"No, I don't have any idea what you would do as governor," the minister replied.
"Well, sir, I'll tell you what I would do. I'd put every town that has Klan officers under martial law until the people of the town forced the Klan officials to resign."
"Well, Mr. McMichael," said Benton, laughing, "if you were governor and should attempt to coerce the people and trample upon their sacred rights in such a despotic manner, I fear that you wouldn't long remain governor; but would soon join the ranks of the has-beens along with ex-governor Slydell and others who made fools of themselves." The crowd laughed and applauded and the minister made his way through the crowd and started for home.
As Rev. Benton and Mr. Jackson walked up the street together they met a dapper young man and a girl of the flapper type.
"That is Chester Golter, Stover's nephew," Jackson volunteered.
"I have heard of him but have never seen him to know who he was before. And who is the young lady with him?"
"Her name is Gladys Glendenning. She has been here for a few weeks teaching dancing lessons."
The following day Rev. Benton saw in the paper an account of the marriage of Gladys Glendenning to Chester Golter and a few days later notice of a breach of promise suit brought against Chester Golter by Pearl Gardner who asked twenty thousand dollars as heart balm. Later he heard that the case was settled out of court for three thousand dollars.
"I wouldn't think that a heart that has been wounded through misplaced love could be repaired by payment of money," remarked Mrs. Benton.
"My dear, money can not heal a heart wound that is very deep," replied the minister, and then added, "a girl who would ask to have her fiance frightened into keeping his engagement is entirely lacking in true love upon which real homes are built and which binds hearts together through both sunshine and storm."