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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1903)
edy With a Tragic Interlude CHAPTER IX. The Coafesaloa That Cleared. UKIfJTAT T . 1 . . . If I pered. at laat. "I am the traitor. "That doesn't excuse him," said the general severely. "Anv inan who falls In his duty because he suc cumb to woman's wiles, even though that woman lovea him, has no plea to urge In Justification. He Is a soldier. Ills duty to obey orders Is first of all." "But but you don't understand. I I kept him there by force, sir. Major Lacy ' told roe of the expedition ho and Mr. Bempland had called upon me In the afternoon- They they had each of them asked me In marriage. We we quarreled. Major Lacy divined that I I cared for Mr. Bempland. He came back later In the evening and told me Mr. Bempland was going to blow up the Wabash, and he begged me to see Mr. Bempland again and bid him good by. I had only two thoughts that It meant certain death to my father and possibly Mr. Bempland the man I. What was I to do? I might have sacri ficed myself by Jetting Mr. Bempland run tho risk, but my father, air" She stopped and looked at him In piti ful entroaty. "do on," said the general inflexibly. "I had , Mr, Bempland ushered Into the strong room of the house the old Rennle bouse, you know, slrT" The general nodded. ' "The door was locked on him after he entered. My three negro boys kept watch outside. There was no escape for him. He beat and hammered on the door until his bands bled. He begged and Implored to be released. It was agonising to hear. 1 did not realise that he was telling the, truth when he said he was being dig-' honored. I had no time to -consider any thing. I only thought of my father help less on that great shlp-'-the sudden rush of that awful little boat" "You were a traitor lo the south!" said General Beauregard coldy. , "Tea, God pity me, I see It now," an swered the girl. "How did be get away T Did you release him?" continued the General "He swore that he would kill himself If I did, not open the door." "Did you open ItT" Tee." "Then did he burst through you and the men?" "No. They were armed and would have killed him. He could not have made his scape that way. He begged me to speak to him alone for a moment I went Into the room and abut the door. He seised me in bis arms and put bis pistol. to my bead, threatening to kill me If I did not order the door opened." "And you obeyed V " "No, I refused. Then be called out to the alavea to open at once or he would kill me, . their mistress." "What happened then?" "I ordered them not to open the door,' to let me die. But they did as be said. He made them leave the hall. They obeyed "him In spite of my protests. Then he threw me aside and ran to the wharf. I followed after. The rest you know. It was useless after all. I thought no one would go if he did not. I thought if I could detain him a right get some delay I would come here In the morning and tell yon the truth and ask you to spare my father." "Miss Glen," said the little General. "I would not spare my own father If my duty demanded that be be sacrificed." "I suppose so. You are a man. you can not understand. I am a woman. There were but two I loved on earth. I was ashamod of my father, but I loved hlra, Four years of war have taught me other things. I am sorry that be did not go with the south, but It Is not for me to Judge him. I could not see him condemned to death and not raise a band to save him. And I discovered too late that 1 I cared for Mr. Bempland. I drove him from me In scorn and contemDt I taunted him He ought that detail to prove bis courage, could not let him go to certain death. I If fee did It would be my fault I would have murdered him. Ftty mel I am only a woman. Try to understand!" "But the young; man has proven courage "I know, I know! I never doubted bis It.' be Interrupted. "By keeping silent this morning, by fac ing certain . death upon charges that arc worse than the punishment to a soldier. In that they blast his fame." "Thank Ood for that kindness to me!" "And he did all this for you." "He loves me, as I love him." "But your love has disgraced him, his has protected you." The girl shrank before the stern words of the soldier. '"Yes." she said faintly, 'It Is as you say. I alone am to blame. Let mine alone be the punishment I will ten all to the court He must be cleared!" "It Is Just," said Beauregard. "Tou have committed an act of treason against the south. There Is, however, some excuse for your action, and your previous record In the hospital service has been such as to en title you to every consideration. I am dis posed to be lenient but the offense Is one I cannot condone. I will have to put you under guard until I can consider what Is best to be done" "I make no protest." said Fanny Glen. "Tou will, of course, release Mr. Bempland from arrest and see that his reputation takes no hurt?" "I will attend to that" He struck a bell again and summoned the assistant adjutant general once more. Fanny Glen dropped her veil so that her face was concealed from the officer. He did not perceive what she bad suffered and was suffering. Tet her heart was full of relief her father was safe, her lovor would be free and. best of all, she had such testimony as few women have re ceived to the depth and power of his pas sion. He loved her indeed. There was a joy in that thought that set her heart beating. The general drew his subordinate Into a corner of the room, where they conversed earnestly for a few moments. Then they came back to the young girl. "Adjutant General Wylie," said the commander-in-chief, "you will take charge of Miss Glen. You will follow him, Miss Glen. I will communicate my further plans within an hour." ' There was something Intensely pathetic In the droop of the little figure. In spite of the comforting thoughts that had come to her, when the girl rose and followed the sol iter from the room. The general was almost persuaded to call aftor her a reassuring word or two, but restrained himself and said nothing. CHAPTER X. Tho Tint the Wosaaa Heads. It is conceivable that a man could man ge to bear without repining the loss of fame and fortune, that be could survive de privation of rank and station with equanim ity, nay, more, that he might even contem plate with a phllosophio Indifference an impending forfeiture of lifeprovided he bad love to sustain him. But when that Is lost and consequently everything is gone, be baa to fall back upon conscious rectitude alone, which Is well enough la schemes of philosophy, but most Inadequate In emergencies and crises of real life. Lieutenant Rhett Bempland. under arrest. In confinement, awaiting trial, alone and unadvised by anyone (which meant Fanny Glen. felt that morning as If he had In deed lost everything. He had been certain at first that Fanny Glen had returned his swift, impulsive caress In the strong room even In the peculiar circumstances under which he had bestowed It upon her, and he had therefore naturally Inferred that she loved him. Indeed, when he thought of the look In her eyes when he strained her to his breast although he had the pistol pointed at her forehead, the conviction was strong within him. Yet. again and again this proposition presented itself to him, crushing his hope and breaking his heart: How could a woman who loved a man and a woman especially who had become sufficiently conversant with military affairs through her hospital service and other ex periences In tbla war to understand what she was doing, have placed her lover In so dreadful a position? And most damnably crushing thought ot all, why had she not had the common de cency after all to come and see blra this morning? He was In trouble, and he suf fered for her sake. She must know that, she must realise It Why did she give no sign of it? His loneliness and his craving to aee her was terrible. His desire' to see her grew with every passing moment, be was consumed by It; yet be thought by Cyrus Townsend Brady bitterly, to what Duroose. after all? Some of this bad come to him last night but the more he thought of It the more uncertain, miserable and deserted he felt Bo it Is not strange that It was not so much his own Impending fate as It was the hope less endeavor to discover the real reason for Fanny Glen's conduct which engrossed his attention that fateful morning. He had failed miserably, officially and personally. lie decided, against heart and hope at last that he had made no progress In his love affair. The woman be adored bad given him convincing proof so he argued, rebellious against the conclusion to the last that his professional future waa a matter of Indifference to her; nay, that bis very life waa a thing she would Jeopard or even forfeit lightly. Lacy, as usual, had stepped In the breach and earned Immortal fame, even If he bad to die to secure it. Bempland envied him his rest with his brave companions In arms In the desperate sea venture, beneath the cool, green waters of the ocean that laved their beloved shore. Well, there was no use m worrying or speculating any longer. It would all be . over soon now. He was sufficiently ex perienced as a soldier to know what would happen to him. There was only one possi ble verdict, only one punishment for the crimes with which he was charged. If, or better, when he was sentenced to death, his friends would undoubtedly more heaven and earth to get President Davis to miti gate or commute bis punishment; but he was received in Ms own mind firmly to dis courage such efforts. He took a gloomy view of life and of love and of women do they not always go- together In the heart of youth? There waa nothing now, therefore, for which he cared to live. Yet If he could only see Fanny Glen . again! Why did she not send someone to inquire as to his whereabouts? At least to ask after his welfare. She must know be was under arrest Why could she not come herself? He was sacrificing friif for her, to preserve her freedom, aye, her honor and reputation. Bhe might not love him, but at least she might have mani fested a decent Interest In his fate. The barest politeness ought to make a woman take some thought for a man who was about to be shot for her sake, be thought bitterly. Well, be swore to himself. If she should come at the last moment she would find him as cold as Ice, as Indifferent as a Laodicean! He would sow her that he ap preciated at its true value not only her heinous conduct but her criminal neglect as well. He would make her understand that It was not love for her that kept him silent. Ob, no! Simply the obligation of a gentleman, a man of honor, albeit a Quixotic one. Oh, noble resolution! He would go to his grave silent loading upon her the weight of an obligation from which she should never escape. When the war was over she might marry that man on the Wabash whom she had been so anxious to save that she had pretended love for him Bempland! Yea, be would be under obligation, too, this union sailor, for to Bempland would be due bis possession of Fanny Glen. The Imprisoned officer ground his teeth In rage at that thought and turned sud denly from the barred window where be had hern standing listlessly looking down the bay toward old Port Sumter, knocked to piacoa by fierce bombardment, yet still flying the stars and bars in brave defiance of tho Ironclads far away, and. with clenched lianda. firm-set lips and troubled brow, began pacing up and down the long apartment The moments dragged misera bly. He wished they would assemble that court-martial and have It over with. He would not care what they did. he thought savagely. He was sick and tired of the whole business the war, the south. Gen eral Bxiuregard. Fanny Glen, everything, everybody! Suddenly he heard footsteps, the clanking of a sword, a word or two ex cnan,ved between tho aentry and a new comsr in the corridor. Some one turned the handle of the door. It was opened. Bempland Instantly stood at attention, then folded his arms with great dignity, expecting, of course, to confront some one ant to fetch htm to the opening session of ..the court. General Beauregard was remarkable for his promptness and oelerity, and he had declared that the young man should be tried immediately. He bad wondered already at the unnecessary delay. But no stem featured, dignified official presented himself. Instead of which Bempland's astonished gaxe fell upon the small figure of a woman! The door was Instantly closed and locked behind her without a word of explanation from those outside, and the two were alone In a locked room for the second time In twenty-four hours. There was a difference In the situation that morning, although the man did not know It. On this occasion Fanny Glen was a prisoner as well as he. He could not see her face, as her veil still remained down, yet there waa no mistaking her form. Indeed he felt that bad It been midnight he would have recognised her presence. His heart leaped within his breast at the sight of her. He thought It beat so she might almost have heard It In the perfect silence that had fallen between them. His first Impulse waa to run toward her and take her in his arms once more. Above all his troubled conclusions of the night before tho recollection of that instant when he had held her so closely still remained dominant In her presence be almost forgot everything but that Yet he looked at her Impassively for a moment bowed slightly, then turned and walked deliberately to the other end of the room, resuming bis station at the window looking out to sea. She had an excellent view of his back. The beating of bis heart did not manifest Itself outwardly after all. To her gaxe he appeared as Impassive, as quiet as motionless, as If he had been cut out of Iron like the grated bars. It was a most unsatisfactory beginning to what must prove an important interview. They played at cross purposes Indeed. He had sacri ficed himself to save her, she had sacri ficed herself to save him, and here they were both prisoners apparently and things were as unsettled as ever! Poor Fanny Glen was infinitely more sur prised at the sight of her lover than he had been at the sight of her. Not until she bad fairly entered the room and the door had been closed behind her had she real ised that she was not alone, that he was there. She stood rooted to the spot, wait ing to see what he would do. Had he fol lowed his first Impulse, which would have been to sweep her to his breast he would have found her unresisting, submissive, ac quiescent Trie kiss which had been given her last night still trembled upon her lips. It was for the taking, she was bis for the asking. Yet his first movement save for that cold, perfunctory salutation, had been one of Indifference amounting to contempt. He despised her, then; he hated her. Bbe had brought him to a terrible position. Ah, well, he would be sorry for her when ho learned ber reason, and he would be more sorry for bis treatment of her when he learned that he would be free and she would suffer for It not be There was something very attractive, after all. In her possible martyrdom which gave her not a little comfort 8he was sur prised that Bempland had not been Imme diately summoned to the General's pretence when she had been put under guard. 8he supposed, however, that the delay was due to some military technicality, and she Im agined that the next moment would sec him called from the room in ber presence And she would be left alone, moat misera bly, forlornly alone to face her fate. "Being a martyr Is certainly a fine thing, but the position loees hah? its charm unless people know It. To complete her melan choly satisfaction, he and he considered himself the martyr, not she! must recog nise It. If he would only turn and speak to her. This silence, this Immobility, on his part was unbearable. She coughed gently and took a step or two across the floor toward him. He ave no sign that he heard her. How cruel he waa! Bo despotic, so determined, so mas terful! She abominated a masterful Bian! She coughed again, and this time a little more emphatically. Still no attention. It was discouraging! There a4 a mJl tii'.fror uton me wall of the room. Her eye In accordance with an instinct feminine fell swiftly upon It She lifted ber veil to see how far the ex periences she had gone through had affected her most potent talisman. "Heavens!" she thought "what a fright!" To take off her bat was the work of a moment. Her swift subtle fingers busied themselves with her rebellious curia An other glbnce reassured her a little. She f eU