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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5309.txt b/5309.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf291f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/5309.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12709 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miss Lou, by E. P. Roe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Miss Lou + +Author: E. P. Roe + +Posting Date: September 8, 2012 [EBook #5309] +Release Date: March, 2004 +First Posted: June 29, 2002 +Last Updated: August 15, 2005 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISS LOU *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +THE WORKS OF E. P. ROE + +VOLUME NINE + +"MISS LOU" + + +ILLUSTRATED + + + + +In Loving Dedication + +TO LITTLE MISS LOU MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I A GIRL'S PROTEST + + CHAPTER II SOMETHING HAPPENS + + CHAPTER III MAD WHATELY + + CHAPTER IV AUN' JINKEY'S POLICY + + CHAPTER V WHATELY'S IDEA OF COURTSHIP + + CHAPTER VI THE STORM BEGINS + + CHAPTER VII DANGERS THICKENING + + CHAPTER VIII "WHEN?" + + CHAPTER IX PARALYZED WITH SHAME + + CHAPTER X A BAFFLED DIPLOMATIST + + CHAPTER XI AUN' JINKEY'S WARNING + + CHAPTER XII A WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS + + CHAPTER XIII THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + CHAPTER XIV A THREAT + + CHAPTER XV MISS LOU EMANCIPATED + + CHAPTER XVI A SMILE ON WAR'S GRIM FACE + + CHAPTER XVII THE JOY OF FREEDOM + + CHAPTER XVIII A WELL-AIMED SLIPPER + + CHAPTER XIX A GIRL'S APPEAL + + CHAPTER XX SCOVILLE'S HOPE + + CHAPTER XXI TWO STORMS + + CHAPTER XXII CHUNK'S QUEST + + CHAPTER XXIII A BOLD SCHEME + + CHAPTER XXIV A HOME A HOSPITAL + + CHAPTER XXV A TRIBUTE TO A SOUTHERN GIRL + + CHAPTER XXVI A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM + + CHAPTER XXVII AUN' JINKEY'S SUPREME TEST + +CHAPTER XXVIII TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL + + CHAPTER XXIX "ANGEL OF DEATH" + + CHAPTER XXX GLIMPSES OF MOODS AND MINDS + + CHAPTER XXXI THE DUELLISTS VANQUISHED + + CHAPTER XXXII SAD TIDINGS + +CHAPTER XXXIII CONSPIRATORS + + CHAPTER XXXIV CHUNK PLAYS SPOOK + + CHAPTER XXXV A VISITATION + + CHAPTER XXXVI UNCLE LUSTHAH EXHORTS + +CHAPTER XXXVII A NEW ROUTINE + + + + +"MISS LOU" + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A GIRL'S PROTEST + + +A great, rudely built stone chimney was smoking languidly one +afternoon. Leaning against this chimney, as if for protection and +support, was a little cabin gray and decrepit with age. The door of the +cabin stood wide open, for the warm spring was well advanced in the +South. There was no need of a fire, but Aun' Jinkey, the mistress of +the abode, said she "kep' hit bunin' fer comp'ny." She sat by it now, +smoking as lazily as her chimney, in an old chair which creaked as if +in pain when she rocked. She supposed herself to be in deep meditation, +and regarded her corncob pipe not merely a solace but also as an +invaluable assistant to clearness of thought. Aun' Jinkey had the +complacent belief that she could reason out most questions if she could +only smoke and think long enough. Unfortunately, events would occur +which required action, or which raised new questions before she had had +time to solve those originally presented; yet it would be hard to fancy +a more tranquil order of things than that of which she was a humble +part. + +The cabin was shaded by grand old oaks and pines, through which the +afternoon sun shone in mild radiance, streaming into the doorway and +making a broad track of light over the uneven floor. But Aun' Jinkey +kept back in the congenial dusk, oblivious to the loveliness of nature +without. At last she removed her pipe from her mouth and revealed her +mental processes in words. + +"In all my projeckin' dat chile's wuss'n old mars'r en miss, en de wah, +en de preachin'. I kin kin' ob see troo dem, en w'at dey dribin' at, +but dat chile grow mo' quare en on'countable eb'y day. Long as she wus +took up wid her doll en tame rabbits en pony dar wa'n't no +circum'cutions 'bout her, en now she am all circum'cution. Not'n gwine +'long plain wid her. She like de run down dar--but win' en win' ez ef +hit had ter go on, en hit couldn't mek up hits min' which way ter go. +Sometime hit larfin' in de sun en den hit steal away whar you kyant +mos' fin' hit. Dat de way wid Miss Lou. She seem right hyar wid us--she +only lil gyurl toder day--en now she 'clinin' to notions ob her own, en +she steal away to whar she tink no one see her en tink on heaps ob +tings. Won'er ef eber, like de run, she wanter go way off fum us? + +"Ole mars'r en ole miss dunno en doan see not'n. Dey kyant. Dey tinks +de worl' al'ays gwine des so, dat means de way dey tink hit orter go. +Ef hit go any oder way, de worl's wrong, not dey. I ain' sayin' dey is +wrong, fer I ain' des tink dat all out'n. 'Long ez she keeps her foots +on de chalk line dey mark out dey ain' projeckin' how her min' go yere +en dar, zigerty-zag wid notions ob her own." + +The door darkened, if the radiant girl standing on the threshold could +be said to darken any door. She did not represent the ordinary Southern +type, for her hair was gold in the sun and her eyes blue as the violets +by the brook. They were full of mirth now as she said: "There you are, +Aun' Jinkey, smoking and 'projeckin' as usual. You look like an old +Voudoo woman, and if I didn't know you as my old mammy--if I should +just happen in as a stranger, I'd be afraid of you." + +"Voudoo ooman! How you talks, Miss Lou! I'se a member ob de Baptis' +Church, en you knows it." + +"Oh, I know a heap 'mo'n dat,' as you so often say. If you were only a +member of the Baptist Church I wouldn't be running in to see you so +often. Uncle says a member of the Baptist Church has been stealing some +of his chickens." + +"I knows some tings 'bout de members ob HE church," replied Aun' +Jinkey, with a toss of her head. + +"I reckon you do, more than they would like to see published in the +county paper; but we aren't scandal-mongers, are we, Aun' Jinkey?" and +the young visitor sat down in the doorway and looked across the green +meadow seen through the opening in the trees. A dogwood stood in the +corner of the rail fence, the pink and white of its blossoms well +matching the girl's fair face and her rose-dotted calico gown, which, +in its severe simplicity, revealed her rounded outlines. + +Aun' Jinkey watched her curiously, for it was evident that Miss Lou's +thoughts were far away. "Wat you tinkin' 'bout, Miss Lou?" she asked. + +"Oh, I hardly know myself. Come, Aun' Jinkey, be a nice old witch and +tell me my fortune." + +"Wat you want ter know yo' fortin fur?" + +"I want to know more than I do now. Look here, Aun' Jinkey, does that +run we hear singing yonder go round and round in one place and with the +same current? Doesn't it go on? Uncle and aunt want me to go round and +round, doing the same things and thinking the same thoughts--not my own +thoughts either. Oh, I'm getting so tired of it all!" + +"Lor' now, chile, I wuz des 'parin' you ter dat run in my min'," said +Aun' Jinkey in an awed tone. + +"No danger of uncle or aunt comparing me to the run, or anything else. +They never had any children and don't know anything about young people. +They have a sort of prim, old-fashioned ideal of what the girls in the +Baron family should be, and I must become just such a girl--just like +that stiff, queer old portrait of grandma when she was a girl. Oh, if +they knew how tired of it all I am!" + +"Bless yo' heart, Miss Lou, you ain' projeckin' anyting?" + +"No, I'm just chafing and beating my wings like a caged bird." + +"Now see yere, Miss Lou, isn't you onreason'ble? You hab a good home; +mars'r en miss monstus pius, en dey bringin' you up in de nurter en +'monitions ob de Lawd." "Too much 'monition, Aun' Jinkey. Uncle and +aunt's religion makes me so tired, and they make Sunday so awfully +long. Their religion reminds me of the lavender and camphor in which +they keep their Sunday clothes. And then the pages of the catechism +they have always made me learn, and the long Psalms, too, for +punishment! I don't understand religion, anyway. It seems something +meant to uphold all their views, and anything contrary to their views +isn't right or religious. They don't think much of you Baptists." + +"We ain' sufrin' on dat 'count, chile," remarked Aun' Jinkey, dryly. + +"There now, Aun' Jinkey, don't you see? Uncle owns you, yet you think +for yourself and have a religion of your own. If he knew I was thinking +for myself, he'd invoke the memory of all the Barons against me. I +don't know very much about the former Barons, except that my father was +one. According to what I am told, the girl Barons were the primmest +creatures I ever heard of. Then uncle and aunt are so inconsistent, +holding up as they do for my admiration Cousin Mad Whately. I don't +wonder people shorten his name from Madison to Mad, for if ever there +was a wild, reckless fellow, he is. Uncle wants to bring about a match, +because Mad's plantation joins ours. Mad acted as if he owned me +already when he was home last, and yet he knows I can't abide him. He +seems to think I can be subdued like one of his skittish horses." + +"You HAB got a heap on yo' min', Miss Lou, you sho'ly hab. You sut'ny +t'ink too much for a young gyurl." + +"I'm eighteen, yet uncle and aunt act toward me in some ways as if I +were still ten years old. How can I help thinking? The thoughts come. +You're a great one to talk against thinking. Uncle says you don't do +much else, and that your thoughts are just like the smoke of your pipe." + +Aun' Jinkey bridled indignantly at first, but, recollecting herself, +said quietly: "I knows my juty ter ole mars'r en'll say not'n gin 'im. +He bring you up en gib you a home, Miss Lou. You must reckermember dat +ar." + +"I'm in a bad mood, I suppose, but I can't help my thoughts, and it's +kind of a comfort to speak them out. If he only WOULD give me a home +and not make it so much like a prison! Uncle's honest, though, to the +backbone. On my eighteenth birthday he took me into his office and +formally told me about my affairs. I own that part of the plantation on +the far side of the run. He has kept all the accounts of that part +separate, and if it hadn't been for the war I'd have been rich, and he +says I will be rich when the war is over and the South free. He said he +had allowed so much for my bringing up and for my education, and that +the rest was invested, with his own money, in Confederate bonds. That +is all right, and I respect uncle for his downright integrity, but he +wants to manage me just as he does my plantation. He wishes to produce +just such crops of thoughts as he sows the seeds of, and he would treat +my other thoughts like weeds, which must be hoed out, cut down and +burned. Then you see he hasn't GIVEN me a home, and I'm growing to be a +woman. If I am old enough to own land, am I never to be old enough to +own myself?" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, you raisin' mo' questions dan I kin tink out in a +yeah." + +"There's dozens more rising in my mind and I can't get rid of them. +Aunt keeps my hands knitting and working for the soldiers, and I like +to do it. I'd like to be a soldier myself, for then I could go +somewhere and do and see something. Life then wouldn't be just doing +things with my hands and being told to think exactly what an old +gentleman and an old lady think. Of course our side is right in this +war, but how can I believe with uncle that nearly all the people in the +North are low, wicked and vile? The idea that every Northern soldier is +a monster is preposterous to me. Uncle forgets that he has had me +taught in United States history. I wish some of them would just march +by this out-of-the-way place, for I would like to see for myself what +they are like." + +"Dar, dar, Miss Lou, you gittin' too bumptious. You like de fus' woman +who want ter know too much." + +"No," said the girl, her blue eyes becoming dark and earnest, "I want +to know what's true, what's right. I can't believe that uncle and +aunt's narrow, exclusive, comfortless religion came from heaven; I +can't believe that God agrees with uncle as to just what a young girl +should do and think and be, but uncle seems to think that the wickedest +thing I can do is to disagree with him and aunt. Uncle forgets that +there are books in his library, and books make one think. They tell of +life very different from mine. Why, Aun' Jinkey, just think what a +lonely girl I am! You are about the only one I can talk to. Our +neighbors are so far away and we live so secluded that I scarcely have +acquaintances of my own age. Aunt thinks young girls should be kept out +of society until the proper time, and that time seems no nearer now +than ever. If uncle and aunt loved me, it would be different, but they +have just got a stiff set of ideas about their duty to me and another +set about my duty to them. Why, uncle laughed at a kitten the other day +because it was kittenish, but he has always wanted me to behave with +the solemnity of an old cat. Oh, dear! I'm SO tired. I wish something +WOULD happen." + +"Hit brokes me all up ter year you talk so, honey, en I bless de Lawd +'tain' likely any ting gwinter hap'n in dese yere parts. De wah am +ragin' way off fum heah, nobody comin' wid news, en bimeby you gits mo' +settle down. Some day you know de valley ob peace en quietness." + +"See here, Aun' Jinkey," said the girl, with a flash of her eyes, "you +know the little pond off in the woods. That's more peaceful than the +run, isn't it? Well, it's stagnant, too, and full of snakes. I'd like +to know what's going on in the world, but uncle of late does not even +let me read the county paper. I know things are not going to suit him, +for he often frowns and throws the paper into the fire. That's what +provokes me--the whole world must go just to suit him, or else he is +angry." + +"Well, now, honey, you hab 'lieve yo' min', en I specs you feel bettah. +You mus' des promis yo' ole mammy dat you be keerful en not rile up ole +mars'r, kase hit'll ony be harder fer you. I'se ole, en I knows tings +do hap'n dough dey of'un come slowlike. You des gwine troo de woods +now, en kyant see fur; bimeby you come ter a clearin'. Dat boy ob mine +be comin' soon fer his pone en bacon. I'se gwinter do a heap ob tinkin' +on all de questions you riz." + +"Yes, Aun' Jinkey, I do feel better for speaking out, but I expect I +shall do a heap of thinking too. Good-by," and she strolled away toward +the brook. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SOMETHING HAPPENS + + +It was a moody little stream which Miss Lou was following. She did not +go far before she sat down on a rock and watched the murmuring waters +glide past, conscious meantime of a vague desire to go with them into +the unknown. She was not chafing so much at the monotony of her life as +at its restrictions, its negation of all pleasing realities, and the +persistent pressure upon her attention of a formal round of duties and +more formal and antiquated circle of thoughts. Only as she stole away +into solitudes like the one in which she now sat dreaming could she +escape from the hard materialism of routine, and chiding for idleness +usually followed. Her aunt, with an abundance of slaves at her command, +could have enjoyed much leisure, yet she was fussily and constantly +busy, and the young girl could not help feeling that much which she was +expected to do was a mere waste of time. + +The serene beauty of the evening, the songs of the mocking and other +birds, were not without their effect, however, and she said aloud: "I +might be very happy even here if, like the birds, I had the heart to +sing--and I would sing if I truly lived and had something to live for." + +The sun was approaching the horizon, and she was rising wearily and +reluctantly to return when she heard the report of firearms, followed +by the sound of swiftly galloping horses. Beyond the brook, on the +margin of which she stood, rose a precipitous bank overhung with vines +and bushes, and a few rods further back was a plantation road +descending toward a wide belt of forest. A thick copse and growth of +young trees ran from the top of the bank toward the road, hiding from +her vision that portion of the lane from which the sounds were +approaching. Suddenly half a dozen cavalrymen, whom she knew to be +Federals from their blue uniforms, galloped into view and passed on in +the direction of the forest. One of the group turned his horse sharply +behind the concealing copse and spurred directly toward her. She had +only time to throw up her hands and utter an involuntary cry of warning +about the steep bank, when the horse sprang through the treacherous +shrubbery and fell headlong into the stream. The rider saw his peril, +withdrew his feet from the stirrups, and in an instinctive effort for +self-preservation, threw himself forward, falling upon the sand almost +at the young girl's feet. He uttered a groan, shivered, and became +insensible. A moment or two later a band in gray galloped by wholly +intent upon the Federals, who had disappeared spurring for the woods, +and she recognized her cousin, Madison Whately, leading the pursuit. +Neither he nor any of his party looked her way, and it was evident that +the Union soldier who had so abruptly diverged from the road behind the +screening copse had not been discovered. The sounds died away as +speedily as they had approached, and all became still again. The +startled birds resumed their songs; the injured horse moved feebly, and +the girl saw that it was bleeding from a wound, but the man at her feet +did not stir. Truly something had happened. What should she do? +Breaking the paralysis of her fear and astonishment, she stepped to the +brook, gathered up water in her hands, and dashed it into the face of +the unconscious man. It had no effect. "Can he be dead?" she asked +herself in horror. He was as pale as his bronzed features could become, +and her woman's soul was touched that one who looked so strong, who had +been so vital a moment before, should now lie there in pathetic and +appealing helplessness. Was that fine, manly face the visage of one of +the terrible, bloodthirsty, unscrupulous Yankees? Even as she ran to +Aun' Jinkey's cottage for help the thought crossed her mind that the +world was not what it had been represented to her, and that she must +learn to think and act for herself. + +As she approached, Chunk, Aun' Jinkey's grandson, appeared coming from +the mansion house. He was nicknamed "Chunk" from his dwarfed stature +and his stout, powerful build. Miss Lou put her finger to her lips, +glanced hastily around, and led the way into the cabin. She hushed +their startled exclamations as she told her story, and then said, "Aun' +Jinkey, if he's alive, you must hide him in your loft there where Chunk +sleeps. Come with me." + +In a few moments all three were beside the unconscious form. Chunk +instantly slipped his hand inside the soldier's vest over his heart. +"Hit done beats," he said, quickly, and without further hesitation he +lifted the man as if he had been a child, bore him safely to the cabin, +and laid him on Aun' Jinkey's bed. "Hi, granny, whar dat hot stuff you +gib me fer de belly misery?" + +Aun' Jinkey had already found a bottle containing a decoction of the +wild ginger root, and with pewter spoon forced some of the liquid into +the man's mouth. He struggled slightly and began to revive. At last he +opened his eyes and looked with an awed expression at the young girl +who stood at the foot of the bed. + +"I hope you feel better now," she said, kindly. + +"Are you--am I alive?" he asked. + +"Dar now, mars'r, you isn't in heb'n yet, dough Miss Lou, standin' dar, +mout favor de notion. Des you took anoder swaller ob dis ginger-tea, en +den you see me'n Chunk ain' angels." + +Chunk grinned and chuckled. "Neber was took fer one in my bawn days." + +The young man did as he was bidden, then turned his eyes wistfully and +questioningly from the two dark visages back to the girl's sympathetic +face. + +"You remember," she said, "you were being chased, and turned your horse +toward a steep bank, which you didn't see, and fell." + +"Ah, yes--it's all growing clear. You were the woman I caught glimpse +of." + +She nodded and said: "I must go now, or some one will come looking for +me. I won't speak--tell about this. I'm not on your side, but I'm not +going to get a helpless man into more trouble. You may trust Aun' +Jinkey and her grandson." + +"Dat you kin, mars'r," Chunk ejaculated with peculiar emphasis. + +"God bless you, then, for a woman who has a heart. I'm quite content +that you're not an angel," and a smile so lighted up the soldier's +features that she thought she had never seen a pleasanter looking man. + +Worried indeed that she was returning so much later than usual, she +hastened homeward. Half-way up the path to the house she met a tall, +slender negro girl, who exclaimed, "Hi, Miss Lou, ole miss des gettin' +'stracted 'bout you, en mars'r sez ef you ain' at supper in five minits +he's gwine down to Aun' Jinkey en know what she mean, meckin' sech' +sturbence in de fambly." + +"How absurd!" thought the girl. "Being a little late is a disturbance +in the family." But she hastened on, followed by the girl, who was +employed in the capacity of waitress. This girl, Zany by name, resented +in accordance with her own ideas and character the principle of +repression which dominated the household. She threw a kiss toward the +cabin under the trees and shook with silent laughter as she muttered, +"Dat fer you, Chunk. You de beat'nst nigger I eber see. You mos' ez +bro'd ez I is high, yit you'se reachin' arter me. I des like ter kill +mysef lafin' wen we dance tergeder," and she indulged in a jig-step and +antics behind Miss Lou's back until she came in sight of the windows, +then appeared as if following a hearse. + +Miss Lou entered the rear door of the long, two-story house, surrounded +on three sides by a wide piazza. Mr. Baron, a stout, bald-headed old +gentleman, was fuming up and down the dining-room while his wife sat in +grim silence at the foot of the table. It was evident that they had +made stiff, old-fashioned toilets, and both looked askance at the +flushed face of the almost breathless girl, still in her simple morning +costume. Before she could speak her uncle said, severely, "Since we +have waited so long, we will still wait till you can dress." + +The girl was glad to escape to her room in order that she might have +time to frame some excuse before she faced the inquisition in store for +her. + +Constitutional traits often assert themselves in a manner contrary to +the prevailing characteristics of a region. Instead of the easy-going +habits of life common to so many of his neighbors, Mr. Baron was a +martinet by nature, and the absence of large, engrossing duties +permitted his mind to dwell on little things and to exaggerate them out +of all proportion. Indeed, it was this utter lack of perspective in his +views and judgments which created for Miss Lou half her trouble. The +sin of tardiness which she had just committed was treated like a great +moral transgression, or rather it was so frowned upon that it were hard +to say he could show his displeasure at a more heinous offence. The one +thought now in Mr. Baron's mind was that the sacred routine of the day +had been broken. Often there are no greater devotees to routine than +those who are virtually idlers. Endowed with the gift of persistence +rather than with a resolute will, it had become second nature to +maintain the daily order of action and thought which he believed to be +his right to enforce upon his household. Every one chafed under his +inexorable system except his wife. She had married when young, had +grown up into it, and supplemented it with a system of her own which +took the form of a scrupulous and periodical attention to all little +details of housekeeping. There was a constant friction, therefore, +between the careless, indolent natures of the slaves and the precise, +exacting requirements of both master and mistress. Miss Lou, as she was +generally called on the plantation, had grown up into this routine as a +flower blooms in a stiff old garden, and no amount of repression, +admonition and exhortation, not even in her younger days of punishment, +could quench her spirit or benumb her mind. She submitted, she yielded, +with varying degrees of grace or reluctance. As she increased in years, +her thoughts, as we have seen, were verging more and more on the border +of rebellion. But the habit of obedience and submission still had its +influence. Moreover, there had been no strong motive and little +opportunity for independent action. Hoping not even for tolerance, much +less for sympathy, she kept her thoughts to herself, except as she +occasionally relieved her mind to her old mammy, Aun' Jinkey. + +She came into the dining-room hastily at last, but the expression of +her face was impassive and inscrutable. She was received in solemn +silence, broken at first only by the long formal grace which Mr. Baron +never omitted and never varied. In her rebellious mood the girl +thought, "What a queer God it would be if he were pleased with this old +cut-and-dried form of words! All the time uncle's saying them he is +thinking how he'll show me his displeasure." + +Mr. Baron evidently concluded that his best method at first would be an +expression of offended dignity, and the meal began in depressing +silence, which Mrs. Baron was naturally the first to break. "It must be +evident to you, Louise," she said in a thin, monotonous voice, "that +the time has come for you to consider and revise your conduct. The fact +that your uncle has been kept waiting for his supper is only one result +of an unhappy change which I have observed, but have forborne to speak +of in the hope that your own conscience and the influence of your past +training would lead you to consider and conform. Think of the precious +moments, indeed I may say hours, that you have wasted this afternoon in +idle converse with an old negress who is no fit companion for you! You +are becoming too old--" + +"Too old, aunt? Do you at last recognize the fact that I am growing +older?" + +With a faint expression of surprise dawning in her impassive face Mrs. +Baron continued: "Yes, old enough to remember yourself and not to be +compelled to recognize the duties of approaching womanhood. I truly +begin to feel that I must forbid these visits to an old, ignorant and +foolish creature whose ideas are totally at variance with all that is +proper and right." + +"Uncle thinks I have approached womanhood sufficiently near to know +something of my business affairs, and even went so far as to suggest +his project of marrying me to my cousin in order to unite in sacred--I +mean legal bonds the two plantations." + +The two old people looked at each other, then stared at their niece, +who, with hot face, maintained the pretence of eating her supper. +"Truly, Louise," began Mr. Baron, solemnly, "you are indulging in +strange and unbecoming language. I have revealed to you your pecuniary +affairs, and I have more than once suggested an alliance which is in +accordance with our wishes and your interests, in order to prove to you +how scrupulous we are in promoting your welfare. We look for grateful +recognition and a wise, persistent effort on your part to further our +efforts in your behalf." + +"It doesn't seem to me wise to talk to a mere child about property and +marriage," said the girl, breathing quickly in the consciousness of her +temerity and her rising spirit of rebellion. + +"You are ceasing to be a mere child," resumed her uncle, severely. + +"That cannot be," Miss Lou interrupted. "You and aunt speak to me as +you did years ago when I was a child. Can you expect me to have a +woman's form and not a woman's mind? Are women told exactly what they +must think and do, like little children? Aunt threatens to forbid +visits to my old mammy. If I were but five years old she couldn't do +more. You speak of marrying me to my cousin as if I had merely the form +and appearance of a woman, and no mind or wishes of my own. I have +never said I wanted to marry him or any one." + +"Why, Louise, you are verging toward flat rebellion," gasped her uncle, +laying down his knife and fork. + +"Oh, no, uncle! I'm merely growing up. You should have kept the library +locked; you should never have had me taught to read, if you expected me +to become the mere shell of a woman, having no ideas of my own." + +"We wish you to have ideas, and have tried to inculcate right ideas." + +"Which means only your ideas, uncle." + +"Louise, are you losing your mind?" + +"No, uncle, I am beginning to find it, and that I have a right to use +it. I am willing to pay all due respect and deference to you and to +aunt, but I protest against being treated as a child on one hand and as +a wax figure which can be stood up and married to anybody on the other. +I have patiently borne this treatment as long as I can, and I now +reckon the time has come to end it." + +Mr. Baron was thunderstruck and his wife was feeling for her +smelling-bottle. Catching a glimpse of Zany, where she stood +open-mouthed in her astonishment, her master said, sternly, "Leave the +room!" Then he added to his niece, "Think of your uttering such wild +talk before one of our people! Don't you know that my will must be law +on this plantation?" + +"I'm not one of your people," responded the girl, haughtily. "I'm your +niece, and a Southern girl who will call no man master." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for it to +be opened, a tall, lank man entered and said, hastily, "Mr. Baron, I +reckon there's news which yer orter hear toreckly." He was the overseer +of the plantation. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MAD WHATELY + + +Mr. Baron was one of the few of the landed gentry in the region who was +not known by a military title, and he rather prided himself on the +fact. "I'm a man of peace," he was accustomed to say, and his neighbors +often remarked, "Yes, Baron is peaceable if he has his own way in +everything, but there's no young blood in the county more ready for a +fray than he for a lawsuit." "Law and order" was Mr. Baron's motto, but +by these terms he meant the perpetuity of the conditions under which he +and his ancestors had thus far lived. To distrust these conditions was +the crime of crimes. In his estimation, therefore, a Northern soldier +was a monster surpassed only by the out-and-out abolitionist. While it +had so happened that, even as a young man, his tastes had been legal +rather than military, he regarded the war of secession as more sacred +than any conflict of the past, and was willing to make great sacrifices +for its maintenance. He had invested all his funds as well as those of +his niece in Confederate bonds, and he had annually contributed a large +portion of the product of his lands to the support of the army. Living +remote from the scenes of actual strife, he had been able to maintain +his illusions and hopes to a far greater extent than many others of +like mind with himself; but as the war drew toward its close, even the +few newspapers he read were compelled to justify their name in some +degree by giving very unpalatable information. As none are so blind as +those who will not see, the old man had testily pooh-poohed at what he +termed "temporary reverses," and his immunity from disturbance had +confirmed his belief that the old order of things could not materially +change. True, some of his slaves had disappeared, but he had given one +who had been caught such a lesson that the rest had remained quiet if +not contented. + +The news brought by his overseer became therefore more disturbing than +the strange and preposterous conduct of his niece, and he had demanded +excitedly, "What on earth's the matter, Perkins?" + +"Well, sir, fur's I kin mek out, this very plantation's been p'luted by +Yankee soldiers this very evenin'. Yes, sir." + +"Great heavens! Perkins," and Mr. Baron sprang from his chair, then +sank back again with an expression suggesting that if the earth opened +next it could not be worse. + +"Yes, sir," resumed Perkins, solemnly, "I drawed that much from Jute. +He seen 'em hisself. I noticed a s'pressed 'citement en talk in the +quarters this evenin', an' I follered hit right up an' I ast roun' till +I pinned Jute. He was over the fur side of the run lookin' fur a stray +crow, an' he seen 'em. But they was bein' chased lively. Mad +Whately--beg pardon--Mr. Madison was arter them with whip and spur. +Didn't yer hear a crack of a rifle? I did, and reckoned it was one o' +the Simcoe boys out gunnin', but Jute says hit was one o' our men fired +the shot, en that they chased the Yanks to'erds the big woods. They was +all mounted en goin' it lickity switch. The thing that sticks in my +crop isn't them few what Mr. Madison chased, but the main body they +belongs to. Looks as ef there's goin' to be a raid down our way." + +"If that is so," said Mr. Baron, majestically, "Lieutenant Whately +proves that our brave men are not far off, either, and the way he +chased some of them shows how all the vile invaders will eventually be +driven out of the country. Be vigilant, Perkins, and let it be +understood at the quarters that Lieutenant Whately is within call." + +The overseer bowed awkwardly and limped away. His lameness had secured +him immunity from military duty. + +"Ah, that's a man for you," said Mr. Baron, glaring at his niece. "Your +cousin is a true scion of Southern chivalry. That is the kind of a man +you do not know whether you wish to marry or not--a brave defender of +our hearths and liberties." + +"If he wishes to marry me against my will, he's not a defender of my +liberty," retorted the girl. + +"If you had the spirit which should be your birthright your eyes would +flash with joy at the prospect of seeing a hero who could thus chase +your enemies from our soil. If you could only have seen him in his +headlong--" + +"I did see him." + +"What!" + +"I saw Cousin Madison leading a dozen or more men in pursuit of half a +dozen. That does not strike me as sublimely heroic." + +"Why haven't you told me of this? How could you have seen him?" and the +old man, in his strong excitement, rose from his chair. + +"My reception when I entered was not conducive to conversation. I was +merely sitting by the run and saw both parties gallop past." + +"You should have come instantly to me." + +"I'm sure I came in hastily," she replied, crimsoning in the +consciousness of her secret, "but I was met as if I had been guilty of +something awful." + +"Well, if I had known," began her uncle, in some confusion, mistaking +her color for an expression of anger. + +"I think," remarked her aunt, coldly, "that Louise should have +recognized that she had given you just cause for displeasure by her +tardiness, unless it were explained, and she should have explained at +once. I have no patience with the spirit she is displaying." + +But Mr. Baron's mind had been diverted to more serious and alarming +considerations than what he characterized mentally as "a girl's +tantrum." + +"It makes my blood boil," he said, "to think that this Northern scum is +actually in our neighborhood, and might be at our doors but for my +brave nephew. Thanks to him, they met a righteous reception on this +plantation; thanks to him, in all probability, we are not now weltering +in our blood, with the roof that shelters us blazing over our heads. If +those marauders had found us unprotected, young woman, you would have +rued the day. Their capacity for evil is only equalled by their +opportunities. If your cousin had not flamed after them like an +avenging sword you might have cried loudly enough for the one of whom, +in your fit of unseemly petulance, you can speak so slightingly. I +advise you to go to your room and thank Heaven for your escape." + +"Uncle, are the people of the North savages?" + +"Its soldiers are worse than savages. Have you not heard me express my +opinion of them over and over again? Go to your room, and when you +appear again, I trust it will be with the meekness and submission +becoming in a young woman." + +When the girl left Aun' Jinkey's cabin the young soldier looked after +her with an expression of deep interest. "Who is she?" he asked. + +"Dat's Miss Lou," said the old negress, forcing into his mouth another +spoonful of her fiery decoction. + +"Oh, that's enough, aunty, unless you wish to burn me out like a hollow +log," and he struggled to his feet to ease his tendency to strangle. +"Miss Lou? How should I know who she is?" + +"Ob co'se," said Aun' Jinkey, dryly, "I ain' namin' her pedigree." + +"You a Linkum man, ain' you?" Chunk asked, quickly. + +"Yes, and Lincoln is a good friend of yours." + +"Hi! I knows dat. W'at fer you so hidin'-in-de-grass, granny? No use +bein' dat away wid a Linkum man." + +"I ain' talkin' 'bout my young mistis to folks ez drap down fum de +clouds." + +"You wouldn't like me better if I came up from below, aunty. There now, +I'm not a very bad fellow, and I belong to the army that's going to +make you all free." + +"I hasn't des tink out dis question ob bein' free yit. I'se too ole to +wuk much an' old mars'r's took keer on me long time." + +"Well, I'se tink it out," put in Chunk, decidedly; "en I'se able to wuk +fer you en me too." + +"You mighty peart, Chunk, co'tin' a gal lie a bean-pole a'ready. I +reck'n she spen' all you eber mek. You bettah boos' de Linkum man into +dat ar lof sud'n, kase ef Marse Perkins cotch 'im yere we all ain' +feelin' berry good bimeby." + +"Dat ar truer'n preachin'," admitted Chunk, with alacrity. "Des you tek +hol' ob dem ladder rouns, mars'r, an' put yo' foots on my sho'lers. +Dat's hit. Nobody tink ob fin'in' you yere. I'se study how ter git yo' +hoss out of sight 'gin mawnin'." + +"You stand by me, Chunk," said the soldier, "and you won't be sorry. +There's a lot of us coming this way soon, and I can be a good friend of +yours and all your people if you help me out of this scrape." + +"I'se gwine ter stan' by you, boss. I'se mek up my min' ter be free dis +time, sho! Hi! w'at dat?" + +He was wonderfully agile, for his arms were nearly as long as his legs. +In an instant he descended, drawing a trap-door after him. Then he +sauntered to the door, which he opened wide. A troop of horsemen were +coming single file by a path which led near the cabin, and the foremost +asked in a voice which the negro recognized as that of Lieutenant +Whately, "Is that you, Chunk?" + +"Dat's me, mars'r. My 'specs." + +"Be off, you skeleton. Make time for the house and help get supper for +me and the men. If you don't run like a red deer, I'll ride you down." + +"Good Lawd! w'at gwine ter hap'n nex'?" groaned Chunk, as he +disappeared toward the mansion. He burst like a bombshell into the +kitchen, a small building in the rear of the house. + +"Did you eber see de likes?" exclaimed Zany. "What yo' manners--" + +"Hi, dar! talk 'bout manners! Marse Whately comin' wid a army, en want +supper fer um all in des one minute en er haf by de clock!" + +Great, fat Aun' Suke threw up her hands in despair, and in the brief +silence the tramp of horses and the jingling of sabres were plainly +heard. They all knew Mad Whately, and it needed not that Mrs. Baron, +desperately flurried, should bustle in a few moments later with orders +that all hands should fly around. "What you doing here?" she asked +Chunk, sharply. + +"I'se here ter hep, mistis. Dem's my orders from Marse Whately. He come +ridin' by granny's." + +"Then go and kill chickens." + +A few moments later the dolorous outcry of fowls was added to the +uproar made by the barking dogs. + +With a chill of fear Miss Lou, in her chamber, recognized her cousin's +voice, and knew that he, with his band, had come to claim hospitality +at his uncle's hands. What complications did his presence portend? +Truly, the long months of monotony on the old plantation were broken +now. What the end would be she dared not think, but for the moment her +spirit exulted in the excitement which would at least banish stagnation. + +In his secret heart Mr. Baron had hoped that his nephew would go on to +his own home, a few miles further; for applauding him as a hero was one +thing, and having him turn everything upside down at that hour another. +Routine and order were scattered to the winds whenever Mad Whately made +his appearance, but the host's second thoughts led him to remember that +this visitation was infinitely to be preferred to one from the terrible +Yankees; so he threw wide open the door, and, with his wife, greeted +his nephew warmly. Then he shouted for Perkins to come and look after +the horses. + +"Ah, mine uncle," cried Whately, "where on earth is to be found a +festive board like yours? Who so ready to fill the flowing bowl until +even the rim is lost to sight, when your defenders have a few hours to +spare in their hard campaigning? You won't entertain angels unawares +to-night. You'd have been like Daniel in the den with none to stop the +lions' mouths, or rather the jackals', had we not appeared on the +scene. The Yanks were bearing down for you like the wolf on the fold. +Where's my pretty cousin?" + +Mr. Baron had opened his mouth to speak several times during this +characteristic greeting, and now he hastened to the foot of the stairs +and shouted, "Louise, come down and help your aunt entertain our +guests." Meanwhile Whately stepped to the sideboard and helped himself +liberally to the sherry. + +"You know me must maintain discipline," resumed Whately, as his uncle +entered the dining-room. "The night is mild and still. Let a long table +be set on the piazza for my men. I can then pledge them through the +open window, for since I give them such hard service, I must make +amends when I can. Ah, Perkins, have your people rub the horses till +they are ready to prance, then feed them lightly, two hours later a +heavier feed, that's a good fellow! You were born under a lucky star, +uncle. You might now be tied up by your thumbs, while the Yanks helped +themselves." + +"It surely was a kind Providence which brought you here, nephew." + +"No doubt, no doubt; my good horse, also, and, I may add, the wish to +see my pretty cousin. Ah! here she comes with the blushes of the +morning on her cheeks," but his warmer than a cousinly embrace and kiss +left the crimson of anger in their places. + +She drew herself up indignantly to her full height and said, "We have +been discussing the fact that I am quite grown up. I will thank you to +note the change, also." + +"Why, so I do," he replied, regarding her with undisguised admiration; +"and old Father Time has touched you only to improve you in every +respect." + +"Very well, then," she replied, coldly, "I cannot help the touch of +Father Time, but I wish it understood that I am no longer a child." + +"Neither am I, sweet cousin, and I like you as a woman far better." + +She left the room abruptly to assist her aunt. + +"Jove! uncle, but she has grown to be a beauty. How these girls blossom +out when their time comes! Can it be that I have been absent a year?" + +"Yes, and your last visit was but a flying one." + +"And so I fear this one must be. The Yanks are on the move, perhaps in +this direction, and so are we. It was one of their scouting parties +that we ran into. Their horses were fresher than ours and they +separated when once in the shadow of the woods. They won't be slow, +however, in leaving these parts, now they know we are here. I'm going +to take a little well-earned rest between my scoutings, and make love +to my cousin. Olympian humbugs! how handsome and haughty she has +become! I didn't think the little minx had so much spirit." + +"She has suddenly taken the notion that, since she is growing up, she +can snap her fingers at all the powers that be." + +"Growing up! Why, uncle, she's grown, and ready to hear me say, 'With +all my worldly goods I thee endow.'" + +"But the trouble is, she doesn't act as if very ready." + +"Oh, tush! she isn't ready to throw herself at the head of any one. +That isn't the way of Southern girls. They want a wooer like a cyclone, +who carries them by storm, marries them nolens volens, and then they're +happy. But to be serious, uncle, in these stormy times Lou needs a +protector. You've escaped for a long time, but no one can tell now what +a day will bring forth. As my wife, Cousin Lou will command more +respect. I can take her within our lines, if necessary, or send her to +a place of safety. Ah, here comes my blooming aunt to prepare for +supper." + +"Welcome to The Oaks," she again repeated. "Never more welcome, since +you come as defender as well as guest." + +"Yes, aunt; think of a red-whiskered Yank paying his respects instead +of me." + +"Don't suggest such horrors, please." + +The gentlemen now joined Miss Lou in the parlor, while under Mrs. +Baron's supervision Zany, and Chunk, as gardener and man-of-all-work, +with the aid of others soon set the two tables. Then began a procession +of negroes of all sizes bearing viands from the kitchen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AUN' JINKEY'S POLICY + + +Allan Scoville, for such was the Union soldier's name, fully realized +that he was in the enemy's country as he watched through a cranny in +the cabin the shadowy forms of the Confederates file past. Every bone +in his body ached as if it had been broken, and more than once he moved +his arms and legs to assure himself that they were whole. "Breath was +just knocked right out of me," he muttered. "I hope that's the worst, +for this place may soon become too hot for me. My good horse is not +only lost, but I may be lost also through him. That queer-looking +darky, Chunk, is my best hope now unless it is Miss Lou. Droll, wasn't +it, that I should take her for an angel? What queer thoughts a fellow +has when within half an inch of the seamy side of life! Hanged if I +deserve such an awakening as I thought was blessing my eyes on the +other side. From the way I ache, the other side mayn't be far off yet. +Like enough hours will pass before Chunk comes back, and I must try to +propitiate his grandam." + +He crawled painfully to the trap-door and, finding a chink in the +boards, looked down into the apartment below. Aun' Jinkey was smoking +as composedly it might seem as if a terrible Yankee, never seen before, +was not over her head, and a band of Confederates who would have made +him a prisoner and punished her were only a few rods away. A close +observer, however, might have noticed that she was not enjoying languid +whiffs, as had been the case in the afternoon. The old woman had put +guile into her pipe as well as tobacco, and she hoped its smoke would +blind suspicious eyes if any were hunting for a stray Yankee. Chunk's +pone and bacon had been put near the fire to keep warm, and Scoville +looked at the viands longingly. + +At last he ventured to whisper, "Aun' Jinkey, I am as hungry as a wolf." + +"Hesh!" said the old woman softly. Then she rose, knocked the ashes +from her pipe with great deliberation, and taking a bucket started for +the spring. In going and coming she looked very sharply in all +directions, thus satisfying herself that no one was watching the cabin. +Re-entering, she whispered, "Kin you lif de trap-do'?" + +Scoville opened it, and was about to descend. "No, you kyant do dat," +interposed Aun' Jinkey, quickly. "Lie down up dar, en I han' you +Chunk's supper. He gits his'n at de big house. You's got ter play +possum right smart, mars'r, or you git cotched. Den we cotch it, too. +You 'speck I doan know de resk Chunk en me tookin?" + +"Forgive me, Aunt Jinkey. But your troubles will soon be over and you +be as free as I am." + +"I doesn't want no sech freedom ez you got, mars'r, hid'n en scrugin' +fum tarin' en rarin' red-hot gallopers ez Mad Whately en his men. Dey'd +des bun de ole cabin en me in't ef dey knowed you's dar. Bettah stop +yo' mouf wid yo' supper." + +This Scoville was well contented to do for a time, while Aun' Jinkey +smoked and listened with all her ears. Faint sounds came from the house +and the negro quarters, but all was still about the cabin. Suddenly she +took her pipe from her mouth and muttered, "Dar goes a squinch-owl +tootin'. Dat doan mean no good." + +"Aunt Jinkey," said Scoville, who was watching her, "that screech-owl +worries you, doesn't it?" + +"Dere's mo' kin's ob squinch-owls dan you 'lows on, mars'r. Some toots +fer de sake ob tootin' en some toots in warnin'." + +"That one tooted in warning. Don't be surprised if you hear another +very near." He crawled to the cranny under the eaves and Aun' Jinkey +fairly jumped out of her chair as she heard an owl apparently hooting +on the roof with a vigor and truth to nature that utterly deceived her +senses. Scoville repeated the signal, and then crept back to the chink +in the floor. The old woman was trembling and looking round in dismayed +uncertainty. "There," he said, with a low laugh, "that squinch-owl was +I, and the first you heard was one of my men. Now, like a good soul, +make pones and fry bacon for five men, and you'll have friends who will +take good care of you and Chunk." + +"De Lawd he'p me! w'at comin' nex'? Miss Lou wuz a wishin' sump'n ud +hap'n--w'at ain' gwinter hap'n?" + +"Nothing will happen to harm you if you do as I say. Our men may soon +be marching this way, and we'll remember our friends when we come." + +"I des hope dere'll be sump'n lef ob me ter reckermember," said Aun' +Jinkey, but she rose to comply with the soldier's requirement, feeling +that her only course was to fall in with the wishes of whoever happened +to be uppermost in the troublous times now foreseen. She was in a +terribly divided state of mind. The questions she had smoked and +thought over so long now pressed with bewildering rapidity and urgency. +An old family slave, she had a strong feeling of loyalty to her master +and mistress. But they had been partially alienating Miss Lou, for whom +she would open her veins, while her grandson was hot for freedom and +looked upon Northern soldiers as his deliverers. Aun' Jinkey was not +sure she wished to be delivered. That was one of the points she was not +through "projeckin'" about. Alas! events would not wait for her +conclusions, although more time had been given her than to many others +forced to contemplate vast changes. With a shrewd simplicity she +decided that it would be wise to keep on friendly terms with all the +contending powers, and do what in her judgment was best for each. + +"Hit des took all de 'visions we got," she remarked, disconsolately. + +"You'll soon have visions of more to eat and wear than ever blessed +your eyes," said Scoville, encouragingly. + +"Hi! granny," said Chunk, peeping in at the door. + +"How you start me!" ejaculated the old woman, sinking into her chair. + +"That you, Chunk?" asked Scoville. "Is the coast clear?" + +"I reck'n. Keep shy yet a while, mars'r." A few words explained the +situation, and Chunk added: "You des feed dem Yankees big, granny. I'se +pervide mo'. I mus' go now sud'n. Made Aun' Suke b'lebe dat I knowed ob +chickens w'at roos' in trees, en dey tinks I'se lookin' fer um. High +ole times up ter de house," and he disappeared in the darkness. + +In nervous haste Aun' Jinkey prepared the ample supper. Scoville hooted +again, a shadowy form stole to the cabin for the food, and disappeared +again toward the run. Then Aun' Jinkey prepared to compose her nerves +by another smoke. + +"Hand me up a coal for my pipe, also," said Scoville, "and then we'll +have a sociable time." + +"I des feared onsosh'ble times dis eb'nin'," remarked Aun' Jinkey. + +"If you knew how my bones ached, you'd help me pass the time." + +"Reck'n mine ache, too, 'fo' I troo wid dis bus'ness." + +"No, Aunt Jinkey, you won't be punished for doing a good deed. Your +young mistress is on your side, anyway. Who is she?" + +"Young mistis ain' got no po'r ef dey fin's out. She nuff ter do ter +hol' 'er own." + +"How comes it she's friendly to 'we uns,' as you say down here?" + +"She ain' friendly. You drap at her feet ez ef you wuz dead, en she hab +a lil gyurlish, soft heart, dat's all. Didn't she tole you dat she ain' +on yo' side?" + +"Well, bless her heart, then." + +"I circumscribe ter dat ar." + +"Aren't you on our side?" + +"I'se des 'twix en 'tween all de sides." + +"You're all right, Aunt Jinkey. I'd trust you with my life." + +"Reck'n you hab ter dis eb'nin'." + +"Well, about Miss Lou--you say she has trouble to hold her own. How's +that?" + +"Dem's fambly matters." + +"And so none of my business, unless she tells me herself." + +"How she gwine ter tol' you tings?" + +"Ah, Aunt Jinkey, you've vegetated a great while in these slow parts. I +feel it in my bones, sore as they are, that some day I'll give you a +new dress that will make you look like a spike of red hollyhocks. +You'll see changes you don't dream of." + +"My haid whirlin' now, mars'r. Hope ter grashus I kin do my wuk +ter-morrer in peace and quietness." + +There was neither peace nor quietness at the mansion. Whately, with a +soldier's instincts to make the most of passing opportunities, added to +the hasty tendencies of his own nature, was not only enjoying the +abundant supper, but feasting his eyes meantime on the charms developed +by his cousin in his absence. He knew of his uncle's wish to unite the +two plantations, and had given his assent to the means, for it had +always been his delight to tease, frighten, and pet his little cousin, +whose promise of beauty had been all that he could desire. Now she +evoked a sudden flame of passion, and his mind, which leaped to +conclusions, was already engaged in plans for consummating their union +at once. He sought to break down her reserve by paying her extravagant +compliments, and to excite her admiration by accounts of battles in +which he would not have posed as hero so plainly had he not been +flushed with wine. There was an ominous fire in her eyes scarcely in +accord with her cool demeanor. Unused to the world, and distrusting her +own powers, she made little effort to reply, taking refuge in +comparative silence. This course encouraged him and her uncle. The +former liked her manifestation of spirit as long as he believed it to +be within control. To his impetuous, imperious nature the idea of a +tame, insipid bride was not agreeable; while Mr. Baron, still under the +illusion that she was yet but a submissive child, thought that her bad +mood was passing and would be gone in the morning. He little dreamed +how swiftly her mind was awakening and developing under the spur of +events. She did not yet know that her cousin was meditating such a +speedy consummation of his purpose, but was aware that he and all her +relatives looked upon her as his predestined wife. Now, as never +before, she shrank from the relation, and in the instinct of +self-preservation resolved never to enter into it. + +Her long, rebellious reveries in solitude had prepared her for this +hour, and her proud, excited spirit surprised her by the intensity of +its passionate revolt. Not as a timid, shrinking maiden did she look at +her cousin and his men feasting on the piazza. She glanced at him, then +through the open windows at their burly forms, as one might face a +menace which brought no thought of yielding. + +The family resemblance between Whately and herself was strong. He had +her blue eyes, but they were smaller than hers, and his expression was +bold, verging toward recklessness. Her look was steady and her lips +compressed into accord with the firm little chin. + +Mrs. Baron's ideas of decorum soon brought temporary relief. She also +saw that her nephew was becoming too excited to make a good impression, +so she said, "Louise, you may now retire, and I trust that you will +waken tomorrow to the truth that your natural guardians can best direct +your thoughts and actions." + +Whately was about to rise in order to bid an affectionate good-night, +but the girl almost fled from the room. In the hall she met Chunk, who +whispered, "Linkum man gittin' peart, Miss Lou." + +"She'll be over her tantrum by morning," said Mr. Baron in an +apologetic tone. "Perhaps we'll have to humor her more in little +things." + +"That's just where the trouble lies, uncle. You and aunt have tried to +make her feel and act as if as old as yourselves. She's no longer a +child; neither is she exactly a woman. All young creatures at her age +are skittish. Bless you, she wouldn't be a Baron if she hadn't lots of +red, warm blood. So much the better. When I've married her she'll +settle down like other Southern girls." + +"I think we had better discuss these matters more privately, nephew," +said Mrs. Baron. + +"Beg pardon, I reckon we had, aunt. My advice, however, is that we act +first and discuss afterward." + +"We'll talk it over to-morrow, nephew," said Mr. Baron. "Of course as +guardian I must adopt the best and safest plan." + +Chunk's ears were long if he was short, and in waiting on a soldier +near the window he caught the purport of this conversation. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +WHATELY'S IDEA OF COURTSHIP + + +When waiting on the table, Zany either stood like an image carved out +of black walnut or moved with the angular promptness of an automaton +when a spring is touched. Only the quick roll of her eyes indicated how +observant she was. If, however, she met Chunk in the hall, or anywhere +away from observation, she never lost the opportunity to torment him. A +queer grimace, a surprised stare, an exasperating derisive giggle, were +her only acknowledgments of his amorous attentions. "Ef I doesn't git +eben wid dat niggah, den I eat a mule," he muttered more than once. + +But Chunk was in great spirits and a state of suppressed excitement. +"'Pears ez ef I mout own mysef 'fo' dis moon done waxin' en wanin'," he +thought. "Dere's big times comin,' big times. I'se yeard w'at hap'n +w'en de Yanks go troo de kentry like an ol bull in a crock'ry sto'." In +his duties of waiting on the troopers and clearing the table he had +opportunities of purloining a goodly portion of the viands, for he +remembered that he also had assumed the role of host with a very meagre +larder to draw upon. + +Since the Confederates were greatly wearied and were doubly inclined to +sleep from the effects of a hearty supper and liberal potations, Mr. +Baron offered to maintain a watch the early part of the night, while +Perkins was enjoined to sleep with one eye open near the quarters. +Mattresses and quilts were brought down and spread on the piazza floor, +from which soon rose a nasal chorus, "des like," as Chunk declared, "a +frog-pon' in full blas'." + +Whately, trained in alert, soldierly ways, slept on the sofa in the +parlor near his men. One after another the lights were extinguished, +and the house became quiet. Chunk was stealing away with his plunder +through the shrubbery in the rear of the house, when he was suddenly +confronted by Zany. "Hi! you niggah!" she whispered, "I'se cotch you +now kyarin' off nuff vittles ter keep you a mont. You gwinter run away." + +"You wan ter run wid me?" asked Chunk, unabashed. + +"What you took me fer?" + +"Fer better er wuss, w'ite folks say. Reck'n it ud be fer wuss in dis +case." + +"I reck'n de wuss ain' fur off. I des step ter ole mars'r an' tell 'im +ter 'vestigate yo' cabin dis eb'nin'," she said, and, with a great show +of offended dignity, she was about to move away. + +"Look yere, Zany, doan yer be a fool. Doan you wanter be a free gyurl?" + +"Ef you had me fer wuss I'd be des 'bout ez free ez Miss Lou w'en she +mar'ed ter Mad Whately." + +"Hi! you year dat, too?" + +"I got eyes, en I got years, en you ain' gwinter light out dis night en +lebe yo' granny en we uns. I sut'ny put a spoke in yo' wheel dat stop +hits runnin'." + +Chunk was now convinced that he would have to take Zany into his +confidence. He looked cautiously around, then whispered rapidly in her +ear. "Hi!" she exclaimed, softly, "you got longer head dan body." + +"I kin reach ter yo' lips," said Chunk, snatching a kiss. + +"Stop dat foolishness!" she exclaimed, giving him a slight cuff. + +"Zany, keep mum ez a possum. Dere's big times comin', en no un kin +hender um, dough dey kin git deysefs in a heap ob trouble by +blarnations. De Linkum men soon gwine ter be top of de heap an I'se +gwinter be on top wid um. Dar you be, too, ef you stan's by Miss Lou en +me." + +"Ve'y well, but I'se gwinter keep my eye on you, Marse Chunk." + +"Reck'n you will, kaze I am' gwinter be fur off; en ef you puts yo' eye +on some oder man, you soon fin' he ain' dar." With this ominous +assurance he stole away. + +Soon afterward the hoot of an owl was heard again; shadows approached +the cabin; Scoville, assisted by Chunk, joined them, and there was a +whispered consultation. Scoville put the result in the following words: + +"The chance is a good one, I admit. It is quite possible that we could +capture the Johnnies and their horses, but that's not what we're out +for. Besides, I'm too badly broken up. I couldn't ride to-night. You +must go back to camp, and leave me to follow. Chunk here has provisions +for you. Better be moving, for Whately will probably be out looking for +you in the morning." + +So it was decided, and the shadows disappeared. Scoville was put into +Aun' Jinkey's bed, the old woman saying that she would sit up and +watch. Chunk rubbed the bruised and aching body of the Union scout till +he fell asleep, and then the tireless negro went to the spot where the +poor horse had died in the stream. He took off the saddle and bridle. +After a little consideration he diverted the current, then dug a hole +on the lower side of the animal, rolled him into it, and changed the +brook back into its old channel. Carefully obliterating all traces of +his work, he returned to the cabin, bolted the door, lay down against +it so that no one could enter, and was soon asleep. + +The next morning dawned serenely, as if Nature had no sympathy with the +schemes and anxieties to which the several actors in our little drama +wakened. Whately was early on foot, for he felt that he had much to +accomplish. Mr. Baron soon joined him, and the young man found in his +uncle a ready coadjutor in his plans. They were both in full accord in +their desires, although governed by different motives. The old man was +actuated by his long-indulged greed for land, and wholly under the +dominion of his belief that one of the chief ends of marriage was to +unite estates. In this instance he also had the honest conviction that +he was securing the best interests of his niece. No one could tell what +would happen if the invaders should appear, but he believed that the +girl's future could best be provided for in all respects if she became +the wife of a Confederate officer and a representative of his family. + +Sounds of renewed life came from all directions; the troopers rolled up +their blankets, and went to look after their horses; Mrs. Baron bustled +about, giving directions for breakfast; Chunk and Zany worked under her +eye as if they were what she wished them to be, the automatic +performers of her will; Aun' Suke fumed and sputtered like the bacon in +her frying-pan, but accomplished her work with the promptness of one +who knew that no excuses would be taken from either master or mistress; +Miss Lou dusted the parlor, and listened stolidly to the gallantries of +her cousin. He was vastly amused by her reserve, believing it to be +only maidenly coyness. + +Breakfast was soon served, for Whately had announced to Mr. Baron his +intention of scouting in the woods where the Federals had disappeared; +also his purpose to visit his home and summon his mother to his +contemplated wedding. He and his men soon rode away, and the old house +and the plantation resumed their normal quiet aspect. + +It had been deemed best not to inform Miss Lou of her cousin's +immediate purpose until his plans were a little more certain and +matured. Circumstances might arise which would prevent his return at +once. Moreover, he had petitioned for the privilege of breaking the +news himself. He believed in a wooing in accordance with his nature, +impetuous and regardless at the time of the shy reluctance of its +object; and it was his theory that the girl taken by storm would make +the most submissive, contented and happy of wives; that women secretly +admired men who thus asserted their will and strength, if in such +assertion every form was complied with, and the impression given that +the man was resistless because he could not resist the charms which had +captivated him. "Why, uncle," he had reasoned, "it is the strongest +compliment that a man can pay a woman, and she will soon recognize it +as such. When once she is married, she will be glad that she did not +have to hesitate and choose, and she will always believe in the man who +was so carried away with her that he carried her away. My course is +best, therefore, on general principles, while in this particular +instance we have every reason for prompt action. Lou and I have been +destined for each other from childhood, and I'm not willing to leave +her to the chances of the hurly-burly which may soon begin. As my wife +I can protect her in many ways impossible now." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE STORM BEGINS + + +Of late years Aun' Jinkey's principal work had been the fine washing +and ironing of the family, in which task she had always been an adept. +For this reason she had been given the cabin near the run and an +unusually fine spring. Miss Lou felt a kindly solicitude and not a +little curiosity in regard to the man who in a sense had been thrown at +her feet for protection. So gathering up some of her laces, she made +them an excuse for another visit to Aun' Jinkey. Mrs. Baron readily +acquiesced, for she felt that if there was to be a wedding, the whole +house must be cleaned from top to bottom. Moreover, by such occupation +her mind could be diverted from the dire misgivings inspired by the +proximity of Yankees. Under the circumstances, it would be just as well +if her niece were absent. + +As the girl passed down through the shrubbery, she found Chunk +apparently very busy. Without looking up he said, "Doan be afeard, Miss +Lou, I'se be on de watch. Marse Linkum man right peart dis mawnin'." + +Aun' Jinkey was at her washtub near the door, and the cabin presented +the most innocent aspect imaginable. "Good-morning," said the girl, +affably. "How is your patient?" + +"Recovering rapidly, thanks to your kindness and the good friends in +whose care you placed me," answered a hearty voice from the doorway. + +Aun' Jinkey made a sort of rush to the door, exclaiming in tones that +were low, yet almost stern, "Marse Linkum man, ef you show yo'sef--ef +you doan stay by dat ar ladder so you git up sud'n, I des troo wid dis +bus'ness! Tain' far ter dem w'at's reskin' dere bodies en a'most dere +souls!" + +"You are right, aunty," said Scoville, retreating. "It's wrong for me +to do anything which might bring trouble to you or Chunk; but I was so +eager to thank this other good Samaritan--" + +"Well, den, sit by de ladder dar, en Miss Lou kin sit on de do'step. +Den a body kin feel tings ain' comin' ter smash 'fo' dey kin breve." + +"Good Samaritan!" repeated Miss Lou, taking her old place in the +doorway where she had so recently wished something would happen; "you +have not fallen among thieves, sir." + +"My fear has been that you would think that a thief had fallen among +the good Samaritans. I assure you that I am a Union soldier in good and +regular standing." + +"I reckon my uncle and cousin would scout the idea that you, or any of +your army, had any standing whatever." + +"That does not matter, so that I can convince you that I would not do +or say anything unbecoming a soldier." + +"You are a Yankee, I suppose?" she asked, looking at him with strong +yet shyly expressed interest. + +"I suppose I am, in your Southern vernacular. I am from New York State, +and my name is Allan Scoville." + +"Uncle says that you Yankees are terrible fellows." + +"Do I look as if I would harm you, Miss Lou? Pardon me, I do not know +how else to address you." + +"Address me as Miss Baron," she replied, with a droll little assumption +of girlish dignity. + +"Well, then, Miss Baron, you have acted the part of a good angel toward +me." + +"I don't like such talk," she replied, frowning. "You were merely +thrown helpless at my feet. You didn't look as if you could do the +South much harm then. What I may feel to be my duty hereafter--" + +"I have no fears at all of what YOU may do," he interrupted, with a +smile that made his expression very pleasing. + +"How so?" + +"Because you are incapable of betraying even an enemy, which I am not +to you. On the contrary, I am a grateful man, who would risk his life +to do you a service. The little unpleasantness between the North and +South will pass away, and we shall all be friends again." + +"My uncle and cousin--indeed all the people I know--will never look +upon you Northern soldiers as friends." + +"Never is a long time. I certainly feel very friendly toward you." + +"I wish you to know that I am a Southern girl," she replied stiffly, +"and share in the feelings of my people." + +"Well, I'm a Northern man, and share in the feelings of my people. +Can't we agree that this is fair and natural in each case?" + +"But why do you all come marauding and trampling on the South?" + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Baron, but your question opens up all the +differences between the two sections. I have my views, but am not a +politician--simply a soldier. You and I are not at war. Let us talk +about something else. With your brave cousin enlisting your sympathies +against our side, what use would there be of my saying anything?" + +"My brave cousin does not enlist any of my sympathies; but that, +certainly, is a matter which we cannot talk about." + +"Pardon, but your reference to him made it natural--" + +"There is no need of speaking of him," she interrupted, coldly. "I +merely meant that he and those with him in what you slightingly term an +unpleasantness can never be friendly to you. This war may be a small +thing to you, but suppose your home and family were in danger, as ours +are?" + +"Can you think that this war is a holiday to me?" he asked, gravely. +"What stands between me now and death--perhaps a shameful and horrible +death--except your kindly, womanly impulses? I am hourly in danger of +being caught and treated as a spy." + +"Oh, I didn't realize it," said the girl, simply and kindly. +"Everything looks so quiet and lovely. Aun' Jinkey, there, my old +mammy, is at work just as I have seen her for years, and Chunk is busy +yonder in the garden. It is hard to think how suddenly all might +change." + +"A soldier must think and be prepared." + +"Have you no fear?" + +"Life is sweet to me. I know only one thing--I must do my duty and +trust in God. I have the consolation that no one is dependent on me; no +one would grieve for me very much. I'm quite alone in the world. My +crusty old guardian would inherit my property, and you may well guess +that Aunt Jinkey's tub yonder would hold all his tears if I should make +a sudden exit," and again he smiled in his pleasant way, as if with the +purpose to relieve his words of all sombreness. + +"Are you an orphan, too?" she asked sympathetically. + +"Such a mature, fully developed orphan as I am is not an object of +pity, Miss Baron," he replied, laughing. Then he added, a little +proudly: "I'm nearly twenty-two; I was twenty-one on my last birthday, +and I celebrated it by a ride only less risky than the one which landed +me at your feet. But your little word 'too' suggests that you are +somewhat alone, also. I hope that your father was not killed in this +war?" + +"No, my father and mother died long before the war." + +"I am glad of that--not glad that they died, but that you cannot +associate me with the causes of their death." + +"But you and yours have caused death and suffering to so many Southern +people!" + +"Yes, I'm sorry it is so, but things are pretty even on that score. +Your men give as many blows as they take." + +"Why did you enter the army?" + +"I suppose for about the same reasons that your cousin did." + +"Oh, you aren't like my cousin at all. I don't wish you to keep +referring to him." + +"Well, then, I thought it was right. There was an urgent call for men +and strong public feeling. I was at college. I couldn't see others go +and not go with them. I had no influence, no one to push my interests, +so I simply enlisted, and am trying to push my way by extra services. +Now, Miss Baron, think for yourself a little. Here we are, two young +people thrown together by a strange chance. We have been brought up +differently, surrounded by different influences. Even if you think me +wrong, can you not believe that I've followed my conscience and lived +up to such light as I had? I can believe this of you. I don't wish you +to think that we Yankees are monsters. Do I look like a monster? Why, +Miss Baron, if I should live to be a hundred years I should regard a +chance to do you a kindness as the best good-fortune that could befall +me." + +As he spoke these words his face flushed, there was a slight quiver in +his dark mustache, betokening deep, honest feeling, and his expression +was one of frank admiration and respect. She looked at him in silent +wonder, and asked herself, "Can this be one of the Yankees of whom I +have heard such horrible things?" + +She began saying, "I am trying to think for myself, but I have been so +shut out from the world that--" when she was suddenly interrupted. +Chunk appeared and said, "Marse Scoville, des git up de ladder en shut +de trap-do' quicker'n lightnin'. Miss Lou, kin'er peramberlate slow +to'rd de house, des nachel like ez ef you ain' keerin' 'bout not'n. +Wash away, granny. Play possum, ev'y one." + +Miss Lou had gone but a little way before Mad Whately joined her, +having ordered his men to pass on before. "Chunk," he shouted, "take my +horse and rub him well, or you'll get rubbed down yourself." + +The openings under the eaves in Aun' Jinkey's cabin were so many and +large that Scoville had fairly good opportunities for observing what +was going on in the immediate vicinity. In witnessing the meeting +between Whately and Miss Lou he was conscious of a peculiar +satisfaction when noting that her manner confirmed her words. The +dashing cousin evidently was not in favor. "Well," thought the scout, +with a decisive little nod toward him, "were I a young Southerner, +you'd have a rival that would put you to your best speed. What a +delicious little drawl she has in speaking, and how charmingly her +consonants shade off into vowels! I would be more readily taken for a +Southerner than she, if I did not speak. How blue her eyes are! and her +fluffy hair seemed a golden halo when the sunshine touched it through +the trees. And then how unsophisticated her face and expression! She is +a lady from instinct and breeding, and yet she is but a sweet-faced +child. Well! well! it was an odd chance to be pitched to the feet of a +girl like that. Very possibly I'd be there again of my own free will +should I see her often enough." + +If Scoville were a rival now he certainly would have to take a wild +pace to keep up with Mad Whately in his wooing. His eyes were full of +resolute fire as he walked beside his cousin, and her quick intuition +took speedy alarm at his expression. "Well, sweet coz," he said, "the +Yanks have very prudently dusted back to the region from which they +came. My mother will give herself the pleasure of a visit at The Oaks +this afternoon. Can you guess her object in coming?" + +"Why, as you say, to give herself the pleasure of a visit." + +"Yes, and you and I will enhance her pleasure a thousand-fold." + +"I shall do all that I can in courtesy." + +"I'll do the rest, for I shall gladden her heart by marrying you." + +"What!" + +"Simply that, nothing more. Isn't that enough?" + +"Far too much," replied the girl, hotly. "I don't like such jesting." + +"Faith and it will prove the best joke of our lives, over which we will +often laugh at our fireside hereafter. Come now, cousin, make the best +of it; it is the best for you as well as for me. You know I always +intended to marry you, and I have the hearty sanction of all the high +contracting powers." + +She stopped abruptly in the path, her face so rich in angry color that +it shamed the flowers blooming in the shrubbery near. + +"Mr. Whately," she said, firmly, "there is one contracting power that +you have not consulted. How can you marry me when I WILL not marry you?" + +"Nothing easier, pretty coz." + +"But how--how?" + +"Oh, that you will learn at the proper time. Everything shall go as +simply, naturally and merrily as fate. The blessing of parent and +guardian, the clergyman in robes, prayer-book, wedding feast--nothing +shall be wanting." + +"This is absurd talk," she cried, and rushed to the house. In the upper +hall she encountered her aunt engaged in superintending a general +dusting and polishing of the old-fashioned furniture. + +"What is the meaning of this wild talk of Cousin Madison?" the girl +asked, breathlessly. + +"I've heard no wild talk," was the cool response. + +"Well, come into my room and hear it, then." + +Mrs. Baron reluctantly followed, rather aggrieved that she must bear +the first brunt of the storm. + +"What are you putting the house in such wonderful order for?" asked +Miss Lou, with flashing eyes. "What do all these preparations mean? +What is Aunt Whately coming here for this evening?" + +"It is very natural she should wish to be present at her son's +wedding," was the quiet and exasperating answer. + +"When is this wedding to be?" was the next query, accompanied by a +harsh laugh. + +"I think we can be ready by to-morrow evening." + +"Are you a woman, that you can thus try to sacrifice the motherless +girl committed to your charge?" + +"So far from sacrificing you, I am trying to further your best +interests, and at the same time carrying out the wishes of my husband +and your guardian. These are solemn times, in which you need every +safeguard and protection. We should be faithless, indeed, to our trust +did we not give a brave soldier the best right in the world to shield +and care for you." + +"Bah!" cried the girl, now almost furious. "Where's uncle?" + +"In his office, I suppose." + +Whately had preceded her thither, and had already made known to Mr. +Baron the nature of his interview with his cousin, adding: "Our best +policy will be just to take our course as a matter of course, in a +genial, friendly way. We certainly are the girl's best friends, and it +won't be long before she acknowledges the fact. All we do is to secure +her safety, welfare and happiness. She will be as skittish as a blooded +filly over it all at first--a feature in the case which only increases +my admiration and affection. She doesn't and can't realize the need of +the step, how it's best for all concerned in general and herself in +particular. The thing to do, therefore, is to go right straight along. +Mother will be here this evening, and will do much toward talking her +into it. Lou's anger and revolt will probably be well over by +to-morrow, and all--" + +Further predictions were interrupted by the swift entrance of the girl. +She stood still a moment and regarded the two men in silent scorn. "So +you are plotting?" she said at last. + +"Oh, dear, no, sweet coz. Nothing is more foreign to my nature than +plotting. I am a man of action." + +"If your words have any truth or meaning, you are bent on very +dishonorable action." + +"Far from it. I shall have the sanction of both Church and State." + +"This, then, is the boasted Southern chivalry of which I have heard so +much." + +"It has been knightly in all times to protect and rescue lovely woman." + +"I need no protection, except against you. Please leave the room. I +wish to speak to uncle." + +He attempted to kiss her hand as he passed out, but she snatched it +away. "Uncle," she said, coming directly to him, "can it be that you +sanction anything so wicked as this? It seems as if you and aunt were +permitting my cousin to put upon me a cruel practical joke." + +"Ahem! Your very words, Louise, prove how unfit you are to judge and +act in accordance with this emergency. You even dream that we are in a +mood for jesting at this time, when our days and even hours may be +numbered. No, indeed. I am resolved to unite with my protection all the +power and dignity vested in a Confederate officer." + +"In other words, to shield me against some possible danger you will try +to inflict on me the worst thing that could happen." + +"Hoity-toity! Is an honorable marriage which has always been +contemplated the worst that could happen? If we are driven forth by +hordes of Northern vandals, you would think it the best thing that had +happened." + +"I don't fear these Northern vandals. I have"--and then she checked +herself in time. + +"You don't fear them! Why, Louise, every word you speak makes it more +imperative that I should act for one so utterly inexperienced and +ignorant." + +"Do you actually mean to say that you will try to marry me against my +will?" + +"Certainly, against your present will. Do you suppose that I can be +guided in my solemn trust by your petulance, your ignorant notions of +life, and your almost childish passion? In France, the most civilized +country in the world, parents and guardians arrange these affairs as a +matter of course, and with the best results. It is the general method +all over the world. Far more than mere family and pecuniary interests +are concerned in this instance. We are giving you a protector in the +time of your deepest need." + +"How could Lieutenant Whately protect me if the Yankees should come in +numbers?" + +"In more ways than you can imagine. Moreover, he would probably be +permitted to escort you and your mother to a place of safety. You would +have his name, and the name of a Confederate officer would always +entitle you to respect." + +"Oh, this is dreadful!" cried the girl, bewildered and almost paralyzed +by the old man's inexorable words and manner. So unsophisticated was +she, so accustomed to be governed, that the impression was strong that +she could be controlled even in this supreme crisis. + +She rushed into the parlor, where her cousin was striding up and down +in a whirl of the glad excitement so congenial to his spirit. "Cousin +Madison," she exclaimed, "I know you are hasty and impetuous, but +generous impulses should go with such a nature. You surely will not use +your advantage against an orphan girl?" + +"No, indeed, dear coz, not against, but for you. I love you too well to +leave you to the chances of war." + +"Oh, but this is the certainty of evil. You know I do not love you. If +you would wait--if you would give me time to think it all over--" + +"Why, so you shall when I've escorted you and mother to some place +where none can molest or make you afraid." + +"Escort me, then, as I am, under your mother's care. Truly this would +be a better way to win my heart than such hasty violence to all my +feelings and wishes." + +"My dear Louise, you may think me a hasty, inconsiderate wooer to-day, +but that is because you do not know all that I know. I must, like your +guardians, be guided by your best welfare. When you learn to know me as +a kind, loyal, considerate husband, you will appreciate my most +friendly and decisive action at this time. You are in great danger; you +may soon be homeless. In the case of one so young and fair as you are, +those who love you, as you know I do passionately, must act, not in +accordance with your passing mood, but in a way to secure your peace +and honor for all time." + +"Oh, this is all a terrible dream! You can--you can protect me as your +cousin, should I need any such protection, which I cannot believe. +Northern soldiers are not savages. I know it! I know it!" + +"How can you know it? Have I not seen more of them than you have? I +tell you that for the honor of our house I shall and will give you the +protection of my name at once. Your uncle and aunt feel as strongly as +I do about it, and your happiness will be the only result. We Southern +people take no chances in these matters." + +Overwhelmed, frightened, bewildered, the girl left the room and +mournfully climbed to her own apartment. She was too utterly absorbed +in her own desperate plight to observe Zany whisking away in the +background. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DANGERS THICKENING + + +Mr. Baron was scarcely less miserable than his ward, yet from wholly +different causes. His anxieties concerning her were deep indeed, his +very solicitude impelling him toward the plan which he was eager to +consummate. He was distracted by fears and forebodings of every kind of +evil; he was striving to fortify his mind against the dire misgiving +that the Confederacy was in a very bad way, and that a general breaking +up might take place. Indeed his mental condition was not far removed +from that of a man who dreads lest the hitherto immutable laws of +nature are about to end in an inconceivable state of chaos. What would +happen if the old order of things passed away and the abominable +abolitionists obtained fall control? He felt as if the door of Dante's +Inferno might be thrown wide at any moment. There was no elasticity in +his nature, enabling him to cope with threatening possibilities; no +such firmness and fortitude of soul as he might be required to exercise +within the next few hours. To start with, he was wretched and +distracted by the breaking up of the methodical monotony of his life +and household affairs. Since general wreck and ruin might soon ensue, +he had the impulses of those who try to secure and save what is most +valuable and to do at once what seems vitally important. Amid all this +confusion and excitement of mind his dominant trait of persistence +asserted itself. He would continue trying to the last to carry out the +cherished schemes and purposes of his life; he would not stultify +himself by changing his principles, or even the daily routine of his +life, as far as he could help himself. If events over which he had no +control hastened action, such action should be in harmony with previous +purpose to the extent of his power. The plan, therefore, of marrying +his niece immediately to her cousin doubly commended itself to him. It +would throw around her additional safeguards and relieve him in part +from a heavy responsibility; it would also consummate one of the +cherished intentions of his life. Things might take a happy turn for +the better, and then just so much would be gained and accomplished. + +Thus he reasoned, and his nephew spared no pains in confirming his +views. The truth urged by his niece that she did not love her cousin +seemed a small matter to the unemotional, legal mind of the old man +when safety and solid interests were concerned. "A child like Louise," +he said, "must be taken care of, not humored." Mrs. Baron had long +since formed the habit of yielding complete deference to her husband, +and now was sincerely in accord with his views. She had never had much +heart; her marriage had satisfied her ambition, had been pleasing to +her kith and kin, and she saw no good reason why her niece should not, +under any circumstances, form a similar union. That the girl should +revolt now, in the face of such urgent necessity, was mere +perverseness. Sharing in her husband's anxieties and fears, she found +solace and diversion of mind in her beloved housekeeping. Neither of +the old people had the imagination or experience which could enable +them to understand the terror and distress of their niece, whom with +good intentions they were driving toward a hated union. + +Dinner was served two hours later than usual--a fact in itself very +disturbing to Mr. Baron; while Aun' Suke, compelled to cook again for +the Confederate troopers, was in a state of suppressed irritation, +leading her satellites to fear that she might explode. Small, pale and +bloodless as "ole miss" appeared, none of her domestics dared to rebel +openly; but if any little darky came within the reach of Aun' Suke's +wooden spoon, she relieved her feelings promptly. In dining-room and +kitchen, therefore, was seething and repressed excitement. The very air +was electric and charged with rumors. + +Perkins, the overseer, was at his wits' end, also, about the +field-hands. They were impassive or sullen before his face, and +abounding in whispers and significant glances behind his back. What +they knew, how much they knew, he could not discover by any ingenuity +of questioning or threatening, and he was made to feel that excessive +harshness might lead to serious trouble. Disturbing elements were on +all sides, in the air, everywhere, yet he could not lay his finger on +any particular culprit. + +Of all the slaves on the plantation, Chunk appeared the most docile and +ready to oblige every one. He waited on the Confederate troopers with +alacrity, and grinned at their chaffing with unflagging good-nature. In +all the little community, which included an anxious Union scout, Chunk +was about the most serene and even-pulsed individual. Nature had +endowed him with more muscle than nerves, more shrewdness than +intellect, and had quite left out the elements of fear and imagination. +He lived intensely in the present; excitement and bustle were congenial +conditions, and his soul exulted in the prospect of freedom. Moreover, +the fact that he had proved himself to Zany to be no longer a mere +object for ridicule added not a little to his elation. Shrewd as +himself, she was true to her word of keeping an eye on him, and she was +compelled to see that he was acting his part well. + +Miss Lou positively refused to come down to dinner. She had buried her +face in her pillow, and was almost crying her eyes out; for in the +confusion of her mind, resulting from her training and inexperience, +she feared that if all her kin insisted on her marriage, and gave such +reasons as had been urged upon her, she must be married. She was sorely +perplexed. Could the Yankees be such ravening wolves as her uncle and +cousin represented them to be? Certainly one was not, but then he might +be different from the others because he had been to college and was +educated. + +"He said he would be glad to do me any kindness," she sobbed. "Oh, if +he could only prevent this marriage! Yet what can he do? I could not +even speak to a stranger of my trouble, much less to a Northern +soldier. I wish I could see my old mammy. She's the only one who in the +least understands me and feels a little like a mother toward me. Oh, +what a dreadful thing to be a motherless girl at such a time!" + +The powers below stairs concluded that it would be best to leave Miss +Lou to herself for a time, that she might think over and become +reconciled to the need and reasonableness of their action, but Mrs. +Baron considerately sent up her dinner by Zany. The unhappy girl shook +her head and motioned the tray away. + +"Hi, now, Miss Lou, w'at you tookin on so fer?" asked the diplomatic +Zany. + +"For more than you can understand." + +"I un'erstan's a heap mo'n you tink," said Zany, throwing off all +disguise in her strong sympathy. "Marse Whately des set out ter mar'y +you, ez ef you wuz a post dat cud be stood up en mar'd to enybody at +eny time. Hi! Miss Lou, I'se bettah off dan you, fer I kin pick en +choose my ole man." + +"Everybody in the world is better off than I am." + +"I wudn't stan' it, Miss Lou. I sut'ny wudn't. I'd runned away." + +"How could I run away? Where could I go to?" + +"See yere, Miss Lou," and Zany sank her voice to a whisper, "dere's a +Linkum man"-- + +"Hush! how did you know that?" + +"Chunk en me's fren's. Don' be 'feard, fer I'd like ter see de gyurl +dat kin beat me playin' possum. Dat Linkum man he'p you ter run away." + +"For shame, Zany! The idea of my going away with a stranger!" + +"'Pears to me I'se rudder runned away wid one man dan hab anoder man +runned away wid me." + +"Don't ever speak to me of such a thing again." + +"Well, den, Miss Lou, de niggahs on dis plantashon des lub you, en dey +ain' hankerin' arter Marse Whately. Ef you say de wud, I des belebe dey +riz right up again dis mar'age." + +"Oh, horrible!" said the girl, in whose mind had been instilled the +strong and general dread of a negro insurrection. "There, Zany, you and +Chunk mean kindly, but neither you nor any one can help me. If either +does or says anything to make a disturbance I'll never forgive you. My +cousin and the men with him would kill you all. I'd rather be left +alone, for I must think what to do." + +"I ain' sayin' not'n, Miss Lou, sence dat yo' 'quest, but doan you gib +up," and Zany took her departure, resolving to have a conference with +Chunk at the earliest possible moment. + +The impossible remedies suggested by Zany depressed Miss Lou all the +more, for they increased her impression of the hopeless character of +her position. She felt that she was being swept forward by +circumstances hard to combat, and how to resist or whether she could +resist, were questions which pressed for an immediate answer. She +possessed a temperament which warned her imperatively against this +hasty marriage, nor was there any hesitancy in her belief that it would +blight her young life beyond remedy. She was not one to moan or weep +helplessly very long, however, and the first gust of passion and grief +having passed, her mind began to clear and face the situation. Looking +out of her window, she saw that her cousin and his men were mounted and +were about to ride away again. Having waited till they had disappeared, +she bathed her eyes and then descended to her uncle. + +"Where has Lieutenant Whately gone?" she asked. + +"Your cousin does not forget, even at such a time, that he is a +soldier, and he is scouting the country far and wide. Moreover, it is +his intention to ask the Rev. Dr. Williams to be here to-morrow +evening, and a few friends also. I trust that by that time your +perverse mood will pass away, and that you will unite with your kindred +in their efforts in your behalf." + +"Is there no use of reasoning with you, uncle--no use of pleading with +you?" + +Perkins stood in the door and knocked to announce his presence. + +"Well, what is it?" asked Mr. Baron, nervously. + +"Have you heard anything, sir?" + +"Good heavens, no! Heard what?" + +"Well, sir, I dunno. The field-hands are buzzing like bees, en I kyant +get nothin' out of 'em." + +"Well, Perkins, be watchful. Do your best. God only knows what's +coming. You are well armed, I suppose?" + +"You may reckon that, sir, en I'll use 'em too, ef need be. The hands +are cute, mighty cute. I kyant lay my finger on any one in particular, +but they're all a sort of bilin' up with 'citement." + +"Best to stay among them and be stern and vigilant." When Perkins +withdrew Mr. Baron said to his niece with strong emotion, "You see we +are beset with danger, and you talk of reasoning and pleading against +my best efforts for your safety. There! I'm too harassed, too +overwhelmed with weighty subjects for consideration, to discuss this +matter further. I must give my attention to securing some papers of +vital importance." + +Miss Lou departed with the feeling that dangers were thickening on +every hand, and that she was only one of the causes for anxiety in her +uncle's mind. She knew it would be useless to say anything to her aunt; +and with a longing for a little sympathy and advice, she resolved on +another visit to her old mammy, Aun' Jinkey. + +The Union soldier had a remote place in the background of her thoughts, +and yet she felt that it was preposterous to hope for anything from him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"WHEN?" + + +The vigilant eyes and constant demands of her mistress prevented Zany +from giving Chunk more than a few significant hints, but he was quick +to comprehend the situation. When he saw Miss Lou bending her steps +toward his granny's cottage, he thanked his stars that the garden was +in that direction also, and soon apparently was very busy at a good +point from which to observe the cabin. In view of the approaching +wedding Mrs. Baron had given Aun' Jinkey much to do, and she was busily +ironing when Miss Lou again stood within the door. The old woman's +fears had been so greatly aroused that she had insisted that Scoville +should remain in the loft. "Folks 'll be comin' en gwine all the +eb'nin', en ole miss hersef mout step dis away." + +At the same time her heart ached for the young girl. At sight of the +sweet, troubled face the faithful creature just dropped into a chair, +and throwing her apron over her head, rocked back and forth, moaning +"You po' chile, you po' chile!" + +"Yes, mammy," cried Miss Lou, forgetting for the moment that a stranger +was within hearing. "I'm in desperate straits, and I don't know what to +do." + +The trap-door was lifted instantly, and Scoville was about to descend. + +"You mustn't do dat!" exclaimed Aun' Jinkey. "We's all in mis'ry anuff +now." + +"I hope that in no sense I am the cause of it," said Scoville, +earnestly. + +"Oh, no," replied Miss Lou, wiping her eyes hastily, "not directly. +Pardon me, I forgot for the moment that you were here. My trouble is +with my family, and you have nothing to do with it except as you +Yankees are coming South and making trouble of every kind." + +"Well, Miss Baron," said the scout, regarding her sympathetically +through the open door, "it is too late to talk about our coming South. +Isn't there something I can do for you, to show my gratitude and +good-will?" + +"Oh, no, indeed!" + +"De bes' ting you kin do, Marse Scoville, is ter shet dat do' an' kep +still; den git back ter yo' folks soon ez you kin trabble. We uns got +des ez much ez we kin stan' up un'er, en ef dey foun' you yere, hit ud +be de worl' comin' ter smash." + +"If Miss Baron would tell me her trouble, she might find that I am not +so powerless to help as I seem. Since she has done so much for me, I +have a certain kind of right to do what I can in return." + +"You forget, sir, that we are strangers and aliens." + +"No one is an alien to me from whom I am accepting life and safety," +and his glance was so kind and friendly that, in her dire extremity, +she was induced to ask a question. + +"If you feel that you owe anything to me," she said, hesitatingly, +"tell me truly, if your people came to this plantation, would our home +be burned and we all be in danger of insult and death?" + +"Is that all you fear?" he asked, smiling. + +"But answer me on your word and honor." + +"No, Miss Baron, not from our regular troops. There are vile wretches +connected with all armies, on your side as well as ours, who act +without orders or any control except their lawless will. If you and +your friends are tortured by the fear of Northern soldiers, should they +come this way, you may set your mind comparatively at rest. I must add, +however, that our troops have to live off the country, and so take food +for man and beast. They also help themselves to better horses when they +find them. I have told you the truth. Why, believe me, Miss Baron, I +would defend you with my life against any one." + +"Oh, dear!" cried the girl, with another rush of tears, "my uncle +believes that our house will be burned and we all murdered, and they +are going to marry me to my cousin against my will, so that he can take +me to a place of safety." + +"When?" asked Scoville, excitedly. + +"To-morrow evening." + +Aun' Jinkey in her trepidation had stepped to the door, and there, sure +enough, was Mrs. Baron coming down the path with her hand full of +crumpled muslins. She had appeared so silently and suddenly before +Chunk that he had started and stared at her. When he tried to edge off +toward the cabin, she had said, sharply, "Keep at your work. What is +the matter with you? I reckon your granny is smoking instead of doing +my work," and she hastened her steps to surprise the supposed +delinquent. + +Entering the cabin, she saw only Aun' Jinkey ironing, and her niece +sitting with her handkerchief to her face. "Ah!" said the old lady to +her laundress, "I'm glad you realize the importance of doing my work +when it's needed." Then followed a few brief directions in regard to +the articles she had brought. "Louise, I wish you to come with me. This +is no place for you," concluded Mrs. Baron, turning to depart. + +The girl rose and followed submissively, for she was overwhelmed by a +confused sense of danger, not merely to the Union soldier, but also to +her old mammy, who was sheltering him. The extremity of her fears and +the fact that Chunk had not come to warn them led her to dread that her +aunt's suspicions were already aroused. Chunk gave her a very anxious +look as she passed, but she only shook her head slightly, as much as to +say, "I don't know." + +The negro's elation and confidence now passed utterly; he became deeply +alarmed, not only for the scout, but for himself and grandmother as +well. He was not long in coming to a decision. Whately and his troopers +were absent, and now, perhaps, was the best time to act. After +satisfying himself that he was not observed, he slipped away to the +cabin. + +When Mrs. Baron finally disappeared, Aun' Jinkey sank into a chair +almost in a state of collapse. "O good Lawd!" she gasped, "I des +tremblin' so in my knee-jints I kyant stan'." + +"Courage, Aunt Jinkey," said Scoville, through the chink in the floor. +"Try to get Chunk here as soon as possible." + +"I des done beat. I kyant lif my han' no mo'." + +"Granny," said Chunk, sauntering in, "you des watch at de do'," and +without waiting for a word he went up the ladder, lifted the door and +closed it. + +"Ah, Chunk, I wanted you badly," said Scoville. "Do you think it +possible for me to get away at once?" + +"Dat des w'at I come ter see 'bout, mars'r, en I'se gwine wid you. +Marse Whately and he men all done gone till eb'nin'." + +"Well, there's no need of further words. See what you can do about +getting horses and a good start. I will explain on the way. Hoot like +an owl when the coast is clear and you are ready." + +A few moments later Chunk emerged from the cabin, with careless mien, +eating a pone of hoecake. + +"Go back to yer work," shouted Perkins, who was passing in the distance. + +This Chunk did, his eyes following the overseer until the hated form +was lost to sight in a distant field where a squad of hands were at +work. Perkins was simply trying to be ubiquitous that day. Chunk's next +step was to steal to the rear of the stables. To his delight he found +that Whately had left his horse in order that it might rest for further +hard service, and had borrowed one of his uncle's animals for the +afternoon ride. As Chunk was stealthily putting on a bridle, a gruff +voice asked, "What yer doin' thar?" + +The negro's heart stood still. Turning quickly, he saw, to his dismay, +one of the Confederate soldiers lying on a pile of straw. A closer +scrutiny revealed that the man was drowsy from partial intoxication, +and Chunk, feeling that he was in for it now, said boldly: "Marse +Whately tole me at dinner ter tek his hoss ter de run fer a drink en +ter limber his jints 'bout dis time in de eb'nin'." + +"Very well; bring 'im back safe en sud'n or I'll make you a head +shorter'n you air." + +"Ob co'se, mars'r, I do ez I tol'. I des ride ole bay down, too. Mout +ez well took 'im ter water de same time." + +The soldier making no response Chunk slipped away with the horses, +trembling as if in an ague fit. Nothing was left for him now but to get +away and take his chances. Fortune in this instance, as it often does, +favored the bolder course. The Confederate soldier was familiar with +Chunk, since he had been the waiter at the troopers' mess; moreover, +his faculties were confused and blunted and he was soon asleep again. +Perkins' back was turned and every one at the mansion deeply +preoccupied. Even Zany, who had been charged not to leave the +dining-room, was not on the watch. + +Chunk hastened the horses down the lane toward the run, which having +reached, he looked cautiously around, then hooted in fairly successful +imitation of the ominous bird of night. Aun' Jinkey dropped into her +chair again with an ejaculation of terror. + +"Look out of the door and tell me if you see any one," said Scoville, +quickly. + +Mechanically she obeyed, saying, "No, mars'r, but dat squinch-owl des +shook me like a ghos'." + +Before she knew it he was beside her, his eyes shining with excitement. +"There," he said, putting into the hand he pressed a ten-dollar bill, +"I'll see you again, and you won't be sorry. Good-by," and with a swift +glance around he strode away toward the run. A moment or two later he +was mounted on the bare back of Mad Whately's horse, following Chunk +down the stream so that the flowing water might obliterate the +hoof-prints. They soon left the water and put their horses to a gallop +toward the forest, within whose shades they disappeared. Both had +deemed best not to tell Aun' Jinkey of their departure, so that she +might honestly plead ignorance. + +With the unerring instinct of a scout the soldier led the way hour +after hour toward the point where he expected to find the Union cavalry +force. On the way he and Chunk compared notes, and thus Scoville more +truly understood Miss Lou's position. "We must be back to-morrow +afternoon," he said, "in time to prevent this marriage. So, Chunk, be +careful. You must not get sleepy or let your horse stumble." + +Leaving them to pursue their way to the northwest, we can return to The +Oaks. Miss Lou followed her aunt into the house, burdened for the +moment with a new and pressing anxiety. Did the resolute old lady +suspect that one of the class which she most detested had been +concealed within earshot of her voice, and would a search be +instituted? The girl's sympathies had gone out to the stranger, and the +fact that he so trusted her appealed strongly to her woman's nature. In +her alienation from her relatives she was peculiarly isolated and +lonely at just the period in life when she most craved appreciative +understanding, and her intuitions led her to believe that this stranger +could both understand and respect her feelings. His genial, kindly +smile warmed her sore, lonely heart, and convinced her that there was a +world of human affections and simple faith as well as of imperious +wills and formal beliefs. His words in regard to himself and the North +was another shock to her confidence in her uncle and aunt, and another +proof that there was no good reason for the marriage they were forcing +upon her. + +For a brief time she watched with keen-eyed interest to see if her aunt +would take any steps to have Aun' Jinkey's cabin searched. Her mind was +soon relieved on this score, for she became convinced that her uncle +was distracted by various anxieties; while Mrs. Baron, from force of +habit and with the purpose of diverting her mind from all she feared, +was pursuing her preparations with restless energy, keeping every one +in her employ as busy as herself. It was evident that her niece's idle +hands and perturbed wanderings to and fro annoyed her, and at last she +broke out: "Louise, it would be much more becoming in you to unite with +me in my efforts. The idea of your sitting and idly bemoaning your case +in that foolish old woman's cabin! I'm glad you had the grace to show +obedience to me before her, for this is a time when to our people the +example of obedience is most necessary, and you should be the first to +set it in all respects. It will only increase the trouble which your +uncle and Perkins are having if our people see that you are rebellious. +There is much that you should be doing and seeing to, for your uncle +says that it may be best for you to leave the plantation with Mrs. +Whately and her son immediately after your marriage." + +"I am not married yet. I shall appeal to Aunt Whately, and if she has a +woman's heart she will not sanction the marriage." + +"You will find that because she has a woman's heart, and a Baron's +heart, she will sanction it and insist upon it." + +"We shall see," replied the girl, turning to go to her room. + +"Louise, it is my wish that you should put your things in order to be +packed hastily, if need be." + +Miss Lou made no answer. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PARALYZED WITH SHAME + + +So far from obeying her aunt's injunctions, Miss Lou sat down by her +window, but she did not note the smiling spring landscape over which +the western sun was throwing its long, misty rays. Tears so blurred her +eyes and blinded her vision that she could scarcely see at all. At last +she was aroused by the crunching of wheels, and became aware that Mrs. +Whately had arrived. From what she knew of this aunt she had a good +deal of hope from her appeal, for Mrs. Whately had always seemed a +kind-hearted woman. True, she had been over-indulgent to her son, and, +in her blind idolatry of this only child, blind to his faults, always +comforting herself with the belief that he was merely high-spirited and +would settle down when he grew older. + +Miss Lou wished to speak to the mother before the son returned, and in +the hope of securing a merciful ally in the lady, went down immediately +to receive her. Mr. Baron was on the back porch calling, "Chunk, where +in the mischief are you?" Where, indeed, with the start he had gained +for the Union lines? + +"My dear niece," cried Mrs. Whately, effusively, "how glad I am to see +you, and to take you in my arms on this deeply interesting occasion!" +but the matron was troubled at the girl's red eyes and pallid face. + +"I will show you to your room at once," said Mrs. Baron to her guest, +decisively and significantly. + +Miss Lou was right in believing that the situation and the unhappy +appearance of the prospective bride would be explained. She had been +forestalled in her chance to make an appeal. Mrs. Baron emphatically +sustained her husband's purpose, concluding: "My dear sister, in this +crisis you will have to take a firm stand with the rest of us. Louise +is acting like a perverse child, and no more realizes the necessity and +wisdom of our course than a baby." + +Meantime the outcry for Chunk increased, and Miss Lou was troubled that +he did not respond. Taking advantage of the fact that her mistress was +upstairs, Zany stole swiftly, with many a misgiving, to Aun' Jinkey's +cabin. + +"Whar dat gran'boy o' you'n?" she asked, breathlessly. + +"Ain' he in de gyardin?" + +"No, he ain'. Does you KNOW whar he is? Bettah tell me de truf. Mout +sabe you a heap ob trouble." + +"Des you min' yo' business, en doan cum trapesin' yere 'bout Chunk. You +talks ez ef you own 'im." + +"Ole mars'r tinks he own 'im, en he des a yellin' fer 'im. De oberseer +hollerin', too, en de lil niggahs runnin' yere, dar, en yander lookin' +fer 'im. Yere one ob um now." + +With new and direful forebodings Aun' Jinkey declared loudly: "I doan +know what he be. He ain' say not'n ter me 'bout gwine anywhar." + +Uttering an angry and contemptuous exclamation, Zany sped back, and, +with a scared look, said to Miss Lou, "Aun' Jinkey 'clar she dunno +not'n 'bout Chunk's doin's. Ef she ain' foolin' me, I des belebe he's +runned away." + +At these tidings and at this suggestion the young girl was almost +distracted. She went instantly to the cabin, supposing that it would +soon be searched. + +"Mammy!" she exclaimed, "where's Chunk?" + +"Fo' de Lawd, honey, I doan know. I des gwine all ter pieces wid de +goin's on." + +"But people will be here looking. Is he up there?" asked the girl in a +whisper. + +"No, he des lit out two hour ago, en he guv me dis" (showing the +money), "en say he see me agin. I'se feared he'n Chunk gwine off +togeder." + +"Well, you don't know. Hide the money and declare you don't know +anything. I'll stand by you as far as I can." + +As she hastened back she saw a Confederate soldier running toward the +house and Perkins limping after him as fast as possible. Entering the +rear door she heard the soldier demanding fiercely of her uncle, +"Where's that cursed nigger you call Chunk?" + +"Whom are you addressing, sir?" asked Mr. Baron, indignantly. + +"Well, see yere, boss," was the excited reply, "this ere ain't no time +fer standin' on nice words. That cursed nigger o' your'n took the +lieutenant's horse ter the run fer a drink, an one o' your'n 'long of +him, en me en Perkins kyant find nary one of 'em." + +"Yes, sir," added Perkins in great wrath, "we uns follered the +hoof-prints ter the run en inter the water, en there's no hoof-prints +comin' back. That infernal nigger has lit out with the two horses." + +"Why don't you go after him then?" shouted Mr. Baron, distracted with +anger and accumulating perplexities. "He can't be far yet." + +"I'd like ter see the hoss on this place that could ketch the +lieutenant's black mare. Oh, why didn't I shoot the nigger?" and the +soldier strode up and down as if demented. + +"You deserve to be shot yourself, sir, if you, who had been placed on +guard, permitted that black rascal to take the horses." + +"Yes," replied the soldier, desperately, "en the lieutenant is ther man +ter shoot me--cuss his red-hot blood!" and he stalked away toward the +stables as if possessed by a sudden resolve. + +Turning to enter the house, Mr. Baron encountered his niece, who had +been a witness to the scene, which explained everything to her. "You +see, you see," cried the old man, "everything going to rack and ruin! +Would to Heaven you could be married to-night and sent away to a place +of safety!" + +"Uncle," said the girl, almost fiercely, "did you not hear that man say +of my cousin, 'curse his red-hot blood'? Is that the kind of a +protector you would force upon me?" + +"Yes," almost shouted the angry man, "because he has the spirit to deal +justly with such reprobates. He's just the kind of protector you need +in these lurid times, when it seems as if no one could be trusted. To +think that that boy Chunk, who has been treated so well, could play us +such an infernal trick! His old crone of a grandam must know something +about it, and I'll make her tell. Perkins!" and Mr. Baron rushed toward +the door again. + +The ladies had now descended and joined the excited group on the +veranda. Zany was listening with craned neck from the dining-room door, +and other "yard folks," great and small, were gathering also. + +"What IS the matter?" cried Mrs. Baron. + +Paying no heed to her, Mr. Baron said to his overseer, "Aun' Jinkey +must know about this rascally flight and theft. Bring her here." + +"Uncle," said Miss Lou, firmly, "Aun' Jinkey doesn't know anything +about Chunk's disappearance. I've been to her cabin and asked her." + +"As if the cunning old witch would tell you anything! Bring her here, I +say, Perkins. It's time the spirit of insubordination on this place +received a wholesome check." + +"Why!" exclaimed Mrs. Baron, "it seems but a little while ago that +Chunk was working quietly in the garden." + +"En I reckon hit ain't much more'n two hours gone sence I seed 'im +comin' out o' the cabin, lazin' and eatin' hoe-cake," added Perkins as +he started angrily to obey his orders. + +"He had mischief in his mind, though, now I think of it." resumed Mrs. +Baron, "for he seemed startled when he saw me, and tried to edge away +to the cabin. I thought he was afraid I would catch his granny smoking +instead of doing urgent work. Louise, you were in the cabin at the +time. Why should Chunk be so anxious to get there before I did?" + +"I have not spoken to him this afternoon, and know nothing of his +movements except what I have heard," replied the girl, coldly. + +"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately, "what troublous times we've fallen +upon!" + +In the silence which followed they heard the gallop of a horse. A +moment later a negro came running up and exclaiming, "Dat sojer in de +stable des saddle he hoss en put out ez ef de debil wuz arter 'im!" + +Miss Lou smiled bitterly as she thought, "He evidently doesn't think it +wise to wait for my protector." + +At this moment Mad Whately appeared cantering smartly up the avenue at +the head of his men. Throwing his reins to a colored boy, he strode +smilingly up the steps, exclaiming, "Why, this is a regular committee +of reception. I am doubled honored since my fair cousin is present +also." + +Miss Lou made no reply, and the expression on all faces led him to ask +quickly, "Why, what's the matter?" + +The young man's brow grew black as Mr. Baron gave a hasty explanation. +A half-suppressed oath rose to his lips as he turned on his heel and +shouted to his men, "Halt, there! Let every man mount and await orders. +Simson, you and two others follow the guard I left with my horse. +Where's that nigger who saw him start? Here, you, put these men on his +track as you value your life! Simson, take him, dead or alive!" + +The men saluted, and departed at once. The galloping of their horses +soon died away in the distance. "Now for this beldam," said Whately, +sternly, as Aun' Jinkey approached, tottering in her excess of fear and +accompanied by Perkins. + +Miss Lou saw that her cousin was terribly excited; indeed, that he +fairly trembled with passion. She was scarcely less stirred herself, +for she possessed much of the hot blood of her kindled, and during the +last twenty-four hours nearly all that had, occurred tended to fire her +spirit. Now that she saw her own dear old mammy led cowering under the +hostile eyes of every one, she was almost beside herself with pity and +anger. Unaccustomed to conventional restraint, reacting from long years +of repression, a child still in some respects, in others a passionate +woman revolting at a fate from which her whole nature shrank, she was +carried far above and beyond her normal condition, and was capable of +following her impulses, whatever they might be. + +Aun' Jinkey turned her eyes appealingly, and was awed, even in that +terrible moment, by the intensity of the girl's expression, as she half +consciously drew nearer and nearer. The field-hands, deeply excited, +had also edged up from the quarters. Mr. Baron and his overseer +observed yet tolerated this, thinking that it might be just as well to +have the negroes learn from Aun' Jinkey's experience that authority +would still be sternly enforced. + +Whately's headlong temperament was so overcome by anger that he noted +nothing except the presence of one whom he believed the aider and +abetter in his great loss, for a favorite and trusty horse is one of +the dearest possessions of a cavalryman. + +"Where's your grandson?" he demanded, fiercely. + +"'Fo' de Lawd, I dunno," gasped Aun' Jinkey. + +"The truth, now, or you'll be sorry." + +"I dunno, I dunno. Ef he gone, he ain' say neber a word ter me, not +eben good-by." + +"No use of your lying. You knew the rascal's purpose. Why didn't you +tell Mr. Baron? Which way did he go?" + +"I des declar, mars'r, I dunno." + +"You DO know," cried Whately, driven almost to frenzy, "and I'll cut +the truth out of you." + +His whip fell before he could arrest it, but it struck the arm and +shoulder of Miss Lou. She had drawn very near, and, swift as light, had +sprung forward and encircled the form of her mammy. There were startled +exclamations from those near, echoed by a groan from the negroes, and +then the girl spoke in stern, deep tones, "You thought to strike ONE +woman, and you have struck TWO." + +Whately dropped his whip and stood with bowed head, paralyzed with +shame. There were wild cries and a swaying of the field-hands toward +the house. The mounted soldiers drew their revolvers and looked from +the thronging black faces to that of their commander, but he paid no +heed to them. Perkins did not wait, however, but drawing his weapon, +began to limp toward the threatening mass, with oaths and orders to +disperse. As for Mr. Baron and the ladies, they were just helpless in +the whirl of events. + +Although Miss Lou's back was toward this new phase of the drama, she +instantly and instinctively comprehended it. With a fear almost +hereditary, as well as one vaguely dreaded from childhood, she +recognized the possible horrors of an insurrection, her own action the +indirect cause. She turned and sprang forward so swiftly to interpose +that her comb fell away, and her golden hair streamed behind her. She +stood between the blacks and those who could harm them; also those +whom, in their wild excitement, they were ready to attack. + +"Silence!" she cried; then in the deep hush that followed she called +out, in clear, ringing tones: "Every friend of mine will go back to +quarters, keep quiet, and obey orders. I promise that no harm shall +come to any of you." + +The men doffed their ragged hats, and a voice from the crowd answered, +"We 'bey you, Miss Lou, en we won' let no harm come ter you, noder." +Then as the dense, angry mass of a hundred or more men and women melted +away toward the quarters, it was seen that many a heavy club was +carried among them. Miss Lou watched them silently two or three +moments, the rest looking on in wonder and suppressed anger mingled +with fear. The girl returned, and taking her mammy by the hand, was +about to lead her into the house. Whately started as she essayed to +pass him unheedingly, and seized her hand. "Lou, Cousin Lou, forgive +me!" he cried. "You know I meant you no such indignity." + +"I know you mean me a greater one," she replied, coldly, withdrawing +her hand. + +"See! I ask your forgiveness on my knees!" he urged, passionately. + +But her heart was steeled against him, for her very soul was hot with +indignation. "Come, mammy," she said, firmly, "such shelter and +protection as I still have in this house you shall share." + +"Louise, this is monstrous!" began Mrs. Baron. + +"NO!" cried the girl. "This poor creature is the nearest approach I +have ever known to a mother. She doesn't know about her grandson, and +no one shall try to cut the truth out of her. Come, mammy," and she led +the trembling old negress up to her room. When hidden from all eyes her +courage and excitement gave way, and she cried on her mammy's breast +like the child she was. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A BAFFLED DIPLOMATIST + + +Miss Lou left consternation, confusion and deep anxiety below stairs. +Mad Whately had his own code of ethics, and he felt as if he had +committed the unpardonable sin. His mother was shocked and pained +beyond measure. She understood the feelings of her son, and sympathized +with him. Drawing him into the parlor, she soothed and cheered him with +the assurance that when his cousin's anger passed she would explain and +intercede. + +"Oh, mother!" he exclaimed, "I did love her honestly before, but now I +adore her. I must marry her, and by a lifetime of devotion wipe out the +wrong I did not intend to inflict." + +"It will all come about right yet, my boy," she whispered. "I never +understood Louise before. I fear they have been too strict and +unsympathetic in her bringing up, and so she has naturally rebelled +against all their plans. You didn't think at the time--indeed, in our +excitement we all forgot--that Aun' Jinkey was her mammy, and you know +how strong that tie is, even in your case, and you have always had a +mother's love." + +"Oh, fool, fool that I was in my mad anger! Brave, grand, heroic girl! +I'd have done as much for my old mammy; or rather I'd have struck down +a general before he should harm her. Oh, mother, mother!" concluded the +much-indulged youth, "I must marry her. She is just the bride for a +soldier." + +"Rather than have her fall into the hands of the enemy, we will lead +her to see that it is the only thing to be done," replied Mrs. Whately. + +Perkins had a consultation with Mr. Baron, as far as that desperately +perturbed old gentleman was capable of holding one, the result of which +was the decision to let the negroes alone, provided they kept quiet and +obeyed. It was evident to both of them that the approach of Union +forces, though yet comparatively distant, had produced the usual +demoralizing effects. The government at The Oaks had not been harsh, +but it had been strict and animated by a spirit which alienated +sympathy. The situation was now seen to be too critical to admit of +severity, all the more as the protection of Whately and his troopers +might soon be withdrawn. + +It was a silent and depressing meal to which they sat down that +evening, long after the accustomed hour, a fact which Mr. Baron would +not forget, even in the throes of an earthquake. He groaned over it; he +groaned over everything, and especially over his niece, who had +suddenly developed into the most unmanageable element in the whole +vexed problem of the future. He felt that they owed her very much, and +that she held the balance of power through her influence over the +negroes; and yet he was incensed that she was not meek and submissive +as a young woman should be under all circumstances. An angry spot +burned in each of Mrs. Baron's cheeks, for she felt that Miss Lou's +conduct reflected very unfavorably on her bringing up. She was so +scandalized and vexed that she could scarcely think of anything else. +Mrs. Whately was all deprecation and apology, trying to pour oil on the +troubled waters in every way, while her son was as savagely angry at +himself as he had been at poor Aun' Jinkey and her grandson. + +Most fortunately the main feature in the case remained undiscovered. +The fact that a Union scout had been hidden and permitted to depart +would have been another bombshell, and the consequences of its +explosion would have been equally hard to predict or circumscribe. As +it was, Miss Lou and Aun' Jinkey received a certain remorseful sympathy +which they would have forfeited utterly had the truth been revealed. +And the secret did tremble on the lips of Zany. She was not only +greatly aggrieved that Chunk had "runned away" after all, without her, +and had become a sort of hero among his own kind on the plantation, but +she also felt keenly her own enforced insignificance when she knew so +much more than that Chunk had merely decamped. Her mistress little +dreamed, as the girl waited stolidly and sullenly on the table, that +she was so swelling with her secret as to be like a powder magazine. +But fear rather than faith finally sealed Zany's lips. She was aware +that the first question asked would be, "If you knew so much, why +didn't YOU tell?" and she could give no reason which would save her +from condign punishment. Moreover, she hoped that Chunk would soon +return with no end of "Linkum men," and then her silence would be +rewarded. + +Supper was sent up to Miss Lou and her guest, and the old woman, having +at last some sense of security, made her first good meal since "things +began to happen." Then she hankered after her pipe. "I'll get it for +you," said the warm-hearted girl. She stole to the head of the landing, +and, the hall below being clear at the moment, she flitted down and out +at the back door, reaching the deserted cabin unobserved. How desolate +it looked in the fading twilight! The fire was out on the hearth, and +the old creaking chair was empty. But Miss Lou did not think of Aun' +Jinkey. Her thoughts were rather of a stranger whose face had been +eloquent of gratitude as he offered to shield her with his life. Then +she remembered his excited question as to the time of the marriage. +"When?" Had her answer anything to do with the sudden and bold +departure? Her heart was in a sudden flutter. She snatched the corncob +pipe and tobacco pouch, and sped back again in a strange blending of +fear and hope. She felt guilty that she could dare hope to see him, a +Yankee, again. "But his smile was so pleasant and frank!" she murmured. +"Oh, I never remember to have had such genial, honest, unreserved +good-will looked at me by any one except mammy, and she's so old and +wrinkled that she can't look much of anything. What handsome, kind, +dark eyes he had! Yet they would all say, 'He's a monster!'" + +She made her way back in safety until she reached the head of the +stairs, and then came plump upon her aunt. "Where have you been?" asked +Mrs. Baron, sharply. + +"After Aun' Jinkey's pipe." + +"Horrible! I forbid her smoking in this house." + +"I shall permit her to smoke in my room." + +"You have no right." + +"Very well; then I'll go with her to her cabin." + +"My dear sister," said Mrs. Whately, putting her hand on the irate +lady's arm, "I think it will be better to let our niece have her way in +such little things. We must remember that she is no longer a child." + +"I think she is acting like a very perverse and foolish one; but then +rather than have any more scenes"--and looking unutterable things she +passed on down the stairs. + +"My dear, I wish to see you by and by. Won't you let me?" said Mrs. +Whately. "I wish to see you--I must see you before I sleep," replied +the girl, decisively. + +"I'll come up soon, then, dear." + +Mrs. Baron reported to her husband what had occurred, but he only +groaned. He was scarcely able to do much else now. + +"Oh, hang it!" exclaimed Whately, "what fiend directs my luck this +evening? If I had only known she had gone to the cabin, I could have +compelled her to listen to me and to my apologies." + +"No worse luck could have happened," said his mother, entering. "You +must curb your impatience, and so--pardon me for saying it--must you, +brother and sister. You are driving the girl to lengths she would never +have thought of going. She is excited and almost beside herself. You +forget, brother, that she is a Southern girl and a Baron, and has all +the spirit of our race. She is one to be coaxed, to yield to gentle +pressure and firm reasoning, and not to be driven." + +"Oh, curse it! we've made a mess of it, I fear," groaned Whately, who +was capable of violent alternations of mood, and now was in the valley +of humiliation and almost despair. + +"Well, you must all let me manage a little now," resumed Mrs. Whately, +somewhat complacently, "or else there is no telling what trouble you +may have." + +"Yes, yes," cried her son, "I insist on mother's managing. She has +always obtained what I wanted, and I shall certainly throw my life away +if I don't marry Cousin Lou." + +"Madison," said his mother, tearfully, "am I, who have so loaded you +with kindness, of no account?" + +"Oh, forgive me, mother, I can't do anything but blunder to-night. I'm +all broken up, distracted by conflicting duties and feelings. I picked +up important information this evening. The Yankee column, halting in +the rich valley to the northwest, have been ranging the country far and +near, loading their wagons and resting their horses. They will make a +move soon, and will come this way just as likely as not. Our forces are +coming up from the South, and there certainly will be a fight soon +somewhere in this region. I received a secret despatch at the +court-house, after seeing the minister, who will be here early +to-morrow evening. After the wedding I intend to escort mother and my +wife south to Cousin Sam Whately's. They certainly will be out of the +Yankee line of march there. Perhaps you and aunt had better go too." + +"No," said Mr. Baron. "I intend to stay and face it out here. I shall +stand or fall on my own hearth." + +"And I shall remain with my husband," added Mrs. Baron, firmly. + +"Well, nothing worse may happen than a general sack of the place, but I +cannot leave mother and the girl who is to be my wife. I shall ride +over to our place in the morning for the best horse on it, and to see +the overseer. I'll bring back a few papers which I will put in your +charge, uncle." + +Thus they discussed the emergency till Mrs. Whately thought she could +venture to Miss Lou's room. Her son accompanied her to the door and +called out, "I give you my word, cousin, that Aun' Jinkey can go to her +cabin, and that no one shall disturb her"; then he retreated to the +parlor again. + +When Mrs. Whately entered the room, she witnessed what was not +reassuring. Miss Lou's white shoulder was bare, and upon it was the +long red mark of the whip. Aun' Jinkey was bathing the bruise with some +lotion. "My poor child!" said the lady, "Madison is almost beside +himself with grief and self-reproach." + +"Please tell him," replied the girl, "that I'm glad the blow fell on me +instead of mammy." + +"Ah, well, my dear, he has asked forgiveness and is profoundly sorry." + +"Hit soon be well, honey. Wish ter grashus hit wuz me dat hab it! en +you barin' hit so patient, too, w'en I smokin'. Dar, I kiver hit up +now, en hit ain' dar in de mawnin'. I reck'n I go back ter de cabin +now, honey. I kin'er used ter my own chimbly corner. Miss Whately got +sump'n ter say ter comfort you." + +"Very well, mammy. I'll see that you have no trouble," and the old +woman departed. + +"Surely, Louise, you cannot expect any more trouble, after my son has +said there would not be any," said Mrs. Whately, in a somewhat +aggrieved tone. + +"You must have seen," was the reply, "that Cousin Madison hasn't just +the kind of self-control which inspires confidence." + +"I assure you, Louise, that he regrets his act as much as you can. You +should, in charity, remember his great provocation." + +"Well, then," Miss Lou burst out, "let him make amends. Here I am, a +defenceless girl, with all my kindred against me. He should be the +first to defend me." + +"So he wishes to do, my dear; and he only craves the most sacred right +to defend you." + +"Yes, in his own way, and without any regard to my feelings and wishes." + +"Indeed, my dear, you misjudge him. You have only to yield one point in +order to make him a slave to your wishes." + +"But that is yielding everything. Oh, aunt, how can you urge a girl +toward a loveless marriage?" + +"Now, my dear, just listen patiently to me for a few moments," began +Mrs. Whately in a wheedling tone. "I am older than you are. I know +young girls are apt to have romantic notions, but when they reach my +age they find that it is ever best to act in view of good and +sufficient reasons. Apart from the terrible emergency that is upon us, +you know that we all have had our hearts set on this marriage almost +ever since you were born, and we have made no secret of the fact. It +would be a terrible disappointment to us if it should not take place. I +fear that life has been too strict and narrow for you here, but you +know that in my home you will dwell in an atmosphere of kindness and +indulgence. I will give up to you whenever you are ready to take the +reins after these sore troubles are over. But, Louise, you do not +realize that we are in the midst of a terrible emergency. You ought not +to remain here. Madison has arranged that we both go south to his +cousin Sam's." + +"I don't wish to go!" cried the girl, wringing her hands. + +"Now, my dear, can't you just believe that we, who are more experienced +and know the danger, wish to do what is best for you and what you will +soon see was best?" + +"No, I cannot! I cannot! I just feel that I can't marry my cousin +without perjuring myself." + +"Surely you don't love any one else, Louise?" + +"What chance have I had to love anyone, except my old mammy? I don't +know anything about the love which I feel should lead to marriage. I +have just been treated like a child, and then without any girlhood at +all I'm to be married to one that I shrink from. I feel in my very soul +that it's all wrong and unjust." + +"But, my dear, you won't feel so after you are a wife and safe in your +own home. You will then feel that you have reached woman's true place +and sphere, without incurring the risks and misfortunes which befall so +many. Your guardians might have shown more tact, perhaps, but they +meant well, and they wish you well, and are seeking only your welfare. +They feel in honor bound to do what is best for you, and not what, in +your inexperience, you may wish at the moment. As for my son, a +warmer-hearted fellow does not breathe. He loves you fondly. You can +influence him, you can control him as no other can, you have the +strongest hold upon him." + +"Alas!" said the girl, divining the ultimate truth, "you love him +blindly and wholly; you would sacrifice me, yourself and everything to +him, and because he has always had everything his own way, he would +have me in spite of the whole protest of my being. No one truly cares +for me; no one understands me. I have been thrown back upon books and +my own nature for such knowledge as I now so desperately need, and I +feel that if I am false to my interests, to what I believe is right, my +life is spoiled. I don't wish to marry any one, and as to all these +dangers you so vaguely threaten, I believe that if there is a good God, +he will take care of me." + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Whately, striving to hide the fact that she +was baffled, "we won't talk any more about it to-night. You are excited +and worried, and incapable of wise judgment. Rest and sleep are what +you need now," and she kissed the girl, who did not return the caress. + +"Wise judgment!" she muttered, bitterly, "what fine words they use! So +you, too, are hopelessly against me. You would give me to your son just +as you used to give him everything he cried for when a child. Well, +then, I'll appeal to the minister himself. I don't believe he can marry +me against my will. At any rate, I shall never give my consent, never; +and perhaps somebody may come in time. My people are teaching me to +fear them even more than the Yankees." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AUN' JINKEY'S WARNING + + +The night passed like a lull in the storm. Perkins reported that the +negroes were quiet, contenting themselves with whispering and +watchfulness. Aun' Jinkey smoked and dozed in her chair, listening to +every sound, but no "squinch-owl" renewed her fears. The family at the +mansion were too perturbed to sleep much, for all knew that the morrow +must bring decisive events. The three soldiers sent after the recreant +trooper returned from a bootless chase and were allowed to rest, but +Whately saw to it that there was a vigilant watch kept by relief of +guards on the part of the others. He was not very greatly encouraged by +his mother's report, but as the hours passed the habits of his life and +the tendencies of his nature asserted themselves with increasing force. +He would marry his cousin on the morrow; he would not be balked in his +dearest hope and wish. The very resistance of the girl stimulated his +purpose, for throughout all his life nothing so enhanced his desire for +anything as difficulty and denial. The subduing the girl's high spirit +into subservience to his own was in itself a peculiarly alluring +prospect, and he proved how little he appreciated her character by +whiling away part of the night over "Taming of the Shrew." A creature +of fitful impulse, nurtured into an arrogant sense of superiority, he +banished all compunctions, persuading himself easily into the belief +that as soldier, officer, and lover he was taking the manly course in +going straight forward. "The idea of consulting a whimsical girl at +such a time," he muttered, "when a Yankee horde may descend on the +plantation within forty-eight hours." + +Miss Lou was quite as sleepless as himself, and also did a great deal +of thinking. She had too much pride to hide and mope in her room. Her +high, restless spirit craved action, and she determined to brave +whatever happened with the dignity of courage. She would face them all +and assert what she believed to be her rights before them all, even the +clergyman himself. She therefore appeared at the breakfast table with +just enough color in her cheeks and fire in her eyes to enhance her +beauty. + +"Ah, this is something like," exclaimed her uncle. "I knew sleep and +thought would bring back good sense." + +Mrs. Whately kissed her effusively and Mrs. Baron formally, the girl +submitting with like mien in both instances. Her cousin, in accordance +with his mood and the policy he had adopted, bowed gallantly and with a +touch of grandiloquence in his tone said, "I again apologize before all +for my most unfortunate act last evening." + +She only bowed silently in reply. + +Then Whately assumed the air of one who had many and weighty matters on +his mind, his whole conversation conforming to the accepted belief that +they were facing a terrible emergency, and that he, as the practical +head of the family at such a time, must act decisively for the best +good and safety of all. "If I could be governed in this instance," he +said, "only by patriotic feeling I would advise the destruction of all +the forage on the place if convinced that the Yanks were coming this +way, but that would incite them to every possible outrage. Still, I +truly believe that it would be best for you and aunt to go with us this +evening." + +"No," said Mr. Baron, "I've settled that." + +"Haven't you negroes that you can trust to take the stock off into the +woods for concealment?" + +"After Chunk's rascality I won't trust any of them." + +"Well, I shall adopt that plan at our place this morning, and leave as +little of value within reach as I can help." + +By a sort of tacit agreement it was thought best not to say anything to +Miss Lou except as Mrs. Whately broached the subject, it being believed +that a quiet ignoring of her will and a manifest purpose to carry out +their own would have the most weight in breaking down her opposition. +Indeed it was a shrewd policy, hard for the young girl to bear up +against. Mrs. Baron had been enjoined not to cross her in little +things. The busy housekeeper was too preoccupied to do so had she been +disposed, but it troubled and incensed the girl to the last degree to +see her bustling about, preparing for the wedding as if it would take +place as a matter of course. Mrs. Whately's affectionate smiles and +encouraging words were even harder to endure. That good lady acted as +if Miss Lou were a timid and coy maiden, who merely needed heartening +and reassuring in order to face a brief ordeal, and then all would be +well. Her cousin gallantly lifted her hand to his lips and then rode +away with part of his men, saying cheerfully, "I'll manage everything +for the best." + +A vague terror seized upon the girl and she again sought the refuge of +Aun' Jinkey's cabin. She must have some one to speak to who understood +her, who felt for her. She found that Mrs. Baron had been there before +her, urging the completion of certain tasks. Indeed, the old woman was +ironing a white muslin dress which looked very bridal-like. Miss Lou +recognized it as her own gown, which might naturally be worn on such an +occasion. + +"Who brought that here?" she asked quickly. + +"Ole miss, honey. She said you cud war dis or de one you hab on, des ez +you pleases." + +"Aun' Jinkey," said the girl in an awed whisper, "do you think they can +marry me against my will?" + +"Miss Lou, I declar ter you I'se been smokin' en projeckin' ober dat +mos' all night." + +"Well?" + +"Hit 'pears ter me a orfully mux-up question. Yere yo' gyardins, ole +mars'r en ole miss. Dey's des had dere gay on dis plantashon sence I +wuz a gyurl. You wuz trus' ter dem ter be took keer on en you tole me +how he manage yo' prop'ty. He call you he ward. I des dunno w'at po'r +dat ward business gib 'im. I'se yeared en my day ob young gyurls mar'ed +yere en mar'ed dar en dey aim' sayin' much 'bout who dey mar'y. Folks +say dat wuz de way wid ole miss. I reckermember dem days en I year ole +mars'r's fader talk'n wid her fader 'bout w'at dey call set'l'ments en +po'tions. Den ole miss's mammy tole me how her young miss wuz cool ez a +cowcumber, en how she say her folks know bes' en she sat'sfied; en den +how she gib her min' ter w'at she call her trosso. Why honey, I des +doin' up tings ob dat ar trosso yit." + +"That's just the trouble with aunt," said Miss Lou scornfully. "I don't +believe she ever had heart enough to love with." + +"Well, I reck'n ole mars'r is projeckin' dis away. Ole miss, she settle +down en tuck hole strong. She des kin'er fall inter he ways en mek +tings hum wid de yard en house folks. She des a nachel-bawn +housekeeper, en we uns all had ter stan 'roun' en do ez she sed sud'n, +we sutn'y did; en ole mars'r, he tink hit be des de same wid you." + +"But it won't, mammy. I'm not like my aunt." + +"Dat you ain', honey, bless de Lawd! Ole miss neber stan' 'twix me en a +whip, en she neber run fer my pipe en let her shol'er ache whiles I +smokes like a ole himage. I'se only des a s'plainin' how dey feels +'bout yo' mar'age." + +"Ah, but mammy, you know how I feel about it. I won't marry my cousin +if I can help it." + +"Hit's yo' feelin's, honey, w'at des riles up my in'erds so I kyant +hardly wuk. Dat's whar my projeckin' gins out, en I'se kin'er stump'd +'bout hit. Dey's gwine right 'long wid dere prep'rations des ez ef dey +cud do ez dey pleased. Dunno w'at de law is 'bout hit ef dere is any +law in dese mux-up times. I'se des took clar off my foots wid all de +goin's on. De fiel'-han's at de quarters is bilin' ober wid 'citement, +en dey's sayin' de Linkum men's comin' ter upset ebryting. Whar dey get +de news fum I dunno. Dey sez ole mars'r is 'stracted en ole miss des +put her thin lips tergedder ez ef she gwine ter hab her way ter de las' +minit. Ez fer Marse Whately, you knows he al'ays hab his way, en ef +dere isn't eny way he mek it. You sez de min'ster en folks is comin'? +Hit des stumps me fer dem ter go on so ef dey hasn't de po'r." + +"Well, then," said the girl desperately, "they will have to use force +all the way through. I'll never give my consent." + +"P'raps w'en de min'ster see dat he woan mar'y you." + +"That's just my hope," said the girl, "I--" + +A quick step was heard and a moment later Mrs. Baron entered the cabin. +Ostensibly she came for some of the articles which Aun' Jinkey had +ironed, but Miss Lou knew she was under surveillance and she departed +without a word. On entering her room she found that her little trunk +had been packed and locked in her absence and that the key was gone. +She felt that it was but another indignity, another phase of the strong +quiet pressure urging her toward the event she so dreaded. A hunted, +half-desperate look came into her eyes, but she did not waver in her +purpose. + +Mrs. Whately knocked, but the girl would not admit her. + +Meanwhile Mrs. Baron said to Aun' Jinkey in parting, "See to it that +you don't put foolish notions in my niece's head. We are none of us in +a mood for trifling to-day." + +Then the old woman's wrath burst out. "You 'speck I'se feared ter speak +fer dat chile w'at stan' by me so? Bettah be keerful yosef, mistis; you +alls gittin' on ve'y scarey groun' wid Miss Lou. You tink you kin do +wid her w'at you pleases des ez ef she a lil gyurl baby. I reck'n her +moder come out'n her grabe ter look arter you ef you ain' keerful." + +"What do you mean by such language?" + +"I mean des dis, mistis. Ef you tinks Miss Lou ole anuff ter mar'y you +know she ain' a chile. Ef she ain' a chile she a woman. Does you tink +you kin tromple on a woman? You kin tromple on me en I am' sayin' +not'n, but you kyant tromple on a wi'te woman like yosef. I tells you +you gittin' on scarey groun' wid Miss Lou." + +"If you both had sense you would know we are getting her off scarey +ground, as you call it. All you have to do is to obey my orders and not +meddle." + +"Ve'y well, mistis, I'se warn you," said Aun' Jinkey, sullenly +returning to her work. + +"Warn me of what?" But the old woman would not vouchsafe another word. + +Mrs. Baron returned to the house, her lips compressed with a firmer +purpose to maintain discipline on deck till the ship went down, if that +was to be the end. Combined with her cold, unimaginative temperament +was a stronger and more resolute spirit than that of her husband, who +now was chiefly governed by his lifelong habit of persistence. He +adhered to his purposes as a man at sea clings to the ship which he +feels is going to pieces beneath him. + +Chunk and Scoville reached the Union camp in the gray dawn of the +morning, and the latter soon had an audience with the commanding +officer, with whom he was a favorite scout. The small party which had +been compelled to leave Scoville behind had brought important +information, gained chiefly by the young man's daring and address, and +the general was very glad to see him again and to be assured of his +escape. + +"We are ready to move," said the commander, "and the information +brought in by your party has decided me to bear off to the southeast in +order to meet the enemy approaching from the southwest. As soon as you +are rested, Lieutenant Scoville--" + +"Sir! what?" + +"Yes, I had recommended you for promotion and the order has come." + +"If zeal in your service, sir"--began the scout flushing proudly. + +"Yes, yes, I understand all that. I remember the men who serve me well. +As soon as you're able to start out in the same direction again I would +like you to do so." + +"I'm able now," said Scoville eagerly, and then he briefly related the +situation of affairs at The Oaks, concluding, "If I had twenty-five men +I believe I could not only prevent the marriage but capture all the +Confederates with their information. They have been scouting up toward +us just as we were toward the enemy." + +"All right," said the general, laughing. "Perhaps the marriage may come +off yet, only with another groom." + +"No, sir," said Scoville, gravely. "The girl befriended me in my sore +need. She is as good and innocent as a child, and I would shield and +respect her as I would my own sister." + +"That's the right spirit, Lieutenant. I was not sure how far matters +had gone--in fact, was only jesting." + +Scoville made a hearty breakfast, and within an hour, at the head of +over a score of men, was rapidly retracing his steps, Chunk following +in a state of wild elation. They both had been furnished with fresh +horses, and the tough, elastic sinews of the newly-fledged officer were +tense with an unwonted excitement. If those tearful blue eyes of Miss +Lou should welcome him as deliverer this would be the most memorable +day of his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS + + +Whately returned wearing a rather gloomy and angry aspect. He had +threatened his negroes and stormed at them; they had listened in sullen +silence. The overseer had said, "Hit's the old story. They have heard +that the Yanks are near and may come this way. Fact is, one doesn't +know what they haven't heard. They hold together and keep mum. You can +see that all discipline is at an end among 'em." + +Whately could only give the man such directions as the emergency +dictated, obtain some valuables, and return chafed and all the more +bent upon securing out of the possible wreck the one object he most +coveted. But Miss Lou puzzled him and perplexed them all. She had taken +refuge in almost absolute silence, and was as unresponsive to Mrs. +Whately's endearments as to her uncle and aunt's expostulations, while +toward Whately she was positively freezing in her coldness. Troubled +and inwardly enraged, he was yet more than ever determined to carry out +his purpose. His orders to his men were given sharply and sternly, and +his mood was so fierce that there was no longer any affectation or +assumption on his part. The girl's heart fluttered with nameless fears, +but she had the strength of will to maintain the cold, impassive +demeanor she had resolved upon. She felt that it would be useless to +make further effort to influence her kindred, and that if she revealed +her purpose to appeal to the clergyman, they might so prejudice his +mind against her that he would not listen favorably. Fearing that this +might be the case anyway, she found her thoughts turning with +increasing frequency to the possible intervention of the Union scout. +She both hoped for and feared his coming, supported as he would be, in +this instance, by followers who might be so different from himself. She +could not free her mind from the influence of the stories about +Northern soldiers, and yet she was sure that as far as his power went, +they would all be protected. Indeed, one danger menaced so closely and +threateningly she could scarcely think of anything else than escape and +relief from it. + +As the sun began to sink in the west her uncle came to her door and +said authoritatively, "Louise, I wish you to come down." + +She obeyed without a word and entered the parlor where all were +assembled, noting with dismay that the Rev. Dr. Williams was already +present. Her cousin sought to meet her gallantly, but she evaded him +and took a seat. Mr. Baron began a sort of harangue. "Louise," he said, +"as your guardian and in obedience to my sense of duty in a great +responsibility, I have approved of this marriage. I am convinced that +the time will speedily come when you will be glad that I--that we +all--were firm at this time. Both I and your aunt are growing old. +Troubles, sore indeed even for the young to endure, are upon us. I am +not sure that a roof will cover our gray hairs much longer. Perhaps in +the dead of this very night the ruthless enemy may come. Now, your aunt +Whately's carriage is at the door. A gallant soldier and a Confederate +officer, the choice of all your kindred, is eager to give you his name +and loving protection. He will take you far away from war's rude +alarms, with its attendant and horrible perils. We have no common foe +to deal with, but monsters animated by unquenchable hatred and a +diabolical spirit. I should betray my trust and be recreant to my duty +did I not avail myself of the one avenue of safety still open to you. +See, your cousin's brave men are mounted, armed, and ready to act as +your escort. Dr. Williams is here to perform his good offices, although +other invited friends have not ventured from home in this time of peril +which recent tidings prove to be increasing every hour. In a few +moments you will be an honored wife, on your way to a place of refuge, +instead of a helpless girl whose defenders may soon be scattered or +dead." + +"Truly, Miss Baron," said the clergyman, rising and approaching, "you +cannot hesitate in circumstances like these." + +Miss Lou felt her tongue clinging to the roof of her mouth, and could +only say in a hoarse whisper, "But I do not love my cousin--I do not +wish to marry." + +"That may be your feeling at this moment. Indeed, circumstances are not +conducive to gentle amatory feelings, and all may seem sudden and hasty +to you, but you must consider that your relatives in this +emergency--indeed that all your neighbors--are doing many things and +taking many precautions that would not be thought of in a time of +security. I have already sent my own family further South, and now in +your case and Mrs. Whately's I feel that time is pressing. Will you +please rise and take your cousin by the hand?" + +She shook her head and remained motionless. Whately advanced +decisively, took her hand, and sought gently to draw her into position +before the clergyman. His touch broke the spell, the paralysis of +dread, and she burst out, "No, no, you cannot marry me when my whole +soul protests. I will not be married!" + +"Louise, I command you," began Mr. Baron excitedly. + +"It makes no difference. I will not! I will not!" was the passionate +and almost despairing response. + +"Oh, come, cousin, you are just excited, frightened, and off your +balance," said Whately soothingly. + +"My dear Miss Baron," added the clergyman, "let me reassure you. It is +evident that you are a little nervous and hysterical. Pray be calm and +trust your relatives to do what is best for you. I do not wonder that +your nerves have given way and that--" + +"My nerves have not given way. Unfriended child that I am, I must not +lose self-control. God grant that my WILL does not give way." + +"Unfriended!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately reproachfully. "Few girls in these +times have so many to care and think for them. We are all bent on +securing your welfare at every cost." + +"Yes, at every cost to me." + +"Dr. Williams sees the wisdom and reasonableness of our course. My son +is even straining his sense of military duty to escort us to a place of +safety, where you will still be among relatives." + +"Then let him escort me as his cousin, not his wife," cried the girl. + +"But, Miss Baron, in the turmoil and confusion which may ensue you will +be far safer as his wife," Dr. Williams urged. "I would have been glad +if I could have given my daughter like protection. Truly, it is not +wise to be swayed by mere nervous excitement at such a time." + +"Oh, even you, from whom I hoped so much, are against me!" + +"No, my dear child," replied the minister, earnestly and sincerely, "I +am for you always, but I cannot help seeing, with your relatives, that +at present you are not in the quiet state of mind which would enable +you to act wisely for yourself. What earthly motive could I have except +your safety, welfare and happiness?" + +"Well, then," said the girl, with a swift glance around and as if +turning into stone, "do your worst. I will never give my consent, +NEVER!" + +They looked at each other perplexedly and inquiringly, as if to ask +what should be done, when Perkins burst in at the back door of the +hallway shouting, "The Yanks!" + +The girl sank into a chair and covered her burning face for an instant. +Deep in her soul she divined who her rescuer was, yet in the midst of +her hope she felt a certain consciousness of guilt and fear. Mr. Baron, +Dr. Williams, and the ladies, half-paralyzed, yet drawn by a dreadful +fascination, approached the open windows. Mad Whately now played a +better part. He was in full uniform and his horse stood saddled +without. He went to it, mounted with almost the swiftness of light, and +was just in time to see the Federals sweep around the drive which led +to the stables. Scoville had brought his little force by the familiar +way of Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Furious at being forestalled, and in +obedience to a headlong courage which none disputed, Whately's sabre +flashed instantly in the rays of the sinking sun, and his command, +"Charge!" rang clear, without a second's hesitancy. + +The order echoed in the girl's heart and she felt that she had too much +at stake not to witness the conflict. Her own high spirit also prompted +the act, and in a moment she was out on the veranda. She saw her cousin +spur directly toward the leader of the Federals, in whom she recognized +the Union scout. His men came galloping after him, but seemed more +inclined to envelop and surround the Confederates than to engage in +hand-to-hand conflicts. The latter were experienced veterans and +quickly recognized that they were being overpowered and that there was +no use in throwing away their lives. Hasty shots were fired, a few +sabres clashed, but the demand, "Surrender!" heard on all sides, was so +well enforced by the aspect of the situation that compliance soon +began. Scoville and Whately, with those immediately about them, +maintained the conflict. The two young officers were evenly matched as +swordsmen, although the Federal was the larger, stronger, and cooler +man. As a result, their duel was quickly terminated by the loss of +Whately's sabre, wrenched from his hand. Then the point of his foe's +weapon threatened his throat, and the word "Surrender!" was thundered +in his ears. + +Instead of complying, he fell from his horse as if shot, lay still an +instant, and then in the confusion of the melee glided through an +adjacent basement door and disappeared. Seeing him fall, his mother +uttered a wild shriek and gave way to almost hysterical grief. A +backward glance revealed to Whately that the fight was lost, or rather +that it had been hopeless from the first, and his one thought now was +to escape and lead back a larger force for the purposes of both rescue +and vengeance. Gaining a rear door, a bound took him to some shrubbery. +A second later he was behind the kitchen. Aun' Suke saw him, threw up +her hands, and uttered an inarticulate cry. A moment or two more and he +was in the stable, leading out a horse. All attention was now so +concentrated in front of the mansion that he was not observed. He took +only time to slip on a bridle, then springing on the animal's bare +back, he struck into a field behind a clump of trees. Putting the horse +to a run, he was soon beyond successful pursuit. Some of his own men +had seen him fall before they were driven back, and believed that he +was either wounded or dead; thronging Federals, unaware of the +circumstances, occupied the ground, and only Miss Lou, with an immense +burden lifted from her heart, saw his ruse and flight. She wished him +well sincerely if he would only leave her to herself. Hastening to Mrs. +Whately she speedily restored the lady with assurances of her son's +escape, then with her joined the group on the veranda. Mr. Baron, in +the crisis of his affairs and as the head of the family, maintained a +dignity and composure which of late had been lacking. + +Scoville paid no heed to them until every vestige of resistance had +ceased and the Confederates were disarmed and collected as prisoners. +Then sitting on his horse in front of the piazza steps he rapidly gave +his orders. His first act was to send a vedette down the avenue toward +the main road; then he selected five men, saying, "Take charge of the +stables, barn, and out-buildings. Keep them as they are and permit no +one to approach without my written orders." + +At this moment the field-hands, who had been surging nearer and nearer, +sent forward a sort of improvised deputation. They approached bowing, +with hats in hand and wistful looks in their eyes. Were these in truth +the messengers of freedom of whom they had heard so much? Mr. Baron +almost gnashed his teeth as he witnessed this action on the part of his +property. + +"Mars'r," said the spokesman, "I reck'n you got good news for we uns." + +"Yes, good news. You are all free." His words rang out so that they +were heard by every one. Shouts and cries of exultation followed like +an echo, and ragged hats were tossed high in joy. + +The young soldier raised his hand with a warning and repressive +gesture. In the silence that ensued he added, "My men here are both +free and white, yet they must obey orders. So must you. Go back to your +quarters and prove yourselves worthy of freedom by quiet behavior and +honesty. If I find any one, black or white, acting the part of a thief +while I am in charge it will go hard with him. The general will be here +to-morrow and he will advise you further." + +His words found immediate acceptance, the negroes returning to the +quarters, laughing and chatting joyously, not a few wiping tears of +deep emotion from their eyes. The long-expected day had come. They +little knew what the future had in store for them, but this was the +beginning of a new era and the fulfilment of a great hope. + +Scoville now dismounted and gave the reins to Chunk, who stood near +with a droll assumption of soldier-like stiffness and oblivion to all +the well-known faces. Mounting the steps, cap in hand, the young +officer approached Mr. Baron, who was becoming a little assured that +the orders thus far heard had not included a general application of the +torch. + +"Mr. Baron, I presume?" said Scoville. + +"Yes, sir," was the stiff reply. + +"The ladies of your household, I suppose?" + +"They are." + +Scoville bowed ceremoniously to each, giving Miss Lou no other sign of +recognition than a humorous twinkle in his eye. "Ladies," he began, +"since it is the fortune of war that I must have command here for a +brief time, I hasten to assure you that we shall give as little +annoyance as possible. A few men on both sides were wounded, and I fear +that the officer commanding your men was killed. At least I saw him +fall. The night is warm and still and I can make a hospital here on the +piazza with a little aid from you. Please dismiss all further fears. +Unless we are attacked, the night shall pass quietly. Each and every +one will be treated with respect and courtesy. I must request of you, +however, sir," addressing Mr. Baron, "food for myself and men and +forage for our horses." + +"I suppose you will take them anyway," growled the unwilling host. + +"Certainly," replied Scoville, giving him a steady look. "Do you expect +us to go hungry? I shall do my duty as a soldier and an officer, as +well as deport myself as a gentleman." + +There was nothing left but for Mr. Baron to give his directions to +Perkins, or for the ladies to make preparations for the improvised +hospital. Miss Lou gratefully recognized that Scoville did not intend +to compromise her in the least nor reveal his previous acquaintance +unless it should become known through no fault of his. She lingered a +moment as Dr. Williams stepped forward and asked, "May I be permitted +to return to my home?" + +"I trust so, certainly, sir, but my duty requires brief explanation on +your part and pledges that you will take no hostile action. We are not +among friends, you know." + +"I can very readily account for myself, sir," was the stiff response. +"I was summoned here to perform a wedding ceremony which your most +inopportune arrival prevented. I am a man of peace, not of war, yet I +cannot and will not give any pledges." + +"It is scarcely fair then, sir, for you to take refuge in your calling, +but I will waive that point. I must warn you, however, that we can give +protection to those only who do not seek to harm us. You are at +liberty. Good-evening, sir." + +He had extracted from the clergyman the fact that he had arrived in +time, and he again gave the girl in the doorway a mirthful glance, then +turned on his heel to attend to his military duties. + +Miss Lou hastened to her room with hot cheeks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + +Scoville soon learned that his opponent, so far from being killed or +even wounded, had escaped. He was not much worried by this fact, +believing that before the Confederate officer could reach his friends +and bring back an attacking force, the Federal column would be on the +ground. Indeed, he was glad that the family upon which he had quartered +himself could not associate him with so terrible a calamity. The young +girl might not wish to marry her cousin, yet be sorry if he were +fatally or even seriously wounded, while the rest of the household +would be plunged in the deepest distress. Although a resolute soldier, +Scoville was a kind-hearted fellow, and disposed to take the most +genial views of life that circumstances permitted. There was a humor +about his present situation which he relished exceedingly. He was +buoyant over the interrupted wedding, and bent upon disappointing Mr. +Baron in all his grewsome expectations in regard to the Yankees. There +should be discipline, order, quiet, and an utter absence of all +high-tragedy. He cautioned his men against the slightest tendency to +excess, even forbidding the chaffing of the negroes and noisiness. A +steer, a pig, and some fowls were killed for supper, and the wood for +cooking it was taken from an ample pile in the rear of the house. +Happily, none were seriously wounded, and being veterans were able to +do much for one another, while an elderly man in the troop who had some +rude surgical experience, supplemented their efforts. Miss Lou speedily +joined her aunts in rummaging for old linen for bandages, and the +performance of human duty by the elderly ladies dulled the edge of the +terrible truth that they were in the hands of the Yankees. True, they +had to admit to themselves that the young soldier did not appear like a +"ruthless monster" and that his conduct thus far had been almost +ceremoniously polite; yet all this might be but a blind on the part of +a cunning and unscrupulous foe. + +When they came down to the veranda with the materials required, the +unscrupulous foe met them, cap in hand, thanked them courteously, and +gave his entire attention to the wounded, treating the men of both +sides alike. Mrs. Whately, in glad reaction from overwhelming fear +concerning her son's safety, offered her services in behalf of the few +wounded Confederates and they were readily accepted. Before she was +aware of it she found herself conferring with the young officer and the +surgical trooper in regard to the best treatment of the injuries. +Having long been mistress of a plantation and accustomed to act +promptly when any of her slaves were hurt, she now proved a valuable +auxiliary. When the soldiers with whom she sympathized were attended +to, her kindness of heart led her on to the Federals, who thanked her +as gratefully as if they were not depraved Yankees. + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron had retired to the parlor, where they sat in state, +awaiting in gloomy fortitude the darker developments of what they +deemed the supreme tragedy of their lives. Miss Lou was flitting in and +out, getting lint and other articles required by Mrs. Whately. She +found it no easy matter to maintain the solemnity of aspect which her +guardians thought appropriate to the occasion, but was assisted in this +effort by her genuine pity for the wounded. In her joyous relief at +escape from a hated union her heart was light indeed. She had, +moreover, no slight sense of humor, and was just bubbling over with +mirth at the fact that although the Yankee monsters, from whom it was +said she must be rescued at every cost, were masters of the situation, +they were engaged in nothing more ruthless than feeding their horses, +preparing supper, and caring for the wounded. The most delicious thing +of all was that one of the chief prophets of evil, her Aunt Whately, +was aiding in the last-named task. Her exultation was increased when +she brought the last article required and Scoville said with his genial +smile, so well remembered, "I think I can assure you now, Miss Baron, +that all will do very well. We are deeply indebted to this lady (bowing +to Mrs. Whately) whose services have been as skilful as humane." + +Now one of the things on which Mrs. Whately most prided herself was the +generally accepted belief that she was as good as a country physician +in an emergency, and she could not refrain from a slight and gracious +acknowledgment of Scoville's words. As they drew near to the door she +said hesitatingly, "Perhaps, sir, I should make an acknowledgment of +deep indebtedness to you. I saw your sabre raised and pointed at my +son's throat. Could you not have killed him had you so wished?" + +"Ah! this is Mrs. Whately. Believe me, madam, we are not so +bloodthirsty as to wish to kill, or even to injure, except so far as +the necessities of war require. If you witnessed the brief conflict you +must have observed that my effort was to capture rather than to destroy +your son's force." + +"We all could not help seeing that," cried Miss Lou eagerly. + +"I could not help seeing also, Miss Baron, that you exposed yourself to +danger like a veteran, and I was anxious indeed lest a stray bullet +might harm you. It was well you were not armed or we might have fared +worse," and there was so much mirth in his dark eyes that she turned +away to hide her conscious blushes. + +"Well, sir," resumed Mrs. Whately with emotion, "it is not easy to +bless our enemies in this cruel war of aggression, but I must express +my gratitude to one who stayed his hand when my son's life was within +his power." + +"I trust, madam, he may live to care for you in your declining years, +and to become a good loyal citizen." + +"He is loyal, sir," replied Mrs. Whately with gentle dignity, "to the +only authority he recognizes," and with a bow she retired. + +Miss Lou lingered a moment and said earnestly, "I thank you. You are +very considerate." + +His face so lighted up that it was almost boyish in its expression of +pleasure as he answered with the pride and confidence of one sure of +sympathy, "This is a jolly day for me. I was made an officer this +morning, and now, best of all, I am paying a little of my debt to you." + +She put her finger on her lips and shook her head, but the smile she +gave him over her shoulder was reassuring. He promptly started on a +round among his men again to see that the prisoners were properly +guarded, and that all was going as he wished. + +"Louise," said Mrs. Baron, as the girl appeared in the parlor door, "it +would be far more decorous if you would remain here with your uncle and +myself." + +Miss Lou took a seat in the darkest corner that she might be less open +to observation while she calmed the tumult of her feelings. So much had +happened that she must catch her breath and think what it all meant. +Mr. Baron began gloomily, "Well, the dreaded hour which I hoped and +prayed never to see has come. We are helpless and in the hands of our +enemies. Only God knows what an hour will bring forth--" + +"He has brought deliverance," cried Mrs. Whately, entering. "I +questioned Aun' Suke, thinking that she might have seen Madison if he +left the house. She did see him safe and sound. She also saw him get a +horse and ride away." + +"Ah, poor boy! how different was his departure from what he had every +reason to hope and expect!" replied Mr. Baron. "I should think your +heart would be remorseful, indeed, Louise, when you picture your cousin +flying from his kindred and home, alone and sad, tortured meanwhile by +thoughts of the fate which has overtaken us." + +"I'm sure, uncle, we are all sitting quietly in the parlor. That does +not seem very dreadful." + +"You little know, young woman, you little realize the cunning +depravity--" + +"There now, brother," interposed Mrs. Whately, "we must not think evil +until we see more evidence of it, even in Yankees. I admit that I am +most wonderfully and agreeably disappointed. The young officer in whose +hands we are might have killed my son, but did not. I must at least be +just to such a man." + +"And you know he has been polite to us all, and told us to dismiss our +fears," added Miss Lou demurely. + +"It would almost seem, Louise, that you welcomed these invaders. I am +too old and well informed not to know that this suave manner he affects +is designed to lull us into a sense of false security." + +At this moment a firm step was heard on the veranda, followed by a rap +from the brass knocker. They knew it was Scoville, and Mr. Baron rose +and advanced to the parlor entrance. He assumed the solemn aspect of +one who now must face the exactions and wrongs which he had predicted, +and his wife tremblingly followed, to perish at his side if need be. +But the invader barely stepped within the hall and stood uncovered as +he said politely, "Mr. Baron, I have now practically made my +dispositions for the night. There is no reason why your domestic +routine should not be resumed as usual. As I said before, I pledge you +my word you shall not be disturbed unless we are attacked. +Good-evening, sir. Good-evening, ladies," and he bowed and withdrew, +leaving the old gentleman speechless in the utter reversal of all that +he had declared would take place. No plundering, no insults, no +violence. On the contrary, even his beloved routine might be resumed. +He turned around to his wife and sister almost gasping, "Is this some +deep-laid plot?" + +"It certainly must be," echoed his wife. + +Miss Lou turned away quickly and stuffed her handkerchief in her mouth +to prevent laughing outright. + +Her uncle caught her in the act and was instantly in a rage. + +"Shame upon you!" he cried. "Enemies without and traitors within." + +This charge touched the girl to the quick, and she replied with almost +equal anger, "I'm no traitor. Where has your loyalty to me been to-day? +Look at me, uncle, and fix the fact in your mind, once for all, that I +am neither a child nor an idiot. God has given me a mind and a +conscience as truly as to you, and I shall use them. This Northern +officer says we are safe. I believe it and you will know it in the +morning. Now I simply insist that you and aunt treat me with the +respect due to my years and station. I've endured too much to-day to be +patient under anything more. I meant no disrespect to you in laughing, +but I cannot help being glad that instead of all sorts of horrible +things happening we are treated with simple and even delicate +politeness." + +"Yes, brother," added Mrs. Whately, "as far as this man is concerned, +you must revise your opinions. There is no deep-laid plot--nothing but +what is apparent. I must also urge upon you and sister a change in your +treatment of Louise. She will be far more ready to fulfil our hopes +when led by affection." + +"Well, well, that I should live to see this day!" groaned Mr. Baron. +"My ward virtually says that she will do as she pleases. The slaves +have been told that they are free and so can do as they please. +Henceforth I suppose I am to speak to my niece with bated breath, and +be at the beck and call of every Sambo on the place." + +"You are not 'weltering in your own blood,' uncle, and the 'roof is not +blazing over our heads,'" replied Miss Lou quietly. "You have merely +been told that you could have supper when it pleased you and then sleep +in peace and safety. Aunt, I will thank you for the key of my trunk. I +wish to put my things back in their places." + +Mrs. Baron took it from her pocket without a word, and Miss Lou went to +her room. + +True to her nature, Mrs. Whately began to pour oil on the lacerated +feelings of her brother and sister-in-law. "Louise is right," she said. +"Things are so much better than we expected--than they might have +been--that we should raise our hearts in thankfulness. Just think! If +this Northern officer is what you fear, why would he have spared my +son, whom he might have killed in fair battle? In his conduct toward +the wounded he showed a good, kindly spirit. I can't deny it; and he +has been as polite to us as one of our own officers could have been. +Think how different it all might have been--my brave son desperately +wounded or dead, and unscrupulous men sacking the house! I need not +refer to darker fears. I must say that I feel like meeting courtesy +with courtesy. Since this Yankee behaves like a generous foe I would +like to prove that Southern rebels and slave-drivers, as we are called, +can equal him in all the amenities of life which the situation permits." + +"Oh, sister!" cried Mrs. Baron, "even a cup of tea would choke me if I +drank it in his presence." + +But Mr. Baron had lighted his pipe, and reason and Southern pride were +asserting themselves under its soothing influence. At last he said, +"Well, let us have supper anyway. It is already after the hour." + +"Supper has been ready this long time, as you know," replied his wife, +"only I never dreamed of such a guest as has been suggested." + +"Of course, sister, I only said what I did as a suggestion," Mrs. +Whately answered with dignity. "You are in your own home. I merely felt +reluctant that this Yankee should have a chance to say that we were so +rude and uncivilized that we couldn't appreciate good treatment when we +received it. There's no harm in gaining his goodwill, either, for he +said that his general, with the main force, would be here to-morrow." + +"Mrs. Baron," said her husband in strong irritation, "don't you see +there is nothing left for us to do? No matter how things turn out, the +presence of these Yankees involves what is intensely disagreeable. If +sister is right in regard to this man--and I suppose I must admit she +is till I know him better--he has made it necessary for our own +self-respect to treat him with courtesy. Our pride will not permit us +to accept this from him and make no return. It may be Yankee cunning +which led him to foresee this, for I suppose it is pleasing to many of +the tribe to gain their ends by finesse. Probably if this doesn't +secure them, he will try harsher methods. Anyway, as long as he plays +at the game of courtesy, we, as sister says, should teach him that we +know what the word means. The mischief is that you never can know just +what a Yankee is scheming for or aiming at." + +"Well, brother, supposing your words are true, as I do not think they +are in this instance, it is due to our dignity that we act like sincere +people who are above even suspecting unworthy motives. We do not +compromise ourselves in the matter. We only meet courtesy with +courtesy, like well-bred people." + +"Well, so be it then. In fact, I would like to ask this man what he and +those he represents can hope to gain by invasion equalled only by that +of the Goths and Vandals." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A THREAT + + +The moment Chunk believed that Scoville could dispense with his +services for a time he made his way promptly to the back veranda and +gave a low, peculiar whistle which Zany recognized. He had ceased in +her estimation to be merely a subject for infinite jest. Though not +very advanced in the scale of civilization, she was influenced by +qualities which appealed to her mind, and possessed many traits common +to her sex. His shrewdness and courage were making good his lack of +inches. Above all, he was in favor with the "head Linkum man," and Zany +belonged to that class ever ready to greet the rising sun. While all +this was true, she could not be herself and abandon her coquettish +impulses and disposition to tease. She came slowly from the dining-room +and looked over Chunk's head as if she could not see him. Bent on +retaliation, he stepped behind her, lifted her in his powerful arms and +carried her on a full run to some screening shrubbery, the irate +captive cuffing his ear soundly all the way. Setting her down, he +remarked quietly, "Now I reckon you kin fin' me." + +"Yo' wool git gray 'fo' you fin' me agin," she replied, making a feint +of starting for the house. + +"Berry well, Miss Zany. I see you doan want ter be a free gyurl. I'se +tell Marse Scoville you no 'count niggah." + +"W'at you want anyhow, imperdence?" + +"I wants sup'n ter eat. Does you 'spects I kin ride all night en all +day ter brung you freedom, en den not eben git a good word? You ain' +fit fer freedom. I'se tell some nachel-bawn fool ter gib you a yaller +rib'on en den dere be two ob you." + +"La now, Chunk," she replied, coming back, "ef I wuz lookin' fer a fool +I des stay right yere. Ef you git a pa'r ob steps en look in my face +you'd see I'se bettah fren' ter you ner you ter me. You stay yere en I +brings you w'at you tink a heap on mor'n me," and now she darted away +with intentions satisfactory to her strategic admirer. + +Chunk grinned and soliloquized, "Reck'n I kin fotch dat gyurl roun' wid +all her contrariations. I des likes her skittishness, but I ain' +tellin' her so, kaze I gwine ter hab my han's full as 'tis." + +Zany soon returned with a plate well heaped, for at this time her +argus-eyed mistress was sitting in the parlor, awaiting whatever fate +the ruthless Yankees might impose. Chunk sat Turk-fashion on the ground +and fell to as if famished, meanwhile listening eagerly to the girl's +account of what had happened during his absence. + +"Hi!" said Zany disdainfully, "you'd mek lub ter Aun' Suke ef she fed +you." + +"I kin mek mo'n lub," Chunk answered, nodding at her portentously; "I +kin mek mischief." + +"Reck'n you do dat anyhow." + +"See yere, Zany, does you tink Marse Scoville a fool?" + +"Ob co'se not." + +"Well, he doan tink me a fool. Whose 'pinion's wuth de mos'? Who took +keer on 'im? Who got 'im off safe right un'er de nose ob one ob Mad +Whately's sogers? Who brung 'im back des in time ter stop dat ar +mar'age en gib we uns freedom? You mighty peart, but you got a heap ter +larn 'fo' you cut yo' eye-tooths." + +"Some folks gits dere eye-tooths en doan git nuthin' wid 'em," Zany +remarked nonchalantly. "I'se 'mit dough dat you comin' on, Chunk. W'en +you gits growed up you'se be right smart." + +"I doan min' de foolishness ob yo' talk, Zany," Chunk replied coolly, +between his huge mouthfuls. "Dat's in you, en you kyant he'p hit any +mo'n a crow cawin'. I'se allus mek 'lowance fer dat. I des 'proves dis +'casion ter 'zort you ter be keerful w'at you DOES. Dere's gwine ter be +mighty ticklish times--sorter flash-bang times, yer know. I'se a free +man--des ez free as air, en I'se hired mysef ter Marse Scoville ter +wait on 'im. I'se growed up anuff ter know he kin tek de shine off eny +man I eber see, or you neider. He yo' boss now well ez mine. I'se gib +'im a good report on you ef I kin. I'se feard, howsomeber, dat he say +you outgrowed yo' sense." + +"Dar now, Chunk, you puttin' on mo' airs dan Marse Scoville hissef. He +des ez perlite ter marster en ole miss ez ef he come ter pay his +'spects ter dem en he look at Miss Lou ez a cat do at cream." + +"Hi! dat so? No won'er he want ter git ahaid ob de parson en dat +weddin' business." + +"Oh, yo' orful growed up en ain' fin' dat out?" + +"I 'spicioned it. Well, de ting fer you'n me is ter he'p 'im." + +"La, now," replied Zany, proposing to give a broad hint at the same +time, "I ain' gwine ter he'p no man in sech doin's. De cream neber goes +ter de cat." + +"Yere, tek de plate, Zany, wid my tanks," said Chunk, rising. "Sech +cream ez you gits orful sour ef de cat doan fin' it sud'n. I'se took my +'zert now," and he caught her up again and kissed her on the way back +to the veranda. + +This time his performances were seen by Aun' Suke, who stood in the +kitchen door. She snatched up a pail of water, exclaiming, "I cool you +uns off, I sut'ny will. Sech goin's on!" But they were too quick for +her. Zany pretended to be as irate as she was secretly pleased, while +Chunk caused the old woman to boil over with rage by declaring, "Aun' +Suke, I sen' a soger yere ter hab you 'rested for 'zorderly conduct." + +"Ef you eber comes ter dis kitchen agin I'se emty de pot ob bilin' +water on you," cried Aun' Suke, retreating to her domain. + +"Ef you does, you get yosef ober haid en years in hot water," Chunk +answered with exasperating sang froid. "You niggahs gwine ter fin' out +who's who on dis plantashun 'fo' yo' nex' birthday." + +Zany's only response was a grimace, and he next carried his exaggerated +sense of importance to his granny's cabin. He had seen Aun' Jinkey and +spoken a few reassuring words as he passed with Scoville's attacking +force. Since that time she had done a power of "projeckin'" over her +corncob pipe, but events were now hurrying toward conclusions beyond +her ken. It has already been observed that Aun' Jinkey was a neutral +power. As yet, the weight of her decision had been cast neither for the +North nor the South, while the question of freedom remained to be +smoked over indefinitely. There was no indecision in her mind, however, +in regard to her young mistress, and greater even than her fears when +she heard the sounds of conflict was her solicitude over the +possibility of a forced marriage. Since she was under the impression +that her cabin might soon become again the refuge of one or the other +of the contending powers, possibly of Miss Lou herself, she left the +door ajar and was on the alert. + +"Hi dar! granny," cried Chunk, the first to appear, "dat's right. Now +you kin smoke in peace, fer you own yosef. Nobody come bossin' you yere +any mo'." + +"Doan you git so bumptious all ter oncet," said Aun' Jinkey. "Does you +'spect de hull top's gwine ter be tu'ned right ober down'erds in er +day? But dar! you ain' no 'sper'ience. Yo' stomack emty en you' haid +light. Draw up now en tell me de news. Tell me sud'n 'bout Miss Lou. +Did dey git her mar'd?" + +"Yah! yah! Marse Scoville's so'd ud cut de knot ef dey had." + +"Dat's des ez much ez you knows. All de so'ds ober flash kyant cut dat +ar knot 'less dey kill Marse Whately." + +"Dat 'min's me ob someting ter'ble quar. Marse Scoville had he so'd +pintin' right agin Mad Whately's neck en yit he ain' jab 'im. Dat same +Mad Whately gwine ter mek a heap ob trouble fer he got clean off." + +"Marse Scoville know dat ef he kill a man right straight wid he own +han' he spook come and mek a heap mo' trouble." + +"Hi! didn't tink o' dat." + +"Bettah tink right smart, Chunk. You'se gittin' top-heaby ef you is +sho't. Now tell me all 'bout de mar'age." + +"Dey ain' no mar'age. Zany tole me how Miss Lou say she ain' neber +'sent, en den 'fo' dey could say dere lingo ober her en mar'y her des +ez dey would a bale ob cotton, up rides Marse Scoville en put his so'd +troo ebryting. He tells us we all free en--" + +"En eat yo' supper. I ain' done projeckin' 'bout dis freedom business. +How we uns gwine ter be free 'less Marse Scoville stay yere en kep us +free?" + +"Zany guv me my supper en--" + +"Dar now, I ain' no mo' 'count. Zany gobble you aready. I des stick ter +my chimbly corner." + +"Howdy, Aunt Jinkey," cried Scoville, coming in briskly. "Well, you see +I'm back again as I promised." + +"You welcome, a hun'erd times welcome, kaze you kep my young mistis fum +bein' mar'ed right slap 'gin her own feelin's ter her cousin." + +"Pshaw! Aunt Jinkey. No one can marry a girl against her will in this +country." + +"Dat des de question Miss Lou en me projeckin' 'bout dis berry mawnin'. +She gyardeens went straight along ez ef dey had de po'r, dey sut'ny +did. Dat's w'at so upset Miss Lou en me. De po'r ob gyardeens is sump'n +I kyant smoke out straight, en I des lak ter know how much dey KIN do. +Ole mars'r al'ays manage her prop'ty en we wuz flustrated w'en we see +'im en Mad Whately en he moder en ole miss en all gittin' ready fer de +weddin' des ez ef hit was comin' like sun-up sho." + +"It was a shame," cried Scoville angrily. "They were seeking to drive +her into submission by strong, steady pressure, but if she insisted on +her right--" + +"Dat des w'at she did, Marse Scoville. She say she neber 'sent, NEBER," +Chunk interrupted. + +"Then the whole Southern Confederacy could not have married her and she +ought to know it." + +"Well, you mus' be 'siderate, Marse Scoville. Miss Lou know a heap +'bout some tings en she des a chile 'bout oder tings. Ole mars'r en +misus al'ays try ter mek her tink dat only w'at dey say is right en +nuthin' else, en dey al'ays 'low ter her dat she gwine ter mar'y her +cousin some day, en she al'ays 'low ter me she doan wanter." + +"Poor child! she does need a friend in very truth. What kind of a man +is this Mad Whately anyway, that he could think of taking part in such +a wrong?" + +"He de same kin' ob man dat he wuz a boy," Chunk answered. "Den he kick +en howl till he git w'at he want. 'Scuse me, Marse Scoville, but I +kyant hep tinkin' you mek big 'stake dat you didn't jab 'im w'en you +hab de chance." + +"Chunk," was the grave answer, "if you are going to wait on me you must +learn my ways. I'd no more kill a man when it was not essential than I +would kill you this minute. Soldiers are not butchers." + +"Granny sez how you wuz feared on his spook"-- + +"Bah! you expect to be free, yet remain slaves to such fears? My horse +knows better. Come, Aunt Jinkey, I'd rather you would give me some +supper than your views on spooks." + +"Leftenant," said Perkins, the overseer, from the door, "Mr. Baron +pr'sents his compliments en gives you a invite to supper." + +Scoville thought a moment, then answered, "Present mine in return, and +say it will give me pleasure to accept." + +"Bress de Lawd! you gwine ter de big house. Not dat I 'grudges cookin' +fer you w'eneber you come, but I des wants you ter took a 'tunerty ter +advise dat po' chile 'bout she rights en de mar'age question." + +After assuring himself that the overseer was out of earshot, Scoville +said almost sternly, "Aunt Jinkey, you and Chunk must not say one word +of my ever having been here before. It might make your young mistress a +great deal of trouble, and I should be sorry indeed if I ever caused +her any trouble whatever." Then as he made his way to the mansion he +smilingly soliloquized, "I don't know of any other question concerning +which I would rather give her advice, nor would it be wholly +disinterested, I fear, if I had a chance. At this time to-morrow," he +sighingly concluded, "I may be miles away or dead. Poor unsophisticated +child! I never was touched so close before as now by her need of a +friend who cares more for her than his own schemes." + +Chunk following at a respectful distance became aware that the overseer +was glowering at him. "Bettah 'lebe yo' min', Marse Perkins," he +remarked condescendingly. + +"You infernal, horse-stealing nigger!" was the low response. + +"Hi! Marse Perkins, you kin growl, but you muzzled all de same." + +"The muzzle may be off before many mo' sunsets, en then you'll find my +teeth in your throat," said the man under his breath, and his look was +so dark and vindictive that even in his elation Chunk became uneasy. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +MISS LOU EMANCIPATED + + +Nature had endowed Scoville with a quick, active mind, and +circumstances had developed its power and capacity to a degree scarcely +warranted by his age. Orphaned early in life, compelled to hold his own +among comparative strangers since childhood, he had gained a worldly +wisdom and self-reliance which he could not have acquired in a +sheltered home. He had learned to look at facts and people squarely, to +estimate values and character promptly, and then to decide upon his own +action unhesitatingly. Although never regarded as the model good boy at +the boarding-schools wherein he had spent most of his life, he had been +a general favorite with both teachers and scholars. A certain frankness +in mischief and buoyancy of spirit had carried him through all +difficulties, while his apt mind and retentive memory always kept him +near to the head of his classes. The quality of alertness was one of +his characteristics. In schools and at the university he quickly +mastered their small politics and prevailing tendencies, and he often +amused his fellow-pupils with free-handed yet fairly truthful sketches +of their instructors. As the country passed into deeper and stronger +excitement over the prospect of secession and its consequences, he was +among the first to catch the military spirit and to take an active part +in the formation of a little company among the students. It was not his +disposition to be excited merely because others were. Certain qualities +of mind led him to look beneath the surface for the causes of national +commotion. He read carefully the utterances of leaders, North and +South, and to some extent traced back their views and animating spirit +to historical sources. + +In the year of '63 he found to his joy that he had attained such +physical proportions as would secure his acceptance in a cavalry +regiment forming in his vicinity. His uncle, who was also guardian, for +reasons already known, made slight opposition, and he at once donned +the blue with its bluff trimmings. In camp and field he quickly learned +the routine of duty, and then his daring, active temperament led him +gradually into the scouting service. Now, although so young, he was a +veteran in experience, frank to friends, but secretive and ready to +deceive the very elect among his enemies. Few could take more risks +than he, yet he had not a particle of Mad Whately's recklessness. +Courage, but rarely impulse, controlled his action. As we have seen, he +could instantly stay his hand the second a deadly enemy, seeking his +life in personal encounter, was disarmed. + +The prospect of talking with such a host as Mr. Baron pleased him +immensely. He scarcely knew to whom he was indebted for the courtesy, +but rightly surmised that it was Mrs. Whately, since she, with good +reason, felt under obligations to him. Even more than an adventurous +scouting expedition he relished a situation full of humor, and such, +his presence at Mr. Baron's supper-table promised to be. He knew his +entertainment would be gall and wormwood to the old Bourbon and his +wife, and that the courtesy had been wrung from them by his own +forbearance. It might be his only opportunity to see Miss Lou and +suggest the liberty he had brought to her as well as to the slaves. + +Mrs. Whately met him on the veranda and said politely, "Lieutenant +Scoville, you have proved yourself to be a generous and forbearing +enemy. If you feel that you can meet frank enemies who wish to return +courtesy with courtesy, we shall be glad to have you take supper with +us." + +"Yes," added Mr. Baron, "my sister has convinced me, somewhat against +my will, I must in honesty admit, that such hospitality as we can offer +under the circumstances is your due." + +"I appreciate the circumstances, Mr. Baron," was the grave reply, "and +honor the Southern trait which is so strong that even I can receive the +benefit of it. Your courtesy, madam, will put me at ease." + +Miss Lou, thinking it possible that she might see the Northern officer +again, had taken her own way of convincing him that he was still within +the bounds of civilization, for she made a toilet more careful than the +one with which she had deigned to grace the appointed day of her +wedding. She could scarcely believe her eyes when, entering the supper +room a little late, she saw Scoville already seated at the table. He +instantly rose and made her a ceremonious bow, thus again indicating +that their past relations should be completely ignored in the presence +of others. She therefore gravely returned his salutation and took her +place without a word, but her high color did not suggest indifference +to the situation. Mr. Baron went through the formal "grace" as usual +and then said, "Ahem! you will admit, sir, that it is a little +embarrassing to know just how to entertain one with whom we have some +slight difference of opinion." + +"Perhaps such embarrassment will be removed if we all speak our minds +freely," replied Scoville, pleasantly. "Pardon the suggestion, but the +occasion appears to me favorable to a frank and interesting exchange of +views. If my way of thinking were wholly in accord with yours my words +could be little better than echoes. I should be glad to feel that my +presence was no restraint whatever." + +"I'm inclined to think you are right, sir," added Mrs. Whately. "It +would be mere affectation on our part to disguise our thoughts and +feelings. With neighbors, and even with friends, we are often compelled +to do this, but I scarcely see why we should do so with an open enemy." + +"And such I trust you will find me, madam, an OPEN enemy in the better +sense of the adjective. As far as I can, I will answer questions if you +wish to ask any. I will tell you honestly all the harm I meditate and +outline clearly the extent of my hostility, if you will do the same," +and he smiled so genially that she half smiled also as she answered: + +"To hear you, sir, one would scarcely imagine you to be an enemy at +all. But then we know better." + +"Yes, sir, pardon me, we do," said Mr. Baron, a little stiffly. "For +one, I would like your honest statement of just what harm you and your +command meditate. I am one who would rather face and prepare for +whatever I shall be compelled to meet." + +"I think, sir, you have already met and faced the direst event of the +evening--my presence at your hospitable board. Even this hardship is +due to your courtesy, not to my compulsion." + +Miss Lou bowed low over her plate at this speech. + +"But how about the long hours of the night, sir? Have you such control +over your men--" + +"Yes, sir!" interrupted Scoville with dignity. "The men I have with me +are soldiers, not camp-followers. They would no more harm you or +anything you possess, without orders, than I would." + +"Without orders--a clause of large latitude. As far as words go you +have already robbed me of the greater part of my possessions. You have +told my slaves that they are free." + +"Not upon my own responsibility, sir, although with hearty goodwill. In +my humble station I am far more often called upon to obey orders than +to give them. You are aware of President Lincoln's proclamation?" + +"Yes, sir, and of the Pope's bull against the comet." + +Scoville laughed so genially as partially to disarm his reply of its +sting. "In this instance, sir, our armies are rather gaining on the +comet." + +"But what can you and your armies hope to accomplish?" Mrs. Whately +asked. "If you should destroy every Southern man, the women would +remain unsubdued." + +"Now, madam, you have me at disadvantage. I do not know what we would +or could do if confronted only by implacable Southern women." + +"Do not imagine that I am jesting. I cannot tell you how strange it +seems that a man of your appearance and evident character should be +among our cruel enemies." + +"And yet, Mrs. Whately, you cannot dispute the fact. Pardon me for +saying it, but I think that is just where the South is in such serious +error. It shuts its eyes to so many simple facts--a course which +experience proves is never wise. I may declare, and even believe, that +there is no solid wall before me, yet if I go headlong against it, I am +bruised all the same. Positive beliefs do not create truths. I fancy +that a few hours since you were absolutely sure that this courtesy of +which I am the grateful recipient could not be, yet you were mistaken." + +"Has not the sad experience of many others inspired our fears? Neither +has the end come with us yet. You said that the main Northern force +would come this way tomorrow. We do not fear you and those whom you +control, but how about those who are to come?" + +"I can speak only for the class to which I belong--the genuine soldiers +who are animated by as single and unfaltering a spirit as the best in +your armies. If a Confederate column were going through the North you +could not answer for the conduct of every lawless, depraved man in such +a force. Still, I admit with you that war is essentially cruel, and +that the aim ever must be to inflict as much injury as possible on +one's adversaries." + +"But how can you take part in such a war?" Mrs. Whately asked. "All we +asked was to be let alone." + +"Yes, sir," added Mr. Baron, "how can you justify these ruthless +invasions, this breaking up of our domestic institutions, this +despoiling of our property and rights by force?" and there was a tremor +of suppressed excitement in his voice. + +Scoville glanced at Miss Lou to see how far she sympathized with her +kindred. He observed that her face was somewhat stern in its +expression, yet full of intelligent interest. It was not the index of +mere prejudice and hate. "Yes," he thought, "she is capable of giving +me a fair hearing; the others are not. Mr. Baron," he said, "your views +are natural, perhaps, if not just. I know it is asking much of human +nature when you are suffering and must suffer so much, to form what +will become the historical judgment on the questions at issue. The law +under which the North is fighting is the supreme one--that of +self-preservation. Even if we had let you alone--permitted you to +separate and become independent without a blow, war would have come +soon. You would not and could not have let us alone. Consider but one +point: your slaves would merely have to pass the long boundary line +stretching nearly across the continent, in order to be on free soil. +You could compel their return only by conquering and almost +annihilating the North. You will say that we should think as you do on +the subject, and I must answer that it is every man and woman's right +to think according to individual conscience, according to the light +within. Deny this right, and you put no bounds to human slavery. Pardon +me, but looking in your eyes and those of these ladies, I can see that +I should become a slave instantly if you had your way. Unconsciously +and inevitably you would make me one, for it is your strongest impulse +to make me agree with you, to see things exactly as you do. The fact +that you sincerely believe you are right would make no difference if I +just as sincerely believed you were wrong. If I could not think and act +for myself I should be a slave. You might say, 'We KNOW we are right, +that what we believe has the Divine sanction.' That is what the +tormentors of the Inquisition said and believed; that is what my +Puritan and persecuting forefathers said and believed; what does +history say now? The world is growing wise enough to understand that +God has no slaves. He endows men and women with a conscience. The +supreme obligation is to be true to this. When any one who has passed +the bounds of childhood says to us, 'I don't think this is right,' we +take an awful responsibility, we probably are guilty of usurpation, if +we substitute our will for his. In our sincerity we may argue, reason +and entreat, but in the presence of another's conscience unconvinced +and utterly opposed to us, where is human slavery to end if one man, or +a vast number of men, have the power to say, 'You shall'?" + +Scoville had kept his eyes fixed on Mr. Baron, and saw that he was +almost writhing under the expression of views so repugnant to +him--views which proved his whole scheme of life and action to be +wrong. Now the young man turned his glance suddenly on Miss Lou, and in +her high color, parted lips and kindled eyes, saw abundant proof that +she, as he had wished, was taking to herself the deep personal +application of his words. Her guardians and Mrs. Whately observed this +truth also, and now bitterly regretted that they had invited the Union +officer. It seemed to them a sort of malign fate that he had been led, +unconsciously as they supposed, to pronounce in the presence of the +girl such vigorous condemnation of their action. Had they not that very +day sought to override the will, the conscience, the whole shrinking, +protesting womanhood of the one who had listened so eagerly as the +wrong meditated against her was explained? Scoville had not left them +even the excuse that they believed they were right, having shown the +girl that so many who believed this were wrong. Miss Lou's expression +made at least one thing clear--she was emancipated and had taken her +destiny into her own hands. + +Mrs. Whately felt that she must turn the tables at once, and so +remarked, "It seems to me that the whole force of your argument tells +against the North. You are bent upon conquering the South and making it +think as you do." + +"Oh, no. Here the law of self-preservation comes in. If the South can +secede, so can the East and the West. New York City can secede from the +State. We should have no country. There could be no national life. +Would England accept the doctrine of secession, and permit any part of +her dominions to set up for themselves when they chose? I know you are +about to say that is just what our fathers did. Yes, but old mother +England did not say, 'Go, my children, God bless you!' Nor would she +say it now to any other region over which floats her flag. Of course, +if you whip us, we shall have to submit, just as England did. What +government has helplessly sucked its thumbs when certain portions of +the territory over which it had jurisdiction defied its power? We are +called Goths and Vandals, but that is absurd. We are not seeking to +conquer the South in any such old-world ways. We are fighting that the +old flag may be as supreme here as in New England. The moment this is +true you will be as free as are the people of New England. The same +constitution and laws will govern all." + +"And can you imagine for a moment, sir," cried Mr. Baron, "that we will +submit to a government that would be acceptable to New England?" "Yes, +sir; and years hence, when the South has become as loyal as New England +is now, if that abode of the Yankees should seek independence of the +rest of the country she would be brought back under the flag. I would +fight New England as readily as I do the South, if she sought to break +up the Union. I would fight her if every man, woman and child within +her borders believed themselves right." + +Now he saw Miss Lou looking perplexed. Her quick mind detected the +spirit of coercion, of substituting wills, against which he had been +inveighing and from which she had suffered. Mrs. Whately was quick to +see the apparent weakness in his argument, for she said, "Consistency +is a jewel which I suppose is little cared for by those so ready to +appeal to force. With one breath you say we must not coerce the wills +of others, and now you say you would, even though you did violence to +universal and sacred beliefs." + +"I say only that the nation MUST do this as must the individual. Some +one might say to me, 'I honestly think I should take off your right +arm.' I would not permit it if I could help it. No more can a nation +submit passively to dismemberment. The South did not expect that this +nation would do so. It promptly prepared for war. If the North had +said, 'We can do nothing, there's a blank, write out your terms and +we'll sign,' we would have been more thoroughly despised than we were, +if that were possible. There are two kinds of coercion. For instance, I +do not say to you, Mrs. Whately, representing the South, that you must +think and feel as I do and take just such steps as I dictate; but that +there are things which you must refrain from doing, because in their +performance, no matter how sincere you were, you would inflict great +and far-reaching wrong on others. There could be no government without +restriction. We would soon have anarchy if any part of a nation should +and could withdraw when it chose and how it pleased." + +"Your doctrine, sir, would banish freedom from the world. All peoples +would have to submit to the central tyranny called government, even +though such government had become hateful." + +"This doctrine, which all governments act upon," replied Scoville +pleasantly, "has not banished freedom from the world. In this country, +where every man has a voice, the government will be just about as good +as the majority determine it shall be." + +"Well, sir, to sum up the whole matter," said Mr. Baron coldly, "two +things are clear: First, the South is determined to be free; second, if +we fail we can be held only under the heel of your Northern majority as +Poland is trodden upon." + +Scoville saw that the discussion had gone far enough for his purposes, +and he said with a good-natured laugh, "I'm neither a prophet nor his +son, but I think it is a very hopeful sign that we could have this +frank interchange of views and belief. I see how perfectly sincere you +are, and if I had been brought up here no doubt I should think and act +as you do. As it is, I am only a very humble representative of the +Government which is trying to preserve its own existence--a Government +which the South helped to form as truly as the North. If I should come +directly to your side, contrary to belief and conscience, you would be +the first to despise me. I suppose we will all agree that we should +obey the supreme dictates of conscience?" + +"No, sir," burst out Mr. Baron, "I cannot agree to anything of the +kind. There are multitudes who must be guided and controlled by those +who are wiser, older and more experienced. Why, sir, you would have the +very nursery children in flat rebellion." + +"Indeed, Mr. Baron, I have not said one word against the authority of +parents and guardians." + +"Ah! I am glad you draw the line somewhere. Half the misery in the +world results from young people's thinking themselves wiser than their +natural advisers. If they can merely say their consciences are against +what their elders know is right and best, we have anarchy in the +fountainhead of society--the family," and he glared for a moment at his +niece. + +"What you say seems very true, Mr. Baron. I should be glad to know +where YOU draw the line? Independent action must begin at some period." + +While Mr. Baron hesitated over this rather embarrassing question Miss +Lou startled all her kindred by saying, "I did not intend to take any +part in this conversation, but a glance from my uncle makes his last +remark personal to me. I am at least old enough to ask one or two +questions. Do you think it right, Lieutenant Scoville, that a woman +should never have any independent life of her own?" + +"Why, Miss Baron, what a question! Within the received limits of good +taste a woman has as much right to independent action as a man." + +"Well, then, how can she ever have any independence if she is treated +as a child up to one day of her life, and the next day is expected to +promise she will obey a man as long as he lives?" + +The angry spots in Mrs. Baron's cheeks had been burning deeper and +deeper, and now she spoke promptly and freezingly, "Mr. Scoville, I +absolve you from answering one who is proving herself to be neither a +child nor a refined woman. I did not expect this additional +humiliation. If it had not occurred I would have taken no part in the +conversation. Mr. Baron, I think we have granted even more than the +most quixotic idea of courtesy could demand." + +"'Granted? demand?' surely there is some mistake, madam," said Scoville +with dignity, as he rose instantly from the table. "I have asked +nothing whatever except that you should dismiss your fears as far as I +and my men are concerned." + +Mrs. Whately was provoked equally at herself and all the others. She +now deeply regretted that she had not left the Union officer to obtain +his supper where and how he could, but felt that she must smooth +matters over as far as possible. "Lieutenant Scoville," she said +hurriedly, "you must make allowances for people in the deepest stress +of trouble. We did intend all the courtesy which our first remarks +defined. Of course you cannot know our circumstances, and when words +are spoken which cut to the quick it is hard to give no sign. Perhaps +our hearts are too sore and our differences too radical--" and she +hesitated. + +"I understand you, madam," said Scoville, bowing. "I can only repeat my +assurances of your safety and express my regret--" + +"Oh, shame!" cried Miss Lou, whose anger and indignation now passed all +bounds. "We are NOT in the deepest stress of trouble, and you, Mrs. +Whately, are the last one to say it. I saw this gentleman's sabre +poised at your son's throat long enough to have killed him twice over, +and he did not do it, even in the excitement of defending his own life. +After Mrs. Baron's words he again assures us of safety. What did you +all predict would happen immediately when Northern soldiers came? +Whether I am refined or not, I am at least grateful. Lieutenant, please +come with me. I will try to prove that I appreciate your courtesy and +forbearance," and she led the way from the room. + +He bowed ceremoniously to Mr. Baron and the ladies, then followed the +girl, leaving them, almost paralyzed by their conflicting emotions. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A SMILE ON WAR'S GRIM FACE + + +Miss Lou led the way to the broad, moonlit piazza. As Scoville +followed, he saw that the girl was trembling violently, and he was thus +able to grasp in some degree the courage she was manifesting in her +first half-desperate essays toward freedom. "Poor child!" he thought, +"her fright is surpassed only by her determination. How easily they +could manage her by a little tact and kindness!" + +She pointed to a chair near the hall door and faltered, "Lieutenant +Scoville, I scarcely know whether I am doing right in seeing you here +alone. I know little of the usages of society. I do not wish to appear +to you unrefined." + +"Miss Baron," he replied kindly, "I do not know why you have not the +same right which other young ladies enjoy, of entertaining a gentleman +at your home." + +"Oh, I am so glad that you are not angry." + +"I was never more lamb-like in my disposition than at this moment. +Moreover, I wish to thank you as a brave girl and a genuine lady." + +She was almost panting in her strong excitement and embarrassment. +"Please remember," she said, "that I do not wish to do or say anything +unbecoming, but I know so little and have been so tried--" + +"Miss Baron," and he spoke low for fear he would be overheard, "I +already know something of what you have passed through and of your +brave assertion of a sacred right. Continue that assertion and no one +can force you into marriage. I have ridden nearly twenty-four hours to +be here in time and to make some return for your great kindness, but +you were so brave that you scarcely needed help." + +"Oh! I did need it. I was so frightened and so desperate that I was +almost ready to faint. My cousin is one who WILL have his own way. He +has never been denied a thing in his life, I should have been taken +away at least and then--oh, I just felt as if on the edge of a +precipice. It seems dreadful that I should be speaking so of my kindred +to a stranger and enemy--" + +"Enemy! Far from it. A friend. Have you not protected my life and +liberty? Miss Baron, I give you my sacred word, I swear to you by my +mother's memory to be as loyal to you as if you were my own sister. +Young as I am, perhaps I can advise you and help you, for it is indeed +clear that you need a friend." + +"I cannot tell you what relief your words bring, for, inexperienced as +I am, something assures me that I can trust you." + +"Indeed you can. I should spoil my own life more truly than yours if I +were not true to my oath. Please remember this and have confidence. +That is what you need most--confidence. Believe in yourself as well as +in me. Have you not been brave and true to yourself in the most painful +of ordeals? Try to keep your self-control and you will make no serious +mistakes, and never so misjudge me as to imagine I shall not recognize +your good intentions." + +"Ah!" she sighed, with a rush of tears, "that's the trouble. I'm so +hasty; I lose my temper." + +He smiled very genially as he said, "If you were as amiable as some +girls you would have been married before this. Don't you see in what +good stead your high spirit has stood you? I do not censure righteous +anger when you are wronged. You are one who could not help such anger, +and, if controlled, it will only help you. All I ask is that you so +control it as to take no false steps and keep well within your certain +rights. You are in a peculiarly painful position. Your kindred truly +mean well by you--see how fair I am--but if they could carry out their +intentions and marry you to that spoiled boy, you would be one of the +most unhappy of women. If he is capable of trying to force you to marry +him he would always be imperious and unreasonable. You would be a hard +one to manage, Miss Baron, by the words, You must, and You shall; but I +think Please would go a good way if your reason and conscience were +satisfied." + +"Indeed, sir, you are right. If I loved my cousin I would marry him +even though he were so badly wounded as to be helpless all his life. +But my whole soul protests against the thought of marriage to any one. +Why, sir, you can't know how like a child I've always been treated. I +feel that I have a right to remain as I am, to see more of the world, +to know more and enjoy more of life. I can scarcely remember when I was +truly happy, so strictly have I been brought up. You would not believe +it, but poor old Aun' Jinkey, my mammy, is almost the only one who has +not always tried to make me do something whether I wish to or not. My +aunt, Mrs. Whately, has meant to be kind, but even in my childish +squabbles with my cousin, and in his exactions, she always took his +part. I just want to be free--that's all." + +"Well, Miss Baron, you are free now, and if you will simply assert your +rights with quiet dignity you can remain free. Your kindred are +mistaken in their attitude toward you, and you can make them see this +in time. They are well-bred people and are not capable of using force +or violence. They did, I suppose, believe terrible things of me and +those I represent, and their action, perhaps, has been due partially to +panic. That crisis is past; you have only to trust your own best +instincts in order to meet future emergencies. Whatever comes, remember +that your Northern friend said he had confidence that you would do what +is brave and right. Perhaps we shall never meet again, for we are in +the midst of a fierce, active campaign. There is much advice I would +like to give you, but we shall not be left alone long, and the best +thing now, after this long, hard day, is for you to get your mind quiet +and hopeful. How quiet and peaceful everything is! not a harsh sound to +be heard." + +"Yes, and think what they tried to make me believe! They all should be +treating you with kindness instead of--" but here she was interrupted +by the appearance of Mrs. Whately. + +In order to understand that lady's action and that of her relatives, we +must go back to the moment when Miss Lou and Scoville left the +supper-room. Mrs. Whately was the first to recover her self-possession +and some true appreciation of their situation. Mr. Baron in his rage +would have gone out and broken up the conference on the piazza, but his +sister said almost sternly, "Sit down." + +"Well," ejaculated Mrs. Baron, bitterly, "I hope you are both satisfied +now with the results of courtesy to Yankees. I knew I was right in +believing that we could have nothing whatever to do with them. I think +it is monstrous that Louise is alone with one on the piazza, and her +uncle should interfere at once." + +"Brother," said Mrs. Whately, "you can see our niece through the window +from where you sit. She is talking quietly with the officer." + +"Yes, and what may he not say to her? Already her contumacious +rebellion passes all bounds. She has heard too much incendiary talk +from him already" and he again rose to end the interview. + +"Hector Baron," said his sister solemnly, "you must listen to me first, +before you take any further steps. We will say nothing more about the +past. It's gone and can't be helped. Now, with all the influence I have +over you, I urge you and your wife to remain here until you are +calm--till you have had a chance to think. Is this a time for headlong +anger? Was there ever a period in your life when you should so +carefully consider the consequences of your action? Please tell me how +you and sister are going to MAKE Louise do and think exactly what you +wish. This is no time for blinking the truth that you have alienated +her. You could easily now drive her to do something rash and terrible. +I understand her better every moment and feel that we have taken the +wrong course. She would have gone away with Madison as his cousin, and +wifehood would have come naturally later. We have been too hasty, too +arbitrary. You both must recognize the truth that you cannot treat her +as a child any longer or you will lose her altogether, for in this +matter of marriage she has been made to know that she is not a child. +She can be led into it now, but not forced into it. Her course is open +now, but if you continue arbitrary her action may become clandestine +and even reckless. Then in regard to this Yankee officer. Alas I what +he says is too true. In our strong feeling we shut our eyes to facts. +Are we not in his power? He has spared my son's life and your property +and home, and yet he has been virtually ordered out of the house. There +is truth in what Louise said. We are not in the deepest stress of +trouble--infinitely removed from the trouble we might be in." + +"He has not spared my property," growled Mr. Baron, "he has told all my +people they are free. Where does that leave me?" + +"Now, brother, your very words prove how essential it is that you +regain your self-control and reason. Is this young officer going +through the country on his own responsibility? He only echoes the +proclamation of Abe Lincoln, whom he is bound to obey. Since we entered +on the discussion of our differences could we expect him to do +otherwise than present his side as strongly as he could? Now if you and +sister can shake all this off by one mighty effort of your wills, do +so; but if we do not wish to invite every evil we predicted, do let us +be calm and rational. For one, I feel Louise's reproof keenly, and it +will not do to outrage her sense of justice any longer. This officer +has proved that we were wrong in our predictions before he came. If now +we continue to treat him as outside the pale of courtesy, we lose her +sympathy utterly and do our utmost to provoke him and his men. Merciful +heaven! if my son were a bleeding corpse or dying in agony, what would +the world be to me? I shall apologize to him and treat him with +politeness as long as I am under his protection." + +"I shall have nothing to do with him," said Mrs. Baron, pressing her +thin lips together. + +"Well, well," ejaculated Mr. Baron, "I suppose I shall have to become +meeker than Moses, and kiss every rod that smites me for fear of +getting a harsher blow." + +Mrs. Whately felt that it was useless to say anything more, and, as we +have seen, joined her niece. + +"Lieutenant," she said, "we owe you an apology, and I freely and +frankly offer it. I fear you think we are making sorry return for your +kindness." + +"Mrs. Whately, I appreciate YOUR good intentions, and I can make +allowance for the feelings of my host and hostess. The fine courtesy of +Miss Baron would disarm hostility itself, but I assure you that there +is no personal hostility on my part to any of you." + +"Well, sir, I must say that I regard it as a very kind ordering of +Providence that we have fallen into such hands as yours." + +"I certainly am in no mood to complain," he replied, laughing. "Perhaps +experience has taught us that we had better ignore our differences. I +was just remarking to Miss Baron on the beauty and peacefulness of the +night. Will you not join us? We can imagine a flag of truce flying, +under which we can be just as good friends as we please." + +"Thank you. I will join you with pleasure," and she sat down near her +niece. "Well," she added, "this is a scene to be remembered." + +Miss Lou looked at Scoville gratefully, for his words and manner had +all tended to reassure her. In her revolt, he showed no disposition to +encourage recklessness on her part. As her mind grew calmer she saw +more clearly the course he had tried to define--that of blended +firmness and courtesy to her relatives. She was so unsophisticated and +had been so confused and agitated, that she scarcely knew where to draw +the line between simple, right action and indiscretion. Conscious of +her inexperience, inclined to be both timid and reckless in her +ignorance and trouble, she began even now to cling, metaphorically, to +his strong, sustaining hand. His very presence produced a sense of +restfulness and safety, and when he began to call attention to the +scenes and sounds about them she was sufficiently quiet to be +appreciative. + +Dew sparkled in the grass of the lawn on which the shadows of trees and +shrubbery fell motionless. The air was balmy and sweet with the +fragrance of spring flowers. The mocking-birds were in full ecstatic +song, their notes scaling down from bursts of melody to the drollery of +all kinds of imitation. The wounded men on the far end of the piazza +were either sleeping or talking in low tones, proving that there was no +extremity of suffering. Off to the left, between them and the negro +quarters, were two or three fires, around which the Union soldiers were +reclining, some already asleep after the fatigues of the day, others +playing cards or spinning yarns, while one, musically inclined, was +evoking from a flute an air plaintive and sweet in the distance. +Further away under the trees, shadows in shadow, the horses were dimly +seen eating their provender. The Confederate prisoners, smoking about a +fire, appeared to be taking the "horrors of captivity" very quietly and +comfortably. At the quarters they heard the sound of negro-singing, +half barbaric in its wildness. + +"It is hard to realize that this scene means war," remarked Miss Lou, +after they had gazed and listened a few moments in silence. + +"Yet it does," said Scoville quietly. "Look down the avenue. Do you not +see the glint of the moonbeams on a carbine? All around us are men, +mounted and armed. If a shot were fired, we should all be ready for +battle in three minutes. Those prisoners will be guarded with sleepless +vigilance till I deliver them up. There is a sentinel at the back of +the house, three guarding the out-buildings, and so it will be till I +am relieved and another takes command." + +"Who will he be?" she asked apprehensively. + +"I do not know." + +"Oh, I wish you could guard us till these troubles are over." + +"I can honestly echo that wish," added Mrs. Whately. + +"Thank you. It would be pleasanter duty than usually falls to the lot +of a soldier. Yet in these times I scarcely know what my duty may be +from hour to hour." + +"You told us that we need not fear anything to-night," began Mrs. +Whately. + +"Not unless I am attacked, I said. I am aware that at this moment your +son is seeking a force to do this. I do not think that he will be able +to find any, however, before morning. In any event you could have +nothing to fear from us, except as your dreams were disturbed by a +battle." + +"Oh, I wish I were a soldier!" exclaimed the girl. "This whole scene +seems as if taken right out of a story." + +"You are looking at this moment on the bright side of our life. At any +rate, I'm glad you're not a soldier. If you were, my duty might be made +more difficult. It has other and very different sides. By the way, I +would like to watch those negroes a little while, and listen to them. +Their performances always interest me deeply. Will not you ladies go +with me? Soon I must get some rest while I can." + +Miss Lou looked at her aunt, who hesitated a moment, then said, "I am +very tired, Lieutenant. I will trust you as a chivalrous enemy to take +my niece, and I will sit here until you return." + +"I deeply appreciate your kindness, madam." + +Miss Lou went with him gladly and found herself at the close of the +long, miserable day becoming positively happy. When out of hearing she +said, "Aunt's permission almost took away my breath. Yet it seems to me +just the way a girl ought to be treated. Oh, how perfectly delicious is +a little bit of freedom! How perfectly grand to have something going on +that does not mean no end of trouble to one's self!" + +Scoville laughed lightly as he replied, "I now wish you were a soldier +and an officer in my regiment. You and I would make good comrades." + +"You forget, sir," she answered in like vein, "that I am a bloodthirsty +little rebel." + +"On the contrary, I remember that yours was the kind, pitying face +which made me half fancy I was in heaven when recovering from my swoon." + +"Chunk and Aun' Jinkey brought you back to earth right sudden, didn't +they?" and her laugh rang out merrily. + +"Sister," cried Mr. Baron, running out on the veranda, "what on +earth--I thought I heard Louise laugh way off toward the quarters." + +"You did." + +"What! has she broken all bounds, defied all authority, and gone +utterly wild in her rebellion?" + +Mrs. Whately made a gesture of half irritable protest. Meantime, Mrs. +Baron, hearing her husband's voice, came out and exclaimed, "Is that +Louise and the Yankee yonder going off alone?" + +"They are not 'going off.' You and brother may join them if you wish. +They simply intend to watch the people at the quarters a little while, +and I will wait here for them." + +"Sarah Whately!" gasped Mrs. Baron, "can you mean to say that you have +permitted our ward to do such an indelicate thing? She has never been +permitted to go out alone in the evening with any young man, and the +idea that she should begin with a Yankee!" + +"She is not alone. She is always within call and most of the time in +sight. I will make one more effort to bring you both to reason," added +Mrs. Whately, warmly, "and then, if we continue to differ so radically, +I will return home in the morning, after giving Louise to understand +that she can always find a refuge with me if it is necessary. Can you +think I would let the girl whom my son hopes to marry do an indelicate +thing? Pardon me, but I think I am competent to judge in such matters. +I will be answerable for her conduct and that of Lieutenant Scoville +also, for he is a gentleman if he is our enemy. I tell you again that +your course toward Louise will drive her to open, reckless defiance. It +is a critical time with her. She is my niece as well as your ward, and +it is the dearest wish of myself and son that she should be bound to us +by the closest ties. I will not have her future and all our hopes +endangered by a petty, useless tyranny. If you will treat her like a +young lady of eighteen I believe she will act like one." + +Mrs. Baron was speechless in her anger, but her husband began, "Oh, +well, if he were a Southern officer--" + +Then the blood of her race became too hot for Mrs. Whately's control, +and she sprang up, saying, "Well, then, go and tell him to his face +that he's a vile Yankee, a Goth and Vandal, a ruthless invader, +unworthy of a moment's trust, and incapable of behaving like a +gentleman! Take no further protection at his hands. How can you be so +blind as not to see I am doing the best thing possible to retain Louise +within our control and lead her to fulfil our hopes? I ask you again, +how are you going to MAKE Louise do what you wish? You cannot be +arbitrary with even one of your own slaves any longer." + +"Well," said Mrs. Baron, "I wash my hands of it all," and she retired +to her room. Mr. Baron sat down in a chair and groaned aloud. It was +desperately hard for him to accept the strange truth that he could not +order every one on the place, his niece included, to do just what +pleased him. Never had an autocratic potentate been more completely +nonplussed; but his sister's words, combined with events, brought him +face to face with his impotence so inexorably that for a time he had +nothing to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE JOY OF FREEDOM + + +In an open space near the quarters the negroes had kindled a fire, +although the night was mild. These children of the sun love warmth and +all that is cheerful and bright, their emotions appearing to kindle +more readily with the leaping flames. When Miss Lou and Scoville +approached, the worshippers were just concluding the hymn heard on the +piazza. From the humble cabins stools, benches, rickety chairs, and +nondescript seats made from barrels, had been brought and placed in a +circle close about the fire. These were occupied by the elderly and +infirm. Uncle Lusthah, whose name had been evolved from Methuselah, was +the evident leader of the meeting, and Miss Lou whispered to her +attendant, "He's the recognized preacher among them, and I believe he +tries to live up to his ideas of right." + +"Then I'll listen to him very respectfully," said Scoville. + +Their advent created quite a commotion, and not a few were inclined to +pay court to the "Linkum ossifer." All who had seats rose to offer +them, but Scoville smiled, shook his head and waved them back. Uncle +Lusthah immediately regained attention by shouting, "Look at me": then, +"Now look up. Who we uns befo'? De King. De gret Jehovah. Bow yo' haids +humble; drap yo' eyes. Tek off de shoon fum yo' feet lak Moses w'en he +gwine neah de bunin' bush. Young mars'r en young mistis standin' dar +'spectful. Dey knows dat ef de gret Linkum yere hissef, Linkum's Lawd +en Mars'r yere befo' 'im. Let us all gib our 'tention ter 'Im who's +brung 'liverance ter Israel at las'. We gwine troo de Red Sea ob wah +now en des whar de promis' lan' is we got ter fin' out, but we hab +tu'ned our backs on ole Egypt en we ain' gwine back no mo'. Brudren en +sistas, you'se yeard a Gospil, a good news, dis eb'nin' sho. You'se +yeard you free, bress de Lawd! I'se been waitin' fer dis news mo' yeahs +den I kin reckermember, but dey's come 'fo' my ole haid's under de sod. +Hit's all right dat we is glad en sing aloud for joy, but we orter +rejice wid trem'lin'. De 'sponsibil'ties ob freedom is des tremenjus. +Wat you gwine ter do wid freedom? Does you tink you kin git lazy en +thievin' en drunken? Is dere any sech foolishness yere? Will eny man or +ooman call deysefs free w'en dey's slabes ter some mean, nasty vice? +Sech folks al'ays be slabes, en dey orter be slabes ter a man wid a big +whip. See how de young mars'r' haves dat brung de news ob freedom. He +know he juty en he does hit brave. He mek de w'ite sogers he 'mands des +toe de mark. We got ter toe a long, wi'te mark. We ain' free ter do +foolishness no mo' dan he en he men is. De gret Linkum got he eye on +you; de Cap'n ob our salvation got He eye on you. Now I des gib you +some 'structions," and happy it would have been for the freedmen--for +their masters and deliverers also, it may be added--if all had followed +Uncle Lusthah's "'structions." + +When through with his exhortation the old preacher knelt down on the +box which served as his pulpit and offered a fervent petition. From the +loud "amens" and "'lujahs" he evidently voiced the honest feeling of +the hour in his dusky audience. Scoville was visibly affected at the +reference to him. "May de deah Lawd bress de young Linkum ossifer," +rose Uncle Lusthah's tones, loud, yet with melodious power and pathos, +for he was gifted with a voice of unusual compass, developed by his +calling. "He des took he life in he hand en come down in de lan' ob de +shadder, de gret, dark shadder dat's been restin' on de hearts ob de +slabes. We had no fader, no muder, no wife, no chile. Dey didn't 'long +to we fer dey cud be sole right out'n our arms en we see dem no mo'. De +gret shadder ob slav'y swallow dem up. Young mars'r face de bullit, +face de so'ed, face de curse ter say we free. May de Lawd be he shiel' +en buckler, compass 'im roun' wid angel wings, stop de han' riz ter +strike, tu'n away de bullit aim at he heart. May de Lawd brung 'im gray +hars at las lak mine, so he see, en his chil'n see, en our chil'n see +de 'liverance he hep wrought out. + +"En dar's young mistis. She hab a heart ter feel fer de po' slabe. She +al'ays look kin' at us, en she stood 'tween us en woun's en death; w'en +all was agin us en she in de watehs ob triberlation hersef, she say +'fo' dem all, 'No harm come ter us.' She put her lil w'ite arm roun' +her ole mammy." ("Dat she did," cried Aun' Jinkey, who was swaying back +and forth where the fire lit up her wrinkled visage, "en de gret red +welt on her shol'er now.") "She took de blow," continued Uncle Lusthah, +amid groans and loud lamentations, "en de Lawd, wid whose stripes we +healed, WILL bress her en hab aready bressed her en brung her +'liverance 'long o' us. May He keep her eyes fum teahs, en her heart +fum de breakin' trouble; may He shine on a path dat lead ter all de +bes' tings in dis yere worl' en den ter de sweet home ob heb'n!" + +When the voice of Uncle Lusthah ceased Scoville heard a low sob from +Miss Lou at his side and he was conscious that tears stood in his own +eyes. His heart went out in strong homage to the young girl to whom +such tribute had been paid and her heart thrilled at the moment as she +distinguished his deep "amen" in the strong, general indorsement of the +petition in her behalf. + +Then rose a hymn which gathered such volume and power that it came back +in echoes from distant groves. + +"Hark, hark, I year a soun'. Hit come fum far away; Wake, wake, en year +de soun' dat come fum far away. De night am dark, de night been long, +but dar de mawnin' gray; En wid de light is comin' sweet a soun' fum +far away. + +"Look how de light am shinin' now across de gret Red Sea. On Egypt sho' +we stay no mo' in slabing misery. Ole Pharaoh year de voice ob God, +'Des set my people free;' En now we march wid song en shout, right troo +the gret Red Sea." + +Every line ended with, the rising inflection of more than a hundred +voices, followed by a pause in which the echoes repeated clearly the +final sound. The effect was weird, strange in the last degree, and, +weary as he was, Scoville felt all his nerves tingling. + +The meeting now broke up, to be followed by dancing and singing among +the younger negroes. Uncle Lusthah, Aun' Jinkey, and many others +crowded around Scoville and "the young mistis" to pay their respects. +Chunk and Zany, standing near, graciously accepted the honors showered +upon them. The officer speedily gave Miss Lou his arm and led her away. +When so distant as to be unobserved, he said in strong emphasis, "Miss +Baron, I take off my hat to you. Not to a princess would I pay such +homage as to the woman who could wake the feeling with which these poor +people regard you." + +She blushed with the deepest pleasure of her life, for she had been +repressed and reprimanded so long that words of encouragement and +praise were very sweet. But she only said with a laugh, "Oh, come; +don't turn my poor bewildered head any more to-night. I'm desperately +anxious to have uncle and aunt think I'm a very mature young woman, but +I know better and so do you. Why, even Uncle Lusthah made me cry like a +child." + +"Well, his words about you brought tears to my eyes, and so there's a +pair of us." + +"Oh!" she cried delightedly, giving his arm a slight pressure, "I +didn't know that you'd own up to that. When I saw them I felt like +laughing and crying at the same moment. And so I do now--it's so +delicious to be free and happy--to feel that some one is honestly +pleased with you." + +He looked upon her upturned face, still dewy from emotion, and wondered +if the moon that night shone on a fairer object the world around. It +was indeed the face of a glad, happy child no longer depressed by woes +a few hours old, nor fearful of what the next hour might bring. Her +look into his eyes was also that of a child, full of unbounded trust, +now that her full confidence was won. "You do indeed seem like a lovely +child, Miss Baron, and old Uncle Lusthah told the whole truth about +you. Those simple folk are like children themselves and find people out +by intuition. If you were not good-hearted they would know it. Well, +I'm glad I'm not old myself." + +"But you're going to be old--AWFUL old," she replied, full of rippling +laughter. "Oh, wasn't I glad to hear Uncle Lusthah pray over you! for +if there is a God who takes any care of people, you will live to be as +gray as he is." + +"If there is a God?" + +"Oh, I'm a little heathen. I couldn't stand uncle or aunt's God at all +or believe in Him. They made me feel that He existed just to approve of +their words and ways, and to help them keep me miserable. When I hear +Uncle Lusthah he stirs me all up just as he did to-night; but then I've +always been taught that he's too ignorant--well, I don't know. Uncle +and aunt made an awful blunder," and here she began to laugh again. +"There is quite a large library at the house, at least I suppose it's +large, and I read and read till I was on the point of rebellion, before +you and Cousin Mad came. Books make some things clear and others SO-O +puzzling. I like to hear you talk, for you seem so decided and you know +so much more than I do. Cousin Mad never read much. It was always +horse, and dog, and gun with him. How I'm running on and how far I am +from your question! But it is such a new thing to have a listener who +cares and understands. Aun' Jinkey cares, poor soul! but she can +understand so little. Lieutenant, I can answer your implied question in +only one way; I wish to know what is true. Do you believe there's a God +who cares for us as Uncle Lusthah says?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I'm glad you do; and simply saying so will have more weight than +all arguments." + +"Please remember, Miss Baron, I haven't said that I lived up to my +faith. It's hard to do this, I suppose, in the army. Still I've no +right to any excuses, much less to the unmanly one that it's hard. What +if it is? That's a pretty excuse for a soldier. Well, no matter about +me, except that I wish you to know that with all my mind and heart I +believe that there is a good God taking care of a good girl like you. +Pardon me if I ask another question quite foreign. How could your +cousin wish to marry you if you do not love him?" + +He wondered as he saw the child-like look pass from her face and her +brow darken into a frown. "I scarcely know how to answer you," she +said, "and I only understand vaguely myself. I understand better, +though, since I've known you. When you were hiding in Aun' Jinkey's +cabin you looked GOODWILL at me. I saw that you were not thinking of +yourself, but of me, and that you wished me well. I feel that Cousin +Mad is always thinking of himself, that his professed love of me is a +sort of self-love. He gives me the feeling that he wants me for his OWN +sake, not for MY sake at all. I don't believe he'd love me a minute +after he got tired of me. I'd be just like the toys he used to cry for, +then break up. I won't marry such a man, NEVER." + +"You had better not. Hush! We are approaching a man yonder who appears +anxious to hear what is none of his business." + +They had been strolling slowly back, often pausing in the deep mutual +interest of their conversation. Miss Lou now detected Perkins standing +in the shadow of his dwelling, between the mansion and the quarters. + +"That's the overseer," she said, in a low voice. "How quick your eyes +are!" + +"They must be in my duty." Then he directed their steps so as to pass +near the man. When opposite, he turned his eyes suddenly upon Perkins' +face, and detected such a scowl of hostility and hate that his hand +dropped instinctively on the butt of his revolver. "Well, sir," he +said, sternly, "you have shown your disposition." + +"You didn't 'spect ter find a friend, I reck'n," was the surly yet +confused reply. + +"Very well, I know how to treat such bitter enemies as you have shown +yourself to be. Officer of the guard!" A trooper ran forward from the +camp-fire and saluted. "Put this man with the other prisoners, and see +that he has no communication with any one." + +As Perkins was marched off they heard him mutter a curse. "Pardon me, +Miss Baron," Scoville resumed. "The lives of my men are in my care, and +that fellow would murder us all if he had a chance. I don't know that +he could do any harm, but it would only be from lack of opportunity. I +never take risks that I can help." + +"Having seen his expression I can't blame you," was her reply. + +A new train of thought was awakened in Scoville. He paused a moment and +looked at her earnestly. + +"Why do you look at me so?" she asked. + +"Miss Baron, pardon me, but I do wish I were going to be here longer, +or rather, I wish the war was over. I fear there are deep perplexities, +and perhaps dangers, before you. My little force is in the van of a +raiding column which will pass rapidly through the country. It will be +here to-morrow morning, but gone before night, in all probability. The +war will be over soon, I trust, but so much may happen before it is. +You inspire in me such deep solicitude. I had to tell those poor +negroes that they were free. So they would be if within our lines. But +when we are gone that overseer may be brutal, and the slaves may come +again to you for protection. That cousin of yours may also come +again--oh, it puts me in a sort of rage to think of leaving you so +unfriended. You will have to be a woman in very truth, and a brave, +circumspect one, too." + +"You are right, sir," she replied with dignity, "and you must also +remember that I will be a Southern woman. I do feel most friendly to +you personally, but not to your cause. Forgive me if I have acted and +spoken too much like a child to-night, and do not misunderstand me. +Circumstances have brought us together in a strange way, and while I +live I shall remember you with respect and gratitude. I can never lose +the friendly interest you have inspired, and I can never think of the +North as I hear others speak of it; but I belong to my own people, and +I should be very unhappy and humiliated if I felt that I must continue +to look to an enemy of my country for protection. I cannot go over to +your side any more than you can come over to ours." + +He merely sighed in answer. + +"You do not think less"--and then she paused in troubled silence. + +"Louise," called Mrs. Whately's voice. + +"Yes," replied the girl, "we are coming." + +"I think you will always try to do what seems right to you, Miss Baron. +May God help and guide you, for you may have trouble of which you +little dream. What you say about your side and my side has no place in +my thoughts. I'll help settle such questions with soldiers. Neither do +I wish to be officious, but there is something in my very manhood which +protests against a fair young girl like you being so beset with +troubles." + +"Forgive me," she said earnestly. "There it is again. You are +unselfishly thinking of me, and that's so new. There's no use of +disguising it. When you go there'll not be one left except Aun' Jinkey +and Uncle Lusthah who will truly wish what's best for me without regard +to themselves. Well, it can't be helped. At least I have had a warning +which I won't forget." + +"But Mrs. Whately seems so kindly--" + +"Hush! I see uncle coming. She would sacrifice herself utterly for her +son, and do you think she would spare me?" + +Mr. Baron's fears and honest sense of responsibility led him at last to +seek his niece. In doing this he saw Perkins under guard. Hastening to +Scoville he demanded, "What does this mean? My overseer is not a +combatant, sir." + +"Mr. Baron," replied the officer, "have you not yet learned that I am +in command on this plantation?" + +Poor Mr. Baron lost his temper again and exploded most unwisely in the +words, "Well, sir, my niece is not under your command. You had no right +to take her from the house without my permission. I shall report you to +your superior officer to-morrow." + +"I hope you will, sir." + +"I also protest against the treatment of my overseer." + +"Very well, sir." + +"You will please release my niece's arm and leave us to ourselves, as +you promised." + +"No, sir, I shall escort Miss Baron back to Mrs. Whately, from whom I +obtained the honor of her society." + +"Louise, I command"--Mr. Baron began, almost choking with rage. + +"No, uncle," replied the girl, "you COMMAND me no more ... Request me +politely, and I will shake hands with Lieutenant Scoville, thank him +for his courtesy to me and to us all, and then go with you." + +The old man turned on his heel and walked back to the house without a +word. + +"Bravo!" whispered Scoville, but he felt her hand tremble on his arm. +"That's your true course," he added. "Insist on the treatment due your +age, act like a lady, and you will be safe." + +"Well," Mrs. Whately tried to say politely, "have not you young people +taken an ell?" + +"No, Mrs. Whately," Scoville replied gravely. "We have not taken a step +out of our way between here and the quarters, although we have lingered +in conversation. We have ever been in plain sight of many of your +people. I put the overseer under arrest because I had absolute proof of +his malicious hostility. I shall inflict no injury on any one who does +not threaten to be dangerous to my command, my duty requiring that I +draw the line sharply there. Mrs. Whately, I have never met a young +lady who inspired in me more honest respect. If we have trespassed on +your patience, the blame is mine. Ladies, I thank you for your courtesy +and wish you good-night," and he walked rapidly away. + +"Aunty," said Miss Lou, "you have begun to treat me in a way which +would inspire my love and confidence." + +"Well, my dear, I am sorely perplexed. If we yield in minor points, you +should in vital ones, and trust to our riper experience and knowledge." + +The distractions of the day had practically robbed Mr. Baron of all +self-control, and he now exclaimed, "I yield nothing. As your guardian +I shall maintain my rights and live up to my sense of responsibility. +If by wild, reckless conduct you thwart my efforts in your behalf, my +responsibility ceases. I can then feel that I have done my best." + +"And so, uncle, you would be quite content, no matter what became of +me," added the girl bitterly. "Well, then, I tell you to your face that +you cannot marry me, like a slave girl, to whom you please. I'll die +first. I shall have my girlhood, and then, as woman, marry or not +marry, as I choose. Aunty, I appeal to you, as a woman and a lady, to +stop this wretched folly if you can." + +"Louise," said her aunt, kindly, "as long as I have a home it shall be +a refuge to you. I hope the morrow will bring wiser counsels and better +moods to us all." + +The mansion soon became quiet, and all slept in the weariness of +reaction. No sound came from the darkened dwelling except an occasional +groan from one of the wounded men on the piazza. Scoville, wrapped in a +blanket, lay down by the fire with his men and was asleep almost +instantly. The still shadows on the dewy grass slowly turned toward the +east as the moon sank low. To the last, its beams glinted on the +weapons of vigilant sentinels and vedettes, and the only warlike sounds +occurred at the relief of guards. All rested who could rest except +one--the overseer. Restless, vindictive, he watched and listened till +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A WELL-AIMED SLIPPER + + +It would be hard to imagine a morning more lovely, a more perfect type +of peace and good-will, than the one which dawned over The Oaks +plantation the following day. With the light came fragrant zephyrs of +delicious coolness; the stillness of the night gave place to a slight +stir and rustle of foliage; chanticleers crowed lustily, with no +forebodings of their doom; the horses began to whinny for their +breakfasts, and the negroes to emerge from their quarters to greet the +light of this first fair day of freedom. Uncle Lusthah declared "De +millenyum yere sho!" Smoke rose from Aun' Jinkey's chimney, and after +the pone was baking on the hearth she came out on the doorstep with her +pipe to do a little "projeckin'." Even she was impressed with the +beauty and peacefulness of the morning. "En ter tink," she ejaculated, +"my honey's sleepin' lak a lil chile 'stead ob cryin' en wringin' her +han's nobody know whar! Wen dey gits ter mar'in' my honey en she a +bleatin' en a tremlin' like a lamb 'long a wolf dat lickin' he chops +ober her, den I say hit's time fer a smash up. Marse Scoville look lak +he 'tect her gin de hull worl'." + +So thought Miss Lou herself. In her weariness and sense of security she +had slept soundly till the light grew distinct, when the birds wakened +her. With consciousness memory quickly reproduced what had occurred. +She sprang to the window and peeped through the blinds in time to see +Scoville rise from his bivouac and throw aside his blanket. With a +soldier's promptness he aroused his men and began giving orders, the +tenor of one being that a scouting party should prepare to go out +immediately. + +"Oh!" she sighed, "if I had such a brother what a happy girl I might +be! I don't believe I'd ever care to marry." + +She was far from being a soft-natured, susceptible girl, and while +Scoville kindled her imagination and had won her trust, she did not +think of him as a lover. Indeed, the very word had become hateful to +her, associating it as she did with her cousin and the idea of selfish +appropriation. More strongly than any slave on the plantation, she +longed for freedom, and the belief that the Union officer understood +her, respecting her rights and feelings, won him all the favor she was +then capable of bestowing upon any one. If he had employed his brief +opportunity in gallantry and love-making she would have been disgusted. +"I never met any one like him," she soliloquized as she hastily +dressed. "It's so strange to find one willing I should be a little bit +happy in my own way, who is not 'seeking my best welfare,' as uncle +says. Welfare, indeed! As if I couldn't see some wish or scheme of +their own back of all they say or do! His dark eyes declare, 'I wish +you well whether you are useful to me or not.' Well, I am glad I've +known him, whether I ever see him again or not. He has made my course +much clearer." + +The inmates of the mansion as well as those without were soon busy in +their preparations for a day which all felt must be eventful. That the +"millenyum" had not come was soon proved by the commencement of +hostilities on the part of Mrs. Baron and Scoville. The latter was +approaching the kitchen to interview Aun' Suke when "ole miss" appeared. + +"Madam," he said, lifting his hat, "will you kindly direct your cook to +prepare a breakfast immediately for the wounded? It should be light as +well as nutritious, for some are feverish." + +She paid no more attention to him than if he had not spoken, and +entered Aun' Suke's domain. There was a mirthful flash in his dark eyes +as he followed her. When she saw him standing in the doorway, her cold +stare, more clearly than words, designated him "intruder." He steadily +returned her gaze, and Aun' Suke, who had been shouting over freedom +the night before, now had the temerity to quiver in all her vast +proportions with amusement. + +"Madam," resumed Scoville, removing his hat, "will you give my orders, +or shall I?" + +"Your orders, sir! and in my kitchen!" + +"Certainly, madam, and my orders in this instance are simply the +dictates of humanity." + +"I will see that our men are well cared for. I am not responsible for +the others." + +"But I am, and all must fare alike. Cook, prepare a nice light +breakfast for all the wounded men before you do anything else." + +"Yes, mars'r, I 'bey you, I sut'ny will." + +Scoville strode away to attend to other duties. Mrs. Baron glared after +him and then at Aun' Suke, who at once began her work. + +"Do you mean to say that you'll take no more orders from me?" the old +lady asked, in tones of suppressed anger. + +"Kyant do mo' 'n one ting ter oncet. Ob co'se I git yo' breakfas' when +I kin. Reck'n dough we soon hab ter disergree on my wages. I'se a free +ooman." + +"Oh, you are free and I am not. That's the new order of things your +Yankee friends would bring about." + +"La now, misus," said matter-of-fact Aun' Suke, again shaking with +mirth at the idea, "you got mo' edication 'n me. Wat de use bein' blin' +des on puppose? Spose you en ole mars'r tell me dat ain' a egg" +(holding one up): "kyant I see? Hit's broad sun-up. Why not des look at +tings ez dey iz? Sabe a heap ob trouble. Yere, you lil niggahs, hep +right smart or you neber get yo' breakfas'." + +Mrs. Baron went back to the house looking as if the end of the world +had come instead of the millennium. + +In the hall she met her husband and Mrs. Whately, to whom she narrated +what had occurred. Mr. Baron had settled down into a sort of sullen +endurance, and made no answer, but Mrs. Whately began earnestly: "Our +very dignity requires that we have no more collisions with a power we +cannot resist. Even you, sister, must now see that you gain nothing and +change nothing. We can be merely passive in our hostility. The only +course possible for us is to endure this ordeal patiently and then win +Louise over to our wishes." + +Miss Lou, who was dusting the parlor, stole to the further end of the +apartment and rattled some ornaments to warn them of her presence. She +smiled bitterly as she muttered, "Our wishes; mine will never be +consulted." + +Mrs. Whately entered the parlor and kissed her niece affectionately. +She did not like the girl's expression and the difficulty of her task +grew clearer. Nevertheless, her heart was more set on the marriage than +ever before, since her motives had been strengthened by thought. That +her son was bent upon it was one of the chief considerations. "If I +obtain for him this prize," she had reasoned, "he must see that there +is no love like a mother's." + +Miss Lou, also, had been unconsciously revealing her nature to the +sagacious matron, who felt the girl, if won, would not become a pretty +toy, soon wearying her son by insipidity of character. "I know better," +the lady thought, "than to agree with brother and sister that Louise is +merely wilful and perverse." Feeling that she was incapable of +controlling her son, she would be glad to delegate this task to the one +who had the most influence over him and who best promised to maintain +it. She was not so blind in her indulgence as helpless in it from long +habit. She thought that as a wife the girl would not only hold her own, +but also do much toward restraining her son in his wild tendencies; but +she gave no weight to the consideration often in Miss Lou's mind, "I do +not see why everything and everybody should exist for Cousin Mad's +benefit." + +Mrs. Whately secretly approved of Scoville's orders in regard to the +wounded, but did not so express herself, resolving not to come into +collision again with her relatives unless it was essential. She now +went out and assisted the surgical trooper in dressing the men's +injuries. Miss Lou had learned that breakfast would be delayed, and so +decided to satisfy her hunger partially at Aun' Jinkey's cabin. The +excitements of the preceding day had robbed her of all appetite, but +now she was ravenous. Her estrangement from her uncle and aunt was so +great that she avoided them, having a good deal of the child's feeling, +"I won't speak till they make up first." + +The old negress heard her rapid steps and looked out from her door. +"Oh, mammy," cried the girl, "I'm that hungry I could almost eat you, +and I don't know when we'll have breakfast." + +"You des in time, den, honey. Come right in." + +But Miss Lou paused at the door in embarrassment, for Scoville had +risen from the table and was advancing to meet her. "Good-morning, Miss +Baron," he said. "Aunt Jinkey and Chunk have prepared me a capital +breakfast, and I should be only too delighted to share it. I must be in +the saddle soon and so availed myself of the first chance for a meal. +Please do not hesitate, for it will probably be my only opportunity of +saying good-by." + +"Dar now, honey, sit right down. Ef Marse Scoville ain' quality den I +doan know um." + +"Miss Baron," cried Scoville, laughing, "Aunt Jinkey has raised a point +now which you alone can settle--the question of my quality." + +"About the same as my own, I reckon," said the girl, sitting down with +rosy cheeks. "Aun' Jinkey is evidently your ally, for she has put her +invitation in a form which I could not decline without hurting the +feelings of--" + +"Your sincere and grateful friend," interrupted the officer. + +"Uncle and aunt would think I was committing an unheard-of +indiscretion." + +"But ARE you?" + +"I'm too hungry to discuss the question now," she answered, laughing. +"Do let us hasten, for such OLD friends should not part with their +mouths full." + +"Well, hit des does my ole heart good ter see you sittin' dar, Miss +Lou. I'se po'ful glad yo' mouf's full ob breakfas' en dat yo' eyes ain' +full ob tears. Wat we projeckin' 'bout yistidy?" + +"Now, Aun' Jinkey, just keep still. I can't show becoming sentiment on +any subject except pones and such coffee as I have not tasted for a +long time." + +"Hit Yankee coffee." + +"I drink your health in my one contribution," cried Scoville. "Never +mind, aunty, we'll be jolly over it all the same. I agree with you. +It's worth a month's pay to see Miss Baron happy and hungry. I'd like +to know who has a better right. Aunt Jinkey's told me how you protected +her. That was fine. You'd make a soldier." + +"Oh, please stop such talk, both of you. I'm ridiculously unlike the +heroines in uncle's library. Lieutenant, please don't say 'Ha! the hour +has come and we must part, perhaps forever.' I won't have any forever. +Uncle Lusthah has insured you gray hairs, and if you don't come and see +us before they're gray, Aun' Jinkey and I will believe all uncle says +about the Yankees." + +"And so you ought," said Scoville. "Oh, I'll come back to breakfast +with you again, if I have to come on crutches. Well, I must go. There +is Chunk with the horses. Even now I'm keeping one ear open for a shot +from that hasty cousin of yours." + +At this reference she looked grave and rose from the table. +"Lieutenant," she said, taking his proffered hand, "please do not think +me a giddy child nor an unfeeling girl. I DO thank you. I do wish you +well just as you wish me well--for your own sake. Oh, it seems such a +blessed thing for people to feel simple, honest goodwill toward one +another, without having some scheme back of it all." + +"Well, Miss Baron, if I had a chance I'd soon prove that I too had a +scheme. The chief point in it would be to keep all trouble out of the +eyes that looked on me so kindly when I came to my senses in this +cabin. Heaven bless your good, kind heart! Promise me one thing." + +"Well?" + +"If your cousin comes soon there may be a sharp fight. Keep out of +danger. I could never be myself again if my coming here should result +in injury to you." + +"As far as my curiosity will permit I will try to keep out of the way. +I've seen so little in my short life that I must make the most of this +brief opportunity. In a day or so you may all be gone, and then the old +humdrum life will begin again." + +"Yes, we may all be gone before night. Your chief danger then will be +from the stragglers which follow the army like vultures. If possible, I +will induce the general to leave a guard to-night. I wish Mr. Baron had +a clearer eye to his interests and safety. The general is not +lamb-like. If a guard can be procured for to-night it will be due to +your action and my representations. My services as a scout have brought +me in rather close contact with the general, and possibly I may induce +him to give protection as long as the interest of the service permits. +All questions will be decided with reference to the main chance; so, if +I seem neglectful, remember I must obey my orders, whatever they are. +Ah! there's a shot." + +Her hand ached long afterward from his quick, strong pressure, and then +he mounted and was away at a gallop. Miss Lou hastily returned to the +house, but Chunk coolly entered the cabin, saying, "I'se git a bite fer +mebbe I ain' yere ter dinner." + +"Reck'n you better be skerce, Chunk, ef Mad Whately comes," said his +grandmother, trembling. + +"I knows des w'at ter 'spect fum Mad Whately en fum dat ar oberseer +too, but dey fin' me a uggly ole hornet. I got my sting han'y," and he +tapped the butt of a revolver in the breast of his coat. Having +devoured the remnants of the breakfast he darted out and mounted his +horse also. + +Mad Whately was coming sure enough, and like a whirlwind. He had fallen +in with the van of the Confederate advance during the night, and by his +representations had induced an early and forced march to The Oaks. The +vigilant Scoville, with his experiences as a scout fresh in his mind, +had foreseen this possibility. He had two plans in his mind and was +ready to act upon either of them. + +Rushing through the hallway of the mansion from the rear entrance, Miss +Lou found her kindred on the veranda. They were too excited and eager +to ask where she had been, for the fierce rebel yell had already been +raised at the entrance of the avenue. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Baron, "now we'll see this Yankee scum swept away." + +Apparently he would have good reason for his exultation. Scoville was +the last man in the world to fight blindly, and Miss Lou kept her eyes +on him. As he sat on his horse, where he commanded the best view of the +advancing enemy, she thought he appeared wonderfully quiet. Not so his +men. They were galloping to the right of the mansion, where there was a +grove on rising ground which formed a long ridge stretching away to the +northwest. It can readily be guessed that it was Scoville's aim not to +be cut off from the main Union column by a superior force, and the +ridge would enable him to see his enemy before he fought, if he should +deem it wise to fight at all. He knew that his horses were fresh. If +those of the attacking party were somewhat blown he could easily keep +out of the way if it were too strong to cope with. He exchanged a few +words with the sergeant commanding the scouting party recently sent +out, and pointed to the grove with his sabre, then slowly followed with +his eye on the enemy. + +Miss Lou was in a fever of apprehension in his behalf, for already +shots were fired at him from the Confederates. Suddenly she heard the +click of a musket lock just beneath her, and, looking down, saw Perkins +levelling a piece at Scoville. Quick as light she drew off her slipper +and dashed it into the man's face as he fired. By reason of his +disconcerted aim the bullet flew harmlessly by the Union officer, who +gave a quick, stern glance toward his assailant, recognized him, and +galloped after his men. + +"You vile murderer!" cried Miss Lou, "would you shoot a man in his +back?" + +"Oh, come, Perkins, that's hardly the thing, no matter what your +provocation," Mr. Baron added. + +Perkins bestowed a malignant glance on Miss Lou, then limped away, +wearing a sullen look. The officer in command of the Confederates +sheered off across the lawn toward the grove, and the girl quickly saw +that his force greatly outnumbered that of Scoville. Mad Whately dashed +up to the piazza steps and asked breathlessly, "Are you all safe?" + +"Yes," cried his mother. "Thank God! I see you are safe also." + +He turned his eyes on his cousin, but in her cold, steady gaze found no +encouragement. With something like an oath, he turned and galloped +after the attacking force. + +But Scoville did not wait to be attacked. He continued with his men +along the ridge, retreating rapidly when pressed, pausing when pursuit +slackened. The officer in command soon remarked to Whately, "We are +using up our horses to no purpose, and we shall need them for more +important work later in the day." + +Therefore he sounded recall and retired on the mansion, Scoville +following, thus proving that he was governed by other motives than +fear. Indeed, he was in a very genial frame of mind. He had got all his +men off safely, except two or three laggards, and had already sent +swift riders to inform his general of the situation. Knowing that the +tables would soon be turned, he was quite content that he had not made +an obstinate and useless resistance. "What's more," he thought, "Miss +Lou would not have kept out of danger. It isn't in her nature to do so. +Miss Lou! I wish I might call her that some day and then drop the Miss. +One thing is clear. If I meet that cousin again, he'll show me no +quarter. So I must look out for him and that assassin of an overseer, +too. She called him by his right name, the brave little girl! No need +of asking me to come back, for I'd go to the ends of the earth to see +her again." + +If he had know how her presence of mind and swift action had in all +probability saved his life, his feelings would have been far more +vivid, while his belief in the luck of throwing an old shoe would have +become one of the tenets of his faith. Miss Lou went after the +extemporized missile and put it on again, saying, "I have fired my +first and last shot in this war." + +"It is indeed becoming doubtful on which side you are," answered her +uncle sternly. + +"I'm not on the side of that wretch Perkins. Suppose he had succeeded, +and Lieutenant Scoville's general came here, what mercy could we +expect? If Perkins values his life he had better not be caught." + +"I am glad indeed, Louise, that you prevented such a thing from +happening," said Mrs. Whately. "The result might have been very +disastrous, and in any event would have been horrible. It was a brave, +sensible thing to do, and you will find that Madison will think so, +too." + +Mad Whately, however, was in anything but a judicial mood. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A GIRL'S APPEAL + + +Miss Lou was too well acquainted with, her cousin not to recognize +evidences of almost ungovernable rage during the brief moment he had +paused at the veranda. She looked significantly at his mother, whose +face was pale and full of an apprehension now uncalled for, since the +prospect of an immediate battle had passed away. "She is afraid of him +herself, her own son, and yet she would marry me to him," the girl +thought bitterly. + +Miss Lou was mistaken. Her aunt had fears only FOR her son, knowing how +prone he was to rash, headlong action when almost insane from passion. +The girl, however, was elated and careless. She justly exulted in the +act by which she had baffled the vengeance of Perkins, and she had +ceased to have the anxieties of a bitter Southern partisan. Such she +would have been but for her alienation from those identified with the +cause. She was capable of the most devoted loyalty, but to whom should +she give it? If a loving father or brother had been among the +Confederates, there would have been no question. Now she was sorely +perplexed in her feelings, for the South was represented by those bent +upon doing her a wrong at which her very soul revolted, and the North +by one who had satisfied her sense of right and justice, who, more than +all, had warmed her heart by kindness. The very friendliness of the +negroes inclined her to take their part almost involuntarily, so deep +was the craving of her chilled nature for sympathy. If she had been +brought up in loving dependence she would not have been so well +equipped for the chaotic emergency. Having no hope of good counsel from +natural advisers, she did not waste a moment in seeking it, or weakly +hesitate for its lack. What her bright, active mind suggested as right +and best, that she was ready to do instantly. Now that she had gained +freedom she would keep it at all hazards. + +When the Confederate officers approached the house, she was glad to +observe that her cousin was not chief in command. + +Mr. Baron went down upon the lawn to meet the officers, and, after a +brief parley, Major Brockton, the senior in command, began to dispose +of his men for a little rest and refreshment, promising to join the +family soon in the dining-room. Miss Lou, unasked, now aided in the +preparations for the morning meal. Fearing Aun' Suke would get herself +in trouble, she ran to the kitchen and told the old cook to comply with +all demands as best she could. She had scarcely spoken when Mrs. Baron +entered. Casting a severe look on her niece, she asked Aun' Suke, "Will +you obey me now? Will you tell me you are a free woman now?" + +"My haid in a whirl aready, misus. Ef you wants me ter I kin cook, but +I kyant keep track ob de goin's on." + +"I can," replied the indomitable old lady, "and I can keep a good +memory of the behavior of all on the plantation!" + +"You can't govern much longer by fear, aunt," said Miss Lou. "Had you +not better try a little kindness?" + +"What has been the result of all the years of kindness bestowed upon +you?" was the indignant answer. + +"I only meant that it might be well to bestow a little of what other +people regard as kindness. I had asked Aun' Suke to do her best and am +sure she will." + +"It will be strange if she does, when you are setting the example of +doing your worst. But I am mistress once more, and wish no +interference." + +"Doan you worry, honey, 'bout we uns," said Aun' Suke quietly. "We +yeard de soun' fum far away, en we year it agin soon." + +Meanwhile Mad Whately was closeted with his uncle and mother, listening +with a black frown to all that had occurred. + +"I tell you," exclaimed the young man, "it's as clear as the sun in the +sky that she should be sent away at once--in fact, that you all should +go." + +"I won't go," said Mr. Baron, "neither will my wife. If the country has +come to such a pass that we must die on our hearths we will die right +here." + +"Then with my whole authority, mother, I demand that you and my cousin +go at once while opportunity still remains. The forces on both sides +are concentrating here, and this house may soon be in the midst of a +battle. Lou will be exposed to every chance of war. By Heaven! the girl +to be my wife shall not trifle with me longer. Oh, mother! how could +you let her walk and talk alone with that Yankee officer?" + +"I tell you both you are taking the wrong course with Louise," began +Mrs. Whately. + +"You never spoke a truer word, auntie," said Miss Lou, entering. + +Stung to the quick, Whately sprang up and said sternly, "In this +emergency I am the head of my family. I command you to be ready within +an hour to go away with my mother. Perkins and a small guard will go +with you to my cousin's house." + +"Go away with that cowardly wretch, Perkins? Never!" + +"You are to go away with your aunt and my mother, and you cannot help +yourself. Your readiness to receive attentions from a miserable Yankee +cub shows how little you are to be trusted. I tell you for the honor of +our house you SHALL go away. I'd shoot you rather than have it occur +again." + +"You silly, spoiled, passionate boy!" exclaimed Miss Lou, rendered +self-possessed by the very extravagance of her cousin's anger. "Do you +suppose I will take either command or counsel from one who is beside +himself? Come, Cousin Mad, cool off, or you'll have some more repenting +at leisure to do." + +She walked quietly out of the room to the veranda just as Major +Brockton was about to announce himself. + +"Miss Baron, I presume," he said, doffing his hat. + +"Yes, sir. Please sit down. I think we shall soon be summoned to +breakfast. If the worst comes to the worst," she resolved, "I can +appeal to this officer for protection." + +"Mother," said Whately in a choking voice, "be ready to go the moment +you have your breakfast." + +His passion was so terrible that she made a feint of obeying, while he +rushed out of the rear door. Perkins readily entered into the plan, and +gave Whately further distorted information about Miss Lou's recent +interview with Scoville. Mrs. Whately's horses were quickly harnessed +to her carriage, and Perkins drove it near to the back entrance to the +mansion. + +As Whately entered, his mother put her hand on his arm, and warned, +"Madison, I fear you are all wrong--" + +"Mother, I will be obeyed at once. The carriage is ready. My own men, +who have been paroled, will act as escort. Lou shall go if taken by +force." + +"Madison, what can you hope from a wife won by such violence?" + +"She will fear and obey me the rest of her life. I'd rather die ten +thousand deaths than be balked after what she has said. Come, let's go +through the form of breakfast and then I shall act." + +They found Miss Lou with her uncle, aunt, and Major Brockton already at +the table. The major at once resumed his condolences. "I am very sorry +indeed," he said, "that you ladies are compelled to leave your home." + +"Do you think it wisest and best that we should?" asked Mrs. Whately +quickly, hoping that her niece would feel the force of the older +officer's decision. + +"Yes, madam, I do. I think that the sooner you all are south of our +advance the better. It is possible that a battle may take place on this +very ground, although I hope not. As soon as my men have had something +to eat I shall follow the Yankees, a course I trust that will bring on +the action elsewhere; but this region will probably become one of +strife and turmoil for a time. It won't last long, however, and if the +house is spared I think you can soon return." + +Mrs. Baron poured the coffee and then excused herself. A few moments +later Miss Lou, who was very observant, noted a significant glance from +Zany. As the dusky waitress started ostensibly for the kitchen, the +young girl immediately followed. Whately hesitated a moment or two, +then left the breakfast room also. But Zany had had time to whisper: + +"Oh, Miss Lou, Miss Whately's keridge's at de do', en Perkins en sogers +wid it. Ole miss in yo' room en--" + +"Quit that," said Whately in a low, stern voice, and Zany scuttled away. + +"Now, then," resumed Whately to his cousin, "if you have any dignity or +sense left, get ready at once. I can tell you that I'm far past being +trifled with now." + +"I'll finish my breakfast first, if you please," was the quiet +response, so quiet that he was misled, and imagined her will breaking +before his purpose. + +They were scarcely seated at the table again before she startled them +all by saying, "Major Brockton, I appeal to you, as a Southern +gentleman and a Southern officer, for protection." + +"Why, Miss Baron!" exclaimed the major, "you fairly take away my +breath." + +"Little wonder, sir. I have had mine taken away." + +"Louise, you are insane!" cried Mr. Baron, starting up. + +"Major, you can see for yourself that I am not insane, that I have +perfect self-control. As you are a true man I plead with you not to let +my cousin send me away. He can only do so by force, but I plead with +you not to permit it. If I must I will tell you all, but I'd rather +not. I am an orphan and so have sacred claims on every true man, and I +appeal to you. I do not fear any battle that may be fought here, but I +do fear being sent away, and with good reason." + +"Oh, Louise!" cried Mrs. Whately, with scarlet face, "you place us in a +horrible position." + +"Not in so horrible a one as I have been placed, and which I will not +risk again, God is my witness." + +Major Brockton looked very grave, for he was acquainted with Whately's +recklessness. The young man himself was simply speechless from rage, +but Mr. Baron sprang up and said sternly, "You shall hear the whole +truth, sir. It can be quickly told, and then you can judge whether I, +as guardian, am capable of countenancing anything unwarranted by the +highest sense of honor. This girl, my niece, has been virtually +betrothed to her cousin since childhood. I and her aunts deemed it +wisest and safest, in view of dangers threatening the direst evils, +that she should be married at once and escorted by my sister and her +son to the house of a relative residing further south. First and last, +we were considering her interests, and above all, her safety. That's +all." + +"No, it is not all," cried Miss Lou, with a passionate pathos in her +voice which touched the major's heart. "Would you, sir, force a girl, +scarcely more than a child, to marry a man when you knew that she would +rather die first? Safety! What would I care for safety after the worst +had happened? I will not be married like a slave girl. I will not go +away to Lieutenant Whately's relations unless I am taken by force." + +"Great God, sir, that I should hear a Southern girl make such an +appeal," said Major Brockton, his face dark with indignation. "We are +justly proud of the respect we show to our women, and who more entitled +to respect than this orphan girl, scarcely more than a child, as she +says herself? Good Heaven! Whately, could you not have protected your +cousin as you would your sister? You say, sir" (to Mr. Baron) "that she +was betrothed from childhood. She didn't betroth herself in childhood, +did she? Believe me, Miss Baron, no one has the power to force you into +marriage, although your kindred should use all means, while you are so +young, to prevent an unworthy alliance." + +"I had no thought of marriage, sir, until terrified by my cousin's +purpose and my family's urgency but a day since. I am willing to pay +them all respect and deference if they will treat me as if I had some +rights and feelings of my own. My only wish is a little of the freedom +which I feel a girl should enjoy when as old as I am. I detest and fear +the man whom my cousin has selected to take me away. I do not fear a +battle. They all can tell you that I stood on the piazza when bullets +were flying. I only ask and plead that I may stay in such a home as I +have. My old mammy is here and--" + +"Well," ejaculated the major, "have you no stronger tie than that of a +slave mammy in your home?" + +"I do not wish to be unjust, sir. I try to think my aunt and uncle mean +well by me, but they can't seem to realize that I have any rights +whatever. As for my cousin, he has always had what he wanted, and now +he wants me." + +"That is natural enough; but let him win you, if he can, like a +Southern gentleman. Lieutenant Whately, I order you to your duty. Mr. +Baron, if you wish to send your ladies away and go with them, I will +furnish an escort. Any Southern home beyond the field of hostilities +will be open to you. Acquaint me with your decision," and he bowed and +strode away. + +Even the most prejudiced and blind are compelled at times by an +unhesitating and impartial opinion to see things somewhat in their true +light. Long-cherished purposes and habits of thought in regard to Miss +Lou, then panic, and strong emotions mixed with good and evil, had +brought the girl's relatives into their present false relations to her. +After the scene at the attempted wedding, Mrs. Whately would have +returned to safe and proper ground, hoping still to win by kindness and +coaxing. She had learned that Miss Lou was not that kind of girl, who +more or less reluctantly could be urged into marriage and then make the +best of it as a matter of course. This fact only made her the more +eager for the union, because by means of it she hoped to secure a +balance-wheel for her son. But the blind, obstinate persistence on the +part of the Barons in their habitual attitude toward their niece, and +now her son's action, had placed them all in a most humiliating light. +Even Mr. Baron, who had always been so infallible in his autocratic +ways and beliefs, knew not how to answer the elderly major. Whately +himself, in a revulsion of feeling common to his nature, felt that his +cousin had been right, and that a miserable space for repentance was +before him, not so much for the wrong he had purposed, as for the woful +unwisdom of his tactics and their ignominious failure. His training as +a soldier led him to obey without a word. + +Miss Lou was magnanimous in her victory. "Cousin Madison," she said +earnestly, "why don't you end this wicked nonsense and act like a +cousin? As such I have no ill-will toward you, but I think you and +uncle must now see I'll stop at nothing that will keep me from becoming +your wife. There's no use of trying to make me think I'm wrong in my +feelings, for I now believe every true man would side with me. Be my +cousin and friend and I will give you my hand here and now in goodwill." + +But his anger was too strong to permit any such sensible action, and he +rushed away without a word. + +"Madison!" called his mother. "Oh, I'm just overwhelmed," and she +covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. + +"Well," said Mr. Baron in a sort of dreary apathy, "do you and Louise +wish to go away under an escort furnished by the major?" + +"No," cried Mrs. Whately, "I would accept my fate rather than favor at +his hands. If I could only explain to him more fully--yet how can I? My +son, with all his faults, is all I have to live for. I shall stay near +him while I can, for he will be reckless to-day. My heart is just +breaking with forebodings. Oh, why couldn't you, with your gray hairs, +have shown a little wisdom in helping me restrain him?" + +"I reckon the restraining should have been practiced long ago," replied +her brother irritably. + +"You have practiced nothing but restraint in the case of Louise, and +what is the result?" + +The girl looked at them wonderingly in their abject helplessness, and +then said, "If you are taking it for granted that I am spoiled beyond +remedy, I can't help it. I would have made no trouble if you had not +set about making me trouble without end. As soon as I can I'll go away +and take care of myself." + +"Of course, Louise," said Mrs. Whately, "we're all wrong, you as well +as the rest of us. We must try to get this snarl untangled and begin +right. The idea of your going away!" + +"I supposed that was the only idea," said Mrs. Baron, entering. "I, at +least, have tried to remedy our niece's perverseness by getting her +things ready." + +Mrs. Whately wrung her hands in something like despair, while Miss Lou +burst into a peal of half-nervous laughter at the expression on her +uncle's face. "Well," she said, "there'll be no more trouble as far as +I am concerned unless it's of your own making. If I am protected in my +home, I shall stay; if not, I shall leave it. One learns fast in such +ordeals as I have passed through. Aunt Sarah, your son threatened to +shoot me for doing what you permitted. Suppose I had told Major +Brockton that? I made allowances for Madison's passion, but unless he +learns to control himself he will have to vent his passion on some one +else." + +"She has just lost her senses," gasped Mrs. Baron. + +"No, we have acted as if we had lost ours," said Mrs. Whately rising +with dignity. "I can't reason with either of you any more, for you have +made up your minds that a spade is not a spade. I shall tell my niece +that hereafter I shall treat her kindly and rationally, and then go +home," and she left husband and wife confronting each other. + +"What are you going to do?" asked the wife. + +"Do!" exploded the husband in desperation, "why, hump myself and +restore everything in a twinkling as it was five years ago. What else +can I do?" + +Even Mrs. Baron was speechless at this admission that events had now +passed far beyond his control. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SCOVILLE'S HOPE + + +Mrs. Whately found her niece on the veranda watching the proceedings +without, and she lost no time in expressing her purpose. To her +surprise, a pair of arms were around her neck instantly, and a kiss was +pressed upon her lips. + +"That's my answer," said Miss Lou, who was as ready to forgive and +forget as a child. "If you say a word about going home I shall be +unhappy. See, auntie, the Yankees are retreating again as our men +advance." + +The morning sun was now shining brightly and the day growing very warm. +Before them was the scene of military operations. At present, it +afforded a deeply exciting spectacle, yet oppressed with no sense of +personal danger. Scoville's little force was slowly retiring along the +ridge which the Confederates were approaching, thus removing the +theatre of actual conflict from the vicinity of the dwelling. + +Mr. Baron appeared on the veranda and soon began to yield to the +soothing influences of his pipe. It was not in his nature to make any +formal acknowledgments of error, but he felt that he had gone on the +wrong track far and long enough, and so was ready for a gradual +amelioration in his relations to his niece and sister. They had become +too absorbed in the scene before them to think of much else, while Mrs. +Baron sought composure and solace in her domestic affairs. + +At last Mrs. Whately said, "The Yankees appear to have stopped +retreating and to be increasing in numbers. Alas! I fear our men are in +great danger and that the main column of the enemy is near." + +There was a sudden outbreak of cries and exclamations from the negroes +in the rear of the mansion. Zany rushed out, saying, "De Yanks comin' +by Aun' Jinkey's cabin." + +She had scarcely spoken before they heard a rush of trampling steeds +and the head of a Union column swept round the house. Miss Lou saw +Scoville leading and knew that he had availed himself of his +acquaintance with the place to guide an attack upon the Confederates in +their rear. He saluted her with his sabre and smiled as he passed, but +her sympathies were with the major, now taken at such disadvantage. At +this period the troops on both sides were veterans, and neither fought +nor ran away without good reason. Major Brockton knew as well what to +do as had Scoville before him, and retreated at a gallop with his men +toward the southwest, whence his supports were advancing. The Union +attack, however, had been something of a surprise and a number of the +Confederates were cut off. + +The scene and event had been one to set every nerve tingling. But a few +yards away the Union force had rushed by like a living torrent, the +ground trembling under the iron tread of the horses. Far more +impressive had been the near vision of the fierce, bronzed faces of the +troopers, their eyes gleaming like their sabres, with the excitement of +battle. Scoville won her admiration unstintedly, even though she +deprecated his purpose. His bearing was so fearless, so jaunty even in +its power, that he seemed as brave as any knight in the old-fashioned +romances she had read, yet so real and genial that it was hard to +believe he was facing death that sunny morning or bent upon inflicting +it. Looking at his young, smiling, care-free face, one could easily +imagine that he was taking part in a military pageant; but the headlong +career and flashing weapons of his men, who deployed as they charged +straight at the Confederates, dispelled any such illusion. + +The ridge began to grow black with Union men and Miss Lou soon +perceived the gleam of artillery as the guns were placed in position. +Mr. Baron, who had permitted his pipe to go out in the excitement, +groaned, "The Yanks have come in force and are forming a line of battle +yonder. If our troops come up, the fight will take place on my land. +Lord help us! What's coming next?" + +Miss Lou began to receive impressions which filled her with awe. +Heretofore she had been intensely excited by what had been mere +skirmishes, but now she witnessed preparations for a battle. That long +line of dark blue on the ridge portended something more terrible than +she could imagine. The sounds of conflict died away down the main road, +the ring of axes was heard in the grove which crowned the ridge near +the mansion, and Mr. Baron groaned again. Thin curls of smoke began to +define the Union position--before noon thousands of coffee-pots were +simmering on the fires. + +At last, a tall man, followed by a little group of officers and a +squadron of cavalry, rode down the ridge toward the mansion. These +troopers surrounded the house, forming one circle near and another much +further away, so that none could approach without causing prompt alarm. +The group of officers dismounted and orderlies held their horses. As +the tall man came up the veranda steps Miss Lou saw two white stars on +his shoulder. Then her uncle advanced reluctantly and this man said, +"Mr. Baron, I presume?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"My name is Marston, commanding officer. This is my staff. Will you +oblige us by as good a meal as can be provided hastily? I will pay for +it." + +"No, sir, you cannot pay for it," replied Mr. Baron indignantly. "I +keep a house of entertainment only for my friends. At the same time I +know your request is equivalent to a command, and we will do the best +we can." + +"Very well, sir. I can repay you in a way that will be satisfactory to +my mind and be more advantageous to you. Hartly, tell the officer in +command to permit no depredations. Ladies, your servant," and the +general dropped into a chair as if weary. + +Some of the younger officers promptly sought to play the agreeable to +Mrs. Whately and her niece, and upon the latter all eyes rested in +undisguised admiration. Cold and shy as she had appeared, she had not +failed to note the fact. The woman was sufficiently developed within +her for this, and the quick, unanimous verdict of these strangers and +enemies in regard to herself which she read in their eyes came with +almost the force of a revelation. For the first time, she truly became +conscious of her beauty and its power. More than ever, she exulted in +her escape and freedom, thinking, "What a poor figure is Cousin Mad +beside these men whose faces are so full of intelligence!" + +Mrs. Whately was the perfection of dignified courtesy, but quickly +excused herself and niece on the plea of hastening preparations. She +was one who could not extend even enforced hospitality bereft of its +grace, and she also explained to Miss Lou, "We had much better gain +their good-will than their ill-will." + +"Well, auntie, we must admit that the Yankees have not acted like +monsters yet." + +The lady bit her lip, but said after a moment, "I suppose gentlemen are +much the same the world over. Thus far it has been our good-fortune to +have met with such only. There is another class, however, from which +God defend us!" + +"Lieutenant Scoville admitted that himself. So there is on our side +--men like Perkins." + +"No, I mean Yankee officers who have at least permitted the worst +wrongs in many parts of our unhappy land." "Well," thought Miss Lou, as +she helped Zany set the table, "after my experience I shall believe +what I see. What's more, I mean to see the world before I die and judge +of everything for myself. Now if the general on our side, with his +staff, will only come to supper, I shall get quite an education in one +day." + +Mrs. Baron retired to her room and would have nothing whatever to do +with her present guests, but Aun' Suke did not need her orders now, nor +did any of her assistants. + +Chunk had again returned to his haunts and had made havoc in the +poultry-yard. Now he worked like a beaver, meantime enjoining Aun' Suke +"ter sabe de plumpest chicken ob de lot fer my Boss. Marse Scoville +brung 'em all yere, you knows. Hi! but we uns had ter git out sud'n +dough dis mawnin'." + +"Does you tink de Linkum men git druv off agin?" + +"How you talks! Aun' Suke. Hi! Druv off! Why, de ridge des black wid +um--anuff ter eat Mad Whately en all he men alibe. Dey des ridin' troo +de kintry freein' we uns." + +"Well, I hopes I kin stay free till night, anyhow," said Aun' Suke, +pausing in her work to make a dab at a little darky with her wooden +spoon sceptre. "Firs' Marse Scoville whirl in en say I free; den old +miss whirl in en say I ain'; now conies de gin'ral ob de hull lot en +I'se free agin. Wat's mo', de freer I git de harder I has ter wuk. My +haid gwine roun' lak dat ar brass rewster on de barn, wen' de win' blow +norf en souf ter oncet." + +"No mattah 'bout yo' haid, Aun' Suke. Dat ain' no 'count. Hit's yo' +han's dat de gin'ral want busy." + +"No mattah 'bout my haid, eh? Tek dat on yo'n den," and she cracked +Chunk's skull sharply. + +"Dat's right, Aun' Suke, keep de flies away," remarked Chunk quietly. +"You git all de freedom you wants ef you does ez I sez." + +"Mo'n I wants ef I've got ter min' ev'ybody, eben dem w'at's neber +growed up." + +"I des step ter de gin'ral en say you hab dejections 'bout cookin' he +dinner. Den I tell 'im ter order out a char'ot ter tek you ter glory." + +"G'lang! imperdence," said Aun' Suke, resuming her duties. + +"La! Aun' Suke," spoke up Zany, who had been listening for a moment, +"doan yer know Chunk de boss ob de hull bizness? He des pickin' +chickens now ter let de gen'ral res' a while. Bimeby he git on he hoss +en lead de hull Linkum army wid yo' wooden spoon." + +Chunk started for her, but the fleet-footed girl was soon back in the +dining-room. + +When the early dinner was almost ready Mr. Baron said to his sister: + +"Surely, there's no reason why you and Louise should appear." + +"Very good reason, brother. I shall make these Northern officers feel +that they have eaten salt with us and so are bound to give us their +protection. Moreover, I wish to gain every particle of information that +I can. It may be useful to our general when he appears. Bring out your +wine and brandy, for they loosen tongues." + +It soon became evident, however, that General Marston and his staff +felt in no need of Dutch courage, and were too plainly aware of their +situation to confuse their minds with their host's liquor even if they +were so inclined. The general was serious, somewhat preoccupied, but +courteous, especially to Miss Lou, on whom his eyes often rested +kindly. At last he said: + +"I have a little girl at home about your age and with your blue eyes. +I'd give a good deal to see her to-day." + +"I think, sir, you are glad that she is not where I am to-day," Miss +Lou ventured to answer. + +"Yes, that's true. I hope no harm will come to you, my child, nor will +there if we can help it. I know what claims you have upon us and would +be proud indeed if my daughter would behave as you have in like +circumstances. I have travelled the world over, Mrs. Whately, and have +never seen the equal of the unperverted American girl." + +"I certainly believe that true of Southern girls, general," was the +matron's reply, although she flushed under a consciousness of all that +Scoville might have reported. + +"Pardon me, madam, but you are in danger of perverting the minds of +Southern girls with prejudice, a noble kind of prejudice, I admit, +because so closely allied with what they regard as patriotism, but +narrow and narrowing nevertheless. That old flag yonder means one +people, one broad country, and all equally free under the law to think +and act." + +"Do you intend to remain in this country and hold it in subjection?" +Mrs. Whately asked in smiling keenness. + +"We intend to give the Southern people every chance to become loyal, +madam, and for one I rest confidently in their intelligence and sober +second thoughts. They have fought bravely for their ideas, but will be +defeated. The end is drawing near, I think." + +"Well, sir," said Mr. Baron grimly, "I am sorry you are preparing for +some more bloody arguments about our very ears." + +"I am also, on account of these ladies; in other respects, I am not. By +night there may be many wounded and dying men. It will be well for them +that they do not fall in a wild and desolate region like some that we +have passed through. As you say, sir, war is an argument, a heated one +at times. But a wounded man is an appeal to all kindly humanity. You +would nurse me a little, Miss Baron, if I were brought in wounded, +would you not?" + +"Yes, sir, I would, because I feel what you say about a wounded man is +true." + +"Oh, I know that," he replied with a very kindly smile. "I hope to tell +my little girl about you." Suddenly he became grave again and said, +"Mr. Baron, you are somewhat isolated here, and may not be so well +informed as I am. However the prospective conflict may turn, I cannot +remain in this region. Many of our wounded may be left. Do not delude +yourself, sir, nor, if you can help it, permit your friends to be +deluded by the belief, or even hope, that our forces will not soon +control this and all other parts of the land. While I trust that +humanity will lead to every effort to assuage suffering and save life, +I must also warn you that strict inquisition will soon be made. There +is nothing that we resent more bitterly than wrongs to or neglect of +such of our wounded as must be left behind." + +"It would seem, sir, that you hold me responsible for evils which I +cannot prevent." + +"No, sir. I only suggest that you employ your whole influence and power +to avert future evils. I am offering a word to the wise, I trust. Ah, +Scoville, you have news?" + +"Yes, sir, important," said that officer, standing dusty and begrimed +at the doorway. + +"Is there haste? Is your information for my ear only? I'm nearly +through." + +"Plenty of time for dinner, sir. No harm can now come from hearing at +once what I have to say." + +"Go ahead, then. I'd like my staff to know." + +"Well, sir, having got the enemy on the run, we kept them going so they +could not mask what was behind them. There's a large force coming up." + +"As large as ours?" + +"I think so. I gained an eminence from which I obtained a good view. +Major Jones told me to say that he would skirmish with the advance, +delay it, and send word from time to time." + +"All right. Get some dinner, then report to me." + +"Yes, sir;" and Scoville saluted and departed without a glance at any +one except his commander. + +"What do you think of my scout, Miss Baron?" asked the general with a +humorous twinkle in his eyes. + +"He proved himself a gentleman last evening, sir, and now I should +think he was proving a very good soldier, much too good for our +interests." + +"You are mistaken about your interests. Don't you think he was rather +rude in not acknowledging your presence?" + +"I don't know much about military matters, but I reckon he thought he +was on duty." + +The general laughed. "Well," he remarked, "it does not seem to be age +that makes us wise so much as eyes that see and a brain back of them. +Scoville is a gentleman and a good soldier. He is also unusually well +educated and thoughtful for his years. You are right, my dear. Pardon +me, but you keep reminding me of my daughter, and I like to think of +all that's good and gentle before a battle." + +"I wish I could meet her," said Miss Lou simply. + +"Come and visit her after the war, then," said the general cordially. +"The hope of the country is in the young people, who are capable of +receiving new and large ideas." Having made his acknowledgments to Mr. +Baron and Mrs. Whately, he repaired to the veranda and lighted a cigar. +The staff-officers, who had tried to make themselves agreeable on +general principles, also retired. + +Miss Lou's cheeks were burning with an excitement even greater than +that which the conflicts witnessed had inspired--the excitement of +listening to voices from the great unknown world. "These courteous +gentlemen," she thought, "this dignified general who invites me to +visit his daughter, are the vandals against whom I have been warned. +They have not only treated me like a lady, but have made me feel that I +was one, yet to escape them I was to become the slave of a spoiled, +passionate boy!" + +Mrs. Whately guessed much that was passing in her mind, and sighed +deeply. + +At the veranda steps stood Uncle Lusthah, hat in hand and heading a +delegation from the quarters. The general said, "Wait a moment," then +despatched one of his staff to the ridge with orders. "Now, my man." + +Uncle Lusthah bowed profoundly and began, "De young Linkum ossifer +said, las' night, how you tell us mo' dis mawnin' 'bout our freedom." + +"You are free. Mr. Lincoln's proclamation makes you all free." + +"Kin we uns go 'long wid you, mars'r? Folks des seem kiner deef 'bout +dat ar prockermation in dese parts." + +"No, my man, you can't go with us. We are marching much too rapidly for +you to keep up. Stay here where you are known. Make terms with your +master for wages or share in the crops. If it is necessary, the people +about here will probably soon again hear the proclamation from our +cannon. Mr. Baron, why don't you gain the goodwill of those people and +secure their co-operation? They will be worth more to you as freemen, +and they ARE free. I give you friendly advice. Accept what you can't +help. Adapt yourselves to the new order of things. Any other course +will be just as futile as to resolve solemnly that you will have +nothing to do with steam, but travel as they did in Abraham's time." + +Miss Lou looked at her uncle curiously to see how he would take this +advice. His coldness of manner and silence told how utterly lost upon +him it was. The general looked at him a moment, and then said gravely, +"Mr. Baron, such men as you are the enemies of your section, not such +men as I. Good-morning, sir. Good-by, my child. Heaven bless and +protect you!" With a stately bow to Mrs. Whately he departed and was +soon on the ridge again with his men. + +"I wonder if Abraham and the Patriarchs would have been any more ready +for the new order of things than uncle?" Miss Lou thought as she went +to find Scoville. + +"He down at Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Chunk took he dinner dar," Zany +whispered. + +"He des step ter de run ter wash he han's en face," said Aun' Jinkey a +little later. + +Passing some screening shrubbery, the girl saw him standing on the spot +from which he had been carried insensible by her directions so brief a +time before. "Your dinner is ready," she called. + +He came to her quickly and said, "I've been trying to realize all that +has happened since I fell at your feet yonder." + +"Far more has happened to me than to you," she replied. "It seems years +since then; I've seen and learned so much." + +"I wish to ask you something," he said earnestly. + +"That scamp, Perkins, fired on me at close range. You stood just over +him and I heard what you said. How happened it that his bullet flew so +wide of the mark?" + +She began laughing as she asked, "Have you never heard that there was +luck in throwing an old shoe? I hit Perkins over the eyes with one of +mine." + +"Took it off and fired it while he was trying to shoot me?" + +"Yes." + +He seized both her hands and asked, "What will you take for that shoe?" + +"What a Yankee you are to ask such a question! It wasn't a shoe; it was +a slipper." "Have you it on now?" + +"Yes. What should you want of it?" + +"I want to wear it next my heart. Which one was it? Let me see it." + +"No; it's old. I haven't any other, and I shall wear it on my right +foot as long as it lasts." + +"Please let me see it and take it in my hands just a moment. I may +never have a chance to ask another favor of you." + +"Oh, yes, you will. You are coming to see us, and the general has asked +me to visit his daughter after the war is over. Do you think he'll +remember it?" + +"The slipper, please." + +"How can you ask so absurd a thing?" and a dainty foot was put out a +brief instant before him. + +"Oh, you little Cinderella! I wish I was the Prince." He saw something +like a frown gathering on her face. "Don't look that way," he resumed, +"I want to tell you something I've read. I don't remember the words, +but the gist is that a woman never forgets a man on whom she has +bestowed a great kindness. Already I have twice owed my life to you. +You can't forget me. My hope is in what you have done for me, not what +I can do for you. I can think of myself lying dead in front of the +house, I know I am standing here looking into your true, sweet eyes. +Let me look into them a moment, for I have no sister, no mother, no one +in the world that I care for like you. Do not think I am making love. I +may be dead yet before night. But whether I live or die I want you to +remember that there is one human soul that always wishes you well for +your OWN sake, that is wholly and unselfishly devoted to your interests +and happiness." + +"There, I'm beginning to cry, and your dinner's getting cold. You must +stop talking so." + +"Give me something to carry into battle this afternoon." + +She stooped and gathered some wild violets. "There," she said. + +"You could not have chosen better. Whenever I see violets hereafter +they shall be your eyes looking at me as you are looking now." + +"And--well--you can remember that there is always a little friend in +the South who does care. That's a curious thought about a woman's +caring for those she has--I don't believe a woman can care for any one +and not try to do something for him. Let us just think of ourselves as +friends. It seems to me that I never want to think any other way. Now +you MUST get your dinner. You may be summoned hastily and have no other +chance to-day. After Uncle Lusthah's words last night I'm not going to +have any forebodings." + +"Won't you let me call you Miss Lou once before I go?" + +"Why not?" + +"Well, then, Miss Lou, look in my eyes once more and remember what you +see there. I won't say a word." + +She raised hers shyly to his, blushed deeply and turned away, shaking +her head. The power to divine what she saw was born with her. + +"Yes, I understand you," he said very gently, "but you can't help it, +any more than the sun's shining. Some day your heart may be cold and +sad, and the memory of what you have just seen may warm and cheer it +Miss Lou, you brave, noble little child-woman, didn't you see that my +love was your servant--that it merely gives you power over me? Even as +my wife you would be as free as I would be. Now good-by. We part here +and not before others. Chunk is yonder with my horse. Be just as happy +as you can whether we ever meet again or not." "Then--then--if you +don't come again?" she faltered. + +"I shall be dead, but don't believe this too hastily." + +"You've been kind," she burst out passionately, "you've treated me with +respect, as if I had a right to myself. You have saved me from what I +dreaded far worse than death. You shall not go away, perhaps to die, +without--without--without--oh, think of me only as a grateful child +whose life you've kept from being spoiled." + +"I shall not go away without--what?" he asked eagerly. + +"Oh, I don't know. What shall I say? My heart aches as if it would +break at the thought of anything happening to you." She dropped on the +grass and, burying her face in her hands, sobbed aloud. + +He knelt beside her and sought to take one of her hands. + +Suddenly she hid her face against his breast for a moment and faltered, +"Love me as a child NOW and leave me." + +"You have given me my orders, little girl, and they would be obeyed as +far as you could see were I with you every day." + +"Lieutenant Scoville!" shouted the distant voice of an orderly. He +hastily kissed away the tears in her eyes, exclaiming, "Never doubt my +return, if living," and was gone. + +In a moment he had passed through the shrubbery. Before she had +regained self-control and followed he was speeding his horse toward the +ridge. "There, he has gone without his dinner," she said in strong +self-reproach, hastening to the cabin. Chunk, who was stuffing a +chicken and cornbread into a haversack, reassured her. "Doan you worry, +Miss Lou," he said. "Dis yere chicken gwine ter foller 'im right slam +troo eberyting till hit cotch up," and he galloped after his new "boss" +in a way to make good his words. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +TWO STORMS + + +Miss Lou sank wearily on the doorstep of Aun' Jinkey's cabin where the +reader first made her acquaintance. She drew a long sigh. "Oh, I must +rest and get my breath. So much is happening!" + +"You po' chile!" was the sympathetic response. "Ah well, honey, de good +Lawd watchin' ober you. I year how dat ole snake in-de-grass Perkins +git out Miss Whately's keridge en tink he gwine ter tote you off nobody +know whar. You passin' troo de Red Sea long o' us, honey. I yeared how +you say you doan wanter lebe yo' ole mammy. I ain' cried so sence I wus +a baby w'en I yeared dat. Doan you reckermember, honey? You sot right +dar en wish sump'n ter hap'n. I 'spects we bettah be keerful how we +wishes fer tings. Doan you min' de time Uncle Lusthah pray fer rain en +we wus all nigh drownded?" + +"I'm not sorry, mammy, things happened, for my heart's been warmed, +WARMED as never before. Oh, it's so sweet to know that one is cared +for; it is so sweet to have somebody look you in the eyes and say, 'I +want you to be happy in your own way.'" + +"Did Marse Scoville say dat?" + +The girl nodded. + +"I'se hab ter smoke on dat ar lil whiles." + +Both were lost in thought for a time, Miss Lou's eyes looking dreamily +out through the pines and oaks as they had before when vaguely longing +that the stagnation of her life might cease. All had become strangely +still; not a soldier was in sight; even the birds were quiet in the +sultriness of the early afternoon. "Isn't it all a dream?" the girl +asked suddenly. + +"Kin' ob wish we could wake up den, if it is. See yere, Miss Lou, you +on'y a lil chile arter all. Doan you see Marse Scoville des tekin' a +longer way roun' de bush? Wen he tell you he want you ter be happy he +mean he want you hissef!" + +"Oh, yes, Aun' Jinkey, that was plain enough; but do you know how he +would take me and when?" + +"Dat's des w'at I lak ter know, fer I tells you, chile, dis mar'in' +business orful serus." + +"He would take me only when I went to him of my own free will and not +before. I feel just as safe with him as with you. I believe he would do +what I asked just as he minds that general of his. That's the wonderful +part of it, which almost takes away my breath. Why, only the other day +uncle and aunt were ordering me about as they always have, and now +here's a brave, educated man ready to do my bidding. What a goose +Cousin Mad was! If he had acted that way I shouldn't have known any +better I fear than to marry him. I was so starved for a little +consideration and kindness, that if he'd been generous and made me feel +that he cared for ME and not for himself all the time, I fear I'd have +just married him out of gratitude. I would have acted like an +impulsive, ignorant child, blind to everything except that some one +cared for me. But that's all past now. My eyes have been opened and +I've been compelled to think and foresee the future. Dreary enough it +would have been with him." + +"What you gwine ter do, honey?" + +"Stand on my rights. See how much I've learned in a few short days, +yes, even hours. I've learned above all things that my life's my own. +There were my relatives, who would reach out and take it, just as they +would a ripe fig from a tree, with just about as much consideration for +me as for the fig. Thank God! I have been shown clearly my right to my +own life. Since I have learned so much in a few days, I shall keep my +freedom and choose that which is best for me as well as best for +others." + +"Now, honey, you on de right track, sho! Des you wait en lis'n. Mo' +folks dan Marse Scoville wanter talk wid you on dis mar'age question. +You on'y lil chile yit. Des you keep yosef deserved-like en say yo' +mouf ain' waterin' few enybody. Marse Scoville berry nice gem'lin, but +he yere to-day en like anuff a orful way yander termorrer--" + +"No matter where he is, Aun' Jinkey, he will carry the love I could +give to a kind brother if I had one. He knows I can do no more and he +does not ask more." + +"Yes, he does, honey; he ax hit in de bes way ter git hit fum you. He +ain' de fool ter grab at hit, but he tek hit all de same." + +"Well," she answered judicially, "I don't see how a girl can help it if +a man thinks more of her than she of him, but it does make all the +difference in the world whether a man tries to grab, as you say, or +waits respectfully for what should be a free gift, to be worth +anything. How strange it seems to be talking quietly of such things! +Think of what has happened, what might have happened, and what may take +place before night!" + +"Well, honey, hit's a good ting ter stop tinkin' or ter tink slow +sometimes. We couldn't keep a gwine as we wus. Our haids ud whirl right +off our shol'ers. Hit's all so peaceful now, why doan you go ter yo' +room en tek a nap. Mebbe you git berry lil sleep ter-night." + +"I reckon your advice is good, mammy. If you have trouble, come to me." + +As she walked through the garden and shrubbery to the mansion she felt +that she was reacting from the strong excitements of the morning into +languor and excessive weariness. The idle negroes had partially +succumbed to the heat and quiet, and were generally dozing in the sun, +even on this eventful day. Perkins, the exacting overseer, had +disappeared on the first alarm of Scoville's charge and had not been +seen since. When entering the house Zany, who always seemed on the qui +vive, told her that her aunts were in their rooms and that Mr. Baron +was in his office. Going out on the veranda, the girl saw two or three +vigilant Union videttes under a tree. It was evident that they had +chosen a point which commanded a good view of the house, outbuildings +and quarters. The ridge was still lined with troops, but they appeared +to be scattered about at their ease on the ground. The girl's eyes +drooped; she wearily climbed to her room and was soon asleep. + +Many others slept also who would sleep again that night in the +stillness of death; others who would groan through coming days and +nights in anguished wakefulness. The temporary quiet did not deceive +the resting soldiers on either side. They well knew that the active +brains of their superiors were at work. Scoville found unexpected duty. +He was given a score of men, with orders to scour the roads to the +eastward, so that, if best, his general could retire rapidly and in +assured safety toward the objective point where he was to unite with a +larger force. Instead of resting, the young man was studying topography +and enjoying the chicken which had at last caught up with him. He knew +the importance of his work and did it thoroughly. Having chosen the +road which promised best, he marked it on a map, expecting soon to go +over it again as guide. He sighed deeply as he thought that it would +lead away from the girl to whom he had devoted his life, yet not +because he owed it to her. "If we could only remain together," he +thought, "she would learn to give all that I give. The dear little girl +is just learning that she is a woman, and is bewildered." + +Major Jones, who had been skirmishing to delay the Confederate advance, +allowed his men and horses to rest when the enemy paused for their +mid-day bivouac, and so had come about a cessation of hostilities +during which both parties took breath for the coming struggle. + +Miss Lou was suddenly awakened by a jar which shook the house, followed +by a strange, unearthly sound. For an instant she was confused, +thinking night had come, so dark was her room. Springing to her window +she threw open the blinds. A black, threatening sky met her gaze, the +sunlight hidden by a dense bank of clouds, above which towered +golden-tipped thunder-heads. The appearance of the ridge puzzled her. +The cannon were there, a puff of smoke rolled heavily from one of them; +but excepting a few gunners just about the pieces, the long line of men +and horses had largely disappeared. Down the lawn from a point not far +from the house to the main street and beyond was a line of horsemen, +keeping abreast and equidistant from each other. What did it all mean? +Facing the ridge on the left of the lawn was an extensive grove, +through which the avenue wound in and out, and the line of horsemen was +approaching this. Suddenly the very earth trembled and she saw smoke +pouring upward among the trees from a rise of ground within the grove. +All now became clear to her. While she had slept, the Confederates had +come up, taken their position and the battle was beginning. In strong +excitement she rushed down to the hall below, where she found her aunts +with pallid, frightened faces. On the veranda was Mr. Baron, looking +white indeed, but with firm, compressed lips and fiery eyes, watching +the opening conflict. + +"Go in," he said sternly, "this is no place for you." + +In her intense absorption she did not even hear him. From the edge of +the grove and along the avenue were now seen little puffs of smoke, +followed by the sharp crack of carbines. The long line of Union +skirmishers began to reply in like manner, but it was evident that they +found themselves too obvious marks in the open. Here and there men fell +from their saddles, and the riderless horses galloped away. The notes +of a bugle were heard above the din, and the Union skirmish line +retired rapidly to the foot of the ridge. + +Miss Lou saw all this only as the eyes catch, half-involuntarily, what +is passing before them. With an awe almost overwhelming, her attention +was absorbed by a phase of war utterly unknown to her--an artillery +duel. Two Confederate batteries in the grove had opened and defined +their positions. The Union guns replied, shot for shot, in loud +explosions, with answering, deep-toned roar. Above the detonations were +heard the piercing screams of the shells as they flew back and forth. +On the ridge they burst with a sharp crack and puff of vapor, with what +effect could only be guessed; but the missiles which shrieked into the +grove gave the impression of resistless, demoniacal power. Great limbs +and even tops of trees fell crashing after them. Blending faintly with +the rending sound which followed were screams and yells. + +"Well," exclaimed the girl, "if Cousin Mad is there he at least is +brave. It seems as if my knees would give way under me." + +Even as she spoke, a forked line of light burned downward athwart the +heavy rising clouds. The smoke of the battle was lurid an instant; then +came a peal which dwarfed the thunder of earthly artillery. Strange to +say, the sound was reassuring to the girl; it was familiar. "Ah!" she +cried, "the voice of heaven is louder than this din, and heaven after +all is supreme. This fiery battle will soon be quenched and hot blood +cooled." + +The voice in the sky was unheeded, for entering the lawn from the road, +distant from the mansion about an eighth of a mile, was seen a solid +gray column. On it went toward the ridge at a sharp trot. "Ah!" groaned +Mr. Baron, "now comes the tug of war." + +The girl screamed and moaned as she saw shells tearing their way +through this column, horses and men rolling over on the ground, puffs +of smoke which rose revealing frightful gaps; but on flowed the dark +gray torrent as if propelled by an invisible, resistless force. +Vacancies made by wounds and death were closed almost instantly. In the +strange, luminous twilight made by the approaching storm, the impetuous +advance was wonderfully distinct in the distance, like a vivid +silhouette. + +As the head of the column drew near the gentle acclivity, it fairly +seemed to crumble. Grape shot was now making havoc; but for every man +and horse that fell, two apparently came on as from an exhaustless +reservoir. High above all sounds now came a yell which, once heard, can +never be forgotten, and the Confederate column deployed at a gallop, +charging the ridge. The Union skirmish line had already retired to the +right, while pouring over the ridge by which they had been hitherto +concealed, came rank after rank of men in blue, their deeper chest +shouts blending with the shriller cries of their enemies. Charge was +being met with counter charge. Cannon were silent, for now friends and +foes were too near together. Even the clouds loomed silently, as if in +suspense, over the terrific shock of the two lines of approaching +cavalry. + +"Awful! awful!" moaned the girl. + +"Oh! if Madison is meeting that onset!" shrieked Mrs. Whately, beside +herself with horror, yet compelled to look by a terrible fascination. + +Just as the two opposing forces dashed together a bolt of lightning +gleamed over them, turning the upraised sabres for an instant into +swords of fire. The crash of thunder followed so swiftly that it +appeared to result from the impact of the two charging lines. An +impression of annihilation was given, but so far was it from being +realized, that the slope was seen to be alive with a struggling, +seething mass, waving back and forth, at first downward, then +stationary, then gradually upward, upward, until Mr. Baron shouted, +"Hurrah! our men are carrying the ridge!" + +The cry was scarcely uttered before another dark line of horsemen on +the far right was seen galloping forward toward the Confederate flank. +Again there was another vivid flash, lighting up the scene with a +lurid, momentary glare. The peal which followed created the illusion of +sounding this new charge or else to be the thunder of the onset. It +turned the fortune of the battle on the right, for the Confederates +were seen to pause, and finally to give back slowly and stubbornly. +Then the advancing rainfall began to blot the combatants from view. + +Suddenly the Union artillery opened. It seemed to the terrified +spectators on the veranda as if the shells were shrieking directly +toward them, but the iron bolts tore their way through the grove, +although much nearer the house than before. The reason soon became +apparent. On that ridge, and within the gloomy shadows of the trees, +were officers as coolly observant as if playing a game of chess. They +gave no more heed to the terrific peals of thunder than they would have +done to so many Chinese gongs. While watching the attack upon his +centre and providing against it, General Marston was also seeking to +penetrate, by means of a powerful glass, the mask of the grove, and so +detected a concentration on his left. Instantly his guns began to shell +the grove near the house, where the assaulting force was massing. His +reserves were ordered forward, and instructions rapidly given to the +colonel who was to repel the attack; meanwhile his field-glass was +glued to his eyes. + +Soon he cried, "It will be their supreme effort. We must strike a +stunning blow in order to get away in safety," and he sprang on his +horse and started the charge himself. + +The men, adoring their leader, followed with stern resolve and high +enthusiasm. Scoville, who had returned, reported and rested somewhat, +knew how critical was the moment. He rode close to the general, but did +not fall out when the wary commanding officer permitted the human bolt +he had launched to pass beyond him. He was responsible for the entire +force, and must do just enough and no more. He must still keep his eyes +on all parts of the field and his brain ready to direct when the result +of the charge was known. More than the military necessity of repelling +the Confederate charge bursting from the grove occupied the mind of +Scoville. It looked to him as if the fight would take place about the +very home of the girl to whom his heart was so tender, and his impulse +was to be near, to protect and defend. + +The light was fading fast; the fury of the storm, whose preliminary +blasts were shaking the dwelling, was coming as if an ally with the +galloping Union ranks and threatening the equally impetuous onset of +the Confederates. In the very van of the Southern force a vivid flash +of lightning revealed Mad Whately, with a sabre of flame. For once he +made a heroic figure. His mother saw him and shrieked despairingly, but +her voice was lost in the wild uproar of thunder, yells and shouts of +the combatants, the shock of steel and crash of firearms. Then torrents +of rain, which had approached like a black curtain extending from +heaven to earth, hid the awful scene of conflict. It vanished like a +dream, and would have seemed but a nightmare had not the ominous sounds +continued. + +Mr. Baron broke the spell which had fallen upon him, dragged his sister +and niece within the door, and bolted it with difficulty against the +spray-laden gusts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CHUNK'S QUEST + + +If there had been sufficient light the battle might have continued in +spite of the tropical downpour, but darkness became so intense that +friend and foe were alike disguised from each other. At this crisis, +Scoville's horse was shot and fell, dragging his rider down also. A +flash of lightning revealed the mishap to Mad Whately, who secured the +capture of the Union officer before he could extricate himself. + +By a sort of mutual consent the contending forces drew apart. Prisoners +had been taken on both sides, and Whately, who had badly sprained his +arm, unfitting himself for active duty, was given charge of those +secured by the Confederates. + +General Marston withdrew the Union forces to the ridge again. He was +satisfied that prudence required rapid progress toward his somewhat +distant destination. True, he had severely checked his foes, but he +knew that they had reinforcements near, while he had not. He deeply +regretted Scoville's absence and possible death, but he had the map, +and the men who had been out with the scout were acquainted with the +selected road. Therefore, as soon as the violence of the storm abated +and the moon shed a faint radiance through the murky clouds, he renewed +his march as rapidly as the rain-soaked ground permitted. Fires were +lighted along the ridge to deceive the enemy, and a rearguard left to +keep them burning. + +The trembling household within the mansion slowly rallied as the sounds +of battle died away. As soon as the fury of the conflict and storm +decreased, Mr. Baron lighted a candle and they looked into one +another's white faces. + +Miss Lou was the first to recover some intrepidity of spirit. "Well," +she said, "we are still alive, and these torrents are evidently +stopping the fighting as they would put out fire." + +"Oh, Madison, Madison!" Mrs. Whately moaned, "are YOU living, or are +you dead? If you are dead it is little to me that I am spared." + +Miss Lou did not give very much thought to her cousin. In overpowering +solicitude she asked herself, "Where is he whose eyes looked such +strange, sweet truth into mine to-day? Are they unseeing, not because +it is dark, but because the light of life is quenched?" + +The brunt of the storm soon passed and was followed by a drizzling rain +and the promise of a gloomy night. As the howling wind ceased their +clamor, new blood-curdling sounds smote the girl's ears--the cries of +wounded and dying men and horses. Then the ghastly truth, scarcely +thought of in the preceding excitement, sickened her heart, for she +remembered that, scattered over the lawn and within the grove, were +mutilated, bleeding forms. They were all the more vividly presented to +her fancy because hidden by the night. + +But little time elapsed before the activity of the surgeons began. Mr. +Baron was summoned and told that his piazzas and as many rooms as +possible must be occupied, and part of the wide hall fitted up with +appliances for amputations. Every suitable place in the out-buildings +was also required. + +Mrs. Baron almost shrieked as she heard this, seeing at one mental +glance the dwelling which it had been her ruling passion to maintain in +immaculate order, becoming bloodstained and muddy from top to bottom. + +Mrs. Whately asked only for her son, and he soon appeared, with the +excitement of battle still in his eyes. She rushed to his arms and +sobbed on his breast. + +"Come, mother," he exclaimed, "we've no time for this now. Please get a +sling for this left arm, which aches horribly--only a sprain, but right +painful all the same." + +Before the agitated lady could recover herself, Miss Lou ran to her +room and returned with a scarf which answered the purpose. + +"Oh, you deign to do something for me?" he said bitterly. + +"Come, cousin," she replied, "since I have not lost my senses after +what's happened it's time you regained yours." + +"Thank you, my dear," said his mother fervently, as she adjusted the +support for the disabled arm. "Yes, I trust that we may all regain our +senses, and, if we outlive these scenes, begin to act as if we were +sane." + +"There, that will do," he said impatiently. "I must go now, for I have +important duties," and he hastened away. + +Meantime General Marston had sent word through his picket line that he +would not interfere with the care of the wounded and that the dwelling +would not be fired upon if used as a hospital. He accompanied this +assurance with the offer of medical stores, coffee, sugar and the +services of two surgeons. The Confederate general accepted the offer. +The trembling negroes were routed out of their quarters, and compelled +more or less reluctantly to help bring in the wounded. Uncle Lusthah +showed no hesitancy in the humane work and soon inspired those over +whom he had influence with much of his spirit. It had been a terribly +anxious day for him and those about him. Hope had ebbed and flowed +alternately until night, when the day which seemed to him the dawning +of the millennium ended as he imagined the world might end. Now, +however, he was comforted in the performance of good works, and he +breathed words of Christian hope into more than one dying ear that +night. + +Perkins, the overseer, was animated by a very different spirit. At the +first alarm of Scoville's return in the morning he had dashed into the +grove, and next concealed himself on a distant eminence from which he +could watch events. Under the cover of darkness he returned, and +experienced grim satisfaction when he discovered the hated Union +officer among the prisoners. + +As Whately was making his final arrangements for the night, Perkins +touched his arm saying, "Leftenant, I'll help watch that Yank thar" +(pointing to Scoville). "They say he's ez slip'ry ez a eel." + +"Do so, Perkins. We both have a heavy score to settle with him. At +daylight I'll send him where he won't fare as well as he did on this +plantation." + +"Is your arm woun'ed?" + +"No, only sprained, but it pains like the devil. Watch that Yank well. +I'd rather they all got away than he." + +"He'll never get away alive," was the ominous reply. + +As was true after the first skirmish recorded in this history, Mrs. +Whately now again appeared to the best advantage. Relieved from +overwhelming anxiety in regard to her son, her heart overflowed with +pity for the injured. From the outer darkness, limp, helpless forms, in +bloodstained garments, were borne in. Groans and half-stifled cries +began to resound through the house. Even Mrs. Baron forgot all else now +but the pressing necessity of relieving pain and saving life, but she +had eyes only for those who wore the gray. Mrs. Whately, on the +contrary, made no distinction, and many a poor fellow, in blue as well +as gray, blessed her as she aided the surgeons, two of whom were from +the Union lines. Miss Lou remained chiefly in her own room and busied +herself preparing bandages, sparing not her own rather scanty store of +underclothing in the task. + +Mr. Baron was in the dining-room, dispensing wines and liquors to the +officers who were coming and going. The Confederate general had made +the wide hearth, on which roared an ample fire, his headquarters for +the time, and was turning first one side then the other toward the +blaze, in order to dry his uniform. Poor Aun' Suke had been threatened +into renewed activity, and with many colored assistants had begun a +stewing, baking and frying which promised to be interminable. Chickens, +pigs and cattle had been killed wherever found, for hungry soldiers +after a battle and in darkness ask no questions on either side. Mr. +Baron knew he was being ruined, but since it was in behalf of his +friends, he maintained remarkable fortitude, while his wife, with her +thin, white, set face, honored every requisition. + +Some of the negroes, sighing for what seemed vanishing freedom, sought +to reach the Union force, but were stopped at the picket line by which +General Marston masked his retirement from the field. The majority of +the slaves, however, were kept at work indoors and out, under the eyes +of the Confederates, who quickly showed themselves to be savage toward +any disposition to shirk orders. + +There was one who would have received short shrift if hands could have +been laid upon him--Chunk. None knew this better than he, yet he was as +fearless as he was shrewd. Scoville had already won from him unlimited +devotion--bought him, body and soul, with kindness and freedom. When he +found his new master had not returned from the final charge, Chunk +questioned one and another until he learned that Scoville had been seen +to go down and then disappear in the gloom. Whether he had been killed +or captured, no one knew, but Chunk resolved to find out before morning +at all risks. Yet in the darkness and rain he felt much confidence in +his ability to elude danger, for he knew every inch of the ground and +of numerous places for concealment. + +He set about his task in the most matter-of-fact way, resolving to +begin operations with a good supper. At this early stage Aun' Jinkey +and her cabin were both forgotten, and the poor old woman was half dead +from terror. When Chunk tapped at the one window, she feared the spooks +of dead soldiers had already begun their persecutions. Never was there +a more welcome and reassuring sound than the impatient voice of her +grandson, and she soon so rallied as to get him something to eat. + +"I darsn't come in," he said. "I got ter be whar I kin run en hide. Now +granny, lis'n wid all yo' ears. Marse Scoville killed, woun'ed or took. +I'se gwine ter fin' out which. Wen dey gits mo' settle down lak anuff +dey be lookin' fer me yere, en I kyant come yere no mo', but I kin git +ter Miss Lou's winder ef she hab no light in her room. I safest whar +dey ain' lookin' fer me. Tell her ter put no light sho! Mebbe she +hafter hep me git Marse Scoville off, ef he took en ef he woun'ed she +de one ter 'tect en keer fer 'im. Dat ar Perkins kill 'im sho, ef he +git de charnce. Now ef you years me toot twice lak a squinch-owl, you +knows dat you got ter go en tell Miss Lou dat I need her hep en dat I +gwine ter creep 'long de pazzer roof ter her winder. Ef I doan toot you +keeps quiet till you sees me agin," and he disappeared. + +"Who'd a thunk dat ar boy had sech a haid!" ejaculated Aun' Jinkey, +lighting her pipe. Deep as would now be her solicitude and great as her +fears, her grandson's appearance and words had dispelled the +spook-phase of her tribulations. + +Chunk could run on all fours as easily as in an upright position, and +he made his way rapidly through the darkness. His first aim was to get +his eye on Perkins and Mad Whately, from whom he felt that he and +Scoville had the most to fear. He was now armed with a knife and short +club, as well as a revolver, and was determined to use them rather than +be captured. Skulking, creeping and hiding in deep shadow, he at last +saw Perkins issuing from his house, carrying his lantern. Following, he +distinctly observed the brief interview between the overseer and +Whately, and guessed correctly that Scoville was among the prisoners. +He was soon able so to shift his position as to satisfy himself on this +point, and also to note that Perkins, from his movements, would be one +of the guard. By the gleams of the lantern Chunk also saw that Scoville +appeared to be watching the overseer as if suspecting treachery. "I +watch 'im too," the negro soliloquized. "Ef he play eny debil trick he +hissef gwine ter de debil sud'n." + +Scoville was indeed anxious about his position, for while he believed +that Whately was scarcely capable of transcending the usages of war, he +knew well that opportunity only limited the malignity of Perkins. He +therefore rarely took his eyes from this personal enemy. + +For his own sake and that of the guards, Perkins aided in building a +fire, for in the continued rain all were chilled. As Chunk saw the +leaping flames and the lantern so placed that its rays fell on +Scoville, he was almost in despair of any chance for rescue, but +believed that his best course was to watch for some change which +promised better. He remembered how Scoville had employed the hootings +of the screech-owl as a signal, and resolved by the same means to +prepare the prisoner for co-operation with any effort in his behalf. +Therefore he hooted softly and was glad to see from Scoville's alert +yet wary manner that he had recognized the signal. + +So intent was Chunk in watching his master that he did not hear the +steps of a bewildered Confederate who stumbled over him and fell +headlong with a volley of oaths. The negro employed woful strategy to +mislead the soldier, for he grunted like a pig, thus awakening hopes of +more fried pork. The result was immediate pursuit by all within +hearing, and Chunk with difficulty escaped by the aid of darkness and +his complete familiarity with the place. When at last he found himself +secure he panted, "Mout ez well be took fer Chunk ez a hog. Stand des +ez good a charnce. Won't try dat ar game agin." + +He was now sorely puzzled to know what to do, and his nerves were +somewhat shaken by his narrow escape. At last he resolved to send his +granny to Miss Lou and consult with the girl. Accordingly, he stole +into the shrubbery of the garden and hooted twice, rightly thinking +that Scoville could hear the signal also and believe that something +might be attempted in his behalf. Cowering under a bush, he soon +observed Aun' Jinkey tottering toward the house, muttering, "Good Lawd, +hep us!" as she went. + +As the excitement of battle and exultation over the capture of Scoville +subsided in Whately's mind he became excessively weary and his +exhausted frame suffered from the chill and wetness of the night. He +had sought to keep up by liberal potations in his uncle's dining-room, +but was resolved to get a night's sleep if possible. He had urgently +charged the sergeant of the guard over the prisoners to be vigilant. +When Perkins offered to share in this watch Whately, understanding the +vindictive motive, felt that he need give himself no further anxiety. +He next sought his mother and obtained a little food which the lady had +brought to her room. + +"Where is Cousin Lou?" the young man asked. + +"She is in her own room, and with Zany's help making bandages. I would +advise you not to see her again to-night. You are greatly wearied." + +"Little wonder, after riding nearly all last night, and the fighting +to-day." + +"Yes, I know, and have thought of all nearly every moment. I am only +too thankful that you have survived. You have gone to the limit of +human endurance and must sleep. The less you and Louise say to each +other for a short time the better. After you have both grown calmer and +have had a chance to think you will see things in a different light." + +"Mother, do you think I mean to be thwarted by that girl? I would marry +her now from pure pride--for the sake of humbling her and teaching her +that she made the mistake of her life in so crossing my will and in +subjecting me to the mortification I endured this morning." + +"Madison! actuated by such motives, you'll never win her! If you will +closely follow my advice I believe you can succeed. I must tell you +plainly that if you join with brother and his wife in their tactics it +will always end much as it did this morning." + +"Well, anyhow, I have that cursed Yankee cub that she went walking with +in my power." + +"What! Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Yes; he's a prisoner and Perkins is helping watch him." + +"Then I implore you not to let Louise know it. She saw that this +Scoville might have killed you. She is merely friendly toward him +because, instead of treating us rudely, as she was led to believe he +would, he was very polite and considerate when we were in his power. +That wretch Perkins tried to shoot him to-day and probably would have +succeeded but for Louise," and she narrated the circumstances. + +Her son frowned only the darker from jealousy and anger. + +"Oh, Madison! why won't you see things as they are?" his mother +resumed. "If you had treated this Yankee officer with kindness and +thanked him for his leniency toward us, you would have taken a long +step in her favor. If you were trying to make her hate you, how could +you set about it more skilfully?" + +"Mother," he replied doggedly, "if Lou had married me, even if she had +yielded reluctantly, I would have been her slave; but she has defied +me, humiliated and scoffed at me, and I shall never whine and fawn for +her favor again. I don't believe it would be of any use. If I should +change my tactics she would only despise and laugh at me. What's more, +my very nature revolts at such a change. I can't and won't make it. She +shall learn to fear me. Women marry for fear as well as love. This +Scoville gives me a chance to teach her the first lesson. He shall be +sent by daylight to a Southern prison and that will be the last of him. +Lou shall learn, as all will find out, that it's poor policy to thwart +me. That major who interfered so impudently in our affairs is dead." + +"Oh, Madison!" + +"You needn't look so. I had nothing to do with it. There were plenty of +Yankee bullets flying to-day. All I mean to say is that it will prove +serious for any one to cross my path. Fate is on the side of a man who +WILL have his own way, and Lou will discover this fact sooner or later." + +Poor Mrs. Whately was compelled to rate these vaporings at their true +worth, seeing that between wine, anger and long-indulged arrogance, he +was in a melodramatic mood and beyond reason: so she only said +soothingly, "Please never let Louise know that I was aware of +Scoville's captivity. After you have rested and have had time to think +you will see things differently. I warn you however against Perkins," +she added solemnly. "If you identify yourself with him in any way you +may involve yourself and all of us in ruin. Now come, I will make a bed +for you at the end of the hall near my room, and you had better sleep +while you can." + +He readily acquiesced, for even his lurid schemes for the future could +keep him awake no longer. In a few moments he was sleeping soundly on a +mattress, wrapped in a blanket. His uniform was hung on the back of a +chair near him to dry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A BOLD SCHEME + + +Aun' Jinkey gained Miss Lou's room in safety, but panting so from +fright and exhaustion as to be for a few moments utterly incapable of +speech. The girl divined that something serious was to be told. To her +questioning look, the old mammy nodded, glancing meantime at Zany as +much as to say, "We should be alone." This quick-witted negress, +consumed with curiosity about Chunk, and some deeper interest, resolved +not to be sent away. + +"Why you look dat away at Miss Lou, Aun' Jinkey?" Zany asked +indignantly. "Time you knowed dat Miss Lou trus' me en I ain' doin' +not'n ter loss dat trus'. She know bettah'n you dat ef dars eny ting +ter be done I de one ter he'p." + +"We can trust Zany," whispered Miss Lou, who had become very pale. "You +have some news about Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Well, on'y dis, honey, Chunk lookin' fer 'im. Marse Scoville didn't +come back fum dat las' fight, he say, en he say ter me dat ef he toot +twiced lak a squinch-owl dat mean I go ter you, fer he need yo' he'p. +He des done tooted," and Aun' Jinkey repeated all of her grandson's +words as far as she could remember them. + +Miss Lou thought a few moments and her face grew very resolute. "Aun' +Jinkey," she said, "tell Chunk I will do as he wishes, but he must act +carefully and not too hastily. Cousin Mad is already asleep. One after +another will follow his example, and fewer will be around by and by. We +must take no risks that can be helped. The fact that he wishes to see +me in this secret way is pretty good proof that the lieutenant is a +prisoner. If he were wounded or--or--" but a rush of tears suggested +the word she could not utter. "You had better go now, and let no one +frighten you into telling anything. Appeal to me if threatened." + +As the old woman was stealing out she met Mrs. Baron, who asked +sharply, "What do you want?" + +"Does you tink I doan wanter know dat chile is safe?" + +"If you wish to be safe yourself, see to it you have nothing more to do +with that grandson of yours. He has sinned away HIS day of grace, and +no mercy will be shown to those who have anything more to do with him." + +"I years you, misus," said Aun' Jinkey, stolidly continuing on her way. + +Miss Lou, who had followed her mammy to the head of the stairs, heard +this warning and returned to her room with a stern look. She deemed it +best to say nothing and give the impression that she could not endure +the sights and sounds below stairs. + +Mrs. Whately entered soon afterward and did her best to propitiate her +niece. Miss Lou pretended to be very weary and was glad to see that her +aunt actually was so. At last the matron said, "Well, I'll go down once +more and see if there is anything which I must attend to; then I shall +try to rest a little while Madison is sleeping. Such experiences as +we've had wear one out fast. I advise you, too, my dear, to sleep when +you can." + +"Yes, aunt, I suppose you are right. So much may happen to-morrow." + +Mrs. Whately soon retired, and Miss Lou, listening at her door a +moment, knew that she was sleeping. Then she returned to her own room, +blew out her candle, opened the window softly and waited for Chunk. +"Zany," she said, "sit in the dark there, and do not speak or let Chunk +know you are here, unless permitted." + +Along the most secluded end of the house the piazza had not been built, +a small lean-to extension taking its place. An apartment was thus +formed which could be entered from without as well as from within the +dwelling, and here Mr. Baron maintained what was at once a business +office and a study. This extension was but one story high, with a roof +which sloped to rising ground beyond. Chunk knew that he could easily +gain this roof, and from it that of the front piazza also. When +returning through the garden Aun' Jinkey had whispered to him not to +make the attempt to see Miss Lou until her light was extinguished. Then +she added the words that Mrs. Baron had just spoken to her and hastened +tremblingly to her own chimney-corner. Chunk made a wide circle, +approaching the house again at an angle which would give him a view of +Miss Lou's window, and watching till it darkened. From the garden he +had carried a small, light ladder which he had used when pruning +fruit-trees. He stole near the extension warily, the shrubbery growing +in that vicinity favoring his effort, and the heavy pall of clouds +obscuring almost entirely the mild radiance of the moon. + +Satisfied by a careful reconnoissance that no one was watching or +stirring at that end of the house, with the stealth and agility of a +cat he went from roof to roof and crawled to Miss Lou's window. + +"Chunk," she whispered. + +"Dat's me, mistis." + +"You're a good, brave fellow. Now tell me quick--don't waste a word +--where is Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"He's wid de pris'ners, en Perkins en sogers watchin' 'im." + +"Why is Perkins watching him?" the girl asked in deep alarm. + +"Dunno, Miss Lou, 'cept on 'count ob he gradge. Mad Whately en he talk +knowin'--like en den Perkins tek he lantern en jine de gyard. W'en I +las' see 'im he watchin' Marse Scoville close." + +"Lieutenant Scoville wasn't hurt, was he?" + +"Reck'n not. Didn't 'pear dat away, but he look at Perkins ez ef he +feared on 'im. Ef I had ony Perkins ter deal wid I gib Marse Scoville +he freedom in pay fer mine, but dar's sogers all aroun' en dey stick me +quick ez dey would a pig." + +"Oh, Chunk! what shall we do? I could have no influence over the guard +or Perkins either. Oh! OH! Mad Whately, you'll end by making me loathe +you. To think of employing that treacherous wretch!" + +"Dat's des w'at I feard on, Miss Lou. Reck'n yo' cousin en Perkins +projeckin' some debil trick." + +"You say my cousin has charge of the prisoners?" + +"Yassum. I yeared 'im gib de orders 'bout um, but I too fur off ter +year w'at he say." + +"Can you think of any way, Chunk?" + +"Ef de gyard ony all get ter sleep, I'd tek de risk ob tacklin' +Perkins, but dere's too many en I des stumped ter know w'at ter do." + +"Hi! Miss Lou," whispered listening Zany, "I kin tell you w'at ter do." + +"Doan you pay no 'tention ter her foolishness," said Chunk coolly. "Dis +life-en-death business, en Zany outgrowed her sense." + +"En you ain' growed into your'n," responded Zany. "Ef you has, why doan +you tell Miss Lou 'bout tings dat kin be done 'stead o tings dat kyant +be?" + +"Well, Zany, what have you to say? Quick, and speak lower." + +"Miss Lou, dar's Mad Whately's coat en pants hangin' out in de hall. +You put dem on, en tie yo' arm up in a sling. In de night who say you +ain Marse Whately?" + +"Oh, Zany!" exclaimed the girl, appalled at first by the boldness of +the scheme. + +"Well, dar now," whispered Chunk, "who'd tink dat ar gyurl got so much +gumption! See yere, Miss Lou, dat de way ef you got de spunk ter do it. +Ole Perkins tink you Mad Whately comin' ter play de debil trick en let +you tek Marse Scoville way quietly, en de gyard won' 'fere wid you +nudder, kase dey un'er yo' cousin. You kin go en lead Marse Scoville +right off, en if Perkins follow I settle 'im." + +"Do you think there's no other way?" Miss Lou asked, with 'quick, +agitated breathing. + +"Fo' de Lawd, I doesn't." + +"I don't know what they would do to me in the morning, I'd be sent +away. Oh, you can't realize the risk I would take." + +"'Spects not, mistis. I ony know Marse Scoville tek mo' resk fer you ef +he could." + +Chunk had touched the right chord now. She set her white face like +flint in the darkness, and said, "I'll make the attempt, no matter what +happens to me." + +"Den I des sneak out en get he coat en trousers," Zany whispered. + +"Yes." + +"En, Miss Lou, you des come out de house dis away wid me en Zany," +Chunk added. "Less charnce er bein' stopped. We kin go troo de gyardin +end de bushes till we mos' whar we kin see Marse Scoville. Mebbe hit +berry much plainer w'at ter do arter we get out en look roun'. I hab a +ladder yere en you git down mighty easy." + +"Yes, that's the best way. I wish to take no risks of being seen till +after I make my attempt." + +Zany reconnoitred the hall. No one was in sight. Even Mrs. Baron, +wearied out, had retired, and Mr. Baron had resolved to spend the night +in the dining-room, partly out of courtesy to the Confederate general +and partly to be ready for any emergency. In the hall and on the front +and rear piazzas were alert sentinels who would have observed and +reported any unusual proceeding--therefore Chunk's plan was the only +feasible one. In the darkness Zany helped Miss Lou don her cousin's +uniform and slouched hat which, limp from the rain, fell over her face. +She was not so very much shorter than he as to make the fit a bad one +when seen in the partial light. The trousers had to be turned up, but +that would be expected on account of the mud. Her plumpness filled out +the coat very comfortably, and her arm in a sling made the disguise +almost perfect. + +While Miss Lou was dressing Chunk again reconnoitred and reported the +coast clear. It was now about midnight and all were sleeping except +those whom imperative duty or pain kept awake. Chunk led the way, +steadying Miss Lou with a firm hand, and Zany followed. + +"Now, Miss Lou," Chunk whispered, "I tek you de s'curest way, so you +git back en' nobody see you ef I git cotched." + +They made a circuit to avoid the kitchen and climbed over a low fence +into the garden. On the further side, opening on the driveway to the +stables, was a gate. Before reaching this, Miss Lou said to Zany, "You +stay here. If there's an alarm, go to the kitchen. You must not be +known to have had anything to do with this affair. It might cost you +your life." + +"Ve'y well, Miss Lou." + +The young girl and her guide paused at the gate some moments, for +attendants upon the wounded, with whom the outbuildings were filled, +were passing to and fro. At last they stole across the roadway to the +shelter of a clump of trees beyond. From this point they could see the +group of prisoners about the fire, which was in a rather dying +condition. It was evident that some of the guards had succumbed to +weariness, but Perkins still watched with the tirelessness of hate, his +lantern so placed that its rays fell on Scoville, who could not make a +movement without being observed. Indeed, it was clear that he, too, was +almost overcome with sleep, for he occasionally nodded and swayed +before the fire. + +"Now, Miss Lou," whispered Chunk, "I gwine ter wake Marse Scoville up +by tootin' lak a squinch-owl," and he did so briefly. + +The Union officer was much too wary to start and look around, but he +gradually proved that he was alert. Close scrutiny of Perkins showed +that the signal had no significance to him. + +"Miss Lou," resumed Chunk, "dere's not'n fer you but ter walk right +down de road ter de fire, berry quiet like, put yo' finger on yo' lips +ter Perkins so he tink you 'bout ter play de debil trick, en' den lead +Marse Scoville into de gyardin. Ef Perkins foller, I foller 'im. My +hoss down by de run en we git off dat away." + +The girl drew a long breath and started. Now that she was in the crisis +of the emergency a certain innate spirit and courage sustained her. +Knowing her cousin so well, she could assume his very gait and manner, +while her arm, carried in a sling, perfected a disguise which only +broad light would have rendered useless. Her visit caused no surprise +to the sergeant of the guard, on whom at first she kept her eyes. He +merely saluted and thought Lieutenant Whately was attentive to his +duty. Perkins was not surprised either, yet a little perplexed. As it +had been supposed and hoped, the thought rose instantly in his +revengeful nature that the Confederate officer had some design on +Scoville. The latter watched the form recognized by the others as that +of Whately with the closest scrutiny, and an immense throb of hope +stirred his heart. Could it be possible? + +Miss Lou looked over the sleeping prisoners for a moment and then, as +if satisfied, stepped quite near to Perkins, guarding meantime not to +permit the rays of the lamp to fall on her face. "Leave him to me," she +whispered, with a nod toward Scoville, and she put her finger to her +lips. She next touched Scoville on the shoulder and simply said, "Come." + +He rose as if reluctantly and followed. + +Perkins did not suspect the ruse, the disguise was so good and +Whately's right to appear so unquestioned; but he felt defrauded in +having no part in the vengeance which he supposed would be wreaked on +Scoville. After a moment or two of thought, he obeyed the impulse to +follow, hoping to see what Whately intended to do, and if circumstances +warranted, to be near to help. "If Mad Whately's high-strung notions +lead 'im to fight a duel," he thought, "en the Yank comes off best, +I'll settle my own score. Whately was ter'ble stirred up 'bout the +Yank's talkin' ter his cousin, en would like ter kill 'im, but his +officer-notions won't let 'im kill the blue-coated cuss ez I would. Ef +thar's ter be a fight, I won't be fur off," and he stole after the two +figures disappearing in the gloom. + +But Nemesis was on his steps. Chunk had shaken with silent laughter as +he saw that their scheme was working well, but he never took his eyes +from Perkins. Crouching, crawling, he closed on the overseer's track, +and when the man passed into the garden, the negro followed. + +As Scoville accompanied Miss Lou, he soon ventured to breathe her name +in a tentative way. "Hush!" she whispered. Then his heart beat thick +with overpowering emotions of gratitude, admiration and love. Entering +the garden, she led the way quickly toward Aun' Jinkey's cabin, and at +a point where the shrubbery was thickest about the path, turned +suddenly, put her finger on her lips, and breathed, "Listen." + +They distinctly heard steps following and drew back into the bushes. +Then came the thud of a blow and the heavy fall of a man. The blow was +so severe that not even a groan followed, and for a moment all was +still. Then Chunk, like a shadow, glided forward and would have passed +had not Miss Lou whispered his name. + +"Foller me," he answered breathlessly. + +This they did, but Scoville secured the girl's hand and carried it to +his lips. The negro led the way beyond the garden to the run, where he +had left his horse. "Lis'n onct mo'," he said. "Dat was Perkins I laid +out." + +All was still. "Chunk," said Scoville, "go back on your tracks a little +and see if there are any signs of alarm." + +Obedience was very prompt, for Chunk muttered as he ran, "My heart des +bustin' 'bout Zany. Got ter lebe her now, sho! Ter thunk ob her showin' +so much gumption!" + +Scoville again took Miss Lou's hands. "Oh, hasten, hasten," she said +breathlessly, "you are in great danger here." + +"I can scarcely speak to you," he replied, "my heart is so full. You +brave, noble little girl! How HAVE you accomplished this?" + +Incoherently she told him and again urged, "Oh, DO go at once, for my +sake as well as yours, or all may be in vain. I can't breathe until +I've put back my cousin's uniform." + +Now that the supreme crisis of danger had apparently passed for the +moment, she was trembling violently in nervous reaction, and could +speak only in little gasps. Every instant a deeper appreciation of the +immense effort she had made in his behalf overwhelmed Scoville, and for +a moment he lost all self-control. Snatching her to his breast he +whispered, "Oh, you little hero, you little saint, I wish I could +shield you with my life. I don't believe you half realize what you have +done for me, bravest, truest, sweetest--" + +"Oh, hush," she pleaded, extricating herself from his arms. "Go, PLEASE +go at once, for my sake." + +"Yes, my dear girl, I must go soon, more for your sake than mine. With +this horse and this start, I am safe. Oh, it's terribly hard to leave +you." Then he hooted low to recall Chunk. "Don't tremble so. After all, +it's best to wait a few moments to make sure there is no pursuit. Thank +God, after what you have done for me to-night you will never forget me, +you will always care for me. Again I see as never before how true it is +that a woman cares most for him whom most she has tried to help. You +have risked much for me; I give all to you. Only death can keep me from +seeking you and living for you always. Remember, I ask nothing which +your own heart does not prompt, but you cannot help my giving undying +loyalty. See, I just kneel to you in homage and gratitude. There never +was such a gem of a girl." + +Chunk now appealed, recalled from a more affectionate parting than Zany +had ever vouchsafed before, and he began to unhitch the horse. + +"Chunk must go back with you," Scoville began. + +"Oh, no," she whispered, "I cannot breathe till you both are well away. +Chunk would be killed instantly--" + +"No matter; he has become a soldier like myself and must take all +risks. I will not leave this spot--I will go with you myself, rather +than leave you here." + +"Why, ob co'se I 'spects ter go back wid you, Miss Lou. You tink I +gwine ter lebe you yere en dat ladder dar ter tell de hull business? +Come wid me." + +"Well, then, good-by, and God keep you, Lieutenant. I shall hope to see +you again." + +"To see YOU again will be my dearest hope. Dear, DEAR little Lou! how +brave you've been! You've won a soldier's whole heart forever. How can +I say good-by? You can't dream how dear you have become to me. Please, +one kiss before we separate." + +Yielding to an impulse then not understood, she put her arm swiftly +about his neck, kissed him, and turned so rapidly toward her home that +Chunk could scarcely keep pace with her. + +They reached the ladder unobserved, and from the roof of the extension +the way to Miss Lou's room was easy. Chunk went to a point from which +he could watch the girl enter her apartment. Putting the ladder back +into the garden, he rejoined Scoville, and together they made their way +in the direction of the retiring Union column. Scoville never wearied +in questioning his attendant about every detail of Miss Lou's action, +while conjectures as to her experiences often robbed him of sleep. +Never was a man more completely won and held in love's sweet thraldom. + +On regaining her room, Miss Lou hastily threw off her cousin's clothes +and resumed her own apparel. Then she softly and cautiously opened her +door. With the exception of sounds in the lower hall, all was still, +and she slipped out in her stocking-feet, replaced the uniform on the +chairs, stole back and bolted her door. For half an hour she sat +panting on her chair, listening to every sound. Only the groans of the +wounded smote her ears. "Oh, thank God! I do not hear HIS voice among +them," she half sobbed, in pity for those who WERE suffering. "Well, I +can best forget my anxiety about him by doing something for these poor +men. Oh, how strange and true his words are! He touched my heart at +first by just being helpless when he fell by the run, and everything I +do for him seems to make him dearer. It cannot be that I shall never +see him again. Oh, when shall I forget the way he took me in his arms? +It seemed as if he gave me his whole heart then and couldn't help +himself." + +There was a near mutter of thunder. In her deep preoccupation, she had +not noticed the coming of another shower. It proved a short but heavy +one, and she exulted. "The rain will obliterate all our tracks." + +Calmer thought led to the conclusion that the affair would be very +serious for her if her part in it was discovered. She had acted almost +without thought, without realizing the risks she had incurred, and now +the possible consequences so appalled her that she resolved to be on +her guard in every possible way. "He knew, he understood the risk I +took better than I did then, better than I do now, perhaps," she +breathed softly. "That's so fine in him--that way he has of making me +feel that one's WORTH being cared for." She was far too excited and +anxious to sleep. Wrapping herself up, she watched at her window. Soon +the stars began to twinkle beneath the clouds in the west, showing that +this last shower was a clearing one, and that the radiance of the moon +might soon be undimmed. The fires along the ridge which, as she +believed, still defined the Union position, were burning low. Suddenly +flashes and reports of firearms in that direction startled her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A HOME A HOSPITAL + + +The sudden night alarm caused by firing on the ridge can be easily +explained. Wearied as were the Confederate general and his men, and +severe as had been the repulse of their first attack, both were +undaunted and, after rest and refreshment, eager to bring the battle to +a more decisive issue, and it was determined to learn long before +morning whether the Federal force was on the ridge or not. During the +last shower a reconnoitring party was sent out stealthily, a few of the +rear-guard captured, from whom it was learned that the Union column had +been on the march for hours. + +Mrs. Whately was wakened and helped her disabled son to dress in haste. +Little did Miss Lou know about the term ALIBI, but she had the +shrewdness to show herself and to appear much alarmed. Opening her +door, she gave a glimpse of herself in night attire with her long hair +hanging over her shoulders, and cried, "Oh, oh, are we attacked?" + +"If we are you may have sad reason to wish that you had obeyed me this +morning," replied her cousin sternly. "You no more understand your +folly and danger than a child. Now I'm compelled to look after my +prisoners first," and he rushed away. + +"Come in my room, Louise," said her aunt. "Whatever happens, it is best +that we should be together." The girl was so agitated, fearing that in +some way her adventures might be discovered, that she had no occasion +to feign alarm. Mrs. Whately sought only to soothe and quiet, also to +extenuate her son's words. "I don't suppose we truly realize yet, as +Madison does, what war means," she concluded. + +Mr. Baron soon sent up word that there was no special occasion for +further fears, and that the ladies might sleep, if they could, until +morning. + +But there was no more sleep for Mad Whately. As soon as he reached the +spot where the prisoners had been kept he asked sharply, "Where is that +Yankee officer and Perkins?" + +The man then on duty answered, "The sergeant I relieved said that you +took 'im away, sir, and that the man named Perkins followed you." + +"There's been treachery here," cried Whately in a rage. "Bring that +sergeant here." + +The weary man was half dragged in his sleep to the officer and there +thoroughly awakened by a volley of oaths. He stolidly told his story, +concluding, "I cud a sworn it was you, and the overseer followed less'n +three minutes after you left." + +"'I left'--curse you--don't say that again. You've been fooled or was +asleep and neglected your duty." + +"Well, then, sir," was the dogged reply, "find that overseer who was a +watchin' the Yank like a cat. Ast 'im; ast my men ef I wasn't awake en +ef I didn't s'lute you soon ez you come. There's the overseer's lantern +burnin' yet jis whar he left it." + +At this moment Perkins came staggering toward the fire, with both hands +to his head as if trying to hold it together. His clothes were muddy, +his face was ghastly and he stared at Whately as if the officer was +also a part of a horrid dream. + +Whately seized him roughly by the arm and said sternly, "Speak, man. +What does all this mean? Where's the Yank?" + +"For God's sake, quit," cried Perkins. "I'm nigh dead now. You've got +me in anuff trouble for one night." + +"Trouble--you! What's your trouble to mine? I'm responsible for these +prisoners. Now where's that Yank? Quick, or you WILL have trouble." + +"I ain't seen 'im since yer took 'im away--YOU. I ain't one of your +understrappers. Ez I wuz follerin' yer some one knocked me down from +behind and nigh onto killed me. I jes gittin' my senses back." + +Although so enraged, Whately knew that as a soldier he must curb his +passion, report the facts immediately and see what could be done. His +superior officer was called, all the parties questioned closely, the +garden and Aun' Jinkey's cabin searched, but no new facts discovered. +The old negress was savagely threatened, but she only replied, "I +dunno, I dunno not'n. Wat got inter you ter tink an ole tottery, +skeered ooman lak me gwine out in de dark en knock Marse Perkins on de +haid?" + +"Where's your grandson, Chunk?" Whately demanded fiercely. + +"He des light out wid de Yankees dis eb'nin'." + +The conclusion guessed at was that Scoville had been rescued by his own +men, who were known to be daring scouts. In the darkness and confusion +after the battle, it was thought they had mingled with the +Confederates, learned the situation of their leader and the general +appearance of Whately with his disabled arm. Arrayed in the Southern +uniform, of which scouts always had a supply, and favored by the sleepy +condition of the guard, one of the scouts had played the trick which +Whately rued so bitterly. Others, on the watch, had struck down Perkins +and carried Scoville off in safety. No other theory they could hit upon +explained so well what was known. The tricked sergeant was placed under +arrest, and Whately, who had gone to sleep with such high and mighty +notions of his prowess and friendly league with fate, found himself in +partial disgrace and in the depths of mortification. He kept guard over +his prisoners in person the remainder of the night and again had +opportunity to repent at leisure. He mentally cursed himself as a fool, +for now he remembered his mother's words. If he had shown leniency to +Scoville, and brought him into the house, he might have kept the +prisoner and won the goodwill of his cousin. Now, she would probably +hear the humiliating facts and be less inclined either to fear or favor +him. It was well that no suspicion on his part or that of others had +fallen on her, for she was not one who could face coolly a severe +cross-questioning. + +Perkins skulked off to his house, assuaged his aching head with cold +water and his wounded spirit with whiskey. As he tried to think the +matter over a vague suspicion of the truth began to enter his confused +brain. The little slipper with which he had been hit over the eyes in +the morning now became a broad hint. He knew well, however, that it +would be dangerous to make any charges, or even suggestions, unless he +had ample proof. + +When all became quiet again Miss Lou, in spite of deep anxieties, was +overcome by extreme weariness and slept until, in a dream, she heard +Scoville moaning and sighing in the extremity of physical pain. +Starting up, she saw it was broad day. She passed her hand confusedly +over her brow and tried to recall what had occurred, to understand the +sounds which had suggested her dream. Then in a flash, the strange +swirl of events in which she was involved presented itself and she knew +she had wakened to other experiences beyond even her imagination. The +groans of wounded men brought pitiful tears to her eyes and steadied +her nerves by banishing the thought of self. Whatever might befall her, +so much worse was the fate of others that already she was passing into +the solemnity of spirit inspired by the presence of mortal pain and +death. She drew the curtains of her window and then shrank back, +shuddering and sobbing, for, scattered over the lawn, men and horses +lay stark and motionless. More pitiful still, here and there a wounded +horse was struggling feebly. The spring morning, dewy, bright, +fragrant, made these evidences of strife tenfold more ghastly. There +could not be a more terrible indictment of war than nature's peaceful +loveliness. + +By the time she was dressed she was joined by Mrs. Whately, who looked +serious indeed. Before they could descend to the lower hall, Madison, +haggard and gloomy of aspect, intercepted them. Looking at his cousin's +red eyes and pale face, he asked abruptly, "What's the matter?" + +"Do you think I am accustomed to these sights and sounds?" she answered. + +"Oh," he said, in a tone which seemed to her heartless, "it's an old +story to me. Mother, I must speak alone with you a moment." + +She turned back with him to her room, meantime saying, "Louise, I do +not think you had better go down without me." + +The girl tremblingly returned to her apartment, fearing that now she +might be forced to confront her own actions. But she was conscious of a +sort of passive courage. Mad Whately's anger, or that of others, was a +little thing compared to the truth that men were dead and dying all +about her. + +"Mother," said her son, "I had cursed luck last night. I wish I had +slept on the rain-soaked ground near my prisoners," and he told her +what had happened. + +"Oh, Madison!" sighed Mrs. Whately, "I wish this experience would teach +you to be more guided by me. Louise cared nothing for this Yankee, +except in a sort of grateful, friendly way. Through him, you could have +done so much to disarm--" + +"Oh, well, mother, the milk is spilled. If possible, let the whole +affair be kept from her knowledge." + +"Yes, I suppose that will be the best way. If she hears about it, we +must try to explain by the usages of war. Now, Madison, you are cool. +Let experience be your teacher, for you MUST face the truth. You must +either give her up--" + +"I'll never give her up." + +"Then, as Major Brockton said, you must win her like a Southern +gentleman. Her spirit is as high as yours. You can't continue to speak +to her as you did last night and this morning. Try to realize the +facts. In the seclusion of her bringing up, Louise has learned nothing +of the conventionalities of society which might incline her toward a +good match on general principles. So far from this, the many +old-fashioned romances she has read have made her feel that she must +and WILL have her romance. If you can make Louise feel that you love +her so well as to become her gallant suitor, circumstances may soon +give you great advantages. She may be cold and indifferent for a time, +but like all passionate high-strung natures, present impulses against +may turn just as strongly for you. At least, you have not to contend +with that most fatal of all attitudes--indifference. A great change in +you will be a flattering tribute to her power to which no girl would be +indifferent. I must tell you now once for all that I will not again +assist in any high-handed measures against Louise. Not only the +futility of such action, but my own dignity and sense of right, forbid +it. I did not understand her at first. Now that I do, I am all the more +eager to call her daughter; but I wish her to feel toward me as she +should in such a relation. Yesterday, when I apologized and told her +that I meant to treat her with kindness and fairness, she kissed me +like the warm-hearted girl she is. I will help you win her as a man +should win his wife; I will not be dragged into any more false +positions which can end only in humiliation. I will be your tireless +ally in the only way you can succeed, but in no other." + +"Very well, mother, I agree," said Whately, whose nature it was to +react from one extreme to another. + +"Ah, now I have hope. How is your arm?" + +"It pains horribly." + +Mrs. Whately went to Miss Lou's room and said, "Forgive me for keeping +you waiting. Madison is almost beside himself with pain in his arm, and +I will be detained a little longer." + +In her immense relief that she was not charged with all she dreaded, +Miss Lou had leisure from her fears to feel commiseration for her +cousin. When at last he appeared she said kindly, "I am sorry you are +suffering so much." + +"If I thought you really cared I wouldn't mind the pain," he replied. +"Cousin Lou, I owe an apology, several, I reckon, but I've been so +distracted between conflicting feelings, duties and pain, that I +scarcely know what I say." + +"You little know me if you think I'm weighing WORDS at this time," she +replied. "Come, let us forget the past, shake hands and remember that +we are simply cousins." + +He took her hand instantly, but said, "You ask what is impossible. +Suppose you had said, 'Just remember your arm is well from this +moment,' would it be well? I cannot help my feelings toward you and +don't wish to." + +"Very well, then," she sighed, "I cannot help mine either. I don't wish +to talk on that subject any more." + +"Then I must plead by actions. Well, I must go now." + +Mrs. Whately was much pleased, for her son was adopting just the course +she desired. She added nothing and accompanied Louise downstairs. + +The amputating table had been removed and the halls cleansed, but the +unmistakable odor of the hospital pervaded the house. Every apartment +on the first floor except the dining-room was filled with the wounded. +Some were flushed and feverish by reason of their injuries, others, +pallid from loss of blood and ebbing vital forces. + +The Confederate general, with his staff, had already made a hasty +breakfast and departed; through the open door came the mellow sound of +bugles and the songs of birds, but within were irrepressible sighs and +groans. Mrs. Whately entered the spacious parlor on the floor of which +Confederate officers lay as close as space for attendance upon them +permitted. The young girl paused on the threshold and looked around +with a pitying, tearful face. A white-haired colonel was almost at her +feet. As he looked up and recognized her expression, a pleased smile +illumined his wan, drawn face. "Don't be frightened, my child," he said +gently. + +The swift glance of her secured attention took in his condition. His +right arm was gone and he appeared ghastly from loss of blood. In her +deep emotion she dropped on her knees beside him, took his cold hand +and kissed it as she said, "Please let me help you and others get well." + +The old man was strongly touched by her unexpected action, and he +faltered, "Well, my child, you make us all feel that our Southern girls +are worth fighting for and, if need be, dying for. Yes, you can help +us, some of us, in our dying perhaps, as well as in our mending. My +battles are over. You can help best by caring for younger, stronger +men." + +"Such men will not begrudge you anything, sir." + +"Bravo!" cried half a dozen voices, and an officer near added, "Miss +Baron speaks as well and true as you fought, Colonel." + +She looked hastily around. Seeing many friendly smiles and looks of +honest goodwill and admiration she rose confusedly, saying, "I must go +to work at once." + +"I think, Louise," said Mrs. Whately, joining her in the hall, "we can +accomplish most if we work much together and under the directions of +the surgeons. It is evident from the numbers of the wounded that time, +strength, food--everything will have to be used to the best advantage. +I'm glad that we both got some sleep last night. Now, I insist. Before +you do a thing you must have a cup of hot coffee and some nourishing +food yourself. The best impulses in the world are not equal to the +tasks before us. Indeed, we shall fail these poor men in their sore +need if we do not keep our strength. The worst is yet to come. As far +as you can, control your feelings, for emotion wears faster than work. +Let's first go to the kitchen." + +Zany followed from the dining-room with her hands full of dishes. She +gave Miss Lou a swift, significant glance, and that was all. Even she +was sobered by the scenes witnessed that morning and the thought of +Chunk's indefinite absence. Aun' Suke sat dozing in a corner, +absolutely worn out, and other negroes from the quarters had been +pressed into the service. Mrs. Baron was superintending their efforts +to supply soup and such articles of diet as the surgeons had ordered. +"Ole miss" now shone to advantage and had the executive ability of a +general. In cool, sharp, decisive tones she gave her orders, which were +obeyed promptly by assistants awed into forgetfulness of everything +else except the great, solemn emergency. All differences had +disappeared between the two ladies, and they began consulting at once +how best to meet the prolonged demands now clearly foreseen. + +"The confusion and conflicting requirements are just awful," said Mrs. +Baron. "As soon as possible, we must bring about some system and order. +One of the first things to do is to get as many provisions and +delicacies as possible under lock and key, especially the coffee and +sugar. They are going to give out anyway, before long." + +Miss Lou stole away and ran to Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Soldiers had taken +possession of it and were cooking and eating their breakfasts. Some +recognized the girl politely as she stood at the door, while others +continued their occupation in stolid indifference. Aun' Jinkey rose +tottering from a corner and came to the doorstep. "You see how 'tis, +honey," she said. "Dey des gwine on ez ef I ain' yere. I a hun'erd +yeahs ol'er dan I wuz w'en you want sump'n ter hap'n." + +"Take courage, mammy," Miss Lou whispered. "Chunk's safe. Have YOU had +any breakfast?" + +"I can't eat, honey, w'en ev'yting des a whirlin'." + +The girl darted away and in a few moments returned with a cup of +coffee. Entering the cabin, she said, "Fair play, gentlemen. This is my +old mammy's cabin and this her place here in the corner by the hearth. +Will you do me the favor of being kind to her and letting her remain +undisturbed? Then you can use her fireplace all you please." + +The Southern soldiers, understanding so well the relation between the +girl and the old woman, agreed with many good-natured protestations, +offering to share with Aun' Jinkey their rude breakfast. + +By the time the girl had returned to the house, she found that Zany and +others had prepared a second breakfast in the dining-room for the +family and such of the officers whose wounds were so slight as to +permit their presence at the table. Miss Lou was placed between her +cousin and a young, dark-eyed officer who was introduced as Captain +Maynard. He also carried his left arm in a sling. + +Mrs. Whately sat in Mr. Baron's place, since he, after a night's +vigils, had retired to obtain a little sleep. "Louise," said the lady, +"you will have to begin being useful at once. You have a disabled man +on either side of you for whom you must prepare food." + +"Miss Baron," said Captain Maynard gallantly, "I am already more than +reconciled to my wound. Anything that you prepare for me will be +ambrosia." + +Whately frowned as he heard these words and saw the immediate +impression made by his cousin upon his brother officer; but a warning +glance from his mother led him to vie in compliments. Before very long +Maynard remarked sotto voce, "If you aid in healing the wounds made by +the Yanks, Miss Baron, who will heal the wounds YOU make?" + +"I shall not make any, sir. Such thoughts, even in jest, wound me at +this time. Please excuse me, I've had all the breakfast I wish, and I +cannot rest till I am doing something for those who are suffering so +much." + +He rose instantly and drew back her chair. In sitting down again, he +encountered Whately's eyes, and recognized the jealousy and anger +already excited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A TRIBUTE TO A SOUTHERN GIRL + + +Miss Lou entered upon her duties as hospital nurse at once. +Untrammelled even by the knowledge of conventionalities, and with the +directness and fearlessness of a brave child, she went from one to +another, her diffidence quickly banished by her profound sympathy. The +enlisted men on the piazzas received her chief attentions, nor was she +long in discovering the Federal wounded, crowding the outbuildings and +offices. + +With the exception of a rearguard and hospital attendants, the +Confederate forces had marched in pursuit of the Union column. The dead +were buried during the morning and the ghastlier evidences of strife +removed. Along the edge of the grove tents were pitched, some designed +for the soldiers, others for the better accommodation and isolation of +certain critical cases. The negroes performed most of the labor, Uncle +Lusthah counselling patience and quiet acceptance of their lot for the +present. The prisoners were sent South. Confederate surgeon Ackley was +in charge of the hospital, while upon Whately was conferred the +military command. His partial disablement would not prevent him from +attending to the light duties of the position, the surgeon being +practically the superior officer. Order was quickly restored, guards +set at important points, and the strangely assorted little community +passed speedily under a simple yet rigorous military government. +Curiosity, desire of gain, as well as sympathy, led people to flock to +the plantation from far and near. One of Surgeon Ackley's first steps +was to impress upon all the need of provisions, for Mr. Baron's larder, +ample as it had been, was speedily exhausted. During the day began the +transfer of the slightly wounded to the nearest railroad town, where +supplies could be obtained with more certainty, and it was evident that +the policy of abandoning the remote plantation as soon as possible had +been adopted. + +Miss Lou knew nothing of this, and simply became absorbed in successive +tasks for the time being. + +"Miss Baron," said Surgeon Ackley, "a number of the men are so disabled +that they cannot feed themselves. Proper food at the right time usually +means life." + +These words suggested what became one of her principal duties. At +first, rough men were surprised and grateful indeed to find fair young +girl kneeling beside them with a bowl of hot soup; then they began to +look for her and welcome her as one who evoked their best and most +chivalrous feelings. It had soon been evident to her that the wounded +officers in the house would receive the most careful attention from the +regularly appointed attendants and also from Mrs. Whately. With the +exception of the old colonel, she gradually began to devote the most of +her time to the enlisted men, finding among them much less +embarrassment in her labors. With the latter class among the +Confederates, there was not on either side a consciousness of social +equality or an effort to maintain its amenities. The relation was the +simple one of kindness bestowed and received. + +The girl made the acquaintance of the Union wounded with feelings in +which doubt, curiosity and sympathy were strangely blended. Her regard +for Scoville added to her peculiar interest in his compatriots. They +were the enemies of whom she had heard so much, having been represented +as more alien and foreign than if they had come across the seas and +spoke a different tongue. How they would receive her had been an +anxious query from the first, but she quickly learned that her touch of +kindness made them kin--that they welcomed her in the same spirit as +did her own people, while they also were animated by like curiosity and +wondering interest in regard to herself. A woman's presence in a field +hospital was in itself strange and unexpected. That this woman should +be a Southern girl, whose lovely features were gentle in commiseration, +instead of rigid from an imperious sense of duty to foes, was a truth +scarcely accepted at first. Its fuller comprehension began to evoke a +homage which troubled the girl. She was too simple and honest to accept +such return for what seemed the natural offices of humanity; yet, while +her manner and words checked its expression, they only deepened the +feeling. + +At first she could scarcely distinguish among the bronzed, begrimed +faces, but before the day passed there were those whose needs and +personal traits enlisted her special regard. This was true of one +middle-aged Union captain, to whom at first she had no call to speak, +for apparently he was not very seriously wounded. Even before his face +was cleansed from the smoke and dust of battle his large, dark eyes and +magnificent black beard caught her attention. Later on, when feeding a +helpless man near him, he spoke to her and held out a photograph. She +took it and saw the features of a blond young girl scarcely as old as +herself. + +"My little girl," said the officer simply. "See how she resembles her +mother. That's one reason why I so idolize her," and he handed Miss Lou +another picture, that of a sweet, motherly face, to which the former +likeness bore the resemblance of bud to blossom. + +"We must try to get you well soon, so that you may go back to them," +said Miss Lou cordially. "You are not seriously hurt, I hope?" + +"No, I think not. I wanted you to see them so you can imagine how they +will look when I tell them about you. I don't need to be reminded of my +little Sadie, but I almost see her when you come among us, and I think +her blue eyes would have much the same expression as yours. God bless +you, for you are blessing those whom you regard as your enemies. We +don't look very hostile though, do we?" + +"It seems a terrible mistake that you should be here at all as +enemies," she replied. "I have been taught to dread your coming more +than if you were Indians. I never can understand why men who carry such +pictures as these next their heart can fight against us." + +"Well, Miss Baron, you must try to believe that we would not have left +the dear originals of such pictures unless we had felt we must, and +there let the question rest. Our lives are sweet to us, although we +risk them, chiefly because so dear to those at home. Let the thought +cheer you in your work that you are keeping tears from eyes as good and +kind as your own. That's another reason why I showed you the +likenesses." + +"It will be but another motive," she said. "A suffering man, whether +friend or enemy, is enough." + +She smiled as she spoke, then picked her way across the wide barn floor +and disappeared. Every eye followed her, pain all forgotten for the +moment. + +"By G--d!" exclaimed a rough fellow, drawing his sleeve across his +eyes, "I'm hard hit, but I'll crawl to and choke the first man who says +a word she oughtn't to hear when she's around." + +"If you can keep your own tongue civil, Yarry, you'll have your hands +full," said a comrade. + +"Well, I be blankety blank-blanked if that girl doesn't rout the devil +out of a fellow, hoof and horns." + +"You're right, my man," said the Union captain, "and your feelings do +you credit. Now I have a suggestion to make. Not one of us is capable +of using a word before her that she shouldn't hear, if not out of our +heads. We can pay her a better tribute than that. Let us decide to +speak in her absence as if she were present. That's about all we can do +in return for her kindness. She won't know the cost to us in breaking +habits, but we will, and that's better. We all feel that we'd like to +spill some more of our blood for the girl who fed Phillips yonder as if +he were a baby. Well, let us do the only thing we can--speak as if our +mothers heard us all the time, for this girl's sake." + +"I be blanked if I don't agree, and may the devil fly away with the man +who doesn't," cried Yarry. + +"Ah, Yarry," said the captain, laughing, "you'll have the hardest row +of any of us to hoe. We'll have to let you off for some slips." + +Then began among the majority a harder fight than that for life--a +fight with inveterate habit, an effort to change vernacular, almost as +difficult as the learning of a new language. For some time Miss Lou did +not know nor understand. Word had been passed to other and smaller +groups of the Union wounded in other buildings. The pledge was soon +known as "A Northern Tribute to a Southern Girl." It was entered into +with enthusiasm and kept with a pathetic effort which many will not +understand. Yarry positively began to fail under the restraint he +imposed upon himself. His wound caused him agony, and profanity would +have been his natural expression of even slight annoyance. All day long +grisly oaths rose to his lips. Now and then an excruciating twinge +would cause a half-uttered expletive to burst forth like a projectile. +A deep groan would follow, as the man became rigid in his struggle for +self-control. + +"Yarry," cried Captain Hanfield, who had suggested the pledge, "let +yourself go, for God's sake. You have shown more heroism to-day than I +in all my life. We will make you an exception and put you on parole to +hold in only while Miss Baron is here." + +"I be--oh, blank it! This is going to be the death of me, boys. The +Rebs gave me hell with this wound. But for God's sake don't let her +know. Just let her think I'm civil like the rest of you. Wouldn't she +open them blue eyes if she knew a man was dyin', just holdin' in +cussin' on her account. Ha, ha, ha! She'd think I was a sort of a +Yankee devil, worse than the Injins she expected. Don't let her know. +I'll be quiet enough before long. Then like enough she'd look at me and +say, 'Poor fellow! he won't make any more trouble.'" + +Whately had a busy day and felt that he had a reputation to regain. He +therefore bravely endured much physical pain in his arm and gave very +close attention to duty. Captain Maynard, on the contrary, had nothing +to do, and his wound was only severe enough to make him restless. The +young girl whom he had met at breakfast at once became by far the most +interesting subject for thought and object of observation. He was a +young fellow of the ordinary romantic type, hasty, susceptible, as +ready to fight as to eat, and possessed of the idea that the way to win +a girl was to appear her smitten, abject slave. The passing hours were +ages to him in contrast to his previous activity, and as he watched +Miss Lou going about on her errands of mercy he quickly passed from one +stage to another of admiration and idealization. Remembering the look +that Whately had given him in the morning, he maintained a distant +attitude at first, thinking his brother officer had claims which he +must respect. As he wandered uneasily around, however, he discovered +virtually how matters stood, and learned of the attempt which Whately +had made to marry his cousin, nolens volens. This fact piqued his +interest deeply and satisfied him that the way was clear for a suit on +his part were he so inclined. Fair rivalry would give only additional +zest, and he promptly yielded to his inclination to become at least +much better acquainted with the girl. At dinner he and Whately vied in +their gallantries, but she was too sad and weary to pay much attention +to either of them. + +Mrs. Whately compelled her to lie down for a time during the heat of +the afternoon, but thoughts of the suffering all about her banished +power to rest. She went down and found the old colonel lying with +closed eyes, feebly trying to keep away the pestering flies. +Remembering the bunch of peacock feathers with which Zany, in old +monotonous days, had waved when waiting on the table, she obtained it +from the dining-room, and sitting down noiselessly by the officer, gave +him a respite from his tormentors. In his drowsiness he did not open +his eyes, but passed into quiet sleep. The girl maintained her watch, +putting her finger to her lips and making signals for silence to all +who came near. Other Confederate officers observed her wistfully; Mad +Whately, coming in, looked at her frowningly. His desire and purpose +toward his cousin had been that of entire self-appropriation and now +she was becoming the cynosure of many eyes. Among them he saw those of +Captain Maynard, who was already an object of hate. Little recked the +enamored captain of this fact. To his ardent fancy the girl was rapidly +becoming ideal in goodness and beauty. With the ready egotism of the +young he was inclined to believe that fate had brought about the events +which had revealed to him the woman he should marry. A bombshell +bursting among them all would not have created a greater sensation than +the knowledge that the girl's thoughts were following a Yankee, one +whom she herself, by daring stratagem, had released from captivity. + +A twinge of pain awakened the colonel and he looked up, dazed and +uncomprehending. Miss Lou bent over him and said gently, "Go to sleep +again. It's all right." + +"Oh, I remember now. You are Miss Baron." + +"Yes, but don't try to talk; just sleep now that you can." + +He smiled and yielded. + +A few moments later Maynard came forward and said, "Miss Baron, your +arm must be tired. Let me take your place." + +Now she rewarded him by a smile. "I will be glad if you can," she +replied softly, "not that I am very tired, but there are so many +others." + +As she moved away, she saw Surgeon Ackley beckoning to her. "Miss +Baron," he said, "I am going to put one of my patients especially in +your and your aunt's charge. Young as he is, he is a hero and an +unusual character. I have had him moved to a tent, for he is in a very +critical condition. Indeed, his chances for life are few and he knows +it. I am acquainted with his family--one of the best in the South." + +He led the way to a small tent beneath the shade of a wide-branched +oak. A stretcher had been extemporized into a camp bed and on it lay a +youth not older apparently than the girl herself. His face had the +blood-drained look which many will remember, yet was still fine in its +strong, boyish lines. The down on his upper lip was scarcely more +deeply defined than his straight eyebrows. A negro attendant sat near +fanning him, and Miss Lou first thought that he was asleep. As she +approached with the surgeon he opened his eyes with the dazed +expression so common when the brain is enfeebled from loss of blood. At +first they seemed almost opaque and dead in their blackness, but, as if +a light were approaching from within, they grew bright and laughing. +His smile showed his white, even teeth slightly, and her look of deep +commiseration passed into one of wonder as she saw his face growing +positively radiant with what seemed to her a strange kind of happiness, +as he glanced back and forth from her to the surgeon. Feebly he raised +his finger to his lips as if to say, "I can't speak." + +"That's right, Waldo; don't try to talk yet. This is Miss Baron. She +will be one of your nurses and will feed you with the best of soup. +We'll bring you round yet." + +He shook his head and smiled more genially, then tried to extend his +hand to the girl, looking his welcome and acceptance of her ministry. +So joyous was his expression that she could not help smiling in return, +but it was the questioning, doubtful smile of one who did not +understand. + +"When she comes," resumed Ackley, "take what she gives you, but don't +talk until I give permission. That will do now. You must take +everything except quiet in small quantities at first." + +His lips formed the words "All right," and smilingly he watched them +depart. + +"I suppose he is not exactly in his right mind," said Miss Lou as she +and the surgeon returned to the house. + +"Many would think so, I reckon," replied Ackley laconically. "He +believes in a heaven and that he's going there. That's the only queer +thing I ever discovered in Waldo. He's worth a lot of trouble, Miss +Baron." + +"It would be right strange if I did not do my best for him, sir." + +"I thought you'd feel so. I want very strong beef soup made for a few +such special cases, who can take but little at a time. I would like him +to have a few teaspoonfuls every two hours. I am going to trust to you +and Mrs. Whately chiefly to look after him in this respect. We can do +little more than help nature in his case." + +Poor Aun' Suke was getting weary again, but she had a heart which Miss +Lou speedily touched in behalf of her patient, and a special saucepan +was soon bubbling over the fire. + +The soup for the evening meal being ready, she began again her task of +feeding the helpless soldiers, visiting, among others, Phillips, who +lay in a half-stupor on the great barn-floor. As she stepped in among +the Federal wounded, she was again impressed by the prevailing quiet +and by the friendly glances turned toward her on every side. The Union +surgeon in charge lifted his hat politely, while such of the men as +were able took off theirs and remained uncovered. The homage, although +quiet, was so marked that she was again embarrassed, and with downcast +eyes went direct to Phillips, gently roused him and gave him his +supper. While she was doing this the men around her were either silent +or spoke in low tones. The thought grew in her mind, "How these +Northern soldiers have been misrepresented to me! Even when I am +approaching and before they are aware I am near, I hear no rough talk +as I do among our men. The world is so different from uncle's idea of +it! Whether these men are right or wrong, I will never listen patiently +again when they are spoken of as the scum of the earth." + +As she rose and saw the respectful attitude toward her, faltered, +"I--I--wish to thank you for your--your kindness to me." + +At these words there was a general smile even on the wannest and most +pain-pinched face, for they struck the men as very droll. + +"We were under the impression that the kindness was chiefly on your +side," said Captain Hanfield. "Still we are glad you find us a civil +lot of Indians." + +"Please remember," she answered earnestly, "that was not my thought, +but one impressed upon me by those who did not know. Only within a very +short time have I ever seen Northern people or soldiers, and they treat +me with nothing but courtesy." + +"Perhaps you are to blame for that," said the captain pleasantly. + +"I can't help feeling glad that our good opinion is becoming mutual," +she replied, smiling. "Won't you please put on your hats and let me +come and go as a matter of course? I don't like to be sort of received +every time I come. I just want to help those I can help, to get well." + +"You have only to express your wishes, Miss Baron," was the hearty +reply. + +"Thank you. Is there anything more that I can do for you? Is there any +one who specially needs--" + +As she was glancing round her eyes fell upon Yarry. His face was so +drawn and haggard with pain that, from an impulse of pity, she went +directly to him and said gently, "I fear, sir, you are suffering very +much." + +"I be--oh, hang--there, there, miss, I'll stand it a little longer. I +could stand hell-fire for your sake. I didn't mean to say that. Guess I +better keep still." + +His face, now seen attentively, revealed more to her in tuition than +his words. She stooped by his side and said piteously, "Oh, you are +suffering--I FEEL that you are suffering terribly. I must do something +to relieve you." + +"Oh, now, miss," he replied, forcing a ghastly sort of smile, "I'm all +right, I be--well, I am. Bless your kind heart! Don't worry about me. +I'll smoke my pipe and go to sleep pretty soon. You look tired +yourself, little one. I will feel better if you won't worry about me, I +be--well, I will. I'm just like the other fellows, you know." + +"I reckon you are a brave, good-hearted man, to think of others when I +KNOW you are suffering so much. I am having very strong soup made for +one of our men, and I'll bring you some by and by," and with a +lingering, troubled look into his rugged face, she departed. + +His eyes followed her until she disappeared. + +"Yarry, you are rewarded," Captain Hanfield remarked. + +"--my reward. Fellers, she's just wearin' herself out for us. I don't +want no reward for anything I can do for her. Well, I'm goin' to shut +up now. The only thing I can do for her is to hold my tongue till it +can't wag. I told her I'd smoke my pipe and go to sleep. I be--well, I +will. Light it for me, Tom. When she comes, like enough I'll be asleep, +a sort of DEAD sleep, yer know. Just let her think I'm dozin' after my +pipe. Don't let her try to wake me and worry about me." + +"All shall be as you wish, Yarry," said Captain Hanfield. "I tell you, +men, few women ever received such a tribute as Yarry is paying this +Southern girl. For one, I'm proud of him." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM + + +When Miss Lou returned to the house supper was ready and she sat down +weary, saddened and preoccupied by the scenes she had witnessed. + +"You are going beyond your strength," said Captain Maynard, who had +watched her coming back from the Federal wounded. "Cannot you be +content to confine your ministrations to your friends only?" + +"For once I can agree with Captain Maynard," Whately added stiffly. "I +don't think it's right for you, cousin, to be going among those rough, +brutal fellows." + +Instantly her anger flamed at the injustice of the remark and she +answered hotly, "I've found no rough, brutal fellows among the Yankees." + +All smiled at her words, and Ackley remarked to one of the Union +surgeons, "Dr. Borden, I thought our men could hold their own pretty +well with the Army in Flanders, but you Yanks, I reckon, surpass all +military organizations, past or present. There was one man especially +who fairly made the night lurid and left a sulphurous odor after him +when he was brought in. It would be rather rough on us all if we were +where he consigned us with a vim that was startling. I certainly hope +that Miss Baron is not compelled to hear any such language." + +"I appeal to Miss Baron herself," said Dr. Borden, "if she has been +offended in this respect to-day?" + +"No, indeed, I have not," replied the girl indignantly. "I never was +treated with more courtesy. I have not heard a rough word from the +Yankees even when they did not know I was near, and that is more than I +can say of our own men. Fight the Yankees all you please, but don't do +them injustice." + +In spite of the girl's flushed, incensed face, there was an explosion +of laughter. "Pardon me, Miss Baron," said Ackley, "but you can't know +how droll your idea of injustice to the Yankees seems to us. That you +have such an idea, however, is a credit to you and to them also, for +they must have been behaving themselves prodigiously." + +"Yes, Dr. Ackley," replied Borden emphatically, "Miss Baron's +impressions ARE a credit to her and to my patients. They promptly +recognized her motives and character, and for her sake they pledged +themselves that while here, where she is one of the nurses, they would +not use language at any time which they would not have their mothers +hear. That very man you speak of, who swore so last night, believes +himself dying from his effort at self-restraint. This is not true, for +he would have died anyhow, but his death is hastened by his effort. He +has been in agony all day. Opiates make him worse, so there is no use +of giving them. But I can tell you, no man in your Confederacy ever did +a braver thing than he is doing this minute to show his respect for +this young lady who has shown kindness to his comrades. I can assure +you, Lieutenant Whately, that you need have no fears about your cousin +when visiting my patients." + +"What's the name of the soldier of whom you speak?" Miss Lou asked +eagerly. + +"He is called Yarry. I don't know any other name yet--been so busy +dressing wounds." + +"Thank you," faltered the girl, rising, her face showing signs of +strong emotion. + +"Oh, Louise! finish your supper," expostulated Mrs. Whately. "You must +not let these scenes take so strong a hold"--but she was out of +hearing. "I fear it's all going to be too much for her," sighed the +lady in conclusion. + +Mr. Baron and his wife exchanged grim glances from the head and foot of +the table, as much as to say, "She has shaken off our control and we +are not responsible," but Ackley remarked, "I agree with you, Dr. +Borden, that it's fine to see a girl show such a spirit, and I +congratulate you that your men are capable of appreciating it. By the +way, Mrs. Whately, I have put her, with you, in charge of young Waldo +and truly hope that among us we can bring him through." + +"Mrs. Whately," said Captain Maynard, "I reckon more than one of us +begin to regret already that we were not so desperately wounded as to +need your attention and that of Miss Baron. We must remember, however, +that she is not accustomed to these scenes, and I think we must try to +make her forget them at the table. I suppose in the kindness of her +heart she is now crying in her room over that Yankee." Whately shot a +savage glance at the speaker which plainly implied, "It's none of your +business where she is." Suddenly rising, he departed also, his mother's +eyes following him anxiously. + +Miss Lou was not crying in her room. As the level rays of the sun shone +into the wide old barn, making the straw in a mow doubly golden, and +transforming even the dusty cobwebs into fairy lacework, she crossed +the threshold and paused for the first time in her impulsive haste to +find and thank the dying man of whom she had been told. All eyes turned +wonderingly toward her as she stood for a moment in the sunshine, as +unconscious of herself, of the marvellous touch of beauty bestowed by +the light and her expression, as if she had flown from the skies. + +"Is there a soldier here named Yarry?" she began, then uttered a little +inarticulate cry as she saw Captain Hanfield kneeling beside a man to +whom all eyes directed her. "Oh, it's he," she sobbed, kneeling beside +him also. "As soon as I heard I felt it was he who told me not to worry +about him. Is--is he really dying?" + +"Yes, I hope so, Miss Baron," replied the captain gravely. "He couldn't +live and it's time he had rest." + +The girl bent over the man, her hot tears falling on his face. He +opened his eyes and looked vacantly at her for a moment or two, then +smiled in recognition. It was the most pathetic smile she had ever +imagined. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I'm just dozin' off." + +"Oh, my poor, brave hero!" she said brokenly, "I know, I know it all. +God reward you, I can't." + +"Don't want no reward. I be--say, miss, don't wear--yourself--out fer +us." + +She took his cold hand and bowed her forehead upon it, sobbing aloud in +the overpowering sense of his self-forgetfulness. "O God!" she cried, +"do for this brave, unselfish man what I cannot. When, WHEN can I +forget such a thing as this! Oh, live, please live; we will take such +good care of you." + +"There, there, little one, don't--take on--so about--me. Ain't wuth it. +I be--Say, I feel better--easier. Glad--you spoke--good word to +God--for me. I be--I mean, I think--He'll hear--sech as you. I'm--off +now. Don't--wear--yourself--" + +Even in her inexperience she saw that he was dying, and when his +gasping utterance ceased she had so supported his head that it fell +back on her bosom. For a few moments she just cried helplessly, blinded +with tears. Then she felt the burden of his head removed and herself +lifted gently. + +"I suspected something like this when you left the table, Miss Baron," +said Dr. Borden. + +"Oh, oh, oh, I feel as if he had died for me," she sobbed. + +"He would a died for you, miss," said Tom, drawing his sleeve across +his eyes, "so would we all." + +"Miss Baron," resumed the doctor gravely, "remember poor Yarry's last +words, 'Don't wear yourself--he couldn't finish the sentence, but you +know what he meant. You must grant the request of one who tried to do +what he could for you. As a physician also I must warn you to rest +until morning. You can do more for these men and others by first doing +as Yarry wished," and he led her away. + +They had not gone far before they met Uncle Lusthah. The girl stopped +and said, "Doctor, won't you let Uncle Lusthah bury him to-morrow down +by the run? I'll show him the place." + +"Yes, Miss Baron, we all will do anything you wish if you only rest +to-night. I tell you frankly you endanger yourself and your chance to +do anything more for the wounded by continuing the strain which these +scenes put upon you." + +"I reckon you're right," she said, "I feel as if I could hardly stand." + +"I know. Take my arm and go at once to your room." + +On the way they encountered Whately. "Cousin! where on earth have you +been? You look ready to faint." + +His presence and all that he implied began to steady her nerves at +once, but she made no reply. + +"She has witnessed a painful scene, Lieutenant," began the surgeon. + +"You have no business to permit her to witness such scenes," Whately +interrupted sternly. "You should see that she's little more than an +inexperienced child and--" + +"Hush, sir," said Miss Lou. "Who has given you the right to dictate to +me or to this gentleman? I'm in no mood for any more such words, +cousin. To-day, at least, no one has taken advantage of my +inexperience. Good-evening," and she passed on, leaving him chafing in +impatient anger and protest. + +At the house Mrs. Whately began expostulations also, but the girl said, +"Please don't talk to me now. By and by I will tell you what will touch +all the woman in your heart." + +"I earnestly suggest," added Dr. Borden, "that you take Miss Baron to +her room, and that nothing more be said to disturb her. She is +overwrought and has reached the limit of endurance." + +The lady had the tact to acquiesce at once. After reaching her room +Miss Lou exclaimed, "But I have not been to young Waldo." + +"I have," replied her aunt, "and will see him again more than once +before I retire. Louise, if you would not become a burden yourself at +this time you must do as the doctor says." + +Within an hour the girl was sleeping and her nature regaining the +strength and elasticity of youth. + +As Whately stood fuming where his cousin had left him, Perkins +approached for the first time since they had parted in anger the night +before. + +"I reck'n Miss Baron's gone over ter the inemy," remarked the overseer. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Look yere, Leftenant, what's the use o' you bein' so gunpowdery with +me? What's the use, I say? I mout be of some use ter you ef you wuz +civil." + +"Of what use were you last night? You allowed my prisoner to be carried +off right under your nose." + +"Who carried 'im off? Answer that." + +"Why, some gawk of a Yank that you were too stupid to tell from me." + +"P'raps hit was, p'raps hit wasn't." + +"Who else could it be?" + +"I s'picion who it was, but I'm not goin' ter talk to one who's got +nothin' better to give me 'n uggly words." + +"You don't mean to say--" + +"I don't mean to say nothin' till I know who I'm talkin' ter." + +Whately gave a long, low whistle and then muttered "Impossible!" + +"Oh, sut'ny," remarked Perkins ironically. + +The two men gave each other a long searching look; then Perkins +resumed, "That's right, Leftenant, take yer bearin's. I don't see ez +you kin do me any special good, ner harm nuther. Ef yer want no news or +help from me, we kin sheer off right yere en now." + +"I say your suspicion is absurd," resumed Whately, as if arguing with +himself. "When the alarm, caused by firing, came last night, it +happened she was in her room and was badly frightened." + +"What time did the alarm happen?" + +"About two o'clock." + +"Wal, about midnight a figger that favored you 'mazingly, yes, ter yer +very walk, came up boldly en sez ter me, nodding at the Yank, 'Leave +'im ter me.' The figger wasn't jes' dressed like you in 'Federate +uniform, but I kin a'most swear the figger had on them clo's and that +hat you're a wearin' now; arm in sling, too. What's mo', when I thought +hit over I was cock sure the figger wuz shorter'n you air. I don't +believe there's a Yank livin' that could a fooled me last night, 'less +he had yer clo's on en yer walk." + +"My uniform and hat hung on the chairs beside me, just where they had +been put when I went to sleep." + +"Jes' tell me ef the do' o' yer room wuz locked." + +"I wasn't in a room. I slept at the end of the hall." + +"Then enybody could git 'em en put 'em back while you wuz asleep." + +"She couldn't knock you senseless. You're talking wild." + +"I've schemed that out. Thar's tracks in the gyardin not so blinded but +they kin give a hint ter a blind hoss. Thar's a track nigh whar I fell +mighty like what that infernal nigger Chunk ud make. Beyond, ez ef some +uns had hidden in the bushes, right in the gyarden bed, air two little +woman-like tracks en two men tracks." + +Whately ground his teeth and muttered an oath. + +"I don't s'pose I kin prove anything 'clusive," resumed Perkins, "en I +don't s'pose it ud be best ef I could. Ef she was up ter such deviltry, +of co'se you don't want hit gen'ly known. Bigger ossifers 'n you ud +have ter notice it. Ef I was in yu shoes howsomever, in huntin' shy +game, I could use sech a clar s'picion agin her en be mo' on my gyard +inter the bargain." + +"I can use it and will," said Whately, sternly. "Perkins, keep your +eyes wide open in my behalf. If that Yankee or Chunk ever come within +our reach again--the nigger stole my horse and brought the Yank here +too in time to prevent the wedding, I believe." + +"Reck'n he did, Leftenant." + +"Well, he and his master may be within our reach again. We had better +not be seen much together. I will reward you well for any real +service," and he strode away in strong perturbation. + +"Hang your reward," muttered Perkins. "You think you're goin' ter use +me when the boot's on t'other foot. You shall pay me fer doin' my work. +I couldn't wish the gal nuthin' worse than ter marry you. That ud +satisfy my grudge agin her, but ef I get my claws on that nigger en +dom'neerin' Yank of a master"--his teeth came together after the grim +fashion of a bulldog, by way of completing his soliloquy. + +The spring evening deepened from twilight into dusk, the moon rose and +shone with mild radiance over the scene that had abounded in gloom, +tragedy and adventure the night before. The conflict which then had +taken place now caused the pathetic life-and-death struggles occurring +in and about the old mansion. In the onset of battle muscle and the +impulse to destroy dominated; now the heart, with its deep longings, +its memories of home and kindred, the soul with its solemn thoughts of +an unknown phase of life which might be near, came to the fore, +rendering the long, doubtful straggle complex indeed. + +The stillness was broken only by the steps and voices of attendants and +the irrepressible groans of those who watched for the day with hope +that waxed and waned as the case might be. Uncle Lusthah yearned over +the Federal wounded with a great pity, the impression that they were +suffering for him and his people banishing sleep. He hovered among them +all night long, bringing water to fevered lips and saying a word of +Christian cheer to any who would listen. + +Miss Lou wakened with the dawn and recognized with gladness that her +strength and courage for work had been restored. Even more potent than +thoughts of Scoville was the impulse to be at work again, especially +among those with whom she inevitably associated him. Dressing hastily, +she went first to see the old Confederate colonel. He was evidently +failing fast Ackley and an attendant were watching him. He looked at +the girl, smiled and held out his hand. She took it and sat down beside +him. + +"Ah!" he said feebly, "this is a good deal better than dying alone. +Would you mind, my child, writing some things I would like to say to my +family?" + +Miss Lou brought her portfolio and tearfully received his dying +messages. + +"Poor little girl!" said the colonel, "you are witnessing scenes very +strange to you. Try to keep your heart tender and womanly, no matter +what you see. Such tears as yours reveal the power to help and bless, +not weakness. I can say to YOU all the sacred, farewell words which +would be hard to speak to others." + +Brokenly, with many pauses from weakness, he dictated his last letter, +and she wrote his words as well as she could see to do so. "They will +be all the sweeter and more soothing for your tears, my dear," he said. + +He kept up with wonderful composure until he came to his message to +"little Hal," his youngest child. Then the old soldier broke down and +reached out his arms in vain yet irrepressible longing. "Oh, if I could +kiss the little fellow just once before--" he moaned. + +For a few moments he and the girl at his side just wept together, and +then the old man said almost sternly, "Tell him to honor his mother and +his God, to live for the South, for which his father died. Say, if he +will do this he shall have my blessing, not without. Now, my child, I +trust this letter to you. Good-by and God bless you. I wish to be alone +a little while and face the last enemy calmly." + +As she knelt down and kissed him tears again rushed to his eyes and he +murmured, "That was good and sweet of you, my child. Keep your heart +simple and tender as it is now. Good-by." + +Returning to her room with the portfolio she met her cousin in the +upper hall. He fixed his eyes searchingly upon her and with the air of +one who knew very much began, "Cousin Lou, my eyes are not so often +blinded with tears as yours, yet they see more perhaps than you are +aware of. I'm willing to woo you as gallantly as can any man, but +you've got to keep some faith with me as the representative of our +house and of the cause which, as a Southern girl, should be first +always in its claims." + +Her heart fluttered, for his words suggested both knowledge and a +menace. At the same time the scenes she had passed through, especially +the last, lifted her so far above his plane of life that she shrank +from him with something very like contempt. + +"Do you know what I have been writing?" she asked sternly. + +"I neither know nor care. I only wish you to understand that you cannot +trifle with me nor wrong me with impunity." + +"Oh!" she cried, with a strong repellant gesture, "why can't YOU see +and understand? You fairly make me loathe the egotism which, in scenes +like these, can think only of self. As if I had either time or +inclination to be trifling with you, whatever you mean by that. Brave +men are dying heroically and unselfishly, thinking of others, while 'I, +me and gallant wooing,' combined with vague threats against one whom +you are in honor bound to protect, are the only words on your lips. How +can you be so unmanly? What are you, compared with that noble old +colonel whose last words I have just received? If you care a straw for +my opinion, why are you so foolish as to compel me to draw comparisons? +Do, for manhood's sake, forget yourself for once." + +He was almost livid from rage as he replied harshly, "You'll rue these +words!" + +She looked at him scornfully as she said, "It's strange, but your words +and expression remind me of Perkins. He might make you a good ally." + +In his confusion and anger he blurted out, "Little wonder you think of +him. You and that accursed nigger, Chunk--" + +"Hush!" she interrupted in a low, imperious voice, "hush, lest as +representative of our house you disgrace yourself beyond hope." And she +passed quickly to her room. + +Within less than an hour he was asking himself in bitter +self-upbraiding, "What have I gained? What can I do? Prefer charges +against my own cousin which I cannot prove? Impossible!--Oh, I've been +a fool again. I should have kept that knowledge secret till I could use +it for a definite purpose. I'll break her spirit yet." + +If he had seen her after she reached her room he might have thought it +broken then. Vague dread of the consequences of an act which, from his +words, she believed he knew far more about than he did, mingled with +her anger and feelings of repugnance. "Oh," she moaned, "it was just +horrible; it was coming straight down from the sublime to the +contemptible. That noble old colonel took me to the very gate of +heaven. Now I'm fairly trembling with passion and fear. Oh, why will +Cousin Mad always stir up the very worst of my feelings! I'd rather +suffer and die as poor Yarry did than marry a man who WILL think only +of his little self at such a time as this!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AUN' JINKEY'S SUPREME TEST + + +The first long tragic day of hospital experience had so absorbed Miss +Lou as to relegate into the background events which a short time before +had been beyond her wildest dreams. In the utter negation of her life +she had wished that something would happen, and so much had happened +and so swiftly that she was bewildered. The strangest thing of all was +the change in herself. Lovers of the Whately and Maynard type could +only repel by their tactics. She was too high-spirited to submit to the +one, and too simple and sincere, still too much of a child, to feel +anything but annoyance at the sentimental gallantry of the other. The +genial spirit of comradeship in Scoville, could it have been maintained +through months of ordinary life, would probably have prepared the way +for deeper feeling on the part of both, but there had been no time for +the gradual development of goodwill and friendly understanding into +something more. They had been caught in an unexpected whirl of events +and swept forward into relations utterly unforeseen. He owed his escape +from much dreaded captivity and his very life to her, and, as he had +said, these facts, to her generous nature, were even more powerful in +their influence than if she herself had received the priceless favors. +At the same time, her course toward him, dictated at first by mere +humanity, then goodwill, had made his regard for her seem natural even +to her girlish heart. If she had read it all in a book, years before, +she would have said, "A man couldn't do less than love one when fortune +had enabled her to do so much for him." So she had simply approved of +his declaration, down by the run, of affection for which she was not +yet ready, and she approved of him all the more fondly because he did +not passionately and arbitrarily demand or expect that she should feel +as he did, in return. "I didn't," she had said to herself a score of +times, "and that was enough for him." + +When later, for his sake, she faced the darkness of midnight, a peril +she dared not contemplate, and the cruel misjudgment which would follow +her action if discovered, something deeper awoke in her +nature--something kindled into strong, perplexing life when, in his +passionate gratitude, he had snatched her in his arms and, as she had +said, "given her his whole heart because he couldn't help himself." +From that moment, on her part there had been no more merely kind, +tranquil thoughts about Scoville, but a shy, trembling, blushing +self-consciousness even when in solitude his image rose before her. + +As she sought to regain composure after the last interview with her +cousin, and to think of her best course in view of what seemed his +dangerous knowledge, a truth, kept back thus far by solemn and +absorbing scenes, suddenly became dear to her. The spirit of +all-consuming selfishness again manifested by Whately, revealed as +never before the gulf of abject misery into which she would have fallen +as his wife. "If it hadn't been for Lieutenant Scoville I might now +have been his despairing bond slave," she thought; "I might have been +any way if the Northern officer were any other kind of a man, brutal, +coarse, as I had been led to expect, or even indifferent and stupid. I +might have been forced into relations from which I could not escape and +then have learned afterward what noble, unselfish men there are in the +world. Oh, I COULD marry Allan Scoville, I could love him and devote my +life to him wholly, knowing all the time that I needn't protect myself, +because he would always be a kinder, truer, better protector. How +little I have done for him compared with that from which he has saved +me!" + +There was a knock at the door and Zany quickly entered. "I des slip off +while ole miss in de sto'-room, ter gib you a warnin', Miss Lou. Hain't +had no charnce till dis minit. Dat ar ole fox, Perkins, been snoopin' +roun' yistidy arter we un's tracks en las' night he tell Mad Whately a +heap ob his 'jecterin'." + +"But, Zany," said Miss Lou, "you don't think they KNOW anything." + +"Reck'n hit's all des 'jecterin'," Zany replied. "Kyant be nufin' else. +We des got ter face hit out. Doan you fear on me. We uns mus' des star +stupid-like ef dey ax questions," and she whisked off again. + +The girl felt that the spirit of Zany's counsel would be the best +policy to adopt. While she might not "star stupid-like," she could so +coldly ignore all reference to Scoville's escape as to embarrass any +one who sought to connect her with it. In the clearer consciousness of +her feeling toward the Union officer her heart grew glad and strong at +the thought of the service she had rendered him, nor did it shrink at +suffering for his sake. A gratitude quite as strong as his own now +possessed her that he had been the means of keeping her from a union +dreaded even as an ignorant child, and now known, by the love which +made her a woman, to be earthly perdition. + +"Having escaped that," she reflected, "there's nothing else I greatly +fear," and she went down to breakfast resolving that she would be so +faithful in her duties as a nurse that no one in authority would listen +to her cousin or Perkins if they sought to make known their surmises. + +Ignorant of her son's action and its results, Mrs. Whately met her +niece kindly and insisted that she should not leave the dining-room +until she had partaken of the breakfast now almost ready. Captain +Maynard joined her with many expressions of a solicitude which the girl +felt to be very uncalled for, yet in her instinct to propitiate every +one in case her action should be questioned, she was more friendly to +him than at any time before. Meanwhile, she was asking herself, "What +would they do to me if all was found out?" and sustaining herself by +the thought, "Whatever they do to me, they can't reach Lieutenant +Scoville." + +It was gall and bitterness to Whately to find her talking affably to +Maynard, but before the meal was over she had the address to disarm him +in some degree. For his own sake as well as hers and the family's she +thought, "I must not irritate him into hasty action. If he should find +out, and reveal everything, no matter what happened to me, he would +bring everlasting disgrace on himself and relatives. I could at least +show that my motives were good, no matter how soldiers, with their +harsh laws, might act toward me; but what motive could excuse him for +placing me, a young girl and his cousin, in such a position?" + +Whately had already satisfied himself that no pretence of zeal for the +service could conceal his real motive or save him from general scorn +should he speak of the mere conjectures of a man like Perkins. He had +never meant to speak of them publicly, simply to use his knowledge as a +means of influencing his cousin. He now doubted the wisdom of this. +Reacting from one mood to another, as usual, his chief hope now was +that some unexpected turn of fortune's wheel would bring his +opportunity. The one thing which all the past unfitted him to accept +was personal and final denial. His egotism and impatience at being +crossed began to manifest itself in another direction, one suggested by +Maynard's evident susceptibility to his cousin's attractions. "Here is +a chance," he thought, "of righting myself in Lou's eyes. If this +fellow, thrown into her society by the fortune of war, not by courtesy, +presumptuously goes beyond a certain point in his attentions, Cousin +Lou will find that no knight of olden time would have fought for her +quicker than I will. Mother says she is one who must have her romance. +She may have it with a vengeance. It may open her eyes to the truth +that a spirit like mine brooks no opposition, and when she sees that I +am ready to face death for her she will admire, respect, and yield to a +nature that is haughty and like that of the old nobility." + +Thus he blinded himself in these vain, silly vaporings, the result of a +false training and the reading of stilted romances. The thought of +studying the girl's character, of doing and being in some degree what +would be agreeable to her, never occurred to him. That kind of good +sense rarely does occur to the egotistical, who often fairly exasperate +those whom they would please by utter blindness to the simple things +which ARE pleasing. Miss Lou had read more old romances than he, but +she speedily outgrew the period in which she was carried away by the +fantastic heroes described. They became in her fancy the other extreme +of the matter-of-fact conditions in which her uncle and aunt had lived, +and as we have seen, she longed to know the actual world, to meet with +people who did not seem alien to her young and natural sympathies. Each +new character she met became a kind of revelation to her. She was the +opposite pole of the society belle, whose eyes have wearied of +humanity, who knows little and cares less for anything except her +mirrored image. With something of the round-eyed curiosity and interest +of a child, she looked at every new face, asking herself, "What is he +like?" not whether he will like and admire me, although she had not a +little feminine pleasure in discovering that strangers were inclined to +do this. Her disapproval of Maynard arose chiefly from the feeling that +his gallantry at such a time, with the dead and dying all about them, +was "more shocking than a game of cards on Sunday." She regarded his +attentions, glances, tones, as mere well-bred persiflage, indulged in +for his own amusement, and she put him down as a trifler for his pains. +That he, as she would phrase it, "was just smitten without any rhyme or +reason" seemed preposterous. She had done nothing for him as she had +for Scoville. The friendly or the frankly admiring looks of strangers, +the hearty gratitude and goodwill of the wounded, she could accept with +as much pleasure as any of her sex; but she had not yet recognized that +type of man who looks at a pretty woman and is disposed to make love to +her at once. "Why does Captain Maynard stare at me so?" she asked +herself, "when I don't care a thistle for him and never will. Why +should I care? Why should he care? Does he think I'm silly and shallow +enough to be amused by this kind of thing when that brave old colonel +is dying across the hall?" + +It was a relief to her to escape from him and Whately and to visit even +poor Waldo, dying also, as she believed. "Dr. Ackley," she said, "you +may trust me to give him his food now every two hours. I won't break +down again." + +"You did not break down, Miss Baron. All my nurses have their hours +off. Why shouldn't you? I reckon," he added, smiling, "you'll have to +obey my orders like the rest. I will go with you again on this visit." + +To her the youth seemed ghastlier than ever, but the expression of +gladness in his eyes was unchanged. + +"Miss Baron feels very remorseful that she has not been to see you +before," said Dr. Ackley, "but her labors yesterday were so many and +varied that she had to rest. She will do better by you to-day." + +Waldo could only reach his hand feebly toward her in welcome. She took +the brown, shapely hand in both of hers and it made her sad to feel how +cold and limp it was. "But a few hours ago," she thought, "it was +striking blows with a heavy sabre."--"I have brought you some strong, +hot soup," she said gently, "and shall bring it every two hours. You'll +be very good and take it from me, won't you?" + +He laughed as he nodded assent. + +"When can I begin to read to him, doctor, to help him pass the time?" + +"Perhaps to-morrow if he does well, but never more than a few minutes +together until I permit. Slow and sure, Waldo, slow and sure are my +orders, and you are too good a soldier to disobey." + +He shook his head mischievously and whispered "Insubordinate." + +The doctor nodded portentously and said, "If you and Miss Baron don't +obey orders I'll put you both under arrest." + +This seemed to amuse the young fellow immensely and he was about to +speak again, but the surgeon put his finger to his lips and departed. + +As she was feeding him with eyes full of gentle commiseration his lips +framed the words, "You can talk to me." + +She scarcely knew how to do this. There were questions she was eager to +ask, for his strange, exuberant happiness under the circumstances were +hard to understand, even after Dr. Ackley's explanation. She had never +seen religion produce any such results. Uncle Lusthah seemed to her +very sincere and greatly sustained in his faith, but he had always been +to her a sorrowful, plaintive figure, mourning for lost kindred whom +slavery had scattered. Like the ancient prophets also, his heart was +ever burdened by the waywardness of the people whom he exhorted and +warned. In young Waldo appeared a joyousness which nothing could +quench. From the moment she obtained a clew to his unexpected behavior, +everything in his manner accorded with the surgeon's explanation. In +his boyish face and expression there was not a trace of the fanatical +or abnormal. He seemed to think of Heaven as he did of his own home, +and the thought of going to the one inspired much the same feeling as +returning to the other. + +"Well," said Miss Lou, after a little hesitancy, "it is a pleasure to +wait on one who is so brave and cheerful. It makes me feel ashamed of +worrying over my troubles." + +He motioned her to get something under his pillow and she drew out a +small Testament. With the ease of perfect familiarity he turned the +leaves and pointed to the words, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and +are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He looked up at her, smiled +brightly, and shook his head when he saw tears in her eyes. Again he +turned the leaves and pointed to other words, "Beloved, think it not +strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some +strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are +partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be +revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." His expression was +wonderfully significant in its content, for it was that of one who had +explained and accounted for everything. + +"Oh," she faltered, "I wish I felt as you do, believed as you do. I +hope you will get strong soon. I would like to tell you some things +which trouble me very much, and there is no one I can tell." + +"By and by," he whispered. "Don't worry. All right." + +"Oh, what does this mean?" she thought as she returned to the house. +"Awfully wounded, suffering, dying perhaps, yet 'glad with an exceeding +joy'! Uncle and aunt haven't any idea of such a religion, and for some +reason Dr. Williams never gave me any such idea of it at church. Why +didn't he? Was it my fault? What he said seemed just words that made +little or no impression. Since he tried to marry me to Cousin Mad I +feel as if I could scarcely bear the sight of him." + +Yet he was the first one to greet her on the veranda. He spoke with +formal kindness, but she responded merely by a grave salutation, and +passed on, for she felt that he should have understood and protected +her in the most terrible emergency of her young life. + +Having looked after the safety of his family, he had returned with the +best and sincerest intentions to minister to the wounded. If the good +he would do corresponded with these intentions he would have been +welcomed in most instances; but he possessed that unfortunate +temperament which is only one remove for the better from a cold +indifference to his sacred duties. He did not possess a particle of +that mysterious, yet in his calling priceless, gift termed magnetism +for the lack of a better definition. All respected him, few warmed +toward him or thought of opening to him their hearts. His mind was +literal, and within it the doctrines were like labelled and separate +packages, from which he took from time to time what he wanted as he +would supplies from a store-room. God was to him a Sovereign and a +Judge who would save a few of the human race in exact accordance with +the creed of the Church in which the good man had been trained. What +would happen to those without its pale was one of those solemn +mysteries with which he had naught to do. Conscientious in his idea of +duty to the last degree, he nevertheless might easily irritate and +repel many minds by a rigid presentation of the only formula of faith +which he deemed safe and adequate. It seemed his chief aim to have +every form and ceremony of his Church complied with, and then his +responsibility ceased. He and Mr. Baron had taken solid comfort in each +other, both agreeing on every point of doctrine and politics. Both men +honestly felt that if the world could be brought to accept their view +of life and duty little would be left to be desired. When summoned to +perform the marriage ceremony Dr. Williams no more comprehended the +desperate opposition of Miss Lou to the will of her guardian, the +shrinking, instinctive protest of her woman's nature, than he did the +hostility of so many in the world to the tenets of his faith. His +inability to understand the feelings, the mental attitude of others who +did not unquestioningly accept his views and approve the action of the +"powers that be" was perhaps the chief obstacle to his usefulness. He +was not in the least degree intolerant or vindictive toward those who +opposed him; his feeling rather was, "This is your opportunity. I +gladly afford it and there my responsibility ceases"--a comfortable +sort of belief to many, but one that would not satisfy a warm, earnest +nature like Paul's, who said, "To the weak I became as weak, that I +might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by +all means save some." Paul would have found some way to reach the ear +and heart of nearly every wounded man in the extemporized hospital, but +for the reasons suggested the visits of poor Dr. Williams soon began to +be very generally dreaded. Old Uncle Lusthah had far better success +with those who would listen to him. + +Miss Lou soon found her way to the Federal wounded again. While +agreeably to her wishes there was no formality in her reception, it was +evident that the poor fellows had now learned to regard her with deep +affection. + +"I have told them all," said Dr. Borden who received her, "that you did +as Yarry wished, that you took a good rest and were looking this +morning as you should, and it has pleased them greatly. Phillips died +last night, and has been removed. He hadn't any chance and did not +suffer much. Remembering your wishes, we kept Yarry here. He lies there +as if he were dozing after his pipe, as he wished you to think." + +The girl stepped to the side of the dead soldier and for a moment or +two looked silently into the still, peaceful face. Quietly and +reverently the surgeon and others took off their hats and waited till +she should speak. "Oh," she breathed softly at last, "how thoughtful +and considerate you have been! You have made this brave, unselfish man +look just as if he were quietly sleeping in his uniform. There is +nothing terrible or painful in his aspect as he lies there on his side. +Poor generous-hearted fellow! I believe he is at rest, as now he seems +to be. I want you all to know," she added, looking round, "that he +shall be buried where I can often visit his grave and keep it from +neglect, for I can never forget the kindness that he--that you all have +shown me. Dr. Borden, I will now show Uncle Lusthah the place where I +wish the grave to be, and when all is ready I will come and follow poor +Yarry to it. Do you think there ought to be a minister? There is one +here now--Dr. Williams, who has a church near the Court House." + +"Just as you wish, Miss Baron. For one, I think a prayer from Uncle +Lusthah, as you call him, would do just as well and be more in +accordance with Yarry's feelings if he could express them. The old +negro has been in and out nearly all night, waiting on the men, and has +won their goodwill. He certainly is a good old soul." + +"I agree with the doctor," added Captain Hanfield. "Were it my case I'd +ask nothing better than a prayer from Uncle Lusthah over my grave, for +he has acted like a good, patient old saint among us." + +A murmur of approval from the others followed these words, and so it +was arranged. Uncle Lusthah was soon found, and he followed the girl to +the shadow of a great pine by the run and adjacent to the grassy plot +with which the girl would ever associate Allan Scoville. It was there +that she had looked into his eyes and discovered what her own heart was +now teaching her to understand. + +Aun' Jinkey followed them from her cabin and asked, "Wat you gwine ter +do yere, honey?" + +"Bury here a Northern soldier who has done me a very great honor." + +"Oh, Miss Lou, I des feared ter hab 'im so neah de cabin." + +"Hush!" said the girl, almost sternly. "Uncle Lusthah, you ought to +teach mammy better than that." + +"Ah, youn' mistis, hit's bred in de bone. I des mourns ober my people, +'fusin' ter be comf'ted. Yere Aun' Jinkey, gittin' gray lak me. She a +'fessor ob religion, ye de word 'spook' set her all a tremble. Ef dey +is spooks, Aun' Jinkey, w'at dat ter you? Dere's tunder en lightnin' en +yearthquakes en wurin' iliments en all kin' ob miseries ob de body. Who +gwine ter keep all dem fum yo' cabin? Reck'n you betteah trus' de Lawd +'bout spooks too." + +"You don't believe in any such foolishness, Uncle Lusthah?" + +"Well, young mistis, I gettin 'po'ful ole en I al'ays yeared on spooks +sence I kin reckermember. I neber seed one fer sho, but I'se had +strange 'sper'ences o' nights, en dar's dem w'at sez dey has seen de +sperets ob de 'parted. I dunno. Dere's sump'n in folk's buzzums dat +takes on quar sometimes, ez ef we libin' mighty close onter a worl' we +kyant mos' al'ays see. Dat ar doan trouble me nohow, en Aun' Jinkey +orter know bettah. Ef de Lawd 'mits spooks, dat He business. He 'mits +lots ob tings we kyant see troo. Look at dese yere old han's, young +mistis. Dey's wuked nigh on eighty yeah, yit dey neber wuked fer mysef, +dey neber wuked fer wife en chil'n. Dat mo' quar dan spooks." + +"I don't know but you are right," said the girl thoughtfully. "I didn't +know you felt so about being free. Aun' Jinkey never seemed to trouble +much about it." + +"I'se 'feared Aun' Jinkey tink a heap on de leeks en inions ob Egypt." + +"Dar now, Uncle Lusthah, you po'ful good man, but you owns up you doan +know nufin' 'bout spooks, en I knows you doan know nufin' 'bout +freedom." + +"Yes I does," replied Uncle Lusthah. "Ef de day come w'en I kin stan' +up en say fer sho, 'I own mysef, en God ony my Mars'r,' I kin starbe ef +dat He will. En dat' minds me, young mistis. IS we free? Perkins +growlin' roun' agin dis mawnin', en say we he'p 'bout de horspital +ter-day, but we all go ter wuk ter-morrer. I 'lowed he orter talk ter +us 'bout wages en he des larf en cuss me. Wat's gwine ter be de end? +Marse Scoville en de big Linkum gin'ral say we free, en Perkins larf +'temptuous like. We des all a-lookin' ter you, young mistis." + +"Oh, uncle! what can I do?" + +"Shame on you, Uncle Lusthah, fer pilin' up sech a heap ob 'plexity on +my honey," cried Aun' Jinkey, who was as practical as she was +superstitious. "I kin tell you w'at ter do. I doan projeck en smoke in +my chimbly-corner fer not'n. W'at kin you do but do ez you tole twel +Marse Scoville en de Linkum gin'ral come agin? S'pose you say you woan +wuk en woan 'bey, how you hole out agin Perkins en Mad Whately? Dey'd +tar you all ter pieces. Dey say dis wah fer freedom. Whar yo' patience +twel de wah'll end? De Yanks mus' do mo' dan say we free; dey mus' keep +us free. Dar Aun' Suke. She say she free one minit en a slabe nex' +minute twel her haid mos' whirl off her shol'ers. Now she say, 'I doan +know 'bout dis freedom business; I does know how ter cook en I'se +gwinter cook twel dey gets troo a whirlin' back en forth.' You says I +mus' trus' de Lawd 'bout spooks, Uncle Lusthah. W'y kyant you trus' de +Lawd 'bout freedom?" + +The old man shook his head sorrowfully, for Aun' Suke and Aun' Jinkey's +philosophy didn't satisfy him. "I'se willin' ter do my shar," he said +musingly, "de Lawd knows I be. Ef I cud die lak po' Marse Yarry en de +oders fer freedom I'se willin' ter die." + +"Now, Uncle Lusthah, your strong feeling and not your good sense +speaks," said Miss Lou, who had been thinking earnestly, meanwhile +recalling Scoville's prediction that the negroes might come to her for +help and counsel. "Aun' Jinkey is certainly right in this case, and you +must tell all our people from me that their only safe course now is to +obey all orders and bide their time. Perkins' authority would be +sustained by all the soldiers on the place and anything like +disobedience would be punished severely. If what Lieutenant Scoville +and the Northern general said is true you will soon be free without +useless risks on your part. If that time comes I want you and mammy to +stay with me. You shall be as free as I am and I'll give you wages." + +"Dar now, young mistis, ef I know I free I bress de Lawd fer de charnce +ter gib my wuk ter you. Dere's a po'ful dif'unce 'twix' bein' took en +kep en des gibin' yosef out ob yo' own heart. Slav'y couldn't keep me +fum gibin' mysef ter de Lawd en I been He free man many a long yeah, en +I be yo' free man, too, fer lub." + +"Look yere, now, honey," added Aun' Jinkey, wiping her eyes with her +apron, "you kin bury sogers all 'bout de cabin ef you wanter. Uncle +Lusthah kyant do mo' fer you, honey, ner me, tookin resks ob spooks. +Des bury dem sogers, ef you wanter, right un'er my win'er." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL + + +It was quite natural that the thoughts of Perkins and Mr. Baron should +turn toward the growing crops, neglected by reason of events +unprecedented in their experience. The announcement to the slaves, +first by Scoville and later confirmed by General Marston, of freedom, +had staggered both employer and overseer, but every hour since the +departure of the raiding Union column had been reassuring. + +It is not within the province of this story to follow the fortunes of +that force, since it is our modest purpose merely to dwell on those +events closely related to the experiences of the Southern girl who has +won our attention. She had suddenly become secondary in her uncle's +thoughts. A phase of the war, like a sudden destructive storm, had been +witnessed; like a storm, he hoped that it and its effects would pass +away. The South was far from being subdued; the issue of the conflict +unknown. He was the last man in the Confederacy to foresee and accept +new conditions, especially when he still believed the Southern cause +would triumph. + +As the confusion of his mind, after the battle, passed he began to look +around and consider what should be done, what could be saved out of +what at first appeared a wreck. When Dr. Ackley assured him that the +house and plantation would be rapidly abandoned as a hospital, hope and +courage revived, while to these was added the spur of necessity. + +He knew that he must "make his crops," or his fortunes would be +desperate. Remembering the value of timely labor in the spring season, +he was eager on this second day after the battle to put his slaves to +work again at their interrupted avocations. Accordingly he held a +consultation with his nephew and Dr. Ackley. + +"The hands are becoming demoralized," he said, "by unaccustomed duties +and partial idleness. Some are sullen and others distracted by all +kinds of absurd expectations. Uncle Lusthah, the leader and preacher +among them, even had the impudence to ask Perkins about wages. The +Yankee officers, when here, told them they were free, and they wish to +act as if they were. The sooner that notion is taken out of their heads +the better. This can be done now while my nephew is here to enforce +authority, better than when we are alone again. It seems to me that a +certain number could be detailed for regular hospital duty and the rest +put to work as usual." + +"I agree with you, certainly," replied Surgeon Ackley. "Give me a dozen +men and half a dozen women to wash and cook, and I can get along. +Lieutenant Whately, you, at your uncle's suggestion, can make the +detail and enforce discipline among the rest." + +"I was going to speak to you about this very matter, uncle," said +Whately. "My overseer has been over and I find the black imps on our +place are in much the same condition as yours, a few venturing to talk +about wages or shares in the crop and all that nonsense. I sent him +back with half a dozen men, armed to the teeth, and told him to put the +hands at work as usual. Mother is going to ride over and spend part of +the day. I don't wish her to be there alone just yet, and I shall +gallop over in time to be on hand when she arrives. Things are getting +settled, my arm is not so painful, and it is time we pulled ourselves +and everything together. You struck the right note when you said, 'Now +is the time to enforce authority.' It must be done sharply too, and +these people taught the difference between the Yanks' incendiary talk +and our rights and positive commands. From what Perkins says, this old +Uncle Lusthah is a fire-brand among your people. Give your overseer his +orders and I'll see that he carries them out." + +Perkins was summoned, acquainted with the policy--just to his +mind--resolved upon, told to pick out the detail for hospital duty and +to have the rest ready for work after an early dinner. + +"Go right straight ahead, Perkins," added Whately, "and let me know if +one of these Yankee-made freemen so much as growls." + +Dr. Borden was not the kind of man to take upon himself undue +responsibility. He had therefore mentioned to Surgeon Ackley Miss +Baron's wish to give Yarry a special burial by the run and that she +expected to be present. + +Ackley good-naturedly acquiesced, saying, "I suppose there can be no +objection to burying the man in a place of Miss Baron's selection, +instead of the one designated by Mr. Baron. It's but a small concession +to her who is so kindly bent on making herself useful. Let her have her +own way in the whole affair." + +The spirit of Yarry's turbulent career seemed destined to break out +afresh over his final disposition. Uncle Lusthah went to the quarters +in order to obtain the aid of two or three stout hands in digging the +grave. It so happened that his visit took place during the adoption of +Mr. Baron's policy in dealing with his property and just before Perkins +received his instructions. The negroes not engaged in labor relating to +the hospital gathered around Uncle Lusthah in the hope of receiving +some advice from Miss Lou. Mournfully the old man told them what she +and Aun' Jinkey had said, adding, "I doan see no oder way fer us des at +dis time ob our triberlation. Ole Pharo sut'ny got he grip on us agin, +he sut'ny hab fer a spell. But brudren en sistas, hit ony lak a cloud +comin' 'cross de risin' sun. Let us des wait pashently de times en +seasons ob de Lawd who alone kin brung de true 'liverance." + +When he saw the deep, angry spirit of protest he threw up his hands, +crying, "Wat de use? I warn you; I 'treat you, be keerful. Wat could us +do wid our bar han's agin armed men? I tells you we mus' wait or die +lak Moses 'fo' we enter de promis lan'." Then he told them about Yarry +and asked for two or three to volunteer to dig the grave. + +A score stepped forward and nearly all expressed their purpose to +attend the funeral. The old man persuaded all but three to remain near +the quarters at present, saying, "So many gwine wid me mout mek +trouble, fer Perkins look ugly dis mawnin'." + +"We ugly too," muttered more than one voice, but they yielded to Uncle +Lusthah's caution. + +In going to the run Uncle Lusthah and his assistants had to pass +somewhat near the house, and so were intercepted by Perkins and +Whately, both eager to employ at once the tactics resolved upon. + +"Where the devil are you goin' with those men and shovels?" shouted +Perkins. + +"We gwine ter dig a grabe fer a Linkum soger down by de run," replied +Uncle Lusthah quietly. "That ain't the place ter plant the Yanks, you +old fool. Go back to the quarters. No words. Leftenant Whately will +detail the hands fer sech work. Back with you. Why in-don't you mind?" + +"I hab my orders fum--" + +"Silence!" thundered Whately. "Obey, or you'll go back at the point of +the sabre." + +Uncle Lusthah and his companions still hesitated, for they saw Miss Lou +running toward them. She had lingered to talk with Aun' Jinkey and was +returning when she heard Perkins' high, harsh words. The overseer was +in a rage, and limped hastily forward with uplifted cane, when he was +suddenly confronted by the hot face and flashing eyes of Miss Lou. + +"Don't you dare strike Uncle Lusthah," she said sternly. + +Her appearance and attitude evoked all the pent-up hate and passion in +the man's nature and he shouted, "By the 'tarnal, I will strike 'im. +I've got my orders en I'll find out yere en now whether a traitor girl +or a Southern officer rules this place." + +Before the blow could descend she sprang forward, seized his wrist and +stayed his hand. + +"Wretch! murderer! coward!" she cried. + +"Oh, come, Cousin Lou, this won't do at all," began Whately, hastening +up. + +An ominous rush and trampling of feet was heard and an instant later +the negroes were seen running toward them from the quarters and all +points at which the sounds of the altercation reached them. + +"Turn out the guard," shouted Whately. "Rally the men here with +carbines and ball-cartridges." He whirled Perkins aside, saying, "Get +out of the way, you fool." Then he drew his sabre and thundered to the +negroes, "Back, for your lives!" + +They hesitated and drew together. Miss Lou went directly toward them +and implored, "Go back. Go back. Do what I ask and perhaps I can help +you. If you don't, no one can or will help you. See, the soldiers are +coming." + +"We'll 'bey you, young mistis," said Uncle Lusthah, "but we uns lak ter +hab 'splained des what we got ter 'spect. We kyant die but oncet, en ef +we kyant eben bury de sogers dat die fer us--" + +"Silence!" shouted Whately. "Forward here, my men. Form line! Advance! +Shoot the first one that resists." He then dashed forward, sought to +encircle his cousin with his arm and draw her out of the way. + +She eluded him and turned swiftly toward the advancing line of men, +crying, "Stop, if there is a drop of Southern blood in your veins." +They halted and stared at her. She resumed, "You will have to walk over +me before you touch these poor creatures. Uncle" (for Mr. Baron now +stood aghast on the scene), "as you are a man, come here with me and +speak, explain to your people. That is all they ask. They have been +told that they were free, and now the oldest and best among them, who +was doing my bidding, almost suffered brutal violence from a man not +fit to live. Where is the justice, right, or sense in such a course? +Tell your people what you wish, what you expect, and that they will be +treated kindly in obeying you." + +She recognized that every moment gained gave time for cooler thoughts +and better counsels, also for the restraining presence of others who +were gathering upon the scene. It was in the nature of her headlong +cousin to precipitate trouble without thought of the consequences; but +as she spoke she saw Surgeons Ackley and Borden running forward. +Captain Maynard was already at her side, and Whately looked as if he +could cut his rival down with the weapon in his hand. While Mr. Baron +hesitated Mrs. Whately also reached her niece and urged, "Brother, I +adjure you, go and speak to your people. They are your people and you +should tell them what to expect before you begin to punish. Go with +Surgeon Ackley and settle this question once for all." + +"Yes, Mr. Baron," said Ackley sternly, "we must settle this question +promptly. Such uproar and excitement are bad for my patients and not to +be permitted for an instant." + +It was evident that the surgeon was terribly angry. He had been brought +up in the old regular army, and anything like insubordination or injury +to his patients were things he could not tolerate. Mr. Baron went +forward with him and said in a low tone: + +"You are virtually in command here and all know it. A few words from +you will have more effect than anything I can say." + +"Very well, then," responded the resolute surgeon, and he strode toward +the negroes, not noticing that Miss Lou kept almost at his side. + +"Look here, you people," he began harshly, "do you think I will permit +such disturbances? They may be the death of brave men. Quit your +nonsense at once. You are simply what you've always been. Yankee words +don't make you free any more than they make us throw down our arms. +What happened to the general who said you were free? We fought him and +drove him away. There is only one thing you can do and MUST do--go to +work as before, and woe be to those who make trouble. That's all." + +"No," cried Miss Lou, "that surely cannot be all." + +"Miss Baron! What can you mean?" + +"I mean that these poor creatures are looking to me, trusting in me, +and I have promised to intercede in their behalf. Tell them at least +this, you or uncle, that if they obey and work quietly and faithfully +they shall not be treated harshly, nor subjected to the brutal spite of +that overseer, Perkins." + +"Truly, Miss Baron, you can scarcely expect me to interfere with your +uncle's management of his property. The only thing I can and will do is +to insist on absolute quiet and order on the place. In this case every +one must obey the surgeon-in-charge. Do you understand that?" he +concluded, turning to the negroes. "Neither you nor any one else can do +anything to injure my patients. As you value your lives, keep quiet. I +will not permit even a harsh, disturbing sound. Do not dare to presume +on Miss Baron's kindness, mistaken in this crisis. This unruly, +reckless spirit must be stamped out now. Your owner and master will +tell you what he expects, and I will have the first man who disobeys +SHOT. Miss Baron, you must come with me." + +"Yes, sir, but not until I have spoken the truth about this affair. All +your power, Dr. Ackley, cannot keep me dumb when I see such injustice. +You are threatening and condemning without having heard a word of +explanation. Uncle Lusthah and those with him were simply doing my +bidding. Can you think I would stand by and see him cursed and beaten? +These people have not shown any unruly, reckless spirit. They may well +be bewildered, and they only asked what they must expect. God is my +witness, I will cry out 'Shame!' with, my last breath if they are +treated brutally. They will be quiet, they will do their duty if +treated kindly. They shall not appeal to me for justice and mercy in +vain. My words may not help them, but I shall not stand tamely by like +a coward, but will call any man on earth coward who butchers one of +these unarmed negroes." + +She stood before them all possessed by one thought--justice. Her face +was very pale, but stern, undaunted and noble in its expression. She +was enabled to take her course from the courage, simplicity and +unconventionality of her nature, becoming utterly absorbed by her +impulse to defend those who looked to her, neither regarding nor +fearing, in her strong excitement, the consequences to herself. + +Dr. Borden was hastening forward to remind Ackley of his promise +concerning Yarry's grave, and to show the girl that he at least would +stand with her; but his chief waved him back. The old surgeon of the +regular army could appreciate courage, and the girl's words and aspect +pierced the thick crust of his military and professional armor, +touching to the quick the man within him. He saw in the brave young +face defiance of him, of the whole world, in her sense of right, and he +had the innate nobility of soul to respect her motive and acknowledge +the justice of her action. Watching her attentively until she was +through speaking he took off his hat, stepped forward and gave her his +hand. + +"You are a brave girl," he said frankly. "You are doing what you think +is right and I am proud of you. Tell these people yourself to go back +to their quarters, behave themselves and obey their rightful master. +After your words in their behalf any one who does not obey deserves to +be shot." + +She was disarmed and subdued at once. "Ah, doctor," she faltered, tears +in her eyes, "now you've conquered me." Then turning toward the negroes +she cried, "Do just as Dr. Ackley has said. Go quietly to work and be +patient. Uncle Lusthah, you know I told you to do so before all this +happened. I tell you so again and shall expect you to use all your +influence to keep perfect order." + +"We 'bey you, young mistis; we tank you fer speakin' up fer us," and +the old man led the way toward the quarters, followed by all his flock. + +Dr. Ackley gave his arm to the girl and led her to the house. Captain +Maynard took off his hat in a very deferential manner as she passed; +she walked on unheeding the salutation. Whately frowned at him and +dropped his hand on the hilt of his sabre. At this pantomime Maynard +smiled contemptuously as he walked away. In a few moments the scene was +as quiet and deserted as it had been crowded and threatening. + +On the way to the house Miss Lou explained more fully the circumstances +relating to the dead soldier, Yarry, and Ackley said good-naturedly, +"I'll have Uncle Lusthah and two others detailed to dig the grave and +you can carry out your intentions; but, Miss Baron, you must be careful +in the future how you let your inexperience and enthusiasm involve you +in conflict with all recognized authority. We are safely out of this +scrape; I can't answer for anything more." + +"Believe me," she said earnestly, "I don't wish to make trouble of any +kind, and after your course toward me, I will seek to carry out your +orders in every way. If I dared I would ask one favor. Uncle Lusthah is +too old to work in the field and he is a kind, good old man. If you +would have him detailed to wait on the wounded--" + +"Yes, yes, I will. You are a brave, good-hearted girl and mean well. I +shall rely on your promise to work cordially with me hereafter. Now go +to your room and get calm and rested. You are trembling like a +frightened bird. I'll see your uncle, cousin and Dr. Borden. You shall +bury your chivalrous Yank just as you wish. Then all must go according +to regulations." + +She smiled as she gave him her hand, saying, "You may put me under +arrest if I don't mind you in everything hereafter." + +"Well," muttered the surgeon, as he looked after her, "to think that a +girl should have a probe long and sharp enough to go straight to the +heart of a man of my age! No wonder Maynard and Whately are over head +and ears." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +"ANGEL OF DEATH" + + +It would seem as if the brief tempest of the morning had cleared the +air. Two strong natures had asserted themselves. Surgeon Ackley's +recognition of Miss Lou's spirit and the justice of her plea turned out +to be as politic as it was sincere and unpremeditated. The slaves +learned all they could hope from her or any one now in authority and +were compelled to see the necessity of submission. Whately was taught +another lesson concerning the beauties of headlong action, while even +his egotism was not proof against the feeling that his cousin's +straightforward fearlessness would baffle all measures opposed to her +sense of right. As for Perkins, he began to fear as well as hate her, +seeing her triumph again. The only reward of his zeal had been +Whately's words, "Get out of the way, you fool." Thereafter, with the +exception of the girl's scathing words, he had been ignored. He had +been made to feel that Ackley's threats had a meaning for him as well +as for the negroes, and that if he needlessly provoked trouble again he +would be confronted with the stern old army surgeon. Having known +Whately from a boy he stood in little fear of him, but was convinced +that he could not trifle with Ackley's patience an instant. He now +recognized his danger. In his rage he had forgotten the wide difference +in rank between the girl he would injure and himself. The courtesy +promptly shown to her by Maynard and especially by the surgeon-in-chief +taught him that one whom he had scarcely noticed as she grew up a +repressed, brooding child and girl, possessed by birth the +consideration ever shown to a Southern lady. He knew what that meant, +even if he could not appreciate her conduct. Maynard had scowled upon +him; Mrs. Whately bestowed merely a glance of cold contempt, while her +son had failed him utterly as an ally. He therefore sullenly drove his +malice back into his heart with the feeling that he must now bide his +time. + +Even Mr. Baron was curt and said briefly before he left the ground, "Be +sure you're right before you go ahead. Hereafter give your orders +quietly and let me know who disobeys." + +The old planter was at his wit's end about his niece, but even he was +compelled to see that his former methods with her would not answer. New +ideas were being forced upon him as if by surgical operations. Chief +among them was the truth that she could no longer be managed or +restrained by fear or mere authority on the part of any one. He would +look at her in a sort of speechless wonder and ask himself if she were +the child to whom he had supposed himself infallible so many years. His +wife kept on the even tenor of her way more unswervingly than any one +on the place. She was as incapable of Dr. Ackley's fine sentiment as +she was of her nephew's ungovernable passion. She neither hoped nor +tried to comprehend the "perversity" of her niece, yet, in the +perplexed conditions of the time, she filled a most important and +useful niche. Since the wounded men were to be fed, she became an +admirable commissary general, preventing waste and exacting good +wholesome cookery on the part of Aun' Suke and her assistants. + +Poor Yarry was buried quietly at last, Miss Lou, with Dr. Borden, +Captain Hanfield and two or three of his comrades standing reverently +by the grave while Uncle Lusthah offered his simple prayer. Then the +girl threw upon the mound some flowers she had gathered and returned to +her duties as nurse. The remains of the old Confederate colonel were +sent to his family, with the letter which Miss Lou had written for him. +Every day the numbers in the hospital diminished, either by death or by +removal of the stronger patients to the distant railroad town. Those +sent away in ambulances and other vehicles impressed into the service +were looked after by Surgeon Ackley with official thoroughness and +phlegm; in much the same spirit and manner Dr. Williams presided over +the departure of others to the bourne from which none return, then +buried them with all proper observance. Uncle Lusthah carried around by +a sort of stealth his pearl of simple, vital, hope-inspiring faith, and +he found more than one ready to give their all for it. The old man +pointed directly to Him who "taketh away the sin of the world," then +stood aside that dying eyes might look. With the best intentions Dr. +Williams, with his religious formulas, got directly in the way, +bewildering weak minds with a creed. + +Mrs. Whately and her son went and came from their plantation and were +troubled over the condition of things there. The slaves were in a state +of sullen, smouldering rebellion and several of them had disappeared. +"I fear Madison has been too arbitrary," she admitted to her brother. + +Mr. Baron shrugged his shoulders and smoked in silence. Perhaps his +preposterous niece had not been so crazy after all. + +Between Maynard and Whately there were increasing evidences of trouble, +which the mother of the latter did her best to avert by remonstrances +and entreaty. On one occasion Whately had said a little irritably, "I +say, Dr. Ackley, what's the use of Maynard's hanging around here? He is +almost well enough for duty." + +"It is chiefly out of consideration for you that I am keeping him," +replied the surgeon gravely, in well-concealed mischief. "It is clear +that he has entered the lists with you for your cousin's hand, and I +could not further his suit better than by sending him away, especially +if it were suspected that I did so at your instigation. He is doing +well here, good-naturedly helps me in my writing and can soon go direct +to his regiment. It seems to me that your cousin holds a pretty even +balance between you, and all a man should want is a fair field." + +Whately walked frowningly away, more than ever convinced that the +surgeon was too good a friend of his rival to interfere. + +At the close of the fourth day after the battle there was an arrival at +The Oaks that greatly interested Miss Lou--a stately, white-haired old +lady, the mother of Lieutenant Waldo. She was very pale and it would +have been hard for Surgeon Ackley to meet her agonized look, her +shrinking as if from a blow, were he unable to hold out any hope. + +"Mrs. Waldo," he said gravely, "your son is living and there's a chance +of his getting well. His cheerfulness and absolute quiet of mind may +save him. If he had fretted or desponded he would have died before +this." + +"Yes," replied his mother with a great sigh of relief, "I know." + +"Miss Baron, will you kindly prepare Waldo for his mother's visit? +Meanwhile, I will tell her a little about his case and our management +of it. He doesn't know that I sent for you, for I was not sure you +could come." + +"Is this Miss Baron and one of my son's nurses?" + +"Yes, and doing more for him than I--giving him all the bovine nectar +and honeyed words he can take." + +"God bless you, my dear. Please let me kiss you." + +When Miss Lou entered Waldo's tent he whispered with a laugh, "It's +four hours since you were here." + +"No, scarcely two." + +"Well, I'm as hungry as if it were four hours." + +"That's fine. You're getting right well. Will you be very good and +quiet--not a bit excited, if I let some one else bring you your supper?" + +She beamed upon him so joyously that he exclaimed aloud, with a rush of +tears, "Ah! mother?" + +The girl nodded and said, "Now remember, don't break her heart by being +worse." + +"Oh, how sweet and lovely of her! I'll get well now, sure." + +"That's a nice way to treat your old nurse." + +Smilingly he held out his hand and said, "You are almost as pretty and +good as she is, but you aren't mother." Then he added in strong +sympathy, "Forgive me. You haven't any, have you? You don't know about +this mother love." + +"I know enough about it to have the heartache for its lack. Now you +must save your strength till she comes. Good-by." + +From that hour he steadily gained, banishing the look of anxiety from +his mother's face. Mrs. Whately sighed as she saw how her niece's heart +warmed toward the stranger, and how strong an attachment was growing +between them. "Louise is drifting away from us all," she thought, "yet +I cannot see that she encourages Captain Maynard." + +A genuine friendship had also grown between the girl and Captain +Hanfield, the Federal officer, and she was heartily sorry when he told +her that he would be sent to the railroad town the next day. "My wound +isn't doing well and I seem to be running down," he explained. "Dr. +Borden has been able to keep me thus far, but I must go to-morrow. +Perhaps it's best. He is trying to get me paroled. If I could only get +home to my wife and children I'd rally fast enough. I'm all run down +and this climate is enervating to me." + +She tried to hearten him by kind, hopeful words, and he listened to her +with a wistful look on his handsome face. "How I'd like you to meet my +little girl!" he said. "Won't I make her blue eyes open when I tell her +about you!" + +Another bond of union between them was the captain's acquaintance with +Scoville, and he soon observed that she listened very patiently and +attentively when he spoke of the brave scout's exploits. "I declare," +he had said, laughing, "I keep forgetting that you are a Southern girl +and that you may not enjoy hearing of the successes of so active an +enemy." + +"Lieutenant Scoville is not a personal enemy," she had replied +guardedly. "He showed us all very great kindness, me especially. I wish +that both you and he were on our side." + +"Well, as you say down here, I reckon we are on YOUR side any way," had +been the captain's smiling reply. + +She spoke to Surgeon Ackley promptly about the prospects of a parole, +but he said, "Impossible, Miss Baron. The question would at once arise, +'If granted to Hanfield, why not to others?' I reckon Borden has been +trying to rally his friend by hopes even when knowing them baseless." + +This proved to be the case, and the following day brought the young +girl a strange and very sad experience. Dr. Borden appeared at +breakfast looking troubled and perplexed. Miss Lou immediately inquired +about the captain. The doctor shook his head saying, "He isn't so well. +I'd like to speak with you by and by." + +She was so depressed by the surgeon's aspect that she paid little heed +to the conversation of her two admirers and soon left the table. Borden +followed her, and when they were alone began sadly, "Miss Baron, +perhaps I am going to ask of you far too much, but you have shown +yourself to be an unusually brave girl as well as a kind-hearted one, +Hanfield is an old friend of mine and perhaps I've done wrong to +mislead him. But I didn't and couldn't foresee what has happened, and I +did hope to start him in genuine convalescence, feeling sure that if he +got well he would give up the hope of going home as a matter of course. +So far from succeeding, a fatal disease has set in--tetanus, lock-jaw. +He's dying and doesn't know it. I can't tell him. I've made the truth +doubly cruel, for I've raised false hopes. He continually talks of home +and his pleading eyes stab me. You can soften the blow to him, soothe +and sustain him in meeting what is sure to come." + +"Oh, is there no hope?" + +"None at all. He can't live. If you feel that the ordeal would be too +painful--I wouldn't ask it if I hadn't seen in you unexpected +qualities." + +"Oh, I must help him bear it; yet how can I? how shall I?" + +"Well, I guess your heart and sympathy will guide you. I can't. I can +only say you had better tell him the whole truth. He ought to know it +for his own and family's sake now, while perfectly rational. Soften the +truth as you can, but you can't injure him by telling it plainly, for +he will die. God knows, were it my case, the tidings wouldn't seem so +very terrible if told by a girl like you." + +"Oh, but the tidings are so terrible to speak, especially to such a +man. Think of his beautiful wife and daughter, of his never seeing them +again. Oh, it's just awful," and her face grew white at the prospect. + +"Yes, Miss Baron, it is. In the midst of all the blood and carnage of +the war, every now and then a case comes up which makes even my +calloused heart admit, 'It's just awful.' I'm only seeking to make it +less awful to my poor friend, and perhaps at too great cost to you." + +"Well, he on his side, and others on ours, didn't count the cost; +neither must I. I must not think about it or my heart will fail me. I +will go at once." + +"Come then, and God help you and him." + +A straw-bed had been made up in a large, airy box-stall where the +captain could be by himself. Uncle Lusthah was in attendance and he had +just brought a bowl of milk. + +Borden had left Miss Lou to enter alone. The captain held out his hand +and said cheerfully, "Well, it's an ill wind that blows nowhere. This +one will blow me home all the sooner I trust, for it must be plainer +now than ever that I need the home change which will put me on my feet +again. You needn't look so serious. I feel only a little more poorly +than I did--sore throat and a queer kind of stiffness in my jaws as if +I had taken cold in them." + +"Do I look very serious?" she faltered. + +"Yes, you look as if troubled about something. But there, see what an +egotistic fellow I am! As if you hadn't troubles of your own! pretty +deep ones, too, I fear. Our coming here has given you a wonderful +experience, Miss Baron. No matter; you've met it like a soldier and +will have much to remember in after years. You can never become a +commonplace woman now and there are such a lot of 'em in the world. +When I remember all you have done for us it makes me ill to think of +some in our town--giggling, silly little flirts, with no higher +ambition than to strut down the street in a new dress." + +"Oh, don't think of them or over-praise me. Perhaps if they had been +here and compelled to face things they would have done better than I. A +short time ago I didn't dream of these experiences, and then I would +have said I couldn't possibly endure them." + +"Well, you have," resumed the captain, who was slightly feverish, +excited and inclined to talk. "One of my dearest hopes now is to get +back to my little girl soon and deepen her mind by making her ashamed +of the silly things in a girl's life. Of course I wish her to be joyous +and happy as a young thing should be, as I think you would be if you +had the chance. By means of your story I can make her ashamed ever to +indulge in those picayune, contemptible feminine traits which +exasperate men. I want her to be brave, helpful, sincere, like you, +like her mother. How quickly poor Yarry recognized the spirit in which +you came among us at first! Jove! I didn't think him capable of such +feeling. I tell you, Miss Baron, the roughest of us reverence an +unselfish woman--one who doesn't think of herself first and always. She +mayn't be a saint, but if she has heart enough for sympathy and is +brave and simple enough to bestow it just as a cool spring gushes from +the ground, we feel she is the woman God meant her to be. Ah, uncle, +that reminds me--another cup of that cold water. For some reason I'm +awfully thirsty this morning." + +Miss Lou listened with hands nervously clasping and unclasping, utterly +at a loss to know how to tell the man, dreaming of home and planning +for the future, that he must soon sleep beside poor Yarry. She had +already taken to herself the mournful comfort that his grave also +should be where she could care for it and keep it green. + +"I wish to tell you more about my little Sadie and my wife. Some day, +when this miserable war is over, you will visit us. We'll give you a +reception then which may turn even your head. Ha! ha! you thought we'd +be worse than Indians. Well, I'll show you a lot of our squaws in full +evening dress and you'll own that my wife is the prettiest in the +tribe. Every day, until we started on this blasted raid, I received a +letter from her. I knew about as well what was going on at home as if +there. With my wife it was love almost at first sight, but I can tell +you that it's not 'out of sight out of mind' with us. Time merely adds +to the pure, bright flame, and such a pair of lovers as we shall be +when gray as badgers will be worth a journey to you." + +Miss Lou could maintain her self-control no longer. She burst into +tears and sobbed helplessly. + +"You poor little girl," exclaimed the captain in deep commiseration. +"Here I've been talking like a garrulous fool when your heart is +burdened with some trouble that perhaps you would like to speak to me +about. Tell me, my child, just as little Sadie would." + +"My heart is burdened with trouble, captain; it feels as if it would +break when I hear you talk so. Would to God little Sadie were here, and +your beautiful wife too! Oh, what shall I say? How can I, how can I?" + +"Miss Baron!" he exclaimed, looking at her in vague alarm. + +"Oh, Captain Hanfield, you are a brave, unselfish man like Yarry. Don't +make it too hard for me. Oh, I feel as if I could scarcely breathe." + +As he saw her almost panting at his side and tears streaming from her +eyes, the truth began to dawn upon him. He looked at her steadily and +silently for a moment, then reached out his hand as he said in an awed +whisper, "Is it on account of me? Did Borden send you here?" + +She took his hand, bowed her forehead upon it and wept speechlessly. + +She felt it tremble for a moment, then it was withdrawn and placed on +her bowed head. "So you are the angel of death to me?" the officer +faltered. + +Her tears were her only, yet sufficient answer. Both were silent, she +not having the heart to look at him. + +At last he said in deep tones, "I wasn't expecting this. It will make a +great change in"--and then he was silent again. + +She took his limp hand and bowed her forehead on it, as before feeling +by some fine instinct that her unspoken sympathy was best. + +It was. The brave man, in this last emergency, did as he would have +done in the field at the head of his company if subjected to a sudden +attack. He promptly rearranged and marshalled all his faculties to face +the enemy. There was not a moment of despairing, vain retreat. In the +strong pressure upon his mind of those questions which must now be +settled once for all, he forgot the girl by his side. He was still so +long that she timidly raised her head and was awed by his stern, fixed +expression of deep abstraction. She did not disturb him except as the +stifled sobs of her deep, yet now passing agitation convulsed her +bosom, and she began to give her attention to Uncle Lusthah, hitherto +unheeded. The old man was on his knees in a dusky corner, praying in +low tones. "Oh, I'm so glad he's here," she thought. "I'm glad he's +praying God to help us both." In the uncalculating sympathy and +strength of her nature she had unconsciously entered into the dying +man's experience and was suffering with him. Indeed, her heart sank +with a deeper dread and awe than he from the great change which he had +faced so often as to be familiar with its thought. + +At last he seemed to waken to her presence and said compassionately, +"Poor little girl! so all your grief was about me. How pale you are!" + +"I do so wish you could go home," she breathed; "I am so very, VERY +sorry." + +"Well, Miss Baron," he replied with dignity, "I'm no better than +thousands of others. I always knew this might happen any day. You have +learned why it is peculiarly hard for me--but that's not to be thought +of now. If I've got my marching orders, that's enough for a soldier. It +was scarcely right in Borden to give you this heavy task. I could have +faced the truth from his lips." + +"He felt so dreadfully about it," she replied. "He said he had been +giving you false hopes in trying to make you get well." + +"Oh, yes, he meant kindly. Well, if it hasn't been too much for you, +I'm glad you told me. Your sympathy, your face, will be a sweet memory +to carry, G--od only knows where. Since it can't be little Sadie's face +or my wife's I'm glad it's yours. What am I saying? as if I should +forget their dear faces through all eternity." + +"Ah! captain, I wish you could hear one of our soldiers, talk. Dying +with him just means going to Heaven." + +The officer shook his head. "I'm not a Christian," he said simply. + +"Neither am I," she replied, "but I've been made to feel that being one +is very different from what I once thought it was." + +"Well, Miss Baron, what is it to be a Christian--what is your idea of +it? There has always seemed to me such a lot of conflicting things to +be considered--well, well, I haven't given the subject thought and it's +too late now. I must give my mind to my family and--" + +Uncle Lusthah stepped before him with clasped hands and quivering lips. +"Ef marse cap'n des list'n ter de ole man a minit. I ain't gwine ter +talk big en long. I kyant. I des wanter say I hab 'spearance. Dat +sump'n, marse cap'n, you kyant say not'n agin--rale 'spearance, sump'n +I KNOWS." + +"Well, you kind old soul, what do you know?" + +"P'raps des what mars'r knows ef he ony tinks a lil. Let us git right +down ter de root ob de marter, kaze I feared dere ain' time fer +'locutions." + +"Now you're right at least, uncle. I must set my house in order. I must +write to my wife." + +"Marse cap'n, you gwine on a journey. Wa't yo' wife wish mo'n dat you +git ready fer de journey? She tek dat journey too, bime by soon, en you +bof be at de same deah home." + +"Ah, uncle, if that could be true, the sting of death would be gone." + +"Sut'ny, marse cap'n. Didn't I know dat ar w'en I mek bole ter speak? +Now des tink on hit, mars'r. Yere I is, an ole ign'rant slabe, kyant +eben read de good Book. De worl' full ob poor folks lak me. Does you +tink ef de Lawd mean ter sabe us't all He'd do hit in some long +rounerbout way dat de wise people kyant mos' fin' out? No, bress He +gret big heart, He des stan' up en say to all, 'Come ter me en I gib +you res'." + +"Yes, uncle, but I haven't gone to Him. I don't know how to go, and +what's more, I don't feel it's right to go now at the last minute as if +driven by fear." + +"Now, cap'n, fergib de ole man fer sayin' you all wrong. Haint young +mistis been breakin' her lil gyurlish heart ober yo' trouble? Am de +Lawd dat die fer us wuss'n a graven himage? Doan He feel fer you mo'n +we kin? I reck'n you got des de bes' kin' of prep'ration ter go ter +'Im. You got trouble. How He act toward folks dat hab trouble--ev'y +kin' ob trouble? Marse cap'n, I des KNOWS dat de Lawd wanter brung you +en yo' wife en dat lil Sadie I year you talk 'bout all togeder whar He +is. I des KNOWS hit. Hit's 'spearance." + +"Miss Baron," said the captain calmly, "Isn't it wonderful? This old +slave says he knows what, if true, is worth more to me than all the +accumulated wisdom of the world. What do you think of it?" + +"It seems as if it ought to be true," she answered earnestly. "I never +so felt before that it OUGHT to be true. We never should have been +born, or given such love as you have for your dear ones, if it isn't +true. Oh, to be just snatched hopelessly away from such ties is +horrible. My whole soul revolts at it." + +"See here, uncle," said the captain almost sternly, "I'm not going to +groan, sigh, weep, and take on in any of your camp-meeting tactics. I +am before the last great enemy and I know how to meet him like a man +and soldier, if not a Christian. I'm willing to do anything not +insincere or unmanly to meet my wife and children again. If my thought +and feeling for them at this time isn't right, then I've been created +wrong." + +"Marse cap'n, I'se seen de mos' po'ful feelin's en miseries ob de +'victed ones vaperate lak de maunin' dew en I'se larn in my ole age dat +de sabin po'r ain' in we uns, ner in any ting we is ob oursefs ner in +w'at we po' lil chil'n of yearth kin do. De Lawd say, He come ter seek +en sabe de loss; I wuz loss. De wuss ting He enemies cud speak agin 'Im +wuz, Dis man 'ceiveth sinners: I wuz a sinner. I des arst 'Im ter sabe +me, en He did. I des trus' 'Im fer life en death en does de bes' I kin. +Dat's all. But hit's 'SPEARANCE, marse cap'n, en I KNOWS hit. Now, +marse cap'n, w'at fo' you go way in the de dark, you dunno whar? De +bressed Lawd say, I go ter prepare a place fer you. Now you des let +young mistis write ter yo' folks dat you gwine wid Jesus ter dat ar +place en dat you gwine ter wait fer dem dar en welcome urn home bime by +des lak dey wud welcome you home way up Norf. Dat ud comf't em a heap, +en hit's all true. I knows hit. Young mistis berry sens'ble w'en she +say we neber orter be bawn ef hit ain' true." + +The officer looked fixedly at the tearful, wrinkled face for a few +moments and then said firmly, "I'll soon find out if it's true. If I do +this thing at all, I'll do it in the only way I can. Miss Baron, you +may write to my wife that I accept her faith. It's much the same as +Uncle Lusthah's--too simple and unphilosophical, I used to think; but +it meets my need now. I can't deal even with God in any other way than +this. The mind he has endowed me with revolts at anything else as +hypocritical. I can and do say that I will accept in grateful, +downright sincerity the terms which Uncle Lusthah accepted, which my +wife accepted. I submit myself to His will. I do this calmly, as I +would give my hand and pledge my faith to a man, and I cannot do any +more. Now He may do with me as He pleases. Miss Baron, you do the same +and you'll be just as good--yes, a much better Christian than I, for +I've done rough, bad things in my life. Don't you wait till you're in +my extremity. I must say that I have a wretched sense of self-contempt +that I am looking Heavenward with dying eyes. There's only one thing +that reconciles me to it--the words 'Our Father.' God knows that I'd +open my arms to my little Sadie under any possible circumstances. What +the old man here says must be true, for to trifle with or mock a man in +my position presupposes a degree of malignity inconceivable. I ask +nothing better than that Christ will receive me as I would receive my +child from world-wide wandering." + +"Ah, bress He big gret heart," cried Uncle Lusthah, dropping on his +knees, "w'en yo' fader en yo' moder forsook you den de Lawd took you +up." + +"Miss Baron, I wish to think a while and learn from Borden just how +much time I have left. You will come to me again?" + +"Yes, whenever you wish." + +"Well, then, good-by for a short time. Thank God for sending me such an +angel of death. You stay with me, uncle, till I send you for Borden." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +GLIMPSES OF MOODS AND MINDS + + +Dr. Borden's predictions were verified in regard to his friend and +patient, Captain Hanfield, but not before the officer had dictated +calm, farewell letters to his wife and "little Sadie." To Miss Lou were +left the serene, smiling likenesses, a grave to be cared for beside +Yarry's, and a memory that could never be blotted out. She was kept +from witnessing the terrible convulsions which began soon after her +interview, but was present at his death and held his hand until it was +cold and lifeless. + +Within two weeks after the battle very few patients were left, and all +these were to go with Dr. Ackley on the following day, Lieutenant Waldo +excepted. He was still too weak to be moved. His mother had become so +skilful in the care of his wound that she would be competent, with the +help of an aged resident practitioner, to carry him through his +convalescence. Mrs. Whately now spent most of the time on her +plantation, her presence being needed there to remedy the effects, as +far as possible, of the harsh measures at first adopted by her son. It +was discouraging effort. The strong ebb tide in the old order of things +had set in even far from the Union lines, and only the difficulty in +reaching them prevented a general stampede of the negroes. As it was, +two or three of her best hands would steal away from time to time, and +run the gantlet of many dangers in their travel by night Northward. Her +attempts to mollify and render her slaves contented were more than +counterbalanced by the threats and severity of her son, who was too +vacillating to adopt a fixed policy, and arbitrary by nature. + +Her chief hope for him still centred in Miss Lou, upon whom his +thoughts were fixed with a steadfastness and earnestness which his +mother fondly believed would win her eventually, "I'm sure," she +reasoned, "Captain Maynard has made no deep impression. He is about to +depart. All will soon be gone, and the old monotony of plantation life +will be resumed. After what has happened Louise will not be able to +endure this. Madison will return, older and wiser from experience and +she, with nothing else to occupy her thoughts will react, like all +impulsive natures, from her opposition. Next to winning her or her +favor from the start, he has scored a success in waking a hostility far +removed from fatal indifference." + +She maintained an affectionate manner toward her niece and never +discussed the hope she entertained and expectation of calling her +daughter. In truth, she had won the girl's respect and goodwill in a +very high degree. She had been a kind and successful nurse among the +wounded, confining her efforts chiefly to the Confederates. She had +also been a dignified lady in all the scenes they had passed through. +Her weakness was her son, yet the girl was compelled to admit that it +was the weakness of love. In seeking to bring about the detested union +a motherly heart and feeling toward her had ever been apparent. + +The girl was already becoming depressed by a presentiment of the dull, +stagnant days to come. Scoville had been lost in the great outside, +unknown world completely. She was suffering from reaction after the +strong excitements and fatigues of her experience. Her two lovers, +remaining on the scene, possessed a sort of goading interest which +compelled her to think of them, but she contemplated their near +departure without regret. Nothing in her nature answered to their +looks, words and evident desires. She felt that she would as soon marry +one as the other, and that she would rather be buried beside Captain +Hanfield and take the journey of which Uncle Lusthah had quaintly +spoken than wed either. Yet in her lassitude she feared that she could +now be compelled to marry either or any one if enough active force was +employed, so strangely had ebbed her old fearless spirit. + +It were with a kind of wondering pity that she looked at Maynard and +saw the evidences of an honest, ardent attachment. "Why does he feel +so?" she asked herself. "I have done nothing for him, given no +encouragement, and would not care if I never saw him again. I merely +wish him well, as I do so many others. Why can't he see this, and just +act on the truth? He says he is coming to see me every chance he gets +and tries to make me feel that he'll never give me up. Perhaps if I +should let him speak plainly he would see how useless it all would be." + +Circumstances apparently favored the half-formed purpose. Languid from +the heat of the day, she went out on the piazza after supper, sat down +on the upper step and leaned against a rose-entwined pillar. Maynard +was entranced by the picture she made and promptly availed himself of +the opportunity. Every one else had disappeared except Zany, of whom +glimpses could be caught through the open windows of the supper-room; +but she did not count. Sitting on a lower step so as to be in a measure +at her feet Maynard began. + +"Miss Baron, I am thinking very sadly, if you are not, over the fact +that I am to go away in the morning." + +"Yes," she replied, half-consciously ignoring his personal view, "the +old house and plantation will soon be as quiet and deserted as before." + +"Do you regret this?" + +"I scarcely know. I am very tired and feel sad over all that has +happened. Perhaps I'll feel differently by and by, when I've rested and +had time to think." + +"Oh, Miss Baron, if you knew how earnestly I hope to be remembered in +those thoughts, to give you something definite to think of." + +She had scarcely the energy to check him, the thought occurring more +than once, "I might just as well let him speak his mind and see how +vain his hope is." + +"You have not given me encouragement," he resumed. "You have seemed too +preoccupied, sad or weary; but this phase of your life will pass away. +Our glorious cause must soon be crowned with success. If I survive, may +I not hope that when I come again you will give me a hearing, a chance? +I can be patient, even though not patient by nature. I will do all that +a man--" + +"Captain," interrupted the girl, at last, "I suppose, from the books +I've read, I should make some fine speeches about the honor you are +bestowing on me, and all that. I'm too tired and sad for anything +conventional and appropriate. I'm just going to answer you like a +simple, honest girl. One of my chief reasons for sadness is that you +feel as you do. I see no reason for it. I'm glad you say I've given you +no encouragement, I know I have not. Why should you care so for me when +I do not and cannot respond at all? I do sincerely wish you well, but +it seems to me that it should be enough for a man when a girl listens +to such words as yours in weary sadness only." + +"It may be hard indeed for a man to recognize this truth, Miss Baron, +but I am not speaking of the present--of the future rather. There has +been much to make you sad and weary. Your very youth and high spirit +will soon lead you to react from your present depression. Let me speak +of the future. Please let me fill that with hope for you and for me." + +"Oh, I don't know about the future. For some reason I dread even to +think of it." + +At this instant Whately galloped to the piazza, threw the reins on the +neck of his horse as he dismounted, evidently not caring in his +perturbation where the animal wandered. He was in a bad mood, for +things were not going smoothly at home. The attitude of his rival at +his cousin's feet stung him into a jealous rage and he remarked +bitterly as he strode past them, "Don't let my inopportune arrival +disturb this charming tete-a-tete. In fact, I had no business to remain +at my uncle's home at all, even at the call of duty, after Captain +Maynard signified his intention of making it the long-continued field +of his operations." + +Cut to the quick, Maynard sprang to his feet, but Miss Lou merely made +a gesture of annoyance and went to her room. + +"Lieutenant Whately," began the captain in low, stern tones, "were I +not in some sense a guest, even though an unwelcome one--" + +"You are no guest of mine, sir, nor indeed of anyone that I am aware +of." + +"Thank you. I was haunted by some restraining consideration of Southern +hospitality, but if I am free--" + +"You are perfectly free, sir," again interrupted Whately, dropping his +hand on the hilt of his sabre. "Let me also add that a Southern +gentleman would not have made Southern hospitality a subterfuge for an +opportunity to press a suit repugnant to the family concerned. We have +never failed in hospitality to any invited guest." + +"Your words are offensive, sir." + +"I mean them to be so." + +"Very well; then I have but one answer. I challenge you. Choose your +weapons, hour and place of meeting." + +"Revolvers, if you please. Meet me back of the grove yonder, at the +right of the house, at daybreak." + +"I'll not fail you. There is no need of seconds in this affair, I take +it, and we are to keep our purpose secret. Dr. Ackley would interfere +and the family be distressed were our intentions known." + +"No one need know till our shots are heard and then it will be too late +to interfere. I insist that we fight to the death." + +"Certainly, if that's your wish. Good-evening, sir." + +"Good-evening," and Whately went to his room to remove the dust of his +ride and prepare for the late supper which his aunt had ordered for him. + +This lady, hearing his step in the hall, hastened downstairs and called +for Zany. "Yassum," came in quick response. The young woman emerged +from the dining-room looking as stolid as a wooden image. + +"Attend to Lieutenant Whately's supper and see that he has the best you +can get for him." + +"Yassum." + +Mrs. Baron then repaired to her husband's office, where he and Surgeon +Ackley were closeted, making up the accounts relating to the occupation +of the property for hospital purposes. Maynard lighted his pipe, and +strolled out into the grounds. He was in a cold, deadly mood of anger. +There was just enough sting of truth in Whately's words to make the +insult unendurable. Added to this was intense exasperation that he had +been interrupted at a critical and, as he believed, a hopeful, moment. +He had seen that the girl was not ready for his suit or that of any one +at present, but was quite sure he could have won permission to renew +his addresses in the future. Now--well, he was ready enough to fight to +the death and utterly oblivious of the still, serene beauty of the +night. He appeared but a shadow as he walked quietly under the trees, +but it was a shadow of death. An hour since and he was but a passionate +youth, full of ardent love and longing, vaguely inspired, under the +influence of his passion, toward all noble enthusiasms. At the touch of +a few words his heart overflowed with bitterness, and a cold, +vindictive hate rendered the hours interminable till he could aim a +bullet at his rival's heart, reckless meantime that another bullet was +aimed at his. + +In his walk he passed the tent in which Lieutenant Waldo and his mother +were talking quietly of their home and the prospects of maintaining it +during the troublous times clearly foreseen. + +"Mother," said Waldo, "have you any definite idea as to the success of +our arms?" + +"No, Vincent, nor do I suppose we can at this remote plantation. We +only know that there is heavy fighting at various points and great +successes are claimed; but it seems very hard to get at the real truth. +Our chief confidence must be in the sacredness and justness of our +cause and in the prayers of so many sincere hearts to the God of +justice. In giving you, my son, to our country, when you were scarcely +more than a boy, you can understand why I feel that such sacrifices +cannot be in vain. Now that I have watched beside you in your patient, +heroic suffering, the feeling becomes a conviction that our sunny land +must be enriched and blessed for all time by such blood as yours." + +"Well, mother, I do not begrudge my blood or my life. You have taught +me that to die is gain; but almost hourly I pray for recovery that I +may soon rejoin my regiment and do more toward achieving our liberty. +How strange it is that men of the North should be animated by much the +same spirit! Miss Baron has been showing me the lovely faces of the +wife and daughter of a Federal officer who died heroically a few days +ago. She says the war is all a dreadful mystery to her." + +"I am beginning to understand her better," replied Mrs. Waldo musingly, +"for to some extent she has given me her confidence. If she had been +brought up as you have been she would feel as you do. I can see why her +uncle and aunts have not won her sympathy, while her cousin's conduct +has been well calculated to alienate her. I can also understand why the +negroes on the place have so enlisted her sympathy. I do not think they +have been treated very harshly, but it is too clear that they are +regarded simply as property, and Mr. Baron has allowed himself to be +represented among them by a brutal, coarse-fibred man. If she had been +your sister and had witnessed the spirit in which our slaves are +governed and cared for she would feel as you do, not vindictive hatred +of the North--such feeling is not permissible toward any of the human +race--but a stern, lofty spirit of independence, such as our fathers +had in separating from England." + +"Well, she is a brave, good girl, mother, and has been as kind to me as +if I were her brother." + +"Very true, Vincent. She is a remarkably good girl for one brought up +as she has been. She has told me much about her past repressed, unhappy +life. I hope she may visit us some day." + +Meantime, the subject of this conversation sat at her window looking +out into the warm, fragrant, starlit night. The words of Maynard, the +passionate resentment of her cousin toward the young captain merely +added to the heavy burden of experience which had been crowded into the +past few weeks. "Oh," she sighed longingly, "if I could only see Allan +Scoville! He is so strong, unselfish and restful. I could tell him +everything. He would know just how weary and depressed I am, nor would +he want me to do what I can't, what I'm not ready for. Oh, what a +blessed thing it would be to have a friend near who wasn't always +exacting or expecting or passionately urging something or other. I +wouldn't need urging in his case, and would even know his hand would be +the first to restrain me for my own good. Where is he now? Oh, he'd be +here if my thoughts could bring him, yet my two lovers would be eager +to take his life. Lovers indeed! Well, it's a strange, tangled up world +that I'm learning about." + +Meantime Zany, bursting with her secret, was unable to tell any one, +and not yet sure she wished to tell. For one at her point of +civilization her motives were a little complex and sophisticated. In a +vicarious way she felt not a little the elation of many a high-born +dame that two men were about to fight over her young mistress, +regarding it as an undeniable compliment. She was also inclined to +indulge the cynical thought that it might save Miss Lou, Scoville, +Chunk--indeed, all in whom she was interested--further trouble if, as +she phrased it, "Dat ar young cap'n gib Mad Whately he way onst too +of'un. He des natchelly bawn ter mek folks trouble en I reck'n we git +on wid he spook bettah ner hesef." + +Whately would not have relished his supper if he had divined the +thoughts of his waitress. As it was, he had little appetite for it and +paid his respects chiefly to his uncle's decanter. He felt no need of +false courage, but was irritated and depressed over the general aspect +of affairs, and here was an easy way of raising his spirits. By the +time he was ready to dispense with Zany's services he was so affected +by his potations that his aunt, who had appeared on the scene, hastened +his retirement. He told the sergeant of the guard to have him called at +daybreak and was soon asleep. + +The indomitable housekeeper, Mrs. Baron, kept the girl busy until +everything was put away and the dining-room in perfect order. Meantime +Zany concluded that she had better tell Miss Lou. Her young mistress +might blame her severely if she did not, and keeping such a secret over +night would also be a species of torture. + +When she was dismissed she watched her opportunity, whisked up to Miss +Lou's room, and was glad to find the girl still awake. + +"Oh, Miss Lou," she whispered breathlessly, "I des got de orfulest, +quarest news, en I darsn't kep hit eny longer. Marse cap'n en Mad +Whately gwine ter fight 'bout you fo' sun-up." + +"What!" + +"Dey sut'ny is. Dey gwine ter fight one anoder 'bout you wid +'volvers--fight ter de deth dey said. I yeared dem troo de dine-room +winders." + +"Oh, Zany! this is horrible!" + +"Hit mout be wuss. Yo' cousin hot fer hit. He say orful tings ter marse +cap'n who didin't gib back a inch en sez, sez he, 'I challing you. +Shoose yo' weapons en place ob meetin'. Dem he berry words. Den yo' +cousin shose 'volvers en de far side ob de grobe up dar en said 'we +fight ter de deth.' Deth useter seem orful, Miss Lou, but sech a heap +ob mens die dat ef Mad Whately des set on dyin', w'y not let 'im hab he +way? Dat orter suit 'im bes'. I reck'n he mek we uns en Marse Scoville +en Chunk berry lil trouble arter he dead." + +"Zany, Zany, that's a dreadful way to look at it. You should know +better. This meeting must be prevented. Where is my cousin?" + +"He des sound a sleep ez a log," and she made it clear that there would +be no use in trying to remonstrate with him. + +"Where's Captain Maynard?" + +"Dunno. Sleepin' in he tent too, s'pose. Hit too late now, Miss Lou, +ter do anyting fo' mawnin'." + +The girl thought deeply a few moments and then muttered, "Shame on them +both!" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, you doan reckermember dey payin' you a big +compelment." + +"I shall tell them to their faces how I regard this outrage rather. +Still, for their sakes, as well as my own, I will keep the affair quiet +if I can. Zany, you must stay with me to-night and at the earliest dawn +we must watch them and be on the ground as soon as they are." + +"Berry well, Miss Lou. I lak not'n bettah." + +"Go to sleep, then. I won't sleep to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE DUELLISTS VANQUISHED + + +Zany's tidings brought the spur of a great necessity to Miss Lou's +jaded spirit, and as her waking thoughts dwelt on the proposed +encounter, a slow, deep anger was kindled in her mind. "What right have +they to do such a thing?" she asked herself over and over again. Even +more than at, the barbarism of the act she revolted at its injustice. +"I never wronged either of them," she repeated, "and here they are +recklessly bent on what would imbitter my life. The idea of being +fought about! Two animals couldn't do worse." + +And so the long night was passed in bitter, painful thoughts. With the +dawning the bird's innocent songs jarred on her overwrought senses. She +looked out of the window by which she had kept her vigil, inhaled the +dewy freshness of the air and then bathed her tired, hot eyes. + +"To think that men would disturb the peace of such a morning by their +miserable, causeless hate! Where is Madison's love for his mother? Why +don't they remember the distress and horror that would follow their mad +act? Zany, wake up. It is time we were on the watch." + +Even as she spoke there was a heavy step in the outer hall, that of the +sergeant coming to wake Lieutenant Whately. Miss Lou glanced from her +window in time to see Captain Maynard striding from his tent toward the +grove which would screen the combatants from observation. Waiting a few +moments for the sergeant to retire she and Zany slipped down and out +before Whately left his room. They reached the grove from the back +entrance of the house, and concealing themselves in some copse-wood, +watched for Whately's coming. He soon appeared, walking rapidly as if +fearing to be behind time. He was in fact some moments late, having +stopped to advise Perkins of the affair on hand. He passed so near his +cousin's leafy screen that she could look into his flushed, troubled +face and could hear him mutter, "Curse it all! I'm forever getting into +scrapes." + +For the first time since Zany's news, pity overcame her anger and she +murmured, "Poor spoiled boy! It's well for you and your mother that I'm +here." + +Swiftly she followed him through the still dusky grove, keeping the +boles of trees between herself and his form. Beyond the grove was an +open grassy field, facing the east, where the light was distinct. +Clearly outlined against the rose-tinted horizon was the figure of +Maynard standing with his arms folded and his back toward them, +apparently lost in deep thought. + +"Well, sir," said Whately sternly, "I suppose I should asked your +pardon for keeping you waiting." + +"I reckon there's plenty of time for the purpose of our meeting," +replied Maynard coolly. "Since you are the challenged party and we have +no seconds, arrange the matter to suit yourself." + +Whately was about to pace off the ground when a girl's voice rang out +clearly, "Stop that!" + +"Miss Baron!" cried Maynard, taking off his hat. + +Whately threw back his head proudly. This was better than he had +dreamed, for now his cousin would be compelled to recognize his high +and haughty spirit. A glance at the girl's pale, stern face as she +stepped out between them was not altogether reassuring. She glanced +coldly from one to the other for a moment and then said firmly, "I have +something to say about this affair." + +"Pardon me, Miss Baron," Maynard began, bowing, "if I am compelled to +disabuse your mind. This is a little matter between Lieutenant Whately +and myself. I am surprised beyond measure that he has invited you to be +present." + +"That's a lie," thundered Whately, drawing his weapon from his belt. + +"Stop, both of you," cried the girl. "Captain Maynard, my cousin has +not invited me. Your purpose of meeting was discovered by accident and +revealed to me late last night--too late for me to do anything then. +All the long night I have sat at my window that I might be in time to +keep you from disgracing yourselves and me." + +"Great heavens! Miss Baron, you do me injustice," cried Maynard. "I +have been insulted. I never thought of wronging you. Perish such a +thought!" + +"Evidently neither of you has thought of me, nor cared for me or +others. Yourselves, your own vindictive feelings have engrossed you +wholly, yet I know I'm the innocent cause of this brutal encounter, and +the world would know me to be the cause whether it believed me innocent +or not. I tell you plainly that if you fight I shall brand you both +unworthy the name of gentlemen and I shall proclaim to all your outrage +to me." + +"Outrage to you, Miss Baron?" said Maynard, with a bitter, incredulous +laugh. + +"Yes," she replied, turning upon him fiercely. "What can you think of +me when you fight about me like a wild beast?" + +"I am prepared to fight Lieutenant Whately on entirely different +grounds," he replied, his face flushing hotly at her words. + +"You cannot do it, sir. I would know, and so would all, that I was the +cause. What right, sir, have you to imbitter my life, to fill my days +and nights with horror? I never wronged you." + +"But, Miss Baron, in all ages such encounters have been common enough +when a man received ample provocation, as I have." + +"So much the worse for the ages then. I say that you both were about to +commit a selfish, cowardly, unmanly act that would have been an outrage +in its cruelty to an innocent girl, to whom you had been making false +professions of regard." + +"Now, by the God who made me, that's not true, Miss Baron." + +"Cousin Lou, you are beside yourself," cried Whately. + +"Miss Baron," said Maynard, coming to her side and speaking with great +earnestness, "I can endure any charge better than your last. No man +ever declared truer love than I to you." + +"I can tell you of a man who has declared truer love," she replied, +looking him steadily in the eyes. + +"Who in God's name?" he asked savagely. + +"Any man who thought more of the girl than of himself," she answered +with passionate pathos in her tones, "any man who considered her before +his own reckless, ungovernable feelings, who would save her heart from +sorrow rather than gratify his anger. Any man who asks, What is best +for the woman I love? instead of What's my humor? what will please me? +Suppose you both had carried out your savage impulses, and lay on this +ground, wounded or dead, what would be said at the house there about +me? What would be your mother's fate, Madison, that you might gratify a +causeless spite? Have you no home, Captain Maynard, no kindred who +would always curse my name? If you had died like the brave men who lie +in yonder graves your friends would ever speak your name proudly; but +even I, all inexperienced, know the world well enough to be only too +sure, they would hang their heads and say you flung away your life for +a heartless girl who was amusing herself at your expense. Fight if you +will, but if you do, I pledge you my word that I will never willingly +look upon either of you again, living or dead!" + +She was about to turn away when Maynard rushed before her exclaiming, +"Miss Baron, I beg your pardon, I ask your forgiveness. I never saw +this act in the light you place it." + +"There, cousin," added Whately with a sort of shamefaced laugh, "I'm +hanged if you aren't in the right and I in the wrong again. As you say, +the bullet that killed me might do worse by mother, and I should have +thought of that. As for you, we didn't think you'd look at it this way. +There's plenty of girls who'd think it a big feather in their caps to +have men fight about 'em." + +"I can't believe it." + +"It's true, nevertheless," said Maynard earnestly. "What can I do to +right myself in your eyes?" + +"If you wish to be men whose friendship I can value, shake hands and +use your weapons for your country. If you truly care for my good +opinion, forget yourselves long enough to find out what DOES please me +and not rush headlong into action I detest. Consider the rights, +feelings and happiness of others." + +"Well, Whately, what do you say?" asked Maynard with a grim laugh. "I +am ready to obey Miss Baron as I would my superior officer," and he +held out his hand. + +Whately took it with an answering laugh, saying, "There's nothing else +left us to do. After her words, we could no more fight each other than +shoot her." + +"Thank you. I--I--Zany," she faltered, turning deathly white. She would +have fallen had not her cousin sprung to her aid, supporting her to a +seat on a moss-grown log lying near. + +For a few moments the long strain and reaction proved too much for her, +and she sat, pale and panting, her head resting against Zany, who had +rushed from her covert. The young men were overwhelmed with compunction +and alarm, but she retained and silenced them by a gesture. "I'll +be--better--in a moment," she gasped. + +It proved but a partial giving way of her nervous force. In a few +moments she added, "Please go back to the house by different ways. No +one need know anything about this. No, don't call any one. I'll get +better faster if left with Zany. I beg you do as I ask and then my mind +will be at rest." + +"There, Miss Baron," said the remorseful Maynard, "I pledge you my word +I'll never fight a duel. I can prove my courage sufficiently against +the enemy." + +She smiled, held out her hand, which he carried to his lips and +reluctantly departed. + +"See here, Cousin Lou," said Whately impulsively, "I'm going to give +you an honest, cousinly kiss. I'm not so feather-headed as not to know +you've got us both out of a devil of a scrape." + +He suited the action to his words, and strode off in time to intercept +Perkins, who had the scent of a vulture for a battle. "We have arranged +the affair for the present," said the young officer curtly, "and won't +need any graves to-day. Keep mum about this." + +"I'll keep my mouth close enough till I kin begin ter bite on my own +account," muttered the overseer as he sullenly followed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +SAD TIDINGS + + +That morning Miss Lou stood on the veranda and bade farewell, one after +another, to those with whom she had been associated so strangely and +unexpectedly. There was an unwonted huskiness in Dr. Borden's voice, +and Ackley, usually so grim and prompt, held the girl's hand +lingeringly as he tried to make a joke about her defying him and the +whole Confederacy. It was a dismal failure. Regarding him with her +weary eyes, she said: + +"Doctor, you had wit enough and heart enough to understand and subdue +me. Haven't I minded you since?" + +"I'm a little afraid you'd still get the upper hand if you often looked +at me as you do now. I shall find out, however, if you will obey one +more order. Miss Baron, you MUST rest. Your pulse indicates unusual +exhaustion. You have tried to do too much, and I expect those young men +have been making such fierce and counter claims that you are all worn +out. Ah, if I had been only twenty years younger I would have won you +by a regular course of scientific love-making." + +"I don't know anything about science and wouldn't understand you. So it +is better as it is, for I do understand what a good, kind friend you've +been. You knew all the while that I was little more than an ignorant +child, yet your courtesy was so fine that you treated me like a woman. +I hope we shall meet again in brighter days. Yes, I will obey you, for +I feel the need of rest." + +"I shall come again and take my chances," said Maynard in parting. + +Mercurial Whately, forgetting his various troubles and experiences in +the excitement of change and return to active duty, bade her a rather +boisterous and good-hearted farewell. His mind was completely relieved +as to Maynard, and he did not dream of Scoville as a serious rival. + +"It's only a question of time," he thought, "and at present mother can +do the courting better than I can. When I return Lou will be so +desperately bored by her stupid life here as to be ready for any +change." + +The remaining patients looked at her and Mrs. Whately very wistfully +and gratefully, speaking reluctant adieus. When all were gone the girl, +feeling that she had reached the limit of endurance, went to her room +and slept till evening. It was the sleep of exhaustion, so heavy that +she came down to a late supper weak and languid. But youth is elastic, +the future full of infinite possibilities. Scoville's words haunted her +like sweet refrains of music. No matter how weary, perplexed and sad +she was, the certainty of her place in his thoughts and heart sustained +her and was like a long line of light in the west, indicating a +clearing storm. "He WILL come again," she often whispered to herself; +"he said he would if he had to come on crutches. Oh, he DOES love me. +He gave me his love that night direct, warm from his heart, because he +couldn't help himself. He thought he loved me before--when, by the run, +he told me of it so quietly, so free from all exaction and demands; but +I didn't feel it. It merely seemed like bright sunshine of kindness and +goodwill, very sweet and satisfying then. But when we were parting, +when his tones trembled so, when overcome, he lost restraint and +snatched me to HIS heart--then I learned that _I_, too, had a heart." + +If she had been given time this new heart-life, with thoughts and hopes +springing from it like flowers, would have restored her elasticity. +Scoville's manly visage, his eyes, so often mirthful, always kind, +would have become so real to her fancy that the pallid, drawn features +of the suffering, the dying and the dead, would have faded from her +memory. So would have faded also the various aspects of passion from +which she had shrunk, frightened by its hot breath. Her days would have +been filled with the beautiful, innocent dreams of a young girl's first +love so inspired as to cast out fear. + +But the ruthless Moloch of war could not permit anything so ideal, so +heavenly, as this. + +Mrs. Waldo came down from the apartment to which her son had been +removed and joined the girl on the veranda. "Ah!" she exclaimed, "I +have taken solid comfort all day in the thought that you were sleeping, +and now you are still resting. I want to see the color in your cheeks +again, and the tired look all gone from your eyes before we go." + +"You don't know how I dread to have you go," replied Miss Lou. "From +the first your son did more for me than I could do for him. The smile +with which he always greeted me made me feel that nothing could happen +beyond remedy, and so much that was terrible was happening." + +"Well, my child, that's the faith I am trying to cherish myself and +teach my boy. It is impossible for you to know what a black gulf opened +at my feet when my noble husband was killed early in the war. Such +things, happily, are known only by experience, and many escape. Then +our cause demanded my only son. I face death with him in every battle, +every danger. He takes risks without a thought of fear, and I dare not +let him know the agony of my fear. Yet in my widowhood, in the sore +pressure of care and difficulty in managing a large plantation in these +times, I have found my faith in God's love adequate to my need. I +should still find it so if I lost my boy. I could not escape the +suffering, but I would not sorrow as without hope." + +"How much I would give for the certainty of such a faith!" said Miss +Lou sadly. "Sometimes, since Captain Hanfield died, I think I feel it. +And then--oh, I don't know. Things might happen which I couldn't meet +in your spirit. If I had been compelled to marry my cousin I feel that +I should have become hard, bitter and reckless." + +"You poor, dear little girl! Well, you were not compelled to marry him. +Don't you see? We are saved from some things and given strength to bear +what does happen. Don't you worry about yourself, my dear. Just look up +and trust. Happily, the sun of God's love shines on just the same, +unaffected by the passing clouds of our feelings and experiences. He +sees the end and knows all about the peaceful, happy eternity before +us. You dear, worn-out little child! His love is ever about you like my +arms at this moment," and the old lady drew the girl to her in an +impulse of motherly tenderness. + +"Oh, Mrs. Waldo, you make me feel what it is to have no mother," sobbed +Miss Lou. + +"Well, my dear, that's your heavy cross. Sooner or later, in some form, +a cross burdens every human soul, too often many crosses. All I ask of +you is not to try to bear them alone. See how faith changed everything +for Captain Hanfield in his extremity. He is now in the better home, +waiting for his dear ones." + +"I can never forget what faith has done for you and your son, Mrs. +Waldo. Surgeon Ackley said that your son's absolute quiet and +cheerfulness of mind during the first critical days saved his life." + +"Yes, I know that," Mrs. Waldo replied with her low, sweet laugh. +"Faith is often more useful in helping us to live than in preparing us +to die. It saved my life, too, I'm sure, after my husband died. I had +no right to die then, for Vincent and, far more, my daughters, still +needed me." + +For a time they sat on the piazza steps in silence, the old lady +keeping her arm caressingly about the girl, whose head drooped on the +motherly bosom overflowing with sympathy. Only the semi-tropical sounds +of night broke the stillness. The darkness was relieved by occasional +flashes along the horizon from a distant thunder-shower. Miss Lou +thought, "Have I ever known a peace so deep and sweet as this?" + +There was a hasty, yet stealthy step along the hall to the door, yet +the girl had no presentiment of evil. The warm, brooding, fragrant +darkness of the night was not more undisturbed than her mind. + +"Miss Lou," said Zany in a loud whisper. + +What a shock came with that brief utterance! A flash of lightning +direct from the sky could not have produced such sudden dread and +presentiment of trouble. Truly, a woman listens more with her heart +than her ears, and even in Zany's whisper there was detected a note of +tragedy. + +After an instant Miss Lou faltered, "What is it, Zany?" + +"Ef you gwine ter yo' room soon I des he'p you undress." + +How well the girl knew that the faithful slave meant other and less +prosaic help! She rose at once, kissed Mrs. Waldo good-night and +excused herself. When Zany had lighted the candle her scared, troubled +face revealed at once that she had tidings of dire import. + +Miss Lou seized the girl with a grip which hurt her arm, demanding, +"Have you heard anything about--about Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Now, Miss Lou, you gotter be brabe en not look at me dat away. Kaze ef +you does, w'at I gwine ter do? I kyant stan' it nohow." + +"Oh! oh!" Miss Lou gasped, "wait a moment, not yet--wait. I must get +breath. I know, I know what's coming. Chunk is back and--and--O God, I +can't bear it, I cannot, I cannot!" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, des lis'n. P'raps tain ez bad ez you tink. P'raps +w'en Chunk 'splain all you see tain ez bad. Hi! Miss Lou, you musn't +took on so," for the girl was wringing her hands and rocking back and +forth in agony. "Folks s'picion dat Chunk yere en dat ud be de eend ob +him, sho. He ain' seen Marse Scoville daid sho. He on'y see 'im fall. +Chunk wanter see you en he mighty skeery 'bout hit, kaze ef Perkins get +on he track he done fer. He ain' see he granny yit en he darsn't come +dar twel hit late. He larn ter toot lak a squinch-owl frum Marse +Scoville en he tole me dat when he come agin he toot. I nigh on run my +legs off follerin' up tootin's o' nights, fer dey wuz on'y pesky +squinch-owls arter all. Dis eb'nin' I year a toot dat flutter my heart +big en I knowed 'twuzn't no squinch-owl dis time, sho," and so Zany ran +on in her canny shrewdness, for she perceived she was gaining Miss +Lou's attention and giving time for recovery from the blow. + +Miss Lou had a despairing conviction that Chunk would not have returned +alone unless his master was dead, but her mind quickly seized upon the +element of uncertainty and she was eager to see the negro. + +"We mus' wait, we sut'ny mus', twel Chunk kin creep ter he granny's +cabin." + +"I can't wait, Zany. It wouldn't be best, either for me or Chunk. It's +not very late yet, and I could visit Aun' Jinkey without exciting +remark if you go with me. It's too dark for Chunk to be seen and I'd +protect him with my life. I must get better ground for hope or my heart +will break. Pretend I wish a glass of water and see if we can't slip +out now." + +This Zany did, discovering that Mrs. Baron was with her husband in his +office and that Mrs. Waldo had returned to her son's room. + +In a few moments Miss Lou was sitting by Aun' Jinkey and tremblingly +telling her fears. Meanwhile Zany scouted around to insure immunity +from observation. + +"You po', po' chile!" groaned Aun' Jinkey. "I wuz a-hopin' dat now you +hab a time ob peace en quietness, en you des gwine ter be s'pended +'twixt hebin en yearth." + +"Oh, I fear he's dead, my heart tells me he's dead. Oh, mammy, mammy, +how can God be so cruel? I don't know who caused this war or who's to +blame, but I feel now as if I could TORTURE them." + +"I'se feared dat ain' de right speret, honey." + +"How can one have the right spirit when mocked by such a hope as I've +had? It needn't have happened. Oh, Mrs. Waldo, I could tell you NOW I'm +no Christian at all. I say it needn't have happened. And then think how +Uncle Lusthah prayed!" + +"Chunk down dar by de run, Miss Lou," whispered Zany. "I lis'n wid all +my years en eyes." + +"Miss Lou, I'se yere in de shadder ob dis bush," Chunk called softly. + +"Tell me everything." + +"Darsn't twel I feels mo' safe, Miss Lou. Kin on'y say now Marse +Scoville des dote on you en he ax questions 'bout you sence you lil +gyurl. Hun'erds ob times he say, 'Chunk, we go back some day, sho!' But +he do he duty brabe. I go wid 'im ev'ywhar en onst, des on de aige ob +night, he wuz ridin' long wid 'bout twenty ob he men en dis ting +happen. We didn't tink any Rebs roun' en I'd been kep' back tryn' ter +git a chicken fer mars'r's supper. Ez I riz a hill, ridin' right smart +I see our folks goin' easy en car'less inter a woods. I seed 'em all ez +plain ez eber see anybody, en Marse Scoville ride at de haid. Sudden +dere was flash, flash, bang, bang, all troo de woods. Marse Scoville +fell right off he hoss, he sut'ny did. Den lots ob Johnnies run in de +road fore en hind our mens. I see dere wuz no chaince fer me ter do any +ting but git away en lil chaince fer dat, fer two Rebs on horses come +tarin' arter me. Ef hit hadn't come dark sudden en my hoss wuzn't a +flyer I'se been cotched sho. 'Fo' de Lawd, Miss Lou, dat all I know." + +"He's dead," said the girl in a hoarse whisper. + +"I orful feared he is, Miss Lou," assented the matter-of-fact Chunk. +"De Rebs so neah w'en dey fiah, en Marse Scoville sut'ny did go off he +hoss sudden. I been a week gittin' yere en I neber git yere ef de +cullud people didn't he'p me long nights." + +The girl stood silent and motionless. Suddenly Zany grasped her hand +and whispered, "I yeared steps. Come ter de cabin. Be off, Chunk." + +They had scarcely reached Aun' Jinkey's door before a shadow approached +and the harsh voice of Perkins asked, "What's goin' on yere?" + +"My young mistis des seein' her mammy 'bout her clos," replied the +quick-witted Zany. + +"I thought I yeared voices down by the run." + +"Reck'n you bettah go see," said Zany in rather high tones. + +"What the dev--what makes yer speak so loud? a warnin'?" + +"Tain' my place ter pass wuds wid you, Marse Perkins. Dem I serbs doan +fin' fault." + +"I reckon Mr. Baron'll do mo'n find fault 'fore long. I bettah say +right yere en now I've got my orders 'bout that nigger Chunk. Nobody +kin save 'im ef caught. You've been followed before in your +night-cruisin' en you're lookin' fer some one. Ef there's trouble, Miss +Baron kyant say I didn't give warnin'. Now that the sogers is gone I'm +held 'sponsible fer what goes on," and he stalked away. + +He did not wish to come into an open collision with Miss Lou again if +he could help it--not at least while the Waldos remained. He had +concluded that by a warning he might prevent trouble, his self-interest +inclining him to be conservative. Confederate scrip had so lost its +purchasing power that in its stead he had recently bargained with Mr. +Baron for a share in the crops. Thus it happened that the question of +making a crop was uppermost in his mind. Until this object was secured +he feared to array the girl openly against him, since her influence +might be essential in controlling the negroes. If policy could keep +them at work, well and good; if the harshest measures seemed best to +him he was ready to employ them. + +Not only was he puzzled, but Zany also and Aun' Jinkey were sore +perplexed at Miss Lou's silence. She had stood motionless and unheeding +through the colloquy with the overseer, and now remained equally deaf +and unresponsive to the homely expressions of sympathy and +encouragement of the two women. They could not see her face, but +quickly felt the dread which anything abnormal inspires in the +simple-minded. Prone to wild abandon in the expression of their own +strong emotions, the silent, motionless figure of the young girl caused +a deeper apprehension than the most extravagant evidences of grief. + +"Aun' Jinkey," whispered Zany, "you mus' des he'p me git her to her +room." + +She went with them without word or sign. Their alarm was deepened when +they saw her deathly pale and almost rigid features by the light of her +candle. + +"Miss Lou, honey, speak ter yo' ole mammy. You broke my heart w'en you +look dat away." + +"I tell you he's dead," whispered the girl. + +"Dis ter'ble," groaned the old woman. "'Fo' de Lawd I dunno w'at er do." + +Zany felt instinctively that the girl was beyond their simple +ministrations and she was desperately afraid that if Mrs. Baron came +Chunk's presence would be revealed by words spoken unconsciously. She +and Aun' Jinkey promptly agreed that Mrs. Waldo was their only hope and +Zany flew to summon her. + +Fortunately the lady had not retired and she came at once. "Louise, +Miss Baron, what is the matter?" she asked in strong solicitude. + +"I tell you, he's dead," again whispered the girl, looking as if a +scene of horror were before her eyes. "The Rebs were so near when they +fired, and he fell off his horse sudden. Ch--" + +Quick as light Zany's hand was over the girl's mouth. The scared face +and trembling form of the young negress did not escape Mrs. Waldo's +quick eye. + +"Zany, what are you concealing?" she asked, sternly. "What does all +this mean?" + +"Dar now, misus," answered Aun' Jinkey with a certain simple dignity, +"we mus' des trus you. I'se yeared you a lubin' serbent ob de Lawd. Ef +you is, you am' gwine ter bring mis'ry on mis'ry. We mus' brung Miss +Lou roun' sudden 'fo' ole miss comes. He'p us git young mistis sens'ble +en I tell you eberyting I kin. Dere ain' not'n bade 'bout dis honey +lam' ob mine." + +They undressed the girl as if she were a helpless child and put her to +bed, and then Zany went downstairs to keep Mrs. Baron out of the way if +possible, at the same time listening intently for any signs of trouble +to Chunk. + +Miss Lou's over-taxed mind had given way, or rather was enchained by a +spell of horror to the scenes presented all too vividly in Chunk's bald +statement. Her nervous force had been too enfeebled and exhausted to +endure the shock of an impression so tremendous in its tragic reality +that her faculties had no power to go beyond it. Chunk's words had +brought her to a darkening forest and her dead lover, and there she +stayed. + +Seeing how unconscious she was Aun' Jinkey whispered enough in +explanation to enable Mrs. Waldo to comprehend the girl's condition. + +"We must make her sleep," said the lady decisively, and under her wise +ministrations the stricken girl soon looked almost as if she were dead. +Having kindly reassured and dismissed Aun' Jinkey, Mrs. Waldo watched +Miss Lou as she would have kept vigil with one of her own daughters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +CONSPIRATORS + + +Perkins was very ill at ease that night, from a haunting suspicion that +Chunk had returned. "Pesky nigger'll have a revolver, too, most likely, +en be crazy ter use it! Haint been 'mong them cussed Yanks fer +nothin'!" There was therefore little disposition for a night hunt after +one who knew every inch of the region besides being as stealthy and +agile as a cat. The blow from which his head still ached had a warning +significance. Coarse, ignorant and superstitious, he was an easy victim +to the tormenting fears of his own bad conscience. The graves by the +run and the extemporized cemetery further away had even greater terrors +for him than for Aun' Jinkey. Even his whiskey jug could not inspire +sufficient courage to drive him at night far from his own door. Though +both hating and despising Whately, yet the absence of the young officer +and his force was now deeply regretted, as they had lent a sense of +security and maintained the old order of existing authority. Now he was +thrown chiefly on his own responsibility, for Mr. Baron was broken and +enfeebled by what he had passed through. Avarice spurned Perkins to +carry through the crops in which he had an interest, while his hope of +revenge on Chunk, Scoville and Miss Lou also tended to keep him at a +post which he foresaw would be one of difficulty and danger. He had no +doubt that the Union officer and his freedman would return as soon as +they could, and for the chance of wreaking his vengeance he was the +more willing to remain in what he feared would be a spook-infested +region. "Onst squar with them, en crops realized," he muttered, "I kin +feel mo' comft'ble in other parts. To-morrer, ef Chunk en that scout's +in these diggin's I'll know hit." + +He was aware that the few dogs left on the plantation would make no +trouble for one they knew as well as they did Chunk, but he could rely +on the brute which he kept in his own quarters--a bloodhound, savage to +every one except his master. + +"Grip will smell out the cussed nigger in the mawnin' ef he's been +around," he assured himself before beginning his nightly debauch. +"What's mo', Miss Baron ain't so high en mighty now she knows I'm +comin' to be the rale boss on the place. She didn't even squeak w'en I +gin my warnin' ter night." + +Although Chunk knew his danger and was cautious, he was disposed on the +first night of his arrival to take some serious risks in order to carry +out the schemes dwelt upon during the long days of skulking home. +Naturally fearless he had acquired much of Scoville's soldier-like and +scouting spirit. The young officer had associated his dwarfish follower +with the service rendered by Miss Lou and was correspondingly grateful. +Chunk therefore received much consideration and good counsel by which +he had profited. Especially had Scoville scoffed at the negro's +superstitions, telling him that a fool afraid of spooks was neither fit +to be a free man nor a soldier. + +Since Chunk had no imagination and believed absolutely in his master +there were no more "spooks" for him, but he knew well the dread +inspired by that word on the plantation, and it was his purpose to +avail himself of these deep-rooted fears. He heard the colloquy between +Zany and the overseer very distinctly, but so far from running away, +dogged the latter home. Long knife and revolver were handy in his belt +and a heavy club was carried also. Since no soldiers were around, +Perkins was not to be dreaded in the night, when once his resting-place +was known. Crouching a long time in the shadow of some cedars Chunk +watched the overseer's window, but the light was not extinguished. A +sudden suspicion dawned on our watcher, causing him to chuckle low with +delight. "Hi! he des feared of sleepin' in de dark, en dat can'le bu'n +all night!" Gliding a few steps nearer brought to the quick ear a +resounding snore, accompanied with a warning growl from, the +bloodhound. "I des fix 'em bof fo' I froo," and the brawny hand +clutched with greater force the heavy club it carried. + +"Nex', some dem fellers mus' be tole ter he'p," and Chunk crept away to +the quarters. It was an easy task to waken and enlist Jute, well known +to be one of the most disaffected and fearless among the hands. The two +started off to a grove which none could approach without being seen, +and had a long whispered consultation. As a result, Jute returned to +the quarters and brought back three others whom he knew would enter +into the schemes on foot. By midnight Chunk had six of the braver and +more reckless spirits among the slaves bound to him by such uncouth +oaths as he believed would hold them most strongly. Then they returned +to their cabins while the chief conspirator (after again reconnoitring +the overseer's cottage) sought the vicinity of his granny's home. + +With mistaken kindness and much shrewdness Chunk had resolved upon a +course that would fill the old woman's life with terror. He adopted the +policy of not letting her know anything of his plans, so that she could +honestly say "I dunno" and prove the fact by her manner. He +instinctively felt that it would have a very bad look if superstitious +Aun' Jinkey remained composed and quiet through the scenes he purposed +to bring about. Her sincere and very apparent fears were to be his +allies. It was part of his scheme also that Zany should be very badly +frightened and made eager to run away with him as soon as he and the +others were ready for departure. + +By a preconcerted signal he summoned Aun' Jinkey who was much affected +by the thought that she was bidding her grandson a good-by which might +be final, but oppressed with fear, she was at the same time eager he +should go. Putting into his hands a great pone of corn bread she urged, +"Des light out, Chunk, light out sud'n. 'Twix de baid news en Miss Lou +en w'at Perkins do ef he cotch you, I des dat trembly, I kyant stan'." + +"Perkins asleep, granny. I'se off now fer good, but I comin' back fer +you some day." + +He disappeared, and too perturbed to think of sleep the old woman +tottered back to her chimney-corner. A few moments later she shuddered +at the hooting of a screech-owl, even though she surmised Chunk to be +the bird. Not so Zany, who answered the signal promptly. In a tentative +way Chunk sought to find if she was then ready to run away, but Zany +declared she couldn't leave Miss Lou "lookin ez if she wuz daid." +Thinking it might be long indeed before she saw her suitor again, she +vouchsafed him a very affectionate farewell which Chunk remorselessly +prolonged, having learned in his brief campaigning not to leave any of +the goods the gods send to the uncertainties of the future. When at +last he tore himself away, he muttered, "Speck she need a heap ob +scarin' en she git all she wants. Ef dat ar gyurl doan light out wid me +nex' time I ax her, den I eats a mule." And then Chunk apparently +vanished from the scene. + +The next morning Miss Lou awoke feeble, dazed and ill. In a little +while her mind rallied sufficiently to recall what had happened, but +her symptoms of nervous prostration and lassitude were alarming. Mrs. +Whately was sent for, and poor Mr. Baron learned, as by another +surgical operation, what had been his share in imposing on his niece +too severe a strain. Mrs. Waldo whispered to Miss Lou, "Your mammy has +told me enough to account for the shock you received and your illness. +Your secret is safe with me." + +Meantime the good lady thought, "It will all turn out for the best for +the poor child. Such an attachment could only end unhappily, and she +will get over it all the sooner if she believes the Yankee officer +dead. How deeply her starved nature must have craved sympathy and +affection to have led to this in such a brief time and opportunity!" + +As may be supposed, Aun' Jinkey had been chary of details and had said +nothing of Scoville's avowal. The mistress of the plantation looked +upon her niece's illness as a sort of well earned "judgment for her +perversity," but all the same, she took care that the strongest beef +tea was made and administered regularly. Mrs. Whately arrived and +became chief watcher. The stricken girl's physical weakness seemed +equalled only by a dreary mental apathy. There was scarcely sufficient +vital force left even for suffering, a fact recognized by the aunt in +loving and remorseful solicitude. + +By the aid of his bloodhound Perkins discovered that some one whom he +believed to be Chunk had been about, and he had secret misgivings as he +thought of the negro's close proximity. He had already learned what a +blow Chunk could deal and his readiness to strike. Taking the dog and +his gun he had cautiously followed the run into which the tracks led +until satisfied that the man he was following had taken horse and was +beyond pursuit. On his return he learned of Miss Lou's illness and so +ventured to threaten Aun' Jinkey. + +"Yer do know 'bout that cussed grandson o' yourn. Kyant fool Grip, en +he' smelled out all the nigger's tracks. Now ef yer don't tell the +truth I'll raise the kentry 'roun' en we'll hunt 'im to the eends of +the yearth." + +"Well den, Marse Perkins," admitted the terror-stricken woman, "I des +tell you de truf. Dat gran'boy ob min' des come ter say good-by. Marse +Scoville daid en Chunk mos' up Norf by dis time, he went away so sud'n." + +"That Yankee cuss dead?" cried Perkins in undisguised exultation. + +"Marse Scoville daid, shot of'n he hoss long way f'um yere," replied +Aun' Jinkey sorrowfully. "He kyant harm you ner you 'im no mo', ner +Chunk neider." + +"Why the devil didn't you let us know Chunk was here las' night?" + +"He my gran'son," was the simple reply. + +"Well he isn't Zany's grandson! Now I know w'at she was snoopin' round +nights fer, en Mrs. Baron'll know, too, 'fore I'm five minutes older." + +Aun' Jinkey threw up her hands and sank back into her chair more dead +than alive. She, too, had been taxed beyond endurance and all her power +to act had ceased with her final effort to show that pursuit of Chunk +would be useless. + +Perkins speedily obtained an audience with Mrs. Baron, who became +deeply incensed and especially against Zany. The inexorable old lady, +however, never acted from passion. She nodded coldly to the overseer, +saying, "I will inform Mr. Baron and he will give you your orders in +regard to the offenders." + +Zany was too alert not to observe the interview and the omens of +trouble in the compressed lips of "ole miss" and the steel-like gleam +of her eyes. The moment Mrs. Baron was closeted with her husband the +girl sped to the cabin. "Did you tell Perkins Chunk been yere?" she +demanded fiercely. + +"Fo' de Lawd I des gwine all ter pieces," gasped Aun' Jinkey. + +"Hope ter grashus yer does, en de pieces neber come tergedder agin," +said Zany in contemptuous anger and deep alarm. + +Under the spur of tremendous excitement she hastened back, thinking as +she ran, "Miss Lou too sick ter do anyting. I des got ter 'peal ter +Miss Whately, er ole miss hab me whipped haf ter daith." When in +response to a timid knock Mrs. Whately peered out of her niece's room +she found a trembling suppliant with streaming eyes. Noiselessly +shutting the door the matron said warningly: + +"Don't you know Miss Lou's life depends on quiet?" + +"How she gwine ter hab quiet w'en ole miss gwine ter hab Marse Perkins +whip me'n Aun' Jinkey ter daith?" + +"Nonsense! Why should either of you be punished?"' + +"Well missus, I 'fess ter you," sobbed Zany, "kaze you got more feelin' +fer us. Chunk come las' night ter say good-by ter he granny'n me, en +den he put out fer good, en ain' comin' back no mo'. Perkins en he dog +foun' hit out dis mawnin', en Aun' Jinkey tole 'im, too, I reck'n, she +all broke up. Perkins been talkin' ter ole miss en she look lak she +al'ways does w'en ders no let up. Hit ud des kill Miss Lou if she knew +me'n Aun' Jinkey wuz bein' whipped." + +"Zany," said Mrs. Whately in rising anger, "you both had full warning. +You knew what Chunk had done. He stole my son's horse and one from his +master also, beside doing other things that could not be forgiven." + +"Please reckermember, missus, dat Chunk en me is mighty sweet on each +oder en he Aun' Jinkey gran'boy. Tain' dat we 'prove of his goin's on, +but how cud we tell on 'im en see 'im daid, w'en he des come ter say +good-by. Oh, ef Miss Lou on'y well she neber let dat ole Perkins tech +us." + +"I will see your master before anything is done," said Mrs. Whately +with troubled face. "Go to your work now. I will get Mrs. Waldo to +watch in my place after a while." + +Mr. Baron was depressed physically and mentally by the trying events of +the past few weeks, but the fact that Chunk had ventured on the place +again and had been permitted to escape angered him deeply. He also +accepted the view of his wife and overseer that all discipline among +the slaves would soon be at an end if so serious an offence were +overlooked. It would be a confession of weakness and fear they believed +which would have a most demoralizing effect in the quarters. Chunk +represented the worst offences of which the slaves could be guilty; the +most solemn warnings had been given against aiding and abetting him in +any way. To do nothing now would be a virtual permission of +lawlessness. There was no thought of mercy for Zany, but Aun' Jinkey's +age, feebleness, together with her relations to Chunk and Miss Lou, +complicated matters. + +Husband and wife were still consulting when Mrs. Whately joined them. +Mrs. Baron did not welcome her guest, feeling that this was purely a +personal affair, and was in no mood to brook interference. + +"I can't be absent long," began Mrs. Whately, "Zany has told me +everything and--" + +"I think, sister, that Mr. Baron and I can manage this matter," +interrupted Mrs. Baron coolly. + +"No doubt you can," Mrs. Whately replied with dignity. "I did not come +down to interfere with your domestic affairs. There is one point on +which I have a right to speak and must speak. You can't punish Aun' +Jinkey and Zany now if knowledge of such punishment can in any way +reach our niece. No matter how much they may deserve it, I say you +cannot do it. I promised Zany nothing, held out no hope to her of +escape, but to you I will speak plainly. If you should excite and +disturb Louise now, you might easily cause her death. If you feel that +you cannot overlook the offence (and I know how serious a one it is) +wait till I can remove Louise to my own house. You will find that Dr. +Pelton when he arrives will confirm my words." + +Mr. Baron weakened. He had not the relentless will of his wife, who +interposed with cutting emphasis, "There is no need of Louise's knowing +anything about it till she is much better, and it would be well for her +to learn then, as well as the slaves, that there is still a master and +mistress." + +"It may be long before Louise is much better," Mrs. Whately replied +gravely. "She has been subjected to a strain for which my conscience +reproaches me, however it may be with yours. She is in a very critical +state, and seemingly from some recent shock." + +"Can the news Chunk brought have had any such effect?" broke forth Mrs. +Baron indignantly--"news of the death of that Yankee whom she met and +treated as a social equal sorely against my will?" + +"Lieutenant Scoville dead!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately looking shocked and +sad. + +"Yes, so Chunk told his granny." + +Mrs. Whately was troubled indeed. Perhaps there had been much more than +she had suspected. If so, this fact would account for the girl's +extreme prostration. To bring these tidings might have been one of +Chunk's chief motives in venturing on his brief visit. Miss Lou might +know all about the visit and even have seen Chunk herself. If this were +true, punishment of those who were in a sense her accomplices would be +all the more disastrous. The perplexed matron felt that she must have +more time to think and to acquire fuller knowledge of the affair. + +"Brother," she said finally, "you are the guardian of Louise and in +authority. She is now helpless and at present quiet. If quiet of mind +and body can be maintained long enough she will no doubt get well. In a +sense I am now her physician, and I say as Surgeon Ackley said of his +patients, she cannot be disturbed. I positively forbid it. Dr. Pelton +who must soon be here will take the same ground. Public opinion will +support him and me in holding you responsible if you order anything +endangering your ward's life and health at this time. Mrs. Waldo and +her son would be witnesses. How far the former is acquainted with +affairs we do not know. She watched with Louise all last night. If you +act hastily you may be sorry indeed. I am trying kindness and +conciliation with my people and they are doing better. I fear your +policy is mistaken. Chunk is gone and beyond punishment. It is asking +much to expect that his grandmother and the girl who loves him after +her fashion would give information against him. It would seem that only +the two slaves and Perkins know of this visit. Affairs are bad enough +with you as it is and you can easily make them much worse. If you must +punish for effect, take some stout field hand who is insubordinate or +lazy. At any rate I love Louise and hope some day to call her daughter, +and I will not have her life endangered. That's all I have to say." + +Mr. Baron's flame of anger had died out. His views had not been changed +by his harsh experience, but he had been compelled to see that there +were times when he could not have his own way. So he said testily, +"Well, well, we'll have to let the matter rest a while, I suppose." + +Mrs. Whately departed. Mrs. Baron put her thin lips together in a way +which meant volumes, and went out on her housekeeping round, giving +orders to Zany in sharper, more metallic tones than usual. The +delinquent herself had overheard enough of the conversation to learn +that the evil day had at least been put off and to get some clew as to +the future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CHUNK PLAYS SPOOK + + +Since Mr. Baron had yielded for the present, Mrs. Whately was glad +nothing need be said to the physician concerning their affairs. His +positive injunction of quiet was sufficient, and now that Mr. Baron was +impressed with its need and had had time for sober second thought, he +concluded that he had trouble enough on hand as it was. He felt that +every quiet day gained was so much toward securing the absolutely +essential crops. Perkins was therefore summoned and the situation in +part explained. + +The overseer was in unusual good-humor over the death of Scoville, and +if Chunk had escaped finally, there was compensation in the thought of +having no more disturbance from that source. So, fortunately for poor +Zany, avarice came to the fore and Perkins agreed that the best thing +to do was to bend every energy to "making the crops," using severity +only in the furtherance of this end. + +"Beg pardon, Mr. Baron, but I must have sump'n up and down clar. +There's been so many bosses of late en my orders been knocked eendwise +so of'en that I don't know, en the hands don't know whether I've got +any po'r or no. Ef this thing 'bout Chunk gits out, en nobody punished, +the fiel'-hans natchelly think we darsn't punish. Mought es well give +up then." + +"Punish as much as you think necessary to keep the quarter-hands at +work. Then it is plain," replied Mr. Baron. + +Very seldom had Perkins been in so complacent and exultant a mood as +when he left the presence of Mr. Baron that morning. But his troubles +began speedily. Jute had slept little the night before and was stupid +and indifferent to his work in the afternoon. Finding threats had +little effect, the overseer struck a blow with his cane. The negro +turned fiercely but was confronted with a revolver. He resumed work +doggedly, his sullen look spreading like the shadow of a cloud to the +faces of the others. So many began to grow indifferent and reckless +that to punish all was out of the question. Perkins stormed and +threatened, striking some here and there, almost beside himself from +increasing anxiety and rage. Whichever way he turned a dark vindictive +face met his eyes. The slaves had enjoyed a brief sense and sweet hope +of freedom; he was seeking to refasten the yoke with brutal hands and +it galled as never before. Even his narrow arbitrary nature was +impressed with the truth that a great change was taking place; that a +proclamation issued hundreds of miles away was more potent than his +heavy hand. He was as incapable of any policy other than force as was +his employer of abandoning the grooves in which his thoughts had always +run. + +The worrisome afternoon finally ended, leaving the harassed man free to +seek consolation from his jug. Mr. Baron relapsed into his quiet yet +bitter mental protest. "Ole miss" maintained inexorable discipline over +the yard and house slaves, keeping all busy in removing every stain and +trace of the hospital. She governed by fear also, but it was the fear +which a resolute, indomitable will produces in weaker natures. + +Mrs. Waldo already felt uncomfortable. There was no lack of outward +courtesy, but the two women had so little in common that there was +almost a total absence of sympathy between them. The guests through the +fortune of war resolved therefore to depart in a day or two, making the +journey home by easy stages. Mrs. Whately was both polite and cordial, +but she also felt that the family should be alone as soon as possible, +that they were facing problems which could better be solved without +witnesses. It was her hope now to nurse her charge back to health, and, +by the utmost exercise of tact, gain such an ascendency over the girl +as to win her completely. Granting that the matron's effort was part of +a scheme, it was one prompted by deep affection, a yearning to call her +niece daughter and to provide for the idolized son just the kind of +wife believed to be essential to his welfare. Much pondering on the +matter led her to believe that even if the tidings of Scoville's death +had been the cause of the final prostrating shock, it was but the +slight blow required to strike down one already feeble and tottering to +her fall. "He probably made a strong, but necessarily a passing +impression on the dear child's mind," she reasoned. "When she gets well +she will think of him only as she does of the other Union soldiers who +so interested her." + +The object of this solicitude was docile and quiet, taking what was +given her, but evidently exhausted beyond the power of thought or +voluntary action. + +The night passed apparently without incident, but it was a busy one for +Chunk. He again summoned Jute and his other confederates to a tryst in +the grove to impress them with his plans. It was part of his scheme to +permit a few nights to pass quietly so that disturbances would not be +associated with him, he being supposed far away. In the depths of the +adjacent forest he had found safe shelter for himself and horse, and +here, like a beast in its lair, he slept by day. The darkness was as +light to him about the familiar plantation, and he prowled around at +night unmolested. + +During this second meeting he attempted little more than to argue his +dusky associates out of their innate fear of spooks and to urge upon +them patience in submitting to Perkins's rule a little longer. "I des +tells you," he declared, "dey ain' no spooks fer us! Dere's spooks on'y +fer dem w'at kills folks on de sly-like. If ole Perkins come rarin' en +tarin' wid his gun en dawg, I des kill 'im ez I wud a rattler en he +kyant bodder me no mo'; but ef I steal on 'im now en kill 'im in he +sleep he ghos pester me ter daith. Dat de conslomeration ob de hull +business. I doan ax you ter do any ting but he'p me skeer' im mos' ter +daith. He watchin' lak a ole fox ter ke'p you en Zany yere. Ef you puts +out, he riz de kentry en put de houn's arter you. We des got ter skeer +'im off fust. I'm studyin' how ter git dat dawg out'n de way. Des go on +quiet few mo' days en ef you year quar noises up on de hill whar de +sogers bur'ed you know hit me. Look skeered lak de oders but doan be +fear'd en keep mum." + +The next few days and nights passed in quiet and all began to breathe +more freely. Even Aun' Jinkey rallied under the soothing influence of +her pipe and the privilege of watching part of each day with Miss Lou. +Slowly the girl began to grow better. Hoping not even for tolerance of +her feelings in regard to Scoville, it was her instinct to conceal them +from her relatives. She knew Mrs. Waldo would not reveal what Aun' +Jinkey had told her, and understood the peculiar tenderness with which +that lady often kissed her. She also guessed that while the stanch +Southern friend had deep sympathy for her there was not very strong +regret that the affair had ended in a way to preclude further +complications. + +"Remember, my dear," said Mrs. Waldo, in her affectionate parting, +"that God never utterly impoverishes our lives. Only we ourselves can +do that. You will get well and become happy in making others happy." + +On the evening of that day, even Mr. Baron's routine was completely +restored. His larder was meagre compared with the past, but with the +exception that Mrs. Whately occupied the place of his niece at the +table, and viands were fewer, all was as it had been. Zany's fears had +subsided, leaving her inwardly chafing at the prospect of monotonous +and indefinite years of work under "ole miss," with little chance of +Chunk's return. Aun' Suke's taste of freedom had not been to her mind, +so she was rather complacent than otherwise, and especially over the +fact that there was so little to cook. The garden and Mr. Baron's good +credit would insure enough plain food till the crops matured and the +impoverishment caused by the raid was repaired. It certainly seemed +when the sun set that evening that the present aspect of affairs might +be maintained indefinitely in the little community. + +Only one was not exactly at rest. Perkins felt as if something was in +the air. There was a brooding, sullen quiet among the negroes which led +him to suspect that they were waiting and hoping for something unknown +to him. This was true of Uncle Lusthah and the majority. The crack of +Union rifles was the "soun' f'um far away" they were listening for. By +secret channels of communication tidings of distant battles were +conveyed from plantation to plantation, and the slaves were often +better informed that their masters. As for Perkins, he knew next to +nothing of what was taking place, nor did he dream that he was daily +addressing harsh words to conspirators against his peace. + +The time had come when Chunk was ready to act. On the night in question +a hot wind arose which blew from the little burial-place on the hill +toward the house. "Hi! now's de charnce ter fix dat ar bizness!" and he +made his preparations. Shortly before midnight he crept like a cat +under the overseer's window. The heavy snoring rose and fell +reassuringly, sweet as music to Chunk's ears. Not so the angry, +restless growling of the savage bloodhound chained within. "But you +doan kotch me dis yere time fer all yer fuss, Marse Grip," the negro +muttered. "I done hab yer brekfus' ready fer yer! Dat'll settle yer +hash,' and with deft hand a piece of poisoned meat was tossed close to +the brute's feet as Chunk hastened away. Jute was next wakened and put +on the watch. An hour later there came from the soldiers' cemetery the +most doleful, unearthly sounds imaginable. No need for Jute and his +confederates to arouse the other negroes in the quarters. A huddled +frightened gang soon collected, Aun' Jinkey among them so scared she +could not speak. + +"Marse Perkins ought to know 'bout dis," cried Jute. + +The suggestion was enough. The whole terror-stricken throng rushed in a +body to the overseer's cottage and began calling and shrieking, "Come +out yere! come out yere!" Confused in his sudden waking and thinking he +was mobbed, he shouted through the window, "I'll shoot a dozen of yer +ef yer don't clar out." + +"Marse Perkins, des you lis'n," rose in chorus from those far beyond +the fear of mortal weapons. + +In the silence that followed the rushing wind bore down to them a +weird, dismal howl that in Perkins's ears met every ghostly +requirement. His teeth began to chatter like castanets, and snatching +his jug of corn whiskey he swallowed great draughts. + +"We des tink you orter know 'bout dis," said Jute. + +"Cert'ny," cried Perkins in his sudden flame of false courage. "I'll +light a lantern and take twenty o' you hands round that place. Ef +thar's a cuss yonder makin' this 'sturbance we'll roast 'im alive." + +In a moment or two he dressed and came out with a light and his gun. +Two revolvers were also stuck in his belt. As he appeared on the +threshold there was a prolonged yell which curdled even his inflamed +blood and sent some of the negro women into hysterics. + +"Come on," shouted the overseer hoarsely, "thirty of yer ef yer afraid." + +The crowd fell back. "We ain' gwine ter dat ar spook place, no mattah +w'at you do to us." + +"Perkins, what IS the matter?" Mr. Baron was heard shouting from the +house. + +"Reckon you better come out yere, sir." + +"Are the hands making trouble?" + +"No sir, sump'n quar's gwine on, what we kyant mek out yit." + +Mr. Baron, wrapped in his dressing-gown, soon appeared on the scene, +while Aun' Suke's domain contributed its quota also of agitated, +half-dressed forms. Chunk could not resist the temptation to be a +witness to the scene and in a copse near by was grinning with silent +laughter at his success. + +After learning what had occurred, Mr. Baron scoffed at their +superstitions, sternly bidding all to go to their places and keep +quiet. "Perkins, you've been drinking beyond reason," he warned his +overseer in a low voice. "Get back to your room quick or you will be +the laughing-stock of everybody! See here, you people, you have simply +got into a panic over the howling of the wind, which happens to blow +down from the graveyard to-night." + +"Neber yeared de win' howl dataway befo'," the negroes answered, as in +a mass they drifted back to the quarters. + +Perkins was not only aware of his condition but was only too glad to +have so good an excuse for not searching the cemetery. Scarcely had he +been left alone, however, before he followed the negroes, resolved upon +companionship of even those in whom he denied a humanity like his own. +In the darkness Chunk found an opportunity to summon Jute aside and +say, "Free er fo' ob you offer ter stay wid ole Perkins. Thet he'p me +out." + +Perkins accepted the offer gladly, and they agreed to watch at his door +and in the little hallway. + +"You mus' des tie up dat ar dawg ob yourn," first stipulated Jute. + +"Why, whar in--is the dog? Hain't yeared a sound from 'im sence the +'sturbance begun." + +"Dwags kyant stan' spooks nohow," remarked Jute. + +"I've yeared that," admitted Perkins, looking around for the animal. + +"Thar he is, un'er yo' baid," said Jute, peeking through the doorway. + +The miserable man's hair fairly stood up when the brute was discovered +stark and dead without a scratch upon him. Recourse was again had to +the jug, and oblivion soon followed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A VISITATION + + +There was no more sleep at the quarters that night, and never was the +dawn more welcome. It only brought a respite, however, for the +impression was fixed that the place was haunted. There was a settled +aspect of gloom and anxiety on every dusky face in the morning. Mr. +Baron found his overseer incapacitated for duty, but the hands were +rather anxious to go to work and readily obeyed his orders to do so. +They clung to all that was familiar and every-day-like, while their +fears and troubled consciences spurred them to tasks which they felt +might be a sort of propitiation to the mysterious powers abroad. Zany +was now sorry indeed that she had not gone with Chunk, and poor Aun' +Jinkey so shook and trembled all day that Mrs. Whately would not let +her watch by Miss Lou. Knowing much of negro superstitions she +believed, with her brother and Mrs. Baron, that the graves on the +place, together with some natural, yet unusual sounds, had started a +panic which would soon die out. + +When at last Perkins, shaky and nervous, reported the mysterious death +of his dog, Mr. Baron was perplexed, but nothing more. "You were in no +condition to give a sane account of anything that happened last night," +he said curtly. "Be careful in the future. If you will only be sensible +about it, this ridiculous scare will be to our advantage, for the hands +are subdued enough now and frightened into their duty." + +Perkins remained silent. In truth, he was more frightened than any one +else, for the death of his dog appeared to single him out as a special +object of ghostly hostility. He got through the day as well as he +could, but dreaded the coming night all the more as he saw eyes +directed toward him, as if he, in some way, were the cause of the +supernatural visitation. This belief was due to the fact that Aun' +Jinkey in her terror had spoken of Scoville's death, although she would +not tell how she knew about it. "Perkins shoot at en try ter kill Marse +Scoville," she had whispered to her cronies, "en now he daid he spook +comin' yere ter hant de oberseer. We neber hab no quiet nights till dat +ar Perkins go way fer good." + +This rational explanation passed from lip to lip and was generally +accepted. The coming night was looked forward to in deep apprehension, +and by none more than by Perkins. Indeed, his fears so got the better +of him that when the hands quit work he started for the nearest tavern +and there remained till morning. Chunk was made aware of this fact, and +the night passed in absolute quiet. All the negroes not in the secret +now hoped that the overseer was the sole prey of the spook, and that if +they remained quietly in their places they would be unmolested. Chunk +and a few of the boldest of his fellow conspirators had full scope +therefore to perfect their final arrangements. In a disused room of one +of the outbuildings the most ragged and blood-stained uniforms of the +Union soldiers had been cast and forgotten. These were carried to a +point near the burying-ground, tried on and concealed. Chunk found it +was no easy task to keep even the reckless fellows he had picked up to +the sticking point of courage in the grewsome tasks he had in view, but +his scoff, together with their mutual aid and comfort, carried them +through, while the hope of speedy freedom inspired them to what was +felt to be great risks. + +On this occasion he dismissed them some little time before midnight, +for he wished them to get rested and in good condition for what he +hoped would be the final effort the following night. As he lingered in +the still, starlit darkness he could not resist making an effort to see +Zany, and so began hooting like an owl down by the run, gradually +approaching nearer till he reached the garden. Zany, wakeful and +shivering with nameless dread, was startled by the sound. Listening +intently, she soon believed she detected a note that was Chunk's and +not a bird's. Her first impression was that her lover had discovered +that he could not go finally away without her and so had returned. Her +fear of spooks was so great that her impulse was to run away with Chunk +as far from that haunted plantation as he would take her. Trembling +like a wind-shaken leaf, she stole into the garden shrubbery and +whispered, "Chunk?" + +"Hi! yere I is." + +There was no tantalizing coquetry in Zany's manner now. In a moment she +was in Chunk's arms sobbing, "Tek me way off fum dis place. I go wid +you now, dis berry minute, en I neber breve easy till we way, way off +enywhar, I doan keer whar. Oh, Chunk, you doan know w'at been gwine on +en I darsn't tell you twel we gits way off." + +"I isn't feared," replied Chunk easily. + +"Dat's kaze you doan know. I des been tremblin' stiddy sence las' night +en I'se feared hit begin eny minute now." + +"Hit woan begin dis yere night," replied Chunk, soothingly and +incautiously. + +"How you know?" she asked quickly, a sudden suspicion entering her mind. + +"Wat's ter begin?" answered Chunk, now on his guard. "De night am +still, nobody roun'. I hang roun' a few nights twel I study out de bes' +plan ter git away." + +"Has you been hangin' roun' nights, Chunk?" Zany asked solemnly. + +"How you talks, Zany! Does you s'pects I dar stay roun' whar Perkins +am? He kill me. He done gone way to-night." + +"How you know dat?" + +"One de fiel'-hans tole me." + +"Chunk, ef you up ter shines en doan tole me I done wid you. Hasn't I +hep you out'n in eberyting so fur? Ef I fin' out you been skeerin me so +wid eny doin's I des done wid you. I des feel hit in my bones you de +spook. You kyant bamboozle me. I kin hep you--hab done hit afo'--en I +kin hinder you, so be keerful. Dere's some dif'unce in bein' a spook +yosef en bein' skeered ter death by a rale spook. Ef you tryin' ter +skeer en fool me I be wuss on you ner eny Voodoo woman dat eber kunjurd +folks." + +The interview ended in Chunk's making a clean breast of it and in +securing Zany as an ally with mental reservations. The thought that he +had fooled her rankled. + +Mr. Baron's expostulation and his own pressing interests induced +Perkins to remain at home the following night. As Jute had seemed +forgiving and friendly, the overseer asked him to bring two others and +stay with him, offering some of the contents of the replenished jug as +a reward. They sat respectfully near the door while Perkins threw +himself on his bed with the intention of getting to sleep as soon as +possible. "Are you shore ther wuz no 'sturbances last night?" he asked. + +"Well, Marse Perkins," replied Jute, "you didn't s'pect we out lookin'. +We wuz po'ful sleepy en roll we haids en er blankets en den 'fo' we +knowed, hit sun-up. Folks say en de quarters dat ar spook ain' arter +us." + +"Who the devil is hit arter then?" was the angry response. + +"How we know, mars'r? We neber try ter kill enybody." + +"But I tell you I didn't kill him," expostulated their nervous victim. + +"Didn't name no names, Marse Perkins. I on'y knows w'at I yeared folks +tell 'bout spooks. Dey's mighty cur'us, spooks is. Dey des 'pear to git +a spite agin some folks en dey ain' bodderin oder folks long ez dey +ain' 'feered wid. I 'spect a spook dat wuz 'feered wid, get he dander +up en slam roun' permiscus. I des tek a ole bull by de horns 'fo' I +'fere wid a spook," and Jute's companions grunted assent. + +"W'at's the good o' yer bein' yere then?" Perkins asked, taking a deep +draught. + +"Well, now, Marse Perkins, you mus'n be onreasonbul. Wat cud we do? We +des riskin' de wool on we haids stayin' yere fer comp'ny. Ef de spook +come, 'spose he tink we no business yere en des lay we out lak he +kunjer yo' dawg? We des tank you, Marse Perkins, fer anoder lil drap +ter kep we sperets out'n we shoon," and Jute shuddered portentously. + +"Well," said Perkins, with attempted bravado, "I rammed a piece o' +silver down on the bullat in my gun. 'Twix 'em both--" + +"Dar now, Marse Perkins, you des been 'posed on 'bout dat silber +business. Ole Unc' Sampson w'at libed on de Simcoe place nigh on er +hun'erd yeahs, dey say, tole me lots 'bout a spook dat boddered um w'en +he a boy. Way back ole Marse Simcoe shot at de man dat hanker fer he +darter. De man put out en get drownded, but dat doan make no dif'rence, +Unc' Sampson say, kaze ole Marse Simcoe do he bes' ter kill der man. He +sorter hab kill in he heart en Unc' Sampson low a spook know w'at gwine +on in er man's in'erds, en dey des goes fer de man dat wanter kill um +on de sly, en not dose dat kill in fa'r fight. Ole Unc' Sampson po'ful +on spooks. He libed so long he get ter be sorter spook hesef, en dey +say he talk ter um haf de time 'fo' he kiner des snuf out'n lak a +can'l." + +"He wuz a silly old fool," growled Perkins, with a perceptible tremor +in his voice. + +"Spect he wuz 'bout some tings," resumed Jute, "but know spooks, he +sut'ny did. He say ole Marse Simcoe useter plug lead en silver right +froo dat man dat want he darter, en dar was de hole en de light +shin'in' froo hit. But de spook ain' min'in' a lil ting lak dat, he des +come on all de same snoopin' roun' arter de ole man's darter. Den one +mawnin' de ole man lay stiff en daid in he baid, he eyes starin' open +ez ef he see sump'n he cudn't stan' no how. Dat wuz de las' ob dat ar +spook, Unc' Sampson say, en he say spook's cur'us dat away. Wen dey +sats'fy dere grudge dey lets up en dey doan foller de man dey down on +kaze dey on'y po'r in de place whar de man 'lowed ter kill um." + +Perkins took a mental note of this very important limitation of ghostly +persecution, and resolved that if he had any more trouble all the crops +in the State would not keep him within the haunted limit. + +He whiled away the time by aid of his jug and Job-like comforters till +it began to grow late and he drowsy. + +Suddenly Jute exclaimed, "Hi! Marse Perkins, w'at dat light dancin' up +yon'er by de grabeyard?" + +The overseer rose with a start, his hair rising also as he saw a fitful +jack-o'-lantern gleam, appearing and disappearing on the cemetery hill. +As had been expected, he obeyed his impulse, pouring down whiskey until +he speedily rendered himself utterly helpless; but while his +intoxication disabled him physically, it produced for a time an excited +and disordered condition of mind in which he was easily imposed upon. +Jute shook him and adjured him to get up, saying, "I years quar soun's +comin' dis way." + +When satisfied that their victim could make no resistance, Jute and +companions pretended to start away in terror. Perkins tried to implore +them to remain, but his lips seemed paralyzed. A few moments later a +strange group entered the cottage--five figures dressed in Federal +uniforms, hands and faces white and ghastly, and two carrying white +cavalry sabres. Each one had its finger on its lips, but Perkins was +beyond speech. In unspeakable horror he stared vacantly before him and +remained silent and motionless. The ghostly shapes looked at him +fixedly for a brief time, then at one another, and solemnly nodded. +Next, four took him up and bore him out, the fifth following with the +jug. At the door stood an immovably tall form, surmounted by a cavalry +hat and wrapped in a long army overcoat. + +"Leftenant Scoville!" gasped Perkins. + +The figure, as if the joints of its back were near the ground, made a +portentous inclination of assent and then pointed with another white +sabre to the hill, leading the way. Perkins tried to shout for help, +but his tongue seemed powerless, as in fact it was, from terror and +liquor combined. He felt himself carried swiftly and, as he thought, +surely, to some terrible doom. + +At last his bearers stopped, and Perkins saw the mounds of the Union +dead rising near. He now remembered in a confused way that one more +grave had been dug than had proved necessary, and he uttered a low howl +as he felt himself lowered into it. Instantly the tall figure which +appeared to direct everything threatened him with a ghostly sabre, and +an utter paralysis of unspeakable dread fell upon him. + +For a few moments they all stood around and pointed at him with ghostly +white fingers, then gradually receded until out of sight. After a time +Perkins began to get his voice, when suddenly his tormentors appeared +in terrible guise. Each white, ghostly face was lighted up as by a +tongue of fire; terrible eyes gleamed from under wide-crowned cavalry +hats and a voice was heard, in a sepulchral whisper, "Nex' time we come +fer you, we bury you!" + +At this instant came a flash of lightning, followed by a tremendous +clap of thunder. The jaws of the figures dropped, the burning splinters +of light-wood they carried dropping down into the grave, and on its +half-lifeless occupant. The ghosts now disappeared finally--in fact +took to their heels; all except Chunk, who secured the jug, nodded +thrice portentously at Perkins and then retired also, not a little +shaken in his nerves, but sufficiently self-controlled to rally his +panic-stricken followers and get them to remove their disguises before +wrapping their heads in blankets. Having removed and hidden all traces +of the escapade he hooted for the alert Zany, who had been tremblingly +on the watch in spite of her knowledge of what was going on. As she +fled with Chunk before the coming storm she gasped between the gusts, +"I declar, Chunk, sech doin's gwine ter brung a judgment." + +Even Chunk inclined to this view for a time, as the lightning blazed +from sky to earth, and the thunder cracked and roared overhead. The +rain poured in such torrents that he feared Perkins might be drowned in +the grave where he had been placed. As for Aun' Jinkey, she stared at +her unexpected visitors in speechless perplexity and terror until the +fury of the tempest had passed, their voices could be heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +UNCLE LUSTHAH EXHORTS + + +The heavy thunder shower which came and passed quickly, combined with a +consciousness of their high-handed performances, so awed Chunk and Zany +and oppressed them with misgivings that they were extremely reticent, +even to Aun' Jinkey. Chunk appeared profoundly ignorant of the ghostly +disturbances, trying to say unconcernedly, "I foun' hit a orful long en +skeery trable ter de Un'on lines en I says ter mysef, 'De Yanks fin' me +down yere quicker ner I fin' dem up Norf. Dey be comin' dis away agin +sho'." + +"I des tells you we all git whip nigh ter daith ef you ain' mo' +keerful," said Aun' Jinkey, solemnly. "I kyant stan' de goin's on. I +gwine ter pieces ev'y day en nights git'n wusser'n de days. De gust +ober en you bettah light out. Ef Zany missed dey come yere lookin' fer +her." + +They needed no urging to depart, for Zany was now as scared as Chunk +had ever wished her to be, but her terrors were taking a form which +inclined her to cling to the old landmarks rather than risk she knew +not what, in running away. As she and Chunk were stealing toward the +kitchen a flash of lightning from the retiring storm revealed a +startling figure--that of Perkins, drenched and bedraggled, his eyes +almost starting from their sockets as he staggered toward his cottage. +Chunk's courage at last gave way; he turned and fled, leaving Zany in +the lurch. Frightened almost to the point of hysterics, she crept to +her bed and shook till morning, resolving meanwhile to have done with +Chunk and all his doings. The next day Mrs. Baron found her the most +diligent and faithful of servants. + +Perkins reached his door and looked into the dark entrance, the gusts +having blown out the light. He shook his head, muttered something +unintelligible, and then bent his uncertain steps to the tavern. The +next morning Mr. Baron suspected where he was and went to see him. The +overseer was found to be a pitiable spectacle, haggard trembling, +nervous in the extreme, yet sullen and reticent and resolute in his +purpose never to set foot on the plantation again. Mr. Baron then +closed all business relations and sent over the man's belongings. +Perkins became a perplexing problem to Mr. Baron and his household and +a terrible tradition to the negroes, who regarded him as a haunted man. +Every day and night passed in quietness after his departure enabled +them to breathe more freely and to become more assured that he "wuz de +on'y one de spooks arter." + +Chunk felt that he had disgraced himself by running away and leaving +Zany, and did not venture back till the second night after the +culmination of his schemes. He found Jute and his associates scared, +sullen and inclined to have little to do with him in their present +mood. Then he hooted in vain for Zany. The girl heard him but made no +sign, muttering, "Sence you runned away en lef me I'se done wid runnin' +away. You tootin' lak a squinch-owl en kin kep comp'ny wid +squinch-owls." + +Only Aun' Jinkey gave him food and a sort of fearful welcome, and poor +Chunk found himself at last a very unhappy and skulking outlaw. + +Mr. Baron gradually rallied under his increased responsibilities and +resolved to be his own overseer. Although an exacting master, the +negroes knew he was not a severe one if they did their work fairly +well. The spook scare had given Uncle Lusthah renewed influence and he +used it in behalf of peace and order. "Our fren Miss Lou, sick," he +urged. "We mek her trouble en we mek oursefs trouble ef we doan go on +peac'ble. What kin we do eny way at dis yer time? De Norf fightin' fer +us en hit all 'pen' on de Norf. We mus' kep a gwine ez we is till de +times en seasons ob de Lawd is 'vealed." + +And so for a period, quiet again settled down on the old plantation. +Mrs. Whately and Aun' Jinkey nursed Miss Lou into a slow, languid +convalescence, till at last she was able to sit in an easy-chair on the +piazza. This she would do by the hour, with a sad, apathetic look on +her thin face. She was greatly changed, her old rounded outlines had +shrunken and she looked frail enough for the winds to blow away. The +old, fearless, spirited look in her blue eyes had departed utterly, +leaving only an expression of settled sadness, varied by an anxious, +expectant gaze, suggesting a lingering hope that some one might come or +something happen to break the dreadful silence which began, she felt, +when Scoville fell from his horse in the darkening forest. It remained +unbroken, and her heart sank into more hopeless despondency daily. Aun' +Jinkey and Zany were charged so sternly to say nothing to disturb the +mind of their young mistress that they obeyed. She was merely given the +impression that Perkins had gone away of his own will, and this was a +relief. She supposed Chunk had returned to his Union friends, and this +also became the generally accepted view of all except Aun' Jinkey. + +Mrs. Whately came to spend part of the time at The Oaks and part on her +own plantation, where her presence was needed. Her devotion would have +won Miss Lou's whole heart but for the girl's ever-present +consciousness of Mad Whately in the background. The mother now had the +tact to say nothing about him except in a natural and general way, +occasionally trying the experiment of reading extracts from his brief +letters, made up, as they were, chiefly of ardent messages to his +cousin. These Miss Lou received in silence and unfeigned apathy. + +The respite and quiet could not last very long in these culminating +months of the war. Without much warning even to the negroes, who +appeared to have a sort of telegraphic communication throughout the +region, a Union column forced its way down the distant railroad and +made it a temporary line of communication. Mr. Baron suddenly woke up +to the fact that the nearest town was occupied by the Federals and that +his human property was in a ferment. A foraging party soon appeared in +the neighborhood and even visited him, but his statement of what he had +suffered and the evident impoverishment of the place led the Union +officer to seek more inviting fields. + +Partly to satisfy her own mind as well as that of her niece, Mrs. +Whately asked after Scoville, but could obtain no information. The +troops in the vicinity were of a different organization, the leader of +the party a curt, grizzled veteran, bent only on obtaining supplies. +Miss Lou, sitting helplessly in her room, felt instinctively that she +did not wish even to speak to him. + +To Chunk, this Union advance was a godsend. He immediately took his +horse to the railroad town, sold it for a small sum, and found +employment at the station, where his great strength secured him good +wages. He could handle with ease a barrel akin to himself in shape and +size. + +Uncle Lusthah suddenly found immense responsibility thrust upon him. In +the opinion of the slaves the time and seasons he had predicted and +asked his flock to wait for had come. Negroes from other and nearer +plantations were thronging to the town, and those at The Oaks were +rapidly forming the purpose to do likewise. They only waited the +sanction of their religious teacher to go almost in a body. The old +preacher was satisfied they would soon go any way, unless inducements +and virtual freedom were offered. He therefore sought Mr. Baron and +stated the case to him. + +The old planter would listen to nothing. He was too honorable to +temporize and make false promises. "Bah!" he said, irritably, "the +Yanks will soon be driven off as they were before. I can't say you are +free! I can't give you a share in the crops! It's contrary to the law +of the State and the whole proper order of things. I wouldn't do it if +I could. What would my neighbors think? What would I think of myself? +What a fine condition I'd be in after the Yanks are all driven from the +country! No, I shall stand or fall with the South and maintain the +institutions of my fathers. If you people leave me now and let the +crops go to waste you will soon find yourselves starving. When you come +whining back I'll have nothing to feed you with." + +Uncle Lusthah cast an imploring look on Miss Lou where she sat in her +chair, with more interest expressed in her wan face than she had shown +for a long time. + +"Uncle Lusthah," she said earnestly, "don't you leave me. As soon as I +am able I'll buy you of uncle and set you free. Then you can always +work for me." + +"I doan wanter lebe you, young mistis, I sut'ny doan, ner der ole place +whar I al'ays libed. But freedom sweet, young mistis, en I wanter feel +I free befo' I die." + +"You shall, Uncle Lusthah. You have earned YOUR freedom, anyway." + +"Tut, tut, Louise, that's no way to talk," said her uncle testily. + +The old slave looked from one to the other sorrowfully, shook his head +and slowly retired. + +"Remember what I said," Miss Lou called after him, and then sank back +in her chair. + +Uncle Lusthah had to relate the result of his conference, and the +consequence was an immediate outbreak of a reckless, alienated spirit. +That afternoon the field hands paid no attention to Mr. Baron's orders, +and he saw that slaves from other plantations were present. Uncle +Lusthah sat at his door with his head bowed on his breast. His people +would listen to him no more, and he himself was so divided in his +feelings that he knew not what to say. + +"Hit may be de Lawd's doin's ter set He people free," he muttered, "but +somehow I kyant brung mysef ter lebe dat po' sick chile. Ole mars'r en +ole miss kyant see en woan see, en dat lil chile w'at stan' up fer us +in de 'stremity ob triberlation be lef wid no one ter do fer her. I +berry ole en stiff in my jints en I cud die peaceful ef I know I free; +but hit 'pears that de Lawd say ter me, 'Uncle Lusthah, stay right yere +en look arter dat lil sick lam'. Den I mek you free w'en de right time +come.'" + +Uncle Lusthah soon had the peace of the martyr who has chosen his +course. Mr. Baron also sat on his veranda with head bowed upon his +breast. He too had chosen his course, and now in consequence was sunk +in more bitter and morose protest than ever. Events were beyond his +control and he knew it, but he would neither yield nor change. This was +the worst that had yet befallen him. Black ruin stared him in the face, +and he stared back with gloomy yet resolute eyes. "I will go down with +my old colors flying," he resolved, and that was the end of it. + +His wife was with him in sympathy, but her indomitable spirit would not +be crushed. She was almost ubiquitous among the house and yard slaves, +awing them into a submission which they scarcely understood and +inwardly chafed at. She even went to the quarters and produced evident +uneasiness by her stern, cutting words. None dared reply to her, but +when the spell of her presence was removed all resumed their confused +and exultant deliberations as to their future course. + +Aun' Jinkey, sitting with Miss Lou, scoffed at the idea of going away. +"Long ez my chimly-corner en my pipe dar I dar too," she said. "Dis +freedom business so mux up I kyant smoke hit out nohow." + +Zany was in a terribly divided state of mind. Were it not for Miss Lou, +she would have been ready enough to go, especially as she had heard +that Chunk was at the railroad town. Her restless spirit craved +excitement and freedom: a townful of admirers, with Chunk thrown in, +was an exceedingly alluring prospect. With all her faults, she had a +heart, and the sick girl had won her affection unstintedly. When +therefore Miss Lou summoned her and fixed her sad, pleading blue eyes +upon her, the girl threw her apron over her head and began to cry "Doan +say a word, Miss Lou," she sobbed, "doan ax me not ter go kase ef you +does I kyant go." + +"Sech foolishness!" ejaculated Aun' Jinkey with a disdainful sniff. +"She lebe you des lak a cat dat snoop off enywhar en arter enybody w'at +got mo' vittles. Wat she keer?" + +Down came the apron, revealing black eyes blazing through the tears +which were dashed right and left as Zany cried, "You ole himage, w'at +you keer? You tink a hun'erd times mo' ob yer pipe ner Miss Lou. Long +ez you kin smoke en projeck in dat ar ole cabin hole you woan lebe his +'less you turned out. I des gwine ter stay out'n spite en doan wanter +go a hun'erd mile ob dat gran'boy ob yourn." + +"There, Zany," said Miss Lou gently, holding out her hand. "I +understand you and Aun' Jinkey both, and you both are going to stay out +of love for me. I reckon you won't be sorry in the end." + +Up went the apron again and Zany admitted, "I kyant lebe you, Miss Lou, +I des kyant," as she rushed away to indulge in the feminine relief of +tears without stint. + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron passed a sleepless night, for even the question of +food would be problematical if all the able-bodied men and women on the +place went away. In the early dawn there were ominous sounds at the +quarters, and as the light increased a spectacle which filled the old +planter and his wife with rage was revealed. The quarters were empty +and all were trooping toward the avenue with bundles containing their +belongings. This was to be expected, but the act which excited the +direst indignation was the hitching of the only pair of mules left on +the place that were worth anything to the old family carriage. Aun' +Suke was waddling toward this with the feeling that a "char'ot wuz +waitin' fer her now, sho!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron looked at each other in quick, comprehensive +sympathy, then hastily and partially dressed. Mr. Baron took his +revolver while "ole miss" snatched a sharp carving-knife from the +dining-room. By the time they reached the scene, Aun' Suke filled the +back seat of the carriage and the rest of the space was being filled +with babies. + +"Stop that!" shouted Mr. Baron. "Before I'll let you take my mules I'll +shoot 'em both." + +"Ole miss" wasted no time in threats--she simply cut the traces and +there were Aun' Suke and the babies stranded. The negroes drew together +on one side and master and mistress on the other. The faces of the +latter were aglow with anger; on the countenances of the former were +mingled perplexity and sullen defiance, but the old habit of deference +still had its restraining influence. + +"Go and starve and leave us to starve, if you will," shouted Mr. Baron, +"but you shall steal none of my property." + +Angry mutterings began among the negroes, and it were hard to say how +the scene would have ended if old Uncle Lusthah had not suddenly +appeared between the opposing parties, and held up his hand +impressively. + +"I gib up my charnce ter be free," he began with simple dignity. "My +body 'longs ter you yit, mars'r en misus; but not my speret. Out'n dat +I gwine ter speak plain fer de fear ob man clean gone fum me. Mars'r, +w'at I say ter you? Lak ole Pharo, you t'ink yo'sef bigger'n de Lawd. +Ef you'd done spoke ter de hans en say 'des go home en dar de crops en +shar' togeder' dey ud stayed en wucked fer you 'tented like, but you +des talk lak ole Pharo. Now de people gwine en you kyant stop dem. We +knowed 'bout de prokermation ob de gre't Linkum. We know we bin free +dis long time. We al'ays know you no right ter keep us slabes. Dis yer +God's worl'. Hit don't 'long ter you en misus. He ain't stoppin' ter +'suit you 'bout He doin's. Ef you s'mitted ter He will you'd a gwine +'long easy lak de crops grow in spring-time. Now hit des de same ez ef +you plant de crops in de fall en'spect de Lawd ter turn de winter inter +summer ter please you. I berry ole en had 'spearance. I'se prayed all +de long night en de Lawd's gib me ter see inter de futer. Lak Moses I +may never git in de promised lan' ob freedom, but hit dar en you kyant +kep de people out'n hit. Ef you doan bend ter He will, you breaks. Wen +all de han's gone en de fiel's is waste t'ink ober de trufe. De Lawd +did'n mek dis yer worl' ter suit you en misus. P'raps He t'ink ez much +ob dem po' souls dar (pointing at the negroes) ez ob yourn. Didn't I +stan' wid dem w'at die ter mek us free? Der blood wateh dis hull lan' +en I feels hit in my heart dat de Lawd'll brung up a crap dis lan' +neber saw befo'. Please reckermember, mars'r en misus, de gre't wuck ob +de Lawd gwine right along des ez ef you ain' dar." + +Then the old man turned to the negroes and in his loud, melodious voice +concluded, "I gibs you one mo' 'zortation. You IS free, but ez I say so +of'un you ain' free ter do foolishness. Tek yo' wibes en chil'un; dey +yourn. Tek yo' clo'es; you arned urn en much mo', but you kyant tek de +mules en de ker'age: dey mars'r's. Go en wuck lak men en wimmin fer +hon'st wages en show you fit ter be free. Reckermember all I tole you +so of'un. De Lawd go wid you en kep you in de way ob life everlas'in'." + +The better element among the negroes prevailed, for they felt that they +had had a spokesman who voiced their best and deepest feelings. One +after another came and wrung the hand of the old man and departed. To +"Pharo" and his wife few vouchsafed a glance, for they had cut the cord +of human sympathy. Many messages of affection, however, were left for +Miss Lou. The mothers took the babies from the carriage, Aun' Suke was +helped out and she sulkily waddled down the avenue with the rest. By +the time she reached the main road her powers of locomotion gave out, +causing her to drop, half-hysterical, by the wayside. Some counselled +her to go back, saying they would come for her before long; but pride, +shame and exhaustion made it almost as difficult to go back as to go +forward, and so she was left lamenting. With stern, inflexible faces, +master and mistress watched their property depart, then returned to the +house, while Uncle Lusthah mended the harness temporarily and took the +carriage back to its place. Standing aloof, Zany had watched the scene, +wavering between her intense desire to go and her loyalty to Miss Lou. +The sick girl had conquered, the negress winning an heroic victory over +herself. When she entered the back door of the mansion, her face rigid +from the struggle she had passed through, she was in no lamb-like mood. +Neither was her mistress, who was angrier than she had ever been in her +life. + +"Well," she said to Zany in cold, cutting tones, "what are you doing +here? Looking around for something to carry off before you go also?" + +Stung to the quick by this implied charge and lack of appreciation of +her great self-sacrifice, Zany replied hotly, "I done wid you, misus. I +tek no mo' orders fum you. I stay fer sump'n you doan know not'n +'bout--lub, but lub fer Miss Lou. Ef she kyant 'tect em 'gin you den I +go." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +A NEW ROUTINE + + +It certainly was a dismal, shrunken household that Mrs. Baron presided +over that morning. Aun' Jinkey came to the rescue and prepared a meagre +breakfast. Miss Lou's room being on the side of the house furthest from +the scenes of the early morning, she had slept on till Zany wakened +her. She listened in a sort of dreary apathy to all that had occurred, +feeling that she was too weak physically and too broken-spirited to +interfere. She also had the impression that it would have been of no +use--that her uncle and aunt were so fixed in their ways and views that +nothing but harsh experience could teach them anything. In answer to +Zany's appeal for protection against "ole miss" Miss Lou said, "We +won't say anything more about it now till you get over your hurt +feelings, which are very natural. Of course my aunt can't punish +you--that's out of the question now, but by and by I reckon you will do +for her out of love for me when you see it will save me trouble. You +have done a good, unselfish act in staying with me, and having begun so +well, you will keep on in the same way. After all of the rest get free +you will, too. What's more, when I come into my property I'll make free +all who stand by me now." + +So Zany brought her up a nice little breakfast and was comforted. + +When at last the young girl with weak, uncertain steps came down to her +easy-chair on the piazza, she found her uncle gloomily smoking, and her +aunt solacing her perturbed mind with her chief resource--housekeeping +affairs. Little was said beyond a formal greeting. + +As Miss Lou sat gazing vacantly and sadly down the avenue, a huge +figure appeared, making slow, painful progress toward the house. At +last Aun' Suke was recognized, and the truth flashed across the girl's +mind that the fat old cook had found she could not get away. Finally +the woman sat down under a tree not far from the house, not only +overcome by heat and fatigue, but also under the impression that she +must open negotiations before she could expect to be received. + +"There," said Mr. Baron grimly, "is one of them coming back already. +They'll be sneaking, whining back when the crops are spoiled and it's +too late." + +Miss Lou rose feebly and got an old sunshade from the hall. + +"Louise, you are not able--I forbid it." + +The girl felt she had strength to get to the old woman but not enough +to contend with her uncle, so she went slowly down the steps without a +word. Mr. Baron growled, "I might as well speak to the wind as to +anybody on the place any more." + +When Aun' Suke saw the girl coming to her she scrambled to her feet, +and holding up her hands ejaculated all sorts of remorseful and +deprecatory comments. + +"Welcome back," said Miss Lou kindly, when in speaking distance. +"There, don't go on so. Sit down and I'll sit down with you." She sank +at the foot of the tree and leaned against it, panting. + +"I des feels ez ef de yeth ud op'n en swaller me," began the poor +renegade, quivering with emotion. + +"Don't talk so, Aun' Suke. I'm not strong enough to stand foolishness. +You will go back with me and stay with Uncle Lusthah and Aun' Jinkey +and Zany. You will cook for us all just the same and by and by you will +be as free as I am." + +"Well, Miss Lou, I comin' back lak de perdigous son, but ole miss ain' +got no fatted calf fer me, ner you neider, I reckon. I des feered on +w'at ole miss say en do." + +"Aun' Suke," said the girl, taking the woman's great black hand, "you +stand by me and I'll stand by you. When I get stronger we'll see what's +best to be done. Now I can't think, I don't know. I only feel that we +must help one another till all is clearer." + +Mrs. Baron accepted Aun' Suke's presence in the kitchen again in grim +silence. She believed it the earnest of the speedy return of all the +others, and resolved to bide her time when the Southern armies restored +completely the old order of things. + +Mrs. Whately drove over during the day and was aghast at what had +occurred. + +"I have kept the great majority of my hands by conciliation and +promising them a share in the crops. Indeed, I had virtually to treat +them as if free. It was either that or ruin." + +"Well," growled her brother, "you can't keep that pace and I wouldn't +begin it." + +"I can only do the best I can, from day to day," sighed the lady, "and +I've been almost distracted." + +After showing her affectionate solicitude for Miss Lou she returned, +feeling that her presence at home was now hourly needed. + +Gradually the little household began to adjust itself to the new order +of things, and day by day Mr. and Mrs. Baron were compelled to see that +the few servants who ministered to them were kept at their tasks by an +influence in which they had no part. Almost imperceptibly, Miss Lou +regained her strength, yet was but the shadow of her former self. Uncle +Lusthah gave his attention to the garden, already getting weed-choked. +The best he could hope to do was to keep up a meagre supply of +vegetables, and Zany in the cool of the day often gave him a helping +hand. + +Late one afternoon Miss Lou, feeling a little stronger, went to Aun' +Jinkey's cabin and sat down on the doorstep. + +"Oh, mammy," she sighed, "I'm so tired, I'm so tired; yet I can do +nothing at all." + +"You po' lil chile," groaned Aun' Jinkey, "how dif'ernt you looks ner +w'en you fus sot dar en wish sump'n happen." + +"Oh," cried the girl almost despairingly, "too much has happened! too +much has happened! How can God let such troubles come upon us?" + +"Eben Uncle Lusthah hab ter say he dunno. He say he des gwine ter hole +on twel de eend, en dat all he kin do." + +"Oh, mammy, I'm all at sea. I haven't any strength to hold on and there +doesn't seem anything to hold on to. Oh, mammy, mammy, do you think +he's surely dead?" + +"I feared he is," groaned Aun' Jinkey. "Dey say he spook come arter +Perkins en dat w'y de oberseer clared out." + +"Oh, horrible!" cried the girl. "If his spirit could come here at all +would it not come to me instead of to that brutal wretch? Oh, mammy, I +don't know which is worse, your religion or your superstition. You +believe in a God who lets such things happen and you can think my noble +friend would come back here only to scare a man like Perkins. It's all +just horrible. Oh, Allan, Allan, are you so lost to me that you can +never look goodwill into my eyes again?" + +Tears rushed to her eyes for the first time since she heard the +dreadful tidings, and she sobbed in her mammy's arms till exhausted. + +That outburst of grief and the relief of tears given by kindly nature +was the decisive point in Miss Lou's convalescence. She was almost +carried back to her room and slept till late the following day. When +she awoke she felt that her strength was returning, and with it came +the courage to take up the burdens of life. For weeks it was little +more than the courage of a naturally brave, conscientious nature which +will not yield to the cowardice and weakness of inaction. The value of +work, of constant occupation, to sustain and divert the mind, was +speedily learned. Gradually she took the helm of outdoor matters from +her uncle's nerveless hands. She had a good deal of a battle in respect +to Chunk. It was a sham one on the part of Zany, as the girl well knew, +for Chunk's "tootin'" was missed terribly. Mr. and Mrs. Baron at first +refused point-blank to hear of his returning. + +"Uncle," said his ward gravely, "is only your property at stake? I can +manage Chunk, and through him perhaps get others. I am not responsible +for changes which I can't help; I am to blame if I sit down idly and +helplessly and do nothing better than fret or sulk. Your bitter words +of protest are not bread and bring no money. For your sakes as well as +my own you must either act or let me act." + +The honorable old planter was touched at his most sensitive point, and +reluctantly conceded, saying, "Oh, well, if you think you can save any +of your property out of the wreck, employ Chunk on your own +responsibility." + +So Chunk was reinstated in his granny's cabin and given a share in all +he could raise and secure of the crops. The negro was as shrewd as +Jacob of old, but like the Hebrew patriarch could do much under the +inspiration of his twofold affection for Zany and his young mistress. + +And so the summer and early fall wore away. The railroad line of +communication was maintained, and upon it drifted away Mr. Baron's +former slaves and the great majority of the others in the neighborhood. +The region in which the plantation was situated was so remote and +sparsely settled that it was a sort of border land, unclaimed and +unvisited by any considerable bodies from either party. Rev. Dr. +Williams' congregation had shrunken to a handful. He officiated at one +end of the church, and his plump, black-eyed daughter led the singing +at the other, but it was observed that she looked discontented rather +than devotional. She was keenly alive to the fact that there was not an +eligible man left in the parish. Uncle Lusthah patiently drove the +mules every clear Sunday morning and Mr. and Mrs. Baron sat in the +carriage whose springs Aun' Suke had sorely tried; but Miss Lou would +not go with them. After his readiness to marry her to her cousin she +felt it would be worse than mockery to listen to Dr. Williams again. + +But a deep, yet morbid spiritual change was taking place in the girl. +As of old, she thought and brooded when her hands were busy, and during +her long, solitary evenings on the piazza. Strange to say, she was +drawing much of her inspiration from a grave--the grave of a rough, +profane soldier whom she knew only as "Yarry." There was something in +his self-forgetful effort in her behalf, even when in the mortal +anguish of death, which appealed to her most powerfully. His heroism, +expecting, hoping for no reward, became the finest thing in her +estimation she had ever witnessed. Her own love taught her why Scoville +was attracted by her and became ready to do anything for her. "That's +the old, old story," she mused, "ever sweet and new, yet old as the +world. Poor Yarry was actuated by a purely unselfish, noble impulse. +Only such an impulse can sustain and carry me through my life. No, no, +Mrs. Waldo, I can never become happy in making others happy. I can +never be happy again. The bullet which killed Allan Scoville pierced my +heart also and it is dead, but that poor soldier taught me how one can +still live and suffer nobly, and such a life must be pleasing to the +only God I can worship." All wondered at the change gradually taking +place in the girl. It was too resolute, too much the offspring of her +will rather than her heart to have in it much gentleness, but it was +observed that she was becoming gravely and patiently considerate of +others, even of their faults and follies. As far as possible, her uncle +and aunt were allowed their own way without protest, the girl +sacrificing her own feelings and wishes when it was possible. They at +last began to admit that their niece was manifesting a becoming spirit +of submission and deference, when in fact her management of their +affairs was saving them from an impoverishment scarcely to be endured. + +For Mrs. Whately the girl now had a genuine and strong affection, +chilled only by her belief that the plan in regard to the son was ever +in the mother's mind. So indeed it was. The sagacious woman watched +Miss Lou closely and with feelings of growing hope as well as of +tenderness. The girl was showing a patience, a strength of mind, and, +above all, a spirit of self-sacrifice which satisfied Mrs. Whately that +she was the one of all the world for her son. + +"I do believe," she thought, "that if I can only make Louise think it +will be best for us all as well as Madison, she will yield. The spirit +of self-sacrifice seems her supreme impulse. Her sadness will pass away +in time, and she would soon learn to love the father of her children. +What's more, there is something about her now which would hold any +man's love. See how her lightest wish controls those who work for her, +even that harum-scarum Zany." + +In the late autumn a long-delayed letter threw Mrs. Whately into a +panic of fear and anxiety. A surgeon wrote that her son had been +severely wounded and had lost his left arm, but that he was doing well. + + + + +Here the author laid down his pen. In Mr. Roe's journal, under date of +July 11, is an entry alluding to a conversation with a friend. That +conversation concerned the conclusion of this book, and was, in effect, +substantially the same as the outline given by him in a letter, part of +which is quoted as follows: + +"It is not my purpose to dwell further on incidents connected with the +close of the war, as the book may be considered too long already. It +only remains for me now to get all my people happy as soon as possible. +Zany and Chunk 'make up,' and a good deal of their characteristic +love-making will be worked in to relieve the rather sombre state of +things at this stage. Whately returns with his empty sleeve, more of a +hero than ever in his own eyes and his mother's. Miss Lou thinks him +strangely thoughtful and considerate in keeping away, as he does, after +a few short visits at The Oaks. The truth is, he is wofully +disappointed at the change in his cousin's looks. This pale, listless, +hollow-eyed girl is not the one who set him to reading 'Taming of the +Shrew.' That her beauty of color and of outline could ever return, he +does not consider; and in swift revulsion of feeling secretly pays +court elsewhere. + +"Mrs. Whately, however, makes up for her son's deficiencies. Utterly +ignorant how affairs are shaping, she works by her representations upon +Miss Lou's sympathies until the weary consent is wrung from the poor +girl--'Nothing matters to me any more! If it makes you all +happy--why--then--But I must wait a year.' She feels that her love for +Allan Scoville will never be less, and that this period of time is +little enough to devote to him in silent memory. + +"The delighted aunt hastens to report to her son, who stares rather +blankly, for a lover, as he hears of this concession on his cousin's +part, and without answer, he orders his horse and rides furiously away. +The ride is one that has been very frequently taken since the young +man's return, and pretty soon he is in earnest conversation with the +rosy-cheeked, black-eyed daughter of Dr. Williams. There seems to be +very good understanding between the two, and later, just at the final +scene, it will come out as effectively as can be portrayed the +startling news of their secret marriage. + +"The days go on. One afternoon in the late autumn, Aun' Jinkey, smoking +and 'projeckin'' as usual in her cabin, has a vision which fairly sends +her heart, as she will express it, 'right troo de mouf.' Was it a +'spook,' or had the dead really come back to life? And I hear her +exclaim, throwing up her hands, 'Bress de Lawd, Marse Scoville, dat +you? Whar you drap fum dis yere time? I doan almos' know you widout de +un'fo'm!' + +"But the 'vision' will not stop to narrate to the old aunty of his +capture, imprisonment and illness, his release and hurried journey +North. He catches sight of the slight figure of Miss Lou in the +distance near the run, and in a moment is beside her. 'Only death could +keep me from seeking you and living for you always, did I not tell you, +my darling, my darling?' + +"And here I will leave them. The reader's imagination will picture more +if more is wished. It is better so." + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Miss Lou, by E. P. Roe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISS LOU *** + +***** This file should be named 5309.txt or 5309.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/0/5309/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Roe + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5309] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 29, 2002] +[Date last updated: August 13, 2005] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISS LOU *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +THE WORKS OF E. P. ROE + +VOLUME NINE + +"MISS LOU" + + +ILLUSTRATED + + + + +In Loving Dedication + +TO LITTLE MISS LOU MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I A GIRL'S PROTEST + + CHAPTER II SOMETHING HAPPENS + + CHAPTER III MAD WHATELY + + CHAPTER IV AUN' JINKEY'S POLICY + + CHAPTER V WHATELY'S IDEA OF COURTSHIP + + CHAPTER VI THE STORM BEGINS + + CHAPTER VII DANGERS THICKENING + + CHAPTER VIII "WHEN?" + + CHAPTER IX PARALYZED WITH SHAME + + CHAPTER X A BAFFLED DIPLOMATIST + + CHAPTER XI AUN' JINKEY'S WARNING + + CHAPTER XII A WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS + + CHAPTER XIII THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + CHAPTER XIV A THREAT + + CHAPTER XV MISS LOU EMANCIPATED + + CHAPTER XVI A SMILE ON WAR'S GRIM FACE + + CHAPTER XVII THE JOY OF FREEDOM + + CHAPTER XVIII A WELL-AIMED SLIPPER + + CHAPTER XIX A GIRL'S APPEAL + + CHAPTER XX SCOVILLE'S HOPE + + CHAPTER XXI TWO STORMS + + CHAPTER XXII CHUNK'S QUEST + + CHAPTER XXIII A BOLD SCHEME + + CHAPTER XXIV A HOME A HOSPITAL + + CHAPTER XXV A TRIBUTE TO A SOUTHERN GIRL + + CHAPTER XXVI A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM + + CHAPTER XXVII AUN' JINKEY'S SUPREME TEST + +CHAPTER XXVIII TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL + + CHAPTER XXIX "ANGEL OF DEATH" + + CHAPTER XXX GLIMPSES OF MOODS AND MINDS + + CHAPTER XXXI THE DUELLISTS VANQUISHED + + CHAPTER XXXII SAD TIDINGS + +CHAPTER XXXIII CONSPIRATORS + + CHAPTER XXXIV CHUNK PLAYS SPOOK + + CHAPTER XXXV A VISITATION + + CHAPTER XXXVI UNCLE LUSTHAH EXHORTS + +CHAPTER XXXVII A NEW ROUTINE + + + + +"MISS LOU" + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A GIRL'S PROTEST + + +A great, rudely built stone chimney was smoking languidly one +afternoon. Leaning against this chimney, as if for protection and +support, was a little cabin gray and decrepit with age. The door of +the cabin stood wide open, for the warm spring was well advanced in +the South. There was no need of a fire, but Aun' Jinkey, the +mistress of the abode, said she "kep' hit bunin' fer comp'ny." She +sat by it now, smoking as lazily as her chimney, in an old chair +which creaked as if in pain when she rocked. She supposed herself to +be in deep meditation, and regarded her corncob pipe not merely a +solace but also as an invaluable assistant to clearness of thought. +Aun' Jinkey had the complacent belief that she could reason out most +questions if she could only smoke and think long enough. +Unfortunately, events would occur which required action, or which +raised new questions before she had had time to solve those +originally presented; yet it would be hard to fancy a more tranquil +order of things than that of which she was a humble part. + +The cabin was shaded by grand old oaks and pines, through which the +afternoon sun shone in mild radiance, streaming into the doorway and +making a broad track of light over the uneven floor. But Aun' Jinkey +kept back in the congenial dusk, oblivious to the loveliness of +nature without. At last she removed her pipe from her mouth and +revealed her mental processes in words. + +"In all my projeckin' dat chile's wuss'n old mars'r en miss, en de +wah, en de preachin'. I kin kin' ob see troo dem, en w'at dey +dribin' at, but dat chile grow mo' quare en on'countable eb'y day. +Long as she wus took up wid her doll en tame rabbits en pony dar +wa'n't no circum'cutions 'bout her, en now she am all circum'cution. +Not'n gwine 'long plain wid her. She like de run down dar--but win' +en win' ez ef hit had ter go on, en hit couldn't mek up hits min' +which way ter go. Sometime hit larfin' in de sun en den hit steal +away whar you kyant mos' fin' hit. Dat de way wid Miss Lou. She seem +right hyar wid us--she only lil gyurl toder day--en now she 'clinin' +to notions ob her own, en she steal away to whar she tink no one see +her en tink on heaps ob tings. Won'er ef eber, like de run, she +wanter go way off fum us? + +"Ole mars'r en ole miss dunno en doan see not'n. Dey kyant. Dey +tinks de worl' al'ays gwine des so, dat means de way dey tink hit +orter go. Ef hit go any oder way, de worl's wrong, not dey. I ain' +sayin' dey is wrong, fer I ain' des tink dat all out'n. 'Long ez she +keeps her foots on de chalk line dey mark out dey ain' projeckin' +how her min' go yere en dar, zigerty-zag wid notions ob her own." + +The door darkened, if the radiant girl standing on the threshold +could be said to darken any door. She did not represent the ordinary +Southern type, for her hair was gold in the sun and her eyes blue as +the violets by the brook. They were full of mirth now as she said: +"There you are, Aun' Jinkey, smoking and 'projeckin' as usual. You +look like an old Voudoo woman, and if I didn't know you as my old +mammy--if I should just happen in as a stranger, I'd be afraid of +you." + +"Voudoo ooman! How you talks, Miss Lou! I'se a member ob de Baptis' +Church, en you knows it." + +"Oh, I know a heap 'mo'n dat,' as you so often say. If you were only +a member of the Baptist Church I wouldn't be running in to see you +so often. Uncle says a member of the Baptist Church has been +stealing some of his chickens." + +"I knows some tings 'bout de members ob HE church," replied Aun' +Jinkey, with a toss of her head. + +"I reckon you do, more than they would like to see published in the +county paper; but we aren't scandal-mongers, are we, Aun' Jinkey?" +and the young visitor sat down in the doorway and looked across the +green meadow seen through the opening in the trees. A dogwood stood +in the corner of the rail fence, the pink and white of its blossoms +well matching the girl's fair face and her rose-dotted calico gown, +which, in its severe simplicity, revealed her rounded outlines. + +Aun' Jinkey watched her curiously, for it was evident that Miss +Lou's thoughts were far away. "Wat you tinkin' 'bout, Miss Lou?" she +asked. + +"Oh, I hardly know myself. Come, Aun' Jinkey, be a nice old witch +and tell me my fortune." + +"Wat you want ter know yo' fortin fur?" + +"I want to know more than I do now. Look here, Aun' Jinkey, does +that run we hear singing yonder go round and round in one place and +with the same current? Doesn't it go on? Uncle and aunt want me to +go round and round, doing the same things and thinking the same +thoughts--not my own thoughts either. Oh, I'm getting so tired of it +all!" + +"Lor' now, chile, I wuz des 'parin' you ter dat run in my min'," +said Aun' Jinkey in an awed tone. + +"No danger of uncle or aunt comparing me to the run, or anything +else. They never had any children and don't know anything about +young people. They have a sort of prim, old-fashioned ideal of what +the girls in the Baron family should be, and I must become just such +a girl--just like that stiff, queer old portrait of grandma when she +was a girl. Oh, if they knew how tired of it all I am!" + +"Bless yo' heart, Miss Lou, you ain' projeckin' anyting?" + +"No, I'm just chafing and beating my wings like a caged bird." + +"Now see yere, Miss Lou, isn't you onreason'ble? You hab a good +home; mars'r en miss monstus pius, en dey bringin' you up in de +nurter en 'monitions ob de Lawd." "Too much 'monition, Aun' Jinkey. +Uncle and aunt's religion makes me so tired, and they make Sunday so +awfully long. Their religion reminds me of the lavender and camphor +in which they keep their Sunday clothes. And then the pages of the +catechism they have always made me learn, and the long Psalms, too, +for punishment! I don't understand religion, anyway. It seems +something meant to uphold all their views, and anything contrary to +their views isn't right or religious. They don't think much of you +Baptists." + +"We ain' sufrin' on dat 'count, chile," remarked Aun' Jinkey, dryly. + +"There now, Aun' Jinkey, don't you see? Uncle owns you, yet you +think for yourself and have a religion of your own. If he knew I was +thinking for myself, he'd invoke the memory of all the Barons +against me. I don't know very much about the former Barons, except +that my father was one. According to what I am told, the girl Barons +were the primmest creatures I ever heard of. Then uncle and aunt are +so inconsistent, holding up as they do for my admiration Cousin Mad +Whately. I don't wonder people shorten his name from Madison to Mad, +for if ever there was a wild, reckless fellow, he is. Uncle wants to +bring about a match, because Mad's plantation joins ours. Mad acted +as if he owned me already when he was home last, and yet he knows I +can't abide him. He seems to think I can be subdued like one of his +skittish horses." + +"You HAB got a heap on yo' min", Miss Lou, you sho'ly hab. You +sut'ny t'ink too much for a young gyurl." + +"I'm eighteen, yet uncle and aunt act toward me in some ways as if I +were still ten years old. How can I help thinking? The thoughts +come. You're a great one to talk against thinking. Uncle says you +don't do much else, and that your thoughts are just like the smoke +of your pipe." + +Aun' Jinkey bridled indignantly at first, but, recollecting herself, +said quietly: "I knows my juty ter ole mars'r en'll say not'n gin +'im. He bring you up en gib you a home, Miss Lou. You must +reckermember dat ar." + +"I'm in a bad mood, I suppose, but I can't help my thoughts, and +it's kind of a comfort to speak them out. If he only WOULD give me a +home and not make it so much like a prison! Uncle's honest, though, +to the backbone. On my eighteenth birthday he took me into his +office and formally told me about my affairs. I own that part of the +plantation on the far side of the run. He has kept all the accounts +of that part separate, and if it hadn't been for the war I'd have +been rich, and he says I will be rich when the war is over and the +South free. He said he had allowed so much for my bringing up and +for my education, and that the rest was invested, with his own +money, in Confederate bonds. That is all right, and I respect uncle +for his downright integrity, but he wants to manage me just as he +does my plantation. He wishes to produce just such crops of thoughts +as he sows the seeds of, and he would treat my other thoughts like +weeds, which must be hoed out, cut down and burned. Then you see he +hasn't GIVEN me a home, and I'm growing to be a woman. If I am old +enough to own land, am I never to be old enough to own myself?" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, you raisin' mo' questions dan I kin tink out in +a yeah." + +"There's dozens more rising in my mind and I can't get rid of them. +Aunt keeps my hands knitting and working for the soldiers, and I +like to do it. I'd like to be a soldier myself, for then I could go +somewhere and do and see something. Life then wouldn't be just doing +things with my hands and being told to think exactly what an old +gentleman and an old lady think. Of course our side is right in this +war, but how can I believe with uncle that nearly all the people in +the North are low, wicked and vile? The idea that every Northern +soldier is a monster is preposterous to me. Uncle forgets that he +has had me taught in United States history. I wish some of them +would just march by this out-of-the-way place, for I would like to +see for myself what they are like." + +"Dar, dar, Miss Lou, you gittin' too bumptious. You like de fus' +woman who want ter know too much." + +"No," said the girl, her blue eyes becoming dark and earnest, "I +want to know what's true, what's right. I can't believe that uncle +and aunt's narrow, exclusive, comfortless religion came from heaven; +I can't believe that God agrees with uncle as to just what a young +girl should do and think and be, but uncle seems to think that the +wickedest thing I can do is to disagree with him and aunt. Uncle +forgets that there are books in his library, and books make one +think. They tell of life very different from mine. Why, Aun' Jinkey, +just think what a lonely girl I am! You are about the only one I can +talk to. Our neighbors are so far away and we live so secluded that +I scarcely have acquaintances of my own age. Aunt thinks young girls +should be kept out of society until the proper time, and that time +seems no nearer now than ever. If uncle and aunt loved me, it would +be different, but they have just got a stiff set of ideas about +their duty to me and another set about my duty to them. Why, uncle +laughed at a kitten the other day because it was kittenish, but he +has always wanted me to behave with the solemnity of an old cat. Oh, +dear! I'm SO tired. I wish something WOULD happen." + +"Hit brokes me all up ter year you talk so, honey, en I bless de +Lawd 'tain' likely any ting gwinter hap'n in dese yere parts. De wah +am ragin' way off fum heah, nobody comin' wid news, en bimeby you +gits mo' settle down. Some day you know de valley ob peace en +quietness." + +"See here, Aun' Jinkey," said the girl, with a flash of her eyes, +"you know the little pond off in the woods. That's more peaceful +than the run, isn't it? Well, it's stagnant, too, and full of +snakes. I'd like to know what's going on in the world, but uncle of +late does not even let me read the county paper. I know things are +not going to suit him, for he often frowns and throws the paper into +the fire. That's what provokes me--the whole world must go just to +suit him, or else he is angry." + +"Well, now, honey, you hab 'lieve yo' min', en I specs you feel +bettah. You mus' des promis yo' ole mammy dat you be keerful en not +rile up ole mars'r, kase hit'll ony be harder fer you. I'se ole, en +I knows tings do hap'n dough dey of'un come slowlike. You des gwine +troo de woods now, en kyant see fur; bimeby you come ter a clearin'. +Dat boy ob mine be comin' soon fer his pone en bacon. I'se gwinter +do a heap ob tinkin' on all de questions you riz." + +"Yes, Aun' Jinkey, I do feel better for speaking out, but I expect I +shall do a heap of thinking too. Good-by," and she strolled away +toward the brook. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SOMETHING HAPPENS + + +It was a moody little stream which Miss Lou was following. She did +not go far before she sat down on a rock and watched the murmuring +waters glide past, conscious meantime of a vague desire to go with +them into the unknown. She was not chafing so much at the monotony +of her life as at its restrictions, its negation of all pleasing +realities, and the persistent pressure upon her attention of a +formal round of duties and more formal and antiquated circle of +thoughts. Only as she stole away into solitudes like the one in +which she now sat dreaming could she escape from the hard +materialism of routine, and chiding for idleness usually followed. +Her aunt, with an abundance of slaves at her command, could have +enjoyed much leisure, yet she was fussily and constantly busy, and +the young girl could not help feeling that much which she was +expected to do was a mere waste of time. + +The serene beauty of the evening, the songs of the mocking and other +birds, were not without their effect, however, and she said aloud: +"I might be very happy even here if, like the birds, I had the heart +to sing--and I would sing if I truly lived and had something to live +for." + +The sun was approaching the horizon, and she was rising wearily and +reluctantly to return when she heard the report of firearms, +followed by the sound of swiftly galloping horses. Beyond the brook, +on the margin of which she stood, rose a precipitous bank overhung +with vines and bushes, and a few rods further back was a plantation +road descending toward a wide belt of forest. A thick copse and +growth of young trees ran from the top of the bank toward the road, +hiding from her vision that portion of the lane from which the +sounds were approaching. Suddenly half a dozen cavalrymen, whom she +knew to be Federals from their blue uniforms, galloped into view and +passed on in the direction of the forest. One of the group turned +his horse sharply behind the concealing copse and spurred directly +toward her. She had only time to throw up her hands and utter an +involuntary cry of warning about the steep bank, when the horse +sprang through the treacherous shrubbery and fell headlong into the +stream. The rider saw his peril, withdrew his feet from the +stirrups, and in an instinctive effort for self-preservation, threw +himself forward, falling upon the sand almost at the young girl's +feet. He uttered a groan, shivered, and became insensible. A moment +or two later a band in gray galloped by wholly intent upon the +Federals, who had disappeared spurring for the woods, and she +recognized her cousin, Madison Whately, leading the pursuit. Neither +he nor any of his party looked her way, and it was evident that the +Union soldier who had so abruptly diverged from the road behind the +screening copse had not been discovered. The sounds died away as +speedily as they had approached, and all became still again. The +startled birds resumed their songs; the injured horse moved feebly, +and the girl saw that it was bleeding from a wound, but the man at +her feet did not stir. Truly something had happened. What should she +do? Breaking the paralysis of her fear and astonishment, she stepped +to the brook, gathered up water in her hands, and dashed it into the +face of the unconscious man. It had no effect. "Can he be dead?" she +asked herself in horror. He was as pale as his bronzed features +could become, and her woman's soul was touched that one who looked +so strong, who had been so vital a moment before, should now lie +there in pathetic and appealing helplessness. Was that fine, manly +face the visage of one of the terrible, bloodthirsty, unscrupulous +Yankees? Even as she ran to Aun' Jinkey's cottage for help the +thought crossed her mind that the world was not what it had been +represented to her, and that she must learn to think and act for +herself. + +As she approached, Chunk, Aun' Jinkey's grandson, appeared coming +from the mansion house. He was nicknamed "Chunk" from his dwarfed +stature and his stout, powerful build. Miss Lou put her finger to +her lips, glanced hastily around, and led the way into the cabin. +She hushed their startled exclamations as she told her story, and +then said, "Aun' Jinkey, if he's alive, you must hide him in your +loft there where Chunk sleeps. Come with me." + +In a few moments all three were beside the unconscious form. Chunk +instantly slipped his hand inside the soldier's vest over his heart. +"Hit done beats," he said, quickly, and without further hesitation +he lifted the man as if he had been a child, bore him safely to the +cabin, and laid him on Aun' Jinkey's bed. "Hi, granny, whar dat hot +stuff you gib me fer de belly misery?" + +Aun' Jinkey had already found a bottle containing a decoction of the +wild ginger root, and with pewter spoon forced some of the liquid +into the man's mouth. He struggled slightly and began to revive. At +last he opened his eyes and looked with an awed expression at the +young girl who stood at the foot of the bed. + +"I hope you feel better now," she said, kindly. + +"Are you--am I alive?" he asked. + +"Dar now, mars'r, you isn't in heb'n yet, dough Miss Lou, standin' +dar, mout favor de notion. Des you took anoder swaller ob dis +ginger-tea, en den you see me'n Chunk ain' angels." + +Chunk grinned and chuckled. "Neber was took fer one in my bawn +days." + +The young man did as he was bidden, then turned his eyes wistfully +and questioningly from the two dark visages back to the girl's +sympathetic face. + +"You remember," she said, "you were being chased, and turned your +horse toward a steep bank, which you didn't see, and fell." + +"Ah, yes--it's all growing clear. You were the woman I caught +glimpse of." + +She nodded and said: "I must go now, or some one will come looking +for me. I won't speak--tell about this. I'm not on your side, but +I'm not going to get a helpless man into more trouble. You may trust +Aun' Jinkey and her grandson." + +"Dat you kin, mars'r," Chunk ejaculated with peculiar emphasis. + +"God bless you, then, for a woman who has a heart. I'm quite content +that you're not an angel," and a smile so lighted up the soldier's +features that she thought she had never seen a pleasanter looking +man. + +Worried indeed that she was returning so much later than usual, she +hastened homeward. Half-way up the path to the house she met a tall, +slender negro girl, who exclaimed, "Hi, Miss Lou, ole miss des +gettin' 'stracted 'bout you, en mars'r sez ef you ain' at supper in +five minits he's gwine down to Aun' Jinkey en know what she mean, +meckin' sech' sturbence in de fambly." + +"How absurd!" thought the girl. "Being a little late is a +disturbance in the family." But she hastened on, followed by the +girl, who was employed in the capacity of waitress. This girl, Zany +by name, resented in accordance with her own ideas and character the +principle of repression which dominated the household. She threw a +kiss toward the cabin under the trees and shook with silent laughter +as she muttered, "Dat fer you, Chunk. You de beat'nst nigger I eber +see. You mos' ez bro'd ez I is high, yit you'se reachin' arter me. I +des like ter kill mysef lafin' wen we dance tergeder," and she +indulged in a jig-step and antics behind Miss Lou's back until she +came in sight of the windows, then appeared as if following a +hearse. + +Miss Lou entered the rear door of the long, two-story house, +surrounded on three sides by a wide piazza. Mr. Baron, a stout, +bald-headed old gentleman, was fuming up and down the dining-room +while his wife sat in grim silence at the foot of the table. It was +evident that they had made stiff, old-fashioned toilets, and both +looked askance at the flushed face of the almost breathless girl, +still in her simple morning costume. Before she could speak her +uncle said, severely, "Since we have waited so long, we will still +wait till you can dress." + +The girl was glad to escape to her room in order that she might have +time to frame some excuse before she faced the inquisition in store +for her. + +Constitutional traits often assert themselves in a manner contrary +to the prevailing characteristics of a region. Instead of the easy- +going habits of life common to so many of his neighbors, Mr. Baron +was a martinet by nature, and the absence of large, engrossing +duties permitted his mind to dwell on little things and to +exaggerate them out of all proportion. Indeed, it was this utter +lack of perspective in his views and judgments which created for +Miss Lou half her trouble. The sin of tardiness which she had just +committed was treated like a great moral transgression, or rather it +was so frowned upon that it were hard to say he could show his +displeasure at a more heinous offence. The one thought now in Mr. +Baron's mind was that the sacred routine of the day had been broken. +Often there are no greater devotees to routine than those who are +virtually idlers. Endowed with the gift of persistence rather than +with a resolute will, it had become second nature to maintain the +daily order of action and thought which he believed to be his right +to enforce upon his household. Every one chafed under his inexorable +system except his wife. She had married when young, had grown up +into it, and supplemented it with a system of her own which took the +form of a scrupulous and periodical attention to all little details +of housekeeping. There was a constant friction, therefore, between +the careless, indolent natures of the slaves and the precise, +exacting requirements of both master and mistress. Miss Lou, as she +was generally called on the plantation, had grown up into this +routine as a flower blooms in a stiff old garden, and no amount of +repression, admonition and exhortation, not even in her younger days +of punishment, could quench her spirit or benumb her mind. She +submitted, she yielded, with varying degrees of grace or reluctance. +As she increased in years, her thoughts, as we have seen, were +verging more and more on the border of rebellion. But the habit of +obedience and submission still had its influence. Moreover, there +had been no strong motive and little opportunity for independent +action. Hoping not even for tolerance, much less for sympathy, she +kept her thoughts to herself, except as she occasionally relieved +her mind to her old mammy, Aun' Jinkey. + +She came into the dining-room hastily at last, but the expression of +her face was impassive and inscrutable. She was received in solemn +silence, broken at first only by the long formal grace which Mr. +Baron never omitted and never varied. In her rebellious mood the +girl thought, "What a queer God it would be if he were pleased with +this old cut-and-dried form of words! All the time uncle's saying +them he is thinking how he'll show me his displeasure." + +Mr. Baron evidently concluded that his best method at first would be +an expression of offended dignity, and the meal began in depressing +silence, which Mrs. Baron was naturally the first to break. "It must +be evident to you, Louise," she said in a thin, monotonous voice, +"that the time has come for you to consider and revise your conduct. +The fact that your uncle has been kept waiting for his supper is +only one result of an unhappy change which I have observed, but have +forborne to speak of in the hope that your own conscience and the +influence of your past training would lead you to consider and +conform. Think of the precious moments, indeed I may say hours, that +you have wasted this afternoon in idle converse with an old negress +who is no fit companion for you! You are becoming too old--" + +"Too old, aunt? Do you at last recognize the fact that I am growing +older?" + +With a faint expression of surprise dawning in her impassive face +Mrs. Baron continued: "Yes, old enough to remember yourself and not +to be compelled to recognize the duties of approaching womanhood. I +truly begin to feel that I must forbid these visits to an old, +ignorant and foolish creature whose ideas are totally at variance +with all that is proper and right." + +"Uncle thinks I have approached womanhood sufficiently near to know +something of my business affairs, and even went so far as to suggest +his project of marrying me to my cousin in order to unite in sacred-- +I mean legal bonds the two plantations." + +The two old people looked at each other, then stared at their niece, +who, with hot face, maintained the pretence of eating her supper. +"Truly, Louise," began Mr. Baron, solemnly, "you are indulging in +strange and unbecoming language. I have revealed to you your +pecuniary affairs, and I have more than once suggested an alliance +which is in accordance with our wishes and your interests, in order +to prove to you how scrupulous we are in promoting your welfare. We +look for grateful recognition and a wise, persistent effort on your +part to further our efforts in your behalf." + +"It doesn't seem to me wise to talk to a mere child about property +and marriage," said the girl, breathing quickly in the consciousness +of her temerity and her rising spirit of rebellion. + +"You are ceasing to be a mere child," resumed her uncle, severely. + +"That cannot be," Miss Lou interrupted. "You and aunt speak to me as +you did years ago when I was a child. Can you expect me to have a +woman's form and not a woman's mind? Are women told exactly what +they must think and do, like little children? Aunt threatens to +forbid visits to my old mammy. If I were but five years old she +couldn't do more. You speak of marrying me to my cousin as if I had +merely the form and appearance of a woman, and no mind or wishes of +my own. I have never said I wanted to marry him or any one." + +"Why, Louise, you are verging toward flat rebellion," gasped her +uncle, laying down his knife and fork. + +"Oh, no, uncle! I'm merely growing up. You should have kept the +library locked; you should never have had me taught to read, if you +expected me to become the mere shell of a woman, having no ideas of +my own." + +"We wish you to have ideas, and have tried to inculcate right +ideas." + +"Which means only your ideas, uncle." + +"Louise, are you losing your mind?" + +"No, uncle, I am beginning to find it, and that I have a right to +use it. I am willing to pay all due respect and deference to you and +to aunt, but I protest against being treated as a child on one hand +and as a wax figure which can be stood up and married to anybody on +the other. I have patiently borne this treatment as long as I can, +and I now reckon the time has come to end it." + +Mr. Baron was thunderstruck and his wife was feeling for her +smelling-bottle. Catching a glimpse of Zany, where she stood open- +mouthed in her astonishment, her master said, sternly, "Leave the +room!" Then he added to his niece, "Think of your uttering such wild +talk before one of our people! Don't you know that my will must be +law on this plantation?" + +"I'm not one of your people," responded the girl, haughtily. "I'm +your niece, and a Southern girl who will call no man master." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for it +to be opened, a tall, lank man entered and said, hastily, "Mr. +Baron, I reckon there's news which yer orter hear toreckly." He was +the overseer of the plantation. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MAD WHATELY + + +Mr. Baron was one of the few of the landed gentry in the region who +was not known by a military title, and he rather prided himself on +the fact. "I'm a man of peace," he was accustomed to say, and his +neighbors often remarked, "Yes, Baron is peaceable if he has his own +way in everything, but there's no young blood in the county more +ready for a fray than he for a lawsuit." "Law and order" was Mr. +Baron's motto, but by these terms he meant the perpetuity of the +conditions under which he and his ancestors had thus far lived. To +distrust these conditions was the crime of crimes. In his +estimation, therefore, a Northern soldier was a monster surpassed +only by the out-and-out abolitionist. While it had so happened that, +even as a young man, his tastes had been legal rather than military, +he regarded the war of secession as more sacred than any conflict of +the past, and was willing to make great sacrifices for its +maintenance. He had invested all his funds as well as those of his +niece in Confederate bonds, and he had annually contributed a large +portion of the product of his lands to the support of the army. +Living remote from the scenes of actual strife, he had been able to +maintain his illusions and hopes to a far greater extent than many +others of like mind with himself; but as the war drew toward its +close, even the few newspapers he read were compelled to justify +their name in some degree by giving very unpalatable information. As +none are so blind as those who will not see, the old man had testily +pooh-poohed at what he termed "temporary reverses," and his immunity +from disturbance had confirmed his belief that the old order of +things could not materially change. True, some of his slaves had +disappeared, but he had given one who had been caught such a lesson +that the rest had remained quiet if not contented. + +The news brought by his overseer became therefore more disturbing +than the strange and preposterous conduct of his niece, and he had +demanded excitedly, "What on earth's the matter, Perkins?" + +"Well, sir, fur's I kin mek out, this very plantation's been p'luted +by Yankee soldiers this very evenin'. Yes, sir." + +"Great heavens! Perkins," and Mr. Baron sprang from his chair, then +sank back again with an expression suggesting that if the earth +opened next it could not be worse. + +"Yes, sir," resumed Perkins, solemnly, "I drawed that much from +Jute. He seen 'em hisself. I noticed a s'pressed 'citement en talk +in the quarters this evenin', an' I follered hit right up an' I ast +roun' till I pinned Jute. He was over the fur side of the run +lookin' fur a stray crow, an' he seen 'em. But they was bein' chased +lively. Mad Whately--beg pardon--Mr. Madison was arter them with +whip and spur. Didn't yer hear a crack of a rifle? I did, and +reckoned it was one o' the Simcoe boys out gunnin', but Jute says +hit was one o' our men fired the shot, en that they chased the Yanks +to'erds the big woods. They was all mounted en goin' it lickity +switch. The thing that sticks in my crop isn't them few what Mr. +Madison chased, but the main body they belongs to. Looks as ef +there's goin' to be a raid down our way." + +"If that is so," said Mr. Baron, majestically, "Lieutenant Whately +proves that our brave men are not far off, either, and the way he +chased some of them shows how all the vile invaders will eventually +be driven out of the country. Be vigilant, Perkins, and let it be +understood at the quarters that Lieutenant Whately is within call." + +The overseer bowed awkwardly and limped away. His lameness had +secured him immunity from military duty. + +"Ah, that's a man for you," said Mr. Baron, glaring at his niece. +"Your cousin is a true scion of Southern chivalry. That is the kind +of a man you do not know whether you wish to marry or not--a brave +defender of our hearths and liberties." + +"If he wishes to marry me against my will, he's not a defender of my +liberty," retorted the girl. + +"If you had the spirit which should be your birthright your eyes +would flash with joy at the prospect of seeing a hero who could thus +chase your enemies from our soil. If you could only have seen him in +his headlong--" + +"I did see him." + +"What!" + +"I saw Cousin Madison leading a dozen or more men in pursuit of half +a dozen. That does not strike me as sublimely heroic." + +"Why haven't you told me of this? How could you have seen him?" and +the old man, in his strong excitement, rose from his chair. + +"My reception when I entered was not conducive to conversation. I +was merely sitting by the run and saw both parties gallop past." + +"You should have come instantly to me." + +"I'm sure I came in hastily," she replied, crimsoning in the +consciousness of her secret, "but I was met as if I had been guilty +of something awful." + +"Well, if I had known," began her uncle, in some confusion, +mistaking her color for an expression of anger. + +"I think," remarked her aunt, coldly, "that Louise should have +recognized that she had given you just cause for displeasure by her +tardiness, unless it were explained, and she should have explained +at once. I have no patience with the spirit she is displaying." + +But Mr. Baron's mind had been diverted to more serious and alarming +considerations than what he characterized mentally as "a girl's +tantrum." + +"It makes my blood boil," he said, "to think that this Northern scum +is actually in our neighborhood, and might be at our doors but for +my brave nephew. Thanks to him, they met a righteous reception on +this plantation; thanks to him, in all probability, we are not now +weltering in our blood, with the roof that shelters us blazing over +our heads. If those marauders had found us unprotected, young woman, +you would have rued the day. Their capacity for evil is only +equalled by their opportunities. If your cousin had not flamed after +them like an avenging sword you might have cried loudly enough for +the one of whom, in your fit of unseemly petulance, you can speak so +slightingly. I advise you to go to your room and thank Heaven for +your escape." + +"Uncle, are the people of the North savages?" + +"Its soldiers are worse than savages. Have you not heard me express +my opinion of them over and over again? Go to your room, and when +you appear again, I trust it will be with the meekness and +submission becoming in a young woman." + +When the girl left Aun' Jinkey's cabin the young soldier looked +after her with an expression of deep interest. "Who is she?" he +asked. + +"Dat's Miss Lou," said the old negress, forcing into his mouth +another spoonful of her fiery decoction. + +"Oh, that's enough, aunty, unless you wish to burn me out like a +hollow log," and he struggled to his feet to ease his tendency to +strangle. "Miss Lou? How should I know who she is?" + +"Ob co'se," said Aun' Jinkey, dryly, "I ain' namin' her pedigree." + +"You a Linkum man, ain' you?" Chunk asked, quickly. + +"Yes, and Lincoln is a good friend of yours." + +"Hi! I knows dat. W'at fer you so hidin'-in-de-grass, granny? No use +bein' dat away wid a Linkum man." + +"I ain' talkin' 'bout my young mistis to folks ez drap down fum de +clouds." + +"You wouldn't like me better if I came up from below, aunty. There +now, I'm not a very bad fellow, and I belong to the army that's +going to make you all free." + +"I hasn't des tink out dis question ob bein' free yit. I'se too ole +to wuk much an' old mars'r's took keer on me long time." + +"Well, I'se tink it out," put in Chunk, decidedly; "en I'se able to +wuk fer you en me too." + +"You mighty peart, Chunk, co'tin' a gal lie a bean-pole a'ready. I +reck'n she spen' all you eber mek. You bettah boos' de Linkum man +into dat ar lof sud'n, kase ef Marse Perkins cotch 'im yere we all +ain' feelin' berry good bimeby." + +"Dat ar truer'n preachin'," admitted Chunk, with alacrity. "Des you +tek hol' ob dem ladder rouns, mars'r, an' put yo' foots on my +sho'lers. Dat's hit. Nobody tink ob fin'in' you yere. I'se study how +ter git yo' hoss out of sight 'gin mawnin'." + +"You stand by me, Chunk," said the soldier, "and you won't be sorry. +There's a lot of us coming this way soon, and I can be a good friend +of yours and all your people if you help me out of this scrape." + +"I'se gwine ter stan' by you, boss. I'se mek up my min' ter be free +dis time, sho! Hi! w'at dat?" + +He was wonderfully agile, for his arms were nearly as long as his +legs. In an instant he descended, drawing a trap-door after him. +Then he sauntered to the door, which he opened wide. A troop of +horsemen were coming single file by a path which led near the cabin, +and the foremost asked in a voice which the negro recognized as that +of Lieutenant Whately, "Is that you, Chunk?" + +"Dat's me, mars'r. My 'specs." + +"Be off, you skeleton. Make time for the house and help get supper +for me and the men. If you don't run like a red deer, I'll ride you +down." + +"Good Lawd! w'at gwine ter hap'n nex'?" groaned Chunk, as he +disappeared toward the mansion. He burst like a bombshell into the +kitchen, a small building in the rear of the house. + +"Did you eber see de likes?" exclaimed Zany. "What yo' manners--" + +"Hi, dar! talk 'bout manners! Marse Whately comin' wid a army, en +want supper fer um all in des one minute en er haf by de clock!" + +Great, fat Aun' Suke threw up her hands in despair, and in the brief +silence the tramp of horses and the jingling of sabres were plainly +heard. They all knew Mad Whately, and it needed not that Mrs. Baron, +desperately flurried, should bustle in a few moments later with +orders that all hands should fly around. "What you doing here?" she +asked Chunk, sharply. + +"I'se here ter hep, mistis. Dem's my orders from Marse Whately. He +come ridin' by granny's." + +"Then go and kill chickens." + +A few moments later the dolorous outcry of fowls was added to the +uproar made by the barking dogs. + +With a chill of fear Miss Lou, in her chamber, recognized her +cousin's voice, and knew that he, with his band, had come to claim +hospitality at his uncle's hands. What complications did his +presence portend? Truly, the long months of monotony on the old +plantation were broken now. What the end would be she dared not +think, but for the moment her spirit exulted in the excitement which +would at least banish stagnation. + +In his secret heart Mr. Baron had hoped that his nephew would go on +to his own home, a few miles further; for applauding him as a hero +was one thing, and having him turn everything upside down at that +hour another. Routine and order were scattered to the winds whenever +Mad Whately made his appearance, but the host's second thoughts led +him to remember that this visitation was infinitely to be preferred +to one from the terrible Yankees; so he threw wide open the door, +and, with his wife, greeted his nephew warmly. Then he shouted for +Perkins to come and look after the horses. + +"Ah, mine uncle," cried Whately, "where on earth is to be found a +festive board like yours? Who so ready to fill the flowing bowl +until even the rim is lost to sight, when your defenders have a few +hours to spare in their hard campaigning? You won't entertain angels +unawares to-night. You'd have been like Daniel in the den with none +to stop the lions' mouths, or rather the jackals', had we not +appeared on the scene. The Yanks were bearing down for you like the +wolf on the fold. Where's my pretty cousin?" + +Mr. Baron had opened his mouth to speak several times during this +characteristic greeting, and now he hastened to the foot of the +stairs and shouted, "Louise, come down and help your aunt entertain +our guests." Meanwhile Whately stepped to the sideboard and helped +himself liberally to the sherry. + +"You know me must maintain discipline," resumed Whately, as his +uncle entered the dining-room. "The night is mild and still. Let a +long table be set on the piazza for my men. I can then pledge them +through the open window, for since I give them such hard service, I +must make amends when I can. Ah, Perkins, have your people rub the +horses till they are ready to prance, then feed them lightly, two +hours later a heavier feed, that's a good fellow! You were born +under a lucky star, uncle. You might now be tied up by your thumbs, +while the Yanks helped themselves." + +"It surely was a kind Providence which brought you here, nephew." + +"No doubt, no doubt; my good horse, also, and, I may add, the wish +to see my pretty cousin. Ah! here she comes with the blushes of the +morning on her cheeks," but his warmer than a cousinly embrace and +kiss left the crimson of anger in their places. + +She drew herself up indignantly to her full height and said, "We +have been discussing the fact that I am quite grown up. I will thank +you to note the change, also." + +"Why, so I do," he replied, regarding her with undisguised +admiration; "and old Father Time has touched you only to improve you +in every respect." + +"Very well, then," she replied, coldly, "I cannot help the touch of +Father Time, but I wish it understood that I am no longer a child." + +"Neither am I, sweet cousin, and I like you as a woman far better." + +She left the room abruptly to assist her aunt. + +"Jove! uncle, but she has grown to be a beauty. How these girls +blossom out when their time comes! Can it be that I have been absent +a year?" + +"Yes, and your last visit was but a flying one." + +"And so I fear this one must be. The Yanks are on the move, perhaps +in this direction, and so are we. It was one of their scouting +parties that we ran into. Their horses were fresher than ours and +they separated when once in the shadow of the woods. They won't be +slow, however, in leaving these parts, now they know we are here. +I'm going to take a little well-earned rest between my scoutings, +and make love to my cousin. Olympian humbugs! how handsome and +haughty she has become! I didn't think the little minx had so much +spirit." + +"She has suddenly taken the notion that, since she is growing up, +she can snap her fingers at all the powers that be." + +"Growing up! Why, uncle, she's grown, and ready to hear me say, +'With all my worldly goods I thee endow.'" + +"But the trouble is, she doesn't act as if very ready." + +"Oh, tush! she isn't ready to throw herself at the head of any one. +That isn't the way of Southern girls. They want a wooer like a +cyclone, who carries them by storm, marries them nolens volens, and +then they're happy. But to be serious, uncle, in these stormy times +Lou needs a protector. You've escaped for a long time, but no one +can tell now what a day will bring forth. As my wife, Cousin Lou +will command more respect. I can take her within our lines, if +necessary, or send her to a place of safety. Ah, here comes my +blooming aunt to prepare for supper." + +"Welcome to The Oaks," she again repeated. "Never more welcome, +since you come as defender as well as guest." + +"Yes, aunt; think of a red-whiskered Yank paying his respects +instead of me." + +"Don't suggest such horrors, please." + +The gentlemen now joined Miss Lou in the parlor, while under Mrs. +Baron's supervision Zany, and Chunk, as gardener and man-of-all- +work, with the aid of others soon set the two tables. Then began a +procession of negroes of all sizes bearing viands from the kitchen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AUN' JINKEY'S POLICY + + +Allan Scoville, for such was the Union soldier's name, fully +realized that he was in the enemy's country as he watched through a +cranny in the cabin the shadowy forms of the Confederates file past. +Every bone in his body ached as if it had been broken, and more than +once he moved his arms and legs to assure himself that they were +whole. "Breath was just knocked right out of me," he muttered. "I +hope that's the worst, for this place may soon become too hot for +me. My good horse is not only lost, but I may be lost also through +him. That queer-looking darky, Chunk, is my best hope now unless it +is Miss Lou. Droll, wasn't it, that I should take her for an angel? +What queer thoughts a fellow has when within half an inch of the +seamy side of life! Hanged if I deserve such an awakening as I +thought was blessing my eyes on the other side. From the way I ache, +the other side mayn't be far off yet. Like enough hours will pass +before Chunk comes back, and I must try to propitiate his grandam." + +He crawled painfully to the trap-door and, finding a chink in the +boards, looked down into the apartment below. Aun' Jinkey was +smoking as composedly it might seem as if a terrible Yankee, never +seen before, was not over her head, and a band of Confederates who +would have made him a prisoner and punished her were only a few rods +away. A close observer, however, might have noticed that she was not +enjoying languid whiffs, as had been the case in the afternoon. The +old woman had put guile into her pipe as well as tobacco, and she +hoped its smoke would blind suspicious eyes if any were hunting for +a stray Yankee. Chunk's pone and bacon had been put near the fire to +keep warm, and Scoville looked at the viands longingly. + +At last he ventured to whisper, "Aun' Jinkey, I am as hungry as a +wolf." + +"Hesh!" said the old woman softly. Then she rose, knocked the ashes +from her pipe with great deliberation, and taking a bucket started +for the spring. In going and coming she looked very sharply in all +directions, thus satisfying herself that no one was watching the +cabin. Re-entering, she whispered, "Kin you lif de trap-do'?" + +Scoville opened it, and was about to descend. "No, you kyant do +dat," interposed Aun' Jinkey, quickly. "Lie down up dar, en I han' +you Chunk's supper. He gits his'n at de big house. You's got ter +play possum right smart, mars'r, or you git cotched. Den we cotch +it, too. You 'speck I doan know de resk Chunk en me tookin?" + +"Forgive me, Aunt Jinkey. But your troubles will soon be over and +you be as free as I am." + +"I doesn't want no sech freedom ez you got, mars'r, hid'n en +scrugin' fum tarin' en rarin' red-hot gallopers ez Mad Whately en +his men. Dey'd des bun de ole cabin en me in't ef dey knowed you's +dar. Bettah stop yo' mouf wid yo' supper." + +This Scoville was well contented to do for a time, while Aun' Jinkey +smoked and listened with all her ears. Faint sounds came from the +house and the negro quarters, but all was still about the cabin. +Suddenly she took her pipe from her mouth and muttered, "Dar goes a +squinch-owl tootin'. Dat doan mean no good." + +"Aunt Jinkey," said Scoville, who was watching her, "that screech- +owl worries you, doesn't it?" + +"Dere's mo' kin's ob squinch-owls dan you 'lows on, mars'r. Some +toots fer de sake ob tootin' en some toots in warnin'." + +"That one tooted in warning. Don't be surprised if you hear another +very near." He crawled to the cranny under the eaves and Aun' Jinkey +fairly jumped out of her chair as she heard an owl apparently +hooting on the roof with a vigor and truth to nature that utterly +deceived her senses. Scoville repeated the signal, and then crept +back to the chink in the floor. The old woman was trembling and +looking round in dismayed uncertainty. "There," he said, with a low +laugh, "that squinch-owl was I, and the first you heard was one of +my men. Now, like a good soul, make pones and fry bacon for five +men, and you'll have friends who will take good care of you and +Chunk." + +"De Lawd he'p me! w'at comin' nex'? Miss Lou wuz a wishin' sump'n ud +hap'n--w'at ain' gwinter hap'n?" + +"Nothing will happen to harm you if you do as I say. Our men may +soon be marching this way, and we'll remember our friends when we +come." + +"I des hope dere'll be sump'n lef ob me ter reckermember," said Aun' +Jinkey, but she rose to comply with the soldier's requirement, +feeling that her only course was to fall in with the wishes of +whoever happened to be uppermost in the troublous times now +foreseen. She was in a terribly divided state of mind. The questions +she had smoked and thought over so long now pressed with bewildering +rapidity and urgency. An old family slave, she had a strong feeling +of loyalty to her master and mistress. But they had been partially +alienating Miss Lou, for whom she would open her veins, while her +grandson was hot for freedom and looked upon Northern soldiers as +his deliverers. Aun' Jinkey was not sure she wished to be delivered. +That was one of the points she was not through "projeckin'" about. +Alas! events would not wait for her conclusions, although more time +had been given her than to many others forced to contemplate vast +changes. With a shrewd simplicity she decided that it would be wise +to keep on friendly terms with all the contending powers, and do +what in her judgment was best for each. + +"Hit des took all de 'visions we got," she remarked, disconsolately. + +"You'll soon have visions of more to eat and wear than ever blessed +your eyes," said Scoville, encouragingly. + +"Hi! granny," said Chunk, peeping in at the door. + +"How you start me!" ejaculated the old woman, sinking into her +chair. + +"That you, Chunk?" asked Scoville. "Is the coast clear?" + +"I reck'n. Keep shy yet a while, mars'r." A few words explained the +situation, and Chunk added: "You des feed dem Yankees big, granny. +I'se pervide mo'. I mus' go now sud'n. Made Aun' Suke b'lebe dat I +knowed ob chickens w'at roos' in trees, en dey tinks I'se lookin' +fer um. High ole times up ter de house," and he disappeared in the +darkness. + +In nervous haste Aun' Jinkey prepared the ample supper. Scoville +hooted again, a shadowy form stole to the cabin for the food, and +disappeared again toward the run. Then Aun' Jinkey prepared to +compose her nerves by another smoke. + +"Hand me up a coal for my pipe, also," said Scoville, "and then +we'll have a sociable time." + +"I des feared onsosh'ble times dis eb'nin'," remarked Aun' Jinkey. + +"If you knew how my bones ached, you'd help me pass the time." + +"Reck'n mine ache, too, 'fo' I troo wid dis bus'ness." + +"No, Aunt Jinkey, you won't be punished for doing a good deed. Your +young mistress is on your side, anyway. Who is she?" + +"Young mistis ain' got no po'r ef dey fin's out. She nuff ter do ter +hol' 'er own." + +"How comes it she's friendly to 'we uns,' as you say down here?" + +"She ain' friendly. You drap at her feet ez ef you wuz dead, en she +hab a lil gyurlish, soft heart, dat's all. Didn't she tole you dat +she ain' on yo' side?" + +"Well, bless her heart, then." + +"I circumscribe ter dat ar." + +"Aren't you on our side?" + +"I'se des 'twix en 'tween all de sides." + +"You're all right, Aunt Jinkey. I'd trust you with my life." + +"Reck'n you hab ter dis eb'nin'." + +"Well, about Miss Lou--you say she has trouble to hold her own. +How's that?" + +"Dem's fambly matters." + +"And so none of my business, unless she tells me herself." + +"How she gwine ter tol' you tings?" + +"Ah, Aunt Jinkey, you've vegetated a great while in these slow +parts. I feel it in my bones, sore as they are, that some day I'll +give you a new dress that will make you look like a spike of red +hollyhocks. You'll see changes you don't dream of." + +"My haid whirlin' now, mars'r. Hope ter grashus I kin do my wuk ter- +morrer in peace and quietness." + +There was neither peace nor quietness at the mansion. Whately, with +a soldier's instincts to make the most of passing opportunities, +added to the hasty tendencies of his own nature, was not only +enjoying the abundant supper, but feasting his eyes meantime on the +charms developed by his cousin in his absence. He knew of his +uncle's wish to unite the two plantations, and had given his assent +to the means, for it had always been his delight to tease, frighten, +and pet his little cousin, whose promise of beauty had been all that +he could desire. Now she evoked a sudden flame of passion, and his +mind, which leaped to conclusions, was already engaged in plans for +consummating their union at once. He sought to break down her +reserve by paying her extravagant compliments, and to excite her +admiration by accounts of battles in which he would not have posed +as hero so plainly had he not been flushed with wine. There was an +ominous fire in her eyes scarcely in accord with her cool demeanor. +Unused to the world, and distrusting her own powers, she made little +effort to reply, taking refuge in comparative silence. This course +encouraged him and her uncle. The former liked her manifestation of +spirit as long as he believed it to be within control. To his +impetuous, imperious nature the idea of a tame, insipid bride was +not agreeable; while Mr. Baron, still under the illusion that she +was yet but a submissive child, thought that her bad mood was +passing and would be gone in the morning. He little dreamed how +swiftly her mind was awakening and developing under the spur of +events. She did not yet know that her cousin was meditating such a +speedy consummation of his purpose, but was aware that he and all +her relatives looked upon her as his predestined wife. Now, as never +before, she shrank from the relation, and in the instinct of self- +preservation resolved never to enter into it. + +Her long, rebellious reveries in solitude had prepared her for this +hour, and her proud, excited spirit surprised her by the intensity +of its passionate revolt. Not as a timid, shrinking maiden did she +look at her cousin and his men feasting on the piazza. She glanced +at him, then through the open windows at their burly forms, as one +might face a menace which brought no thought of yielding. + +The family resemblance between Whately and herself was strong. He +had her blue eyes, but they were smaller than hers, and his +expression was bold, verging toward recklessness. Her look was +steady and her lips compressed into accord with the firm little +chin. + +Mrs. Baron's ideas of decorum soon brought temporary relief. She +also saw that her nephew was becoming too excited to make a good +impression, so she said, "Louise, you may now retire, and I trust +that you will waken tomorrow to the truth that your natural +guardians can best direct your thoughts and actions." + +Whately was about to rise in order to bid an affectionate good- +night, but the girl almost fled from the room. In the hall she met +Chunk, who whispered, "Linkum man gittin' peart, Miss Lou." + +"She'll be over her tantrum by morning," said Mr. Baron in an +apologetic tone. "Perhaps we'll have to humor her more in little +things." + +"That's just where the trouble lies, uncle. You and aunt have tried +to make her feel and act as if as old as yourselves. She's no longer +a child; neither is she exactly a woman. All young creatures at her +age are skittish. Bless you, she wouldn't be a Baron if she hadn't +lots of red, warm blood. So much the better. When I've married her +she'll settle down like other Southern girls." + +"I think we had better discuss these matters more privately, +nephew," said Mrs. Baron. + +"Beg pardon, I reckon we had, aunt. My advice, however, is that we +act first and discuss afterward." + +"We'll talk it over to-morrow, nephew," said Mr. Baron. "Of course +as guardian I must adopt the best and safest plan." + +Chunk's ears were long if he was short, and in waiting on a soldier +near the window he caught the purport of this conversation. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +WHATELY'S IDEA OF COURTSHIP + + +When waiting on the table, Zany either stood like an image carved +out of black walnut or moved with the angular promptness of an +automaton when a spring is touched. Only the quick roll of her eyes +indicated how observant she was. If, however, she met Chunk in the +hall, or anywhere away from observation, she never lost the +opportunity to torment him. A queer grimace, a surprised stare, an +exasperating derisive giggle, were her only acknowledgments of his +amorous attentions. "Ef I doesn't git eben wid dat niggah, den I eat +a mule," he muttered more than once. + +But Chunk was in great spirits and a state of suppressed excitement. +"'Pears ez ef I mout own mysef 'fo' dis moon done waxin' en wanin'," +he thought. "Dere's big times comin,' big times. I'se yeard w'at +hap'n w'en de Yanks go troo de kentry like an ol bull in a crock'ry +sto'." In his duties of waiting on the troopers and clearing the +table he had opportunities of purloining a goodly portion of the +viands, for he remembered that he also had assumed the role of host +with a very meagre larder to draw upon. + +Since the Confederates were greatly wearied and were doubly inclined +to sleep from the effects of a hearty supper and liberal potations, +Mr. Baron offered to maintain a watch the early part of the night, +while Perkins was enjoined to sleep with one eye open near the +quarters. Mattresses and quilts were brought down and spread on the +piazza floor, from which soon rose a nasal chorus, "des like," as +Chunk declared, "a frog-pon' in full blas'." + +Whately, trained in alert, soldierly ways, slept on the sofa in the +parlor near his men. One after another the lights were extinguished, +and the house became quiet. Chunk was stealing away with his plunder +through the shrubbery in the rear of the house, when he was suddenly +confronted by Zany. "Hi! you niggah!" she whispered, "I'se cotch you +now kyarin' off nuff vittles ter keep you a mont. You gwinter run +away." + +"You wan ter run wid me?" asked Chunk, unabashed. + +"What you took me fer?" + +"Fer better er wuss, w'ite folks say. Reck'n it ud be fer wuss in +dis case." + +"I reck'n de wuss ain' fur off. I des step ter ole mars'r an' tell +'im ter 'vestigate yo' cabin dis eb'nin'," she said, and, with a +great show of offended dignity, she was about to move away. + +"Look yere, Zany, doan yer be a fool. Doan you wanter be a free +gyurl?" + +"Ef you had me fer wuss I'd be des 'bout ez free ez Miss Lou w'en +she mar'ed ter Mad Whately." + +"Hi! you year dat, too?" + +"I got eyes, en I got years, en you ain' gwinter light out dis night +en lebe yo' granny en we uns. I sut'ny put a spoke in yo' wheel dat +stop hits runnin'." + +Chunk was now convinced that he would have to take Zany into his +confidence. He looked cautiously around, then whispered rapidly in +her ear. "Hi!" she exclaimed, softly, "you got longer head dan +body." + +"I kin reach ter yo' lips," said Chunk, snatching a kiss. + +"Stop dat foolishness!" she exclaimed, giving him a slight cuff. + +"Zany, keep mum ez a possum. Dere's big times comin', en no un kin +hender um, dough dey kin git deysefs in a heap ob trouble by +blarnations. De Linkum men soon gwine ter be top of de heap an I'se +gwinter be on top wid um. Dar you be, too, ef you stan's by Miss Lou +en me." + +"Ve'y well, but I'se gwinter keep my eye on you, Marse Chunk." + +"Reck'n you will, kaze I am' gwinter be fur off; en ef you puts yo' +eye on some oder man, you soon fin' he ain' dar." With this ominous +assurance he stole away. + +Soon afterward the hoot of an owl was heard again; shadows +approached the cabin; Scoville, assisted by Chunk, joined them, and +there was a whispered consultation. Scoville put the result in the +following words: + +"The chance is a good one, I admit. It is quite possible that we +could capture the Johnnies and their horses, but that's not what +we're out for. Besides, I'm too badly broken up. I couldn't ride to- +night. You must go back to camp, and leave me to follow. Chunk here +has provisions for you. Better be moving, for Whately will probably +be out looking for you in the morning." + +So it was decided, and the shadows disappeared. Scoville was put +into Aun' Jinkey's bed, the old woman saying that she would sit up +and watch. Chunk rubbed the bruised and aching body of the Union +scout till he fell asleep, and then the tireless negro went to the +spot where the poor horse had died in the stream. He took off the +saddle and bridle. After a little consideration he diverted the +current, then dug a hole on the lower side of the animal, rolled him +into it, and changed the brook back into its old channel. Carefully +obliterating all traces of his work, he returned to the cabin, +bolted the door, lay down against it so that no one could enter, and +was soon asleep. + +The next morning dawned serenely, as if Nature had no sympathy with +the schemes and anxieties to which the several actors in our little +drama wakened. Whately was early on foot, for he felt that he had +much to accomplish. Mr. Baron soon joined him, and the young man +found in his uncle a ready coadjutor in his plans. They were both in +full accord in their desires, although governed by different +motives. The old man was actuated by his long-indulged greed for +land, and wholly under the dominion of his belief that one of the +chief ends of marriage was to unite estates. In this instance he +also had the honest conviction that he was securing the best +interests of his niece. No one could tell what would happen if the +invaders should appear, but he believed that the girl's future could +best be provided for in all respects if she became the wife of a +Confederate officer and a representative of his family. + +Sounds of renewed life came from all directions; the troopers rolled +up their blankets, and went to look after their horses; Mrs. Baron +bustled about, giving directions for breakfast; Chunk and Zany +worked under her eye as if they were what she wished them to be, the +automatic performers of her will; Aun' Suke fumed and sputtered like +the bacon in her frying-pan, but accomplished her work with the +promptness of one who knew that no excuses would be taken from +either master or mistress; Miss Lou dusted the parlor, and listened +stolidly to the gallantries of her cousin. He was vastly amused by +her reserve, believing it to be only maidenly coyness. + +Breakfast was soon served, for Whately had announced to Mr. Baron +his intention of scouting in the woods where the Federals had +disappeared; also his purpose to visit his home and summon his +mother to his contemplated wedding. He and his men soon rode away, +and the old house and the plantation resumed their normal quiet +aspect. + +It had been deemed best not to inform Miss Lou of her cousin's +immediate purpose until his plans were a little more certain and +matured. Circumstances might arise which would prevent his return at +once. Moreover, he had petitioned for the privilege of breaking the +news himself. He believed in a wooing in accordance with his nature, +impetuous and regardless at the time of the shy reluctance of its +object; and it was his theory that the girl taken by storm would +make the most submissive, contented and happy of wives; that women +secretly admired men who thus asserted their will and strength, if +in such assertion every form was complied with, and the impression +given that the man was resistless because he could not resist the +charms which had captivated him. "Why, uncle," he had reasoned, "it +is the strongest compliment that a man can pay a woman, and she will +soon recognize it as such. When once she is married, she will be +glad that she did not have to hesitate and choose, and she will +always believe in the man who was so carried away with her that he +carried her away. My course is best, therefore, on general +principles, while in this particular instance we have every reason +for prompt action. Lou and I have been destined for each other from +childhood, and I'm not willing to leave her to the chances of the +hurly-burly which may soon begin. As my wife I can protect her in +many ways impossible now." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE STORM BEGINS + + +Of late years Aun' Jinkey's principal work had been the fine washing +and ironing of the family, in which task she had always been an +adept. For this reason she had been given the cabin near the run and +an unusually fine spring. Miss Lou felt a kindly solicitude and not +a little curiosity in regard to the man who in a sense had been +thrown at her feet for protection. So gathering up some of her +laces, she made them an excuse for another visit to Aun' Jinkey. +Mrs. Baron readily acquiesced, for she felt that if there was to be +a wedding, the whole house must be cleaned from top to bottom. +Moreover, by such occupation her mind could be diverted from the +dire misgivings inspired by the proximity of Yankees. Under the +circumstances, it would be just as well if her niece were absent. + +As the girl passed down through the shrubbery, she found Chunk +apparently very busy. Without looking up he said, "Doan be afeard, +Miss Lou, I'se be on de watch. Marse Linkum man right peart dis +mawnin'." + +Aun' Jinkey was at her washtub near the door, and the cabin +presented the most innocent aspect imaginable. "Good-morning," said +the girl, affably. "How is your patient?" + +"Recovering rapidly, thanks to your kindness and the good friends in +whose care you placed me," answered a hearty voice from the doorway. + +Aun' Jinkey made a sort of rush to the door, exclaiming in tones +that were low, yet almost stern, "Marse Linkum man, ef you show +yo'sef--ef you doan stay by dat ar ladder so you git up sud'n, I des +troo wid dis bus'ness! Tain' far ter dem w'at's reskin' dere bodies +en a'most dere souls!" + +"You are right, aunty," said Scoville, retreating. "It's wrong for +me to do anything which might bring trouble to you or Chunk; but I +was so eager to thank this other good Samaritan--" + +"Well, den, sit by de ladder dar, en Miss Lou kin sit on de do'step. +Den a body kin feel tings ain' comin' ter smash 'fo' dey kin breve." + +"Good Samaritan!" repeated Miss Lou, taking her old place in the +doorway where she had so recently wished something would happen; +"you have not fallen among thieves, sir." + +"My fear has been that you would think that a thief had fallen among +the good Samaritans. I assure you that I am a Union soldier in good +and regular standing." + +"I reckon my uncle and cousin would scout the idea that you, or any +of your army, had any standing whatever." + +"That does not matter, so that I can convince you that I would not +do or say anything unbecoming a soldier." + +"You are a Yankee, I suppose?" she asked, looking at him with strong +yet shyly expressed interest. + +"I suppose I am, in your Southern vernacular. I am from New York +State, and my name is Allan Scoville." + +"Uncle says that you Yankees are terrible fellows." + +"Do I look as if I would harm you, Miss Lou? Pardon me, I do not +know how else to address you." + +"Address me as Miss Baron," she replied, with a droll little +assumption of girlish dignity. + +"Well, then, Miss Baron, you have acted the part of a good angel +toward me." + +"I don't like such talk," she replied, frowning. "You were merely +thrown helpless at my feet. You didn't look as if you could do the +South much harm then. What I may feel to be my duty hereafter--" + +"I have no fears at all of what YOU may do," he interrupted, with a +smile that made his expression very pleasing. + +"How so?" + +"Because you are incapable of betraying even an enemy, which I am +not to you. On the contrary, I am a grateful man, who would risk his +life to do you a service. The little unpleasantness between the +North and South will pass away, and we shall all be friends again." + +"My uncle and cousin--indeed all the people I know--will never look +upon you Northern soldiers as friends." + +"Never is a long time. I certainly feel very friendly toward you." + +"I wish you to know that I am a Southern girl," she replied stiffly, +"and share in the feelings of my people." + +"Well, I'm a Northern man, and share in the feelings of my people. +Can't we agree that this is fair and natural in each case?" + +"But why do you all come marauding and trampling on the South?" + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Baron, but your question opens up all the +differences between the two sections. I have my views, but am not a +politician--simply a soldier. You and I are not at war. Let us talk +about something else. With your brave cousin enlisting your +sympathies against our side, what use would there be of my saying +anything?" + +"My brave cousin does not enlist any of my sympathies; but that, +certainly, is a matter which we cannot talk about." + +"Pardon, but your reference to him made it natural--" + +"There is no need of speaking of him," she interrupted, coldly. "I +merely meant that he and those with him in what you slightingly term +an unpleasantness can never be friendly to you. This war may be a +small thing to you, but suppose your home and family were in danger, +as ours are?" + +"Can you think that this war is a holiday to me?" he asked, gravely. +"What stands between me now and death--perhaps a shameful and +horrible death--except your kindly, womanly impulses? I am hourly in +danger of being caught and treated as a spy." + +"Oh, I didn't realize it," said the girl, simply and kindly. +"Everything looks so quiet and lovely. Aun' Jinkey, there, my old +mammy, is at work just as I have seen her for years, and Chunk is +busy yonder in the garden. It is hard to think how suddenly all +might change." + +"A soldier must think and be prepared." + +"Have you no fear?" + +"Life is sweet to me. I know only one thing--I must do my duty and +trust in God. I have the consolation that no one is dependent on me; +no one would grieve for me very much. I'm quite alone in the world. +My crusty old guardian would inherit my property, and you may well +guess that Aunt Jinkey's tub yonder would hold all his tears if I +should make a sudden exit," and again he smiled in his pleasant way, +as if with the purpose to relieve his words of all sombreness. + +"Are you an orphan, too?" she asked sympathetically. + +"Such a mature, fully developed orphan as I am is not an object of +pity, Miss Baron," he replied, laughing. Then he added, a little +proudly: "I'm nearly twenty-two; I was twenty-one on my last +birthday, and I celebrated it by a ride only less risky than the one +which landed me at your feet. But your little word 'too' suggests +that you are somewhat alone, also. I hope that your father was not +killed in this war?" + +"No, my father and mother died long before the war." + +"I am glad of that--not glad that they died, but that you cannot +associate me with the causes of their death." + +"But you and yours have caused death and suffering to so many +Southern people!" + +"Yes, I'm sorry it is so, but things are pretty even on that score. +Your men give as many blows as they take." + +"Why did you enter the army?" + +"I suppose for about the same reasons that your cousin did." + +"Oh, you aren't like my cousin at all. I don't wish you to keep +referring to him." + +"Well, then, I thought it was right. There was an urgent call for +men and strong public feeling. I was at college. I couldn't see +others go and not go with them. I had no influence, no one to push +my interests, so I simply enlisted, and am trying to push my way by +extra services. Now, Miss Baron, think for yourself a little. Here +we are, two young people thrown together by a strange chance. We +have been brought up differently, surrounded by different +influences. Even if you think me wrong, can you not believe that +I've followed my conscience and lived up to such light as I had? I +can believe this of you. I don't wish you to think that we Yankees +are monsters. Do I look like a monster? Why, Miss Baron, if I should +live to be a hundred years I should regard a chance to do you a +kindness as the best good-fortune that could befall me." + +As he spoke these words his face flushed, there was a slight quiver +in his dark mustache, betokening deep, honest feeling, and his +expression was one of frank admiration and respect. She looked at +him in silent wonder, and asked herself, "Can this be one of the +Yankees of whom I have heard such horrible things?" + +She began saying, "I am trying to think for myself, but I have been +so shut out from the world that--" when she was suddenly +interrupted. Chunk appeared and said, "Marse Scoville, des git up de +ladder en shut de trap-do' quicker'n lightnin'. Miss Lou, kin'er +peramberlate slow to'rd de house, des nachel like ez ef you ain' +keerin' 'bout not'n. Wash away, granny. Play possum, ev'y one." + +Miss Lou had gone but a little way before Mad Whately joined her, +having ordered his men to pass on before. "Chunk," he shouted, "take +my horse and rub him well, or you'll get rubbed down yourself." + +The openings under the eaves in Aun' Jinkey's cabin were so many and +large that Scoville had fairly good opportunities for observing what +was going on in the immediate vicinity. In witnessing the meeting +between Whately and Miss Lou he was conscious of a peculiar +satisfaction when noting that her manner confirmed her words. The +dashing cousin evidently was not in favor. "Well," thought the +scout, with a decisive little nod toward him, "were I a young +Southerner, you'd have a rival that would put you to your best +speed. What a delicious little drawl she has in speaking, and how +charmingly her consonants shade off into vowels! I would be more +readily taken for a Southerner than she, if I did not speak. How +blue her eyes are! and her fluffy hair seemed a golden halo when the +sunshine touched it through the trees. And then how unsophisticated +her face and expression! She is a lady from instinct and breeding, +and yet she is but a sweet-faced child. Well! well! it was an odd +chance to be pitched to the feet of a girl like that. Very possibly +I'd be there again of my own free will should I see her often +enough." + +If Scoville were a rival now he certainly would have to take a wild +pace to keep up with Mad Whately in his wooing. His eyes were full +of resolute fire as he walked beside his cousin, and her quick +intuition took speedy alarm at his expression. "Well, sweet coz," he +said, "the Yanks have very prudently dusted back to the region from +which they came. My mother will give herself the pleasure of a visit +at The Oaks this afternoon. Can you guess her object in coming?" + +"Why, as you say, to give herself the pleasure of a visit." + +"Yes, and you and I will enhance her pleasure a thousand-fold." + +"I shall do all that I can in courtesy." + +"I'll do the rest, for I shall gladden her heart by marrying you." + +"What!" + +"Simply that, nothing more. Isn't that enough?" + +"Far too much," replied the girl, hotly. "I don't like such +jesting." + +"Faith and it will prove the best joke of our lives, over which we +will often laugh at our fireside hereafter. Come now, cousin, make +the best of it; it is the best for you as well as for me. You know I +always intended to marry you, and I have the hearty sanction of all +the high contracting powers." + +She stopped abruptly in the path, her face so rich in angry color +that it shamed the flowers blooming in the shrubbery near. + +"Mr. Whately," she said, firmly, "there is one contracting power +that you have not consulted. How can you marry me when I WILL not +marry you?" + +"Nothing easier, pretty coz." + +"But how--how?" + +"Oh, that you will learn at the proper time. Everything shall go as +simply, naturally and merrily as fate. The blessing of parent and +guardian, the clergyman in robes, prayer-book, wedding feast-- +nothing shall be wanting." + +"This is absurd talk," she cried, and rushed to the house. In the +upper hall she encountered her aunt engaged in superintending a +general dusting and polishing of the old-fashioned furniture. + +"What is the meaning of this wild talk of Cousin Madison?" the girl +asked, breathlessly. + +"I've heard no wild talk," was the cool response. + +"Well, come into my room and hear it, then." + +Mrs. Baron reluctantly followed, rather aggrieved that she must bear +the first brunt of the storm. + +"What are you putting the house in such wonderful order for?" asked +Miss Lou, with flashing eyes. "What do all these preparations mean? +What is Aunt Whately coming here for this evening?" + +"It is very natural she should wish to be present at her son's +wedding," was the quiet and exasperating answer. + +"When is this wedding to be?" was the next query, accompanied by a +harsh laugh. + +"I think we can be ready by to-morrow evening." + +"Are you a woman, that you can thus try to sacrifice the motherless +girl committed to your charge?" + +"So far from sacrificing you, I am trying to further your best +interests, and at the same time carrying out the wishes of my +husband and your guardian. These are solemn times, in which you need +every safeguard and protection. We should be faithless, indeed, to +our trust did we not give a brave soldier the best right in the +world to shield and care for you." + +"Bah!" cried the girl, now almost furious. "Where's uncle?" + +"In his office, I suppose." + +Whately had preceded her thither, and had already made known to Mr. +Baron the nature of his interview with his cousin, adding: "Our best +policy will be just to take our course as a matter of course, in a +genial, friendly way. We certainly are the girl's best friends, and +it won't be long before she acknowledges the fact. All we do is to +secure her safety, welfare and happiness. She will be as skittish as +a blooded filly over it all at first--a feature in the case which +only increases my admiration and affection. She doesn't and can't +realize the need of the step, how it's best for all concerned in +general and herself in particular. The thing to do, therefore, is to +go right straight along. Mother will be here this evening, and will +do much toward talking her into it. Lou's anger and revolt will +probably be well over by to-morrow, and all--" + +Further predictions were interrupted by the swift entrance of the +girl. She stood still a moment and regarded the two men in silent +scorn. "So you are plotting?" she said at last. + +"Oh, dear, no, sweet coz. Nothing is more foreign to my nature than +plotting. I am a man of action." + +"If your words have any truth or meaning, you are bent on very +dishonorable action." + +"Far from it. I shall have the sanction of both Church and State." + +"This, then, is the boasted Southern chivalry of which I have heard +so much." + +"It has been knightly in all times to protect and rescue lovely +woman." + +"I need no protection, except against you. Please leave the room. I +wish to speak to uncle." + +He attempted to kiss her hand as he passed out, but she snatched it +away. "Uncle," she said, coming directly to him, "can it be that you +sanction anything so wicked as this? It seems as if you and aunt +were permitting my cousin to put upon me a cruel practical joke." + +"Ahem! Your very words, Louise, prove how unfit you are to judge and +act in accordance with this emergency. You even dream that we are in +a mood for jesting at this time, when our days and even hours may be +numbered. No, indeed. I am resolved to unite with my protection all +the power and dignity vested in a Confederate officer." + +"In other words, to shield me against some possible danger you will +try to inflict on me the worst thing that could happen." + +"Hoity-toity! Is an honorable marriage which has always been +contemplated the worst that could happen? If we are driven forth by +hordes of Northern vandals, you would think it the best thing that +had happened." + +"I don't fear these Northern vandals. I have"--and then she checked +herself in time. + +"You don't fear them! Why, Louise, every word you speak makes it +more imperative that I should act for one so utterly inexperienced +and ignorant." + +"Do you actually mean to say that you will try to marry me against +my will?" + +"Certainly, against your present will. Do you suppose that I can be +guided in my solemn trust by your petulance, your ignorant notions +of life, and your almost childish passion? In France, the most +civilized country in the world, parents and guardians arrange these +affairs as a matter of course, and with the best results. It is the +general method all over the world. Far more than mere family and +pecuniary interests are concerned in this instance. We are giving +you a protector in the time of your deepest need." + +"How could Lieutenant Whately protect me if the Yankees should come +in numbers?" + +"In more ways than you can imagine. Moreover, he would probably be +permitted to escort you and your mother to a place of safety. You +would have his name, and the name of a Confederate officer would +always entitle you to respect." + +"Oh, this is dreadful!" cried the girl, bewildered and almost +paralyzed by the old man's inexorable words and manner. So +unsophisticated was she, so accustomed to be governed, that the +impression was strong that she could be controlled even in this +supreme crisis. + +She rushed into the parlor, where her cousin was striding up and +down in a whirl of the glad excitement so congenial to his spirit. +"Cousin Madison," she exclaimed, "I know you are hasty and +impetuous, but generous impulses should go with such a nature. You +surely will not use your advantage against an orphan girl?" + +"No, indeed, dear coz, not against, but for you. I love you too well +to leave you to the chances of war." + +"Oh, but this is the certainty of evil. You know I do not love you. +If you would wait--if you would give me time to think it all over--" + +"Why, so you shall when I've escorted you and mother to some place +where none can molest or make you afraid." + +"Escort me, then, as I am, under your mother's care. Truly this +would be a better way to win my heart than such hasty violence to +all my feelings and wishes." + +"My dear Louise, you may think me a hasty, inconsiderate wooer to- +day, but that is because you do not know all that I know. I must, +like your guardians, be guided by your best welfare. When you learn +to know me as a kind, loyal, considerate husband, you will +appreciate my most friendly and decisive action at this time. You +are in great danger; you may soon be homeless. In the case of one so +young and fair as you are, those who love you, as you know I do +passionately, must act, not in accordance with your passing mood, +but in a way to secure your peace and honor for all time." + +"Oh, this is all a terrible dream! You can--you can protect me as +your cousin, should I need any such protection, which I cannot +believe. Northern soldiers are not savages. I know it! I know it!" + +"How can you know it? Have I not seen more of them than you have? I +tell you that for the honor of our house I shall and will give you +the protection of my name at once. Your uncle and aunt feel as +strongly as I do about it, and your happiness will be the only +result. We Southern people take no chances in these matters." + +Overwhelmed, frightened, bewildered, the girl left the room and +mournfully climbed to her own apartment. She was too utterly +absorbed in her own desperate plight to observe Zany whisking away +in the background. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DANGERS THICKENING + + +Mr. Baron was scarcely less miserable than his ward, yet from wholly +different causes. His anxieties concerning her were deep indeed, his +very solicitude impelling him toward the plan which he was eager to +consummate. He was distracted by fears and forebodings of every kind +of evil; he was striving to fortify his mind against the dire +misgiving that the Confederacy was in a very bad way, and that a +general breaking up might take place. Indeed his mental condition +was not far removed from that of a man who dreads lest the hitherto +immutable laws of nature are about to end in an inconceivable state +of chaos. What would happen if the old order of things passed away +and the abominable abolitionists obtained fall control? He felt as +if the door of Dante's Inferno might be thrown wide at any moment. +There was no elasticity in his nature, enabling him to cope with +threatening possibilities; no such firmness and fortitude of soul as +he might be required to exercise within the next few hours. To start +with, he was wretched and distracted by the breaking up of the +methodical monotony of his life and household affairs. Since general +wreck and ruin might soon ensue, he had the impulses of those who +try to secure and save what is most valuable and to do at once what +seems vitally important. Amid all this confusion and excitement of +mind his dominant trait of persistence asserted itself. He would +continue trying to the last to carry out the cherished schemes and +purposes of his life; he would not stultify himself by changing his +principles, or even the daily routine of his life, as far as he +could help himself. If events over which he had no control hastened +action, such action should be in harmony with previous purpose to +the extent of his power. The plan, therefore, of marrying his niece +immediately to her cousin doubly commended itself to him. It would +throw around her additional safeguards and relieve him in part from +a heavy responsibility; it would also consummate one of the +cherished intentions of his life. Things might take a happy turn for +the better, and then just so much would be gained and accomplished. + +Thus he reasoned, and his nephew spared no pains in confirming his +views. The truth urged by his niece that she did not love her cousin +seemed a small matter to the unemotional, legal mind of the old man +when safety and solid interests were concerned. "A child like +Louise," he said, "must be taken care of, not humored." Mrs. Baron +had long since formed the habit of yielding complete deference to +her husband, and now was sincerely in accord with his views. She had +never had much heart; her marriage had satisfied her ambition, had +been pleasing to her kith and kin, and she saw no good reason why +her niece should not, under any circumstances, form a similar union. +That the girl should revolt now, in the face of such urgent +necessity, was mere perverseness. Sharing in her husband's anxieties +and fears, she found solace and diversion of mind in her beloved +housekeeping. Neither of the old people had the imagination or +experience which could enable them to understand the terror and +distress of their niece, whom with good intentions they were driving +toward a hated union. + +Dinner was served two hours later than usual--a fact in itself very +disturbing to Mr. Baron; while Aun' Suke, compelled to cook again +for the Confederate troopers, was in a state of suppressed +irritation, leading her satellites to fear that she might explode. +Small, pale and bloodless as "ole miss" appeared, none of her +domestics dared to rebel openly; but if any little darky came within +the reach of Aun' Suke's wooden spoon, she relieved her feelings +promptly. In dining-room and kitchen, therefore, was seething and +repressed excitement. The very air was electric and charged with +rumors. + +Perkins, the overseer, was at his wits' end, also, about the field- +hands. They were impassive or sullen before his face, and abounding +in whispers and significant glances behind his back. What they knew, +how much they knew, he could not discover by any ingenuity of +questioning or threatening, and he was made to feel that excessive +harshness might lead to serious trouble. Disturbing elements were on +all sides, in the air, everywhere, yet he could not lay his finger +on any particular culprit. + +Of all the slaves on the plantation, Chunk appeared the most docile +and ready to oblige every one. He waited on the Confederate troopers +with alacrity, and grinned at their chaffing with unflagging good- +nature. In all the little community, which included an anxious Union +scout, Chunk was about the most serene and even-pulsed individual. +Nature had endowed him with more muscle than nerves, more shrewdness +than intellect, and had quite left out the elements of fear and +imagination. He lived intensely in the present; excitement and +bustle were congenial conditions, and his soul exulted in the +prospect of freedom. Moreover, the fact that he had proved himself +to Zany to be no longer a mere object for ridicule added not a +little to his elation. Shrewd as himself, she was true to her word +of keeping an eye on him, and she was compelled to see that he was +acting his part well. + +Miss Lou positively refused to come down to dinner. She had buried +her face in her pillow, and was almost crying her eyes out; for in +the confusion of her mind, resulting from her training and +inexperience, she feared that if all her kin insisted on her +marriage, and gave such reasons as had been urged upon her, she must +be married. She was sorely perplexed. Could the Yankees be such +ravening wolves as her uncle and cousin represented them to be? +Certainly one was not, but then he might be different from the +others because he had been to college and was educated. + +"He said he would be glad to do me any kindness," she sobbed. "Oh, +if he could only prevent this marriage! Yet what can he do? I could +not even speak to a stranger of my trouble, much less to a Northern +soldier. I wish I could see my old mammy. She's the only one who in +the least understands me and feels a little like a mother toward me. +Oh, what a dreadful thing to be a motherless girl at such a time!" + +The powers below stairs concluded that it would be best to leave +Miss Lou to herself for a time, that she might think over and become +reconciled to the need and reasonableness of their action, but Mrs. +Baron considerately sent up her dinner by Zany. The unhappy girl +shook her head and motioned the tray away. + +"Hi, now, Miss Lou, w'at you tookin on so fer?" asked the diplomatic +Zany. + +"For more than you can understand." + +"I un'erstan's a heap mo'n you tink," said Zany, throwing off all +disguise in her strong sympathy. "Marse Whately des set out ter +mar'y you, ez ef you wuz a post dat cud be stood up en mar'd to +enybody at eny time. Hi! Miss Lou, I'se bettah off dan you, fer I +kin pick en choose my ole man." + +"Everybody in the world is better off than I am." + +"I wudn't stan' it, Miss Lou. I sut'ny wudn't. I'd runned away." + +"How could I run away? Where could I go to?" + +"See yere, Miss Lou," and Zany sank her voice to a whisper, "dere's +a Linkum man"-- + +"Hush! how did you know that?" + +"Chunk en me's fren's. Don' be 'feard, fer I'd like ter see de gyurl +dat kin beat me playin' possum. Dat Linkum man he'p you ter run +away." + +"For shame, Zany! The idea of my going away with a stranger!" + +"'Pears to me I'se rudder runned away wid one man dan hab anoder man +runned away wid me." + +"Don't ever speak to me of such a thing again." + +"Well, den, Miss Lou, de niggahs on dis plantashon des lub you, en +dey ain' hankerin' arter Marse Whately. Ef you say de wud, I des +belebe dey riz right up again dis mar'age." + +"Oh, horrible!" said the girl, in whose mind had been instilled the +strong and general dread of a negro insurrection. "There, Zany, you +and Chunk mean kindly, but neither you nor any one can help me. If +either does or says anything to make a disturbance I'll never +forgive you. My cousin and the men with him would kill you all. I'd +rather be left alone, for I must think what to do." + +"I ain' sayin' not'n, Miss Lou, sence dat yo' 'quest, but doan you +gib up," and Zany took her departure, resolving to have a conference +with Chunk at the earliest possible moment. + +The impossible remedies suggested by Zany depressed Miss Lou all the +more, for they increased her impression of the hopeless character of +her position. She felt that she was being swept forward by +circumstances hard to combat, and how to resist or whether she could +resist, were questions which pressed for an immediate answer. She +possessed a temperament which warned her imperatively against this +hasty marriage, nor was there any hesitancy in her belief that it +would blight her young life beyond remedy. She was not one to moan +or weep helplessly very long, however, and the first gust of passion +and grief having passed, her mind began to clear and face the +situation. Looking out of her window, she saw that her cousin and +his men were mounted and were about to ride away again. Having +waited till they had disappeared, she bathed her eyes and then +descended to her uncle. + +"Where has Lieutenant Whately gone?" she asked. + +"Your cousin does not forget, even at such a time, that he is a +soldier, and he is scouting the country far and wide. Moreover, it +is his intention to ask the Rev. Dr. Williams to be here to-morrow +evening, and a few friends also. I trust that by that time your +perverse mood will pass away, and that you will unite with your +kindred in their efforts in your behalf." + +"Is there no use of reasoning with you, uncle--no use of pleading +with you?" + +Perkins stood in the door and knocked to announce his presence. + +"Well, what is it?" asked Mr. Baron, nervously. + +"Have you heard anything, sir?" + +"Good heavens, no! Heard what?" + +"Well, sir, I dunno. The field-hands are buzzing like bees, en I +kyant get nothin' out of 'em." + +"Well, Perkins, be watchful. Do your best. God only knows what's +coming. You are well armed, I suppose?" + +"You may reckon that, sir, en I'll use 'em too, ef need be. The +hands are cute, mighty cute. I kyant lay my finger on any one in +particular, but they're all a sort of bilin' up with 'citement." + +"Best to stay among them and be stern and vigilant." When Perkins +withdrew Mr. Baron said to his niece with strong emotion, "You see +we are beset with danger, and you talk of reasoning and pleading +against my best efforts for your safety. There! I'm too harassed, +too overwhelmed with weighty subjects for consideration, to discuss +this matter further. I must give my attention to securing some +papers of vital importance." + +Miss Lou departed with the feeling that dangers were thickening on +every hand, and that she was only one of the causes for anxiety in +her uncle's mind. She knew it would be useless to say anything to +her aunt; and with a longing for a little sympathy and advice, she +resolved on another visit to her old mammy, Aun' Jinkey. + +The Union soldier had a remote place in the background of her +thoughts, and yet she felt that it was preposterous to hope for +anything from him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"WHEN?" + + +The vigilant eyes and constant demands of her mistress prevented +Zany from giving Chunk more than a few significant hints, but he was +quick to comprehend the situation. When he saw Miss Lou bending her +steps toward his granny's cottage, he thanked his stars that the +garden was in that direction also, and soon apparently was very busy +at a good point from which to observe the cabin. In view of the +approaching wedding Mrs. Baron had given Aun' Jinkey much to do, and +she was busily ironing when Miss Lou again stood within the door. +The old woman's fears had been so greatly aroused that she had +insisted that Scoville should remain in the loft. "Folks 'll be +comin' en gwine all the eb'nin', en ole miss hersef mout step dis +away." + +At the same time her heart ached for the young girl. At sight of the +sweet, troubled face the faithful creature just dropped into a +chair, and throwing her apron over her head, rocked back and forth, +moaning "You po' chile, you po' chile!" + +"Yes, mammy," cried Miss Lou, forgetting for the moment that a +stranger was within hearing. "I'm in desperate straits, and I don't +know what to do." + +The trap-door was lifted instantly, and Scoville was about to +descend. + +"You mustn't do dat!" exclaimed Aun' Jinkey. "We's all in mis'ry +anuff now." + +"I hope that in no sense I am the cause of it," said Scoville, +earnestly. + +"Oh, no," replied Miss Lou, wiping her eyes hastily, "not directly. +Pardon me, I forgot for the moment that you were here. My trouble is +with my family, and you have nothing to do with it except as you +Yankees are coming South and making trouble of every kind." + +"Well, Miss Baron," said the scout, regarding her sympathetically +through the open door, "it is too late to talk about our coming +South. Isn't there something I can do for you, to show my gratitude +and good-will?" + +"Oh, no, indeed!" + +"De bes' ting you kin do, Marse Scoville, is ter shet dat do' an' +kep still; den git back ter yo' folks soon ez you kin trabble. We +uns got des ez much ez we kin stan' up un'er, en ef dey foun' you +yere, hit ud be de worl' comin' ter smash." + +"If Miss Baron would tell me her trouble, she might find that I am +not so powerless to help as I seem. Since she has done so much for +me, I have a certain kind of right to do what I can in return." + +"You forget, sir, that we are strangers and aliens." + +"No one is an alien to me from whom I am accepting life and safety," +and his glance was so kind and friendly that, in her dire extremity, +she was induced to ask a question. + +"If you feel that you owe anything to me," she said, hesitatingly, +"tell me truly, if your people came to this plantation, would our +home be burned and we all be in danger of insult and death?" + +"Is that all you fear?" he asked, smiling. + +"But answer me on your word and honor." + +"No, Miss Baron, not from our regular troops. There are vile +wretches connected with all armies, on your side as well as ours, +who act without orders or any control except their lawless will. If +you and your friends are tortured by the fear of Northern soldiers, +should they come this way, you may set your mind comparatively at +rest. I must add, however, that our troops have to live off the +country, and so take food for man and beast. They also help +themselves to better horses when they find them. I have told you the +truth. Why, believe me, Miss Baron, I would defend you with my life +against any one." + +"Oh, dear!" cried the girl, with another rush of tears, "my uncle +believes that our house will be burned and we all murdered, and they +are going to marry me to my cousin against my will, so that he can +take me to a place of safety." + +"When?" asked Scoville, excitedly. + +"To-morrow evening." + +Aun' Jinkey in her trepidation had stepped to the door, and there, +sure enough, was Mrs. Baron coming down the path with her hand full +of crumpled muslins. She had appeared so silently and suddenly +before Chunk that he had started and stared at her. When he tried to +edge off toward the cabin, she had said, sharply, "Keep at your +work. What is the matter with you? I reckon your granny is smoking +instead of doing my work," and she hastened her steps to surprise +the supposed delinquent. + +Entering the cabin, she saw only Aun' Jinkey ironing, and her niece +sitting with her handkerchief to her face. "Ah!" said the old lady +to her laundress, "I'm glad you realize the importance of doing my +work when it's needed." Then followed a few brief directions in +regard to the articles she had brought. "Louise, I wish you to come +with me. This is no place for you," concluded Mrs. Baron, turning to +depart. + +The girl rose and followed submissively, for she was overwhelmed by +a confused sense of danger, not merely to the Union soldier, but +also to her old mammy, who was sheltering him. The extremity of her +fears and the fact that Chunk had not come to warn them led her to +dread that her aunt's suspicions were already aroused. Chunk gave +her a very anxious look as she passed, but she only shook her head +slightly, as much as to say, "I don't know." + +The negro's elation and confidence now passed utterly; he became +deeply alarmed, not only for the scout, but for himself and +grandmother as well. He was not long in coming to a decision. +Whately and his troopers were absent, and now, perhaps, was the best +time to act. After satisfying himself that he was not observed, he +slipped away to the cabin. + +When Mrs. Baron finally disappeared, Aun' Jinkey sank into a chair +almost in a state of collapse. "O good Lawd!" she gasped, "I des +tremblin' so in my knee-jints I kyant stan'." + +"Courage, Aunt Jinkey," said Scoville, through the chink in the +floor. "Try to get Chunk here as soon as possible." + +"I des done beat. I kyant lif my han' no mo'." + +"Granny," said Chunk, sauntering in, "you des watch at de do'," and +without waiting for a word he went up the ladder, lifted the door +and closed it. + +"Ah, Chunk, I wanted you badly," said Scoville. "Do you think it +possible for me to get away at once?" + +"Dat des w'at I come ter see 'bout, mars'r, en I'se gwine wid you. +Marse Whately and he men all done gone till eb'nin'." + +"Well, there's no need of further words. See what you can do about +getting horses and a good start. I will explain on the way. Hoot +like an owl when the coast is clear and you are ready." + +A few moments later Chunk emerged from the cabin, with careless +mien, eating a pone of hoecake. + +"Go back to yer work," shouted Perkins, who was passing in the +distance. + +This Chunk did, his eyes following the overseer until the hated form +was lost to sight in a distant field where a squad of hands were at +work. Perkins was simply trying to be ubiquitous that day. Chunk's +next step was to steal to the rear of the stables. To his delight he +found that Whately had left his horse in order that it might rest +for further hard service, and had borrowed one of his uncle's +animals for the afternoon ride. As Chunk was stealthily putting on a +bridle, a gruff voice asked, "What yer doin' thar?" + +The negro's heart stood still. Turning quickly, he saw, to his +dismay, one of the Confederate soldiers lying on a pile of straw. A +closer scrutiny revealed that the man was drowsy from partial +intoxication, and Chunk, feeling that he was in for it now, said +boldly: "Marse Whately tole me at dinner ter tek his hoss ter de run +fer a drink en ter limber his jints 'bout dis time in de eb'nin'." + +"Very well; bring 'im back safe en sud'n or I'll make you a head +shorter'n you air." + +"Ob co'se, mars'r, I do ez I tol'. I des ride ole bay down, too. +Mout ez well took 'im ter water de same time." + +The soldier making no response Chunk slipped away with the horses, +trembling as if in an ague fit. Nothing was left for him now but to +get away and take his chances. Fortune in this instance, as it often +does, favored the bolder course. The Confederate soldier was +familiar with Chunk, since he had been the waiter at the troopers' +mess; moreover, his faculties were confused and blunted and he was +soon asleep again. Perkins' back was turned and every one at the +mansion deeply preoccupied. Even Zany, who had been charged not to +leave the dining-room, was not on the watch. + +Chunk hastened the horses down the lane toward the run, which having +reached, he looked cautiously around, then hooted in fairly +successful imitation of the ominous bird of night. Aun' Jinkey +dropped into her chair again with an ejaculation of terror. + +"Look out of the door and tell me if you see any one," said +Scoville, quickly. + +Mechanically she obeyed, saying, "No, mars'r, but dat squinch-owl +des shook me like a ghos'." + +Before she knew it he was beside her, his eyes shining with +excitement. "There," he said, putting into the hand he pressed a +ten-dollar bill, "I'll see you again, and you won't be sorry. Good- +by," and with a swift glance around he strode away toward the run. A +moment or two later he was mounted on the bare back of Mad Whately's +horse, following Chunk down the stream so that the flowing water +might obliterate the hoof-prints. They soon left the water and put +their horses to a gallop toward the forest, within whose shades they +disappeared. Both had deemed best not to tell Aun' Jinkey of their +departure, so that she might honestly plead ignorance. + +With the unerring instinct of a scout the soldier led the way hour +after hour toward the point where he expected to find the Union +cavalry force. On the way he and Chunk compared notes, and thus +Scoville more truly understood Miss Lou's position. "We must be back +to-morrow afternoon," he said, "in time to prevent this marriage. +So, Chunk, be careful. You must not get sleepy or let your horse +stumble." + +Leaving them to pursue their way to the northwest, we can return to +The Oaks. Miss Lou followed her aunt into the house, burdened for +the moment with a new and pressing anxiety. Did the resolute old +lady suspect that one of the class which she most detested had been +concealed within earshot of her voice, and would a search be +instituted? The girl's sympathies had gone out to the stranger, and +the fact that he so trusted her appealed strongly to her woman's +nature. In her alienation from her relatives she was peculiarly +isolated and lonely at just the period in life when she most craved +appreciative understanding, and her intuitions led her to believe +that this stranger could both understand and respect her feelings. +His genial, kindly smile warmed her sore, lonely heart, and +convinced her that there was a world of human affections and simple +faith as well as of imperious wills and formal beliefs. His words in +regard to himself and the North was another shock to her confidence +in her uncle and aunt, and another proof that there was no good +reason for the marriage they were forcing upon her. + +For a brief time she watched with keen-eyed interest to see if her +aunt would take any steps to have Aun' Jinkey's cabin searched. Her +mind was soon relieved on this score, for she became convinced that +her uncle was distracted by various anxieties; while Mrs. Baron, +from force of habit and with the purpose of diverting her mind from +all she feared, was pursuing her preparations with restless energy, +keeping every one in her employ as busy as herself. It was evident +that her niece's idle hands and perturbed wanderings to and fro +annoyed her, and at last she broke out: "Louise, it would be much +more becoming in you to unite with me in my efforts. The idea of +your sitting and idly bemoaning your case in that foolish old +woman's cabin! I'm glad you had the grace to show obedience to me +before her, for this is a time when to our people the example of +obedience is most necessary, and you should be the first to set it +in all respects. It will only increase the trouble which your uncle +and Perkins are having if our people see that you are rebellious. +There is much that you should be doing and seeing to, for your uncle +says that it may be best for you to leave the plantation with Mrs. +Whately and her son immediately after your marriage." + +"I am not married yet. I shall appeal to Aunt Whately, and if she +has a woman's heart she will not sanction the marriage." + +"You will find that because she has a woman's heart, and a Baron's +heart, she will sanction it and insist upon it." + +"We shall see," replied the girl, turning to go to her room. + +"Louise, it is my wish that you should put your things in order to +be packed hastily, if need be." + +Miss Lou made no answer. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PARALYZED WITH SHAME + + +So far from obeying her aunt's injunctions, Miss Lou sat down by her +window, but she did not note the smiling spring landscape over which +the western sun was throwing its long, misty rays. Tears so blurred +her eyes and blinded her vision that she could scarcely see at all. +At last she was aroused by the crunching of wheels, and became aware +that Mrs. Whately had arrived. From what she knew of this aunt she +had a good deal of hope from her appeal, for Mrs. Whately had always +seemed a kind-hearted woman. True, she had been over-indulgent to +her son, and, in her blind idolatry of this only child, blind to his +faults, always comforting herself with the belief that he was merely +high-spirited and would settle down when he grew older. + +Miss Lou wished to speak to the mother before the son returned, and +in the hope of securing a merciful ally in the lady, went down +immediately to receive her. Mr. Baron was on the back porch calling, +"Chunk, where in the mischief are you?" Where, indeed, with the +start he had gained for the Union lines? + +"My dear niece," cried Mrs. Whately, effusively, "how glad I am to +see you, and to take you in my arms on this deeply interesting +occasion!" but the matron was troubled at the girl's red eyes and +pallid face. + +"I will show you to your room at once," said Mrs. Baron to her +guest, decisively and significantly. + +Miss Lou was right in believing that the situation and the unhappy +appearance of the prospective bride would be explained. She had been +forestalled in her chance to make an appeal. Mrs. Baron emphatically +sustained her husband's purpose, concluding: "My dear sister, in +this crisis you will have to take a firm stand with the rest of us. +Louise is acting like a perverse child, and no more realizes the +necessity and wisdom of our course than a baby." + +Meantime the outcry for Chunk increased, and Miss Lou was troubled +that he did not respond. Taking advantage of the fact that her +mistress was upstairs, Zany stole swiftly, with many a misgiving, to +Aun' Jinkey's cabin. + +"Whar dat gran'boy o' you'n?" she asked, breathlessly. + +"Ain' he in de gyardin?" + +"No, he ain'. Does you KNOW whar he is? Bettah tell me de truf. Mout +sabe you a heap ob trouble." + +"Des you min' yo' business, en doan cum trapesin' yere 'bout Chunk. +You talks ez ef you own 'im." + +"Ole mars'r tinks he own 'im, en he des a yellin' fer 'im. De +oberseer hollerin', too, en de lil niggahs runnin' yere, dar, en +yander lookin' fer 'im. Yere one ob um now." + +With new and direful forebodings Aun' Jinkey declared loudly: "I +doan know what he be. He ain' say not'n ter me 'bout gwine anywhar." + +Uttering an angry and contemptuous exclamation, Zany sped back, and, +with a scared look, said to Miss Lou, "Aun' Jinkey 'clar she dunno +not'n 'bout Chunk's doin's. Ef she ain' foolin' me, I des belebe +he's runned away." + +At these tidings and at this suggestion the young girl was almost +distracted. She went instantly to the cabin, supposing that it would +soon be searched. + +"Mammy!" she exclaimed, "where's Chunk?" + +"Fo' de Lawd, honey, I doan know. I des gwine all ter pieces wid de +goin's on." + +"But people will be here looking. Is he up there?" asked the girl in +a whisper. + +"No, he des lit out two hour ago, en he guv me dis" (showing the +money), "en say he see me agin. I'se feared he'n Chunk gwine off +togeder." + +"Well, you don't know. Hide the money and declare you don't know +anything. I'll stand by you as far as I can." + +As she hastened back she saw a Confederate soldier running toward +the house and Perkins limping after him as fast as possible. +Entering the rear door she heard the soldier demanding fiercely of +her uncle, "Where's that cursed nigger you call Chunk?" + +"Whom are you addressing, sir?" asked Mr. Baron, indignantly. + +"Well, see yere, boss," was the excited reply, "this ere ain't no +time fer standin' on nice words. That cursed nigger o' your'n took +the lieutenant's horse ter the run fer a drink, an one o' your'n +'long of him, en me en Perkins kyant find nary one of 'em." + +"Yes, sir," added Perkins in great wrath, "we uns follered the hoof- +prints ter the run en inter the water, en there's no hoof-prints +comin' back. That infernal nigger has lit out with the two horses." + +"Why don't you go after him then?" shouted Mr. Baron, distracted +with anger and accumulating perplexities. "He can't be far yet." + +"I'd like ter see the hoss on this place that could ketch the +lieutenant's black mare. Oh, why didn't I shoot the nigger?" and the +soldier strode up and down as if demented. + +"You deserve to be shot yourself, sir, if you, who had been placed +on guard, permitted that black rascal to take the horses." + +"Yes," replied the soldier, desperately, "en the lieutenant is ther +man ter shoot me--cuss his red-hot blood!" and he stalked away +toward the stables as if possessed by a sudden resolve. + +Turning to enter the house, Mr. Baron encountered his niece, who had +been a witness to the scene, which explained everything to her. "You +see, you see," cried the old man, "everything going to rack and +ruin! Would to Heaven you could be married to-night and sent away to +a place of safety!" + +"Uncle," said the girl, almost fiercely, "did you not hear that man +say of my cousin, 'curse his red-hot blood'? Is that the kind of a +protector you would force upon me?" + +"Yes," almost shouted the angry man, "because he has the spirit to +deal justly with such reprobates. He's just the kind of protector +you need in these lurid times, when it seems as if no one could be +trusted. To think that that boy Chunk, who has been treated so well, +could play us such an infernal trick! His old crone of a grandam +must know something about it, and I'll make her tell. Perkins!" and +Mr. Baron rushed toward the door again. + +The ladies had now descended and joined the excited group on the +veranda. Zany was listening with craned neck from the dining-room +door, and other "yard folks," great and small, were gathering also. + +"What IS the matter?" cried Mrs. Baron. + +Paying no heed to her, Mr. Baron said to his overseer, "Aun' Jinkey +must know about this rascally flight and theft. Bring her here." + +"Uncle," said Miss Lou, firmly, "Aun' Jinkey doesn't know anything +about Chunk's disappearance. I've been to her cabin and asked her." + +"As if the cunning old witch would tell you anything! Bring her +here, I say, Perkins. It's time the spirit of insubordination on +this place received a wholesome check." + +"Why!" exclaimed Mrs. Baron, "it seems but a little while ago that +Chunk was working quietly in the garden." + +"En I reckon hit ain't much more'n two hours gone sence I seed 'im +comin' out o' the cabin, lazin' and eatin' hoe-cake," added Perkins +as he started angrily to obey his orders. + +"He had mischief in his mind, though, now I think of it." resumed +Mrs. Baron, "for he seemed startled when he saw me, and tried to +edge away to the cabin. I thought he was afraid I would catch his +granny smoking instead of doing urgent work. Louise, you were in the +cabin at the time. Why should Chunk be so anxious to get there +before I did?" + +"I have not spoken to him this afternoon, and know nothing of his +movements except what I have heard," replied the girl, coldly. + +"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately, "what troublous times we've +fallen upon!" + +In the silence which followed they heard the gallop of a horse. A +moment later a negro came running up and exclaiming, "Dat sojer in +de stable des saddle he hoss en put out ez ef de debil wuz arter +'im!" + +Miss Lou smiled bitterly as she thought, "He evidently doesn't think +it wise to wait for my protector." + +At this moment Mad Whately appeared cantering smartly up the avenue +at the head of his men. Throwing his reins to a colored boy, he +strode smilingly up the steps, exclaiming, "Why, this is a regular +committee of reception. I am doubled honored since my fair cousin is +present also." + +Miss Lou made no reply, and the expression on all faces led him to +ask quickly, "Why, what's the matter?" + +The young man's brow grew black as Mr. Baron gave a hasty +explanation. A half-suppressed oath rose to his lips as he turned on +his heel and shouted to his men, "Halt, there! Let every man mount +and await orders. Simson, you and two others follow the guard I left +with my horse. Where's that nigger who saw him start? Here, you, put +these men on his track as you value your life! Simson, take him, +dead or alive!" + +The men saluted, and departed at once. The galloping of their horses +soon died away in the distance. "Now for this beldam," said Whately, +sternly, as Aun' Jinkey approached, tottering in her excess of fear +and accompanied by Perkins. + +Miss Lou saw that her cousin was terribly excited; indeed, that he +fairly trembled with passion. She was scarcely less stirred herself, +for she possessed much of the hot blood of her kindled, and during +the last twenty-four hours nearly all that had, occurred tended to +fire her spirit. Now that she saw her own dear old mammy led +cowering under the hostile eyes of every one, she was almost beside +herself with pity and anger. Unaccustomed to conventional restraint, +reacting from long years of repression, a child still in some +respects, in others a passionate woman revolting at a fate from +which her whole nature shrank, she was carried far above and beyond +her normal condition, and was capable of following her impulses, +whatever they might be. + +Aun' Jinkey turned her eyes appealingly, and was awed, even in that +terrible moment, by the intensity of the girl's expression, as she +half consciously drew nearer and nearer. The field-hands, deeply +excited, had also edged up from the quarters. Mr. Baron and his +overseer observed yet tolerated this, thinking that it might be just +as well to have the negroes learn from Aun' Jinkey's experience that +authority would still be sternly enforced. + +Whately's headlong temperament was so overcome by anger that he +noted nothing except the presence of one whom he believed the aider +and abetter in his great loss, for a favorite and trusty horse is +one of the dearest possessions of a cavalryman. + +"Where's your grandson?" he demanded, fiercely. + +"'Fo' de Lawd, I dunno," gasped Aun' Jinkey. + +"The truth, now, or you'll be sorry." + +"I dunno, I dunno. Ef he gone, he ain' say neber a word ter me, not +eben good-by." + +"No use of your lying. You knew the rascal's purpose. Why didn't you +tell Mr. Baron? Which way did he go?" + +"I des declar, mars'r, I dunno." + +"You DO know," cried Whately, driven almost to frenzy, "and I'll cut +the truth out of you." + +His whip fell before he could arrest it, but it struck the arm and +shoulder of Miss Lou. She had drawn very near, and, swift as light, +had sprung forward and encircled the form of her mammy. There were +startled exclamations from those near, echoed by a groan from the +negroes, and then the girl spoke in stern, deep tones, "You thought +to strike ONE woman, and you have struck TWO." + +Whately dropped his whip and stood with bowed head, paralyzed with +shame. There were wild cries and a swaying of the field-hands toward +the house. The mounted soldiers drew their revolvers and looked from +the thronging black faces to that of their commander, but he paid no +heed to them. Perkins did not wait, however, but drawing his weapon, +began to limp toward the threatening mass, with oaths and orders to +disperse. As for Mr. Baron and the ladies, they were just helpless +in the whirl of events. + +Although Miss Lou's back was toward this new phase of the drama, she +instantly and instinctively comprehended it. With a fear almost +hereditary, as well as one vaguely dreaded from childhood, she +recognized the possible horrors of an insurrection, her own action +the indirect cause. She turned and sprang forward so swiftly to +interpose that her comb fell away, and her golden hair streamed +behind her. She stood between the blacks and those who could harm +them; also those whom, in their wild excitement, they were ready to +attack. + +"Silence!" she cried; then in the deep hush that followed she called +out, in clear, ringing tones: "Every friend of mine will go back to +quarters, keep quiet, and obey orders. I promise that no harm shall +come to any of you." + +The men doffed their ragged hats, and a voice from the crowd +answered, "We 'bey you, Miss Lou, en we won' let no harm come ter +you, noder." Then as the dense, angry mass of a hundred or more men +and women melted away toward the quarters, it was seen that many a +heavy club was carried among them. Miss Lou watched them silently +two or three moments, the rest looking on in wonder and suppressed +anger mingled with fear. The girl returned, and taking her mammy by +the hand, was about to lead her into the house. Whately started as +she essayed to pass him unheedingly, and seized her hand. "Lou, +Cousin Lou, forgive me!" he cried. "You know I meant you no such +indignity." + +"I know you mean me a greater one," she replied, coldly, withdrawing +her hand. + +"See! I ask your forgiveness on my knees!" he urged, passionately. + +But her heart was steeled against him, for her very soul was hot +with indignation. "Come, mammy," she said, firmly, "such shelter and +protection as I still have in this house you shall share." + +"Louise, this is monstrous!" began Mrs. Baron. + +"NO!" cried the girl. "This poor creature is the nearest approach I +have ever known to a mother. She doesn't know about her grandson, +and no one shall try to cut the truth out of her. Come, mammy," and +she led the trembling old negress up to her room. When hidden from +all eyes her courage and excitement gave way, and she cried on her +mammy's breast like the child she was. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A BAFFLED DIPLOMATIST + + +Miss Lou left consternation, confusion and deep anxiety below +stairs. Mad Whately had his own code of ethics, and he felt as if he +had committed the unpardonable sin. His mother was shocked and +pained beyond measure. She understood the feelings of her son, and +sympathized with him. Drawing him into the parlor, she soothed and +cheered him with the assurance that when his cousin's anger passed +she would explain and intercede. + +"Oh, mother!" he exclaimed, "I did love her honestly before, but now +I adore her. I must marry her, and by a lifetime of devotion wipe +out the wrong I did not intend to inflict." + +"It will all come about right yet, my boy," she whispered. "I never +understood Louise before. I fear they have been too strict and +unsympathetic in her bringing up, and so she has naturally rebelled +against all their plans. You didn't think at the time--indeed, in +our excitement we all forgot--that Aun' Jinkey was her mammy, and +you know how strong that tie is, even in your case, and you have +always had a mother's love." + +"Oh, fool, fool that I was in my mad anger! Brave, grand, heroic +girl! I'd have done as much for my old mammy; or rather I'd have +struck down a general before he should harm her. Oh, mother, +mother!" concluded the much-indulged youth, "I must marry her. She +is just the bride for a soldier." + +"Rather than have her fall into the hands of the enemy, we will lead +her to see that it is the only thing to be done," replied Mrs. +Whately. + +Perkins had a consultation with Mr. Baron, as far as that +desperately perturbed old gentleman was capable of holding one, the +result of which was the decision to let the negroes alone, provided +they kept quiet and obeyed. It was evident to both of them that the +approach of Union forces, though yet comparatively distant, had +produced the usual demoralizing effects. The government at The Oaks +had not been harsh, but it had been strict and animated by a spirit +which alienated sympathy. The situation was now seen to be too +critical to admit of severity, all the more as the protection of +Whately and his troopers might soon be withdrawn. + +It was a silent and depressing meal to which they sat down that +evening, long after the accustomed hour, a fact which Mr. Baron +would not forget, even in the throes of an earthquake. He groaned +over it; he groaned over everything, and especially over his niece, +who had suddenly developed into the most unmanageable element in the +whole vexed problem of the future. He felt that they owed her very +much, and that she held the balance of power through her influence +over the negroes; and yet he was incensed that she was not meek and +submissive as a young woman should be under all circumstances. An +angry spot burned in each of Mrs. Baron's cheeks, for she felt that +Miss Lou's conduct reflected very unfavorably on her bringing up. +She was so scandalized and vexed that she could scarcely think of +anything else. Mrs. Whately was all deprecation and apology, trying +to pour oil on the troubled waters in every way, while her son was +as savagely angry at himself as he had been at poor Aun' Jinkey and +her grandson. + +Most fortunately the main feature in the case remained undiscovered. +The fact that a Union scout had been hidden and permitted to depart +would have been another bombshell, and the consequences of its +explosion would have been equally hard to predict or circumscribe. +As it was, Miss Lou and Aun' Jinkey received a certain remorseful +sympathy which they would have forfeited utterly had the truth been +revealed. And the secret did tremble on the lips of Zany. She was +not only greatly aggrieved that Chunk had "runned away" after all, +without her, and had become a sort of hero among his own kind on the +plantation, but she also felt keenly her own enforced insignificance +when she knew so much more than that Chunk had merely decamped. Her +mistress little dreamed, as the girl waited stolidly and sullenly on +the table, that she was so swelling with her secret as to be like a +powder magazine. But fear rather than faith finally sealed Zany's +lips. She was aware that the first question asked would be, "If you +knew so much, why didn't YOU tell?" and she could give no reason +which would save her from condign punishment. Moreover, she hoped +that Chunk would soon return with no end of "Linkum men," and then +her silence would be rewarded. + +Supper was sent up to Miss Lou and her guest, and the old woman, +having at last some sense of security, made her first good meal +since "things began to happen." Then she hankered after her pipe. +"I'll get it for you," said the warm-hearted girl. She stole to the +head of the landing, and, the hall below being clear at the moment, +she flitted down and out at the back door, reaching the deserted +cabin unobserved. How desolate it looked in the fading twilight! The +fire was out on the hearth, and the old creaking chair was empty. +But Miss Lou did not think of Aun' Jinkey. Her thoughts were rather +of a stranger whose face had been eloquent of gratitude as he +offered to shield her with his life. Then she remembered his excited +question as to the time of the marriage. "When?" Had her answer +anything to do with the sudden and bold departure? Her heart was in +a sudden flutter. She snatched the corncob pipe and tobacco pouch, +and sped back again in a strange blending of fear and hope. She felt +guilty that she could dare hope to see him, a Yankee, again. "But +his smile was so pleasant and frank!" she murmured. "Oh, I never +remember to have had such genial, honest, unreserved good-will +looked at me by any one except mammy, and she's so old and wrinkled +that she can't look much of anything. What handsome, kind, dark eyes +he had! Yet they would all say, 'He's a monster!'" + +She made her way back in safety until she reached the head of the +stairs, and then came plump upon her aunt. "Where have you been?" +asked Mrs. Baron, sharply. + +"After Aun' Jinkey's pipe." + +"Horrible! I forbid her smoking in this house." + +"I shall permit her to smoke in my room." + +"You have no right." + +"Very well; then I'll go with her to her cabin." + +"My dear sister," said Mrs. Whately, putting her hand on the irate +lady's arm, "I think it will be better to let our niece have her way +in such little things. We must remember that she is no longer a +child." + +"I think she is acting like a very perverse and foolish one; but +then rather than have any more scenes"--and looking unutterable +things she passed on down the stairs. + +"My dear, I wish to see you by and by. Won't you let me?" said Mrs. +Whately. "I wish to see you--I must see you before I sleep," replied +the girl, decisively. + +"I'll come up soon, then, dear." + +Mrs. Baron reported to her husband what had occurred, but he only +groaned. He was scarcely able to do much else now. + +"Oh, hang it!" exclaimed Whately, "what fiend directs my luck this +evening? If I had only known she had gone to the cabin, I could have +compelled her to listen to me and to my apologies." + +"No worse luck could have happened," said his mother, entering. "You +must curb your impatience, and so--pardon me for saying it--must +you, brother and sister. You are driving the girl to lengths she +would never have thought of going. She is excited and almost beside +herself. You forget, brother, that she is a Southern girl and a +Baron, and has all the spirit of our race. She is one to be coaxed, +to yield to gentle pressure and firm reasoning, and not to be +driven." + +"Oh, curse it! we've made a mess of it, I fear," groaned Whately, +who was capable of violent alternations of mood, and now was in the +valley of humiliation and almost despair. + +"Well, you must all let me manage a little now," resumed Mrs. +Whately, somewhat complacently, "or else there is no telling what +trouble you may have." + +"Yes, yes," cried her son, "I insist on mother's managing. She has +always obtained what I wanted, and I shall certainly throw my life +away if I don't marry Cousin Lou." + +"Madison," said his mother, tearfully, "am I, who have so loaded you +with kindness, of no account?" + +"Oh, forgive me, mother, I can't do anything but blunder to-night. +I'm all broken up, distracted by conflicting duties and feelings. I +picked up important information this evening. The Yankee column, +halting in the rich valley to the northwest, have been ranging the +country far and near, loading their wagons and resting their horses. +They will make a move soon, and will come this way just as likely as +not. Our forces are coming up from the South, and there certainly +will be a fight soon somewhere in this region. I received a secret +despatch at the court-house, after seeing the minister, who will be +here early to-morrow evening. After the wedding I intend to escort +mother and my wife south to Cousin Sam Whately's. They certainly +will be out of the Yankee line of march there. Perhaps you and aunt +had better go too." + +"No," said Mr. Baron. "I intend to stay and face it out here. I +shall stand or fall on my own hearth." + +"And I shall remain with my husband," added Mrs. Baron, firmly. + +"Well, nothing worse may happen than a general sack of the place, +but I cannot leave mother and the girl who is to be my wife. I shall +ride over to our place in the morning for the best horse on it, and +to see the overseer. I'll bring back a few papers which I will put +in your charge, uncle." + +Thus they discussed the emergency till Mrs. Whately thought she +could venture to Miss Lou's room. Her son accompanied her to the +door and called out, "I give you my word, cousin, that Aun' Jinkey +can go to her cabin, and that no one shall disturb her"; then he +retreated to the parlor again. + +When Mrs. Whately entered the room, she witnessed what was not +reassuring. Miss Lou's white shoulder was bare, and upon it was the +long red mark of the whip. Aun' Jinkey was bathing the bruise with +some lotion. "My poor child!" said the lady, "Madison is almost +beside himself with grief and self-reproach." + +"Please tell him," replied the girl, "that I'm glad the blow fell on +me instead of mammy." + +"Ah, well, my dear, he has asked forgiveness and is profoundly +sorry." + +"Hit soon be well, honey. Wish ter grashus hit wuz me dat hab it! en +you barin' hit so patient, too, w'en I smokin'. Dar, I kiver hit up +now, en hit ain' dar in de mawnin'. I reck'n I go back ter de cabin +now, honey. I kin'er used ter my own chimbly corner. Miss Whately +got sump'n ter say ter comfort you." + +"Very well, mammy. I'll see that you have no trouble," and the old +woman departed. + +"Surely, Louise, you cannot expect any more trouble, after my son +has said there would not be any," said Mrs. Whately, in a somewhat +aggrieved tone. + +"You must have seen," was the reply, "that Cousin Madison hasn't +just the kind of self-control which inspires confidence." + +"I assure you, Louise, that he regrets his act as much as you can. +You should, in charity, remember his great provocation." + +"Well, then," Miss Lou burst out, "let him make amends. Here I am, a +defenceless girl, with all my kindred against me. He should be the +first to defend me." + +"So he wishes to do, my dear; and he only craves the most sacred +right to defend you." + +"Yes, in his own way, and without any regard to my feelings and +wishes." + +"Indeed, my dear, you misjudge him. You have only to yield one point +in order to make him a slave to your wishes." + +"But that is yielding everything. Oh, aunt, how can you urge a girl +toward a loveless marriage?" + +"Now, my dear, just listen patiently to me for a few moments," began +Mrs. Whately in a wheedling tone. "I am older than you are. I know +young girls are apt to have romantic notions, but when they reach my +age they find that it is ever best to act in view of good and +sufficient reasons. Apart from the terrible emergency that is upon +us, you know that we all have had our hearts set on this marriage +almost ever since you were born, and we have made no secret of the +fact. It would be a terrible disappointment to us if it should not +take place. I fear that life has been too strict and narrow for you +here, but you know that in my home you will dwell in an atmosphere +of kindness and indulgence. I will give up to you whenever you are +ready to take the reins after these sore troubles are over. But, +Louise, you do not realize that we are in the midst of a terrible +emergency. You ought not to remain here. Madison has arranged that +we both go south to his cousin Sam's." + +"I don't wish to go!" cried the girl, wringing her hands. + +"Now, my dear, can't you just believe that we, who are more +experienced and know the danger, wish to do what is best for you and +what you will soon see was best?" + +"No, I cannot! I cannot! I just feel that I can't marry my cousin +without perjuring myself." + +"Surely you don't love any one else, Louise?" + +"What chance have I had to love anyone, except my old mammy? I don't +know anything about the love which I feel should lead to marriage. I +have just been treated like a child, and then without any girlhood +at all I'm to be married to one that I shrink from. I feel in my +very soul that it's all wrong and unjust." + +"But, my dear, you won't feel so after you are a wife and safe in +your own home. You will then feel that you have reached woman's true +place and sphere, without incurring the risks and misfortunes which +befall so many. Your guardians might have shown more tact, perhaps, +but they meant well, and they wish you well, and are seeking only +your welfare. They feel in honor bound to do what is best for you, +and not what, in your inexperience, you may wish at the moment. As +for my son, a warmer-hearted fellow does not breathe. He loves you +fondly. You can influence him, you can control him as no other can, +you have the strongest hold upon him." + +"Alas!" said the girl, divining the ultimate truth, "you love him +blindly and wholly; you would sacrifice me, yourself and everything +to him, and because he has always had everything his own way, he +would have me in spite of the whole protest of my being. No one +truly cares for me; no one understands me. I have been thrown back +upon books and my own nature for such knowledge as I now so +desperately need, and I feel that if I am false to my interests, to +what I believe is right, my life is spoiled. I don't wish to marry +any one, and as to all these dangers you so vaguely threaten, I +believe that if there is a good God, he will take care of me." + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Whately, striving to hide the fact that +she was baffled, "we won't talk any more about it to-night. You are +excited and worried, and incapable of wise judgment. Rest and sleep +are what you need now," and she kissed the girl, who did not return +the caress. + +"Wise judgment!" she muttered, bitterly, "what fine words they use! +So you, too, are hopelessly against me. You would give me to your +son just as you used to give him everything he cried for when a +child. Well, then, I'll appeal to the minister himself. I don't +believe he can marry me against my will. At any rate, I shall never +give my consent, never; and perhaps somebody may come in time. My +people are teaching me to fear them even more than the Yankees." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AUN' JINKEY'S WARNING + + +The night passed like a lull in the storm. Perkins reported that the +negroes were quiet, contenting themselves with whispering and +watchfulness. Aun' Jinkey smoked and dozed in her chair, listening +to every sound, but no "squinch-owl" renewed her fears. The family +at the mansion were too perturbed to sleep much, for all knew that +the morrow must bring decisive events. The three soldiers sent after +the recreant trooper returned from a bootless chase and were allowed +to rest, but Whately saw to it that there was a vigilant watch kept +by relief of guards on the part of the others. He was not very +greatly encouraged by his mother's report, but as the hours passed +the habits of his life and the tendencies of his nature asserted +themselves with increasing force. He would marry his cousin on the +morrow; he would not be balked in his dearest hope and wish. The +very resistance of the girl stimulated his purpose, for throughout +all his life nothing so enhanced his desire for anything as +difficulty and denial. The subduing the girl's high spirit into +subservience to his own was in itself a peculiarly alluring +prospect, and he proved how little he appreciated her character by +whiling away part of the night over "Taming of the Shrew." A +creature of fitful impulse, nurtured into an arrogant sense of +superiority, he banished all compunctions, persuading himself easily +into the belief that as soldier, officer, and lover he was taking +the manly course in going straight forward. "The idea of consulting +a whimsical girl at such a time," he muttered, "when a Yankee horde +may descend on the plantation within forty-eight hours." + +Miss Lou was quite as sleepless as himself, and also did a great +deal of thinking. She had too much pride to hide and mope in her +room. Her high, restless spirit craved action, and she determined to +brave whatever happened with the dignity of courage. She would face +them all and assert what she believed to be her rights before them +all, even the clergyman himself. She therefore appeared at the +breakfast table with just enough color in her cheeks and fire in her +eyes to enhance her beauty. + +"Ah, this is something like," exclaimed her uncle. "I knew sleep and +thought would bring back good sense." + +Mrs. Whately kissed her effusively and Mrs. Baron formally, the girl +submitting with like mien in both instances. Her cousin, in +accordance with his mood and the policy he had adopted, bowed +gallantly and with a touch of grandiloquence in his tone said, "I +again apologize before all for my most unfortunate act last +evening." + +She only bowed silently in reply. + +Then Whately assumed the air of one who had many and weighty matters +on his mind, his whole conversation conforming to the accepted +belief that they were facing a terrible emergency, and that he, as +the practical head of the family at such a time, must act decisively +for the best good and safety of all. "If I could be governed in this +instance," he said, "only by patriotic feeling I would advise the +destruction of all the forage on the place if convinced that the +Yanks were coming this way, but that would incite them to every +possible outrage. Still, I truly believe that it would be best for +you and aunt to go with us this evening." + +"No," said Mr. Baron, "I've settled that." + +"Haven't you negroes that you can trust to take the stock off into +the woods for concealment?" + +"After Chunk's rascality I won't trust any of them." + +"Well, I shall adopt that plan at our place this morning, and leave +as little of value within reach as I can help." + +By a sort of tacit agreement it was thought best not to say anything +to Miss Lou except as Mrs. Whately broached the subject, it being +believed that a quiet ignoring of her will and a manifest purpose to +carry out their own would have the most weight in breaking down her +opposition. Indeed it was a shrewd policy, hard for the young girl +to bear up against. Mrs. Baron had been enjoined not to cross her in +little things. The busy housekeeper was too preoccupied to do so had +she been disposed, but it troubled and incensed the girl to the last +degree to see her bustling about, preparing for the wedding as if it +would take place as a matter of course. Mrs. Whately's affectionate +smiles and encouraging words were even harder to endure. That good +lady acted as if Miss Lou were a timid and coy maiden, who merely +needed heartening and reassuring in order to face a brief ordeal, +and then all would be well. Her cousin gallantly lifted her hand to +his lips and then rode away with part of his men, saying cheerfully, +"I'll manage everything for the best." + +A vague terror seized upon the girl and she again sought the refuge +of Aun' Jinkey's cabin. She must have some one to speak to who +understood her, who felt for her. She found that Mrs. Baron had been +there before her, urging the completion of certain tasks. Indeed, +the old woman was ironing a white muslin dress which looked very +bridal-like. Miss Lou recognized it as her own gown, which might +naturally be worn on such an occasion. + +"Who brought that here?" she asked quickly. + +"Ole miss, honey. She said you cud war dis or de one you hab on, des +ez you pleases." + +"Aun' Jinkey," said the girl in an awed whisper, "do you think they +can marry me against my will?" + +"Miss Lou, I declar ter you I'se been smokin' en projeckin' ober dat +mos' all night." + +"Well?" + +"Hit 'pears ter me a orfully mux-up question. Yere yo' gyardins, ole +mars'r en ole miss. Dey's des had dere gay on dis plantashon sence I +wuz a gyurl. You wuz trus' ter dem ter be took keer on en you tole +me how he manage yo' prop'ty. He call you he ward. I des dunno w'at +po'r dat ward business gib 'im. I'se yeared en my day ob young +gyurls mar'ed yere en mar'ed dar en dey aim' sayin' much 'bout who +dey mar'y. Folks say dat wuz de way wid ole miss. I reckermember dem +days en I year ole mars'r's fader talk'n wid her fader 'bout w'at +dey call set'l'ments en po'tions. Den ole miss's mammy tole me how +her young miss wuz cool ez a cowcumber, en how she say her folks +know bes' en she sat'sfied; en den how she gib her min' ter w'at she +call her trosso. Why honey, I des doin' up tings ob dat ar trosso +yit." + +"That's just the trouble with aunt," said Miss Lou scornfully. "I +don't believe she ever had heart enough to love with." + +"Well, I reck'n ole mars'r is projeckin' dis away. Ole miss, she +settle down en tuck hole strong. She des kin'er fall inter he ways +en mek tings hum wid de yard en house folks. She des a nachel-bawn +housekeeper, en we uns all had ter stan 'roun' en do ez she sed +sud'n, we sutn'y did; en ole mars'r, he tink hit be des de same wid +you." + +"But it won't, mammy. I'm not like my aunt." + +"Dat you ain', honey, bless de Lawd! Ole miss neber stan' 'twix me +en a whip, en she neber run fer my pipe en let her shol'er ache +whiles I smokes like a ole himage. I'se only des a s'plainin' how +dey feels 'bout yo' mar'age." + +"Ah, but mammy, you know how I feel about it. I won't marry my +cousin if I can help it." + +"Hit's yo' feelin's, honey, w'at des riles up my in'erds so I kyant +hardly wuk. Dat's whar my projeckin' gins out, en I'se kin'er +stump'd 'bout hit. Dey's gwine right 'long wid dere prep'rations des +ez ef dey cud do ez dey pleased. Dunno w'at de law is 'bout hit ef +dere is any law in dese mux-up times. I'se des took clar off my +foots wid all de goin's on. De fiel'-han's at de quarters is bilin' +ober wid 'citement, en dey's sayin' de Linkum men's comin' ter upset +ebryting. Whar dey get de news fum I dunno. Dey sez ole mars'r is +'stracted en ole miss des put her thin lips tergedder ez ef she +gwine ter hab her way ter de las' minit. Ez fer Marse Whately, you +knows he al'ays hab his way, en ef dere isn't eny way he mek it. You +sez de min'ster en folks is comin'? Hit des stumps me fer dem ter go +on so ef dey hasn't de po'r." + +"Well, then," said the girl desperately, "they will have to use +force all the way through. I'll never give my consent." + +"P'raps w'en de min'ster see dat he woan mar'y you." + +"That's just my hope," said the girl, "I--" + +A quick step was heard and a moment later Mrs. Baron entered the +cabin. Ostensibly she came for some of the articles which Aun' +Jinkey had ironed, but Miss Lou knew she was under surveillance and +she departed without a word. On entering her room she found that her +little trunk had been packed and locked in her absence and that the +key was gone. She felt that it was but another indignity, another +phase of the strong quiet pressure urging her toward the event she +so dreaded. A hunted, half-desperate look came into her eyes, but +she did not waver in her purpose. + +Mrs. Whately knocked, but the girl would not admit her. + +Meanwhile Mrs. Baron said to Aun' Jinkey in parting, "See to it that +you don't put foolish notions in my niece's head. We are none of us +in a mood for trifling to-day." + +Then the old woman's wrath burst out. "You 'speck I'se feared ter +speak fer dat chile w'at stan' by me so? Bettah be keerful yosef, +mistis; you alls gittin' on ve'y scarey groun' wid Miss Lou. You +tink you kin do wid her w'at you pleases des ez ef she a lil gyurl +baby. I reck'n her moder come out'n her grabe ter look arter you ef +you ain' keerful." + +"What do you mean by such language?" + +"I mean des dis, mistis. Ef you tinks Miss Lou ole anuff ter mar'y +you know she ain' a chile. Ef she ain' a chile she a woman. Does you +tink you kin tromple on a woman? You kin tromple on me en I am' +sayin' not'n, but you kyant tromple on a wi'te woman like yosef. I +tells you you gittin' on scarey groun' wid Miss Lou." + +"If you both had sense you would know we are getting her off scarey +ground, as you call it. All you have to do is to obey my orders and +not meddle." + +"Ve'y well, mistis, I'se warn you," said Aun' Jinkey, sullenly +returning to her work. + +"Warn me of what?" But the old woman would not vouchsafe another +word. + +Mrs. Baron returned to the house, her lips compressed with a firmer +purpose to maintain discipline on deck till the ship went down, if +that was to be the end. Combined with her cold, unimaginative +temperament was a stronger and more resolute spirit than that of her +husband, who now was chiefly governed by his lifelong habit of +persistence. He adhered to his purposes as a man at sea clings to +the ship which he feels is going to pieces beneath him. + +Chunk and Scoville reached the Union camp in the gray dawn of the +morning, and the latter soon had an audience with the commanding +officer, with whom he was a favorite scout. The small party which +had been compelled to leave Scoville behind had brought important +information, gained chiefly by the young man's daring and address, +and the general was very glad to see him again and to be assured of +his escape. + +"We are ready to move," said the commander, "and the information +brought in by your party has decided me to bear off to the southeast +in order to meet the enemy approaching from the southwest. As soon +as you are rested, Lieutenant Scoville--" + +"Sir! what?" + +"Yes, I had recommended you for promotion and the order has come." + +"If zeal in your service, sir"--began the scout flushing proudly. + +"Yes, yes, I understand all that. I remember the men who serve me +well. As soon as you're able to start out in the same direction +again I would like you to do so." + +"I'm able now," said Scoville eagerly, and then he briefly related +the situation of affairs at The Oaks, concluding, "If I had twenty- +five men I believe I could not only prevent the marriage but capture +all the Confederates with their information. They have been scouting +up toward us just as we were toward the enemy." + +"All right," said the general, laughing. "Perhaps the marriage may +come off yet, only with another groom." + +"No, sir," said Scoville, gravely. "The girl befriended me in my +sore need. She is as good and innocent as a child, and I would +shield and respect her as I would my own sister." + +"That's the right spirit, Lieutenant. I was not sure how far matters +had gone--in fact, was only jesting." + +Scoville made a hearty breakfast, and within an hour, at the head of +over a score of men, was rapidly retracing his steps, Chunk +following in a state of wild elation. They both had been furnished +with fresh horses, and the tough, elastic sinews of the newly- +fledged officer were tense with an unwonted excitement. If those +tearful blue eyes of Miss Lou should welcome him as deliverer this +would be the most memorable day of his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS + + +Whately returned wearing a rather gloomy and angry aspect. He had +threatened his negroes and stormed at them; they had listened in +sullen silence. The overseer had said, "Hit's the old story. They +have heard that the Yanks are near and may come this way. Fact is, +one doesn't know what they haven't heard. They hold together and +keep mum. You can see that all discipline is at an end among 'em." + +Whately could only give the man such directions as the emergency +dictated, obtain some valuables, and return chafed and all the more +bent upon securing out of the possible wreck the one object he most +coveted. But Miss Lou puzzled him and perplexed them all. She had +taken refuge in almost absolute silence, and was as unresponsive to +Mrs. Whately's endearments as to her uncle and aunt's +expostulations, while toward Whately she was positively freezing in +her coldness. Troubled and inwardly enraged, he was yet more than +ever determined to carry out his purpose. His orders to his men were +given sharply and sternly, and his mood was so fierce that there was +no longer any affectation or assumption on his part. The girl's +heart fluttered with nameless fears, but she had the strength of +will to maintain the cold, impassive demeanor she had resolved upon. +She felt that it would be useless to make further effort to +influence her kindred, and that if she revealed her purpose to +appeal to the clergyman, they might so prejudice his mind against +her that he would not listen favorably. Fearing that this might be +the case anyway, she found her thoughts turning with increasing +frequency to the possible intervention of the Union scout. She both +hoped for and feared his coming, supported as he would be, in this +instance, by followers who might be so different from himself. She +could not free her mind from the influence of the stories about +Northern soldiers, and yet she was sure that as far as his power +went, they would all be protected. Indeed, one danger menaced so +closely and threateningly she could scarcely think of anything else +than escape and relief from it. + +As the sun began to sink in the west her uncle came to her door and +said authoritatively, "Louise, I wish you to come down." + +She obeyed without a word and entered the parlor where all were +assembled, noting with dismay that the Rev. Dr. Williams was already +present. Her cousin sought to meet her gallantly, but she evaded him +and took a seat. Mr. Baron began a sort of harangue. "Louise," he +said, "as your guardian and in obedience to my sense of duty in a +great responsibility, I have approved of this marriage. I am +convinced that the time will speedily come when you will be glad +that I--that we all--were firm at this time. Both I and your aunt +are growing old. Troubles, sore indeed even for the young to endure, +are upon us. I am not sure that a roof will cover our gray hairs +much longer. Perhaps in the dead of this very night the ruthless +enemy may come. Now, your aunt Whately's carriage is at the door. A +gallant soldier and a Confederate officer, the choice of all your +kindred, is eager to give you his name and loving protection. He +will take you far away from war's rude alarms, with its attendant +and horrible perils. We have no common foe to deal with, but +monsters animated by unquenchable hatred and a diabolical spirit. I +should betray my trust and be recreant to my duty did I not avail +myself of the one avenue of safety still open to you. See, your +cousin's brave men are mounted, armed, and ready to act as your +escort. Dr. Williams is here to perform his good offices, although +other invited friends have not ventured from home in this time of +peril which recent tidings prove to be increasing every hour. In a +few moments you will be an honored wife, on your way to a place of +refuge, instead of a helpless girl whose defenders may soon be +scattered or dead." + +"Truly, Miss Baron," said the clergyman, rising and approaching, +"you cannot hesitate in circumstances like these." + +Miss Lou felt her tongue clinging to the roof of her mouth, and +could only say in a hoarse whisper, "But I do not love my cousin--I +do not wish to marry." + +"That may be your feeling at this moment. Indeed, circumstances are +not conducive to gentle amatory feelings, and all may seem sudden +and hasty to you, but you must consider that your relatives in this +emergency--indeed that all your neighbors--are doing many things and +taking many precautions that would not be thought of in a time of +security. I have already sent my own family further South, and now +in your case and Mrs. Whately's I feel that time is pressing. Will +you please rise and take your cousin by the hand?" + +She shook her head and remained motionless. Whately advanced +decisively, took her hand, and sought gently to draw her into +position before the clergyman. His touch broke the spell, the +paralysis of dread, and she burst out, "No, no, you cannot marry me +when my whole soul protests. I will not be married!" + +"Louise, I command you," began Mr. Baron excitedly. + +"It makes no difference. I will not! I will not!" was the passionate +and almost despairing response. + +"Oh, come, cousin, you are just excited, frightened, and off your +balance," said Whately soothingly. + +"My dear Miss Baron," added the clergyman, "let me reassure you. It +is evident that you are a little nervous and hysterical. Pray be +calm and trust your relatives to do what is best for you. I do not +wonder that your nerves have given way and that--" + +"My nerves have not given way. Unfriended child that I am, I must +not lose self-control. God grant that my WILL does not give way." + +"Unfriended!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately reproachfully. "Few girls in +these times have so many to care and think for them. We are all bent +on securing your welfare at every cost." + +"Yes, at every cost to me." + +"Dr. Williams sees the wisdom and reasonableness of our course. My +son is even straining his sense of military duty to escort us to a +place of safety, where you will still be among relatives." + +"Then let him escort me as his cousin, not his wife," cried the +girl. + +"But, Miss Baron, in the turmoil and confusion which may ensue you +will be far safer as his wife," Dr. Williams urged. "I would have +been glad if I could have given my daughter like protection. Truly, +it is not wise to be swayed by mere nervous excitement at such a +time." + +"Oh, even you, from whom I hoped so much, are against me!" + +"No, my dear child," replied the minister, earnestly and sincerely, +"I am for you always, but I cannot help seeing, with your relatives, +that at present you are not in the quiet state of mind which would +enable you to act wisely for yourself. What earthly motive could I +have except your safety, welfare and happiness?" + +"Well, then," said the girl, with a swift glance around and as if +turning into stone, "do your worst. I will never give my consent, +NEVER!" + +They looked at each other perplexedly and inquiringly, as if to ask +what should be done, when Perkins burst in at the back door of the +hallway shouting, "The Yanks!" + +The girl sank into a chair and covered her burning face for an +instant. Deep in her soul she divined who her rescuer was, yet in +the midst of her hope she felt a certain consciousness of guilt and +fear. Mr. Baron, Dr. Williams, and the ladies, half-paralyzed, yet +drawn by a dreadful fascination, approached the open windows. Mad +Whately now played a better part. He was in full uniform and his +horse stood saddled without. He went to it, mounted with almost the +swiftness of light, and was just in time to see the Federals sweep +around the drive which led to the stables. Scoville had brought his +little force by the familiar way of Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Furious at +being forestalled, and in obedience to a headlong courage which none +disputed, Whately's sabre flashed instantly in the rays of the +sinking sun, and his command, "Charge!" rang clear, without a +second's hesitancy. + +The order echoed in the girl's heart and she felt that she had too +much at stake not to witness the conflict. Her own high spirit also +prompted the act, and in a moment she was out on the veranda. She +saw her cousin spur directly toward the leader of the Federals, in +whom she recognized the Union scout. His men came galloping after +him, but seemed more inclined to envelop and surround the +Confederates than to engage in hand-to-hand conflicts. The latter +were experienced veterans and quickly recognized that they were +being overpowered and that there was no use in throwing away their +lives. Hasty shots were fired, a few sabres clashed, but the demand, +"Surrender!" heard on all sides, was so well enforced by the aspect +of the situation that compliance soon began. Scoville and Whately, +with those immediately about them, maintained the conflict. The two +young officers were evenly matched as swordsmen, although the +Federal was the larger, stronger, and cooler man. As a result, their +duel was quickly terminated by the loss of Whately's sabre, wrenched +from his hand. Then the point of his foe's weapon threatened his +throat, and the word "Surrender!" was thundered in his ears. + +Instead of complying, he fell from his horse as if shot, lay still +an instant, and then in the confusion of the melee glided through an +adjacent basement door and disappeared. Seeing him fall, his mother +uttered a wild shriek and gave way to almost hysterical grief. A +backward glance revealed to Whately that the fight was lost, or +rather that it had been hopeless from the first, and his one thought +now was to escape and lead back a larger force for the purposes of +both rescue and vengeance. Gaining a rear door, a bound took him to +some shrubbery. A second later he was behind the kitchen. Aun' Suke +saw him, threw up her hands, and uttered an inarticulate cry. A +moment or two more and he was in the stable, leading out a horse. +All attention was now so concentrated in front of the mansion that +he was not observed. He took only time to slip on a bridle, then +springing on the animal's bare back, he struck into a field behind a +clump of trees. Putting the horse to a run, he was soon beyond +successful pursuit. Some of his own men had seen him fall before +they were driven back, and believed that he was either wounded or +dead; thronging Federals, unaware of the circumstances, occupied the +ground, and only Miss Lou, with an immense burden lifted from her +heart, saw his ruse and flight. She wished him well sincerely if he +would only leave her to herself. Hastening to Mrs. Whately she +speedily restored the lady with assurances of her son's escape, then +with her joined the group on the veranda. Mr. Baron, in the crisis +of his affairs and as the head of the family, maintained a dignity +and composure which of late had been lacking. + +Scoville paid no heed to them until every vestige of resistance had +ceased and the Confederates were disarmed and collected as +prisoners. Then sitting on his horse in front of the piazza steps he +rapidly gave his orders. His first act was to send a vedette down +the avenue toward the main road; then he selected five men, saying, +"Take charge of the stables, barn, and out-buildings. Keep them as +they are and permit no one to approach without my written orders." + +At this moment the field-hands, who had been surging nearer and +nearer, sent forward a sort of improvised deputation. They +approached bowing, with hats in hand and wistful looks in their +eyes. Were these in truth the messengers of freedom of whom they had +heard so much? Mr. Baron almost gnashed his teeth as he witnessed +this action on the part of his property. + +"Mars'r," said the spokesman, "I reck'n you got good news for we +uns." + +"Yes, good news. You are all free." His words rang out so that they +were heard by every one. Shouts and cries of exultation followed +like an echo, and ragged hats were tossed high in joy. + +The young soldier raised his hand with a warning and repressive +gesture. In the silence that ensued he added, "My men here are both +free and white, yet they must obey orders. So must you. Go back to +your quarters and prove yourselves worthy of freedom by quiet +behavior and honesty. If I find any one, black or white, acting the +part of a thief while I am in charge it will go hard with him. The +general will be here to-morrow and he will advise you further." + +His words found immediate acceptance, the negroes returning to the +quarters, laughing and chatting joyously, not a few wiping tears of +deep emotion from their eyes. The long-expected day had come. They +little knew what the future had in store for them, but this was the +beginning of a new era and the fulfilment of a great hope. + +Scoville now dismounted and gave the reins to Chunk, who stood near +with a droll assumption of soldier-like stiffness and oblivion to +all the well-known faces. Mounting the steps, cap in hand, the young +officer approached Mr. Baron, who was becoming a little assured that +the orders thus far heard had not included a general application of +the torch. + +"Mr. Baron, I presume?" said Scoville. + +"Yes, sir," was the stiff reply. + +"The ladies of your household, I suppose?" + +"They are." + +Scoville bowed ceremoniously to each, giving Miss Lou no other sign +of recognition than a humorous twinkle in his eye. "Ladies," he +began, "since it is the fortune of war that I must have command here +for a brief time, I hasten to assure you that we shall give as +little annoyance as possible. A few men on both sides were wounded, +and I fear that the officer commanding your men was killed. At least +I saw him fall. The night is warm and still and I can make a +hospital here on the piazza with a little aid from you. Please +dismiss all further fears. Unless we are attacked, the night shall +pass quietly. Each and every one will be treated with respect and +courtesy. I must request of you, however, sir," addressing Mr. +Baron, "food for myself and men and forage for our horses." + +"I suppose you will take them anyway," growled the unwilling host. + +"Certainly," replied Scoville, giving him a steady look. "Do you +expect us to go hungry? I shall do my duty as a soldier and an +officer, as well as deport myself as a gentleman." + +There was nothing left but for Mr. Baron to give his directions to +Perkins, or for the ladies to make preparations for the improvised +hospital. Miss Lou gratefully recognized that Scoville did not +intend to compromise her in the least nor reveal his previous +acquaintance unless it should become known through no fault of his. +She lingered a moment as Dr. Williams stepped forward and asked, +"May I be permitted to return to my home?" + +"I trust so, certainly, sir, but my duty requires brief explanation +on your part and pledges that you will take no hostile action. We +are not among friends, you know." + +"I can very readily account for myself, sir," was the stiff +response. "I was summoned here to perform a wedding ceremony which +your most inopportune arrival prevented. I am a man of peace, not of +war, yet I cannot and will not give any pledges." + +"It is scarcely fair then, sir, for you to take refuge in your +calling, but I will waive that point. I must warn you, however, that +we can give protection to those only who do not seek to harm us. You +are at liberty. Good-evening, sir." + +He had extracted from the clergyman the fact that he had arrived in +time, and he again gave the girl in the doorway a mirthful glance, +then turned on his heel to attend to his military duties. + +Miss Lou hastened to her room with hot cheeks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + +Scoville soon learned that his opponent, so far from being killed or +even wounded, had escaped. He was not much worried by this fact, +believing that before the Confederate officer could reach his +friends and bring back an attacking force, the Federal column would +be on the ground. Indeed, he was glad that the family upon which he +had quartered himself could not associate him with so terrible a +calamity. The young girl might not wish to marry her cousin, yet be +sorry if he were fatally or even seriously wounded, while the rest +of the household would be plunged in the deepest distress. Although +a resolute soldier, Scoville was a kind-hearted fellow, and disposed +to take the most genial views of life that circumstances permitted. +There was a humor about his present situation which he relished +exceedingly. He was buoyant over the interrupted wedding, and bent +upon disappointing Mr. Baron in all his grewsome expectations in +regard to the Yankees. There should be discipline, order, quiet, and +an utter absence of all high-tragedy. He cautioned his men against +the slightest tendency to excess, even forbidding the chaffing of +the negroes and noisiness. A steer, a pig, and some fowls were +killed for supper, and the wood for cooking it was taken from an +ample pile in the rear of the house. Happily, none were seriously +wounded, and being veterans were able to do much for one another, +while an elderly man in the troop who had some rude surgical +experience, supplemented their efforts. Miss Lou speedily joined her +aunts in rummaging for old linen for bandages, and the performance +of human duty by the elderly ladies dulled the edge of the terrible +truth that they were in the hands of the Yankees. True, they had to +admit to themselves that the young soldier did not appear like a +"ruthless monster" and that his conduct thus far had been almost +ceremoniously polite; yet all this might be but a blind on the part +of a cunning and unscrupulous foe. + +When they came down to the veranda with the materials required, the +unscrupulous foe met them, cap in hand, thanked them courteously, +and gave his entire attention to the wounded, treating the men of +both sides alike. Mrs. Whately, in glad reaction from overwhelming +fear concerning her son's safety, offered her services in behalf of +the few wounded Confederates and they were readily accepted. Before +she was aware of it she found herself conferring with the young +officer and the surgical trooper in regard to the best treatment of +the injuries. Having long been mistress of a plantation and +accustomed to act promptly when any of her slaves were hurt, she now +proved a valuable auxiliary. When the soldiers with whom she +sympathized were attended to, her kindness of heart led her on to +the Federals, who thanked her as gratefully as if they were not +depraved Yankees. + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron had retired to the parlor, where they sat in +state, awaiting in gloomy fortitude the darker developments of what +they deemed the supreme tragedy of their lives. Miss Lou was +flitting in and out, getting lint and other articles required by +Mrs. Whately. She found it no easy matter to maintain the solemnity +of aspect which her guardians thought appropriate to the occasion, +but was assisted in this effort by her genuine pity for the wounded. +In her joyous relief at escape from a hated union her heart was +light indeed. She had, moreover, no slight sense of humor, and was +just bubbling over with mirth at the fact that although the Yankee +monsters, from whom it was said she must be rescued at every cost, +were masters of the situation, they were engaged in nothing more +ruthless than feeding their horses, preparing supper, and caring for +the wounded. The most delicious thing of all was that one of the +chief prophets of evil, her Aunt Whately, was aiding in the last- +named task. Her exultation was increased when she brought the last +article required and Scoville said with his genial smile, so well +remembered, "I think I can assure you now, Miss Baron, that all will +do very well. We are deeply indebted to this lady (bowing to Mrs. +Whately) whose services have been as skilful as humane." + +Now one of the things on which Mrs. Whately most prided herself was +the generally accepted belief that she was as good as a country +physician in an emergency, and she could not refrain from a slight +and gracious acknowledgment of Scoville's words. As they drew near +to the door she said hesitatingly, "Perhaps, sir, I should make an +acknowledgment of deep indebtedness to you. I saw your sabre raised +and pointed at my son's throat. Could you not have killed him had +you so wished?" + +"Ah! this is Mrs. Whately. Believe me, madam, we are not so +bloodthirsty as to wish to kill, or even to injure, except so far as +the necessities of war require. If you witnessed the brief conflict +you must have observed that my effort was to capture rather than to +destroy your son's force." + +"We all could not help seeing that," cried Miss Lou eagerly. + +"I could not help seeing also, Miss Baron, that you exposed yourself +to danger like a veteran, and I was anxious indeed lest a stray +bullet might harm you. It was well you were not armed or we might +have fared worse," and there was so much mirth in his dark eyes that +she turned away to hide her conscious blushes. + +"Well, sir," resumed Mrs. Whately with emotion, "it is not easy to +bless our enemies in this cruel war of aggression, but I must +express my gratitude to one who stayed his hand when my son's life +was within his power." + +"I trust, madam, he may live to care for you in your declining +years, and to become a good loyal citizen." + +"He is loyal, sir," replied Mrs. Whately with gentle dignity, "to +the only authority he recognizes," and with a bow she retired. + +Miss Lou lingered a moment and said earnestly, "I thank you. You are +very considerate." + +His face so lighted up that it was almost boyish in its expression +of pleasure as he answered with the pride and confidence of one sure +of sympathy, "This is a jolly day for me. I was made an officer this +morning, and now, best of all, I am paying a little of my debt to +you." + +She put her finger on her lips and shook her head, but the smile she +gave him over her shoulder was reassuring. He promptly started on a +round among his men again to see that the prisoners were properly +guarded, and that all was going as he wished. + +"Louise," said Mrs. Baron, as the girl appeared in the parlor door, +"it would be far more decorous if you would remain here with your +uncle and myself." + +Miss Lou took a seat in the darkest corner that she might be less +open to observation while she calmed the tumult of her feelings. So +much had happened that she must catch her breath and think what it +all meant. Mr. Baron began gloomily, "Well, the dreaded hour which I +hoped and prayed never to see has come. We are helpless and in the +hands of our enemies. Only God knows what an hour will bring forth--" + +"He has brought deliverance," cried Mrs. Whately, entering. "I +questioned Aun' Suke, thinking that she might have seen Madison if +he left the house. She did see him safe and sound. She also saw him +get a horse and ride away." + +"Ah, poor boy! how different was his departure from what he had +every reason to hope and expect!" replied Mr. Baron. "I should think +your heart would be remorseful, indeed, Louise, when you picture +your cousin flying from his kindred and home, alone and sad, +tortured meanwhile by thoughts of the fate which has overtaken us." + +"I'm sure, uncle, we are all sitting quietly in the parlor. That +does not seem very dreadful." + +"You little know, young woman, you little realize the cunning +depravity--" + +"There now, brother," interposed Mrs. Whately, "we must not think +evil until we see more evidence of it, even in Yankees. I admit that +I am most wonderfully and agreeably disappointed. The young officer +in whose hands we are might have killed my son, but did not. I must +at least be just to such a man." + +"And you know he has been polite to us all, and told us to dismiss +our fears," added Miss Lou demurely. + +"It would almost seem, Louise, that you welcomed these invaders. I +am too old and well informed not to know that this suave manner he +affects is designed to lull us into a sense of false security." + +At this moment a firm step was heard on the veranda, followed by a +rap from the brass knocker. They knew it was Scoville, and Mr. Baron +rose and advanced to the parlor entrance. He assumed the solemn +aspect of one who now must face the exactions and wrongs which he +had predicted, and his wife tremblingly followed, to perish at his +side if need be. But the invader barely stepped within the hall and +stood uncovered as he said politely, "Mr. Baron, I have now +practically made my dispositions for the night. There is no reason +why your domestic routine should not be resumed as usual. As I said +before, I pledge you my word you shall not be disturbed unless we +are attacked. Good-evening, sir. Good-evening, ladies," and he bowed +and withdrew, leaving the old gentleman speechless in the utter +reversal of all that he had declared would take place. No +plundering, no insults, no violence. On the contrary, even his +beloved routine might be resumed. He turned around to his wife and +sister almost gasping, "Is this some deep-laid plot?" + +"It certainly must be," echoed his wife. + +Miss Lou turned away quickly and stuffed her handkerchief in her +mouth to prevent laughing outright. + +Her uncle caught her in the act and was instantly in a rage. + +"Shame upon you!" he cried. "Enemies without and traitors within." + +This charge touched the girl to the quick, and she replied with +almost equal anger, "I'm no traitor. Where has your loyalty to me +been to-day? Look at me, uncle, and fix the fact in your mind, once +for all, that I am neither a child nor an idiot. God has given me a +mind and a conscience as truly as to you, and I shall use them. This +Northern officer says we are safe. I believe it and you will know it +in the morning. Now I simply insist that you and aunt treat me with +the respect due to my years and station. I've endured too much to- +day to be patient under anything more. I meant no disrespect to you +in laughing, but I cannot help being glad that instead of all sorts +of horrible things happening we are treated with simple and even +delicate politeness." + +"Yes, brother," added Mrs. Whately, "as far as this man is +concerned, you must revise your opinions. There is no deep-laid +plot--nothing but what is apparent. I must also urge upon you and +sister a change in your treatment of Louise. She will be far more +ready to fulfil our hopes when led by affection." + +"Well, well, that I should live to see this day!" groaned Mr. Baron. +"My ward virtually says that she will do as she pleases. The slaves +have been told that they are free and so can do as they please. +Henceforth I suppose I am to speak to my niece with bated breath, +and be at the beck and call of every Sambo on the place." + +"You are not 'weltering in your own blood,' uncle, and the 'roof is +not blazing over our heads,'" replied Miss Lou quietly. "You have +merely been told that you could have supper when it pleased you and +then sleep in peace and safety. Aunt, I will thank you for the key +of my trunk. I wish to put my things back in their places." + +Mrs. Baron took it from her pocket without a word, and Miss Lou went +to her room. + +True to her nature, Mrs. Whately began to pour oil on the lacerated +feelings of her brother and sister-in-law. "Louise is right," she +said. "Things are so much better than we expected--than they might +have been--that we should raise our hearts in thankfulness. Just +think! If this Northern officer is what you fear, why would he have +spared my son, whom he might have killed in fair battle? In his +conduct toward the wounded he showed a good, kindly spirit. I can't +deny it; and he has been as polite to us as one of our own officers +could have been. Think how different it all might have been--my +brave son desperately wounded or dead, and unscrupulous men sacking +the house! I need not refer to darker fears. I must say that I feel +like meeting courtesy with courtesy. Since this Yankee behaves like +a generous foe I would like to prove that Southern rebels and slave- +drivers, as we are called, can equal him in all the amenities of +life which the situation permits." + +"Oh, sister!" cried Mrs. Baron, "even a cup of tea would choke me if +I drank it in his presence." + +But Mr. Baron had lighted his pipe, and reason and Southern pride +were asserting themselves under its soothing influence. At last he +said, "Well, let us have supper anyway. It is already after the +hour." + +"Supper has been ready this long time, as you know," replied his +wife, "only I never dreamed of such a guest as has been suggested." + +"Of course, sister, I only said what I did as a suggestion," Mrs. +Whately answered with dignity. "You are in your own home. I merely +felt reluctant that this Yankee should have a chance to say that we +were so rude and uncivilized that we couldn't appreciate good +treatment when we received it. There's no harm in gaining his +goodwill, either, for he said that his general, with the main force, +would be here to-morrow." + +"Mrs. Baron," said her husband in strong irritation, "don't you see +there is nothing left for us to do? No matter how things turn out, +the presence of these Yankees involves what is intensely +disagreeable. If sister is right in regard to this man--and I +suppose I must admit she is till I know him better--he has made it +necessary for our own self-respect to treat him with courtesy. Our +pride will not permit us to accept this from him and make no return. +It may be Yankee cunning which led him to foresee this, for I +suppose it is pleasing to many of the tribe to gain their ends by +finesse. Probably if this doesn't secure them, he will try harsher +methods. Anyway, as long as he plays at the game of courtesy, we, as +sister says, should teach him that we know what the word means. The +mischief is that you never can know just what a Yankee is scheming +for or aiming at." + +"Well, brother, supposing your words are true, as I do not think +they are in this instance, it is due to our dignity that we act like +sincere people who are above even suspecting unworthy motives. We do +not compromise ourselves in the matter. We only meet courtesy with +courtesy, like well-bred people." + +"Well, so be it then. In fact, I would like to ask this man what he +and those he represents can hope to gain by invasion equalled only +by that of the Goths and Vandals." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A THREAT + + +The moment Chunk believed that Scoville could dispense with his +services for a time he made his way promptly to the back veranda and +gave a low, peculiar whistle which Zany recognized. He had ceased in +her estimation to be merely a subject for infinite jest. Though not +very advanced in the scale of civilization, she was influenced by +qualities which appealed to her mind, and possessed many traits +common to her sex. His shrewdness and courage were making good his +lack of inches. Above all, he was in favor with the "head Linkum +man," and Zany belonged to that class ever ready to greet the rising +sun. While all this was true, she could not be herself and abandon +her coquettish impulses and disposition to tease. She came slowly +from the dining-room and looked over Chunk's head as if she could +not see him. Bent on retaliation, he stepped behind her, lifted her +in his powerful arms and carried her on a full run to some screening +shrubbery, the irate captive cuffing his ear soundly all the way. +Setting her down, he remarked quietly, "Now I reckon you kin fin' +me." + +"Yo' wool git gray 'fo' you fin' me agin," she replied, making a +feint of starting for the house. + +"Berry well, Miss Zany. I see you doan want ter be a free gyurl. +I'se tell Marse Scoville you no 'count niggah." + +"W'at you want anyhow, imperdence?" + +"I wants sup'n ter eat. Does you 'spects I kin ride all night en all +day ter brung you freedom, en den not eben git a good word? You ain' +fit fer freedom. I'se tell some nachel-bawn fool ter gib you a +yaller rib'on en den dere be two ob you." + +"La now, Chunk," she replied, coming back, "ef I wuz lookin' fer a +fool I des stay right yere. Ef you git a pa'r ob steps en look in my +face you'd see I'se bettah fren' ter you ner you ter me. You stay +yere en I brings you w'at you tink a heap on mor'n me," and now she +darted away with intentions satisfactory to her strategic admirer. + +Chunk grinned and soliloquized, "Reck'n I kin fotch dat gyurl roun' +wid all her contrariations. I des likes her skittishness, but I ain' +tellin' her so, kaze I gwine ter hab my han's full as 'tis." + +Zany soon returned with a plate well heaped, for at this time her +argus-eyed mistress was sitting in the parlor, awaiting whatever +fate the ruthless Yankees might impose. Chunk sat Turk-fashion on +the ground and fell to as if famished, meanwhile listening eagerly +to the girl's account of what had happened during his absence. + +"Hi!" said Zany disdainfully, "you'd mek lub ter Aun' Suke ef she +fed you." + +"I kin mek mo'n lub," Chunk answered, nodding at her portentously; +"I kin mek mischief." + +"Reck'n you do dat anyhow." + +"See yere, Zany, does you tink Marse Scoville a fool?" + +"Ob co'se not." + +"Well, he doan tink me a fool. Whose 'pinion's wuth de mos'? Who +took keer on 'im? Who got 'im off safe right un'er de nose ob one ob +Mad Whately's sogers? Who brung 'im back des in time ter stop dat ar +mar'age en gib we uns freedom? You mighty peart, but you got a heap +ter larn 'fo' you cut yo' eye-tooths." + +"Some folks gits dere eye-tooths en doan git nuthin' wid 'em," Zany +remarked nonchalantly. "I'se 'mit dough dat you comin' on, Chunk. +W'en you gits growed up you'se be right smart." + +"I doan min' de foolishness ob yo' talk, Zany," Chunk replied +coolly, between his huge mouthfuls. "Dat's in you, en you kyant he'p +hit any mo'n a crow cawin'. I'se allus mek 'lowance fer dat. I des +'proves dis 'casion ter 'zort you ter be keerful w'at you DOES. +Dere's gwine ter be mighty ticklish times--sorter flash-bang times, +yer know. I'se a free man--des ez free as air, en I'se hired mysef +ter Marse Scoville ter wait on 'im. I'se growed up anuff ter know he +kin tek de shine off eny man I eber see, or you neider. He yo' boss +now well ez mine. I'se gib 'im a good report on you ef I kin. I'se +feard, howsomeber, dat he say you outgrowed yo' sense." + +"Dar now, Chunk, you puttin' on mo' airs dan Marse Scoville hissef. +He des ez perlite ter marster en ole miss ez ef he come ter pay his +'spects ter dem en he look at Miss Lou ez a cat do at cream." + +"Hi! dat so? No won'er he want ter git ahaid ob de parson en dat +weddin' business." + +"Oh, yo' orful growed up en ain' fin' dat out?" + +"I 'spicioned it. Well, de ting fer you'n me is ter he'p 'im." + +"La, now," replied Zany, proposing to give a broad hint at the same +time, "I ain' gwine ter he'p no man in sech doin's. De cream neber +goes ter de cat." + +"Yere, tek de plate, Zany, wid my tanks," said Chunk, rising. "Sech +cream ez you gits orful sour ef de cat doan fin' it sud'n. I'se took +my 'zert now," and he caught her up again and kissed her on the way +back to the veranda. + +This time his performances were seen by Aun' Suke, who stood in the +kitchen door. She snatched up a pail of water, exclaiming, "I cool +you uns off, I sut'ny will. Sech goin's on!" But they were too quick +for her. Zany pretended to be as irate as she was secretly pleased, +while Chunk caused the old woman to boil over with rage by +declaring, "Aun' Suke, I sen' a soger yere ter hab you 'rested for +'zorderly conduct." + +"Ef you eber comes ter dis kitchen agin I'se emty de pot ob bilin' +water on you," cried Aun' Suke, retreating to her domain. + +"Ef you does, you get yosef ober haid en years in hot water," Chunk +answered with exasperating sang froid. "You niggahs gwine ter fin' +out who's who on dis plantashun 'fo' yo' nex' birthday." + +Zany's only response was a grimace, and he next carried his +exaggerated sense of importance to his granny's cabin. He had seen +Aun' Jinkey and spoken a few reassuring words as he passed with +Scoville's attacking force. Since that time she had done a power of +"projeckin'" over her corncob pipe, but events were now hurrying +toward conclusions beyond her ken. It has already been observed that +Aun' Jinkey was a neutral power. As yet, the weight of her decision +had been cast neither for the North nor the South, while the +question of freedom remained to be smoked over indefinitely. There +was no indecision in her mind, however, in regard to her young +mistress, and greater even than her fears when she heard the sounds +of conflict was her solicitude over the possibility of a forced +marriage. Since she was under the impression that her cabin might +soon become again the refuge of one or the other of the contending +powers, possibly of Miss Lou herself, she left the door ajar and was +on the alert. + +"Hi dar! granny," cried Chunk, the first to appear, "dat's right. +Now you kin smoke in peace, fer you own yosef. Nobody come bossin' +you yere any mo'." + +"Doan you git so bumptious all ter oncet," said Aun' Jinkey. "Does +you 'spect de hull top's gwine ter be tu'ned right ober down'erds in +er day? But dar! you ain' no 'sper'ience. Yo' stomack emty en you' +haid light. Draw up now en tell me de news. Tell me sud'n 'bout Miss +Lou. Did dey git her mar'd?" + +"Yah! yah! Marse Scoville's so'd ud cut de knot ef dey had." + +"Dat's des ez much ez you knows. All de so'ds ober flash kyant cut +dat ar knot 'less dey kill Marse Whately." + +"Dat 'min's me ob someting ter'ble quar. Marse Scoville had he so'd +pintin' right agin Mad Whately's neck en yit he ain' jab 'im. Dat +same Mad Whately gwine ter mek a heap ob trouble fer he got clean +off." + +"Marse Scoville know dat ef he kill a man right straight wid he own +han' he spook come and mek a heap mo' trouble." + +"Hi! didn't tink o' dat." + +"Bettah tink right smart, Chunk. You'se gittin' top-heaby ef you is +sho't. Now tell me all 'bout de mar'age." + +"Dey ain' no mar'age. Zany tole me how Miss Lou say she ain' neber +'sent, en den 'fo' dey could say dere lingo ober her en mar'y her +des ez dey would a bale ob cotton, up rides Marse Scoville en put +his so'd troo ebryting. He tells us we all free en--" + +"En eat yo' supper. I ain' done projeckin' 'bout dis freedom +business. How we uns gwine ter be free 'less Marse Scoville stay +yere en kep us free?" + +"Zany guv me my supper en--" + +"Dar now, I ain' no mo' 'count. Zany gobble you aready. I des stick +ter my chimbly corner." + +"Howdy, Aunt Jinkey," cried Scoville, coming in briskly. "Well, you +see I'm back again as I promised." + +"You welcome, a hun'erd times welcome, kaze you kep my young mistis +fum bein' mar'ed right slap 'gin her own feelin's ter her cousin." + +"Pshaw! Aunt Jinkey. No one can marry a girl against her will in +this country." + +"Dat des de question Miss Lou en me projeckin' 'bout dis berry +mawnin'. She gyardeens went straight along ez ef dey had de po'r, +dey sut'ny did. Dat's w'at so upset Miss Lou en me. De po'r ob +gyardeens is sump'n I kyant smoke out straight, en I des lak ter +know how much dey KIN do. Ole mars'r al'ays manage her prop'ty en we +wuz flustrated w'en we see 'im en Mad Whately en he moder en ole +miss en all gittin' ready fer de weddin' des ez ef hit was comin' +like sun-up sho." + +"It was a shame," cried Scoville angrily. "They were seeking to +drive her into submission by strong, steady pressure, but if she +insisted on her right--" + +"Dat des w'at she did, Marse Scoville. She say she neber 'sent, +NEBER," Chunk interrupted. + +"Then the whole Southern Confederacy could not have married her and +she ought to know it." + +"Well, you mus' be 'siderate, Marse Scoville. Miss Lou know a heap +'bout some tings en she des a chile 'bout oder tings. Ole mars'r en +misus al'ays try ter mek her tink dat only w'at dey say is right en +nuthin' else, en dey al'ays 'low ter her dat she gwine ter mar'y her +cousin some day, en she al'ays 'low ter me she doan wanter." + +"Poor child! she does need a friend in very truth. What kind of a +man is this Mad Whately anyway, that he could think of taking part +in such a wrong?" + +"He de same kin' ob man dat he wuz a boy," Chunk answered. "Den he +kick en howl till he git w'at he want. 'Scuse me, Marse Scoville, +but I kyant hep tinkin' you mek big 'stake dat you didn't jab 'im +w'en you hab de chance." + +"Chunk," was the grave answer, "if you are going to wait on me you +must learn my ways. I'd no more kill a man when it was not essential +than I would kill you this minute. Soldiers are not butchers." + +"Granny sez how you wuz feared on his spook"-- + +"Bah! you expect to be free, yet remain slaves to such fears? My +horse knows better. Come, Aunt Jinkey, I'd rather you would give me +some supper than your views on spooks." + +"Leftenant," said Perkins, the overseer, from the door, "Mr. Baron +pr'sents his compliments en gives you a invite to supper." + +Scoville thought a moment, then answered, "Present mine in return, +and say it will give me pleasure to accept." + +"Bress de Lawd! you gwine ter de big house. Not dat I 'grudges +cookin' fer you w'eneber you come, but I des wants you ter took a +'tunerty ter advise dat po' chile 'bout she rights en de mar'age +question." + +After assuring himself that the overseer was out of earshot, +Scoville said almost sternly, "Aunt Jinkey, you and Chunk must not +say one word of my ever having been here before. It might make your +young mistress a great deal of trouble, and I should be sorry indeed +if I ever caused her any trouble whatever." Then as he made his way +to the mansion he smilingly soliloquized, "I don't know of any other +question concerning which I would rather give her advice, nor would +it be wholly disinterested, I fear, if I had a chance. At this time +to-morrow," he sighingly concluded, "I may be miles away or dead. +Poor unsophisticated child! I never was touched so close before as +now by her need of a friend who cares more for her than his own +schemes." + +Chunk following at a respectful distance became aware that the +overseer was glowering at him. "Bettah 'lebe yo' min', Marse +Perkins," he remarked condescendingly. + +"You infernal, horse-stealing nigger!" was the low response. + +"Hi! Marse Perkins, you kin growl, but you muzzled all de same." + +"The muzzle may be off before many mo' sunsets, en then you'll find +my teeth in your throat," said the man under his breath, and his +look was so dark and vindictive that even in his elation Chunk +became uneasy. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +MISS LOU EMANCIPATED + + +Nature had endowed Scoville with a quick, active mind, and +circumstances had developed its power and capacity to a degree +scarcely warranted by his age. Orphaned early in life, compelled to +hold his own among comparative strangers since childhood, he had +gained a worldly wisdom and self-reliance which he could not have +acquired in a sheltered home. He had learned to look at facts and +people squarely, to estimate values and character promptly, and then +to decide upon his own action unhesitatingly. Although never +regarded as the model good boy at the boarding-schools wherein he +had spent most of his life, he had been a general favorite with both +teachers and scholars. A certain frankness in mischief and buoyancy +of spirit had carried him through all difficulties, while his apt +mind and retentive memory always kept him near to the head of his +classes. The quality of alertness was one of his characteristics. In +schools and at the university he quickly mastered their small +politics and prevailing tendencies, and he often amused his fellow- +pupils with free-handed yet fairly truthful sketches of their +instructors. As the country passed into deeper and stronger +excitement over the prospect of secession and its consequences, he +was among the first to catch the military spirit and to take an +active part in the formation of a little company among the students. +It was not his disposition to be excited merely because others were. +Certain qualities of mind led him to look beneath the surface for +the causes of national commotion. He read carefully the utterances +of leaders, North and South, and to some extent traced back their +views and animating spirit to historical sources. + +In the year of '63 he found to his joy that he had attained such +physical proportions as would secure his acceptance in a cavalry +regiment forming in his vicinity. His uncle, who was also guardian, +for reasons already known, made slight opposition, and he at once +donned the blue with its bluff trimmings. In camp and field he +quickly learned the routine of duty, and then his daring, active +temperament led him gradually into the scouting service. Now, +although so young, he was a veteran in experience, frank to friends, +but secretive and ready to deceive the very elect among his enemies. +Few could take more risks than he, yet he had not a particle of Mad +Whately's recklessness. Courage, but rarely impulse, controlled his +action. As we have seen, he could instantly stay his hand the second +a deadly enemy, seeking his life in personal encounter, was +disarmed. + +The prospect of talking with such a host as Mr. Baron pleased him +immensely. He scarcely knew to whom he was indebted for the +courtesy, but rightly surmised that it was Mrs. Whately, since she, +with good reason, felt under obligations to him. Even more than an +adventurous scouting expedition he relished a situation full of +humor, and such, his presence at Mr. Baron's supper-table promised +to be. He knew his entertainment would be gall and wormwood to the +old Bourbon and his wife, and that the courtesy had been wrung from +them by his own forbearance. It might be his only opportunity to see +Miss Lou and suggest the liberty he had brought to her as well as to +the slaves. + +Mrs. Whately met him on the veranda and said politely, "Lieutenant +Scoville, you have proved yourself to be a generous and forbearing +enemy. If you feel that you can meet frank enemies who wish to +return courtesy with courtesy, we shall be glad to have you take +supper with us." + +"Yes," added Mr. Baron, "my sister has convinced me, somewhat +against my will, I must in honesty admit, that such hospitality as +we can offer under the circumstances is your due." + +"I appreciate the circumstances, Mr. Baron," was the grave reply, +"and honor the Southern trait which is so strong that even I can +receive the benefit of it. Your courtesy, madam, will put me at +ease." + +Miss Lou, thinking it possible that she might see the Northern +officer again, had taken her own way of convincing him that he was +still within the bounds of civilization, for she made a toilet more +careful than the one with which she had deigned to grace the +appointed day of her wedding. She could scarcely believe her eyes +when, entering the supper room a little late, she saw Scoville +already seated at the table. He instantly rose and made her a +ceremonious bow, thus again indicating that their past relations +should be completely ignored in the presence of others. She +therefore gravely returned his salutation and took her place without +a word, but her high color did not suggest indifference to the +situation. Mr. Baron went through the formal "grace" as usual and +then said, "Ahem! you will admit, sir, that it is a little +embarrassing to know just how to entertain one with whom we have +some slight difference of opinion." + +"Perhaps such embarrassment will be removed if we all speak our +minds freely," replied Scoville, pleasantly. "Pardon the suggestion, +but the occasion appears to me favorable to a frank and interesting +exchange of views. If my way of thinking were wholly in accord with +yours my words could be little better than echoes. I should be glad +to feel that my presence was no restraint whatever." + +"I'm inclined to think you are right, sir," added Mrs. Whately. "It +would be mere affectation on our part to disguise our thoughts and +feelings. With neighbors, and even with friends, we are often +compelled to do this, but I scarcely see why we should do so with an +open enemy." + +"And such I trust you will find me, madam, an OPEN enemy in the +better sense of the adjective. As far as I can, I will answer +questions if you wish to ask any. I will tell you honestly all the +harm I meditate and outline clearly the extent of my hostility, if +you will do the same," and he smiled so genially that she half +smiled also as she answered: + +"To hear you, sir, one would scarcely imagine you to be an enemy at +all. But then we know better." + +"Yes, sir, pardon me, we do," said Mr. Baron, a little stiffly. "For +one, I would like your honest statement of just what harm you and +your command meditate. I am one who would rather face and prepare +for whatever I shall be compelled to meet." + +"I think, sir, you have already met and faced the direst event of +the evening--my presence at your hospitable board. Even this +hardship is due to your courtesy, not to my compulsion." + +Miss Lou bowed low over her plate at this speech. + +"But how about the long hours of the night, sir? Have you such +control over your men--" + +"Yes, sir!" interrupted Scoville with dignity. "The men I have with +me are soldiers, not camp-followers. They would no more harm you or +anything you possess, without orders, than I would." + +"Without orders--a clause of large latitude. As far as words go you +have already robbed me of the greater part of my possessions. You +have told my slaves that they are free." + +"Not upon my own responsibility, sir, although with hearty goodwill. +In my humble station I am far more often called upon to obey orders +than to give them. You are aware of President Lincoln's +proclamation?" + +"Yes, sir, and of the Pope's bull against the comet." + +Scoville laughed so genially as partially to disarm his reply of its +sting. "In this instance, sir, our armies are rather gaining on the +comet." + +"But what can you and your armies hope to accomplish?" Mrs. Whately +asked. "If you should destroy every Southern man, the women would +remain unsubdued." + +"Now, madam, you have me at disadvantage. I do not know what we +would or could do if confronted only by implacable Southern women." + +"Do not imagine that I am jesting. I cannot tell you how strange it +seems that a man of your appearance and evident character should be +among our cruel enemies." + +"And yet, Mrs. Whately, you cannot dispute the fact. Pardon me for +saying it, but I think that is just where the South is in such +serious error. It shuts its eyes to so many simple facts--a course +which experience proves is never wise. I may declare, and even +believe, that there is no solid wall before me, yet if I go headlong +against it, I am bruised all the same. Positive beliefs do not +create truths. I fancy that a few hours since you were absolutely +sure that this courtesy of which I am the grateful recipient could +not be, yet you were mistaken." + +"Has not the sad experience of many others inspired our fears? +Neither has the end come with us yet. You said that the main +Northern force would come this way tomorrow. We do not fear you and +those whom you control, but how about those who are to come?" + +"I can speak only for the class to which I belong--the genuine +soldiers who are animated by as single and unfaltering a spirit as +the best in your armies. If a Confederate column were going through +the North you could not answer for the conduct of every lawless, +depraved man in such a force. Still, I admit with you that war is +essentially cruel, and that the aim ever must be to inflict as much +injury as possible on one's adversaries." + +"But how can you take part in such a war?" Mrs. Whately asked. "All +we asked was to be let alone." + +"Yes, sir," added Mr. Baron, "how can you justify these ruthless +invasions, this breaking up of our domestic institutions, this +despoiling of our property and rights by force?" and there was a +tremor of suppressed excitement in his voice. + +Scoville glanced at Miss Lou to see how far she sympathized with her +kindred. He observed that her face was somewhat stern in its +expression, yet full of intelligent interest. It was not the index +of mere prejudice and hate. "Yes," he thought, "she is capable of +giving me a fair hearing; the others are not. Mr. Baron," he said, +"your views are natural, perhaps, if not just. I know it is asking +much of human nature when you are suffering and must suffer so much, +to form what will become the historical judgment on the questions at +issue. The law under which the North is fighting is the supreme one-- +that of self-preservation. Even if we had let you alone--permitted +you to separate and become independent without a blow, war would +have come soon. You would not and could not have let us alone. +Consider but one point: your slaves would merely have to pass the +long boundary line stretching nearly across the continent, in order +to be on free soil. You could compel their return only by conquering +and almost annihilating the North. You will say that we should think +as you do on the subject, and I must answer that it is every man and +woman's right to think according to individual conscience, according +to the light within. Deny this right, and you put no bounds to human +slavery. Pardon me, but looking in your eyes and those of these +ladies, I can see that I should become a slave instantly if you had +your way. Unconsciously and inevitably you would make me one, for it +is your strongest impulse to make me agree with you, to see things +exactly as you do. The fact that you sincerely believe you are right +would make no difference if I just as sincerely believed you were +wrong. If I could not think and act for myself I should be a slave. +You might say, 'We KNOW we are right, that what we believe has the +Divine sanction.' That is what the tormentors of the Inquisition +said and believed; that is what my Puritan and persecuting +forefathers said and believed; what does history say now? The world +is growing wise enough to understand that God has no slaves. He +endows men and women with a conscience. The supreme obligation is to +be true to this. When any one who has passed the bounds of childhood +says to us, 'I don't think this is right,' we take an awful +responsibility, we probably are guilty of usurpation, if we +substitute our will for his. In our sincerity we may argue, reason +and entreat, but in the presence of another's conscience unconvinced +and utterly opposed to us, where is human slavery to end if one man, +or a vast number of men, have the power to say, 'You shall'?" + +Scoville had kept his eyes fixed on Mr. Baron, and saw that he was +almost writhing under the expression of views so repugnant to him-- +views which proved his whole scheme of life and action to be wrong. +Now the young man turned his glance suddenly on Miss Lou, and in her +high color, parted lips and kindled eyes, saw abundant proof that +she, as he had wished, was taking to herself the deep personal +application of his words. Her guardians and Mrs. Whately observed +this truth also, and now bitterly regretted that they had invited +the Union officer. It seemed to them a sort of malign fate that he +had been led, unconsciously as they supposed, to pronounce in the +presence of the girl such vigorous condemnation of their action. Had +they not that very day sought to override the will, the conscience, +the whole shrinking, protesting womanhood of the one who had +listened so eagerly as the wrong meditated against her was +explained? Scoville had not left them even the excuse that they +believed they were right, having shown the girl that so many who +believed this were wrong. Miss Lou's expression made at least one +thing clear--she was emancipated and had taken her destiny into her +own hands. + +Mrs. Whately felt that she must turn the tables at once, and so +remarked, "It seems to me that the whole force of your argument +tells against the North. You are bent upon conquering the South and +making it think as you do." + +"Oh, no. Here the law of self-preservation comes in. If the South +can secede, so can the East and the West. New York City can secede +from the State. We should have no country. There could be no +national life. Would England accept the doctrine of secession, and +permit any part of her dominions to set up for themselves when they +chose? I know you are about to say that is just what our fathers +did. Yes, but old mother England did not say, 'Go, my children, God +bless you!' Nor would she say it now to any other region over which +floats her flag. Of course, if you whip us, we shall have to submit, +just as England did. What government has helplessly sucked its +thumbs when certain portions of the territory over which it had +jurisdiction defied its power? We are called Goths and Vandals, but +that is absurd. We are not seeking to conquer the South in any such +old-world ways. We are fighting that the old flag may be as supreme +here as in New England. The moment this is true you will be as free +as are the people of New England. The same constitution and laws +will govern all." + +"And can you imagine for a moment, sir," cried Mr. Baron, "that we +will submit to a government that would be acceptable to New +England?" "Yes, sir; and years hence, when the South has become as +loyal as New England is now, if that abode of the Yankees should +seek independence of the rest of the country she would be brought +back under the flag. I would fight New England as readily as I do +the South, if she sought to break up the Union. I would fight her if +every man, woman and child within her borders believed themselves +right." + +Now he saw Miss Lou looking perplexed. Her quick mind detected the +spirit of coercion, of substituting wills, against which he had been +inveighing and from which she had suffered. Mrs. Whately was quick +to see the apparent weakness in his argument, for she said, +"Consistency is a jewel which I suppose is little cared for by those +so ready to appeal to force. With one breath you say we must not +coerce the wills of others, and now you say you would, even though +you did violence to universal and sacred beliefs." + +"I say only that the nation MUST do this as must the individual. +Some one might say to me, 'I honestly think I should take off your +right arm.' I would not permit it if I could help it. No more can a +nation submit passively to dismemberment. The South did not expect +that this nation would do so. It promptly prepared for war. If the +North had said, 'We can do nothing, there's a blank, write out your +terms and we'll sign,' we would have been more thoroughly despised +than we were, if that were possible. There are two kinds of +coercion. For instance, I do not say to you, Mrs. Whately, +representing the South, that you must think and feel as I do and +take just such steps as I dictate; but that there are things which +you must refrain from doing, because in their performance, no matter +how sincere you were, you would inflict great and far-reaching wrong +on others. There could be no government without restriction. We +would soon have anarchy if any part of a nation should and could +withdraw when it chose and how it pleased." + +"Your doctrine, sir, would banish freedom from the world. All +peoples would have to submit to the central tyranny called +government, even though such government had become hateful." + +"This doctrine, which all governments act upon," replied Scoville +pleasantly, "has not banished freedom from the world. In this +country, where every man has a voice, the government will be just +about as good as the majority determine it shall be." + +"Well, sir, to sum up the whole matter," said Mr. Baron coldly, "two +things are clear: First, the South is determined to be free; second, +if we fail we can be held only under the heel of your Northern +majority as Poland is trodden upon." + +Scoville saw that the discussion had gone far enough for his +purposes, and he said with a good-natured laugh, "I'm neither a +prophet nor his son, but I think it is a very hopeful sign that we +could have this frank interchange of views and belief. I see how +perfectly sincere you are, and if I had been brought up here no +doubt I should think and act as you do. As it is, I am only a very +humble representative of the Government which is trying to preserve +its own existence--a Government which the South helped to form as +truly as the North. If I should come directly to your side, contrary +to belief and conscience, you would be the first to despise me. I +suppose we will all agree that we should obey the supreme dictates +of conscience?" + +"No, sir," burst out Mr. Baron, "I cannot agree to anything of the +kind. There are multitudes who must be guided and controlled by +those who are wiser, older and more experienced. Why, sir, you would +have the very nursery children in flat rebellion." + +"Indeed, Mr. Baron, I have not said one word against the authority +of parents and guardians." + +"Ah! I am glad you draw the line somewhere. Half the misery in the +world results from young people's thinking themselves wiser than +their natural advisers. If they can merely say their consciences are +against what their elders know is right and best, we have anarchy in +the fountainhead of society--the family," and he glared for a moment +at his niece. + +"What you say seems very true, Mr. Baron. I should be glad to know +where YOU draw the line? Independent action must begin at some +period." + +While Mr. Baron hesitated over this rather embarrassing question +Miss Lou startled all her kindred by saying, "I did not intend to +take any part in this conversation, but a glance from my uncle makes +his last remark personal to me. I am at least old enough to ask one +or two questions. Do you think it right, Lieutenant Scoville, that a +woman should never have any independent life of her own?" + +"Why, Miss Baron, what a question! Within the received limits of +good taste a woman has as much right to independent action as a +man." + +"Well, then, how can she ever have any independence if she is +treated as a child up to one day of her life, and the next day is +expected to promise she will obey a man as long as he lives?" + +The angry spots in Mrs. Baron's cheeks had been burning deeper and +deeper, and now she spoke promptly and freezingly, "Mr. Scoville, I +absolve you from answering one who is proving herself to be neither +a child nor a refined woman. I did not expect this additional +humiliation. If it had not occurred I would have taken no part in +the conversation. Mr. Baron, I think we have granted even more than +the most quixotic idea of courtesy could demand." + +"'Granted? demand?' surely there is some mistake, madam," said +Scoville with dignity, as he rose instantly from the table. "I have +asked nothing whatever except that you should dismiss your fears as +far as I and my men are concerned." + +Mrs. Whately was provoked equally at herself and all the others. She +now deeply regretted that she had not left the Union officer to +obtain his supper where and how he could, but felt that she must +smooth matters over as far as possible. "Lieutenant Scoville," she +said hurriedly, "you must make allowances for people in the deepest +stress of trouble. We did intend all the courtesy which our first +remarks defined. Of course you cannot know our circumstances, and +when words are spoken which cut to the quick it is hard to give no +sign. Perhaps our hearts are too sore and our differences too +radical--" and she hesitated. + +"I understand you, madam," said Scoville, bowing. "I can only repeat +my assurances of your safety and express my regret--" + +"Oh, shame!" cried Miss Lou, whose anger and indignation now passed +all bounds. "We are NOT in the deepest stress of trouble, and you, +Mrs. Whately, are the last one to say it. I saw this gentleman's +sabre poised at your son's throat long enough to have killed him +twice over, and he did not do it, even in the excitement of +defending his own life. After Mrs. Baron's words he again assures us +of safety. What did you all predict would happen immediately when +Northern soldiers came? Whether I am refined or not, I am at least +grateful. Lieutenant, please come with me. I will try to prove that +I appreciate your courtesy and forbearance," and she led the way +from the room. + +He bowed ceremoniously to Mr. Baron and the ladies, then followed +the girl, leaving them, almost paralyzed by their conflicting +emotions. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A SMILE ON WAR'S GRIM FACE + + +Miss Lou led the way to the broad, moonlit piazza. As Scoville +followed, he saw that the girl was trembling violently, and he was +thus able to grasp in some degree the courage she was manifesting in +her first half-desperate essays toward freedom. "Poor child!" he +thought, "her fright is surpassed only by her determination. How +easily they could manage her by a little tact and kindness!" + +She pointed to a chair near the hall door and faltered, "Lieutenant +Scoville, I scarcely know whether I am doing right in seeing you +here alone. I know little of the usages of society. I do not wish to +appear to you unrefined." + +"Miss Baron," he replied kindly, "I do not know why you have not the +same right which other young ladies enjoy, of entertaining a +gentleman at your home." + +"Oh, I am so glad that you are not angry." + +"I was never more lamb-like in my disposition than at this moment. +Moreover, I wish to thank you as a brave girl and a genuine lady." + +She was almost panting in her strong excitement and embarrassment. +"Please remember," she said, "that I do not wish to do or say +anything unbecoming, but I know so little and have been so tried--" + +"Miss Baron," and he spoke low for fear he would be overheard, "I +already know something of what you have passed through and of your +brave assertion of a sacred right. Continue that assertion and no +one can force you into marriage. I have ridden nearly twenty-four +hours to be here in time and to make some return for your great +kindness, but you were so brave that you scarcely needed help." + +"Oh! I did need it. I was so frightened and so desperate that I was +almost ready to faint. My cousin is one who WILL have his own way. +He has never been denied a thing in his life, I should have been +taken away at least and then--oh, I just felt as if on the edge of a +precipice. It seems dreadful that I should be speaking so of my +kindred to a stranger and enemy--" + +"Enemy! Far from it. A friend. Have you not protected my life and +liberty? Miss Baron, I give you my sacred word, I swear to you by my +mother's memory to be as loyal to you as if you were my own sister. +Young as I am, perhaps I can advise you and help you, for it is +indeed clear that you need a friend." + +"I cannot tell you what relief your words bring, for, inexperienced +as I am, something assures me that I can trust you." + +"Indeed you can. I should spoil my own life more truly than yours if +I were not true to my oath. Please remember this and have +confidence. That is what you need most--confidence. Believe in +yourself as well as in me. Have you not been brave and true to +yourself in the most painful of ordeals? Try to keep your self- +control and you will make no serious mistakes, and never so misjudge +me as to imagine I shall not recognize your good intentions." + +"Ah!" she sighed, with a rush of tears, "that's the trouble. I'm so +hasty; I lose my temper." + +He smiled very genially as he said, "If you were as amiable as some +girls you would have been married before this. Don't you see in what +good stead your high spirit has stood you? I do not censure +righteous anger when you are wronged. You are one who could not help +such anger, and, if controlled, it will only help you. All I ask is +that you so control it as to take no false steps and keep well +within your certain rights. You are in a peculiarly painful +position. Your kindred truly mean well by you--see how fair I am-- +but if they could carry out their intentions and marry you to that +spoiled boy, you would be one of the most unhappy of women. If he is +capable of trying to force you to marry him he would always be +imperious and unreasonable. You would be a hard one to manage, Miss +Baron, by the words, You must, and You shall; but I think Please +would go a good way if your reason and conscience were satisfied." + +"Indeed, sir, you are right. If I loved my cousin I would marry him +even though he were so badly wounded as to be helpless all his life. +But my whole soul protests against the thought of marriage to any +one. Why, sir, you can't know how like a child I've always been +treated. I feel that I have a right to remain as I am, to see more +of the world, to know more and enjoy more of life. I can scarcely +remember when I was truly happy, so strictly have I been brought up. +You would not believe it, but poor old Aun' Jinkey, my mammy, is +almost the only one who has not always tried to make me do something +whether I wish to or not. My aunt, Mrs. Whately, has meant to be +kind, but even in my childish squabbles with my cousin, and in his +exactions, she always took his part. I just want to be free--that's +all." + +"Well, Miss Baron, you are free now, and if you will simply assert +your rights with quiet dignity you can remain free. Your kindred are +mistaken in their attitude toward you, and you can make them see +this in time. They are well-bred people and are not capable of using +force or violence. They did, I suppose, believe terrible things of +me and those I represent, and their action, perhaps, has been due +partially to panic. That crisis is past; you have only to trust your +own best instincts in order to meet future emergencies. Whatever +comes, remember that your Northern friend said he had confidence +that you would do what is brave and right. Perhaps we shall never +meet again, for we are in the midst of a fierce, active campaign. +There is much advice I would like to give you, but we shall not be +left alone long, and the best thing now, after this long, hard day, +is for you to get your mind quiet and hopeful. How quiet and +peaceful everything is! not a harsh sound to be heard." + +"Yes, and think what they tried to make me believe! They all should +be treating you with kindness instead of--" but here she was +interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. Whately. + +In order to understand that lady's action and that of her relatives, +we must go back to the moment when Miss Lou and Scoville left the +supper-room. Mrs. Whately was the first to recover her self- +possession and some true appreciation of their situation. Mr. Baron +in his rage would have gone out and broken up the conference on the +piazza, but his sister said almost sternly, "Sit down." + +"Well," ejaculated Mrs. Baron, bitterly, "I hope you are both +satisfied now with the results of courtesy to Yankees. I knew I was +right in believing that we could have nothing whatever to do with +them. I think it is monstrous that Louise is alone with one on the +piazza, and her uncle should interfere at once." + +"Brother," said Mrs. Whately, "you can see our niece through the +window from where you sit. She is talking quietly with the officer." + +"Yes, and what may he not say to her? Already her contumacious +rebellion passes all bounds. She has heard too much incendiary talk +from him already" and he again rose to end the interview. + +"Hector Baron," said his sister solemnly, "you must listen to me +first, before you take any further steps. We will say nothing more +about the past. It's gone and can't be helped. Now, with all the +influence I have over you, I urge you and your wife to remain here +until you are calm--till you have had a chance to think. Is this a +time for headlong anger? Was there ever a period in your life when +you should so carefully consider the consequences of your action? +Please tell me how you and sister are going to MAKE Louise do and +think exactly what you wish. This is no time for blinking the truth +that you have alienated her. You could easily now drive her to do +something rash and terrible. I understand her better every moment +and feel that we have taken the wrong course. She would have gone +away with Madison as his cousin, and wifehood would have come +naturally later. We have been too hasty, too arbitrary. You both +must recognize the truth that you cannot treat her as a child any +longer or you will lose her altogether, for in this matter of +marriage she has been made to know that she is not a child. She can +be led into it now, but not forced into it. Her course is open now, +but if you continue arbitrary her action may become clandestine and +even reckless. Then in regard to this Yankee officer. Alas I what he +says is too true. In our strong feeling we shut our eyes to facts. +Are we not in his power? He has spared my son's life and your +property and home, and yet he has been virtually ordered out of the +house. There is truth in what Louise said. We are not in the deepest +stress of trouble--infinitely removed from the trouble we might be +in." + +"He has not spared my property," growled Mr. Baron, "he has told all +my people they are free. Where does that leave me?" + +"Now, brother, your very words prove how essential it is that you +regain your self-control and reason. Is this young officer going +through the country on his own responsibility? He only echoes the +proclamation of Abe Lincoln, whom he is bound to obey. Since we +entered on the discussion of our differences could we expect him to +do otherwise than present his side as strongly as he could? Now if +you and sister can shake all this off by one mighty effort of your +wills, do so; but if we do not wish to invite every evil we +predicted, do let us be calm and rational. For one, I feel Louise's +reproof keenly, and it will not do to outrage her sense of justice +any longer. This officer has proved that we were wrong in our +predictions before he came. If now we continue to treat him as +outside the pale of courtesy, we lose her sympathy utterly and do +our utmost to provoke him and his men. Merciful heaven! if my son +were a bleeding corpse or dying in agony, what would the world be to +me? I shall apologize to him and treat him with politeness as long +as I am under his protection." + +"I shall have nothing to do with him," said Mrs. Baron, pressing her +thin lips together. + +"Well, well," ejaculated Mr. Baron, "I suppose I shall have to +become meeker than Moses, and kiss every rod that smites me for fear +of getting a harsher blow." + +Mrs. Whately felt that it was useless to say anything more, and, as +we have seen, joined her niece. + +"Lieutenant," she said, "we owe you an apology, and I freely and +frankly offer it. I fear you think we are making sorry return for +your kindness." + +"Mrs. Whately, I appreciate YOUR good intentions, and I can make +allowance for the feelings of my host and hostess. The fine courtesy +of Miss Baron would disarm hostility itself, but I assure you that +there is no personal hostility on my part to any of you." + +"Well, sir, I must say that I regard it as a very kind ordering of +Providence that we have fallen into such hands as yours." + +"I certainly am in no mood to complain," he replied, laughing. +"Perhaps experience has taught us that we had better ignore our +differences. I was just remarking to Miss Baron on the beauty and +peacefulness of the night. Will you not join us? We can imagine a +flag of truce flying, under which we can be just as good friends as +we please." + +"Thank you. I will join you with pleasure," and she sat down near +her niece. "Well," she added, "this is a scene to be remembered." + +Miss Lou looked at Scoville gratefully, for his words and manner had +all tended to reassure her. In her revolt, he showed no disposition +to encourage recklessness on her part. As her mind grew calmer she +saw more clearly the course he had tried to define--that of blended +firmness and courtesy to her relatives. She was so unsophisticated +and had been so confused and agitated, that she scarcely knew where +to draw the line between simple, right action and indiscretion. +Conscious of her inexperience, inclined to be both timid and +reckless in her ignorance and trouble, she began even now to cling, +metaphorically, to his strong, sustaining hand. His very presence +produced a sense of restfulness and safety, and when he began to +call attention to the scenes and sounds about them she was +sufficiently quiet to be appreciative. + +Dew sparkled in the grass of the lawn on which the shadows of trees +and shrubbery fell motionless. The air was balmy and sweet with the +fragrance of spring flowers. The mocking-birds were in full ecstatic +song, their notes scaling down from bursts of melody to the drollery +of all kinds of imitation. The wounded men on the far end of the +piazza were either sleeping or talking in low tones, proving that +there was no extremity of suffering. Off to the left, between them +and the negro quarters, were two or three fires, around which the +Union soldiers were reclining, some already asleep after the +fatigues of the day, others playing cards or spinning yarns, while +one, musically inclined, was evoking from a flute an air plaintive +and sweet in the distance. Further away under the trees, shadows in +shadow, the horses were dimly seen eating their provender. The +Confederate prisoners, smoking about a fire, appeared to be taking +the "horrors of captivity" very quietly and comfortably. At the +quarters they heard the sound of negro-singing, half barbaric in its +wildness. + +"It is hard to realize that this scene means war," remarked Miss +Lou, after they had gazed and listened a few moments in silence. + +"Yet it does," said Scoville quietly. "Look down the avenue. Do you +not see the glint of the moonbeams on a carbine? All around us are +men, mounted and armed. If a shot were fired, we should all be ready +for battle in three minutes. Those prisoners will be guarded with +sleepless vigilance till I deliver them up. There is a sentinel at +the back of the house, three guarding the out-buildings, and so it +will be till I am relieved and another takes command." + +"Who will he be?" she asked apprehensively. + +"I do not know." + +"Oh, I wish you could guard us till these troubles are over." + +"I can honestly echo that wish," added Mrs. Whately. + +"Thank you. It would be pleasanter duty than usually falls to the +lot of a soldier. Yet in these times I scarcely know what my duty +may be from hour to hour." + +"You told us that we need not fear anything to-night," began Mrs. +Whately. + +"Not unless I am attacked, I said. I am aware that at this moment +your son is seeking a force to do this. I do not think that he will +be able to find any, however, before morning. In any event you could +have nothing to fear from us, except as your dreams were disturbed +by a battle." + +"Oh, I wish I were a soldier!" exclaimed the girl. "This whole scene +seems as if taken right out of a story." + +"You are looking at this moment on the bright side of our life. At +any rate, I'm glad you're not a soldier. If you were, my duty might +be made more difficult. It has other and very different sides. By +the way, I would like to watch those negroes a little while, and +listen to them. Their performances always interest me deeply. Will +not you ladies go with me? Soon I must get some rest while I can." + +Miss Lou looked at her aunt, who hesitated a moment, then said, "I +am very tired, Lieutenant. I will trust you as a chivalrous enemy to +take my niece, and I will sit here until you return." + +"I deeply appreciate your kindness, madam." + +Miss Lou went with him gladly and found herself at the close of the +long, miserable day becoming positively happy. When out of hearing +she said, "Aunt's permission almost took away my breath. Yet it +seems to me just the way a girl ought to be treated. Oh, how +perfectly delicious is a little bit of freedom! How perfectly grand +to have something going on that does not mean no end of trouble to +one's self!" + +Scoville laughed lightly as he replied, "I now wish you were a +soldier and an officer in my regiment. You and I would make good +comrades." + +"You forget, sir," she answered in like vein, "that I am a +bloodthirsty little rebel." + +"On the contrary, I remember that yours was the kind, pitying face +which made me half fancy I was in heaven when recovering from my +swoon." + +"Chunk and Aun' Jinkey brought you back to earth right sudden, +didn't they?" and her laugh rang out merrily. + +"Sister," cried Mr. Baron, running out on the veranda, "what on +earth--I thought I heard Louise laugh way off toward the quarters." + +"You did." + +"What! has she broken all bounds, defied all authority, and gone +utterly wild in her rebellion?" + +Mrs. Whately made a gesture of half irritable protest. Meantime, +Mrs. Baron, hearing her husband's voice, came out and exclaimed, "Is +that Louise and the Yankee yonder going off alone?" + +"They are not 'going off.' You and brother may join them if you +wish. They simply intend to watch the people at the quarters a +little while, and I will wait here for them." + +"Sarah Whately!" gasped Mrs. Baron, "can you mean to say that you +have permitted our ward to do such an indelicate thing? She has +never been permitted to go out alone in the evening with any young +man, and the idea that she should begin with a Yankee!" + +"She is not alone. She is always within call and most of the time in +sight. I will make one more effort to bring you both to reason," +added Mrs. Whately, warmly, "and then, if we continue to differ so +radically, I will return home in the morning, after giving Louise to +understand that she can always find a refuge with me if it is +necessary. Can you think I would let the girl whom my son hopes to +marry do an indelicate thing? Pardon me, but I think I am competent +to judge in such matters. I will be answerable for her conduct and +that of Lieutenant Scoville also, for he is a gentleman if he is our +enemy. I tell you again that your course toward Louise will drive +her to open, reckless defiance. It is a critical time with her. She +is my niece as well as your ward, and it is the dearest wish of +myself and son that she should be bound to us by the closest ties. I +will not have her future and all our hopes endangered by a petty, +useless tyranny. If you will treat her like a young lady of eighteen +I believe she will act like one." + +Mrs. Baron was speechless in her anger, but her husband began, "Oh, +well, if he were a Southern officer--" + +Then the blood of her race became too hot for Mrs. Whately's +control, and she sprang up, saying, "Well, then, go and tell him to +his face that he's a vile Yankee, a Goth and Vandal, a ruthless +invader, unworthy of a moment's trust, and incapable of behaving +like a gentleman! Take no further protection at his hands. How can +you be so blind as not to see I am doing the best thing possible to +retain Louise within our control and lead her to fulfil our hopes? I +ask you again, how are you going to MAKE Louise do what you wish? +You cannot be arbitrary with even one of your own slaves any +longer." + +"Well," said Mrs. Baron, "I wash my hands of it all," and she +retired to her room. Mr. Baron sat down in a chair and groaned +aloud. It was desperately hard for him to accept the strange truth +that he could not order every one on the place, his niece included, +to do just what pleased him. Never had an autocratic potentate been +more completely nonplussed; but his sister's words, combined with +events, brought him face to face with his impotence so inexorably +that for a time he had nothing to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE JOY OF FREEDOM + + +In an open space near the quarters the negroes had kindled a fire, +although the night was mild. These children of the sun love warmth +and all that is cheerful and bright, their emotions appearing to +kindle more readily with the leaping flames. When Miss Lou and +Scoville approached, the worshippers were just concluding the hymn +heard on the piazza. From the humble cabins stools, benches, rickety +chairs, and nondescript seats made from barrels, had been brought +and placed in a circle close about the fire. These were occupied by +the elderly and infirm. Uncle Lusthah, whose name had been evolved +from Methuselah, was the evident leader of the meeting, and Miss Lou +whispered to her attendant, "He's the recognized preacher among +them, and I believe he tries to live up to his ideas of right." + +"Then I'll listen to him very respectfully," said Scoville. + +Their advent created quite a commotion, and not a few were inclined +to pay court to the "Linkum ossifer." All who had seats rose to +offer them, but Scoville smiled, shook his head and waved them back. +Uncle Lusthah immediately regained attention by shouting, "Look at +me": then, "Now look up. Who we uns befo'? De King. De gret Jehovah. +Bow yo' haids humble; drap yo' eyes. Tek off de shoon fum yo' feet +lak Moses w'en he gwine neah de bunin' bush. Young mars'r en young +mistis standin' dar 'spectful. Dey knows dat ef de gret Linkum yere +hissef, Linkum's Lawd en Mars'r yere befo' 'im. Let us all gib our +'tention ter 'Im who's brung 'liverance ter Israel at las'. We gwine +troo de Red Sea ob wah now en des whar de promis' lan' is we got ter +fin' out, but we hab tu'ned our backs on ole Egypt en we ain' gwine +back no mo'. Brudren en sistas, you'se yeard a Gospil, a good news, +dis eb'nin' sho. You'se yeard you free, bress de Lawd! I'se been +waitin' fer dis news mo' yeahs den I kin reckermember, but dey's +come 'fo' my ole haid's under de sod. Hit's all right dat we is glad +en sing aloud for joy, but we orter rejice wid trem'lin'. De +'sponsibil'ties ob freedom is des tremenjus. Wat you gwine ter do +wid freedom? Does you tink you kin git lazy en thievin' en drunken? +Is dere any sech foolishness yere? Will eny man or ooman call +deysefs free w'en dey's slabes ter some mean, nasty vice? Sech folks +al'ays be slabes, en dey orter be slabes ter a man wid a big whip. +See how de young mars'r' haves dat brung de news ob freedom. He know +he juty en he does hit brave. He mek de w'ite sogers he 'mands des +toe de mark. We got ter toe a long, wi'te mark. We ain' free ter do +foolishness no mo' dan he en he men is. De gret Linkum got he eye on +you; de Cap'n ob our salvation got He eye on you. Now I des gib you +some 'structions," and happy it would have been for the freedmen-- +for their masters and deliverers also, it may be added--if all had +followed Uncle Lusthah's "'structions." + +When through with his exhortation the old preacher knelt down on the +box which served as his pulpit and offered a fervent petition. From +the loud "amens" and "'lujahs" he evidently voiced the honest +feeling of the hour in his dusky audience. Scoville was visibly +affected at the reference to him. "May de deah Lawd bress de young +Linkum ossifer," rose Uncle Lusthah's tones, loud, yet with +melodious power and pathos, for he was gifted with a voice of +unusual compass, developed by his calling. "He des took he life in +he hand en come down in de lan' ob de shadder, de gret, dark shadder +dat's been restin' on de hearts ob de slabes. We had no fader, no +muder, no wife, no chile. Dey didn't 'long to we fer dey cud be sole +right out'n our arms en we see dem no mo'. De gret shadder ob slav'y +swallow dem up. Young mars'r face de bullit, face de so'ed, face de +curse ter say we free. May de Lawd be he shiel' en buckler, compass +'im roun' wid angel wings, stop de han' riz ter strike, tu'n away de +bullit aim at he heart. May de Lawd brung 'im gray hars at las lak +mine, so he see, en his chil'n see, en our chil'n see de 'liverance +he hep wrought out. + +"En dar's young mistis. She hab a heart ter feel fer de po' slabe. +She al'ays look kin' at us, en she stood 'tween us en woun's en +death; w'en all was agin us en she in de watehs ob triberlation +hersef, she say 'fo' dem all, 'No harm come ter us.' She put her lil +w'ite arm roun' her ole mammy." ("Dat she did," cried Aun' Jinkey, +who was swaying back and forth where the fire lit up her wrinkled +visage, "en de gret red welt on her shol'er now.") "She took de +blow," continued Uncle Lusthah, amid groans and loud lamentations, +"en de Lawd, wid whose stripes we healed, WILL bress her en hab +aready bressed her en brung her 'liverance 'long o' us. May He keep +her eyes fum teahs, en her heart fum de breakin' trouble; may He +shine on a path dat lead ter all de bes' tings in dis yere worl' en +den ter de sweet home ob heb'n!" + +When the voice of Uncle Lusthah ceased Scoville heard a low sob from +Miss Lou at his side and he was conscious that tears stood in his +own eyes. His heart went out in strong homage to the young girl to +whom such tribute had been paid and her heart thrilled at the moment +as she distinguished his deep "amen" in the strong, general +indorsement of the petition in her behalf. + +Then rose a hymn which gathered such volume and power that it came +back in echoes from distant groves. + +"Hark, hark, I year a soun'. Hit come fum far away; Wake, wake, en +year de soun' dat come fum far away. De night am dark, de night been +long, but dar de mawnin' gray; En wid de light is comin' sweet a +soun' fum far away. + +"Look how de light am shinin' now across de gret Red Sea. On Egypt +sho' we stay no mo' in slabing misery. Ole Pharaoh year de voice ob +God, 'Des set my people free;' En now we march wid song en shout, +right troo the gret Red Sea." + +Every line ended with, the rising inflection of more than a hundred +voices, followed by a pause in which the echoes repeated clearly the +final sound. The effect was weird, strange in the last degree, and, +weary as he was, Scoville felt all his nerves tingling. + +The meeting now broke up, to be followed by dancing and singing +among the younger negroes. Uncle Lusthah, Aun' Jinkey, and many +others crowded around Scoville and "the young mistis" to pay their +respects. Chunk and Zany, standing near, graciously accepted the +honors showered upon them. The officer speedily gave Miss Lou his +arm and led her away. When so distant as to be unobserved, he said +in strong emphasis, "Miss Baron, I take off my hat to you. Not to a +princess would I pay such homage as to the woman who could wake the +feeling with which these poor people regard you." + +She blushed with the deepest pleasure of her life, for she had been +repressed and reprimanded so long that words of encouragement and +praise were very sweet. But she only said with a laugh, "Oh, come; +don't turn my poor bewildered head any more to-night. I'm +desperately anxious to have uncle and aunt think I'm a very mature +young woman, but I know better and so do you. Why, even Uncle +Lusthah made me cry like a child." + +"Well, his words about you brought tears to my eyes, and so there's +a pair of us." + +"Oh!" she cried delightedly, giving his arm a slight pressure, "I +didn't know that you'd own up to that. When I saw them I felt like +laughing and crying at the same moment. And so I do now--it's so +delicious to be free and happy--to feel that some one is honestly +pleased with you." + +He looked upon her upturned face, still dewy from emotion, and +wondered if the moon that night shone on a fairer object the world +around. It was indeed the face of a glad, happy child no longer +depressed by woes a few hours old, nor fearful of what the next hour +might bring. Her look into his eyes was also that of a child, full +of unbounded trust, now that her full confidence was won. "You do +indeed seem like a lovely child, Miss Baron, and old Uncle Lusthah +told the whole truth about you. Those simple folk are like children +themselves and find people out by intuition. If you were not good- +hearted they would know it. Well, I'm glad I'm not old myself." + +"But you're going to be old--AWFUL old," she replied, full of +rippling laughter. "Oh, wasn't I glad to hear Uncle Lusthah pray +over you! for if there is a God who takes any care of people, you +will live to be as gray as he is." + +"If there is a God?" + +"Oh, I'm a little heathen. I couldn't stand uncle or aunt's God at +all or believe in Him. They made me feel that He existed just to +approve of their words and ways, and to help them keep me miserable. +When I hear Uncle Lusthah he stirs me all up just as he did to- +night; but then I've always been taught that he's too ignorant-- +well, I don't know. Uncle and aunt made an awful blunder," and here +she began to laugh again. "There is quite a large library at the +house, at least I suppose it's large, and I read and read till I was +on the point of rebellion, before you and Cousin Mad came. Books +make some things clear and others SO-O puzzling. I like to hear you +talk, for you seem so decided and you know so much more than I do. +Cousin Mad never read much. It was always horse, and dog, and gun +with him. How I'm running on and how far I am from your question! +But it is such a new thing to have a listener who cares and +understands. Aun' Jinkey cares, poor soul! but she can understand so +little. Lieutenant, I can answer your implied question in only one +way; I wish to know what is true. Do you believe there's a God who +cares for us as Uncle Lusthah says?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I'm glad you do; and simply saying so will have more weight +than all arguments." + +"Please remember, Miss Baron, I haven't said that I lived up to my +faith. It's hard to do this, I suppose, in the army. Still I've no +right to any excuses, much less to the unmanly one that it's hard. +What if it is? That's a pretty excuse for a soldier. Well, no matter +about me, except that I wish you to know that with all my mind and +heart I believe that there is a good God taking care of a good girl +like you. Pardon me if I ask another question quite foreign. How +could your cousin wish to marry you if you do not love him?" + +He wondered as he saw the child-like look pass from her face and her +brow darken into a frown. "I scarcely know how to answer you," she +said, "and I only understand vaguely myself. I understand better, +though, since I've known you. When you were hiding in Aun' Jinkey's +cabin you looked GOODWILL at me. I saw that you were not thinking of +yourself, but of me, and that you wished me well. I feel that Cousin +Mad is always thinking of himself, that his professed love of me is +a sort of self-love. He gives me the feeling that he wants me for +his OWN sake, not for MY sake at all. I don't believe he'd love me a +minute after he got tired of me. I'd be just like the toys he used +to cry for, then break up. I won't marry such a man, NEVER." + +"You had better not. Hush! We are approaching a man yonder who +appears anxious to hear what is none of his business." + +They had been strolling slowly back, often pausing in the deep +mutual interest of their conversation. Miss Lou now detected Perkins +standing in the shadow of his dwelling, between the mansion and the +quarters. + +"That's the overseer," she said, in a low voice. "How quick your +eyes are!" + +"They must be in my duty." Then he directed their steps so as to +pass near the man. When opposite, he turned his eyes suddenly upon +Perkins' face, and detected such a scowl of hostility and hate that +his hand dropped instinctively on the butt of his revolver. "Well, +sir," he said, sternly, "you have shown your disposition." + +"You didn't 'spect ter find a friend, I reck'n," was the surly yet +confused reply. + +"Very well, I know how to treat such bitter enemies as you have +shown yourself to be. Officer of the guard!" A trooper ran forward +from the camp-fire and saluted. "Put this man with the other +prisoners, and see that he has no communication with any one." + +As Perkins was marched off they heard him mutter a curse. "Pardon +me, Miss Baron," Scoville resumed. "The lives of my men are in my +care, and that fellow would murder us all if he had a chance. I +don't know that he could do any harm, but it would only be from lack +of opportunity. I never take risks that I can help." + +"Having seen his expression I can't blame you," was her reply. + +A new train of thought was awakened in Scoville. He paused a moment +and looked at her earnestly. + +"Why do you look at me so?" she asked. + +"Miss Baron, pardon me, but I do wish I were going to be here +longer, or rather, I wish the war was over. I fear there are deep +perplexities, and perhaps dangers, before you. My little force is in +the van of a raiding column which will pass rapidly through the +country. It will be here to-morrow morning, but gone before night, +in all probability. The war will be over soon, I trust, but so much +may happen before it is. You inspire in me such deep solicitude. I +had to tell those poor negroes that they were free. So they would be +if within our lines. But when we are gone that overseer may be +brutal, and the slaves may come again to you for protection. That +cousin of yours may also come again--oh, it puts me in a sort of +rage to think of leaving you so unfriended. You will have to be a +woman in very truth, and a brave, circumspect one, too." + +"You are right, sir," she replied with dignity, "and you must also +remember that I will be a Southern woman. I do feel most friendly to +you personally, but not to your cause. Forgive me if I have acted +and spoken too much like a child to-night, and do not misunderstand +me. Circumstances have brought us together in a strange way, and +while I live I shall remember you with respect and gratitude. I can +never lose the friendly interest you have inspired, and I can never +think of the North as I hear others speak of it; but I belong to my +own people, and I should be very unhappy and humiliated if I felt +that I must continue to look to an enemy of my country for +protection. I cannot go over to your side any more than you can come +over to ours." + +He merely sighed in answer. + +"You do not think less"--and then she paused in troubled silence. + +"Louise," called Mrs. Whately's voice. + +"Yes," replied the girl, "we are coming." + +"I think you will always try to do what seems right to you, Miss +Baron. May God help and guide you, for you may have trouble of which +you little dream. What you say about your side and my side has no +place in my thoughts. I'll help settle such questions with soldiers. +Neither do I wish to be officious, but there is something in my very +manhood which protests against a fair young girl like you being so +beset with troubles." + +"Forgive me," she said earnestly. "There it is again. You are +unselfishly thinking of me, and that's so new. There's no use of +disguising it. When you go there'll not be one left except Aun' +Jinkey and Uncle Lusthah who will truly wish what's best for me +without regard to themselves. Well, it can't be helped. At least I +have had a warning which I won't forget." + +"But Mrs. Whately seems so kindly--" + +"Hush! I see uncle coming. She would sacrifice herself utterly for +her son, and do you think she would spare me?" + +Mr. Baron's fears and honest sense of responsibility led him at last +to seek his niece. In doing this he saw Perkins under guard. +Hastening to Scoville he demanded, "What does this mean? My overseer +is not a combatant, sir." + +"Mr. Baron," replied the officer, "have you not yet learned that I +am in command on this plantation?" + +Poor Mr. Baron lost his temper again and exploded most unwisely in +the words, "Well, sir, my niece is not under your command. You had +no right to take her from the house without my permission. I shall +report you to your superior officer to-morrow." + +"I hope you will, sir." + +"I also protest against the treatment of my overseer." + +"Very well, sir." + +"You will please release my niece's arm and leave us to ourselves, +as you promised." + +"No, sir, I shall escort Miss Baron back to Mrs. Whately, from whom +I obtained the honor of her society." + +"Louise, I command"--Mr. Baron began, almost choking with rage. + +"No, uncle," replied the girl, "you COMMAND me no more ... Request +me politely, and I will shake hands with Lieutenant Scoville, thank +him for his courtesy to me and to us all, and then go with you." + +The old man turned on his heel and walked back to the house without +a word. + +"Bravo!" whispered Scoville, but he felt her hand tremble on his +arm. "That's your true course," he added. "Insist on the treatment +due your age, act like a lady, and you will be safe." + +"Well," Mrs. Whately tried to say politely, "have not you young +people taken an ell?" + +"No, Mrs. Whately," Scoville replied gravely. "We have not taken a +step out of our way between here and the quarters, although we have +lingered in conversation. We have ever been in plain sight of many +of your people. I put the overseer under arrest because I had +absolute proof of his malicious hostility. I shall inflict no injury +on any one who does not threaten to be dangerous to my command, my +duty requiring that I draw the line sharply there. Mrs. Whately, I +have never met a young lady who inspired in me more honest respect. +If we have trespassed on your patience, the blame is mine. Ladies, I +thank you for your courtesy and wish you good-night," and he walked +rapidly away. + +"Aunty," said Miss Lou, "you have begun to treat me in a way which +would inspire my love and confidence." + +"Well, my dear, I am sorely perplexed. If we yield in minor points, +you should in vital ones, and trust to our riper experience and +knowledge." + +The distractions of the day had practically robbed Mr. Baron of all +self-control, and he now exclaimed, "I yield nothing. As your +guardian I shall maintain my rights and live up to my sense of +responsibility. If by wild, reckless conduct you thwart my efforts +in your behalf, my responsibility ceases. I can then feel that I +have done my best." + +"And so, uncle, you would be quite content, no matter what became of +me," added the girl bitterly. "Well, then, I tell you to your face +that you cannot marry me, like a slave girl, to whom you please. +I'll die first. I shall have my girlhood, and then, as woman, marry +or not marry, as I choose. Aunty, I appeal to you, as a woman and a +lady, to stop this wretched folly if you can." + +"Louise," said her aunt, kindly, "as long as I have a home it shall +be a refuge to you. I hope the morrow will bring wiser counsels and +better moods to us all." + +The mansion soon became quiet, and all slept in the weariness of +reaction. No sound came from the darkened dwelling except an +occasional groan from one of the wounded men on the piazza. +Scoville, wrapped in a blanket, lay down by the fire with his men +and was asleep almost instantly. The still shadows on the dewy grass +slowly turned toward the east as the moon sank low. To the last, its +beams glinted on the weapons of vigilant sentinels and vedettes, and +the only warlike sounds occurred at the relief of guards. All rested +who could rest except one--the overseer. Restless, vindictive, he +watched and listened till morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A WELL-AIMED SLIPPER + + +It would be hard to imagine a morning more lovely, a more perfect +type of peace and good-will, than the one which dawned over The Oaks +plantation the following day. With the light came fragrant zephyrs +of delicious coolness; the stillness of the night gave place to a +slight stir and rustle of foliage; chanticleers crowed lustily, with +no forebodings of their doom; the horses began to whinny for their +breakfasts, and the negroes to emerge from their quarters to greet +the light of this first fair day of freedom. Uncle Lusthah declared +"De millenyum yere sho!" Smoke rose from Aun' Jinkey's chimney, and +after the pone was baking on the hearth she came out on the doorstep +with her pipe to do a little "projeckin'." Even she was impressed +with the beauty and peacefulness of the morning. "En ter tink," she +ejaculated, "my honey's sleepin' lak a lil chile 'stead ob cryin' en +wringin' her han's nobody know whar! Wen dey gits ter mar'in' my +honey en she a bleatin' en a tremlin' like a lamb 'long a wolf dat +lickin' he chops ober her, den I say hit's time fer a smash up. +Marse Scoville look lak he 'tect her gin de hull worl'." + +So thought Miss Lou herself. In her weariness and sense of security +she had slept soundly till the light grew distinct, when the birds +wakened her. With consciousness memory quickly reproduced what had +occurred. She sprang to the window and peeped through the blinds in +time to see Scoville rise from his bivouac and throw aside his +blanket. With a soldier's promptness he aroused his men and began +giving orders, the tenor of one being that a scouting party should +prepare to go out immediately. + +"Oh!" she sighed, "if I had such a brother what a happy girl I might +be! I don't believe I'd ever care to marry." + +She was far from being a soft-natured, susceptible girl, and while +Scoville kindled her imagination and had won her trust, she did not +think of him as a lover. Indeed, the very word had become hateful to +her, associating it as she did with her cousin and the idea of +selfish appropriation. More strongly than any slave on the +plantation, she longed for freedom, and the belief that the Union +officer understood her, respecting her rights and feelings, won him +all the favor she was then capable of bestowing upon any one. If he +had employed his brief opportunity in gallantry and love-making she +would have been disgusted. "I never met any one like him," she +soliloquized as she hastily dressed. "It's so strange to find one +willing I should be a little bit happy in my own way, who is not +'seeking my best welfare,' as uncle says. Welfare, indeed! As if I +couldn't see some wish or scheme of their own back of all they say +or do! His dark eyes declare, 'I wish you well whether you are +useful to me or not.' Well, I am glad I've known him, whether I ever +see him again or not. He has made my course much clearer." + +The inmates of the mansion as well as those without were soon busy +in their preparations for a day which all felt must be eventful. +That the "millenyum" had not come was soon proved by the +commencement of hostilities on the part of Mrs. Baron and Scoville. +The latter was approaching the kitchen to interview Aun' Suke when +"ole miss" appeared. + +"Madam," he said, lifting his hat, "will you kindly direct your cook +to prepare a breakfast immediately for the wounded? It should be +light as well as nutritious, for some are feverish." + +She paid no more attention to him than if he had not spoken, and +entered Aun' Suke's domain. There was a mirthful flash in his dark +eyes as he followed her. When she saw him standing in the doorway, +her cold stare, more clearly than words, designated him "intruder." +He steadily returned her gaze, and Aun' Suke, who had been shouting +over freedom the night before, now had the temerity to quiver in all +her vast proportions with amusement. + +"Madam," resumed Scoville, removing his hat, "will you give my +orders, or shall I?" + +"Your orders, sir! and in my kitchen!" + +"Certainly, madam, and my orders in this instance are simply the +dictates of humanity." + +"I will see that our men are well cared for. I am not responsible +for the others." + +"But I am, and all must fare alike. Cook, prepare a nice light +breakfast for all the wounded men before you do anything else." + +"Yes, mars'r, I 'bey you, I sut'ny will." + +Scoville strode away to attend to other duties. Mrs. Baron glared +after him and then at Aun' Suke, who at once began her work. + +"Do you mean to say that you'll take no more orders from me?" the +old lady asked, in tones of suppressed anger. + +"Kyant do mo' 'n one ting ter oncet. Ob co'se I git yo' breakfas' +when I kin. Reck'n dough we soon hab ter disergree on my wages. I'se +a free ooman." + +"Oh, you are free and I am not. That's the new order of things your +Yankee friends would bring about." + +"La now, misus," said matter-of-fact Aun' Suke, again shaking with +mirth at the idea, "you got mo' edication 'n me. Wat de use bein' +blin' des on puppose? Spose you en ole mars'r tell me dat ain' a +egg" (holding one up): "kyant I see? Hit's broad sun-up. Why not des +look at tings ez dey iz? Sabe a heap ob trouble. Yere, you lil +niggahs, hep right smart or you neber get yo' breakfas'." + +Mrs. Baron went back to the house looking as if the end of the world +had come instead of the millennium. + +In the hall she met her husband and Mrs. Whately, to whom she +narrated what had occurred. Mr. Baron had settled down into a sort +of sullen endurance, and made no answer, but Mrs. Whately began +earnestly: "Our very dignity requires that we have no more +collisions with a power we cannot resist. Even you, sister, must now +see that you gain nothing and change nothing. We can be merely +passive in our hostility. The only course possible for us is to +endure this ordeal patiently and then win Louise over to our +wishes." + +Miss Lou, who was dusting the parlor, stole to the further end of +the apartment and rattled some ornaments to warn them of her +presence. She smiled bitterly as she muttered, "Our wishes; mine +will never be consulted." + +Mrs. Whately entered the parlor and kissed her niece affectionately. +She did not like the girl's expression and the difficulty of her +task grew clearer. Nevertheless, her heart was more set on the +marriage than ever before, since her motives had been strengthened +by thought. That her son was bent upon it was one of the chief +considerations. "If I obtain for him this prize," she had reasoned, +"he must see that there is no love like a mother's." + +Miss Lou, also, had been unconsciously revealing her nature to the +sagacious matron, who felt the girl, if won, would not become a +pretty toy, soon wearying her son by insipidity of character. "I +know better," the lady thought, "than to agree with brother and +sister that Louise is merely wilful and perverse." Feeling that she +was incapable of controlling her son, she would be glad to delegate +this task to the one who had the most influence over him and who +best promised to maintain it. She was not so blind in her indulgence +as helpless in it from long habit. She thought that as a wife the +girl would not only hold her own, but also do much toward +restraining her son in his wild tendencies; but she gave no weight +to the consideration often in Miss Lou's mind, "I do not see why +everything and everybody should exist for Cousin Mad's benefit." + +Mrs. Whately secretly approved of Scoville's orders in regard to the +wounded, but did not so express herself, resolving not to come into +collision again with her relatives unless it was essential. She now +went out and assisted the surgical trooper in dressing the men's +injuries. Miss Lou had learned that breakfast would be delayed, and +so decided to satisfy her hunger partially at Aun' Jinkey's cabin. +The excitements of the preceding day had robbed her of all appetite, +but now she was ravenous. Her estrangement from her uncle and aunt +was so great that she avoided them, having a good deal of the +child's feeling, "I won't speak till they make up first." + +The old negress heard her rapid steps and looked out from her door. +"Oh, mammy," cried the girl, "I'm that hungry I could almost eat +you, and I don't know when we'll have breakfast." + +"You des in time, den, honey. Come right in." + +But Miss Lou paused at the door in embarrassment, for Scoville had +risen from the table and was advancing to meet her. "Good-morning, +Miss Baron," he said. "Aunt Jinkey and Chunk have prepared me a +capital breakfast, and I should be only too delighted to share it. I +must be in the saddle soon and so availed myself of the first chance +for a meal. Please do not hesitate, for it will probably be my only +opportunity of saying good-by." + +"Dar now, honey, sit right down. Ef Marse Scoville ain' quality den +I doan know um." + +"Miss Baron," cried Scoville, laughing, "Aunt Jinkey has raised a +point now which you alone can settle--the question of my quality." + +"About the same as my own, I reckon," said the girl, sitting down +with rosy cheeks. "Aun' Jinkey is evidently your ally, for she has +put her invitation in a form which I could not decline without +hurting the feelings of--" + +"Your sincere and grateful friend," interrupted the officer. + +"Uncle and aunt would think I was committing an unheard-of +indiscretion." + +"But ARE you?" + +"I'm too hungry to discuss the question now," she answered, +laughing. "Do let us hasten, for such OLD friends should not part +with their mouths full." + +"Well, hit des does my ole heart good ter see you sittin' dar, Miss +Lou. I'se po'ful glad yo' mouf's full ob breakfas' en dat yo' eyes +ain' full ob tears. Wat we projeckin' 'bout yistidy?" + +"Now, Aun' Jinkey, just keep still. I can't show becoming sentiment +on any subject except pones and such coffee as I have not tasted for +a long time." + +"Hit Yankee coffee." + +"I drink your health in my one contribution," cried Scoville. "Never +mind, aunty, we'll be jolly over it all the same. I agree with you. +It's worth a month's pay to see Miss Baron happy and hungry. I'd +like to know who has a better right. Aunt Jinkey's told me how you +protected her. That was fine. You'd make a soldier." + +"Oh, please stop such talk, both of you. I'm ridiculously unlike the +heroines in uncle's library. Lieutenant, please don't say 'Ha! the +hour has come and we must part, perhaps forever.' I won't have any +forever. Uncle Lusthah has insured you gray hairs, and if you don't +come and see us before they're gray, Aun' Jinkey and I will believe +all uncle says about the Yankees." + +"And so you ought," said Scoville. "Oh, I'll come back to breakfast +with you again, if I have to come on crutches. Well, I must go. +There is Chunk with the horses. Even now I'm keeping one ear open +for a shot from that hasty cousin of yours." + +At this reference she looked grave and rose from the table. +"Lieutenant," she said, taking his proffered hand, "please do not +think me a giddy child nor an unfeeling girl. I DO thank you. I do +wish you well just as you wish me well--for your own sake. Oh, it +seems such a blessed thing for people to feel simple, honest +goodwill toward one another, without having some scheme back of it +all." + +"Well, Miss Baron, if I had a chance I'd soon prove that I too had a +scheme. The chief point in it would be to keep all trouble out of +the eyes that looked on me so kindly when I came to my senses in +this cabin. Heaven bless your good, kind heart! Promise me one +thing." + +"Well?" + +"If your cousin comes soon there may be a sharp fight. Keep out of +danger. I could never be myself again if my coming here should +result in injury to you." + +"As far as my curiosity will permit I will try to keep out of the +way. I've seen so little in my short life that I must make the most +of this brief opportunity. In a day or so you may all be gone, and +then the old humdrum life will begin again." + +"Yes, we may all be gone before night. Your chief danger then will +be from the stragglers which follow the army like vultures. If +possible, I will induce the general to leave a guard to-night. I +wish Mr. Baron had a clearer eye to his interests and safety. The +general is not lamb-like. If a guard can be procured for to-night it +will be due to your action and my representations. My services as a +scout have brought me in rather close contact with the general, and +possibly I may induce him to give protection as long as the interest +of the service permits. All questions will be decided with reference +to the main chance; so, if I seem neglectful, remember I must obey +my orders, whatever they are. Ah! there's a shot." + +Her hand ached long afterward from his quick, strong pressure, and +then he mounted and was away at a gallop. Miss Lou hastily returned +to the house, but Chunk coolly entered the cabin, saying, "I'se git +a bite fer mebbe I ain' yere ter dinner." + +"Reck'n you better be skerce, Chunk, ef Mad Whately comes," said his +grandmother, trembling. + +"I knows des w'at ter 'spect fum Mad Whately en fum dat ar oberseer +too, but dey fin' me a uggly ole hornet. I got my sting han'y," and +he tapped the butt of a revolver in the breast of his coat. Having +devoured the remnants of the breakfast he darted out and mounted his +horse also. + +Mad Whately was coming sure enough, and like a whirlwind. He had +fallen in with the van of the Confederate advance during the night, +and by his representations had induced an early and forced march to +The Oaks. The vigilant Scoville, with his experiences as a scout +fresh in his mind, had foreseen this possibility. He had two plans +in his mind and was ready to act upon either of them. + +Rushing through the hallway of the mansion from the rear entrance, +Miss Lou found her kindred on the veranda. They were too excited and +eager to ask where she had been, for the fierce rebel yell had +already been raised at the entrance of the avenue. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Baron, "now we'll see this Yankee scum swept +away." + +Apparently he would have good reason for his exultation. Scoville +was the last man in the world to fight blindly, and Miss Lou kept +her eyes on him. As he sat on his horse, where he commanded the best +view of the advancing enemy, she thought he appeared wonderfully +quiet. Not so his men. They were galloping to the right of the +mansion, where there was a grove on rising ground which formed a +long ridge stretching away to the northwest. It can readily be +guessed that it was Scoville's aim not to be cut off from the main +Union column by a superior force, and the ridge would enable him to +see his enemy before he fought, if he should deem it wise to fight +at all. He knew that his horses were fresh. If those of the +attacking party were somewhat blown he could easily keep out of the +way if it were too strong to cope with. He exchanged a few words +with the sergeant commanding the scouting party recently sent out, +and pointed to the grove with his sabre, then slowly followed with +his eye on the enemy. + +Miss Lou was in a fever of apprehension in his behalf, for already +shots were fired at him from the Confederates. Suddenly she heard +the click of a musket lock just beneath her, and, looking down, saw +Perkins levelling a piece at Scoville. Quick as light she drew off +her slipper and dashed it into the man's face as he fired. By reason +of his disconcerted aim the bullet flew harmlessly by the Union +officer, who gave a quick, stern glance toward his assailant, +recognized him, and galloped after his men. + +"You vile murderer!" cried Miss Lou, "would you shoot a man in his +back?" + +"Oh, come, Perkins, that's hardly the thing, no matter what your +provocation," Mr. Baron added. + +Perkins bestowed a malignant glance on Miss Lou, then limped away, +wearing a sullen look. The officer in command of the Confederates +sheered off across the lawn toward the grove, and the girl quickly +saw that his force greatly outnumbered that of Scoville. Mad Whately +dashed up to the piazza steps and asked breathlessly, "Are you all +safe?" + +"Yes," cried his mother. "Thank God! I see you are safe also." + +He turned his eyes on his cousin, but in her cold, steady gaze found +no encouragement. With something like an oath, he turned and +galloped after the attacking force. + +But Scoville did not wait to be attacked. He continued with his men +along the ridge, retreating rapidly when pressed, pausing when +pursuit slackened. The officer in command soon remarked to Whately, +"We are using up our horses to no purpose, and we shall need them +for more important work later in the day." + +Therefore he sounded recall and retired on the mansion, Scoville +following, thus proving that he was governed by other motives than +fear. Indeed, he was in a very genial frame of mind. He had got all +his men off safely, except two or three laggards, and had already +sent swift riders to inform his general of the situation. Knowing +that the tables would soon be turned, he was quite content that he +had not made an obstinate and useless resistance. "What's more," he +thought, "Miss Lou would not have kept out of danger. It isn't in +her nature to do so. Miss Lou! I wish I might call her that some day +and then drop the Miss. One thing is clear. If I meet that cousin +again, he'll show me no quarter. So I must look out for him and that +assassin of an overseer, too. She called him by his right name, the +brave little girl! No need of asking me to come back, for I'd go to +the ends of the earth to see her again." + +If he had know how her presence of mind and swift action had in all +probability saved his life, his feelings would have been far more +vivid, while his belief in the luck of throwing an old shoe would +have become one of the tenets of his faith. Miss Lou went after the +extemporized missile and put it on again, saying, "I have fired my +first and last shot in this war." + +"It is indeed becoming doubtful on which side you are," answered her +uncle sternly. + +"I'm not on the side of that wretch Perkins. Suppose he had +succeeded, and Lieutenant Scoville's general came here, what mercy +could we expect? If Perkins values his life he had better not be +caught." + +"I am glad indeed, Louise, that you prevented such a thing from +happening," said Mrs. Whately. "The result might have been very +disastrous, and in any event would have been horrible. It was a +brave, sensible thing to do, and you will find that Madison will +think so, too." + +Mad Whately, however, was in anything but a judicial mood. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A GIRL'S APPEAL + + +Miss Lou was too well acquainted with, her cousin not to recognize +evidences of almost ungovernable rage during the brief moment he had +paused at the veranda. She looked significantly at his mother, whose +face was pale and full of an apprehension now uncalled for, since +the prospect of an immediate battle had passed away. "She is afraid +of him herself, her own son, and yet she would marry me to him," the +girl thought bitterly. + +Miss Lou was mistaken. Her aunt had fears only FOR her son, knowing +how prone he was to rash, headlong action when almost insane from +passion. The girl, however, was elated and careless. She justly +exulted in the act by which she had baffled the vengeance of +Perkins, and she had ceased to have the anxieties of a bitter +Southern partisan. Such she would have been but for her alienation +from those identified with the cause. She was capable of the most +devoted loyalty, but to whom should she give it? If a loving father +or brother had been among the Confederates, there would have been no +question. Now she was sorely perplexed in her feelings, for the +South was represented by those bent upon doing her a wrong at which +her very soul revolted, and the North by one who had satisfied her +sense of right and justice, who, more than all, had warmed her heart +by kindness. The very friendliness of the negroes inclined her to +take their part almost involuntarily, so deep was the craving of her +chilled nature for sympathy. If she had been brought up in loving +dependence she would not have been so well equipped for the chaotic +emergency. Having no hope of good counsel from natural advisers, she +did not waste a moment in seeking it, or weakly hesitate for its +lack. What her bright, active mind suggested as right and best, that +she was ready to do instantly. Now that she had gained freedom she +would keep it at all hazards. + +When the Confederate officers approached the house, she was glad to +observe that her cousin was not chief in command. + +Mr. Baron went down upon the lawn to meet the officers, and, after a +brief parley, Major Brockton, the senior in command, began to +dispose of his men for a little rest and refreshment, promising to +join the family soon in the dining-room. Miss Lou, unasked, now +aided in the preparations for the morning meal. Fearing Aun' Suke +would get herself in trouble, she ran to the kitchen and told the +old cook to comply with all demands as best she could. She had +scarcely spoken when Mrs. Baron entered. Casting a severe look on +her niece, she asked Aun' Suke, "Will you obey me now? Will you tell +me you are a free woman now?" + +"My haid in a whirl aready, misus. Ef you wants me ter I kin cook, +but I kyant keep track ob de goin's on." + +"I can," replied the indomitable old lady, "and I can keep a good +memory of the behavior of all on the plantation!" + +"You can't govern much longer by fear, aunt," said Miss Lou. "Had +you not better try a little kindness?" + +"What has been the result of all the years of kindness bestowed upon +you?" was the indignant answer. + +"I only meant that it might be well to bestow a little of what other +people regard as kindness. I had asked Aun' Suke to do her best and +am sure she will." + +"It will be strange if she does, when you are setting the example of +doing your worst. But I am mistress once more, and wish no +interference." + +"Doan you worry, honey, 'bout we uns," said Aun' Suke quietly. "We +yeard de soun' fum far away, en we year it agin soon." + +Meanwhile Mad Whately was closeted with his uncle and mother, +listening with a black frown to all that had occurred. + +"I tell you," exclaimed the young man, "it's as clear as the sun in +the sky that she should be sent away at once--in fact, that you all +should go." + +"I won't go," said Mr. Baron, "neither will my wife. If the country +has come to such a pass that we must die on our hearths we will die +right here." + +"Then with my whole authority, mother, I demand that you and my +cousin go at once while opportunity still remains. The forces on +both sides are concentrating here, and this house may soon be in the +midst of a battle. Lou will be exposed to every chance of war. By +Heaven! the girl to be my wife shall not trifle with me longer. Oh, +mother! how could you let her walk and talk alone with that Yankee +officer?" + +"I tell you both you are taking the wrong course with Louise," began +Mrs. Whately. + +"You never spoke a truer word, auntie," said Miss Lou, entering. + +Stung to the quick, Whately sprang up and said sternly, "In this +emergency I am the head of my family. I command you to be ready +within an hour to go away with my mother. Perkins and a small guard +will go with you to my cousin's house." + +"Go away with that cowardly wretch, Perkins? Never!" + +"You are to go away with your aunt and my mother, and you cannot +help yourself. Your readiness to receive attentions from a miserable +Yankee cub shows how little you are to be trusted. I tell you for +the honor of our house you SHALL go away. I'd shoot you rather than +have it occur again." + +"You silly, spoiled, passionate boy!" exclaimed Miss Lou, rendered +self-possessed by the very extravagance of her cousin's anger. "Do +you suppose I will take either command or counsel from one who is +beside himself? Come, Cousin Mad, cool off, or you'll have some more +repenting at leisure to do." + +She walked quietly out of the room to the veranda just as Major +Brockton was about to announce himself. + +"Miss Baron, I presume," he said, doffing his hat. + +"Yes, sir. Please sit down. I think we shall soon be summoned to +breakfast. If the worst comes to the worst," she resolved, "I can +appeal to this officer for protection." + +"Mother," said Whately in a choking voice, "be ready to go the +moment you have your breakfast." + +His passion was so terrible that she made a feint of obeying, while +he rushed out of the rear door. Perkins readily entered into the +plan, and gave Whately further distorted information about Miss +Lou's recent interview with Scoville. Mrs. Whately's horses were +quickly harnessed to her carriage, and Perkins drove it near to the +back entrance to the mansion. + +As Whately entered, his mother put her hand on his arm, and warned, +"Madison, I fear you are all wrong--" + +"Mother, I will be obeyed at once. The carriage is ready. My own +men, who have been paroled, will act as escort. Lou shall go if +taken by force." + +"Madison, what can you hope from a wife won by such violence?" + +"She will fear and obey me the rest of her life. I'd rather die ten +thousand deaths than be balked after what she has said. Come, let's +go through the form of breakfast and then I shall act." + +They found Miss Lou with her uncle, aunt, and Major Brockton already +at the table. The major at once resumed his condolences. "I am very +sorry indeed," he said, "that you ladies are compelled to leave your +home." + +"Do you think it wisest and best that we should?" asked Mrs. Whately +quickly, hoping that her niece would feel the force of the older +officer's decision. + +"Yes, madam, I do. I think that the sooner you all are south of our +advance the better. It is possible that a battle may take place on +this very ground, although I hope not. As soon as my men have had +something to eat I shall follow the Yankees, a course I trust that +will bring on the action elsewhere; but this region will probably +become one of strife and turmoil for a time. It won't last long, +however, and if the house is spared I think you can soon return." + +Mrs. Baron poured the coffee and then excused herself. A few moments +later Miss Lou, who was very observant, noted a significant glance +from Zany. As the dusky waitress started ostensibly for the kitchen, +the young girl immediately followed. Whately hesitated a moment or +two, then left the breakfast room also. But Zany had had time to +whisper: + +"Oh, Miss Lou, Miss Whately's keridge's at de do', en Perkins en +sogers wid it. Ole miss in yo' room en--" + +"Quit that," said Whately in a low, stern voice, and Zany scuttled +away. + +"Now, then," resumed Whately to his cousin, "if you have any dignity +or sense left, get ready at once. I can tell you that I'm far past +being trifled with now." + +"I'll finish my breakfast first, if you please," was the quiet +response, so quiet that he was misled, and imagined her will +breaking before his purpose. + +They were scarcely seated at the table again before she startled +them all by saying, "Major Brockton, I appeal to you, as a Southern +gentleman and a Southern officer, for protection." + +"Why, Miss Baron!" exclaimed the major, "you fairly take away my +breath." + +"Little wonder, sir. I have had mine taken away." + +"Louise, you are insane!" cried Mr. Baron, starting up. + +"Major, you can see for yourself that I am not insane, that I have +perfect self-control. As you are a true man I plead with you not to +let my cousin send me away. He can only do so by force, but I plead +with you not to permit it. If I must I will tell you all, but I'd +rather not. I am an orphan and so have sacred claims on every true +man, and I appeal to you. I do not fear any battle that may be +fought here, but I do fear being sent away, and with good reason." + +"Oh, Louise!" cried Mrs. Whately, with scarlet face, "you place us +in a horrible position." + +"Not in so horrible a one as I have been placed, and which I will +not risk again, God is my witness." + +Major Brockton looked very grave, for he was acquainted with +Whately's recklessness. The young man himself was simply speechless +from rage, but Mr. Baron sprang up and said sternly, "You shall hear +the whole truth, sir. It can be quickly told, and then you can judge +whether I, as guardian, am capable of countenancing anything +unwarranted by the highest sense of honor. This girl, my niece, has +been virtually betrothed to her cousin since childhood. I and her +aunts deemed it wisest and safest, in view of dangers threatening +the direst evils, that she should be married at once and escorted by +my sister and her son to the house of a relative residing further +south. First and last, we were considering her interests, and above +all, her safety. That's all." + +"No, it is not all," cried Miss Lou, with a passionate pathos in her +voice which touched the major's heart. "Would you, sir, force a +girl, scarcely more than a child, to marry a man when you knew that +she would rather die first? Safety! What would I care for safety +after the worst had happened? I will not be married like a slave +girl. I will not go away to Lieutenant Whately's relations unless I +am taken by force." + +"Great God, sir, that I should hear a Southern girl make such an +appeal," said Major Brockton, his face dark with indignation. "We +are justly proud of the respect we show to our women, and who more +entitled to respect than this orphan girl, scarcely more than a +child, as she says herself? Good Heaven! Whately, could you not have +protected your cousin as you would your sister? You say, sir" (to +Mr. Baron) "that she was betrothed from childhood. She didn't +betroth herself in childhood, did she? Believe me, Miss Baron, no +one has the power to force you into marriage, although your kindred +should use all means, while you are so young, to prevent an unworthy +alliance." + +"I had no thought of marriage, sir, until terrified by my cousin's +purpose and my family's urgency but a day since. I am willing to pay +them all respect and deference if they will treat me as if I had +some rights and feelings of my own. My only wish is a little of the +freedom which I feel a girl should enjoy when as old as I am. I +detest and fear the man whom my cousin has selected to take me away. +I do not fear a battle. They all can tell you that I stood on the +piazza when bullets were flying. I only ask and plead that I may +stay in such a home as I have. My old mammy is here and--" + +"Well," ejaculated the major, "have you no stronger tie than that of +a slave mammy in your home?" + +"I do not wish to be unjust, sir. I try to think my aunt and uncle +mean well by me, but they can't seem to realize that I have any +rights whatever. As for my cousin, he has always had what he wanted, +and now he wants me." + +"That is natural enough; but let him win you, if he can, like a +Southern gentleman. Lieutenant Whately, I order you to your duty. +Mr. Baron, if you wish to send your ladies away and go with them, I +will furnish an escort. Any Southern home beyond the field of +hostilities will be open to you. Acquaint me with your decision," +and he bowed and strode away. + +Even the most prejudiced and blind are compelled at times by an +unhesitating and impartial opinion to see things somewhat in their +true light. Long-cherished purposes and habits of thought in regard +to Miss Lou, then panic, and strong emotions mixed with good and +evil, had brought the girl's relatives into their present false +relations to her. After the scene at the attempted wedding, Mrs. +Whately would have returned to safe and proper ground, hoping still +to win by kindness and coaxing. She had learned that Miss Lou was +not that kind of girl, who more or less reluctantly could be urged +into marriage and then make the best of it as a matter of course. +This fact only made her the more eager for the union, because by +means of it she hoped to secure a balance-wheel for her son. But the +blind, obstinate persistence on the part of the Barons in their +habitual attitude toward their niece, and now her son's action, had +placed them all in a most humiliating light. Even Mr. Baron, who had +always been so infallible in his autocratic ways and beliefs, knew +not how to answer the elderly major. Whately himself, in a revulsion +of feeling common to his nature, felt that his cousin had been +right, and that a miserable space for repentance was before him, not +so much for the wrong he had purposed, as for the woful unwisdom of +his tactics and their ignominious failure. His training as a soldier +led him to obey without a word. + +Miss Lou was magnanimous in her victory. "Cousin Madison," she said +earnestly, "why don't you end this wicked nonsense and act like a +cousin? As such I have no ill-will toward you, but I think you and +uncle must now see I'll stop at nothing that will keep me from +becoming your wife. There's no use of trying to make me think I'm +wrong in my feelings, for I now believe every true man would side +with me. Be my cousin and friend and I will give you my hand here +and now in goodwill." + +But his anger was too strong to permit any such sensible action, and +he rushed away without a word. + +"Madison!" called his mother. "Oh, I'm just overwhelmed," and she +covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. + +"Well," said Mr. Baron in a sort of dreary apathy, "do you and +Louise wish to go away under an escort furnished by the major?" + +"No," cried Mrs. Whately, "I would accept my fate rather than favor +at his hands. If I could only explain to him more fully--yet how can +I? My son, with all his faults, is all I have to live for. I shall +stay near him while I can, for he will be reckless to-day. My heart +is just breaking with forebodings. Oh, why couldn't you, with your +gray hairs, have shown a little wisdom in helping me restrain him?" + +"I reckon the restraining should have been practiced long ago," +replied her brother irritably. + +"You have practiced nothing but restraint in the case of Louise, and +what is the result?" + +The girl looked at them wonderingly in their abject helplessness, +and then said, "If you are taking it for granted that I am spoiled +beyond remedy, I can't help it. I would have made no trouble if you +had not set about making me trouble without end. As soon as I can +I'll go away and take care of myself." + +"Of course, Louise," said Mrs. Whately, "we're all wrong, you as +well as the rest of us. We must try to get this snarl untangled and +begin right. The idea of your going away!" + +"I supposed that was the only idea," said Mrs. Baron, entering. "I, +at least, have tried to remedy our niece's perverseness by getting +her things ready." + +Mrs. Whately wrung her hands in something like despair, while Miss +Lou burst into a peal of half-nervous laughter at the expression on +her uncle's face. "Well," she said, "there'll be no more trouble as +far as I am concerned unless it's of your own making. If I am +protected in my home, I shall stay; if not, I shall leave it. One +learns fast in such ordeals as I have passed through. Aunt Sarah, +your son threatened to shoot me for doing what you permitted. +Suppose I had told Major Brockton that? I made allowances for +Madison's passion, but unless he learns to control himself he will +have to vent his passion on some one else." + +"She has just lost her senses," gasped Mrs. Baron. + +"No, we have acted as if we had lost ours," said Mrs. Whately rising +with dignity. "I can't reason with either of you any more, for you +have made up your minds that a spade is not a spade. I shall tell my +niece that hereafter I shall treat her kindly and rationally, and +then go home," and she left husband and wife confronting each other. + +"What are you going to do?" asked the wife. + +"Do!" exploded the husband in desperation, "why, hump myself and +restore everything in a twinkling as it was five years ago. What +else can I do?" + +Even Mrs. Baron was speechless at this admission that events had now +passed far beyond his control. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SCOVILLE'S HOPE + + +Mrs. Whately found her niece on the veranda watching the proceedings +without, and she lost no time in expressing her purpose. To her +surprise, a pair of arms were around her neck instantly, and a kiss +was pressed upon her lips. + +"That's my answer," said Miss Lou, who was as ready to forgive and +forget as a child. "If you say a word about going home I shall be +unhappy. See, auntie, the Yankees are retreating again as our men +advance." + +The morning sun was now shining brightly and the day growing very +warm. Before them was the scene of military operations. At present, +it afforded a deeply exciting spectacle, yet oppressed with no sense +of personal danger. Scoville's little force was slowly retiring +along the ridge which the Confederates were approaching, thus +removing the theatre of actual conflict from the vicinity of the +dwelling. + +Mr. Baron appeared on the veranda and soon began to yield to the +soothing influences of his pipe. It was not in his nature to make +any formal acknowledgments of error, but he felt that he had gone on +the wrong track far and long enough, and so was ready for a gradual +amelioration in his relations to his niece and sister. They had +become too absorbed in the scene before them to think of much else, +while Mrs. Baron sought composure and solace in her domestic +affairs. + +At last Mrs. Whately said, "The Yankees appear to have stopped +retreating and to be increasing in numbers. Alas! I fear our men are +in great danger and that the main column of the enemy is near." + +There was a sudden outbreak of cries and exclamations from the +negroes in the rear of the mansion. Zany rushed out, saying, "De +Yanks comin' by Aun' Jinkey's cabin." + +She had scarcely spoken before they heard a rush of trampling steeds +and the head of a Union column swept round the house. Miss Lou saw +Scoville leading and knew that he had availed himself of his +acquaintance with the place to guide an attack upon the Confederates +in their rear. He saluted her with his sabre and smiled as he +passed, but her sympathies were with the major, now taken at such +disadvantage. At this period the troops on both sides were veterans, +and neither fought nor ran away without good reason. Major Brockton +knew as well what to do as had Scoville before him, and retreated at +a gallop with his men toward the southwest, whence his supports were +advancing. The Union attack, however, had been something of a +surprise and a number of the Confederates were cut off. + +The scene and event had been one to set every nerve tingling. But a +few yards away the Union force had rushed by like a living torrent, +the ground trembling under the iron tread of the horses. Far more +impressive had been the near vision of the fierce, bronzed faces of +the troopers, their eyes gleaming like their sabres, with the +excitement of battle. Scoville won her admiration unstintedly, even +though she deprecated his purpose. His bearing was so fearless, so +jaunty even in its power, that he seemed as brave as any knight in +the old-fashioned romances she had read, yet so real and genial that +it was hard to believe he was facing death that sunny morning or +bent upon inflicting it. Looking at his young, smiling, care-free +face, one could easily imagine that he was taking part in a military +pageant; but the headlong career and flashing weapons of his men, +who deployed as they charged straight at the Confederates, dispelled +any such illusion. + +The ridge began to grow black with Union men and Miss Lou soon +perceived the gleam of artillery as the guns were placed in +position. Mr. Baron, who had permitted his pipe to go out in the +excitement, groaned, "The Yanks have come in force and are forming a +line of battle yonder. If our troops come up, the fight will take +place on my land. Lord help us! What's coming next?" + +Miss Lou began to receive impressions which filled her with awe. +Heretofore she had been intensely excited by what had been mere +skirmishes, but now she witnessed preparations for a battle. That +long line of dark blue on the ridge portended something more +terrible than she could imagine. The sounds of conflict died away +down the main road, the ring of axes was heard in the grove which +crowned the ridge near the mansion, and Mr. Baron groaned again. +Thin curls of smoke began to define the Union position--before noon +thousands of coffee-pots were simmering on the fires. + +At last, a tall man, followed by a little group of officers and a +squadron of cavalry, rode down the ridge toward the mansion. These +troopers surrounded the house, forming one circle near and another +much further away, so that none could approach without causing +prompt alarm. The group of officers dismounted and orderlies held +their horses. As the tall man came up the veranda steps Miss Lou saw +two white stars on his shoulder. Then her uncle advanced reluctantly +and this man said, "Mr. Baron, I presume?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"My name is Marston, commanding officer. This is my staff. Will you +oblige us by as good a meal as can be provided hastily? I will pay +for it." + +"No, sir, you cannot pay for it," replied Mr. Baron indignantly. "I +keep a house of entertainment only for my friends. At the same time +I know your request is equivalent to a command, and we will do the +best we can." + +"Very well, sir. I can repay you in a way that will be satisfactory +to my mind and be more advantageous to you. Hartly, tell the officer +in command to permit no depredations. Ladies, your servant," and the +general dropped into a chair as if weary. + +Some of the younger officers promptly sought to play the agreeable +to Mrs. Whately and her niece, and upon the latter all eyes rested +in undisguised admiration. Cold and shy as she had appeared, she had +not failed to note the fact. The woman was sufficiently developed +within her for this, and the quick, unanimous verdict of these +strangers and enemies in regard to herself which she read in their +eyes came with almost the force of a revelation. For the first time, +she truly became conscious of her beauty and its power. More than +ever, she exulted in her escape and freedom, thinking, "What a poor +figure is Cousin Mad beside these men whose faces are so full of +intelligence!" + +Mrs. Whately was the perfection of dignified courtesy, but quickly +excused herself and niece on the plea of hastening preparations. She +was one who could not extend even enforced hospitality bereft of its +grace, and she also explained to Miss Lou, "We had much better gain +their good-will than their ill-will." + +"Well, auntie, we must admit that the Yankees have not acted like +monsters yet." + +The lady bit her lip, but said after a moment, "I suppose gentlemen +are much the same the world over. Thus far it has been our good- +fortune to have met with such only. There is another class, however, +from which God defend us!" + +"Lieutenant Scoville admitted that himself. So there is on our side +--men like Perkins." + +"No, I mean Yankee officers who have at least permitted the worst +wrongs in many parts of our unhappy land." "Well," thought Miss Lou, +as she helped Zany set the table, "after my experience I shall +believe what I see. What's more, I mean to see the world before I +die and judge of everything for myself. Now if the general on our +side, with his staff, will only come to supper, I shall get quite an +education in one day." + +Mrs. Baron retired to her room and would have nothing whatever to do +with her present guests, but Aun' Suke did not need her orders now, +nor did any of her assistants. + +Chunk had again returned to his haunts and had made havoc in the +poultry-yard. Now he worked like a beaver, meantime enjoining Aun' +Suke "ter sabe de plumpest chicken ob de lot fer my Boss. Marse +Scoville brung 'em all yere, you knows. Hi! but we uns had ter git +out sud'n dough dis mawnin'." + +"Does you tink de Linkum men git druv off agin?" + +"How you talks! Aun' Suke. Hi! Druv off! Why, de ridge des black wid +um--anuff ter eat Mad Whately en all he men alibe. Dey des ridin' +troo de kintry freein' we uns." + +"Well, I hopes I kin stay free till night, anyhow," said Aun' Suke, +pausing in her work to make a dab at a little darky with her wooden +spoon sceptre. "Firs' Marse Scoville whirl in en say I free; den old +miss whirl in en say I ain'; now conies de gin'ral ob de hull lot en +I'se free agin. Wat's mo', de freer I git de harder I has ter wuk. +My haid gwine roun' lak dat ar brass rewster on de barn, wen' de +win' blow norf en souf ter oncet." + +"No mattah 'bout yo' haid, Aun' Suke. Dat ain' no 'count. Hit's yo' +han's dat de gin'ral want busy." + +"No mattah 'bout my haid, eh? Tek dat on yo'n den," and she cracked +Chunk's skull sharply. + +"Dat's right, Aun' Suke, keep de flies away," remarked Chunk +quietly. "You git all de freedom you wants ef you does ez I sez." + +"Mo'n I wants ef I've got ter min' ev'ybody, eben dem w'at's neber +growed up." + +"I des step ter de gin'ral en say you hab dejections 'bout cookin' +he dinner. Den I tell 'im ter order out a char'ot ter tek you ter +glory." + +"G'lang! imperdence," said Aun' Suke, resuming her duties. + +"La! Aun' Suke," spoke up Zany, who had been listening for a moment, +"doan yer know Chunk de boss ob de hull bizness? He des pickin' +chickens now ter let de gen'ral res' a while. Bimeby he git on he +hoss en lead de hull Linkum army wid yo' wooden spoon." + +Chunk started for her, but the fleet-footed girl was soon back in +the dining-room. + +When the early dinner was almost ready Mr. Baron said to his sister: + +"Surely, there's no reason why you and Louise should appear." + +"Very good reason, brother. I shall make these Northern officers +feel that they have eaten salt with us and so are bound to give us +their protection. Moreover, I wish to gain every particle of +information that I can. It may be useful to our general when he +appears. Bring out your wine and brandy, for they loosen tongues." + +It soon became evident, however, that General Marston and his staff +felt in no need of Dutch courage, and were too plainly aware of +their situation to confuse their minds with their host's liquor even +if they were so inclined. The general was serious, somewhat +preoccupied, but courteous, especially to Miss Lou, on whom his eyes +often rested kindly. At last he said: + +"I have a little girl at home about your age and with your blue +eyes. I'd give a good deal to see her to-day." + +"I think, sir, you are glad that she is not where I am to-day," Miss +Lou ventured to answer. + +"Yes, that's true. I hope no harm will come to you, my child, nor +will there if we can help it. I know what claims you have upon us +and would be proud indeed if my daughter would behave as you have in +like circumstances. I have travelled the world over, Mrs. Whately, +and have never seen the equal of the unperverted American girl." + +"I certainly believe that true of Southern girls, general," was the +matron's reply, although she flushed under a consciousness of all +that Scoville might have reported. + +"Pardon me, madam, but you are in danger of perverting the minds of +Southern girls with prejudice, a noble kind of prejudice, I admit, +because so closely allied with what they regard as patriotism, but +narrow and narrowing nevertheless. That old flag yonder means one +people, one broad country, and all equally free under the law to +think and act." + +"Do you intend to remain in this country and hold it in subjection?" +Mrs. Whately asked in smiling keenness. + +"We intend to give the Southern people every chance to become loyal, +madam, and for one I rest confidently in their intelligence and +sober second thoughts. They have fought bravely for their ideas, but +will be defeated. The end is drawing near, I think." + +"Well, sir," said Mr. Baron grimly, "I am sorry you are preparing +for some more bloody arguments about our very ears." + +"I am also, on account of these ladies; in other respects, I am not. +By night there may be many wounded and dying men. It will be well +for them that they do not fall in a wild and desolate region like +some that we have passed through. As you say, sir, war is an +argument, a heated one at times. But a wounded man is an appeal to +all kindly humanity. You would nurse me a little, Miss Baron, if I +were brought in wounded, would you not?" + +"Yes, sir, I would, because I feel what you say about a wounded man +is true." + +"Oh, I know that," he replied with a very kindly smile. "I hope to +tell my little girl about you." Suddenly he became grave again and +said, "Mr. Baron, you are somewhat isolated here, and may not be so +well informed as I am. However the prospective conflict may turn, I +cannot remain in this region. Many of our wounded may be left. Do +not delude yourself, sir, nor, if you can help it, permit your +friends to be deluded by the belief, or even hope, that our forces +will not soon control this and all other parts of the land. While I +trust that humanity will lead to every effort to assuage suffering +and save life, I must also warn you that strict inquisition will +soon be made. There is nothing that we resent more bitterly than +wrongs to or neglect of such of our wounded as must be left behind." + +"It would seem, sir, that you hold me responsible for evils which I +cannot prevent." + +"No, sir. I only suggest that you employ your whole influence and +power to avert future evils. I am offering a word to the wise, I +trust. Ah, Scoville, you have news?" + +"Yes, sir, important," said that officer, standing dusty and +begrimed at the doorway. + +"Is there haste? Is your information for my ear only? I'm nearly +through." + +"Plenty of time for dinner, sir. No harm can now come from hearing +at once what I have to say." + +"Go ahead, then. I'd like my staff to know." + +"Well, sir, having got the enemy on the run, we kept them going so +they could not mask what was behind them. There's a large force +coming up." + +"As large as ours?" + +"I think so. I gained an eminence from which I obtained a good view. +Major Jones told me to say that he would skirmish with the advance, +delay it, and send word from time to time." + +"All right. Get some dinner, then report to me." + +"Yes, sir;" and Scoville saluted and departed without a glance at +any one except his commander. + +"What do you think of my scout, Miss Baron?" asked the general with +a humorous twinkle in his eyes. + +"He proved himself a gentleman last evening, sir, and now I should +think he was proving a very good soldier, much too good for our +interests." + +"You are mistaken about your interests. Don't you think he was +rather rude in not acknowledging your presence?" + +"I don't know much about military matters, but I reckon he thought +he was on duty." + +The general laughed. "Well," he remarked, "it does not seem to be +age that makes us wise so much as eyes that see and a brain back of +them. Scoville is a gentleman and a good soldier. He is also +unusually well educated and thoughtful for his years. You are right, +my dear. Pardon me, but you keep reminding me of my daughter, and I +like to think of all that's good and gentle before a battle." + +"I wish I could meet her," said Miss Lou simply. + +"Come and visit her after the war, then," said the general +cordially. "The hope of the country is in the young people, who are +capable of receiving new and large ideas." Having made his +acknowledgments to Mr. Baron and Mrs. Whately, he repaired to the +veranda and lighted a cigar. The staff-officers, who had tried to +make themselves agreeable on general principles, also retired. + +Miss Lou's cheeks were burning with an excitement even greater than +that which the conflicts witnessed had inspired--the excitement of +listening to voices from the great unknown world. "These courteous +gentlemen," she thought, "this dignified general who invites me to +visit his daughter, are the vandals against whom I have been warned. +They have not only treated me like a lady, but have made me feel +that I was one, yet to escape them I was to become the slave of a +spoiled, passionate boy!" + +Mrs. Whately guessed much that was passing in her mind, and sighed +deeply. + +At the veranda steps stood Uncle Lusthah, hat in hand and heading a +delegation from the quarters. The general said, "Wait a moment," +then despatched one of his staff to the ridge with orders. "Now, my +man." + +Uncle Lusthah bowed profoundly and began, "De young Linkum ossifer +said, las' night, how you tell us mo' dis mawnin' 'bout our +freedom." + +"You are free. Mr. Lincoln's proclamation makes you all free." + +"Kin we uns go 'long wid you, mars'r? Folks des seem kiner deef +'bout dat ar prockermation in dese parts." + +"No, my man, you can't go with us. We are marching much too rapidly +for you to keep up. Stay here where you are known. Make terms with +your master for wages or share in the crops. If it is necessary, the +people about here will probably soon again hear the proclamation +from our cannon. Mr. Baron, why don't you gain the goodwill of those +people and secure their co-operation? They will be worth more to you +as freemen, and they ARE free. I give you friendly advice. Accept +what you can't help. Adapt yourselves to the new order of things. +Any other course will be just as futile as to resolve solemnly that +you will have nothing to do with steam, but travel as they did in +Abraham's time." + +Miss Lou looked at her uncle curiously to see how he would take this +advice. His coldness of manner and silence told how utterly lost +upon him it was. The general looked at him a moment, and then said +gravely, "Mr. Baron, such men as you are the enemies of your +section, not such men as I. Good-morning, sir. Good-by, my child. +Heaven bless and protect you!" With a stately bow to Mrs. Whately he +departed and was soon on the ridge again with his men. + +"I wonder if Abraham and the Patriarchs would have been any more +ready for the new order of things than uncle?" Miss Lou thought as +she went to find Scoville. + +"He down at Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Chunk took he dinner dar," Zany +whispered. + +"He des step ter de run ter wash he han's en face," said Aun' Jinkey +a little later. + +Passing some screening shrubbery, the girl saw him standing on the +spot from which he had been carried insensible by her directions so +brief a time before. "Your dinner is ready," she called. + +He came to her quickly and said, "I've been trying to realize all +that has happened since I fell at your feet yonder." + +"Far more has happened to me than to you," she replied. "It seems +years since then; I've seen and learned so much." + +"I wish to ask you something," he said earnestly. + +"That scamp, Perkins, fired on me at close range. You stood just +over him and I heard what you said. How happened it that his bullet +flew so wide of the mark?" + +She began laughing as she asked, "Have you never heard that there +was luck in throwing an old shoe? I hit Perkins over the eyes with +one of mine." + +"Took it off and fired it while he was trying to shoot me?" + +"Yes." + +He seized both her hands and asked, "What will you take for that +shoe?" + +"What a Yankee you are to ask such a question! It wasn't a shoe; it +was a slipper." "Have you it on now?" + +"Yes. What should you want of it?" + +"I want to wear it next my heart. Which one was it? Let me see it." + +"No; it's old. I haven't any other, and I shall wear it on my right +foot as long as it lasts." + +"Please let me see it and take it in my hands just a moment. I may +never have a chance to ask another favor of you." + +"Oh, yes, you will. You are coming to see us, and the general has +asked me to visit his daughter after the war is over. Do you think +he'll remember it?" + +"The slipper, please." + +"How can you ask so absurd a thing?" and a dainty foot was put out a +brief instant before him. + +"Oh, you little Cinderella! I wish I was the Prince." He saw +something like a frown gathering on her face. "Don't look that way," +he resumed, "I want to tell you something I've read. I don't +remember the words, but the gist is that a woman never forgets a man +on whom she has bestowed a great kindness. Already I have twice owed +my life to you. You can't forget me. My hope is in what you have +done for me, not what I can do for you. I can think of myself lying +dead in front of the house, I know I am standing here looking into +your true, sweet eyes. Let me look into them a moment, for I have no +sister, no mother, no one in the world that I care for like you. Do +not think I am making love. I may be dead yet before night. But +whether I live or die I want you to remember that there is one human +soul that always wishes you well for your OWN sake, that is wholly +and unselfishly devoted to your interests and happiness." + +"There, I'm beginning to cry, and your dinner's getting cold. You +must stop talking so." + +"Give me something to carry into battle this afternoon." + +She stooped and gathered some wild violets. "There," she said. + +"You could not have chosen better. Whenever I see violets hereafter +they shall be your eyes looking at me as you are looking now." + +"And--well--you can remember that there is always a little friend in +the South who does care. That's a curious thought about a woman's +caring for those she has--I don't believe a woman can care for any +one and not try to do something for him. Let us just think of +ourselves as friends. It seems to me that I never want to think any +other way. Now you MUST get your dinner. You may be summoned hastily +and have no other chance to-day. After Uncle Lusthah's words last +night I'm not going to have any forebodings." + +"Won't you let me call you Miss Lou once before I go?" + +"Why not?" + +"Well, then, Miss Lou, look in my eyes once more and remember what +you see there. I won't say a word." + +She raised hers shyly to his, blushed deeply and turned away, +shaking her head. The power to divine what she saw was born with +her. + +"Yes, I understand you," he said very gently, "but you can't help +it, any more than the sun's shining. Some day your heart may be cold +and sad, and the memory of what you have just seen may warm and +cheer it Miss Lou, you brave, noble little child-woman, didn't you +see that my love was your servant--that it merely gives you power +over me? Even as my wife you would be as free as I would be. Now +good-by. We part here and not before others. Chunk is yonder with my +horse. Be just as happy as you can whether we ever meet again or +not." "Then--then--if you don't come again?" she faltered. + +"I shall be dead, but don't believe this too hastily." + +"You've been kind," she burst out passionately, "you've treated me +with respect, as if I had a right to myself. You have saved me from +what I dreaded far worse than death. You shall not go away, perhaps +to die, without--without--without--oh, think of me only as a +grateful child whose life you've kept from being spoiled." + +"I shall not go away without--what?" he asked eagerly. + +"Oh, I don't know. What shall I say? My heart aches as if it would +break at the thought of anything happening to you." She dropped on +the grass and, burying her face in her hands, sobbed aloud. + +He knelt beside her and sought to take one of her hands. + +Suddenly she hid her face against his breast for a moment and +faltered, "Love me as a child NOW and leave me." + +"You have given me my orders, little girl, and they would be obeyed +as far as you could see were I with you every day." + +"Lieutenant Scoville!" shouted the distant voice of an orderly. He +hastily kissed away the tears in her eyes, exclaiming, "Never doubt +my return, if living," and was gone. + +In a moment he had passed through the shrubbery. Before she had +regained self-control and followed he was speeding his horse toward +the ridge. "There, he has gone without his dinner," she said in +strong self-reproach, hastening to the cabin. Chunk, who was +stuffing a chicken and cornbread into a haversack, reassured her. +"Doan you worry, Miss Lou," he said. "Dis yere chicken gwine ter +foller 'im right slam troo eberyting till hit cotch up," and he +galloped after his new "boss" in a way to make good his words. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +TWO STORMS + + +Miss Lou sank wearily on the doorstep of Aun' Jinkey's cabin where +the reader first made her acquaintance. She drew a long sigh. "Oh, I +must rest and get my breath. So much is happening!" + +"You po' chile!" was the sympathetic response. "Ah well, honey, de +good Lawd watchin' ober you. I year how dat ole snake in-de-grass +Perkins git out Miss Whately's keridge en tink he gwine ter tote you +off nobody know whar. You passin' troo de Red Sea long o' us, honey. +I yeared how you say you doan wanter lebe yo' ole mammy. I ain' +cried so sence I wus a baby w'en I yeared dat. Doan you +reckermember, honey? You sot right dar en wish sump'n ter hap'n. I +'spects we bettah be keerful how we wishes fer tings. Doan you min' +de time Uncle Lusthah pray fer rain en we wus all nigh drownded?" + +"I'm not sorry, mammy, things happened, for my heart's been warmed, +WARMED as never before. Oh, it's so sweet to know that one is cared +for; it is so sweet to have somebody look you in the eyes and say, +'I want you to be happy in your own way.'" + +"Did Marse Scoville say dat?" + +The girl nodded. + +"I'se hab ter smoke on dat ar lil whiles." + +Both were lost in thought for a time, Miss Lou's eyes looking +dreamily out through the pines and oaks as they had before when +vaguely longing that the stagnation of her life might cease. All had +become strangely still; not a soldier was in sight; even the birds +were quiet in the sultriness of the early afternoon. "Isn't it all a +dream?" the girl asked suddenly. + +"Kin' ob wish we could wake up den, if it is. See yere, Miss Lou, +you on'y a lil chile arter all. Doan you see Marse Scoville des +tekin' a longer way roun' de bush? Wen he tell you he want you ter +be happy he mean he want you hissef!" + +"Oh, yes, Aun' Jinkey, that was plain enough; but do you know how he +would take me and when?" + +"Dat's des w'at I lak ter know, fer I tells you, chile, dis mar'in' +business orful serus." + +"He would take me only when I went to him of my own free will and +not before. I feel just as safe with him as with you. I believe he +would do what I asked just as he minds that general of his. That's +the wonderful part of it, which almost takes away my breath. Why, +only the other day uncle and aunt were ordering me about as they +always have, and now here's a brave, educated man ready to do my +bidding. What a goose Cousin Mad was! If he had acted that way I +shouldn't have known any better I fear than to marry him. I was so +starved for a little consideration and kindness, that if he'd been +generous and made me feel that he cared for ME and not for himself +all the time, I fear I'd have just married him out of gratitude. I +would have acted like an impulsive, ignorant child, blind to +everything except that some one cared for me. But that's all past +now. My eyes have been opened and I've been compelled to think and +foresee the future. Dreary enough it would have been with him." + +"What you gwine ter do, honey?" + +"Stand on my rights. See how much I've learned in a few short days, +yes, even hours. I've learned above all things that my life's my +own. There were my relatives, who would reach out and take it, just +as they would a ripe fig from a tree, with just about as much +consideration for me as for the fig. Thank God! I have been shown +clearly my right to my own life. Since I have learned so much in a +few days, I shall keep my freedom and choose that which is best for +me as well as best for others." + +"Now, honey, you on de right track, sho! Des you wait en lis'n. Mo' +folks dan Marse Scoville wanter talk wid you on dis mar'age +question. You on'y lil chile yit. Des you keep yosef deserved-like +en say yo' mouf ain' waterin' few enybody. Marse Scoville berry nice +gem'lin, but he yere to-day en like anuff a orful way yander +termorrer--" + +"No matter where he is, Aun' Jinkey, he will carry the love I could +give to a kind brother if I had one. He knows I can do no more and +he does not ask more." + +"Yes, he does, honey; he ax hit in de bes way ter git hit fum you. +He ain' de fool ter grab at hit, but he tek hit all de same." + +"Well," she answered judicially, "I don't see how a girl can help it +if a man thinks more of her than she of him, but it does make all +the difference in the world whether a man tries to grab, as you say, +or waits respectfully for what should be a free gift, to be worth +anything. How strange it seems to be talking quietly of such things! +Think of what has happened, what might have happened, and what may +take place before night!" + +"Well, honey, hit's a good ting ter stop tinkin' or ter tink slow +sometimes. We couldn't keep a gwine as we wus. Our haids ud whirl +right off our shol'ers. Hit's all so peaceful now, why doan you go +ter yo' room en tek a nap. Mebbe you git berry lil sleep ter-night." + +"I reckon your advice is good, mammy. If you have trouble, come to +me." + +As she walked through the garden and shrubbery to the mansion she +felt that she was reacting from the strong excitements of the +morning into languor and excessive weariness. The idle negroes had +partially succumbed to the heat and quiet, and were generally dozing +in the sun, even on this eventful day. Perkins, the exacting +overseer, had disappeared on the first alarm of Scoville's charge +and had not been seen since. When entering the house Zany, who +always seemed on the qui vive, told her that her aunts were in their +rooms and that Mr. Baron was in his office. Going out on the +veranda, the girl saw two or three vigilant Union videttes under a +tree. It was evident that they had chosen a point which commanded a +good view of the house, outbuildings and quarters. The ridge was +still lined with troops, but they appeared to be scattered about at +their ease on the ground. The girl's eyes drooped; she wearily +climbed to her room and was soon asleep. + +Many others slept also who would sleep again that night in the +stillness of death; others who would groan through coming days and +nights in anguished wakefulness. The temporary quiet did not deceive +the resting soldiers on either side. They well knew that the active +brains of their superiors were at work. Scoville found unexpected +duty. He was given a score of men, with orders to scour the roads to +the eastward, so that, if best, his general could retire rapidly and +in assured safety toward the objective point where he was to unite +with a larger force. Instead of resting, the young man was studying +topography and enjoying the chicken which had at last caught up with +him. He knew the importance of his work and did it thoroughly. +Having chosen the road which promised best, he marked it on a map, +expecting soon to go over it again as guide. He sighed deeply as he +thought that it would lead away from the girl to whom he had devoted +his life, yet not because he owed it to her. "If we could only +remain together," he thought, "she would learn to give all that I +give. The dear little girl is just learning that she is a woman, and +is bewildered." + +Major Jones, who had been skirmishing to delay the Confederate +advance, allowed his men and horses to rest when the enemy paused +for their mid-day bivouac, and so had come about a cessation of +hostilities during which both parties took breath for the coming +struggle. + +Miss Lou was suddenly awakened by a jar which shook the house, +followed by a strange, unearthly sound. For an instant she was +confused, thinking night had come, so dark was her room. Springing +to her window she threw open the blinds. A black, threatening sky +met her gaze, the sunlight hidden by a dense bank of clouds, above +which towered golden-tipped thunder-heads. The appearance of the +ridge puzzled her. The cannon were there, a puff of smoke rolled +heavily from one of them; but excepting a few gunners just about the +pieces, the long line of men and horses had largely disappeared. +Down the lawn from a point not far from the house to the main street +and beyond was a line of horsemen, keeping abreast and equidistant +from each other. What did it all mean? Facing the ridge on the left +of the lawn was an extensive grove, through which the avenue wound +in and out, and the line of horsemen was approaching this. Suddenly +the very earth trembled and she saw smoke pouring upward among the +trees from a rise of ground within the grove. All now became clear +to her. While she had slept, the Confederates had come up, taken +their position and the battle was beginning. In strong excitement +she rushed down to the hall below, where she found her aunts with +pallid, frightened faces. On the veranda was Mr. Baron, looking +white indeed, but with firm, compressed lips and fiery eyes, +watching the opening conflict. + +"Go in," he said sternly, "this is no place for you." + +In her intense absorption she did not even hear him. From the edge +of the grove and along the avenue were now seen little puffs of +smoke, followed by the sharp crack of carbines. The long line of +Union skirmishers began to reply in like manner, but it was evident +that they found themselves too obvious marks in the open. Here and +there men fell from their saddles, and the riderless horses galloped +away. The notes of a bugle were heard above the din, and the Union +skirmish line retired rapidly to the foot of the ridge. + +Miss Lou saw all this only as the eyes catch, half-involuntarily, +what is passing before them. With an awe almost overwhelming, her +attention was absorbed by a phase of war utterly unknown to her--an +artillery duel. Two Confederate batteries in the grove had opened +and defined their positions. The Union guns replied, shot for shot, +in loud explosions, with answering, deep-toned roar. Above the +detonations were heard the piercing screams of the shells as they +flew back and forth. On the ridge they burst with a sharp crack and +puff of vapor, with what effect could only be guessed; but the +missiles which shrieked into the grove gave the impression of +resistless, demoniacal power. Great limbs and even tops of trees +fell crashing after them. Blending faintly with the rending sound +which followed were screams and yells. + +"Well," exclaimed the girl, "if Cousin Mad is there he at least is +brave. It seems as if my knees would give way under me." + +Even as she spoke, a forked line of light burned downward athwart +the heavy rising clouds. The smoke of the battle was lurid an +instant; then came a peal which dwarfed the thunder of earthly +artillery. Strange to say, the sound was reassuring to the girl; it +was familiar. "Ah!" she cried, "the voice of heaven is louder than +this din, and heaven after all is supreme. This fiery battle will +soon be quenched and hot blood cooled." + +The voice in the sky was unheeded, for entering the lawn from the +road, distant from the mansion about an eighth of a mile, was seen a +solid gray column. On it went toward the ridge at a sharp trot. +"Ah!" groaned Mr. Baron, "now comes the tug of war." + +The girl screamed and moaned as she saw shells tearing their way +through this column, horses and men rolling over on the ground, +puffs of smoke which rose revealing frightful gaps; but on flowed +the dark gray torrent as if propelled by an invisible, resistless +force. Vacancies made by wounds and death were closed almost +instantly. In the strange, luminous twilight made by the approaching +storm, the impetuous advance was wonderfully distinct in the +distance, like a vivid silhouette. + +As the head of the column drew near the gentle acclivity, it fairly +seemed to crumble. Grape shot was now making havoc; but for every +man and horse that fell, two apparently came on as from an +exhaustless reservoir. High above all sounds now came a yell which, +once heard, can never be forgotten, and the Confederate column +deployed at a gallop, charging the ridge. The Union skirmish line +had already retired to the right, while pouring over the ridge by +which they had been hitherto concealed, came rank after rank of men +in blue, their deeper chest shouts blending with the shriller cries +of their enemies. Charge was being met with counter charge. Cannon +were silent, for now friends and foes were too near together. Even +the clouds loomed silently, as if in suspense, over the terrific +shock of the two lines of approaching cavalry. + +"Awful! awful!" moaned the girl. + +"Oh! if Madison is meeting that onset!" shrieked Mrs. Whately, +beside herself with horror, yet compelled to look by a terrible +fascination. + +Just as the two opposing forces dashed together a bolt of lightning +gleamed over them, turning the upraised sabres for an instant into +swords of fire. The crash of thunder followed so swiftly that it +appeared to result from the impact of the two charging lines. An +impression of annihilation was given, but so far was it from being +realized, that the slope was seen to be alive with a struggling, +seething mass, waving back and forth, at first downward, then +stationary, then gradually upward, upward, until Mr. Baron shouted, +"Hurrah! our men are carrying the ridge!" + +The cry was scarcely uttered before another dark line of horsemen on +the far right was seen galloping forward toward the Confederate +flank. Again there was another vivid flash, lighting up the scene +with a lurid, momentary glare. The peal which followed created the +illusion of sounding this new charge or else to be the thunder of +the onset. It turned the fortune of the battle on the right, for the +Confederates were seen to pause, and finally to give back slowly and +stubbornly. Then the advancing rainfall began to blot the combatants +from view. + +Suddenly the Union artillery opened. It seemed to the terrified +spectators on the veranda as if the shells were shrieking directly +toward them, but the iron bolts tore their way through the grove, +although much nearer the house than before. The reason soon became +apparent. On that ridge, and within the gloomy shadows of the trees, +were officers as coolly observant as if playing a game of chess. +They gave no more heed to the terrific peals of thunder than they +would have done to so many Chinese gongs. While watching the attack +upon his centre and providing against it, General Marston was also +seeking to penetrate, by means of a powerful glass, the mask of the +grove, and so detected a concentration on his left. Instantly his +guns began to shell the grove near the house, where the assaulting +force was massing. His reserves were ordered forward, and +instructions rapidly given to the colonel who was to repel the +attack; meanwhile his field-glass was glued to his eyes. + +Soon he cried, "It will be their supreme effort. We must strike a +stunning blow in order to get away in safety," and he sprang on his +horse and started the charge himself. + +The men, adoring their leader, followed with stern resolve and high +enthusiasm. Scoville, who had returned, reported and rested +somewhat, knew how critical was the moment. He rode close to the +general, but did not fall out when the wary commanding officer +permitted the human bolt he had launched to pass beyond him. He was +responsible for the entire force, and must do just enough and no +more. He must still keep his eyes on all parts of the field and his +brain ready to direct when the result of the charge was known. More +than the military necessity of repelling the Confederate charge +bursting from the grove occupied the mind of Scoville. It looked to +him as if the fight would take place about the very home of the girl +to whom his heart was so tender, and his impulse was to be near, to +protect and defend. + +The light was fading fast; the fury of the storm, whose preliminary +blasts were shaking the dwelling, was coming as if an ally with the +galloping Union ranks and threatening the equally impetuous onset of +the Confederates. In the very van of the Southern force a vivid +flash of lightning revealed Mad Whately, with a sabre of flame. For +once he made a heroic figure. His mother saw him and shrieked +despairingly, but her voice was lost in the wild uproar of thunder, +yells and shouts of the combatants, the shock of steel and crash of +firearms. Then torrents of rain, which had approached like a black +curtain extending from heaven to earth, hid the awful scene of +conflict. It vanished like a dream, and would have seemed but a +nightmare had not the ominous sounds continued. + +Mr. Baron broke the spell which had fallen upon him, dragged his +sister and niece within the door, and bolted it with difficulty +against the spray-laden gusts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CHUNK'S QUEST + + +If there had been sufficient light the battle might have continued +in spite of the tropical downpour, but darkness became so intense +that friend and foe were alike disguised from each other. At this +crisis, Scoville's horse was shot and fell, dragging his rider down +also. A flash of lightning revealed the mishap to Mad Whately, who +secured the capture of the Union officer before he could extricate +himself. + +By a sort of mutual consent the contending forces drew apart. +Prisoners had been taken on both sides, and Whately, who had badly +sprained his arm, unfitting himself for active duty, was given +charge of those secured by the Confederates. + +General Marston withdrew the Union forces to the ridge again. He was +satisfied that prudence required rapid progress toward his somewhat +distant destination. True, he had severely checked his foes, but he +knew that they had reinforcements near, while he had not. He deeply +regretted Scoville's absence and possible death, but he had the map, +and the men who had been out with the scout were acquainted with the +selected road. Therefore, as soon as the violence of the storm +abated and the moon shed a faint radiance through the murky clouds, +he renewed his march as rapidly as the rain-soaked ground permitted. +Fires were lighted along the ridge to deceive the enemy, and a +rearguard left to keep them burning. + +The trembling household within the mansion slowly rallied as the +sounds of battle died away. As soon as the fury of the conflict and +storm decreased, Mr. Baron lighted a candle and they looked into one +another's white faces. + +Miss Lou was the first to recover some intrepidity of spirit. +"Well," she said, "we are still alive, and these torrents are +evidently stopping the fighting as they would put out fire." + +"Oh, Madison, Madison!" Mrs. Whately moaned, "are YOU living, or are +you dead? If you are dead it is little to me that I am spared." + +Miss Lou did not give very much thought to her cousin. In +overpowering solicitude she asked herself, "Where is he whose eyes +looked such strange, sweet truth into mine to-day? Are they +unseeing, not because it is dark, but because the light of life is +quenched?" + +The brunt of the storm soon passed and was followed by a drizzling +rain and the promise of a gloomy night. As the howling wind ceased +their clamor, new blood-curdling sounds smote the girl's ears--the +cries of wounded and dying men and horses. Then the ghastly truth, +scarcely thought of in the preceding excitement, sickened her heart, +for she remembered that, scattered over the lawn and within the +grove, were mutilated, bleeding forms. They were all the more +vividly presented to her fancy because hidden by the night. + +But little time elapsed before the activity of the surgeons began. +Mr. Baron was summoned and told that his piazzas and as many rooms +as possible must be occupied, and part of the wide hall fitted up +with appliances for amputations. Every suitable place in the out- +buildings was also required. + +Mrs. Baron almost shrieked as she heard this, seeing at one mental +glance the dwelling which it had been her ruling passion to maintain +in immaculate order, becoming bloodstained and muddy from top to +bottom. + +Mrs. Whately asked only for her son, and he soon appeared, with the +excitement of battle still in his eyes. She rushed to his arms and +sobbed on his breast. + +"Come, mother," he exclaimed, "we've no time for this now. Please +get a sling for this left arm, which aches horribly--only a sprain, +but right painful all the same." + +Before the agitated lady could recover herself, Miss Lou ran to her +room and returned with a scarf which answered the purpose. + +"Oh, you deign to do something for me?" he said bitterly. + +"Come, cousin," she replied, "since I have not lost my senses after +what's happened it's time you regained yours." + +"Thank you, my dear," said his mother fervently, as she adjusted the +support for the disabled arm. "Yes, I trust that we may all regain +our senses, and, if we outlive these scenes, begin to act as if we +were sane." + +"There, that will do," he said impatiently. "I must go now, for I +have important duties," and he hastened away. + +Meantime General Marston had sent word through his picket line that +he would not interfere with the care of the wounded and that the +dwelling would not be fired upon if used as a hospital. He +accompanied this assurance with the offer of medical stores, coffee, +sugar and the services of two surgeons. The Confederate general +accepted the offer. The trembling negroes were routed out of their +quarters, and compelled more or less reluctantly to help bring in +the wounded. Uncle Lusthah showed no hesitancy in the humane work +and soon inspired those over whom he had influence with much of his +spirit. It had been a terribly anxious day for him and those about +him. Hope had ebbed and flowed alternately until night, when the day +which seemed to him the dawning of the millennium ended as he +imagined the world might end. Now, however, he was comforted in the +performance of good works, and he breathed words of Christian hope +into more than one dying ear that night. + +Perkins, the overseer, was animated by a very different spirit. At +the first alarm of Scoville's return in the morning he had dashed +into the grove, and next concealed himself on a distant eminence +from which he could watch events. Under the cover of darkness he +returned, and experienced grim satisfaction when he discovered the +hated Union officer among the prisoners. + +As Whately was making his final arrangements for the night, Perkins +touched his arm saying, "Leftenant, I'll help watch that Yank thar" +(pointing to Scoville). "They say he's ez slip'ry ez a eel." + +"Do so, Perkins. We both have a heavy score to settle with him. At +daylight I'll send him where he won't fare as well as he did on this +plantation." + +"Is your arm woun'ed?" + +"No, only sprained, but it pains like the devil. Watch that Yank +well. I'd rather they all got away than he." + +"He'll never get away alive," was the ominous reply. + +As was true after the first skirmish recorded in this history, Mrs. +Whately now again appeared to the best advantage. Relieved from +overwhelming anxiety in regard to her son, her heart overflowed with +pity for the injured. From the outer darkness, limp, helpless forms, +in bloodstained garments, were borne in. Groans and half-stifled +cries began to resound through the house. Even Mrs. Baron forgot all +else now but the pressing necessity of relieving pain and saving +life, but she had eyes only for those who wore the gray. Mrs. +Whately, on the contrary, made no distinction, and many a poor +fellow, in blue as well as gray, blessed her as she aided the +surgeons, two of whom were from the Union lines. Miss Lou remained +chiefly in her own room and busied herself preparing bandages, +sparing not her own rather scanty store of underclothing in the +task. + +Mr. Baron was in the dining-room, dispensing wines and liquors to +the officers who were coming and going. The Confederate general had +made the wide hearth, on which roared an ample fire, his +headquarters for the time, and was turning first one side then the +other toward the blaze, in order to dry his uniform. Poor Aun' Suke +had been threatened into renewed activity, and with many colored +assistants had begun a stewing, baking and frying which promised to +be interminable. Chickens, pigs and cattle had been killed wherever +found, for hungry soldiers after a battle and in darkness ask no +questions on either side. Mr. Baron knew he was being ruined, but +since it was in behalf of his friends, he maintained remarkable +fortitude, while his wife, with her thin, white, set face, honored +every requisition. + +Some of the negroes, sighing for what seemed vanishing freedom, +sought to reach the Union force, but were stopped at the picket line +by which General Marston masked his retirement from the field. The +majority of the slaves, however, were kept at work indoors and out, +under the eyes of the Confederates, who quickly showed themselves to +be savage toward any disposition to shirk orders. + +There was one who would have received short shrift if hands could +have been laid upon him--Chunk. None knew this better than he, yet +he was as fearless as he was shrewd. Scoville had already won from +him unlimited devotion--bought him, body and soul, with kindness and +freedom. When he found his new master had not returned from the +final charge, Chunk questioned one and another until he learned that +Scoville had been seen to go down and then disappear in the gloom. +Whether he had been killed or captured, no one knew, but Chunk +resolved to find out before morning at all risks. Yet in the +darkness and rain he felt much confidence in his ability to elude +danger, for he knew every inch of the ground and of numerous places +for concealment. + +He set about his task in the most matter-of-fact way, resolving to +begin operations with a good supper. At this early stage Aun' Jinkey +and her cabin were both forgotten, and the poor old woman was half +dead from terror. When Chunk tapped at the one window, she feared +the spooks of dead soldiers had already begun their persecutions. +Never was there a more welcome and reassuring sound than the +impatient voice of her grandson, and she soon so rallied as to get +him something to eat. + +"I darsn't come in," he said. "I got ter be whar I kin run en hide. +Now granny, lis'n wid all yo' ears. Marse Scoville killed, woun'ed +or took. I'se gwine ter fin' out which. Wen dey gits mo' settle down +lak anuff dey be lookin' fer me yere, en I kyant come yere no mo', +but I kin git ter Miss Lou's winder ef she hab no light in her room. +I safest whar dey ain' lookin' fer me. Tell her ter put no light +sho! Mebbe she hafter hep me git Marse Scoville off, ef he took en +ef he woun'ed she de one ter 'tect en keer fer 'im. Dat ar Perkins +kill 'im sho, ef he git de charnce. Now ef you years me toot twice +lak a squinch-owl, you knows dat you got ter go en tell Miss Lou dat +I need her hep en dat I gwine ter creep 'long de pazzer roof ter her +winder. Ef I doan toot you keeps quiet till you sees me agin," and +he disappeared. + +"Who'd a thunk dat ar boy had sech a haid!" ejaculated Aun' Jinkey, +lighting her pipe. Deep as would now be her solicitude and great as +her fears, her grandson's appearance and words had dispelled the +spook-phase of her tribulations. + +Chunk could run on all fours as easily as in an upright position, +and he made his way rapidly through the darkness. His first aim was +to get his eye on Perkins and Mad Whately, from whom he felt that he +and Scoville had the most to fear. He was now armed with a knife and +short club, as well as a revolver, and was determined to use them +rather than be captured. Skulking, creeping and hiding in deep +shadow, he at last saw Perkins issuing from his house, carrying his +lantern. Following, he distinctly observed the brief interview +between the overseer and Whately, and guessed correctly that +Scoville was among the prisoners. He was soon able so to shift his +position as to satisfy himself on this point, and also to note that +Perkins, from his movements, would be one of the guard. By the +gleams of the lantern Chunk also saw that Scoville appeared to be +watching the overseer as if suspecting treachery. "I watch 'im too," +the negro soliloquized. "Ef he play eny debil trick he hissef gwine +ter de debil sud'n." + +Scoville was indeed anxious about his position, for while he +believed that Whately was scarcely capable of transcending the +usages of war, he knew well that opportunity only limited the +malignity of Perkins. He therefore rarely took his eyes from this +personal enemy. + +For his own sake and that of the guards, Perkins aided in building a +fire, for in the continued rain all were chilled. As Chunk saw the +leaping flames and the lantern so placed that its rays fell on +Scoville, he was almost in despair of any chance for rescue, but +believed that his best course was to watch for some change which +promised better. He remembered how Scoville had employed the +hootings of the screech-owl as a signal, and resolved by the same +means to prepare the prisoner for co-operation with any effort in +his behalf. Therefore he hooted softly and was glad to see from +Scoville's alert yet wary manner that he had recognized the signal. + +So intent was Chunk in watching his master that he did not hear the +steps of a bewildered Confederate who stumbled over him and fell +headlong with a volley of oaths. The negro employed woful strategy +to mislead the soldier, for he grunted like a pig, thus awakening +hopes of more fried pork. The result was immediate pursuit by all +within hearing, and Chunk with difficulty escaped by the aid of +darkness and his complete familiarity with the place. When at last +he found himself secure he panted, "Mout ez well be took fer Chunk +ez a hog. Stand des ez good a charnce. Won't try dat ar game agin." + +He was now sorely puzzled to know what to do, and his nerves were +somewhat shaken by his narrow escape. At last he resolved to send +his granny to Miss Lou and consult with the girl. Accordingly, he +stole into the shrubbery of the garden and hooted twice, rightly +thinking that Scoville could hear the signal also and believe that +something might be attempted in his behalf. Cowering under a bush, +he soon observed Aun' Jinkey tottering toward the house, muttering, +"Good Lawd, hep us!" as she went. + +As the excitement of battle and exultation over the capture of +Scoville subsided in Whately's mind he became excessively weary and +his exhausted frame suffered from the chill and wetness of the +night. He had sought to keep up by liberal potations in his uncle's +dining-room, but was resolved to get a night's sleep if possible. He +had urgently charged the sergeant of the guard over the prisoners to +be vigilant. When Perkins offered to share in this watch Whately, +understanding the vindictive motive, felt that he need give himself +no further anxiety. He next sought his mother and obtained a little +food which the lady had brought to her room. + +"Where is Cousin Lou?" the young man asked. + +"She is in her own room, and with Zany's help making bandages. I +would advise you not to see her again to-night. You are greatly +wearied." + +"Little wonder, after riding nearly all last night, and the fighting +to-day." + +"Yes, I know, and have thought of all nearly every moment. I am only +too thankful that you have survived. You have gone to the limit of +human endurance and must sleep. The less you and Louise say to each +other for a short time the better. After you have both grown calmer +and have had a chance to think you will see things in a different +light." + +"Mother, do you think I mean to be thwarted by that girl? I would +marry her now from pure pride--for the sake of humbling her and +teaching her that she made the mistake of her life in so crossing my +will and in subjecting me to the mortification I endured this +morning." + +"Madison! actuated by such motives, you'll never win her! If you +will closely follow my advice I believe you can succeed. I must tell +you plainly that if you join with brother and his wife in their +tactics it will always end much as it did this morning." + +"Well, anyhow, I have that cursed Yankee cub that she went walking +with in my power." + +"What! Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Yes; he's a prisoner and Perkins is helping watch him." + +"Then I implore you not to let Louise know it. She saw that this +Scoville might have killed you. She is merely friendly toward him +because, instead of treating us rudely, as she was led to believe he +would, he was very polite and considerate when we were in his power. +That wretch Perkins tried to shoot him to-day and probably would +have succeeded but for Louise," and she narrated the circumstances. + +Her son frowned only the darker from jealousy and anger. + +"Oh, Madison! why won't you see things as they are?" his mother +resumed. "If you had treated this Yankee officer with kindness and +thanked him for his leniency toward us, you would have taken a long +step in her favor. If you were trying to make her hate you, how +could you set about it more skilfully?" + +"Mother," he replied doggedly, "if Lou had married me, even if she +had yielded reluctantly, I would have been her slave; but she has +defied me, humiliated and scoffed at me, and I shall never whine and +fawn for her favor again. I don't believe it would be of any use. If +I should change my tactics she would only despise and laugh at me. +What's more, my very nature revolts at such a change. I can't and +won't make it. She shall learn to fear me. Women marry for fear as +well as love. This Scoville gives me a chance to teach her the first +lesson. He shall be sent by daylight to a Southern prison and that +will be the last of him. Lou shall learn, as all will find out, that +it's poor policy to thwart me. That major who interfered so +impudently in our affairs is dead." + +"Oh, Madison!" + +"You needn't look so. I had nothing to do with it. There were plenty +of Yankee bullets flying to-day. All I mean to say is that it will +prove serious for any one to cross my path. Fate is on the side of a +man who WILL have his own way, and Lou will discover this fact +sooner or later." + +Poor Mrs. Whately was compelled to rate these vaporings at their +true worth, seeing that between wine, anger and long-indulged +arrogance, he was in a melodramatic mood and beyond reason: so she +only said soothingly, "Please never let Louise know that I was aware +of Scoville's captivity. After you have rested and have had time to +think you will see things differently. I warn you however against +Perkins," she added solemnly. "If you identify yourself with him in +any way you may involve yourself and all of us in ruin. Now come, I +will make a bed for you at the end of the hall near my room, and you +had better sleep while you can." + +He readily acquiesced, for even his lurid schemes for the future +could keep him awake no longer. In a few moments he was sleeping +soundly on a mattress, wrapped in a blanket. His uniform was hung on +the back of a chair near him to dry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A BOLD SCHEME + + +Aun' Jinkey gained Miss Lou's room in safety, but panting so from +fright and exhaustion as to be for a few moments utterly incapable +of speech. The girl divined that something serious was to be told. +To her questioning look, the old mammy nodded, glancing meantime at +Zany as much as to say, "We should be alone." This quick-witted +negress, consumed with curiosity about Chunk, and some deeper +interest, resolved not to be sent away. + +"Why you look dat away at Miss Lou, Aun' Jinkey?" Zany asked +indignantly. "Time you knowed dat Miss Lou trus' me en I ain' doin' +not'n ter loss dat trus'. She know bettah'n you dat ef dars eny ting +ter be done I de one ter he'p." + +"We can trust Zany," whispered Miss Lou, who had become very pale. +"You have some news about Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Well, on'y dis, honey, Chunk lookin' fer 'im. Marse Scoville didn't +come back fum dat las' fight, he say, en he say ter me dat ef he +toot twiced lak a squinch-owl dat mean I go ter you, fer he need yo' +he'p. He des done tooted," and Aun' Jinkey repeated all of her +grandson's words as far as she could remember them. + +Miss Lou thought a few moments and her face grew very resolute. +"Aun' Jinkey," she said, "tell Chunk I will do as he wishes, but he +must act carefully and not too hastily. Cousin Mad is already +asleep. One after another will follow his example, and fewer will be +around by and by. We must take no risks that can be helped. The fact +that he wishes to see me in this secret way is pretty good proof +that the lieutenant is a prisoner. If he were wounded or--or--" but +a rush of tears suggested the word she could not utter. "You had +better go now, and let no one frighten you into telling anything. +Appeal to me if threatened." + +As the old woman was stealing out she met Mrs. Baron, who asked +sharply, "What do you want?" + +"Does you tink I doan wanter know dat chile is safe?" + +"If you wish to be safe yourself, see to it you have nothing more to +do with that grandson of yours. He has sinned away HIS day of grace, +and no mercy will be shown to those who have anything more to do +with him." + +"I years you, misus," said Aun' Jinkey, stolidly continuing on her +way. + +Miss Lou, who had followed her mammy to the head of the stairs, +heard this warning and returned to her room with a stern look. She +deemed it best to say nothing and give the impression that she could +not endure the sights and sounds below stairs. + +Mrs. Whately entered soon afterward and did her best to propitiate +her niece. Miss Lou pretended to be very weary and was glad to see +that her aunt actually was so. At last the matron said, "Well, I'll +go down once more and see if there is anything which I must attend +to; then I shall try to rest a little while Madison is sleeping. +Such experiences as we've had wear one out fast. I advise you, too, +my dear, to sleep when you can." + +"Yes, aunt, I suppose you are right. So much may happen to-morrow." + +Mrs. Whately soon retired, and Miss Lou, listening at her door a +moment, knew that she was sleeping. Then she returned to her own +room, blew out her candle, opened the window softly and waited for +Chunk. "Zany," she said, "sit in the dark there, and do not speak or +let Chunk know you are here, unless permitted." + +Along the most secluded end of the house the piazza had not been +built, a small lean-to extension taking its place. An apartment was +thus formed which could be entered from without as well as from +within the dwelling, and here Mr. Baron maintained what was at once +a business office and a study. This extension was but one story +high, with a roof which sloped to rising ground beyond. Chunk knew +that he could easily gain this roof, and from it that of the front +piazza also. When returning through the garden Aun' Jinkey had +whispered to him not to make the attempt to see Miss Lou until her +light was extinguished. Then she added the words that Mrs. Baron had +just spoken to her and hastened tremblingly to her own chimney- +corner. Chunk made a wide circle, approaching the house again at an +angle which would give him a view of Miss Lou's window, and watching +till it darkened. From the garden he had carried a small, light +ladder which he had used when pruning fruit-trees. He stole near the +extension warily, the shrubbery growing in that vicinity favoring +his effort, and the heavy pall of clouds obscuring almost entirely +the mild radiance of the moon. + +Satisfied by a careful reconnoissance that no one was watching or +stirring at that end of the house, with the stealth and agility of a +cat he went from roof to roof and crawled to Miss Lou's window. + +"Chunk," she whispered. + +"Dat's me, mistis." + +"You're a good, brave fellow. Now tell me quick--don't waste a word +--where is Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"He's wid de pris'ners, en Perkins en sogers watchin' 'im." + +"Why is Perkins watching him?" the girl asked in deep alarm. + +"Dunno, Miss Lou, 'cept on 'count ob he gradge. Mad Whately en he +talk knowin'--like en den Perkins tek he lantern en jine de gyard. +W'en I las' see 'im he watchin' Marse Scoville close." + +"Lieutenant Scoville wasn't hurt, was he?" + +"Reck'n not. Didn't 'pear dat away, but he look at Perkins ez ef he +feared on 'im. Ef I had ony Perkins ter deal wid I gib Marse +Scoville he freedom in pay fer mine, but dar's sogers all aroun' en +dey stick me quick ez dey would a pig." + +"Oh, Chunk! what shall we do? I could have no influence over the +guard or Perkins either. Oh! OH! Mad Whately, you'll end by making +me loathe you. To think of employing that treacherous wretch!" + +"Dat's des w'at I feard on, Miss Lou. Reck'n yo' cousin en Perkins +projeckin' some debil trick." + +"You say my cousin has charge of the prisoners?" + +"Yassum. I yeared 'im gib de orders 'bout um, but I too fur off ter +year w'at he say." + +"Can you think of any way, Chunk?" + +"Ef de gyard ony all get ter sleep, I'd tek de risk ob tacklin' +Perkins, but dere's too many en I des stumped ter know w'at ter do." + +"Hi! Miss Lou," whispered listening Zany, "I kin tell you w'at ter +do." + +"Doan you pay no 'tention ter her foolishness," said Chunk coolly. +"Dis life-en-death business, en Zany outgrowed her sense." + +"En you ain' growed into your'n," responded Zany. "Ef you has, why +doan you tell Miss Lou 'bout tings dat kin be done 'stead o tings +dat kyant be?" + +"Well, Zany, what have you to say? Quick, and speak lower." + +"Miss Lou, dar's Mad Whately's coat en pants hangin' out in de hall. +You put dem on, en tie yo' arm up in a sling. In de night who say +you ain Marse Whately?" + +"Oh, Zany!" exclaimed the girl, appalled at first by the boldness of +the scheme. + +"Well, dar now," whispered Chunk, "who'd tink dat ar gyurl got so +much gumption! See yere, Miss Lou, dat de way ef you got de spunk +ter do it. Ole Perkins tink you Mad Whately comin' ter play de debil +trick en let you tek Marse Scoville way quietly, en de gyard won' +'fere wid you nudder, kase dey un'er yo' cousin. You kin go en lead +Marse Scoville right off, en if Perkins follow I settle 'im." + +"Do you think there's no other way?" Miss Lou asked, with 'quick, +agitated breathing. + +"Fo' de Lawd, I doesn't." + +"I don't know what they would do to me in the morning, I'd be sent +away. Oh, you can't realize the risk I would take." + +"'Spects not, mistis. I ony know Marse Scoville tek mo' resk fer you +ef he could." + +Chunk had touched the right chord now. She set her white face like +flint in the darkness, and said, "I'll make the attempt, no matter +what happens to me." + +"Den I des sneak out en get he coat en trousers," Zany whispered. + +"Yes." + +"En, Miss Lou, you des come out de house dis away wid me en Zany," +Chunk added. "Less charnce er bein' stopped. We kin go troo de +gyardin end de bushes till we mos' whar we kin see Marse Scoville. +Mebbe hit berry much plainer w'at ter do arter we get out en look +roun'. I hab a ladder yere en you git down mighty easy." + +"Yes, that's the best way. I wish to take no risks of being seen +till after I make my attempt." + +Zany reconnoitred the hall. No one was in sight. Even Mrs. Baron, +wearied out, had retired, and Mr. Baron had resolved to spend the +night in the dining-room, partly out of courtesy to the Confederate +general and partly to be ready for any emergency. In the hall and on +the front and rear piazzas were alert sentinels who would have +observed and reported any unusual proceeding--therefore Chunk's plan +was the only feasible one. In the darkness Zany helped Miss Lou don +her cousin's uniform and slouched hat which, limp from the rain, +fell over her face. She was not so very much shorter than he as to +make the fit a bad one when seen in the partial light. The trousers +had to be turned up, but that would be expected on account of the +mud. Her plumpness filled out the coat very comfortably, and her arm +in a sling made the disguise almost perfect. + +While Miss Lou was dressing Chunk again reconnoitred and reported +the coast clear. It was now about midnight and all were sleeping +except those whom imperative duty or pain kept awake. Chunk led the +way, steadying Miss Lou with a firm hand, and Zany followed. + +"Now, Miss Lou," Chunk whispered, "I tek you de s'curest way, so you +git back en' nobody see you ef I git cotched." + +They made a circuit to avoid the kitchen and climbed over a low +fence into the garden. On the further side, opening on the driveway +to the stables, was a gate. Before reaching this, Miss Lou said to +Zany, "You stay here. If there's an alarm, go to the kitchen. You +must not be known to have had anything to do with this affair. It +might cost you your life." + +"Ve'y well, Miss Lou." + +The young girl and her guide paused at the gate some moments, for +attendants upon the wounded, with whom the outbuildings were filled, +were passing to and fro. At last they stole across the roadway to +the shelter of a clump of trees beyond. From this point they could +see the group of prisoners about the fire, which was in a rather +dying condition. It was evident that some of the guards had +succumbed to weariness, but Perkins still watched with the +tirelessness of hate, his lantern so placed that its rays fell on +Scoville, who could not make a movement without being observed. +Indeed, it was clear that he, too, was almost overcome with sleep, +for he occasionally nodded and swayed before the fire. + +"Now, Miss Lou," whispered Chunk, "I gwine ter wake Marse Scoville +up by tootin' lak a squinch-owl," and he did so briefly. + +The Union officer was much too wary to start and look around, but he +gradually proved that he was alert. Close scrutiny of Perkins showed +that the signal had no significance to him. + +"Miss Lou," resumed Chunk, "dere's not'n fer you but ter walk right +down de road ter de fire, berry quiet like, put yo' finger on yo' +lips ter Perkins so he tink you 'bout ter play de debil trick, en' +den lead Marse Scoville into de gyardin. Ef Perkins foller, I foller +'im. My hoss down by de run en we git off dat away." + +The girl drew a long breath and started. Now that she was in the +crisis of the emergency a certain innate spirit and courage +sustained her. Knowing her cousin so well, she could assume his very +gait and manner, while her arm, carried in a sling, perfected a +disguise which only broad light would have rendered useless. Her +visit caused no surprise to the sergeant of the guard, on whom at +first she kept her eyes. He merely saluted and thought Lieutenant +Whately was attentive to his duty. Perkins was not surprised either, +yet a little perplexed. As it had been supposed and hoped, the +thought rose instantly in his revengeful nature that the Confederate +officer had some design on Scoville. The latter watched the form +recognized by the others as that of Whately with the closest +scrutiny, and an immense throb of hope stirred his heart. Could it +be possible? + +Miss Lou looked over the sleeping prisoners for a moment and then, +as if satisfied, stepped quite near to Perkins, guarding meantime +not to permit the rays of the lamp to fall on her face. "Leave him +to me," she whispered, with a nod toward Scoville, and she put her +finger to her lips. She next touched Scoville on the shoulder and +simply said, "Come." + +He rose as if reluctantly and followed. + +Perkins did not suspect the ruse, the disguise was so good and +Whately's right to appear so unquestioned; but he felt defrauded in +having no part in the vengeance which he supposed would be wreaked +on Scoville. After a moment or two of thought, he obeyed the impulse +to follow, hoping to see what Whately intended to do, and if +circumstances warranted, to be near to help. "If Mad Whately's high- +strung notions lead 'im to fight a duel," he thought, "en the Yank +comes off best, I'll settle my own score. Whately was ter'ble +stirred up 'bout the Yank's talkin' ter his cousin, en would like +ter kill 'im, but his officer-notions won't let 'im kill the blue- +coated cuss ez I would. Ef thar's ter be a fight, I won't be fur +off," and he stole after the two figures disappearing in the gloom. + +But Nemesis was on his steps. Chunk had shaken with silent laughter +as he saw that their scheme was working well, but he never took his +eyes from Perkins. Crouching, crawling, he closed on the overseer's +track, and when the man passed into the garden, the negro followed. + +As Scoville accompanied Miss Lou, he soon ventured to breathe her +name in a tentative way. "Hush!" she whispered. Then his heart beat +thick with overpowering emotions of gratitude, admiration and love. +Entering the garden, she led the way quickly toward Aun' Jinkey's +cabin, and at a point where the shrubbery was thickest about the +path, turned suddenly, put her finger on her lips, and breathed, +"Listen." + +They distinctly heard steps following and drew back into the bushes. +Then came the thud of a blow and the heavy fall of a man. The blow +was so severe that not even a groan followed, and for a moment all +was still. Then Chunk, like a shadow, glided forward and would have +passed had not Miss Lou whispered his name. + +"Foller me," he answered breathlessly. + +This they did, but Scoville secured the girl's hand and carried it +to his lips. The negro led the way beyond the garden to the run, +where he had left his horse. "Lis'n onct mo'," he said. "Dat was +Perkins I laid out." + +All was still. "Chunk," said Scoville, "go back on your tracks a +little and see if there are any signs of alarm." + +Obedience was very prompt, for Chunk muttered as he ran, "My heart +des bustin' 'bout Zany. Got ter lebe her now, sho! Ter thunk ob her +showin' so much gumption!" + +Scoville again took Miss Lou's hands. "Oh, hasten, hasten," she said +breathlessly, "you are in great danger here." + +"I can scarcely speak to you," he replied, "my heart is so full. You +brave, noble little girl! How HAVE you accomplished this?" + +Incoherently she told him and again urged, "Oh, DO go at once, for +my sake as well as yours, or all may be in vain. I can't breathe +until I've put back my cousin's uniform." + +Now that the supreme crisis of danger had apparently passed for the +moment, she was trembling violently in nervous reaction, and could +speak only in little gasps. Every instant a deeper appreciation of +the immense effort she had made in his behalf overwhelmed Scoville, +and for a moment he lost all self-control. Snatching her to his +breast he whispered, "Oh, you little hero, you little saint, I wish +I could shield you with my life. I don't believe you half realize +what you have done for me, bravest, truest, sweetest--" + +"Oh, hush," she pleaded, extricating herself from his arms. "Go, +PLEASE go at once, for my sake." + +"Yes, my dear girl, I must go soon, more for your sake than mine. +With this horse and this start, I am safe. Oh, it's terribly hard to +leave you." Then he hooted low to recall Chunk. "Don't tremble so. +After all, it's best to wait a few moments to make sure there is no +pursuit. Thank God, after what you have done for me to-night you +will never forget me, you will always care for me. Again I see as +never before how true it is that a woman cares most for him whom +most she has tried to help. You have risked much for me; I give all +to you. Only death can keep me from seeking you and living for you +always. Remember, I ask nothing which your own heart does not +prompt, but you cannot help my giving undying loyalty. See, I just +kneel to you in homage and gratitude. There never was such a gem of +a girl." + +Chunk now appealed, recalled from a more affectionate parting than +Zany had ever vouchsafed before, and he began to unhitch the horse. + +"Chunk must go back with you," Scoville began. + +"Oh, no," she whispered, "I cannot breathe till you both are well +away. Chunk would be killed instantly--" + +"No matter; he has become a soldier like myself and must take all +risks. I will not leave this spot--I will go with you myself, rather +than leave you here." + +"Why, ob co'se I 'spects ter go back wid you, Miss Lou. You tink I +gwine ter lebe you yere en dat ladder dar ter tell de hull business? +Come wid me." + +"Well, then, good-by, and God keep you, Lieutenant. I shall hope to +see you again." + +"To see YOU again will be my dearest hope. Dear, DEAR little Lou! +how brave you've been! You've won a soldier's whole heart forever. +How can I say good-by? You can't dream how dear you have become to +me. Please, one kiss before we separate." + +Yielding to an impulse then not understood, she put her arm swiftly +about his neck, kissed him, and turned so rapidly toward her home +that Chunk could scarcely keep pace with her. + +They reached the ladder unobserved, and from the roof of the +extension the way to Miss Lou's room was easy. Chunk went to a point +from which he could watch the girl enter her apartment. Putting the +ladder back into the garden, he rejoined Scoville, and together they +made their way in the direction of the retiring Union column. +Scoville never wearied in questioning his attendant about every +detail of Miss Lou's action, while conjectures as to her experiences +often robbed him of sleep. Never was a man more completely won and +held in love's sweet thraldom. + +On regaining her room, Miss Lou hastily threw off her cousin's +clothes and resumed her own apparel. Then she softly and cautiously +opened her door. With the exception of sounds in the lower hall, all +was still, and she slipped out in her stocking-feet, replaced the +uniform on the chairs, stole back and bolted her door. For half an +hour she sat panting on her chair, listening to every sound. Only +the groans of the wounded smote her ears. "Oh, thank God! I do not +hear HIS voice among them," she half sobbed, in pity for those who +WERE suffering. "Well, I can best forget my anxiety about him by +doing something for these poor men. Oh, how strange and true his +words are! He touched my heart at first by just being helpless when +he fell by the run, and everything I do for him seems to make him +dearer. It cannot be that I shall never see him again. Oh, when +shall I forget the way he took me in his arms? It seemed as if he +gave me his whole heart then and couldn't help himself." + +There was a near mutter of thunder. In her deep preoccupation, she +had not noticed the coming of another shower. It proved a short but +heavy one, and she exulted. "The rain will obliterate all our +tracks." + +Calmer thought led to the conclusion that the affair would be very +serious for her if her part in it was discovered. She had acted +almost without thought, without realizing the risks she had +incurred, and now the possible consequences so appalled her that she +resolved to be on her guard in every possible way. "He knew, he +understood the risk I took better than I did then, better than I do +now, perhaps," she breathed softly. "That's so fine in him--that way +he has of making me feel that one's WORTH being cared for." She was +far too excited and anxious to sleep. Wrapping herself up, she +watched at her window. Soon the stars began to twinkle beneath the +clouds in the west, showing that this last shower was a clearing +one, and that the radiance of the moon might soon be undimmed. The +fires along the ridge which, as she believed, still defined the +Union position, were burning low. Suddenly flashes and reports of +firearms in that direction startled her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A HOME A HOSPITAL + + +The sudden night alarm caused by firing on the ridge can be easily +explained. Wearied as were the Confederate general and his men, and +severe as had been the repulse of their first attack, both were +undaunted and, after rest and refreshment, eager to bring the battle +to a more decisive issue, and it was determined to learn long before +morning whether the Federal force was on the ridge or not. During +the last shower a reconnoitring party was sent out stealthily, a few +of the rear-guard captured, from whom it was learned that the Union +column had been on the march for hours. + +Mrs. Whately was wakened and helped her disabled son to dress in +haste. Little did Miss Lou know about the term ALIBI, but she had +the shrewdness to show herself and to appear much alarmed. Opening +her door, she gave a glimpse of herself in night attire with her +long hair hanging over her shoulders, and cried, "Oh, oh, are we +attacked?" + +"If we are you may have sad reason to wish that you had obeyed me +this morning," replied her cousin sternly. "You no more understand +your folly and danger than a child. Now I'm compelled to look after +my prisoners first," and he rushed away. + +"Come in my room, Louise," said her aunt. "Whatever happens, it is +best that we should be together." The girl was so agitated, fearing +that in some way her adventures might be discovered, that she had no +occasion to feign alarm. Mrs. Whately sought only to soothe and +quiet, also to extenuate her son's words. "I don't suppose we truly +realize yet, as Madison does, what war means," she concluded. + +Mr. Baron soon sent up word that there was no special occasion for +further fears, and that the ladies might sleep, if they could, until +morning. + +But there was no more sleep for Mad Whately. As soon as he reached +the spot where the prisoners had been kept he asked sharply, "Where +is that Yankee officer and Perkins?" + +The man then on duty answered, "The sergeant I relieved said that +you took 'im away, sir, and that the man named Perkins followed +you." + +"There's been treachery here," cried Whately in a rage. "Bring that +sergeant here." + +The weary man was half dragged in his sleep to the officer and there +thoroughly awakened by a volley of oaths. He stolidly told his +story, concluding, "I cud a sworn it was you, and the overseer +followed less'n three minutes after you left." + +"'I left'--curse you--don't say that again. You've been fooled or +was asleep and neglected your duty." + +"Well, then, sir," was the dogged reply, "find that overseer who was +a watchin' the Yank like a cat. Ast 'im; ast my men ef I wasn't +awake en ef I didn't s'lute you soon ez you come. There's the +overseer's lantern burnin' yet jis whar he left it." + +At this moment Perkins came staggering toward the fire, with both +hands to his head as if trying to hold it together. His clothes were +muddy, his face was ghastly and he stared at Whately as if the +officer was also a part of a horrid dream. + +Whately seized him roughly by the arm and said sternly, "Speak, man. +What does all this mean? Where's the Yank?" + +"For God's sake, quit," cried Perkins. "I'm nigh dead now. You've +got me in anuff trouble for one night." + +"Trouble--you! What's your trouble to mine? I'm responsible for +these prisoners. Now where's that Yank? Quick, or you WILL have +trouble." + +"I ain't seen 'im since yer took 'im away--YOU. I ain't one of your +understrappers. Ez I wuz follerin' yer some one knocked me down from +behind and nigh onto killed me. I jes gittin' my senses back." + +Although so enraged, Whately knew that as a soldier he must curb his +passion, report the facts immediately and see what could be done. +His superior officer was called, all the parties questioned closely, +the garden and Aun' Jinkey's cabin searched, but no new facts +discovered. The old negress was savagely threatened, but she only +replied, "I dunno, I dunno not'n. Wat got inter you ter tink an ole +tottery, skeered ooman lak me gwine out in de dark en knock Marse +Perkins on de haid?" + +"Where's your grandson, Chunk?" Whately demanded fiercely. + +"He des light out wid de Yankees dis eb'nin'." + +The conclusion guessed at was that Scoville had been rescued by his +own men, who were known to be daring scouts. In the darkness and +confusion after the battle, it was thought they had mingled with the +Confederates, learned the situation of their leader and the general +appearance of Whately with his disabled arm. Arrayed in the Southern +uniform, of which scouts always had a supply, and favored by the +sleepy condition of the guard, one of the scouts had played the +trick which Whately rued so bitterly. Others, on the watch, had +struck down Perkins and carried Scoville off in safety. No other +theory they could hit upon explained so well what was known. The +tricked sergeant was placed under arrest, and Whately, who had gone +to sleep with such high and mighty notions of his prowess and +friendly league with fate, found himself in partial disgrace and in +the depths of mortification. He kept guard over his prisoners in +person the remainder of the night and again had opportunity to +repent at leisure. He mentally cursed himself as a fool, for now he +remembered his mother's words. If he had shown leniency to Scoville, +and brought him into the house, he might have kept the prisoner and +won the goodwill of his cousin. Now, she would probably hear the +humiliating facts and be less inclined either to fear or favor him. +It was well that no suspicion on his part or that of others had +fallen on her, for she was not one who could face coolly a severe +cross-questioning. + +Perkins skulked off to his house, assuaged his aching head with cold +water and his wounded spirit with whiskey. As he tried to think the +matter over a vague suspicion of the truth began to enter his +confused brain. The little slipper with which he had been hit over +the eyes in the morning now became a broad hint. He knew well, +however, that it would be dangerous to make any charges, or even +suggestions, unless he had ample proof. + +When all became quiet again Miss Lou, in spite of deep anxieties, +was overcome by extreme weariness and slept until, in a dream, she +heard Scoville moaning and sighing in the extremity of physical +pain. Starting up, she saw it was broad day. She passed her hand +confusedly over her brow and tried to recall what had occurred, to +understand the sounds which had suggested her dream. Then in a +flash, the strange swirl of events in which she was involved +presented itself and she knew she had wakened to other experiences +beyond even her imagination. The groans of wounded men brought +pitiful tears to her eyes and steadied her nerves by banishing the +thought of self. Whatever might befall her, so much worse was the +fate of others that already she was passing into the solemnity of +spirit inspired by the presence of mortal pain and death. She drew +the curtains of her window and then shrank back, shuddering and +sobbing, for, scattered over the lawn, men and horses lay stark and +motionless. More pitiful still, here and there a wounded horse was +struggling feebly. The spring morning, dewy, bright, fragrant, made +these evidences of strife tenfold more ghastly. There could not be a +more terrible indictment of war than nature's peaceful loveliness. + +By the time she was dressed she was joined by Mrs. Whately, who +looked serious indeed. Before they could descend to the lower hall, +Madison, haggard and gloomy of aspect, intercepted them. Looking at +his cousin's red eyes and pale face, he asked abruptly, "What's the +matter?" + +"Do you think I am accustomed to these sights and sounds?" she +answered. + +"Oh," he said, in a tone which seemed to her heartless, "it's an old +story to me. Mother, I must speak alone with you a moment." + +She turned back with him to her room, meantime saying, "Louise, I do +not think you had better go down without me." + +The girl tremblingly returned to her apartment, fearing that now she +might be forced to confront her own actions. But she was conscious +of a sort of passive courage. Mad Whately's anger, or that of +others, was a little thing compared to the truth that men were dead +and dying all about her. + +"Mother," said her son, "I had cursed luck last night. I wish I had +slept on the rain-soaked ground near my prisoners," and he told her +what had happened. + +"Oh, Madison!" sighed Mrs. Whately, "I wish this experience would +teach you to be more guided by me. Louise cared nothing for this +Yankee, except in a sort of grateful, friendly way. Through him, you +could have done so much to disarm--" + +"Oh, well, mother, the milk is spilled. If possible, let the whole +affair be kept from her knowledge." + +"Yes, I suppose that will be the best way. If she hears about it, we +must try to explain by the usages of war. Now, Madison, you are +cool. Let experience be your teacher, for you MUST face the truth. +You must either give her up--" + +"I'll never give her up." + +"Then, as Major Brockton said, you must win her like a Southern +gentleman. Her spirit is as high as yours. You can't continue to +speak to her as you did last night and this morning. Try to realize +the facts. In the seclusion of her bringing up, Louise has learned +nothing of the conventionalities of society which might incline her +toward a good match on general principles. So far from this, the +many old-fashioned romances she has read have made her feel that she +must and WILL have her romance. If you can make Louise feel that you +love her so well as to become her gallant suitor, circumstances may +soon give you great advantages. She may be cold and indifferent for +a time, but like all passionate high-strung natures, present +impulses against may turn just as strongly for you. At least, you +have not to contend with that most fatal of all attitudes-- +indifference. A great change in you will be a flattering tribute to +her power to which no girl would be indifferent. I must tell you now +once for all that I will not again assist in any high-handed +measures against Louise. Not only the futility of such action, but +my own dignity and sense of right, forbid it. I did not understand +her at first. Now that I do, I am all the more eager to call her +daughter; but I wish her to feel toward me as she should in such a +relation. Yesterday, when I apologized and told her that I meant to +treat her with kindness and fairness, she kissed me like the warm- +hearted girl she is. I will help you win her as a man should win his +wife; I will not be dragged into any more false positions which can +end only in humiliation. I will be your tireless ally in the only +way you can succeed, but in no other." + +"Very well, mother, I agree," said Whately, whose nature it was to +react from one extreme to another. + +"Ah, now I have hope. How is your arm?" + +"It pains horribly." + +Mrs. Whately went to Miss Lou's room and said, "Forgive me for +keeping you waiting. Madison is almost beside himself with pain in +his arm, and I will be detained a little longer." + +In her immense relief that she was not charged with all she dreaded, +Miss Lou had leisure from her fears to feel commiseration for her +cousin. When at last he appeared she said kindly, "I am sorry you +are suffering so much." + +"If I thought you really cared I wouldn't mind the pain," he +replied. "Cousin Lou, I owe an apology, several, I reckon, but I've +been so distracted between conflicting feelings, duties and pain, +that I scarcely know what I say." + +"You little know me if you think I'm weighing WORDS at this time," +she replied. "Come, let us forget the past, shake hands and remember +that we are simply cousins." + +He took her hand instantly, but said, "You ask what is impossible. +Suppose you had said, 'Just remember your arm is well from this +moment,' would it be well? I cannot help my feelings toward you and +don't wish to." + +"Very well, then," she sighed, "I cannot help mine either. I don't +wish to talk on that subject any more." + +"Then I must plead by actions. Well, I must go now." + +Mrs. Whately was much pleased, for her son was adopting just the +course she desired. She added nothing and accompanied Louise +downstairs. + +The amputating table had been removed and the halls cleansed, but +the unmistakable odor of the hospital pervaded the house. Every +apartment on the first floor except the dining-room was filled with +the wounded. Some were flushed and feverish by reason of their +injuries, others, pallid from loss of blood and ebbing vital forces. + +The Confederate general, with his staff, had already made a hasty +breakfast and departed; through the open door came the mellow sound +of bugles and the songs of birds, but within were irrepressible +sighs and groans. Mrs. Whately entered the spacious parlor on the +floor of which Confederate officers lay as close as space for +attendance upon them permitted. The young girl paused on the +threshold and looked around with a pitying, tearful face. A white- +haired colonel was almost at her feet. As he looked up and +recognized her expression, a pleased smile illumined his wan, drawn +face. "Don't be frightened, my child," he said gently. + +The swift glance of her secured attention took in his condition. His +right arm was gone and he appeared ghastly from loss of blood. In +her deep emotion she dropped on her knees beside him, took his cold +hand and kissed it as she said, "Please let me help you and others +get well." + +The old man was strongly touched by her unexpected action, and he +faltered, "Well, my child, you make us all feel that our Southern +girls are worth fighting for and, if need be, dying for. Yes, you +can help us, some of us, in our dying perhaps, as well as in our +mending. My battles are over. You can help best by caring for +younger, stronger men." + +"Such men will not begrudge you anything, sir." + +"Bravo!" cried half a dozen voices, and an officer near added, "Miss +Baron speaks as well and true as you fought, Colonel." + +She looked hastily around. Seeing many friendly smiles and looks of +honest goodwill and admiration she rose confusedly, saying, "I must +go to work at once." + +"I think, Louise," said Mrs. Whately, joining her in the hall, "we +can accomplish most if we work much together and under the +directions of the surgeons. It is evident from the numbers of the +wounded that time, strength, food--everything will have to be used +to the best advantage. I'm glad that we both got some sleep last +night. Now, I insist. Before you do a thing you must have a cup of +hot coffee and some nourishing food yourself. The best impulses in +the world are not equal to the tasks before us. Indeed, we shall +fail these poor men in their sore need if we do not keep our +strength. The worst is yet to come. As far as you can, control your +feelings, for emotion wears faster than work. Let's first go to the +kitchen." + +Zany followed from the dining-room with her hands full of dishes. +She gave Miss Lou a swift, significant glance, and that was all. +Even she was sobered by the scenes witnessed that morning and the +thought of Chunk's indefinite absence. Aun' Suke sat dozing in a +corner, absolutely worn out, and other negroes from the quarters had +been pressed into the service. Mrs. Baron was superintending their +efforts to supply soup and such articles of diet as the surgeons had +ordered. "Ole miss" now shone to advantage and had the executive +ability of a general. In cool, sharp, decisive tones she gave her +orders, which were obeyed promptly by assistants awed into +forgetfulness of everything else except the great, solemn emergency. +All differences had disappeared between the two ladies, and they +began consulting at once how best to meet the prolonged demands now +clearly foreseen. + +"The confusion and conflicting requirements are just awful," said +Mrs. Baron. "As soon as possible, we must bring about some system +and order. One of the first things to do is to get as many +provisions and delicacies as possible under lock and key, especially +the coffee and sugar. They are going to give out anyway, before +long." + +Miss Lou stole away and ran to Aun' Jinkey's cabin. Soldiers had +taken possession of it and were cooking and eating their breakfasts. +Some recognized the girl politely as she stood at the door, while +others continued their occupation in stolid indifference. Aun' +Jinkey rose tottering from a corner and came to the doorstep. "You +see how 'tis, honey," she said. "Dey des gwine on ez ef I ain' yere. +I a hun'erd yeahs ol'er dan I wuz w'en you want sump'n ter hap'n." + +"Take courage, mammy," Miss Lou whispered. "Chunk's safe. Have YOU +had any breakfast?" + +"I can't eat, honey, w'en ev'yting des a whirlin'." + +The girl darted away and in a few moments returned with a cup of +coffee. Entering the cabin, she said, "Fair play, gentlemen. This is +my old mammy's cabin and this her place here in the corner by the +hearth. Will you do me the favor of being kind to her and letting +her remain undisturbed? Then you can use her fireplace all you +please." + +The Southern soldiers, understanding so well the relation between +the girl and the old woman, agreed with many good-natured +protestations, offering to share with Aun' Jinkey their rude +breakfast. + +By the time the girl had returned to the house, she found that Zany +and others had prepared a second breakfast in the dining-room for +the family and such of the officers whose wounds were so slight as +to permit their presence at the table. Miss Lou was placed between +her cousin and a young, dark-eyed officer who was introduced as +Captain Maynard. He also carried his left arm in a sling. + +Mrs. Whately sat in Mr. Baron's place, since he, after a night's +vigils, had retired to obtain a little sleep. "Louise," said the +lady, "you will have to begin being useful at once. You have a +disabled man on either side of you for whom you must prepare food." + +"Miss Baron," said Captain Maynard gallantly, "I am already more +than reconciled to my wound. Anything that you prepare for me will +be ambrosia." + +Whately frowned as he heard these words and saw the immediate +impression made by his cousin upon his brother officer; but a +warning glance from his mother led him to vie in compliments. Before +very long Maynard remarked sotto voce, "If you aid in healing the +wounds made by the Yanks, Miss Baron, who will heal the wounds YOU +make?" + +"I shall not make any, sir. Such thoughts, even in jest, wound me at +this time. Please excuse me, I've had all the breakfast I wish, and +I cannot rest till I am doing something for those who are suffering +so much." + +He rose instantly and drew back her chair. In sitting down again, he +encountered Whately's eyes, and recognized the jealousy and anger +already excited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A TRIBUTE TO A SOUTHERN GIRL + + +Miss Lou entered upon her duties as hospital nurse at once. +Untrammelled even by the knowledge of conventionalities, and with +the directness and fearlessness of a brave child, she went from one +to another, her diffidence quickly banished by her profound +sympathy. The enlisted men on the piazzas received her chief +attentions, nor was she long in discovering the Federal wounded, +crowding the outbuildings and offices. + +With the exception of a rearguard and hospital attendants, the +Confederate forces had marched in pursuit of the Union column. The +dead were buried during the morning and the ghastlier evidences of +strife removed. Along the edge of the grove tents were pitched, some +designed for the soldiers, others for the better accommodation and +isolation of certain critical cases. The negroes performed most of +the labor, Uncle Lusthah counselling patience and quiet acceptance +of their lot for the present. The prisoners were sent South. +Confederate surgeon Ackley was in charge of the hospital, while upon +Whately was conferred the military command. His partial disablement +would not prevent him from attending to the light duties of the +position, the surgeon being practically the superior officer. Order +was quickly restored, guards set at important points, and the +strangely assorted little community passed speedily under a simple +yet rigorous military government. Curiosity, desire of gain, as well +as sympathy, led people to flock to the plantation from far and +near. One of Surgeon Ackley's first steps was to impress upon all +the need of provisions, for Mr. Baron's larder, ample as it had +been, was speedily exhausted. During the day began the transfer of +the slightly wounded to the nearest railroad town, where supplies +could be obtained with more certainty, and it was evident that the +policy of abandoning the remote plantation as soon as possible had +been adopted. + +Miss Lou knew nothing of this, and simply became absorbed in +successive tasks for the time being. + +"Miss Baron," said Surgeon Ackley, "a number of the men are so +disabled that they cannot feed themselves. Proper food at the right +time usually means life." + +These words suggested what became one of her principal duties. At +first, rough men were surprised and grateful indeed to find fair +young girl kneeling beside them with a bowl of hot soup; then they +began to look for her and welcome her as one who evoked their best +and most chivalrous feelings. It had soon been evident to her that +the wounded officers in the house would receive the most careful +attention from the regularly appointed attendants and also from Mrs. +Whately. With the exception of the old colonel, she gradually began +to devote the most of her time to the enlisted men, finding among +them much less embarrassment in her labors. With the latter class +among the Confederates, there was not on either side a consciousness +of social equality or an effort to maintain its amenities. The +relation was the simple one of kindness bestowed and received. + +The girl made the acquaintance of the Union wounded with feelings in +which doubt, curiosity and sympathy were strangely blended. Her +regard for Scoville added to her peculiar interest in his +compatriots. They were the enemies of whom she had heard so much, +having been represented as more alien and foreign than if they had +come across the seas and spoke a different tongue. How they would +receive her had been an anxious query from the first, but she +quickly learned that her touch of kindness made them kin--that they +welcomed her in the same spirit as did her own people, while they +also were animated by like curiosity and wondering interest in +regard to herself. A woman's presence in a field hospital was in +itself strange and unexpected. That this woman should be a Southern +girl, whose lovely features were gentle in commiseration, instead of +rigid from an imperious sense of duty to foes, was a truth scarcely +accepted at first. Its fuller comprehension began to evoke a homage +which troubled the girl. She was too simple and honest to accept +such return for what seemed the natural offices of humanity; yet, +while her manner and words checked its expression, they only +deepened the feeling. + +At first she could scarcely distinguish among the bronzed, begrimed +faces, but before the day passed there were those whose needs and +personal traits enlisted her special regard. This was true of one +middle-aged Union captain, to whom at first she had no call to +speak, for apparently he was not very seriously wounded. Even before +his face was cleansed from the smoke and dust of battle his large, +dark eyes and magnificent black beard caught her attention. Later +on, when feeding a helpless man near him, he spoke to her and held +out a photograph. She took it and saw the features of a blond young +girl scarcely as old as herself. + +"My little girl," said the officer simply. "See how she resembles +her mother. That's one reason why I so idolize her," and he handed +Miss Lou another picture, that of a sweet, motherly face, to which +the former likeness bore the resemblance of bud to blossom. + +"We must try to get you well soon, so that you may go back to them," +said Miss Lou cordially. "You are not seriously hurt, I hope?" + +"No, I think not. I wanted you to see them so you can imagine how +they will look when I tell them about you. I don't need to be +reminded of my little Sadie, but I almost see her when you come +among us, and I think her blue eyes would have much the same +expression as yours. God bless you, for you are blessing those whom +you regard as your enemies. We don't look very hostile though, do +we?" + +"It seems a terrible mistake that you should be here at all as +enemies," she replied. "I have been taught to dread your coming more +than if you were Indians. I never can understand why men who carry +such pictures as these next their heart can fight against us." + +"Well, Miss Baron, you must try to believe that we would not have +left the dear originals of such pictures unless we had felt we must, +and there let the question rest. Our lives are sweet to us, although +we risk them, chiefly because so dear to those at home. Let the +thought cheer you in your work that you are keeping tears from eyes +as good and kind as your own. That's another reason why I showed you +the likenesses." + +"It will be but another motive," she said. "A suffering man, whether +friend or enemy, is enough." + +She smiled as she spoke, then picked her way across the wide barn +floor and disappeared. Every eye followed her, pain all forgotten +for the moment. + +"By G--d!" exclaimed a rough fellow, drawing his sleeve across his +eyes, "I'm hard hit, but I'll crawl to and choke the first man who +says a word she oughtn't to hear when she's around." + +"If you can keep your own tongue civil, Yarry, you'll have your +hands full," said a comrade. + +"Well, I be blankety blank-blanked if that girl doesn't rout the +devil out of a fellow, hoof and horns." + +"You're right, my man," said the Union captain, "and your feelings +do you credit. Now I have a suggestion to make. Not one of us is +capable of using a word before her that she shouldn't hear, if not +out of our heads. We can pay her a better tribute than that. Let us +decide to speak in her absence as if she were present. That's about +all we can do in return for her kindness. She won't know the cost to +us in breaking habits, but we will, and that's better. We all feel +that we'd like to spill some more of our blood for the girl who fed +Phillips yonder as if he were a baby. Well, let us do the only thing +we can--speak as if our mothers heard us all the time, for this +girl's sake." + +"I be blanked if I don't agree, and may the devil fly away with the +man who doesn't," cried Yarry. + +"Ah, Yarry," said the captain, laughing, "you'll have the hardest +row of any of us to hoe. We'll have to let you off for some slips." + +Then began among the majority a harder fight than that for life--a +fight with inveterate habit, an effort to change vernacular, almost +as difficult as the learning of a new language. For some time Miss +Lou did not know nor understand. Word had been passed to other and +smaller groups of the Union wounded in other buildings. The pledge +was soon known as "A Northern Tribute to a Southern Girl." It was +entered into with enthusiasm and kept with a pathetic effort which +many will not understand. Yarry positively began to fail under the +restraint he imposed upon himself. His wound caused him agony, and +profanity would have been his natural expression of even slight +annoyance. All day long grisly oaths rose to his lips. Now and then +an excruciating twinge would cause a half-uttered expletive to burst +forth like a projectile. A deep groan would follow, as the man +became rigid in his struggle for self-control. + +"Yarry," cried Captain Hanfield, who had suggested the pledge, "let +yourself go, for God's sake. You have shown more heroism to-day than +I in all my life. We will make you an exception and put you on +parole to hold in only while Miss Baron is here." + +"I be--oh, blank it! This is going to be the death of me, boys. The +Rebs gave me hell with this wound. But for God's sake don't let her +know. Just let her think I'm civil like the rest of you. Wouldn't +she open them blue eyes if she knew a man was dyin', just holdin' in +cussin' on her account. Ha, ha, ha! She'd think I was a sort of a +Yankee devil, worse than the Injins she expected. Don't let her +know. I'll be quiet enough before long. Then like enough she'd look +at me and say, 'Poor fellow! he won't make any more trouble.'" + +Whately had a busy day and felt that he had a reputation to regain. +He therefore bravely endured much physical pain in his arm and gave +very close attention to duty. Captain Maynard, on the contrary, had +nothing to do, and his wound was only severe enough to make him +restless. The young girl whom he had met at breakfast at once became +by far the most interesting subject for thought and object of +observation. He was a young fellow of the ordinary romantic type, +hasty, susceptible, as ready to fight as to eat, and possessed of +the idea that the way to win a girl was to appear her smitten, +abject slave. The passing hours were ages to him in contrast to his +previous activity, and as he watched Miss Lou going about on her +errands of mercy he quickly passed from one stage to another of +admiration and idealization. Remembering the look that Whately had +given him in the morning, he maintained a distant attitude at first, +thinking his brother officer had claims which he must respect. As he +wandered uneasily around, however, he discovered virtually how +matters stood, and learned of the attempt which Whately had made to +marry his cousin, nolens volens. This fact piqued his interest +deeply and satisfied him that the way was clear for a suit on his +part were he so inclined. Fair rivalry would give only additional +zest, and he promptly yielded to his inclination to become at least +much better acquainted with the girl. At dinner he and Whately vied +in their gallantries, but she was too sad and weary to pay much +attention to either of them. + +Mrs. Whately compelled her to lie down for a time during the heat of +the afternoon, but thoughts of the suffering all about her banished +power to rest. She went down and found the old colonel lying with +closed eyes, feebly trying to keep away the pestering flies. +Remembering the bunch of peacock feathers with which Zany, in old +monotonous days, had waved when waiting on the table, she obtained +it from the dining-room, and sitting down noiselessly by the +officer, gave him a respite from his tormentors. In his drowsiness +he did not open his eyes, but passed into quiet sleep. The girl +maintained her watch, putting her finger to her lips and making +signals for silence to all who came near. Other Confederate officers +observed her wistfully; Mad Whately, coming in, looked at her +frowningly. His desire and purpose toward his cousin had been that +of entire self-appropriation and now she was becoming the cynosure +of many eyes. Among them he saw those of Captain Maynard, who was +already an object of hate. Little recked the enamored captain of +this fact. To his ardent fancy the girl was rapidly becoming ideal +in goodness and beauty. With the ready egotism of the young he was +inclined to believe that fate had brought about the events which had +revealed to him the woman he should marry. A bombshell bursting +among them all would not have created a greater sensation than the +knowledge that the girl's thoughts were following a Yankee, one whom +she herself, by daring stratagem, had released from captivity. + +A twinge of pain awakened the colonel and he looked up, dazed and +uncomprehending. Miss Lou bent over him and said gently, "Go to +sleep again. It's all right." + +"Oh, I remember now. You are Miss Baron." + +"Yes, but don't try to talk; just sleep now that you can." + +He smiled and yielded. + +A few moments later Maynard came forward and said, "Miss Baron, your +arm must be tired. Let me take your place." + +Now she rewarded him by a smile. "I will be glad if you can," she +replied softly, "not that I am very tired, but there are so many +others." + +As she moved away, she saw Surgeon Ackley beckoning to her. "Miss +Baron," he said, "I am going to put one of my patients especially in +your and your aunt's charge. Young as he is, he is a hero and an +unusual character. I have had him moved to a tent, for he is in a +very critical condition. Indeed, his chances for life are few and he +knows it. I am acquainted with his family--one of the best in the +South." + +He led the way to a small tent beneath the shade of a wide-branched +oak. A stretcher had been extemporized into a camp bed and on it lay +a youth not older apparently than the girl herself. His face had the +blood-drained look which many will remember, yet was still fine in +its strong, boyish lines. The down on his upper lip was scarcely +more deeply defined than his straight eyebrows. A negro attendant +sat near fanning him, and Miss Lou first thought that he was asleep. +As she approached with the surgeon he opened his eyes with the dazed +expression so common when the brain is enfeebled from loss of blood. +At first they seemed almost opaque and dead in their blackness, but, +as if a light were approaching from within, they grew bright and +laughing. His smile showed his white, even teeth slightly, and her +look of deep commiseration passed into one of wonder as she saw his +face growing positively radiant with what seemed to her a strange +kind of happiness, as he glanced back and forth from her to the +surgeon. Feebly he raised his finger to his lips as if to say, "I +can't speak." + +"That's right, Waldo; don't try to talk yet. This is Miss Baron. She +will be one of your nurses and will feed you with the best of soup. +We'll bring you round yet." + +He shook his head and smiled more genially, then tried to extend his +hand to the girl, looking his welcome and acceptance of her +ministry. So joyous was his expression that she could not help +smiling in return, but it was the questioning, doubtful smile of one +who did not understand. + +"When she comes," resumed Ackley, "take what she gives you, but +don't talk until I give permission. That will do now. You must take +everything except quiet in small quantities at first." + +His lips formed the words "All right," and smilingly he watched them +depart. + +"I suppose he is not exactly in his right mind," said Miss Lou as +she and the surgeon returned to the house. + +"Many would think so, I reckon," replied Ackley laconically. "He +believes in a heaven and that he's going there. That's the only +queer thing I ever discovered in Waldo. He's worth a lot of trouble, +Miss Baron." + +"It would be right strange if I did not do my best for him, sir." + +"I thought you'd feel so. I want very strong beef soup made for a +few such special cases, who can take but little at a time. I would +like him to have a few teaspoonfuls every two hours. I am going to +trust to you and Mrs. Whately chiefly to look after him in this +respect. We can do little more than help nature in his case." + +Poor Aun' Suke was getting weary again, but she had a heart which +Miss Lou speedily touched in behalf of her patient, and a special +saucepan was soon bubbling over the fire. + +The soup for the evening meal being ready, she began again her task +of feeding the helpless soldiers, visiting, among others, Phillips, +who lay in a half-stupor on the great barn-floor. As she stepped in +among the Federal wounded, she was again impressed by the prevailing +quiet and by the friendly glances turned toward her on every side. +The Union surgeon in charge lifted his hat politely, while such of +the men as were able took off theirs and remained uncovered. The +homage, although quiet, was so marked that she was again +embarrassed, and with downcast eyes went direct to Phillips, gently +roused him and gave him his supper. While she was doing this the men +around her were either silent or spoke in low tones. The thought +grew in her mind, "How these Northern soldiers have been +misrepresented to me! Even when I am approaching and before they are +aware I am near, I hear no rough talk as I do among our men. The +world is so different from uncle's idea of it! Whether these men are +right or wrong, I will never listen patiently again when they are +spoken of as the scum of the earth." + +As she rose and saw the respectful attitude toward her, faltered, +"I--I--wish to thank you for your--your kindness to me." + +At these words there was a general smile even on the wannest and +most pain-pinched face, for they struck the men as very droll. + +"We were under the impression that the kindness was chiefly on your +side," said Captain Hanfield. "Still we are glad you find us a civil +lot of Indians." + +"Please remember," she answered earnestly, "that was not my thought, +but one impressed upon me by those who did not know. Only within a +very short time have I ever seen Northern people or soldiers, and +they treat me with nothing but courtesy." + +"Perhaps you are to blame for that," said the captain pleasantly. + +"I can't help feeling glad that our good opinion is becoming +mutual," she replied, smiling. "Won't you please put on your hats +and let me come and go as a matter of course? I don't like to be +sort of received every time I come. I just want to help those I can +help, to get well." + +"You have only to express your wishes, Miss Baron," was the hearty +reply. + +"Thank you. Is there anything more that I can do for you? Is there +any one who specially needs--" + +As she was glancing round her eyes fell upon Yarry. His face was so +drawn and haggard with pain that, from an impulse of pity, she went +directly to him and said gently, "I fear, sir, you are suffering +very much." + +"I be--oh, hang--there, there, miss, I'll stand it a little longer. +I could stand hell-fire for your sake. I didn't mean to say that. +Guess I better keep still." + +His face, now seen attentively, revealed more to her in tuition than +his words. She stooped by his side and said piteously, "Oh, you are +suffering--I FEEL that you are suffering terribly. I must do +something to relieve you." + +"Oh, now, miss," he replied, forcing a ghastly sort of smile, "I'm +all right, I be--well, I am. Bless your kind heart! Don't worry +about me. I'll smoke my pipe and go to sleep pretty soon. You look +tired yourself, little one. I will feel better if you won't worry +about me, I be--well, I will. I'm just like the other fellows, you +know." + +"I reckon you are a brave, good-hearted man, to think of others when +I KNOW you are suffering so much. I am having very strong soup made +for one of our men, and I'll bring you some by and by," and with a +lingering, troubled look into his rugged face, she departed. + +His eyes followed her until she disappeared. + +"Yarry, you are rewarded," Captain Hanfield remarked. + +"--my reward. Fellers, she's just wearin' herself out for us. I +don't want no reward for anything I can do for her. Well, I'm goin' +to shut up now. The only thing I can do for her is to hold my tongue +till it can't wag. I told her I'd smoke my pipe and go to sleep. I +be--well, I will. Light it for me, Tom. When she comes, like enough +I'll be asleep, a sort of DEAD sleep, yer know. Just let her think +I'm dozin' after my pipe. Don't let her try to wake me and worry +about me." + +"All shall be as you wish, Yarry," said Captain Hanfield. "I tell +you, men, few women ever received such a tribute as Yarry is paying +this Southern girl. For one, I'm proud of him." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM + + +When Miss Lou returned to the house supper was ready and she sat +down weary, saddened and preoccupied by the scenes she had +witnessed. + +"You are going beyond your strength," said Captain Maynard, who had +watched her coming back from the Federal wounded. "Cannot you be +content to confine your ministrations to your friends only?" + +"For once I can agree with Captain Maynard," Whately added stiffly. +"I don't think it's right for you, cousin, to be going among those +rough, brutal fellows." + +Instantly her anger flamed at the injustice of the remark and she +answered hotly, "I've found no rough, brutal fellows among the +Yankees." + +All smiled at her words, and Ackley remarked to one of the Union +surgeons, "Dr. Borden, I thought our men could hold their own pretty +well with the Army in Flanders, but you Yanks, I reckon, surpass all +military organizations, past or present. There was one man +especially who fairly made the night lurid and left a sulphurous +odor after him when he was brought in. It would be rather rough on +us all if we were where he consigned us with a vim that was +startling. I certainly hope that Miss Baron is not compelled to hear +any such language." + +"I appeal to Miss Baron herself," said Dr. Borden, "if she has been +offended in this respect to-day?" + +"No, indeed, I have not," replied the girl indignantly. "I never was +treated with more courtesy. I have not heard a rough word from the +Yankees even when they did not know I was near, and that is more +than I can say of our own men. Fight the Yankees all you please, but +don't do them injustice." + +In spite of the girl's flushed, incensed face, there was an +explosion of laughter. "Pardon me, Miss Baron," said Ackley, "but +you can't know how droll your idea of injustice to the Yankees seems +to us. That you have such an idea, however, is a credit to you and +to them also, for they must have been behaving themselves +prodigiously." + +"Yes, Dr. Ackley," replied Borden emphatically, "Miss Baron's +impressions ARE a credit to her and to my patients. They promptly +recognized her motives and character, and for her sake they pledged +themselves that while here, where she is one of the nurses, they +would not use language at any time which they would not have their +mothers hear. That very man you speak of, who swore so last night, +believes himself dying from his effort at self-restraint. This is +not true, for he would have died anyhow, but his death is hastened +by his effort. He has been in agony all day. Opiates make him worse, +so there is no use of giving them. But I can tell you, no man in +your Confederacy ever did a braver thing than he is doing this +minute to show his respect for this young lady who has shown +kindness to his comrades. I can assure you, Lieutenant Whately, that +you need have no fears about your cousin when visiting my patients." + +"What's the name of the soldier of whom you speak?" Miss Lou asked +eagerly. + +"He is called Yarry. I don't know any other name yet--been so busy +dressing wounds." + +"Thank you," faltered the girl, rising, her face showing signs of +strong emotion. + +"Oh, Louise! finish your supper," expostulated Mrs. Whately. "You +must not let these scenes take so strong a hold"--but she was out of +hearing. "I fear it's all going to be too much for her," sighed the +lady in conclusion. + +Mr. Baron and his wife exchanged grim glances from the head and foot +of the table, as much as to say, "She has shaken off our control and +we are not responsible," but Ackley remarked, "I agree with you, Dr. +Borden, that it's fine to see a girl show such a spirit, and I +congratulate you that your men are capable of appreciating it. By +the way, Mrs. Whately, I have put her, with you, in charge of young +Waldo and truly hope that among us we can bring him through." + +"Mrs. Whately," said Captain Maynard, "I reckon more than one of us +begin to regret already that we were not so desperately wounded as +to need your attention and that of Miss Baron. We must remember, +however, that she is not accustomed to these scenes, and I think we +must try to make her forget them at the table. I suppose in the +kindness of her heart she is now crying in her room over that +Yankee." Whately shot a savage glance at the speaker which plainly +implied, "It's none of your business where she is." Suddenly rising, +he departed also, his mother's eyes following him anxiously. + +Miss Lou was not crying in her room. As the level rays of the sun +shone into the wide old barn, making the straw in a mow doubly +golden, and transforming even the dusty cobwebs into fairy lacework, +she crossed the threshold and paused for the first time in her +impulsive haste to find and thank the dying man of whom she had been +told. All eyes turned wonderingly toward her as she stood for a +moment in the sunshine, as unconscious of herself, of the marvellous +touch of beauty bestowed by the light and her expression, as if she +had flown from the skies. + +"Is there a soldier here named Yarry?" she began, then uttered a +little inarticulate cry as she saw Captain Hanfield kneeling beside +a man to whom all eyes directed her. "Oh, it's he," she sobbed, +kneeling beside him also. "As soon as I heard I felt it was he who +told me not to worry about him. Is--is he really dying?" + +"Yes, I hope so, Miss Baron," replied the captain gravely. "He +couldn't live and it's time he had rest." + +The girl bent over the man, her hot tears falling on his face. He +opened his eyes and looked vacantly at her for a moment or two, then +smiled in recognition. It was the most pathetic smile she had ever +imagined. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I'm just dozin' off." + +"Oh, my poor, brave hero!" she said brokenly, "I know, I know it +all. God reward you, I can't." + +"Don't want no reward. I be--say, miss, don't wear--yourself--out +fer us." + +She took his cold hand and bowed her forehead upon it, sobbing aloud +in the overpowering sense of his self-forgetfulness. "O God!" she +cried, "do for this brave, unselfish man what I cannot. When, WHEN +can I forget such a thing as this! Oh, live, please live; we will +take such good care of you." + +"There, there, little one, don't--take on--so about--me. Ain't wuth +it. I be--Say, I feel better--easier. Glad--you spoke--good word to +God--for me. I be--I mean, I think--He'll hear--sech as you. I'm-- +off now. Don't--wear--yourself--" + +Even in her inexperience she saw that he was dying, and when his +gasping utterance ceased she had so supported his head that it fell +back on her bosom. For a few moments she just cried helplessly, +blinded with tears. Then she felt the burden of his head removed and +herself lifted gently. + +"I suspected something like this when you left the table, Miss +Baron," said Dr. Borden. + +"Oh, oh, oh, I feel as if he had died for me," she sobbed. + +"He would a died for you, miss," said Tom, drawing his sleeve across +his eyes, "so would we all." + +"Miss Baron," resumed the doctor gravely, "remember poor Yarry's +last words, 'Don't wear yourself--he couldn't finish the sentence, +but you know what he meant. You must grant the request of one who +tried to do what he could for you. As a physician also I must warn +you to rest until morning. You can do more for these men and others +by first doing as Yarry wished," and he led her away. + +They had not gone far before they met Uncle Lusthah. The girl +stopped and said, "Doctor, won't you let Uncle Lusthah bury him to- +morrow down by the run? I'll show him the place." + +"Yes, Miss Baron, we all will do anything you wish if you only rest +to-night. I tell you frankly you endanger yourself and your chance +to do anything more for the wounded by continuing the strain which +these scenes put upon you." + +"I reckon you're right," she said, "I feel as if I could hardly +stand." + +"I know. Take my arm and go at once to your room." + +On the way they encountered Whately. "Cousin! where on earth have +you been? You look ready to faint." + +His presence and all that he implied began to steady her nerves at +once, but she made no reply. + +"She has witnessed a painful scene, Lieutenant," began the surgeon. + +"You have no business to permit her to witness such scenes," Whately +interrupted sternly. "You should see that she's little more than an +inexperienced child and--" + +"Hush, sir," said Miss Lou. "Who has given you the right to dictate +to me or to this gentleman? I'm in no mood for any more such words, +cousin. To-day, at least, no one has taken advantage of my +inexperience. Good-evening," and she passed on, leaving him chafing +in impatient anger and protest. + +At the house Mrs. Whately began expostulations also, but the girl +said, "Please don't talk to me now. By and by I will tell you what +will touch all the woman in your heart." + +"I earnestly suggest," added Dr. Borden, "that you take Miss Baron +to her room, and that nothing more be said to disturb her. She is +overwrought and has reached the limit of endurance." + +The lady had the tact to acquiesce at once. After reaching her room +Miss Lou exclaimed, "But I have not been to young Waldo." + +"I have," replied her aunt, "and will see him again more than once +before I retire. Louise, if you would not become a burden yourself +at this time you must do as the doctor says." + +Within an hour the girl was sleeping and her nature regaining the +strength and elasticity of youth. + +As Whately stood fuming where his cousin had left him, Perkins +approached for the first time since they had parted in anger the +night before. + +"I reck'n Miss Baron's gone over ter the inemy," remarked the +overseer. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Look yere, Leftenant, what's the use o' you bein' so gunpowdery +with me? What's the use, I say? I mout be of some use ter you ef you +wuz civil." + +"Of what use were you last night? You allowed my prisoner to be +carried off right under your nose." + +"Who carried 'im off? Answer that." + +"Why, some gawk of a Yank that you were too stupid to tell from me." + +"P'raps hit was, p'raps hit wasn't." + +"Who else could it be?" + +"I s'picion who it was, but I'm not goin' ter talk to one who's got +nothin' better to give me 'n uggly words." + +"You don't mean to say--" + +"I don't mean to say nothin' till I know who I'm talkin' ter." + +Whately gave a long, low whistle and then muttered "Impossible!" + +"Oh, sut'ny," remarked Perkins ironically. + +The two men gave each other a long searching look; then Perkins +resumed, "That's right, Leftenant, take yer bearin's. I don't see ez +you kin do me any special good, ner harm nuther. Ef yer want no news +or help from me, we kin sheer off right yere en now." + +"I say your suspicion is absurd," resumed Whately, as if arguing +with himself. "When the alarm, caused by firing, came last night, it +happened she was in her room and was badly frightened." + +"What time did the alarm happen?" + +"About two o'clock." + +"Wal, about midnight a figger that favored you 'mazingly, yes, ter +yer very walk, came up boldly en sez ter me, nodding at the Yank, +'Leave 'im ter me.' The figger wasn't jes' dressed like you in +'Federate uniform, but I kin a'most swear the figger had on them +clo's and that hat you're a wearin' now; arm in sling, too. What's +mo', when I thought hit over I was cock sure the figger wuz +shorter'n you air. I don't believe there's a Yank livin' that could +a fooled me last night, 'less he had yer clo's on en yer walk." + +"My uniform and hat hung on the chairs beside me, just where they +had been put when I went to sleep." + +"Jes' tell me ef the do' o' yer room wuz locked." + +"I wasn't in a room. I slept at the end of the hall." + +"Then enybody could git 'em en put 'em back while you wuz asleep." + +"She couldn't knock you senseless. You're talking wild." + +"I've schemed that out. Thar's tracks in the gyardin not so blinded +but they kin give a hint ter a blind hoss. Thar's a track nigh whar +I fell mighty like what that infernal nigger Chunk ud make. Beyond, +ez ef some uns had hidden in the bushes, right in the gyarden bed, +air two little woman-like tracks en two men tracks." + +Whately ground his teeth and muttered an oath. + +"I don't s'pose I kin prove anything 'clusive," resumed Perkins, "en +I don't s'pose it ud be best ef I could. Ef she was up ter such +deviltry, of co'se you don't want hit gen'ly known. Bigger ossifers +'n you ud have ter notice it. Ef I was in yu shoes howsomever, in +huntin' shy game, I could use sech a clar s'picion agin her en be +mo' on my gyard inter the bargain." + +"I can use it and will," said Whately, sternly. "Perkins, keep your +eyes wide open in my behalf. If that Yankee or Chunk ever come +within our reach again--the nigger stole my horse and brought the +Yank here too in time to prevent the wedding, I believe." + +"Reck'n he did, Leftenant." + +"Well, he and his master may be within our reach again. We had +better not be seen much together. I will reward you well for any +real service," and he strode away in strong perturbation. + +"Hang your reward," muttered Perkins. "You think you're goin' ter +use me when the boot's on t'other foot. You shall pay me fer doin' +my work. I couldn't wish the gal nuthin' worse than ter marry you. +That ud satisfy my grudge agin her, but ef I get my claws on that +nigger en dom'neerin' Yank of a master"--his teeth came together +after the grim fashion of a bulldog, by way of completing his +soliloquy. + +The spring evening deepened from twilight into dusk, the moon rose +and shone with mild radiance over the scene that had abounded in +gloom, tragedy and adventure the night before. The conflict which +then had taken place now caused the pathetic life-and-death +struggles occurring in and about the old mansion. In the onset of +battle muscle and the impulse to destroy dominated; now the heart, +with its deep longings, its memories of home and kindred, the soul +with its solemn thoughts of an unknown phase of life which might be +near, came to the fore, rendering the long, doubtful straggle +complex indeed. + +The stillness was broken only by the steps and voices of attendants +and the irrepressible groans of those who watched for the day with +hope that waxed and waned as the case might be. Uncle Lusthah +yearned over the Federal wounded with a great pity, the impression +that they were suffering for him and his people banishing sleep. He +hovered among them all night long, bringing water to fevered lips +and saying a word of Christian cheer to any who would listen. + +Miss Lou wakened with the dawn and recognized with gladness that her +strength and courage for work had been restored. Even more potent +than thoughts of Scoville was the impulse to be at work again, +especially among those with whom she inevitably associated him. +Dressing hastily, she went first to see the old Confederate colonel. +He was evidently failing fast Ackley and an attendant were watching +him. He looked at the girl, smiled and held out his hand. She took +it and sat down beside him. + +"Ah!" he said feebly, "this is a good deal better than dying alone. +Would you mind, my child, writing some things I would like to say to +my family?" + +Miss Lou brought her portfolio and tearfully received his dying +messages. + +"Poor little girl!" said the colonel, "you are witnessing scenes +very strange to you. Try to keep your heart tender and womanly, no +matter what you see. Such tears as yours reveal the power to help +and bless, not weakness. I can say to YOU all the sacred, farewell +words which would be hard to speak to others." + +Brokenly, with many pauses from weakness, he dictated his last +letter, and she wrote his words as well as she could see to do so. +"They will be all the sweeter and more soothing for your tears, my +dear," he said. + +He kept up with wonderful composure until he came to his message to +"little Hal," his youngest child. Then the old soldier broke down +and reached out his arms in vain yet irrepressible longing. "Oh, if +I could kiss the little fellow just once before--" he moaned. + +For a few moments he and the girl at his side just wept together, +and then the old man said almost sternly, "Tell him to honor his +mother and his God, to live for the South, for which his father +died. Say, if he will do this he shall have my blessing, not +without. Now, my child, I trust this letter to you. Good-by and God +bless you. I wish to be alone a little while and face the last enemy +calmly." + +As she knelt down and kissed him tears again rushed to his eyes and +he murmured, "That was good and sweet of you, my child. Keep your +heart simple and tender as it is now. Good-by." + +Returning to her room with the portfolio she met her cousin in the +upper hall. He fixed his eyes searchingly upon her and with the air +of one who knew very much began, "Cousin Lou, my eyes are not so +often blinded with tears as yours, yet they see more perhaps than +you are aware of. I'm willing to woo you as gallantly as can any +man, but you've got to keep some faith with me as the representative +of our house and of the cause which, as a Southern girl, should be +first always in its claims." + +Her heart fluttered, for his words suggested both knowledge and a +menace. At the same time the scenes she had passed through, +especially the last, lifted her so far above his plane of life that +she shrank from him with something very like contempt. + +"Do you know what I have been writing?" she asked sternly. + +"I neither know nor care. I only wish you to understand that you +cannot trifle with me nor wrong me with impunity." + +"Oh!" she cried, with a strong repellant gesture, "why can't YOU see +and understand? You fairly make me loathe the egotism which, in +scenes like these, can think only of self. As if I had either time +or inclination to be trifling with you, whatever you mean by that. +Brave men are dying heroically and unselfishly, thinking of others, +while 'I, me and gallant wooing,' combined with vague threats +against one whom you are in honor bound to protect, are the only +words on your lips. How can you be so unmanly? What are you, +compared with that noble old colonel whose last words I have just +received? If you care a straw for my opinion, why are you so foolish +as to compel me to draw comparisons? Do, for manhood's sake, forget +yourself for once." + +He was almost livid from rage as he replied harshly, "You'll rue +these words!" + +She looked at him scornfully as she said, "It's strange, but your +words and expression remind me of Perkins. He might make you a good +ally." + +In his confusion and anger he blurted out, "Little wonder you think +of him. You and that accursed nigger, Chunk--" + +"Hush!" she interrupted in a low, imperious voice, "hush, lest as +representative of our house you disgrace yourself beyond hope." And +she passed quickly to her room. + +Within less than an hour he was asking himself in bitter self- +upbraiding, "What have I gained? What can I do? Prefer charges +against my own cousin which I cannot prove? Impossible!--Oh, I've +been a fool again. I should have kept that knowledge secret till I +could use it for a definite purpose. I'll break her spirit yet." + +If he had seen her after she reached her room he might have thought +it broken then. Vague dread of the consequences of an act which, +from his words, she believed he knew far more about than he did, +mingled with her anger and feelings of repugnance. "Oh," she moaned, +"it was just horrible; it was coming straight down from the sublime +to the contemptible. That noble old colonel took me to the very gate +of heaven. Now I'm fairly trembling with passion and fear. Oh, why +will Cousin Mad always stir up the very worst of my feelings! I'd +rather suffer and die as poor Yarry did than marry a man who WILL +think only of his little self at such a time as this!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AUN' JINKEY'S SUPREME TEST + + +The first long tragic day of hospital experience had so absorbed +Miss Lou as to relegate into the background events which a short +time before had been beyond her wildest dreams. In the utter +negation of her life she had wished that something would happen, and +so much had happened and so swiftly that she was bewildered. The +strangest thing of all was the change in herself. Lovers of the +Whately and Maynard type could only repel by their tactics. She was +too high-spirited to submit to the one, and too simple and sincere, +still too much of a child, to feel anything but annoyance at the +sentimental gallantry of the other. The genial spirit of comradeship +in Scoville, could it have been maintained through months of +ordinary life, would probably have prepared the way for deeper +feeling on the part of both, but there had been no time for the +gradual development of goodwill and friendly understanding into +something more. They had been caught in an unexpected whirl of +events and swept forward into relations utterly unforeseen. He owed +his escape from much dreaded captivity and his very life to her, +and, as he had said, these facts, to her generous nature, were even +more powerful in their influence than if she herself had received +the priceless favors. At the same time, her course toward him, +dictated at first by mere humanity, then goodwill, had made his +regard for her seem natural even to her girlish heart. If she had +read it all in a book, years before, she would have said, "A man +couldn't do less than love one when fortune had enabled her to do so +much for him." So she had simply approved of his declaration, down +by the run, of affection for which she was not yet ready, and she +approved of him all the more fondly because he did not passionately +and arbitrarily demand or expect that she should feel as he did, in +return. "I didn't," she had said to herself a score of times, "and +that was enough for him." + +When later, for his sake, she faced the darkness of midnight, a +peril she dared not contemplate, and the cruel misjudgment which +would follow her action if discovered, something deeper awoke in her +nature--something kindled into strong, perplexing life when, in his +passionate gratitude, he had snatched her in his arms and, as she +had said, "given her his whole heart because he couldn't help +himself." From that moment, on her part there had been no more +merely kind, tranquil thoughts about Scoville, but a shy, trembling, +blushing self-consciousness even when in solitude his image rose +before her. + +As she sought to regain composure after the last interview with her +cousin, and to think of her best course in view of what seemed his +dangerous knowledge, a truth, kept back thus far by solemn and +absorbing scenes, suddenly became dear to her. The spirit of all- +consuming selfishness again manifested by Whately, revealed as never +before the gulf of abject misery into which she would have fallen as +his wife. "If it hadn't been for Lieutenant Scoville I might now +have been his despairing bond slave," she thought; "I might have +been any way if the Northern officer were any other kind of a man, +brutal, coarse, as I had been led to expect, or even indifferent and +stupid. I might have been forced into relations from which I could +not escape and then have learned afterward what noble, unselfish men +there are in the world. Oh, I COULD marry Allan Scoville, I could +love him and devote my life to him wholly, knowing all the time that +I needn't protect myself, because he would always be a kinder, +truer, better protector. How little I have done for him compared +with that from which he has saved me!" + +There was a knock at the door and Zany quickly entered. "I des slip +off while ole miss in de sto'-room, ter gib you a warnin', Miss Lou. +Hain't had no charnce till dis minit. Dat ar ole fox, Perkins, been +snoopin' roun' yistidy arter we un's tracks en las' night he tell +Mad Whately a heap ob his 'jecterin'." + +"But, Zany," said Miss Lou, "you don't think they KNOW anything." + +"Reck'n hit's all des 'jecterin'," Zany replied. "Kyant be nufin' +else. We des got ter face hit out. Doan you fear on me. We uns mus' +des star stupid-like ef dey ax questions," and she whisked off +again. + +The girl felt that the spirit of Zany's counsel would be the best +policy to adopt. While she might not "star stupid-like," she could +so coldly ignore all reference to Scoville's escape as to embarrass +any one who sought to connect her with it. In the clearer +consciousness of her feeling toward the Union officer her heart grew +glad and strong at the thought of the service she had rendered him, +nor did it shrink at suffering for his sake. A gratitude quite as +strong as his own now possessed her that he had been the means of +keeping her from a union dreaded even as an ignorant child, and now +known, by the love which made her a woman, to be earthly perdition. + +"Having escaped that," she reflected, "there's nothing else I +greatly fear," and she went down to breakfast resolving that she +would be so faithful in her duties as a nurse that no one in +authority would listen to her cousin or Perkins if they sought to +make known their surmises. + +Ignorant of her son's action and its results, Mrs. Whately met her +niece kindly and insisted that she should not leave the dining-room +until she had partaken of the breakfast now almost ready. Captain +Maynard joined her with many expressions of a solicitude which the +girl felt to be very uncalled for, yet in her instinct to propitiate +every one in case her action should be questioned, she was more +friendly to him than at any time before. Meanwhile, she was asking +herself, "What would they do to me if all was found out?" and +sustaining herself by the thought, "Whatever they do to me, they +can't reach Lieutenant Scoville." + +It was gall and bitterness to Whately to find her talking affably to +Maynard, but before the meal was over she had the address to disarm +him in some degree. For his own sake as well as hers and the +family's she thought, "I must not irritate him into hasty action. If +he should find out, and reveal everything, no matter what happened +to me, he would bring everlasting disgrace on himself and relatives. +I could at least show that my motives were good, no matter how +soldiers, with their harsh laws, might act toward me; but what +motive could excuse him for placing me, a young girl and his cousin, +in such a position?" + +Whately had already satisfied himself that no pretence of zeal for +the service could conceal his real motive or save him from general +scorn should he speak of the mere conjectures of a man like Perkins. +He had never meant to speak of them publicly, simply to use his +knowledge as a means of influencing his cousin. He now doubted the +wisdom of this. Reacting from one mood to another, as usual, his +chief hope now was that some unexpected turn of fortune's wheel +would bring his opportunity. The one thing which all the past +unfitted him to accept was personal and final denial. His egotism +and impatience at being crossed began to manifest itself in another +direction, one suggested by Maynard's evident susceptibility to his +cousin's attractions. "Here is a chance," he thought, "of righting +myself in Lou's eyes. If this fellow, thrown into her society by the +fortune of war, not by courtesy, presumptuously goes beyond a +certain point in his attentions, Cousin Lou will find that no knight +of olden time would have fought for her quicker than I will. Mother +says she is one who must have her romance. She may have it with a +vengeance. It may open her eyes to the truth that a spirit like mine +brooks no opposition, and when she sees that I am ready to face +death for her she will admire, respect, and yield to a nature that +is haughty and like that of the old nobility." + +Thus he blinded himself in these vain, silly vaporings, the result +of a false training and the reading of stilted romances. The thought +of studying the girl's character, of doing and being in some degree +what would be agreeable to her, never occurred to him. That kind of +good sense rarely does occur to the egotistical, who often fairly +exasperate those whom they would please by utter blindness to the +simple things which ARE pleasing. Miss Lou had read more old +romances than he, but she speedily outgrew the period in which she +was carried away by the fantastic heroes described. They became in +her fancy the other extreme of the matter-of-fact conditions in +which her uncle and aunt had lived, and as we have seen, she longed +to know the actual world, to meet with people who did not seem alien +to her young and natural sympathies. Each new character she met +became a kind of revelation to her. She was the opposite pole of the +society belle, whose eyes have wearied of humanity, who knows little +and cares less for anything except her mirrored image. With +something of the round-eyed curiosity and interest of a child, she +looked at every new face, asking herself, "What is he like?" not +whether he will like and admire me, although she had not a little +feminine pleasure in discovering that strangers were inclined to do +this. Her disapproval of Maynard arose chiefly from the feeling that +his gallantry at such a time, with the dead and dying all about +them, was "more shocking than a game of cards on Sunday." She +regarded his attentions, glances, tones, as mere well-bred +persiflage, indulged in for his own amusement, and she put him down +as a trifler for his pains. That he, as she would phrase it, "was +just smitten without any rhyme or reason" seemed preposterous. She +had done nothing for him as she had for Scoville. The friendly or +the frankly admiring looks of strangers, the hearty gratitude and +goodwill of the wounded, she could accept with as much pleasure as +any of her sex; but she had not yet recognized that type of man who +looks at a pretty woman and is disposed to make love to her at once. +"Why does Captain Maynard stare at me so?" she asked herself, "when +I don't care a thistle for him and never will. Why should I care? +Why should he care? Does he think I'm silly and shallow enough to be +amused by this kind of thing when that brave old colonel is dying +across the hall?" + +It was a relief to her to escape from him and Whately and to visit +even poor Waldo, dying also, as she believed. "Dr. Ackley," she +said, "you may trust me to give him his food now every two hours. I +won't break down again." + +"You did not break down, Miss Baron. All my nurses have their hours +off. Why shouldn't you? I reckon," he added, smiling, "you'll have +to obey my orders like the rest. I will go with you again on this +visit." + +To her the youth seemed ghastlier than ever, but the expression of +gladness in his eyes was unchanged. + +"Miss Baron feels very remorseful that she has not been to see you +before," said Dr. Ackley, "but her labors yesterday were so many and +varied that she had to rest. She will do better by you to-day." + +Waldo could only reach his hand feebly toward her in welcome. She +took the brown, shapely hand in both of hers and it made her sad to +feel how cold and limp it was. "But a few hours ago," she thought, +"it was striking blows with a heavy sabre."--"I have brought you +some strong, hot soup," she said gently, "and shall bring it every +two hours. You'll be very good and take it from me, won't you?" + +He laughed as he nodded assent. + +"When can I begin to read to him, doctor, to help him pass the +time?" + +"Perhaps to-morrow if he does well, but never more than a few +minutes together until I permit. Slow and sure, Waldo, slow and sure +are my orders, and you are too good a soldier to disobey." + +He shook his head mischievously and whispered "Insubordinate." + +The doctor nodded portentously and said, "If you and Miss Baron +don't obey orders I'll put you both under arrest." + +This seemed to amuse the young fellow immensely and he was about to +speak again, but the surgeon put his finger to his lips and +departed. + +As she was feeding him with eyes full of gentle commiseration his +lips framed the words, "You can talk to me." + +She scarcely knew how to do this. There were questions she was eager +to ask, for his strange, exuberant happiness under the circumstances +were hard to understand, even after Dr. Ackley's explanation. She +had never seen religion produce any such results. Uncle Lusthah +seemed to her very sincere and greatly sustained in his faith, but +he had always been to her a sorrowful, plaintive figure, mourning +for lost kindred whom slavery had scattered. Like the ancient +prophets also, his heart was ever burdened by the waywardness of the +people whom he exhorted and warned. In young Waldo appeared a +joyousness which nothing could quench. From the moment she obtained +a clew to his unexpected behavior, everything in his manner accorded +with the surgeon's explanation. In his boyish face and expression +there was not a trace of the fanatical or abnormal. He seemed to +think of Heaven as he did of his own home, and the thought of going +to the one inspired much the same feeling as returning to the other. + +"Well," said Miss Lou, after a little hesitancy, "it is a pleasure +to wait on one who is so brave and cheerful. It makes me feel +ashamed of worrying over my troubles." + +He motioned her to get something under his pillow and she drew out a +small Testament. With the ease of perfect familiarity he turned the +leaves and pointed to the words, "Come unto me, all ye that labor +and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He looked up at her, +smiled brightly, and shook his head when he saw tears in her eyes. +Again he turned the leaves and pointed to other words, "Beloved, +think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, +as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, +inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his +glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." +His expression was wonderfully significant in its content, for it +was that of one who had explained and accounted for everything. + +"Oh," she faltered, "I wish I felt as you do, believed as you do. I +hope you will get strong soon. I would like to tell you some things +which trouble me very much, and there is no one I can tell." + +"By and by," he whispered. "Don't worry. All right." + +"Oh, what does this mean?" she thought as she returned to the house. +"Awfully wounded, suffering, dying perhaps, yet 'glad with an +exceeding joy'! Uncle and aunt haven't any idea of such a religion, +and for some reason Dr. Williams never gave me any such idea of it +at church. Why didn't he? Was it my fault? What he said seemed just +words that made little or no impression. Since he tried to marry me +to Cousin Mad I feel as if I could scarcely bear the sight of him." + +Yet he was the first one to greet her on the veranda. He spoke with +formal kindness, but she responded merely by a grave salutation, and +passed on, for she felt that he should have understood and protected +her in the most terrible emergency of her young life. + +Having looked after the safety of his family, he had returned with +the best and sincerest intentions to minister to the wounded. If the +good he would do corresponded with these intentions he would have +been welcomed in most instances; but he possessed that unfortunate +temperament which is only one remove for the better from a cold +indifference to his sacred duties. He did not possess a particle of +that mysterious, yet in his calling priceless, gift termed magnetism +for the lack of a better definition. All respected him, few warmed +toward him or thought of opening to him their hearts. His mind was +literal, and within it the doctrines were like labelled and separate +packages, from which he took from time to time what he wanted as he +would supplies from a store-room. God was to him a Sovereign and a +Judge who would save a few of the human race in exact accordance +with the creed of the Church in which the good man had been trained. +What would happen to those without its pale was one of those solemn +mysteries with which he had naught to do. Conscientious in his idea +of duty to the last degree, he nevertheless might easily irritate +and repel many minds by a rigid presentation of the only formula of +faith which he deemed safe and adequate. It seemed his chief aim to +have every form and ceremony of his Church complied with, and then +his responsibility ceased. He and Mr. Baron had taken solid comfort +in each other, both agreeing on every point of doctrine and +politics. Both men honestly felt that if the world could be brought +to accept their view of life and duty little would be left to be +desired. When summoned to perform the marriage ceremony Dr. Williams +no more comprehended the desperate opposition of Miss Lou to the +will of her guardian, the shrinking, instinctive protest of her +woman's nature, than he did the hostility of so many in the world to +the tenets of his faith. His inability to understand the feelings, +the mental attitude of others who did not unquestioningly accept his +views and approve the action of the "powers that be" was perhaps the +chief obstacle to his usefulness. He was not in the least degree +intolerant or vindictive toward those who opposed him; his feeling +rather was, "This is your opportunity. I gladly afford it and there +my responsibility ceases"--a comfortable sort of belief to many, but +one that would not satisfy a warm, earnest nature like Paul's, who +said, "To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I +am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." +Paul would have found some way to reach the ear and heart of nearly +every wounded man in the extemporized hospital, but for the reasons +suggested the visits of poor Dr. Williams soon began to be very +generally dreaded. Old Uncle Lusthah had far better success with +those who would listen to him. + +Miss Lou soon found her way to the Federal wounded again. While +agreeably to her wishes there was no formality in her reception, it +was evident that the poor fellows had now learned to regard her with +deep affection. + +"I have told them all," said Dr. Borden who received her, "that you +did as Yarry wished, that you took a good rest and were looking this +morning as you should, and it has pleased them greatly. Phillips +died last night, and has been removed. He hadn't any chance and did +not suffer much. Remembering your wishes, we kept Yarry here. He +lies there as if he were dozing after his pipe, as he wished you to +think." + +The girl stepped to the side of the dead soldier and for a moment or +two looked silently into the still, peaceful face. Quietly and +reverently the surgeon and others took off their hats and waited +till she should speak. "Oh," she breathed softly at last, "how +thoughtful and considerate you have been! You have made this brave, +unselfish man look just as if he were quietly sleeping in his +uniform. There is nothing terrible or painful in his aspect as he +lies there on his side. Poor generous-hearted fellow! I believe he +is at rest, as now he seems to be. I want you all to know," she +added, looking round, "that he shall be buried where I can often +visit his grave and keep it from neglect, for I can never forget the +kindness that he--that you all have shown me. Dr. Borden, I will now +show Uncle Lusthah the place where I wish the grave to be, and when +all is ready I will come and follow poor Yarry to it. Do you think +there ought to be a minister? There is one here now--Dr. Williams, +who has a church near the Court House." + +"Just as you wish, Miss Baron. For one, I think a prayer from Uncle +Lusthah, as you call him, would do just as well and be more in +accordance with Yarry's feelings if he could express them. The old +negro has been in and out nearly all night, waiting on the men, and +has won their goodwill. He certainly is a good old soul." + +"I agree with the doctor," added Captain Hanfield. "Were it my case +I'd ask nothing better than a prayer from Uncle Lusthah over my +grave, for he has acted like a good, patient old saint among us." + +A murmur of approval from the others followed these words, and so it +was arranged. Uncle Lusthah was soon found, and he followed the girl +to the shadow of a great pine by the run and adjacent to the grassy +plot with which the girl would ever associate Allan Scoville. It was +there that she had looked into his eyes and discovered what her own +heart was now teaching her to understand. + +Aun' Jinkey followed them from her cabin and asked, "Wat you gwine +ter do yere, honey?" + +"Bury here a Northern soldier who has done me a very great honor." + +"Oh, Miss Lou, I des feared ter hab 'im so neah de cabin." + +"Hush!" said the girl, almost sternly. "Uncle Lusthah, you ought to +teach mammy better than that." + +"Ah, youn' mistis, hit's bred in de bone. I des mourns ober my +people, 'fusin' ter be comf'ted. Yere Aun' Jinkey, gittin' gray lak +me. She a 'fessor ob religion, ye de word 'spook' set her all a +tremble. Ef dey is spooks, Aun' Jinkey, w'at dat ter you? Dere's +tunder en lightnin' en yearthquakes en wurin' iliments en all kin' +ob miseries ob de body. Who gwine ter keep all dem fum yo' cabin? +Reck'n you betteah trus' de Lawd 'bout spooks too." + +"You don't believe in any such foolishness, Uncle Lusthah?" + +"Well, young mistis, I gettin 'po'ful ole en I al'ays yeared on +spooks sence I kin reckermember. I neber seed one fer sho, but I'se +had strange 'sper'ences o' nights, en dar's dem w'at sez dey has +seen de sperets ob de 'parted. I dunno. Dere's sump'n in folk's +buzzums dat takes on quar sometimes, ez ef we libin' mighty close +onter a worl' we kyant mos' al'ays see. Dat ar doan trouble me +nohow, en Aun' Jinkey orter know bettah. Ef de Lawd 'mits spooks, +dat He business. He 'mits lots ob tings we kyant see troo. Look at +dese yere old han's, young mistis. Dey's wuked nigh on eighty yeah, +yit dey neber wuked fer mysef, dey neber wuked fer wife en chil'n. +Dat mo' quar dan spooks." + +"I don't know but you are right," said the girl thoughtfully. "I +didn't know you felt so about being free. Aun' Jinkey never seemed +to trouble much about it." + +"I'se 'feared Aun' Jinkey tink a heap on de leeks en inions ob +Egypt." + +"Dar now, Uncle Lusthah, you po'ful good man, but you owns up you +doan know nufin' 'bout spooks, en I knows you doan know nufin' 'bout +freedom." + +"Yes I does," replied Uncle Lusthah. "Ef de day come w'en I kin +stan' up en say fer sho, 'I own mysef, en God ony my Mars'r,' I kin +starbe ef dat He will. En dat' minds me, young mistis. IS we free? +Perkins growlin' roun' agin dis mawnin', en say we he'p 'bout de +horspital ter-day, but we all go ter wuk ter-morrer. I 'lowed he +orter talk ter us 'bout wages en he des larf en cuss me. Wat's gwine +ter be de end? Marse Scoville en de big Linkum gin'ral say we free, +en Perkins larf 'temptuous like. We des all a-lookin' ter you, young +mistis." + +"Oh, uncle! what can I do?" + +"Shame on you, Uncle Lusthah, fer pilin' up sech a heap ob 'plexity +on my honey," cried Aun' Jinkey, who was as practical as she was +superstitious. "I kin tell you w'at ter do. I doan projeck en smoke +in my chimbly-corner fer not'n. W'at kin you do but do ez you tole +twel Marse Scoville en de Linkum gin'ral come agin? S'pose you say +you woan wuk en woan 'bey, how you hole out agin Perkins en Mad +Whately? Dey'd tar you all ter pieces. Dey say dis wah fer freedom. +Whar yo' patience twel de wah'll end? De Yanks mus' do mo' dan say +we free; dey mus' keep us free. Dar Aun' Suke. She say she free one +minit en a slabe nex' minute twel her haid mos' whirl off her +shol'ers. Now she say, 'I doan know 'bout dis freedom business; I +does know how ter cook en I'se gwinter cook twel dey gets troo a +whirlin' back en forth.' You says I mus' trus' de Lawd 'bout spooks, +Uncle Lusthah. W'y kyant you trus' de Lawd 'bout freedom?" + +The old man shook his head sorrowfully, for Aun' Suke and Aun' +Jinkey's philosophy didn't satisfy him. "I'se willin' ter do my +shar," he said musingly, "de Lawd knows I be. Ef I cud die lak po' +Marse Yarry en de oders fer freedom I'se willin' ter die." + +"Now, Uncle Lusthah, your strong feeling and not your good sense +speaks," said Miss Lou, who had been thinking earnestly, meanwhile +recalling Scoville's prediction that the negroes might come to her +for help and counsel. "Aun' Jinkey is certainly right in this case, +and you must tell all our people from me that their only safe course +now is to obey all orders and bide their time. Perkins' authority +would be sustained by all the soldiers on the place and anything +like disobedience would be punished severely. If what Lieutenant +Scoville and the Northern general said is true you will soon be free +without useless risks on your part. If that time comes I want you +and mammy to stay with me. You shall be as free as I am and I'll +give you wages." + +"Dar now, young mistis, ef I know I free I bress de Lawd fer de +charnce ter gib my wuk ter you. Dere's a po'ful dif'unce 'twix' +bein' took en kep en des gibin' yosef out ob yo' own heart. Slav'y +couldn't keep me fum gibin' mysef ter de Lawd en I been He free man +many a long yeah, en I be yo' free man, too, fer lub." + +"Look yere, now, honey," added Aun' Jinkey, wiping her eyes with her +apron, "you kin bury sogers all 'bout de cabin ef you wanter. Uncle +Lusthah kyant do mo' fer you, honey, ner me, tookin resks ob spooks. +Des bury dem sogers, ef you wanter, right un'er my win'er." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL + + +It was quite natural that the thoughts of Perkins and Mr. Baron +should turn toward the growing crops, neglected by reason of events +unprecedented in their experience. The announcement to the slaves, +first by Scoville and later confirmed by General Marston, of +freedom, had staggered both employer and overseer, but every hour +since the departure of the raiding Union column had been reassuring. + +It is not within the province of this story to follow the fortunes +of that force, since it is our modest purpose merely to dwell on +those events closely related to the experiences of the Southern girl +who has won our attention. She had suddenly become secondary in her +uncle's thoughts. A phase of the war, like a sudden destructive +storm, had been witnessed; like a storm, he hoped that it and its +effects would pass away. The South was far from being subdued; the +issue of the conflict unknown. He was the last man in the +Confederacy to foresee and accept new conditions, especially when he +still believed the Southern cause would triumph. + +As the confusion of his mind, after the battle, passed he began to +look around and consider what should be done, what could be saved +out of what at first appeared a wreck. When Dr. Ackley assured him +that the house and plantation would be rapidly abandoned as a +hospital, hope and courage revived, while to these was added the +spur of necessity. + +He knew that he must "make his crops," or his fortunes would be +desperate. Remembering the value of timely labor in the spring +season, he was eager on this second day after the battle to put his +slaves to work again at their interrupted avocations. Accordingly he +held a consultation with his nephew and Dr. Ackley. + +"The hands are becoming demoralized," he said, "by unaccustomed +duties and partial idleness. Some are sullen and others distracted +by all kinds of absurd expectations. Uncle Lusthah, the leader and +preacher among them, even had the impudence to ask Perkins about +wages. The Yankee officers, when here, told them they were free, and +they wish to act as if they were. The sooner that notion is taken +out of their heads the better. This can be done now while my nephew +is here to enforce authority, better than when we are alone again. +It seems to me that a certain number could be detailed for regular +hospital duty and the rest put to work as usual." + +"I agree with you, certainly," replied Surgeon Ackley. "Give me a +dozen men and half a dozen women to wash and cook, and I can get +along. Lieutenant Whately, you, at your uncle's suggestion, can make +the detail and enforce discipline among the rest." + +"I was going to speak to you about this very matter, uncle," said +Whately. "My overseer has been over and I find the black imps on our +place are in much the same condition as yours, a few venturing to +talk about wages or shares in the crop and all that nonsense. I sent +him back with half a dozen men, armed to the teeth, and told him to +put the hands at work as usual. Mother is going to ride over and +spend part of the day. I don't wish her to be there alone just yet, +and I shall gallop over in time to be on hand when she arrives. +Things are getting settled, my arm is not so painful, and it is time +we pulled ourselves and everything together. You struck the right +note when you said, 'Now is the time to enforce authority.' It must +be done sharply too, and these people taught the difference between +the Yanks' incendiary talk and our rights and positive commands. +From what Perkins says, this old Uncle Lusthah is a fire-brand among +your people. Give your overseer his orders and I'll see that he +carries them out." + +Perkins was summoned, acquainted with the policy--just to his mind-- +resolved upon, told to pick out the detail for hospital duty and to +have the rest ready for work after an early dinner. + +"Go right straight ahead, Perkins," added Whately, "and let me know +if one of these Yankee-made freemen so much as growls." + +Dr. Borden was not the kind of man to take upon himself undue +responsibility. He had therefore mentioned to Surgeon Ackley Miss +Baron's wish to give Yarry a special burial by the run and that she +expected to be present. + +Ackley good-naturedly acquiesced, saying, "I suppose there can be no +objection to burying the man in a place of Miss Baron's selection, +instead of the one designated by Mr. Baron. It's but a small +concession to her who is so kindly bent on making herself useful. +Let her have her own way in the whole affair." + +The spirit of Yarry's turbulent career seemed destined to break out +afresh over his final disposition. Uncle Lusthah went to the +quarters in order to obtain the aid of two or three stout hands in +digging the grave. It so happened that his visit took place during +the adoption of Mr. Baron's policy in dealing with his property and +just before Perkins received his instructions. The negroes not +engaged in labor relating to the hospital gathered around Uncle +Lusthah in the hope of receiving some advice from Miss Lou. +Mournfully the old man told them what she and Aun' Jinkey had said, +adding, "I doan see no oder way fer us des at dis time ob our +triberlation. Ole Pharo sut'ny got he grip on us agin, he sut'ny hab +fer a spell. But brudren en sistas, hit ony lak a cloud comin' +'cross de risin' sun. Let us des wait pashently de times en seasons +ob de Lawd who alone kin brung de true 'liverance." + +When he saw the deep, angry spirit of protest he threw up his hands, +crying, "Wat de use? I warn you; I 'treat you, be keerful. Wat could +us do wid our bar han's agin armed men? I tells you we mus' wait or +die lak Moses 'fo' we enter de promis lan'." Then he told them about +Yarry and asked for two or three to volunteer to dig the grave. + +A score stepped forward and nearly all expressed their purpose to +attend the funeral. The old man persuaded all but three to remain +near the quarters at present, saying, "So many gwine wid me mout mek +trouble, fer Perkins look ugly dis mawnin'." + +"We ugly too," muttered more than one voice, but they yielded to +Uncle Lusthah's caution. + +In going to the run Uncle Lusthah and his assistants had to pass +somewhat near the house, and so were intercepted by Perkins and +Whately, both eager to employ at once the tactics resolved upon. + +"Where the devil are you goin' with those men and shovels?" shouted +Perkins. + +"We gwine ter dig a grabe fer a Linkum soger down by de run," +replied Uncle Lusthah quietly. "That ain't the place ter plant the +Yanks, you old fool. Go back to the quarters. No words. Leftenant +Whately will detail the hands fer sech work. Back with you. Why in- +don't you mind?" + +"I hab my orders fum--" + +"Silence!" thundered Whately. "Obey, or you'll go back at the point +of the sabre." + +Uncle Lusthah and his companions still hesitated, for they saw Miss +Lou running toward them. She had lingered to talk with Aun' Jinkey +and was returning when she heard Perkins' high, harsh words. The +overseer was in a rage, and limped hastily forward with uplifted +cane, when he was suddenly confronted by the hot face and flashing +eyes of Miss Lou. + +"Don't you dare strike Uncle Lusthah," she said sternly. + +Her appearance and attitude evoked all the pent-up hate and passion +in the man's nature and he shouted, "By the 'tarnal, I will strike +'im. I've got my orders en I'll find out yere en now whether a +traitor girl or a Southern officer rules this place." + +Before the blow could descend she sprang forward, seized his wrist +and stayed his hand. + +"Wretch! murderer! coward!" she cried. + +"Oh, come, Cousin Lou, this won't do at all," began Whately, +hastening up. + +An ominous rush and trampling of feet was heard and an instant later +the negroes were seen running toward them from the quarters and all +points at which the sounds of the altercation reached them. + +"Turn out the guard," shouted Whately. "Rally the men here with +carbines and ball-cartridges." He whirled Perkins aside, saying, +"Get out of the way, you fool." Then he drew his sabre and thundered +to the negroes, "Back, for your lives!" + +They hesitated and drew together. Miss Lou went directly toward them +and implored, "Go back. Go back. Do what I ask and perhaps I can +help you. If you don't, no one can or will help you. See, the +soldiers are coming." + +"We'll 'bey you, young mistis," said Uncle Lusthah, "but we uns lak +ter hab 'splained des what we got ter 'spect. We kyant die but +oncet, en ef we kyant eben bury de sogers dat die fer us--" + +"Silence!" shouted Whately. "Forward here, my men. Form line! +Advance! Shoot the first one that resists." He then dashed forward, +sought to encircle his cousin with his arm and draw her out of the +way. + +She eluded him and turned swiftly toward the advancing line of men, +crying, "Stop, if there is a drop of Southern blood in your veins." +They halted and stared at her. She resumed, "You will have to walk +over me before you touch these poor creatures. Uncle" (for Mr. Baron +now stood aghast on the scene), "as you are a man, come here with me +and speak, explain to your people. That is all they ask. They have +been told that they were free, and now the oldest and best among +them, who was doing my bidding, almost suffered brutal violence from +a man not fit to live. Where is the justice, right, or sense in such +a course? Tell your people what you wish, what you expect, and that +they will be treated kindly in obeying you." + +She recognized that every moment gained gave time for cooler +thoughts and better counsels, also for the restraining presence of +others who were gathering upon the scene. It was in the nature of +her headlong cousin to precipitate trouble without thought of the +consequences; but as she spoke she saw Surgeons Ackley and Borden +running forward. Captain Maynard was already at her side, and +Whately looked as if he could cut his rival down with the weapon in +his hand. While Mr. Baron hesitated Mrs. Whately also reached her +niece and urged, "Brother, I adjure you, go and speak to your +people. They are your people and you should tell them what to expect +before you begin to punish. Go with Surgeon Ackley and settle this +question once for all." + +"Yes, Mr. Baron," said Ackley sternly, "we must settle this question +promptly. Such uproar and excitement are bad for my patients and not +to be permitted for an instant." + +It was evident that the surgeon was terribly angry. He had been +brought up in the old regular army, and anything like +insubordination or injury to his patients were things he could not +tolerate. Mr. Baron went forward with him and said in a low tone: + +"You are virtually in command here and all know it. A few words from +you will have more effect than anything I can say." + +"Very well, then," responded the resolute surgeon, and he strode +toward the negroes, not noticing that Miss Lou kept almost at his +side. + +"Look here, you people," he began harshly, "do you think I will +permit such disturbances? They may be the death of brave men. Quit +your nonsense at once. You are simply what you've always been. +Yankee words don't make you free any more than they make us throw +down our arms. What happened to the general who said you were free? +We fought him and drove him away. There is only one thing you can do +and MUST do--go to work as before, and woe be to those who make +trouble. That's all." + +"No," cried Miss Lou, "that surely cannot be all." + +"Miss Baron! What can you mean?" + +"I mean that these poor creatures are looking to me, trusting in me, +and I have promised to intercede in their behalf. Tell them at least +this, you or uncle, that if they obey and work quietly and +faithfully they shall not be treated harshly, nor subjected to the +brutal spite of that overseer, Perkins." + +"Truly, Miss Baron, you can scarcely expect me to interfere with +your uncle's management of his property. The only thing I can and +will do is to insist on absolute quiet and order on the place. In +this case every one must obey the surgeon-in-charge. Do you +understand that?" he concluded, turning to the negroes. "Neither you +nor any one else can do anything to injure my patients. As you value +your lives, keep quiet. I will not permit even a harsh, disturbing +sound. Do not dare to presume on Miss Baron's kindness, mistaken in +this crisis. This unruly, reckless spirit must be stamped out now. +Your owner and master will tell you what he expects, and I will have +the first man who disobeys SHOT. Miss Baron, you must come with me." + +"Yes, sir, but not until I have spoken the truth about this affair. +All your power, Dr. Ackley, cannot keep me dumb when I see such +injustice. You are threatening and condemning without having heard a +word of explanation. Uncle Lusthah and those with him were simply +doing my bidding. Can you think I would stand by and see him cursed +and beaten? These people have not shown any unruly, reckless spirit. +They may well be bewildered, and they only asked what they must +expect. God is my witness, I will cry out 'Shame!' with, my last +breath if they are treated brutally. They will be quiet, they will +do their duty if treated kindly. They shall not appeal to me for +justice and mercy in vain. My words may not help them, but I shall +not stand tamely by like a coward, but will call any man on earth +coward who butchers one of these unarmed negroes." + +She stood before them all possessed by one thought--justice. Her +face was very pale, but stern, undaunted and noble in its +expression. She was enabled to take her course from the courage, +simplicity and unconventionality of her nature, becoming utterly +absorbed by her impulse to defend those who looked to her, neither +regarding nor fearing, in her strong excitement, the consequences to +herself. + +Dr. Borden was hastening forward to remind Ackley of his promise +concerning Yarry's grave, and to show the girl that he at least +would stand with her; but his chief waved him back. The old surgeon +of the regular army could appreciate courage, and the girl's words +and aspect pierced the thick crust of his military and professional +armor, touching to the quick the man within him. He saw in the brave +young face defiance of him, of the whole world, in her sense of +right, and he had the innate nobility of soul to respect her motive +and acknowledge the justice of her action. Watching her attentively +until she was through speaking he took off his hat, stepped forward +and gave her his hand. + +"You are a brave girl," he said frankly. "You are doing what you +think is right and I am proud of you. Tell these people yourself to +go back to their quarters, behave themselves and obey their rightful +master. After your words in their behalf any one who does not obey +deserves to be shot." + +She was disarmed and subdued at once. "Ah, doctor," she faltered, +tears in her eyes, "now you've conquered me." Then turning toward +the negroes she cried, "Do just as Dr. Ackley has said. Go quietly +to work and be patient. Uncle Lusthah, you know I told you to do so +before all this happened. I tell you so again and shall expect you +to use all your influence to keep perfect order." + +"We 'bey you, young mistis; we tank you fer speakin' up fer us," and +the old man led the way toward the quarters, followed by all his +flock. + +Dr. Ackley gave his arm to the girl and led her to the house. +Captain Maynard took off his hat in a very deferential manner as she +passed; she walked on unheeding the salutation. Whately frowned at +him and dropped his hand on the hilt of his sabre. At this pantomime +Maynard smiled contemptuously as he walked away. In a few moments +the scene was as quiet and deserted as it had been crowded and +threatening. + +On the way to the house Miss Lou explained more fully the +circumstances relating to the dead soldier, Yarry, and Ackley said +good-naturedly, "I'll have Uncle Lusthah and two others detailed to +dig the grave and you can carry out your intentions; but, Miss +Baron, you must be careful in the future how you let your +inexperience and enthusiasm involve you in conflict with all +recognized authority. We are safely out of this scrape; I can't +answer for anything more." + +"Believe me," she said earnestly, "I don't wish to make trouble of +any kind, and after your course toward me, I will seek to carry out +your orders in every way. If I dared I would ask one favor. Uncle +Lusthah is too old to work in the field and he is a kind, good old +man. If you would have him detailed to wait on the wounded--" + +"Yes, yes, I will. You are a brave, good-hearted girl and mean well. +I shall rely on your promise to work cordially with me hereafter. +Now go to your room and get calm and rested. You are trembling like +a frightened bird. I'll see your uncle, cousin and Dr. Borden. You +shall bury your chivalrous Yank just as you wish. Then all must go +according to regulations." + +She smiled as she gave him her hand, saying, "You may put me under +arrest if I don't mind you in everything hereafter." + +"Well," muttered the surgeon, as he looked after her, "to think that +a girl should have a probe long and sharp enough to go straight to +the heart of a man of my age! No wonder Maynard and Whately are over +head and ears." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +"ANGEL OF DEATH" + + +It would seem as if the brief tempest of the morning had cleared the +air. Two strong natures had asserted themselves. Surgeon Ackley's +recognition of Miss Lou's spirit and the justice of her plea turned +out to be as politic as it was sincere and unpremeditated. The +slaves learned all they could hope from her or any one now in +authority and were compelled to see the necessity of submission. +Whately was taught another lesson concerning the beauties of +headlong action, while even his egotism was not proof against the +feeling that his cousin's straightforward fearlessness would baffle +all measures opposed to her sense of right. As for Perkins, he began +to fear as well as hate her, seeing her triumph again. The only +reward of his zeal had been Whately's words, "Get out of the way, +you fool." Thereafter, with the exception of the girl's scathing +words, he had been ignored. He had been made to feel that Ackley's +threats had a meaning for him as well as for the negroes, and that +if he needlessly provoked trouble again he would be confronted with +the stern old army surgeon. Having known Whately from a boy he stood +in little fear of him, but was convinced that he could not trifle +with Ackley's patience an instant. He now recognized his danger. In +his rage he had forgotten the wide difference in rank between the +girl he would injure and himself. The courtesy promptly shown to her +by Maynard and especially by the surgeon-in-chief taught him that +one whom he had scarcely noticed as she grew up a repressed, +brooding child and girl, possessed by birth the consideration ever +shown to a Southern lady. He knew what that meant, even if he could +not appreciate her conduct. Maynard had scowled upon him; Mrs. +Whately bestowed merely a glance of cold contempt, while her son had +failed him utterly as an ally. He therefore sullenly drove his +malice back into his heart with the feeling that he must now bide +his time. + +Even Mr. Baron was curt and said briefly before he left the ground, +"Be sure you're right before you go ahead. Hereafter give your +orders quietly and let me know who disobeys." + +The old planter was at his wit's end about his niece, but even he +was compelled to see that his former methods with her would not +answer. New ideas were being forced upon him as if by surgical +operations. Chief among them was the truth that she could no longer +be managed or restrained by fear or mere authority on the part of +any one. He would look at her in a sort of speechless wonder and ask +himself if she were the child to whom he had supposed himself +infallible so many years. His wife kept on the even tenor of her way +more unswervingly than any one on the place. She was as incapable of +Dr. Ackley's fine sentiment as she was of her nephew's ungovernable +passion. She neither hoped nor tried to comprehend the "perversity" +of her niece, yet, in the perplexed conditions of the time, she +filled a most important and useful niche. Since the wounded men were +to be fed, she became an admirable commissary general, preventing +waste and exacting good wholesome cookery on the part of Aun' Suke +and her assistants. + +Poor Yarry was buried quietly at last, Miss Lou, with Dr. Borden, +Captain Hanfield and two or three of his comrades standing +reverently by the grave while Uncle Lusthah offered his simple +prayer. Then the girl threw upon the mound some flowers she had +gathered and returned to her duties as nurse. The remains of the old +Confederate colonel were sent to his family, with the letter which +Miss Lou had written for him. Every day the numbers in the hospital +diminished, either by death or by removal of the stronger patients +to the distant railroad town. Those sent away in ambulances and +other vehicles impressed into the service were looked after by +Surgeon Ackley with official thoroughness and phlegm; in much the +same spirit and manner Dr. Williams presided over the departure of +others to the bourne from which none return, then buried them with +all proper observance. Uncle Lusthah carried around by a sort of +stealth his pearl of simple, vital, hope-inspiring faith, and he +found more than one ready to give their all for it. The old man +pointed directly to Him who "taketh away the sin of the world," then +stood aside that dying eyes might look. With the best intentions Dr. +Williams, with his religious formulas, got directly in the way, +bewildering weak minds with a creed. + +Mrs. Whately and her son went and came from their plantation and +were troubled over the condition of things there. The slaves were in +a state of sullen, smouldering rebellion and several of them had +disappeared. "I fear Madison has been too arbitrary," she admitted +to her brother. + +Mr. Baron shrugged his shoulders and smoked in silence. Perhaps his +preposterous niece had not been so crazy after all. + +Between Maynard and Whately there were increasing evidences of +trouble, which the mother of the latter did her best to avert by +remonstrances and entreaty. On one occasion Whately had said a +little irritably, "I say, Dr. Ackley, what's the use of Maynard's +hanging around here? He is almost well enough for duty." + +"It is chiefly out of consideration for you that I am keeping him," +replied the surgeon gravely, in well-concealed mischief. "It is +clear that he has entered the lists with you for your cousin's hand, +and I could not further his suit better than by sending him away, +especially if it were suspected that I did so at your instigation. +He is doing well here, good-naturedly helps me in my writing and can +soon go direct to his regiment. It seems to me that your cousin +holds a pretty even balance between you, and all a man should want +is a fair field." + +Whately walked frowningly away, more than ever convinced that the +surgeon was too good a friend of his rival to interfere. + +At the close of the fourth day after the battle there was an arrival +at The Oaks that greatly interested Miss Lou--a stately, white- +haired old lady, the mother of Lieutenant Waldo. She was very pale +and it would have been hard for Surgeon Ackley to meet her agonized +look, her shrinking as if from a blow, were he unable to hold out +any hope. + +"Mrs. Waldo," he said gravely, "your son is living and there's a +chance of his getting well. His cheerfulness and absolute quiet of +mind may save him. If he had fretted or desponded he would have died +before this." + +"Yes," replied his mother with a great sigh of relief, "I know." + +"Miss Baron, will you kindly prepare Waldo for his mother's visit? +Meanwhile, I will tell her a little about his case and our +management of it. He doesn't know that I sent for you, for I was not +sure you could come." + +"Is this Miss Baron and one of my son's nurses?" + +"Yes, and doing more for him than I--giving him all the bovine +nectar and honeyed words he can take." + +"God bless you, my dear. Please let me kiss you." + +When Miss Lou entered Waldo's tent he whispered with a laugh, "It's +four hours since you were here." + +"No, scarcely two." + +"Well, I'm as hungry as if it were four hours." + +"That's fine. You're getting right well. Will you be very good and +quiet--not a bit excited, if I let some one else bring you your +supper?" + +She beamed upon him so joyously that he exclaimed aloud, with a rush +of tears, "Ah! mother?" + +The girl nodded and said, "Now remember, don't break her heart by +being worse." + +"Oh, how sweet and lovely of her! I'll get well now, sure." + +"That's a nice way to treat your old nurse." + +Smilingly he held out his hand and said, "You are almost as pretty +and good as she is, but you aren't mother." Then he added in strong +sympathy, "Forgive me. You haven't any, have you? You don't know +about this mother love." + +"I know enough about it to have the heartache for its lack. Now you +must save your strength till she comes. Good-by." + +From that hour he steadily gained, banishing the look of anxiety +from his mother's face. Mrs. Whately sighed as she saw how her +niece's heart warmed toward the stranger, and how strong an +attachment was growing between them. "Louise is drifting away from +us all," she thought, "yet I cannot see that she encourages Captain +Maynard." + +A genuine friendship had also grown between the girl and Captain +Hanfield, the Federal officer, and she was heartily sorry when he +told her that he would be sent to the railroad town the next day. +"My wound isn't doing well and I seem to be running down," he +explained. "Dr. Borden has been able to keep me thus far, but I must +go to-morrow. Perhaps it's best. He is trying to get me paroled. If +I could only get home to my wife and children I'd rally fast enough. +I'm all run down and this climate is enervating to me." + +She tried to hearten him by kind, hopeful words, and he listened to +her with a wistful look on his handsome face. "How I'd like you to +meet my little girl!" he said. "Won't I make her blue eyes open when +I tell her about you!" + +Another bond of union between them was the captain's acquaintance +with Scoville, and he soon observed that she listened very patiently +and attentively when he spoke of the brave scout's exploits. "I +declare," he had said, laughing, "I keep forgetting that you are a +Southern girl and that you may not enjoy hearing of the successes of +so active an enemy." + +"Lieutenant Scoville is not a personal enemy," she had replied +guardedly. "He showed us all very great kindness, me especially. I +wish that both you and he were on our side." + +"Well, as you say down here, I reckon we are on YOUR side any way," +had been the captain's smiling reply. + +She spoke to Surgeon Ackley promptly about the prospects of a +parole, but he said, "Impossible, Miss Baron. The question would at +once arise, 'If granted to Hanfield, why not to others?' I reckon +Borden has been trying to rally his friend by hopes even when +knowing them baseless." + +This proved to be the case, and the following day brought the young +girl a strange and very sad experience. Dr. Borden appeared at +breakfast looking troubled and perplexed. Miss Lou immediately +inquired about the captain. The doctor shook his head saying, "He +isn't so well. I'd like to speak with you by and by." + +She was so depressed by the surgeon's aspect that she paid little +heed to the conversation of her two admirers and soon left the +table. Borden followed her, and when they were alone began sadly, +"Miss Baron, perhaps I am going to ask of you far too much, but you +have shown yourself to be an unusually brave girl as well as a kind- +hearted one, Hanfield is an old friend of mine and perhaps I've done +wrong to mislead him. But I didn't and couldn't foresee what has +happened, and I did hope to start him in genuine convalescence, +feeling sure that if he got well he would give up the hope of going +home as a matter of course. So far from succeeding, a fatal disease +has set in--tetanus, lock-jaw. He's dying and doesn't know it. I +can't tell him. I've made the truth doubly cruel, for I've raised +false hopes. He continually talks of home and his pleading eyes stab +me. You can soften the blow to him, soothe and sustain him in +meeting what is sure to come." + +"Oh, is there no hope?" + +"None at all. He can't live. If you feel that the ordeal would be +too painful--I wouldn't ask it if I hadn't seen in you unexpected +qualities." + +"Oh, I must help him bear it; yet how can I? how shall I?" + +"Well, I guess your heart and sympathy will guide you. I can't. I +can only say you had better tell him the whole truth. He ought to +know it for his own and family's sake now, while perfectly rational. +Soften the truth as you can, but you can't injure him by telling it +plainly, for he will die. God knows, were it my case, the tidings +wouldn't seem so very terrible if told by a girl like you." + +"Oh, but the tidings are so terrible to speak, especially to such a +man. Think of his beautiful wife and daughter, of his never seeing +them again. Oh, it's just awful," and her face grew white at the +prospect. + +"Yes, Miss Baron, it is. In the midst of all the blood and carnage +of the war, every now and then a case comes up which makes even my +calloused heart admit, 'It's just awful.' I'm only seeking to make +it less awful to my poor friend, and perhaps at too great cost to +you." + +"Well, he on his side, and others on ours, didn't count the cost; +neither must I. I must not think about it or my heart will fail me. +I will go at once." + +"Come then, and God help you and him." + +A straw-bed had been made up in a large, airy box-stall where the +captain could be by himself. Uncle Lusthah was in attendance and he +had just brought a bowl of milk. + +Borden had left Miss Lou to enter alone. The captain held out his +hand and said cheerfully, "Well, it's an ill wind that blows +nowhere. This one will blow me home all the sooner I trust, for it +must be plainer now than ever that I need the home change which will +put me on my feet again. You needn't look so serious. I feel only a +little more poorly than I did--sore throat and a queer kind of +stiffness in my jaws as if I had taken cold in them." + +"Do I look very serious?" she faltered. + +"Yes, you look as if troubled about something. But there, see what +an egotistic fellow I am! As if you hadn't troubles of your own! +pretty deep ones, too, I fear. Our coming here has given you a +wonderful experience, Miss Baron. No matter; you've met it like a +soldier and will have much to remember in after years. You can never +become a commonplace woman now and there are such a lot of 'em in +the world. When I remember all you have done for us it makes me ill +to think of some in our town--giggling, silly little flirts, with no +higher ambition than to strut down the street in a new dress." + +"Oh, don't think of them or over-praise me. Perhaps if they had been +here and compelled to face things they would have done better than +I. A short time ago I didn't dream of these experiences, and then I +would have said I couldn't possibly endure them." + +"Well, you have," resumed the captain, who was slightly feverish, +excited and inclined to talk. "One of my dearest hopes now is to get +back to my little girl soon and deepen her mind by making her +ashamed of the silly things in a girl's life. Of course I wish her +to be joyous and happy as a young thing should be, as I think you +would be if you had the chance. By means of your story I can make +her ashamed ever to indulge in those picayune, contemptible feminine +traits which exasperate men. I want her to be brave, helpful, +sincere, like you, like her mother. How quickly poor Yarry +recognized the spirit in which you came among us at first! Jove! I +didn't think him capable of such feeling. I tell you, Miss Baron, +the roughest of us reverence an unselfish woman--one who doesn't +think of herself first and always. She mayn't be a saint, but if she +has heart enough for sympathy and is brave and simple enough to +bestow it just as a cool spring gushes from the ground, we feel she +is the woman God meant her to be. Ah, uncle, that reminds me-- +another cup of that cold water. For some reason I'm awfully thirsty +this morning." + +Miss Lou listened with hands nervously clasping and unclasping, +utterly at a loss to know how to tell the man, dreaming of home and +planning for the future, that he must soon sleep beside poor Yarry. +She had already taken to herself the mournful comfort that his grave +also should be where she could care for it and keep it green. + +"I wish to tell you more about my little Sadie and my wife. Some +day, when this miserable war is over, you will visit us. We'll give +you a reception then which may turn even your head. Ha! ha! you +thought we'd be worse than Indians. Well, I'll show you a lot of our +squaws in full evening dress and you'll own that my wife is the +prettiest in the tribe. Every day, until we started on this blasted +raid, I received a letter from her. I knew about as well what was +going on at home as if there. With my wife it was love almost at +first sight, but I can tell you that it's not 'out of sight out of +mind' with us. Time merely adds to the pure, bright flame, and such +a pair of lovers as we shall be when gray as badgers will be worth a +journey to you." + +Miss Lou could maintain her self-control no longer. She burst into +tears and sobbed helplessly. + +"You poor little girl," exclaimed the captain in deep commiseration. +"Here I've been talking like a garrulous fool when your heart is +burdened with some trouble that perhaps you would like to speak to +me about. Tell me, my child, just as little Sadie would." + +"My heart is burdened with trouble, captain; it feels as if it would +break when I hear you talk so. Would to God little Sadie were here, +and your beautiful wife too! Oh, what shall I say? How can I, how +can I?" + +"Miss Baron!" he exclaimed, looking at her in vague alarm. + +"Oh, Captain Hanfield, you are a brave, unselfish man like Yarry. +Don't make it too hard for me. Oh, I feel as if I could scarcely +breathe." + +As he saw her almost panting at his side and tears streaming from +her eyes, the truth began to dawn upon him. He looked at her +steadily and silently for a moment, then reached out his hand as he +said in an awed whisper, "Is it on account of me? Did Borden send +you here?" + +She took his hand, bowed her forehead upon it and wept speechlessly. + +She felt it tremble for a moment, then it was withdrawn and placed +on her bowed head. "So you are the angel of death to me?" the +officer faltered. + +Her tears were her only, yet sufficient answer. Both were silent, +she not having the heart to look at him. + +At last he said in deep tones, "I wasn't expecting this. It will +make a great change in"--and then he was silent again. + +She took his limp hand and bowed her forehead on it, as before +feeling by some fine instinct that her unspoken sympathy was best. + +It was. The brave man, in this last emergency, did as he would have +done in the field at the head of his company if subjected to a +sudden attack. He promptly rearranged and marshalled all his +faculties to face the enemy. There was not a moment of despairing, +vain retreat. In the strong pressure upon his mind of those +questions which must now be settled once for all, he forgot the girl +by his side. He was still so long that she timidly raised her head +and was awed by his stern, fixed expression of deep abstraction. She +did not disturb him except as the stifled sobs of her deep, yet now +passing agitation convulsed her bosom, and she began to give her +attention to Uncle Lusthah, hitherto unheeded. The old man was on +his knees in a dusky corner, praying in low tones. "Oh, I'm so glad +he's here," she thought. "I'm glad he's praying God to help us +both." In the uncalculating sympathy and strength of her nature she +had unconsciously entered into the dying man's experience and was +suffering with him. Indeed, her heart sank with a deeper dread and +awe than he from the great change which he had faced so often as to +be familiar with its thought. + +At last he seemed to waken to her presence and said compassionately, +"Poor little girl! so all your grief was about me. How pale you +are!" + +"I do so wish you could go home," she breathed; "I am so very, VERY +sorry." + +"Well, Miss Baron," he replied with dignity, "I'm no better than +thousands of others. I always knew this might happen any day. You +have learned why it is peculiarly hard for me--but that's not to be +thought of now. If I've got my marching orders, that's enough for a +soldier. It was scarcely right in Borden to give you this heavy +task. I could have faced the truth from his lips." + +"He felt so dreadfully about it," she replied. "He said he had been +giving you false hopes in trying to make you get well." + +"Oh, yes, he meant kindly. Well, if it hasn't been too much for you, +I'm glad you told me. Your sympathy, your face, will be a sweet +memory to carry, G--od only knows where. Since it can't be little +Sadie's face or my wife's I'm glad it's yours. What am I saying? as +if I should forget their dear faces through all eternity." + +"Ah! captain, I wish you could hear one of our soldiers, talk. Dying +with him just means going to Heaven." + +The officer shook his head. "I'm not a Christian," he said simply. + +"Neither am I," she replied, "but I've been made to feel that being +one is very different from what I once thought it was." + +"Well, Miss Baron, what is it to be a Christian--what is your idea +of it? There has always seemed to me such a lot of conflicting +things to be considered--well, well, I haven't given the subject +thought and it's too late now. I must give my mind to my family and--" + +Uncle Lusthah stepped before him with clasped hands and quivering +lips. "Ef marse cap'n des list'n ter de ole man a minit. I ain't +gwine ter talk big en long. I kyant. I des wanter say I hab +'spearance. Dat sump'n, marse cap'n, you kyant say not'n agin-- +rale 'spearance, sump'n I KNOWS." + +"Well, you kind old soul, what do you know?" + +"P'raps des what mars'r knows ef he ony tinks a lil. Let us git +right down ter de root ob de marter, kaze I feared dere ain' time +fer 'locutions." + +"Now you're right at least, uncle. I must set my house in order. I +must write to my wife." + +"Marse cap'n, you gwine on a journey. Wa't yo' wife wish mo'n dat +you git ready fer de journey? She tek dat journey too, bime by soon, +en you bof be at de same deah home." + +"Ah, uncle, if that could be true, the sting of death would be +gone." + +"Sut'ny, marse cap'n. Didn't I know dat ar w'en I mek bole ter +speak? Now des tink on hit, mars'r. Yere I is, an ole ign'rant +slabe, kyant eben read de good Book. De worl' full ob poor folks lak +me. Does you tink ef de Lawd mean ter sabe us't all He'd do hit in +some long rounerbout way dat de wise people kyant mos' fin' out? No, +bress He gret big heart, He des stan' up en say to all, 'Come ter me +en I gib you res'." + +"Yes, uncle, but I haven't gone to Him. I don't know how to go, and +what's more, I don't feel it's right to go now at the last minute as +if driven by fear." + +"Now, cap'n, fergib de ole man fer sayin' you all wrong. Haint young +mistis been breakin' her lil gyurlish heart ober yo' trouble? Am de +Lawd dat die fer us wuss'n a graven himage? Doan He feel fer you +mo'n we kin? I reck'n you got des de bes' kin' of prep'ration ter go +ter 'Im. You got trouble. How He act toward folks dat hab trouble-- +ev'y kin' ob trouble? Marse cap'n, I des KNOWS dat de Lawd wanter +brung you en yo' wife en dat lil Sadie I year you talk 'bout all +togeder whar He is. I des KNOWS hit. Hit's 'spearance." + +"Miss Baron," said the captain calmly, "Isn't it wonderful? This old +slave says he knows what, if true, is worth more to me than all the +accumulated wisdom of the world. What do you think of it?" + +"It seems as if it ought to be true," she answered earnestly. "I +never so felt before that it OUGHT to be true. We never should have +been born, or given such love as you have for your dear ones, if it +isn't true. Oh, to be just snatched hopelessly away from such ties +is horrible. My whole soul revolts at it." + +"See here, uncle," said the captain almost sternly, "I'm not going +to groan, sigh, weep, and take on in any of your camp-meeting +tactics. I am before the last great enemy and I know how to meet him +like a man and soldier, if not a Christian. I'm willing to do +anything not insincere or unmanly to meet my wife and children +again. If my thought and feeling for them at this time isn't right, +then I've been created wrong." + +"Marse cap'n, I'se seen de mos' po'ful feelin's en miseries ob de +'victed ones vaperate lak de maunin' dew en I'se larn in my ole age +dat de sabin po'r ain' in we uns, ner in any ting we is ob oursefs +ner in w'at we po' lil chil'n of yearth kin do. De Lawd say, He come +ter seek en sabe de loss; I wuz loss. De wuss ting He enemies cud +speak agin 'Im wuz, Dis man 'ceiveth sinners: I wuz a sinner. I des +arst 'Im ter sabe me, en He did. I des trus' 'Im fer life en death +en does de bes' I kin. Dat's all. But hit's 'SPEARANCE, marse cap'n, +en I KNOWS hit. Now, marse cap'n, w'at fo' you go way in the de +dark, you dunno whar? De bressed Lawd say, I go ter prepare a place +fer you. Now you des let young mistis write ter yo' folks dat you +gwine wid Jesus ter dat ar place en dat you gwine ter wait fer dem +dar en welcome urn home bime by des lak dey wud welcome you home way +up Norf. Dat ud comf't em a heap, en hit's all true. I knows hit. +Young mistis berry sens'ble w'en she say we neber orter be bawn ef +hit ain' true." + +The officer looked fixedly at the tearful, wrinkled face for a few +moments and then said firmly, "I'll soon find out if it's true. If I +do this thing at all, I'll do it in the only way I can. Miss Baron, +you may write to my wife that I accept her faith. It's much the same +as Uncle Lusthah's--too simple and unphilosophical, I used to think; +but it meets my need now. I can't deal even with God in any other +way than this. The mind he has endowed me with revolts at anything +else as hypocritical. I can and do say that I will accept in +grateful, downright sincerity the terms which Uncle Lusthah +accepted, which my wife accepted. I submit myself to His will. I do +this calmly, as I would give my hand and pledge my faith to a man, +and I cannot do any more. Now He may do with me as He pleases. Miss +Baron, you do the same and you'll be just as good--yes, a much +better Christian than I, for I've done rough, bad things in my life. +Don't you wait till you're in my extremity. I must say that I have a +wretched sense of self-contempt that I am looking Heavenward with +dying eyes. There's only one thing that reconciles me to it--the +words 'Our Father.' God knows that I'd open my arms to my little +Sadie under any possible circumstances. What the old man here says +must be true, for to trifle with or mock a man in my position +presupposes a degree of malignity inconceivable. I ask nothing +better than that Christ will receive me as I would receive my child +from world-wide wandering." + +"Ah, bress He big gret heart," cried Uncle Lusthah, dropping on his +knees, "w'en yo' fader en yo' moder forsook you den de Lawd took you +up." + +"Miss Baron, I wish to think a while and learn from Borden just how +much time I have left. You will come to me again?" + +"Yes, whenever you wish." + +"Well, then, good-by for a short time. Thank God for sending me such +an angel of death. You stay with me, uncle, till I send you for +Borden." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +GLIMPSES OF MOODS AND MINDS + + +Dr. Borden's predictions were verified in regard to his friend and +patient, Captain Hanfield, but not before the officer had dictated +calm, farewell letters to his wife and "little Sadie." To Miss Lou +were left the serene, smiling likenesses, a grave to be cared for +beside Yarry's, and a memory that could never be blotted out. She +was kept from witnessing the terrible convulsions which began soon +after her interview, but was present at his death and held his hand +until it was cold and lifeless. + +Within two weeks after the battle very few patients were left, and +all these were to go with Dr. Ackley on the following day, +Lieutenant Waldo excepted. He was still too weak to be moved. His +mother had become so skilful in the care of his wound that she would +be competent, with the help of an aged resident practitioner, to +carry him through his convalescence. Mrs. Whately now spent most of +the time on her plantation, her presence being needed there to +remedy the effects, as far as possible, of the harsh measures at +first adopted by her son. It was discouraging effort. The strong ebb +tide in the old order of things had set in even far from the Union +lines, and only the difficulty in reaching them prevented a general +stampede of the negroes. As it was, two or three of her best hands +would steal away from time to time, and run the gantlet of many +dangers in their travel by night Northward. Her attempts to mollify +and render her slaves contented were more than counterbalanced by +the threats and severity of her son, who was too vacillating to +adopt a fixed policy, and arbitrary by nature. + +Her chief hope for him still centred in Miss Lou, upon whom his +thoughts were fixed with a steadfastness and earnestness which his +mother fondly believed would win her eventually, "I'm sure," she +reasoned, "Captain Maynard has made no deep impression. He is about +to depart. All will soon be gone, and the old monotony of plantation +life will be resumed. After what has happened Louise will not be +able to endure this. Madison will return, older and wiser from +experience and she, with nothing else to occupy her thoughts will +react, like all impulsive natures, from her opposition. Next to +winning her or her favor from the start, he has scored a success in +waking a hostility far removed from fatal indifference." + +She maintained an affectionate manner toward her niece and never +discussed the hope she entertained and expectation of calling her +daughter. In truth, she had won the girl's respect and goodwill in a +very high degree. She had been a kind and successful nurse among the +wounded, confining her efforts chiefly to the Confederates. She had +also been a dignified lady in all the scenes they had passed +through. Her weakness was her son, yet the girl was compelled to +admit that it was the weakness of love. In seeking to bring about +the detested union a motherly heart and feeling toward her had ever +been apparent. + +The girl was already becoming depressed by a presentiment of the +dull, stagnant days to come. Scoville had been lost in the great +outside, unknown world completely. She was suffering from reaction +after the strong excitements and fatigues of her experience. Her two +lovers, remaining on the scene, possessed a sort of goading interest +which compelled her to think of them, but she contemplated their +near departure without regret. Nothing in her nature answered to +their looks, words and evident desires. She felt that she would as +soon marry one as the other, and that she would rather be buried +beside Captain Hanfield and take the journey of which Uncle Lusthah +had quaintly spoken than wed either. Yet in her lassitude she feared +that she could now be compelled to marry either or any one if enough +active force was employed, so strangely had ebbed her old fearless +spirit. + +It were with a kind of wondering pity that she looked at Maynard and +saw the evidences of an honest, ardent attachment. "Why does he feel +so?" she asked herself. "I have done nothing for him, given no +encouragement, and would not care if I never saw him again. I merely +wish him well, as I do so many others. Why can't he see this, and +just act on the truth? He says he is coming to see me every chance +he gets and tries to make me feel that he'll never give me up. +Perhaps if I should let him speak plainly he would see how useless +it all would be." + +Circumstances apparently favored the half-formed purpose. Languid +from the heat of the day, she went out on the piazza after supper, +sat down on the upper step and leaned against a rose-entwined +pillar. Maynard was entranced by the picture she made and promptly +availed himself of the opportunity. Every one else had disappeared +except Zany, of whom glimpses could be caught through the open +windows of the supper-room; but she did not count. Sitting on a +lower step so as to be in a measure at her feet Maynard began. + +"Miss Baron, I am thinking very sadly, if you are not, over the fact +that I am to go away in the morning." + +"Yes," she replied, half-consciously ignoring his personal view, +"the old house and plantation will soon be as quiet and deserted as +before." + +"Do you regret this?" + +"I scarcely know. I am very tired and feel sad over all that has +happened. Perhaps I'll feel differently by and by, when I've rested +and had time to think." + +"Oh, Miss Baron, if you knew how earnestly I hope to be remembered +in those thoughts, to give you something definite to think of." + +She had scarcely the energy to check him, the thought occurring more +than once, "I might just as well let him speak his mind and see how +vain his hope is." + +"You have not given me encouragement," he resumed. "You have seemed +too preoccupied, sad or weary; but this phase of your life will pass +away. Our glorious cause must soon be crowned with success. If I +survive, may I not hope that when I come again you will give me a +hearing, a chance? I can be patient, even though not patient by +nature. I will do all that a man--" + +"Captain," interrupted the girl, at last, "I suppose, from the books +I've read, I should make some fine speeches about the honor you are +bestowing on me, and all that. I'm too tired and sad for anything +conventional and appropriate. I'm just going to answer you like a +simple, honest girl. One of my chief reasons for sadness is that you +feel as you do. I see no reason for it. I'm glad you say I've given +you no encouragement, I know I have not. Why should you care so for +me when I do not and cannot respond at all? I do sincerely wish you +well, but it seems to me that it should be enough for a man when a +girl listens to such words as yours in weary sadness only." + +"It may be hard indeed for a man to recognize this truth, Miss +Baron, but I am not speaking of the present--of the future rather. +There has been much to make you sad and weary. Your very youth and +high spirit will soon lead you to react from your present +depression. Let me speak of the future. Please let me fill that with +hope for you and for me." + +"Oh, I don't know about the future. For some reason I dread even to +think of it." + +At this instant Whately galloped to the piazza, threw the reins on +the neck of his horse as he dismounted, evidently not caring in his +perturbation where the animal wandered. He was in a bad mood, for +things were not going smoothly at home. The attitude of his rival at +his cousin's feet stung him into a jealous rage and he remarked +bitterly as he strode past them, "Don't let my inopportune arrival +disturb this charming tete-a-tete. In fact, I had no business to +remain at my uncle's home at all, even at the call of duty, after +Captain Maynard signified his intention of making it the long- +continued field of his operations." + +Cut to the quick, Maynard sprang to his feet, but Miss Lou merely +made a gesture of annoyance and went to her room. + +"Lieutenant Whately," began the captain in low, stern tones, "were I +not in some sense a guest, even though an unwelcome one--" + +"You are no guest of mine, sir, nor indeed of anyone that I am aware +of." + +"Thank you. I was haunted by some restraining consideration of +Southern hospitality, but if I am free--" + +"You are perfectly free, sir," again interrupted Whately, dropping +his hand on the hilt of his sabre. "Let me also add that a Southern +gentleman would not have made Southern hospitality a subterfuge for +an opportunity to press a suit repugnant to the family concerned. We +have never failed in hospitality to any invited guest." + +"Your words are offensive, sir." + +"I mean them to be so." + +"Very well; then I have but one answer. I challenge you. Choose your +weapons, hour and place of meeting." + +"Revolvers, if you please. Meet me back of the grove yonder, at the +right of the house, at daybreak." + +"I'll not fail you. There is no need of seconds in this affair, I +take it, and we are to keep our purpose secret. Dr. Ackley would +interfere and the family be distressed were our intentions known." + +"No one need know till our shots are heard and then it will be too +late to interfere. I insist that we fight to the death." + +"Certainly, if that's your wish. Good-evening, sir." + +"Good-evening," and Whately went to his room to remove the dust of +his ride and prepare for the late supper which his aunt had ordered +for him. + +This lady, hearing his step in the hall, hastened downstairs and +called for Zany. "Yassum," came in quick response. The young woman +emerged from the dining-room looking as stolid as a wooden image. + +"Attend to Lieutenant Whately's supper and see that he has the best +you can get for him." + +"Yassum." + +Mrs. Baron then repaired to her husband's office, where he and +Surgeon Ackley were closeted, making up the accounts relating to the +occupation of the property for hospital purposes. Maynard lighted +his pipe, and strolled out into the grounds. He was in a cold, +deadly mood of anger. There was just enough sting of truth in +Whately's words to make the insult unendurable. Added to this was +intense exasperation that he had been interrupted at a critical and, +as he believed, a hopeful, moment. He had seen that the girl was not +ready for his suit or that of any one at present, but was quite sure +he could have won permission to renew his addresses in the future. +Now--well, he was ready enough to fight to the death and utterly +oblivious of the still, serene beauty of the night. He appeared but +a shadow as he walked quietly under the trees, but it was a shadow +of death. An hour since and he was but a passionate youth, full of +ardent love and longing, vaguely inspired, under the influence of +his passion, toward all noble enthusiasms. At the touch of a few +words his heart overflowed with bitterness, and a cold, vindictive +hate rendered the hours interminable till he could aim a bullet at +his rival's heart, reckless meantime that another bullet was aimed +at his. + +In his walk he passed the tent in which Lieutenant Waldo and his +mother were talking quietly of their home and the prospects of +maintaining it during the troublous times clearly foreseen. + +"Mother," said Waldo, "have you any definite idea as to the success +of our arms?" + +"No, Vincent, nor do I suppose we can at this remote plantation. We +only know that there is heavy fighting at various points and great +successes are claimed; but it seems very hard to get at the real +truth. Our chief confidence must be in the sacredness and justness +of our cause and in the prayers of so many sincere hearts to the God +of justice. In giving you, my son, to our country, when you were +scarcely more than a boy, you can understand why I feel that such +sacrifices cannot be in vain. Now that I have watched beside you in +your patient, heroic suffering, the feeling becomes a conviction +that our sunny land must be enriched and blessed for all time by +such blood as yours." + +"Well, mother, I do not begrudge my blood or my life. You have +taught me that to die is gain; but almost hourly I pray for recovery +that I may soon rejoin my regiment and do more toward achieving our +liberty. How strange it is that men of the North should be animated +by much the same spirit! Miss Baron has been showing me the lovely +faces of the wife and daughter of a Federal officer who died +heroically a few days ago. She says the war is all a dreadful +mystery to her." + +"I am beginning to understand her better," replied Mrs. Waldo +musingly, "for to some extent she has given me her confidence. If +she had been brought up as you have been she would feel as you do. I +can see why her uncle and aunts have not won her sympathy, while her +cousin's conduct has been well calculated to alienate her. I can +also understand why the negroes on the place have so enlisted her +sympathy. I do not think they have been treated very harshly, but it +is too clear that they are regarded simply as property, and Mr. +Baron has allowed himself to be represented among them by a brutal, +coarse-fibred man. If she had been your sister and had witnessed the +spirit in which our slaves are governed and cared for she would feel +as you do, not vindictive hatred of the North--such feeling is not +permissible toward any of the human race--but a stern, lofty spirit +of independence, such as our fathers had in separating from +England." + +"Well, she is a brave, good girl, mother, and has been as kind to me +as if I were her brother." + +"Very true, Vincent. She is a remarkably good girl for one brought +up as she has been. She has told me much about her past repressed, +unhappy life. I hope she may visit us some day." + +Meantime, the subject of this conversation sat at her window looking +out into the warm, fragrant, starlit night. The words of Maynard, +the passionate resentment of her cousin toward the young captain +merely added to the heavy burden of experience which had been +crowded into the past few weeks. "Oh," she sighed longingly, "if I +could only see Allan Scoville! He is so strong, unselfish and +restful. I could tell him everything. He would know just how weary +and depressed I am, nor would he want me to do what I can't, what +I'm not ready for. Oh, what a blessed thing it would be to have a +friend near who wasn't always exacting or expecting or passionately +urging something or other. I wouldn't need urging in his case, and +would even know his hand would be the first to restrain me for my +own good. Where is he now? Oh, he'd be here if my thoughts could +bring him, yet my two lovers would be eager to take his life. Lovers +indeed! Well, it's a strange, tangled up world that I'm learning +about." + +Meantime Zany, bursting with her secret, was unable to tell any one, +and not yet sure she wished to tell. For one at her point of +civilization her motives were a little complex and sophisticated. In +a vicarious way she felt not a little the elation of many a high- +born dame that two men were about to fight over her young mistress, +regarding it as an undeniable compliment. She was also inclined to +indulge the cynical thought that it might save Miss Lou, Scoville, +Chunk--indeed, all in whom she was interested--further trouble if, +as she phrased it, "Dat ar young cap'n gib Mad Whately he way onst +too of'un. He des natchelly bawn ter mek folks trouble en I reck'n +we git on wid he spook bettah ner hesef." + +Whately would not have relished his supper if he had divined the +thoughts of his waitress. As it was, he had little appetite for it +and paid his respects chiefly to his uncle's decanter. He felt no +need of false courage, but was irritated and depressed over the +general aspect of affairs, and here was an easy way of raising his +spirits. By the time he was ready to dispense with Zany's services +he was so affected by his potations that his aunt, who had appeared +on the scene, hastened his retirement. He told the sergeant of the +guard to have him called at daybreak and was soon asleep. + +The indomitable housekeeper, Mrs. Baron, kept the girl busy until +everything was put away and the dining-room in perfect order. +Meantime Zany concluded that she had better tell Miss Lou. Her young +mistress might blame her severely if she did not, and keeping such a +secret over night would also be a species of torture. + +When she was dismissed she watched her opportunity, whisked up to +Miss Lou's room, and was glad to find the girl still awake. + +"Oh, Miss Lou," she whispered breathlessly, "I des got de orfulest, +quarest news, en I darsn't kep hit eny longer. Marse cap'n en Mad +Whately gwine ter fight 'bout you fo' sun-up." + +"What!" + +"Dey sut'ny is. Dey gwine ter fight one anoder 'bout you wid +'volvers--fight ter de deth dey said. I yeared dem troo de dine-room +winders." + +"Oh, Zany! this is horrible!" + +"Hit mout be wuss. Yo' cousin hot fer hit. He say orful tings ter +marse cap'n who didin't gib back a inch en sez, sez he, 'I challing +you. Shoose yo' weapons en place ob meetin" Dem he berry words. Den +yo' cousin shose 'volvers en de far side ob de grobe up dar en said +'we fight ter de deth.' Deth useter seem orful, Miss Lou, but sech a +heap ob mens die dat ef Mad Whately des set on dyin', w'y not let +'im hab he way? Dat orter suit 'im bes'. I reck'n he mek we uns en +Marse Scoville en Chunk berry lil trouble arter he dead." + +"Zany, Zany, that's a dreadful way to look at it. You should know +better. This meeting must be prevented. Where is my cousin?" + +"He des sound a sleep ez a log," and she made it clear that there +would be no use in trying to remonstrate with him. + +"Where's Captain Maynard?" + +"Dunno. Sleepin' in he tent too, s'pose. Hit too late now, Miss Lou, +ter do anyting fo' mawnin'." + +The girl thought deeply a few moments and then muttered, "Shame on +them both!" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, you doan reckermember dey payin' you a big +compelment." + +"I shall tell them to their faces how I regard this outrage rather. +Still, for their sakes, as well as my own, I will keep the affair +quiet if I can. Zany, you must stay with me to-night and at the +earliest dawn we must watch them and be on the ground as soon as +they are." + +"Berry well, Miss Lou. I lak not'n bettah." + +"Go to sleep, then. I won't sleep to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE DUELLISTS VANQUISHED + + +Zany's tidings brought the spur of a great necessity to Miss Lou's +jaded spirit, and as her waking thoughts dwelt on the proposed +encounter, a slow, deep anger was kindled in her mind. "What right +have they to do such a thing?" she asked herself over and over +again. Even more than at, the barbarism of the act she revolted at +its injustice. "I never wronged either of them," she repeated, "and +here they are recklessly bent on what would imbitter my life. The +idea of being fought about! Two animals couldn't do worse." + +And so the long night was passed in bitter, painful thoughts. With +the dawning the bird's innocent songs jarred on her overwrought +senses. She looked out of the window by which she had kept her +vigil, inhaled the dewy freshness of the air and then bathed her +tired, hot eyes. + +"To think that men would disturb the peace of such a morning by +their miserable, causeless hate! Where is Madison's love for his +mother? Why don't they remember the distress and horror that would +follow their mad act? Zany, wake up. It is time we were on the +watch." + +Even as she spoke there was a heavy step in the outer hall, that of +the sergeant coming to wake Lieutenant Whately. Miss Lou glanced +from her window in time to see Captain Maynard striding from his +tent toward the grove which would screen the combatants from +observation. Waiting a few moments for the sergeant to retire she +and Zany slipped down and out before Whately left his room. They +reached the grove from the back entrance of the house, and +concealing themselves in some copse-wood, watched for Whately's +coming. He soon appeared, walking rapidly as if fearing to be behind +time. He was in fact some moments late, having stopped to advise +Perkins of the affair on hand. He passed so near his cousin's leafy +screen that she could look into his flushed, troubled face and could +hear him mutter, "Curse it all! I'm forever getting into scrapes." + +For the first time since Zany's news, pity overcame her anger and +she murmured, "Poor spoiled boy! It's well for you and your mother +that I'm here." + +Swiftly she followed him through the still dusky grove, keeping the +boles of trees between herself and his form. Beyond the grove was an +open grassy field, facing the east, where the light was distinct. +Clearly outlined against the rose-tinted horizon was the figure of +Maynard standing with his arms folded and his back toward them, +apparently lost in deep thought. + +"Well, sir," said Whately sternly, "I suppose I should asked your +pardon for keeping you waiting." + +"I reckon there's plenty of time for the purpose of our meeting," +replied Maynard coolly. "Since you are the challenged party and we +have no seconds, arrange the matter to suit yourself." + +Whately was about to pace off the ground when a girl's voice rang +out clearly, "Stop that!" + +"Miss Baron!" cried Maynard, taking off his hat. + +Whately threw back his head proudly. This was better than he had +dreamed, for now his cousin would be compelled to recognize his high +and haughty spirit. A glance at the girl's pale, stern face as she +stepped out between them was not altogether reassuring. She glanced +coldly from one to the other for a moment and then said firmly, "I +have something to say about this affair." + +"Pardon me, Miss Baron," Maynard began, bowing, "if I am compelled +to disabuse your mind. This is a little matter between Lieutenant +Whately and myself. I am surprised beyond measure that he has +invited you to be present." + +"That's a lie," thundered Whately, drawing his weapon from his belt. + +"Stop, both of you," cried the girl. "Captain Maynard, my cousin has +not invited me. Your purpose of meeting was discovered by accident +and revealed to me late last night--too late for me to do anything +then. All the long night I have sat at my window that I might be in +time to keep you from disgracing yourselves and me." + +"Great heavens! Miss Baron, you do me injustice," cried Maynard. "I +have been insulted. I never thought of wronging you. Perish such a +thought!" + +"Evidently neither of you has thought of me, nor cared for me or +others. Yourselves, your own vindictive feelings have engrossed you +wholly, yet I know I'm the innocent cause of this brutal encounter, +and the world would know me to be the cause whether it believed me +innocent or not. I tell you plainly that if you fight I shall brand +you both unworthy the name of gentlemen and I shall proclaim to all +your outrage to me." + +"Outrage to you, Miss Baron?" said Maynard, with a bitter, +incredulous laugh. + +"Yes," she replied, turning upon him fiercely. "What can you think +of me when you fight about me like a wild beast?" + +"I am prepared to fight Lieutenant Whately on entirely different +grounds," he replied, his face flushing hotly at her words. + +"You cannot do it, sir. I would know, and so would all, that I was +the cause. What right, sir, have you to imbitter my life, to fill my +days and nights with horror? I never wronged you." + +"But, Miss Baron, in all ages such encounters have been common +enough when a man received ample provocation, as I have." + +"So much the worse for the ages then. I say that you both were about +to commit a selfish, cowardly, unmanly act that would have been an +outrage in its cruelty to an innocent girl, to whom you had been +making false professions of regard." + +"Now, by the God who made me, that's not true, Miss Baron." + +"Cousin Lou, you are beside yourself," cried Whately. + +"Miss Baron," said Maynard, coming to her side and speaking with +great earnestness, "I can endure any charge better than your last. +No man ever declared truer love than I to you." + +"I can tell you of a man who has declared truer love," she replied, +looking him steadily in the eyes. + +"Who in God's name?" he asked savagely. + +"Any man who thought more of the girl than of himself," she answered +with passionate pathos in her tones, "any man who considered her +before his own reckless, ungovernable feelings, who would save her +heart from sorrow rather than gratify his anger. Any man who asks, +What is best for the woman I love? instead of What's my humor? what +will please me? Suppose you both had carried out your savage +impulses, and lay on this ground, wounded or dead, what would be +said at the house there about me? What would be your mother's fate, +Madison, that you might gratify a causeless spite? Have you no home, +Captain Maynard, no kindred who would always curse my name? If you +had died like the brave men who lie in yonder graves your friends +would ever speak your name proudly; but even I, all inexperienced, +know the world well enough to be only too sure, they would hang +their heads and say you flung away your life for a heartless girl +who was amusing herself at your expense. Fight if you will, but if +you do, I pledge you my word that I will never willingly look upon +either of you again, living or dead!" + +She was about to turn away when Maynard rushed before her +exclaiming, "Miss Baron, I beg your pardon, I ask your forgiveness. +I never saw this act in the light you place it." + +"There, cousin," added Whately with a sort of shamefaced laugh, "I'm +hanged if you aren't in the right and I in the wrong again. As you +say, the bullet that killed me might do worse by mother, and I +should have thought of that. As for you, we didn't think you'd look +at it this way. There's plenty of girls who'd think it a big feather +in their caps to have men fight about 'em." + +"I can't believe it." + +"It's true, nevertheless," said Maynard earnestly. "What can I do to +right myself in your eyes?" + +"If you wish to be men whose friendship I can value, shake hands and +use your weapons for your country. If you truly care for my good +opinion, forget yourselves long enough to find out what DOES please +me and not rush headlong into action I detest. Consider the rights, +feelings and happiness of others." + +"Well, Whately, what do you say?" asked Maynard with a grim laugh. +"I am ready to obey Miss Baron as I would my superior officer," and +he held out his hand. + +Whately took it with an answering laugh, saying, "There's nothing +else left us to do. After her words, we could no more fight each +other than shoot her." + +"Thank you. I--I--Zany," she faltered, turning deathly white. She +would have fallen had not her cousin sprung to her aid, supporting +her to a seat on a moss-grown log lying near. + +For a few moments the long strain and reaction proved too much for +her, and she sat, pale and panting, her head resting against Zany, +who had rushed from her covert. The young men were overwhelmed with +compunction and alarm, but she retained and silenced them by a +gesture. "I'll be--better--in a moment," she gasped. + +It proved but a partial giving way of her nervous force. In a few +moments she added, "Please go back to the house by different ways. +No one need know anything about this. No, don't call any one. I'll +get better faster if left with Zany. I beg you do as I ask and then +my mind will be at rest." + +"There, Miss Baron," said the remorseful Maynard, "I pledge you my +word I'll never fight a duel. I can prove my courage sufficiently +against the enemy." + +She smiled, held out her hand, which he carried to his lips and +reluctantly departed. + +"See here, Cousin Lou," said Whately impulsively, "I'm going to give +you an honest, cousinly kiss. I'm not so feather-headed as not to +know you've got us both out of a devil of a scrape." + +He suited the action to his words, and strode off in time to +intercept Perkins, who had the scent of a vulture for a battle. "We +have arranged the affair for the present," said the young officer +curtly, "and won't need any graves to-day. Keep mum about this." + +"I'll keep my mouth close enough till I kin begin ter bite on my own +account," muttered the overseer as he sullenly followed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +SAD TIDINGS + + +That morning Miss Lou stood on the veranda and bade farewell, one +after another, to those with whom she had been associated so +strangely and unexpectedly. There was an unwonted huskiness in Dr. +Borden's voice, and Ackley, usually so grim and prompt, held the +girl's hand lingeringly as he tried to make a joke about her defying +him and the whole Confederacy. It was a dismal failure. Regarding +him with her weary eyes, she said: + +"Doctor, you had wit enough and heart enough to understand and +subdue me. Haven't I minded you since?" + +"I'm a little afraid you'd still get the upper hand if you often +looked at me as you do now. I shall find out, however, if you will +obey one more order. Miss Baron, you MUST rest. Your pulse indicates +unusual exhaustion. You have tried to do too much, and I expect +those young men have been making such fierce and counter claims that +you are all worn out. Ah, if I had been only twenty years younger I +would have won you by a regular course of scientific love-making." + +"I don't know anything about science and wouldn't understand you. So +it is better as it is, for I do understand what a good, kind friend +you've been. You knew all the while that I was little more than an +ignorant child, yet your courtesy was so fine that you treated me +like a woman. I hope we shall meet again in brighter days. Yes, I +will obey you, for I feel the need of rest." + +"I shall come again and take my chances," said Maynard in parting. + +Mercurial Whately, forgetting his various troubles and experiences +in the excitement of change and return to active duty, bade her a +rather boisterous and good-hearted farewell. His mind was completely +relieved as to Maynard, and he did not dream of Scoville as a +serious rival. + +"It's only a question of time," he thought, "and at present mother +can do the courting better than I can. When I return Lou will be so +desperately bored by her stupid life here as to be ready for any +change." + +The remaining patients looked at her and Mrs. Whately very wistfully +and gratefully, speaking reluctant adieus. When all were gone the +girl, feeling that she had reached the limit of endurance, went to +her room and slept till evening. It was the sleep of exhaustion, so +heavy that she came down to a late supper weak and languid. But +youth is elastic, the future full of infinite possibilities. +Scoville's words haunted her like sweet refrains of music. No matter +how weary, perplexed and sad she was, the certainty of her place in +his thoughts and heart sustained her and was like a long line of +light in the west, indicating a clearing storm. "He WILL come +again," she often whispered to herself; "he said he would if he had +to come on crutches. Oh, he DOES love me. He gave me his love that +night direct, warm from his heart, because he couldn't help himself. +He thought he loved me before--when, by the run, he told me of it so +quietly, so free from all exaction and demands; but I didn't feel +it. It merely seemed like bright sunshine of kindness and goodwill, +very sweet and satisfying then. But when we were parting, when his +tones trembled so, when overcome, he lost restraint and snatched me +to HIS heart--then I learned that _I_, too, had a heart." + +If she had been given time this new heart-life, with thoughts and +hopes springing from it like flowers, would have restored her +elasticity. Scoville's manly visage, his eyes, so often mirthful, +always kind, would have become so real to her fancy that the pallid, +drawn features of the suffering, the dying and the dead, would have +faded from her memory. So would have faded also the various aspects +of passion from which she had shrunk, frightened by its hot breath. +Her days would have been filled with the beautiful, innocent dreams +of a young girl's first love so inspired as to cast out fear. + +But the ruthless Moloch of war could not permit anything so ideal, +so heavenly, as this. + +Mrs. Waldo came down from the apartment to which her son had been +removed and joined the girl on the veranda. "Ah!" she exclaimed, "I +have taken solid comfort all day in the thought that you were +sleeping, and now you are still resting. I want to see the color in +your cheeks again, and the tired look all gone from your eyes before +we go." + +"You don't know how I dread to have you go," replied Miss Lou. "From +the first your son did more for me than I could do for him. The +smile with which he always greeted me made me feel that nothing +could happen beyond remedy, and so much that was terrible was +happening." + +"Well, my child, that's the faith I am trying to cherish myself and +teach my boy. It is impossible for you to know what a black gulf +opened at my feet when my noble husband was killed early in the war. +Such things, happily, are known only by experience, and many escape. +Then our cause demanded my only son. I face death with him in every +battle, every danger. He takes risks without a thought of fear, and +I dare not let him know the agony of my fear. Yet in my widowhood, +in the sore pressure of care and difficulty in managing a large +plantation in these times, I have found my faith in God's love +adequate to my need. I should still find it so if I lost my boy. I +could not escape the suffering, but I would not sorrow as without +hope." + +"How much I would give for the certainty of such a faith!" said Miss +Lou sadly. "Sometimes, since Captain Hanfield died, I think I feel +it. And then--oh, I don't know. Things might happen which I couldn't +meet in your spirit. If I had been compelled to marry my cousin I +feel that I should have become hard, bitter and reckless." + +"You poor, dear little girl! Well, you were not compelled to marry +him. Don't you see? We are saved from some things and given strength +to bear what does happen. Don't you worry about yourself, my dear. +Just look up and trust. Happily, the sun of God's love shines on +just the same, unaffected by the passing clouds of our feelings and +experiences. He sees the end and knows all about the peaceful, happy +eternity before us. You dear, worn-out little child! His love is +ever about you like my arms at this moment," and the old lady drew +the girl to her in an impulse of motherly tenderness. + +"Oh, Mrs. Waldo, you make me feel what it is to have no mother," +sobbed Miss Lou. + +"Well, my dear, that's your heavy cross. Sooner or later, in some +form, a cross burdens every human soul, too often many crosses. All +I ask of you is not to try to bear them alone. See how faith changed +everything for Captain Hanfield in his extremity. He is now in the +better home, waiting for his dear ones." + +"I can never forget what faith has done for you and your son, Mrs. +Waldo. Surgeon Ackley said that your son's absolute quiet and +cheerfulness of mind during the first critical days saved his life." + +"Yes, I know that," Mrs. Waldo replied with her low, sweet laugh. +"Faith is often more useful in helping us to live than in preparing +us to die. It saved my life, too, I'm sure, after my husband died. I +had no right to die then, for Vincent and, far more, my daughters, +still needed me." + +For a time they sat on the piazza steps in silence, the old lady +keeping her arm caressingly about the girl, whose head drooped on +the motherly bosom overflowing with sympathy. Only the semi-tropical +sounds of night broke the stillness. The darkness was relieved by +occasional flashes along the horizon from a distant thunder-shower. +Miss Lou thought, "Have I ever known a peace so deep and sweet as +this?" + +There was a hasty, yet stealthy step along the hall to the door, yet +the girl had no presentiment of evil. The warm, brooding, fragrant +darkness of the night was not more undisturbed than her mind. + +"Miss Lou," said Zany in a loud whisper. + +What a shock came with that brief utterance! A flash of lightning +direct from the sky could not have produced such sudden dread and +presentiment of trouble. Truly, a woman listens more with her heart +than her ears, and even in Zany's whisper there was detected a note +of tragedy. + +After an instant Miss Lou faltered, "What is it, Zany?" + +"Ef you gwine ter yo' room soon I des he'p you undress." + +How well the girl knew that the faithful slave meant other and less +prosaic help! She rose at once, kissed Mrs. Waldo good-night and +excused herself. When Zany had lighted the candle her scared, +troubled face revealed at once that she had tidings of dire import. + +Miss Lou seized the girl with a grip which hurt her arm, demanding, +"Have you heard anything about--about Lieutenant Scoville?" + +"Now, Miss Lou, you gotter be brabe en not look at me dat away. Kaze +ef you does, w'at I gwine ter do? I kyant stan' it nohow." + +"Oh! oh!" Miss Lou gasped, "wait a moment, not yet--wait. I must get +breath. I know, I know what's coming. Chunk is back and--and--O God, +I can't bear it, I cannot, I cannot!" + +"Dar now, Miss Lou, des lis'n. P'raps tain ez bad ez you tink. +P'raps w'en Chunk 'splain all you see tain ez bad. Hi! Miss Lou, you +musn't took on so," for the girl was wringing her hands and rocking +back and forth in agony. "Folks s'picion dat Chunk yere en dat ud be +de eend ob him, sho. He ain' seen Marse Scoville daid sho. He on'y +see 'im fall. Chunk wanter see you en he mighty skeery 'bout hit, +kaze ef Perkins get on he track he done fer. He ain' see he granny +yit en he darsn't come dar twel hit late. He larn ter toot lak a +squinch-owl frum Marse Scoville en he tole me dat when he come agin +he toot. I nigh on run my legs off follerin' up tootin's o' nights, +fer dey wuz on'y pesky squinch-owls arter all. Dis eb'nin' I year a +toot dat flutter my heart big en I knowed 'twuzn't no squinch-owl +dis time, sho," and so Zany ran on in her canny shrewdness, for she +perceived she was gaining Miss Lou's attention and giving time for +recovery from the blow. + +Miss Lou had a despairing conviction that Chunk would not have +returned alone unless his master was dead, but her mind quickly +seized upon the element of uncertainty and she was eager to see the +negro. + +"We mus' wait, we sut'ny mus', twel Chunk kin creep ter he granny's +cabin." + +"I can't wait, Zany. It wouldn't be best, either for me or Chunk. +It's not very late yet, and I could visit Aun' Jinkey without +exciting remark if you go with me. It's too dark for Chunk to be +seen and I'd protect him with my life. I must get better ground for +hope or my heart will break. Pretend I wish a glass of water and see +if we can't slip out now." + +This Zany did, discovering that Mrs. Baron was with her husband in +his office and that Mrs. Waldo had returned to her son's room. + +In a few moments Miss Lou was sitting by Aun' Jinkey and tremblingly +telling her fears. Meanwhile Zany scouted around to insure immunity +from observation. + +"You po', po' chile!" groaned Aun' Jinkey. "I wuz a-hopin' dat now +you hab a time ob peace en quietness, en you des gwine ter be +s'pended 'twixt hebin en yearth." + +"Oh, I fear he's dead, my heart tells me he's dead. Oh, mammy, +mammy, how can God be so cruel? I don't know who caused this war or +who's to blame, but I feel now as if I could TORTURE them." + +"I'se feared dat ain' de right speret, honey." + +"How can one have the right spirit when mocked by such a hope as +I've had? It needn't have happened. Oh, Mrs. Waldo, I could tell you +NOW I'm no Christian at all. I say it needn't have happened. And +then think how Uncle Lusthah prayed!" + +"Chunk down dar by de run, Miss Lou," whispered Zany. "I lis'n wid +all my years en eyes." + +"Miss Lou, I'se yere in de shadder ob dis bush," Chunk called +softly. + +"Tell me everything." + +"Darsn't twel I feels mo' safe, Miss Lou. Kin on'y say now Marse +Scoville des dote on you en he ax questions 'bout you sence you lil +gyurl. Hun'erds ob times he say, 'Chunk, we go back some day, sho!' +But he do he duty brabe. I go wid 'im ev'ywhar en onst, des on de +aige ob night, he wuz ridin' long wid 'bout twenty ob he men en dis +ting happen. We didn't tink any Rebs roun' en I'd been kep' back +tryn' ter git a chicken fer mars'r's supper. Ez I riz a hill, ridin' +right smart I see our folks goin' easy en car'less inter a woods. I +seed 'em all ez plain ez eber see anybody, en Marse Scoville ride at +de haid. Sudden dere was flash, flash, bang, bang, all troo de +woods. Marse Scoville fell right off he hoss, he sut'ny did. Den +lots ob Johnnies run in de road fore en hind our mens. I see dere +wuz no chaince fer me ter do any ting but git away en lil chaince +fer dat, fer two Rebs on horses come tarin' arter me. Ef hit hadn't +come dark sudden en my hoss wuzn't a flyer I'se been cotched sho. +'Fo' de Lawd, Miss Lou, dat all I know." + +"He's dead," said the girl in a hoarse whisper. + +"I orful feared he is, Miss Lou," assented the matter-of-fact Chunk. +"De Rebs so neah w'en dey fiah, en Marse Scoville sut'ny did go off +he hoss sudden. I been a week gittin' yere en I neber git yere ef de +cullud people didn't he'p me long nights." + +The girl stood silent and motionless. Suddenly Zany grasped her hand +and whispered, "I yeared steps. Come ter de cabin. Be off, Chunk." + +They had scarcely reached Aun' Jinkey's door before a shadow +approached and the harsh voice of Perkins asked, "What's goin' on +yere?" + +"My young mistis des seein' her mammy 'bout her clos," replied the +quick-witted Zany. + +"I thought I yeared voices down by the run." + +"Reck'n you bettah go see," said Zany in rather high tones. + +"What the dev--what makes yer speak so loud? a warnin'?" + +"Tain' my place ter pass wuds wid you, Marse Perkins. Dem I serbs +doan fin' fault." + +"I reckon Mr. Baron'll do mo'n find fault 'fore long. I bettah say +right yere en now I've got my orders 'bout that nigger Chunk. Nobody +kin save 'im ef caught. You've been followed before in your night- +cruisin' en you're lookin' fer some one. Ef there's trouble, Miss +Baron kyant say I didn't give warnin'. Now that the sogers is gone +I'm held 'sponsible fer what goes on," and he stalked away. + +He did not wish to come into an open collision with Miss Lou again +if he could help it--not at least while the Waldos remained. He had +concluded that by a warning he might prevent trouble, his self- +interest inclining him to be conservative. Confederate scrip had so +lost its purchasing power that in its stead he had recently +bargained with Mr. Baron for a share in the crops. Thus it happened +that the question of making a crop was uppermost in his mind. Until +this object was secured he feared to array the girl openly against +him, since her influence might be essential in controlling the +negroes. If policy could keep them at work, well and good; if the +harshest measures seemed best to him he was ready to employ them. + +Not only was he puzzled, but Zany also and Aun' Jinkey were sore +perplexed at Miss Lou's silence. She had stood motionless and +unheeding through the colloquy with the overseer, and now remained +equally deaf and unresponsive to the homely expressions of sympathy +and encouragement of the two women. They could not see her face, but +quickly felt the dread which anything abnormal inspires in the +simple-minded. Prone to wild abandon in the expression of their own +strong emotions, the silent, motionless figure of the young girl +caused a deeper apprehension than the most extravagant evidences of +grief. + +"Aun' Jinkey," whispered Zany, "you mus' des he'p me git her to her +room." + +She went with them without word or sign. Their alarm was deepened +when they saw her deathly pale and almost rigid features by the +light of her candle. + +"Miss Lou, honey, speak ter yo' ole mammy. You broke my heart w'en +you look dat away." + +"I tell you he's dead," whispered the girl. + +"Dis ter'ble," groaned the old woman. "'Fo' de Lawd I dunno w'at er +do." + +Zany felt instinctively that the girl was beyond their simple +ministrations and she was desperately afraid that if Mrs. Baron came +Chunk's presence would be revealed by words spoken unconsciously. +She and Aun' Jinkey promptly agreed that Mrs. Waldo was their only +hope and Zany flew to summon her. + +Fortunately the lady had not retired and she came at once. "Louise, +Miss Baron, what is the matter?" she asked in strong solicitude. + +"I tell you, he's dead," again whispered the girl, looking as if a +scene of horror were before her eyes. "The Rebs were so near when +they fired, and he fell off his horse sudden. Ch--" + +Quick as light Zany's hand was over the girl's mouth. The scared +face and trembling form of the young negress did not escape Mrs. +Waldo's quick eye. + +"Zany, what are you concealing?" she asked, sternly. "What does all +this mean?" + +"Dar now, misus," answered Aun' Jinkey with a certain simple +dignity, "we mus' des trus you. I'se yeared you a lubin' serbent ob +de Lawd. Ef you is, you am' gwine ter bring mis'ry on mis'ry. We +mus' brung Miss Lou roun' sudden 'fo' ole miss comes. He'p us git +young mistis sens'ble en I tell you eberyting I kin. Dere ain' not'n +bade 'bout dis honey lam' ob mine." + +They undressed the girl as if she were a helpless child and put her +to bed, and then Zany went downstairs to keep Mrs. Baron out of the +way if possible, at the same time listening intently for any signs +of trouble to Chunk. + +Miss Lou's over-taxed mind had given way, or rather was enchained by +a spell of horror to the scenes presented all too vividly in Chunk's +bald statement. Her nervous force had been too enfeebled and +exhausted to endure the shock of an impression so tremendous in its +tragic reality that her faculties had no power to go beyond it. +Chunk's words had brought her to a darkening forest and her dead +lover, and there she stayed. + +Seeing how unconscious she was Aun' Jinkey whispered enough in +explanation to enable Mrs. Waldo to comprehend the girl's condition. + +"We must make her sleep," said the lady decisively, and under her +wise ministrations the stricken girl soon looked almost as if she +were dead. Having kindly reassured and dismissed Aun' Jinkey, Mrs. +Waldo watched Miss Lou as she would have kept vigil with one of her +own daughters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +CONSPIRATORS + + +Perkins was very ill at ease that night, from a haunting suspicion +that Chunk had returned. "Pesky nigger'll have a revolver, too, most +likely, en be crazy ter use it! Haint been 'mong them cussed Yanks +fer nothin'!" There was therefore little disposition for a night +hunt after one who knew every inch of the region besides being as +stealthy and agile as a cat. The blow from which his head still +ached had a warning significance. Coarse, ignorant and +superstitious, he was an easy victim to the tormenting fears of his +own bad conscience. The graves by the run and the extemporized +cemetery further away had even greater terrors for him than for Aun' +Jinkey. Even his whiskey jug could not inspire sufficient courage to +drive him at night far from his own door. Though both hating and +despising Whately, yet the absence of the young officer and his +force was now deeply regretted, as they had lent a sense of security +and maintained the old order of existing authority. Now he was +thrown chiefly on his own responsibility, for Mr. Baron was broken +and enfeebled by what he had passed through. Avarice spurned Perkins +to carry through the crops in which he had an interest, while his +hope of revenge on Chunk, Scoville and Miss Lou also tended to keep +him at a post which he foresaw would be one of difficulty and +danger. He had no doubt that the Union officer and his freedman +would return as soon as they could, and for the chance of wreaking +his vengeance he was the more willing to remain in what he feared +would be a spook-infested region. "Onst squar with them, en crops +realized," he muttered, "I kin feel mo' comft'ble in other parts. +To-morrer, ef Chunk en that scout's in these diggin's I'll know +hit." + +He was aware that the few dogs left on the plantation would make no +trouble for one they knew as well as they did Chunk, but he could +rely on the brute which he kept in his own quarters--a bloodhound, +savage to every one except his master. + +"Grip will smell out the cussed nigger in the mawnin' ef he's been +around," he assured himself before beginning his nightly debauch. +"What's mo', Miss Baron ain't so high en mighty now she knows I'm +comin' to be the rale boss on the place. She didn't even squeak w'en +I gin my warnin' ter night." + +Although Chunk knew his danger and was cautious, he was disposed on +the first night of his arrival to take some serious risks in order +to carry out the schemes dwelt upon during the long days of skulking +home. Naturally fearless he had acquired much of Scoville's soldier- +like and scouting spirit. The young officer had associated his +dwarfish follower with the service rendered by Miss Lou and was +correspondingly grateful. Chunk therefore received much +consideration and good counsel by which he had profited. Especially +had Scoville scoffed at the negro's superstitions, telling him that +a fool afraid of spooks was neither fit to be a free man nor a +soldier. + +Since Chunk had no imagination and believed absolutely in his master +there were no more "spooks" for him, but he knew well the dread +inspired by that word on the plantation, and it was his purpose to +avail himself of these deep-rooted fears. He heard the colloquy +between Zany and the overseer very distinctly, but so far from +running away, dogged the latter home. Long knife and revolver were +handy in his belt and a heavy club was carried also. Since no +soldiers were around, Perkins was not to be dreaded in the night, +when once his resting-place was known. Crouching a long time in the +shadow of some cedars Chunk watched the overseer's window, but the +light was not extinguished. A sudden suspicion dawned on our +watcher, causing him to chuckle low with delight. "Hi! he des feared +of sleepin' in de dark, en dat can'le bu'n all night!" Gliding a few +steps nearer brought to the quick ear a resounding snore, +accompanied with a warning growl from, the bloodhound. "I des fix +'em bof fo' I froo," and the brawny hand clutched with greater force +the heavy club it carried. + +"Nex', some dem fellers mus' be tole ter he'p," and Chunk crept away +to the quarters. It was an easy task to waken and enlist Jute, well +known to be one of the most disaffected and fearless among the +hands. The two started off to a grove which none could approach +without being seen, and had a long whispered consultation. As a +result, Jute returned to the quarters and brought back three others +whom he knew would enter into the schemes on foot. By midnight Chunk +had six of the braver and more reckless spirits among the slaves +bound to him by such uncouth oaths as he believed would hold them +most strongly. Then they returned to their cabins while the chief +conspirator (after again reconnoitring the overseer's cottage) +sought the vicinity of his granny's home. + +With mistaken kindness and much shrewdness Chunk had resolved upon a +course that would fill the old woman's life with terror. He adopted +the policy of not letting her know anything of his plans, so that +she could honestly say "I dunno" and prove the fact by her manner. +He instinctively felt that it would have a very bad look if +superstitious Aun' Jinkey remained composed and quiet through the +scenes he purposed to bring about. Her sincere and very apparent +fears were to be his allies. It was part of his scheme also that +Zany should be very badly frightened and made eager to run away with +him as soon as he and the others were ready for departure. + +By a preconcerted signal he summoned Aun' Jinkey who was much +affected by the thought that she was bidding her grandson a good-by +which might be final, but oppressed with fear, she was at the same +time eager he should go. Putting into his hands a great pone of corn +bread she urged, "Des light out, Chunk, light out sud'n. 'Twix de +baid news en Miss Lou en w'at Perkins do ef he cotch you, I des dat +trembly, I kyant stan'." + +"Perkins asleep, granny. I'se off now fer good, but I comin' back +fer you some day." + +He disappeared, and too perturbed to think of sleep the old woman +tottered back to her chimney-corner. A few moments later she +shuddered at the hooting of a screech-owl, even though she surmised +Chunk to be the bird. Not so Zany, who answered the signal promptly. +In a tentative way Chunk sought to find if she was then ready to run +away, but Zany declared she couldn't leave Miss Lou "lookin ez if +she wuz daid." Thinking it might be long indeed before she saw her +suitor again, she vouchsafed him a very affectionate farewell which +Chunk remorselessly prolonged, having learned in his brief +campaigning not to leave any of the goods the gods send to the +uncertainties of the future. When at last he tore himself away, he +muttered, "Speck she need a heap ob scarin' en she git all she +wants. Ef dat ar gyurl doan light out wid me nex' time I ax her, den +I eats a mule." And then Chunk apparently vanished from the scene. + +The next morning Miss Lou awoke feeble, dazed and ill. In a little +while her mind rallied sufficiently to recall what had happened, but +her symptoms of nervous prostration and lassitude were alarming. +Mrs. Whately was sent for, and poor Mr. Baron learned, as by another +surgical operation, what had been his share in imposing on his niece +too severe a strain. Mrs. Waldo whispered to Miss Lou, "Your mammy +has told me enough to account for the shock you received and your +illness. Your secret is safe with me." + +Meantime the good lady thought, "It will all turn out for the best +for the poor child. Such an attachment could only end unhappily, and +she will get over it all the sooner if she believes the Yankee +officer dead. How deeply her starved nature must have craved +sympathy and affection to have led to this in such a brief time and +opportunity!" + +As may be supposed, Aun' Jinkey had been chary of details and had +said nothing of Scoville's avowal. The mistress of the plantation +looked upon her niece's illness as a sort of well earned "judgment +for her perversity," but all the same, she took care that the +strongest beef tea was made and administered regularly. Mrs. Whately +arrived and became chief watcher. The stricken girl's physical +weakness seemed equalled only by a dreary mental apathy. There was +scarcely sufficient vital force left even for suffering, a fact +recognized by the aunt in loving and remorseful solicitude. + +By the aid of his bloodhound Perkins discovered that some one whom +he believed to be Chunk had been about, and he had secret misgivings +as he thought of the negro's close proximity. He had already learned +what a blow Chunk could deal and his readiness to strike. Taking the +dog and his gun he had cautiously followed the run into which the +tracks led until satisfied that the man he was following had taken +horse and was beyond pursuit. On his return he learned of Miss Lou's +illness and so ventured to threaten Aun' Jinkey. + +"Yer do know 'bout that cussed grandson o' yourn. Kyant fool Grip, +en he' smelled out all the nigger's tracks. Now ef yer don't tell +the truth I'll raise the kentry 'roun' en we'll hunt 'im to the +eends of the yearth." + +"Well den, Marse Perkins," admitted the terror-stricken woman, "I +des tell you de truf. Dat gran'boy ob min' des come ter say good-by. +Marse Scoville daid en Chunk mos' up Norf by dis time, he went away +so sud'n." + +"That Yankee cuss dead?" cried Perkins in undisguised exultation. + +"Marse Scoville daid, shot of'n he hoss long way f'um yere," replied +Aun' Jinkey sorrowfully. "He kyant harm you ner you 'im no mo', ner +Chunk neider." + +"Why the devil didn't you let us know Chunk was here las' night?" + +"He my gran'son," was the simple reply. + +"Well he isn't Zany's grandson! Now I know w'at she was snoopin' +round nights fer, en Mrs. Baron'll know, too, 'fore I'm five minutes +older." + +Aun' Jinkey threw up her hands and sank back into her chair more +dead than alive. She, too, had been taxed beyond endurance and all +her power to act had ceased with her final effort to show that +pursuit of Chunk would be useless. + +Perkins speedily obtained an audience with Mrs. Baron, who became +deeply incensed and especially against Zany. The inexorable old +lady, however, never acted from passion. She nodded coldly to the +overseer, saying, "I will inform Mr. Baron and he will give you your +orders in regard to the offenders." + +Zany was too alert not to observe the interview and the omens of +trouble in the compressed lips of "ole miss" and the steel-like +gleam of her eyes. The moment Mrs. Baron was closeted with her +husband the girl sped to the cabin. "Did you tell Perkins Chunk been +yere?" she demanded fiercely. + +"Fo' de Lawd I des gwine all ter pieces," gasped Aun' Jinkey. + +"Hope ter grashus yer does, en de pieces neber come tergedder agin," +said Zany in contemptuous anger and deep alarm. + +Under the spur of tremendous excitement she hastened back, thinking +as she ran, "Miss Lou too sick ter do anyting. I des got ter 'peal +ter Miss Whately, er ole miss hab me whipped haf ter daith." When in +response to a timid knock Mrs. Whately peered out of her niece's +room she found a trembling suppliant with streaming eyes. +Noiselessly shutting the door the matron said warningly: + +"Don't you know Miss Lou's life depends on quiet?" + +"How she gwine ter hab quiet w'en ole miss gwine ter hab Marse +Perkins whip me'n Aun' Jinkey ter daith?" + +"Nonsense! Why should either of you be punished?"' + +"Well missus, I 'fess ter you," sobbed Zany, "kaze you got more +feelin' fer us. Chunk come las' night ter say good-by ter he +granny'n me, en den he put out fer good, en ain' comin' back no mo'. +Perkins en he dog foun' hit out dis mawnin', en Aun' Jinkey tole +'im, too, I reck'n, she all broke up. Perkins been talkin' ter ole +miss en she look lak she al'ways does w'en ders no let up. Hit ud +des kill Miss Lou if she knew me'n Aun' Jinkey wuz bein' whipped." + +"Zany," said Mrs. Whately in rising anger, "you both had full +warning. You knew what Chunk had done. He stole my son's horse and +one from his master also, beside doing other things that could not +be forgiven." + +"Please reckermember, missus, dat Chunk en me is mighty sweet on +each oder en he Aun' Jinkey gran'boy. Tain' dat we 'prove of his +goin's on, but how cud we tell on 'im en see 'im daid, w'en he des +come ter say good-by. Oh, ef Miss Lou on'y well she neber let dat +ole Perkins tech us." + +"I will see your master before anything is done," said Mrs. Whately +with troubled face. "Go to your work now. I will get Mrs. Waldo to +watch in my place after a while." + +Mr. Baron was depressed physically and mentally by the trying events +of the past few weeks, but the fact that Chunk had ventured on the +place again and had been permitted to escape angered him deeply. He +also accepted the view of his wife and overseer that all discipline +among the slaves would soon be at an end if so serious an offence +were overlooked. It would be a confession of weakness and fear they +believed which would have a most demoralizing effect in the +quarters. Chunk represented the worst offences of which the slaves +could be guilty; the most solemn warnings had been given against +aiding and abetting him in any way. To do nothing now would be a +virtual permission of lawlessness. There was no thought of mercy for +Zany, but Aun' Jinkey's age, feebleness, together with her relations +to Chunk and Miss Lou, complicated matters. + +Husband and wife were still consulting when Mrs. Whately joined +them. Mrs. Baron did not welcome her guest, feeling that this was +purely a personal affair, and was in no mood to brook interference. + +"I can't be absent long," began Mrs. Whately, "Zany has told me +everything and--" + +"I think, sister, that Mr. Baron and I can manage this matter," +interrupted Mrs. Baron coolly. + +"No doubt you can," Mrs. Whately replied with dignity. "I did not +come down to interfere with your domestic affairs. There is one +point on which I have a right to speak and must speak. You can't +punish Aun' Jinkey and Zany now if knowledge of such punishment can +in any way reach our niece. No matter how much they may deserve it, +I say you cannot do it. I promised Zany nothing, held out no hope to +her of escape, but to you I will speak plainly. If you should excite +and disturb Louise now, you might easily cause her death. If you +feel that you cannot overlook the offence (and I know how serious a +one it is) wait till I can remove Louise to my own house. You will +find that Dr. Pelton when he arrives will confirm my words." + +Mr. Baron weakened. He had not the relentless will of his wife, who +interposed with cutting emphasis, "There is no need of Louise's +knowing anything about it till she is much better, and it would be +well for her to learn then, as well as the slaves, that there is +still a master and mistress." + +"It may be long before Louise is much better," Mrs. Whately replied +gravely. "She has been subjected to a strain for which my conscience +reproaches me, however it may be with yours. She is in a very +critical state, and seemingly from some recent shock." + +"Can the news Chunk brought have had any such effect?" broke forth +Mrs. Baron indignantly--"news of the death of that Yankee whom she +met and treated as a social equal sorely against my will?" + +"Lieutenant Scoville dead!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately looking shocked +and sad. + +"Yes, so Chunk told his granny." + +Mrs. Whately was troubled indeed. Perhaps there had been much more +than she had suspected. If so, this fact would account for the +girl's extreme prostration. To bring these tidings might have been +one of Chunk's chief motives in venturing on his brief visit. Miss +Lou might know all about the visit and even have seen Chunk herself. +If this were true, punishment of those who were in a sense her +accomplices would be all the more disastrous. The perplexed matron +felt that she must have more time to think and to acquire fuller +knowledge of the affair. + +"Brother," she said finally, "you are the guardian of Louise and in +authority. She is now helpless and at present quiet. If quiet of +mind and body can be maintained long enough she will no doubt get +well. In a sense I am now her physician, and I say as Surgeon Ackley +said of his patients, she cannot be disturbed. I positively forbid +it. Dr. Pelton who must soon be here will take the same ground. +Public opinion will support him and me in holding you responsible if +you order anything endangering your ward's life and health at this +time. Mrs. Waldo and her son would be witnesses. How far the former +is acquainted with affairs we do not know. She watched with Louise +all last night. If you act hastily you may be sorry indeed. I am +trying kindness and conciliation with my people and they are doing +better. I fear your policy is mistaken. Chunk is gone and beyond +punishment. It is asking much to expect that his grandmother and the +girl who loves him after her fashion would give information against +him. It would seem that only the two slaves and Perkins know of this +visit. Affairs are bad enough with you as it is and you can easily +make them much worse. If you must punish for effect, take some stout +field hand who is insubordinate or lazy. At any rate I love Louise +and hope some day to call her daughter, and I will not have her life +endangered. That's all I have to say." + +Mr. Baron's flame of anger had died out. His views had not been +changed by his harsh experience, but he had been compelled to see +that there were times when he could not have his own way. So he said +testily, "Well, well, we'll have to let the matter rest a while, I +suppose." + +Mrs. Whately departed. Mrs. Baron put her thin lips together in a +way which meant volumes, and went out on her housekeeping round, +giving orders to Zany in sharper, more metallic tones than usual. +The delinquent herself had overheard enough of the conversation to +learn that the evil day had at least been put off and to get some +clew as to the future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CHUNK PLAYS SPOOK + + +Since Mr. Baron had yielded for the present, Mrs. Whately was glad +nothing need be said to the physician concerning their affairs. His +positive injunction of quiet was sufficient, and now that Mr. Baron +was impressed with its need and had had time for sober second +thought, he concluded that he had trouble enough on hand as it was. +He felt that every quiet day gained was so much toward securing the +absolutely essential crops. Perkins was therefore summoned and the +situation in part explained. + +The overseer was in unusual good-humor over the death of Scoville, +and if Chunk had escaped finally, there was compensation in the +thought of having no more disturbance from that source. So, +fortunately for poor Zany, avarice came to the fore and Perkins +agreed that the best thing to do was to bend every energy to "making +the crops," using severity only in the furtherance of this end. + +"Beg pardon, Mr. Baron, but I must have sump'n up and down clar. +There's been so many bosses of late en my orders been knocked +eendwise so of'en that I don't know, en the hands don't know whether +I've got any po'r or no. Ef this thing 'bout Chunk gits out, en +nobody punished, the fiel'-hans natchelly think we darsn't punish. +Mought es well give up then." + +"Punish as much as you think necessary to keep the quarter-hands at +work. Then it is plain," replied Mr. Baron. + +Very seldom had Perkins been in so complacent and exultant a mood as +when he left the presence of Mr. Baron that morning. But his +troubles began speedily. Jute had slept little the night before and +was stupid and indifferent to his work in the afternoon. Finding +threats had little effect, the overseer struck a blow with his cane. +The negro turned fiercely but was confronted with a revolver. He +resumed work doggedly, his sullen look spreading like the shadow of +a cloud to the faces of the others. So many began to grow +indifferent and reckless that to punish all was out of the question. +Perkins stormed and threatened, striking some here and there, almost +beside himself from increasing anxiety and rage. Whichever way he +turned a dark vindictive face met his eyes. The slaves had enjoyed a +brief sense and sweet hope of freedom; he was seeking to refasten +the yoke with brutal hands and it galled as never before. Even his +narrow arbitrary nature was impressed with the truth that a great +change was taking place; that a proclamation issued hundreds of +miles away was more potent than his heavy hand. He was as incapable +of any policy other than force as was his employer of abandoning the +grooves in which his thoughts had always run. + +The worrisome afternoon finally ended, leaving the harassed man free +to seek consolation from his jug. Mr. Baron relapsed into his quiet +yet bitter mental protest. "Ole miss" maintained inexorable +discipline over the yard and house slaves, keeping all busy in +removing every stain and trace of the hospital. She governed by fear +also, but it was the fear which a resolute, indomitable will +produces in weaker natures. + +Mrs. Waldo already felt uncomfortable. There was no lack of outward +courtesy, but the two women had so little in common that there was +almost a total absence of sympathy between them. The guests through +the fortune of war resolved therefore to depart in a day or two, +making the journey home by easy stages. Mrs. Whately was both polite +and cordial, but she also felt that the family should be alone as +soon as possible, that they were facing problems which could better +be solved without witnesses. It was her hope now to nurse her charge +back to health, and, by the utmost exercise of tact, gain such an +ascendency over the girl as to win her completely. Granting that the +matron's effort was part of a scheme, it was one prompted by deep +affection, a yearning to call her niece daughter and to provide for +the idolized son just the kind of wife believed to be essential to +his welfare. Much pondering on the matter led her to believe that +even if the tidings of Scoville's death had been the cause of the +final prostrating shock, it was but the slight blow required to +strike down one already feeble and tottering to her fall. "He +probably made a strong, but necessarily a passing impression on the +dear child's mind," she reasoned. "When she gets well she will think +of him only as she does of the other Union soldiers who so +interested her." + +The object of this solicitude was docile and quiet, taking what was +given her, but evidently exhausted beyond the power of thought or +voluntary action. + +The night passed apparently without incident, but it was a busy one +for Chunk. He again summoned Jute and his other confederates to a +tryst in the grove to impress them with his plans. It was part of +his scheme to permit a few nights to pass quietly so that +disturbances would not be associated with him, he being supposed far +away. In the depths of the adjacent forest he had found safe shelter +for himself and horse, and here, like a beast in its lair, he slept +by day. The darkness was as light to him about the familiar +plantation, and he prowled around at night unmolested. + +During this second meeting he attempted little more than to argue +his dusky associates out of their innate fear of spooks and to urge +upon them patience in submitting to Perkins's rule a little longer. +"I des tells you," he declared, "dey ain' no spooks fer us! Dere's +spooks on'y fer dem w'at kills folks on de sly-like. If ole Perkins +come rarin' en tarin' wid his gun en dawg, I des kill 'im ez I wud a +rattler en he kyant bodder me no mo'; but ef I steal on 'im now en +kill 'im in he sleep he ghos pester me ter daith. Dat de +conslomeration ob de hull business. I doan ax you ter do any ting +but he'p me skeer' im mos' ter daith. He watchin' lak a ole fox ter +ke'p you en Zany yere. Ef you puts out, he riz de kentry en put de +houn's arter you. We des got ter skeer 'im off fust. I'm studyin' +how ter git dat dawg out'n de way. Des go on quiet few mo' days en +ef you year quar noises up on de hill whar de sogers bur'ed you know +hit me. Look skeered lak de oders but doan be fear'd en keep mum." + +The next few days and nights passed in quiet and all began to +breathe more freely. Even Aun' Jinkey rallied under the soothing +influence of her pipe and the privilege of watching part of each day +with Miss Lou. Slowly the girl began to grow better. Hoping not even +for tolerance of her feelings in regard to Scoville, it was her +instinct to conceal them from her relatives. She knew Mrs. Waldo +would not reveal what Aun' Jinkey had told her, and understood the +peculiar tenderness with which that lady often kissed her. She also +guessed that while the stanch Southern friend had deep sympathy for +her there was not very strong regret that the affair had ended in a +way to preclude further complications. + +"Remember, my dear," said Mrs. Waldo, in her affectionate parting, +"that God never utterly impoverishes our lives. Only we ourselves +can do that. You will get well and become happy in making others +happy." + +On the evening of that day, even Mr. Baron's routine was completely +restored. His larder was meagre compared with the past, but with the +exception that Mrs. Whately occupied the place of his niece at the +table, and viands were fewer, all was as it had been. Zany's fears +had subsided, leaving her inwardly chafing at the prospect of +monotonous and indefinite years of work under "ole miss," with +little chance of Chunk's return. Aun' Suke's taste of freedom had +not been to her mind, so she was rather complacent than otherwise, +and especially over the fact that there was so little to cook. The +garden and Mr. Baron's good credit would insure enough plain food +till the crops matured and the impoverishment caused by the raid was +repaired. It certainly seemed when the sun set that evening that the +present aspect of affairs might be maintained indefinitely in the +little community. + +Only one was not exactly at rest. Perkins felt as if something was +in the air. There was a brooding, sullen quiet among the negroes +which led him to suspect that they were waiting and hoping for +something unknown to him. This was true of Uncle Lusthah and the +majority. The crack of Union rifles was the "soun' f'um far away" +they were listening for. By secret channels of communication tidings +of distant battles were conveyed from plantation to plantation, and +the slaves were often better informed that their masters. As for +Perkins, he knew next to nothing of what was taking place, nor did +he dream that he was daily addressing harsh words to conspirators +against his peace. + +The time had come when Chunk was ready to act. On the night in +question a hot wind arose which blew from the little burial-place on +the hill toward the house. "Hi! now's de charnce ter fix dat ar +bizness!" and he made his preparations. Shortly before midnight he +crept like a cat under the overseer's window. The heavy snoring rose +and fell reassuringly, sweet as music to Chunk's ears. Not so the +angry, restless growling of the savage bloodhound chained within. +"But you doan kotch me dis yere time fer all yer fuss, Marse Grip," +the negro muttered. "I done hab yer brekfus' ready fer yer! Dat'll +settle yer hash,' and with deft hand a piece of poisoned meat was +tossed close to the brute's feet as Chunk hastened away. Jute was +next wakened and put on the watch. An hour later there came from the +soldiers' cemetery the most doleful, unearthly sounds imaginable. No +need for Jute and his confederates to arouse the other negroes in +the quarters. A huddled frightened gang soon collected, Aun' Jinkey +among them so scared she could not speak. + +"Marse Perkins ought to know 'bout dis," cried Jute. + +The suggestion was enough. The whole terror-stricken throng rushed +in a body to the overseer's cottage and began calling and shrieking, +"Come out yere! come out yere!" Confused in his sudden waking and +thinking he was mobbed, he shouted through the window, "I'll shoot a +dozen of yer ef yer don't clar out." + +"Marse Perkins, des you lis'n," rose in chorus from those far beyond +the fear of mortal weapons. + +In the silence that followed the rushing wind bore down to them a +weird, dismal howl that in Perkins's ears met every ghostly +requirement. His teeth began to chatter like castanets, and +snatching his jug of corn whiskey he swallowed great draughts. + +"We des tink you orter know 'bout dis," said Jute. + +"Cert'ny," cried Perkins in his sudden flame of false courage. "I'll +light a lantern and take twenty o' you hands round that place. Ef +thar's a cuss yonder makin' this 'sturbance we'll roast 'im alive." + +In a moment or two he dressed and came out with a light and his gun. +Two revolvers were also stuck in his belt. As he appeared on the +threshold there was a prolonged yell which curdled even his inflamed +blood and sent some of the negro women into hysterics. + +"Come on," shouted the overseer hoarsely, "thirty of yer ef yer +afraid." + +The crowd fell back. "We ain' gwine ter dat ar spook place, no +mattah w'at you do to us." + +"Perkins, what IS the matter?" Mr. Baron was heard shouting from the +house. + +"Reckon you better come out yere, sir." + +"Are the hands making trouble?" + +"No sir, sump'n quar's gwine on, what we kyant mek out yit." + +Mr. Baron, wrapped in his dressing-gown, soon appeared on the scene, +while Aun' Suke's domain contributed its quota also of agitated, +half-dressed forms. Chunk could not resist the temptation to be a +witness to the scene and in a copse near by was grinning with silent +laughter at his success. + +After learning what had occurred, Mr. Baron scoffed at their +superstitions, sternly bidding all to go to their places and keep +quiet. "Perkins, you've been drinking beyond reason," he warned his +overseer in a low voice. "Get back to your room quick or you will be +the laughing-stock of everybody! See here, you people, you have +simply got into a panic over the howling of the wind, which happens +to blow down from the graveyard to-night." + +"Neber yeared de win' howl dataway befo'," the negroes answered, as +in a mass they drifted back to the quarters. + +Perkins was not only aware of his condition but was only too glad to +have so good an excuse for not searching the cemetery. Scarcely had +he been left alone, however, before he followed the negroes, +resolved upon companionship of even those in whom he denied a +humanity like his own. In the darkness Chunk found an opportunity to +summon Jute aside and say, "Free er fo' ob you offer ter stay wid +ole Perkins. Thet he'p me out." + +Perkins accepted the offer gladly, and they agreed to watch at his +door and in the little hallway. + +"You mus' des tie up dat ar dawg ob yourn," first stipulated Jute. + +"Why, whar in--is the dog? Hain't yeared a sound from 'im sence the +'sturbance begun." + +"Dwags kyant stan' spooks nohow," remarked Jute. + +"I've yeared that," admitted Perkins, looking around for the animal. + +"Thar he is, un'er yo' baid," said Jute, peeking through the +doorway. + +The miserable man's hair fairly stood up when the brute was +discovered stark and dead without a scratch upon him. Recourse was +again had to the jug, and oblivion soon followed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A VISITATION + + +There was no more sleep at the quarters that night, and never was +the dawn more welcome. It only brought a respite, however, for the +impression was fixed that the place was haunted. There was a settled +aspect of gloom and anxiety on every dusky face in the morning. Mr. +Baron found his overseer incapacitated for duty, but the hands were +rather anxious to go to work and readily obeyed his orders to do so. +They clung to all that was familiar and every-day-like, while their +fears and troubled consciences spurred them to tasks which they felt +might be a sort of propitiation to the mysterious powers abroad. +Zany was now sorry indeed that she had not gone with Chunk, and poor +Aun' Jinkey so shook and trembled all day that Mrs. Whately would +not let her watch by Miss Lou. Knowing much of negro superstitions +she believed, with her brother and Mrs. Baron, that the graves on +the place, together with some natural, yet unusual sounds, had +started a panic which would soon die out. + +When at last Perkins, shaky and nervous, reported the mysterious +death of his dog, Mr. Baron was perplexed, but nothing more. "You +were in no condition to give a sane account of anything that +happened last night," he said curtly. "Be careful in the future. If +you will only be sensible about it, this ridiculous scare will be to +our advantage, for the hands are subdued enough now and frightened +into their duty." + +Perkins remained silent. In truth, he was more frightened than any +one else, for the death of his dog appeared to single him out as a +special object of ghostly hostility. He got through the day as well +as he could, but dreaded the coming night all the more as he saw +eyes directed toward him, as if he, in some way, were the cause of +the supernatural visitation. This belief was due to the fact that +Aun' Jinkey in her terror had spoken of Scoville's death, although +she would not tell how she knew about it. "Perkins shoot at en try +ter kill Marse Scoville," she had whispered to her cronies, "en now +he daid he spook comin' yere ter hant de oberseer. We neber hab no +quiet nights till dat ar Perkins go way fer good." + +This rational explanation passed from lip to lip and was generally +accepted. The coming night was looked forward to in deep +apprehension, and by none more than by Perkins. Indeed, his fears so +got the better of him that when the hands quit work he started for +the nearest tavern and there remained till morning. Chunk was made +aware of this fact, and the night passed in absolute quiet. All the +negroes not in the secret now hoped that the overseer was the sole +prey of the spook, and that if they remained quietly in their places +they would be unmolested. Chunk and a few of the boldest of his +fellow conspirators had full scope therefore to perfect their final +arrangements. In a disused room of one of the outbuildings the most +ragged and blood-stained uniforms of the Union soldiers had been +cast and forgotten. These were carried to a point near the burying- +ground, tried on and concealed. Chunk found it was no easy task to +keep even the reckless fellows he had picked up to the sticking +point of courage in the grewsome tasks he had in view, but his +scoff, together with their mutual aid and comfort, carried them +through, while the hope of speedy freedom inspired them to what was +felt to be great risks. + +On this occasion he dismissed them some little time before midnight, +for he wished them to get rested and in good condition for what he +hoped would be the final effort the following night. As he lingered +in the still, starlit darkness he could not resist making an effort +to see Zany, and so began hooting like an owl down by the run, +gradually approaching nearer till he reached the garden. Zany, +wakeful and shivering with nameless dread, was startled by the +sound. Listening intently, she soon believed she detected a note +that was Chunk's and not a bird's. Her first impression was that her +lover had discovered that he could not go finally away without her +and so had returned. Her fear of spooks was so great that her +impulse was to run away with Chunk as far from that haunted +plantation as he would take her. Trembling like a wind-shaken leaf, +she stole into the garden shrubbery and whispered, "Chunk?" + +"Hi! yere I is." + +There was no tantalizing coquetry in Zany's manner now. In a moment +she was in Chunk's arms sobbing, "Tek me way off fum dis place. I go +wid you now, dis berry minute, en I neber breve easy till we way, +way off enywhar, I doan keer whar. Oh, Chunk, you doan know w'at +been gwine on en I darsn't tell you twel we gits way off." + +"I isn't feared," replied Chunk easily. + +"Dat's kaze you doan know. I des been tremblin' stiddy sence las' +night en I'se feared hit begin eny minute now." + +"Hit woan begin dis yere night," replied Chunk, soothingly and +incautiously. + +"How you know?" she asked quickly, a sudden suspicion entering her +mind. + +"Wat's ter begin?" answered Chunk, now on his guard. "De night am +still, nobody roun'. I hang roun' a few nights twel I study out de +bes' plan ter git away." + +"Has you been hangin' roun' nights, Chunk?" Zany asked solemnly. + +"How you talks, Zany! Does you s'pects I dar stay roun' whar Perkins +am? He kill me. He done gone way to-night." + +"How you know dat?" + +"One de fiel'-hans tole me." + +"Chunk, ef you up ter shines en doan tole me I done wid you. Hasn't +I hep you out'n in eberyting so fur? Ef I fin' out you been skeerin +me so wid eny doin's I des done wid you. I des feel hit in my bones +you de spook. You kyant bamboozle me. I kin hep you--hab done hit +afo'--en I kin hinder you, so be keerful. Dere's some dif'unce in +bein' a spook yosef en bein' skeered ter death by a rale spook. Ef +you tryin' ter skeer en fool me I be wuss on you ner eny Voodoo +woman dat eber kunjurd folks." + +The interview ended in Chunk's making a clean breast of it and in +securing Zany as an ally with mental reservations. The thought that +he had fooled her rankled. + +Mr. Baron's expostulation and his own pressing interests induced +Perkins to remain at home the following night. As Jute had seemed +forgiving and friendly, the overseer asked him to bring two others +and stay with him, offering some of the contents of the replenished +jug as a reward. They sat respectfully near the door while Perkins +threw himself on his bed with the intention of getting to sleep as +soon as possible. "Are you shore ther wuz no 'sturbances last +night?" he asked. + +"Well, Marse Perkins," replied Jute, "you didn't s'pect we out +lookin'. We wuz po'ful sleepy en roll we haids en er blankets en den +'fo' we knowed, hit sun-up. Folks say en de quarters dat ar spook +ain' arter us." + +"Who the devil is hit arter then?" was the angry response. + +"How we know, mars'r? We neber try ter kill enybody." + +"But I tell you I didn't kill him," expostulated their nervous +victim. + +"Didn't name no names, Marse Perkins. I on'y knows w'at I yeared +folks tell 'bout spooks. Dey's mighty cur'us, spooks is. Dey des +'pear to git a spite agin some folks en dey ain' bodderin oder folks +long ez dey ain' 'feered wid. I 'spect a spook dat wuz 'feered wid, +get he dander up en slam roun' permiscus. I des tek a ole bull by de +horns 'fo' I 'fere wid a spook," and Jute's companions grunted +assent. + +"W'at's the good o' yer bein' yere then?" Perkins asked, taking a +deep draught. + +"Well, now, Marse Perkins, you mus'n be onreasonbul. Wat cud we do? +We des riskin' de wool on we haids stayin' yere fer comp'ny. Ef de +spook come, 'spose he tink we no business yere en des lay we out lak +he kunjer yo' dawg? We des tank you, Marse Perkins, fer anoder lil +drap ter kep we sperets out'n we shoon," and Jute shuddered +portentously. + +"Well," said Perkins, with attempted bravado, "I rammed a piece o' +silver down on the bullat in my gun. 'Twix 'em both--" + +"Dar now, Marse Perkins, you des been 'posed on 'bout dat silber +business. Ole Unc' Sampson w'at libed on de Simcoe place nigh on er +hun'erd yeahs, dey say, tole me lots 'bout a spook dat boddered um +w'en he a boy. Way back ole Marse Simcoe shot at de man dat hanker +fer he darter. De man put out en get drownded, but dat doan make no +dif'rence, Unc' Sampson say, kaze ole Marse Simcoe do he bes' ter +kill der man. He sorter hab kill in he heart en Unc' Sampson low a +spook know w'at gwine on in er man's in'erds, en dey des goes fer de +man dat wanter kill um on de sly, en not dose dat kill in fa'r +fight. Ole Unc' Sampson po'ful on spooks. He libed so long he get +ter be sorter spook hesef, en dey say he talk ter um haf de time +'fo' he kiner des snuf out'n lak a can'l." + +"He wuz a silly old fool," growled Perkins, with a perceptible +tremor in his voice. + +"Spect he wuz 'bout some tings," resumed Jute, "but know spooks, he +sut'ny did. He say ole Marse Simcoe useter plug lead en silver right +froo dat man dat want he darter, en dar was de hole en de light +shin'in' froo hit. But de spook ain' min'in' a lil ting lak dat, he +des come on all de same snoopin' roun' arter de ole man's darter. +Den one mawnin' de ole man lay stiff en daid in he baid, he eyes +starin' open ez ef he see sump'n he cudn't stan' no how. Dat wuz de +las' ob dat ar spook, Unc' Sampson say, en he say spook's cur'us dat +away. Wen dey sats'fy dere grudge dey lets up en dey doan foller de +man dey down on kaze dey on'y po'r in de place whar de man 'lowed +ter kill um." + +Perkins took a mental note of this very important limitation of +ghostly persecution, and resolved that if he had any more trouble +all the crops in the State would not keep him within the haunted +limit. + +He whiled away the time by aid of his jug and Job-like comforters +till it began to grow late and he drowsy. + +Suddenly Jute exclaimed, "Hi! Marse Perkins, w'at dat light dancin' +up yon'er by de grabeyard?" + +The overseer rose with a start, his hair rising also as he saw a +fitful jack-o'-lantern gleam, appearing and disappearing on the +cemetery hill. As had been expected, he obeyed his impulse, pouring +down whiskey until he speedily rendered himself utterly helpless; +but while his intoxication disabled him physically, it produced for +a time an excited and disordered condition of mind in which he was +easily imposed upon. Jute shook him and adjured him to get up, +saying, "I years quar soun's comin' dis way." + +When satisfied that their victim could make no resistance, Jute and +companions pretended to start away in terror. Perkins tried to +implore them to remain, but his lips seemed paralyzed. A few moments +later a strange group entered the cottage--five figures dressed in +Federal uniforms, hands and faces white and ghastly, and two +carrying white cavalry sabres. Each one had its finger on its lips, +but Perkins was beyond speech. In unspeakable horror he stared +vacantly before him and remained silent and motionless. The ghostly +shapes looked at him fixedly for a brief time, then at one another, +and solemnly nodded. Next, four took him up and bore him out, the +fifth following with the jug. At the door stood an immovably tall +form, surmounted by a cavalry hat and wrapped in a long army +overcoat. + +"Leftenant Scoville!" gasped Perkins. + +The figure, as if the joints of its back were near the ground, made +a portentous inclination of assent and then pointed with another +white sabre to the hill, leading the way. Perkins tried to shout for +help, but his tongue seemed powerless, as in fact it was, from +terror and liquor combined. He felt himself carried swiftly and, as +he thought, surely, to some terrible doom. + +At last his bearers stopped, and Perkins saw the mounds of the Union +dead rising near. He now remembered in a confused way that one more +grave had been dug than had proved necessary, and he uttered a low +howl as he felt himself lowered into it. Instantly the tall figure +which appeared to direct everything threatened him with a ghostly +sabre, and an utter paralysis of unspeakable dread fell upon him. + +For a few moments they all stood around and pointed at him with +ghostly white fingers, then gradually receded until out of sight. +After a time Perkins began to get his voice, when suddenly his +tormentors appeared in terrible guise. Each white, ghostly face was +lighted up as by a tongue of fire; terrible eyes gleamed from under +wide-crowned cavalry hats and a voice was heard, in a sepulchral +whisper, "Nex' time we come fer you, we bury you!" + +At this instant came a flash of lightning, followed by a tremendous +clap of thunder. The jaws of the figures dropped, the burning +splinters of light-wood they carried dropping down into the grave, +and on its half-lifeless occupant. The ghosts now disappeared +finally--in fact took to their heels; all except Chunk, who secured +the jug, nodded thrice portentously at Perkins and then retired +also, not a little shaken in his nerves, but sufficiently self- +controlled to rally his panic-stricken followers and get them to +remove their disguises before wrapping their heads in blankets. +Having removed and hidden all traces of the escapade he hooted for +the alert Zany, who had been tremblingly on the watch in spite of +her knowledge of what was going on. As she fled with Chunk before +the coming storm she gasped between the gusts, "I declar, Chunk, +sech doin's gwine ter brung a judgment." + +Even Chunk inclined to this view for a time, as the lightning blazed +from sky to earth, and the thunder cracked and roared overhead. The +rain poured in such torrents that he feared Perkins might be drowned +in the grave where he had been placed. As for Aun' Jinkey, she +stared at her unexpected visitors in speechless perplexity and +terror until the fury of the tempest had passed, their voices could +be heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +UNCLE LUSTHAH EXHORTS + + +The heavy thunder shower which came and passed quickly, combined +with a consciousness of their high-handed performances, so awed +Chunk and Zany and oppressed them with misgivings that they were +extremely reticent, even to Aun' Jinkey. Chunk appeared profoundly +ignorant of the ghostly disturbances, trying to say unconcernedly, +"I foun' hit a orful long en skeery trable ter de Un'on lines en I +says ter mysef, 'De Yanks fin' me down yere quicker ner I fin' dem +up Norf. Dey be comin' dis away agin sho'." + +"I des tells you we all git whip nigh ter daith ef you ain' mo' +keerful," said Aun' Jinkey, solemnly. "I kyant stan' de goin's on. I +gwine ter pieces ev'y day en nights git'n wusser'n de days. De gust +ober en you bettah light out. Ef Zany missed dey come yere lookin' +fer her." + +They needed no urging to depart, for Zany was now as scared as Chunk +had ever wished her to be, but her terrors were taking a form which +inclined her to cling to the old landmarks rather than risk she knew +not what, in running away. As she and Chunk were stealing toward the +kitchen a flash of lightning from the retiring storm revealed a +startling figure--that of Perkins, drenched and bedraggled, his eyes +almost starting from their sockets as he staggered toward his +cottage. Chunk's courage at last gave way; he turned and fled, +leaving Zany in the lurch. Frightened almost to the point of +hysterics, she crept to her bed and shook till morning, resolving +meanwhile to have done with Chunk and all his doings. The next day +Mrs. Baron found her the most diligent and faithful of servants. + +Perkins reached his door and looked into the dark entrance, the +gusts having blown out the light. He shook his head, muttered +something unintelligible, and then bent his uncertain steps to the +tavern. The next morning Mr. Baron suspected where he was and went +to see him. The overseer was found to be a pitiable spectacle, +haggard trembling, nervous in the extreme, yet sullen and reticent +and resolute in his purpose never to set foot on the plantation +again. Mr. Baron then closed all business relations and sent over +the man's belongings. Perkins became a perplexing problem to Mr. +Baron and his household and a terrible tradition to the negroes, who +regarded him as a haunted man. Every day and night passed in +quietness after his departure enabled them to breathe more freely +and to become more assured that he "wuz de on'y one de spooks +arter." + +Chunk felt that he had disgraced himself by running away and leaving +Zany, and did not venture back till the second night after the +culmination of his schemes. He found Jute and his associates scared, +sullen and inclined to have little to do with him in their present +mood. Then he hooted in vain for Zany. The girl heard him but made +no sign, muttering, "Sence you runned away en lef me I'se done wid +runnin' away. You tootin' lak a squinch-owl en kin kep comp'ny wid +squinch-owls." + +Only Aun' Jinkey gave him food and a sort of fearful welcome, and +poor Chunk found himself at last a very unhappy and skulking outlaw. + +Mr. Baron gradually rallied under his increased responsibilities and +resolved to be his own overseer. Although an exacting master, the +negroes knew he was not a severe one if they did their work fairly +well. The spook scare had given Uncle Lusthah renewed influence and +he used it in behalf of peace and order. "Our fren Miss Lou, sick," +he urged. "We mek her trouble en we mek oursefs trouble ef we doan +go on peac'ble. What kin we do eny way at dis yer time? De Norf +fightin' fer us en hit all 'pen' on de Norf. We mus' kep a gwine ez +we is till de times en seasons ob de Lawd is 'vealed." + +And so for a period, quiet again settled down on the old plantation. +Mrs. Whately and Aun' Jinkey nursed Miss Lou into a slow, languid +convalescence, till at last she was able to sit in an easy-chair on +the piazza. This she would do by the hour, with a sad, apathetic +look on her thin face. She was greatly changed, her old rounded +outlines had shrunken and she looked frail enough for the winds to +blow away. The old, fearless, spirited look in her blue eyes had +departed utterly, leaving only an expression of settled sadness, +varied by an anxious, expectant gaze, suggesting a lingering hope +that some one might come or something happen to break the dreadful +silence which began, she felt, when Scoville fell from his horse in +the darkening forest. It remained unbroken, and her heart sank into +more hopeless despondency daily. Aun' Jinkey and Zany were charged +so sternly to say nothing to disturb the mind of their young +mistress that they obeyed. She was merely given the impression that +Perkins had gone away of his own will, and this was a relief. She +supposed Chunk had returned to his Union friends, and this also +became the generally accepted view of all except Aun' Jinkey. + +Mrs. Whately came to spend part of the time at The Oaks and part on +her own plantation, where her presence was needed. Her devotion +would have won Miss Lou's whole heart but for the girl's ever- +present consciousness of Mad Whately in the background. The mother +now had the tact to say nothing about him except in a natural and +general way, occasionally trying the experiment of reading extracts +from his brief letters, made up, as they were, chiefly of ardent +messages to his cousin. These Miss Lou received in silence and +unfeigned apathy. + +The respite and quiet could not last very long in these culminating +months of the war. Without much warning even to the negroes, who +appeared to have a sort of telegraphic communication throughout the +region, a Union column forced its way down the distant railroad and +made it a temporary line of communication. Mr. Baron suddenly woke +up to the fact that the nearest town was occupied by the Federals +and that his human property was in a ferment. A foraging party soon +appeared in the neighborhood and even visited him, but his statement +of what he had suffered and the evident impoverishment of the place +led the Union officer to seek more inviting fields. + +Partly to satisfy her own mind as well as that of her niece, Mrs. +Whately asked after Scoville, but could obtain no information. The +troops in the vicinity were of a different organization, the leader +of the party a curt, grizzled veteran, bent only on obtaining +supplies. Miss Lou, sitting helplessly in her room, felt +instinctively that she did not wish even to speak to him. + +To Chunk, this Union advance was a godsend. He immediately took his +horse to the railroad town, sold it for a small sum, and found +employment at the station, where his great strength secured him good +wages. He could handle with ease a barrel akin to himself in shape +and size. + +Uncle Lusthah suddenly found immense responsibility thrust upon him. +In the opinion of the slaves the time and seasons he had predicted +and asked his flock to wait for had come. Negroes from other and +nearer plantations were thronging to the town, and those at The Oaks +were rapidly forming the purpose to do likewise. They only waited +the sanction of their religious teacher to go almost in a body. The +old preacher was satisfied they would soon go any way, unless +inducements and virtual freedom were offered. He therefore sought +Mr. Baron and stated the case to him. + +The old planter would listen to nothing. He was too honorable to +temporize and make false promises. "Bah!" he said, irritably, "the +Yanks will soon be driven off as they were before. I can't say you +are free! I can't give you a share in the crops! It's contrary to +the law of the State and the whole proper order of things. I +wouldn't do it if I could. What would my neighbors think? What would +I think of myself? What a fine condition I'd be in after the Yanks +are all driven from the country! No, I shall stand or fall with the +South and maintain the institutions of my fathers. If you people +leave me now and let the crops go to waste you will soon find +yourselves starving. When you come whining back I'll have nothing to +feed you with." + +Uncle Lusthah cast an imploring look on Miss Lou where she sat in +her chair, with more interest expressed in her wan face than she had +shown for a long time. + +"Uncle Lusthah," she said earnestly, "don't you leave me. As soon as +I am able I'll buy you of uncle and set you free. Then you can +always work for me." + +"I doan wanter lebe you, young mistis, I sut'ny doan, ner der ole +place whar I al'ays libed. But freedom sweet, young mistis, en I +wanter feel I free befo' I die." + +"You shall, Uncle Lusthah. You have earned YOUR freedom, anyway." + +"Tut, tut, Louise, that's no way to talk," said her uncle testily. + +The old slave looked from one to the other sorrowfully, shook his +head and slowly retired. + +"Remember what I said," Miss Lou called after him, and then sank +back in her chair. + +Uncle Lusthah had to relate the result of his conference, and the +consequence was an immediate outbreak of a reckless, alienated +spirit. That afternoon the field hands paid no attention to Mr. +Baron's orders, and he saw that slaves from other plantations were +present. Uncle Lusthah sat at his door with his head bowed on his +breast. His people would listen to him no more, and he himself was +so divided in his feelings that he knew not what to say. + +"Hit may be de Lawd's doin's ter set He people free," he muttered, +"but somehow I kyant brung mysef ter lebe dat po' sick chile. Ole +mars'r en ole miss kyant see en woan see, en dat lil chile w'at +stan' up fer us in de 'stremity ob triberlation be lef wid no one +ter do fer her. I berry ole en stiff in my jints en I cud die +peaceful ef I know I free; but hit 'pears that de Lawd say ter me, +'Uncle Lusthah, stay right yere en look arter dat lil sick lam'. Den +I mek you free w'en de right time come.'" + +Uncle Lusthah soon had the peace of the martyr who has chosen his +course. Mr. Baron also sat on his veranda with head bowed upon his +breast. He too had chosen his course, and now in consequence was +sunk in more bitter and morose protest than ever. Events were beyond +his control and he knew it, but he would neither yield nor change. +This was the worst that had yet befallen him. Black ruin stared him +in the face, and he stared back with gloomy yet resolute eyes. "I +will go down with my old colors flying," he resolved, and that was +the end of it. + +His wife was with him in sympathy, but her indomitable spirit would +not be crushed. She was almost ubiquitous among the house and yard +slaves, awing them into a submission which they scarcely understood +and inwardly chafed at. She even went to the quarters and produced +evident uneasiness by her stern, cutting words. None dared reply to +her, but when the spell of her presence was removed all resumed +their confused and exultant deliberations as to their future course. + +Aun' Jinkey, sitting with Miss Lou, scoffed at the idea of going +away. "Long ez my chimly-corner en my pipe dar I dar too," she said. +"Dis freedom business so mux up I kyant smoke hit out nohow." + +Zany was in a terribly divided state of mind. Were it not for Miss +Lou, she would have been ready enough to go, especially as she had +heard that Chunk was at the railroad town. Her restless spirit +craved excitement and freedom: a townful of admirers, with Chunk +thrown in, was an exceedingly alluring prospect. With all her +faults, she had a heart, and the sick girl had won her affection +unstintedly. When therefore Miss Lou summoned her and fixed her sad, +pleading blue eyes upon her, the girl threw her apron over her head +and began to cry "Doan say a word, Miss Lou," she sobbed, "doan ax +me not ter go kase ef you does I kyant go." + +"Sech foolishness!" ejaculated Aun' Jinkey with a disdainful sniff. +"She lebe you des lak a cat dat snoop off enywhar en arter enybody +w'at got mo' vittles. Wat she keer?" + +Down came the apron, revealing black eyes blazing through the tears +which were dashed right and left as Zany cried, "You ole himage, +w'at you keer? You tink a hun'erd times mo' ob yer pipe ner Miss +Lou. Long ez you kin smoke en projeck in dat ar ole cabin hole you +woan lebe his 'less you turned out. I des gwine ter stay out'n spite +en doan wanter go a hun'erd mile ob dat gran'boy ob yourn." + +"There, Zany," said Miss Lou gently, holding out her hand. "I +understand you and Aun' Jinkey both, and you both are going to stay +out of love for me. I reckon you won't be sorry in the end." + +Up went the apron again and Zany admitted, "I kyant lebe you, Miss +Lou, I des kyant," as she rushed away to indulge in the feminine +relief of tears without stint. + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron passed a sleepless night, for even the question +of food would be problematical if all the able-bodied men and women +on the place went away. In the early dawn there were ominous sounds +at the quarters, and as the light increased a spectacle which filled +the old planter and his wife with rage was revealed. The quarters +were empty and all were trooping toward the avenue with bundles +containing their belongings. This was to be expected, but the act +which excited the direst indignation was the hitching of the only +pair of mules left on the place that were worth anything to the old +family carriage. Aun' Suke was waddling toward this with the feeling +that a "char'ot wuz waitin' fer her now, sho!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Baron looked at each other in quick, comprehensive +sympathy, then hastily and partially dressed. Mr. Baron took his +revolver while "ole miss" snatched a sharp carving-knife from the +dining-room. By the time they reached the scene, Aun' Suke filled +the back seat of the carriage and the rest of the space was being +filled with babies. + +"Stop that!" shouted Mr. Baron. "Before I'll let you take my mules +I'll shoot 'em both." + +"Ole miss" wasted no time in threats--she simply cut the traces and +there were Aun' Suke and the babies stranded. The negroes drew +together on one side and master and mistress on the other. The faces +of the latter were aglow with anger; on the countenances of the +former were mingled perplexity and sullen defiance, but the old +habit of deference still had its restraining influence. + +"Go and starve and leave us to starve, if you will," shouted Mr. +Baron, "but you shall steal none of my property." + +Angry mutterings began among the negroes, and it were hard to say +how the scene would have ended if old Uncle Lusthah had not suddenly +appeared between the opposing parties, and held up his hand +impressively. + +"I gib up my charnce ter be free," he began with simple dignity. "My +body 'longs ter you yit, mars'r en misus; but not my speret. Out'n +dat I gwine ter speak plain fer de fear ob man clean gone fum me. +Mars'r, w'at I say ter you? Lak ole Pharo, you t'ink yo'sef bigger'n +de Lawd. Ef you'd done spoke ter de hans en say 'des go home en dar +de crops en shar' togeder' dey ud stayed en wucked fer you 'tented +like, but you des talk lak ole Pharo. Now de people gwine en you +kyant stop dem. We knowed 'bout de prokermation ob de gre't Linkum. +We know we bin free dis long time. We al'ays know you no right ter +keep us slabes. Dis yer God's worl'. Hit don't 'long ter you en +misus. He ain't stoppin' ter 'suit you 'bout He doin's. Ef you +s'mitted ter He will you'd a gwine 'long easy lak de crops grow in +spring-time. Now hit des de same ez ef you plant de crops in de fall +en'spect de Lawd ter turn de winter inter summer ter please you. I +berry ole en had 'spearance. I'se prayed all de long night en de +Lawd's gib me ter see inter de futer. Lak Moses I may never git in +de promised lan' ob freedom, but hit dar en you kyant kep de people +out'n hit. Ef you doan bend ter He will, you breaks. Wen all de +han's gone en de fiel's is waste t'ink ober de trufe. De Lawd did'n +mek dis yer worl' ter suit you en misus. P'raps He t'ink ez much ob +dem po' souls dar (pointing at the negroes) ez ob yourn. Didn't I +stan' wid dem w'at die ter mek us free? Der blood wateh dis hull +lan' en I feels hit in my heart dat de Lawd'll brung up a crap dis +lan' neber saw befo'. Please reckermember, mars'r en misus, de gre't +wuck ob de Lawd gwine right along des ez ef you ain' dar." + +Then the old man turned to the negroes and in his loud, melodious +voice concluded, "I gibs you one mo' 'zortation. You IS free, but ez +I say so of'un you ain' free ter do foolishness. Tek yo' wibes en +chil'un; dey yourn. Tek yo' clo'es; you arned urn en much mo', but +you kyant tek de mules en de ker'age: dey mars'r's. Go en wuck lak +men en wimmin fer hon'st wages en show you fit ter be free. +Reckermember all I tole you so of'un. De Lawd go wid you en kep you +in de way ob life everlas'in'." + +The better element among the negroes prevailed, for they felt that +they had had a spokesman who voiced their best and deepest feelings. +One after another came and wrung the hand of the old man and +departed. To "Pharo" and his wife few vouchsafed a glance, for they +had cut the cord of human sympathy. Many messages of affection, +however, were left for Miss Lou. The mothers took the babies from +the carriage, Aun' Suke was helped out and she sulkily waddled down +the avenue with the rest. By the time she reached the main road her +powers of locomotion gave out, causing her to drop, half-hysterical, +by the wayside. Some counselled her to go back, saying they would +come for her before long; but pride, shame and exhaustion made it +almost as difficult to go back as to go forward, and so she was left +lamenting. With stern, inflexible faces, master and mistress watched +their property depart, then returned to the house, while Uncle +Lusthah mended the harness temporarily and took the carriage back to +its place. Standing aloof, Zany had watched the scene, wavering +between her intense desire to go and her loyalty to Miss Lou. The +sick girl had conquered, the negress winning an heroic victory over +herself. When she entered the back door of the mansion, her face +rigid from the struggle she had passed through, she was in no lamb- +like mood. Neither was her mistress, who was angrier than she had +ever been in her life. + +"Well," she said to Zany in cold, cutting tones, "what are you doing +here? Looking around for something to carry off before you go also?" + +Stung to the quick by this implied charge and lack of appreciation +of her great self-sacrifice, Zany replied hotly, "I done wid you, +misus. I tek no mo' orders fum you. I stay fer sump'n you doan know +not'n 'bout--lub, but lub fer Miss Lou. Ef she kyant 'tect em 'gin +you den I go." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +A NEW ROUTINE + + +It certainly was a dismal, shrunken household that Mrs. Baron +presided over that morning. Aun' Jinkey came to the rescue and +prepared a meagre breakfast. Miss Lou's room being on the side of +the house furthest from the scenes of the early morning, she had +slept on till Zany wakened her. She listened in a sort of dreary +apathy to all that had occurred, feeling that she was too weak +physically and too broken-spirited to interfere. She also had the +impression that it would have been of no use--that her uncle and +aunt were so fixed in their ways and views that nothing but harsh +experience could teach them anything. In answer to Zany's appeal for +protection against "ole miss" Miss Lou said, "We won't say anything +more about it now till you get over your hurt feelings, which are +very natural. Of course my aunt can't punish you--that's out of the +question now, but by and by I reckon you will do for her out of love +for me when you see it will save me trouble. You have done a good, +unselfish act in staying with me, and having begun so well, you will +keep on in the same way. After all of the rest get free you will, +too. What's more, when I come into my property I'll make free all +who stand by me now." + +So Zany brought her up a nice little breakfast and was comforted. + +When at last the young girl with weak, uncertain steps came down to +her easy-chair on the piazza, she found her uncle gloomily smoking, +and her aunt solacing her perturbed mind with her chief resource-- +housekeeping affairs. Little was said beyond a formal greeting. + +As Miss Lou sat gazing vacantly and sadly down the avenue, a huge +figure appeared, making slow, painful progress toward the house. At +last Aun' Suke was recognized, and the truth flashed across the +girl's mind that the fat old cook had found she could not get away. +Finally the woman sat down under a tree not far from the house, not +only overcome by heat and fatigue, but also under the impression +that she must open negotiations before she could expect to be +received. + +"There," said Mr. Baron grimly, "is one of them coming back already. +They'll be sneaking, whining back when the crops are spoiled and +it's too late." + +Miss Lou rose feebly and got an old sunshade from the hall. + +"Louise, you are not able--I forbid it." + +The girl felt she had strength to get to the old woman but not +enough to contend with her uncle, so she went slowly down the steps +without a word. Mr. Baron growled, "I might as well speak to the +wind as to anybody on the place any more." + +When Aun' Suke saw the girl coming to her she scrambled to her feet, +and holding up her hands ejaculated all sorts of remorseful and +deprecatory comments. + +"Welcome back," said Miss Lou kindly, when in speaking distance. +"There, don't go on so. Sit down and I'll sit down with you." She +sank at the foot of the tree and leaned against it, panting. + +"I des feels ez ef de yeth ud op'n en swaller me," began the poor +renegade, quivering with emotion. + +"Don't talk so, Aun' Suke. I'm not strong enough to stand +foolishness. You will go back with me and stay with Uncle Lusthah +and Aun' Jinkey and Zany. You will cook for us all just the same and +by and by you will be as free as I am." + +"Well, Miss Lou, I comin' back lak de perdigous son, but ole miss +ain' got no fatted calf fer me, ner you neider, I reckon. I des +feered on w'at ole miss say en do." + +"Aun' Suke," said the girl, taking the woman's great black hand, +"you stand by me and I'll stand by you. When I get stronger we'll +see what's best to be done. Now I can't think, I don't know. I only +feel that we must help one another till all is clearer." + +Mrs. Baron accepted Aun' Suke's presence in the kitchen again in +grim silence. She believed it the earnest of the speedy return of +all the others, and resolved to bide her time when the Southern +armies restored completely the old order of things. + +Mrs. Whately drove over during the day and was aghast at what had +occurred. + +"I have kept the great majority of my hands by conciliation and +promising them a share in the crops. Indeed, I had virtually to +treat them as if free. It was either that or ruin." + +"Well," growled her brother, "you can't keep that pace and I +wouldn't begin it." + +"I can only do the best I can, from day to day," sighed the lady, +"and I've been almost distracted." + +After showing her affectionate solicitude for Miss Lou she returned, +feeling that her presence at home was now hourly needed. + +Gradually the little household began to adjust itself to the new +order of things, and day by day Mr. and Mrs. Baron were compelled to +see that the few servants who ministered to them were kept at their +tasks by an influence in which they had no part. Almost +imperceptibly, Miss Lou regained her strength, yet was but the +shadow of her former self. Uncle Lusthah gave his attention to the +garden, already getting weed-choked. The best he could hope to do +was to keep up a meagre supply of vegetables, and Zany in the cool +of the day often gave him a helping hand. + +Late one afternoon Miss Lou, feeling a little stronger, went to Aun' +Jinkey's cabin and sat down on the doorstep. + +"Oh, mammy," she sighed, "I'm so tired, I'm so tired; yet I can do +nothing at all." + +"You po' lil chile," groaned Aun' Jinkey, "how dif'ernt you looks +ner w'en you fus sot dar en wish sump'n happen." + +"Oh," cried the girl almost despairingly, "too much has happened! +too much has happened! How can God let such troubles come upon us?" + +"Eben Uncle Lusthah hab ter say he dunno. He say he des gwine ter +hole on twel de eend, en dat all he kin do." + +"Oh, mammy, I'm all at sea. I haven't any strength to hold on and +there doesn't seem anything to hold on to. Oh, mammy, mammy, do you +think he's surely dead?" + +"I feared he is," groaned Aun' Jinkey. "Dey say he spook come arter +Perkins en dat w'y de oberseer clared out." + +"Oh, horrible!" cried the girl. "If his spirit could come here at +all would it not come to me instead of to that brutal wretch? Oh, +mammy, I don't know which is worse, your religion or your +superstition. You believe in a God who lets such things happen and +you can think my noble friend would come back here only to scare a +man like Perkins. It's all just horrible. Oh, Allan, Allan, are you +so lost to me that you can never look goodwill into my eyes again?" + +Tears rushed to her eyes for the first time since she heard the +dreadful tidings, and she sobbed in her mammy's arms till exhausted. + +That outburst of grief and the relief of tears given by kindly +nature was the decisive point in Miss Lou's convalescence. She was +almost carried back to her room and slept till late the following +day. When she awoke she felt that her strength was returning, and +with it came the courage to take up the burdens of life. For weeks +it was little more than the courage of a naturally brave, +conscientious nature which will not yield to the cowardice and +weakness of inaction. The value of work, of constant occupation, to +sustain and divert the mind, was speedily learned. Gradually she +took the helm of outdoor matters from her uncle's nerveless hands. +She had a good deal of a battle in respect to Chunk. It was a sham +one on the part of Zany, as the girl well knew, for Chunk's +"tootin'" was missed terribly. Mr. and Mrs. Baron at first refused +point-blank to hear of his returning. + +"Uncle," said his ward gravely, "is only your property at stake? I +can manage Chunk, and through him perhaps get others. I am not +responsible for changes which I can't help; I am to blame if I sit +down idly and helplessly and do nothing better than fret or sulk. +Your bitter words of protest are not bread and bring no money. For +your sakes as well as my own you must either act or let me act." + +The honorable old planter was touched at his most sensitive point, +and reluctantly conceded, saying, "Oh, well, if you think you can +save any of your property out of the wreck, employ Chunk on your own +responsibility." + +So Chunk was reinstated in his granny's cabin and given a share in +all he could raise and secure of the crops. The negro was as shrewd +as Jacob of old, but like the Hebrew patriarch could do much under +the inspiration of his twofold affection for Zany and his young +mistress. + +And so the summer and early fall wore away. The railroad line of +communication was maintained, and upon it drifted away Mr. Baron's +former slaves and the great majority of the others in the +neighborhood. The region in which the plantation was situated was so +remote and sparsely settled that it was a sort of border land, +unclaimed and unvisited by any considerable bodies from either +party. Rev. Dr. Williams' congregation had shrunken to a handful. He +officiated at one end of the church, and his plump, black-eyed +daughter led the singing at the other, but it was observed that she +looked discontented rather than devotional. She was keenly alive to +the fact that there was not an eligible man left in the parish. +Uncle Lusthah patiently drove the mules every clear Sunday morning +and Mr. and Mrs. Baron sat in the carriage whose springs Aun' Suke +had sorely tried; but Miss Lou would not go with them. After his +readiness to marry her to her cousin she felt it would be worse than +mockery to listen to Dr. Williams again. + +But a deep, yet morbid spiritual change was taking place in the +girl. As of old, she thought and brooded when her hands were busy, +and during her long, solitary evenings on the piazza. Strange to +say, she was drawing much of her inspiration from a grave--the grave +of a rough, profane soldier whom she knew only as "Yarry." There was +something in his self-forgetful effort in her behalf, even when in +the mortal anguish of death, which appealed to her most powerfully. +His heroism, expecting, hoping for no reward, became the finest +thing in her estimation she had ever witnessed. Her own love taught +her why Scoville was attracted by her and became ready to do +anything for her. "That's the old, old story," she mused, "ever +sweet and new, yet old as the world. Poor Yarry was actuated by a +purely unselfish, noble impulse. Only such an impulse can sustain +and carry me through my life. No, no, Mrs. Waldo, I can never become +happy in making others happy. I can never be happy again. The bullet +which killed Allan Scoville pierced my heart also and it is dead, +but that poor soldier taught me how one can still live and suffer +nobly, and such a life must be pleasing to the only God I can +worship." All wondered at the change gradually taking place in the +girl. It was too resolute, too much the offspring of her will rather +than her heart to have in it much gentleness, but it was observed +that she was becoming gravely and patiently considerate of others, +even of their faults and follies. As far as possible, her uncle and +aunt were allowed their own way without protest, the girl +sacrificing her own feelings and wishes when it was possible. They +at last began to admit that their niece was manifesting a, becoming +spirit of submission and deference, when in fact her management of +their affairs was saving them from an impoverishment scarcely to be +endured. + +For Mrs. Whately the girl now had a genuine and strong affection, +chilled only by her belief that the plan in regard to the son was +ever in the mother's mind. So indeed it was. The sagacious woman +watched Miss Lou closely and with feelings of growing hope as well +as of tenderness. The girl was showing a patience, a strength of +mind, and, above all, a spirit of self-sacrifice which satisfied +Mrs. Whately that she was the one of all the world for her son. + +"I do believe," she thought, "that if I can only make Louise think +it will be best for us all as well as Madison, she will yield. The +spirit of self-sacrifice seems her supreme impulse. Her sadness will +pass away in time, and she would soon learn to love the father of +her children. What's more, there is something about her now which +would hold any man's love. See how her lightest wish controls those +who work for her, even that harum-scarum Zany." + +In the late autumn a long-delayed letter threw Mrs. Whately into a +panic of fear and anxiety. A surgeon wrote that her son had been +severely wounded and had lost his left arm, but that he was doing +well. + + + + +Here the author laid down his pen. In Mr. Roe's journal, under date +of July 11, is an entry alluding to a conversation with a friend. +That conversation concerned the conclusion of this book, and was, in +effect, substantially the same as the outline given by him in a +letter, part of which is quoted as follows: + +"It is not my purpose to dwell further on incidents connected with +the close of the war, as the book may be considered too long +already. It only remains for me now to get all my people happy as +soon as possible. Zany and Chunk 'make up,' and a good deal of their +characteristic love-making will be worked in to relieve the rather +sombre state of things at this stage. Whately returns with his empty +sleeve, more of a hero than ever in his own eyes and his mother's. +Miss Lou thinks him strangely thoughtful and considerate in keeping +away, as he does, after a few short visits at The Oaks. The truth +is, he is wofully disappointed at the change in his cousin's looks. +This pale, listless, hollow-eyed girl is not the one who set him to +reading 'Taming of the Shrew.' That her beauty of color and of +outline could ever return, he does not consider; and in swift +revulsion of feeling secretly pays court elsewhere. + +"Mrs. Whately, however, makes up for her son's deficiencies. Utterly +ignorant how affairs are shaping, she works by her representations +upon Miss Lou's sympathies until the weary consent is wrung from the +poor girl--'Nothing matters to me any more! If it makes you all +happy--why--then--But I must wait a year.' She feels that her love +for Allan Scoville will never be less, and that this period of time +is little enough to devote to him in silent memory. + +"The delighted aunt hastens to report to her son, who stares rather +blankly, for a lover, as he hears of this concession on his cousin's +part, and without answer, he orders his horse and rides furiously +away. The ride is one that has been very frequently taken since the +young man's return, and pretty soon he is in earnest conversation +with the rosy-cheeked, black-eyed daughter of Dr. Williams. There +seems to be very good understanding between the two, and later, just +at the final scene, it will come out as effectively as can be +portrayed the startling news of their secret marriage. + +"The days go on. One afternoon in the late autumn, Aun' Jinkey, +smoking and 'projeckin'' as usual in her cabin, has a vision which +fairly sends her heart, as she will express it, 'right troo de +mouf.' Was it a 'spook,' or had the dead really come back to life? +And I hear her exclaim, throwing up her hands, 'Bress de Lawd, Marse +Scoville, dat you? Whar you drap fum dis yere time? I doan almos' +know you widout de un'fo'm!' + +"But the 'vision' will not stop to narrate to the old aunty of his +capture, imprisonment and illness, his release and hurried journey +North. He catches sight of the slight figure of Miss Lou in the +distance near the run, and in a moment is beside her. 'Only death +could keep me from seeking you and living for you always, did I not +tell you, my darling, my darling?' + +"And here I will leave them. The reader's imagination will picture +more if more is wished. It is better so." + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Miss Lou, by E. P. 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