Part 54 (2/2)
He wrote the pa.s.s and handed it to her.
She murmured her thanks and he placed his big hand on her dark head and asked casually:
”Of course you're loyal?”
The young lips quivered, she hesitated, looked up into his face through dimmed eyes, and the slender body suddenly stiffened, as she slowly said:
”Yes--to the heart's core--to Virginia!”
The trembling fingers handed the pa.s.s back and the tears rolled down her cheeks.
The tall man dared not look down again. Something about this slim wistful girl brought back over the years the memory of the young mother who had come from the hills of old Virginia.
He was still for a moment, stooped, and took her hand in his. His voice was low and tender and full of feeling:
”I know what it cost you to say that, child. You're a brave, glorious little girl, if you are a rebel. I love you for this glimpse you've given me of a great spirit. I'm sure I can trust you. If I let you go, will you promise me faithfully that no word shall pa.s.s your lips of what you've seen inside our lines?”
”I promise!” she cried, smiling through her tears.
He handed her back the pa.s.s and slowly said:
”May G.o.d bless you--and speed the day when your people and mine shall be no longer enemies.”
He turned again to his desk, and beside it stood a quiet woman dressed in black.
He bowed to her with easy grace:
”And how can I serve you, Madam?”
She smiled hopefully:
”You have children, Mr. President?”
A look of sorrow overspread the dark face.
”Yes,” he said reverently, ”I have two boys now. I had three, but G.o.d has just taken one of them.”
”I had two,” the mother responded. ”Both of them went into the army to fight for their country and left me alone. One has been killed in battle. I tried to be brave about it. I said over and over again, 'the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed is the name of the Lord!'
But I had to give up. I'm all alone in my little place in the mountains of Pennsylvania and I can't endure it. I know they say I have no right to ask, but I want my last boy to come home. All night I lie there alone and cry. Can't you let me have my boy back? He's all I've got on earth--others have more. I have only this one. I'm just a woman--lonely, heartsick and afraid. They say I can't have him. But I've come to ask you. I've heard that you have a loving heart----”
She stopped suddenly.
”You have seen Stanton?” the President asked.
”Yes. He wouldn't listen. He swore I shouldn't have him.”
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