Part 91 (1/2)
”There's not a chance on earth that I'll live to see you again. See the President and beg him for G.o.d's sake to save as many of the boys as he can. With a heart full of love.
”Jimmie.”
The President took both of Jennie's hands in his.
”I need not tell you, my dear, that I have done and am doing my level best. The policy of the new Federal Commander is to refuse all offers of exchange. You understand my position?”
”Perfectly,” was the sorrowful answer. ”I only came as a duty to bear his dying message--”
”Express to your father and mother my deepest sympathy.”
With a gentle pressure of the Chieftain's hand the girl answered:
”I need not tell you I appreciate it--”
The President watched her go with a look of helpless anguish. His troubles for the moment had only begun. The returned prisoners had marched in a body to his office to thank their Chief for his sympathy and help and asked him to say something to them.
Jennie paused and stared in a dazed way into the poor shrunken faces.
When the President appeared every ragged hat was in the air and they cheered with all the might of the strength that was left in them. The girl burst into tears. These men, so forlorn, so dried up with a strange, half-animal, hunted look in their eyes--others restless and wild-looking--others calmly vacant in their stare as if they had been dead for years!
A poor mother was rus.h.i.+ng in and out among them hunting for her son.
”He was coming with you boys, you know!” she cried.
She stopped suddenly and laughed at her own anxiety and confusion.
”He's here somewhere--I just can't find him--help me, men!”
She hadn't spoken his name, in her eager search for his loved face. She kept lifting the cloth from a basket of provisions which she had cooked that morning.
”I've got his breakfast here--poor boy--I expect he's hungry.”
She had lost all consciousness of the crowd now.
She was talking to herself, trying to keep her courage up.
The President looked into the emaciated faces before him and lifted his long arm in solemn salutation.
”_Soldiers of the South_:
”I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this tribute of your loyalty. You were offered your freedom in prison at any moment if you would take the oath and forswear your allegiance to the South.
You deliberately chose the living death to the betrayal of your faith. I stand with uncovered head before you. I am proud to be the Chief Executive of such men!”
Again they cheered.