could any man with red blood in his veins fight successfully a force like that? he heard the growl of the beast within as he stood watching the scene. the sight of the frail little face of his invalid wife brought him up against the ugly fact with a sharp pain. yet the moment he tried to broach the subject of discharging cleo, he hesitated, stammered and was silent. at last he braced himself with determination for the task. it was disagreeable, but it had to be done. the sooner the better. "you like this girl, my dear?" he said softly. "she's the most wonderful nurse i ever saw--the baby's simply crazy about her!" "yes, i see," he said soberly. "it's a perfectly marvellous piece of luck that she came the day she did. mammy was ready to drop. she's been like a fairy in the nursery from the moment she entered. the kiddy has done nothing but laugh and shriek with delight." "and you like her personally?" "i've just fallen in love with her! she's so strong and young and beautiful. she picks me up, laughing like a child, and carries me into the bathroom, carries me back and tucks me in bed as easily as she does the baby." "i'm sorry, my dear," he interrupted with a firm, hard note in his voice. "sorry--for what?" the blue eyes opened with astonishment. "because i don't like her, and her presence here may be very dangerous just now----" "dangerous--what on earth can you mean?" "to begin with that she's a negress----" "so's mammy--so's the cook--the man--every servant we've ever had--or will have----" "i'm not so sure of the last," the husband broke in with a frown. "what's dangerous about the girl, i'd like to know?" his wife demanded. "i said, to begin with, she's a negress. that's perhaps the least objectionable thing about her as a servant. but she has bad blood in her on her father's side. old peeler's as contemptible a scoundrel as i know in the county----" "the girl don't like him--that's why she left home." "did she tell you that?" he asked quizzically. "yes, and i'm sorry for her. she wants a good home among decent white people and i'm not going to give her up. i don't care what you say." the husband ignored the finality of this decision and went on with his argument as though she had not spoken. "old peeler is not only a low white scoundrel who would marry this girl's mulatto mother if he dared, but he is trying to break into politics as a negro champion. he denies it, but he is a henchman of the governor. i'm in a fight with this man to the death. there's not room for us both in the state----" "and you think this laughing child cares anything about the governor or his dirty politics? such a thing has never entered her head." "i'm not sure of that." "you're crazy, dan." "but i'm not so crazy, my dear, that i can't see that this girl's presence in our house is dangerous. she already knows too much about my affairs--enough, in fact, to endanger my life if she should turn traitor." "but she won't tell, i tell you--she's loyal--i'd trust her with my life, or yours, or the baby's, without hesitation. she proved her loyalty to me and to you last night." "yes, and that's just why she's so dangerous." he spoke slowly, as if talking to himself. "you can't understand, dear, i am entering now the last phase of a desperate struggle with the little scalawag who sits in the governor's chair for the mastery of this state and its life. the next two weeks and this election will decide whether white civilization shall live or a permanent negroid mongrel government, after the pattern of haiti and san domingo, shall be established. if we submit, we are not worth saving. we ought to die and our civilization with us! we are not going to submit, we are not going to die, we are going to win. i want you to help me now by getting rid of this girl." "i won't give her up. there's no sense in it. a man who fought four years in the war is not afraid of a laughing girl who loves his baby and his wife! i can't risk a green, incompetent girl in the nursery now. i can't think of breaking in a new one. i like cleo. she's a breath of fresh air when she comes into my room; she's clean and neat; she sings beautifully; her voice is soft and low and deep; i love her touch when she dresses me; the baby worships her--is all this nothing to you?" "is my work nothing to you?" he answered soberly. "bah! it's a joke! your work has nothing to do with this girl. she knows nothing, cares nothing for politics--it's absurd!" "my dear, you must listen to me now----" "i won't listen. i'll have my way about my servants. it's none of your business. look after your politics and let the nursery alone!" "please be reasonable, my love. i assure you i'm in dead earnest. the danger is a real one, or i wouldn't ask this of you--please----" "no--no--no--no!" she fairly shrieked. his voice was very quiet when he spoke at last: "i'm sorry to cross you in this, but the girl must leave to-night." the tones of his voice and the firm snap of his strong jaw left further argument out of the question and the little woman played her trump card. she sprang to her feet, pale with rage, and gave way to a fit of hysteria. he attempted to soothe her, in grave alarm over the possible effects on her health of such a temper. with a piercing scream she threw herself across the bed and he bent over her tenderly: "please, don't act this way!" her only answer was another scream, her little fists opening and closing like a bird's talons gripping the white counterpane in her trembling fingers. the man stood in helpless misery and sickening fear, bent low and whispered: "please, please, darling--it's all right--she can stay. i won't say another word. don't make yourself ill. please don't!" the sobbing ceased for a moment, and he added: "i'll go into the nursery and send her here to put you to bed." he turned to the door and met cleo entering. "miss jean called me?" she asked with a curious smile playing about her greenish eyes. "yes. she wishes you to put her to bed." the girl threw him a look of triumphant tenderness and he knew that she had heard and understood. chapter viii a new weapon from the moment the jail doors opened the governor felt the chill of defeat. with his armed guard of fifty thousand "loyal" white men he hoped to stem the rising tide of anglo-saxon fury. but the hope was faint. there was no assurance in its warmth. every leader he had arrested without warrant and held without bail was now a firebrand in a powder magazine. mass meetings, barbecues and parades were scheduled for every day by his enemies in every county. the state was ablaze with wrath from the mountains to the sea. the orators of the white race spoke with tongues of flame. the record of negro misrule under an african legislature was told with brutal detail and maddening effects. the state treasury was empty, the school funds had been squandered, millions in bonds had been voted and stolen and the thieves had fled the state in terror. all this the governor knew from the first, but he also knew that an ignorant negro majority would ask no questions and believe no evil of their allies. the adventurers from the north had done their work of alienating the races with a thoroughness that was nothing short of a miracle. the one man on earth who had always been his best friend, every negro now held his bitterest foe. he would consult his old master about any subject under the sun and take his advice against the world except in politics. he would come to the back door, beg him for a suit of clothes, take it with joyous thanks, put it on and march straight to the polls and vote against the hand that gave it. he asked no questions as to his own ticket. it was all right if it was against the white man of the south. the few scalawags who trained with negroes to get office didn't count. the negro had always despised such trash. the governor knew his solid black constituency would vote like sheep, exactly as they were told by their new teachers. but the nightmare that disturbed him now, waking or dreaming, was the fear that this full negro vote could not be polled. the daring speeches by the enraged leaders of the white race were inflaming the minds of the people beyond the bounds of all reason. these leaders had sworn to carry the election and dared the governor to show one of his scurvy guards near a polling place on the day they should cast their ballots. the ku klux klan openly defied all authority. their men paraded the county roads nightly and ended their parades by lining their horsemen in cavalry formation, galloping through the towns and striking terror to every denizen of the crowded negro quarters. in vain the governor issued frantic appeals for the preservation of the sanctity of the ballot. his speeches in which he made this appeal were openly hissed. the ballot was no longer a sacred thing. the time was in american history when it was the badge of citizen kingship. at this moment the best men in the state were disfranchised and hundreds of thousands of negroes, with the instincts of the savage and the intelligence of the child, had been given the ballot. never in the history of civilization had the ballot fallen so low in any republic. the very atmosphere of a polling place was a stench in the nostrils of decent men. the determination of the leaders of the klan to clear the polls by force if need be was openly proclaimed before the day of election. the philosophy by which they justified this stand was simple, and unanswerable, for it was founded in the eternal verities. men are not made free by writing a constitution on a piece of paper. freedom is inside. a ballot is only a symbol. that symbol stands for physical force directed by the highest intelligence. the ballot, therefore, is force--physical force. back of every ballot is a bayonet and the red blood of the man who holds it. therefore, a minority submits to the verdict of a majority at the polls. if there is not an intelligent, powerful fighting unit back of the scrap of paper that falls into a box, there's nothing there and that man's ballot has no more meaning than if it had been deposited by a trained pig or a dog. on the day of this fated election the little scalawag governor sat in the capitol, the picture of nervous despair. since sunrise his office had been flooded with messages from every quarter of the state begging too late for troops. everywhere his henchmen were in a panic. from every quarter the stories were the same. hundreds of determined, silent white men had crowded the polls, taken their own time to vote and refused to give an inch of room to the long line of panic-stricken negroes who looked on helplessly. at five o'clock in the afternoon less than a hundred blacks had voted in the entire township in which the capital was located. norton was a candidate for the legislature on the white ticket, and the governor had bent every effort to bring about his defeat. the candidate against him was a young negro who had been a slave of his father, and now called himself andy norton. andy had been a house-servant, was exactly the major's age and they had been playmates before the war. he was endowed with a stentorian voice and a passion for oratory. he had acquired a reputation for smartness, was good-natured, loud-mouthed, could tell a story, play the banjo and amuse a crowd. he had been norton's body-servant the first year of the war. the governor relied on andy to swing a resistless tide of negro votes for the ticket and sweep the county. under ordinary conditions, he would have done it. but before the hurricane of fury that swept the white race on the day of the election, the voice of andy was as one crying in the wilderness. he had made three speeches to his crowd of helpless black voters who hadn't been able to vote. the governor sent him an urgent message to mass his men and force their way to the ballot box. the polling place was under a great oak that grew in the square beside the court house. a space had been roped off to guard the approach to the boxes. since sunrise this space had been packed solid with a living wall of white men. occasionally a well-known old negro of good character was allowed to pass through and vote and then the lines closed up in solid ranks. one by one a new white man was allowed to take his place in this wall and gradually he was moved up to the tables on which the boxes rested, voted, and slowly, like the movement of a glacier, the line crowded on in its endless circle. the outer part of this wall of defense which the white race had erected around the polling place was held throughout the day by the same men--twenty or thirty big, stolid, dogged countrymen, who said nothing, but every now and then winked at each other. when andy received the governor's message he decided to distinguish himself. it was late in the day, but not too late perhaps to win by a successful assault. he picked out twenty of his strongest buck negroes, moved them quietly to a good position near the polls, formed them into a flying wedge, and, leading the assault in person with a loud good-natured laugh, he hurled them against the outer line of whites. to andy's surprise the double line opened and yielded to his onset. he had forced a dozen negroes into the ranks when to his surprise the white walls suddenly closed on the blacks and held them as in a steel trap. and then, quick as a flash, something happened. it was a month before the negroes found out exactly what it was. they didn't see it, they couldn't hear it, but they knew it happened. they _felt_ it. and the silent swiftness with which it happened was appalling. every negro who had penetrated the white wall suddenly leaped into the air with a yell of terror. the white line opened quickly and to a man the negro wedge broke and ran for life, each black hand clasped in agony on the same spot. andy's voice rang full and clear above his men's: "goddermighty, what's dat!" "dey shot us, man!" screamed a negro. the thing was simple, almost childlike in its silliness, but it was tremendously effective. the white guard in the outer line had each been armed with a little piece of shining steel three inches long, fixed in a handle--a plain shoemaker's pegging awl. at a given signal they had wheeled and thrust these awls into the thick flesh of every negro's thigh. the attack was so sudden, so unexpected, and the pain so sharp, so terrible, for the moment every negro's soul was possessed with a single idea, how to save his particular skin and do it quickest. all _esprit de corps_ was gone. it was each for himself and the devil take the hindmost! some of them never stopped running until they cleared buffalo creek, three miles out of town. andy's ambitions were given a violent turn in a new direction. before the polls closed at sundown he appeared at the office of the _eagle and phoenix_ with a broad grin on his face and asked to see the major. he entered the editor's room bowing and scraping, his white teeth gleaming. norton laughed and quietly said: "well, andy?" "yassah, major, i des drap roun' ter kinder facilitate ye, sah, on de 'lection, sah." "it does look like the tide is turning, andy." "yassah, hit sho' is turnin', but hit's gotter be a purty quick tide dat kin turn afore i does, sah." "yes?" "yassah! and i drap in, major, ter 'splain ter you dat i'se gwine ter gently draw outen politics, yassah. i makes up my min' ter hitch up wid de white folks agin. brought up by de nortons, sah, i'se always bin a gemman, an' i can't afford to smut my hands wid de crowd dat i been 'sociating wid. i'se glad you winnin' dis 'lection, sah, an' i'se glad you gwine ter de legislature--anyhow de office gwine ter stay in de norton fambly--an' i'se satisfied, sah. i know you gwine ter treat us far an' squar----" "if i'm elected i'll try to represent all the people, andy," the major said gravely. "if you'se 'lected?" andy laughed. "lawd, man, you'se dar right now! i kin des see you settin' in one dem big chairs! i knowed it quick as i feel dat thing pop fro my backbone des now! yassah, i done resigned, an' i thought, major, maybe you get a job 'bout de office or 'bout de house fer er young likely nigger 'bout my size?" the editor smiled: "nothing just now, andy, but possibly i can find a place for you in a few days." "thankee, sah. i'll hold off den till you wants me. i'll des pick up er few odd jobs till you say de word--you won't fergit me?" "no. i'll remember." "an', major, ef you kin des advance me 'bout er dollar on my wages now, i kin cheer myself up ter-night wid er good dinner. dese here loafers done bust me. i hain't got er nickel lef!" the major laughed heartily and "advanced" his rival for legislative honors a dollar. andy bowed to the floor: "any time you'se ready, major, des lemme know, sah. you'll fin' me a handy man 'bout de house, sah." "all right, andy, i may need you soon." "yassah, de sooner de better, sah," he paused in the door. "dey gotter get up soon in de mornin', sah, ter get erhead er us nortons--yassah, dat dey is----" a message, the first news of the election, cut andy's gabble short. it spelled victory! one after another they came from every direction--north, south, east and west--each bringing the same magic word--victory! victory! a state redeemed from negroid corruption! a great state once more in the hands of the children of the men who created it! it had only been necessary to use force to hold the polls from hordes of ignorant negroes in the densest of the black counties. the white majorities would be unprecedented. the enthusiasm had reached the pitch of mania in these counties. they would all break records. a few daring men in the black centres of population, where negro rule was at its worst, had guarded the polls under his direction armed with the simple device of a shoemaker's awl, and in every case where it had been used the resulting terror had cleared the place of every negro. in not a single case where this novel weapon had been suddenly and mysteriously thrust into a black skin was there an attempt to return to the polls. a long-suffering people, driven at last to desperation, had met force with force and wrested a commonwealth from the clutches of the vandals who were looting and disgracing it. now he would call the little scalawag to the bar of justice. chapter ix the words that cost it was after midnight when norton closed his desk and left for home. bonfires were burning in the squares, bands were playing and hundreds of sober, gray-haired men were marching through the streets, hand in hand with shouting boys, cheering, cheering, forever cheering! he had made three speeches from the steps of the _eagle and phoenix_ building and the crowds still stood there yelling his name and cheering. broad-shouldered, bronzed men had rushed into his office one by one that night, hugged him and wrung his hands until they ached. he must have rest. the strain had been terrific and in the reaction he was pitifully tired. the lights were still burning in his wife's room. she was waiting with cleo for his return. he had sent her the bulletins as they had come and she knew the result of the election almost as soon as he. it was something very unusual that she should remain up so late. the doctor had positively forbidden it since her last attack. "cleo and i were watching the procession," she exclaimed. "i never saw so many crazy people since i was born." "they've had enough to drive them mad the past two years, god knows," he answered, as his eye rested on cleo, who was dressed in an old silk kimono belonging to his wife, which a friend of her grandfather had sent her from japan. she saw his look of surprise and said casually: "i gave it to cleo. i never liked the color. cleo's to stay in the house hereafter. i've moved her things from the servants' quarters to the little room in the hall. i want her near me at night. you stay so late sometimes." he made no answer, but the keen eyes of the girl saw the silent rage flashing from his eyes and caught the look of fierce determination as he squared his shoulders and gazed at her for a moment. she knew that he would put her out unless she could win his consent. she had made up her mind to fight and never for a moment did she accept the possibility of defeat. he muttered an incoherent answer to his wife, kissed her good night, and went to his room. he sat down in the moonlight beside the open window, lighted a cigar and gazed out on the beautiful lawn. his soul raged in fury over the blind folly of his wife. if the devil himself had ruled the world he could not have contrived more skillfully to throw this dangerous, sensuous young animal in his way. it was horrible! he felt himself suffocating with the thought of its possibilities! he rose and paced the floor and sat down again in helpless rage. the door softly opened and closed and the girl stood before him in the white moonlight, her rounded figure plainly showing against the shimmering kimono as the breeze through the window pressed the delicate silk against her flesh. he turned on her angrily: "how dare you?" [illustration: "'how dare you?'"] "why, i haven't done anything, major!" she answered softly. "i just came in to pick up that basket of trash i forgot this morning"--she spoke in low, lingering tones. he rose, walked in front of her, looked her in the eye and quietly said: "you're lying." "why, major----" "you know that you are lying. now get out of this room--and stay out of it, do you hear?" "yes, i hear," came the answer that was half a sob. "and make up your mind to leave this place to-morrow, or i'll put you out, if i have to throw you head foremost into the street." she took a step backward, shook her head and the mass of tangled red hair fell from its coil and dropped on her shoulders. her eyes were watching him now with dumb passionate yearning. "get out!" he ordered brutally. a moment's silence and a low laugh was her answer. "why do you hate me?" she asked the question with a note of triumph. "i don't," he replied with a sneer. "then you're afraid of me!" "afraid of you?" "yes." he took another step and towered above her, his fists clenched and his whole being trembled with anger: "i'd like to strangle you!" she flung back her rounded throat, shook the long waves of hair down her back and lifted her eyes to his: "do it! there's my throat! i want you to. i wouldn't mind dying that way!" he drew a deep breath and turned away. with a sob the straight figure suddenly crumpled on the floor, a scarlet heap in the moonlight. she buried her face in her hands, choked back the cries, fought for self-control, and then looked up at him through her eyes half blinded by tears: "oh, what's the use! i won't lie any more. i didn't come in here for the basket. i came to see you. i came to beg you to let me stay. i watched you to-night when she told you that i was to sleep in that room there, and i knew you were going to send me away. please don't! please let me stay! i can do you no harm, major! i'll be wise, humble, obedient. i'll live only to please you. i haven't a single friend in the world. i hate negroes. i loathe poor white trash. this is my place, here in your home, among the birds and flowers, with your baby in my arms. you know that i love him and that he loves me. i'll work for you as no one else on earth would. my hands will be quick and my feet swift. i'll be your slave, your dog--you can kick me, beat me, strangle me, kill me if you like, but don't send me away--i--i can't help loving you! please--please don't drive me away." the passionate, throbbing voice broke into a sob and she touched his foot with her hand. he could feel the warmth of the soft, young flesh. he stooped and drew her to her feet. "come, child," he said with a queer hitch in his voice, "you--you--mustn't stay here another moment. i'm sorry----" she clung to his hand with desperate pleading and pressed close to him: "but you won't send me away?" she could feel him trembling. he hesitated, and then against the warning of conscience, reason, judgment and every instinct of law and self-preservation, he spoke the words that cost so much: "no--i--i--won't send you away!" with a sob of gratitude her head sank, the hot lips touched his hand, a rustle of silk and she was gone. and through every hour of the long night, maddened by the consciousness of her physical nearness--he imagined at times he could hear her breathing in the next room--he lay awake and fought the beast for the mastery of life. chapter x man to man cleo made good her vow of perfect service. in the weeks which followed she made herself practically indispensable. her energy was exhaustless, her strength tireless. she not only kept the baby and the little mother happy, she watched the lawn and the flowers. the men did no more loafing. the grass was cut, the hedges trimmed, every dead limb from shrub and tree removed and the old place began to smile with new life. her work of housekeeper and maid-of-all-work was a marvel of efficiency. no orders were ever given to her. they were unnecessary. she knew by an unerring instinct what was needed and anticipated the need. and then a thing happened that fixed her place in the house on the firmest basis. the baby had taken a violent cold which quickly developed into pneumonia. the doctor looked at the little red fever-scorched face and parched lips with grave silence. he spoke at last with positive conviction: "his life depends on a nurse, norton. all i can do is to give orders. the nurse must save him." with a sob in her voice, cleo said: "let me--i'll save him. he can't die if it depends on that." the doctor turned to the mother. "can you trust her?" "absolutely. she's quick, strong, faithful, careful, and she loves him." "you agree, major?" "yes, we couldn't do better," he answered gravely, turning away. and so the precious life was given into her hands. norton spent the mornings in the nursery executing the doctor's orders with clock-like regularity, while cleo slept. at noon she quietly entered and took his place. her meals were served in the room and she never left it until he relieved her the next day. the tireless, greenish eyes watched the cradle with death-like stillness and her keen young ears bent low to catch every change in the rising and falling of the little breast. through the long watches of the night, the quick alert figure with the velvet tread hurried about the room filling every order with skill and patience. at the end of two weeks, the doctor smiled, patted her on the shoulder and said: "you're a great nurse, little girl. you've saved his life." her head was bending low over the cradle, the baby reached up his hand, caught one of her red curls and lisped faintly: "c-l-e-o!" her eyes were shining with tears as she rushed from the room and out on the lawn to have her cry alone. there could be no question after this of her position. when the new legislature met in the old capitol building four months later, it was in the atmosphere of the crisp clearness that follows the storm. the thieves and vultures had winged their way to more congenial climes. they dared not face the investigation of their saturnalia which the restored white race would make. the wisest among them fled northward on the night of the election. the governor couldn't run. his term of office had two years more to be filled. and shivering in his room alone, shunned as a pariah, he awaited the assault of his triumphant foes. and nothing succeeds like success. the brilliant young editor of the _eagle and phoenix_ was the man of the hour. when he entered the hall of the house of representatives on the day the assembly met, pandemonium broke loose. a shout rose from the floor that fairly shook the old granite pile. cheer after cheer rent the air, echoed and re-echoed through the vaulted arches of the hall. men overturned their desks and chairs as they rushed pellmell to seize his hand. they lifted him on their shoulders and carried him in procession around the assembly chamber, through the corridors and around the circle of the rotunda, cheering like madmen, and on through the senate chamber where every white senator joined the procession and returned to the other end of the capitol singing "dixie" and shouting themselves hoarse. he was elected speaker of the house by his party without a dissenting voice, and the first words that fell from his lips as he ascended the dais, gazed over the cheering house, and rapped sharply for order, sounded the death knell to the hopes of the governor for a compromise with his enemies. his voice rang clear and cold as the notes of a bugle: "the first business before this house, gentlemen, is the impeachment and removal from office of the alleged governor of this state!" again the long pent feelings of an outraged people passed all bounds. in vain the tall figure in the chair rapped for order. he had as well tried to call a cyclone to order by hammering at it with a gavel. shout after shout, cheer after cheer, shout and cheer in apparently unending succession! they had not only won a great victory and redeemed a state's honor, but they had found a leader who dared to lead in the work of cleansing and rebuilding the old commonwealth. it was ten minutes before order could be restored. and then with merciless precision the speaker put in motion the legal machine that was to crush the life out of the little scalawag who sat in his room below and listened to the roar of the storm over his head. on the day the historic trial opened before the high tribunal of the senate, sitting as judges, with the chief justice of the state as presiding officer, the governor looked in vain for a friendly face among his accusers. now that he was down, even the dogs in his own party whom he had reared and fed, men who had waxed fat on the spoils he had thrown them, were barking at his heels. they accused him of being the cause of the party's downfall. the governor had quickly made up his mind to ask no favors of these wretches. if the blow should fall, he knew to whom he would appeal that it might be tempered with mercy. the men of his discredited party were of his own type. his only chance lay in the generosity of a great foe. it would be a bitter thing to beg a favor at the hands of the editor who had hounded him with his merciless pen from the day he had entered office, but it would be easier than an appeal to the ungrateful hounds of his own kennel who had deserted him in his hour of need. the bill of impeachment which charged him with high crimes and misdemeanors against the people whose rights he had sworn to defend was drawn by the speaker of the house, and it was a terrible document. it would not only deprive him of his great office, but strip him of citizenship, and send him from the capitol a branded man for life. the defense proved weak and the terrific assaults of the impeachment managers under norton's leadership resistless. step by step the remorseless prosecutors closed in on the doomed culprit. each day he sat in his place beside his counsel in the thronged senate chamber and heard his judges vote with practical unanimity "guilty" on a new count in the bill of impeachment. the chief executive of a million people cowered in his seat while his accusers told and re-told the story of his crimes and the packed galleries cheered. but one clause of the bill remained to be adjudged--the brand his accusers proposed to put upon his forehead. his final penalty should be the loss of citizenship. it was more than the governor could bear. he begged an adjournment of the high court for a conference with his attorneys and it was granted. he immediately sought the speaker, who made no effort to conceal the contempt in which he held the trembling petitioner. "i've come to you, major norton," he began falteringly, "in the darkest hour of my life. i've come because i know that you are a brave and generous man. i appeal to your generosity. i've made mistakes in my administration. but i ask you to remember that few men in my place could have done better. i was set to make bricks without straw. i was told to make water run up hill and set at naught the law of gravitation. "i struck at you personally--yes--but remember my provocation. you made me the target of your merciless ridicule, wit and invective for two years. it was more than flesh and blood could bear without a return blow. put yourself in my place----" "i've tried, governor," norton interrupted in kindly tones. "and it's inconceivable to me that any man born and bred as you have been, among the best people of the south, a man whose fiery speeches in the secession convention helped to plunge this state into civil war--how you could basely betray your own flesh and blood in the hour of their sorest need--it's beyond me! i can't understand it. i've tried to put myself in your place and i can't." the little ferret eyes were dim as he edged toward the tall figure of his accuser: "i'm not asking of you mercy, major norton, on the main issue. i understand the bitterness in the hearts of these men who sit as my judges to-day. i make no fight to retain the office of governor, but--major"--his thin voice broke--"it's too hard to brand me a criminal by depriving me of my citizenship and the right to vote, and hurl me from the highest office within the gift of a great people a nameless thing, a man without a country! come, sir, even if all you say is true, justice may be tempered with mercy. great minds can understand this. you are the representative to-day of a brave and generous race of men. my life is in ruins--i am at your feet. i have pride. i had high ambitions----" his voice broke, he paused, and then continued in strained tones: "i have loved ones to whom this shame will come as a bolt from the clear sky. they know nothing of politics. they simply love me. this final ignominy you would heap on my head may be just from your point of view. but is it necessary? can it serve any good purpose? is it not mere wanton cruelty? "come now, man to man--our masks are off--my day is done. you are young. the world is yours. this last blow with which you would crush my spirit is too cruel! can you afford an act of such wanton cruelty in the hour of your triumph? a small man could, yes--but you? i appeal to the best that's in you, to the spark of god that's in every human soul----" norton was deeply touched, far more than he dreamed any word from the man he hated could ever stir him. the governor saw his hesitation and pressed his cause: "i might say many things honestly in justification of my course in politics; but the time has not come. when passions have cooled and we can look the stirring events of these years squarely in the face--there'll be two sides to this question, major, as there are two sides to all questions. i might say to you that when i saw the frightful blunder i had made in helping to plunge our country into a fatal war, i tried to make good my mistake and went to the other extreme. i was ambitious, yes, but we are confronted with millions of ignorant negroes. what can we do with them? slavery had an answer. democracy now must give the true answer or perish----" "that answer will never be to set these negroes up as rulers over white men!" norton raised his hand and spoke with bitter emphasis. "even so, in a democracy with equality as the one fundamental law of life, what are you going to do with them? i could plead with you that in every act of my ill-fated administration i was honestly, in the fear of god, trying to meet and solve this apparently insoluble problem. you are now in power. what are you going to do with these negroes?" "send them back to the plow first," was the quick answer. "all right; when they have bought those farms and their sons and daughters are rich and cultured--what then?" "we'll answer that question, governor, when the time comes." "remember, major, that you have no answer to it now, and in the pride of your heart to-day let me suggest that you deal charitably with one who honestly tried to find the answer when called to rule over both races. "i have failed, i grant you. i have made mistakes, i grant you. won't you accept my humility in this hour in part atonement for my mistakes? i stand alone before you, my bitterest and most powerful enemy, because i believe in the strength and nobility of your character. you are my only hope. i am before you, broken, crushed, humiliated, deserted, friendless--at your mercy!" the last appeal stirred the soul of the young editor to its depths. he was surprised and shocked to find the man he had so long ridiculed and hated so thoroughly, human and appealing in his hour of need. he spoke with a kindly deliberation he had never dreamed it possible to use with this man. "i'm sorry for you, governor. your appeal is to me a very eloquent one. it has opened a new view of your character. i can never again say bitter, merciless things about you in my paper. you have disarmed me. but as the leader of my race, in the crisis through which we are passing, i feel that a great responsibility has been placed on me. now that we have met, with bared souls in this solemn hour, let me say that i have learned to like you better than i ever thought it possible. but i am to-day a judge who must make his decision, remembering that the lives and liberties of all the people are in his keeping when he pronounces the sentence of law. a judge has no right to spare a man who has taken human life because he is sorry for the prisoner. i have no right, as a leader, to suspend this penalty on you. your act in destroying the civil law, arresting men without warrant and holding them by military force without bail or date of trial, was, in my judgment, a crime of the highest rank, not merely against me--one individual whom you happened to hate--but against every man, woman and child in the state. unless that crime is punished another man, as daring in high office, may repeat it in the future. i hold in my hands to-day not only the lives and liberties of the people you have wronged, but of generations yet unborn. now that i have heard you, personally i am sorry for you, but the law must take its course." "you will deprive me of my citizenship?" he asked pathetically. "it is my solemn duty. and when it is done no governor will ever again dare to repeat your crime." norton turned away and the governor laid his trembling hand on his arm: "your decision is absolutely final, major norton?" "absolutely," was the firm reply. the governor's shoulders drooped lower as he shuffled from the room and his eyes were fixed on space as he pushed his way through the hostile crowds that filled the corridors of the capitol. the court immediately reassembled and the speaker rose to make his motion for a vote on the last count in the bill depriving the chief executive of the state of his citizenship. the silence was intense. the crowds that packed the lobby, the galleries, and every inch of the floor of the senate chamber expected a fierce speech of impassioned eloquence from their idolized leader. every neck was craned and breath held for his first ringing words. to their surprise he began speaking in a low voice choking with emotion and merely demanded a vote of the senate on the final clause of the bill, and the brown eyes of the tall orator had a suspicious look of moisture in their depths as they rested on the forlorn figure of the little scalawag. the crowd caught the spirit of solemnity and of pathos from the speaker's voice and the vote was taken amid a silence that was painful. when the clerk announced the result and the chief justice of the state declared the office of governor vacant there was no demonstration. as the lieutenant-governor ascended the dais and took the oath of office, the scalawag rose and staggered through the crowd that opened with a look of awed pity as he passed from the chamber. norton stepped to the window behind the president of the senate and watched the pathetic figure shuffle down the steps of the capitol and slowly walk from the grounds. the sun was shining in the radiant splendor of early spring. the first flowers were blooming in the hedges by the walk and birds were chirping, chattering and singing from every tree and shrub. a squirrel started across the path in front of the drooping figure, stopped, cocked his little head to one side, looked up and ran to cover. but the man with drooping shoulders saw nothing. his dim eyes were peering into the shrouded future. norton was deeply moved. "the judgment of posterity may deal kindlier with his life!" he exclaimed. "who knows? a politician, a trimmer and a time-server--yes, so we all are down in our cowardly hearts--i'm sorry that it had to be!" he was thinking of a skeleton in his own closet that grinned at him sometimes now when he least expected it. chapter xi the unbidden guest the night was a memorable one in norton's life. the members of the legislature and the leaders of his party from every quarter of the state gave a banquet in his honor in the hall of the house of representatives. eight hundred guests, the flower and chivalry of the commonwealth, sat down at the eighty tables improvised for the occasion. fifty leading men were guests of honor and vied with one another in acclaiming the brilliant young speaker the coming statesman of the nation. his name was linked with hamilton, jefferson, webster, clay and calhoun. he was the youngest man who had ever been elected speaker of a legislative assembly in american history and a dazzling career was predicted. even the newly installed chief executive, a hold-over from the defeated party, asked to be given a seat and in a glowing tribute to norton hailed him as the next governor of the state. he had scarcely uttered the words when all the guests leaped to their feet by a common impulse, raised their glasses and shouted: "to our next governor, daniel norton!" the cheers which followed were not arranged, they were the spontaneous outburst of genuine admiration by men and women who knew the man and believed in his power and his worth. norton flushed and his eyes dropped. his daring mind had already leaped the years. the governor's chair meant the next step--a seat in the senate chamber of the united states. a quarter of a century and the south would once more come into her own. he would then be but forty-nine years old. he would have as good a chance for the presidency as any other man. his fathers had been of the stock that created the nation. his great-grandfather fought with washington and lafayette. his head was swimming with its visions, while the great hall rang with his name. while the tumult was still at its highest, he lifted his eyes for a moment over the heads of the throng at the tables below the platform on which the guests of honor were seated, and his heart suddenly stood still. cleo was standing in the door of the hall, a haunted look in her dilated eyes, watching her chance to beckon to him unseen by the crowd. he stared at her a moment in blank amazement and turned pale. something had happened at his home, and by the expression on her face the message she bore was one he would never forget. as he sat staring blankly, as at a sudden apparition, she disappeared in the crowd at the door. he looked in vain for her reappearance and was waiting an opportune moment to leave, when a waiter slipped through the mass of palms and flowers banked behind his chair by his admirers and thrust a crumpled note into his hand. "the girl said it was important, sir," he explained. norton opened the message and held it under the banquet table as he hurriedly read in cleo's hand: "it's found out--she's raving. the doctor is there. i must see you quick." * * * * * he whispered to the chairman that a message had just been received announcing the illness of his wife, but he hoped to be able to return in a few minutes. it was known that his wife was an invalid and had often been stricken with violent attacks of hysteria, and so the banquet proceeded without interruption. the band was asked to play a stirring piece and he slipped out as the opening strains burst over the chattering, gay crowd. as his tall figure rose from the seat of honor he gazed for an instant over the sparkling scene, and for the first time in his life knew the meaning of the word fear. a sickening horror swept his soul and the fire died from eyes that had a moment before blazed with visions of ambition. he felt the earth crumbling beneath his feet. he hoped for a way out, but from the moment he saw cleo beckoning him over the heads of his guests he knew that death had called him in the hour of his triumph. he felt his way blindly through the crowd and pushed roughly past a hundred hands extended to congratulate him. he walked by instinct. he couldn't see. the mists of eternity seemed suddenly to have swept him beyond the range of time and sense. in the hall he stumbled against cleo and looked at her in a dazed way. "get your hat," she whispered. he returned to the cloakroom, got his hat and hurried back in the same dull stupor. "come down stairs into the square," she said quickly. he followed her without a word, and when they reached the shadows of an oak below the windows of the hall, he suddenly roused himself, turned on her fiercely and demanded: "well, what's happened?" the girl was calm now, away from the crowd and guarded by the friendly night. her words were cool and touched with the least suggestion of bravado. she looked at him steadily: "i reckon you know----" "you mean----" he felt for the tree trunk as if dizzy. "yes. she has found out----" "what--how--when?" his words came in gasps of fear. "about us----" "how?" "it was mammy. she was wild with jealousy that i had taken her place and was allowed to sleep in the house. she got to slipping to the nursery at night and watching me. she must have seen me one night at your room door and told her to get rid of me." the man suddenly gripped the girl's shoulders, swung her face toward him and gazed into her shifting eyes, while his breath came in labored gasps: "you little yellow devil! mammy never told that to my wife and you know it; she would have told me and i would have sent you away. she knows that story would kill my baby's mother and she'd have cut the tongue out of her own head sooner than betray me. she has always loved me as her own child--she'd fight for me and die for me and stand for me against every man, woman and child on earth!" "well, she told her," the girl sullenly repeated. "told her what?" he asked. "that i was hanging around your room." she paused. "well, go on----" "miss jean asked me if it was true. i saw that we were caught and i just confessed the whole thing----" the man sprang at her throat, paused, and his hands fell limp by his side. he gazed at her a moment, and grasped her wrists with cruel force: "yes, that's it, you little fiend--you confessed! you were so afraid you might not be forced to confess that you went out of your way to tell it. two months ago i came to my senses and put you out of my life. you deliberately tried to commit murder to bring me back. you knew that confession would kill my wife as surely as if you had plunged a knife into her heart. you know that she has the mind of an innocent child--that she can think no evil of any one. you've tried to kill her on purpose, willfully, maliciously, deliberately--and if she dies----" norton's voice choked into an inarticulate groan and the girl smiled calmly. the band in the hall over their heads ended the music in a triumphant crash and he listened mechanically to the chairman while he announced the temporary absence of the guest of honor: "and while he is out of the hall for a few minutes, ladies and gentlemen," he added facetiously, "we can say a lot of fine things behind his back we would have blushed to tell him to his face----" another burst of applause and the hum and chatter and laughter came through the open window. with a cry of anguish, the man turned again on the girl: "why do you stand there grinning at me? why did you do this fiendish thing? what have you to say?" "nothing"--there was a ring of exultation in her voice--"i did it because i had to." norton leaned against the oak, placed his hands on his temples and groaned: "oh, my god! it's a nightmare----" suddenly he asked: "what did she do when you told her?" the girl answered with indifference: "screamed, called me a liar, jumped on me like a wild-cat, dug her nails in my neck and went into hysterics." "and you?" "i picked her up, carried her to bed and sent for the doctor. as quick as he came i ran here to tell you." the speaker upstairs was again announcing his name as the next governor and senator and the crowd were cheering. he felt the waves of death roll over and engulf him. his knees grew weak and in spite of all effort he sank to a stone that lay against the gnarled trunk of the tree. "she may be dead now," he said to himself in a dazed whisper. "i don't think so!" the soft voice purred with the slightest suggestion of a sneer. she bit her lips and actually laughed. it was more than he could bear. with a sudden leap his hands closed on her throat and forced her trembling form back into the shadows. "may--god--hurl--you--into--everlasting--hell--for--this!" he cried in anguish and his grip suddenly relaxed. the girl had not struggled. her own hand had simply been raised instinctively and grasped his. "what shall i do?" she asked. "get out of my sight before i kill you!" "i'm not afraid." the calm accents maddened him to uncontrollable fury: "and if you ever put your foot into my house again or cross my path, i'll not be responsible for what happens!" his face was livid and his fists closed with an unconscious strength that cut the blood from the palms of his hands. "i'm not afraid!" she repeated, her voice rising with clear assurance, a strange smile playing about her full lips. "go!" he said fiercely. the girl turned without a word and walked into the bright light that streamed from the windows of the banquet hall, paused and looked at him, the white rows of teeth shining with a smile: "but i'll see you again!" and then, with shouts of triumph mocking his soul, his shoulders drooped, drunk with the stupor and pain of shame, he walked blindly through the night to the judgment bar of life--a home where a sobbing wife waited for his coming. chapter xii the judgment bar he paused at the gate. his legs for the moment simply refused to go any further. a light was burning in his wife's room. its radiance streaming against the white fluted columns threw their shadows far out on the lawn. the fine old house seemed to slowly melt in the starlight into a solemn court of justice set on the highest hill of the world. its white boards were hewn slabs of gleaming marble, its quaint old colonial door the grand entrance to the judgment hall of life and death. and the judge who sat on the high dais was not the blind figure of tradition, but a blushing little bride he had led to god's altar four years ago. her blue eyes were burning into the depths of his trembling soul. his hand gripped the post and he tried to pull himself together, and look the ugly situation in the face. but it was too sudden. he had repented and was living a clean life, and the shock was so unexpected, its coming so unforeseen, the stroke at a moment when his spirits had climbed so high, the fall was too great. he lay a mangled heap at the foot of a precipice and could as yet only stretch out lame hands and feel in the dark. he could see nothing clearly. a curious thing flashed through his benumbed mind as his gaze fascinated by the light in her room. she had not yet sent for him. he might have passed a messenger on the other side of the street, or he may have gone to the capitol by another way, yet he was somehow morally sure that no word had as yet been sent. it could mean but one thing--that his wife had utterly refused to believe the girl's story. this would make the only sane thing to do almost impossible. if he could humbly confess the truth and beg for her forgiveness, the cloud might be lifted and her life saved. but if she blindly refused to admit the possibility of such a sin, the crisis was one that sickened him. he would either be compelled to risk her life with the shock of confession, or lie to her with a shameless passion that would convince her of his innocence. could he do this? it was doubtful. he had never been a good liar. he had taken many a whipping as a boy sooner than lie. he had always dared to tell the truth and had felt a cruel free joy somehow in its consequence. he had been reserved and silent in his youth when he had sowed his wild oats before his marriage. he had never been forced to lie about that. no questions had been asked. he had kept his own counsel and that side of his life was a sealed book even to his most intimate friends. he had never been under the influence of liquor and knew how to be a good fellow without being a fool. the first big lie of his life he was forced to act rather than speak when cleo had entered his life. this lie had not yet shaped itself into words. and he doubted his ability to carry it off successfully. to speak the truth simply and plainly had become an ingrained habit. he trembled at the possibility of being compelled to deliberately and continuously lie to his wife. if he could only tell her the truth--tell her the hours of anguish he had passed in struggling against the beast that at last had won the fight--if he could only make her feel to-night the pain, the shame, the loathing, the rage that filled his soul, she must forgive. but would she listen? had the child-mind that had never faced realities the power to adjust itself to such a tragedy and see life in its wider relations of sin and sorrow, of repentance and struggle to the achievement of character? there was but one answer: "no. it would kill her. she can't understand----" and then despair gripped him, his eyes grew dim and he couldn't think. he leaned heavily on the gate in a sickening stupor from which his mind slowly emerged and his fancy began to play pranks with an imagination suddenly quickened by suffering into extraordinary activity. a katydid was crying somewhere over his head and a whip-poor-will broke the stillness with his weird call that seemed to rise from the ground under his feet. he was a boy again roaming the fields where stalwart slaves were working his father's plantation. it was just such a day in early spring when he had persuaded andy to run away with him and go swimming in buffalo creek. he had caught cold and they both got a whipping that night. he remembered how andy had yelled so loud his father had stopped. and how he had set his little jaws together, refused to cry and received the worst whipping of his life. he could hear andy now as he slipped up to him afterward, grinning and chuckling and whispered: "lordy, man, why didn't ye holler? you don't know how ter take er whippin' nohow. he nebber hurt me no mo' dan a flea bitin'!" and then his mind leaped the years. cleo was in his arms that night at old peeler's and he was stroking her hair as he would have smoothed the fur of a frightened kitten. that strange impulse was the beginning--he could see it now--and it had grown with daily contact, until the contagious animal magnetism of her nearness became resistless. and now he stood a shivering coward in the dark, afraid to enter his own house and look his wife in the face. yes, he was a coward. he acknowledged it with a grim smile--a coward! this boastful, high-strung, self-poised leader of men! he drew his tall figure erect and a bitter laugh broke from his lips. he who had led men to death on battlefields with a smile and a shout! he who had cried in anguish the day lee surrendered! he who, in defeat, still indomitable and unconquered, had fired the souls of his ruined people and led them through riot and revolution again to victory!--he was a coward now and he knew it, as he stood there alone in the stillness of the southern night and looked himself squarely in the face. his heart gave a throb of pity as he recalled the scenes during the war, when deserters and cowards had been led out in the gray dawn and shot to death for something they couldn't help. it must be a dream. he couldn't realize the truth--grim, hideous and unthinkable. he had won every fight as the leader of his race against overwhelming odds. he had subdued the desperate and lawless among his own men until his word was law. he had rallied the shattered forces of a defeated people and inspired them with enthusiasm. he had overturned the negroid government in the state though backed by a million bayonets in the hands of veteran battle-tried soldiers. he had crushed the man who led these forces, impeached and removed him from office, and hurled him into merited oblivion, a man without a country. he had made himself the central figure of the commonwealth. in the dawn of manhood he had lived already a man's full life. a conquered world at his feet, and yet a little yellow, red-haired girl of the race he despised, in the supreme hour of triumph had laid his life in ruins. he had conquered all save the beast within and he must die for it--it was only a morbid fancy, yes--yet he felt the chill in his soul. how long he had stood there doubting, fearing, dreaming, he could form no idea. he was suddenly roused to the consciousness of his position by the doctor who was hurrying from the house. there was genuine surprise in his voice as he spoke slowly and in a very low tone. dr. williams had the habit of slow, quiet speech. he was a privileged character in the town and the state, with the record of a half century of practice. a man of wide reading and genuine culture, he concealed a big heart beneath a brutal way of expressing his thoughts. he said exactly what he meant with a distinctness that was all the more startling because of his curious habit of speaking harsh things in tones so softly modulated that his hearers frequently asked him to repeat his words. "i had just started to the banquet hall with a message for you," he said slowly. "yes--yes," norton answered vaguely. "but i see you've come--cleo told you?" "yes--she came to the hall----" the doctor's slender fingers touched his fine gray beard. "really! she entered that hall to-night? well, it's a funny world, this. we spend our time and energy fighting the negro race in front and leave our back doors open for their women and children to enter and master our life. i congratulate you as a politician on your victory----" norton lifted his hand as if to ward off a blow: "please! not to-night!" the doctor caught the look of agony in the haggard face and suddenly extended his hand: "i wasn't thinking of your personal history, my boy. i was--i was thinking for a moment of the folly of a people--forgive me--i know you need help to-night. you must pull yourself together before you go in there----" "yes, i know!" norton faltered. "you have seen my wife and talked with her--you can see things clearer than i--tell me what to do!" "there's but one thing you can do," was the gentle answer. "lie to her--lie--and stick to it. lie skillfully, carefully, deliberately, and with such sincerity and conviction she's got to believe you. she wants to believe you, of course. i know you are guilty----" "let me tell you, doctor----" "no, you needn't. it's an old story. the more powerful the man the easier his conquest when once the female animal of cleo's race has her chance. it's enough to make the devil laugh to hear your politicians howl against social and political equality while this cancer is eating the heart out of our society. it makes me sick! and she went to your banquet hall to-night! i'll laugh over it when i'm blue----" the doctor paused, laughed softly, and continued: "now listen, norton. your wife can't live unless she wills to live. i've told you this before. the moment she gives up, she dies. it's the iron will inside her frail body that holds the spirit. if she knows the truth, she can't face it. she is narrow, conventional, and can't readjust herself----" "but doctor, can't she be made to realize that this thing is here a living fact which the white woman of the south must face? these hundreds of thousands of a mixed race are not accidents. she must know that this racial degradation is not merely a thing of to-day, but the heritage of two hundred years of sin and sorrow!" "the older women know this--yes--but not our younger generation, who have been reared in the fierce defense of slavery we were forced to make before the war. these things were not to be talked about. no girl reared as your wife can conceive of the possibility of a decent man falling so low. i warn you. you can't let her know the truth--and so the only thing you can do is to lie and stick to it. it's queer advice for a doctor to give an honorable man, perhaps. but life is full of paradoxes. my advice is medicine. our best medicines are the most deadly poisons in nature. i've saved many a man's life by their use. this happens to be one of the cases where i prescribe a poison. put the responsibility on me if you like. my shoulders are broad. i live close to nature and the prattle of fools never disturbs me." "is she still hysterical?" norton asked. "no. that's the strange part of it--the thing that frightens me. that's why i haven't left her side since i was called. her outburst wasn't hysteria in the first place. it was rage--the blind unreasoning fury of the woman who sees her possible rival and wishes to kill her. you'll find her very quiet. there's a queer, still look in her eyes i don't like. it's the calm before the storm--a storm that may leave death in its trail----" "couldn't i deny it at first," norton interrupted, "and then make my plea to her in an appeal for mercy on an imaginary case? god only knows what i've gone through--the fight i made----" "yes, i know, my boy, with that young animal playing at your feet in physical touch with your soul and body in the intimacies of your home, you never had a chance. but you can't make your wife see this. an angel from heaven, with tongue of divine eloquence, can make no impression on her if she once believes you guilty. don't tell her--and may god have mercy on your soul to-night!" with a pressure on the younger man's arm, the straight white figure of the old doctor passed through the gate. norton walked quickly to the steps of the spacious, pillared porch, stopped and turned again into the lawn. he sat down on a rustic seat and tried desperately to work out what he would say, and always the gray mist of a fog of despair closed in. for the first time in his life he was confronted squarely with the fact that the whole structure of society is enfolded in a network of interminable lies. his wife had been reared from the cradle in the atmosphere of beauty and innocence. she believed in the innocence of her father, her brothers, and every man who moved in her circle. above all, she believed in the innocence of her husband. the fact that the negro race had for two hundred years been stirring the baser passions of her men--that this degradation of the higher race had been bred into the bone and sinew of succeeding generations--had never occurred to her childlike mind. how hopeless the task to tell her now when the tragic story must shatter her own ideals! the very thought brought a cry of agony to his lips: "god in heaven--what can i do?" he looked helplessly at the stream of light from her window and turned again toward the cool, friendly darkness. the night was one of marvellous stillness. the band was playing again in his banquet hall at the capitol. so still was the night he could hear distinctly the softer strains of the stringed instruments, faint, sweet and thrilling, as they floated over the sleepy old town. a mocking-bird above him wakened by the call of melody answered, tenderly at first, and then, with the crash of cornet and drum, his voice swelled into a flood of wonderful song. with a groan of pain, norton rose and walked rapidly into the house. his bird-dog lay on the mat outside the door and sprang forward with a joyous whine to meet him. he stooped and drew the shaggy setter's head against his hot cheek. "i need a friend, to-night, don, old boy!" he said tenderly. and don answered with an eloquent wag of his tail and a gentle nudge of his nose. "if you were only my judge!--bah, what's the use----" he drew his drooping shoulders erect and entered his wife's room. her eyes were shining with peculiar brightness, but otherwise she seemed unusually calm. she began speaking with quick nervous energy: "dr. williams told you?" "yes, and i came at once." he answered with an unusually firm and clear note of strength. his whole being was keyed now to a high tension of alert decision. he saw that the doctor's way was the only one. "i don't ask you, dan," she went on with increasing excitement and a touch of scorn in her voice--"i don't ask you to deny this lie. what i want to know is the motive the little devil had in saying such a thing to me. mammy, in her jealousy, merely told me she was hanging around your room too often. i asked her if it were true. she looked at me a moment and burst into her lying 'confession.' i could have killed her. i did try to tear her green eyes out. i knew that you hated her and tried to put her out of the house, and i thought she had taken this way to get even with you--but it doesn't seem possible. and then i thought the governor might have taken this way to strike you. he knows old peeler, the low miserable scoundrel, who is her father. do you think it possible?" "i--don't--know," he stammered, moistening his lips and turning away. "yet it's possible"--she insisted. he saw the chance to confirm this impression by a cheap lie--to invent a story of old peeler's intimacy with the governor, of his attempt to marry lucy, of his hatred of the policy of the paper, his fear of the klan and of his treacherous, cowardly nature--yet the lie seemed so cheap and contemptible his lips refused to move. if he were going to carry out the doctor's orders here was his chance. he struggled to speak and couldn't. the habit of a life and the fibre of character were too strong. so he did the fatal thing at the moment of crisis. "i don't think that possible," he said. "why not?" "well, you see, since i rescued old peeler that night from those boys, he has been so abjectly grateful i've had to put him out of my office once or twice, and i'm sure he voted for me for the legislature against his own party." "he voted for you?" she asked in surprise. "he told me so. he may have lied, of course, but i don't think he did." "then what could have been her motive?" his teeth were chattering in spite of a desperate effort to think clearly and speak intelligently. he stared at a picture on the wall and made no reply. "say something--answer my question!" his wife cried excitedly. "i have answered, my dear. i said i don't know. i'm stunned by the whole thing." "you are _stunned_?" "yes----" "stunned? you, a strong, innocent man, stunned by a weak contemptible lie like this from the lips of such a girl--what do you mean?" "why, that i was naturally shocked to be called out of a banquet at such a moment by such an accusation. she actually beckoned to me from the door over the heads of the guests----" the little blue eyes suddenly narrowed and the thin lips grew hard: "cleo called you from the door?" she asked. "yes." "you left the hall to see her there?" "no, i went down stairs." "into the capitol square?" "yes. i couldn't well talk to her before all those guests----" "why not?" the question came like the crack of a pistol. her voice was high, cold, metallic, ringing. he saw, when too late, that he had made a fatal mistake. he stammered, reddened and then turned pale: "why--why--naturally----" "if you are innocent--why not?" he made a desperate effort to find a place of safety: "i thought it wise to go down stairs where i could talk without interruption----" "you--were--afraid," she was speaking each word now with cold, deadly deliberation, "to take-a-message-from-your-servant-at-the-door-of-a-public banquet-hall----" her words quickened--"then you suspected her possible message! there _was_ something between you----" "my dear, i beg of you----" he turned his head away with a weary gesture. she sprang from the side of the bed, leaped to his side, seized him by both arms and fairly screamed in his face: "look at me, dan!" he turned quickly, his haggard eyes stared into hers, and she looked with slowly dawning horror. "oh, my god!" she shrieked. "it's true--it's true--it's true!" she sprang back with a shiver of loathing, covered her face with her hands and staggered to her bed, sobbing hysterically: "it's true--it's true--it's true! have mercy, lord!--it's true--it's true!" she fell face downward, her frail figure quivering like a leaf in a storm. he rushed to her side, crying in terror: "it's not true--it's not true, my dear! don't believe it. i swear it's a lie--it's a lie--i tell you!" she was crying in sobs of utter anguish. he bent low: "it's not true, dearest! it's not true, i tell you. you mustn't believe it. you can't believe it when i swear to you that it's a lie----" his head gently touched her slender shoulder. she flinched as if scorched by a flame, sprang to her feet, and faced him with blazing eyes: "don't--you--dare--touch--me----" "my dear," he pleaded. "don't speak to me again!" "please----" "get out of this room!" he stood rooted to the spot in helpless stupor and she threw her little body against his with sudden fury, pushing him toward the door. "get out, i say!" he staggered back helplessly and awkwardly amazed at her strength as she pushed him into the hall. she stood a moment towering in the white frame of the door, the picture of an avenging angel to his tormented soul. through teeth chattering with hysterical emotion she cried: "go, you leper! and don't you ever dare to cross this door-sill again--not even to look on my dead face!" "for god's sake, don't!" he gasped, staggering toward her. but the door slammed in his face and the bolt suddenly shot into its place. he knocked gently and received no answer. an ominous stillness reigned within. he called again and again without response. he waited patiently for half an hour and knocked once more. an agony of fear chilled him. she might be dead. he knelt, pressed his ear close to the keyhole and heard a long, low, pitiful sob from her bed. "thank god----" he rose with sudden determination. she couldn't be left like that. he would call the doctor back at once, and, what was better still, he would bring her mother, a wise gray-haired little saint, who rarely volunteered advice in her daughter's affairs. the door would fly open at her soft command. chapter xiii an old story the doctor's house lay beyond the capitol and in his haste norton forgot that a banquet was being held in his honor. he found himself suddenly face to face with the first of the departing guests as they began to pour through the gates of the square. he couldn't face these people, turned in his tracks, walked back to the next block and hurried into an obscure side street by which he could avoid them. the doctor had not retired. he was seated on his porch quietly smoking, as if he were expecting the call. "well, you've bungled it, i see," he said simply, as he rose and seized his hat. "yes, she guessed the truth----" "guessed?--hardly." the white head with its shining hair slowly wagged. "she read it in those haggard eyes. funny what poor liars your people have always been! if your father hadn't been fool enough to tell the truth with such habitual persistence, that office of his would never have been burned during the war. it's a funny world. it's the fun of it that keeps us alive, after all." "do the best you can for me, doctor," he interrupted. "i'm going for her mother." "all right," was the cheery answer, "bring her at once. she's a better doctor than i to-night." norton walked swiftly toward a vine-clad cottage that stood beside governor carteret's place. it sat far back on the lawn that was once a part of the original estate twenty odd years ago. the old governor during his last administration had built it for robert carteret, a handsome, wayward son, whom pretty jennie pryor had married. it had been a runaway love match. the old man had not opposed it because of any objection to the charming girl the boy had fallen in love with. he knew that robert was a wild, headstrong, young scapegrace unfit to be the husband of any woman. but apparently marriage settled him. for two years after jean's birth he lived a decent life and then slipped again into hopelessly dissolute habits. when jean was seven years old he was found dead one night under peculiar circumstances that were never made public. the sweet little woman who had braved the world's wrath to marry him had never complained, and she alone (with one other) knew the true secret of his death. she had always been supported by a generous allowance from the old governor and in his last will the vigorous octogenarian had made her his sole heir. norton had loved this quiet, patient little mother with a great tenderness since the day of his marriage to her daughter. he had never found her wanting in sympathy or helpfulness. she rarely left her cottage, but many a time he had gone to her with his troubles and came away with a light heart and a clearer insight into the duty that called. her love and faith in him was one of the big things in life. in every dream of achievement that had fired his imagination during the stirring days of the past months he had always seen her face smiling with pride and love. it was a bitter task to confess his shame to her--this tender, gracious, uncomplaining saint, to whom he had always been a hero. he paused a moment with his hand on the bell of the cottage, and finally rang. standing before her with bowed head he told in a few stammering words the story of his sin and the sorrow that had overwhelmed him. "i swear to you that for the past two months my life has been clean and god alone knows the anguish of remorse i have suffered. you'll help me, mother?" he asked pathetically. "yes, my son," she answered simply. "you don't hate me?"--the question ended with a catch in his voice that made it almost inaudible. she lifted her white hands to his cheeks, drew the tall form down gently and pressed his lips: "no, my son, i've lived too long. i leave judgment now to god. the unshed tears i see in your eyes are enough for me." "i must see her to-night, mother. make her see me. i can't endure this." "she will see you when i have talked with her," was the slow reply as if to herself. "i am going to tell her something that i hoped to carry to the grave. but the time has come and she must know." the doctor was strolling on the lawn when they arrived. "she didn't wish to see me, my boy," he said with a look of sympathy. "and i thought it best to humor her. send for me again if you wish, but i think the mother is best to-night." without further words he tipped his hat with a fine old-fashioned bow to mrs. carteret and hurried home. at the sound of the mother's voice the door was opened, two frail arms slipped around her neck and a baby was sobbing again on her breast. the white slender hands tenderly stroked the blonde hair, lips bent low and kissed the shining head and a cheek rested there while sob after sob shook the little body. the wise mother spoke no words save the sign language of love and tenderness, the slow pressure to her heart of the sobbing figure, kisses, kisses, kisses on her hair and the soothing touch of her hand. a long time without a word they thus clung to each other. the sobs ceased at last. "now tell me, darling, how can i help you?" the gentle voice said. "oh, mamma, i just want to go home to you again and die--that's all." "you'd be happier, you think, with me, dear?" "yes--it's clean and pure there. i can't live in this house--the very air i breathe is foul!" "but you can't leave dan, my child. your life and his are one in your babe. god has made this so." "he is nothing to me now. he doesn't exist. i don't come of his breed of men. my father's handsome face--my grandfather's record as the greatest governor of the state--are not merely memories to me. i'll return to my own. and i'll take my child with me. i'll go back where the air is clean, where men have always been men, not beasts----" the mother rose quietly and took from the mantel the dainty morocco-covered copy of the bible she had given her daughter the day she left home. she turned its first, pages, put her finger on the sixteenth chapter of the book of genesis, and turned down a leaf: "i want you to read this chapter of genesis which i have marked when you are yourself, and remember that the sympathy of the world has always been with the outcast hagar, and not with the foolish wife who brought a beautiful girl into her husband's house and then repented of her folly." "but a negress! oh, my god, the horror, the shame, the humiliation he has put on me! i've asked myself a hundred times why i lived a moment, why i didn't leap from that window and dash my brain out on the ground below--the beast--the beast!" "yes, dear, but when you are older you will know that all men are beasts." "mother!" "yes, all men who are worth while----" "how can you say that," the daughter cried with scorn, "and remember my father and grandfather? no man passes the old governor to-day without lifting his hat, and i've seen you sit for hours with my father's picture in your lap crying over it----" "yes, dear," was the sweet answer, "these hearts of ours play strange pranks with us sometimes. you must see dan to-night and forgive. he will crawl on his hands and knees to your feet and beg it." "i'll never see him or speak to him again!" "you must--dear." "never!" the mother sat down on the lounge and drew the quivering figure close. her face was hidden from the daughter's view when she began to speak and so the death-like pallor was not noticed. the voice was held even by a firm will: "i hoped god might let me go without my having to tell you what i must say now, dearest"--in spite of her effort there was a break and silence. the little hand sought the mother's: "you know you can tell me anything, mamma, dear." "your father, my child, was not a great man. he died in what should have been the glory of young manhood. he achieved nothing. he was just the spoiled child of a greater man, a child who inherited his father's brilliant mind, fiery temper and willful passions. i loved him from the moment we met and in spite of all i know that he loved me with the strongest, purest love he was capable of giving to any woman. and yet, dearest, i dare not tell you all i discovered of his wild, reckless life. the vilest trait of his character was transmitted straight from sire to son--he would never ask forgiveness of any human being for anything he had done--that is your grandfather's boast to-day. the old governor, my child, was the owner of more than a thousand slaves on his two great plantations. many of them he didn't know personally--unless they were beautiful girls----" "oh, mother, darling, have mercy on me!"--the little fingers tightened their grip. but the mother's even voice went on remorselessly: "cleo's mother was one of his slaves. you may depend upon it, your grandfather knows her history. you must remember what slavery meant, dear. it put into the hands of a master an awful power. it was not necessary for strong men to use this power. the humble daughters of slaves vied with one another to win his favor. your grandfather was a man of great intellect, of powerful physique, of fierce, ungovernable passions----" "but my father"--gasped the girl wife. "was a handsome, spoiled child, the kind of man for whom women have always died--but he never possessed the strength to keep himself within the bounds of decency as did the older man----" "what do you mean?" the daughter broke in desperately. "there has always been a secret about your father's death"--the mother paused and drew a deep breath. "i made the secret. i told the story to save him from shame in death. he died in the cabin of a mulatto girl he had played with as a boy--and--the thing that's hardest for me to tell you, dearest, is that i knew exactly where to find him when he had not returned at two o'clock that morning----" the white head sank lower and rested on the shoulder of the frail young wife, who slipped her arms about the form of her mother, and neither spoke for a long while. at last the mother began in quiet tones: "and this was one of the reasons, my child, why slavery was doomed. the war was a wicked and awful tragedy. the white motherhood of the south would have crushed slavery. before the war began we had six hundred thousand mulattoes--six hundred thousand reasons why slavery had to die!" the fire flashed in the gentle eyes for a moment while she paused, and drew her soul back from the sorrowful past to the tragedy of to-day: "and so, my darling, you must see your husband and forgive. he isn't bad. he carried in his blood the inheritance of hundreds of years of lawless passion. the noble thing about dan is that he has the strength of character to rise from this to a higher manhood. you must help him, dearest, to do this." the daughter bent and kissed the gentle lips: "ask him to come here, mother----" she found the restless husband pacing the floor of the pillared porch. it was past two o'clock and the waning moon had risen. his face was ghastly as his feet stopped their dreary beat at the rustle of her dress. his heart stood still for a moment until he saw the smiling face. "it's all right, dan," she called softly in the doorway. "she's waiting for you." he sprang to the door, stooped and kissed the silken gray hair and hurried up the stairs. tears were slowly stealing from the blue eyes as the little wife extended her frail arms. the man knelt and bowed his head in her lap, unable to speak at first. with an effort he mastered his voice: "say that you forgive me!" the blonde head sank until it touched the brown: "i forgive you--but, oh, dan, dear, i don't want to live any more now----" "don't say that!" he pleaded desperately. "and i've wanted to live so madly, so desperately--but now--i'm afraid i can't." "you can--you must! you have forgiven me. i'll prove my love to you by a life of such devotion i'll make you forget! all i ask is the chance to atone and make you happy. you must live because i ask it, dear! it's the only way you can give me a chance. and the boy--dearest--you must live to teach him." she nodded her head and choked back a sob. when the first faint light of the dawn of a glorious spring morning began to tinge the eastern sky he was still holding her hands and begging her to live. chapter xiv the fight for life the little wife made a brave fight. for a week there was no sign of a breakdown save an unnatural brightness of the eyes that told the story of struggle within. he gave himself to the effort to help her win. he spent but an hour at the capitol, left a speaker _pro tem_ in the chair, hurried to his office, gave his orders and by eleven o'clock he was at home, talking, laughing, and planning a day's work that would interest her and bring back the flush to her pale cheeks. she had responded to his increasing tenderness and devotion with pathetic eagerness. at the beginning of the second week doctor williams gave him hope: "it looks to me, my boy," he said thoughtfully, "that i'm seeing a miracle. i think she's not only going to survive the shock, but, what's more remarkable, she's going to recover her health again. the mind's the source of health and power. we give medicines, of course, but the thought that heals the soul will reach the body. bah!--the body is the soul anyhow, for all our fine-spun theories, and the mind is only one of the ways through which we reach it----" "you really think she may be well again?" norton asked with boyish eagerness. "yes, if you can reconcile her mind to this thing, she'll not only live, she will be born again into a more vigorous life. why not? the preachers have often called me a godless rationalist. but i go them one better when they preach the miracle of a second, or spiritual birth. i believe in the possibility of many births for the human soul and the readjustment of these bodies of ours to the new spirits thus born. if you can tide her over the next three weeks without a breakdown, she will get well." the husband's eyes flashed: "if it depends on her mental attitude, i'll make her live and grow strong. i'll give her my body and soul." "there are just two dangers----" "what?" "the first mental--a sudden collapse of the will with which she's making this fight under a reaction to the memories of our system of educated ignorance, which we call girlish innocence. this may come at a moment when the consciousness of these 'ideals' may overwhelm her imagination and cause a collapse----" "yes, i understand," he replied thoughtfully. "i'll guard that." "the other is the big physical enigma----" "you mean?" "the possible reopening of that curious abscess in her throat." "but the specialist assured us it would never reappear----" "yes, and he knows just as much about it as you or i. it is one of the few cases of its kind so far recorded in the science of medicine. when the baby was born, the drawing of the mother's neck in pain pressed a bone of the spinal column into the flesh beside the jugular vein. your specialist never dared to operate for a thorough removal of the trouble for fear he would sever the vein----" "and if the old wound reopens it will reach the jugular vein?" "yes." "well--it--won't happen!" he answered fiercely. "it can't happen now----" "i don't think it will myself, if you can keep at its highest tension the desire to live. that's the magic thing that works the miracle of life in such cases. it makes food digest, sends red blood to the tips of the slenderest finger and builds up the weak places. don't forget this, my boy. make her love life, desperately and passionately, until the will to live dominates both soul and body." "i'll do it," was the firm answer, as he grasped the doctor's outstretched hand in parting. he withdrew completely from his political work. a speaker _pro tem_ presided daily over the deliberations of the house, and an assistant editor took charge of the paper. the wife gently urged him to give part of his time to his work again. "no," he responded firmly and gayly. "the doctor says you have a chance to get well. i'd rather see the roses in your cheeks again than be the president of the united states." she drew his head down and clung to him with desperate tenderness. chapter xv cleo's silence for two weeks the wife held her own and the doctor grew more confident each day. when norton began to feel sure the big danger was past his mind became alert once more to the existence of cleo. he began to wonder why she had not made an effort to see or communicate with him. she had apparently vanished from the face of the earth. in spite of his effort to minimize the importance of this fact, her silence gradually grew in sinister significance. what did it mean? what was her active brain and vital personality up to? that it boded no good to his life and the life of those he loved he couldn't doubt for a moment. he sent a reporter on a secret mission to peeler's house to find if she were there. he returned in three hours and made his report. "she's at peeler's, sir," the young man said with a smile. "you allowed no one to learn the real reason of your visit, as i told you?" "they never dreamed it. i interviewed old peeler on the revolution in politics and its effects on the poor whites of the state----" "you saw her?" "she seemed to be all over the place at the same time, singing, laughing and perfectly happy." "run your interview to-morrow, and keep this visit a profound secret between us." "yes, sir." the reporter tipped his hat and was gone. why she was apparently happy and contented in surroundings she had grown to loathe was another puzzle. through every hour of the day, down in the subconscious part of his mind, he was at work on this surprising fact. the longer he thought of it the less he understood it. that she would ever content herself with the dreary existence of old peeler's farm after her experiences in the town and in his home was preposterous. that she was smiling and happy under such conditions was uncanny, and the picture of her shining teeth and the sound of her deep voice singing as she walked through the cheap, sordid surroundings of that drab farmhouse haunted his mind with strange fear. she was getting ready to strike him in the dark. just how the blow would fall he couldn't guess. the most obvious thing for her to do would be to carry her story to his political enemies and end his career at a stroke. yet somehow, for the life of him he couldn't picture her choosing that method of revenge. she had not left him in a temper. the rage and curses had all been his. she had never for a moment lost her self-control. the last picture that burned into his soul was the curious smile with which she had spoken her parting words: "but i'll see you again!" beyond a doubt some clean-cut plan of action was in her mind when she uttered that sentence. the one question now was--"what did she mean?" there was one thought that kept popping into his head, but it was too hideous for a moment's belief. he stamped on it as he would a snake and hurried on to other possibilities. there was but one thing he could do and that was to await with increasing dread her first move. chapter xvi the larger vision his mind had just settled into this attitude of alert watchfulness toward cleo when the first danger the doctor dreaded for his wife began to take shape. the feverish brightness in her eyes grew dimmer and her movements less vigorous. the dreaded reaction had come and the taut strings of weakened nerves could bear the strain no longer. with a cry of despair she threw herself into his arms: "oh, dan, dear, it's no use! i've tried--i've tried so hard--but i can't do it--i just don't want to live any more!" he put his hands over the trembling, thin lips: "hush, dearest, you mustn't say that--it's just a minute's reaction. you're blue this morning, that's all. it's the weather--a dreary foggy day. the sun will be shining again to-morrow. it's shining now behind the mists if we only remember it. the trees are bare, but their buds are swelling and these days of cold and fog and rain must come to make them burst in glory. come, let me put your shawl around you and i'll show you how the flowers have pushed up in the sheltered places the past week." he drew the hands, limp and cold, from his neck, picked up her shawl, tenderly placed it about her shoulders, lifted her in his strong arms, and carried her to the old rose garden behind the house. don sniffed his leg, and looked up into his face with surprise at the unexpected frolic. he leaped into the air, barked softly and ran in front to show the way. "you see, old don knows the sun is shining behind the clouds, dear!" she made no answer. the blonde head drooped limply against his breast. he found a seat on the south side of the greenhouse on an old rustic bench his father had built of cedar when he was a boy. "there," he said cheerfully, as he smoothed her dress and drew her close by his side. "you can feel the warmth of the sun here reflected from the glass. the violets are already blooming along the walks. the jonquils are all gone, and the rose bushes have begun to bud. you mustn't talk about giving up. we haven't lived yet." "but i'm tired, dan, tired----" "it's just for a moment, remember, my love. you'll feel differently to-morrow. the world is always beautiful if we only have eyes to see and ears to hear. watch that smoke curling straight up from the chimney! that means the clouds are already lifting and the sun will burst through them this afternoon. you mustn't brood, dearest. you must forget the misery that has darkened our world for a moment and remember that it's only the dawn of a new life for us both. we are just boy and girl yet. there's nothing impossible. i'm going to prove to you that my love is the deathless thing in me--the thing that links me to god." "you really love me so?" she asked softly. "give me a chance to prove it. that's all i ask. men sometimes wait until they're past forty before they begin to sow their wild oats. i am only twenty-five now. this tragic sin and shame has redeemed life. it's yours forever--you must believe me when i say this, dearest----" "i try," she broke in wearily. "i try, dan, but it's hard to believe anything now--oh, so hard----" "but can't you understand, my love, how i have been headstrong and selfish before the shock of my fall brought me to my senses? and that the terror of losing you has taught me how deep and eternal the roots of our love have struck and this knowledge led me into the consciousness of a larger and more wonderful life--can't--can't you understand this, dearest?" his voice sank to the lowest reverent whisper as he ceased to speak. she stroked his hand with a pathetic little gesture of tenderness. "yes, i believe you," she said with a far-away look in her eyes. "i know that i can trust you now implicitly, and what i can't understand is that--feeling this so clearly--still i have no interest in life. something has snapped inside of me. life doesn't seem worth the struggle any longer----" "but it is, dear! life is always good, always beautiful, and always worth the struggle. we've but to lift our eyes and see. sin is only our stumbling in the dark as we grope toward the light. i'm going to be a humbler and better man. i am no longer proud and vain. i've a larger and sweeter vision. i feel my kinship to the weak and the erring. alone in the night my soul has entered into the fellowship of the great brotherhood through the gates of suffering. you must know this, jean--you know that it's true as i thus lay my heart's last secret bare to you to-day. "yes, dan," she sighed wearily, "but i'm just tired. i don't seem to recognize anything i used to know. i look at the baby and he don't seem to be mine. i look at you and feel that you're a stranger. i look at my room, the lawn, the street, the garden--no matter where, and i'm dazed. i feel that i've lost my way. i don't know how to live any more." for an hour he held her hand and pleaded with all the eloquence of his love that she would let him teach her again, and all she could do was to come back forever in the narrow circle her mind had beaten. she was tired and life no longer seemed worth while! he kissed the drooping eyelids at last and laughed a willful, daring laugh as he gathered her in his arms and walked slowly back into the house. "you've got to live, my own! i'll show you how! i'll breathe my fierce desire into your soul and call you back even from the dead!" yet in spite of all she drooped and weakened daily, and at the end of a fortnight began to complain of a feeling of uneasiness in her throat. the old doctor said nothing when she made this announcement. he drew his beetling eyebrows low and walked out on the lawn. pale and haggard, norton followed him. "well, doctor?" he asked queerly. "there's only one thing to do. get her away from here at once, to the most beautiful spot you can find, high altitude with pure, stimulating air. the change may help her. that's all i can say"--he paused, laid his hand on the husband's arm and went on earnestly--"and if you haven't discussed that affair with her, you'd better try it. tear the old wound open, go to the bottom of it, find the thing that's festering there and root it out if you can--the thing that's caused this break." the end of another week found them in asheville, north carolina. the wonderful views of purple hills and turquoise sky stretching away into the infinite thrilled the heart of the little invalid. it was her first trip to the mountains. she never tired the first two days of sitting in the big sun-parlor beside the open fire logs and gazing over the valleys and watching the fleet clouds with their marvelous coloring. the air was too chill in these early days of spring for her to feel comfortable outside. but a great longing began to possess her to climb the mountains and feel their beauty at closer range. she sat by his side in her room and held his hand while they watched the glory of the first cloud-flecked mountain sunset. the river lay a crooked silver ribbon in the deepening shadows of the valley, while the sky stretched its dazzling scarlet canopy high in heaven above it. the scarlet slowly turned to gold, and then to deepening purple and with each change revealed new beauty to the enraptured eye. she caught her breath and cried at last: "oh, it is a beautiful world, dan, dear--and i wish i could live!" he laughed for joy: "then you shall, dearest! you shall, of course you shall!" "i want you to take me over every one of those wonderful purple hills!" "yes, dear, i will!" "i dream as i sit and look at them that god lives somewhere in one of those deep shadows behind a dazzling cloud, and that if we only drive along those ragged cliffs among them we'd come face to face with him some day----" he looked at her keenly. there was again that unnatural brightness in her eyes which he didn't like and yet he took courage. the day was a glorious one in the calendar. hope had dawned in her heart. "the first warm day we'll go, dear," he cried with the enthusiasm of a boy, "and take mammy and the kid with us, too, if you say so----" "no, i want just you, dan. the long ride might tire the baby, and i might wish to stay up there all night. i shall never grow tired of those hills." "it's sweet to hear you talk like that," he cried with a smile. he selected a gentle horse for their use and five days later, when the sun rose with unusual warmth, they took their first mountain drive. along the banks of crystal brooks that dashed their sparkling waters over the rocks, up and up winding, narrow roads until the town became a mottled white spot in the valley below, and higher still until the shining clouds they had seen from the valley rolled silently into their faces, melting into the gray mists of fog! in the midst of one of these clouds, the little wife leaned close and whispered: "we're in heaven now, dan--we're passing through the opal gates! i shouldn't be a bit surprised to see him at any moment up here----" a lump suddenly rose in his throat. her voice sounded unreal. he bent close and saw the strange bright light again in her eyes. and the awful thought slowly shaped itself that the light he saw was the shining image of the angel of death reflected there. he tried to laugh off his morbid fancy now that she had begun to find the world so beautiful, but the idea haunted him with increasing terror. he couldn't shake off the impression. an hour later he asked abruptly: "you have felt no return of the pain in your throat, dear?" "just a little last night, but not to-day--i've been happy to-day." he made up his mind to telegraph to new york at once for the specialist to examine her throat. the fine weather continued unbroken. every day for a week she sat by his side and drifted over sunlit valleys, lingered beside beautiful waters and climbed a new peak to bathe in sun-kissed clouds. on the top of one of these peaks they found a farmhouse where lodgers were allowed for the night. they stayed to see the sunrise next morning. mammy would not worry, they had told her they might spend the night on these mountain trips. the farmer called them in time--just as the first birds were waking in the trees by their window. it was a climb of only two hundred yards to reach the top of a great boulder that gave an entrancing view in four directions. to the west lay the still sleeping town of asheville half hidden among its hills and trees. eastward towered the giant peaks of the blue ridge, over whose ragged crests the sun was climbing. the young husband took the light form in his strong arms and carried her to the summit. he placed his coat on the rocky ledge, seated her on it, and slipped his arm around the slim waist. there in silence they watched the changing glory of the sky and saw the shadows wake and flee from the valleys at the kiss of the sun. he felt the moment had come that he might say some things he had waited with patience to speak: "you are sure, dear, that you have utterly forgiven the great wrong i did you?" "yes, dan," she answered simply, "why do you ask?" "i just want to be sure, my jean," he said tenderly, "that there's not a single dark corner of your heart in which the old shadows lurk. i want to drive them all out with my love just as we see the sun now lighting with glory every nook and corner of the world. you are sure?" the thin lips quivered uncertainly and her blue eyes wavered as he searched their depths. "there's one thing, dan, that i'll never quite face, i think"--she paused and turned away. "what, dear?" "how any man who had ever bent over a baby's cradle with the tenderness and love i've seen in your face for tom, could forget the mother who gave the life at his command!" "i didn't forget, dearest," he said sadly. "i fought as a wounded man, alone and unarmed, fights a beast in the jungle. with her sweet spiritual ideal of love a sheltered, innocent woman can't remember that man is still an animal, with tooth and claw and unbridled passions, that when put to the test his religion and his civilization often are only a thin veneer, that if he becomes a civilized human being in his relations to women it is not by inheritance, for he is yet in the zoölogical period of development--but that it is by the divine achievement of character through struggle. try, dearest, if you can, to imagine such a struggle. this primeval man, in the shadows with desires inflamed by hunger, meets this free primeval woman who is unafraid, who laughs at the laws of society because she has nothing to lose. both are for the moment animals pure and simple. the universal in him finds its counterpart in the universal in her. and whether she be fair or dark, her face, her form, her body, her desires are his--and, above all, she is near--and in that moment with a nearness that overwhelms by its enfolding animal magnetism all powers of the mind to think or reflect. two such beings are atoms tossed by a storm of forces beyond their control. a man of refinement wakes from such a crash of elemental powers dazed and humiliated. your lips can speak no word as vile, no curse as bitter as i have hurled against myself----" the voice broke and he was silent. a little hand pressed his, and her words were the merest tender whisper as she leaned close: "i've forgiven you, my love, and i'm going to let you teach me again to live. i'll be a very docile little scholar in your school. but you know i can't forget in a moment the greatest single hour that is given a woman to know--the hour she feels the breath of her first born on her breast. it's the memory of that hour that hurts. i won't try to deceive you. i'll get over it in the years to come if god sends them----" "he will send them--he will send them!" the man broke in with desperate emotion. both were silent for several minutes and a smile began to play about the blue eyes when she spoke at last: "you remember how angry you were that morning when you found a doctor and a nurse in charge of your home? and the great fear that gripped your heart at the first mad cry of pain i gave? i laughed at myself the next moment. and then how i found your hand and wouldn't let you go. the doctor stormed and ordered you out, and i just held on and shook my head, and you stayed. and when the doctor turned his back i whispered in your ear: "''you won't leave me, dan, darling, for a single moment--promise me--swear it!' "and you answered: "'yes, i swear it, honey--but you must be very brave--braver than i am, you know'---- "and you begged me to take an anesthetic and i wouldn't, like a little fool. i wanted to know all and feel all if it killed me. and the anguish of your face became so terrible, dear--i was sorrier for you than for myself. and when i saw your lips murmuring in an agony of prayer, i somehow didn't mind it then----" she paused, looked far out over the hills and continued: "what a funny cry he gave--that first one--not a real baby cry--just a funny little grunt like a good-natured pig! and how awfully disappointed you were at the shapeless bundle of red flesh that hardly looked human! but i could see the lines of your dear face in his, i knew that he would be even handsomer than his big, brave father and pressed him close and laughed for joy----" she stopped and sighed: "you see, dan, what i couldn't understand is how any man who has felt the pain and the glory of this, with his hand clasped in the hand of the woman he loves, their two souls mirrored in that first pair of mysterious little eyes god sent from eternity--how he could forget the tie that binds----" he made no effort to interrupt her until the last bitter thought that had been rankling in her heart was out. he was looking thoughtfully over the valley. an eagle poised above the field in the foreground, darted to the stubble with lightning swiftness and rose with a fluttering brown quail in his talons. his shrill cry of triumph rang pitilessly in the stillness of the heights. the little figure gave an unconscious shiver and she added in low tones: "i'm never going to speak of this nameless thing again, dan, but you asked me this morning and i've told you what was in my heart. i just couldn't understand how you could forget----" "only a beast could, dearest," he answered with a curl of the lip. "i'm something more than that now, taught by the bitterness of experience. you're just a sweet, innocent girl who has never looked the world as it is in the face. reared as you were, you can't understand that there's a difference as deep as the gulf between heaven and hell, in the divine love that binds my soul and body and life to you and the sudden passing of a storm of passion. won't you try to remember this?" "yes, dear, i will----" she looked into his eyes with a smile of tenderness: "a curious change is coming over you, dan. i can begin to see it. there used to be a line of cruelty sometimes about your mouth and a flash of it in your eyes. they're gone. there's something strong and tender, wise and sweet, in their place. if i were an artist i could paint it but i can't just tell you what it is. i used to think the cruel thing i saw in you was the memory of the war. your eyes saw so much of blood and death and pain and cruelty----" "perhaps it was," he said slowly. "war does make men cruel--unconsciously cruel. we lose all sense of the value of human life----" "no, it wasn't that," she protested, "it was the other thing--the--the--beast you've been talking about. it's not there any more, dan--and i'm going to be happy now. i know it, dear----" he bent and kissed the slender fingers. "if this old throat of mine just won't bother me again," she added. he looked at her and turned pale: "it's bothering you this morning?" she lifted the delicately shaped head and touched her neck: "not much pain, but a sense of fullness. i feel as if i'm going to choke sometimes." he rose abruptly, a great fear in his heart: "we'll go back to town at once. the doctor should arrive at three from new york." "let's not hurry," she cried smiling. "i'm happy now. you're my old sweetheart again and i'm on a new honeymoon----" he gazed at the white slender throat. she was looking unusually well. he wondered if this were a trick of the enemy to throw him off his guard. he wondered what was happening in those tiny cells behind the smooth round lines of the beautiful neck. it made him sick and faint to think of the possibility of another attack--just when the fight was over--just when she had begun to smile and find life sweet again! his soul rose in fierce rebellion. it was too horrible for belief. he simply wouldn't believe it! "all right!" he exclaimed with decision. "we'll stay here till two o'clock, anyhow. we can drive back in three hours. the train will be late--it always is." through the long hours of a wonderful spring morning they basked in the sun side by side on a bed of leaves he piled in a sheltered spot on the mountain side. they were boy and girl again. the shadows had lifted and the world was radiant with new glory. they talked of the future and the life of perfect mutual faith and love that should be theirs. and each moment closer came the soft footfall of an unseen angel. chapter xvii the opal gates the doctor was waiting at the hotel, his keen eyes very serious. he had guessed the sinister meaning of the summons. he was an unusually brusque man--almost rude in his words. he greeted norton with friendly sympathy and smiled at the radiant face of the wife. "well, little mother," he said with grave humor, "we have more trouble. but you're brave and patient. it's a joy to work for you." "and now," she responded gayly, "you've got to finish this thing, doctor. i don't want any more half-way operations. i'm going to get well this time. i'm happy and i'm going to be strong again." "good, we'll get at it right away. i knew you'd feel that way and so i brought with me a great surgeon, the most skillful man i know in new york. i've told him of your case, a very unusual one, and he is going to help me." the little mouth smiled bravely: "i'll be ready for the examination in half an hour----" when the doctors emerged from her room the sun had set behind the dark blue hills and norton was waiting on the balcony for their report. the specialist walked slowly to where he was standing. he couldn't move from his tracks. his throat was dry and he had somehow lost the power of speech. he looked into the face of the man of science, read the story of tragedy and a mist closed his eyes. the doctor took his arm gently: "i've bad news for you----" "yes, i know," was the low answer. "the truth is best----" "i want to know it." "she can't live!" the tall figure stiffened, there was a moment of silence and when he spoke his words fell slowly with measured intensity: "there's not a single chance, doctor?" "not worth your cherishing. you'd as well know this now and be prepared. we opened and drained the old wound, and both agreed that it is too late for an operation. the flesh that guards the wall of the great vein is a mere shred. she would die under the operation. i can't undertake it." "and it will not heal again?" the doctor was silent for a long while and his eyes wandered to the darkening sky where the stars were coming out one by one: "who knows but god? and who am i to set bounds to his power?" "then there may be a slender chance?" he asked eagerly. "to the eye of science--no--yet while life lingers we always hope. but i wouldn't advise you to leave her side for the next ten days. the end, if it comes, will be very sudden, and it will be too late for speech." a groan interrupted his words and norton leaned heavily against the balcony rail. the doctor's voice was full of feeling as he continued: "if you have anything to say to her you'd better say it quickly to be sure that it does not remain unsaid." "thank you----" "i have told her nothing more can be done now until the wound from this draining heals--that when it does she can come to new york for a final decision on the operation." "i understand." "we leave to-night on the midnight express----" "you can do nothing more?" "nothing." a warm pressure of the hand in the gathering twilight and he was gone. the dazed man looked toward the fading sky-line of the southwest at mt. pisgah's towering black form pushing his way into the track of the stars and a feeling of loneliness crushed his soul. he turned abruptly, braced himself for the ordeal and hurried to her room. she was unusually bright and cheerful. "why, it didn't hurt a bit, dear!" she exclaimed joyfully. "it was nothing. and when it heals you're to take me to new york for the operation----" he took her hot hand and kissed it through blinding tears which he tried in vain to fight back. "they didn't even have to pack that nasty old gauze in it again--were you very much scared waiting out there, dan?" "very much." she started at the queer note in his voice, caught her hand in his brown locks and pressed his head back in view: "why, you're crying--you big foolish boy! you mustn't do that. i'm all right now--i feel much better--there's not a trace of pain or uneasiness. don't be silly--it's all right, remember." he stroked the little hand: "yes, i'll remember, dearest." "it should all be healed in three weeks and then we'll go to new york. it'll just be fun! i've always been crazy to go. i won't mind the operation--you'll be with me every minute now till i'm well again." "yes, dear, every moment now until--you--are--well." the last words came slowly, but by a supreme effort of will the voice was held even. he found mammy, told her the solemn truth, and sent her to hire a nurse for the baby. "either you or i must be by her side every minute now, mammy--day and night." "yessir, i understand," the dear old voice answered. every morning early the nurse brought the baby in for a romp as soon as he waked and mammy came to relieve the tired watcher. ten days passed before the end came. many long, sweet hours he had with her hand in his as the great shadow deepened, while he talked to her of life and death, and immortality. a strange peace had slowly stolen into his heart. he had always hated and feared death before. now his fears had gone. and the face of the dim white messenger seemed to smile at him from the friendly shadows. the change came quietly one night as they sat in the moonlight of her window. "oh, what a beautiful world, dan!" she said softly, and then the little hand suddenly grasped her throat! she turned a blanched face on him and couldn't speak. he lifted her tenderly and laid her on the bed, rang for the doctor and sent mammy for the baby. she motioned for a piece of paper--and slowly wrote in a queer, trembling hand: "i understand, dearest, i am going--it's all right. i am happy--remember that i love you and have forgiven--rear our boy free from the curse--you know what i mean. i had rather a thousand times that he should die than this--my brooding spirit will watch and guard." the baby kissed her sweetly and lisped: "good night, mamma!" from the doorway he waved his chubby little arm and cried again: "night, night, mamma!" the sun was slowly climbing the eastern hills when the end came. its first rays streamed through the window and fell on his haggard face as he bent and pressed a kiss on the silent lips of the dead. chapter xviii questions the thing that crushed the spirit of the man was not the shock of death with its thousand and one unanswerable questions torturing the soul, but the possibility that his acts had been the cause of the tragedy. dr. williams had said to him over and over again: "make her will to live and she'll recover!" he had fought this grim battle and won. she had willed to live and was happy. the world had never seemed so beautiful as the day she died. if the cause of her death lay further back in the curious accident which happened at the birth of the child, his soul was clear of guilt. he held none of the morbid fancies of the super-sensitive mind that would make a father responsible for a fatal outcome in the birth of a babe. god made women to bear children. the only woman to be pitied was the one who could not know the pain, the joy and the danger of this divine hour. but the one persistent question to which his mind forever returned was whether the shock of his sin had weakened her vitality and caused the return of this old trouble. the moment he left the grave on the day of her burial, he turned to the old doctor with this grim question. he told him the whole story. he told him every word she had spoken since they left home. he recounted every hour of reaction and depression, the good and the bad, just as the recording angel might have written it. he ended his recital with the burning question: "tell me now, doctor, honestly before god, did i kill her?" "certainly not!" was the quick response. "don't try to shield me. i can stand the truth. i don't belong to a race of cowards. after this no pain can ever come but that my soul shall laugh!" "i'm honest with you, my boy. i've too much self-respect not to treat you as a man in such an hour. no, if she died as you say, you had nothing to do with it. the seed of death was hiding there behind that slender, graceful throat. i was always afraid of it. and i've always known that if the pain returned she'd die----" "you knew that before we left home?" "yes. i only hinted the truth. i thought the change might prolong her life, that's all." "you're not saying this to cheer me? this is not one of your lies you give for medicine sometimes?" "no"--the old doctor smiled gravely. "no, shake off this nightmare and go back to your work. your people are calling you." * * * * * he made a desperate effort to readjust himself to life, but somehow at the moment the task was hopeless. he had preached, with all the eloquence of the enthusiasm of youth, that life in itself is always beautiful and always good. he found it was easier to preach a thing than to live it. the old house seemed to be empty, and, strange to say, the baby's voice didn't fill it. he had said to himself that the patter of his little feet and the sound of his laughter would fill its halls, make it possible to live, and get used to the change. but it wasn't so. somehow the child's laughter made him faint. the sound of his voice made the memory of his mother an intolerable pain. his voice in the morning was the first thing he heard and it drove him from the house. at night when he knelt to lisp his prayers her name was a stab, and when he waved his little hands and said: "good night, papa!" he could remember nothing save the last picture that had burned itself into his soul. he tried to feed and care for a canary she had kept in her room, but when he cocked his little yellow head and gave the loving plaintive cry with which he used to greet her, the room became a blur and he staggered out unable to return for a day. the silent sympathy of his dog, as he thrust his nose between his hands and wagged his shaggy tail, was the only thing that seemed to count for anything. "i understand, don, old boy," he cried, lifting his paw into his lap and slipping his arm around the woolly neck, "you're telling me that you love me always, good or bad, right or wrong. i understand, and it's very sweet to know it. but i've somehow lost the way on life's field, old boy. the night is coming on and i can't find the road home. you remember that feeling when we were lost sometimes in strange countries hunting together, you and i?" don licked his hand and wagged his tail again. he rose and walked through the lawn, radiant now with the glory of spring. but the flowers had become the emblems of death not life and their odor was oppressive. a little black boy, in a ragged shirt and torn trousers, barefooted and bareheaded, stopped at the gate, climbed up and looked over with idle curiosity at his aimless wandering. he giggled and asked: "ye don't need no boy fer nothin, do ye?" the man's sombre eyes suddenly lighted with a look of hate that faded in a moment and he made no reply. what had this poor little ragamuffin, his face smeared with dirt and his eyes rolling with childish mirth, to do with tragic problems which his black skin symbolized! he was there because a greedy race of empire builders had need of his labor. he had remained to torment and puzzle and set at naught the wisdom of statesmen for the same reason. for the first time in his life he asked himself a startling question: "do i really need him?" before the shock that threw his life into ruins he would have answered as every southerner always answered at that time: "certainly i need him. his labor is indispensable to the south." but to-day, back of the fire that flashed in his eyes, there had been born a new thought. he was destined to forget it in the stress of the life of the future, but it was there growing from day to day. the thought shaped itself into questions: "isn't the price we pay too great? is his labor worth more than the purity of our racial stock? shall we improve the breed of men or degrade it? is any progress that degrades the breed of men progress at all? is it not retrogression? can we afford it?" he threw off his train of thought with a gesture of weariness and a great desire suddenly possessed his heart to get rid of such a burden by a complete break with every tie of life save one. "why not take the boy and go?" he exclaimed. the more he turned the idea over in his mind the more clearly it seemed to be the sensible thing to do. but the fighting instinct within him was too strong for immediate surrender. he went to his office determined to work and lose himself in a return to its old habits. he sat down at his desk, but his mind was a blank. there wasn't a question on earth that seemed worth writing an editorial about. nothing mattered. for two hours he sat hopelessly staring at his exchanges. the same world, which he had left a few weeks before when he had gone down into the valley of the shadows to fight for his life, still rolled on with its endless story of joy and sorrow, ambitions and struggle. it seemed now the record of the buzzing of a lot of insects. it was a waste of time to record such a struggle or to worry one way or another about it. and this effort of a daily newspaper to write the day's history of these insects! it might be worth the while of a philosopher to pause a moment to record the blow that would wipe them out of existence, but to get excited again over their little squabbles--it seemed funny now that he had ever been such a fool! he rose at last in disgust and seized his hat to go home when the chairman of the executive committee of his party suddenly walked into his office unannounced. his face was wreathed in smiles and his deep bass voice had a hearty, genuine ring: "i've big news for you, major!" the editor placed a chair beside his desk, motioned his visitor to be seated and quietly resumed his seat. "it's been settled for some time," he went on enthusiastically, "but we thought best not to make the announcement so soon after your wife's death. i reckon you can guess my secret?" "i give it up," was the listless answer. "the committee has voted unanimously to make you the next governor. your nomination with such backing is a mere formality. your election is a certainty----" the chairman sprang to his feet and extended his big hand: "i salute the governor of the commonwealth--the youngest man in the history of the state to hold such high office----" "you mean it?" norton asked in a stupor. "mean it? of course i mean it! why don't you give me your hand? what's the matter?" "you see, i've sort of lost my bearings in politics lately." the chairman's voice was lowered: "of course, major, i understand. well, this is the medicine you need now to brace you up. for the first time in my memory a name will go before our convention without a rival. there'll be just one ballot and that will be a single shout that'll raise the roof----" norton rose and walked to his window overlooking the square, as he was in the habit of doing often, turning his back for a moment on the enthusiastic politician. he was trying to think. the first big dream of his life had come true and it didn't interest him. he turned abruptly and faced his visitor: "tell your committee for me," he said with slow emphatic voice, "that i appreciate the high honor they would do me, but cannot accept----" "what!" "i cannot accept the responsibility." "you don't mean it?" "i was never more in earnest." the chairman slipped his arm around the editor with a movement of genuine sympathy: "come, my boy, this is nonsense. i'm a veteran politician. no man ever did such a thing as this in the history of the state! you can't decline such an honor. you're only twenty-five years old." "time is not measured by the tick of a clock," norton interrupted, "but by what we've lived." "yes, yes, we know you've had a great shock in the death of your wife, but you must remember that the people--a million people--are calling you to lead them. it's a solemn duty. don't say no now. take a little time and you'll see that it's the work sent to you at the moment you need it most. i won't take no for an answer----" he put on his hat and started to the door: "i'll just report to the committee that i notified you and that you have the matter under consideration." before norton could enter a protest the politician had gone. his decision was instantly made. this startling event revealed the hopelessness of life under its present conditions. he would leave the south. he would put a thousand miles between him and the scene of the events of the past year. he would leave his home with its torturing memories. above all, he would leave the negroid conditions that made his shame possible and rear his boy in clean air. chapter xix cleo's cry the decision once made was carried out without delay. he placed an editor permanently in charge of his paper, closed the tall green shutters of the stately old house, sold his horses, and bought tickets for himself and mammy for new york. he paused at the gate and looked back at the white pillars of which he had once been so proud. he hadn't a single regret at leaving. "a house doesn't make a home, after all!" he sighed with a lingering look. he took the boy to the cemetery for a last hour beside the mother's grave before he should turn his back on the scenes of his old life forever. the cemetery was the most beautiful spot in the county. at this period of the life of the south, it was the one spot where every home had its little plot. the war had killed the flower of southern manhood. the bravest and the noblest boys never surrendered. they died with a shout and a smile on their lips and southern women came daily now to keep their love watches on these solemn bivouacs of the dead. the girls got the habit of going there to plant flowers and to tend them and grew to love the shaded walks, the deep boxwood hedges, the quiet, sweetly perfumed air. sweethearts were always strolling among the flowers and from every nook and corner peeped a rustic seat that could tell its story of the first stammering words from lovers' lips. norton saw them everywhere this beautiful spring afternoon, the girls in their white, clean dresses, the boys bashful and self-conscious. a throb of pain gripped his heart and he hurried through the wilderness of flowers to the spot beneath a great oak where he had laid the tired body of the first and only woman he had ever loved. he placed the child on the grass and led him to the newly-made mound, put into his tiny hand the roses he had brought and guided him while he placed them on her grave. "this is where little mother sleeps, my boy," he said softly. "remember it now--it will be a long, long time before we shall see it again. you won't forget----" "no--dad-ee," he lisped sweetly. "i'll not fordet, the big tree----" the man rose and stood in silence seeing again the last beautiful day of their life together and forgot the swift moments. he stood as in a trance from which he was suddenly awakened by the child's voice calling him excitedly from another walkway into which he had wandered: "dad-ee!" he called again. "yes, baby," he answered. "oh, come quick! dad-ee--here's c-l-e-o!" norton turned and with angry steps measured the distance between them. he came upon them suddenly behind a boxwood hedge. the girl was kneeling with the child's arms around her neck, clinging to her with all the yearning of his hungry little heart, and she was muttering half articulate words of love and tenderness. she held him from her a moment, looked into his eyes and cried: "and you missed me, darling?" "oh--c-l-e-o!" he cried, "i thought 'oo'd _nev-er_ tum!" the angry words died in the man's lips as he watched the scene in silence. he stooped and drew the child away: "come, baby, we must go----" "tum on, c-l-e-o, we do now," he cried. the girl shook her head and turned away. "tum on, c-l-e-o!" he cried tenderly. she waved him a kiss, and the child said excitedly: "oh, dad-ee, wait!--wait for c-l-e-o!" "no, my baby, she can't come with us----" the little head sank to his shoulder, a sob rose from his heart and he burst into weeping. and through the storm of tears one word only came out clear and soft and plaintive: "c-l-e-o! c-l-e-o!" the girl watched them until they reached the gate and then, on a sudden impulse, ran swiftly up, caught the child's hand that hung limply down his father's back, covered it with kisses and cried in cheerful, half-laughing tones: "don't cry, darling! cleo will come again!" and in the long journey to the north the man brooded over the strange tones of joyous assurance with which the girl had spoken. chapter xx the blow falls for a time norton lost himself in the stunning immensity of the life of new york. he made no effort to adjust himself to it. he simply allowed its waves to roll over and engulf him. he stopped with mammy and the boy at a brown-stone boarding house on stuyvesant square kept by a southern woman to whom he had a letter of introduction. mrs. beam was not an ideal landlady, but her good-natured helplessness appealed to him. she was a large woman of ample hips and bust, and though very tall seemed always in her own way. she moved slowly and laughed with a final sort of surrender to fate when anything went wrong. and it was generally going wrong. she was still comparatively young--perhaps thirty-two--but was built on so large and unwieldy a pattern that it was not easy to guess her age, especially as she had a silly tendency to harmless kittenish ways at times. the poor thing was pitifully at sea in her new world and its work. she had been reared in a typically extravagant home of the old south where slaves had waited her call from childhood. she had not learned to sew, or cook or keep house--in fact, she had never learned to do anything useful or important. so naturally she took boarders. her husband, on whose shoulders she had placed every burden of life the day of her marriage, lay somewhere in an unmarked trench on a virginia battlefield. she couldn't conceive of any human being enduring a servant that wasn't black and so had turned her house over to a lazy and worthless crew of northern negro help. the house was never clean, the waste in her kitchen was appalling, but so long as she could find money to pay her rent and grocery bills, she was happy. her only child, a daughter of sixteen, never dreamed of lifting her hand to work, and it hadn't yet occurred to the mother to insult her with such a suggestion. norton was not comfortable but he was lonely, and mrs. beam's easy ways, genial smile and southern weaknesses somehow gave him a sense of being at home and he stayed. mammy complained bitterly of the insolence and low manners of the kitchen. but he only laughed and told her she'd get used to it. he was astonished to find that so many southern people had drifted to new york--exiles of all sorts, with one universal trait, poverty and politeness. and they quickly made friends. as he began to realize it, his heart went out to the great city with a throb of gratitude. when the novelty of the new world had gradually worn off a feeling of loneliness set in. he couldn't get used to the crowds on every street, these roaring rivers of strange faces rushing by like the waters of a swollen stream after a freshet, hurrying and swirling out of its banks. at first he had found himself trying to bow to every man he met and take off his hat to every woman. it took a long time to break himself of this southern instinct. the thing that cured him completely was when he tipped his hat unconsciously to a lady on fifth avenue. she blushed furiously, hurried to the corner and had him arrested. his apology was so abject, so evidently sincere, his grief so absurd over her mistake that when she caught his southern drawl, it was her turn to blush and ask his pardon. a feeling of utter depression and pitiful homesickness gradually crushed his spirit. his soul began to cry for the sunlit fields and the perfumed nights of the south. there didn't seem to be any moon or stars here, and the only birds he ever saw were the chattering drab little sparrows in the parks. the first day of autumn, as he walked through central park, a magnificent irish setter lifted his fine head and spied him. some subtle instinct told the dog that the man was a hunter and a lover of his kind. the setter wagged his tail and introduced himself. norton dropped to a seat, drew the shaggy face into his lap, and stroked his head. he was back home again. don, with his fine nose high in the air, was circling a field and andy was shouting: "he's got 'em! he's got 'em sho, marse dan!" he could see don's slim white and black figure stepping slowly through the high grass on velvet feet, glancing back to see if his master were coming--the muscles suddenly stiffened, his tail became rigid, and the whole covey of quail were under his nose! he was a boy again and felt the elemental thrill of man's first work as hunter and fisherman. he looked about him at the bald coldness of the artificial park and a desperate longing surged through his heart to be among his own people again, to live their life and feel their joys and sorrows as his own. and then the memory of the great tragedy slowly surged back, he pushed the dog aside, rose and hurried on in his search for a new world. he tried the theatres--saw booth in his own house on d street play "hamlet" and lawrence barrett "othello," listened with rapture to the new italian grand opera company in the academy of music--saw a burlesque in the tammany theatre on th street, lester wallack in "the school for scandal" at wallack's theatre on broadway at th street, and tony pastor in his variety show at his opera house on the bowery, and yet returned each night with a dull ache in his heart. other men who loved home less perhaps could adjust themselves to new surroundings, but somehow in him this home instinct, this feeling of personal friendliness for neighbor and people, this passion for house and lawn, flowers and trees and shrubs, for fields and rivers and hills, seemed of the very fibre of his inmost life. this vast rushing, roaring, impersonal world, driven by invisible titanic forces, somehow didn't appeal to him. it merely stunned and appalled and confused his mind. and then without warning the blow fell. he told himself afterwards that he must have been waiting for it, that some mysterious power of mental telepathy had wired its message without words across the thousand miles that separated him from the old life, and yet the surprise was complete and overwhelming. he had tried that morning to write. a story was shaping itself in his mind and he felt the impulse to express it. but he was too depressed. he threw his pencil down in disgust and walked to his window facing the little park. it was a bleak, miserable day in november--the first freezing weather had come during the night and turned a drizzling rain into sleet. the streets were covered with a thin, hard, glistening coat of ice. a coal wagon had stalled in front of the house, a magnificent draught horse had fallen and a brutal driver began to beat him unmercifully. henry berg's society had not yet been organized. norton rushed from the door and faced the astonished driver: "don't you dare to strike that horse again!" the workman turned his half-drunken face on the intruder with a vicious leer: "well, what t'ell----" "i mean it!" with an oath the driver lunged at him: "get out of my way!" the big fist shot at norton's head. he parried the attack and knocked the man down. the driver scrambled to his feet and plunged forward again. a second blow sent him flat on his back on the ice and his body slipped three feet and struck the curb. "have you got enough?" norton asked, towering over the sprawling figure. "yes." "well, get up now, and i'll help you with the horse." he helped the sullen fellow unhitch the fallen horse, lift him to his feet and readjust the harness. he put shoulder to the wheel and started the wagon again on its way. he returned to his room feeling better. it was the first fight he had started for months and it stirred his blood to healthy reaction. he watched the bare limbs swaying in the bitter wind in front of st. george's church and his eye rested on the steeples the architects said were unsafe and might fall some day with a crash, and his depression slowly returned. he had waked that morning with a vague sense of dread. "i guess it was that fight!" he muttered. "the scoundrel will be back in an hour with a warrant for my arrest and i'll spend a few days in jail----" the postman's whistle blew at the basement window. he knew that fellow by the way he started the first notes of his call--always low, swelling into a peculiar shrill crescendo and dying away in a weird cry of pain. the call this morning was one of startling effects. it was his high nerve tension, of course, that made the difference--perhaps, too, the bitter cold and swirling gusts of wind outside. but the shock was none the less vivid. the whistle began so low it seemed at first the moaning of the wind, the high note rang higher and higher, until it became the shout of a fiend, and died away with a wail of agony wrung from a lost soul. he shivered at the sound. he would not have been surprised to receive a letter from the dead after that. he heard some one coming slowly up stairs. it was mammy and the boy. the lazy maid had handed his mail to her, of course. his door was pushed open and the child ran in holding a letter in his red, chubby hand: "a letter, daddy!" he cried. he took it mechanically, staring at the inscription. he knew now the meaning of his horrible depression! she was writing that letter when it began yesterday. he recognized cleo's handwriting at a glance, though this was unusually blurred and crooked. the postmark was baltimore, another striking fact. he laid the letter down on his table unopened and turned to mammy: "take him to your room. i'm trying to do some writing." the old woman took the child's hand grumbling: "come on, mammy's darlin', nobody wants us!" he closed the door, locked it, glanced savagely at the unopened letter, drew his chair before the open fire and gazed into the glowing coals. he feared to break the seal--feared with a dull, sickening dread. he glanced at it again as though he were looking at a toad that had suddenly intruded into his room. six months had passed without a sign, and he had ceased to wonder at the strange calm with which she received her dismissal and his flight from the scene after his wife's death. he had begun to believe that her shadow would never again fall across his life. it had come at last. he picked the letter up, and tried to guess its meaning. she was going to make demands on him, of course. he had expected this months ago. but why should she be in baltimore? he thought of a hundred foolish reasons without once the faintest suspicion of the truth entering his mind. he broke the seal and read its contents. a look of vague incredulity overspread his face, followed by a sudden pallor. the one frightful thing he had dreaded and forgotten was true! he crushed the letter in his powerful hand with a savage groan: "god in heaven!" he spread it out again and read and re-read its message, until each word burned its way into his soul: "our baby was born here yesterday. i was on my way to new york to you, but was taken sick on the train at baltimore and had to stop. i'm alone and have no money, but i'm proud and happy. i know that you will help me. "cleo." for hours he sat in a stupor of pain, holding this crumpled letter in his hand, staring into the fire. chapter xxi the call of the blood it was all clear now, the mystery of cleo's assurance, of her happiness, of her acceptance of his going without protest. she had known the truth from the first and had reckoned on his strength and manliness to draw him to her in this hour. "i'll show her!" he said in fierce rebellion. "i'll give her the money she needs--yes--but her shadow shall never again darken my life. i won't permit this shame to smirch the soul of my boy--i'll die first!" he moved to the west side of town, permitted no one to learn his new address, sent her money from the general postoffice, and directed all his mail to a lock box he had secured. he destroyed thus every trace by which she might discover his residence if she dared to venture into new york. to his surprise it was more than three weeks before he received a reply from her. and the second letter made an appeal well-nigh resistless. the message was brief, but she had instinctively chosen the words that found him. how well she knew that side of his nature! he resented it with rage and tried to read all sorts of sinister guile into the lines. but as he scanned them a second time reason rejected all save the simplest and most obvious meaning the words implied. the letter was evidently written in a cramped position. she had missed the lines many times and some words were so scrawled they were scarcely legible. but he read them all at last: "i have been very sick since your letter came with the money. i tried to get up too soon. i have suffered awfully. you see, i didn't know how much i had gone through. please don't be angry with me for what neither you nor i can help now. i want to see you just once, and then i won't trouble you any more. i am very weak to-day, but i'll soon be strong again. "cleo." it made him furious, this subtle appeal to his keen sense of fatherhood. she knew how tenderly he loved his boy. she knew that while such obligations rest lightly on some men, the tie that bound him to his son was the biggest thing in his life. she had been near him long enough to learn the secret things of his inner life. she was using them now to break down the barriers of character and self-respect. he could see it plainly. he hated her for it and yet the appeal went straight to his heart. two things in this letter he couldn't get away from: "you see, i didn't know how much i had gone through." he kept reading this over. and the next line: "please don't be angry with me for what neither you nor i can help now." the appeal was so human, so simple, so obviously sincere, no man with a soul could ignore it. how could she help it now? she too had been swept into the tragic situation by the blind forces of nature. after all, had it not been inevitable? did not such a position of daily intimate physical contact--morning, noon and night--mean just this? could she have helped it? were they not both the victims, in a sense, of the follies of centuries? had he the right to be angry with her? his reason answered, no. and again came the deeper question--can any man ever escape the consequences of his deeds? deeds are of the infinite and eternal and the smallest one disturbs the universe. it slowly began to dawn on him that nothing he could ever do or say could change one elemental fact. she was a mother--a fact bigger than all the forms and ceremonies of the ages. it was just this thing in his history that made his sin against the wife so poignant, both to her and to his imagination. a child was a child, and he had no right to sneak and play a coward in such an hour. step by step the woman's simple cry forced its way into the soul and slowly but surely the rags were stripped from pride, until he began to see himself naked and without sham. the one thing that finally cut deepest was the single sentence: "you see, i didn't know how much i had gone through----" he read it again with a feeling of awe. no matter what the shade of her olive cheek or the length of her curly hair, she was a mother with all that big word means in the language of men. say what he might--of her art in leading him on, of her final offering herself in a hundred subtle ways in their daily life in his home--he was still responsible. he had accepted the challenge at last. and he knew what it meant to any woman under the best conditions, with a mother's face hovering near and the man she loved by her side. he saw again the scene of his boy's birth. and then another picture--a lonely girl in a strange city without a friend--a cot in the whitewashed ward of a city's hospital--a pair of startled eyes looking in vain for a loved, familiar face as her trembling feet stepped falteringly down into the valley that lies between life and death! a pitiful thing, this hour of suffering and of waiting for the unknown. his heart went out to her in sympathy, and he answered her letter with a promise to come. but on the day he was to start for baltimore mammy was stricken with a cold which developed into pneumonia. unaccustomed to the rigors of a northern climate, she had been careless and the result from the first was doubtful. to leave her was, of course, impossible. he sent for a doctor and two nurses and no care or expense was spared, but in spite of every effort she died. it was four weeks before he returned from the funeral in the south. he reached baltimore in a blinding snowstorm the week preceding christmas. cleo had left the hospital three weeks previous to his arrival, and for some unexplained reason had spent a week or ten days in norfolk and returned in time to meet him. he failed to find her at the address she had given him, but was directed to an obscure hotel in another quarter of the city. he was surprised and puzzled at the attitude assumed at this meeting. she was nervous, irritable, insolent and apparently anxious for a fight. "well, why do you stare at me like that?" she asked angrily. "was i staring?" he said with an effort at self-control. "after all i've been through the past weeks," she said bitterly, "i didn't care whether i lived or died." "i meant to have come at once as i wrote you. but mammy's illness and death made it impossible to get here sooner." "one excuse is as good as another," she retorted with a contemptuous toss of her head. norton looked at her in blank amazement. it was inconceivable that this was the same woman who wrote him the simple, sincere appeal a few weeks ago. it was possible, of course, that suffering had embittered her mind and reduced her temporarily to the nervous condition in which she appeared. "why do you keep staring at me?" she asked again, with insolent ill-temper. he was so enraged at her evident attempt to bully him into an attitude of abject sympathy, he shot her a look of rage, seized his hat and without a word started for the door. with a cry of despair she was by his side and grasped his arm: "please--please don't!" "change your tactics, then, if you have anything to say to me." she flushed, stammered, looked at him queerly and then smiled: "yes, i will, major--please don't be mad at me! you see, i'm just a little crazy. i've been through so much since i came here i didn't know what i was saying to you. i'm awfully sorry--let me take your hat----" she took his hat, laid it on the table and led him to a seat. "please sit down. i'm so glad you've come, and i thank you for coming. i'm just as humble and grateful as i can be. you must forget how foolish i've acted. i've been so miserable and scared and lonely, it's a wonder i haven't jumped into the bay. and i just thought at last that you were never coming." norton looked at her with new astonishment. not because there was anything strange in what she said--he had expected some such words on his arrival, but because they didn't ring true. she seemed to be lying. there was an expression of furtive cunning in her greenish eyes that was uncanny. he couldn't make her out. in spite of the effort to be friendly she was repulsive. "well, i'm here," he said calmly. "you have something to say--what is it?" "of course," she answered smilingly. "i have a lot to say. i want you to tell me what to do." "anything you like," he answered bluntly. "it's nothing to you?" "i'll give you an allowance." "is that all?" "what else do you expect?" "you don't want to see her?" "no." "i thought you were coming for that?" "i've changed my mind. and the less we see of each other the better. i'll go with you to-morrow and verify the records----" cleo laughed: "you don't think i'm joking about her birth?" "no. but i'm not going to take your word for it." "all right, i'll go with you to-morrow." he started again to the door. he felt that he must leave--that he was smothering. something about the girl's manner got on his nerves. not only was there no sort of sympathy or attraction between them but the longer he stayed in her presence the more he felt the desire to choke her. he began to look into her eyes with growing suspicion and hate, and behind their smiling plausibility he felt the power of a secret deadly hostility. "you don't want me to go back home with the child, do you?" cleo asked with a furtive glance. "no, i do not," he replied, emphatically. "i'm going back--but i'll give her up and let you educate her in a convent on one condition----" "what?" he asked sharply. "that you let me nurse the boy again and give me the protection and shelter of your home----" "never!" he cried. "please be reasonable. it will be best for you and best for me and best for her that her life shall never be blackened by the stain of my blood. i've thought it all out. it's the only way----" "no," he replied sternly. "i'll educate her in my own way, if placed in my hands without condition. but you shall never enter my house again----" "is it fair," she pleaded, "to take everything from me and turn me out in the world alone? i'll give your boy all the love of a hungry heart. he loves me." "he has forgotten your existence----" "you know that he hasn't!" "i know that he has," norton persisted with rising wrath. "it's a waste of breath for you to talk to me about this thing"--he turned on her fiercely: "why do you wish to go back there? to grin and hint the truth to your friends?" "you know that i'd cut my tongue out sooner than betray you. i'd like to scream it from every housetop--yes. but i won't. i won't, because you smile or frown means too much to me. i'm asking this that i may live and work for you and be your slave without money and without price----" "i understand," he broke in bitterly, "because you think that thus you can again drag me down--well, you can't do it! the power you once had is gone--gone forever--never to return----" "then why be afraid? no one there knows except my mother. you hate me. all right. i can do you no harm. i'll never hate you. i'll just be happy to serve you, to love your boy and help you rear him to be a fine man. let me go back with you and open the old house again----" he lifted his hand with a gesture of angry impatience: "enough of this now--you go your way in life and i go mine." "i'll not give her up except on my conditions----" "then you can keep her and go where you please. if you return home you'll not find me. i'll put the ocean between us if necessary----" he stepped quickly to the door and she knew it was needless to argue further. "come to my hotel to-morrow morning at ten o'clock and i'll make you a settlement through a lawyer." "i'll be there," she answered in a low tone, "but please, major, before you go let me ask you not to remember the foolish things i said and the way i acted when you came. i'm so sorry--forgive me. i made you terribly mad. i don't know what was the matter with me. remember i'm just a foolish girl here without a friend----" she stopped, her voice failing: "oh, my god, i'm so lonely, i don't want to live! you don't know what it means for me just to be near you--please let me go home with you!" there was something genuine in this last cry. it reached his heart in spite of anger. he hesitated and spoke in kindly tones: "good night--i'll see you in the morning." this plea of loneliness and homesickness found the weak spot in his armor. it was so clearly the echo of his own feelings. the old home, with its beautiful and sad memories, his people and his work had begun to pull resistlessly. her suggestion was a subtle and dangerous one, doubly seductive because it was so safe a solution of difficulties. there was not the shadow of a doubt that her deeper purpose was to ultimately dominate his personal life. he was sure of his strength, yet he knew that the wise thing to do was to refuse to listen. at ten o'clock next morning she came. he had called a lawyer and drawn up a settlement that only waited her signature. she had not said she would sign--she had not positively refused. she was looking at him with dumb pleading eyes. [illustration: "he had heard the call of his people."] without a moment's warning the boy pushed his way into the room. norton sprang before cleo and shouted angrily to the nurse: "i told you not to let him come into this room----" "but you see i des tum!" the boy answered with a laugh as he darted to the corner. the thing he dreaded had happened. in a moment the child saw cleo. there was just an instant's hesitation and the father smiled that he had forgotten her. but the hesitation was only the moment of dazed surprise. with a scream of joy he crossed the room and sprang into her arms: "oh, cleo--cleo--my cleo! you've tum--you've tum! look, daddy! she's tum--my cleo!" he hugged her, he kissed her, he patted her flushed cheeks, he ran his little fingers through her tangled hair, drew himself up and kissed her again. she snatched him to her heart and burst into uncontrollable sobs, raised her eyes streaming with tears to norton and said softly: "let me go home with you!" he looked at her, hesitated and then slowly tore the legal document to pieces, threw it in the fire and nodded his consent. but this time his act was not surrender. he had heard the call of his people and his country. it was the first step toward the execution of a new life purpose that had suddenly flamed in the depths of his darkened soul as he watched the picture of the olive cheek of the woman against the clear white of his child's. book two--atonement chapter i the new life purpose norton had been compelled to wait twenty years for the hour when he could strike the first decisive blow in the execution of his new life purpose. but the aim he had set was so high, so utterly unselfish, so visionary, so impossible by the standards of modern materialism, he felt the thrill of the religious fanatic as he daily girded himself to his task. he was far from being a religious enthusiast, although he had grown a religion of his own, inherited in part, dreamed in part from the depth of his own heart. the first article of this faith was a firm belief in the ever-brooding divine spirit and its guidance in the work of man if he but opened his mind to its illumination. he believed, as in his own existence, that god's spirit had revealed the vision he saw in the hour of his agony, twenty years before when he had watched his boy's tiny arms encircle the neck of cleo, the tawny young animal who had wrecked his life, but won the heart of his child. he had tried to desert his people of the south and awaked with a shock. his mind in prophetic gaze had leaped the years and seen the gradual wearing down of every barrier between the white and black races by the sheer force of daily contact under the new conditions which democracy had made inevitable. even under the iron laws of slavery it was impossible for an inferior and superior race to live side by side for centuries as master and slave without the breaking down of some of these barriers. but the moment the magic principle of equality in a democracy became the law of life they must all melt or democracy itself yield and die. he had squarely faced this big question and given his life to its solution. when he returned to his old home and installed cleo as his housekeeper and nurse she was the living incarnation before his eyes daily of the problem to be solved--the incarnation of its subtleties and its dangers. he studied her with the cold intellectual passion of a scientist. nor was there ever a moment's uncertainty or halting in the grim purpose that fired his soul. she had at first accepted his matter of fact treatment as the sign of ultimate surrender. and yet as the years passed she saw with increasing wonder and rage the gulf between them deepen and darken. she tried every art her mind could conceive and her effective body symbolize in vain. his eyes looked at her, but never saw the woman. they only saw the thing he hated--the mongrel breed of a degraded nation. he had begun his work at the beginning. he had tried to do the things that were possible. the minds of the people were not yet ready to accept the idea of a complete separation of the races. he planned for the slow process of an epic movement. his paper, in season and out of season, presented the daily life of the black and white races in such a way that the dullest mind must be struck by the fact that their relations presented an insoluble problem. every road of escape led at last through a blind alley against a blank wall. in this policy he antagonized no one, but expressed always the doubts and fears that lurked in the minds of thoughtful men and women. his paper had steadily grown in circulation and in solid power. he meant to use this power at the right moment. he had waited patiently and the hour at last had struck. the thunder of a torpedo under an american warship lying in havana harbor shook the nation and changed the alignment of political parties. the war with spain lasted but a few months, but it gave the south her chance. her sons leaped to the front and proved their loyalty to the flag. the "bloody shirt" could never again be waved. the negro ceased to be a ward of the nation and the union of states our fathers dreamed was at last an accomplished fact. there could never again be a "north" or a "south." norton's first brilliant editorial reviewing the results of this war drew the fire of his enemies from exactly the quarter he expected. a little college professor, who aspired to the leadership of southern thought under northern patronage, called at his office. the editor's lips curled with contempt as he read the engraved card: "professor alexander magraw" the man had long been one of his pet aversions. he occupied a chair in one of the state's leading colleges, and his effusions advocating peace at any price on the negro problem had grown so disgusting of late the _eagle and phoenix_ had refused to print them. magraw was nothing daunted. he devoted his energies to writing a book in fulsome eulogy of a notorious negro which had made him famous in the north. he wrote it to curry favor with the millionaires who were backing this african's work and succeeded in winning their boundless admiration. they hailed him the coming leader of "advanced thought." as a southern white man the little professor had boldly declared that this negro, who had never done anything except to demonstrate his skill as a beggar in raising a million dollars from northern sentimentalists, was the greatest human being ever born in america! outraged public opinion in the south had demanded his expulsion from the college for this idiotic effusion, but he was so entrenched behind the power of money he could not be disturbed. his loud protests for free speech following his acquittal had greatly increased the number of his henchmen. norton wondered at the meaning of his visit. it could only be a sinister one. in view of his many contemptuous references to the man, he was amazed at his audacity in venturing to invade his office. he scowled a long while at the card and finally said to the boy: "show him in." chapter ii a modern scalawag as the professor entered the office norton was surprised at his height and weight. he had never met him personally, but had unconsciously formed the idea that he was a scrub physically. he saw a man above the average height, weighing nearly two hundred, with cheeks flabby but inclined to fat. it was not until he spoke that he caught the unmistakable note of effeminacy in his voice and saw it clearly reflected in his features. he was dressed with immaculate neatness and wore a tie of an extraordinary shade of lavender which matched the silk hose that showed above his stylish low-cut shoes. "major norton, i believe?" he said with a smile. the editor bowed without rising: "at your service, professor magraw. have a seat, sir." "thank you! thank you!" the dainty voice murmured with so marked a resemblance to a woman's tones that norton was torn between two impulses--one to lift his eyebrows and sigh, "oh, splash!" and the other to kick him down the stairs. he was in no mood for the amenities of polite conversation, turned and asked bluntly: "may i inquire, professor, why you have honored me with this unexpected call--i confess i am very curious?" "no doubt, no doubt," he replied glibly. "you have certainly not minced matters in your personal references to me in the paper of late, major norton, but i have simply taken it good-naturedly as a part of your day's work. apparently we represent two irreconcilable ideals of southern society----" "there can be no doubt about that," norton interrupted grimly. "yet i have dared to hope that our differences are only apparent and that we might come to a better understanding." he paused, simpered and smiled. "about what?" the editor asked with a frown. "about the best policy for the leaders of public opinion to pursue to more rapidly advance the interests of the south----" "and by 'interests of the south' you mean?" "the best interest of all the people without regard to race or color!" norton smiled: "you forgot part of the pass-word of your order, professor! the whole clause used to read, 'race, color or previous condition of servitude'----" the sneer was lost on the professor. he was too intent on his mission. "i have called, major norton," he went on glibly, "to inform you that my distinguished associates in the great educational movement in the south view with increasing alarm the tendency of your paper to continue the agitation of the so-called negro problem." "and may i ask by whose authority your distinguished associates have been set up as the arbiters of the destiny of twenty millions of white citizens of the south?" the professor flushed with amazement at the audacity of such a question: "they have given millions to the cause of education, sir! these great funds represent to-day a power that is becoming more and more resistless----" norton sprang to his feet and faced magraw with eyes flashing: "that's why i haven't minced matters in my references to you, professor. that's why i'm getting ready to strike a blow in the cause of racial purity for which my paper stands." "but why continue to rouse the bitterness of racial feeling? the question will settle itself if let alone." "how?" "by the process of evolution----" "exactly!" norton thundered. "and by that you mean the gradual breaking down of racial barriers and the degradation of our people to a mongrel negroid level or you mean nothing! no miracle of evolution can gloss over the meaning of such a tragedy. the negro is the lowest of all human forms, four thousand years below the standard of the pioneer white aryan who discovered this continent and peopled it with a race of empire builders. the gradual mixture of our blood with his can only result in the extinction of national character--a calamity so appalling the mind of every patriot refuses to accept for a moment its possibility." "i am not advocating such a mixture!" the professor mildly protested. "in so many words, no," retorted norton; "yet you are setting in motion forces that make it inevitable, as certain as life, as remorseless as death. when you demand that the patriot of the south let the negro alone to work out his own destiny, you know that the mere physical contact of two such races is a constant menace to white civilization----" the professor raised the delicate, tapering hands: "the old nightmare of negro domination is only a thing with which to frighten children, major, the danger is a myth----" "indeed!" norton sneered. "when our people saw the menace of an emancipated slave suddenly clothed with the royal power of a ballot they met this threat against the foundations of law and order by a counter revolution and restored a government of the wealth, virtue and intelligence of the community. what they have not yet seen, is the more insidious danger that threatens the inner home life of a democratic nation from the physical contact of two such races." "and you propose to prevent that contact?" the piping voice asked. "yes." "and may i ask how?" "by an ultimate complete separation through a process covering perhaps two hundred years----" the professor laughed: "visionary--impossible!" "all right," norton slowly replied. "i see the invisible and set myself to do the impossible. because men have done such things the world moves forward not backward!" the lavender hose moved stealthily: "you will advocate this?" the professor asked. "in due time. the southern white man and woman still labor under the old delusion that the negro's lazy, slipshod ways are necessary and that we could not get along without him----" "and if you dare to antagonize that faith?" "when your work is done, professor, and the glorious results of evolution are shown to mean the giving in marriage of our sons and daughters, my task will be easy. in the mean time i'll do the work at hand. the negro is still a voter. the devices by which he is prevented from using the power to which his numbers entitle him are but temporary. the first real work before the statesmen of the south is the disfranchisement of the african, the repeal of the fifteenth amendment to our constitution and the restoration of american citizenship to its original dignity and meaning." "a large undertaking," the professor glibly observed. "and you will dare such a program?" "i'll at least strike a blow for it. the first great crime against the purity of our racial stock was the mixture of blood which the physical contact of slavery made inevitable. "but the second great crime, and by far the most tragic and disastrous, was the insane act of congress inspired by the passions of the reconstruction period by which a million ignorant black men, but yesterday from the jungles of africa, were clothed with the full powers of citizenship under the flag of democracy and given the right by the ballot to rule a superior race. "the act of emancipation was a war measure pure and simple. by that act lincoln sought to strike the south as a political power a mortal blow. he did not free four million negroes for sentimental reasons. he destroyed four billion dollars' worth of property invested in slaves as an act of war to save the union. nothing was further from his mind or heart than the mad idea that these africans could be assimilated into our national life. he intended to separate the races and give the negro a nation of his own. but the hand of a madman struck the great leader down in the hour of his supreme usefulness. "in the anarchy which followed the assassination of the president and the attempt of a daring coterie of fanatics in washington to impeach his successor and create a dictatorship, the great crime against democracy was committed. millions of black men, with the intelligence of children and the instincts of savages, were given full and equal citizenship with the breed of men who created the republic. "any plan to solve intelligently the problem of the races must first correct this blunder from which a stream of poison has been pouring into our life. "the first step in the work of separating the races, therefore, must be to deprive the negro of this enormous power over democratic society. it is not a solution of the problem, but as the great blunder was the giving of this symbol of american kingship, our first task is to take it from him and restore the ballot to its original sanctity." "your movement will encounter difficulties, i foresee!" observed the professor with a gracious smile. he was finding his task with norton easier than he anticipated. the editor's madness was evidently so hopeless he had only to deliver his ultimatum and close the interview. "the difficulties are great," norton went on with renewed emphasis, "but less than they have been for the past twenty years. until yesterday the negro was the ward of the nation. any movement by a southern state to remove his menace was immediately met by a call to arms to defend the union by northern demagogues who had never smelled powder when the union was in danger. "a foolish preacher in boston who enjoys a national reputation has been in the habit of rousing his hearers to a round of cheers by stamping his foot, lifting hands above his head and yelling: "'the only way to save the union now is for northern mothers to rear more children than southern mothers!' "and the sad part of it is that thousands of otherwise sane people in new england and other sections of the north and west believed this idiotic statement to be literally true. it is no longer possible to fool them with such chaff----" the professor rose and shook out his finely creased trousers until the lavender hose scarcely showed: "i am afraid, major norton, that it is useless for us to continue this discussion. you are quite determined to maintain the policy of your paper on this point?" "quite." "i am sorry. the _eagle and phoenix_ is a very powerful influence in this state. the distinguished associates whom i represent sent me in the vain hope that i might persuade you to drop the agitation of this subject and join with us in developing the material and educational needs of the south----" norton laughed aloud: "really, professor?" the visitor flushed at the marked sneer in his tones, and fumbled his lavender tie: "i can only deliver to you our ultimatum, therefore----" "you are clothed with sovereign powers, then?" the editor asked sarcastically. "if you choose to designate them so--yes. unless you agree to drop this dangerous and useless agitation of the negro question and give our people a hearing in the columns of your paper, i am authorized to begin at once the publication of a journal that will express the best sentiment of the south----" "so?" "and i have unlimited capital to back it." norton's eyes flashed as he squared himself before the professor: "i've not a doubt of your backing. start your paper to-morrow if you like. you'll find that it takes more than money to build a great organ of public opinion in the south. i've put my immortal soul into this plant. i'll watch your experiment with interest." "thank you! thank you," the thin voice piped. "and now that we understand each other," norton went on, "you've given me the chance to say a few things to you and your associates i've been wanting to express for a long time----" norton paused and fixed his visitor with an angry stare: "not only is the negro gaining in numbers, in wealth and in shallow 'culture,' and tightening his grip on the soil as the owner in fee simple of thousands of homes, churches, schools and farms, but a negroid party has once more developed into a powerful and sinister influence on the life of this state! you and your associates are loud in your claims to represent a new south. in reality you are the direct descendants of the reconstruction scalawag and carpetbagger. "the old scalawag was the judas iscariot who sold his people for thirty pieces of silver which he got by licking the feet of his conqueror and fawning on his negro allies. the carpetbagger was a northern adventurer who came south to prey on the misfortunes of a ruined people. a new and far more dangerous order of scalawags has arisen--the man who boldly preaches the omnipotence of the dollar and weighs every policy of state or society by one standard only, will it pay in dollars and cents? and so you frown on any discussion of the tragic problem the negro's continued pressure on southern society involves because it disturbs business. "the unparalleled growth of wealth in the north has created our enormous poor funds, organized by generous well-meaning men for the purpose of education in the south. as a matter of fact, this new educational movement had its origin in the same soil that established negro classical schools and attempted to turn the entire black race into preachers, lawyers, and doctors just after the war. your methods, however, are wiser, although your policies are inspired, if not directed, by the fertile brain of a notorious negro of doubtful moral character. "the directors of your poor funds profess to be the only true friends of the true white man of the south. by a 'true white man of the south' you mean a man who is willing to show his breadth of vision by fraternizing occasionally with negroes. "an army of lickspittles have begun to hang on the coat-tails of your dispensers of alms. their methods are always the same. they attempt to attract the notice of the northern distributors by denouncing men of my type who are earnestly, fearlessly and reverently trying to face and solve the darkest problem the centuries have presented to america. these little beggars have begun to vie with one another not only in denouncing the leaders of public opinion in the south, but in fulsome and disgusting fawning at the feet of the individual negro whose personal influence dominates these funds." again the lavender socks moved uneasily. "in which category you place the author of a certain book, i suppose?" inquired the professor. "i paused in the hope that you might not miss my meaning," norton replied, smiling. "the astounding power for the debasement of public opinion developing through these vast corruption funds is one of the most sinister influences which now threatens southern society. it is the most difficult of all to meet because its protestations are so plausible and philanthropic. "the carpetbagger has come back to the south. this time he is not a low adventurer seeking coin and public office. he is a philanthropist who carries hundreds of millions of dollars to be distributed to the 'right' men who will teach southern boys and girls the 'right' ideas. so far as these 'right' ideas touch the negro, they mean the ultimate complete acceptance of the black man as a social equal. "your chief spokesman of this new order of carpetbag, for example, has declared on many occasions that the one thing in his life of which he is most proud is the fact that he is the personal friend of the negro whose influence now dominates your dispensers of alms! this man positively grovels with joy when his distinguished black friend honors him by becoming his guest in new york. "with growing rage and wonder i have watched the development of this modern phenomenon. i have fought you with sullen and unyielding fury from the first, and you have proven the most dangerous and insidious force i have encountered. you profess the loftiest motives and the highest altruism while the effects of your work can only be the degradation of the white race to an ultimate negroid level, to say nothing of the appalling results if you really succeed in pauperizing the educational system of the south! "i expected to hear from your crowd when the movement for a white ballot was begun. through you the society of affiliated black league almoners of the south, under the direction of your inspired negro leader, have sounded the alarm. and now all the little pigs who are feeding on this swill, and all the hungry ones yet outside the fence and squealing to get in, will unite in a chorus that you hope can have but one result--the division of the white race on a vital issue affecting its purity, its integrity, and its future. "the possible division of my race in its attitude toward the negro is the one big danger that has always hung its ugly menace over the south. so long as her people stand united, our civilization can be protected against the pressure of the negro's growing millions. but the moment a serious division of these forces occurs the black man's opportunity will be at hand. the question is, can you divide the white race on this issue?" "we shall see, major, we shall see," piped the professor, fumbling his lavender tie and bowing himself out. the strong jaw closed with a snap as norton watched the silk hose disappear. chapter iii his house in order norton knew from the first that there could be no hope of success in such a campaign as he had planned except in the single iron will of a leader who would lead and whose voice lifted in impassioned appeal direct to the white race in every county of the state could rouse them to resistless enthusiasm. the man who undertook this work must burn the bridges behind him, ask nothing for himself and take his life daily in his hands. he knew the state from the sea to its farthest mountain peak and without the slightest vanity felt that god had called him to this task. there was no other man who could do it, no other man fitted for it. he had the training, bitter experience, and the confidence of the people. and he had no ambitions save a deathless desire to serve his country in the solution of its greatest and most insoluble problem. he edited the most powerful organ of public opinion in the south and he was an eloquent and forceful speaker. his paper had earned a comfortable fortune, he was independent, he had the training of a veteran soldier and physical fear was something he had long since ceased to know. and his house was in order for the event. he could leave for months in confidence that the work would run with the smoothness of a clock. he had sent tom to a northern university which had kept itself clean from the stain of negro associations. the boy had just graduated with honor, returned home and was at work in the office. he was a handsome, clean, manly, straight-limbed, wholesome boy, the pride of his father's heart, and had shown decided talent for newspaper work. andy had long since become his faithful henchman, butler and man of all work. aunt minerva, his fat, honest cook, was the best servant he had ever known, and cleo kept his house. the one point of doubt was cleo. during the past year she had given unmistakable signs of a determination to fight. if she should see fit to strike in the midst of this campaign, her blow would be a crushing one. it would not only destroy him personally, it would confuse and crush his party in hopeless defeat. he weighed this probability from every point of view and the longer he thought it over the less likely it appeared that she would take such a step. she would destroy herself and her child as well. she knew him too well now to believe that he would ever yield in such a struggle. helen was just graduating from a convent school in the northwest, a beautiful and accomplished girl, and the last thing on earth she could suspect was that a drop of negro blood flowed in her veins. he knew cleo too well, understood her hatred of negroes too well, to believe that she would deliberately push this child back into a negroid hell merely to wreak a useless revenge that would crush her own life as well. she was too wise, too cunning, too cautious. and yet her steadily growing desperation caused him to hesitate. the thing he dreaded most was the loss of his boy's respect, which a last desperate fight with this woman would involve. the one thing he had taught tom was racial cleanness. with a wisdom inspired and guided by the brooding spirit of his mother he had done this thoroughly. he had so instilled into this proud, sensitive boy's soul a hatred for all low association with women that it was inconceivable to him that any decent white man would stoop to an intrigue with a woman of negro blood. the withering scorn, the unmeasured contempt with which he had recently expressed himself to his father on this point had made the red blood slowly mount to the older man's face. he had rather die than look into this boy's clean, manly eyes and confess the shame that would blacken his life. the boy loved him with a deep, tender, reverent love. his keen eyes had long ago seen the big traits in his father's character. the boy's genuine admiration was the sweetest thing in his lonely life. he weighed every move with care and deliberately made up his mind to strike the blow and take the chances. no man had the right to weigh his personal career against the life of a people--certainly no man who dared to assume the leadership of a race. he rose from his desk, opened the door of the reporters' room and called tom. the manly young figure, in shirt sleeves, pad and pencil in hand, entered with quick, firm step. "you want me to interview you, governor?" he said with a laugh. "all right--now what do you think of that little scrimmage at the mouth of the harbor of santiago yesterday? how's that for a fourth of july celebration? i ask it of a veteran of the confederate army?" the father smiled proudly as the youngster pretended to be taking notes of his imaginary interview. "you heard, sir," he went on eagerly, "that your old general, joe wheeler, was there and in a moment of excitement forgot himself and shouted to his aid: "'there go the damned yankees!--charge and give 'em hell!'" a dreamy look came into the father's eyes as he interrupted: "i shouldn't be surprised if wheeler said it--anyhow, it's too good a joke to doubt"--he paused and the smile on his serious face slowly faded. "shut the door, tom," he said with a gesture toward the reporters' room. the boy rose, closed the door, and sat down near his father's chair: "well, dad, why so serious? am i to be fired without a chance? or is it just a cut in my wages? don't prolong the agony!" "i am going to put you in my chair in this office, my son," the father said in a slow drawl. the boy flushed scarlet and then turned pale. "you don't mean it--now?" he gasped. "to-morrow." "you think i can make good?" the question came through trembling lips and he was looking at his father through a pair of dark blue eyes blurred by tears of excitement. "you'll do better than i did at your age. you're better equipped." "you think so?" tom asked in quick boyish eagerness. "i know it." the boy sprang to his feet and grasped his father's hand: "your faith in me is glorious--it makes me feel like i can do anything----" "you can--if you try." "well, if i can, it's because i've got good blood in me. i owe it all to you. you're the biggest man i ever met, dad. i've wanted to say this to you for a long time, but i never somehow got up my courage to tell you what i thought of you." the father slipped his arm tenderly about the boy and looked out the window at the bright southern sky for a moment before he slowly answered: "i'd rather hear that from you, tom, than the shouts of the rest of the world." "i'm going to do my level best to prove myself worthy of the big faith you've shown in me--but why have you done it? what does it mean?" "simply this, my boy, that the time has come in the history of the south for a leader to strike the first blow in the battle for racial purity by establishing a clean american citizenship. i am going to disfranchise the negro in this state as the first step toward the ultimate complete separation of the races." the boy's eyes flashed: "it's a big undertaking, sir." "yes." "is it possible?" "many say not. that's why i'm going to do it. the real work must come after this first step. just now the campaign which i'm going to inaugurate to-morrow in a speech at the mass meeting celebrating our victory at santiago, is the thing in hand. this campaign will take me away from home for several months. i must have a man here whom i can trust implicitly." "i'll do my best, sir," the boy broke in. "in case anything happens to me before it ends----" tom bent close: "what do you mean?" "you never can tell what may happen in such a revolution----" "it will be a revolution?" "yes. that's what my enemies as yet do not understand. they will not be prepared for the weapons i shall use. and i'll win. i may lose my life, but i'll start a fire that can't be put out until it has swept the state--the south"--he paused--"and then the nation!" chapter iv the man of the hour the editor prepared to launch his campaign with the utmost care. he invited the executive committee of his party to meet in his office. the leaders were excited. they knew norton too well to doubt that he had something big to suggest. some of them came from distant sections of the state, three hundred miles away, to hear his plans. he faced the distinguished group of leaders calmly, but every man present felt the deep undercurrent of excitement beneath his words. "with your coöperation, gentlemen," he began, "we are going to sweep the state this time by an overwhelming majority----" "that's the way to talk!" the chairman shouted. "four years ago," he went on, "we were defeated for the first time since the overthrow of the negro government under the reconstruction régime. this defeat was brought about by a division of the whites under the socialistic program of the farmers' alliance. gradually the black man has forced himself into power under the new régime. our farmers only wished his votes to accomplish their plans and have no use for him as an officeholder. the rank and file of the white wing, therefore, of the allied party in power, are ripe for revolt if the negro is made an issue." the committee cheered. "i propose to make the negro the only issue of this campaign. there will be no half-way measures, no puling hesitation, no weakness, and it will be a fight to the death in the open. the day for secret organizations has gone in southern history. there is no black league to justify a reorganization of the klan. but the new black league has a far more powerful organization. its mask is now philanthropy, not patriotism. its weapon is the lure of gold, not the flash of federal bayonets. they will fight to divide the white race on this vital issue. "here is our danger. it is real. it is serious. but we must meet it. there is but one way, and that is to conduct a campaign of such enthusiasm, of such daring and revolutionary violence if need be, that the little henchmen and sycophants of the dispensers of the national poor funds will be awed into silence. "the leadership of such a campaign will be a dangerous one. i offer you my services without conditions. i ask nothing for myself. i will accept no honors. i offer you my time, my money, my paper, my life if need be!" the leaders rose as one man, grasped norton's hand, and placed him in command. no inkling of even the outlines of his radical program was allowed to leak out until the hour of the meeting of the party convention. the delegates were waiting anxiously for the voice of a leader who would sound the note of victory. and when the platform was read to the convention declaring in simple, bold words that the time had come for the south to undo the crime of the fifteenth amendment, disfranchise the negro and restore to the nation the basis of white civilization, a sudden cheer like a peal of thunder swept the crowd, followed by the roar of a storm. it died away at last in waves of excited comment, rose again and swelled and rose higher and higher until the old wooden building trembled. again and again such assemblies had declared in vague terms for "white supremacy." campaign after campaign which followed the blight of negro rule twenty years before had been fought and won on this issue. but no man or party had dared to whisper what "white supremacy" really meant. there was no fog about this platform. for the first time in the history of the party it said exactly what was meant in so many words. thoughtful men had long been weary of platitudes on this subject. the negro had grown enormously in wealth, in numbers and in social power in the past two decades. as a full-fledged citizen in a democracy he was a constant menace to society. here, for the first time, was the announcement of a definite program. it was revolutionary. it meant the revision of the constitution of the union and a challenge to the negro race, and all his sentimental allies in the republic for a fight to a finish. the effect of its bare reading was electric. the moment the chairman tried to lift his voice the cheers were renewed. the hearts of the people had been suddenly thrilled by a great ideal. no matter whether it meant success or failure, no matter whether it meant fame or oblivion for the man who proposed it, every intelligent delegate in that hall knew instinctively that a great mind had spoken a bold principle that must win in the end if the republic live. norton rose at last to advocate its adoption as the one issue of the campaign, and again pandemonium broke loose--now they knew that he had written it! they suspected it from the first. instantly his name was on a thousand lips in a shout that rent the air. he stood with his tall figure drawn to its full height, his face unearthly pale, wreathed in its heavy shock of iron-gray hair and waited, without recognizing the tumult, until the last shout had died away. his speech was one of passionate and fierce appeal--the voice of the revolutionist who had boldly thrown off the mask and called his followers to battle. yet through it all, the big unspoken thing behind his words was the magic that really swayed his hearers. they felt that what he said was great, but that he could say something greater if he would. as he had matured in years he had developed this reserved power. all who came in personal touch with the man felt it instinctively with his first word. an audience, with its simpler collective intelligence, felt it overwhelmingly. yet if he had dared reveal to this crowd the ideas seething in his brain behind the simple but bold political proposition, he could not have carried them with him. they were not ready for it. he knew that to merely take the ballot from the negro and allow him to remain in physical touch with the white race was no solution of the problem. but he was wise enough to know that but one step could be taken at a time in a great movement to separate millions of blacks from the entanglements of the life of two hundred years. his platform expressed what he believed could be accomplished, and the convention at the conclusion of his eloquent speech adopted it by acclamation amid a scene of wild enthusiasm. he refused all office, except the position of chairman of the executive committee without pay, and left the hall the complete master of the politics of his party. little did he dream in this hour of triumph the grim tragedy the day's work had prepared in his own life. chapter v a woman scorned as the time drew near for norton to take the field in the campaign whose fierce passions would mark a new era in the state's history, his uneasiness over the attitude of cleo increased. she had received the announcement of his approaching long absence with sullen anger. and as the purpose of the campaign gradually became clear she had watched him with growing suspicion and hate. he felt it in every glance she flashed from the depth of her greenish eyes. though she had never said it in so many words, he was sure that the last hope of a resumption of their old relations was fast dying in her heart, and that the moment she realized that he was lost to her would be the signal for a desperate attack. what form the attack would take he could only guess. he was sure it would be as deadly as her ingenuity could invent. yet in the wildest flight of his imagination he never dreamed the daring thing she had really decided to do. on the night before his departure he was working late in his room at the house. the office he had placed in tom's hands before the meeting of the convention. the boy's eager young face just in front of him when he made his speech that day had been an inspiration. it had beamed with pride and admiration, and when his father's name rang from every lip in the great shout that shook the building tom's eyes had filled with tears. norton was seated at his typewriter, which he had moved to his room, writing his final instructions. the last lines he put in caps: "under no conceivable circumstances annoy me with anything that happens at home, unless a matter of immediate life and death, anything else can wait until my return." he had just finished this important sentence when the sound of a footstep behind his chair caused him to turn suddenly. cleo had entered the room and stood glaring at him with a look of sullen defiance. by a curious coincidence or by design, she was dressed in a scarlet kimono of the same shade of filmy japanese stuff as the one she wore in his young manhood. his quick eye caught this fact in a flash and his mind took rapid note of the changes the years had wrought. their burdens had made slight impression on her exhaustless vitality. whatever might be her personality or her real character, she was alive from the crown of her red head to the tips of her slippered toes. her attitude of tense silence sparkled with this vital power more eloquently than when she spoke with quick energy in the deep voice that was her most remarkable possession. her figure was heavier by twenty pounds than when she had first entered his home, but she never produced the impression of stoutness. her form was too sinuous, pliant and nervous to take on flesh. she was no longer the graceful girl of eighteen whose beauty had drugged his senses, but she was beyond all doubt a woman of an extraordinary type, luxuriant, sensuous, dominant. there was not a wrinkle on her smooth creamy skin nor a trace of approaching age about the brilliant greenish eyes that were gazing into his now with such grim determination. he wheeled from his machine and faced her, his eyes taking in with a quick glance the evident care with which she had arranged her hair and the startling manner in which she was dressed. he spoke with sharp, incisive emphasis: "it was a condition of your return that you should never enter my room while i am in this house." "i have not forgotten," she answered firmly, her eyes holding his steadily. "why have you dared?" "you are still afraid of me?" she asked with a light laugh that was half a sneer. "have i given you any such evidence during the past twenty years?" there was no bitterness or taunt in the even, slow drawl with which he spoke, but the woman knew that he never used the slow tone with which he uttered those words except he was deeply moved. she flushed, was silent and then answered with a frown: "no, you haven't shown any fear for something more than twenty years--until a few days ago." the last clause she spoke very quickly as she took a step closer and paused. "a few days ago?" he repeated slowly. "yes. for the past week you _have_ been afraid of me--not in the sense i asked you just now perhaps"--her white teeth showed in two even perfect rows--"but you have been watching me out of the corners of your eyes--haven't you?" "perhaps." "i wonder why?" "and you haven't guessed?" "no, but i'm going to find out." "you haven't asked." "i'm going to." "be quick about it!" "i'm going to find out--that's why i came in here to-night in defiance of your orders." "all right--the quicker the better!" "thank you, i'm not in a hurry." "what do you want?" he demanded with anger. she smiled tauntingly: "it's no use to get mad about it! i'm here now, you see that i'm not afraid of you and i'm quite sure that you will not put me out until i'm ready to go----" he sprang to his feet and advanced on her: "i'm not so sure of that!" "well, i am," she cried, holding his gaze steadily. he threw up his hands with a gesture of disgust and resumed his seat: "what is it?" she crossed the room deliberately, carrying a chair in front of her, sat down, leaned her elbow on his table and studied him a moment, their eyes meeting in a gaze of deadly hostility. "what is the meaning of this long absence you have planned?" "i have charge of this campaign. i am going to speak in every county in the state." "why?" "because i'll win that way, by a direct appeal to the people." "why do you want to win?" "because i generally do what i undertake." "why do you want to do this thing?" he looked at her in amazement. her eyes had narrowed to the tiniest lines as she asked these questions with a steadily increasing intensity. "what are you up to?" he asked her abruptly. "i want to know why you began this campaign at all?" "i decline to discuss the question with you," he answered abruptly. "i insist on it!" "you wouldn't know what i was talking about," he replied with contempt. "i think i would." "bah!" he turned from her with a wave of angry dismissal, seized his papers and began to read again his instructions to tom. "i'm not such a fool as you think," she began menacingly. "i've read your platform with some care and i've been thinking it over at odd times since your speech was reported." "and you contemplate entering politics?" he interrupted with a smile. "who knows?" she watched him keenly while she slowly uttered these words and saw the flash of uneasiness cross his face, "but don't worry," she laughed. "i'll not!" "you may for all that!" she sneered, "but i'll not enter politics as you fear. that would be too cheap. i don't care what you do to negroes. i've a drop of their blood in me----" "one in eight, to be exact." "but i'm not one of them, except by your laws, and i hate the sight of a negro. you can herd them, colonize them, send them back to africa or to the devil for all i care. your program interests me for another reason"--she paused and watched him intently. "yes?" he said carelessly. "it interests me for one reason only--you wrote that platform, you made that speech, you carried that convention. your man friday is running for governor. you are going to take the stump, carry this election and take the ballot from the negro!" "well?" "i'm excited about it merely because it shows the inside of your mind." "indeed!" "yes. it shows either that you are afraid of me or that you're not----" "it couldn't well show both," he interrupted with a sneer. "it might," she answered. "if you are afraid of me and my presence is the cause of this outburst, all right. i'll still play the game with you and win or lose. i'll take my chances. but if you're not afraid of me, if you've really not been on your guard for twenty years, it means another thing. it means that you've learned your lesson, that the book of the past is closed, and that you have simply been waiting for the time to come to do this thing and save your people from a danger before which you once fell." "and which horn of the dilemma do you take?" he asked coldly. "i haven't decided--but i will to-night." "how interesting!" "yes, isn't it?" she leaned close. "with a patience that must have caused you wonder, with a waiting through years as god waits, i have endured your indifference, your coldness, your contempt. each year i have counted the last that you could resist the call of my body and soul, and at the end of each year i have seen you further and further away from me and the gulf between us deeper and darker. this absence you have planned in this campaign means the end one way or the other. i'm going to face life now as it is, not as i've hoped it might be." "i told you when you made your bargain to return to this house, that there could be nothing between us except a hate that is eternal----" "and i didn't believe it! now i'm going to face it if i must----" she paused, breathed deeply and her eyes were like glowing coals as she slowly went on: "i'm not the kind to give up without a fight. i've lived and learned the wisdom of caution and cunning. i'm not old and i've still a fool's confidence in my powers. i'm not quite thirty-nine, strong and sound in body and spirit, alive to my finger tips with the full blood of a grown woman--and so i warn you----" "you warn me"--he cried with a flush of anger. "yes. i warn you not to push me too far. i have negro blood in me, but i'm at least human, and i'm going to be treated as a human being." "and may i ask what you mean by that?" he asked sarcastically. "that i'm going to demand my rights." "demand?" "exactly." "your _rights_?" "the right to love----" norton broke into a bitter, angry laugh: "are you demanding that i marry you?" "i'm not quite that big a fool. no. your laws forbid it. all right--there are higher laws than yours. the law that drew you to me in this room twenty years ago, in spite of all your fears and your prejudices"--she paused and her eyes glowed in the shadows--"i gave you my soul and body then----" "gifts i never sought----" "yet you took them and i'm here a part of your life. what are you going to do with me? i'm not the negro race. i'm just a woman who loves you and asks that you treat her fairly." "treat you fairly! did i ever want you? or seek you? you came to me, thrust yourself into my office, and when i discharged you, pushed your way into my home. you won my boy's love and made my wife think you were indispensable to her comfort and happiness. i tried to avoid you. it was useless. you forced yourself into my presence at all hours of the day and night. what happened was your desire, not mine. and when i reproached myself with bitter curses you laughed for joy! and you talk to me to-day of fairness! you who dragged me from that banquet hall the night of my triumph to hurl me into despair! you who blighted my career and sent me blinded with grief and shame groping through life with the shadow of death on my soul! you who struck your bargain of a pound of flesh next to my heart, and fought your way back into my house again to hold me a prisoner for life, chained to the dead body of my shame--you talk to me about fairness--great god!" he stopped, strangled with passion, his tall figure towering above her, his face livid, his hands clutched in rage. she laughed hysterically: "why don't you strike! i'm not your equal in strength--i dare you to do it--i dare you to do it! i _dare_ you--do you hear?" with a sudden grip she tore the frail silk from its fastenings at her throat, pressed close and thrust her angry face into his in a desperate challenge to physical violence. his eyes held hers a moment and his hands relaxed: "i'd like to kill you. i could do it with joy!" "why don't you?" "you're not worth the price of such a crime!" "you'd just as well do it, as to wish it. don't be a coward!" her eyes burned with suppressed fire. he looked at her with cold anger and his lip twitched with a smile of contempt. the strain was more than her nerves could bear. with a sob she threw her arms around his neck. he seized them angrily, her form collapsed and she clung to him with blind hysterical strength. he waited a moment and spoke in quiet determined tones: [illustration: "'i _dare_ you--do you hear?'"] "enough of this now." she raised her eyes to his, pleading with desperation: "please be kind to me just this last hour before you go, and i'll be content if you give no more. i'll never intrude again." she relaxed her hold, dropped to a seat and covered her face with her hands: "oh, my god! are you made of stone--have you no pity? through all these years i've gone in and out of this house looking into your face for a sign that you thought me human, and you've given none. i've lived on the memories of the few hours when you were mine. i've sometimes told myself it was just a dream, that it never happened--until i've almost believed it. you've pretended that it wasn't true. you've strangled these memories and told yourself over and over again that it never happened. i've seen you doing this--seen it in your cold, deep eyes. well, it's a lie! you were mine! you shall not forget it--you can't forget it--i won't let you, i tell you!" the voice broke again into sobs. he stood with arms folded, watching her in silence. her desperate appeal to his memories and his physical passion had only stirred anger and contempt. he was seeing now as he had never noticed before the growing marks of her negroid character. the anger was for her, the contempt for himself. he noticed the growth of her lips with age, the heavy sensual thickness of the negroid type! it was inconceivable that in this room the sight of her had once stirred the beast in him to incontrollable madness. there was at least some consolation in the fact that he had made progress. he couldn't see this if he hadn't moved to a higher plane. he spoke at length in quiet tones: "i am waiting for you to go. i have work to do to-night." she rose with a quick, angry movement: "it's all over, then. there's not a chance that you'll change your mind?" "not if you were the last woman on earth and i the last man." he spoke without bitterness but with a firmness that was final. "all right. i know what to expect now and i'll plan my own life." "what do you mean?" "that there's going to be a change in my relations to your servants for one thing." "your relations to my servants?" he repeated incredulously. "yes." "in what respect?" "i'm not going to take any more insolence from minerva----" "keep out of the kitchen and let her alone. she's the best cook i ever had." "if i keep this house for you, i demand the full authority of my position. i'll hire the servants and discharge them when i choose." "you'll do nothing of the kind," he answered firmly. "then i demand that you discharge minerva and andy at once." "what's the matter with andy?" "i loathe him." "well, i like him, and he's going to stay. anything else?" "you'll pay no attention to my wishes?" "i'm master of this house." "and in your absence?" "my son will be here." "all right, i understand now." "if i haven't made it plain, i'll do so." "quite clear, thank you," she answered slowly. norton walked to the mantel, leaned his elbow on the shelf for a moment, returned and confronted her with his hands thrust into his pockets, his feet wide apart, his whole attitude one of cool defiance. "now i want to know what you're up to? these absurd demands are a blind. they haven't fooled me. there's something else in the back of your devilish mind. what is it? i want to know exactly what you mean?" cleo laughed a vicious little ripple of amusement: "yes, i know you do--but you won't!" "all right, as you please. a word from you and helen's life is blasted. a word from you and i withdraw from this campaign, and another will lead it. speak that word if you dare, and i'll throw you out of this house and your last hold on my life is broken." "i've thought of that, too," she said with a smile. "it will be worth the agony i'll endure," he cried, "to know that i'm free of you and breathe god's clean air at last!" he spoke the words with an earnestness, a deep and bitter sincerity, that was not lost on her keen ears. she started to reply, hesitated and was silent. he saw his advantage and pressed it: "i want you to understand fully that i know now and i have always known that i am at your mercy when you see fit to break the word you pledged. yet there has never been a moment during the past twenty years that i've been really afraid of you. when the hour comes for my supreme humiliation, i'll meet it. speak as soon as you like." she had walked calmly to the door, paused and looked back: "you needn't worry, major," she said smoothly, "i'm not quite such a fool as all that. i've been silent too many years. it's a habit i'll not easily break." her white teeth gleamed in a cold smile as she added: "good night." a hundred times he told himself that she wouldn't dare, but he left home next lay with a sickening fear slowly stealing into his heart. chapter vi an old comedy norton had scarcely passed his gate on the way to catch the train when cleo left the window, where her keen eyes had been watching, and made her way rapidly to the room he had just vacated. books and papers were scattered loosely over his table beside the typewriter which he had, with his usual carelessness, left open. with a quick decision she seated herself beside the machine and in two hours sufficiently mastered its use to write a letter by using a single finger and carefully touching the keys one by one. the light of a cunning purpose burned in her eyes as she held up the letter which she had written on a sheet paper with the embossed heading of his home address at the top. she re-read it, smiling over the certainty of the success of her plan. the letter was carefully and simply worded: "my dear miss helen: "as your guardian is still in europe, i feel it my duty, and a pleasant one, to give you a glimpse of the south before you go abroad. please come at once to my home for as long as you care to stay. if i am away in the campaign when you arrive, my son and housekeeper, cleo, will make you at home and i trust happy. "with kindest regards, and hoping to see you soon, "sincerely, "daniel norton." the signature she practiced with a pen for half an hour until her imitation was almost perfect and then signed it. satisfied with the message, she addressed an envelope to "miss helen winslow, convent of the sacred heart, racine, wisconsin," sealed and posted it with her own hand. the answer came six days later. cleo recognized the post mark at once, broke the seal and read it with dancing eyes: "my dear major norton: "i am wild with joy over your kind invitation. as my last examinations are over i will not wait for the commencement exercises. i am so excited over this trip i just can't wait. i am leaving day after to-morrow and hope to arrive almost as soon as this letter. "with a heart full of gratitude, "your lonely ward, "helen." two days later a hack rolled up the graveled walk to the white porch, a girl leaped out and bounded up the steps, her cheeks flushed, her wide open blue eyes dancing with excitement. she was evidently surprised to find that cleo was an octoroon, blushed and extended her hand with a timid hesitating look: "this--this--is cleo--the major's housekeeper?" she asked. the quick eye of the woman took in at a glance the charm of the shy personality and the loneliness of the young soul that looked out from her expressive eyes. "yes," she answered mechanically. "i'm so sorry that the major's away--the driver told me----" "oh, it's all right," cleo said with a smile, "he wrote us to make you feel at home. just walk right in, your room is all ready." "thank you so much," helen responded, drawing a deep breath and looking over the lawn with its green grass, its dense hedges and wonderful clusters of roses in full bloom. "how beautiful the south is--far more beautiful than i had dreamed! and the perfume of these roses--why, the air is just drowsy with their honey! we have gorgeous roses in the north, but i never smelled them in the open before"--she paused and breathed deeply again and again--"oh, it's fairyland--i'll never want to go!" "i hope you won't," cleo said earnestly. "the major asked me to stay as long as i wished. i have his letter here"--she drew the letter from her bag and opened it--"see what he says: 'please come at once to my home for as long as you can stay'--now wasn't that sweet of him?" "very," was the strained reply. the girl's sensitive ear caught the queer note in cleo's voice and looked at her with a start. "come, i must show you to your room," she added, hurriedly opening the door for helen to pass. the keen eyes of the woman were scanning the girl and estimating her character with increasing satisfaction. she walked with exquisite grace. her figure was almost the exact counterpart of her own at twenty--helen's a little fuller, the arms larger but more beautiful. the slender wrists and perfectly moulded hand would have made a painter beg for a sitting. her eyes were deep blue and her hair the richest chestnut brown, massive and slightly waving, her complexion the perfect white and red of the northern girl who had breathed the pure air of the fields and hills. the sure, swift, easy way in which she walked told of perfect health and exhaustless vitality. her voice was low and sweet and full of shy tenderness. a smile of triumph flashed from cleo's greenish eyes as she watched her swiftly cross the hall toward the stairs. "i'll win!" she exclaimed softly. helen turned sharply. "did you speak to me?" she asked blushing. "no. i was just thinking aloud." "excuse me, i thought you said something to me--" "it would have been something very nice if i had," cleo said with a friendly smile. "thank you--oh, i feel that i'm going to be so happy here!" "i hope so." "when do you think the major will come?" the woman's face clouded in spite of her effort at self-control: "it may be a month or more." "oh, i'm so anxious to see him! he has been acting for my old guardian, who is somewhere abroad, ever since i can remember. i've begged and begged him to come to see me, but he never came. it was so far away, i suppose. he never even sent me his picture, though i've asked him often. what sort of a man is he?" cleo smiled and hesitated, and then spoke with apparent carelessness: "a very striking looking man." "with a kind face?" "a very stern one, clean shaven, with deep set eyes, a firm mouth, a strong jaw that can be cruel when he wishes, a shock of thick iron gray hair, tall, very tall and well built. he weighs two hundred and fifteen now--he was very thin when young." "and his voice?" "gentle, but sometimes hard as steel when he wishes it to be." "oh, i'll be scared to death when i see him! i had pictured him just the opposite." "how?" "why, i hardly know--but i thought his voice would be always gentle like i imagine a southern father's who loved his children very much. and i thought his hair would be blonde, with a kind face and friendly laughing eyes--blue, like mine. his eyes aren't blue?" "dark brown." "i know i'll run when he comes." "we'll make you feel at home and you'll not be afraid. mr. tom will be here to lunch in a few minutes and i'll introduce you." "then i must dress at once!" "the first door at the head of the stairs--your trunk has already been taken up." cleo watched the swift, strong, young form mount the stairs. "it's absolutely certain!" she cried under her breath. "i'll win--i'll win!" she broke into a low laugh and hurried to set the table in a bower of the sweetest roses that were in bloom. their languorous odor filled the house. helen was waiting in the old-fashioned parlor when tom's step echoed on the stoop. cleo hurried to meet him on the porch. his face clouded with a scowl: "she's here?" "yes, mr. handsome boy," cleo answered cheerfully. "and lunch is ready--do rub that awful scowl off your face and look like you're glad." "well, i'm not--so what's the use? it'll be a mess to have a girl on my hands day and night and i've got no time for it. i wish dad was here. i know i'll hate the sight of her." cleo smiled: "better wait until you see her." "where is she?" "in the parlor." "all right--the quicker a disagreeable job's over the better." "shall i introduce you?" "no, i'll do it myself," he growled, bracing himself for the ordeal. as he entered the door he stopped short at the vision as helen sprang to her feet and came to meet him. she was dressed in the softest white filmy stuff, as light as a feather, bare arms and neck, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement, her smooth, fair cheeks scarlet with blushes. the boy's heart stopped beating in sheer surprise. he expected a frowzy little waif from an orphanage, blear-eyed, sad, soulful and tiresome. this shining, blushing, wonderful creature took his breath. he stared at first with open mouth, until cleo's laugh brought him to his senses just as he began to hear helen's low sweet voice: "and this is mr. tom, i suppose? i am helen winslow, your father's ward, from the west--at least he's all the guardian i've ever known." tom grasped the warm little hand extended in so friendly greeting and held it in dazed surprise until cleo's low laughter again roused him. "yes--i--i--am delighted to see you, miss helen, and i'm awfully sorry my father couldn't be here to welcome you. i--i'll do the best i can for you in his absence." "oh, thank you," she murmured. "you know you're not at all like i expected to find you," he said hesitatingly. "i hope i haven't disappointed you," she answered demurely. "no--no"--he protested--"just the opposite." he stopped and blushed for fear he'd said too much. "and you're just the opposite from what i'd pictured you since cleo told me how your father looks." "and what did you expect?" he asked eagerly. "a stern face, dark hair, dark eyes and a firm mouth." "and you find instead?" helen laughed: "i'm afraid you love flattery." tom hurried to protest: "really, i wasn't fishing for a compliment, but i'm so unlike my father, it's a joke. i get my blonde hair and blue eyes from my mother and my great-grandfather." before he knew what was happening tom was seated by her side talking and laughing as if they had known each other a lifetime. helen paused for breath, put her elbow on the old mahogany table, rested her dimpled chin in the palm of her pretty hand and looked at tom with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. "what's the joke?" he asked. "do you know that you're the first boy i ever talked to in my life?" "no--really?" he answered incredulously. "don't you think i do pretty well?" "perfectly wonderful!" "you see, i've played this scene so many times in my day dreams----" "and it's like your dream?" "remarkably!" "how?" "you're just the kind of boy i always thought i'd meet first----" "how funny!" "yes, exactly," she cried excitedly and with a serious tone in her voice that was absolutely convincing. "you're so jolly and friendly and easy to talk to, i feel as if i've known you all my life." "and i feel the same--isn't it funny?" they both laughed immoderately. "come," the boy cried, "i want to show you my mother's and my grandfather's portraits in the library. you'll see where i get my silly blonde hair, my slightly pug nose and my very friendly ways." she rose with a laugh: "your nose isn't pug, it's just good-humored." "amount to the same thing." "and your hair is very distinguished looking for a boy. i'd envy it, if it were a girl's." tom led the way into the big, square library which opened on the pillared porch both on the rear and on the side of the house. before the fireplace he paused and pointed to his mother's portrait done in oil by a famous artist in new york. it was life-size and the canvas filled the entire space between the two fluted columns of the colonial mantel which reached to the ceiling. the woodwork of the mantelpiece was of dark mahogany and the background of the portrait the color of bright gold which seemed to melt into the lines of the massive smooth gilded frame. the effect was wonderfully vivid and life-like in the sombre coloring of the book-lined walls. the picture and frame seemed a living flame in its dark setting. the portrait was an idealized study of the little mother. the artist had put into his canvas the spirit of the tenderest brooding motherhood. the very curve of her arms holding the child to her breast seemed to breathe tenderness. the smile that played about her delicate lips and blue eyes was ethereal in its fleeting spirit beauty. the girl caught her breath in surprise: "what a wonderful picture--it's perfectly divine! i feel like kneeling before it." "it is an altar," the boy said reverently. "i've seen my father sit in that big chair brooding for hours while he looked at it. and ever since he put those two old gold candlesticks in front of it i can't get it out of my head that he slips in here, kneels in the twilight and prays before it." "he must have loved your mother very tenderly," she said softly. "i think he worships her still," the boy answered simply. "oh, i could die for a man like that!" she cried with sudden passion. tom pointed to his grandfather's portrait: "and there you see my distinguished features and my pug nose----" cleo appeared in the door smiling: "i've been waiting for you to come to lunch, mr. boy, for nearly an hour." "well, for heaven's sake, why didn't you let us know?" "i told you it was ready when you came." "forgot all about it." he was so serenely unconscious of anything unusual in his actions that he failed to notice the smile that continuously played about cleo's mouth or to notice andy's evident enjoyment of the little drama as he bowed and scraped and waited on the table with unusual ceremony. aunt minerva, hearing andy's report of the sudden affair that had developed in the major's absence, left the kitchen and stood in the door a moment, her huge figure completely filling the space while she watched the unconscious boy and girl devouring each other with sparkling eyes. she waved her fat hand over their heads to andy, laughed softly and left without their noticing her presence. the luncheon was the longest one that had been known within the memory of anyone present. minerva again wandered back to the door, fascinated by the picture they made, and whispered to andy as he passed: "well, fer de lawd's sake, is dey gwine ter set dar all day?" "nobum--'bout er nodder hour, an' he'll go back ter de office." tom suddenly looked at his watch: "heavens! i'm late. i'll run down to the office and cut the work out for the day in honor of your coming." helen rose blushing: "oh, i'm afraid i'll make trouble for you." "no trouble at all! i'll be back in ten minutes." "i'll be on the lawn in that wilderness of roses. the odor is maddening--it's so sweet." "all right--and then i'll show you the old rose garden the other side of the house." "it's awfully good of you, but i'm afraid i'm taking your time from work." "it's all right! i'll make the other fellows do it to-day." she blushed again and waved her bare arm high over her dark brown hair from the porch as he swung through the gate and disappeared. in a few minutes he had returned. through the long hours of a beautiful summer afternoon they walked through the enchanted paths of the old garden on velvet feet, the boy pouring out his dreams and high ambitions, the girl's lonely heart for the first time in life basking in the joyous light of a perfect day. andy made an excuse to go in the garden and putter about some flowers just to watch them, laugh and chuckle over the exhibition. he was just in time as he softly approached behind a trellis of climbing roses to hear tom say: "please give me that bud you're wearing?" "why?" she asked demurely. "just because i've taken a fancy to it." she blushed scarlet, took the rosebud from her bosom and pinned it on his coat: "all right--there!" andy suppressed a burst of laughter and hurried back to report to minerva. for four enchanted weeks the old comedy of life was thus played by the boy and girl in sweet and utter unconsciousness of its meaning. he worked only in the mornings and rushed home for lunch unusually early. the afternoon usually found them seated side by side slowly driving over the quiet country roads. two battlefields of the civil war, where his father had led a regiment of troops in the last desperate engagement with sherman's army two weeks after lee had surrendered at appomattox, kept them busy each afternoon for a week. at night they sat on the moonlit porch behind the big pillars and he talked to her of the great things of life with simple boyish enthusiasm. sometimes they walked side by side through the rose-scented lawn and paused to hear the love song of a mocking-bird whose mate was busy each morning teaching her babies to fly. the world had become a vast rose garden of light and beauty, filled with the odors of flowers and spices and dreamy strains of ravishing music. and behind it all, nearer crept the swift shadow whose tread was softer than the foot of a summer's cloud. chapter vii trapped norton's campaign during its first months was a continuous triumph. the opposition had been so completely stunned by the epoch-making declaration of principles on which he had chosen to conduct the fight that they had as yet been unable to rally their forces. even the rival newspaper, founded to combat the ideas for which the _eagle and phoenix_ stood, was compelled to support norton's ticket to save itself from ruin. the young editor found a source of endless amusement in taunting the professor on this painful fact. the leader had chosen to begin his tour of the state in the farthest mountain counties that had always been comparatively free from negro influence. these counties were counted as safe for the opposition before the startling program of the editor's party had been announced. yet from the first day's mass meeting which he had addressed an enthusiasm had been developed under the spell of norton's eloquence that had swept the crowds of mountaineers off their feet. they had never been slave owners, and they had no use for a negro as servant, laborer, voter, citizen, or in any other capacity. the idea of freeing the state forever from their baleful influence threw the entire white race into solid ranks supporting his ticket. the enthusiasm kindled in the mountains swept the foothills, gaining resistless force as it reached the more inflammable feelings of the people of the plains who were living in daily touch with the negro. yet amid all the scenes of cheering and enthusiasm through which he was passing daily the heart of the leader was heavy with dread. his mind was brooding over the last scene with cleo and its possible outcome. he began to worry with increasing anguish over the certainty that when she struck the blow would be a deadly one. the higher the tide of his triumph rose, the greater became the tension of his nerves. each day had its appointment to speak. some days were crowded with three or four engagements. these dates were made two weeks ahead and great expense had been incurred in each case to advertise them and secure record crowds. it was a point of honor with him to make good these dates even to the smallest appointment at a country crossroads. it was impossible to leave for a trip home. it would mean the loss of at least four days. yet his anxiety at last became so intense that he determined to rearrange his dates and swing his campaign into the territory near the capital at once. it was not a good policy. he would risk the loss of the cumulative power of his work now sweeping from county to county, a resistless force. but it would enable him to return home for a few hours between his appointments. there had been nothing in tom's reports to arouse his fears. the boy had faithfully carried out his instructions to give no information that might annoy him. his brief letters were bright, cheerful, and always closed with the statement: "everything all right at home, and i'm still jollying the professor about supporting the cause he hates." when he reached the county adjoining the capital his anxiety had reached a point beyond endurance. it would be three days before he could connect with a schedule of trains that would enable him to get home between the time of his hours to speak. he simply could not wait. he telegraphed to tom to send andy to the meeting next day with a bound volume of the paper for the year which contained some facts he wished to use in his speech in this district. andy's glib tongue would give him the information he needed. the train was late and the papers did not arrive in time. he was compelled to leave his hotel and go to the meeting without them. an enormous crowd had gathered. and for the first time on his tour he felt hostility in the glances that occasionally shot from groups of men as he passed. the county was noted for its gangs of toughs who lived on the edge of a swamp that had been the rendezvous of criminals for a century. the opposition had determined to make a disturbance at this meeting and if possible end it with a riot. they counted on the editor's fiery temper when aroused to make this a certainty. they had not figured on the cool audacity with which he would meet such a situation. when he reached the speaker's stand, the county chairman whispered: "they are going to make trouble here to-day." "yes?" "they've got a speaker who's going to demand a division of time." the editor smiled: "really?" "yes," the chairman said, nodding toward a tall, ministerial-looking individual who was already working his way through the crowd. "that's the fellow coming now." norton turned and confronted the chosen orator of the opposition, a backwoods preacher of a rude native eloquence whose name he had often heard. he saw at a glance that he was a man of force. his strong mouth was clean of mustache and the lower lip was shaved to the chin. a long beard covered the massive jaws and his hair reached the collar of his coat. he had been a deserter during the war, and a drunken member of the little scalawag governor's famous guard that had attempted to rule the state without the civil law. he had been converted in a baptist revival at a crossroads meeting place years before and became a preacher. his religious conversion, however, had not reached his politics or dimmed his memory of the events of reconstruction. he had hated norton with a deep and abiding fervor from the day he had escaped from his battalion in the civil war down to the present moment. norton hadn't the remotest idea that he was the young recruit who had taken to his heels on entering a battle and never stopped running until he reached home. "this is major norton?" the preacher asked. "yes," was the curt answer. "i demand a division of time with you in a joint discussion here, sir." norton's figure stiffened and he looked at the man with a flush of anger: "did you say demand?" "yes, sir, i did," the preacher answered, snapping his hard mouth firmly. "we believe in free speech in this county." norton placed his hands in his pockets, and looked him over from head to foot: "well, you've got the gall of the devil, i must say, even if you do wear the livery of heaven. you demand free speech at my expense! i like your cheek. it cost my committee two hundred dollars to advertise this meeting and make it a success, and you step up at the last moment and demand that i turn it over to your party. if you want free speech, hire your own hall and make it to your heart's content. you can't address this crowd from a speaker's stand built with my money." "you refuse?" norton looked at him steadily for a moment and took a step closer: "i am trying to convey that impression to your mind. must i use my foot to emphasize it?" the long-haired one paled slightly, turned and quickly pushed his way through the crowd to a group awaiting him on the edge of the brush arbor that had been built to shelter the people from the sun. the chairman whispered to norton: "there'll be trouble certain--they're a tough lot. more than half the men here are with him." "they won't be when i've finished," he answered with a smile. "you'd better divide with them----" "i'll see him in hell first!" norton stepped quickly on the rude pine platform that had been erected for the speaker and faced the crowd. for the first time on his trip the cheering was given with moderation. he saw the preacher walk back under the arbor and his men distribute themselves with apparent design in different parts of the crowd. he lifted his hand with a gesture to stop the applause and a sudden hush fell over the eager, serious faces. his eye wandered carelessly over the throng and singled out the men he had seen distribute themselves among them. he suddenly slipped his hand behind him and drew from beneath his long black frock coat a big revolver and laid it beside the pitcher of lemonade the chairman had provided. a slight stir swept the crowd and the stillness could be felt. the speaker lifted his broad shoulders and began his speech in an intense voice that found its way to the last man who hung on the edge of the crowd: "gentlemen," he began slowly, "if there's any one present who doesn't wish to hear what i have to say, now is the time to leave. this is my meeting, and i will not be interrupted. if, in spite of this announcement, there happens to be any one here who is looking for trouble"--he stopped and touched the shining thing that lay before him--"you'll find it here on the table--walk right up to the front." a cheer rent the air. he stilled it with a quick gesture and plunged into his speech. in the intense situation which had developed he had forgotten the fear that had been gnawing at his heart for the past weeks. at the height of his power over his audience his eye suddenly caught the black face of andy grinning in evident admiration of his master's eloquence. something in the symbolism of this negro grinning at him over the heads of the people hanging breathless on his words sent a wave of sickening fear to his heart. in vain he struggled to throw the feeling off in the midst of his impassioned appeal. it was impossible. for the remaining half hour he spoke as if in a trance. unconsciously his voice was lowered to a strange intense monotone that sent the chills down the spines of his hearers. he closed his speech in a silence that was strangling. the people were dazed and he was half-way down the steps of the rude platform before they sufficiently recovered to break into round after round of cheering. he had unconsciously made the most powerful speech of his life, and no man in all the crowd that he had hypnotized could have dreamed the grim secret which had been the source of his inspiration. without a moment's delay he found andy, examined the package he brought and hurried to his room. "everything all right at home, andy?" he asked with apparent carelessness. the negro was still lost in admiration of norton's triumph over his hostile audience. "yassah, you sho did set 'em afire wid dat speech, major!" he said with a laugh. "and i asked you if everything was all right at home?" "oh, yassah, yassah--everything's all right. of cose, sah, dey's a few little things always happenin'. dem pigs get in de garden las' week an' et everything up, an' dat ole cow er own got de hollow horn agin. but everything else all right, sah." "and how's aunt minerva?" "des es big an' fat ez ebber, sah, an' er gittin' mo' unruly every day--yassah--she's gittin' so sassy she try ter run de whole place an' me, too." "and cleo?" this question he asked bustling over his papers with an indifference so perfectly assumed that andy never guessed his interest to be more than casual, and yet he ceased to breathe until he caught the laughing answer: "oh, she's right dar holdin' her own wid miss minerva an' i tells her las' week she's lookin' better dan ebber--yassah--she's all right." norton felt a sense of grateful relief. his fears had been groundless. they were preposterous to start with. the idea that she might attempt to visit helen in his absence was, of course, absurd. his next question was asked with a good-natured, hearty tone: "and mr. tom?" andy laughed immoderately and norton watched him with increasing wonder. "right dar's whar my tale begins!" "why, what's the matter with him?" the father asked with a touch of anxiety in his voice. "lordy, dey ain't nuttin' de _matter_ wid him 'tall--hit's a fresh cut!" again andy laughed with unction. "what is it?" norton asked with impatience. "what's the matter with tom?" "nuttin' 'tall, sah--nuttin' 'tall--i nebber see 'im lookin' so well in my life. he gets up sooner den i ebber knowed him before. he comes home quicker an' stays dar longer an' he's de jolliest young gentleman i know anywhar in de state. mo' specially, sah, since dat handsome young lady from de north come down to see us----" the father's heart was in his throat as he stammered: "a handsome young lady from the north--i don't understand!" "why, miss helen, sah, de young lady you invite ter spen' de summer wid us." norton's eyes suddenly grew dim, he leaned on the table, stared at andy, and repeated blankly: "the young lady i asked to spend the summer with us?" "yassah, miss helen, sah, is her name--she cum 'bout er week atter you lef----" "and she's been there ever since?" he asked. "yassah, an' she sho is a powerful fine young lady, sah. i don't blame mister tom fer bein' crazy 'bout her!" there was a moment's dead silence. "so tom's crazy about her?" he said in a high, nervous voice, which andy took for a joke. "yassah, i'se had some sperience myself, sah, but i ain't nebber seen nuttin' like dis! he des trot long atter her day an' night like a fice. an' de funny thing, sah, is dat he doan' seem ter know dat he's doin' it. everybody 'bout de house laffin' fit ter kill dersef an' he don't pay no 'tention. he des sticks to her like a sick kitten to a hot brick! yassah, hit sho's funny! i des knowed you'd bust er laughin' when you sees 'em." norton had sunk to a seat too weak to stand. his face was pale and his breath came in short gasps as he turned to the negro, stared at him hopelessly for a moment and said: "andy, get me a good horse and buggy at the livery stable--we'll drive through the country to-night. i want to get home right away." andy's mouth opened and his eyes stared in blank amazement. "de lawd, major, hit's mos' sundown now an' hit's a hundred miles from here home--hit took me all day ter come on de train." "no, it's only forty miles straight across the country. we can make it to-night with a good horse. hurry, i'll have my valise packed in a few minutes." "do you know de way, sah?" andy asked, scratching his head. "do as i tell you--quick!" norton thundered. the negro darted from the room and returned in half an hour with a horse and buggy. through the long hours of the night they drove with but a single stop at midnight in a quiet street of a sleeping village. they halted at the well beside a store and watered the horse. a graveyard was passed a mile beyond the village, and andy glanced timidly over his shoulder at the white marble slabs glistening in the starlight. his master had not spoken for two hours save the sharp order to stop at the well. "dis sho is er lonesome lookin' place!" andy said with a shiver. but the man beside him gave no sign that he heard. his eyes were set in a strange stare at the stars that twinkled in the edge of the tree tops far ahead. andy grew so lonely and frightened finally at the ominous silence that he pretended to be lost at each crossroads to force norton to speak. "i wuz afraid you gone ter sleep, sah!" he said with an apologetic laugh. "an' i wuz erfered dat you'd fall out er de buggy gwine down er hill." in vain he tried to break the silence. there was no answer--no sign that he was in the same world, save the fact of his body's presence. the first streak of dawn was widening on the eastern horizon when norton's cramped legs limped into the gate of his home. he stopped to steady his nerves and looked blankly up at the window of his boy's room. he had given tom his mother's old room when he had reached the age of sixteen. somewhere behind those fluted pillars, white and ghost-like in the dawn, lay the girl who had suddenly risen from the dead to lead his faltering feet up life's calvary. he saw the cross slowly lifting its dark form from the hilltop with arms outstretched to embrace him, and the chill of death crept into his heart. the chirp of stirring birds, the dim noises of waking life, the whitening sky-line behind the house recalled another morning in his boyhood. he had waked at daylight to go to his traps set at the branch in the edge of the woods behind the barn. the plantation at that time had extended into the town. a fox had been killing his fancy chickens. he had vowed vengeance in his boyish wrath, bought half a dozen powerful steel-traps and set them in the fox's path. the prowler had been interrupted the night before and had not gotten his prey. he would return sure. he recalled now every emotion that had thrilled his young heart as he bounded along the dew-soaked path to his traps. before he could see the place he heard the struggles of his captive. "i've got him!" he shouted with a throb of savage joy. he leaped the fence and stood frozen to the spot. the fox was a magnificent specimen of his breed, tall and heavy as a setter dog, with beautiful appealing eyes. his fine gray fur was spotched with blood, his mouth torn and bleeding from the effort to break the cruel bars that held his foreleg in their death-like grip. with each desperate pull the blood spurted afresh and the steel cut deeper into bone and flesh. the strange cries of pain and terror from the trapped victim had struck him dumb. he had come with murder in his heart to take revenge on his enemy, but when he looked with blanched face on the blood and heard the pitiful cries he rushed to the spot, tore the steel arms apart, loosed the fox, pushed his quivering form from him and gasped: "go--go--i'm sorry i hurt you like that!" stirred by the memories of the dawn he lived this scene again in vivid anguish, and as he slowly mounted the steps of his home, felt the steel bars of an inexorable fate close on his own throat. chapter viii behind the bars when norton reached his room he locked the door and began to pace the floor, facing for the hundredth time the stunning situation which the presence of helen had created. to reveal to such a sensitive, cultured girl just as she was budding into womanhood the fact that her blood was tainted with a negro ancestor would be an act so pitifully cruel that every instinct of his nature revolted from the thought. he began to realize that her life was at stake as well as his boy's. that he loved this son with all the strength of his being and that he only knew the girl to fear her, made no difference in the fundamental facts. he acknowledged that she was his. he had accepted the fact and paid the penalty in the sacrifice of every ambition of a brilliant mind. he weighed carefully the things that were certain and the things that were merely probable. the one certainty that faced him from every angle was that cleo was in deadly earnest and that it meant a fight for the supremacy of every decent instinct of his life and character. apparently she had planned a tragic revenge by luring the girl to his home, figuring on his absence for three months, to precipitate a love affair before he could know the truth or move to interfere. a strange mental telepathy had warned him and he had broken in on the scene two months before he was expected. and yet he couldn't believe that cleo in the wildest flight of her insane rage could have deliberately meant that such an affair should end in marriage. she knew the character of both father and son too well to doubt that such an act could only end in tragedy. she was too cautious for such madness. what was her game? he asked himself that question again and again, always to come back to one conclusion. she had certainly brought the girl into the house to force from his reluctant lips her recognition and thus fix her own grip on his life. beyond a doubt the surest way to accomplish this, and the quickest, was by a love affair between the boy and girl. she knew that personally the father had rather die than lose the respect of his son by a confession of his shame. but she knew with deeper certainty that he must confess it if their wills once clashed over the choice of a wife. the boy had a mind of his own. his father knew it and respected and loved him all the more because of it. it was improbable as yet that tom had spoken a word of love or personally faced such an issue. of the girl he could only form the vaguest idea. it was clear now that he had been stricken by a panic and that the case was not so desperate as he had feared. one thing he saw with increasing clearness. he must move with the utmost caution. he must avoid helen at first and find the boy's attitude. he must at all hazards keep the use of every power of body, mind and soul in the crisis with which he was confronted. two hours later when andy cautiously approached his door and listened at the keyhole he was still pacing the floor with the nervous tread of a wounded lion suddenly torn from the forest and thrust behind the bars of an iron cage. chapter ix andy's dilemma andy left norton's door and rapped softly at tom's, tried the lock, found it unfastened, pushed his way quietly inside and called: "mister tom!" no answer came from the bed and andy moved closer: "mister tom--mister tom!" "ah--what's the matter with you--get out!" the sleeper growled. the negro touched the boy's shoulder with a friendly shake, whispering: "yo' pa's here!" tom sat up in bed rubbing his eyes: "what's that?" "yassah, i fotch him through the country and we rid all night----" "what's the matter?' "dat's what i wants ter see you 'bout, sah--an' ef you'll des slip on dem clothes an' meet me in de liberry, we'll hab a little confab an' er council er war----" the boy picked up a pillow and hurled it at andy: "well, get out, you old rascal, and i'll be down in a few minutes." andy dodged the pillow and at the door whispered: "yassah, an' don't disturb de major! i hopes ter god he sleep er month when he git started." "all right, i won't disturb him." tom dressed, wondering vaguely what had brought his father home at such an unearthly hour and by such a trip across the country. andy, arrayed in a suit of broadcloth which he had appropriated from norton's wardrobe in his absence, was waiting for tom with evident impatience. "now, what i want to know is," the boy began, "what the devil you mean by pulling me out of bed this time of day?" andy chuckled: "well, yer see, sah, de major git home kinder sudden like en' i wuz jest er little oneasy 'bout dis here new suit er close er mine----" "well, that's not the first suit of his clothes you've swiped--you needn't be scared." "scared--who me? man, i ain't er skeered er yo' pa." minerva banged the dining-room door and andy jumped and started to run. tom laughed and seized his arm: "oh, don't be a fool! there's no danger." "nasah--i knows dey's no danger--but"--he glanced over his shoulder to be sure that the master hadn't come down stairs--"but yer know de ole sayin' is dat indiscretion is de better part er value----" "i see!" tom smiled in perfect agreement. "an' i des has er little indiscretion----" "oh, you make me tired, how can i help a coward?" andy looked grieved: "lordy, mister tom--don't say dat, sah. i ain't no coward--i'se des cautious. ye know i wuz in dat fus' battle er bull's run wid de major. i git separated from him in a close place an' hatter move my headquarters. dey said i wuz er coward den 'cause i run. but twan't so, sah! twan't cause i wuz er coward. i knowed zactly what i wuz doin'. i run 'cause i didn't hab no wings! i done de very bes' i could wid what i had. an' fuddermo', sah, de fellers dat wuz whar i wuz en' didn't run--dey's all dar yit at bull's run! nasah, i ain't no coward. i des got de indiscretion----" another door slammed and andy dodged. "what's the matter with you anyhow, you old fool, are you having fits?" tom cried. andy looked around the room cautiously and took hold of the boy's coat: "you listen to me, mister tom. i'se gwine tell yer somfin' now----" "well?" "i ain't er skeered er de major--but he's dangous----" "bosh!" "dey's sumfin' de matter wid him!" "had a few mint juleps with a friend, no doubt." "mint juleps! huh! he kin swim in 'em--dive in 'em an' stay down er whole day an' never come up ter blow his bref--licker don't faze him!" "it's politics. he's leading this devilish campaign and he's worried over politics." "nasah!" andy protested with a laugh. "dem fool niggers des well give up--dey ain't gwine ter vote no mo'. de odder feller's doin' all de worryin'. he ain't worrin'----" "yes, he is, too," the boy replied. "he put a revolver in his pocket when he started on that trip." "yassah!" andy laughed. "i know, but yer don't understan'. dat pistol's his flatform!" "his platform?" "you ain' hear what he bin er doin' wid dat pistol?" "no--what?" "man erlive, yer des oughter see 'im yistiddy when i take 'im dem papers ter dat speakin', down in one er dem po' white counties full er radicals dat vote wid niggers. er kermittee comes up an' say dat de internal constertooshion er de nunited states give 'em free speech an' he gwine ter hear from 'em. de lordy, man, but his bristles riz! i 'lows ter myself, folks yer sho is thumpin' de wrong watermillion dis time!" "and what did he say to the committee?" "i nebber hear nary word. he des turn 'roun an' step up on dat flatform, kinder peart like, an' yer oughter see 'im open dat meetin'"--andy paused and broke into a loud laugh. "how did he open it?" tom asked with indulgent interest. andy scratched his woolly head: "well, sah, hit warn't opened wid prayer--i kin tell ye dat! de fust thing he done, he reach back in his britches, kinder kereless lak, an' pull dat big pistol an' lay hit down afore him on' de table beside his pitcher er lemonade. man, you oughter see de eyes er dat crowd er dirty-lookin' po' whites! dey fairly popped outen der heads! i hump myself an' move out towards de outskirts----" tom smiled: "i bet you did!" "oh, i didn't run!" andy protested. "of course not--far be it from you!" "nasah, i des tucken drawed out----" "i understand, just a little caution, so to speak!" "yassah--dat's hit! des tucken drawed out, whar i'd have elbow room in de mergency----" "in other words," the boy interrupted, "just used a little indiscretion!" andy chuckled: "yassah! dat's hit! well, sah, he pat dat pistol kinder familious like an' say: 'ef dey's any er you lowlife po' white scoundrels here ter-day that don't want ter hear my speech--git! but ef yer stay an' yer don't feel comfortable, i got six little lead pills here in a box dat'll ease yer pain. walk right up to de prescription counter!'" "and they walked right up?" "well, sah, dey didn't _crowd up!_--nasah!" andy paused and laughed immoderately. "an' wid dat he des folded his arms an' look at dat crowd er minute an' his eyes began to spit fire. when i see dat, i feels my very shoes commin' ontied. i sez ter myself, now folks he's gwine ter magnify----" tom laughed: "magnified, did he?" the negro's eyes rolled and he lifted his hands in a gesture of supreme admiration: "de lordy, man--ef he didn't! he lit inter dem po' white trash lak er thousand er brick----" "give 'em what paddy gave the drum, i suppose?" "now yer talkin', honey! ef he didn't give 'em particular hell!" "and what happened?" "nuttin' happened, chile--dat's what i'm tryin' ter tell ye. nary one of 'em nebber cheeped. dey des stood dar an' listened lak er passel er sheep-killin' dogs. lemme tell ye, honey, politics ain't er worryin' him. de odder fellers doin' all de worrin'. nasah, dey's sumfin else de matter wid de major----" "what?" andy looked around the room furtively and whispered: "dar's a quare look in his eye!" "ah, pooh!" "hit's des lak i tells ye, mister tom. i ain't seed dat quare look in his eye before since de night i see yo' ma's ghost come down outen dat big picture frame an' walk cross dis hall----" the boy smiled and looked at the shining yellow canvas that seemed a living thing gleaming in its dark setting: "i suppose, of course, andy, you really saw her do that?" "'fore god, es sho's i'm talkin' ter you now, she done dat thing--yassah! hit wus de las' year befo' you come back frum college. de moon wuz shinin' froo dem big windows right on her face, an' i seed her wid my own eyes, all of a sudden, step right down outen dat picture frame an' walk across dis room, huggin' her baby close up in her arms--an' you'se dat very baby, sah!" the boy was interested in the negro's weird recital in spite of his amusement. he shook his head and said laughingly: "andy, you've got the heat----" "hit's des lak i tells ye, sah," andy solemnly repeated. "i stood right dar by dat table froze in my tracks, till i seed her go froo dat do' widout openin' it----" "bah!" tom cried in disgust. "dat she did!--an' miss minerva she see her do dat same thing once before and tell me about it. but man erlive, when i see it, i let off one er dem yells dat wuz hark from de tomb----" "i bet you did!" "yassah, i went froo dat big window dar an' carry de whole sash wid me. de major he take out atter me when he hears de commotion, an' when he kotch me down dar in de fiel' i wuz still wearin' dat sash fer a necktie!" the boy laughed again: "and i suppose, of course, he believed all you told him?" the negro rolled his eyes solemnly to the ceiling and nodded his head: "dat he did, sah. when i fust told 'im dat i seed er ghost, he laft fit ter kill hissef----" the boy nodded: "i don't doubt it!" "but mind ye," andy solemnly continued, "when i tells him what kin' er ghost i seed, he nebber crack anudder smile. he nebber open his mouf ergin fer er whole day. an' dis here's what i come ter tell ye, honey----" he paused and glanced over his shoulder as if momentarily fearing the major's appearance. "i thought you'd been telling me?" "nasah, i ain't told ye nuttin' yit. when i say what _kine_ er ghost i see--dat quare look come in his eye--de same look dat come dar yistiddy when i tells 'im dat miss helen wuz here." the boy looked at andy with a sudden start: "ah, how could that sweet little girl upset him? he's her guardian's attorney and sent for her to come, of course----" "i don't know 'bout dat, sah--all i know is dat he went wil' es quick es i tells 'im, an' he bin wil' ever since. mister tom, i ain't skeered er de major--but he's dangous!" "ah, andy, you're the biggest fool in the county," the boy answered laughing. "you know my father wouldn't touch a hair of your kinky head." andy grinned. "'cose not, mister tom," he said with unction. "i knows dat. but all de same i gotter keep outen his way wid dis new suit er close till i see 'im smilin'----" "always bearing in mind that indiscretion is the better part of value!" "yassah--yassah--dat's hit--an' i wants you ter promise you'll stan' by me, sah, till de major's in a good humor." "all right; if you need me, give a yell." tom turned with a smile to go, and andy caught his sleeve and laughed again: "wait--wait er minute, mister tom--hold yer hosses. dey's anodder little thing i wants ye ter help me out erbout. i kin manage de major all right ef i kin des keep outen his sight ter-day wid dis suit er clothes. but de trouble is, i got ter wear 'em, sah--i got er 'pintment wid er lady!" the boy turned good-naturedly, threw his leg over the corner of the table and raised his eyebrows with a gleam of mischief: "oh, a lady! who is she? aunt minerva?" andy waved his hands in disgust. "dat's des de one hit ain't--nasah! i can't stan' her nohow, mr. tom. i des natchally can't stan' er fat 'oman! an' miss minerva weighs 'bout three hundred----" "oh, not so bad as that, andy!" "yassah, she's er whale! man, ef we wuz walkin' along tergedder, en she wuz ter slip an' fall she'd sqush de life outen me! i'd nebber know what hit me. an' what makes bad matters wus, i'se er strong suspicion dat she got her eyes sot on me here lately--i des feels it in my bones--she's atter me sho, sah." tom broke into a laugh: "well, she can't take you by force." "i don't know 'bout dat, sah. when any 'oman gits her min' sot she's dangous. but when a 'oman big an' black es she make up her min'!" "black!" tom cried, squaring himself and looking andy over: "aren't you just a little shady?" "who? me?--nasah! i ain't no black nigger!" "no?" "nasah! i'se what dey calls er tantalizin' brown!" "oh, i see!" "yassah, i'se er chocolate-colored gemman--an' i nebber could stan' dese here coal-black niggers. miss minerva's so black she kin spit ink!" "and she's 'atter' you?" "yassah, an' miss minerva's a widder 'oman, an' ye know de scripter says, 'beware of widders'----" "of course!" tom agreed. "i'se er gemman, yer know, mister tom. i can't insult er lady, an' dat's de particular reason dat i wants ter percipitate mysef wid my true love before dat big, black 'oman gits her hands on me. she's atter me sho, an' ef she gits me in er close place, what i gwine do, sah?" tom assumed a judicial attitude, folded his arms and asked: "well, who's the other one?--who's your true love?" andy put his hand over his mouth to suppress a snicker: "now dat's whar i kinder hesitates, sah. i bin er beatin' de debbil roun' de stump fur de pas' week tryin' ter screw up my courage ter ax ye ter help me. but mister tom, you gettin' so big an' dignified i kinder skeered. you got ter puttin' on more airs dan de major----" "ah, who is she?" the boy asked brusquely. andy glanced at him out of the corners of his rolling eyes: "yer ain't gwine laugh at me--is yer?" with an effort tom kept his face straight: "no, i may be just as big a fool some day myself--who is she?" andy stepped close and whispered: "miss cleo!" "cleo----" "yassah." "well, you are a fool!" the boy exclaimed indignantly. "yassah, i spec i is," andy answered, crestfallen, "but i des can't hep it, sah." "cleo, my nurse, my mammy--why, she wouldn't wipe her foot on you if you were a door-mat. she's almost as white as i am." "yassah, i know, an' dat's what make me want her so. she's mine ef i kin git her! hit des takes one drap er black blood to make er nigger, sah." "bah--she wouldn't look at you!" "i know she holds er high head, sah. she's been eddicated an' all dat--but you listen ter me, honey--she gwine look at me all de same, when i say de word." "yes, long enough to laugh." andy disregarded the shot, and prinked himself before the mirror: "don't yer think my complexion's gettin' little better, sah?" tom picked up a book with a smile: "you do look a little pale to-day, but i think that's your liver!" andy broke into a laugh: "nasah. dat ain't my liver!" "must be!" "nasah! i got er patent bleacher frum new york dat's gwine ter make me white ef i kin des buy enough of it." "how much have you used?" "hain't used but six bottles yit. hit costs three dollars a bottle"--he paused and rubbed his hands smoothingly over his head. "don't yer think my hair's gittin' straighter, sah?" tom turned another page of the book without looking up: "not so that you could notice it." "yassah, 'tis!" andy laughed, eyeing it sideways in the mirror and making a vain effort to see the back of his head. "i'se er usin' er concoction called 'not-a-kink.' hit costs five dollars a bottle--but man, hit sho is doin' de work! i kin des feel dem kinks slippin' right out." "there's nothing much the matter with your hair, andy," tom said, looking up with a smile, "that's the straightest thing about you. the trouble's inside." "what de matter wid me inside?" "you're crooked." "who--me?" andy cried. "ah, go long, mister tom, wid yer projectin'--yer des foolin' wid me"--he came close and busied himself brushing the boy's coat and continued with insinuating unction--"now ef yer des put in one little word fer me wid miss cleo----" "take my advice, andy," the boy said seriously, "keep away from her--she'll kill you." "not ef you help me out, sah," andy urged eagerly. "she'll do anything fer you, mister tom--she lubs de very ground you walks on--des put in one little word fer me, sah----" tom shook his head emphatically: "can't do it, andy!" "don't say dat, mister tom!" "can't do it." andy flicked imaginary lint from both sleeves of tom's coat: "now look here, mister tom----" the boy turned away protesting: "no, i can't do it." "lordy, mister tom," andy cried in grieved tones. "you ain't gwine back on me like dat des 'cose yer went ter college up dar in de norf an' git mixed up wid yankee notions! why, you an' me's always been good friends an' partners. what ye got agin me?" a gleam of mischief slipped into the boy's eyes again as he folded his arms with mock severity: "to begin with, you're the biggest old liar in the united states----" "lordy, mister tom, i nebber tell a lie in my life, sah!" "andy--andy!" the negro held his face straight for a moment and then broke into a laugh: "well, sah, i may has _pré-var-i-cated_ some times, but dat ain't lyin'--why, all gemmens do dat." "and look at this suit of clothes," tom said severely, "that you've just swiped from dad. you'd steal anything you can get your hands on!" andy turned away and spoke with deep grief "mister tom, you sho do hurt my feelin's, sah--i nebber steal nuttin' in my life." "i've known you to steal a palm-leaf fan in the dead of winter with snow on the ground." andy laughed uproariously: "why, man, dat ain't stealin! who gwine ter want er palm-leaf fan wid snow on de groun'?--dat's des findin' things. you know dey calls me hones' andy. when dey ketch me wid de goods i nebber try ter lie outen it lak some fool niggers. i des laugh, 'fess right up, an' hit's all right. dat's what make 'em call me hones' andy, cose i always knows dat honesty's de bes' policy--an' here you comes callin' me a thief--lordee, mister tom, yer sho do hurt my feelin's!" the boy shook his head again and frowned: "you're a hopeless old sinner----" "who, me, er sinner? why, man erlive, i'se er pillar in de church!" "god save the church!" "i mebbe backslide a little, sah, in de winter time," andy hastened to admit. "but i'se always de fus' man to de mourners' bench in de spring. i mos' generally leads de mourners, sah, an' when i comes froo an' gits religion over again, yer kin hear me shout er mile----" "and i bet when the chickens hear it they roost higher the next night!" andy ignored the thrust and went on enthusiastically: "nasah, de church folks don't call me no sinner. i always stands up fer religion. don't yer min' de time dat big yaller nigger cum down here from de norf er castin' circumflexions on our church? i wuz de man dat stood right up in de meetin' an' defends de cause er de lawd. i haul off an' biff 'im right in the jaw----" "and you're going to ask cleo to marry you?" "i sho' is, sah." "haven't you a wife living, andy?" the boy asked carelessly. the whites of the negro's eyes suddenly shone as he rolled them in the opposite direction. he scratched his head and turned back to his friendly tormentor with unction: "mr. tom, i'm gwine ter be hones'--cose honesty is de bes' policy. i did marry a lady, sah, but dat wuz er long time ergo. she run away an' lef me an' git married ergin an' i divorced her, sah. she don't pester me no mo' an' i don't pester her. hit warn't my fault, sah, an' i des put her away ez de bible sez. ain't dat all right, sah?" "well, it's hardly legal to-day, though it may have been a biblical custom." "yassah, but dat's nuttin' ter do wid niggers. de white folks make de laws an' dey hatter go by 'em. but niggers is niggers, yer know dat yosef, sah." tom broke into a laugh: "andy, you certainly are a bird!" the negro joined in the laugh with a joyous chuckle at its close: "yassah, yassah--one er dese here great big brown blackbirds! but, lordy, mister tom, yer des foolin' wid me--yer ain't got nuttin' 'gin yer ole partner, barrin' dem few little things?" "no, barring the few things i've mentioned, that you're a lazy, lying, impudent old rascal--barring these few little things--why--otherwise you're all right, andy, you're all right!" the negro chuckled joyfully: "yassah--yassah! i knowed yer warn't gwine back on me, mister tom." he edged close and dropped his voice to the oiliest whisper: "you'll say dat good word now to miss cleo right away, sah?" the boy shook his head: "the only thing i'll agree to do, andy, is to stand by and see you commit suicide. if it's any comfort to you, i'll tell you that she'll kill you." "nasah! don't yer believe it. ef i kin des escape dat fat 'oman wid my life before she gits me--now dat you'se on my side i kin read my titles clar----" "oh, you can get rid of minerva all right!" "for de lord sake, des tell me how!" tom bent toward him and spoke in low tones: "all you've got to do if minerva gets you in a tight place is to confess your real love and ask her to help you out as a friend." andy looked puzzled a moment and then a light broke over his dusky face: "dat's a fine plan, mister tom. you saved er nigger's life--i'll do dat sho!" "as for cleo, i can't do anything for you, but i won't do anything against you." "thankee, sah! thankee, sah!" when tom reached the door he paused and said: "i might consent to consult with the undertaker about the funeral and act as one of your pall-bearers." andy waved him away with a suppressed laugh: "g'way frum here, mister tom! g'way frum here!" the negro returned to the mirror, adjusted his suit and after much effort succeeded in fixing a new scarfpin of a horseshoe design in the centre of the bow of one of norton's old-fashioned black string ties. he dusted his shoes, smoothed as many of the kinks out of his hair as a vigorous rubbing could accomplish, and put the last touches on his elaborate preparations for a meeting with cleo that was destined to be a memorable one in her life. chapter x the best laid plans andy's plans for a speedy conquest of cleo were destined to an interruption. minerva had decided that he was the best man in sight for a husband, and made up her mind to claim her own. she had noticed of late a disposition on his part to dally with cleo, and determined to act immediately. breakfast was well under way and she had heard andy's unctous laugh in the library with tom. she put on her sweeping apron, took up a broom and entered under the pretense of cleaning the room. andy was still chuckling with joy over the brilliant plan of escape suggested by tom. he had just put the finishing touches on his necktie, and was trying on an old silk hat when minerva's voice caused him to suddenly collapse. "say, man, is dat a hat er a bee-gum?" she cried, with a laugh so jolly it would have been contagious but for andy's terror. he looked at her, dropped the hat, picked it up and stammered: "w-w-why--miss minerva, is dat you?" minerva beamed on him tenderly, placed her broom in the corner and advanced quickly to meet him: "i knowed ye wuz 'spectin me frum de way yer wuz gettin' ready." she laughed and chuckled with obvious coquetry, adding coyly: "i knows how yer feel----" andy looked for a way of escape. but minerva was too quick for him. she was a woman of enormous size, fat, jolly and extremely agile for her weight. she carried her two hundred and fifty pounds without apparent effort. she walked with a nervous, snappy energy and could waltz with the grace of a girl of sixteen. she had reached andy's side before his dull brain could think of an excuse for going. her shining coal-black face was aglow with tenderness and the determination to make things easy for him in the declaration of love she had planned that he should make. "i know how yer feels, brer andy," she repeated. the victim mopped his perspiring brow and stammered: "yassam--yassam." "yer needn't be so 'barrassed, mr. andy," minerva went on in the most insinuating tones. "yer kin say what's on yer mind." "yassam." "come right here and set down er minute." she seized his hand and drew him with a kittenish skip toward a settee, tripped on a bear rug and would have fallen had not andy grabbed her. "de lord save us!" he gasped. he was trying desperately in his new suit to play the gentleman under difficulties. minerva was in ecstasy over his gallantry: "yer sho wuz terrified less i git hurt, mr. andy," she laughed. "i thought dat bar had me sho." andy mopped his brow again and glanced longingly at the door: "yassam, i sho wuz terrified--i'm sorry m'am, you'll hatter 'scuse me. mister tom's out dar waitin' fer me, an' i hatter go----" minerva smilingly but firmly pulled him down on the seat beside her: "set right down, mr. andy, an' make yoself at home. we got er whole half hour yet 'fore de odder folks come down stairs. man, don't be so 'barrassed! i knows 'zactly how yer feels. i understand what's de matter wid yer"--she paused, glanced at him out of the corners of her eye, touched him slyly with her elbow, and whispered: "why don't yer say what's on yer mind?" andy cleared his throat and began to stammer. he had the habit of stammering under excitement, and tom's plan of escape had just popped into his benumbed brain. he saw the way out: "y-y-yas'm--cose, m'am. i got sumfin ter tell ye, miss m-m-minerva." minerva moved a little closer. "yas, honey, i knows what 'tis, but i'se jes' waitin' ter hear it." he cleared his throat and tried to begin his speech in a friendly business-like way: "yassam, i gwine tell yer sho----" he turned to face her and to his horror found her lips so close she had evidently placed them in position for the first kiss. he stopped appalled, fidgeted, looked the other way and stammered: "h-hit sho is powful warm ter-day, m'am!" "tain't so much de heat, brer andy," she responded tenderly, "as 'tis de humility dat's in de air!" andy turned, looked into her smiling face for a moment and they both broke into a loud laugh while he repeated: "yassam, de humility--dat's hit! de humility dat's in de air!" the expression had caught his fancy enormously. "yassir, de humility--dat's hit!" minerva murmured. when the laughter had slowly died down she moved a little closer and said reassuringly: "and now, brer andy, ez dey's des you an' me here tergedder--ef hits suits yo' circumstantial convenience, hab no reprehenshun, sah, des say what's on yo' min'." andy glanced at her quickly, bowed grandiloquently and catching the spirit of her high-flown language decided to spring his confession and ask her help to win cleo. "yassam, miss minerva, dat's so. an' ez i allays sez dat honesty is de bes' policy, i'se gwine ter ré-cede ter yo' invitation!" minerva laughed with joyous admiration: "des listen at dat nigger now! you sho is er talkin' man when yer gits started----" "yassam, i bin er tryin' ter tell ye fer de longest kind er time an' ax ye ter help me----" minerva moved her massive figure close against him: "cose i help you." andy edged as far away as possible, but the arm of the settee had caught him and he couldn't get far. he smiled wanly and tried to assume a purely platonic tone: "wuz yer ebber in love, miss minerva?" minerva nudged him slyly: "wuz i?" andy tried to ignore the hint, lifted his eyes to the ceiling and in far-away tones put the hypothetical case of the friend who needed help: "well, des 'spose m'am dat a po' man wuz ter fall in love wid er beautiful lady, fur above him, wid eyes dat shine lak de stars----" "oh, g'way frum here, man!" minerva cried entranced as she broke into a peal of joyous laughter, nudging him again. the insinuating touch of her elbow brought andy to a sharp realization that his plan had not only failed to work, but was about to compromise him beyond hope. he hurried to correct her mistake. "but listen, miss minerva--yer don't understand. would yer be his friend an' help him to win her?" with a cry of joy she threw her huge arms around his neck: "would i--lordy--man!" andy tried to dodge her strangle hold, but was too slow and she had him. he struggled and grasped her arms, but she laughed and held on. "b-b-but--yer--yer," he stammered. "yer needn't say annudder word----" "yassam, but wait des er minute," he pleaded, struggling to lower her arms. "hush, man," minerva said good-naturedly. "cose i knows yer bin er bad nigger--but ye needn't tell me 'bout it now----" "for gawd's sake!" andy gasped, wrenching her arms away at last, "will yer des lemme say one word?" "nasah!" she said generously. "i ain't gwine ter let ye say no harsh words ergin yoself. i sho do admire de indelicate way dat yer tells me of yo' love!" "b-but yer don't understand----" "cose i does, chile!" minerva exclaimed with a tender smile. andy made a gesture of despair: "b-b-but i tries ter 'splain----" "yer don't hatter 'splain nuttin' ter me, man--i ain't no spring chicken--i knowed what ye means befo' ye opens yer mouf. yer tells me dat ye lubs me an' i done say dat i lubs you--an' dat's all dey is to it." minerva enfolded him in her ample arms and he collapsed with feeble assent: "yassam--yassam." chapter xi a reconnoitre norton slept at last from sheer physical exhaustion and waked at eleven o'clock refreshed and alert, his faculties again strung for action. he wondered in the clear light of noon at the folly of his panic the night before. the fighting instinct in him had always been the dominant one. he smiled now at his silly collapse and his quick brain began to plan his line of defense. the girl was in his house, yes. but she had been here in spirit, a living, breathing threat over his life, every moment the past twenty years. no scene of pain or struggle could come but that he had already lived it a thousand times. there was a kind of relief in facing these phantoms for the first time in flesh and blood. they couldn't be more formidable than the ghosts he had fought. he shaved and dressed with deliberation--dressed with unusual care--his brain on fire now with the determination to fight and win. the instincts of the soldier were again in command. and the first thing a true soldier did when driven to desperation and surrounded by an overwhelming foe was to reconnoitre, find the strength of his enemy, and strike at their weakest spot. he must avoid cleo and find the exact situation of tom and helen. his safest way was again to cultivate andy's knowledge of the house in his absence. he rang for him and waited in vain for his appearance. he rang again and, getting no response, walked down stairs to the door and searched the lawn. he saw cleo beside a flower bed talking to helen. he caught a glimpse of the lovely young face as she lifted her eyes and saw him. he turned back quickly into the house to avoid her, and hurried to the library. andy had been watching carefully until norton went through the front door. sure that he had strolled out on the lawn to see helen, with a sigh of relief the negro hurried back to the mirror to take another admiring glance at his fine appearance in the new suit. norton's sudden entrance completely upset him. he tried to laugh and the effort froze on his lips. he saw that norton had recognized the stolen suit, but was too excited to see the amusement lurking behind his frown: "where were you a while ago, when i was calling?" "i been right here all mornin', sah," andy answered with forced surprise. "you didn't hear that bell?" "nasah, nebber hear a thing, sah." norton looked at him severely: "there's a bigger bell going to ring for you one of these days. you like to go to funerals, don't you?" andy laughed: "yassah--odder folk's funerals--but dey's one i ain't in no hurry to git to----" "that's the one--where were you when i rang just now?" the negro looked at his master, hesitated, and a broad grin overspread his black face. he bowed and chuckled and walked straight up to norton: "yassah, major, i gwine tell yer de honest truf now, cose honesty is de bes' policy. i wuz des embellishin' mysef wid dis here ole suit er close dat ye gimme, sah, an' i wants ter specify my 'preciation, sah, at de generosity wid which yer always treats me, sah. i had a mos' particular reason fer puttin' dis suit on dis mornin'----" norton examined the lapel of the coat, his lips twitching to suppress a smile: "my suit of broadcloth----" andy rubbed his hands over the coat in profound amazement: "is dis de broadcloth? de lawd er mussy!" norton shook his head: "you old black hound----" andy broke into a loud laugh: "yassah, yassah! dat's me. but, major, i couldn't find the vest!" "too bad--shall i get it for you?" "nasah--des tell me whar yer put it!" norton smiled: "did you look in my big cedar box?" "thankee, sah--thankee, sah. yer sho is good ter me, major, an' yer can always 'pend on me, sah." "yes, i'm going to send you to the penitentiary for this----" andy roared with laughter: "yassah--yassah--cose, sah! i kin see myse'f in dat suit er stripes now, but i sho is gwine ter blossom out in dat double-breasted vest fust!" when the laughter had died away norton asked in good-natured tones: "you say i can depend on you, andy?" "dat yer kin, sah--every day in the year--you'se de bes frien' i ebber had in de world, sah." "then i want to ask you a question." "yassah, i tells yer anything i know, sah." "i'm just a little worried about tom. he's too young to get married. do you think he's been really making love to miss helen?" norton watched the negro keenly. he knew that a boy would easily trust his secrets to such a servant, and that his sense of loyalty to the young would be strong. he was relieved at the quick reply which came without guile: "lawdy, major, he ain't got dat far, sah. i bin er watchin' 'em putty close. he des kinder skimmin' 'round de edges." "you think so?" "yassah!" was the confident reply. "he 'minds me er one er dese here minnows when ye go fishin'. he ain't swallowed de hook yit--he des nibblin'." norton smiled, lighted a cigar, and quietly said: "go down to the office and tell mr. tom that i'm up and wish to see him." "yassah--yassah--right away, sah." andy bowed and grinned and hurried from the house. norton seated himself in an armchair facing the portrait of the little mother. his memory lingered tenderly over the last beautiful days they had spent together. he recalled every smile with which she had looked her forgiveness and her love. he felt the presence of her spirit and took courage. he lifted his eyes to the sweet, tender face bending over her baby and breathed a prayer for guidance. he wondered if she could see and know in the dim world beyond. without trying to reason about it, he had grown to believe that she did, and that her soul was near in this hour of his trial. how like this mother the boy had grown the past year--just her age when he was born. the color of his blonde hair was almost an exact reproduction of hers. and this beautiful hair lent a peculiar distinction to the boy's fine face. he had developed, too, a lot of little ways strikingly like the mother's when a laughing school girl. he smiled in the same flashing way, like a sudden burst of sunlight from behind a cloud. his temper was quick like hers, and his voice more and more seemed to develop the peculiar tones he had loved. that this boy, around whose form every desire of life had centered, should be in peril was a thought that set his heart to beating with new energy. he heard his quick step in the hall, rose and laid down his cigar. with a rush tom was in the room grasping the outstretched hand: "glad to see you back, dad!" he cried, "but we had no idea you were coming so soon." "i got a little homesick," the father replied, "and decided to come in for a day or two." "i was awfully surprised at miss helen's popping in on us so unexpectedly--i suppose you forgot to tell me about it in the rush of getting away." "i really didn't expect her to come before my return," was the vague answer. "but you wrote her to come at once." "did i?" he replied carelessly. "why, yes, she showed me your letter. i didn't write you about her arrival because you told me under no circumstances, except of life or death, to tell you of anything here and i obeyed orders." "i'm glad you've made that a principle of your life--stick to it." "i'm sorry you're away in this dangerous campaign so much, dad," the boy said with feeling. "it may end your career." the father smiled and a far-away look stole into his eyes: "i have no career, my boy! i gave that up years ago and i had to lead this campaign." "why?" the look in the brown eyes deepened: "because i am the man to whom our danger has been revealed. i am the man to whom god has given a message--i who have been tried in the fires of hell and fought my way up and out of the pit--only the man who has no ambitions can tell the truth!" the boy nodded and smiled: "yes, i know your hobby----" "the big tragic truth, that the physical contact of the black race with the white is a menace to our life"--his voice had dropped to a passionate whisper as if he were talking to himself. a laugh from tom roused him to the consciousness of time and place: "but that isn't a speech you meant for me, dad!" the father caught his bantering tone with a light reply: "no." and then his tall form confronted the boy with a look of deep seriousness: "to-morrow i enter on the last phase of this campaign. at any moment a fool or a madman may blow my brains out." tom gave a start: "dad----" "over every mile of that long drive home last night, i was brooding and thinking of you----" "of me?" "wondering if i had done my level best to carry out the dying commands of your mother----" he paused, drew a deep breath, looked up tenderly and continued: "i wish you were settled in life." the boy turned slightly away and the father watched him keenly and furtively for a moment, and took a step toward him: "you have never been in love?" with a shrug and a laugh, tom dropped carelessly on the settee and crossed his legs: "love--hardly!" the father held his breath until the light answer brought relief and then smiled: "it will come some day, my boy, and when it hits you, i think it's going to hit hard." the handsome young head was poised on one side with a serious judicial expression: "yes, i think it will--but i guess my ideal's too high, though." the father spoke with deep emotion: "a man's ideal can't be too high, my boy!" tom didn't hear. his mind was busy with his ideal. "but if i ever find her," he went on dreamily, "do you know what i'll want?" "no." "the strength of samson!" "what for?" he shook his head with a smile: "to reach over in california, tear one of those big trees up by the roots, dip it in the crater of vesuvius and write her name in letters of fire across the sky!" he ended with a wide, sweeping gesture, showing just how he would inscribe it. "really!" the father laughed. "that's how i feel!" he cried, springing to his feet with an emphatic gesture, a smile playing about his firm mouth. the father slipped his arm around him: "well, if you should happen to do it, be sure to stand in the ocean, because otherwise, you know, if the grass should be dry you might set the world on fire." the boy broke into a hearty laugh, crossed to the table, and threw his leg carelessly over the corner, a habit he had gotten from his father. when the laugh had died away, he picked up a magazine and said carelessly: "i guess there's no danger, after all. i'm afraid that the big thing poets sing about is only a myth after all"--he paused, raised his eyes and they rested on his mother's portrait, and his voice became a reverent whisper--"except your love for my mother, dad--that was the real thing!" he was looking the other way and couldn't see the cloud of anguish that suddenly darkened his father's face. "you'll know its meaning some day, my son," was the even reply that came after a pause, "and i only demand of you one thing----" he laid his hand on the boy's shoulder: "that the woman you ask to be your wife bear a name without shadow. good blood is the noblest inheritance that any father or mother ever gave to a child." "i'm proud of mine, sir!" the boy said, drawing his form erect. the father's arm stole around the young shoulders and his voice was very low: "fools sometimes say, my son, that a man can sow his wild oats and be all the better for it. it's a lie. the smallest deed takes hold on eternity for it may start a train of events that even god can't stop----" he paused and fought back a cry from the depths of his soul. "i did something that hurt your mother once"--his voice dropped--"and for twenty years my soul in anguish has begged for forgiveness----" the boy looked at him in startled sympathy and his own arm instinctively slipped around his father's form as he lifted his face to the shining figure over the mantel: "but you believe that she sees and understands now?" norton turned his head away to hide the mists that clouded his eyes. his answer was uttered with the reverence of a prayer: "yes! i've seen her in dreams sometimes so vividly and heard her voice so plainly, i couldn't believe that i was asleep"--his voice stopped before it broke, his arm tightening its hold--"and i know that her spirit broods and watches over you----" and then he suddenly decided to do the most cruel thing to which his mind had ever given assent. but he believed it necessary and did not hesitate. only the vague intensity of his eyes showed his deep feeling as he said evenly: "ask miss helen to come here. you'll find her on the lawn with cleo." the boy left the room to summon helen, and norton seated himself with grim determination. chapter xii the first whisper when tom reached the lawn helen was nowhere to be seen. he searched every nook and corner which they had been accustomed to haunt, looked through the rose garden and finally knocked timidly on the door of her room. he was sure at first that he heard a sound within. he dared not open her door and so hurried down town to see if he could find her in one of the stores. helen shivering inside had held her breath until his his footsteps died away on the stairs. with heavy heart but swift hands she was packing her trunk. in spite of cleo's assurances she had been startled and frightened beyond measure by the certainty that norton had purposely avoided her. she had expected the most hearty welcome. her keen intuition had scented his hostility though not a word had been spoken. cleo, who had avoided tom, again rapped on her door: "just a minute, miss helen!" there was no answer and the woman strained her ear to hear what was happening inside. it couldn't be possible that the girl was really going to leave! such an act of madness would upset her plans just as they were coming out exactly as she had hoped. "she can't mean it!" cleo muttered under her breath. "it's only a fit of petulance!" she didn't dare to give helen a hint of her clouded birth. that might send her flying. yet if necessary she must excite her curiosity by a whisper about her parentage. she had already guessed from hints the girl had dropped that her one passionate desire was to know the names of her father and mother. she would be careful, but it was necessary to hold her at all hazards. she rapped again: "please, miss helen, may i come in just a minute?" her voice was full of pleading. a step was heard, a pause and the door opened. cleo quickly entered, turned the key and in earnest tones, her eyes dancing excitedly, asked: "you are really packing your trunk?" "it's already packed," was the firm answer. "but you can't mean this----" "i do." "i tell you, child, the major didn't see you----" "he did see me. i caught his eye in a straight, clear look. and he turned quickly to avoid me." "you have his letter of invitation. you can't think it a forgery?" she asked with impatience. the girl's color deepened: "he has evidently changed his mind for some reason." "nonsense!" "i was just ready to rush to meet him and thank him with the deepest gratitude for his invitation. the look on his face when he turned was like a blow." "it's only your imagination!" cleo urged eagerly. "he's worried over politics." "i'm not in politics. no, it's something else--i must go." cleo put her hand appealingly on helen's arm: "don't be foolish, child!" the girl drew away suddenly with instinctive aversion. the act was slight and quick, but not too slight or quick for the woman's sharp eye. she threw helen a look of resentment: "why do you draw away from me like that?" the girl flushed with embarrassment and stammered: "why--you see, i've lived up north all my life, shut up in a convent most of the time and i'm not used--to--colored people----" "well, i'm not a negro, please remember that. i'm a nurse and housekeeper, if you please, and there happens to be a trace of negro blood in my veins, but a white soul throbs beneath this yellow skin. i'd strip it off inch by inch if i could change its color"--her voice broke with assumed emotion--it was a pose for the moment, but its apparent genuineness deceived the girl and roused her sympathy. "i'm sorry if i hurt you," she said contritely. "oh, it's no matter." helen snapped the lid of her trunk: "i'm leaving on the first train." "oh, come now," cleo urged impatiently. "you'll do nothing of the kind--the major will be himself to-morrow." "i am going at once----" "you're not going!" the woman declared firmly, laying her hand again on the girl's arm. with a shudder helen drew quickly away. "please--please don't touch me again!" she cried with anger. "i'm sorry, but i can't help it." with an effort cleo suppressed her rage: "well, i won't. i understand--but you can't go like this. the major will be furious." "i'm going," the girl replied, picking up the odds and ends she had left and placing them in her travelling bag. cleo watched her furtively: "i--i--ought to tell you something that i know about your life--" helen dropped a brush from her hand and quickly crossed the room, a bright color rushing to her cheeks: "about my birth?" "you believe," cleo began cautiously, "that the major is the agent of your guardian who lives abroad. well, he's not the agent--he is your guardian." "why should he deceive me?" "he had reasons, no doubt," cleo replied with a smile. "you mean that he knows the truth? that he knows the full history of my birth and the names of my father and mother?" "yes." "he has assured me again and again that he does not--" "i know that he has deceived you." helen looked at her with a queer expression of angry repulsion that she should possess this secret of her unhappy life. "you know?" she asked faintly. "no," was the quick reply, "not about your birth; but i assure you the major does. demand that he tell you." "he'll refuse--" "ask him again, and stay until he does." "but i'm intruding!" helen cried, brushing a tear from her eyes. "no matter, you're here, you're of age, you have the right to know the truth--stay until you learn it. if he slights you, pay no attention to it--stay until you know." the girl's form suddenly stiffened and her eyes flashed: "yes, i will--i'll know at any cost." with a soft laugh which helen couldn't hear cleo hurried from the room. chapter xiii andy's proposal andy had been waiting patiently for cleo to leave helen's door. he had tried in vain during the entire morning to get an opportunity to see her alone, but since helen's appearance at breakfast she had scarcely left the girl's side for five minutes. he had slipped to the head of the back stairs, lifted the long flaps of the tail of his new coat and carefully seated himself on the last step to wait her appearance. he smiled with assurance. she couldn't get down without a word at least. "i'm gwine ter bring things to er head dis day, sho's yer born!" he muttered, wagging his head. he had been to norfolk the week before on an excursion to attend the annual convention of his african mutual insurance society, "the children of the king." while there he had met the old woman who had given him a startling piece of information about cleo which had set his brain in a whirl. he had long been desperately in love with her, but she had treated him with such scorn he had never summoned the courage to declare his affection. the advent of helen at first had made no impression on his slowly working mind, but when he returned from norfolk with the new clew to cleo's life he watched the girl with increasing suspicion. and when he saw the collapse of norton over the announcement of her presence he leaped to an important conclusion. no matter whether his guess was correct or not, he knew enough to give him a power over the proud housekeeper he proposed to exercise without a moment's delay. "we see now whether she turns up her nose at me ergin," he chuckled, as he heard the door open. he rose with a broad grin as he saw that at last she was alone. he adjusted his suit with a touch of pride and pulled down his vest with a little jerk he had seen his master use in dressing. he had found the heavy, black, double-breasted vest in the cedar box, but thought it rather sombre when contrasted with a red english hunting jacket the major had affected once in a fashionable fox hunt before the war. the rich scarlet took his fancy and he selected that one instead. he carried his ancient silk hat jauntily balanced in one hand, in the other hand a magnolia in full bloom. the petals of the flower were at least a half-foot long and the leaves longer. he bowed with an attempt at the easy manners of a gentleman in a gallant effort to attract her attention. she was about to pass him on the stairs without noticing his existence when andy cleared his throat: "ahem!" cleo paused with a frown: "what's the matter? have you caught cold!" andy generously ignored her tone, bowed and handed her the magnolia: "would you embellish yousef wid dis little posie, m'am?" the woman turned on him, drew her figure to its full height, her eyes blazing with wrath, snatched the flower from his hand and threw it in his face. andy dodged in time to save his nose and his offering went tumbling down the stairs. he shook his head threateningly when he caught his breath: "look a here, m'am, is dat de way yer gwine spessify my welcome?" "why, no, i was only thanking you for the compliment!" she answered with a sneer. "how dare you insult me?" "insult you, is i?" andy chuckled. "huh, if dat's de way ye talk i'm gwine ter say sumfin quick----" "you can't be too quick!" andy held her eye a moment and pointed his index finger in her face: "yassam! as de ole sayin' is--i'm gwine take my tex' from dat potion er de scripter whar de 'postle paul pint his 'pistle at de fenians!--i'se er comin' straight ter de pint." "well, come to it, you flat-nosed baboon!" she cried in rage. "what makes your nose so flat, anyhow?" andy grinned at her tantalizingly, and spoke with a note of deliberate insult: "i don't know, m'am, but i spec hit wuz made dat way ter keep hit outen odder folks' business!" "you impudent scoundrel, how dare you speak to me like this?" cleo hissed. a triumphant chuckle was his answer. he flicked a piece of imaginary dust from the rim of his hat, his eyes rolled to the ceiling and he slowly said with a smile: "well, yer see, m'am, circumstances alters cases an' dat always makes de altercations! i git holt er a little secret o' yourn dat gimme courage----" "a secret of mine?" cleo interrupted with the first flash of surprise. "yassam!" was the unctuous answer, as andy looked over his shoulder and bent to survey the hall below for any one who might possibly be passing. "yassam," he went on smoothly, "down ter norfork las' week, m'am----" "wait a minute!" cleo interrupted. "some one might be below. come to my room." "yassam, ob course, i wuz gwine ter say dat in de fust place, but ye didn't gimme time"--he bowed--"cose, m'am, de pleasure's all mine, as de sayin' is." he placed his silk hat jauntily on his head as they reached the door, and gallantly took hold of cleo's arm to assist her down the steps. she stopped abruptly: "wait here, i'll go ahead and you can come in a few minutes." "sholy, sholy, m'am, i understan' dat er lady allus likes ter make er little preparations ter meet er gemman. i understands. i des stroll out on de lawn er minute." "the backyard's better," she replied, quietly throwing him a look of scorn. "yassam, all right. i des take a little cursory view er de chickens." "as soon as i'm out of sight, you can come right up." andy nodded and cleo quickly crossed the fifty yards that separated the house from the neat square brick building that was still used as the servants' quarters. in a few minutes, with his silk hat set on the side of his head, andy tipped up the stairs and knocked on her door. he entered with a grandiloquent bow and surveyed the place curiously. her room was a sacred spot he had never been allowed to enter before. "have a seat," cleo said, placing a chair. andy bowed, placed his hat pompously on the table, pulled down his red vest with a jerk and seated himself deliberately. cleo glanced at him: "you were about to tell me something that you heard in norfolk?" andy looked at the door as an extra precaution and smiled blandly: "yassam, i happen ter hear down dar dat a long time ergo, mo'rn twenty years, afore i cum ter live here--dat is when i wuz er politicioner--dey wuz rumors 'bout you an' de major when you wuz mister tom's putty young nurse." "well?" "de major's wife fin' it out an' die. de major wuz heart-broke, drap everything an' go norf, an' while he wuz up dar, you claims ter be de mudder of a putty little gal. now min' ye, i ain't nebber seed her, but dat's what i hears you claims----" andy paused impressively and cleo held his eye in a steady, searching stare. she was trying to guess how much he really knew. she began to suspect that his story was more than half a bluff and made up her mind to fight. "claim? no, you fool!" she said with indifferent contempt, "i didn't claim it--i proved it. i proved it to his satisfaction. you may worry some one else with your secret. it doesn't interest me. but i'd advise you to have your life insured before you mention it to the major"--she paused, broke into a light laugh and added: "so that's your wonderful discovery?" andy looked at her with a puzzled expression and scratched his head: "yassam." "then i'll excuse you from wasting any more of your valuable time," cleo said, rising. andy rose and smiled: "yassam, but dat ain't all, m'am!" "no?" "nobum. i ain't 'sputin dat de little gal wuz born des lak you say, or des lak, mebbe, de major believes ter dis day"--he paused and leaned over until he could whisper in her ear--"but sposen she die?" the woman never moved a muscle for an instant. she spoke at last in a half-laughing, incredulous way: "suppose she died? why, what do you mean?" "now, mind ye," andy said, lifting his hands in a persuasive gesture, "i ain't sayin' dat she raly did die--i des say--sposen she die----" cleo lost her temper and turned on her tormentor in sudden fury: "but she didn't! who dares to tell such a lie? she's living to-day a beautiful, accomplished girl." andy solemnly raised his hand again: "mind ye, i don't say dat she ain't, i des say sposen--sposen she die, an' you git a little orphan baby ter put in her place, twenty years ergo, jis' ter keep yer grip on de major----" cleo peered steadily into his face: [illustration: "'yassam, but dat ain't all, m'am.'"] "did you guess that lie?" he cocked his head to one side and grinned: "i don't say dat i did, an' i don't say dat i didn't. i des say dat i mought, an' den ergin i moughn't!" "well, it's a lie!" she cried fiercely--"i tell you it's an infamous lie!" "yassam, dat may be so, but hit's a putty dangous lie fer you, m'am, ef----" he looked around the room in a friendly, cautious way and continued in a whisper: "especially ef de major wuz ter ever git pizened wid it!" cleo's voice dropped suddenly to pleading tones: "you're not going to suggest such an idea to him?" andy looked away coyly and glanced back at her with a smile: "not ef yer ax me----" "well, i do ask you," she said in tender tones. "a more infamous lie couldn't be told. but if such a suspicion were once roused it would be hard to protect myself against it." "oh, i des wants ter help ye, m'am," andy protested earnestly. "then i'm sure you'll never suggest such a thing to the major?--i'm sorry i've treated you so rudely, and spoke to you as i did just now." andy waved the apology aside with a generous gesture and spoke with large good nature: "oh, dat's all right, m'am! dat's all right! i'm gwine ter show you now dat i'se yer best friend----" "i may need one soon," she answered slowly. "things can't go on in this house much longer as they are." "yassam!" andy said reassuringly as he laid his hand on cleo's arm and bent low. "you kin 'pend on me. i'se always called hones' andy." she shuddered unconsciously at his touch, looked suddenly toward the house and said: "go--quick! mr. tom has come. i don't want him to see us together." andy bowed grandly, took up his hat and tipped down the stairs chuckling over his conquest, and cleo watched him cross the yard to the kitchen. "i'll manage him!" she murmured with a smile of contempt. chapter xiv the folly of pity norton sat in the library for more than an hour trying to nerve himself for the interview while waiting for helen. he had lighted and smoked two cigars in rapid succession and grown restless at her delay. he rose, strolled through the house and seeing nothing of either tom or helen, returned to the library and began pacing the floor with measured tread. he had made up his mind to do a cruel thing and told himself over and over again that cruel things are often best. the cruelty of surgery is the highest form of pity, pity expressed in terms of the highest intelligence. he was sure the boy had not made love to the girl. helen was no doubt equally innocent in her attitude toward him. it would only be necessary to tell her a part of the bitter truth and her desire to leave would be a resistless one. and yet, the longer he delayed and the longer he faced such an act, the more pitiless it seemed and the harder its execution became. at heart a deep tenderness was the big trait of his character. above all, he dreaded the first interview with helen. the idea of the responsibility of fatherhood had always been a solemn one. his love for tom was of the very beat of his heart. the day he first looked into his face was the most wonderful in all the calendar of life. he had simply refused to let this girl come into his heart. he had closed the door with a firm will. he had only seen her once when a little tot of two and he was laboring under such deep excitement and such abject fear lest a suspicion of the truth, or any part of the truth, reach the sisters to whom he was intrusting the child, that her personality had made no impression on him. he vaguely hoped that she might not be attractive. the idea of a girl of his own had always appealed to him with peculiar tenderness, and, unlike most fathers, he had desired that his first-born should be a girl. if helen were commonplace and unattractive his task would be comparatively easy. it was a mental impossibility for him as yet to accept the fact that she was his--he had seen so little of her, her birth was so unwelcome, her coming into his life fraught with such tragic consequences. the vague hope that she might prove weak and uninteresting had not been strengthened by the momentary sight of her face. the flash of joy that lighted her sensitive features, though it came across the lawn, had reached him with a very distinct impression of charm. he dreaded the effect at close range. however, there was no other way. he had to see her and he had to make her stay impossible. it would be a staggering blow for a girl to be told in the dawn of young womanhood that her birth was shadowed by disgrace. it would be a doubly cruel one to tell her that her blood was mixed with a race of black slaves. and yet a life built on a lie was set on shifting sand. it would not endure. it was best to build it squarely on the truth, and the sooner the true foundation was laid the better. there could be no place in our civilization for a woman of culture and refinement with negro blood in her veins. more and more the life of such people must become impossible. that she should remain in the south was unthinkable. that the conditions in the north were at bottom no better he knew from the experience of his stay in new york. he would tell her the simple, hideous truth, depend on her terror to keep the secret, and send her abroad. it was the only thing to do. he rose with a start at the sound of tom's voice calling her from the stairway. the answer came in low tones so charged with the quality of emotion that belongs to a sincere nature that his heart sank at the thought of his task. she had only said the most commonplace thing--"all right, i'll be down in a moment." yet the tones of her voice were so vibrant with feeling that its force reached him instantly, and he knew that his interview was going to be one of the most painful hours of his life. and still he was not prepared for the shock her appearance in the shadows of the tall doorway gave. he had formed no conception of the gracious and appealing personality. in spite of the anguish her presence had brought, in spite of preconceived ideas of the inheritance of the vicious nature of her mother, in spite of his ingrained repugnance to the negroid type, in spite of his horror of the ghost of his young manhood suddenly risen from the dead to call him to judgment, in spite of his determination to be cruel as the surgeon to the last--in spite of all, his heart suddenly went out to her in a wave of sympathy and tenderness! she was evidently so pitifully embarrassed and the suffering in her large, expressive eyes so keen and genuine, his first impulse was to rush to her side with words of comfort and assurance. the simple white dress, with tiny pink ribbons drawn through its edges, which she wore accentuated the impression of timidity and suffering. he was surprised to find not the slightest trace of negroid blood apparent, though he knew that a mixture of the sixteenth degree often left no trace until its sudden reversion to a black child. her hair was the deep brown of his own in young manhood, the eyes large and tender in their rich blue depths--the eyes of innocence, intelligence, sincerity. the lips were full and fluted, and the chin marked with an exquisite dimple that gave a childlike wistfulness to a face that without it might have suggested too much strength. her neck was slightly curved and set on full, strong shoulders with an unconscious grace. the bust was slight and girlish, the arms and figure rounded and beautiful in their graceful fullness. her walk, when she took the first few steps into the room and paused, he saw was the incarnation of rhythmic strength and perfect health. but her voice was the climax of her appeal--low, vibrant, quivering with feeling and full of a subtle quality that convinced the hearer from the first moment of the truth and purity of its owner. she smiled with evident embarrassment at his silence. he was stunned for the moment and simply couldn't speak. "so, i see you at last, major norton!" she said as the color slowly stole over her face. he recovered himself, walked quickly to meet her and extended his hand: "i must apologize for not seeing you earlier this morning," he said gravely. "i was up all night travelling through the country and slept very late." as her hand rested in his the girl forgot her restraint and wounded pride at the cold and doubtful reception he had given earlier. her heart suddenly beat with a desire to win this grave, strong man's love and respect. with a look of girlish tenderness she hastened to say: "i want to thank you with the deepest gratitude, major, for your kindness in inviting me here this summer----" "don't mention it, child," he interrupted frowning. "oh, if you only knew," she went on hurriedly, "how i love the south, how my soul glows under its skies, how i love its people, their old-fashioned ways, their kindness, their hospitality, their high ideals----" he lifted his hand and the gesture stopped her in the midst of a sentence. he was evidently struggling with an embarrassment that was painful and had determined to end it. "the time has come, helen," he began firmly--"you're of age--that i should tell you the important facts about your birth." "yes--yes----" the girl answered in an excited whisper as she sank into a chair and gazed at him fascinated with the terror of his possible revelation. "i wish i could tell you all," he said, pausing painfully. "you know--all?" "yes, i know." "my father--my mother--they are living?" in spite of his effort at self-control norton was pale and his voice strained. his answers to her pointed questions were given with his face turned from her searching gaze. "your mother is living," was the slow reply. "and my father?" his eyes were set in a fixed stare waiting for this question, as a prisoner in the dock for the sentence of a judge. his lips gave no answer for the moment and the girl went on eagerly: "through all the years that i've been alone, the one desperate yearning of my heart has been to know my father"--the lines of the full lips quivered--"i've always felt somehow that a mother who could give up her babe was hardly worth knowing. and so i've brooded over the idea of a father. i've hoped and dreamed and prayed that he might be living--that i might see and know him, win his love, and in its warmth and joy, its shelter and strength--never be lonely or afraid again----" her voice sank to a sob, and norton, struggling to master his feelings, said: "you have been lonely and afraid?" "utterly lonely! when other girls at school shouted for joy at the approach of vacation, the thought of home and loved ones, it brought to me only tears and heartache. many a night i've laid awake for hours and sobbed because a girl had asked me about my father and mother. lonely!--oh, dear lord! and always i've dried my eyes with the thought that some day i might know my father and sob out on his breast all i've felt and suffered"--she paused, and looked at norton through a mist of tears--"my father is not dead?" the stillness was painful. the man could hear the tick of the little french clock on the mantel. how tired his soul was of lies! he couldn't lie to her in answer to this question. and so without lifting his head he said very softly: "he is also alive." "thank god!" the girl breathed reverently. "oh, if i could only touch his hand and look into his face! i don't care who he is, how poor and humble his home, if it's a log cabin on a mountain side, or a poor white man's hovel in town, i'll love him and cling to him and make him love me!" the man winced. there was one depth her mind had not fathomed! how could he push this timid, lonely, haunted creature over such a precipice! he glanced at her furtively and saw that she was dreaming as in a trance. "but suppose," he said quietly, "you should hate this man when you had met?" "it's unthinkable," was the quick response. "my father is my father. i'd love him if he were a murderer!" again her mind had failed to sound the black depths into which he was about to hurl her. she might love a murderer, but there was one thing beyond all question, this beautiful, sensitive, cultured girl could not love the man who had thrust her into the hell of a negroid life in america! she might conceive of the love of a father who could take human life, but her mind could not conceive the possibility of facing the truth with which he must now crush the soul out of her body. why had he lied and deceived her at all? the instinctive desire to shield his own blood from a life of ignominy--yes. but was it worth the risk? no--he knew it when it was too late. the steel jaws with their cold teeth were tearing the flesh now at every turn and there was no way of escape. when he failed to respond, she rose, pressed close and pleaded eagerly: "tell me his name! oh, it's wonderful that you have seen him, heard his voice and held his hand! he may not be far away--tell me----" norton shook his head: "the one thing, child, i can never do." "you are a father--a father who loves his own--i've seen and know that. a nameless waif starving for a word of love begs it--just one word of deep, real love--think of it! my heart has never known it in all the years i've lived!" norton lifted his hand brusquely: "you ask the impossible. the conditions under which i am acting as your guardian seal my lips." the girl looked at him steadily: "then, you are my real guardian?" "yes." "and why have you not told me before?" the question was asked with a firm emphasis that startled him into a sense of renewed danger. "why?" she repeated. "to avoid questions i couldn't answer." "you will answer them now?" "with reservations." the girl drew herself up with a movement of quiet determination and spoke in even tones: "my parents are southern?" "yes----" "my father and mother were--were"--her voice failed, her head dropped and in an effort at self-control she walked to the table, took a book in her hand and tried to turn its leaves. the hideous question over which she had long brooded was too horrible to put into words. the answer he might give was too big with tragic possibilities. she tried to speak again and couldn't. he looked at her with a great pity in his heart and when at last she spoke her voice was scarcely a whisper: "my father and mother were married?" he knew it was coming and that he must answer, and yet hesitated. his reply was low, but it rang through her soul like the stroke of a great bell tolling for the dead: "no!" the book she held slipped from the trembling fingers and fell to the floor. norton walked to the window that he might not see the agony in her sensitive face. she stood very still and the tears began slowly to steal down her cheeks. "god pity me!" she sobbed, lifting her face and looking pathetically at norton. "why did you let them send me to school? why teach me to think and feel and know this?" the low, sweet tones of her wonderful voice found the inmost heart of the man. the misery and loneliness of the orphan years of which she had spoken were nothing to the anguish with which her being now shook. he crossed the room quickly and extended his hand in a movement of instinctive sympathy and tenderness: "come, come, child--you're young and life is all before you." "yes, a life of shame and humiliation!" "the world is wide to-day! a hundred careers are open to you. marriage is impossible--yes----" "and if i only wish for marriage?" the girl cried with passionate intensity. "if my ideal is simple and old-fashioned--if all i ask of god is the love of one man--a home--a baby----" a shadow of pain clouded norton's face and he lifted a hand in tender warning: "put marriage out of your mind once and for all time! it can only bring to you and your loved ones hopeless misery." helen turned with a start: "even if the man i love should know all?" "yes," was the firm answer. she gazed steadily into his eyes and asked with sharp rising emphasis: "why?" the question brought him squarely to the last blow he must give if he accomplish the thing he had begun. he must tell her that her mother is a negress. he looked at the quivering figure, the white, sensitive, young face with the deep, serious eyes, and his lips refused to move. he tried to speak and his throat was dry. it was too cruel. there must be an easier way. he couldn't strike the sweet uplifted head. he hesitated, stammered and said: "i--i'm sorry--i can't answer that question fully and frankly. it may be best, but----" "yes, yes--it's best!" she urged. "it may be best," he repeated, "but i simply can't do it"--he paused, turned away and suddenly wheeled confronting her: "i'll tell you all that you need to know to-day--you were born under the shadow of a hopeless disgrace----" the girl lifted her hand as if to ward a blow while she slowly repeated: "a hopeless--disgrace----" "beneath a shadow so deep, no lover's vow can ever lift it from your life. i should have told you this before, perhaps--well, somehow i couldn't"--he paused and his voice trembled--"i wanted you to grow in strength and character first----" the girl clenched her hands and sprang in front of him: "that my agony might be beyond endurance? now you _must_ tell me the whole truth!" again the appealing uplifted face had invited the blow, and again his heart failed. it was impossible to crush her. it was too horrible. he spoke with firm decision: "not another word!" he turned and walked rapidly to the door. the girl clung desperately to his arm: "i beg of you! i implore you!" he paused in the doorway, and gently took her hands: "forgive me, child, if i seem cruel. in reality i am merciful. i must leave it just there!" he passed quickly out. the girl caught the heavy curtains for support, turned with an effort, staggered back into the room, fell prostrate on the lounge with a cry of despair, and burst into uncontrollable sobs. chapter xv a discovery tom had grown restless waiting for helen to emerge from the interminable interview with his father. a half dozen times he had walked past the library door only to hear the low hum of their voices still talking. "what on earth is it all about, i wonder?" he muttered. "must be telling her the story of his whole life!" he had asked her to meet him in the old rose garden when she came out. for the dozenth time he strolled in and sat down on their favorite rustic. he could neither sit still nor content himself with wandering. "what the devil's the matter with me anyhow?" he said aloud. "the next thing i'll be thinking i'm in love--good joke--bah!" helen was not the ideal he had dreamed. she had simply brought a sweet companionship into his life--that was all. she was a good fellow. she could walk, ride, run and hold her own at any game he liked to play. he had walked with her over miles of hills and valleys stretching in every direction about town. he had never grown tired of these walks. he didn't have to entertain her. they were silent often for a long time. they sat down beside the roadway, laughed and talked like chums with never a thought of entertaining each other. in the long rides they had taken in the afternoons and sometimes late in the starlight or moonlight, she had never grown silly, sentimental or tiresome. a restful and home-like feeling always filled him when she was by his side. he hadn't thought her very beautiful at first, but the longer he knew her the more charming and irresistible her companionship became. "her figure's a little too full for the finest type of beauty!" he was saying to himself now. "her arms are splendid, but the least bit too big, and her face sometimes looks too strong for a girl's! it's a pity. still, by geeminy, when she smiles she is beautiful! her face seems to fairly blossom with funny little dimples--and that one on the chin is awfully pretty! she just misses by a hair being a stunningly beautiful girl!" he flicked a fly from his boot with a switch he was carrying and glanced anxiously toward the house. "and i must say," he acknowledged judicially, "that she has a bright mind, her tastes are fine, her ideals high. she isn't all the time worrying over balls and dresses and beaux like a lot of silly girls i know. she's got too much sense for that. the fact is, she has a brilliant mind." now that he came to think of it, she had a mind of rare brilliance. everything she said seemed to sparkle. he didn't stop to ask the reason why, he simply knew that it was so. if she spoke about the weather, her words never seemed trivial. he rose scowling and walked back to the house. "what on earth can they be talking about all this time?" he cried angrily. just then his father's tall figure stepped out on the porch, walked its length and entered the sitting-room by one of the french windows. he sprang up the steps, thrust his head into the hall, and softly whistled. he waited a moment, there was no response, and he repeated the call. still receiving no answer, he entered cautiously: "miss helen!" he tipped to the library door and called again: "miss helen!" surprised that she could have gone so quickly he rushed into the room, glanced hastily around, crossed to the window, looked out on the porch, heard the rustle of a skirt and turned in time to see her flying to escape. with a quick dash he headed her off. hiding her face she turned and ran the other way for the door through which he had entered. with a laugh and a swift leap tom caught her arms. "lord, you're a sprinter!" he cried breathlessly. "but i've got you now!" he laughed, holding her pinioned arms tightly. helen lifted her tear-stained face: "please----" tom drew her gently around and looked into her eyes: "why--what on earth--you're crying!" she tried to draw away but he held her hand firmly: "what is it? what's happened? what's the matter?" his questions were fired at her with lightning rapidity. the girl dropped forlornly on the lounge and turned her face away: "please go!" "i won't go--i won't!" he answered firmly as he bent closer. "please--please!" "tell me what it is?" helen held her face resolutely from him. "tell me," he urged tenderly. "i can't!" she threw herself prostrate and broke into sobs. the boy wrung his hands helplessly, started to put his arm around her, caught himself in time and drew back with a start. at last he burst out passionately: "don't--don't! for heaven's sake don't! it hurts me more than it does you--i don't know what it is but it hurts--it hurts inside and it hurts deep--please!" without lifting her head helen cried: "i don't want to live any more!" "oh, is that all?" tom laughed. "i see, you've stubbed your toe and don't want to live any more!" "i mean it!" she broke in desperately. "good joke!" he cried again, laughing. "you don't want to live any more! twenty years old and every line of your graceful, young form quivering with the joy of life--you--you don't want to live! that's great!" the girl lifted her dimmed eyes, looked at him a moment, and spoke the thought that had poisoned her soul--spoke it in hard, bitter accents with a touch of self-loathing: "i've just learned that my birth is shadowed by disgrace!" "well, what have you to do with that?" he asked quickly. "your whole being shines with truth and purity. what's an accident of birth? you couldn't choose your parents, could you? you're a nameless orphan and my father is the attorney of an old fool guardian who lives somewhere in europe. all right! the worst thing your worst enemy could say is that you're a child of love--a great love that leaped all bounds and defied the law--a love that was madness and staked all life on the issue! that means you're a child of the gods. some of the greatest men and women of the world were born like that. your own eyes are clear. there's no cloud on your beautiful soul----" tom paused and helen lifted her face in rapt attention. the boy suddenly leaped to his feet, turned away and spoke in ecstatic whispers: "good lord--listen at me--why--i'm making love--great scott--i'm in love! the big thing has happened--to me--to me! i feel the thrill of it--the thing that transforms the world--why--it's like getting religion!" he strode back and forth in a frenzy of absurd happiness. helen, smiling through her tears, asked: "what are you saying? what are you talking about?" with a cry of joy he was at her side, her hand tight gripped in his: "why, that i'm in love, my own--that i love you, my glorious little girl! i didn't realize it until i saw just now the tears in your eyes and felt the pain of it. every day these past weeks you've been stealing into my heart until now you're my very life! what hurts you hurts me--your joys are mine--your sorrows are mine!" laughing in spite of herself, helen cried: "you--don't realize what you're saying!" "no--but i'm beginning to!" he answered with a boyish smile. "and it goes to my head like wine--i'm mad with its joy! i tell you i love you--i love you! and you love me--you do love me?" the girl struggled, set her lips grimly and said fiercely: "no--and i never shall!" "you don't mean it?" "i do!" "you--you--don't love another?" "no--no!" "then you _do_ love me!" he cried triumphantly. "you've just _got_ to love me! i won't take any other answer! look into my eyes!" she turned resolutely away and he took both hands drawing her back until their eyes met. "your lips say no," he went on, "but your tears, your voice, the tremor of your hand and the tenderness of your eyes say yes!" helen shook her head: "no--no--no!" but the last "no" grew feebler than the first and he pressed her hand with cruel pleading: "yes--yes--yes--say it, dear--please--just once." helen looked at him and then with a cry of joy that was resistless said: "god forgive me! i can't help it--yes, yes, yes, i love you--i love you!" tom snatched her to his heart and held her in perfect surrender. she suddenly drew her arms from his neck, crying in dismay: "no--no--i don't love you!" the boy looked at her with a start and she went on quickly: "i didn't mean to say it--i meant to say--i hate you!" with a cry of pain she threw herself into his arms, clasping his neck and held him close. his hand gently stroked the brown hair while he laughed: "well, if that's the way you hate--keep it up!" with an effort she drew back: "but i mustn't----" "there!" he said, tenderly drawing her close again. "it's all right. it's no use to struggle. you're mine--mine, i tell you!" with a determined effort she freed herself: "it's no use, dear, our love is impossible." "nonsense!" "but you don't realize that my birth is shadowed by disgrace!" "i don't believe it--i wouldn't believe it if an angel said it. who dares to say such a thing?" "your father!" "my father?" he repeated in a whisper. "he has always known the truth and now that i am of age he has told me----" "told you what?" "just what i said, and warned me that marriage could only bring pain and sorrow to those i love." "he gave you no facts--only these vague warnings?" "yes, more--he told me----" she paused and moved behind the table: "that my father and mother were never married." "nothing more?" the boy asked eagerly. "that's enough." "not for me!" "suppose my father were a criminal?" "no matter--your soul's as white as snow" "suppose my mother----" "i don't care who she was--you're an angel!" helen faced him with strained eagerness: "you swear that no stain on my father or mother can ever make the least difference between us?" "i swear it!" he cried grasping her hand. "come, you're mine!" helen drew back: "oh, if i could only believe it----" "you do believe it--come!" he opened his arms and she smiled. "what shall i do!" "come!" slowly at first, and then with quick, passionate tenderness she threw herself into his arms: "i can't help it, dearest. it's too sweet and wonderful--god help me if i'm doing wrong!" "wrong!" he exclaimed indignantly. "how can it be wrong, this solemn pledge of life and love, of body and soul?" she lifted her face to his in wonder: "and you will dare to tell your father?" "in good time, yes. but it's our secret now. keep it until i say the time has come for him to know. i'll manage him--promise!" "yes! how sweet it is to hear you tell me what to do! i shall never be lonely or afraid again." the father's footstep on the porch warned of his approach. "go quickly!" the boy whispered. "i don't want him to see us together yet--it means too much now--it means life itself!" helen moved toward the door, looked back, laughed, flew again into his arms and quickly ran into the hall as norton entered from the porch. the boy caught the look of surprise on his father's face, realized that he must have heard the rustle of helen's dress, and decided instantly to accept the fact. he boldly walked to the door and gazed after her retreating figure, his back squarely on his father. norton paused and looked sharply at tom: "was--that--helen?" the boy turned, smiling, and nodded with slight embarrassment in spite of his determined effort at self-control: "yes." the father's keen eyes pierced the boy's: "why should she run?" tom's face sobered: "i don't think she wished to see you just now, sir." "evidently!" "she had been crying." "and told you why?" "yes." the father frowned: "she has been in the habit of making you her confidant?" "no. but i found her in tears and asked her the reason for them." norton was watching closely: "she told you what i had just said to her?" "vaguely," tom answered, and turning squarely on his father asked: "would you mind telling me the whole truth about it?" "why do you ask?" the question came from the father's lips with a sudden snap, so suddenly, so sharply the boy lost his composure, hung his head, and stammered with an attempt at a smile: "oh--naturally curious--i suppose it's a secret?" "yes--i wish i could tell you, but i can't"--he paused and spoke with sudden decision: "ask cleo to come here." chapter xvi the challenge norton was morally certain now that the boy was interested in helen. how far this interest had gone he could only guess. what stunned him was that tom had already taken sides with the girl. he had not said so in words. but his embarrassment and uneasiness could mean but one thing. he must move with caution, yet he must act at once and end the dangerous situation. a clandestine love affair was a hideous possibility. up to a moment ago he had held such a thing out of the question with the boy's high-strung sense of honor and his lack of experience with girls. he was afraid now of both the boy and girl. she had convinced him of her purity when the first words had fallen from her lips. yet wiser men had been deceived before. the thought of her sleek, tawny mother came with a shudder. no daughter could escape such an inheritance. there was but one thing to do and it must be done quickly. he would send helen abroad and if necessary tell her the whole hideous truth. he lifted his head at the sound of cleo's footsteps, rose and confronted her. as his deep-set eyes surveyed her he realized that the hour had come for a fight to the finish. she gazed at him steadily with a look of undisguised hate: "what is it?" he took a step closer, planted his long legs apart and met her greenish eyes with an answering flash of rage: "when i think of your damned impudence, using my typewriter and letterheads to send an invitation to that girl to spend the summer here with tom at home, and signing my name----" "i have the right to use your name with her," she broke in with a sneer. "it will be the last time i'll give you the chance." "we'll see," was the cool reply. norton slowly drew a chair to the table, seated himself and said: "i want the truth from you now." "you'll get it. i've never had to lie to you, at least----" "i've no time to bandy words--will you tell me exactly what's been going on between tom and helen during my absence in this campaign?" "i haven't seen anything!" was the light answer. his lips moved to say that she lied, but he smiled instead. what was the use? he dropped his voice to a careless, friendly tone: "they have seen each other every day?" "certainly." "how many hours have they usually spent together?" "i didn't count them." norton bit his lips to keep back an oath: "how often have they been riding?" "perhaps a dozen times." "they returned late occasionally?" "twice." "how late?" "it was quite dark----" "what time?--eight, nine, ten or eleven o'clock?" "as late as nine one night, half-past nine another--the moon was shining." she said it with a taunting smile. "were they alone?" "yes." "you took pains to leave them alone, i suppose?" "sometimes"--she paused and looked at him with a smile that was a sneer. "what are you afraid of?" he returned her gaze steadily: "anything is possible of your daughter--the thought of it strangles me!" cleo laughed lightly: "then all you've got to do is to speak--tell tom the truth." "i'll die first!" he fiercely replied. "at least i've taught him racial purity. i've been true to my promise to the dead in this. he shall never know the depths to which i once fell! you have robbed me of everything else in life, this boy's love and respect is all that you've left me"--he stopped, his breast heaving with suppressed passion. "why--why did you bring that girl into this house?" "i wished to see her--that's enough. for twenty years, i've lived here as a slave, always waiting and hoping for a sign from you that you were human----" "for a sign that i'd sink again to your level! well, i found out twenty years ago that beneath the skin of every man sleeps an ape and a tiger--i fought that battle and won----" "and i have lost?" "yes." "perhaps i haven't begun to fight yet." "i shouldn't advise you to try it. i know now that i made a tragic blunder when i brought you back into this house. i've cursed myself a thousand times that i didn't put the ocean between us. if my boy hadn't loved you, if he hadn't slipped his little arms around your neck and clung to you sobbing out the loneliness of his hungry heart--if i hadn't seen the tears in your own eyes and known that you had saved his life once--i wouldn't have made the mistake that i did. but i gave you my word, and i've lived up to it. i've reared and educated your child and given you the protection of my home----" "yes," she broke in, "that you might watch and guard me and know that your secret was safely kept while you've grown to hate me each day with deeper and fiercer hatred--god!--i've wondered sometimes that you haven't killed me!" norton's voice sank to a whisper: "i've wondered sometimes, too"--a look of anguish swept his face--"but i gave you my word, and i've kept it." "because you had to keep it!" he sprang to his feet: "had to keep it--you say that to me?" "i do." "this house is still mine----" "but your past is mine!" she cried with a look of triumph. "indeed! we'll see. helen leaves this house immediately." "she shall not!" "you refuse to obey my orders?" "and what's more," she cried with angry menace, "i refuse to allow you to put her out!" "to _allow_?" "i said it!" "so i am your servant? i must ask your permission?--god!----" he sprang angrily toward the bell and cleo stepped defiantly before him: "don't you touch that bell----" norton thrust her aside: "get out of my way!" "ring that bell if you dare!" she hissed. "dare?" the woman drew her form erect: "if you dare! and in five minutes i'll be in that newspaper office across the way from yours! the editor doesn't love you. to-morrow morning the story of your life and mine will blaze on that first page!" norton caught a chair for support, his face paled and he sank slowly to a seat. cleo leaned toward him, trembling with passion: "i'll give you fair warning. there are plenty of negroes to-day your equal in wealth and culture. do you think they have been listening to their great leader's call to battle for nothing--building fine houses, buying land, piling up money, sending their sons and daughters to college, to come at your beck and call? you're a fool if you do. they are only waiting their chance to demand social equality and get it. wealth and culture will give it in the end, ballot or no ballot. once rich, white men and women will come at their command. i've got my chance now to demand my rights of you and do a turn for the negro race. you've got to recognize helen before your son. i've brought her here for that purpose. with her by my side, i'll be the mistress of this house. now resign your leadership and get out of this campaign!" with a stamp of her foot she ended her mad speech in sharp, high tones, turned quickly and started to the door. between set teeth norton growled: "and you think that i'll submit?" the woman wheeled suddenly and rushed back to his side, her eyes flaming: "you've got to submit--you've got to submit--or begin with me a fight that can only end in your ruin! i've nothing to lose, and i tell you now that i'll fight to win, i'll fight to kill! i'll ask no quarter of you and i'll give none. i'll fight with every ounce of strength i've got, body and soul--and if i lose i'll still have strength enough left to pull you into hell with me!" her voice broke in a sob, she pulled herself together, straightened her figure and cried: "now what are you going to do? what are you going to do? accept my terms or fight?" norton's face was livid, his whole being convulsed as he leaped to his feet and confronted her: "i'll fight!" "all right! all right!" she said with hysterical passion, backing toward the door. "i've warned you now--i didn't want to fight--but i'll show you--i'll show you!" chapter xvii a skirmish norton's fighting blood was up, but he was too good a soldier and too good a commander to rush into battle without preparation. cleo's mask was off at last, and he knew her too well to doubt that she would try to make good her threat. the fire of hate that had flamed in her greenish eyes was not a sudden burst of anger, it had been smoldering there for years, eating its way into the fiber of her being. there were three courses open. he could accept her demand, acknowledge helen to his son, establish her in his home, throw his self-respect to the winds and sink to the woman's level. it was unthinkable! besides, the girl would never recover from the shock. she would disappear or take her own life. he felt it with instinctive certainty. but the thing which made such a course impossible was the fact that it meant his daily degradation before the boy. he would face death without a tremor sooner than this. he could defy cleo and pack helen off to europe on the next steamer, and risk a scandal that would shake the state, overwhelm the party he was leading, disgrace him not only before his son but before the world, and set back the cause he had at heart for a generation. it was true she might weaken when confronted with the crisis that would mean the death of her own hopes. yet the risk was too great to act on such a possibility. her defiance had in it all the elements of finality, and he had accepted it as final. the simpler alternative was a temporary solution which would give him time to think and get his bearings. he could return to the campaign immediately, take tom with him, keep him in the field every day until the election, ask helen to stay until his return, and after his victory had been achieved settle with the woman. it was the wisest course for many reasons, and among them not the least that it would completely puzzle cleo as to his ultimate decision. he rang for andy: "ask mr. tom to come here." andy bowed and norton resumed his seat. when tom entered, the father spoke with quick decision: "the situation in this campaign, my boy, is tense and dangerous. i want you to go with me to-morrow and stay to the finish." tom flushed and there was a moment's pause: "certainly, dad, if you wish it." "we'll start at eight o'clock in the morning and drive through the country to the next appointment. fix your business at the office this afternoon, place your men in charge and be ready to leave promptly at eight. i've some important writing to do. i'm going to lock myself in my room until it's done. see that i'm not disturbed except to send andy up with my supper. i'll not finish before midnight." "i'll see to it, sir," tom replied, turned and was gone. the father had watched the boy with keen scrutiny every moment and failed to catch the slightest trace of resentment or of hesitation. the pause he had made on receiving the request was only an instant of natural surprise. before leaving next morning he sent for helen who had not appeared at breakfast. she hastened to answer his summons and he found no trace of anger, resentment or rebellion in her gentle face. every vestige of the shadow he had thrown over her life seem to have lifted. a tender smile played about her lips as she entered the room. "you sent for me, major?" she asked with the slightest tremor of timidity in her voice. "yes," he answered gravely. "i wish you to remain here until tom and i return. we'll have a conference then about your future." "thank you," she responded simply. "i trust you will not find yourself unhappy or embarrassed in remaining here alone until we return?" "certainly not, major, if it is your wish," was the prompt response. he bowed and murmured: "i'll see you soon." tom waved his hand from the buggy when his father's back was turned and threw her an audacious kiss over his head as the tall figure bent to climb into the seat. the girl answered with another from her finger tips which he caught with a smile. norton's fears of tom were soon at rest at the sight of his overflowing boyish spirits. he had entered into the adventure of the campaign from the moment he found himself alone with his father, and apparently without reservation. through every one of his exciting speeches, when surrounded by hostile crowds, the father had watched tom's face with a subconscious smile. at the slightest noise, the shuffle of a foot, the mutter of a drunken word, or the movement of a careless listener, the keen eyes of the boy had flashed and his right arm instinctively moved toward his hip pocket. when the bitter struggle had ended, father and son had drawn closer than ever before in life. they had become chums and comrades. norton had planned his tour to keep him out of town until after the polls closed on the day of election. they had spent several nights within fifteen or twenty miles of the capital, but had avoided home. he had planned to arrive at the speaker's stand in the capitol square in time to get the first returns of the election. five thousand people were packed around the bulletin board when they arrived on a delayed train. the first returns indicated that the leader's daring platform had swept the state by a large majority. the negro race had been disfranchised and the ballot restored to its original dignity. and much more had been done. the act was purely political, but its effects on the relations, mental and moral and physical, of the two races, so evenly divided in the south, would be tremendous. the crowds of cheering men and women felt this instinctively, though it had not as yet found expression in words. a half-dozen stalwart men with a rush and a shout seized norton and lifted him, blushing and protesting, carried him on their shoulders through the yelling crowd and placed him on the platform. he had scarcely begun his speech when tom, watching his chance, slipped hurriedly through the throng and flew to the girl who was waiting with beating heart for the sound of his footstep. chapter xviii love laughs when helen had received a brief note from tom the night before the election that he would surely reach home the next day, she snatched his picture from the library table with a cry of joy and rushed to her room. she placed the little gold frame on her bureau, sat down before it and poured out her heart in silly speeches of love, pausing to laugh and kiss the glass that saved the miniature from ruin. the portrait was an exquisite work of art on ivory which the father had commisioned a painter in new york to do in celebration of tom's coming of age. the artist had caught the boy's spirit in the tender smile that played about his lips and lingered in the corners of his blue eyes, the same eyes and lips in line and color in the dainty little mother's portrait over the mantel. "oh, you big, handsome, brave, glorious boy!" she cried in ecstasy. "my sweetheart--so generous, so clean, so strong, so free in soul! i love you--i love you--i love you!" she fell asleep at last with the oval frame clasped tight in one hand thrust under her pillow. a sound sleep was impossible, the busy brain was too active. again and again she waked with a start, thinking she had heard his swift footfall on the stoop. at daybreak she leaped to her feet and found herself in the middle of the room laughing when she came to herself, the precious picture still clasped in her hand. "oh, foolish heart, wake up!" she cried with another laugh. "it's dawn, and my lover is coming! it's his day! no more sleep--it's too wonderful! i'm going to count every hour until i hear his step--every minute of every hour, foolish heart!" she looked out the window and it was raining. the overhanging boughs of the oaks were dripping on the tin roof of the bay window in which she was standing. she had dreamed of a wonderful sunrise this morning. but it didn't matter--the rain didn't matter. the slow, familiar dropping on the roof suggested the nearness of her lover. they would sit in some shadowy corner hand in hand and love all the more tenderly. the raindrops were the drum beat of a band playing the march that was bringing him nearer with each throb. the mocking-bird that had often waked her with his song was silent, hovering somewhere in a tree beneath the thick leaves. she had expected him to call her to-day with the sweetest lyric he had ever sung. somehow it didn't matter. her soul was singing the song that makes all other music dumb. "my love is coming!" she murmured joyfully. "my love is coming!" and then she stood for an hour in brooding, happy silence and watched the ghost-like trees come slowly out of the mists. to her shining eyes there were no mists. the gray film that hung over the waking world was a bridal veil hiding the blushing face of the earth from the sun-god lover who was on his way over the hills to clasp her in his burning arms! for the first time in her memory she was supremely happy. every throb of pain that belonged to the past was lost in the sea of joy on which her soul had set sail. in the glory of his love pain was only another name for joy. all she had suffered was but the preparation for this supreme good. it was all the more wonderful, this fairy world into which she had entered, because the shadows had been so deep in her lonely childhood. there really hadn't been any past! she couldn't remember the time she had not known and loved tom. love filled the universe, past, present and future. there was no task too hard for her hands, no danger she was not ready to meet. the hungry heart had found its own. through the long hours of the day she waited without impatience. each tick of the tiny clock on the mantel brought him nearer. the hands couldn't turn back! she watched them with a smile as she sat in the gathering twilight. she had placed the miniature back in its place and sat where her eye caught the smile from his lips when she lifted her head from the embroidery on her lap. the band was playing a stirring strain in the square. she could hear the tumult and the shouts of the crowds about the speaker's stand as they read the bulletins of the election. the darkness couldn't hold him many more minutes. she rose with a soft laugh and turned on the lights, walked to the window, looked out and listened to the roar of the cheering when norton made his appearance. the band struck up another stirring piece. yes, it was "hail to the chief!" he had come. she counted the minutes it would take for him to elude his father and reach the house. she pictured the smile on his face as he threaded his way through the throng and started to her on swift feet. she could see him coming with the long, quick stride he had inherited from his father. she turned back into the room exclaiming: "oh, foolish heart, be still!" she seated herself again and waited patiently, a smile about the corners of her lips and another playing hide and seek in the depths of her expressive eyes. tom had entered the house unobserved by any one and softly tipped into the library from the door directly behind her. he paused, removed his hat, dropped it silently into a chair and stood looking at the graceful, beautiful form bending over her work. the picture of this waiting figure he had seen in his day-dreams a thousand times and yet it was so sweet and wonderful he had to stop and drink in the glory of it for a moment. a joyous laugh was bubbling in his heart as he tipped softly over the thick yielding rug and slipped his hands over her eyes. his voice was the gentlest whisper: "guess?" the white figure slowly rose and her words came in little ripples of gasping laughter as she turned and lifted her arms: "it's--it's--tom!" with a smothered cry she was on his breast. he held her long and close without a word. his voice had a queer hitch in it as he murmured: "helen--my darling!" "oh, i thought you'd never come!" she sighed, looking up through her tears. tom held her off and gazed into her eyes: "it's been a century since i've seen you! i did my level best when we got into these nearby counties again, but i couldn't shake dad once this week. he watched me like a hawk and insisted on staying out of town till the very last hour of the election to-day. did old andy find out i slipped in last week?" "no!" she laughed. "did cleo find it out?" "no." "you're sure cleo didn't find out?" "sure--but aunt minerva did." "oh, i'm not afraid of her--kiss me!" with a glad cry their lips met. he held her off. "i'm not afraid of anything!" with an answering laugh, she kissed him again. "i'm not afraid of dad!" he said in tones of mock tragedy. "once more!" she gently disengaged herself, asking: "how did you get away from him so quickly?" "oh, he's making a speech to the crowd in the square proclaiming victory and so"--his voice fell to a whisper--"i flew to celebrate mine!" "won't he miss you?" "not while he's talking. dad enjoys an eloquent speech--especially one of his own----" he stopped abruptly, took a step toward her and cried: "say! do you know what the governor of north carolina said once upon a time to the governor of south carolina?" helen laughed: "what?" he opened his arms: "'it strikes me,' said he, 'that it's a long time between drinks!'" again her arms flashed around his neck. "did you miss me?" "dreadfully!" she sighed. "but i've been happy--happy in your love--oh, so happy, dearest!" "well, if dad wins this election to-night," he said with a boyish smile, "i'm going to tell him. now's the time--no more slipping and sliding!"--he paused, rushed to the window and looked out--"come, the clouds have lifted and the moon is rising. our old seat among the roses is waiting." with a look of utter happiness she slipped her arm in his and they strolled across the lawn. chapter xix "fight it out!" cleo had heard the shouts in the square with increasing dread. the hour was rapidly approaching when she must face norton. she had deeply regretted the last scene with him when she had completely lost her head. for the first time in her life she had dared to say things that could not be forgiven. they had lived an armed truce for twenty years. she had endured it in the hope of a change in his attitude, but she had driven him to uncontrollable fury now by her angry outburst and spoken words that could not be unsaid. she realized when too late that he would never forgive these insults. and she began to wonder nervously what form his revenge would take. that he had matured a definite plan of hostile action which he would put into force on his arrival, she did not doubt. why had she been so foolish? she asked herself the question a hundred times. and yet the clash was inevitable. she could not see helen packed off to europe and her hopes destroyed at a blow. she might have stopped him with something milder than a threat of exposure in his rival's paper. that was the mad thing she had done. what effect this threat had produced on his mind she could only guess. but she constantly came back to it with increasing fear. if he should accept her challenge, dare her to speak, and, weary of the constant strain of her presence in his house, put her out, it meant the end of the world. she had lived so long in dependence on his will, the thought of beginning life again under new conditions of humiliating service was unthinkable. she could only wait now until the blow fell, and adjust herself to the situation as best she could. that she had the power to lay his life in ruins and break tom's heart she had never doubted. yet this was the one thing she did not wish to do. it meant too much to her. she walked on the porch and listened again to the tumult in the square. she had seen tom enter the house on tip-toe and knew that the lovers were together and smiled in grim triumph. that much of her scheme had not failed! it only remained to be seen whether, with their love an accomplished fact, she could wring from norton's lips the confession she had demanded and save her own skin in the crash. andy had entered the gate and she heard him bustling in the pantry as tom and helen strolled on the lawn. the band in the square was playing their star piece of rag-time music, "a georgia campmeeting." the stirring refrain echoed over the sleepy old town with a weird appeal to-night. it had the ring of martial music--of hosts shouting their victory as they marched. they were playing it with unusual swinging power. she turned with a gesture of impatience into the house to find andy. he was carrying a tray of mint juleps into the library. cleo looked at him in amazement, suppressed an angry exclamation and asked: "what's that band playing for?" "white folks celebratin' de victory!" he replied enthusiastically, placing the tray on the table. "it's only seven o'clock. the election returns can't be in yet?" "yassam! hit's all over but de shoutin'!" cleo moved a step closer: "the major has won?" "yassam! yassam!" andy answered with loud good humor, as he began to polish a glass with a napkin. "yassam, i des come frum dar. de news done come in. dey hain't gwine ter 'low de niggers ter vote no mo', 'ceptin they kin read an' write--an' _den_ dey won't let 'em!" he held one of the shining glasses up to the light, examined it with judicial care and continued in tones of resignation: "don't make no diffrunce ter me, dough!--i hain't nebber got nuttin' fer my vote nohow, 'ceptin' once when er politicioner shoved er box er cigars at me"--he chuckled--"an' den, by golly, i had ter be a gemman, i couldn't grab er whole handful--i des tuck four!" cleo moved impatiently and glared at the tray: "what on earth did you bring all that stuff for? the whole mob are not coming here, are they?" "nobum--nobum! nobody but de major, but i 'low dat he gwine ter consume some! he's on er high hoss. dey's 'bout ten thousand folks up dar in de square. de boys carry de major on dere back to de flatform an' he make 'em a big speech. dey sho is er-raisin' er mighty humbug. dey gwine ter celebrate all night out dar, an' gwine ter serenade everybody in town. but de major comin' right home. dey try ter git him ter stay wid 'em, but he 'low dat he got some 'portant business here at de house." "important business here?" she asked anxiously. "yassam, i spec him any minute." cleo turned quickly toward the door and andy called: "miss cleo!" she continued to go without paying any attention and he repeated his call: "miss cleo!" she paused indifferently, while andy touched his lips smiling: "i got my mouf shet!" "does it pain you?" "nobum!" he laughed. "keep it shut!" she replied contemptuously as she again moved toward the door. "yassam--yassam--but ain't yer got nuttin' mo' dan dat ter say ter me?" he asked this question with a rising inflection that might mean a threat. the woman walked back to him: "prove your love by a year's silence----" "de lawd er mussy!" andy gasped. "a whole year?" "am i not worth waiting for?" she asked with a smile. "yassam--yassam," he replied slowly, "jacob he wait seben years an' den, by golly, de ole man cheat him outen his gal! but ef yer say so, i'se er-waitin', honey----" andy placated, her mind returned in a flash to the fear that haunted her: "he said important business here at once?" the gate closed with a vigorous slam and the echo of norton's step was heard on the gravel walk. "yassam, dar he is now." cleo trembled and hurried to the opposite door: "if the major asks for me, tell him i've gone to the meeting in the square." she passed quickly from the room in a panic of fear. she couldn't meet him in this condition. she must wait a better moment. andy, arranging his tray, began to mix three mint juleps, humming a favorite song: "dis time er-nudder year, oh, lawd, how long! in some lonesome graveyard-- woh, lawd, how long!" norton paused on the threshold with a smile and listened to the foolish melody. his whole being was quivering with the power that thrilled from a great act of will. he had just made a momentous decision. his work in hand was done. he had lived for years in an atmosphere poisoned by a yellow venomous presence. he had resolved to be free!--no matter what the cost. his mind flew to the boy he had grown to love with deeper tenderness the past weeks. the only thing he really dreaded was his humiliation before those blue eyes. but, if the worst came to worst, he must speak. there were things darker than death--the consciousness to a proud and sensitive man that he was the slave to an inferior was one of them. he had to be free--free at any cost. the thought was an inspiration. with brisk step he entered the library and glanced with surprise at the empty room. "tom not come?" he asked briskly. "nasah, i ain't seed 'im," andy replied. norton threw his linen coat on a chair, and a dreamy look came into his deep-set eyes: "well, andy, we've made a clean sweep to-day--the old state's white again!" the negro, bustling over his tray, replied with unction: "yassah, dat's what i done tole 'em, sah!" "all government rests on force, andy! the ballot is force--physical force. back of every ballot is a gun----" he paused, drew the revolver slowly from his pocket and held it in his hand. andy glanced up from his tray and jumped in alarm: "yassah, dat's so, sah--in dese parts sho, sah!" he ended his speech by a good-natured laugh at the expense of the country that allowed itself to be thus intimidated. norton lifted the gleaming piece of steel and looked at it thoughtfully: "back of every ballot a gun and the red blood of the man who holds it! no freeman ever yet voted away his right to a revolution----" "yassah--dat's what i tells dem niggers--you gwine ter giv 'em er dose er de revolution----" "well, it's done now and i've no more use for this thing--thank god!" he crossed to the writing desk, laid the revolver on its top and walked to the lounge his face set with a look of brooding intensity: "bah! the big battles are all fought inside, andy! there's where the brave die and cowards run--inside----" "yassah!--i got de stuff right here fer de _inside_, sah!" he held up the decanter with a grin. "from to-night my work outside is done," norton went on moodily. "and i'm going to be free--free! i'm no longer afraid of one of my servants----" he dropped into a seat and closed his fists with a gesture of intense emotion. andy looked at him in astonishment and asked incredulously: "who de debbil say you'se er scared of any nigger? show dat man ter me--who say dat?" "i say it!" was the bitter answer. he had been thinking aloud, but now that the negro had heard he didn't care. his soul was sick of subterfuge and lies. andy laughed apologetically: "yassah! cose, sah, ef you say dat hit's so, why i say hit's so--but all de same, 'twixt you an' me, i knows tain't so!" "but from to-night!" norton cried, ignoring andy as he sprang to his feet and looked sharply about the room: "tell cleo i wish to see her at once!" "she gone out in de squar ter hear de news, sah." "the moment she comes let me know!" he said with sharp emphasis and turned quickly to the door. "yassah," andy answered watching him go with amazement. "de lawdy, major, you ain't gwine off an' leave dese mint juleps lak dat, is ye?" norton retraced a step: "yes, from to-night i'm the master of my house and myself!" andy looked at the tray and then at norton: "well, sah, yer ain't got no objections to me pizinin' mysef, is ye?" the master surveyed the grinning servant, glanced at the tray, smiled and said: "no--you'll do it anyhow, so go as far as you like!" "yassah!" the negro laughed as norton turned again. "an' please, sah, won't yer gimme jes a little advice befo' you go?" norton turned a puzzled face on the grinning black one: "advice?" "yassah. what i wants ter know, major, is dis. sposen, sah, dat a gemman got ter take his choice twixt marryin' er lady dat's forcin' herself on 'im, er kill hissef?" "kill her!" andy broke into a loud laugh: "yassah! but she's er dangous 'oman, sah! she's a fighter from fightersville--an' fuddermo', sah, i'se engaged to annudder lady at the same time--an' i'se in lub wid dat one an' skeered er de fust one." "face it, then. confess your love and fight it out! fight it out and let them fight it out. you like to see a fight, don't you?" "yassah! oh, yassah," andy declared bravely. "i likes ter see a fight--i likes ter see de fur fly--but i don't care 'bout furnishin' none er de fur!" norton had reached the door when he suddenly turned, the momentary humor of his play with the negro gone from his sombre face, the tragedy of a life speaking in every tone as he slowly said: "fight it out! it's the only thing to do--fight it out!" andy stared at the retreating figure dazed by the violence of passion with which his master had answered, wondering vaguely what could be the meaning of the threat behind his last words. chapter xx andy fights when andy had recovered from his surprise at the violence of norton's parting advice his eye suddenly rested on the tray of untouched mint juleps. a broad smile broke over his black countenance: "fight it out! fight it out!" he exclaimed with a quick movement toward the table. "yassah, i'm gwine do it, too, i is!" he paused before the array of filled glasses of the iced beverage, saluted silently, and raised one high over his head to all imaginary friends who might be present. his eye rested on the portrait of general lee. he bowed and saluted again. further on hung stonewall jackson. he lifted his glass to him, and last to norton's grandfather in his blue and yellow colonial regimentals. he pressed the glass to his thirsty lips and waved the julep a jovial farewell with the palm of his left hand as he poured it gently but firmly down to the last drop. he smacked his lips, drew a long breath and sighed: "put ernuff er dat stuff inside er me, i kin fight er wil'cat! yassah, an' i gwine do it. i gwine ter be rough wid her, too! rough wid her, i is!" he seized another glass and drained half of it, drew himself up with determination, walked to the door leading to the hall toward the kitchen and called: "miss minerva!" receiving no answer, he returned quickly to the tray and took another drink: "rough wid her--dat's de way--rough wid her!" he pulled his vest down with a vicious jerk, bravely took one step, paused, reached back, picked up his glass again, drained it, and walked to the door. "miss minerva!" he called loudly and fiercely. from the kitchen came the answer in tender tones: "yas--honey!" andy retreated hastily to the table and took another drink before the huge but smiling figure appeared in the doorway. "did my true love call?" she asked softly. andy groaned, grasped a glass and quickly poured another drink of dutch courage down. "yassam, miss minerva, i thought i hear yer out dar----" minerva giggled as lightly as she could considering her two hundred and fifty pounds: "yas, honey, hit's little me!" andy had begun to feel the bracing effects of the two full glasses of mint juleps. he put his hands in his pockets, walked with springing strides to the other end of the room, returned and squared himself impressively before minerva. before he could speak his courage began to fail and he stuttered: "m-m-m-miss minerva!" the good-humored, shining black face was raised in sharp surprise: "what de matter wid you, man, er hoppin' roun' over de flo' lak er flea in er hot skillet?" andy saw that the time had come when he must speak unless he meant to again ignominiously surrender. he began boldly: "miss minerva! i got somethin' scandalous ter say ter you!" she glared at him, the whites of her eyes shining ominously, crossed the room quickly and confronted andy: "don't yer dar' say nuttin' scandalizin' ter me, sah!" his eyes fell and he moved as if to retreat. she nudged him gently: "g'long, man, what is it?" he took courage: "i got ter 'fess ter you, m'am, dat i'se tangled up wid annuder 'oman!" the black face suddenly flashed with wrath, and her figure was electric with battle. the very pores of her dusky skin seemed to radiate war. "who bin tryin' ter steal you?" she cried. "des sho' her ter me, an' we see who's who!" andy waved his hands in a conciliatory self-accusing gesture: "yassam--yassam! but i make er fool outen myse'f about her--hit's miss cleo!" "cleo!" minerva gasped, staggering back until her form collided with the table and rattled the glasses on the tray. at the sound of the tinkling glass, she turned, grasped a mint julep, and drank the whole of it at a single effort. andy, who had been working on a figure in the rug with the toe of his shoe during his confession, looked up, saw that she had captured his inspiration, and sprang back in alarm. minerva paused but a moment for breath and rushed for him: "dat yaller jezebel!--tryin' ter fling er spell over you--but i gwine ter save ye, honey!" andy retreated behind the lounge, his ample protector hot on his heels: "yassam!" he cried, "but i don't want ter be saved!" before he had finished the plea, she had pinned him in a corner and cut off retreat. "of course yer don't!" she answered generously. "no po' sinner ever does. but don't yer fret, honey, i'se gwine ter save ye in spite er yosef! yer needn't ter kick, yer needn't ter scramble, now's de time ye needs me, an i'se gwine ter stan' by ye. nuttin' kin shake me loose now!" she took a step toward him and he vainly tried to dodge. it was useless. she hurled her ample form straight on him and lifted her arms for a generous embrace: "lordy, man, dat make me lub yer er hundred times mo!" andy made up his mind in a sudden burst of courage to fight for his life. if she once got those arms about him he was gone. he grasped them roughly and stayed the onset: "yassam!" he answered warningly. "but i got ter 'fess up ter you now de whole truf. i bin er deceivin' you 'bout myself. i'se er bad nigger, miss minerva, an' i hain't worthy ter be you' husban'!" "g'long, chile, i done know dat all de time!" she laughed. andy walled his eyes at her uneasily, and she continued: "but i likes ter hear ye talk humble dat a way--hit's a good sign." he shook his head impatiently: "but ye don't know what i means!" "why, of cose, i does!" she replied genially. "i always knowed dat i wuz high above ye. i'se black, but i'se pure ez de drivellin' snow. i always knowed, honey, dat ye wern't my equal. but ye can't help dat. i'se er born 'ristocrat. my mudder was er african princess. my grandmudder wuz er queen--an' i'se er cook!" andy stamped his foot with angry impatience; "yassam--but ye git dat all wrong!" "cose, you' minerva understan's when ye comes along side er yo' true love dat ye feels humble----" "nobum! nobum!" he broke in emphatically--"ye got dat all wrong--all wrong!" he paused, drew a chair to the table and motioned her to a seat opposite. "des lemme tell ye now," he continued with determined kindness. "ye see i got ter 'fess de whole truf ter you. tain't right ter fool ye." minerva seated herself, complacently murmuring: "yassah, dat's so, brer andy." he leaned over the table and looked at her a moment solemnly: "i gotter 'fess ter you now, miss minerva, dat i'se always bin a bad nigger--what dey calls er pizen bad nigger--i'se er wife beater!" minerva's eyes walled in amazement: "no?" "yassam," he went on seriously. "when i wuz married afore i got de habit er beatin' my wife!" "beat her?" andy shook his head dolefully: "yassam. hit's des lak i tell ye. i hates ter 'fess hit ter you, m'am, but i formed de habit, same ez drinkin' licker--i beat her! i des couldn't keep my hands offen her. i beat her scandalous! i pay no tenshun to her hollerin!--huh!--de louder she holler, 'pears lak de harder i beat her!" "my, my, ain't dat terrible!" she gasped. "yassam----" "scandalous!" "dat it is----" "sinful!" "jes so!" he agreed sorrowfully. "but man!" she cried ecstatically, "dat's what i calls er husband!" "hey?" "dat's de man fer me!" he looked at her in dismay, snatched the decanter, poured himself a straight drink of whiskey, gulped it down, leaned over the table and returned to his task with renewed vigor: "but i kin see, m'am, dat yer don't know what i means! i didn't des switch 'er wid er cowhide er de buggy whip! i got in er regular habit er lammin' her wid anything i git hold of--wid er axe handle or wid er fire shovel----" "well, dat's all right," minerva interrupted admiringly. "she had de same chance ez you! i takes my chances. what i wants is er husban'--a husban' dat's got de sand in his gizzard! dat fust husban' er mine weren't no good 'tall--nebber hit me in his life but once--slap me in de face one day, lak dat!" she gave a contemptuous imitation of the trivial blow with the palms of her hands. "an' what'd you do, m'am?" andy asked with sudden suspicion. "nuttin' 'tall!" she said with a smile. "i des laf, haul off, kinder playful lak, an' knock 'im down wid de flatiron----" andy leaped to his feet and walked around the table toward the door: "wid de flatiron!" he repeated incredulously. "didn't hit 'im hard!" minerva laughed. "but he tumble on de flo' lak er ten-pin in er bowlin' alley. i stan' dar waitin' fer 'im ter git up an' come ergin, an' what ye reckon he done?" "i dunno, m'am," andy sighed, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. minerva laughed joyously at the memory of the scene: "he jump up an' run des lak er turkey! he run all de way down town, an' bless god ef he didn't buy me a new calico dress an' fotch hit home ter me. he warn't no man at all! i wuz dat sorry fer 'im an' dat ershamed er him i couldn't look 'im in de face ergin. i gits er divorce frum him----" she paused, rose, and looked at andy with tender admiration: "but, lordy, honey, you an' me's gwine ter have joyful times!" andy made a break for the door but she was too quick for him. with a swift swinging movement, astonishing in its rapidity for her size, she threw herself on him and her arms encircled his neck: "i'se yo' woman an' you'se my man!" she cried with a finality that left her victim without a ray of hope. he was muttering incoherent protests when helen's laughing voice came to his rescue: "oho!" she cried, with finger uplifted in a teasing gesture. minerva loosed her grip on andy overwhelmed with embarrassment, while he crouched behind her figure crying: "'twa'n't me, miss helen--'twa'n't me!" helen continued to laugh while andy grasped the tray and beat a hasty retreat. helen approached minerva teasingly: "why, aunt minerva!" the big, jovial black woman glanced at her: "g'way, chile--g'way frum here!" "aunt minerva, i wouldn't have thought such a thing of you!" helen said demurely. minerva broke into a jolly laugh and faced her tormentor: "yassum, honey, i spec hit wuz all my fault. love's such foolishness--yer knows how dat is yosef!" a look of rapture overspread helen's face: "such a sweet, wonderful foolishness, aunt minerva!"--she paused and her voice was trembling when she added--"it makes us all akin, doesn't it?" "yassam, an' i sho' is glad ter see you so happy!" "oh, i'm too happy, aunt minerva, it frightens me"--she stopped, glanced at the door, drew nearer and continued in low tones: "i've just left tom out there on the lawn, to ask you to do something for me." "yassam." "i want you to tell the major our secret to-night. he'll be proud and happy in his victory and i want him to know at once." the black woman shook her head dubiously: "tell him yosef, honey!" "but i'm afraid. the major frightens me. when i look into his deep eyes i feel that he has the power to crush the soul out of my body and that he will do it if i make him very angry." "dat's 'cause yer deceives him, child." "please tell him for us, aunt minerva! oh, you've been so good to me! for the past weeks i've been in heaven. it seems only a day instead of a month since he told me his love and then it seems i've lived through all eternity since i first felt his arms about me. sitting out there in the moonlight by his side i forget that i'm on earth, forget that there's a pain or a secret in it. i'm just in heaven. i have to pinch myself to see if it's real"--she smiled and pinched her arm--"i'm afraid i'll wake up and find it only a dream!" "well, yer better wake up just er minute an' tell de major--mister tom got ter have it out wid him." "yes, i know, and that's what scares me. won't you tell him for us right away? get him in a good humor, make him laugh, say a good word for us and then tell him. tell him how useless it will be to oppose us. he can't hold out long against tom, he loves him so." "mr. tom want me ter tell de major ter-night? he ax yer ter see me?" "no. he doesn't know what i came for. i just decided all of a sudden to come. i want to surprise him. he is going to tell his father himself to-night. but somehow i'm afraid, aunt minerva. i want you to help us. you will, won't you?" the black woman shook her head emphatically: "nasah, i ain't gwine ter git mixed up in dis thing!" "aunt minerva!" "nasah--i'se skeered!" "ah, please?" "nasah!" "please----" "na, na, na!" "aunt minerva----" "na------" the girl's pleading eyes were resistless and the black lips smiled: "cose i will, chile! cose i will--i'll see 'im right away. i'll tell him de minute i lays my eyes on 'im." she turned to go and ran squarely into norton as he strode into the room. she stopped and stammered: "why--why--wuz yer lookin' fer me, major?" norton gazed at her a moment and couldn't call his mind from its painful train of thought. he spoke finally with sharp accent: "no. i want to see cleo." helen slipped behind minerva: "stay and tell him now. i'll go." "no, better wait," was her low reply, as she watched norton furtively. "i don't like de way his eyes er spittin' fire." norton turned to minerva sharply: "find cleo and tell her i wish to see her immediately!" "yassah--yassah!" minerva answered, nervously, whispering to helen: "come on, honey--git outen here--come on!" helen followed mechanically, glancing timidly back over her shoulder at norton's drawn face. chapter xxi the second blow norton could scarcely control his eagerness to face the woman he loathed. every nerve of his body tingled with the agony of his desire to be free. he was ready for the end, no matter what she might do. the time had come in the strong man's life when compromise, conciliation, and delay were alike impossible. he cursed himself and his folly to-night that he had delayed so long. he had tried to be fair to the woman he hated. his sense of justice, personal honor, and loyalty to his pledged word, had given her the opportunity to strike him the blow she had delivered through the girl. he had been more than fair and he would settle it now for all time. that she was afraid to meet him was only too evident from her leaving the house on his return. he smiled grimly when he recalled the effrontery with which she had defied him at their last meeting. her voice, sharp and angry, rang out to andy at the back door. norton's strong jaw closed with a snap, and he felt his whole being quiver at the rasping sound of her familiar tones. she had evidently recovered her composure and was ready with her usual insolence. she walked quickly into the room, and threw her head up with defiance: "well?" "why have you avoided me to-night?" "have i?" "i think so." cleo laughed sneeringly: "you'll think again before i'm done with you!" she shook her head with the old bravado, but the keen eyes of the man watching saw that she was not sure of her ground. he folded his arms and quietly began: "for twenty years i have breathed the air poisoned by your presence. i have seen your insolence grow until you have announced yourself the mistress of my house. you knew that i was afraid of your tongue, and thought that a coward would submit in the end. well, it's over. i've held my hand for the past four weeks until my duty to the people was done. i've been a coward when i saw the tangled web of lies and shame in which i floundered. but the past is past. i face life to-night as it is"--his voice dropped--"and i'm going to take what comes. your rule in my house is at an end----" "indeed!" "helen leaves here to-morrow morning and _you_ go." "really?" "i've made a decent provision for your future--which is more than you deserve. pack your things!" the woman threw him a look of hate and her lips curved with scorn: "so--you have kindly allowed me to stay until your campaign was ended. well, i've understood you. i knew that you were getting ready for me. i'm ready for you." "and you think that i will allow you to remain in my house after what has passed between us?" "yes, you will," she answered smiling. "i'm not going to leave. you'll have to throw me into the street. and if you do, god may pity you, i'll not. there's one thing you fear more than a public scandal!" norton advanced and glared at her: "what?" "the hatred of the boy you idolize. i dare you to lay your hands on me to put me out of this house! and if you do, tom will hear from my lips the story of the affair that ended in the death of his mother. i'll tell him the truth, the whole truth, and then a great deal more than the truth----" "no doubt!" he interrupted. "but there'll be enough truth in all i say to convince him beyond a doubt. i promise you now"--she dropped her voice to a whisper--"to lie to him with a skill so sure, so cunning, so perfect, no denial you can ever make will shake his faith in my words. he loves me and i'll make him believe me. when i finish my story he ought to kill you. there's one thing you can depend on with his high-strung and sensitive nature and the training you have given him in racial purity--when he hears my story, he'll curse you to your face and turn from you as if you were a leper. i'll see that he does this if it's the last and only thing i do on this earth!" "and if you do----" "oh, i'm not afraid!" she sneered, holding his eye with the calm assurance of power. "i've thought it all over and i know exactly what to say." he leaned close: "now listen! i don't want to hurt you but you're going out of my life. every day while i've sheltered you in this house you have schemed and planned to drag me down again to your level. you have failed. i am not going to risk that girl's presence here another day--and _you_ go!" as he spoke the last words he turned from her with a gesture of final dismissal. she tossed her head in a light laugh and calmly said: "you're too late!" he stopped in his tracks, his heart chilled by the queer note of triumph in her voice. without turning or moving a muscle he asked: "what do you mean?" "tom is already in love with helen!" he wheeled and hurled himself at her: "what?" "and she is desperately in love with him"--she stopped and deliberately laughed again in his face--"and i have known it for weeks!" another step brought his trembling figure towering over her: "i don't believe you!" he hissed. cleo walked leisurely to the door and smiled: "ask the servants if you doubt my word." she finished with a sneer. "i begged you not to fight, major!" he stood rooted to the spot and watched her slowly walk backward into the hall. it was a lie, of course. and yet the calm certainty with which she spoke chilled his soul as he recalled his own suspicions. he must know now without a moment's delay and he must know the whole truth without reservation. before he approached either tom or helen there was one on whom he had always relied to tell the truth. her honest black face had been the one comfort of his life through the years of shadow and deceit. if minerva knew she would tell him. he rushed to the door that led to the kitchen and called: "minerva!" the answer came feebly: "yassah." "come here!" he had controlled his emotions sufficiently to speak his last command with some degree of dignity. he walked back to the table and waited for her coming. his brain was in a whirl of conflicting, stunning emotion. he simply couldn't face at once the appalling possibilities such a statement involved. his mind refused to accept it. as yet it was a lie of cleo's fertile invention, and still his reason told him that such a lie could serve no sane purpose in such a crisis. he felt that he was choking. his hand involuntarily went to his neck and fumbled at his collar. minerva's heavy footstep was heard and he turned sharply: "minerva!" "yassah"--she answered, glancing at him timidly. never had she seen his face so ghastly or the look in his eye so desperate. she saw that he was making an effort at self-control and knew instinctively that the happiness of the lovers was at stake. it was too solemn a moment for anything save the naked truth and her heart sank in pity and sympathy for the girl she had promised to help. "minerva," he began evenly, "you are the only servant in this house who has never lied to me"--he took a step closer. "are tom and miss helen lovers?" minerva fumbled her apron, glanced at his drawn face, looked down on the floor and stammered: "de lordy, major----" "yes or no!" he thundered. the black woman moistened her lips, hesitated, turned her honest face on his and said tremblingly: "yassah, dey is!" his eyes burned into hers: "and you, too, have known this for weeks?" "yassah. mister tom ax me not ter tell ye----" norton staggered to a seat and sank with a groan of despair, repeating over and over again in low gasps the exclamation that was a sob and a prayer: "great god!--great god!" minerva drew near with tender sympathy. her voice was full of simple, earnest pleading: "de lordy, major, what's de use? young folks is young folks, an' love's love. what ye want ter break 'em up fer--dey's so happy! yer know, sah, ye can't mend er butterfly's wing er put er egg back in de shell. miss helen's young, beautiful, sweet and good--won't ye let me plead fer 'em, sah?" with a groan of anguish norton sprang to his feet: "silence--silence!" "yassah!" "go--find miss helen--send her to me quickly. i don't want to see mr. tom. i want to see her alone first." minerva had backed out of his way and answered plaintively: "yassah." she paused and extended her hand pleadingly: "you'll be easy wid 'em, sah?" he hadn't heard. the tall figure slowly sank into the chair and his shoulders drooped in mortal weariness. minerva shook her head sadly and turned to do his bidding. norton's eyes were set in agony, his face white, his breast scarcely moving to breathe, as he waited helen's coming. the nerves suddenly snapped--he bowed his face in his hands and sobbed aloud: "oh, dear god, give me strength! i can't--i can't confess to my boy!" chapter xxii the test of love norton made a desperate effort to pull himself together for his appeal to helen. on its outcome hung the possibility of saving himself from the terror that haunted him. if he could tell the girl the truth and make her see that a marriage with tom was utterly out of the question because her blood was stained with that of a negro, it might be possible to save himself the humiliation of the full confession of their relationship and of his bitter shame. he had made a fearful mistake in not telling her this at their first interview, and a still more frightful mistake in rearing her in ignorance of the truth. no life built on a lie could endure. he was still trying desperately to hold his own on its shifting sands, but in his soul of souls he had begun to despair of the end. he was clutching at straws. in moments of sanity he realized it, but there was nothing else to do. the act was instinctive. the girl's sensitive mind was the key to a possible solution. he had felt instinctively on the day he told her the first fact about the disgrace of her birth, vague and shadowy as he had left it, that she could never adjust herself to the certainty that negro blood flowed in her veins. he had observed that her aversion to negroes was peculiarly acute. if her love for the boy were genuine, if it belonged to the big things of the soul, and were not the mere animal impulse she had inherited from her mother, he would have a ground of most powerful appeal. love seeks not its own. if she really loved she would sink her own life to save his. it was a big divine thing to demand of her and his heart sank at the thought of her possible inheritance from cleo. yet he knew by an instinct deeper and truer than reason, that the ruling power in this sensitive, lonely creature was in the spirit, not the flesh. he recalled in vivid flashes the moments he had felt this so keenly in their first pitiful meeting. if he could win her consent to an immediate flight and the sacrifice of her own desires to save the boy! it was only a hope--it was a desperate one--but he clung to it with painful eagerness. why didn't she come? the minutes seemed hours and there were minutes in which he lived a life. he rose nervously and walked toward the mantel, lifted his eyes and they rested on the portrait of his wife. "'my brooding spirit will watch and guard!'" he repeated the promise of her last scrawled message. he leaned heavily against the mantel, his eyes burning with an unusual brightness. "oh, jean, darling," he groaned, "if you see and hear and know, let me feel your presence! your dear eyes are softer and kinder than the world's to-night. help me, i'm alone, heartsick and broken!" he choked down a sob, walked back to the chair and sank in silence. his eyes were staring into space, his imagination on fire, passing in stern review the events of his life. how futile, childish and absurd it all seemed! what a vain and foolish thing its hope and struggles, its dreams and ambitions! what a failure for all its surface brilliance! he was standing again at the window behind the dais of the president of the senate, watching the little drooping figure of the governor staggering away into oblivion, and his heart went out to him in a great tenderness and pity. he longed to roll back the years that he might follow the impulse he had felt to hurry down the steps of the capitol, draw the broken man into a sheltered spot, slip his arms about him and say: "who am i to judge? you're my brother--i'm sorry! come, we'll try it again and help one another!" the dream ended in a sudden start. he had heard the rustle of a dress at the door and knew without lifting his head that she was in the room. only the slightest sound had come from her dry throat, a little muffled attempt to clear it of the tightening bands. it was scarcely audible, yet his keen ear had caught it instantly, not only caught the excitement under which she was struggling, but in it the painful consciousness of his hostility and her pathetic desire to be friends. he rose trembling and turned his dark eyes on her white uplifted face. a feeling of terror suddenly weakened her knees. he was evidently not angry as she had feared. there was something bigger and more terrible than anger behind the mask he was struggling to draw over his mobile features. "what has happened, major?" she asked in a subdued voice. [illustration: "only the slightest sound came from her dry throat."] "that is what i must know of you, child," he replied, watching her intently. she pressed closer with sudden desperate courage, her voice full of wistful friendliness: "oh, major, what have i done to offend you? i've tried so hard to win your love and respect. all my life i've been alone in a world of strangers, friendless and homesick----" he lifted his hand with a firm gesture: "come, child, to the point! i must know the truth now. tom has made love to you?" she blushed: "i--i--wish to see tom before i answer----" norton dropped his uplifted arm with a groan: "thank you," he murmured in tones scarcely audible. "i have your answer!"--he paused and looked at her curiously--"and you love him?" the girl hesitated for just an instant, her blue eyes flashed and she drew her strong, young figure erect: "yes! and i'm proud of it. his love has lifted me into the sunlight and made the world glorious--made me love everything in it--every tree and every flower and every living thing that moves and feels-----" she stopped abruptly and lifted her flushed face to his: "i've learned to love you, in spite of your harshness to me--i love you because you are his father!" he turned from her and then wheeled suddenly, his face drawn with pain: "now, i must be frank, i must be brutal. i must know the truth without reservation--how far has this thing gone?" "i--i--don't understand you!" "marriage is impossible! i told you that and you must have realized it." her head drooped: "you said so----" "impossible--utterly impossible! and you know it"--he drew a deep breath. "what--what are your real relations?" "my--real--relations?" she gasped. "answer me now, before god! i'll hold your secret sacred--your life and his may depend on it"--his voice dropped to a tense whisper. "your love is pure and unsullied?" the girl's eyes flashed with rage: "as pure and unsullied as his dead mother's for you!" "thank god!" he breathed. "i believe you--but i had to know, child! i had to know--there are big, terrible reasons why i had to know." a tear slowly stole down helen's flushed cheeks as she quietly asked: "why--why should you insult and shame me by asking that question?" "my knowledge of your birth." the girl smiled sadly: "yet you might have guessed that i had learned to cherish honor and purity before i knew i might not claim them as my birthright!" "forgive me, child," he said contritely, "if in my eagerness, my fear, my anguish, i hurt you. but i had to ask that question! i had to know. your answer gives me courage"--he paused and his voice quivered with deep intensity--"you really love tom?" "with a love beyond words!" "the big, wonderful love that comes to the human soul but once?" "yes!" his eyes were piercing to the depths now: "with the deep, unselfish yearning that asks nothing for itself and seeks only the highest good of its beloved?" "yes--yes," she answered mechanically and, pausing, looked again into his burning eyes; "but you frighten me--" she grasped a chair for support, recovered herself and went on rapidly--"you mustn't ask me to give him up--i won't give him up! poor and friendless, with a shadow over my life and everything against me, i have won him and he's mine! i have the right to his love--i didn't ask to be born. i must live my own life. i have as much right to happiness as you. why must i bear the sins of my father and mother? have i broken the law? haven't i a heart that can ache and break and cry for joy?" he allowed the first paroxysm of her emotion to spend itself before he replied, and then in quiet tones said: "you must give him up!" "i won't! i won't, i tell you!" she said through her set teeth as she suddenly swung her strong, young form before him. "i won't give him up! his love has made life worth living and i'm going to live it! i don't care what you say--he's mine--and you shall not take him from me!" norton was stunned by the fiery intensity with which her answer had been given. there was no mistaking the strength of her character. every vibrant note of her voice had rung with sincerity, purity, the justice of her cause, and the consciousness of power. he was dealing with no trembling schoolgirl's mind, filled with sentimental dreams. a woman, in the tragic strength of a great nature, stood before him. he felt this greatness instinctively and met it with reverence. it could only be met thus, and as he realized its strength, his heart took fresh courage. his own voice became tender, eager, persuasive: "but suppose, my dear, i show you that you will destroy the happiness and wreck the life of the man you love?" "impossible! he knows that i'm nameless and his love is all the deeper, truer and more manly because he realizes that i am defenseless." "but suppose i convince you?" "you can't!" "suppose," he said in a queer tone, "i tell you that the barrier between you is so real, so loathsome----" "loathsome?" she repeated with a start. "so loathsome," he went on evenly, "that when he knows the truth, whether he wishes it or not, he will instinctively turn from you with a shudder." "i won't believe it!" "suppose i prove to you that marriage would wreck both your life and his"--he gazed at her with trembling intensity--"would you give him up to save him?" she held his eye steadily: "yes--i'd die to save him!" a pitiful stillness followed. the man scarcely moved. his lips quivered and his eyes grew dim. he looked at her pathetically and motioned her to a seat. "and if i convince you," he went on tenderly, "you will submit yourself to my advice and leave america?" the blue eyes never flinched as she firmly replied: "yes. but i warn you that no such barrier can exist." "then i must prove to you that it does." he drew a deep breath and watched her. "you realize the fact that a man who marries a nameless girl bars himself from all careers of honor?" "the honor of fools, yes--of the noble and wise, no!" "you refuse to see that the shame which shadows a mother's life will smirch her children, and like a deadly gangrene at last eat the heart out of her husband's love?" "my faith in him is too big----" "you can conceive of no such barrier?" "no!" "in the first rush of love," he replied kindly, "you feel this. emotion obscures reason. but there are such barriers between men and women." "name one!" his brow clouded, his lips moved to speak and stopped. it was more difficult to frame in speech than he had thought. his jaw closed with firm decision at last and he began calmly: "i take an extreme case. suppose, for example, your father, a proud southern white man, of culture, refinement and high breeding, forgot for a moment that he was white and heard the call of the beast, and your mother were an octoroon--what then?" the girl flushed with anger: "such a barrier, yes! nothing could be more loathsome. but why ask me so disgusting a question? no such barrier could possibly exist between us!" norton's eyes were again burning into her soul as he asked in a low voice: "suppose it does?" the girl smiled with a puzzled look: "suppose it does? of course, you're only trying to prove that such an impossible barrier might exist! and for the sake of argument i agree that it would be real"--she paused and her breath came in a quick gasp. she sprang to her feet clutching at her throat, trembling from head to foot--"what do you mean by looking at me like that?" norton lowered his head and barely breathed the words: "that _is_ the barrier between you!" helen looked at him dazed. the meaning was too big and stupefying to be grasped at once. "why, of course, major," she faltered, "you just say that to crush me in the argument. but i've given up the point. i've granted that such a barrier may exist and would be real. but you haven't told me the one between us." the man steeled his heart, turned his face away and spoke in gentle tones: "i am telling you the pitiful, tragic truth--your mother is a negress----" with a smothered cry of horror the girl threw herself on him and covered his mouth with her hand, half gasping, half screaming her desperate appeal: "stop! don't--don't say it!--take it back! tell me that it's not true--tell me that you only said it to convince me and i'll believe you. if the hideous thing is true--for the love of god deny it now! if it's true--lie to me"--her voice broke and she clung to norton's arms with cruel grip--"lie to me! tell me that you didn't mean it, and i'll believe you--truth or lie, i'll never question it! i'll never cross your purpose again--i'll do anything you tell me, major"--she lifted her streaming eyes and began slowly to sink to her knees--"see how humble--how obedient i am! you don't hate me, do you? i'm just a poor, lonely girl, helpless and friendless now at your feet"--her head sank into her hands until the beautiful brown hair touched the floor--"have mercy! have mercy on me!" norton bent low and fumbled for the trembling hand. he couldn't see and for a moment words were impossible. he found her hand and pressed it gently: "i'm sorry, little girl! i'd lie to you if i could--but you know a lie don't last long in this world. i've lied about you before--i'd lie now to save you this anguish, but it's no use--we all have to face things in the end!" with a mad cry of pain, the girl sprang to her feet and staggered to the table: "oh, god, how could any man with a soul--any living creature, even a beast of the field--bring me into the world--teach me to think and feel, to laugh and cry, and thrust me into such a hell alone! my proud father--i could kill him!" norton extended his hands to her in a gesture of instinctive sympathy: "come, you'll see things in a calm light to-morrow, you are young and life is all before you!" "yes!" she cried fiercely, "a life of shame--a life of insult, of taunts, of humiliation, of horror! the one thing i've always loathed was the touch of a negro----" she stopped suddenly and lifted her hand, staring with wildly dilated eyes at the nails of her finely shaped fingers to find if the telltale marks of negro blood were there which she had seen on cleo's. finding none, the horror in her eyes slowly softened into a look of despairing tenderness as she went on: "the one passionate yearning of my soul has been to be a mother--to feel the breath of a babe on my heart, to hear it lisp my name and know a mother's love--the love i've starved for--and now, it can never be!" she had moved beyond the table in her last desperate cry and norton followed with a look of tenderness: "nonsense," he cried persuasively, "you're but a child yourself. you can go abroad where no such problem of white and black race exists. you can marry there and be happy in your home and little ones, if god shall give them!" she turned on him savagely: "well, god shall not give them! i'll see to that! i'm young, but i'm not a fool. i know something of the laws of life. i know that tom is not like you"--she turned and pointed to the portrait on the wall--"he is like his great-grandfather! mine may have been----" her voice choked with passion. she grasped a chair with one hand and tore at the collar of her dress with the other. she had started to say "mine may have been a black cannibal!" and the sheer horror of its possibility had strangled her. when she had sufficiently mastered her feelings to speak she said in a strange muffled tone: "i ask nothing of god now--if i could see him, i'd curse him to his face!" "come, come!" norton exclaimed, "this is but a passing ugly fancy--such things rarely happen----" "but they do happen!" she retorted slowly. "i've known one such tragedy, of a white mother's child coming into the world with the thick lips, kinky hair, flat nose and black skin of a cannibal ancestor! she killed herself when she was strong enough to leap out the window"--her voice dropped to a dreamy chant--"yes, blood will tell--there's but one thing for me to do! i wonder, with the yellow in me, if i'll have the courage." norton spoke with persuasive tenderness: "you mustn't think of such madness! i'll send you abroad at once and you can begin life over again----" helen suddenly snatched the chair to which she had been holding out of her way and faced norton with flaming eyes: "i don't want to be an exile! i've been alone all my miserable orphan life! i don't want to go abroad and die among strangers! i've just begun to live since i came here! i love the south--it's mine--i feel it--i know it! i love its blue skies and its fields--i love its people--they are mine! i think as you think, feel as you feel----" she paused and looked at him queerly: "i've learned to honor, respect and love you because i've grown to feel that you stand for what i hold highest, noblest and best in life"--the voice died in a sob and she was silent. the man turned away, crying in his soul: "o god, i'm paying the price now!" "what can i do!" she went on at last. "what is life worth since i know this leper's shame? there are millions like me, yes. if i could bend my back and be a slave there are men and women who need my services. and there are men i might know--yes--but i can't--i can't! i'm not a slave. i'm not bad. i can't stoop. there's but one thing!" norton's face was white with emotion: "i can't tell you, little girl, how sorry i am"--his voice broke. he turned, suddenly extended his hand and cried hoarsely: "tell me what i can do to help you--i'll do anything on this earth that's within reason!" the girl looked up surprised at his anguish, wondering vaguely if he could mean what he had said, and then threw herself at him in a burst of sudden, fierce rebellion, her voice, low and quivering at first, rising to the tragic power of a defiant soul in combat with overwhelming odds: "then give me back the man i love--he's mine! he's mine, i tell you, body and soul! god--gave--him--to--me! he's your son, but i love him! he's my mate! he's of age--he's no longer yours! his time has come to build his own home--he's mine--not yours! he's my life--and you're tearing the very heart out of my body!" the white, trembling figure slowly crumpled at his feet. he took both of her hands, and lifted her gently: "pull yourself together, child. it's hard, i know, but you begin to realize that you must bear it. you must look things calmly in the face now." the girl's mouth hardened and she answered with bitterness: "yes, of course--i'm nobody! we must consider you"--she staggered to a chair and dropped limply into it, her voice a whisper--"we must consider tom--yes--yes--we must, too--i know that----" norton pressed eagerly to her side and leaned over the drooping figure: "you can begin to see now that i was right," he pleaded. "you love tom--he's worth saving--you'll do as i ask and give him up?" the sensitive young face was convulsed with an agony words could not express and the silence was pitiful. the man bending over her could hear the throb of his own heart. a quartet of serenaders celebrating the victory of the election stopped at the gate and the soft strains of the music came through the open window. norton felt that he must scream in a moment if she did not answer. he bent low and softly repeated: "you'll do as i ask now, and give him up?" the tangled mass of brown hair sank lower and her answer was a sigh of despair: "yes!" the man couldn't speak at once. his eyes filled. when he had mastered his voice he said eagerly: "there's but one way, you know. you must leave at once without seeing him." she lifted her face with a pleading look: "just a moment--without letting him know what has passed between us--just one last look into his dear face?" he shook his head kindly: "it isn't wise----" "yes, i know," she sighed. "i'll go at once." he drew his watch and looked at it hurriedly: "the first train leaves in thirty minutes. get your hat, a coat and travelling bag and go just as you are. i'll send your things----" "yes--yes"--she murmured. "i'll join you in a few days in new york and arrange your future. leave the house immediately. tom mustn't see you. avoid him as you cross the lawn. i'll have a carriage at the gate in a few minutes." the little head sank again: "i understand." he looked uncertainly at the white drooping figure. the serenaders were repeating the chorus of the old song in low, sweet strains that floated over the lawn and stole through the house in weird ghost-like echoes. he returned to her chair and bent over her: "you won't stop to change your dress, you'll get your hat and coat and go just as you are--at once?" the brown head nodded slowly and he gazed at her tenderly: "you've been a brave little girl to-night"--he lifted his hand to place it on her shoulder in the first expression of love he had ever given. the hand paused, held by the struggle of the feelings of centuries of racial pride and the memories of his own bitter tragedy. but the pathos of her suffering and the heroism of her beautiful spirit won. the hand was gently lowered and pressed the soft, round shoulder. a sob broke from the lonely heart, and her head drooped until it lay prostrate on the table, the beautiful arms outstretched in helpless surrender. norton staggered blindly to the door, looked back, lifted his hand and in a quivering voice, said: "i can never forget this!" his long stride quickly measured the distance to the gate, and a loud cheer from the serenaders roused the girl from her stupor of pain. in a moment they began singing again, a love song, that tore her heart with cruel power. "oh, god, will they never stop?" she cried, closing her ears with her hands in sheer desperation. she rose, crossed slowly to the window and looked out on the beautiful moonlit lawn at the old rustic seat where her lover was waiting. she pressed her hand on her throbbing forehead, walked to the center of the room, looked about her in a helpless way and her eye rested on the miniature portrait of tom. she picked it up and gazed at it tenderly, pressed it to her heart, and with a low sob felt her way through the door and up the stairs to her room. chapter xxiii the parting tom had grown impatient, waiting in their sheltered seat on the lawn for helen to return. she had gone on a mysterious mission to see minerva, laughingly refused to tell him its purpose, but promised to return in a few minutes. when half an hour had passed without a sign he reconnoitered to find minerva, and to his surprise she, too, had disappeared. he returned to his trysting place and listened while the serenaders sang their first song. unable to endure the delay longer he started to the house just as his father hastily left by the front door, and quickly passing the men at the gate, hurried down town. the coast was clear and he moved cautiously to fathom, if possible, the mystery of helen's disappearance. finding no trace of her in minerva's room, he entered the house and, seeing nothing of her in the halls, thrust his head in the library and found it empty. he walked in, peeping around with a boyish smile expecting her to leap out and surprise him. he opened the french window and looked for her on the porch. he hurried back into the room with a look of surprised disappointment and started to the door opening on the hall of the stairway. he heard distinctly the rustle of a dress and the echo on the stairs of the footstep he knew so well. he gave a boyish laugh, tiptoed quickly to the old-fashioned settee, dropped behind its high back and waited her coming. helen had hastily packed a travelling bag and thrown a coat over her arm. she slowly entered the library to replace the portrait she had taken, kissed it and started with feet of lead and set, staring eyes to slip through the lawn and avoid tom as she had promised. as she approached the corner of the settee the boy leaped up with a laugh: "where have you been?" with a quick movement of surprise she threw the bag and coat behind her back. luckily he had leaped so close he could not see. "where've you been?" he repeated. "why, i've just come from my room," she replied with an attempt at composure. "what have you got your hat for?" she flushed the slightest bit: "why, i was going for a walk." "with a veil--at night--what have you got that veil for?" the boyish banter in his tones began to yield to a touch of wonder. helen hesitated: "why, the crowds of singing and shouting men on the streets. i didn't wish to be recognized, and i wanted to hear what the speakers said." "you were going to leave me and go alone to the speaker's stand?" "yes. your father is going to see you and i was nervous and frightened and wanted to pass the time until you were free again"--she paused, looked at him intently and spoke in a queer monotone--"the negroes who can't read and write have been disfranchised, haven't they?" "yes," he answered mechanically, "the ballot should never have been given them." "yet there's something pitiful about it after all, isn't there, tom?" she asked the question with a strained wistfulness that startled the boy. he answered automatically, but his keen, young eyes were studying with growing anxiety every movement of her face and form and every tone of her voice: "i don't see it," he said carelessly. she laid her left hand on his arm, the right hand still holding her bag and coat out of sight. "suppose," she whispered, "that you should wake up to-morrow morning and suddenly discover that a strain of negro blood poisoned your veins--what would you do?" tom frowned and watched her with a puzzled look: "never thought of such a thing!" she pressed his arm eagerly: "think--what would you do?" "what would i do?" he repeated in blank amazement. "yes." his eyes were holding hers now with a steady stare of alarm. the questions she asked didn't interest him. her glittering eyes and trembling hand did. studying her intently he said lightly: "to be perfectly honest, i'd blow my brains out." with a cry she staggered back and threw her hand instinctively up as if to ward a blow: "yes--yes, you would--wouldn't you?" he was staring at her now with blanched face and she was vainly trying to hide her bag and coat. he seized her arms: "why are you so excited? why do you tremble so?"--he drew the arm around that she was holding back--"what is it? what's the matter?" his eye rested on the bag, he turned deadly pale and she dropped it with a sigh. "what--what--does this mean?" he gasped. "you are trying to leave me without a word?" she staggered and fell limp into a seat: "oh, tom, the end has come, and i must go!" "go!" he cried indignantly, "then i go, too!" "but you can't, dear!" "and why not?" "your father has just told me the whole hideous secret of my birth--and it's hopeless!" "what sort of man do you think i am? what sort of love do you think i've given you? separate us after the solemn vows we've given to each other! neither man nor the devil can come between us now!" she looked at him wistfully: "it's sweet to hear such words--though i know you can't make them good." "i'll make them good," he broke in, "with every drop of blood in my veins--and no coward has ever borne my father's name--it's good blood!" "that's just it--and blood will tell. it's the law of life and i've given up." "well, i haven't given up," he protested, "remember that! try me with your secret--i laugh before i hear it!" with a gleam of hope in her deep blue eyes she rose trembling: "you really mean that? if i go an outcast you would go with me?" "yes--yes." "and if a curse is branded on my forehead you'll take its shame as yours?" "yes." she laid her hand on his arm, looked long and yearningly into his eyes, and said: "your father has just told me that i am a negress--my mother is an octoroon!" the boy flinched involuntarily, stared in silence an instant, and his form suddenly stiffened: "i don't believe a word of it! my father has been deceived. it's preposterous!" helen drew closer as if for shelter and clung to his hand wistfully: "it does seem a horrible joke, doesn't it? i can't realize it. but it's true. the major gave me his solemn word in tears of sympathy. he knew both my father and mother. i am a negress!" the boy's arm unconsciously shrank the slightest bit from her touch while he stared at her with wildly dilated eyes and spoke in a hoarse whisper: "it's impossible! it's impossible--i tell you!" he attempted to lift his hand to place it on his throbbing forehead. helen clung to him in frantic grief and terror: "please, please--don't shrink from me! have pity on me! if you feel that way, for god's sake don't let me see it--don't let me know it--i--i--can't endure it! i can't----" the tense figure collapsed in his arms and the brown head sank on his breast with a sob of despair. the boy pressed her to his heart and held her close. he felt her body shiver as he pushed the tangled ringlets back from her high, fair forehead and felt the cold beads of perspiration. the serenaders at the gate were singing again--a negro folk-song. the absurd childish words which he knew so well rang through the house, a chanting mockery. "there, there," he whispered tenderly, "i didn't shrink from you, dear. i couldn't shrink from you--you only imagined it. i was just stunned for a moment. the blow blinded me. but it's all right now, i see things clearly. i love you--that's all--and love is from god, or it's not love, it's a sham----" a low sob and she clung to him with desperate tenderness. he bent his head close until the blonde hair mingled with the rich brown: "hush, my own! if a single nerve of my body shrank from your little hand, find it and i'll tear it out!" she withdrew herself slowly from his embrace, and brushed the tears from her eyes with a little movement of quiet resignation: "it's all right. i'm calm again and it's all over. i won't mind now if you shrink a little. i'm really glad that you did. it needed just that to convince me that your father was right. our love would end in the ruin of your life. i see it clearly now. it would become to you at last a conscious degradation. _that_ i couldn't endure." "i have your solemn vow," he interrupted impatiently, "you're mine! i'll not give you up!" she looked at him sadly: "but i'm going, dear, in a few minutes. you can't hold me--now that i know it's for the best." "you can't mean this?" she clung to his hand and pressed it with cruel force: "don't think it isn't hard. all my life i've been a wistful beggar, eager and hungry for love. in your arms i had forgotten the long days of misery. i've been happy--perfectly, divinely happy! it will be hard, the darkness and the loneliness again. but i can't drag you down, my sweetheart, my hero! your life must be big and brilliant. i've dreamed it thus. you shall be a man among men, the world's great men--and so i am going out of your life!" "you shall not!" the boy cried fiercely. "i tell you i don't believe this hideous thing--it's a lie, i tell you--it's a lie, and i don't care who says it! nothing shall separate us now. i'll go with you to the ends of the earth and if you sink into hell, i'll follow you there, lift you in my arms and fight my way back through its flames!" she smiled at him tenderly: "it's beautiful to hear you say that, dearest, but our dream has ended!" she stooped, took up the bag and coat, paused and looked into his face with the hunger and longing of a life burning in her eyes: "but i shall keep the memory of every sweet and foolish word you have spoken, every tone of your voice, every line of your face, every smile and trick of your lips and eyes! i know them all. the old darkness will not be the same. i have loved and i have lived. a divine fire has been kindled in my soul. i can go into no world so far i shall not feel the warmth of your love, your kisses on my lips, your strong arms pressing me to your heart--the one true, manly heart that has loved me. i shall see your face forever though i see it through a mist of tears--good-by!" the last word was the merest whisper. the boy sprang toward her: "i won't say it--i won't--i won't!" "but you must!" he opened his arms and called in tones of compelling anguish: "helen!" the girl's lips trembled, her eyes grew dim, her fingers were locked in a cruel grip trying to hold the bag which slipped to the floor. and then with a cry she threw herself madly into his arms: "oh, i can't give you up, dearest! i can't--i've tried--but i can't!" he held her clasped without a word, stroking her hair, kissing it tenderly and murmuring little inarticulate cries of love. norton suddenly appeared in the door, his face blanched with horror. with a rush of his tall figure he was by their side and hurled them apart: "my god! do you know what you're doing?" he turned on tom, his face white with pain: "i forbid you to ever see or speak to this girl again!" tom sprang back and confronted his father: "forbid!" helen lifted her head: "he's right, tom." "yes," the father said with bated breath, "in the name of the law--by all that's pure and holy, by the memory of the mother who bore you and the angels who guard the sanctity of every home, i forbid you!" the boy squared himself and drew his figure to its full height: "you're my father! but i want you to remember that i'm of age. i'm twenty-two years old and i'm a man! forbid? how dare you use such words to me in the presence of the woman i love?" norton's voice dropped to pitiful tenderness: "you--you--don't understand, my boy. helen knows that--i'm right. we have talked it over. she has agreed to go at once. the carriage will be at the door in a moment. she can never see you again"--he paused and lifted his hand solemnly above tom's head--"and in the name of almighty god i warn you not to attempt to follow her----" he turned quickly, picked up the fallen bag and coat and added: "i'll explain all to you at last if i must." "well, i won't hear it!" tom cried in rage. "i'm a free agent! i won't take such orders from you or any other man!" the sound of the carriage wheels were heard on the graveled drive at the door. norton turned to helen and took her arm: "come, helen, the carriage is waiting." with a sudden leap tom was by his side, tore the bag and coat from his hand, hurled them to the floor and turned on his father with blazing eyes: "now, look here, dad, this thing's going too far! you can't bulldoze me. there's one right no american man ever yields without the loss of his self-respect--the right to choose the woman he loves. when helen leaves this house, i go with her! i'm running this thing now--your carriage needn't wait." with sudden decision he rushed to the porch and and called: "driver!" "yassah." "go back to your stable--you're not wanted." "yassah." "i'll send for you if i want you--wait a minute till i tell you." norton's head drooped and he blindly grasped a chair. helen watched him with growing pity, drew near and said softly: "i'm sorry, major, to have brought you this pain----" "you promised to go without seeing him!" he exclaimed bitterly. "i tried. i only gave up for a moment. i fought bravely. remember now in all you say to tom that i am going--that i know i must go----" "yes, i understand, child," he replied brokenly, "and my heart goes out to you. mine is heavy to-night with a burden greater than i can bear. you're a brave little girl. the fault isn't yours--it's mine. i've got to face it now"--he paused and looked at her tenderly. "you say that you've been lonely--well, remember that in all your orphan life you never saw an hour as lonely as the one my soul is passing through now! the loneliest road across this earth is the way of sin." helen watched him in amazement: "the way of sin--why----" tom's brusque entrance interrupted her. with quick, firm decision he took her arm and led her to the door opening on the hall: "wait for me in your room, dear," he said quietly. "i have something to say to my father." she looked at him timidly: "you won't forget that he is your father, and loves you better than his own life?" "i'll not forget." she started with sudden alarm and whispered: "you haven't got the pistol that you brought home to-day from the campaign, have you?" "surely, dear----" "give it to me!" she demanded. "no." "why?" she asked pleadingly. "i've too much self-respect." she looked into his clear eyes: "forgive me, dear, but i was so frightened just now. you were so violent. i never saw you like that before. i was afraid something might happen in a moment of blind passion, and i could never lift my head again----" "i'll not forget," he broke in, "if my father does. run now, dear, i'll join you in a few minutes." a pressure of the hand, a look of love, and she was gone. the boy closed the door, quickly turned and faced his father. chapter xxv father and son norton had ignored the scene between helen and tom and his stunned mind was making a desperate fight to prepare for the struggle that was inevitable. the thing that gave him fresh courage was the promise the girl had repeated that she would go. somehow he had grown to trust her implicitly. he hadn't time as yet to realize the pity and pathos of such a trust in such an hour. he simply believed that she would keep her word. he had to win his fight now with the boy without the surrender of his secret. could he do it? it was doubtful, but he was going to try. his back was to the wall. tom took another step into the room and the father turned, drew his tall figure erect in an instinctive movement of sorrowful dignity and reserve and walked to the table. all traces of anger had passed from the boy's handsome young face and a look of regret had taken its place. he began speaking very quietly and reverently: "now, dad, we must face this thing. it's a tragedy for you perhaps----" the father interrupted: "how big a tragedy, my son, i hope that you may never know----" "anyhow," tom went on frankly, "i am ashamed of the way i acted. but you're a manly man and you can understand." "yes." "i know that all you've done is because you love me----" "how deeply, you can never know." "i'm sorry if i forgot for a moment the respect i owe you, the reverence and love i hold for you--i've always been proud of you, dad--of your stainless name, of the birthright you have given me--you know this----" "yet it's good to hear you say it!" "and now that i've said this, you'd as well know first as last that any argument about helen is idle between us. i'm not going to give up the woman i love!" "ah, my boy----" tom lifted his hand emphatically: "it's no use! you needn't tell me that her blood is tainted--i don't believe it!" the father came closer: "you _do_ believe it! in the first mad riot of passion you're only trying to fool yourself." "it's unthinkable, i tell you! and i've made my decision"--he paused a moment and then demanded: "how do you know her blood is tainted?" the father answered firmly: "i have the word both of her mother and father." "well, i won't take their word. some natures are their own defense. on them no stain can rest, and i stake my life on helen's!" "my boy----" "oh, i know what you're going to say--as a theory it's quite correct. but it's one thing to accept a theory, another to meet the thing in your own heart before god alone with your life in your hands." "what do you mean by that?" the father asked savagely. "that for the past hour i've been doing some thinking on my own account." "that's just what you haven't been doing. you haven't thought at all. if you had, you'd know that you can't marry this girl. come, come, my boy, remember that you have reason and because you have this power that's bigger than all passion, all desire, all impulse, you're a man, not a brute----" "all right," the boy broke in excitedly, "submit it to reason! i'll stand the test--it's more than you can do. i love this girl--she's my mate. she loves me and i am hers. haven't i taken my stand squarely on nature and her highest law?" "no!" "what's higher? social fictions--prejudices?" the father lifted his head: "prejudices! you know as well as i that the white man's instinct of racial purity is not prejudice, but god's first law of life--the instinct of self-preservation! the lion does not mate with the jackal!" the boy flushed angrily: "the girl i love is as fair as you or i." "even so," was the quick reply, "we inherit ninety per cent. of character from our dead ancestors! born of a single black progenitor, she is still a negress. change every black skin in america to-morrow to the white of a lily and we'd yet have ten million negroes--ten million negroes whose blood relatives are living in africa the life of a savage." "granted that what you say it true--and i refuse to believe it--i still have the right to live my own life in my own way." "no man has the right to live life in his own way if by that way he imperil millions." "and whom would i imperil?" "the future american. no white man ever lived who desired to be a negro. every negro longs to be a white man. no black man has ever added an iota to the knowledge of the world of any value to humanity. in helen's body flows sixteen million tiny drops of blood--one million black--poisoned by the inheritance of thousands of years of savage cruelty, ignorance, slavery and superstition. the life of generations are bound up in you. in you are wrapt the onward years. man's place in nature is no longer a myth. you are bound by the laws of heredity--laws that demand a nobler not a baser race of men! shall we improve the breed of horses and degrade our men? you have no right to damn a child with such a legacy!" "but i tell you i'm not trying to--i refuse to see in her this stain!" the father strode angrily to the other side of the room in an effort to control his feelings: "because you refuse to think, my boy!" he cried in agony. "i tell you, you can't defy these laws! they are eternal--never new, never old--true a thousand years ago, to-day, to-morrow and on a million years, when this earth is thrown, a burnt cinder, into god's dust heap. i can't tell you what i feel--it strangles me!" "no, and i can't understand it. i feel one thing, the touch of the hand of the woman i love; hear one thing, the music of her voice----" "and in that voice, my boy, i hear the crooning of a savage mother! but yesterday our negroes were brought here from the west soudan, black, chattering savages, nearer the anthropoid ape than any other living creature. and you would dare give to a child such a mother? who is this dusky figure of the forest with whom you would cross your blood? in old andy there you see him to-day, a creature half child, half animal. for thousands of years beyond the seas he stole his food, worked his wife, sold his child, and ate his brother--great god, could any tragedy be more hideous than our degradation at last to his racial level!" "it can't happen! it's a myth!" "it's the most dangerous thing that threatens the future!" the father cried with desperate earnestness. "a pint of ink can make black gallons of water. the barriers once down, ten million negroes can poison the source of life and character for a hundred million whites. this nation is great for one reason only--because of the breed of men who created the republic! oh, my boy, when you look on these walls at your fathers, don't you see this, don't you feel this, don't you know this?" tom shook his head: "to-night i feel and know one thing. i love her! we don't choose whom we love----" "ah, but if we are more than animals, if we reason, we do choose whom we marry! marriage is not merely a question of personal whim, impulse or passion. it's the one divine law on which human society rests. there are always men who hear the call of the beast and fall below their ideals, who trail the divine standards of life in the dust as they slink under the cover of night----" "at least, i'm not trying to do that!" "no, worse! you would trample them under your feet at noon in defiance of the laws of man and god! you're insane for the moment. you're mad with passion. you're not really listening to me at all--i feel it!" "perhaps i'm not----" "yet you don't question the truth of what i've said. you can't question it. you just stand here blind and maddened by desire, while i beg and plead, saying in your heart: 'i want this woman and i'm going to have her.' you've never faced the question that she's a negress--you can't face it, and yet i tell you that i know it's true!" the boy turned on his father and studied him angrily for a moment, his blue eyes burning into his, his face flushed and his lips curled with the slightest touch of incredulity: "and do you really believe all you've been saying to me?" "as i believe in god!" with a quick, angry gesture he faced his father: "well, you've had a mighty poor way of showing it! if you really believed all you've been saying to me, you wouldn't stop to eat or sleep until every negro is removed from physical contact with the white race. and yet on the day that i was born you placed me in the arms of a negress! the first human face on which i looked was hers. i grew at her breast. you let her love me and teach me to love her. you keep only negro servants. i grow up with them, fall into their lazy ways, laugh at their antics and see life through their eyes, and now that my life touches theirs at a thousand points of contact, you tell me that we must live together and yet a gulf separates us! why haven't you realized this before? if what you say about helen is true, in god's name--i ask it out of a heart quivering with anguish--why haven't you realized it before? i demand an answer! i have the right to know!" norton's head was lowered while the boy poured out his passionate protest and he lifted it at the end with a look of despair: "you have the right to know, my boy. but the south has not a valid answer to your cry. the negro is not here by my act or will, and their continued presence is a constant threat against our civilization. equality is the law of life and we dare not grant it to the negro unless we are willing to descend to his racial level. we cannot lift him to ours. this truth forced me into a new life purpose twenty years ago. the campaign i have just fought and won is the first step in a larger movement to find an answer to your question in the complete separation of the races--and nothing is surer than that the south will maintain the purity of her home! it's as fixed as her faith in god!" the boy was quiet a moment and looked at the tall figure with a queer expression: "has she maintained it?" "yes." "is her home life clean?" "yes." "and these millions of children born in the shadows--these mulattoes?" the older man's lips trembled and his brow clouded: "the lawless have always defied the law, my son, north, south, east and west, but they have never defended their crimes. dare to do this thing that's in your heart and you make of crime a virtue and ask god's blessing on it. the difference between the two things is as deep and wide as the gulf between heaven and hell." "my marriage to helen will be the purest and most solemn act of my life----" "silence, sir!" the father thundered in a burst of uncontrollable passion, as he turned suddenly on him, his face blanched and his whole body trembling. "i tell you once for all that your marriage to this girl is a physical and moral impossibility! and i refuse to argue with you a question that's beyond all argument!" the two men glared at each other in a duel of wills in which steel cut steel without a tremor of yielding. and then with a sudden flash of anger, tom turned on his heel crying: "all right, then!" with swift, determined step he moved toward the door. the father grasped the corner of the table for support: "tom!" his hands were extended in pitiful appeal when the boy stopped as if in deep study, turned, looked at him, and walked deliberately back: "i'm going to ask you some personal questions!" in spite of his attempt at self-control, norton's face paled. he drew himself up with an attempt at dignified adjustment to the new situation, but his hands were trembling as he nervously repeated: "personal questions?" "yes. there's something very queer about your position. your creed forbids you to receive a negro as a social equal?" "yes." the boy suddenly lifted his head: "why did you bring helen into this house?" "i didn't bring her." "you didn't invite her?" "no." "she says that you did." "she thought so." "she got an invitation?" "yes." "signed with your name?" "yes, yes." "who dared to write such a letter without your knowledge?" "i can't tell you that." "i demand it!" norton struggled between anger and fear and finally answered in measured tones: "it was forged by an enemy who wished to embarrass me in this campaign." "you know who wrote it?" "i suspect." "you don't _know_?" "i said, i suspect," was the angry retort. "and you didn't kill him?" "in this campaign my hands were tied." the boy, watching furtively his father's increasing nervousness and anger, continued his questions in a slower, cooler tone: "when you returned and found her here, you could have put her out?" "yes," norton answered tremblingly, "and i ought to have done it!" "but you didn't?" "no." "why?" the father fumbled his watch chain, moved uneasily and finally said with firmness: "i am helen's guardian!" the boy lifted his brows: "you are supposed to be his attorney only. why did you, of all men on earth, accept such a position?" "i felt that i had to." "and the possibility of my meeting this girl never occurred to you? you, who have dinned into my ears from childhood that i should keep myself clean from the touch of such pollution--why did you take the risk?" "a sense of duty to one to whom i felt bound." "duty?" "yes." "it must have been deep--what duty?" norton lifted his hand in a movement of wounded pride: "my boy!" "come, come, dad, don't shuffle; this thing's a matter of life and death with me and you must be fair----" "i'm trying----" "i want to know why you are helen's guardian, exactly why. we must face each other to-day with souls bare--why are you her guardian?" "i--i--can't tell you." "you've got to tell me!" "you must trust me in this, my son!" "i won't do it!" the boy cried, trembling with passion that brought the tears blinding to his eyes. "we're not father and son now. we face each other man to man with two lives at stake--hers and mine! you can't ask me to trust you! i won't do it--i've got to know!" the father turned away: "i can't betray this secret even to you, my boy." "does any one else share it?" "why do you use that queer tone? what do you mean?" the father's last question was barely breathed. "nothing," the boy answered with a toss of his head. "does any one in this house suspect it?" "possibly." again tom paused, watching keenly: "on the day you returned and found helen here, you quarrelled with cleo?" norton wheeled with sudden violence: "we won't discuss this question further, sir!" "yes, we will," was the steady answer through set teeth. "haven't you been afraid of cleo?" the father's eyes were looking into his now with a steady stare: "i refuse to be cross-examined, sir!" tom ignored his answer: "hasn't cleo been blackmailing you?" "no--no." the boy held his father's gaze until it wavered, and then in cold tones said: "you are not telling me the truth!" norton flinched as if struck: "do you know what you are saying. have you lost your senses?" tom held his ground with dogged coolness: "_have_ you told me the truth?" "yes." "it's a lie!" the words were scarcely spoken when norton's clenched fist struck him a blow full in the face. a wild cry of surprise, inarticulate in fury, came from the boy's lips as he staggered against the table. he glared at his father, drew back a step, his lips twitching, his breath coming in gasps, and suddenly felt for the revolver in his pocket. with a start of horror the father cried: "my boy!" the hand dropped limp, he leaned against the table for support and sobbed: "o god! let me die!" norton rushed to his side, his voice choking with grief: "tom, listen!" "i won't listen!" he hissed. "i never want to hear the sound of your voice again!" "don't say that--you don't mean it!" the father pleaded. "i do mean it!" norton touched his arm tenderly: "you can't mean it, tom. you're all i've got in the world. you mustn't say that. forgive me--i was mad. i didn't know what i was doing. i didn't mean to strike you. i forgot for a moment that you're a man, proud and sensitive as i am----" the boy tore himself free from his touch and crossed the room with quick, angry stride and turned: "well, you'd better not forget it again"--he paused and drew himself erect. "you're my father, but i tell you to your face that i hate and loathe you----" the silver-gray head drooped: "that i should have lived to hear it!" "and i want you to understand one thing," tom went on fiercely, "if an angel from heaven told me that helen's blood was tainted, i'd demand proofs! you have shown none, and i'm not going to give up the woman i love!" norton supported himself by the table and felt his way along its edges as if blinded. his eyes were set with a half-mad stare as he gripped tom's shoulders: "i love you, my boy, with a love beyond your ken, a love that can be fierce and cruel when god calls, and sooner than see you marry this girl, i'll kill you with my own hands if i must!" the answer came slowly: "and you can't guess what's happened?" "guess--what's--happened!" the father repeated in a whisper. "what do you mean?" "that i'm married already!" with hands uplifted, his features convulsed, the father fell back, his voice a low piteous shriek: "merciful god!--no!" "married an hour before you dragged me away in that campaign!" he shouted in triumph. "i knew you'd never consent and so i took matters into my own hands!" with a leap norton grasped the boy again and shook him madly: "married already? it's not true, i tell you! it's not true. you're lying to me--lying to gain time--it's not true!" "you wish me to swear it?" "silence, sir!" the father cried in solemn tones. "you are my son--this is my house--i order you to be silent!" "before god, i swear it's true! helen is my lawful----" "don't say it! it's false--you lie, i tell you!" again the father shook him with cruel violence, his eyes staring with the glitter of a maniac. tom seized the trembling hands and threw them from his shoulders with a quick movement of anger: "if that's all you've got to say, sir, excuse me, i'll go to my wife!" he wheeled, slammed the door and was gone. the father stared a moment, stunned, looked around blankly, placed his hands over his ears and held them, crying: "god have mercy!" he rushed to a window and threw it open. the band was playing "for he's a jolly good fellow!" the mocking strains rolled over his prostrate soul. he leaned heavily against the casement and groaned: "my god!" he slammed the sash, staggered back into the room, lifted his eyes in a leaden stare at the portrait over the mantel, and then rushed toward it with uplifted arms and streaming eyes: "it's not true, dearest! don't believe it--it's not true, i tell you! it's not true!" the voice sank into inarticulate sobs, he reeled and fell, a limp, black heap on the floor. chapter xxv the one chance the dim light began to creep into the darkened brain at last. norton's eyes opened wider and the long arms felt their way on the floor until they touched a rug and then a chair. he tried to think what had happened and why he was lying there. it seemed a dream, half feverish, half restful. his head was aching and he was very tired. "what's the matter?" he murmured, unable to lift his head. he was whirling through space again and the room faded. once before in his life had he been knocked insensible. from the trenches before petersburg in the last days of the war he had led his little band of less than five hundred ragged, half-starved, tatterdemalions in a mad charge against the line in front. a bomb from a battery on a hilltop exploded directly before them. he had been thrown into the air and landed on a heap of dead bodies, bruised and stunned into insensibility. he had waked feeling the dead limbs and wondering if they were his own. he rubbed his hands now, first over his head, and then over each limb, to find if all were there. he felt his body to see if a bomb had torn part of it away. and then the light of memory suddenly flashed into the darkened mind and he drew himself to his knees and fumbled his way to a chair. "married? married already!" he gasped. "o, god, it can't be true! and he said, 'married an hour before you dragged me away in that campaign'"--it was too hideous! he laughed in sheer desperation and again his brain refused to work. he pressed his hands to his forehead and looked about the room, rose, staggered to the bell and rang for andy. when his black face appeared, he lifted his bloodshot eyes and said feebly: "whiskey----" the negro bowed: "yassah!" he pulled himself together and tried to walk. he could only reel from one piece of furniture to the next. his head was on fire. he leaned again against the mantel for support and dropped his head on his arm in utter weariness: "i must think! i must think!" slowly the power to reason returned. "what can i do? what can i do?" he kept repeating mechanically, until the only chance of escape crept slowly into his mind. he grasped it with feverish hope. if tom had married but an hour before leaving on that campaign, he hadn't returned until to-day. but had he? it was, of course, a physical possibility. from the nearby counties, he could have ridden a swift horse through the night, reached home and returned the next day without his knowing it. it was possible, but not probable. he wouldn't believe it until he had to. if he had married in haste the morning he had left town and had only rejoined helen to-night, it was no marriage. it was a ceremony that had no meaning. in law it was void and could be annulled immediately. but if he were really married in all that word means--his mind stopped short and refused to go on. he would cross that bridge when he came to it. but he must find out at once and he must know before he saw tom again. his brain responded with its old vigor under the pressure of the new crisis. one by one his powers returned and his mind was deep in its tragic problem when andy entered the room with a tray on which stood a decanter of whiskey, a glass of water and two small empty glasses. the negro extended the tray. norton was staring into space and paid no attention. andy took one of the empty glasses and clicked it against the other. there was still no sign of recognition until he pushed the tray against norton's arm and cleared his throat: "ahem! ahem!" the dazed man turned slowly and looked at the tray and then at the grinning negro: "what's this?" andy's face kindled with enthusiasm: "dat is moonshine, sah--de purest mountain dew--yassah!" "whiskey?" "yassah," was the astonished reply, "de whiskey you jis ring fer, sah!" "take it back!" andy could not believe his ears. the major was certainly in a queer mood. was he losing his mind? there was nothing to do but obey. he bowed and turned away: "yassah." norton watched him with a dazed look and cried suddenly: "where are you going?" "back!" "stop!" andy stopped with a sudden jerk: "yassah!" "put that tray down on the table!" the negro obeyed but watched his master out of the corners of his eye: "yassah!" again norton forgot andy's existence, his eyes fixed in space, his mind in a whirl of speculation in which he felt his soul and body sinking deeper. the negro was watching him with increasing suspicion and fear as he turned his head in the direction of the table. "what are you standing there for?" he asked sharply. "you say stop, sah." "well, get away--get out!" norton cried with sudden anger. andy backed rapidly: "yassah!" as he reached the doorway norton's command rang so sharply that the negro spun around on one foot: "wait!" "y--yas--sah!" the master took a step toward the trembling figure with an imperious gesture: "come here!" andy approached gingerly, glancing from side to side for the best way of retreat in case of emergency: "what's the matter with you?" norton demanded. andy laughed feebly: "i--i--i dunno, sah; i wuz des wonderin' what's de matter wid you, sah!" "tell me!" the negro's teeth were chattering as he glanced up: "yassah! i tell all i know, sah!" norton fixed him with a stern look: "has tom been back here during the past four weeks?" "nasah!" was the surprised answer, "he bin wid you, sah!" the voice softened to persuasive tones: "he hasn't slipped back here even for an hour since i've been gone?" "i nebber seed him!" "i didn't ask you," norton said threateningly, "whether you'd 'seed' him"--he paused and dropped each word with deliberate emphasis--"i asked you if you knew whether he'd been here?" andy mopped his brow and glanced at his inquisitor with terror: "nasah, i don't know nuttin', sah!" "haven't you lied to me?" "yassah! yassah," the negro replied in friendly conciliation. "i has pér-var-i-cated sometimes--but i sho is tellin' you de truf dis time, sah!" the master glared at him a moment and suddenly sprang at his throat, both hands clasping his neck with a strangling grip. andy dropped spluttering to his knees. "you're lying to me!" norton growled. "out with the truth now"--his grip tightened--"out with it, or i'll choke it out of you!" andy grasped the tightening fingers and drew them down: "fer gawd's sake, major, doan' do dat!" "has tom been back here during the past weeks to see miss helen?" andy struggled with the desperate fingers: "doan' do dat, major--doan' do dat! i ain't holdin' nuttin' back--i let it all out, sah!" the grip slackened: "then out with the whole truth!" "yassah. des tell me what ye wants me ter say, sah, an' i sho say hit!" "bah! you miserable liar!" norton cried in disgust, hurling him to the floor, and striding angrily from the room. "you're all in this thing, all of you! you're all in it--all in it!" andy scrambled to his feet and rushed to the window in time to see him hurry down the steps and disappear in the shadows of the lawn. he stood watching with open mouth and staring eyes: "well, 'fore de lawd, ef he ain't done gone plum crazy!" chapter xxvi between two fires so intent was andy's watch on the lawn, so rapt his wonder and terror at the sudden assault, he failed to hear cleo's step as she entered the room, walked to his side and laid her hand on his shoulder: "andy----" with a loud groan he dropped to his knees: "de lawd save me!" cleo drew back with amazement at the prostrate figure: "what on earth's the matter?" "oh--oh, lawd," he shivered, scrambling to his feet and mopping his brow. "lordy, i thought de major got me dat time sho!" "you thought the major had you?" cleo cried incredulously. andy ran back to the window and looked out again: "yassam--yassam! de major try ter kill me--he's er regular maniacker--gone wild----" "what about?" the black hands went to his throat: "bout my windpipes, 'pears like!" "what did he do?" "got me in de _gills_!" "why?" "dunno," was the whispered answer as he peered out the window. "he asked me if mr. tom been back here in de past fo' weeks----" "asked if tom had been back here?" "yassam!" "what a fool question, when he's had the boy with him every day! he must have gone crazy." "yassam!" andy agreed with unction as he turned back into the room and threw both hands high above his head in wild gestures. "he say we wuz all in it! dat what he say--we wuz all in it! _all_ in it!" "in what?" "gawd knows!" he cried, as his hands again went to his neck to feel if anything were broken, "gawd knows, but he sho wuz gittin' inside er me!" cleo spoke with stern appeal: "well, you're a man; you'll know how to defend yourself next time, won't you?" "yassam!--yas, m'am!" andy answered boldly. "oh, i fit 'im! don't you think i didn't fight him! i fit des lak er wild-cat--yassam!" the woman's eyes narrowed and her voice purred: "you're going to stand by me now?" "dat i is!" was the brave response. "you'll do anything for me?" "yassam!" "defend me with your life if the major attacks me to-night?" "dat i will!" cleo leaned close: "you'll die for me?" "yassam! yassam--i'll _die_ fer you--i'll die fer ye; of cose i'll _die_ for ye! b-b-but fer gawd's sake what ye want wid er dead nigger?" andy leaped back in terror as norton's tall figure suddenly appeared in the door, his rumpled iron-gray hair gleaming in the shadows, his eyes flashing with an unnatural light. he quickly crossed the room and lifted his index finger toward cleo: "just a word with you----" the woman's hands met nervously, and she glanced at andy: "very well, but i want a witness. andy can stay." norton merely glanced at the negro: "get out!" "yassah!" "stay where you are!" cleo commanded. "y--yassam"--andy stammered, halting. "get out!" norton growled. andy jumped into the doorway at a single bound: "done out, sah!" the major lifted his hand and the negro stopped: "tell minerva i want to see her." andy hastened toward the hall, the whites of his eyes shining: "yassah, but she ain't in de kitchen, sah!" "find her and bring her here!" norton thundered. his words rang like the sudden peal of a gun at close quarters: andy jumped: "yassah, yassah, i fetch her! i fetch her!" as he flew through the door he repeated humbly: "i fetch her, right away, sah--right away, sah!" cleo watched his cowardly desertion with lips curled in scorn. chapter xxvii a surprise for a while norton stood with folded arms gazing at cleo, his eyes smouldering fires of wonder and loathing. the woman was trembling beneath his fierce scrutiny, but he evidently had not noted the fact. his mind was busy with a bigger problem of character and the possible depths to which a human being might fall and still retain the human form. he was wondering how a man of his birth and breeding, the heir to centuries of culture and refinement, of high thinking and noble aspirations, could ever have sunk to the level of this yellow animal--this bundle of rags and coarse flesh! it was incredible! his loathing for her was surpassed by one thing only--his hatred of himself. he was free in this moment as never before. in the fearlessness of death soul and body stood erect and gazed calmly out on time and eternity. there was one thing about the woman he couldn't understand. that she was without moral scruple--that she was absolutely unmoral in her fundamental being--he could easily believe. in fact, he could believe nothing else. that she would not hesitate to defy every law of god or man to gain her end, he never doubted for a moment. but that a creature of her cunning and trained intelligence could deliberately destroy herself by such an act of mad revenge was unreasonable. he began dimly to suspect that her plans had gone awry. how completely she had been crushed by her own trap he could not yet guess. she was struggling frantically now to regain her composure but his sullen silence and his piercing eyes were telling on her nerves. she was on the verge of screaming in his face when he said in low, intense tones: "you did get even with me--didn't you?" "yes!" "i didn't think _you_ quite capable of this!" his words were easier to bear than silence. she felt an instant relief and pulled herself together with a touch of bravado: "and now that you see i am, what are you going to do about it?" "that's my secret," was the quiet reply. "there's just one thing that puzzles me!" "indeed!" "how you could willfully and deliberately do this beastly thing?" "for one reason only, i threw them together and brought about their love affair----" "revenge--yes," norton interrupted, "but the boy--you don't hate him--you can't. you've always loved him as if he were your own----" "well, what of it?" "i'm wondering----" "what?" his voice was low, vibrant but quiet: "why, if your mother instincts have always been so powerful and you've loved my boy with such devotion"--the tones quickened to sudden menace--"why you were so willing to give up your own child that day twenty years ago?" he held her gaze until her own fell: "i--i--don't understand you," she said falteringly. he seized her with violence and drew her squarely before him: "look at me!" he cried fiercely. "look me in the face!" he paused until she slowly lifted her eyes to his and finally glared at him with hate. "i want to see your soul now if you've got one. there's just one chance and i'm clutching at that as a drowning man a straw." "well?" she asked defiantly. norton's words were hurled at her, each one a solid shot: "would you have given up that child without a struggle--if she had really been your own?" "why--what--do you--mean?" cleo asked, her eyes shifting. "you know what i mean. if helen is really your child, why did you give her up so easily that day?" "why?" she repeated blankly. "answer my question!" with an effort she recovered her composure: "you know why! i was mad. i was a miserable fool. i did it because you asked it. i did it to please you, and i've cursed myself for it ever since." norton's grip slowly relaxed, and he turned thoughtfully away. the woman's hand went instinctively to the bruises he had left on her arms as she stepped back nearer the door and watched him furtively. "it's possible, yes!" he cried turning again to face her suddenly. "and yet if you are human how could you dare defy the laws of man and god to bring about this marriage?" "it's not a question of marriage yet," she sneered. "you've simply got to acknowledge her, that's all. that's why i brought her here. that's why i've helped their love affair. you're in my power now. you've got to tell tom that helen is my daughter, and yours--his half sister! now that they're in love with one another you've got to do it!" norton drew back in amazement: "you mean to tell me that you don't know that they are married?" with a cry of surprise and terror, the woman leaped to his side, her voice a whisper: "married? who says they are married?" "tom has just said so." "but they are not married!" she cried hysterically. "they can't marry!" norton fixed her with a keen look: "they _are_ married!" the woman wrung her hands nervously: "but you can separate them if you tell them the truth. that's all you've got to do. tell them now--tell them at once!" never losing the gaze with which he was piercing her soul norton said in slow menacing tones: "there's another way!" he turned from her suddenly and walked toward the desk. she followed a step, trembling. "another way"--she repeated. norton turned: "an old way brave men have always known--i'll take it if i must!" chilled with fear cleo glanced in a panic about the room and spoke feebly: "you--you--don't mean----" minerva and andy entered cautiously as norton answered: "no matter what i mean, it's enough for you to know that i'm free--free from you--i breathe clean air at last!" minerva shot cleo a look: "praise god!" cleo extended a hand in pleading: "major----" "that will do now!" he said sternly. "go!" cleo turned hurriedly to the door leading toward the stairs. "not that way!" norton called sharply. "tom has no further need of your advice. go to the servants' quarters and stay there. i am the master of this house to-night!" cleo slowly crossed the room and left through the door leading to the kitchen, watching norton with terror. minerva broke into a loud laugh and andy took refuge behind her ample form. chapter xxviii via dolorosa minerva was still laughing at the collapse of her enemy and andy sheltering himself behind her when a sharp call cut her laughter short: "minerva!" "yassah"--she answered soberly. "you have been a faithful servant to me," norton began, "you have never lied----" "an' i ain't gwine ter begin now, sah." he searched her black face keenly: "did tom slip back here to see miss helen while i was away on this last trip?" minerva looked at andy, fumbled with her apron, started to speak, hesitated and finally admitted feebly: "yassah!" andy's eyes fairly bulged: "de lordy, major, i didn't know dat, sah!" norton glanced at him: "shut up!" "you ain't gwine ter be hard on 'em, major?" minerva pleaded. he ignored her interruption and went on evenly: "how many times did he come?" "twice, sah." "he sho come in de night time den!" andy broke in. "i nebber seed 'im once!" norton bent close: "how long did he stay?" minerva fidgeted, hesitated again and finally said: "once he stay about er hour----" "and the other time?" she looked in vain for a way of escape, the perspiration standing in beads on her shining black face: "he stay all night, sah." a moment of stillness followed. norton's eyes closed, and his face became a white mask. he breathed deeply and then spoke quietly: "you--you knew they were married?" "yassah!" was the quick reply. "i seed 'em married. miss helen axed me, sah." andy lifted his hands in solemn surprise and walled his eyes at minerva: "well, 'fore gawd!" another moment of silence and andy's mouth was still open with wonder when a call like the crack of a revolver suddenly rang through the room: "andy!" the negro dropped to his knees and lifted his hands: "don't do nuttin' ter me, sah! 'fore de lawd, major, i 'clare i nebber knowed it! dey fool me, sah--i'd a tole you sho!" norton frowned: "shut your mouth and get up." "yassah!" andy cried. "hit's shet an' i'se up!" he scrambled to his feet and watched his master. "you and minerva go down that back stairway into the basement, fasten the windows and lock the doors." andy's eyes were two white moons in the shadows as he cried through chattering teeth: "g--g--odder mighty--what--what's de matter, major?" "do as i tell you, quick!" andy dodged and leaped toward the door: "r--right away, sah!" "pay no attention to anything mr. tom may say to you----" "nasah," andy gasped. "i pay no 'tension ter nobody, sah!" "when you've fastened everything below, do the same on this floor and come back here--i want you." "y-y-yas--sah! r-r-r-right a-way, sah!" andy backed out, beckoning frantically to minerva. she ignored him and watched norton as he turned toward a window and looked vaguely out. as andy continued his frantic calls she slipped to the doorway and whispered: "g'long! i be dar in er minute. you po' fool, you can't talk nohow. you're skeered er de major. i'm gwine do my duty now, i'm gwine ter tell him sumfin' quick----" norton wheeled on her with sudden fury: "do as i tell you! do as i tell you!" minerva dodged at each explosion, backing away. she paused and extended her hand pleadingly: "can't i put in des one little word, sah?" "not another word!" he thundered, advancing on her--"go!" "yassah!" "go! i tell you!" dodging again, she hurried below to join andy. norton turned back into the room and stood staring at something that gleamed with sinister brightness from the top of the little writing desk. an electric lamp with crimson shade seemed to focus every ray of light on the shining steel and a devil in the shadows pointed a single finger and laughed: "it's ready--just where you laid it!" he took a step toward the desk, stopped and gripped the back of the settee, steadied himself, and glared at the thing with fascination. he walked unsteadily to the chair in front of the desk and stared again. his hand moved to grasp the revolver and hesitated. and then, the last thought of pity strangled, he gripped the handle, lifted it with quick familiar touch, grasped the top clasp, loosed the barrel, threw the cylinder open and examined the shells, dropped them into his hand and saw that there were no blanks. one by one he slowly replaced them, snapped the cylinder in place and put the weapon in his pocket. he glanced about the room furtively, walked to each of the tall french windows, closed the shutters and carefully drew the heavy draperies. he turned the switch of the electric lights, extinguishing all in the room save the small red one burning on the desk. he would need that in a moment. he walked softly to the foot of the stairs and called: "tom!" waiting and receiving no answer he called again: "tom! tom!" a door opened above and the boy answered: "well?" "just a word, my son," the gentle voice called. "i've nothing to say, sir! we're packing our trunks to leave at once." "yes, yes, i understand," the father answered tenderly. "you're going, of course, and it can't be helped--but just a minute, my son; we must say good-by in a decent way, you know--and--i've something to show you before you go"--the voice broke--"you--won't try to leave without seeing me?" there was a short silence and the answer came in friendly tones: "i'll see you. i'll be down in a few minutes." the father murmured: "thank god!" he hurried back to the library, unlocked a tiny drawer in the desk, drew out a plain envelope from which he took the piece of paper on which was scrawled the last message from the boy's mother. his hand trembled as he read and slowly placed it in a small pigeon-hole. he took his pen and began to write rapidly on a pad of legal cap paper. while he was still busy with his writing, in obedience to his orders, andy and minerva returned. they stopped at the doorway and peeped in cautiously before entering. astonished and terrified to find the room so dimly lighted they held a whispered conference in the hall: "better not go in dar, chile!" andy warned. "ah, come on, you fool!" minerva insisted. "he ain't gwine ter hurt us!" "i tell ye he's wild--he's gone crazy, sho's yer born! i kin feel dem fingers playin' on my windpipe now!" "what's he doin' dar at dat desk?" minerva asked. "he's writin' good-by ter dis world, i'm tellin' ye, an' hit's time me an' you wuz makin' tracks!" "ah, come on!" the woman urged. andy hung back and shook his head: "nasah--i done bin in dar an' got my dose!" "you slip up behin' him an' see what he's writin'," minerva suggested. "na, you slip up!" "you're de littlest an' makes less fuss," she argued. "yes, but you'se de biggest an' you las' de longest in er scrimmage----" "ah, go on!" she commanded, getting behind andy and suddenly pushing him into the room. he rushed back into her arms, but she pushed him firmly on: "g'long, i tell ye, fool, an' see what he's doin'. i back ye up." andy balked and she pressed him another step: "g'long!" he motioned her to come closer, whispering: "ef yer gwine ter stan' by me, for de lawd's sake stan' by me--don't stan' by de do'!" seeing that retreat was cut off and he was in for it, the negro picked his way cautiously on tip-toe until he leaned over the chair and tried to read what his master was writing. norton looked up suddenly: "andy!" he jumped in terror: "i--i--didn't see nuttin', major! nasah! i nebber seed a thing, sah!" norton calmly lifted his head and looked into the black face that had been his companion so many years: "i want you to see it!" "oh!" andy cried with surprised relief, "you wants me to see hit"--he glanced at minerva and motioned her to come nearer. "well, dat's different, sah. yer know i wouldn't er tried ter steal er glimpse of it ef i'd knowed ye wuz gwine ter show it ter me. i allers is er gemman, sah!" norton handed him the paper: "i taught you to read and write, andy. you can do me a little service to-night--read that!" "yassah--yassah," he answered, pompously, adjusting his coat and vest. he held the paper up before him, struck it lightly with the back of his hand and cleared his throat: "me an' you has bin writin' fer de newspapers now 'bout fifteen years--yassah"--he paused and hurriedly read the document. "dis yo' will, sah? an' de lawd er mussy, 'tain't more'n ten lines. an' dey hain't nary one er dem whereases an' haremditaments aforesaids, like de lawyers puts in dem in de cote house--hit's des plain writin"--he paused again--"ye gives de house, an' ten thousand dollars ter miss helen an' all yer got ter de columnerzation society ter move de niggers ter er place er dey own!"--he paused again and walled his eyes at minerva. "what gwine come er mr. tom?" norton's head sank: "he'll be rich without this! sign your name here as a witness," he said shortly, picking up the pen. andy took the pen, rolled up his sleeve carefully, bent over the desk, paused and scratched his head: "don't yer think, major, dat's er terrible pile er money ter fling loose 'mongst er lot er niggers?" norton's eyes were dreaming again and andy went on insinuatingly: "now, wouldn't hit be better, sah, des ter pick out one good _reliable_ nigger dat yer knows pussonally--an' move him?" norton looked up impatiently: "sign it!" "yassah! cose, sah, you knows bes', sah, but 'pears ter me lak er powerful waste er good money des flingin' it broadcast!" norton lifted his finger warningly and andy hastened to sign his name with a flourish of the pen. he looked at it admiringly: "dar now! dey sho know dat's me! i practise on dat quereque two whole mont's----" norton folded the will, placed it in an envelope, addressed it and lifted his drawn face: "tell the clerk of the court that i executed this will to-night and placed it in this desk"--his voice became inaudible a moment and went on--"ask him to call for it to-morrow and record it for me." minerva, who had been listening and watching with the keenest interest, pressed forward and asked in a whisper: "yassah, but whar's you gwine ter be? you sho ain't gwine ter die ter-night?" norton quietly recovered himself and replied angrily: "do i look as if i were dying?" "nasah!--but ain't dey no way dat i kin help ye, major? de young folks is gwine ter leave, sah----" "they are not going until i'm ready!" was the grim answer. "nasah, but dey's gwine," the black woman replied tenderly. "ye can't stop 'em long. lemme plead fur 'em, sah! you wuz young an' wild once, major"--the silvery gray head sank low and the white lips quivered--"you take all yer money frum mister tom--what he care fer dat now wid love singin' in his heart? young folks is young folks----" norton lifted his head and stared as in a dream. "won't ye hear me, sah? can't i go upstairs an' speak de good word ter mister tom now an' tell him hit's all right?" a sudden idea flashed into norton's mind. the ruse would be the surest and quickest way to get tom into the room alone. "yes, yes," he answered, glancing at her. "you can say that to him now----" minerva laughed: "i kin go right up dar to his room now an' tell 'im dat you're er waitin' here wid yer arms open an' yer heart full er love an' fergiveness?" "yes, go at once"--he paused--"and keep miss helen there a few minutes. i want to see him first--you understand----" "yassah! yassah!" minerva cried, hastening to the door followed by andy. "i understands, i understands"--she turned on andy. "ye hear dat, you fool nigger? ain't i done tole you dat hit would all come out right ef i could des say de good word? gloree! we gwine ter hab dat weddin' all over agin! you des wait till yer seen dat cake i gwine ter bake----" with a quick turn she was about to pass through the door when andy caught her sleeve: "miss minerva!" "yas, honey!" "miss minerva," he repeated, nervously glancing at norton, "fer gawd's sake don't you leave me now! you'se de only restful pusson in dis house!" with a triumphant laugh minerva whispered: "i'll be right back in a minute, honey!" norton had watched with apparent carelessness until minerva had gone. he sprang quickly to his feet, crossed the room and spoke in an excited whisper: "andy!" "yassah!" "go down to that front gate and stay there. turn back anybody who tries to come in. don't you allow a soul to enter the lawn." "i'll do de best i kin, sah," he replied hastening toward the door. norton took an angry step toward him: "you do exactly as i tell you, sir!" andy jumped and replied quickly: "yassah, but ef dem serenaders come back here you know dey ain't gwine pay no 'tensun ter no nigger talkin' to 'em--dat's what dey er celebratin' erbout----" norton frowned and was silent a moment: "say that i ask them not to come in." "i'll tell 'em, sah, but i spec i'll hatter climb er tree 'fore i explains hit to 'em--but i tell 'em, sah--yassah." as andy slowly backed out, norton said sternly: "i'll call you when i want you. stay until i do!" "yassah," andy breathed softly as he disappeared trembling and wondering. chapter xxix the dregs in the cup norton walked quickly to the window, drew back the draperies, opened the casement and looked out to see if andy were eavesdropping. he watched the lazy figure cross the lawn, glancing back at the house. the full moon, at its zenith, was shining in a quiet glory, uncanny in its dazzling brilliance. he stood drinking in for the last time the perfumed sweetness and languor of the southern night. his senses seemed supernaturally acute. he could distinctly note the odors of the different flowers that were in bloom on the lawn. a gentle breeze was blowing from the path across the old rose garden. the faint, sweet odor of the little white carnations his mother had planted along the walks stole over his aching soul and he was a child again watching her delicate hands plant them, while grumbling slaves protested at the soiling of her fingers. she was looking up with a smile saying: "i love to plant them. i feel that they are my children then, and i'm making the world sweet and beautiful through them!" had he made the world sweeter and more beautiful? he asked himself the question sternly. "god knows i've tried for twenty years--and it has come to this!" the breeze softened, the odor of the pinks grew; fainter and the strange penetrating smell of the hedge of tuberoses swept in from the other direction with the chill of death in its breath. his heart rose in rebellion. it was too horrible, such an end of life! he was scarcely forty-nine years old. never had the blood pulsed through his veins with stronger throb and never had his vision of life seemed clearer and stronger than to-day when he had faced those thousands of cheering men and hinted for the first time his greater plans for uplifting the nation's life. the sense of utter loneliness overwhelmed his soul. the nearest being in the universe whose presence he could feel was the dead wife and mother. his eye rested on the portrait tenderly: "we're coming, dearest, to-night!" for the first time his spirit faced the mystery of eternity at close range. he had long speculated in theories of immortality and brooded over the problem of the world that lies but a moment beyond the senses. he had clasped hands with death now and stood face to face, calm and unafraid. his mind quickened with the thought of the strange world into which he would be ushered within an hour. would he know and understand? or would the waves of oblivion roll over the prostrate body without a sign? it couldn't be! the hunger of immortality was too keen for doubt. he would see and know! the cry rose triumphant within. he refused to perish with the moth and worm. the baser parts of his being might die--the nobler must live. there could be no other meaning to this sublimely cruel and mad decision to kill the body rather than see it dishonored. his eye caught the twinkle of a star through the branches of a tree-top. his feet would find the pathway among those shining worlds! there could be no other meaning to the big thing that throbbed and ached within and refused to be content to whelp and stable here as a beast of the field. pride, honor, aspiration, prayer, meant this or nothing! "i've made blunders here," he cried, "but i'm searching for the light and i'll find the face of god!" the distant shouts of cheering hosts still celebrating in the square brought his mind to earth with a sickening shock. he closed the windows, and drew the curtains. his hands clutched the velvet hangings in a moment of physical weakness and he steadied himself before turning to call tom. recovering his composure in a measure, his hand touched the revolver in his pocket, the tall figure instinctively straightened and he walked rapidly toward the hall. he had barely passed the centre of the room when the boy's voice distinctly echoed from the head of the stairs: "i'll be back in a minute, dear!" he heard the door of helen's room close softly and the firm step descend the stairs. the library door opened and closed quickly, and tom stood before him, his proud young head lifted and his shoulders squared. the dignity and reserve of conscious manhood shone in every line of his stalwart body and spoke in every movement of face and form. "well, sir," he said quietly. "it's done now and it can't be helped, you know." norton was stunned by the sudden appearance of the dear familiar form. his eyes were dim with unshed tears. it was too hideous, this awful thing he had to do! he stared at him piteously and with an effort walked to his side, speaking in faltering tones that choked between the words: "yes, it's done now--and it can't be helped"--he strangled and couldn't go on--"i--i--have realized that, my son--but i--i have an old letter from your mother--that i wanted to show you before you go--you'll find it on the desk there." he pointed to the desk on which burned the only light in the room. the boy hesitated, pained by the signs of deep anguish in his father's face, turned and rapidly crossed the room. the moment his back was turned, norton swiftly and silently locked the door, and with studied carelessness followed. the boy began to search for the letter: "i don't see it, sir." the father, watching him with feverish eyes, started at his voice, raised his hand to his forehead and walked quickly to his side: "yes, i--i--forgot--i put it away!" he dropped limply into the chair before the desk, fumbled among the papers and drew the letter from the pigeon-hole in which he had placed it. he held it in his hand, shaking now like a leaf, and read again the scrawl that he had blurred with tears and kisses. he placed his hand on the top of the desk, rose with difficulty and looked for tom. the boy had moved quietly toward the table. the act was painfully significant of their new relations. the sense of alienation cut the broken man to the quick. he could scarcely see as he felt his way to the boy's side and extended the open sheet of paper without a word. tom took the letter, turned his back on his father and read it in silence. "how queer her handwriting!" he said at length. norton spoke in strained muffled tones: "yes--she--she was dying when she scrawled that. the mists of the other world were gathering about her. i don't think she could see the paper"--the voice broke, he fought for self-control and then went on--"but every tiny slip of her pencil, each little weak hesitating mark etched itself in fire on my heart"--the voice stopped and then went on--"you can read them?" "yes." the father's long trembling finger traced slowly each word: "'remember that i love you and have forgiven----'" "forgiven what?" tom interrupted. norton turned deadly pale, recovered himself and began in a low voice: "you see, boy, i grew up under the old régime. like a lot of other fellows with whom i ran, i drank, gambled and played the devil--you know what that meant in those days----" "no, i don't," the boy interrupted. "that's just what i don't know. i belong to a new generation. and you've made a sort of exception of me even among the men of to-day. you taught me to keep away from women. i learned the lesson. i formed clean habits, and so i don't know just what you mean by that. tell me plainly." "it's hard to say it to you, my boy!" the older man faltered. "i want to know it." "i--i mean that twenty years ago it was more common than now for youngsters to get mixed up with girls of negroid blood----" the boy shrank back: "you!--great god!" "yes, she came into my life at last--a sensuous young animal with wide, bold eyes that knew everything and was not afraid. that sentence means the shame from which i've guarded you with such infinite care----" he paused and pointed again to the letter, tracing its words: "'rear our boy free from the curse!'--you--you--see why i have been so desperately in earnest?"--norton bent close with pleading eagerness: "and that next sentence, there, you can read it? 'i had rather a thousand times that he should die than this--my brooding spirit will watch and guard'"--he paused and repeated--"'that he should die'--you--you--see that?" the boy looked at his father's trembling hand and into his glittering eyes with a start: "yes, yes, but, of course, that was only a moment's despair--no mother could mean such a thing." norton's eyes fell, he moved uneasily, tried to speak again and was silent. when he began his words were scarcely audible: "we must part now in tenderness, my boy, as father and son--we--we--must do that you know. you--you forgive me for striking you to-night?" tom turned away, struggled and finally answered: "no." the father followed eagerly: "tell me that it's all right!" the boy's hand nervously fumbled at the cloth on the table: "i--i--am glad i didn't do something worse!" "say that you forgive me! why is it so hard?" tom turned his back: "i don't know, dad, i try, but--i--just can't!" the father's hand touched the boy's arm timidly: "you can never understand, my son, how my whole life has been bound up in you! for years i've lived, worked, and dreamed and planned for you alone. in your young manhood i've seen all i once hoped to be and have never been. in your love i've found the healing of a broken heart. many a night i've gone out there alone in that old cemetery, knelt beside your mother's grave and prayed her spirit to guide me that i might at least lead your little feet aright----" the boy moved slightly and the father's hand slipped limply from his, he staggered back with a cry of despair, and fell prostrate on the lounge: "i can endure anything on this earth but your hate, my boy! i can't endure that--i can't--even for a moment!" his form shook with incontrollable grief as he lay with his face buried in his outstretched arms. the boy struggled with conflicting pride and love, looked at the scrawled, tear-stained letter he still held in his hand and then at the bowed figure, hesitated a moment, and rushed to his father's side, knelt and slipped his arm around the trembling figure: "it's all right, dad! i'll not remember--a single tear from your eyes blots it all out!" the father's hand felt blindly for the boy's and grasped it desperately: "you won't remember a single harsh word that i've said?" "no--no--it's all right," was the soothing answer, as he returned the pressure. norton looked at him long and tenderly: "how you remind me of _her_ to-night! the deep blue of your eyes, the trembling of your lips when moved, your little tricks of speech, the tear that quivers on your lash and never falls and the soul that's mirrored there"--he paused and stroked the boy's head--"and her hair, the beaten gold of honeycomb!" his head sank and he was silent. the boy again pressed his hand tenderly and rose, drawing his father to his feet: "i'm sorry to have hurt you, dad. i'm sorry that we have to go--good-by!" he turned and slowly moved toward the door. norton slipped his right hand quickly to the revolver, hesitated, his fingers relaxed and the deadly thing dropped back into his pocket as he sank to his seat with a groan: "wait! wait, tom!" the boy stopped. "i--i've got to tell it to you now!" he went on hoarsely. "i--i tried to save you this horror--but i couldn't--the way was too hard and cruel." tom took a step and looked up in surprise: "the way--what way?" "i couldn't do it," the father cried. "i just couldn't--and so i have to tell you." the boy spoke with sharp eagerness: "tell me what?" "now that i know you are married in all that word means and i have failed to save you from it--i must give you the proofs that you demand. i must prove to you that helen _is_ a negress----" a sudden terror crept into the young eyes: "you--you have the proofs?" "yes!" the father nodded, placing his hand on his throat and fighting for breath. he took a step toward the boy, and whispered: "cleo--is--her mother!" tom flinched as if struck a blow. the red blood rushed to his head and he blanched with a death-like pallor: "and you have been afraid of cleo?" "yes." "why?" the father's head was slowly lowered and his hands moved in the slightest gesture of dumb confession. a half-articulate, maniac cry and the boy grasped him with trembling hands, screaming in his face: "god in heaven, let me keep my reason for just a moment!--so--you--are--helen's----" the bowed head sank lower. "father!" tom reeled, and fell into a chair with a groan: "lord have mercy on my lost soul!" norton solemnly lifted his eyes: "god's full vengeance has fallen at last! you have married your own----" the boy sprang to his feet covering his face: "don't! don't! helen doesn't know?" "no." "she mustn't!" he shivered, looking wildly at his father. "but why, why--oh, dear god, why didn't you kill me before i knew!" he sank back into the chair, his arms outstretched across the table, his face hidden in voiceless shame. the father slowly approached the prostrate figure, bent low and tenderly placed his cheek against the blonde head, soothing it with trembling touch. for a long while he remained thus, with no sound breaking the stillness save the sobs that came from the limp form. and then norton said brokenly: "i tried, my boy, to end it for us both without your knowing just now when your back was turned, but i couldn't. it seemed too cowardly and cruel! i just couldn't"--he paused, slowly drew the revolver from his pocket and laid it on the table. the boy felt the dull weight of the steel strike the velvet cover and knew what had been done without lifting his head. "now you know," the father added, "what we both must do." tom rose staring at the thing on the dark red cloth, and lifted his eyes to his father's. "yes, and hurry! helen may come at any moment." he had barely spoken when the knob of the door turned. a quick knock was heard at the same instant and helen's voice rang through the hall: "tom! tom!" norton grasped the pistol, thrust it under the table-cover and pressed the boy toward the door: "quick! open it, at once!" tom stared in a stupor, unable to move until his father shook his arm: "quick--open it--let her in a moment--it's best." he opened the door and helen sprang in breathlessly. chapter xxx the mills of god norton had dropped into a seat with apparent carelessness, while tom stood immovable, his face a mask. the girl looked quickly from one to the other, her breath coming in quick gasps. she turned to tom: "why did you lock the door--what does it mean?" norton hastened to answer, his tones reassuringly simple: "why, only that we wished to be alone for a few moments----" "yes, we understand each other now," tom added. helen's eyes flashed cautiously from one to the other: "i heard a strange noise"--she turned to the boy--"and, oh, tom, darling, i was so frightened! i thought i heard a struggle and then everything became so still. i was wild--i couldn't wait any longer!" "why, it was really nothing," tom answered her bravely smiling. "we--we did have a little scene, and lost our temper for a moment, but you can see for yourself it's all right now. we've thrashed the whole thing out and have come to a perfect understanding!" his words were convincing but not his manner. he hadn't dared to look her in the face. his eyes were on the rug and his foot moved nervously. "you are not deceiving me?" she asked trembling. the boy appealed to his father: "haven't we come to a perfect understanding, dad?" norton rose: "perfect, my son. it's all right, now, helen." "just wait for me five minutes, dear," tom pleaded. "can't i hear what you have to say?" "we prefer to be alone," the father said gravely. again her eyes flashed from one to the other and rested on tom. she rushed to him and laid her hand appealingly on his arm: "oh, tom, dear, am i not your wife?" the boy's head drooped--"must you have a secret from me now?" "just a few minutes," norton pleaded, "that's a good girl!" "only a few minutes, helen," tom urged. "please let me stay. why were you both so pale when i came in?" father and son glanced at each other over her head. norton hesitated and said: "you see we are perfectly calm now. all bitterness is gone from our hearts. we are father and son again." "why do you look so queerly at me? why do you look so strangely at each other?" "it's only your imagination, dear," tom said. "no, there's something wrong," helen declared desperately. "i feel it in the air of this room--in the strange silence between you. for god's sake tell me what it means! surely, i have the right to know"--she turned suddenly to norton--"you don't hate me now, do you, major?" the somber brown eyes rested on her in a moment of intense silence and he slowly said: "i have never hated you, my child!" "then what is it?" she cried in anguish, turning again to tom. "tell me what i can do to help you! i'll obey you, dearest, even if it's to lay my life down. don't send me away. don't keep this secret from me. i feel its chill in my heart. my place is by your side--tell me how i can help you!" tom looked at her intently: "you say that you will obey me?" "yes--you are my lord and master!" he seized her hand and led her to the door "then wait for me just five minutes." she lifted her head pleadingly: "you will let me come to you then?" "yes." "you won't lock the door again?" "not now." while tom stood immovable, with a lingering look of tenderness she turned and passed quickly from the room. he closed the door softly, steadied himself before loosing the knob and turned to his father in a burst of sudden rebellion: "oh, dad! it can't be true! it can't be true! i can't believe it. did you look at her closely again?" norton drew himself wearily to his feet and spoke with despairing certainty: "yes, yes, as i've looked at her a hundred times with growing wonder." "she's not like you----" "no more than you, my boy, and yet you're bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh--it can't be helped----" he paused and pointed to the revolver: "give it to me!" the boy started to lift the cloth and the father caught his arm: "but first--before you do," he faltered. "i want you to tell me now with your own lips that you forgive me for what i must do--and then i think, perhaps, i can--say it!" their eyes met in a long, tender, searching gaze: "i forgive you," he softly murmured. "now give it to me!" the father firmly said, stepping back and lifting his form erect. the boy felt for the table, fumbled at the cloth, caught the weapon and slowly lifted it toward his father's extended hand. he opened his eyes, caught the expression of agony in the drawn face, the fingers relaxed and the pistol fell to the floor. he threw himself blindly on his father, his arms about his neck: "oh, dad, it's too hard! wait--wait--just a moment!" the father held him close for a long while. his voice was very low when he spoke at last: "there's no appeal, my boy! the sin of your father is full grown and has brought forth death. yet i was not all to blame. we are caught to-night in the grip of the sins of centuries. i tried to give my life to the people to save the children of the future. my shame showed me the way as few men could have seen it, and i have set in motion forces that can never be stopped. others will complete the work that i have begun. but our time has come----" "yes, yes, i understand!" the father's arms pressed the son in a last long embrace: "what an end to all my hopes! oh, my boy, heart of my heart!" tom's hand slowly slipped down and caught his father's: "good-by, dad!" norton held the clasp with lingering tenderness as the boy slowly drew away, measured four steps and calmly folded his arms, his head erect, his broad young shoulders squared and thrown far back. cleo, who had crept into the hall, stood behind the curtains of the inner door watching the scene with blanched face. the father walked quickly to the revolver, picked it up, turned and lifted it above his head. with a smothered cry cleo sprang into the room--but she was too late. norton had quickly dropped the pistol to the level of the eye and fired. a tiny red spot flamed on the white skin of the boy's forehead, the straight figure swayed, and pitched forward face down on the rug. the woman staggered back, cowering in the shadows. the father knelt beside the quivering form, clasped his left hand in tom's, placed the revolver to his temple and fired. the silver-gray head sank slowly against the breast of the boy as a piercing scream from helen's lips rang through the silent hall. chapter xxxi sin full grown the sensitive soul of the girl had seen the tragedy before she rushed into the library. at the first shot she sprang to her feet, her heart in her throat. the report had sounded queerly through the closed doors and she was not sure. she had entered the hall, holding her breath, when the second shot rang out its message of death. she was not the woman who faints in an emergency. she paused just a moment in the door, saw the ghastly heap on the floor and rushed to the spot. she tore tom's collar open and placed her ear over his heart: "o god! he's alive--he's alive!" she turned and saw cleo leaning against the table with blanched face and chattering teeth. "call andy and aunt minerva--and go for the doctor--his heart's beating--quick--the doctor--he's alive--we may save him!" she knelt again on the floor, took tom's head in her lap, wiped the blood from the clean, white forehead, pressed her lips to his and sobbed: "come back, my own--it's i--helen, your little wife--i'm calling you--you can't die--you're too young and life's too dear. we've only begun to live, my sweetheart! you shall not die!" the tears were raining on his pale face and her cries had become little wordless prayers when andy and minerva entered the room. she nodded her head toward norton's motionless body: "lift him on the lounge!" they moved him tenderly: "see if his heart's still beating," she commanded. andy reverently lowered his dusky face against the white bosom of his master. when he lifted it the tears had blinded his eyes: "nobum," he said slowly, "he's done dead!" the tick of the little french clock on the mantel beneath the mother's portrait rang with painful clearness. helen raised her hand to minerva: "open the windows and let the smoke out. i'll hold him in my arms until the doctor comes." "yassum----" minerva drew the heavy curtains back from the tall windows, opened the casements and the perfumed air of the beautiful southern night swept into the room. a cannon boomed its final cry of victory from the square and a rocket, bursting above the tree-tops, flashed a ray of red light on the white face of the dead. chapter xxxii confession when dr. williams entered the room helen was still holding tom's head in her lap. he had stirred once with a low groan. "the major is dead, but tom's alive, doctor!" she cried through her tears. "he's going to live, too--i feel it--i know it--tell me that it's so!" the lips trembled pitifully with the last words. the doctor felt the pulse and was silent. "it's all right? he's going to live--isn't he?" she asked pathetically. "i can't tell yet, my child," was the calm answer. he examined the wound and ran his hand over the blonde hair. his fingers stopped suddenly and he felt the head carefully. he bent low, parted the hair and found a damp blood mark three inches above the line of the forehead. "see!" he cried, "the ball came out here. his head was thrown far back, the bullet struck the inner skull bone at an angle and glanced." "what does it mean?" she asked breathlessly. the doctor smiled: "that the brain is untouched. he is only stunned and in a swoon. he'll be well in two weeks." helen lifted her eyes and sobbed: "o god!" she tried to bend and kiss tom's lips, her body swayed and she fell backward in a dead faint. andy and minerva carried her to her room, left cleo to minister to her and returned to help the doctor. he examined norton's body to make sure that life was extinct and placed the body on an improvised bed on the floor until he should regain his senses. in half an hour tom looked into the doctor's face: "why, it's doctor williams?" "yes." "what--what's happened?" "it's only a scratch for you, my boy. you'll be well in a few days----" "well in a few days"--he repeated blankly. "i can't get well! i've got to die"--his head dropped and he caught his breath. the doctor waited for him to recover himself to ask the question that was on his lips. he had gotten as yet no explanation of the tragedy save cleo's statement that the major had shot tom and killed himself. he had guessed that the ugly secret in norton's life was in some way responsible. "why must you die, my boy?" he asked kindly. tom opened his eyes in a wild stare: "helen's my wife--we married secretly without my father knowing it. he has just told me that cleo is her mother and i have married my own----" his voice broke and his head sank. the doctor seized the boy's hand and spoke eagerly: "it's a lie, boy! it's a lie! take my word for it----" tom shook his head. "i'll stake my life on it that it's a lie"--the old man repeated--"and i'll prove it--i'll prove it from cleo's lips!" "you--you--can do it!" the boy said hopelessly, though his eyes flashed with a new light. "keep still until i return!" the doctor cried, "and i'll bring cleo with me." he placed the revolver in his pocket and hastily left the room, the boy's eyes following him with feverish excitement. he called cleo into the hall and closed helen's door. the old man seized her hand with a cruel grip: "do you dare tell me that this girl is your daughter?" she trembled and faltered: "yes!" "you're a liar!" he hissed. "you may have fooled norton for twenty years, but you can't fool me. i've seen too much of this sort of thing. i'll stake my immortal soul on it that no girl with helen's pure white skin and scarlet cheeks, clean-cut features and deep blue eyes can have in her body a drop of negro blood!" "she's mine all the same, and you know when she was born," the woman persisted. he could feel her body trembling, looked at her curiously and said: "come down stairs with me a minute." cleo drew back: "i don't want to go in that room again!" "you've got to come!" he seized her roughly and drew her down the stairs into the library. she gripped the door, panting in terror. he loosed her hands and pushed her inside before the lounge on which the body of norton lay, the cold wide-open eyes staring straight into her face. she looked a moment in abject horror, shivered and covered her eyes: "oh, my god, let me go!" the doctor tore her hands from her face and confronted her. his snow-white beard and hair, his tense figure and flaming anger seemed to the trembling woman the image of an avenging fate as he solemnly cried: "here, in the presence of death, with the all-seeing eye of god as your witness, and the life of the boy you once held in your arms hanging on your words, i ask if that girl is your daughter?" the greenish eyes wavered, but the answer came clear at last: "no----" "i knew it!" the doctor cried. "now the whole truth!" the color mounted tom's cheeks as he listened. "my own baby died," she began falteringly, "i was wild with grief and hunted for another. i found helen in norfolk at the house of an old woman whom i knew, and she gave her to me----" "or you stole her--no matter"--the doctor interrupted--"go on." helen had slipped down stairs, crept into the room unobserved and stood listening. "who was the child's mother?" the doctor demanded. cleo was gasping for breath: "the daughter of an old fool who had disowned her because she ran away and married a poor white boy--the husband died--the father never forgave her. when the baby was born the mother died, too, and i got the child from the old nurse--she's pure white--there's not a stain of any kind on her birth!" with a cry of joy helen knelt and drew tom into her arms: "oh, darling, did you hear it--oh, my sweetheart, did you hear it?" the boy's head sank on her breast and he breathed softly: "thank god!" chapter xxxiii healing the years brought their healing to wounded hearts. tom norton refused to leave his old home. he came of a breed of men who had never known how to quit. he faced the world and with grim determination took up the work for the republic which his father had begun. with tireless voice his paper pleads for the purity of the race. its circulation steadily increases and its influence deepens and widens. the patter of a baby's feet again echoes through the wide hall behind the white fluted columns. the young father and mother have taught his little hands to place flowers on the two green mounds beneath the oak in the cemetery. he is not old enough yet to understand, and so the last time they were there he opened his eyes wide at his mother's tears and lisped: "are 'oo hurt, mama?" "no, my dear, i'm happy now." "why do 'oo cry?" "for a great man i knew a little while, loved and lost, dearest--your grandfather for whom we named you." little dan's eyes grew very serious as he looked again at the flower-strewn graves and wondered what it all meant. but the thing which marks the norton home with peculiar distinction is that since the night of his father's death, tom has never allowed a negro to cross the threshold or enter its gates. the end * * * * * novels of southern life by thomas dixon, jr. may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset & dunlap's list _the leopard's spots_: a story of the white man's burden, - . with illustrations by c. d. williams. a tale of the south about the dramatic events of destruction. reconstruction and upbuilding. the work is able and eloquent and the verifiable events of history are followed closely in the development of a story full of struggle. _the clansman._ with illustrations by arthur i. keller. while not connected with it in any way, this is a companion volume to the author's "epoch-making" story _the leopard's spots_. it is a novel with a great deal to it, and which very properly is going to interest many thousands of readers. * * * it is, first of all, a forceful, dramatic, absorbing love story, with a sequence of events so surprising that one is prepared for the fact that much of it is founded on actual happenings; but mr. dixon has, as before, a deeper purpose--he has aimed to show that the original formers of the ku klux klan were modern knights errant taking the only means at hand to right intolerable wrongs. _the traitor._ a story of the fall of the invisible empire. illustrations by c. d. williams. the third and last book in this remarkable trilogy of novels relating to southern reconstruction. it is a thrilling story of love, adventure, treason, and the united states secret service dealing with the decline and fall of the ku klux klan. _comrades._ illustrations by c. d. williams. a novel dealing with the establishment of a socialistic colony upon a deserted island off the coast of california. the way of disillusionment is the course over which mr. dixon conducts the reader. _the one woman._ a story of modern utopia. a love story and character study of three strong men and two fascinating women. in swift, unified, and dramatic action, we see socialism a deadly force, in the hour of the eclipse of faith, destroying the home life and weakening the fiber of anglo saxon manhood. * * * * * stories of western life may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset & dunlap's list _riders of the purple sage_, by zane grey. illustrated by douglas duer. in this picturesque romance of utah of some forty years ago, we are permitted to see the unscrupulous methods employed by the invisible hand of the mormon church to break the will of those refusing to conform to its rule. _friar tuck_, by robert alexander wason. illustrated by stanley l. wood. happy hawkins tells us, in his humorous way, how friar tuck lived among the cowboys, how he adjusted their quarrels and love affairs and how he fought with them and for them when occasion required. _the sky pilot_, by ralph connor. illustrated by louis rhead. there is no novel, dealing with the rough existence of cowboys, so charming in the telling, abounding as it does with the freshest and the truest pathos. _the emigrant trail_, by geraldine bonner. colored frontispiece by john rae. the book relates the adventures of a party on its overland pilgrimage, and the birth and growth of the absorbing love of two strong men for a charming heroine. _the boss of wind river_, by a. m. chisholm. illustrated by frank tenney johnson. this is a strong, virile novel with the lumber industry for its central theme and a love story full of interest as a sort of subplot. _a prairie courtship_, by harold bindloss. a story of canadian prairies in which the hero is stirred, through the influence of his love for a woman, to settle down to the heroic business of pioneer farming. _joyce of the north woods_, by harriet t. comstock. illustrated by john cassel. a story of the deep woods that shows the power of love at work among its primitive dwellers. it is a tensely moving study of the human heart and its aspirations that unfolds itself through thrilling situations and dramatic developments. * * * * * john fox, jr's. stories of the kentucky mountains may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset and dunlap's list _the trail of the lonesome pine._ illustrated by f. c. yohn. [illustration] the "lonesome pine" from which the story takes its name was a tall tree that stood in solitary splendor on a mountain top. the fame of the pine lured a young engineer through kentucky to catch the trail, and when he finally climbed to its shelter he found not only the pine but the _footprints of a girl_. and the girl proved to be lovely, piquant, and the trail of these girlish footprints led the young engineer a madder chase than "the trail of the lonesome pine." _the little shepherd of kingdom come._ illustrated by f. c. yohn. this is a story of kentucky, in a settlement known as "kingdom come." it is a life rude, semi-barbarous; but natural and honest, from which often springs the flower of civilization. "chad" the "little shepherd" did not know who he was nor whence he came--he had just wandered from door to door since early childhood, seeking shelter with kindly mountaineers who gladly fathered and mothered this waif about whom there was such a mystery--a charming waif, by the way, who could play the banjo better that anyone else in the mountains. _a knight of the cumberland._ illustrated by f. c. yohn. the scenes are laid along the waters of the cumberland the lair of moonshiner and feudsman. the knight is a moonshiner's son, and the heroine a beautiful girl perversely christened "the blight." two impetuous young southerners' fall under the spell of "the blight's" charms and she learns what a large part jealousy and pistols have in the love making of the mountaineers. included in this volume is "hell fer-sartain" and other stories, some of mr. fox's most entertaining cumberland valley narratives. * * * * * myrtle reed's novels may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset & dunlap's list _lavender and old lace._ [illustration] a charming story of a quaint corner of new england where bygone romance finds a modern parallel. the story centers round the coming of love to the young people on the staff of a newspaper--and it is one of the prettiest, sweetest and quaintest of old fashioned love stories, * * * a rare book, exquisite in spirit and conception, full of delicate fancy, of tenderness, of delightful humor and spontaniety. _a spinner in the sun._ miss myrtle reed may always be depended upon to write a story in which poetry, charm, tenderness and humor are combined into a clever and entertaining book. her characters are delightful and she always displays a quaint humor of expression and a quiet feeling of pathos which give a touch of active realism to all her writings. in "a spinner in the sun" she tells an old-fashioned love story, of a veiled lady who lives in solitude and whose features her neighbors have never seen. there is a mystery at the heart of the book that throws over it the glamour of romance. _the master's violin,_ a love story in a musical atmosphere. a picturesque, old german virtuoso is the reverent possessor of a genuine "cremona." he consents to take for his pupil a handsome youth who proves to have an aptitude for technique, but not the soul of an artist. the youth has led the happy, careless life of a modern, well-to-do young american and he cannot, with his meagre past, express the love, the passion and the tragedies of life and all its happy phases as can the master who has lived life in all its fulness. but a girl comes into his life--a beautiful bit of human driftwood that his aunt had taken into her heart and home, and through his passionate love for her, he learns the lessons that life has to give--and his soul awakes. founded on a fact that all artists realize. * * * * * louis tracy's captivating and exhilarating romances may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset & dunlap's list _cynthia's chauffeur._ illustrated by howard chandler christy. a pretty american girl in london is touring in a car with a chauffeur whose identity puzzles her. an amusing mystery. _the stowaway girl._ illustrated by nesbitt benson. a shipwreck, a lovely girl stowaway, a rascally captain, a fascinating officer, and thrilling adventures in south seas. _the captain of the kansas._ love and the salt sea, a helpless ship whirled into the hands of cannibals, desperate fighting and a tender romance. _the message._ illustrated by joseph cummings chase. a bit of parchment found in the figurehead of an old vessel tells of a buried treasure. a thrilling mystery develops. _the pillar of light._ the pillar thus designated was a lighthouse, and the author tells with exciting detail the terrible dilemma of its cut off inhabitants. _the wheel o'fortune._ with illustrations by james montgomery flagg. the story deals with the finding of a papyrus containing the particulars of some of the treasures of the queen of sheba. _a son of the immortals._ illustrated by howard chandler christy. a young american is proclaimed king of a little balkan kingdom, and a pretty parisian art student is the power behind the throne. _the wings of the morning._ a sort of robinson crusoe _redivivus_ with modern settings and a very pretty love story added. the hero and heroine, are the only survivors of a wreck, and have many thrilling adventures on their desert island. * * * * * the novels of stewart edward white _the rules of the game._ illustrated by lajaren a. hiller. the romance of the son of "the riverman." the young college hero goes into the lumber camp, is antagonized by "graft" and comes into the romance of his life. _arizona nights._ illus. and cover inlay by n. c. wyeth. a series of spirited tales emphasizing some phases of the life of the ranch, plains and desert. a masterpiece. _the blazed trail._ with illustrations by thomas fogarty. a wholesome story with gleams of humor, telling of a young man who blazed his way to fortune through the heart of the michigan pines. _the claim jumpers._ a romance. the tenderfoot manager of a mine in a lonesome gulch of the black hills has a hard time of it, but "wins out" in more ways than one. _conjuror's house._ illustrated theatrical edition. dramatized under the title of "the call of the north." conjuror's house is a hudson bay trading post where the head factor is the absolute lord. a young fellow risked his life and won a bride on this forbidden land. _the magic forest._ a modern fairy tale. illustrated. the sympathetic way in which the children of the wild and their life is treated could only belong to one who is in love with the forest and open air. based on fact. _the riverman._ illus. by n. c. wyeth and c. underwood. the story of a man's fight against a river and of a struggle between honesty and grit on the one side, and dishonesty and shrewdness on the other. _the silent places._ illustrations by philip r. goodwin. the wonders of the northern forests, the heights of feminine devotion, and masculine power, the intelligence of the caucasian and the instinct of the indian, are all finely drawn in this story. _the westerners._ a story of the black hills that is justly placed among the best american novels. it portrays the life of the new west as no other book has done in recent years. _the mystery._ in collaboration with samuel hopkins adams. with illustrations by will crawford. the disappearance of three successive crews from the stout ship "laughing lass" in mid-pacific, is a mystery weird and inscrutable. in the solution, there is a story of the most exciting voyage that man ever undertook. * * * * * titles selected from grosset & dunlap's list may be had wherever books are sold. ask for grosset & dunlap's list _the siege of the seven suitors._ by meredith nicholson. illustrated by c. coles phillips and reginald birch. seven suitors vie with each other for the love of a beautiful girl, and she subjects them to a test that is full of mystery, magic and sheer amusement. _the magnet._ by henry c. rowland. illustrated by clarence f. underwood. the story of a remarkable courtship involving three pretty girls on a yacht, a poet-lover in pursuit, and a mix-up in the names of the girls. _the turn of the road._ by eugenia brooks frothingham. a beautiful young opera singer chooses professional success instead of love, but comes to a place in life where the call of the heart is stronger than worldly success. _scottie and his lady._ by margaret morse. illustrated by harold m. brett. a young girl whose affections have been blighted is presented with a scotch collie to divert her mind, and the roving adventures of her pet lead the young mistress into another romance. _sheila vedder._ by amelia e. barr. frontispiece by harrison fisher. a very beautiful romance of the shetland islands, with a handsome, strong willed hero and a lovely girl of gaelic blood as heroine. a sequel to "jan vedder's wife." _john ward, preacher._ by margaret deland. the first big success of this much loved american novelist. it is a powerful portrayal of a young clergyman's attempt to win his beautiful wife to his own narrow creed. _the trail of ninety-eight._ by robert w. service. illustrated by maynard dixon. one of the best stories of "vagabondia" ever written, and one of the most accurate and picturesque of the stampede of gold seekers to the yukon. the love story embedded in the narrative is strikingly original. _the second wife._ by thompson buchanan. illustrated by w. w. fawcett. harrison fisher wrapper printed in four colors and gold. an intensely interesting story of a marital complication in a wealthy new york family involving the happiness of a beautiful young girl. _tess of the storm country._ by grace miller white. illustrated by howard chandler christy. an amazingly vivid picture of low class life in a new york college town, with a heroine beautiful and noble, who makes a great sacrifice for love. _from the valley of the missing._ by grace miller white. frontispiece and wrapper in colors by penthyn stanlaws. another story of "the storm country." two beautiful children are kidnapped from a wealthy home and appear many years after showing the effects of a deep, malicious scheme behind their disappearance. _the lighted match._ by charles neville buck. illustrated by r. f. schabelitz. a lovely princess travels incognito through the states and falls in love with an american man. there are ties that bind her to someone in her own home, and the great plot revolves round her efforts to work her way out. _maud baxter._ by c. c. hotchkiss. illustrated by will grefe. a romance both daring and delightful, involving an american girl and a young man who had been impressed into english service during the revolution. _the highwayman._ by guy rawlence. illustrated by will grefe. a french beauty of mysterious antecedents wins the love of an englishman of title. developments of a startling character and a clever untangling of affairs hold the reader's interest. _the purple stockings._ by edward salisbury field. illustrated in colors; marginal illustrations. a young new york business man, his pretty sweetheart, his sentimental stenographer, and his fashionable sister are all mixed up in a misunderstanding that surpasses anything in the way of comedy in years. a story with a laugh on every page. _ask for complete free list of g. & d. popular copyrighted fiction_ grosset & dunlap, west th st., new york