Part 92 (2/2)

Alexander slowly rose with Gordon and both men saluted.

Within an hour he was returning from the meeting with his brave and generous conqueror. A loud cheer rang over the Confederate lines.

”It's Lee returning along the road crowded with his men,” Gordon explained.

Another cheer echoed through the forests.

Gordon smiled.

”Alexander the Great, when he conquered a world, never got the tribute which Lee is receiving from those men. There's not one in their ranks who wouldn't die for him.”

Louder and louder rolled the cheers mingled now with the pet name his soldiers loved.

”Ma.r.s.e Robert! Ma.r.s.e Robert!”

Alexander's eyes flashed.

”The hour of his surrender, the supreme triumph of his life.”

Lee rode slowly into view on Traveler's gray back. The men were crowding close. They cried softly. They touched his saddle, his horse and tried to reach his hands.

He lifted his right arm over their heads and they were still.

”My heart's too full for speech, my men. I have done for you all that was in my power. You have done your duty. We leave the rest to G.o.d. Go quietly to your homes now and work to build up our ruined country. Obey the laws and be as good citizens as you have been soldiers. I'm going to try to do this. Will you help me?”

”That we will!”

”Yes.”

”Yes.”

”Goodbye.”

”Goodbye, Ma.r.s.e Robert!”

Grizzled veterans were sobbing like children.

The war had ended--the most futile and ferocious of human follies. When it shall cease on earth at last, then, and not until then, will the soul of man leap to its final triumph, for the energy of the universe will flow through the fingers of workmen, artists, authors, inventors and healers. On this issue the saving of a world awaits the word of the mothers of men.

THE END

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