A Daughter of the Union

  CHAPTER XXVI

  JEANNE MEETS FRIENDS

  And so, fearful of exciting her brother, Jeanne refrained from visitinghis chamber. But her heart was heavy and she grew pale and thin.

  "Dick will not yield," she said to herself over and over again. "He hasfought for his country, and no man who has laid down his life upon hiscountry's altar could ever betray her. Why do I fear? He is father'sson." But she stopped short as a sudden thought struck her. "Father'sson," she whispered, "yet Uncle Ben is father's brother. I will notthink! I will wait until he is better, and then get him to go away."

  Thus trying to comfort herself she wandered through the house or stooddisconsolately in the grounds watching the soldiers as they workeddaily at the fortifications. December passed, and great were the publicrejoicings over Sherman's defeat in his attack on the city.

  "Vicksburg can never be taken," said Madame Vance with insolent triumph."And so long as Vicksburg stands, stands the Confederacy."

  "Yes; it is such folly for them to waste ammunition in trying to takea city like this," spoke Mrs. La Chaise, Madame's relative. "Why itsdefenses and protection are stronger than any city they have in the UnitedStates."

  "I thought that Vicksburg was in the United States," said Jeanne quickly.

  "It is in the Confederacy," responded Madame Vance sharply. "When will youlearn, Jeanne, that the United States is a separate and distinct country."

  "Never," replied the girl. "I think you will be convinced of your mistakesome time."

  "When Vicksburg falls perhaps we may," interposed Mrs. La Chaise. "I willbe willing to acknowledge it then, won't you, Clarisse?"

  "Yes; will you come in and see my boy this morning, Adele? He is gettingon finely."

  "I will come too," said Jeanne determinedly. "I think Dick is strongenough to see me if he can see the rest of the family."

  "I forbid it," said Madame sternly. "He doesn't care to see you. The sightwould be very unpleasant to him."

  "The sight of me? His sister!" exclaimed the girl in amaze. "I do notbelieve it, Aunt Clarisse."

  "You shall not go. He does not need you."

  "I will go. I have stayed out quite long enough," and Jeanne rose from herseat and started for Dick's bedroom. But Madame was by her side instantly.

  "If you do not do as I tell you, I will lock you up again," she saidthreateningly. "I think you had a taste of that once."

  "You dare not," retorted Jeanne. "These people would not let you."

  "Indeed, had I been in your aunt's place I would have done so long ago,"declared Mrs. La Chaise who had always disliked the girl. Jeanne lookedappealingly at her uncle but that gentleman only turned to Mr. La Chaisewith some remark on the war. They were all against her, and as she gazedinto their faces she realized how helpless she was.

  "But I want to see my brother," she cried bursting into tears.

  "You shall see him when I am ready for you to if you will be a good girland obey me," said Madame Vance. "I do not choose that you shall to-day.Now run out in the yard or take a walk. It will do you good. Come, Adele,we will go to Dick."

  With bursting heart Jeanne saw the two disappear into Dick's chamber. Shesat looking longingly at the door for some time and then left the houseand started for a walk, unable to sit still longer.

  One of the hills of Vicksburg was called the Sky Parlor because of theextensive view that it commanded and also because it was a favorite resortof ladies in pleasant weather. Now, although the wind was cold and chill,Jeanne bent her steps toward it in the effort to find some distractionfor her mind.

  So intent was she on her own thoughts that she gazed on the surroundingswith eyes that saw neither the hills nor the great bend of the river, norindeed the two persons who were at a little distance from her. A sighescaped her lips as she turned at length to retrace her steps. In so doingshe was brought face to face with a man and a girl who were in the actof coming toward her. An exclamation of surprise burst from the girl'slips.

  "Jeanne!"

  "Bob," cried Jeanne gladly and then stopped short as the remembrance cameto her that Colonel Peyton had forbidden Bob to have any communicationwith her. Seemingly no such recollection occurred to Bob or, if it didshe ignored it, for she flung herself upon Jeanne rapturously.

  "You dear thing!" she cried kissing her. "How in the world did you gethere? We did not know what had become of you, but father said you had leftof your own accord. Did you?"

  "Yes; I did, Bob. I went with Dick." Tears came to her eyes at thought ofhim. "He had waited to take me after his escape."

  "Is he with you?" asked Bob, quickly.

  "Oh, Bob," she cried, breaking down completely. "I am in so much trouble."

  "Are you?" Bob hugged her close. "Tell me all about it, Jeanne."

  Jeanne looked up and started her story, but hesitated as she saw Bob'scompanion.

  "Don't mind him," said Bob, observing her look. "He's a real nice old manwho boards at Aunt Sally's. We are great friends."

  "If I am not mistaken, this is a young lady with whom I am wellacquainted," said the old gentleman, looking at Jeanne quizzically."Aren't you the little girl who likes puns?"

  "Mr. Huntsworth," cried Jeanne, in astonishment, "how did you come here?"

  "After I left you I went to Corinth on some business," said Mr.Huntsworth. "To wind it up satisfactorily I was obliged to come on toVicksburg. The good people here got it into their heads that I was insome sort of secret work and so detained me. As they have no proof Iam permitted to have my freedom which is liberty only in a restrictedsense as I am not permitted to leave the city. However, I am quitecomfortable. I am boarding with this young lady's aunt, who is a veryfine woman. Very fine, indeed! And we have some rare times together, eh,Bob."

  "Indeed we do," cried Bob, gaily. "And dad is stationed here, Jeanne, sothat while I am at Aunt Sally's I see him almost every day."

  "How do you live away from your regiment, Bob?"

  "It was hard at first, but now I don't mind it so much. And then I go tosee them sometimes. Aunt Sally was horrified when she found I had beenso long with the soldiers. See, I don't wear my uniform any more. ButI expect that if the war lasts much longer I'll have to go back to it.Goods are not being imported very fast into the Confederacy."

  "You said you were in trouble, my little friend," said Mr. Huntsworth,who had been taking note of Jeanne's pale face and distressed air. "Tellus about it. We may be able to help you."

  "Will your father care if I talk to you, Bob?" asked Jeanne, longing toconfide in these friends and yet hesitating to do so.

  "Dad was sorry after you left that he had been so unkind to you," saidBob. "Especially when he found how good you had been to send Frank toyour home. He regretted his sternness. So we can be friends all right. Nowtell us all about it."

  "I will," and Jeanne told all that had occurred since she left theregiment and briefly sketched for Mr. Huntsworth's benefit the happeningsin New Orleans.

  "My dear," said the old gentleman, gravely, when she had finished, "youare indeed in trouble. I must think it over and see if I cannot help you."

  "I think your aunt is just about the meanest person I ever heard of,"declared Bob. "I am sorry that she is a Southerner. I didn't know that wehad any one among us that could be like that."

  "She is partly of foreign blood, Bob."

  "To be sure! That explains everything," said Bob. "But what makes youruncle let her act so?"

  "I don't know," said Jeanne, sadly, "he seems to have no will but hers.Sometimes I think that he is afraid of her, and yet why should a great bigman be afraid of a slender woman?"

  "I have known of such cases," observed Mr. Huntsworth. "There may be morein that than you dream, my dear. We must think over the matter and seewhat can be done. And remember, child, that you have friends. That youare no longer alone but that we will help you some way."

  "Oh," said Jeanne, brokenly, "it is so good of you. I felt so forlorn. Ithought that I was forsaken by every one. But
I won't feel so any more.You are so good----" She burst into a flood of tears.

  "There! there!" Bob comforted her with endearments while Mr. Huntsworthblew his nose vigorously. "I know just how you feel, Jeanne. It nearlykilled me when Frank went over to the Union instead of staying with hisown people. I don't blame you for wanting to keep your brother on yourside."

  "You are generous, Bob. I did not sympathize with you before, but I donow. I don't believe that Dick will go, but I am so afraid of what AuntClarisse may do to him if he doesn't. No! Dick won't go. But I mustreturn. They will wonder what has become of me."

  "It is high time all of us were leaving," remarked Mr. Huntsworth. "Thisis rather a breezy place for a conversation."

  Still conversing the three slowly descended the elevation, and thenbidding them good-bye Jeanne returned to the La Chaise residence feelingmore hopeful now that she knew that Bob and Mr. Huntsworth were in thecity. As she entered the grounds Snowball dodged from behind one of thetrees.

  "Lill' missy," she said, "go down behind de smokehouse de fust chance yergit. I'se got sumpin' ter tell yer."

  "All right, Snowball. I will go now," replied Jeanne rather startled.

  "Not now, missy. Deys done seen yer kum in. Go on ter yer room and thenslip down arter yer stays dere awhile."

  Jeanne followed the girl's advice, and went on to the house. MadameVance looked up as she entered. She gave a quick glance at the girl,and something in the latter's face caught her attention.

  "You look brighter," she commented. "Whom did you see?"

  "Many people, Madame," replied Jeanne somewhat shortly.

  "It seems to have helped you then. Did anything happen?"

  "Nothing," returned the girl drearily, her old look of hopelessnessreturning for she feared that Madame suspected something. "What couldhappen?"

  "Don't give me any impudence, Jeanne. I am not in the mood for it. Go atonce to your room," commanded her aunt and Jeanne gladly obeyed.

  As soon as possible she crept softly downstairs and succeeded in gettingout of the house unobserved by either Madame or Mrs. La Chaise and raneagerly to the smokehouse.

  Snowball was waiting for her.

  "Missy," she said as soon as the girl reached her side, "hab yer seen yerbrudder lately?"

  "No, Snowball. They won't let me," said Jeanne sadly.

  "Den yer had bettah see him as soon as yer can, fer dere's a powerful lotof meanness gwine on."

  "What do you mean?" cried Jeanne apprehensively.

  "Ole missus am a tryin' ter make him leab Massa Linkum's ahmy. I heerdJeff tell Feliciane dat she was 'suadin' him awful ha'd. Den too I heareole missus tell him myself dis mohnin' when dey sent me fer more wood anddidn't notice pertic'lar dat I had kum back, ole missus say ter him whenhe done axed fer you, 'I done know what de mattah wid Jeanne,' she say.'She done seem ter kyar ter see yer. I axed her ter kum dis mohnin', an'she say, 'no, I'm gwine fer a walk.' Den yer brudder say bery weak like,'I can't understan' it. I tought she lubed me.'"

  "Did he say that?" cried Jeanne. "Oh, Snowball, what can I do? I must seehim. Won't you help me?"

  "Yes, missy, I will. Eben ef dey kills me fer it," declared the girlfervently.