The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-16

on the table at which he was writing,
fell about him. On his part the tired,
light blue eyes looked their surprise
the eyes Stuart painted dark blue
THAT fading pigment might give the
color exactly right an hundred years
after. Like Meg, he thought the lady
distinguished
IT beg your pardon" he said rising.
I. sir, am Lady ASgilL'
He started; he ileSitated; he looked
at her again
Captain Asgilrs mother she added.
II have had your letters. Do be
seated" he managed to say.
wished" said she.
Il came to America, sir,-to see my
son.-to plead with you-the despot.'
You have the right to think that.
perhaps" he said now gently I
have thousand letters. Many peo-
pie have pleaded for your SON"
And? And you can let this go
on?"
Lady Asgill," but he stopped in
Meg, watching at the door, muttered
in open-mouthed wonder, The young
cap ms mother"
DO be seated, please said he, who
had not feared the battle, and who
feared the sorrow in his visitors eyes.
But she looked at him sternly. Cap
tain Asgill may die when you can pre-
VENT it. They talk Of you. you Gen
eral Washington as a great man,-as
the liberator, and you are as bad a
despot as any king
You are accusing me, madam" he
said, still gently. Il cannot blame
you. Yet every criminal has right to
defense"
She did not sob now. although there
was that dull despair in her eyes She
spoke, self-controlled, contemptuously,
accusingly:
You will say. I suppose, that his
majesty's agents can arrange the mat
ter by Furnishing those who hung Cap
tain Huddy. You always write that. :"
Yes, I could say that; I could say
I am sorry, that L
II shouldn't believe YOU
Doubtless not. [ don't expect you
to, Lady Asgill I know how horrible
this all has been-to you-the mother,
l know
She said nothing, hooking at him
with those accusing eyes. Yet perhaps
his manner, the reluctant memory of
his great fame, made her listen. He
went on now with stronger self-control
Many things [ have to do from my
position. am not free to act for my
self. I have to do as congress and
the military court managing these
cases,-as these will have me. And
yet"
"And yet-?" she began.
wait" said he 81 expect my aide
de-camp, Colonel Pemberton, every
moment.
She looked at him passionately.
General Washington, you are a
smooth-tongued demagogue. Men may
call you what they WILL
At the moment steps were in the
hall. The aide-de-camp entered, glanc-
ing curiously at the generals visitor.
Yes, Colonel Pemberton."
Your ExcellenCy, he is here with
Colonel Ferguson, the commandment. -
Colonel said Washington quietly
perhaps with a note of triumphant JUS
tif1cation- This is-Lady Asgill''
Lady Asgill!" the aide-de-camp be-
gan; Captain Asgill is below" he
added in his surprise.
She looked at them, not understand
ing. when the general continued:
81 have persuaded congress and the
this course of retaliation was mex
pedient my lady. On my way back
from Philadelphia to Newburg
stopped at Lancaster to order the com
mandant to release Captain Asgill.
am glad" His voice was thick
Your ladyship is here-at this time
DO you mean this?' she said in
credulously; and then the color began
to mount to her faded cheeks.
''Oh, sir"
A great gIadness suddenly was In
those eyes, a mother s,-a great graft
tude.
Forgive me, sir,-au I said"
81 understood, Your Ladyship, Colo
mel Pemberton, will you please to take
her ladyship-to Captain AsgiH?"
eff you will, sir?" Lady Asgill said.
Her voice broke.
"If your ladyship will allow me-
Pemberton began, leading the way.
Tell Ferguson to wait" said the
chief. Lady Asgill and Captain AS
gill may wish to see me first"
81 understand, your excellency."
AS their steps sounded the general
looked at the papers strewn on the
table. Other matters were perplexing
him, problems of national policy. The
victory was gained over England be-
yond peradventure. But could the
United States govern themselves? All
much was to be done yet! so much.
He found himself longing for the field
That was easier after all. His mem
DRY went back over the days and
nights of defeat when nobody believed
in him; when he seemed about to yield
all; but he wouldn't. he couldn't. And,
now, he had succeeded. Achievement
lay behind: war was over, and quick
action; only to leave other problems,
of curbing the army, of making these
different state interests identical. The
blue eyes were wearier; he longed for
Mount Vernon, and his study, and the
horses and the dogs, and the accounts
of the. estate, all the dear, quiet life OF
the Virginian gentleman.
@Lady Asgill, your excellency,
Colonel Pem.berton announced ait the
door. "and Captain Asgill."