The Washington times., 1911-06-03

ed, what he's accused OF! He can only
guessI"
THE circumstances Of the affair were
peculiar; the government was groping
largely in the dark at first, and indeed
| could only guess, too"
I'VE are not allowed to visit him In
his prison, although We are the only
| ones who love him, the only ones 10
whom he can look for help and coEl-
| fort-now when he needs comfort so
much!'
He was permitted to write to you,
was he not, under censorship"
"'OnceI-just once! And his letter, his
private letter, had been previously OPEN
ed by some meddlesome and imperti-
nent official! He wrote that he was for
hidden to speak of the matter which he
thought had brought suspicion on him.
My. dear young lady, the opening Of
letters Is a precauton which all wars
No gentleman would, insist on such
an impolite precaution" she flashed
Judge Campbell tried covertly to con-
vey to the excited girl a warning shake
of his white head. But Davis was far
too magnanimous to take offense. He
resumed:
"Bntil the government could ascertain
whether any further developments eX-
listed in the affair-whether any accom-
"Accomplices!' Her eyes blazed.
Pardon the expression" he said gent
Iy. I'm order for the government to
obtain all particulars and seize all
word of their danger and escape, 1t
| would be deemed necessary to prevent
your brother from communicating with
! anybody whomsoever."
"Ah! Then the newspapers are right
He has been accused of treason!'
The newspapers have partly guessed
the truth"
And who accuses him? What infa-
nous wretch has dared to cast this
base Islander on my brother?'
This infamous wretch, as you destg-
nate him
Some envious, creeping hypocrite, /
know, who bears him hidden grudge!
Out of his stone-gray pupils President
Davis-a trick he had-suddenly shot at
the indignant little speaker a search
rs Gen. Robert E. Lee" he finished.
1t was a cruelty unexpected bloW to
strike the poor girl; and when the Pres
ident beheld the effect upon her. his
countenance manifested the keenest re-
gret.
bell.
At the overpowering name of him who
was above all suspicion of personal mo
tive or prejudice, Della turned deathty
white. She put her hands to her eyes
fall Both men sprang forward with
soIicitude to steady the slight form.
But she caught hold of the back of
chair and supported herself by It,.
Il don't carer' walled she, utterly 10y
al to her brother still. It's false
hood, were there twenty General Lees
to accuse him."
Let us trust it is a mistake said
Jefferson Davis. Please be seated. IL
see you can hardly stand"
Della fled to woman's last resource:
She lost all her defiant manner and
grew beseeching.
but then-but then-if so terrible a
danger hangs oyer my brother, would
you be cruel enough, heartless enough,
to shut him away from us? Isn't II
only the more reason why his sister
should-should comfort him? l, VINO
love my brother dearly. ana wouIo'
and would die to save him from every
such danger and disgrace-l am FORBID
den even to see him! ,.,, av-
My poor child you are greatly az
You have a wife and family: You
love them well, l know you do! III
ever you should be shut away IN prison
facing an awful danger, wouldn't you
feel Il was hard and merciless to have
them kept from you, to nave mem
forbidden to write to you, to receive
word from you? And think how they
would feel"'
steeDed in the Impractical sentiment or
those medieval ballads WHICH ne COM
mitted so extensively to memory, SeI-
ferson Davis bore always in his heart,
under his assumed austertty, lofty
reference to womanhood which no plea
of state ever awaited to STAND agalnst.
1t was said jeeringly OF MIN py Danei,
Pollard and other hostile EDITORS. mat
he could never resist woman ms; leaI ear,
In considerable distress OF mind now,
he paced up and down the room. Judge
Camnhell turned away and blew So
norous blast upon his nose,
Exactly for that reason, muIAea
the reason that you are so devoted U
Vour brother, l hesitate to admit you to
him. II these charges are true .,,
"Ah, they are false" she cried: II
they were true, Floyd would not ce
the brother / have known
OF however, they are true, ne pa
+ientiv resumed, your brother. realiz-
ing his desperate straits. might per
suade a devoted sister sister 10 We eof have ~ no.
Vet been able to hit upon; he migat
even induce her to help him escape:
woman, young, beautiful, acconpnshsc
striving to save her brother. wouIu
more dangerous TO prlsoh OaiS
Winch as / love him she faltsred;
..TJ rather. far far rather, see Floyd
in his grave than have him CONFESS ms
q11iIt nv destroying any evidence OF tIy
ing to escape. If he even suggests such
a Course to me. promise to come ana
tell you" ,..s .o visit him
49, serurftv will the government have
that will not aid Ida him eaf 1has
tries to escape or tries to HIDE
a4ythng you may y haRF Rt this Offer. all
+bonph the while he continued closely 10
watch her. -,utinv
among our young Virginia. officers II we
ventqFed on that SAID De- he fastened thea to
sIS lc !tIS',t have been considering the
matter. You are such loyal little lit tr wSmi
an that feel sure you may pc .run &C.
not to carry messages OF trahseiee'
essary rules ,hoL,ng
Never" she exclaimed. and. ShoSlnsf
with happiness, burst into nooo Oh
There, there said the President,
pettishly. He seated himself at his desk
and began to write.
Continuation of This Story VIII BE
Found in Tomorrow Issue
of The Tlmes.)