The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-01

lack, remarked The general as they
paused % odmire some little specimen
OF italian art which had been lately
reteiyed from Genoa. You have mon
ry too much money Moore. by an
amount might easily name-a home
which soiae might call palntial love
ly if not altogether healthy Wife. two
line children and all the honor which
% man 10 commonwealth like this
should ask for Drop politics
Politics is my life.' was the cold
response To bid me drop II is to
bid nae commit suicide Then. as an
afterthought 10 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 a traitor is not
murder was the stern and unyleldlng
reply BY one black deed OF treacher-
Gus barter and sale. OF which none OF
your eountrymen Is cognizant but my.
self you have forfeited the confidence
OF this government Were |. who so
unhappiiy surprised your secret, 70 Az.
low you to continue In your present
place Of trust ! myself would be a
traitor to the republic for which have
fought and for which 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 quietly said.
"'YOu declare yourself to be the only
man on the commission who is ac-
quainted with the facts you are pleased
TO style traitorousY
"The generals lips curled. Have I
not saldT be asked
Something ia this stern honesty
seemed to affect the father. His face
turned away. and Il was the others
voice which was next henrd A change
had taken place In IT, and Il sounded
almost mellow as Il gave form to these
words.
"'Alpheus, we have been friends.
You shall have two weeks in which to
think over my demand and decide II
at the end OF that time you have not
returned to domestic life. you may ex-
pect another visit from me which can
not fail OF consequences. You know
my temper when reused DO not force
me into position which will cause US
both endless regret
Perhaps the father answered; per
baps he did not The children heard
nothing further. but they witnessed the
gloom with which he rode away TO
the White House the next day. Re
membering the generals threat. they
imagined in their childish hearts that
their father had gone to give up his
post and newly acquired honors. But
he returned at night without having
done 80 and from that day on carried
his head higher and showed bimself
more aud more the master both at
home aud abroad.
But he was restless. very restless,
and, possibly TO allny a great mental
unensness. he began having some
changes made In the house. changes
which occupied much Of his time aud
with which he never seemed satisfied
Men working one day were dismissed
the next and others called in until this
work and everything else was inter
rupied by the return OF his late un
welcome guest. who kept his appoint
ment to day.
"At this point I'm her narrative Mis-
trcss Callista's voice fell and the hame
which bad thrown a partial light on
\ her couutenance, died down until
/ could but faintiy discern the secretly
/ me as she went on to say.
Reuben ana r--Reuben was her
/ brother-'wer posted I'm the dark cor
ncr under the stairs when my father
met the general at the door We had
expected to hear high words or som,
explosion OF bitter feeling between
them, and hardly knew whether 10 b'
glad or sorry when our father wei
coined his guest with the same elabO
rate bow we once saw him make 10 th,
president in the grounds Of the Whit,
House. Nor could we understand wha
followed We were summoned In q
supper Our mother was there, a grea
event In those days, ana tonsts were
drunk, and our father proposed one q
the generals health This Reuber
thought was an open signal Of peace
and turned upon me his great rounC
eyes in surprise but /, who was oil
enough 10 notice that this toast wn'
not responded 10 and that the genera
did not even touch his lips 20 the glas
be had lifted In compliment 10 on
mother, who had lifted hers, felt tina
there was something terrifying rathe
than reassuring IN this attempt "a
good fellowship. Though unable Il
reason oyer II at the time, / have Otter
done 80 since. and my fathers attitud
and look ms he faced this strange CUES
has dwclt so persistcntly in my mem
ory that scarcely q year passes with
ont the scene coming mp in my dream
with ms accompanying emotions o
fear ana perpleXity. For-perhaps yol
know the story that hour was th
generals last He died before lcavinl
the house died I'm that same dark n
brary concerning which you hay
asked so many questions
''I remember the circumstances wei
how well.-down 20 each and ever
detail our mother had gone back q
her room and the general ana my IN
thcr who did not lingcr over thei
wine why should they when the gen
eral would not drink f-had withdraw
10 the library at the suggestion Of th
general whose last words are yet DIN
r..sfs.s. fr. mao ..anr