The San Francisco call., 1904-02-14


Tom knew where Elizabeth Carewe
knelt each morning; he stepped softly
through the shadowy silence to her
place, knelt. and rested his head upon
the rail of the bench before him.
The figure at the a1tar raised itself
after a time and the old woman limped
slowly up side aisle. Tnumbling her
formulas, courtesying to the painted
saints, on her way out. The very thin
est lingerings of incense hung on the
air, seeming to Tom like the faint odor
that might exhale from a heavy wreath
of marguerites, worn in dark brown
hair. Yet. the place held nothing but
peace and goodwill. And he found
nothing else in his own heart
The street was quiet when he
emerged from that lorn vigil; the cor
ner groups had dissolved; shouting
youths no longer patrolled the side
walks. Only one quarter showed signs
of life; the little club house, where the
windows still shone brightly, and
whence came the sound of many voices
settling the destinies of the United
States of America. Thither Tom bent
his steps thoughtfully. and with
quiet mind. There was small veran-
da at the side Of the house: here he
stood unobserved to look in upon his
noisy and agitated friends.
They were all there, from the old gen.
eral and Mr.. Bareaud, to the latter's
son, Jefferson, and young Frank Cheno-
weth. They were gathered about a big
table upon which stood a punch bowl,
and Trumble, his brow as angry red as
the liquor in the cup he held, was pro-
posing health to the President in a
voice of fury.
I'm spite of all the Crailey Grays and
traitors this side of helll" he finished
politely.
Crailey emerged instantaneously from
the general throng and mounted
chair. tossing his light hair. back from
his forehead, his eyes sparkling and
happy. You find your own friends
already occupying the place you men
toned, do you, General?" he asked.
General Trumble stamped and shook
his fist. You're spawn of Aaron
Burr!" he vociferated. There's not a
man here to stand by your Internal
doctrines. You sneer at your own State.
you sneer at your own country, you de-
file the sacred ground! What are you,
by the Almighty, who attack your ma
tive land in this, her hour of peril!"
Peril to my native 1andi" laughed
Crailey. From Santa Anna?"
THE generals right, SIR" exclaimed
the elder Chenoweth Indignantly, and
most of the listeners appeared to agree
with him. TITS a poor time to abuse
the President when he's called for vol
unteers and our country is in danger,
sirl"
Who is in danger?" answered Graf
ley, lifting his hand to still the clamor
of appreciation that arose. rs Polk In
danger? Or Congress? But that would
be too much to hope! Do you expect to-
see the Greasers In Washington? No,
you idiots, you don't, Yet there'll be
plenty of men to suffer and die; and the
first should be those who thrust this
war on us and poor little Mexico: but
1T won't be they; and men who'll do
the fighting and dying will be the coun-
try boys and the like of us from the
towns, while Mr.. Polk sits planning at
the White House how he can get elected
again. 1 wish Tom were here, confound
you! You listen to him. because he al
ways has the facts and I'm just an en-
broiderer, you think What's become
of the gaudy campaign cry you were
all wearing your lungs out with a few
months ago? 'Fifty-f -four-forty or fight!
Bah! Polk twisted the lions tail with
that until after election. Then he saw
he had to make you forget 1t, or fight
England and be ruined, so he forces
war on Mexico. and the country does
forget it. That's 1t; he asks three regi-
ments of volunteers from this State to
die of fevers and get shot, so that he
can steal another country and make
his own elect him again. And you ask
me to drink the health of the politician
who sits at home and sends his fellow
men to die to fix his rotten jobs for
him?" Crailey had persuaded himself
into such earnestness, that the depth
of his own feeling almost choked him,
but he finished roundly in his beauti-
full, strong voice: "I'll drink for the
good punch's sake-but that health?-
I'll see General Trumble in heaven be-
fore TIL drink itl"
There arose at once a roar of anger
and disapproval, and Crailey became a
mere storm center amid the upraised
hands gesticulating madly at him as
he stood. smiling again. upon his chair.
This comes of living with Tom Van
revel" shouted the general furiously.
This is his damned abolition teaching!
You're only his echo; you spend half
your life playing at being vanrevel!",
Where is Vanrevel?" said Tapping
ham Marsh.
"Ay, where is he!" ragged Trumble,
hammering the table till the glasses
rang. Let him come and answer for
his own teaching: it's wasted time to
talk to this one; he's only the pupil.
Where is the traitor?"
Here" answered voice from the
doorway; and though the word was
spoken quietly it was, nevertheless, at
that juncture, silencing. Every one
turned toward the door as vanrevel
entered. But the apoplectic general,
whom Crailey's speech had stirred to a
fury beyond control, almost leaped at
Toms throat.
Here's the tea-sipping old granny"