The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-09-29

tant commission which brought them
into diplomatic relations with England.
1t was while serving on this commits
sion that the sudden break occurred
which ended all intimate relations be-
tween them and created change in
her father that was equally remarked
at home and abroad. What occasioned
this break no one knew. Whether his
great ambition had received some check
through the Jealousy of this so called
friend-a supposition which did not
seem possible. as he rose rapidly after
this--or on account of other causes
darlily limited at by his contemporaries,
but never breaking into open gossip,
he was never the same man aftcrward.
His children. who used to rush with
etitsion to greet him. now shrank into
corners at his step or slid behind half
open doors. whence they peered with
fearful interest at his tall figure, pac-
ing in moody silence the halls of his
ancestral home or sitting with frown-
ing brows over the embers dying away
on the great kearthstone Of his famous
library.
''Their mother. who was an invalid.
did not share these terrors. The fa-
ther was ever tender of her, and the
only smile they ever saw on his face
came with his entrance into her dark
ened room.
"Such were Callista Moores first
memories. Those which followed We're
more definite and much more startling
President Jackson. who had n high
opinion of her fathers ability. advanced
him rapidly. Finally a position was
given him which raised him into ma
tional prominence. AS this had been
the goal of his ambition for years, he
was much gratified by this appoint
ment. and, though 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 un-
expected visit from his once dear but
long estranged companion in arms, his
daughter, even after long years of
constant brooding upon this subject.
darcS not decide If she could she
might be happier.
"The general was kindly man, sharp
of fnce and of a tall, thin figure, but
with an eye to draw children and make
them happy with a look. But his ef-
feet on the father was different. From
the moment the two met in the great
hall below the temper Of the host be-
trayed how little he welcomed this
guest. He did not fail in courtesy
the Moores are always gentlemen
but ii was hard courtesy. which cut
while ii hattered. The two children.
shrinking from its edge without know
Ing what it was that hurt them. skunk
to covert and from behind the two pill
lars which marked rhe entrance to the
library watched the two men ms they
walked up and down the halls discuss
!gg ths r1erits 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 SEN
fences which passed between the so
called friends, and. though these neccs-
sarily conveyed but little meaning TO
their childish minds. the words form
ting them were never forgotten, as wit
uess these phrases conlided to me H.
Mistress Callista twenty-five years aft
erward.
"'You have much that most men
| lack remarked the general as they
paused to admire some little specimen
of Italian art which had been lately
received from Genoa. You have mon
ey-too much money, Moore, by an
amount | might easily name-a home
which some might call palatial, a love
| ly If not altogether healthy wife, two
fine children and all the honor which
n man in commonwealth like this
should ask for. Drop politics.
"'Politics is my life,' was the cold
response. TO bid me drop 1t is to
bid me commit suicide Then, as an
afterthought to which a moment of
intervening silence added emphasis,
And for you to drive me from il would
be an act little short of murder
"'Justice dealt upon traitor is not
murder was the stern and unyielding
reply. by one black deed of treacher,
GUS barter and sale, of which none OF
your countrymen Is cOgnizant but my.
self, you have forfeited the confidence
of this government. Were /, who sc
unhappily surprised your secret, to al
low you to continue in your presen,
place OF trust, / myself would be q
traitor to the republic for which have
fought and for which ! am ready tc
die. That Is why l ask you to resign
before
"The two children did not catch the
threat latent in that last word, but
they realized the force of IL from theil
fathers look and were surprised wheI
he quietly said:
"'You declare yourself to be the only
man on the commission who il ac
quainted with the facts you are pleased
to style traitorousr
"The generals lips curled. Have
not said? he asked.
Something in this stern honesty
seemed to affect the father. His face
turned away, and it was the other,
voice which was next heard. A change
had taken place in II, and 1t sounded
almost mellow as 1t gave form to thes'
! words:
"'Alpheus, we have been friends
You shall have two weeks In which t.
think over my demand and decide. Il
ut the end of that time you have no