A Daughter of the Union by Lucy Foster Madison
CHAPTER XXVII
A PRISONER OF WAR
"But what can we do, Snowball?" asked Jeanne her voice trembling withemotion. "How can I see him?"
"De missus takes a nap ebery day," said the darky. "An' sumtimes she callsme ter set in de room s'posin' Massa Dick want anything. Sumtimes shetells Feliciane ter do it. We'll jest wait tell she tells me ter do it,an' den I'll let yer in. We'll hab ter watch sha'p elsen she'll ketch us."
"We will," said Jeanne. "I would not care for myself, but I would not liketo get you into trouble."
"Nebber you mind me, lill' missy. You'se been moughty good ter me, an'I'll stan' anything ter help yer see yer brudder."
"Thank you, Snowball," and Jeanne's eyes filled with tears at thisevidence of affection. "When I can I am going to help you to get backto your mother. I will never forget what you are doing for me."
"Dat's all right, missy. Jest you wait tell I does sumthin' an' den talk.Time nuff den! Now I mus' run back. Done want missus ter know dat I habbeen talkin' ter yer."
"I'll go a different way, and she won't suspect us," said Jeanne and thetwo separated.
Two days, full of anxiety to Jeanne, passed before Snowball was called toattend Dick. Waiting only until she heard the door of Madame's chamberclick, the darky sped to Jeanne's room and called her.
"Nuffin' couldn't a happened bettah," she said. "Missus Adele, she's goneter town; an' tuk Feliciane with huh. Jeff's gwine huntin' wid marsteran' Mistah La Chaise. I ain't afeerd ob de res' ob de niggas. Kum now,missy, an' yer'll hab a right smaht while wid yer brudder."
Jeanne started up eagerly and ran down the stairs to Dick's chamber. Herbrother was lying fully dressed on a couch with his back toward her. Hedid not turn at her entrance and before she had time to address him,Snowball darted through the door.
"Foh de land sake, missy, git outen heah quick," she whispered. "Olemissus am a kumin' back."
Her terror communicated itself to Jeanne and the girl stopped stock stillin the middle of the floor. The click, click of Madame's shoes could beheard distinctly in the hall. To go out would be to meet her, and forthe nonce the spirit of the girl quailed. Glancing quickly about her theheavily curtained window caught her eye and she sprang toward it. It wasbut the work of a moment to ensconce herself behind its voluminous folds.Scarcely had she done so when Madame entered.
"I thought I heard some one," she said suspiciously. "Have you beenattending to Master Dick, Snowball?"
"Does yer want anyting now, Massa Dick?" asked Snowball going to the lad'sside, gladly ignoring the lady's first remark.
"Give me a drink, please," said Dick weakly.
"I will give it to him myself," said Madame. "You may leave the room,Snowball. Master Dick and I want to have a little talk all by ourselves."
"Yes'm," acquiesced Snowball, but she lingered loth to leave Jeanne.
"At once," commanded Madame sharply. "Why do you loiter when I tell youto go?"
"Yes'm; I'm a-gwine now," and the girl left the room reluctantly.
"You feel much better, do you not, my boy?" and the lady stroked the lad'shair gently.
"Yes, Cherie."
"So well that we can have our little talk again? We will not beinterrupted to-day as we were yesterday."
"If you wish," and it seemed to Jeanne that Dick spoke with greatweariness. "But of what use is it? You have your views and I havemine. Why not let the subject drop when we cannot agree?"
"Because the old adage has it, 'That constant dropping will wear awaythe hardest stone.' By keeping continually at you I shall finally succeedin overcoming your scruples, and get your signature to the oath ofallegiance to the Confederacy."
"Never!" exclaimed Dick with so much resolution that his sister's heartswelled with thankfulness and pride. "Though you were to talk to meforever you could not change my principles."
"Listen to me, Dick." Madame spoke in her sweetest tones. "You are buta boy. You cannot know which side is right in this war when great men havediffered upon the matter. I have heard you say that you honored RobertE. Lee. That he was a noble man, a great general, and one of the finestgentlemen that you ever met. Think you that such a man would embrace ourcause if he did not believe himself right?"
"I do not," answered Dick at once. "There are many men on the side of theSouth who believe themselves to be in the right. But they are none theless mistaken for all that."
"And you set up your feeble judgment against them?" cried Madame, a traceof anger in her voice. "It is presumption."
Dick did not reply. Presently Madame spoke again, and Jeanne noted thather tones were once more caressingly soft.
"Dick, I have spoken to you of my own son, have I not?"
"Yes, Cherie."
"He was so much like you. When I used to hear Jeanne talk of you I knewthat you were what my boy would have been. When I saw you my heart yearnedover you, for you were the image of him. Had he lived he would havefought to defend our South from the rank invaders."
"I do not doubt it," spoke the boy gently.
"Think how desolate I am," went on the lady quick to note the lad'ssympathy for her. "I have no one, Dick. Be my boy, I will be so proud ofyou. You would be our heir, and have all the property. I have influencetoo, and it should be used to advance you quickly to a high rank. Youshould be a general, my boy. The handsomest and youngest in the service.Think what I can give you. And all just to sign one little paper! Why doyou hesitate? Why throw away such advantages for the sake of a merenotion? Come, sign it."
Dick was silent so long that Jeanne became alarmed and she pushed backthe curtain and looked at the pair anxiously. Madame Vance was holding apaper before the boy pleadingly, while Dick was regarding it with a lookof indifference.
"You will, my beautiful boy. You will, I know. You cannot refuse amother's prayer. Oh, I know that you will not refuse me."
"But I do," said Dick who showed signs that the interview was taxing hisstrength to the utmost. "I will die before I sign that paper."
"You refuse?" cried Madame, losing control of herself. "Then hear me,Richard Vance. You shall not thwart me in my purpose. You shall sign thatpaper. I am stronger than you, and I say that you shall do it."
She seized the lad's hand and tried to force a pen into it. Dick struggledfeebly. With a bound Jeanne was by his side, all her fear of the womangone in the menace to her brother.
"What are you doing here, Jeanne Vance?" cried Madame starting back atsight of the girl. "How came you here?"
"I wanted to see my brother," answered Jeanne, throwing her arms abouthim protectingly. "Have you no heart, no feeling, that you would takeadvantage of his weakness?"
"I am not so weak that she could make me sign that paper," cried Dick,his pale face and shaking hands belying his assertion.
"We shall see," cried Madame threateningly. "He shall sign it before you,my little Yankee."
Jeanne watched her opportunity as her aunt tried to push her aside, andsnatched the paper from her hand.
"There!" she cried as she tore it into shreds. "There, Aunt Clarisse! Hecannot sign it now."
"How dare you?" cried Madame, stamping her foot. "I will have you whipped."
But as she started to call the servants a sharp peal of the door bellrang through the house. Instantly a most remarkable transformation tookplace in the lady. Her rage disappeared as if by magic, and, as one ofthe darkies opened the door to announce. "Colonel Peyton," she presenteda serene and smiling countenance to the gentleman.
"Colonel Peyton," she exclaimed, sweeping forward gracefully, "this isindeed an honor. To what good fortune am I indebted for such a favor?"
"The exigencies of war, Madame," answered the Colonel, bowing over herhand with courtly grace. "I am accompanied by some of my men. May I askthat they be permitted to enter?"
"Certainly," assented Madame sweetly, but there was a trace of uneasinessin her manner.
Into the room filed a squad of soldiers and with them, Jeanne couldscarcely repress a cry o
"Madame," said Colonel Peyton, pulling a paper from his pocket."General Pemberton has sent a written order for a young man--a Federalprisoner--who was put in your charge to be taken care of until heshould have recovered from his wound. As some time has elapsed he isconvinced that he has sufficiently recovered to be turned over to us.I have come to take him and also the young girl who accompanied him. Theyare prisoners of war, you understand."
Madame Vance bowed but her eyes glittered balefully.
"The girl is here, take her," she said. "But the boy--ah, mon Colonel,you must not take him yet. He is not able to go. Besides, let me but havehim a short time longer and who knows but that a full fledged Confederatemay be the result? He is not able to go. Leave him with me, Colonel, Ibeseech you. I will see the General myself."
"No; take him," interposed Jeanne who feared that the Colonel mightsuccumb to the lady's blandishments. "She wants to force him to her wish,and you don't want such soldiers, Colonel Peyton."
"No," said the Colonel sternly. "We want no recruits made in such amanner, Madame Vance. Men, take your prisoner."
"Minx," shrieked Madame, flying at Jeanne in a passion. "Is it thus yourepay my kindness? Oh, I could kill you!"
"She is our prisoner," said Colonel Peyton stepping before her. "You mustnot touch the girl, Madame."
"I will report this indignity," cried Madame. "I will see GeneralPemberton. I do not lack influence, sir. You shall repent this."
"As you like, Madame." The Colonel bowed gravely and, like the bravesoldier that he was, remained with the lady while the men carried Dickout, followed by Jeanne and Mr. Huntsworth who had his arm around thegirl protectingly.
"Oh," cried the girl as they proceeded down the hill away from the place."I am so glad that you came when you did. I fear that I could not haveheld out much longer."
"Tell us what happened," suggested Mr. Huntsworth, and Jeanne did so.
"I think I never saw such a tiger cat," remarked the old gentleman whenshe had finished. "There was a time there when I thought that she wasgoing to tear you to pieces. I fear that you are not through with her,my little friend."
"I will see General Pemberton," declared Colonel Peyton, "and prepare himfor Madame's onslaught. Meantime, I have his permission for you and yourbrother to stay at sister Sally's until your brother fully recovers. Buthe is not at liberty, Jeanne, because he is a prisoner, you know."
"Yes, I know," said Jeanne, "and I will not say a word against it. Bettera prisoner of the Confederates than to be in the hands of such a woman.There will at least be some chance to exchange him. You don't dislikeme any more, do you, Colonel Peyton? You won't care if Bob and I arefriends, will you?"
"No; you poor child! I have been sorry that I was so unkind to you. Afterall I was glad that you girls saved Frank. It would have broken my hearthad he been shot. Ah!----"
There was a rushing, whizzing sound and a huge mortar shell passed overthem, and, burying itself in the side of the hill beyond, exploded with agreat report.
"What is it?" cried Jeanne affrightedly clinging to Mr. Huntsworth.
"The Federals have begun to shell the city," said the Colonel calmly."Their fleet has been gathering for several days. We have been expectingit."