The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-03-23

"The two children did not catch the
threat latent in that last word but
they realized the force of 1t from their
fathers look and were surprised when
he quietly said:
"'You declare yourself to he the only
man on the commission who Is ac
quainted with the facts you are pleased
to style traitorousT
"The generals lips curlcd. Have I
not said;' he asked
Something in this stern honesty
seemed to affect the father. His face
turned away, and IT was the others
voice which was next heard \ change
had taken place in it, and it sounded
almost mellow as 1t gave form to these
words
"'Alpheus, we have been friends
You shall have two weeks In which to
think over my demand and decide IL
at the end of that time you have not
returned TO domestic life. you may OK.
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.
Numbering 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 so and from that day on carried
his head higher and showed himself
more and more the master both at
home and abroad.
but he was restless, very restless
and, possibly to allay II great mental
uneasiness, lie began having some
changes made in the house. changes
which occupied much OF his time and
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
rupted by the return of his late un.
welcome guest. who kept his appoint
ment to day.
at this point in her narrative Mis-
tress Callistns voice fell and the fame
which had thrown II partial light on
her countenance, died down until |
could but family discern the secretly
inQuiring look with which she watched
me as she went on to say:
"'Reubcn and I-Reuben was her
brother-'wcre posted in the dark cor
ner under the stairs when my father
met the general at the door. We had
expected to hear high words or some
explosion of bitter feeling between
them, and hardly knew whether to be
glad or sorry when our father wei
coined his guest with the same elaDo-
rate bow we once saw him make to the
president In the grounds of the White
House. Nor could we understand what
followed. We were summoned In to
supper. Our mother was there, great
event in those days, and toasts We're
drunk, and our father proposed one to
the generals health. This Reuben
thought was an open signal of peace
and turned upon me his great round
eyes in surprise, but /, who was old
enough to notice that this toast was
not responded to and that the general
did not even touch his lips to the glass
he had lifted in compliment to our
mother, who had lifted hers, felt that
there was something terrifying rather
than reassuring in this attempt at
good fellowship Though unable t.
reason over 1t at the time, have often
done so since. and my fathers attitude
and look rs he faced this strange guest
has dwelt SO persstently in my mem
DRY that scarcely n year passes with
out the scene coming up In my dreams
with It's accompanying emotions OF
fear and perpleXity. For-pcrhaps you
know the story-that hour was the
generals last He died before leaving
the house-dled in that same dark Ii
brary concerning which you have
asked so many questions.
"T remember the circumstances wei
how well!-dOwn to each and every
detail Our mother had gone back Il
her room, and the general and my ia
Their, who did not linger over thcil
wine-why should they when the gen
eral would not drink?-had withdraw
to the library at the suggestion of thu
general. whose last words are yet lin
gering in my ears.
"The time has come for our little
talk said he. Your reception augurs'-
lyon do not look WELL my fathe
here broke in in what seemed an I'm
naturally loud voice. Come and 81
down
"'Here the door closed
eve had hung about this door, cur
Gus children that we were, In hopes o
catching glimpse of the queer neN
settle which had been put into plac
that day. But we sCampered away a
this and were playing in and out OF tn
halls tChcn the library door again opehc
and my father came out,
""Where'S SGmJo" he cried. "Teil mn
to carry glass Of Cinc TO the general
do not like his looks, am going upStah
for some medicine" This he whispered I
Choked tones as he set foot on the starr