Part 27 (1/2)
Burton grasped Socola's outstretched hand with enthusiasm.
”Permit me,” he began in his grand way, ”to extend you a welcome to the South. Your King is interested in our movement. It's natural. Europe must reckon with us from the first. Cotton is the real King. We are going to build on this staple an industrial empire whose influence will dominate the world. The sooner the political rulers realize this the better.”
Socola bowed.
”I quite agree with you, Senator Barton. His Majesty King Victor Emmanuel has great plans for the future. He is profoundly interested in your movement. He does not believe that the map of Italy has yet been fixed. It will be quite easy to convince his brilliant, open mind that the boundaries of this country may be readjusted--”
”I shall be delighted to show you every courtesy within my power, sir,”
Barton responded. ”You must go South with us to-morrow and spend a week at Fairview, our country estate. You must meet my grand old father and my mother and see the curse of slavery at its worst!”
Barton laughed heartily and slipped his arm persuasively about the graceful shoulders of his guest.
”I hadn't thought of being so honored, I a.s.sure you--”
He paused and looked at Jennie with a timid sort of appeal.
”Come with us--we'll be delighted to have you--”
”I'll enjoy it, I'm sure,” he said hesitatingly. ”We will reach Montgomery in time for the meeting of the Convention of Seceding States?”
”Certainly,” Barton replied. ”I'm already elected a delegate from my State. Her secession is but a question of days.”
Socola's white, even teeth gleamed in a happy smile.
”I'll go with pleasure, Senator. You leave to-morrow?”
”The ten-twenty train for the South. You'll join our party, of course?”
”Of course.”
With a graceful bow he hurried home to complete the final preparations for his departure. He walked with quick, strong step. And yet as he approached the door of the little house in the humbler quarter of the city his gait unconsciously slowed down.
He dreaded this last struggle with his mother. But it must come. He entered the modestly furnished sitting room and looked at her calm, sweet face with a sudden sinking. She would be absolutely alone in the world. And yet no harm could befall her. She was the friend of every human being who knew her. It was the agony of this parting he dreaded and the loneliness that would torture her in his absence.
He spoke with forced cheerfulness.
”Well, mater, it's all settled. I leave at ten-twenty to-morrow morning.”
She rose and placed her hands on his shoulders. The tears blinded her.
”How little I thought when I taught your boyish lips to speak the musical tongue of Italy I was preparing this bitter hour for my soul! I begged your father to resign his consuls.h.i.+p at Genoa and brought you home to teach you the great lesson--to love your country and reverence your country's G.o.d. And since your father's death the dream of my heart has been to see you a minister, teaching and uplifting the people into a higher and n.o.bler life--”
”That is my aim, mater dear. I am consecrating body, mind and soul to the task now of saving the Union, an inheritance priceless and glorious to millions yet unborn. I'm going to break the chains that bind slaves.
I'm going to break the brutal and cruel power of the Southern Tyranny that has been strangling the nation for forty years!”
His eyes flashed with the fire of fanatical enthusiasm.