The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-25

bed by daylight until he came to die.
On the lounge, and, as he declared,
much uplifted of health, Augustus and
l left him, with the whisky easily at
hand in event of over-creeping faint
ness.
After the lapse of an hour return
ed. There lay that upon me which,
as l saw the future, it was proper
enough should be said to the General.
And since he was like to oppose my
counsel, as folk commonly do what is
patent for their peace. sticking as
stoutly for the seeds of trouble as
though they were indeed the seeds
of righteousness 1 reckoned aid per-
haps from his present weak, low state.
He would lack somewhat his Vivacity,
and might be drawn with less of strug-
gle to my manner of thought.
Thus abode the coil: 1t was the
evening before when the General told
me how he would propose Eaton to
be his Secretary of War, and asked
my view 1 had withheld opinion at
the time, my caution evoking a dull
flare of that heat-lightning of the Gen
erals temper, which last commodity
was never deeply in allegiance. l would
tell him later, 1 said; and following a
the sluggishness of my friendship for
Eaton-for that gentleman and 1 for
long had been friends-the subject was
for the moment at rest. Now was the
time ripe to DISPUTE this question with
him; so 1 bethought, as l wended to-
wards his door,
Coming to his chamber I tapped, and
then pushed in without wait, as was
my wont. The windows were to the
west, here at this hour the sun should
have been but such was the veil of
fog without that the day seemed al
ready spent and sinking into twilight.
The great fire on the hearth-hon-
est, cracking logs to feed it, since the
General would tolerate no less-set the
room, in a bloom of light that came
close to marking the candle that burn
ed at his elbow a profiigacy He had
lifted himself from the sofa where
augustus and I placed him, and was
seated before a little table. On it,
propped against the Vicar of Wake
field" book whereof he never tired,
stood a miniature of his wife.
Throughout the day he wore this little
painting beneath his garments and
hung about his neck by a black cord.
His wife had given it him in the old
days and when their love was new.
Each night, when folk pray and con
the Bible he would have this picture
before him; and with it her hymn
book to read her favorite songs. This
was his devotion-his worship: it was
as though he communed with her. his
Saint Rachel, on the work of the day
and its duties. To the time of his
death he did this: and for whatever
was good of his performing he would
lay it to these conferences, sweet at
once and sad. when in the dusk bor-
derlands of day and night he met and
talked with the soft shadow of his
hearts own.
AS 1 came into the room the Cen
eral raised his eyes. They were tear
brimmed and he made no shift to hide
them.
Major" he said with trembling lip,
gazing the while on the miniature,
"she strove to make me a Christian.
I gave her my promise to become a
Christian. And so 1 shall when once
I'm done with office and back again
at home. 1 would become one now,
were it within the domain of what
might be. But who is he who could
unite politics and Christ? I'm no hypo-
critic, Major: YOU know that! You
know what a politician is; you know
what a Christian should be. No man
may be both. Major: no man may be
both"
you are not politician" I retort-
ed. "You are a President"
This I got off with n gruff air of
harshness, not, however. because it
drew true distinction. I sought to
call him from his present mood. The
General was unusual in so far that
a best step towards comforting him
was to irritate him. In his breast he
loved collision, and might even leave
mourning for war.
IT am a president and not a poll
II rNI.s
And, pray, when is a president not a
Politician"
With a deprecatory gesture I dis
missed the point.
Let that remain" I replied, "as a
question wherewith to rack some fur
Their moment. 1 came for another mat
ter" The General turned a keen eye
your portfolio of war" I contin I'd.
Have you considered what objection
might be lodged against such course %
GO on" he said.
General, I misdoubt the wisdom of
the step. I will make my word plain.
There is none to be more the friend
of Eaton than myself. none to respect
him more. But, sir. you are aware of
what folk saw"
"And what do folk say?" Anger
stood red on the brow of the General
as banner is flung from a battle
ment. what do folk say?"
you should consider coolly. Cen
eral," I went on. Ever cool myself,
it was for that the General valued my
counsel. You know this tale as we'll
as I. 1t has been told me more than
once within four days. Light and
Misunderstanding the beautiful Peg
O'Neal grows up, the daughter of this
very tavern that shelters us. She weds
Timberlake, the purser. He is here:
then he is at sea. The girlish Peg is
still a girl. She goes to rout and ball:
she is gay and high and does not nope
and wear demure half-weeds as good
opinion holds one should whose love is
on the sea among the storms. There
come whisper and nod and innuendo-
the pot of Washington scandal, they
tell me. is made easily to boil. Then
in the Mediterranean Undertake cuts
his throat; and next, as one who makes
sure work. leaps overheard into fifty
fathoms. The beautiful Peg does not
become distinguished for her grief.
This, and the throat-cutting, augment
talk, and tongues wag doubly. With
in the year thereafter. and not two
months ago, she and our friend Eaton
are wed. Gossip gains a new impulse:
heads nod and there are wise leers 1
put this to you, General, with a rude
coarseness almost ferocious: I do so
for a purpose. I put il as your enc
mics will put it when, should you call
Eaton to your cabinet, they seize on
the story to your INJURY. 1t is not
what you and I say or believe; that
is not the question. 1t is what will
your enemies tell and the world ac-
cent"
While I was talking, the General fill
ed a clay pipe; in tobacco he found