Part 13 (2/2)
With all his ugly language, which he reserved for conversation with men, he was the soul of consideration for a woman. Mrs. Lee had no fear of any rude expression from his lips. She didn't like him because she felt in his personality the touch of mob insanity which the Slavery question had kindled. She dreaded this appeal to blind instinct and belief. With a woman's intuition she felt the tragic possibility of such leaders.h.i.+p North and South.
She saw his leonine head and s.h.a.ggy hair silhouetted against the red glow of the west with a s.h.i.+ver at its symbolism, but met him with the cordial greeting which every Southern woman gave instinctively to the friend of her husband.
”Come in, Mr. Ruffin,” she welcomed.
He bowed over her hand and spoke in the soft drawl of the Southern planter.
”Thank you, Madame. I'm greatly honored in having you greet me at the door.”
”Colonel Lee is expecting you.”
The planter drew himself up with a touch of pride and importance.
”Yes'm. I sent him word I would be here at three. I was detained in Was.h.i.+ngton. But I succeeded in convincing the editor of _The Daily Globe_ that my mission was one of grave importance. I not only desire to wish Colonel Lee G.o.d-speed on his journey to West Point and congratulate him on the honor conferred on Virginia by his appointment to the command of our Cadets--but--”
He paused, smiled and glanced toward the portico, as if he were holding back an important secret.
Mrs. Lee hastened to put him at his ease.
”You can trust my discretion in any little surprise you may have for the Colonel.”
Ruffin bowed.
”I'm sure I can, Madame. I'm sure I can.”
He dropped his voice.
”You know perhaps that I sent him a few days ago a scurrilous attack on the South by a Yankee woman--a new novel?”
”He received it.”
”Has he read it?”
”Carefully. He has read it twice.”
”Good!”
The planter breathed deeply, squared his shoulders and paced the floor with a single quick turn. He stopped before Mrs. Lee and spoke in sharp emphasis.
”I'm going to spring a little surprise on the public, Madame! A sensation that will startle the country, and G.o.d knows we need a little shaking just now--”
He paused and whispered.
”I'm so sure of what the Colonel will say that I've brought a reporter from the Was.h.i.+ngton _Daily Globe_ with me--”
Mrs. Lee lifted her hand in dismay.
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