University of Virginia Library

52. CHAPTER LII.

THE weeks drifted by monotonously enough, now. The
“preliminaries” continued to drag along in Congress,
and life was a dull suspense to Sellers and Washington, a
weary waiting which might have broken their hearts, maybe,
but for the relieving change which they got out of an occasional
visit to New York to see Laura. Standing guard in
Washington or anywhere else is not an exciting business in
time of peace, but standing guard was all that the two friends
had to do; all that was needed of them was that they should
be on hand and ready for any emergency that might come up.
There was no work to do; that was all finished; this was but
the second session of the last winter's Congress, and its action
on the bill could have but one result—its passage. The
House must do its work over again, of course, but the same
membership was there to see that it did it.—The Senate was
secure—Senator Dilworthy was able to put all doubts to rest
on that head. Indeed it was no secret in Washington that a
two-thirds vote in the Senate was ready and waiting to be

cast for the University bill as soon as it should come before
that body.

Washington did not take part in the gaieties of “the season,”
as he had done the previous winter. He had lost his
interest in such things; he was oppressed with cares, now.
Senator Dilworthy said to Washington that an humble deportment,
under punishment, was best, and that there was but
one way in which the troubled heart might find perfect
repose and peace. The suggestion found a response in
Washington's breast, and the Senator saw the sign of it in
his face.

From that moment one could find the youth with the Senator
even oftener than with Col. Sellers. When the statesman
presided at great temperance meetings, he placed Washington
in the front rank of impressive dignitaries that gave
tone to the occasion and pomp to the platform. His bald
headed surroundings made the youth the more conspicuous.

When the statesman made remarks in these meetings, he not
infrequently alluded with effect to the encouraging spectacle
of one of the wealthiest and most brilliant young favorites of
society forsaking the light vanities of that butterfly existence
to nobly and self-sacrificingly devote his talents and his riches
to the cause of saving his hapless fellow creatures from shame
and misery here and eternal regret hereafter. At the
prayer meetings the Senator always brought Washington up
the aisle on his arm and seated him prominently; in his
prayers he referred to him in the cant terms which the Senator
employed, perhaps unconsciously, and mistook, maybe, for
religion, and in other ways brought him into notice. He had
him out at gatherings for the benefit of the negro, gatherings
for the benefit of the Indian, gatherings for the benefit of the
heathen in distant lands. He had him out time and again,
before Sunday Schools, as an example for emulation. Upon
all these occasions the Senator made casual references to
many benevolent enterprises which his ardent young friend
was planning against the day when the passage of the University
bill should make his ample means available for the
amelioration of the condition of the unfortunate among his
fellow men of all nations and all climes. Thus as the weeks
rolled on Washington grew up into an imposing lion once
more, but a lion that roamed the peaceful fields of religion
and temperance, and revisited the glittering domain of fashion
no more. A great moral influence was thus brought to bear
in favor of the bill; the weightiest of friends flocked to its
standard; its most energetic enemies said it was useless to
fight longer; they had tacitly surrendered while as yet the
day of battle was not come.