The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-09-21

The moon was shining into the south win
dows OF the White House when Mr.. Haye
got mp from his bed In order 10 look al ih'
clock. II was nearly 3 In the morning, ane
he had not yet slept. The bed was comfort
able enough, but what long, dreary hour
since eleven.
"God bless me-" said Mr.. Hayes, passing
bis hand wearily over his forehead. ~
used TO sleep like top at Columbus"
He sat down In chair and tried 10 think
Of his approaching journey through the
southern States, and Of the speeches 10 be
made along the way. lie would take Schurz
along this time, but not Key. Keys pecu-
liar hum0r would not be appreciated In
Tennessee and Virginia. In introducing
Schurz 70 audiences In the Southern States,
he would speak OF him a. q man who had
fought on the wrong side at Gettysburg and
elsewhere, but who had seen the error 81
his ways, and was now prcparedto acknowl-
edge his mistake In the presence Of his ex-
Confederate brethren. 81 will quote Scrip
turc," thought Mr.. Hayes, "when ! intro
duce Schurz, and / will say" But his
mind was not In trim for continuous think
ing. Ii wandered back 10 Eyarts and the
Green Mountains, and TO stoughton, and TO
Judge Jerry Black, and then TO the unwel-
come memory Of the Electoral Commission.
And the clock OH the mantel, its rigid pen
dulum strokes oppressivey loud In the per-
feet stiffness Of the night, seemed 20 say, and
| to keep saying, Eight to- sew zen, Eight-to-
seven, Eight-to-sev-en Eight-to-sey-en
Eight to-sey-en." Try as he did, his ears
could make 1t say nothing else.
Mr.. Hayes went TO a window, drew the
curtain, and looked up At the broad face Of
the moon. For the first time in his life be
noticed that the moons face bore weird
likeness TO the face of 0en. Butler As he
remarked this strange resemblance with
amazement, the outer corners OF the eyes
seemed 10 draw themselves still further
down, and the mouth lines to take on an ex-
preston Of sardonic glee, as II the face said
plainly, "Congress meets on the 18th OF De-
tober, Mr.. Hayes, and Ishau be there"
He was turning away Disguised from a
spectacle that afforded him no satisfaction,
when he was startled by a deep, ringing
voice, apparently close 10 his ear, uttering
with solemn emphasis this word OF re-
pr0ach:
Fraud"
And again, almost before he could recover
his suspended breath:
"Fraudn
Nonsense" thought Mr.. Hayes, "my
nerves are getting the better Of my senses.
| am Az
Fraud" said the voice for the third and
last time. II was only the bell Of a church
clock, striking the hour, but II it had been
the voice OF doom pronouncing Judgment,
its effect upon Mr.. Hayes's ears could not
have been more terrifying. He left the win
dow and began to walk the floor, keeping
time unconsciously with the monotonons
Eight-to-sev-en Of the mantel clock, and
drawing the palm Of his hand TO and fro
across his forehead, gesture that had be-
come habitual with him OF late.
In this restless mood Mr.. Hayes passed out
OF the apartment consecrated to deity who
refused TO bless his pillow, and paced the
long corridor for time. The door OF the
Executive room, where he and his predcces-
sors In the White House have been accus-
famed IN thar xru uia
lie pushed II open and entered. 1t was not
the first time that he had visited the apart
mcnt at this hour. He unlocked cabinet,
and his hand CROPPED about In the darkness
until II had found wine-g glass and a small
vial vial. ~ h will bring r me Sleep" said Mr.
enough, but not so bad as wakefulness."
The drowsiness OF the brown liquid came
over him as he sat In the great easy chair al
the head Of the long table. Ii was hardly
sleep, for he was conscious Of the objects
surrounding him, conscious Of the moon
light, and conscious Of his own acute wretch
edness.
While Mr.. Hayes sat in the easy chair,
waiting for the laudanum TO close his heavy
cyelids, an astonishing thing happened. The
door Of the Executive room swung on its
hinges, and procession Of dim figures en-
tered, marching grayely two by two.
dozen, fourteen, sixteen he counted. and last
Of all came one alone, taller, graver, and
more noble In form and carriage than ANY Of
the rest. Mr.. Hayes started up from his
chair 10 question his dim visitors rather than
70 welcome them. But they paid no atten-
ton 10 him or TO his movements, and be
shrunk back into corner OF the room UNI
noticed. Some OF the strange figures seated
themselves around the table. Others stood
In groups, conyersing in low, earnest tones.
He who had entered last took the chair
which Mr.. Hayes had occupied. Just then
.I.
by the better light Mr.. Hayes saw that he
was in the presence Of the Presidents OF the
United States.
Since we were here last,v said courtly
old gentleman with big head and broad
forehead and stout legs in knee breeches--
"since we were here last there has been per-
petrated in the name OF Government crime
30 atrocions that am unable 10 find words
10 express my amazement and Indignation.
Gentlemen, perhaps my tongue Is sometimes
DER hasfy TO condemn, but when my blood
boils II were folly for me TO attempt 70 re-
strain ufterance," and the speaker brought !
down his heavy cane with vehemence that
shook the room and caused Mr.. Hayes TO
shrink closer into the shadow that sheltered
him.
fright, father, right !" exclaimed rather
pompous parsonage who stood a little apart
from the others. "Macte VIRTUE, q parens
libertatis. You may well say that! There
never yet was one Of our line that could con-
done crime or paliate fraud, aud hope
70 heaven there never will be such 10 dis
honor the name Of Adams.v
came into this mansion" continued the
old gentleman, in the year 1900. was the
first President OF the United States to occu.
pv Il. Nearly every four years since have
revisited the home u the Chief Magistrates,
either in the flesh or a. now come, and al
ways with generous confidence in the hon
csty of purpose Of its occupant, howsocyer
might question tho wisdom Of his admins
fratiye measures. Nearly every four years,
say, for ] must except the unfortunate pc
riod during which was on terms Of nom
intercourse with jefferson herc--the old
quarrel happily long since rcconciled, Il II
not So vatlr Excellenrxy,,