g and smiling his deathless love.

He had not spoken Socola's name nor had she.

"It's funny, Jennie," he said at last, "I don't hate him any more--"

The girl's head drooped and the tears streamed down her checks.

"Please, Dick--don't--"

"Yes," he insisted, "I want to talk about it and you must hear me--won't
you?"

"Of course, if you wish it," she answered tenderly.

"You see I don't hate these Yankee soldiers any more--anyhow. I saw too
many of them die from the Wilderness to Petersburg--brave manly fellows.
The fire of battle has burned the hate out of me. Now I just want you to
be happy, Jennie dear, that's all--good-by--"

His hand slipped from hers and in a moment his spirit had passed.

CHAPTER XLII

THE CAPTURE

At midnight on the day of the evacuation the President and his Cabinet
left Richmond for Danville. He still believed that Lee might cut his way
through Grant's lines and join his army with Johnston's in North
Carolina. Lee had restored Johnston to command of the small army that
yet survived in opposition to Sherman. He had hopes that Johnston's
personal popularity with the soldiers might in a measure restore their
spirits.

The President established his temporary Capital at Danville. G. W.
Sutherlin placed his beautiful home at his disposal. Communications with
Lee had been cut and the wildest rumors were afloat. Davis wrote his
last proclamation urging his people to maintain their courage.

In this remarkable document he said:

"I announce to you, my fellow countrymen, that it is my purpose
to maintain your cause with my whole heart and soul. I will never
consent to abandon to the enemy one foot of the soil of any of the
States of the Confederacy.

"If by stress of numbers, we should be compelled to a temporary
withdrawal from the limits of Virginia or any other border State,
we will return until the baffled and exhausted enemy shall abandon
in despair his endless and impossible task of making slaves of a
people resolved to be free.

"Let us, then, not despair, my countrymen, but, relying on God, meet
the foe with fresh defiance, and with unconquered and unconquerable
hearts."

So Washington spoke to his starving, freezing little army at Valley
Forge in the darkest hour of our struggle for independence against Great
Britain. With the help of France Washington succeeded at last.

Davis was destined to fail. No friendly