--There's but one tragedy, that can have no ray of light, and that is that this blood we are now pouring out shall have flowed in vain, and these brave men shall die for naught, that the old curse shall remain, the Union be broken into hostile sections and these battles must be fought again. [_He pauses, breathes deeply, and lifts his figure as if to throw off another nightmare and slips his arm around_ VAUGHAN.] My enemies call me a tyrant and usurper! I who came up here from a pioneer's cabin in the wilderness, out of rags and poverty---- [_Pauses._] --How well I remember when my mother looked at them and said--"This is nothing--it doesn't count here--it's what you feel--it's what you believe--it's what you see that counts----" [_Struggles with his emotions._] Now I'm going to show you something, my son, and I'll let _you_ be the judge as to whether I'm a tyrant-- [_He takes up the booklet and hands it to_ VAUGHAN.] Read the title page. VAUGHAN [_Reading in amazement._] "Why Should Brothers Fight?" By Dr. Richard Vaughan. LINCOLN That pamphlet was taken by his sister from the pocket of a poor ignorant boy, who was sentenced to be shot for desertion to-morrow at sunrise---- VAUGHAN No! No!---- LINCOLN I pardoned him this morning---- [VAUGHAN _sighs his relief._] Your father wrote and printed that poison, and has forfeited his life for that boy's act---- VAUGHAN [_Trembling._] I know you could order his execution---- LINCOLN I said to-day that I'd hang such a man on a gallows forty cubits high--but now that I see you trembling---- [_He pauses._] I shall _not_ order his execution. I shall only hold him until the war is over, and then let him and all the others go---- [_Pauses._] Tyrant and usurper they call me! And I'm the humblest man who walks the earth to-night! VAUGHAN [_Slowly sinking to a seat and covering his face with his hands in a cry of despair._] Oh,--my God----! LINCOLN [_Bending in sorrowful amazement and touching_ VAUGHAN'S _head._] Why,--what's the matter, my boy----? I'm the only man to despair. You're just a Captain in the army. You have only to obey your superior officer. If to be the head of hell is as hard as what I've had to undergo here, I could find it in my heart to pity Satan himself. And if there's a man outside of perdition who suffers more than I do, I pity him----! VAUGHAN [_Springing to his feet and throwing his hands up in anguish._] You don't understand----! You don't understand----! LINCOLN Understand--what----? VAUGHAN [_Impetuously._]