The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-03-16

which ended all intimate relations be.
tween them and created n change I'm
her father that was equally remarked
at home and abroad. What occasloned
this break no one knew Whether his
great ambition had received some check
through the jealousy of this so called
frend-a supposition which did not
seem possible. as he rose rapidly after
thIs-or on account of other causes
dnrkly limited at 10y his contemporaries,
but never breaking into open gossip.
he was never the same man afterward.
His children, who used to rush with
effuslOn to greet him, now shrank into
corners ut his step or slid behind half
open doors whence they pcercd with
fearful interest ut his tall figure, pac.
ing in moody silence the halls of his
ancestral home or sitting with frown.
ing browS over the CmherS dying away
on the great heurthStone of his famous
library
Their mother. who was an invalid.
did not share these tcrrors. The fa.
Their was ever tender Of her. and the
only smile they ever saw on his face
encd room
"SuCh were Cnlllsta Moore's first
memories. Those which followed were
more definite and much more startling.
| President Jackson. who had n high
opinion of her fathers ability, advanced
| him rapidly Finally position was
| given him which raised him into ma
| tionnl prominence. AS this had been
| the goal of his ambition for years. he
was much gratiiicd by this appoint.
ment, and, though his smiles came no
more frequently. his frowns lightcncd
and from being positively threatening
became simply morosc.
"Why this morUScncss should have
shnrpcned into menace after an un.
expected visit from his once dear but
long estranged companion in arms, his
daughter, even uftcr long years OF
constant broodng upon this subject,
darcs not 'ccidc. II she could she
might be happier.
The general was kindly man. sharp
of face AMI of n tall, thin figure, but
with an eye TO draw children and make
item happy with look. But his eff.
f'ct on the father was different. From
the moment the two met In the great
hail l,,yw the temper of the host be.
! tray,. how little he welcomed this
guest. lie did not fail In courtesy
the Moorcs are always gentlemen
but it was II hard courtesy, which cut
while 1t ilattered. The two children
shrinking from its edge without know.
ing what IL was that hurt them. skunk
to covert ana from behind the two pil.
lars which marked the entrance to the
librarE watched the two men ms they
walked mp and down the halls discuss.
Ing the merits 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 neces
sarily conveyed but little meaning to
their childish minds, the words form
ing them were never forgotten, as wit
ness these phrases contidcd to me by
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 ar
amount | might easily name-a home
which some might call palutial. n love
ly If not altogether healthy wife. two
fine children and all the honor which
a man in commonwealth like this
should ask for. DROP politics.
"'Polltlcs Is my llfe,' was the colo
response. TO bid me drop 1t is t.
bid me commit suicide Then, as ar
afterthought to which moment Of
intervening silence added emphasis
And for you to drive me from 1t woul'
be an act little short OF murder
".Justice dealt upon a traitor il no
murder was the stern and unyieldini
reply. by one black deed Of PREACHER
Gus barter and sale. of which none o
your cOuntrymen Is cognlzant but my
self. you have forfeited the COniidenc
OF this government. Were |. who S
unhnpplly surprised your secret, 10 al
low you to continue In your presen
, place OF trust. myself would be
traitor TO the republic for which hav
fought and for which | am ready I
, die That Is why ask you to reslg
before
ITO be continued