The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-12
tcopyrght)

Miss Betty. Come now. Miss Betty,
You don't want to go in dar, Miss
Bettyi"
But the girl. tapping her foot impa-
tiently against the curb. remained
deaf to the pleadings OF her colored
servant. officers, passing and repass-
Ing. glanced curiously at the beautiful
young woman in the crinoline and
wide bonnet who stood so steadily be-
fore the building In which the court
martial was being held
tall officer of colonel's rank came
slowly out. his head dropping. The
young woman advanced toward him,
and he. finding his way blocked. looked
up at her.
THE verdict" she cried. 'In heay-
ems name. the verdict"
why" he stammered in embarrass-
ment. at was-it will be in the official
reports. You see-er-the young man
had no uniform. and he was found"
"He is to be shot?" Her voice was
steady as a command, steadier than
his own falteriDg tones.
He bowed his head and hurried
away. Another officer was emerging
from che courtmartial. He recognized
her-the oman who had tried TO give
evidence irrelevant according to the
military code.
Now. madam, won't you go away?"
he asked we have had to consider
one fact only-whether the prisoner
held any command in the Confederate
army"
Co a-n fe clA 1.f frv,ff
she cried scornfully. is that justice?"
ut is not our part to administer JUS
tice. madam" he answered sternly.
what them"
Law" he replied, and left her.
The hot August sun beat down upon
the Washington streets. turning the
thin air into furnace heat. The after
noon was dying. Betty had read the
. hearts of both men. There was no
pity in them for the young Confeder-
ate colonel who had been taken inside
the Union lines In the dress of a
civilian.
Suddenly. with a resolution that
made her face terrible in the eyes of
the passers-by, Betty began hurrying
toward house set In spacious gar
den not far from the office where the
court-martial had been held. A man
dwelt there. one who was already be-
ginning to be recognized by the
people who had elected him to the
presidency as something above the
common ruck of men; man with
qualities of heart and soul which.
hardly as yet guessed at were to make
him. in death. the idol of people.
Something of Lincoln's charity had
begun to be noised abroad. though the
strength of the man was still hidden.
Betty had known him before the
dreadful war began. She knew what
a man dwelt there in his solitude,
misunderstood. and grieying for his
nation torn by bloody dissensions.
At the entrance she scribbled few
words on her card and gave 1t to the
presidents secretary. Tell Mr.. Lin
coin must see him at once" she
said.
The secretary took the card and
went away. Betty waited. An hour
later. when the sun was dipping
toward the horizon. she was still wait
ing.
"Mr. Lincoln can't see anyone.
miss" said one of the colored attend
ants. when at length Betty questioned
him. That's what his secretary told
me to tell you. miss"
Sick at heart. though not yet hope
less, Betty turned away. The grounds
of the White House were almost de-
serted. Near the gate. under a tree,
little boy was playing with a pair
of goats. which. having kicked over
their traces, butted at him in mock
defiance as he attempted to adjust
them.
Betty stopped and got the little crea-
lures under control before she recog-
nized the small son of the president.
Then, because at that moment the
thought that her old friend had failed
her made her unable even to talk to
the child. she turned to go.
And then she found herself looking
up into the kindly face of tall man.
q man of singularly homely features
and eyes now shrewd. now tender
which seemed to have looked into the
heart of sorrow. Lincoln took Bettys
hands in his. and In a moment. realiz
ing that he had never received her
card. she was pouring out her sorrow
''He is not spy" she cried. IF you
knew Colonel Morton as he is-just an
impulsive, warm-hearted Virginian
and one of my dearest friends before
this dreadful war turned friendships
into enmity!"
yes. Betty" said the president sad
Iy. II know. l know too wev &C
on"
Colonel Morton and Colonel LIE
feyre were my two dearest friends