Read The Victim: A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis Page 19

  CHAPTER IV

  A FRIENDLY WARNING

  The withdrawal of the Southern Senators and Representatives fromCongress produced in Washington the upheaval of a social earthquake.

  An atmosphere of tears and ominous foreboding hung pall-like over thecity's social life. Each step in the departure of wives and daughterswas a pang.

  Carriages drawn by sleek, high-bred horses dashed through the broadstreets with excited haste. The black coachman on the box held his reinswith a nervous grip that communicated itself to the horses. He hadcaught the excitement in the quivering social structure of which he waspart. What he was really thinking down in the depths of his African soulonly God could see. His dark face merely grinned in quick obedience tocommand.

  From every house where these farewells were being said, a weeping womanemerged and waved a last adieu to the tear-stained faces at the window.

  Wagons and carts lumbered through the streets on their way to the wharfor station, piled high with baggage.

  Hotel-keepers stood in the doorway of their establishments with darkenedbrows. The glory of the past was departing. The future was a blank.

  On the morning after his farewell address to the Senate, a messenger,who refused to give his name, was ushered into the library of SenatorDavis.

  The stately black butler bowed again with quiet dignity.

  "Yo' name, sah? I--failed to catch it?"

  The messenger lifted his hand:

  "No name. Please say to the Senator that I came from an importantofficial with a message of the gravest importance--I wish to see himalone at once--"

  The faithful servant eyed his visitor with an ominous look. There was noquestion of his loyalty to the man he served.

  "It's all right, Robert, I'm a friend of Senator Davis."

  A moment's hesitation and the black man bowed with deference.

  "Yassah--yassah--I tell him right away, sah. You sho' knows me anyhow,sah--"

  The Senator was in bed suffering again from facial neuralgia. He rosepromptly, dressed hastily but completely and carefully and extended bothhands to his visitor.

  "You have come to see me at an unusual hour, sir. It must beimportant--"

  "Of the utmost importance, Senator. A high official in the confidence ofthe President sent me to inform you that Stanton, the Attorney General,is planning to issue a warrant for your arrest for high treason."

  "Indeed?"

  "You are advised to leave Washington on the first train."

  A dry smile flickered about the corners of the Senator's strong mouth.

  "Thank you. Please say to my friend that I appreciate the spirit thatprompted his message. Ask him to say to Mr. Stanton that I have decidedto remain in Washington a week. Nothing would please me better than tosubmit this issue to the courts for adjustment. He will find me at homeevery day and at all hours."