CHAPTER XI
CLEARED OF SUSPICION
The girl stared at them as if unable to believe the evidence of her senses.
"A rebel!" she repeated wildly. "My uncle a rebel? It cannot be!"
Her consternation was so apparent that General Butler almost believed inher. Farragut's clouded face cleared instantly, and he turned to the otherquickly.
"Whatever scheme is afoot that girl knows nothing of it," he said. "Why,Butler, she carries a United States flag in her breast, and you shouldhear her talk. I am sure that she is as loyal to the Union as either youor I."
"It may be, Admiral. One thing in her favor is the fact that you believein her. Let me see! How was it that you said she came from Vicksburg?"
"Did I not tell you? She came with Captain Leathers from Memphis. Thetransport, The Gem, joined us just below Vicksburg. He brought ussupplies, and there is absolutely no question with regard to hissentiments. They have been proved over and over again."
"Of course the girl may be all right and everything be just as she says,"said General Butler again. "As I say the thing in her favor is that shecame here to ask for Archer. I suppose it was because she knew no one.Had she sought her uncle first----"
"I advised her to come here," said Farragut in a low tone. "I told herto find Archer first, and then to seek for her uncle, and she acquiescedwithout hesitation."
"I am afraid that she is deep. Of course the whole thing was concoctedin New York City. They could not know that Archer had been arrested, andthis information would have been sent to the Confederates as other planshave been. I tremble to think of the consequences had these papers falleninto their hands. Really, traitors are everywhere. I had hoped that thegovernment had gotten rid of them by this time."
Meantime Jeanne was just recovering from the shock of learning that heruncle was a rebel. She had not heard the conversation of the two officers,and now she came to Admiral Farragut turning to him instinctively in herdistress.
"What shall I do?" she asked. "I can't go to Uncle Ben if he is a rebel.Oh, what will father say!"
"I don't know, child. What shall be done, General? You command here."
"The girl must go to her uncle," said the General decidedly. "There toremain until I sift this thing to the bottom. Meantime she must take theoath of allegiance to the United States."
"The oath?" cried Jeanne. "Why should I take the oath, General Butler? Ithought that it was only for those whose loyalty to the Union was doubted."
"That is it precisely," returned General Butler coldly. "If you aresincere in your avowed devotion to your country, the oath won't hurt you.If you are not then you will either perjure yourself or else be registeredas an open enemy to the United States."
Jeanne was dumb with anguish. She, Jeanne Vance, an open enemy of theUnited States! Of the country for which she was ready to give her life!She gave one stricken glance at the austere man before her, and burstinto tears.
"Come, come, General," said Farragut laying a kindly hand on the girl'sbowed head, "you are too severe, aren't you?"
"Not at all. Every man, woman and child in this city must take this oath,or be known as an enemy of the Union. It works no hardship if one isloyal, and acts as a restraining power on those who are not. The authorityof the Union must be recognized while the city is under my charge."
"Take the oath, child. That is, if you can do so conscientiously. Butwhatever be the consequences accept them as a brave girl, and perjureyourself for no man," advised Farragut.
"I will," said Jeanne chokingly. "It isn't because of the oath that Ifeel bad, Admiral. It is because my loyalty to the Union has been doubted.Do you think that I would carry this," and she drew the flag from thebosom of her dress, "if I were not for the Union? I kiss its folds eachnight, and with it before me, I pray for the success of my country." Shekissed it passionately as she spoke.
"That action speaks for itself," remarked General Butler with such achange of tone that Jeanne looked up hastily. "No rebel woman or girlthat I have ever known would kiss that flag. I have hard work to make themeven walk under it. Forgive me, child, for doubting you, but treacherylurks under so many different forms that I am forced to suspect evenchildren."
"Suppose," suggested the Admiral, relieved that the General had come tohis way of thinking, "suppose you begin at the beginning and tell us allabout this business. How many have you in the family?"
"Four," answered Jeanne promptly, a little comfort creeping into herheart at the change in the General's manner. "Father who works for thegovernment, mother who is in the Monarch Relief Association, and Dick whois in the army."
"Your brother is in the Union army?" queried the General.
"Yes, sir."
"That is easily verified," said the General, making a note of the fact."Now how did you come to be sent down here?"
Jeanne recounted the circumstances of the affair rapidly not even omittingher mother's parting words of counsel. Both men listened with closeattention.
"And you knew nothing whatever of your Uncle Ben?" asked Butler when shehad finished.
"No, sir; father has not heard from him in many years. He will be grievedto learn that he is a rebel," and her eyes filled with tears.
"I have no doubt of it. Now, my little girl, I am going to send you toyour uncle until I can look up the truth of your story."
"Couldn't you send me home?" asked the girl wistfully, a sudden yearningpossessing her for the refuge of her mother's arms.
"I will soon. There are dangers by land and by sea, and, as your fathertold you to wait until you heard from him, I think that it would be wiseto do so. It will be best for you to see for yourself what manner of manyour uncle is so that you can tell your father. Good-bye," and he heldout his hand. "Come in to see me sometimes while you are here."
"Good-bye," said Jeanne, shaking hands with him as in duty bound. She gavehim a look of reproach and then turned to Farragut.
"This has been a hard trial for you, child," said the Admiral. "You havecome through with colors flying though. I believe that you always will."
"It has taught me," said the girl with quivering lips, "that there areworse things than cannon balls and grape shot. I would rather faceVicksburg a dozen times than to go through this again."
"Don't take it too much to heart." Farragut patted her hand with greatgentleness. "It was a severe ordeal, but truth will always prevail. Justthink what it would have been had you really been guilty. Your conscienceat least was clear."
"I did not like Mr. Archer," said Jeanne musingly, loth to leave thisfriend. "I told Mrs. Butler so. I did not want to give him the papers."
"Why didn't you say so?" cried the General.
"Because you had received him here and I thought that of course he was allright. It would have been presumption on my part to have spoken againsthim when my father sent me to him, and I did not know anything against himreally. Besides, I did not dream that any one could doubt my loyalty."
"You must forgive me," said the General humbly, seeing how deeply the girlwas hurt. "You don't know what I have to put up with or you would. Whenyou have been here a short time you will realize the situation better thanyou do now. When you do, will you come to me and be friends?"
"Yes;" and Jeanne smiled a little for the first time.
"Good-bye," and the Admiral extended his hand as the girl prepared toaccompany the Orderly detailed by the General to conduct her to heruncle's house. "I hope to see you again soon."
"I hope so too," answered Jeanne. Then as she clasped his hand she criedhalf hysterically. "Oh, Admiral, I am afraid to go. I am afraid!"
"No, you're not, child. You are tired and nervous. Be brave. Meet youruncle as if nothing had happened. I dare say that you will find him kindand good."
"But he is a rebel," sobbed Jeanne in such heartrending tones that bothmen smiled involuntarily.
"Well, some of them are very good men," said Farragut. "They are mistakenin their views and need teaching a great many thi
ngs, but otherwise theyare a warm-hearted people. I am from the South myself, you know."
"Are you?" asked the girl surprised, yet she had wondered at his softSouthern voice.
"Yes; a Tennesseean. You seem to think that I am all right."
"You are," replied Jeanne so heartily that Farragut laughed outright. "ButUncle Ben didn't take New Orleans."
"Perhaps you can get his services for us yet, and he may do somethingbetter than to take New Orleans. That may be your work here."
"I doubt it," spoke General Butler emphatically. "There is no rebel sounregenerate as a renegade Yankee. There may be some excuse for thoseborn in this section of the country, but for a Yankee who embraces thepernicious doctrine of secession there is none. The Orderly waits, mychild."
Farewells were again exchanged, and Jeanne followed reluctantly after herguide.