The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-01
(Continues from Last Sundays News.)
CHAPTER II.
PORT WINE DUFF AND PIGEON
BREAST.


Duff Green was a round, insincere
self-seeking, suave, smooth, porpoise-
body of a parsonage, small of eye, haii
nge-streaked, a port wine voice, wide
mouth and nose of friendly hue. He
had come TO town the year before, poor
and modest, and bartered himself into
possession of the Telegraph, leading
journal of the capital. He prospered
and prosperity had swollen him. MOI
was he without some uncture OF
shrewdness; for he owned the wit in
the late elections to support the Gen
eral, and now would wax pompous and
come forward because of it. 1 did
not like him, holding him selfish and
withal weak; besides, his affable COM
placency offended me.
The General would defend Duff
Green, although / am sure he had his
measure from the start. The General
retorting to my charge of selhshness
and vanity, would say: "Of course,
Duf's selfish; that's why l enjoy him.
like selfish folk: they are easy to un-
derstand, easy to start or stop One
has but to bait his trap with their in
terest, and, presto! there they are in
the morning caught sharp and fast for
his use. And again, your selfish folk
suft1ces your disinterested folk with
truly love you This was one of the
Generals efforts at sarcasm, and deliv-
cred with the SLY flicker of smile.
But the SNUG vanity of Duff Green!"
/ would urge. Il could wish you half
so tremendous as he deems himself"
"Fie! Major, fie." would be the re-
ply; vanity is the powder in the gun.
the impulse that sends the bullet
home. 1t is the sails of the ship and
the reason of motion to that hull of
merit which might make no voyage
without. Vanity has won more battles
than patriotism; wanting vanity Gaze
sar would have crossed no Rubicon,
and Napoleon would have begun, not
ended with Waterloo"
This fashion of bicker fell often forth
between the General and myself; in
deed, we were in frequent disagree
ment, he being one who, while hold
ing notions of his own wisdom, was
withal much imposed against by pre-
lenses on the false parts of men whom
l saw through as through ladder; and
so l told him.
"Ah! excellent evening, Mr.. Presi-
dent excellent evening, Major!-ah!"
exclaimed Duff Green, his friendly nose
afiame, and port wine tones, satisfied
and unctuous. Coming forward, he
took first the Generals hand and then
mine. For all the warmth of his coun-
tenance, his hand had the cold feel of
a fish, and | did not, myself, insist
on its retention beyond the plain linn
its of politeness. Excellent evening,
Mr.. President" he repeated, glowing
the while, in anticipation doubtless of
public printing to come
You are not hard to suit for your
evening, Duff" returned the General,
whose fault it was to be on terms too
common with many unworthy of the
honor. "Now, / call this the scandal
lous evening of scandalous day. 1
say 'scandalous because muddy" eX-
planned the General.
In the talk to follow it developed
that the purpose of Duff Green's visit
was no more noble than to Just wiring
future patronage from the General. Es-
pecially did our caller have his watery
eye on the governorship of Florida, d
post, for its palms and orange groves
and flowers and summer seas, and may
hap the social life of St. Augustine
aristocratic and still on Spanish stills
much quested; and the reason of a
deal of court paid the General by rich
ones who, having money, hungered for
an opening to its display. Duff Green
even suggested tentatively, the name
of a certain wealthy thickskull. He
said the notable in hand was a prime
friend of Calhoun; that his selection
would be held vastly compliments
flower to his nose, indeed!-by the Vice
President.
why, sir!" observed the General,
whose familiarity diminished as the
place-hunting eagerness of the worthy
Duff Green began to gain expression;
why, sir, the man you tell of lacks
brains. 1t .cannot be; say no more.
Well find some safer way to fiatter
the Vice President than by periling
public service in the hands of weak
ling"
while the friendly nose began to
bleach; "weakling! Mr.. President this
gentleman-this friend of Calhoun-is
one of our richest people
"Why, believe he did inherit for
tune" responded the General careless
ly; "or perhaps a more proper phras-
ing would make the fortune inherit
him. But that is scant reason why
he should Inismanage a gravely impor-
tant trust. The governorship of Flor
ida is not all citron groves and mock
ing birds; there is responsible work to
do; and the territory, l tell you, shall
not be wasted by a fool. But cheer up,
Duff"--the visitor was looking blue and
the hue of friendship had quite depart
ed his nose-"cheer thou up! Per-
chance we may yet discover some office
wherein your ambitious wittol of
wealth whom the Vice President
loves!-may be great without being
dangerous.
Duff Green was no more urgent on
the point of a Florida governorsnip.
He was not so dim but he saw his
failure and accepted it with what grace
he might.
at don't know how the Vice President
may take it," he murmured at the
close.
LAS to that" said the General, and
his words fell with a suspicious sharp
ness, as from one smelling to threat;
"as to that, the Vice President must
sustain himself very patiently. l know
those who would hold OF sr conduct
on the Vice Presidents part as ex-
cessively misplaced. They might even
teach the Vice President a similar con-
clusion. You should tell him that;
since l see you act by his request and
as his agent"
Here the General looked hard at Duff
Green. Already l caught a shadow of
those jealous differences to come be-
tween the General and Calhoun-dif-
ferences that would seem, for the sep
aration of the White House and the
vice presidency, constructed of the con-
stitution. These offices never have
agreed-never have been true friends
in any administration. 1t was the less
important in this instance, since, Sc
cretly and unknown to him. Calhoun
for over a decade had been the Cen
erals enemy On that February ev-
ening which Duff Green so distinguish
ed as excellent" the General was by
no means distant from the facts dis
covery.
you do wrong, Mr.. President" fall