A Man of the People Part 35

Can't I stay and help you----?

VAUGHAN

No, no----

BETTY

It means so much to me now----!

[_She nestles in his arms and_ VAUGHAN _kisses her._]

VAUGHAN

I'll know how to plead my cause----

BETTY

All right--good luck. I'm sure you'll win----

[BETTY _exits._]

[VAUGHAN _walks to the door leading to the Lincoln Apartments, and listens a moment, and walks to the President's desk. His eye rests on the worn copy of the Bible which_ LINCOLN _always kept on his desk. He gazes at the thumbed pages in amazement._]

VAUGHAN

The Bible--My G.o.d!

[_Turns its leaves._]

And every page thumbed----!

[_He continues to turn the leaves of the Bible._]

[_The sound of_ LINCOLN'S _voice is heard outside talking to_ MRS.

LINCOLN.]

LINCOLN

[_Outside._]

Go back, and talk to Miss Betty!

[VAUGHAN _quickly places the Bible back on his desk and takes his stand near the door to the hall, as if he had just entered._ LINCOLN _enters from the other door, still talking to his wife who follows him._]

Don't worry, Mother! Who cares for a few old dresses more or less in these times! But if I'd known they cost that much, I'd taken a second look at them and tried to get my money's worth!

MRS. LINCOLN

You're sure it won't influence your decision?

LINCOLN

Not a bit! If we stay here--it'll be all right. We can skimp a little.

If we don't stay--the old sign still swings on the door in Springfield--Billy Herndon's waiting for me and the law business will be better than ever. Go back now, and don't worry! It's my business to do _all_ the worrying----

[LINCOLN _closes the door after she goes, and comes down toward the desk, lifts his haggard eyes in a dazed way and looks about the room. Anxiety and suffering again mark his rugged face. He sees_ VAUGHAN, _and at once throws off the spell of his troubles, advances to meet him and takes his hand._]

I'm glad to see you, my boy--Will you pull up a chair?

[LINCOLN _drops wearily into his chair and his voice has a far-away dreamy expression in its tones while he studies_ VAUGHAN _carefully._]

And what can I do for you?

VAUGHAN

My name is Vaughan--the elder son of Dr. Richard Vaughan of Palmyra, Missouri----

LINCOLN

[_Thoughtfully._]

Vaughan--Richard Vaughan--I've heard that name--But you're _one_ of our boys fighting with Grant's army?

VAUGHAN

Yes----

LINCOLN

[_Looking him over._]

You've been very ill, I see--wounded of course?

VAUGHAN

Yes----

LINCOLN

[_Rises, takes_ VAUGHAN'S _hands in both his, and presses it._]

There's nothing I won't do for one of our wounded boys--if I can----

VAUGHAN

Thank you----

LINCOLN