He called his Secretary and ordered a Cabinet meeting to fix the date on
which to issue this momentous document to the world--a challenge to
mortal combat to his foes in all sections.
CHAPTER XVII
THE DAY'S WORK
Betty Winter held John Vaughan's note in her hand staring at its message
with increasing amazement:
"DEAR LITTLE SWEETHEART:
"The President has just called General McClellan again to the chief
command. His act vindicates my loyalty. Our quarrel is too absurd.
Life is too short, dear, for this--it's only long enough for love.
May I see you at once?
"JOHN."
Could it be true? For a moment she refused to believe it. The President
had expressed to her his deep conviction of McClellan's guilt. How could
he reverse his position on so vital and tremendous a matter over night?
And yet John Vaughan was incapable of the cheap trick of lying to make
an engagement.
A newsboy passed yelling an extra.
"Extra--Extra! General McClellan again in the saddle! Extra!"
It was true--he had made the appointment. What was its meaning? Had they
forced the President into this humiliating act? If the General were
really guilty of destroying Pope and overwhelming the army in defeat,
his treachery had created the crisis which forced his return to power.
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