The Washington times., 1913-08-08
PRELUDE
The Path Of Duty.


powered in trees and flowers
washington. An officer sat his
horse on the gravel walk in front
of stately old colonial mansion. with
its high-piIlared porch, which, from its
coign of vantage on the high oluns DOT
dcring the river. overlooked the Poto-
side of the wide stream.
| You will be back for supper. Rob-
ert?" Queried a handsome matron who
stood beneath the portico looking down
upon her husband.
Yes, without fall
do not let anything keep you, dear"
"I shall not"
'.I feel so nervous in these unsettled
| times without you and
/ II have only two persons to see, my
| dear" returned the horseman reasur-
ingly, Mr.. Blair. who wrote me that he
had message from the President, and
| General Scott
well. do not get - talking over old
| army experiences with the general and
| forget that l am waiting for you.
mo one could make me forget that,
| said the man, smiling pleasantly Then
| his voice changed; he shook his head
I'VE will not talk over old army expe-
riences now, Mary" he added, with
touch of sadnes.
Il
| the woman, comprehending with wifely
| instinct the hidden meaning In the
phrase, but you must do your duty.
Yes" answered the husband thought
fully. DUTY, He paused 1t Is the
nobiest word In the English language, l
think and the hardest. Good
BY. shall be back for tea, do not
fear"
| He lifted his hat with chivalric cour-
tesy and knightly grace, bent low be-
I lA- oh
the children playing on porch or lawn.
and cantered slowly away. There was
one word above duty in the feminine
vocabulary, and that was love. II
shone in the woman's eyes as sne @
watchdc her soldier -horseman In the
uniform of a lieutenant colonel u the
United States Army ride away from the
green slopes of tree-clad Arlington fet
the woman who stood there was OF a
race that would not hesitate 10 hoio
even its love as naught beisde It's duty
Down the hill, across the Long bridge.
through the dusky outskirts, into the
city. and then to an office building on
Pennsylvania avenue the horsemah
rode, busy with his thoughts. He was
person OF no little Importance, well
known to the city Of Washington, and
although he was intensely preoccupled
he did not fall to notice and invariably
to return, not merely the perfunctory
salutes of the soldiers, with which the
town was already filling. but the formal
recognitions of sundry citizens who
claimed the honor Of his acquaintance,
as well as the more cordial bows from
certain fair ladies who looked upon MS
goodly and handsome person with
smiles of appreciation, as they passed
him in carriages or on foot, on the
broad tree-shaded Avenue.
He had been followed by fveried
negro on horseback, and to him he
tossed the bride as he went into the
building. Long time he stayed there
He had been a grave, silent figure when
he entered; he was graver and more
silent when he came out
Ambition is said to be the god of the
soldier Power. opportunity, had
tempted this mans talent. Direct from
the President Of the United States him
self, through one who stood near to him,
had come an unequivocal offer to him
of the highest position in his chosen
vocation. Virginia had seeded. War
would eventuate before many days. The
command of the army OF the United
States the chief, thes supreme COM
mand, had been offered to this man
colonel of csvalry-and he had re-
fused it,
He was gifted with that imagination
without which there Is no greatness,
the Imagination which foresees, which
men sometimes call prophetic. He
could realize the deadly nature of the
approaching struggle. No position had
been offered him by any authority on
the other side. He did not know that
any would be rendered him. Certainly
he could not hope for such a preferment
there. Indeed, he might I relegated to
obscurity. He might not find favor with
the powers that were shaping the des-
TIMES of the new Confederacy. His
sword might rust In its scabbard.
Against that possibility of oblivion he
had received the assurance positive of
such professed advancement with its
corresponding opportunities for glory
and fame, as have rarely come to g.
soldier.
Rich, influential. possessed Of all that
full, this officer had chung to this mill
tary career from pure love OF II. The
blood OF his father. the great light
horseman. whose legions had been
famed alike in the valleys Of the Hud-
son and in the mountains of the Caro-
remained the soldier even though his
calling parted him from home. from
those he cherished. his wife. his chill
dren, his friends, and sent him alone
to the arid plains of Texas. He had
loved-he did still love-that flag which
he had carried 70 victory. that banner
for which he had blazed q pathway
through valleys and mountains OF old
Mexico.
Yet as he came out OF that d1or he
realized that he had refused definitely,
even peremptorily, the command Of the
army of the United Statesi Irrevocably
but not lightly. promptly. but not care
lessIy, unequivocally but not indiffer-
entity, had he chosen. Back of his de-
cision was that profound feeling OF OBJ
legation. the sense of oughtness. that
men cadi duty-that hard word which is
spread on honor's guide post to point
the way TO service, Gods and mans