Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-18

many months had elapsed after his de-
parturc until the distressing news
came that he had been captured by the
confederates and was prisoner in
Libby. | was, OF course, wild with
grief and cxcitement' and in my sim
plicity, I felt that If only some one
would go to Washington and see the
president his freedom would in some
way be obtained. First one member
Of my family, then another tried to
convince me OF the futility Of such a
movement. But, after few wretchca
days and wukeful nights made up
my mind would so to Washington
and sec the president myself. ! knew
my family would prevent me- Il posi-
blo; 50, under the pretcnse Of spending
the night with friends in Il distant
part Of New York, boarded o night
train for Washington. felt such con-
fdenee in the success of my trip us
only simplicity and youth can.
ut was not later than six o'clock on
beautiful spring morning when |
reached the Baltimore & Potomac
depot. was so eager in my mission,
SO sure of my success, that ! had no
thought of hotels, breakfast or any
thing else, but went directly from the
station to the white house. When !
rang the bell was informed, to my
dlsmay, that the president had not yet
arisen, and positively would not re-
ceive anyone before nine o'clock, !
tried TO plead for an earlier reception;
told the doorlsecper that was Col.
IS wife; that he was in Libby
prison; that had come all the way
from New York to tell the president
about it, but the door was closed upon
me. Besides my eagerness to effect
my husbands release was fearful
that delay might cause my absence to
be discovered at home. tremblingly
walked to aeat in the park and i'm
patiently waited for the hands OF my
watch to point to nine, Promptly at
the minute was again at the door,
"Is the president up yet?' in
quired.
"'Yes, madam, he is at breakfast,
and you cannot zee him.
"'But must see him. repeated,
excitedly. Tell him | am here-col.
IS wife-my husband is In prison
must get back to New York.
~ suppose pity for my almost hys-
terical condition touched the mans
heart, for he asked me to wait, and In
few minutes was ushered into the
presence Of the president. He was
sitting at round table near win
dow Of the room-his library, ! think
before him cup Of coffee and q
plate containing two large slices Of
bread, cut the full length Of the loaf.
Up to this moment | had felt that once
admitted to his presence could pour
forth my grief and prayers to him IN
words that would surely avail But
now there was something in the simple
presence of that quiet man sitting
there at the table that made me
speechless. ] felt that did not know
what to do. wished had not come.
"Well, my little woman said he,
looking at nc over his paper, you
wish to see me-?
"'Yes, / gasped rather than spoke,
my husband
"Take that chair, he said, kindly,
seeing my inability to proceed; and
after had seated myself at the table
opposite him he asked me in the most
matter-of-fact way II | had been to
breakfast. told him, with an effort
to control my voice, that had not
cared for any; could not have eaten 1t.
"'This will never do he said; you
must have breakfast with me, and,
while we eat, you can tell me your
story and pouring a portion OF his
coffee into the saucer and halving the
two slices of bread, he shared the
bread with me and gave me the saucer
Of coffee. | was beginning to feel
more at ease. | glanced at him UNI
easily, to try and catch some intima.
ton Of what | was expected to do. lie
was slipping his coffee. ! tasted q
morsel of bread. 1t was the old piece
dear to every country child--bread and
butter and sugar And as we sat there
slipping our coffee aud eating our
bread-somcthing like Pip and Joe
Gargery, have often thought since
my awe Of the man before me was dis
PEELED, and | told him the story o. my
husbands capture aud my sorrow with
all the simplicity and confidence thai
o daughter would speak to father
Hir. Lincoln kindly explained to
me that he could do nothing for my
husbana-th that IT was beyond his pow
er. His only hope was that parole
would take place In four weeks, and
that he would effect my husbands
exchange II he could. ! was back III
New york again that evening, and
never heard word from Mr.. Lincoln
regarding my husband again. But IL
4...& fs.u ,yaalra sy,., husband arrival