The Lost Despatch
Page 14
CHAPTER XIV
WHEN TRAGEDY GRINS
"As usual, Tad, it is your stomach that is cutting up. Haven't you anyother organ in your body?"
Tad Lincoln pulled the bedclothes up about his shoulders, and smiledsheepishly at Doctor Boyd. "It was the cream puffs," he murmuredapologetically.
"And two weeks ago--candy. You are incorrigible. What's this?" Thedoctor picked an oblong slip of paper off the pillow. It was a check,and read:
"Pay to the order of Tad Lincoln 50c--Fifty Cents--for having his tooth pulled.
"A. LINCOLN."[1]
[1] A true story.
"Did it hurt when it came out?" asked Boyd gravely. For reply, the boyopened his mouth, and disclosed a vacancy in the shining ivories."Well, don't eat this money up. One attack of indigestion should beenough this month." Tad's face fell; he had already planned how hewould spend that fifty cents.
"Is anything much the matter with Tad, Doctor?" inquired the President,entering the bedroom. "Sit down," as Boyd rose. "I stole up from thelevee to ask you how he is."
"Just a slight attack of indigestion, due to over-eating, Mr.President. He will be all right to-morrow."
"Poor Tad." Lincoln stroked the small, hot head. "It is my fault,Doctor. Mrs. Lincoln was out; so he and I just browsed 'round fordinner. I ate most of the meat, and he the cream puffs. It wasn't anequal division, was it, Tad? Must you be going, Doctor?"
"Yes; if one of these green tablets dissolved in half a glass of wateris given every three hours the nausea will cease. By the way, Mr.President, before I leave, I want to ask if you will give me a passthrough our lines to Richmond. I have received word that my brotherlies dangerously wounded in one of their hospitals. We have not met foryears, and I"--the doctor cleared his throat--"I would like to see himonce again before we are parted for aye."
"Certainly!" Lincoln strode over to Tad's table and wrote a few lines;then tore off the top sheet from the latter's school pad. "I hope thiswill help you. I've given passes to Richmond to my generals, but theyhaven't got there yet."
Lincoln's careworn face lighted with his rare smile. The strain of hopedeferred was telling on the President, and Doctor Boyd scrutinized himprofessionally for a moment.
"I've seen you look worse," he growled, "but what I don't understand ishow you keep so damned good-natured."
Lincoln laughed heartily. "That is the question I once asked the wifeof one of our backwoodsmen. He would abuse her in public, and shealways took it smilingly, so I asked her how she managed it: 'When Jimgets too much for me, I just goes in and bites the bureau. I know I'mdoing more harm than he is, and it keeps me good-natured.' My 'bureau'is pretty well scarred by now," added Lincoln, chuckling. "I don't wishto detain you, Doctor, but Mrs. Lincoln wants to see you a moment inthe East Room if you can stop there on your way out. Now, Tad, be agood boy, and obey the nurse."
"And don't eat too much," cautioned Doctor Boyd, as he followed thePresident out of the room.
The East Room was crowded with the usual throngs that gathered everyThursday night. After reassuring Mrs. Lincoln as to her son'scondition, Doctor Boyd stationed himself behind the President andwatched the animated scene with interest, for once forgetful of hisduties elsewhere. Men and women in every walk of life were present.Generals rubbed elbows with privates; statesmen with day laborers;well-dressed women stood next women in faded and patched attire. Allwere greeted by a cordial handshake and a pleasant word as they filedpast Lincoln. The doctor smiled sardonically as he saw the circle ofadmirers about pretty Mrs. Bennett. Was it possible that her blue eyes,childlike in their candor, her simpering smile, and affected mannerwere masks assumed to cover her machinations? She a Union spy? Itseemed incredible. If so, was she clever enough to injure Nancy? Movingwith the crowd, she gradually worked her way to where Boyd stood.
"You never find time to come to my house, Doctor," she pouted.
"Send for me professionally," retorted Boyd, "and I will come at once."
"I captured Doctor Boyd this evening," interposed the President,turning toward them. "He does not usually honor my levees."
"A busy man has small opportunity," began Boyd hastily.
"I know, Doctor; I know." The President laid a kindly hand on his arm."Isn't that Mrs. Arnold over there?"
"Yes," answered Mrs. Bennett. "We came together, for Mrs. Arnold isobliged to go out alone, as her husband is too busy acquiring wealth toaccompany her to entertainments."
"I cannot understand why a man should work so hard for _that_," saidthe President thoughtfully. "Wealth is simply a superfluity of what wedon't need."
"Who is that good-looking officer talking to my husband and Mrs.Arnold?" questioned Mrs. Bennett.
"Brevet-Colonel Hilton," Lincoln smiled mischievously. "He is one of mybravest officers, having behaved with conspicuous gallantry atGettysburg and Cedar Creek. But the night of the first Bull Run, hisbody servant was asked by his family, who are Washingtonians, if he hadseen his master during the battle. 'Deed I done seed him at de end obde fight, and Marse Sam was on de mos' _retreatenist_ hoss in dearmy.'"
"Thank God, we do not have to live over those first days of the war,"said Boyd devoutly. "They tried men's souls."
"Ah, I do thank God," the President sighed wearily. His surroundingsfaded from view. Instead, he saw the awful carnage of a battlefield. Inhis ears sounded the thunder of guns; the cheers of the victors; andthe moans of the dying. With an effort, he put such thoughts from him."And yet those days had their comic side, Doctor; even tragedy grinsoccasionally. I recollect that a regiment, who wore the uniform ofHighlanders, reached here after the battle of Bull Run utterlydemoralized. Like thousands of other soldiers, they threw away prettymuch everything they had. Their costume was abbreviated in thebeginning, and after Bull Run," the President's eyes twinkled, "lots ofthem had to borrow skirts and blankets to cover their bareness. One ofthese men gravely told me that the rebels in the trenches were perchedon teter-boards, and when one end came up to fire, the other end wentdown to load. Good evening, Mrs. Arnold." He turned to shake hands withher and Colonel Bennett.
"Why, Doctor Boyd," exclaimed Mrs. Arnold; "you here! I hope it meansthat you are giving up night work, and so can come to our house-warmingon Monday night."
"As much as I should like to, I am afraid I cannot," rejoined Boyd. "Iexpect to be called out of town at any time, but"--as her facefell--"if I am in the city I will surely go to you."
"It is a shame if you do have to go away just then," declared Mrs.Arnold, "because my husband counted on you to help him through theevening, as he detests social gatherings."
"Ah, there comes that charming Monsieur Mercier," chimed in Mrs.Bennett, as the French Minister strove to make his way through thecrowded room.
"Mercier has never recovered from his disappointment at his failure toinduce his government to recognize the Confederacy,"[2] laughed ColonelBennett. "It hurt his _amour propre_."
[2] See "Abraham Lincoln," by Nicholay and Hay.
"Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a differenceof purpose between the Almighty and them," was Lincoln's noncommittalreply. He turned to cross the room, but Mrs. Arnold, who had been aninterested listener, detained him for a moment.
"Do you speak French, Mr. President?" she inquired.
There was a quizzical gleam in Lincoln's eyes as he replied slowly andwith emphasis: "No, Mrs. Arnold; only English, and that not very well,"and he moved on up the room.
Disconcerted by the expression on Doctor Boyd's face, Mrs. Arnold askedhastily, "How is poor Major Goddard? I hear he is under your care now."
"He is badly shaken up physically," returned Boyd.
"Is there no prospect of his regaining his sight, Doctor?" inquiredMrs. Bennett.
"Only time can tell."
"It is too dreadful," commented Mrs. Bennett. "I like Major Goddard somuch, and to think of his being helpless the rest of his life is mostdistressing. Will you let
him receive company, Doctor? Because I wouldlike to go and read to him."
Boyd scanned Mrs. Bennett intently, without replying to her lastremark. Why this sudden interest in Goddard? It behooved him to findout.
"And I want to send him some jellies," volunteered Mrs. Arnold. "Whatis his address, Doctor?"
"At present he is occupying Captain Lloyd's rooms at Mrs. Lane'sboarding house on F Street across from the Ebbitt." Boyd hesitated fora perceptible moment. Would it be wise to allow Mrs. Bennett tointerview Goddard? Would she be able to worm any information aboutNancy's adventures in Winchester from the Major?
"Perhaps Captain Lloyd would not like our calling," suggested Mrs.Arnold, breaking the slight pause.
"Oh, Lloyd is not in town now, though Goddard expects him back sometime next week."
"Did Major Goddard make the trip from Winchester alone?" asked Mrs.Bennett in surprise.
"No. Miss Newton and her niece looked after him, with the assistance ofa man they called 'Symonds.' I met them at the station, and tookGoddard to his rooms, and engaged an attendant for him, as he cannotget about without a body-servant now."
"From last accounts, Nancy Newton has behaved abominably to John,"began Mrs. Arnold angrily. "She is a miserable flirt...."
"You mustn't run down my friend Nancy," said Lincoln, who had returnedin time to hear the last remark. "She and Tad are great chums; he isdevoted to her."
"I was only going to say," stammered Mrs. Arnold, "that Nancy hastreated my nephew very shabbily; first encouraged his suit, then threwhim over in the most bare-faced manner for--Major Goddard."