The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-24

Have l not told them what 1 will
| do?" cried the General Must l be
out of my bed O. nights to tell them
again? No; let these would-be tTea
son-mongers proceed as they see their
way. Besides, TO hang the right man
now may save the lives of later thou
sands"
This was said for my ear alone; to
no other would the General so much
as give one look of yea or nay.
While the General would be the
sphinx over Notification, prudent re-
bellionists argued for a waiting STRAIT
egg. There would dawn the annivers-
airy of Jeffersons birthday; there
would come that dinner at the Indian
! Queen; the Generals conduct if not
his words on that occasion must sure
ly tell his story of decision. Should
he remain away, they would know he
| feared to face them. Should he be
present, they would try him with toasts
of treason and mark his manner under
fire. They would ask him for a senti-
ment; what he said or did in retOrt
might give them every needed glimpse.
Decidedly, it was wise to wait; Seces-
Sion would keep; in the name of ones
neck and a rope, proceedings might
better be stayed until those toast eX-
periments on the General were given a
chance.
The General was we'll enough pleas
ed with this uncertainty whereof he
now found himself the hub. He guard
ed his words, left every man to grope
out his own path for himself, and the
days coursed on with the unanswered
question of the Generals determination
in their mouth. Thus dwelt the bust
ness on that day of April from the de-
velopments whereof so much was to
hoped.
For the prior space of eight weeks
or more the General had said little to
me of that banquet planned of multi
fers to uncover him on those topics
of perilous statecraft. Seeing his taste
to be mysterious, l would say nothing
to the General, whether to ask a
question or give a hint of conduct, but
left him to himself. l knew what he
would do; and for the detail of how
he would go upon its execution, 1 was
the more willing to miss a forecast of
it since l have "a weakness for the un-
known and am as prone as any other
to save up surprise for myself. Where
fore, l might have the General make
his own maps and design his own
ambuscades, and leave me in blindness
of them. On that April morning 1
owned no sure knowledge that the Cen
eral would even attend the banquet,
TO say naught of what he might do or
say if ever he once were there.
1t was middle of the afternoon when
I the General looked into my workshop,
pipe in mouth, and said with a twinkle
in his eye, a twinkle that was both
lnirthful and hard: Major, l take it
you and l will go to that dinner to-
night?"
The General would put this as though
it were a question; not because it stood
unsettled and unsaid as a thing re-
solved, but it was the way of him
when he would pay you a compliment
1 to pretend a consultation, and coax
you into a council, hoping you would
advise those things ne was already
resolved upon like iron and which were
often half performed.
For all | was aware of this talent
on the Generals part to be polite
and was certain, when he glanced in
through my door, that both of us would
be of the band about those Indian
| Queen tables, l was quick to hIfrnor
his whim for the mysterious and I'M
decided. 1 looked up as one who turns
a new proposal on the wheel of his
| thoughts.
1T is my idea" said l at last, with
the air of man who likes the notions
flavor, that your presence would work
for good. | should say we might bet
ter go. We may count the enemy,
and that at least should be something"
You are right" returned the Gem
, eral. I'VE will go; and think, too,
1t might be- good policy to let the
| foe count us"
The Indian Queen was a crowded
hosiery that night. The halls and
waiting rooms of the tavern We're
thronged of eminent ones. Some were
present to attend the Jefferson din
ner; others casually for gossip and to
| hear the news.
As the General and 1 would be going
up the stair, my eye was caught by
the heavy shoulders and lion face of
Webster coming down.
There's too much Secession in the
wind for me-" remarked Webster, as
the General asked if he were going
away.
You did not leave the Senate for
that" responded the General. IF Sc
cession be here, it's a reason for re-
naming"
Webster shrugged his big shoulders
and went on.
AS l gazed at the group-waitinr.
they were, for the opening of the BAN
quet hall met many a great face.
Among those about the stair-head and
in the rooms beyond were Col. john
son of Kentucky, tall of form, grave
of eye, he who slew Tecumseh; Benton.
big, pompous, wise but with a bot
IOmleSS COncelti the lean Rufus ChOate
eloquent and sound; Corwin, round
humorous, with a face of ruddy fun.
/ White, the dignifed, in the Senate
from my own state of Tennessee; Hill.
gray and lame the Generals friend i'm
New Hampshire; Noah, my Hebrew
with red hair; Van Buren,, Pegs good
little secretary of state: Vaughn. the
British minister; the quick-eyed Amos
Kendall, with Blair by his side: the
recreant Duff Green, now wholly for
Calhoun; Calhoun himself, pale schol-
arly and fine; Huygens. that minis
terial tubby parsonage, ginbleary and
dull; Krudener, the Russian; Eaton
| easy, fiorid. urbane Branch and Der,
rien and Barry and Ingham and the
reckless Marcy.
The dinner was spread. The decora-
tons were studied in their democracy.
Hundreds of candles from many-arned
iron branches blazed about the plain
walls of the room and made the light
OF day. For the rest. the hall was
! hung with flags. The stars and stripes.
to be centerpiece, was draped about
/ a portrait OF Jefferson just to the rear
Of the place where Lee Of Virginia,