ne meekly,--how
heavy none will ever know. The pain of a crown of thorns worn for a
world that did not understand. No wonder Virginia faltered and
was silent. She looked at Abraham Lincoln standing there, bent and
sorrowful, and it was as if a light had fallen upon him. But strangest
of all in that strange moment was that she felt his strength. It was the
same strength she had felt in Stephen Brice. This was the thought that
came to her.

Slowly she walked to the window and looked out across the green grounds
where the wind was shaking the wet trees, past the unfinished monument
to the Father of her country, and across the broad Potomac to Alexandria
in the hazy distance. The rain beat upon the panes, and then she knew
that she was crying softly to herself. She had met a force that she
could not conquer, she had looked upon a sorrow that she could not
fathom, albeit she had known sorrow.

Presently she felt him near. She turned and looked through her tears
at his face that was all compassion. And now she was unashamed. He had
placed a chair behind her.

"Sit down, Virginia," he said. Even the name fell from him naturally.

She obeyed him then like a child. He remained standing.

"Tell me about your cousin," he said; "are you going to marry him?"

She hung an instant on her answer. Would that save Clarence? But in
that moment she could not have spoken anything but the truth to save her
soul.

"No, Mr. Lincoln," she said; "I was--but I did not love him. I--I think
that was one reason why he was so reckless."

Mr. Lincoln smiled.

"The officer who happened to see Colonel Colfax captured is now in
Washington. When your name was given to me, I sent for him. Perhaps he
is in the anteroom now. I should like to tell you, first of all, that
this officer defended your cousin and asked me to pardon him."

"He defended him! He asked you to pardon him! Who is he?" she exclaimed.

Again Mr. Lincoln smiled. He strode to the bell-cord, and spoke a few
words to the usher who answered his ring.

The usher went out. Then the door opened, and a young officer, spare,
erect, came quickly into the room, and bowed respectfully to the
President. But Mr. Lincoln's eyes were not on him. They were on the
girl. He saw her head lifted, timidly. He saw her lips part and the
color come flooding into her face. But she did not rise.

The President sighed But the light in her eyes was reflected in his own.
It has been truly said that Abra