The Washington times., 1913-08-08

his duty first was to her, he had chosen,
and with almost a breaking heart.
Yet his feelings did not make him
| hesitate a moment as to his course. He
had known from the first what his
choice would be. There was no balanc-
ing Of reasons pro and con; his convic-
| tons were clear and definite. Any other
/ decision was as impossible to him as
lying or theft Virginia called him, the
land OF his fathers. the land of his WIFE
| the land of his children, the land of his
friends-his home. Whatever happened
he Vas hers. He must be upon her
| side. He was Virginian first, ciu-
/ zen of the United States second. yir-
| ginla had been State and his fore
bears had led In its councils and strug-
giles long before the Articles of Coafed-
| GRAFTON were dreamed of. The Old
Dominion had the prior claim. His
| course was as clear as II was righteous
| to him. He was as truly patriotic as
he was sincere In his belief.
He had one other duty to perform. In
an office further in the city sat an old
man, huge belaceds old veteran, who
had fought for his country with bril-
hancy and courage and success In two
great wars. This old soldier had been
his commander From him he had
learned that practical part Of the art
of war which cannot be had from text
| books. To him he must 80. He had
been on the old generals stan in Mex
leo, and the general had ever been his
friend. 1t was to his recommendation
that the offer from the President was
due. Courtesy, duty, affection. all led
him to the man who was the general
in-chief and whom he would have sue
ceeded had he acceded to the Presi-
dents request.
It was evidence of the urgency Of the
situation that, without any other for
mality than the announcement OF his
, name, he was admitted instantly into
the presence of the most pupctilious and
ceremonious captain of his times. The
interview between the great chieftain
and his brilliant subordinate was brier.
This soldier, too, was a Virginian, but
from his childhood he had been sepa-
rated from his state. He had been a
soldier for forty-three of his seventy
three years. There was no possibility
of a change in his allegiance in his
mind. To him the United States was
all. To his subordinate Virginia occu-
pied the highest place. Each man re-
spected the others feelings There was
No bitter argument between them, no
recrimfnati ton. only a great sadness,
lasting regret. The younger man told
the elder of his decision. thanked him
for the good words he had spoken, de-
clared his intention of resigning from
the United States service, and bade him
farewell.
He came out Of that room with a
heightened melancholy. He had looked
his last upon his ancient captain. That
veteran soldier was about 10 relinquish
the duties of active service too exact
ing and arduous for his great age.
From his well-earned retirement, as his
life declined TO its close, he was to
watch with the interest of a master
and Of a friend bereft-the great game
his old friend showed TO such advan-
tage- and sometimes in spite Of him
self to feel a thrill of pride perhaps at
the brilliant strategy and tactics o.
his pupil.
enced his former commander. whom he
had served so brilliantly, was sad, too,
when he thought that he should see him
no more. He was heavy In the knowl-
edge that he might some day be called
upon to break up the others plans, TO
turn the sword against him.
He was back again at Arlington in the
evening, as he had promised-that Ar
I'ngton he loved and which he must
soon leave forever, that Arlington In
which the spirits of his gallant forebears
now mingle with the spirits of the brave
who sleep in thousands meath its leafy
aisle upon its verdant slopes. The con-
tented negroes came to meet their be-
loved master His happy children clus-
tered about him. Only that daughter
OF noble line who bore most worthily
his name read beneath the unruffled
brow, which he ever presented to ad-
versity and sorrow, what was in the
great heart.
few days after an officer was re-
ceiyed in state by the Legislature of
Virginia in the capitol at Richmond.
The soldier of Arlington had put of the
uniform of the United States and was
now clad in the modest gray clothes
that indicated the service of Virginia
That LEGISLATURE, speaking for the
State alone, had Just created him major
general and commander-in-chief OF her
forces. and its members were now gath
cred to receive him as Of old their fore
fathers had received George Washing
ton In words of graceful compliment
they congratulated him and welcomed
him. And to them Robert Edward Lee
as modest as his great prototype, his
fathers friend made this simple reply:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention: Profoundly impressed with
/ must say I was not prepared, / ac-
cept the position assigned me by your
partially. I would have much pre-
ferred had the choice fallen upon an
abler man. Trusting to Almighty God,
an approving conscience and the aid of
my fellow-citizens, I devote myself to
tie service Of my native State, in whose
behalf alone will / ever again draw my
sword"
II is only the voice of ignorance. of
malice, that dares to call this man a
traitor.