Part 54 (2/2)
”Perhaps your State Department may find me useful?”
”No doubt they can. I'll give you a letter to the Secretary recommending your appointment.”
He seated himself at once, wrote the letter and handed it to Socola.
Jennie thanked him and, with a warm pressure of his hand, pa.s.sed into the hall with Socola.
At the outer door Burton Harrison overtook them:
”Just a moment, Miss Barton. The President wishes to ask you a question.”
Davis drew her to the window.
”I should have been more careful of the credentials of our friend perhaps, Miss Jennie. You can vouch for his loyalty?”
”Absolutely.”
She had scarcely uttered the word in tones of positive conviction before she realized the startling fact that she had spoken under the impulse of some strange intuition and not from her knowledge of the man's character and history.
In spite of her effort at self-control she blushed furiously. Mr. Davis apparently did not observe it.
”I have been much impressed with his poise and culture and intelligence.
You met him in Was.h.i.+ngton, of course?”
”Yes--”
”You know positively that he was the Secretary of the Sardinian Minister?”
”Positively, Mr. President--”
”Thank you, my dear. I'll take your word for it.”
Jennie walked home on air. She had made history. How tragic its sequel was destined to be, a kind Providence concealed.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE FATAL BLUNDER
On February 22, 1862, Jefferson Davis committed the one irretrievable mistake of his administration. He consented to his inauguration as permanent President of the Confederacy under the strict forms of Const.i.tutional law.
The South was entering the shadows of the darkest hour of her new life.
A military dictator clothed with autocratic power could have subdued the discordant elements and marshaled the resources of the country to meet the crisis. A const.i.tutional President would bind himself hand and foot with legal forms. A military dictator might ride to victory and carry his country with him.
His two Commanding Generals had allowed the victorious army of Mana.s.sas to drift into a rabble while they wrangled for position, precedence and power.
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