24. CHAPTER XXIV.
SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES.
The President's head-quarters in New Jersey were in a
country mansion near Red Bank, between the Northern
and Southern encampments. Randolph was in high spirits,
surrounded not only by his own Generals and Commodores,
but by several of the most distinguished officers of the hostile
armies. Hudson, Crook and Steel were present.
“Commodore,” said the President, addressing his senior
naval officer, “will not Blount unite with us in a toast to
the Union?”
“Yes, sir. He'll be here.”
“He makes it a point to go round with the surgeons,”
said Commodore Early. “Three thousand of his men were
wounded, and he nurses them like brothers.”
“And they will be as brothers to him hereafter!” said
the President. “But can it be true that Ruffleton abandoned
his wounded on the field?”
“I am sorry to say the information is correct,” remarked
General Hudson. “He did not even propose a suspension
of hostilities after the battle, for the purpose of burying his
dead.”
“He suspended hostilities himself,” said General Crook,
“by abandoning the field. Still the fellow fought for more
than an hour like a lion.”
“Who,” said Commodore Stout, “wouldn't fight like a
lion for four millions of dollars?”
“But it was not solely in defence of the treasure that
Blount achieved his victory,” said the President.
“Nor was it necessary,” said General Hudson. “Your
Excellency, will, I think, award a restitution of the money.
On no other terms will the North lay aside her arms.”
“We will pass it to your credit,” said General Crook.
“But, General,” said Hudson, “this contribution was
levied on friend and foe alike.”
“The Richmond Convention says nothing concerning the
money.”
“The Cotton States would not sanction its restitution,”
said General Steel.
“Then, it is probable, the North will require an equivalent,”
said Hudson, with a smile.
“And what would that be?' asked the President.
“Metal for metal. Iron for gold.”
“I understand,” said Crook. “It is my cannon and mortars
they want. They may have the bombs and balls, but
not the tubes.”
“Gentlemen,” said the President, “let us not discuss
these matters too closely. Recollect, no unpleasant words
are to be uttered this night; or if any should escape us,
they are to be promptly retracted. How now, Willy?” he
continued, directing the attention of his company to Willy.
“The wonder is, or rather would be with any other, why
you should have the temerity to present yourself before so
many of the recently opposing Generals.”
“They have defeated the resolutions, sir,” whispered
Willy.
“Ah!” responded the President, with gravity. A
moment after the approach of General Blount was announced.
“Peace and Union!” cried Alice on the porch, as Blount
ascended the steps.
“And happiness!” was his response, as he cordially kissed
the fair hand of the President's daughter. “If I may exert
any influence over the councils of the nation, Alice, you
may be certain it will be for peace, union, and happiness.”
“Go on, then, and may Heaven aid you!”
“But here is still my ring!” said Blount, lingering, and
detaining her hand.
“She will not take it yet—from me,” said Alice, the diamond
on her forehead again twinkling like a star in the
firmament.
“Nor from me, it seems. But where is she? Is she not
here?”
“No—but will be to-morrow. Ruffleton has returned to
the city.”
“True! And I do not think he will pay me another
visit soon. But you think Edith will leave the city because
he has returned to it?”
“Partly because of his presence, and partly—”
“Because I am here? I hope so!”
“But your business here is with the sterner sex. There
lies your way. But yonder is one of the Generals beckoned
out. Merciful God!”
This was uttered upon beholding some one spring from a
dark corner and aim a blow at the General who had been
called out of the apartment.
The one stricken fell heavily on the porch. There was a
rush to the place with many lights.
“General!” cried the President, “are you wounded?”
“To the death, Randolph!” said General Hudson, as the
arterial blood issued in jets from his neck.
“Who did this dastardly act?” demanded the President,
endeavoring to raise the wounded General.
“The Italian,” said General Hudson, in a feeble voice.
“The Italian! Seize the Italian!” cried the President to
the Blue Caps, then arriving from all directions.
“Here's one!” cried Sergeant Bim, dragging Popoli forward.
Popoli had been standing near the General.
“Not him—he was talking to me—and the other—
another Italian, struck the blow—it was one of your Blue
Caps, Randolph, a traitor—ah!” General Hudson, uttering
these words with difficulty, sank back, and died in the arms
of the President.
“He's gone!” said the President.
“Secure the assassin,” cried General Blount, “or we shall
be branded as murderers! Where are his aids? Where
are the officers who attended him?”
“Fled!” said Crook.
“The rascals were capable of supposing we could do such
an infamous deed!” said the old Commodore.
“Where is Sergeant Bim?” asked the President.
“Gone in pursuit of Cardini,” said Col. Carleton. “No
doubt he was the assassin. To-night he begged to be on
duty an extra term. And now he is missing!”
“Colonel!” said the President, “send others in pursuit!
Hasten! or Bim will slay the wretch! There may be papers
in his possession — he might confess — you understand!
Some one else had the motive—he was but the hireling
slave—dispatch!” Then addressing the people crowding
round, he continued, “Bear Hudson into the house, my
friends. He was brave, and noble, and patriotic. Alas,
Blount! the country has met with an irreparable loss!”
“Do not be distressed, sir,” said Blount. “It is over.
No one can censure you.”
“Censure me! Certainly not. I fear not the breath of
calumny. He was my friend and I his. The success of my
most cherished designs depended, in some measure, on the
preservation of his life. So far from desiring his destruction,
I here declare that the one who caused this deed to be
perpetrated was my worst enemy.”
“Here is a paper which fell from his hand as we bore
him in,” said General Steel. “It was probably delivered
just as the blow was struck.”
It was from Ruffleton, and ran as follows:—
“Dear General—I think it probable the Resolutions will
not pass the Convention. Be upon your guard. It may
not be safe to leave your own lines. An attempt has been
made on my life. Be careful, General. I will join you in a
few days, and shall be happy to serve, the second in command,
under the first General and the first man of the
country. These, by my honest and faithful messenger,
Signor Popoli.
“I am Popoli, gentlemen,” said the Italian, when the
note was read, “and I hope you will believe me innocent.”
“Who admitted you within the yard, sir?” demanded
the President.
“One of the guards, sir. I said I had a letter for the
General.”
“Willy,” said the President, “come to my closet for
letters as soon as you are in readiness to start for the city.
I will send a communication to President Langdon, and inclose
the note from Ruffleton.”
When the President withdrew, General Blount sought
Alice, who promenaded a balcony on the side of the house
opposite to that where the assassination had been committed.
“I am glad,” said he, “to find you calm on such a night
as this.”
“I am calm, General Blount,” she replied; “but ill at
ease. I cannot conceive why the attendants of Hudson fled
so precipitately, unless they apprehended danger themselves
from the hand that struck down their leader. And
if this be so, they must suppose my father had some complicity
in the guilt, and such a supposition—Oh, it is too
dreadful to think that half the people should believe him
guilty!”
“Nay; it is too absurd. Why should they not be quite
as likely to suppose Crook or myself planned the infamous
butchery?”
“Alas! they may! At all events there will not be wanting
accusers of the South, who will make use of this occurrence
for the accomplishment of their pecuniary or political
purposes. But here is my father. He, too, is calm.”
“Alice,” said he, taking his daughter's hand tenderly,
“be not distressed at this event. It will, in time, be manifest
who was the guilty party. I can derive no benefit,
nor you, General, nor the South, from General Hudson's
fall?”
“On the contrary,” said Blount, “if my suspicions prove
well founded, it may result in evil to us all.”
“Who is suspected?” asked Alice.
“I suspect Ruffleton,” said Blount.
“If it should be Ruffleton,” continued Alice, “what
would become of Edith? And poor Mary is with her!”
“I have written Langdon,” said Randolph, “in the
event of insecurity in the city, to send Edith and Mary
hither.”
“And I,” said Blount, “if the truce be ruptured, will
transport my army hither, and share the fate of brave
Crook!”
“Nay, mine also,” said the President. “If the truce be
broken, I shall no longer forbear to resist the aggressor.
But let us return to the parlor. I have ordered the removal
of poor Hudson to his own head-quarters. They will hardly
run away from their General—and he lifeless.”
They descended from the balcony, and rejoined the company
in the parlor, where intelligence was impatiently
awaited from the city.
