A Daughter of the Union by Lucy Foster Madison
CHAPTER XII
AN UNEXPECTED GREETING
The Orderly called a cab and assisted Jeanne into it, putting her satcheland basket beside her. Then springing in he gave the order and they wereoff.
Past Lafayette Square with its city hall, churches and Odd Fellows Hallwhich were grouped round it with fine effect they went, and on intothat portion of the city that was known as the Faubourg Marigny whoseresidences were built with more architectural generosity, broader spaces,longer vistas, ampler gardens and with more sacrifices to the picturesquethan the part of the city through which they had just passed.
At last the cab turned into the courtyard of a massive brick building.It was a true Spanish building with broad doorways and windows, theroof of which was a solid terrace surrounded by a stone balustrade. Theestablishment had all the privacy of isolation and seclusion and was acharming spot. The gardens were very large and spacious, and fragrantwith the blossoms from the magnolia groves. The avenue to the house wasshaded with orange trees that later would be redolent with perfume andbeautiful beyond description. Fruit trees were everywhere. Pomegranate,peach, banana, fig, pear interspersed with rose trees and jasmine whoseodors ravished the senses.
The cab swept in an extensive circle round the courtyard to the carriagestep before the broad doorway. A tall gentleman, elegantly appareled,stood leaning in an easy attitude against one of the pillars of the broadpiazza smoking a cigar. He advanced to meet the arrivals as the Orderlythrew open the door of the cab and handed out the girl.
"General Butler presents his compliments to Mr. and Madame Vance," hesaid, with a deep bow, "and begs to introduce to them their niece, MissVance of New York."
"My niece!" exclaimed the gentleman giving Jeanne a look of astonishment."I have none unless my brother has a daughter. Are you Dick's child?"
"Yes," replied Jeanne, her heart beating quickly. "You are Uncle Ben,aren't you?" with a trace of wistfulness in her voice.
"I am Benjamin Vance at least," was the answer. "Come in. I don't knowyour name, but you are welcome if you are Dick's daughter."
"I am Richard Vance's daughter," replied Jeanne with some dignity.
"Then you are certainly my niece, though what in the world you are doinghere is more than I can see. Dick is well, is he? But come in. You shalltell me all about it later."
He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and without a glance or wordfor the Orderly drew her up the brick stairs and through the hall, whosestairway was beautiful enough for a palace with its elaborate, fantastic,hand-wrought iron railing, and on to the door of a salon. A beautifulwoman swept graciously forward to meet them. She was very dark withbrilliant black eyes and silky hair of raven hue. Her manner was easy,graceful and rather impassioned, and her features showed unmistakably herFrench descent.
"Clarisse," said the gentleman, "this is my niece who has honored us witha visit. I think that I have told you of my brother, Richard. She is hisdaughter and is from New York City."
"Mais!" exclaimed the lady, with a laugh and speaking with a decidedlyFrench accent. "You surprise me! I knew not that you had a niece. Why didyou not tell me? It is one bad husband you are not to tell me of the deardemoiselle. You are welcome, child. She resembles you, mon ami," takingJeanne's face between her hands and giving her a long look. "We shall begreat friends, my dear. Is it not so?"
"Yes;" Jeanne's lips quivered and her eyes filled suddenly with tearsat this unexpected greeting. Her mission had ended so differently fromthe way she had anticipated;--the doubt of her loyalty and the knowledgethat her uncle was a rebel had filled her heart with misgivings so thatthis welcome was almost more than she could bear. But as this gleam ofsunshine comforted her, she steeled herself against its influence anddrew herself up bravely.
"I must tell you something," she said, "before you welcome me too warmly.I am for the Union."
She did not dare to look at them as she spoke. Her thought was thatthey must know her principles before going further. She was homesickand longing for love and tenderness, but not for one moment would shereceive them under false pretenses. A glance flashed from husband towife and then a clear, silvery laugh rang out as the lady caught herto her.
"You dear little Yankee! you are too ridiculous for anything! Did youthink we would turn you out because you were not a rebel? Well, we arerebels, my dear, but as we have to stand that odious, uncouth GeneralButler of yours I think we won't mind a little thing like you. Come now,and I will take you to your room and you shall rest. Then you shall tellus why you have come all this way to see us at such a time."
Jeanne returned her caresses with fervor, and abandoned herself to thedelight of being fondled and petted again as only children can do who havebeen deprived of endearments after being accustomed to them.
"They are nice people," she whispered as the lady left her in a cool quietroom. "I wonder if it is wrong to like them? But it is father's brother,and I ought to love them. Oh, I do wish they were not rebels! How can theybe traitors when they are so good!"
After she had rested her uncle's wife came for her.
"You are not weary now, are you?" she asked in her soft, caressing voice."You looked so fatigued, child. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Jeanne."
"Jeanne? Oh, you darling! That is French, isn't it? I did not know thatthe Americans ever named their children so. Jeanne! It is delightful."
"And you are Aunt Clarisse?"
"Ma foi, Jeanne! Do not call me anything so prim. Call me 'Cherie.' AuntClarisse indeed!" She laughed gaily.
"Cherie! what does it mean?" asked the girl wonderingly, gazing at thebright face above her with delight. "It should be something brilliantand sweet to suit you, I think. Something like rich red roses heavy withperfume and sweetness."
"You little flatterer! And you call yourself a Yankee? No, no; Yankeesdo not make speeches like that. You are French as your name is."
"But I like to be a Yankee," cried Jeanne.
"Be what you like, little one, so long as you are as sweet as you are.But now let us go down to your uncle, after you take one little cup ofcoffee. So! Now we are ready."
The two descended to the drawing-room arm in arm, and there Jeanne relatedall the circumstances that led to her coming to New Orleans, concealingnothing. Her deep love and attachment to her country glowed through thenarrative like a golden thread. The lady and gentleman listened in silenceuntil she related General Butler's doubt of herself, when her unclesprang to his feet with an exclamation.
"The scoundrel!" he cried. "To subject you to such treatment. And we arehelpless. Yes; we are helpless. Day after day some new act of injusticecomes to our ears and we must submit. But our time is coming, and I fancythat Butler won't relish what his high handed proceedings will bring him."
"He is truly a beast without the instincts of a gentleman," cried MadameVance, excitedly. "That is our name for him, Jeanne. 'Beast' Butler, andwell he deserves it."
Jeanne moved uneasily.
"It wasn't pleasant," she said, "and it was a new thing to me to have myloyalty questioned, but I think he must have to do that way. You are soagainst him, you know, that if he were not careful you might rise up anddrive him out. And the Union must have New Orleans. Father says that therebellion can never be put down unless the Mississippi River is in ourpossession."
"True for you, my little Yankee. And that is just where the Union willfail. They did take New Orleans through the cowardice of its defenders,but they'll never get Vicksburg. And so long as we can hold that theConfederacy is safe. But you say that you ran past the Vicksburgbatteries. Tell that again."
Jeanne retold that portion of her story to please him.
"I am glad that you are here, child," remarked Mr. Vance when she hadfinished. "But I am surprised at Brother Dick's sending you to face suchdangers. He always was an enthusiast in anything that he undertook, andundervalued life if it stood in the way of accomplishing his object."
"Father did not know that it was so risky," said
"Yes; I am glad for you to know her too," said Uncle Ben, his Yankeetones sounding in flat contrast with his wife's sibilant ones. "I alwaysintended taking her North to see Dick's folks, but just as we were readyto go this war came on and here we are now at the mercy of that Yankee."
"But you are a Yankee too, Uncle Ben," said Jeanne bluntly.
"Ages ago, little one. He has gotten over all that now," said MadameVance softly. "After you have been with us awhile you will get over yourrank Unionism too."
Jeanne shook her head decidedly.
"Dear Cherie," she said, "nothing could ever make me disloyal to my flag.See! I always carry it with me."
She drew the flag from her bosom and waved it proudly before her. MadameVance gasped, and her husband's face darkened perceptibly.
"Little one, you will not carry it while here, will you? To please me,dear, never take it out again."
"Oh, but I must," said Jeanne. "I promised my own dear mother that I wouldlook at it every night and I must keep my promise. I wish I could pleaseyou, Cherie, but I cannot. But I will do this much. I will not take it outbefore you any more. I ought to respect your feelings, I know."
"So much gained," murmured the lady aside to her husband. To Jeanne sheonly said quietly:
"Thank you, dear. You are an amiable little thing, and you shall have myfavorite darky for your maid while you are here. I will call Snowball andshe will help you to dress for dinner."
"Snowball," echoed Jeanne.