The Washington times., 1911-06-02
CHAPTER VII.
President Davis Has a Caller


LMOST any day during the
u great war, had one walked down
Bank street in Richmond, and
entered the new stone building
erected by the Federal Government for
customs house; gone down the dark
corridors, whose clappIng doors vented
brief ViStaS OF the crowded treasury
rooms where the mOribund Contederacy
was porlnS out the ceaseless Hood of
II; climbed the stairs past guards, bril-
Lantly aCCOutered sides, noisy polti-
clans, oftice-seekerS, and harmless
CrankS with wonderful plans to reveal
or liquid fire of suffocating gases; and
had he been permitted to enter a GER
tain room overlooking the square and
the grimy old State capitol, he might
have stood in the presence of the Soul
of the ConfederaCy.
The room was plainly. even meagerly,
furnlshed-a table, few chairs, a
carpet worn htreadbare. From the win
dow might be seen, among the green
foliage of shady Capitol Square, the
colossal bronze statue of George Wash
inStOn on a granite pedestal, its arm
uOtnung in mute warning straight to
the penitcntiary.
At the table in an erect attitude was
seated a Clean-Shaven man about fifty
nNe years OF age, whose expression .
repose was alert and calm, but sorrow
full. His clear features retained GER
tain auStere Comeliness, although in
cessant toll, illness, and excitement had
wasted him almost to cmaCiauon. His
thick hair, once black, was much griZz-
led; his cheeks were followed, leaving
the cheekbones prominent; and his
whole face was furrowed by a network
of lines and wrinkles, especially around
his thin. sensitive lips, which he held
firmly compressed. The neat suit of
grayish brown cloth that he wore COM
ported well with the simple dignity of
his demeanor. He showed few external
traits of the absolute ruler he was said
to be.
He had just received from a messenger
a bundle of official documents, which
he laid before him on the table and
proceeded TO pick up successfully and
read. The table was already fairly
Uttered with heaps of these communi-
cations written on the yellow govern
ment paper, but he gave each care
pen. dipped 1t into the big wooden ink
well before him, and in a precise, pains
taking hand wrote a brief Endorsement
on the margin or back of a document
he had scanned. When writing. he in
clined his head slightly to one side. 1t
was almost his only betrayal that he
was blind in one eye.
A doorkeeper announced the secretary
of the treasury, and presently curious
longnecked individual, dressed in a
>
entered with an abstracted air. In one
hand ne held a tall beaver hat, in the
other a tattered book, and under his
elbow a black bag.
Mr.. President" said he. bowling. ANY
word from Vicksburg?"
1t was the anxious question on all
lips.
Jefferson Davis. never careless of the
small politinesses, arose to receive his
visitor.
None but a flying rumor, Mr. Mem
minger." answered he. The last one
today Is that Grant has been repulsed
and has lost 10000 men in front of the
earthworks.''
''Ah,ha!"
But General Johnston says nothing.
I've sent messenger after messenger to
the war department"
We'll, we must wait and trust. What
was it you wished to confer with me
about?'
Continuation of This Story VIII Be
Found in TomOrrowes Issue
of The TimeR.(