The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-07

dent Jackson, who had a high opinion OF
her fathers ability, advanced him rapidly.
Finally position was given him which
| raised him into national prominence. AS
this had been the goal Of his ambition
| for years, he was much gratifed by this
appointment, and tho his smiles came no
more frequently. his frowns lightened. and
from being positively threatening, became
simply morose.
"Why this moroseness should have
sharpened into menace after an unexpect-
ed visit from his once dear, but long es-
tranged companion in arms. his daughter
even after long years of constant brood
ing upon this subject, dares not decide.
If she could she might be happier.
The general was a kindly man, sharp
of face and of tall thin figure, but with
an eye to draw children and make them
happy with a look. But his effect on the
| father was different. From the moment
the two met in the great hall below, the
temper Of the host betrayed how little he
welcomed this guest He did not fail in
courtesy-the Moores are always gentle
men-but it was a hard courtesy, which
cut while it flattered. The two children,
| shrinking from its edge without knowing
| what it was that hurt them, skunk
to covert and from behind the two
pillars which mark the entrance to the
| library, watched the two men as they
walked up and down the halls discussing
| the merits of this and that detail of the
! freshly furnished mansion. These two
| innocent, but eager spies. whom fear
rather than curiosity held in hiding.
| even caught some of the sentences which
passed between the so-called friends; and
tho these necessarily conveyed but little
| meaning to their childish minds, the
| words forming them were never forgotten,
| as witness these phrases confided to me
! by Mistress Callista twenty-five years
| afterward.
|
! remarked the general as they paused to
admire some little specimen of Italian art
| which had been lately received from
| Genoa. You have money-too much
money, Moore, by an amount I might
easily name-a home which some might
call palatial, lovely, if not altogether
healthy wife. two fine children, and all
the hoHr which man in common
wealth H. this should ask for. Drop
politics..
Politics are my life,' was the cold re-
| spouse. TO bid me drop them is to bid
| me commit suicide Then as an AFTER
thought of intervening silence added en-
| phas1s, And for you to drive me from
them would be an act little short Of muir
| der
Justice dealt upon a traitor is not
murder was the stern and unyielding
! reply. BY one black deed of treacherous
barter and sale, of which none Of your
countrymen is cognizant but myself, YOU
have forfeited the confidence of this gov
eminent. Were I, who so unhappily sur
prlsed your secret, to allow you to con-
tlnue IN your present place of trust I
| myself would be traitor to the republic
Tor Which 1 have fought and for which I
| am ready to die. That Is why ask YOU
| to resign before,
The two children did not catch the
threat latent in that last word, but they
realized the force of it from their fathers
| look and were surprised when he o,lietlv
said 80, )''
You declare yourself to be the on1v
man on the commission who is acquainted
| Win the facts you are pleased to-. STYLE
traitorous?' -. -.l-..,0' =
The generals lips curled. Have I not
said?' he asked .. -
something In this stern honesty
| seemed to affect the father His face
turned away, and it was the others voice
which was next heard. A change had
taken place in it and it sounded almost
mellow as 1t gave form to these words:
.Alpheus, we have been friends You
shail nave two weeks in which to think
over my demand and decide If at the
END OF that time you have not returned to
domestic life you may expect another visit
from me which can not fail Of conse.
quences. You know my temper when
reused. DO not force me into a position
which Will cause us both endless regret
Perhaps the father answered: perhans
ne did not. The children heard nothIne
further, but they witnessed the gloom with
which he rode away to the White House
the next day. Remembering the generals
threat, they Imagined in their childish
hearts that their father had gone to give
up his post and newly acquired honors
But ne returned at night without havine
done SO. and from that day on carried hiS
head higher and showed himself more and
more the master. both at home and abroad
But ne was restless, very restless. and
|poss1bly to allay great mental upea siness
ne began having some changes made in
the house; changes which occupied no,,cl
OF his time and with which he neve,
seemed satisfied. Men working one day
were dismissed the next and others calleG
IN until this work and everything else was
interrupted by the return of his late in
welcome guest, who kept his appointment,
to a day. :, -
At this point In her narrative Mistress
Call1sta's voice fell and the flame uricI
had thrown a partial light on her connie
nance died down until could but faintI,
discern the secretly inquirinC look witt
which she watched me as she went on +,
say: - O w y
" Reuben and I,-Reuben was he
orother-'were posted in the dark corne
under the stairs when my father met tn,
general at the door. We had expected :,
hear high words ~. so,,,o ex-,>Ia.;e..r :, ,.