"He planted this
love in your soul. He taught it to me and I to you and now it ends in
darkness and blood and death--"
"But out of it, dear, must come the greater plan. You believe in
God--you must believe this, or else the Devil rules the universe, and
there is no God."
The mother drew the young lips down and kissed them tenderly.
"God's will be done, my Boy--it's the bitterness of death to me--but I
say it!"
CHAPTER VII
THE BEST MAN WINS
Before Socola could purchase his ticket for the South, Senator Barton
laid his heavy hand on his shoulder.
"I just ran down, sir, to ask you to wait and go in Senator Davis'
party. He has been threatened with arrest by the cowards who are at the
present moment in charge of the Government. He can't afford to leave
town while there's a chance that so fortunate an event may be pulled
off. I have decided to stay until Lincoln's inauguration. My wife and
daughter will make you welcome at Fairview. And you'll meet my three
boys. I'm sorry I can't be with you."
Socola's masked face showed no trace of disappointment. He merely asked
politely:
"And the party of Senator Davis will start?"
"A week from to-day, sir--and my wife and daughter will accompany
them--unless--of course--"
He laughed heartily.
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