lellan's handsome face went white:

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I've said."

"And your conditions?" the General asked, with a quiver in his voice.

"They are very simple: Preside to-morrow night at a great Democratic
Union Mass Meeting in New York and boldly put yourself at the head of
the Union Democracy----"

"And you?"

"I will withdraw from the race."

"What race?"

"For the next term of the Presidency."

"Oh----"

"My convention is but ten months off. Yours can meet a day earlier. I
will withdraw in your favor and force my Party to endorse you. Your
election will be a certainty."

The General lifted his hand with a curious smile:

"You're in earnest?"

"I was never more so. It is needless for me to say that I came into this
office with high ambitions to serve my country. My dream of glory has
gone--I have left only agony and tears----" He paused and drew a deep
breath.

"I did want the chance," he went on wistfully, "to stay here another
term to see the sun shine again, to heal my country's wounds, and show
all my people, North, South, East, and West, that I love them! But I
can't risk this new battle, if you will agree to take my place and save
the Union. Will you preside over such a meeting?"

"No," was the sharp, clear answer.

"I am sorry--why?"

"Perhaps I am already certain of that election without your assistance?"

"Oh--I see."

"Besides, what right have you to ask anything of me?"

"Only the right of one who sinks all thought of himself in what he
believes to be the greater good."

"You who, with victory in my grasp before Richmond, snatched it away!
You, who nailed me to the cross on the bloody field of Antietam with
your accursed Proclamation of Emancipation and removed me from my
command before I could win my campaign!"

The big hand rose in kindly protest:

"Can't you believe me, General, when I tell you, with God as my witness,
that I have never allowed a personal motive or feeling to enter into a
single appointment or removal I have made? What I've done has always
been exactly what I believed was for the best interests of the country.
Can't you believe this?"

"No."

"In spite of the fact that I risked the dissolution of my Cabinet and
the united opposition of my party when I restored you to command?"

"No--you had to do it."

"Grant then," the persuasive voice went on, "that I have treated you
unfairly, that I had personal feelings. Surely you should in t