54-40 or Fight

  CHAPTER XXIII

  SUCCESS IN SILK

  As things are, I think women are generally better creatures than men.--_S.T. Coleridge_.

  It was a part of my duties, when in Washington, to assist my chief inhis personal and official correspondence, which necessarily was veryheavy. This work we customarily began about nine of the morning. On thefollowing day I was on hand earlier than usual. I was done withWashington now, done with everything, eager only to be off on the fartrails once more. But I almost forgot my own griefs when I saw my chief.When I found him, already astir in his office, his face was strangelywan and thin, his hands bloodless. Over him hung an air of utterweariness; yet, shame to my own despair, energy showed in all hisactions. Resolution was written on his face. He greeted me with a smilewhich strangely lighted his grim face.

  "We have good news of some kind this morning, sir?" I inquired.

  In answer, he motioned me to a document which lay open upon his table.It was familiar enough to me. I glanced at the bottom. There were _two_signatures!

  "Texas agrees!" I exclaimed. "_The Dona Lucrezia has won Van Zandt'ssignature!_"

  I looked at him. His own eyes were swimming wet! This, then, was thatman of whom it is only remembered that he was a pro-slavery champion.

  "It will be a great country," said he at last. "This once done, I shallfeel that, after all, I have not lived wholly in vain."

  "But the difficulties! Suppose Van Zandt proves traitorous to us?"

  "He dare not. Texas may know that he bargained with England, but he darenot traffic with Mexico and let _that_ be known. He would not live aday."

  "But perhaps the Dona Lucrezia herself might some time prove fickle."

  "_She_ dare not! She never will. She will enjoy in secret her revenge onperfidious Albion, which is to say, perfidious Pakenham. Her nature isabsolutely different from that of the Baroness von Ritz. The DonaLucrezia dreams of the torch of love, not the torch of principle!"

  "The public might not approve, Mr. Calhoun; but at least there _were_advantages in this sort of aids!"

  "We are obliged to find such help as we can. The public is not alwaysable to tell which was plot and which counterplot in the accomplishmentof some intricate things. The result excuses all. It was written thatTexas should come to this country. Now for Oregon! It grows, this ideaof democracy!"

  "At least, sir, you will have done your part. Only now--"

  "Only what, then?"

  "We are certain to encounter opposition. The Senate may not ratify thisTexas treaty."

  "The Senate will _not_ ratify," said he. "I am perfectly well advised ofhow the vote will be when this treaty comes before it for ratification.We will be beaten, two to one!"

  "Then, does that not end it?"

  "End it? No! There are always other ways. If the people of this countrywish Texas to belong to our flag, she will so belong. It is as good asdone to-day. Never look at the obstacles; look at the goal! It was thisintrigue of Van Zandt's which stood in our way. By playing one intrigueagainst another, we have won thus far. We must go on winning!"

  He paced up and down the room, one hand smiting the other. "Let Englandwhistle now!" he exclaimed exultantly. "We shall annex Texas, in fullview, indeed, of all possible consequences. There can be noconsequences, for England has no excuse left for war over Texas. I onlywish the situation were as clear for Oregon."

  "There'll be bad news for our friend Senor Yturrio when he gets back tohis own legation!" I ventured.

  "Let him then face that day when Mexico shall see fit to look to us foraid and counsel. We will build a mighty country _here_, on _this_continent!"

  "Mr. Pakenham is accredited to have certain influence in our Senate."

  "Yes. We have his influence exactly weighed. Yet I rejoice in at leastone thing--one of his best allies is not here."

  "You mean Senor Yturrio?"

  "I mean the Baroness von Ritz. And now comes on that next nominatingconvention, at Baltimore."

  "What will it do?" I hesitated.

  "God knows. For me, I have no party. I am alone! I have but few friendsin all the world"--he smiled now--"you, my boy, as I said, and DoctorWard and a few women, all of whom hate each other."

  I remained silent at this shot, which came home to me; but he smiled,still grimly, shaking his head. "Rustle of silk, my boy, rustle ofsilk--it is over all our maps. But we shall make these maps! Time shallbear me witness."

  "Then I may start soon for Oregon?" I demanded.

  "You shall start to-morrow," he answered.