The Irish standard., 1896-05-16


81 extending His lonely yvallss the
Vicinity Of 5 foreign ation. OF ii b.
ing lifted with . certain expectationsat
the sight Of its Iiveries on the avenue.
I There was craving for sympathy "a
his heart, which Miss Faulkners let
ter had awakened. d. II ss9E.s: q
Meantime he had reported himself Tor
duty ct the war department, with little
hope, however, ii that formality. But
he was sur rised the next day when
!, the chief OF the bureau informed him
that his claim was before the presi-
dent. 4. RI, - 3 ss.= .ss.
Il was not aware that I had present
ed any claim he said . little haugh-
tily.
The bureau chief looked up with
some surprise, This quiet, patient. re-
served man had once or twice puzzled
him before. Perhaps I should say
case general" he said, drily. "But
the personal interest sof the highest
executive in the land strikes me as be-
ing desirable in anything
81 only mean that I have obeycd the
orders Of the department in reporting
myself here, now and before" said
Brant. with less feeling, but none the
less firmness, sand should imagine It
was not the duty of q soldier to ques-
ton them, which fancy q claim or .
case would imply"
He had no idea Of taking this atti-
tude before, but the disappointments6f
the past month, added to this first Off
cial notice of his disgrace, had brought
forward again that logged, reckless.
vet half-seornful, determination that
was part Of his nature.
The official smiled. "I suppose, then,
you are waiting to hear from the presi-
dent" he said, drily.:
IL am waiting orders from the de-
part1nent,' returned Brant quietly,
''but whether they originate in the
president OF commander in chief, or
not, it does not seem for me to inquire .
Even. when he reached his hotel this
half savage Indifference which, had
taken the place Of his former incerti-
tude had not changed 1t seemed to
his life where he was no longer re-
sponsible, but could wait superior alike
to effort or expectation. And it was
with merely dispassionate curiosity
that he found a note the next morning
from the presidents private secretary
informing him that the president
would see him early that day. ::
" I. .rI
through the public room of the white
house to a more secluded part of the
household. The messenger stopped be-
fore modest door and knocked. 1t
was opened by a tall figure. The presi-
dent himself. He reached out q. long
arm to Brant, who took it hesitatingiy
on thesthreshold, grasped his hand and
led him into the room. Ithada single,
large, deliberately draped window, and a
magnificent medallion carpet, which
contrasted with the otherwise almost
appalling simplicity of the furniture. "A.
single, plain, angular desk, with q: blot
ting pad and q few sheets of large FOOLS
cap paper upon it, a waste paper
basket, and four plain armchairs, COM
pleted the interior, with a contrast as
simple and homely as it's long-limbed
black-coated occupant. Releasing the
hand of the general to shut the door,
which opened into another apartment,
the president showed an armchair to-
words Brant and sank somewhat wear
lily into another before the desk. But
only for moment; the long, shambling
limbs did not seem to adjust themselves
easily to the chair; the high, narrow
shoulders dropped to find a more com
Portable lounging attitude, shifted from
side to side, and the long legs moved
dispersedly. Yet the face that was
turned toward Brant was humorous
and tranquil. '- j.
II was told would have to send for
you if l wished to see. you," he said,
smilingly. H.. -. G.. ~
Already modified, and perhaps again
falling under the previous influences Of
this singular man, Brant began some
what hesitatingly to explain. u
"You don't understand. twas some
thing new to my experience here to find
an able-bodied American citizen with
genuine healthy grievance who had to
have 1t drawn from him like q decayed
tooth. But you have been here before.
I seem to remember your face"
Brant's reserve had gone. He adj
mitted that he had twice sought an au-.
dience-but-
'You lodged the dentist! That was
wrong AS Brant made a slight move
ment Of depreciation the president con-
tinued: II understand; not from the
fear of giving pain to yourself, but to
Others. / don't know that that is right,
either. A certain amount OF, pain must
be suffered in this world, even by ones
enmies. Well, I have looked into your
case, Gen. Brant." He took up piece
of paper from his desk, scrawled with
two or three notes in pencil: II think
this is the way it stands: You were
commanding position 81 Gray Oaks,
when information was received by the
department that either through neglect
or completely, spies were passing
through your lines. There was no at
tempt to prove your neglect; your or
de,s, the facts OF. your personal care
and precaution, were all before the de-
partment; but it was also shown that
your wife, from whom you were only
temporarily separated, was a notorious
secessionist; that before the war you
yourself were suspected, and that there
fore you were quite capable Of evading
your own orders which you may have
only rixen as a hind On this infnrma-