"It's true. Old Scott's going to save the Capital on Inauguration Day any how! The Avenue's lined with soldiers--sharpshooters posted in the windows along the whole route of the Inaugural procession, a company of troops in each end of the Capitol. He has built a wooden tunnel from the street into the north end of the building and that's lined with guards. A squad of fifty soldiers are under the platform where we're going to sit----"
"Look through the cracks and see for yourself!" Vaughan cried with scorn.
The sparkling brown eyes were focused on the board platform.
"I do see them moving," she said slowly, as a look of deep seriousness swept the fair young face. "Perhaps General Scott's right after all. Father says we're walking on a volcano----"
"But not that kind of a volcano, Miss Betty," Vaughan interrupted. "Senator Winter's an Abolitionist. He hates the South with every breath he breathes."
"And prays God night and morning to give him greater strength with which to hate it harder--yes----"
"There must be a little fire where there's so much smoke. A crazy fool might try to kill the new President."
"The South won't fight that way. If they begin war it will be the most solemn act of life. It will be for God and country, and what they believe to be right. The Southern people are not assassins. When they take Washington it will be with the bayonet."
"And yet your brother had a taste of Southern feeling here the night of the election when a mob broke in and smashed the office of the _Republican_."
"A gang of hoodlums," he protested. "Anything may happen on election night to an opposition newspaper. The Southern men who formed that mob will never give this administration trouble----"
"I'm so anxious to meet your brother," Betty interrupted. "Why doesn't he come?"
"He's in the Senate Chamber for the ceremonies. He'll join us before the procession gets here."
"He's as handsome as everybody says?" she asked naïvely.
"I'll admit he's a good-looking fellow if he is my brother."
"Far from it--he's easy. He may not think so, but between us he's an easy mark. I've always been afraid he'll make a fool of himself and marry without the consent of his younger brother. He's a great care to me."