A Gentleman from Mississippi

est in him. He realized that he would have considerable intercourse with Peabody in the processes of legislation, and finally had to admit to himself that he did not like the Senator from Penns

y genuine and partly false. Just what was the cause of or the

abody and Stevens had hinted to him that there were matters of individual interest that outweighed public or national considerations. For instance, they were anxious that Altacoola should have the naval base regardless of the claims or merits of any other section. That was unusual, puzzling to Langdon. Moreover, it was poor busines

s." Yet even Stevens seemed different in Washington than Stevens in Mississippi. Here he played "second fiddle." He was even obsequious, Langdon had observed, to Peabody. In Mis

from making the many mistakes that invariably mark the new man in politics, and he could point out the most effective modes of procedure under given circumstances. It might prove difficult to

attention was caught by the sight of three powerful negro porters endeavoring to thrust outdoors a thread

chairs is for the guests in the hotel," the head port

treatment of a respectable old white man by negroes. His lips t

ntleman! What do you mean by

s stepped

t'man a friend of yours?" the he

looked

l to some men of the South when trouble threatens. "I'd li

his assistants and drove them away

friend of de Senator's? I'll teach yo' to be pu

he turn of events, came forw

u, sir," he said. "I'm Colon

ian stretched

nator Langdon of Mississipp

the seedy-looking old man, tak

s new companion on the back. Everybody he met was the Mississippian's friend

" Then, as they lighted their cigars, he inqu

ng the Tennessee," rep

nd already he was straightening up and becoming more of

ennessee under Bea

Great generals!" excla

choed the Confederate. "You remem

smiled with joyo

ld say I did! Were

emember every shot tha

turned your

tly. He drew himself up with cold dignity. Plainly

ver turned, sir!" he

with amazement. This w

had never

've fought this battle on an average of twice a week ever since '65 down in

sir?" asked the Uni

at morning," confes

y smiled wit

bably got more accurat

that evening," ca

y. We licked you, sir!"

h all the dignity common to the old C

bly surrendered, sir. We surrendered to save

at Kenyon Hill?"

s fist in the palm of t

You remember that long lane-" He pulled off his hat and threw it on

ropped on the floor opposite

hth Illinois," ex

inutive bellboy passing by and

onny," he cried. "You a

e down opposite the startled bellboy, w

lump of cedars

ing down over their improvised batt

se beside your ceda

ebels charged us,"

n his fist again wi

he Third Mississippi charg

man n

ng up the hill fifty yards ahead of his men, wa

rner strai

sir?" he exclaimed. "Behind them? I got my wound there

nel, it must have been a bullet from o

fingers through his hair and

'm afraid it was

ssing the mighty struggles of the past, those most precious o

e cried. "It might be that you were the man who almost

r and a penniless old "down and outer" are very much the same in the human scale that takes note of the inside and not the outs

in the pure ecstasy of comradeship, now serious, again laughing, when on the scene appeared

own old 'has-been!' What is the world coming to?" Haines suddenly paused. "I wonder if it can be a pos