A Man of the People Part 50

[_To_ BETTY _lightly._]

Now you've had some good news----

BETTY

[_Forlornly._]

How long since any word came from General Sherman?

 

LINCOLN

Two days. I know the hole where he went in at. But I can't tell where the old varmint's going to come out----

BETTY

[_Chokes._]

If he ever comes out!

LINCOLN

Oh! He'll come out----

[_He stops and listens at the telegraph instrument again, and sighs in disappointment._]

He'll come out somewhere--It's a habit Uncle Billy has----

BETTY

[_Hopelessly._]

They've no news at the War Department either.

LINCOLN

No news is generally good news from Sherman.

[BETTY _turns away to hide her tears and_ LINCOLN _follows her with tender pleading._]

Come, come, my dear--these tears won't do! You've got to help me now!

[BETTY _brushes the tears away._]

I may have sent your lover to his death. I know that! But he went with a smile on his face and a great joy in his heart for the service he was doing his country----

BETTY

Yes--I know--I know--I'm proud of the honor you did him.

LINCOLN

[_Whispering._]

Give me a little lift, then----

[_Pauses._]

I'm just whistling to keep up _my_ courage!

[_He pauses again in an agony of suffering._]

I know that he got to Atlanta----

[_Pauses._]

Sherman has disappeared!

BETTY

Forgive me--I forgot. _You're_ going to win. I feel it. I know it!

LINCOLN

That's the way to talk! That's the way I'm talking to myself though I'm scared within an inch of my life----

[_He pauses and goes over to the_ OPERATOR--BETTY _following._]

Say, boy--can't you beat it a little harder and make the blame thing talk for us?

OPERATOR

I wish I could, sir.

LINCOLN

Try him again-----

[_The_ OPERATOR _calls Atlanta and pauses_--LINCOLN _and_ BETTY _bend over with breathless suspense. The instrument gives one click_--LINCOLN _starts. The instrument stops._]

Didn't the thing start to answer?

[_The_ OPERATOR _shakes his head._]

Call the War Office and ask Stanton to step over here--My G.o.d--why can't we hear!

BETTY

[_Wistfully._]