CHAPTER XII
THE CULPRIT IS ARRESTED
"General Beauregard," she whispered at last, "I am the traitor. He wasdetained by me."
"That doesn't excuse him," said the general, severely. "Any man whofails in his duty because he succumbs to a woman's wiles, even thoughthat woman loves him, has no plea to urge in justification. He is asoldier. His 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 me of the expedition--he and Mr. Sempland had calledupon me in the afternoon. They--they had each of them askedme--in--marriage. We--we quarrelled. Mr. Sempland left me in anger,Major Lacy divined that I--I--cared for Mr. Sempland. He came backlater in the evening and told me Mr. Sempland was going to blow up the_Wabash_, and he begged me to see Mr. Sempland again and bid himgood-by. I had only two thoughts--that it meant certain death to myfather and possibly Mr. Sempland--the man--I--What was I to do? I mighthave sacrificed myself by letting Mr. Sempland run the risk, but myfather, sir--"
She stopped and looked at him in pitiful entreaty.
"Go on," said the general, inflexibly.
"I had Mr. Sempland ushered into the strong room of the house--the oldRennie house, you know, sir?"
The general nodded.
"The door was locked on him after he entered. My three negro boys keptwatch outside. There was no escape for him. He beat and hammered on thedoor until his hands bled. He begged and implored to be released. Itwas agonizing to hear. I did not realize that he was telling the truthwhen he said he was being dishonored. I had no time to consideranything. I only thought of my father--helpless on that great ship--thesudden rush of that awful little boat."
"You were a traitor to the South!" said General Beauregard, coldly.
"'You were a traitor to the South!' said GeneralBeauregard, coldly."]
"Yes. God pity me, I see it now," answered the girl.
"How did he get away? Did you release him?" continued the general.
"He swore that he would kill himself if I did not open the door."
"Did you open it?"
"Yes."
"Then did he burst through you and the men?"
"No. They were armed and would have killed him. He could not have madehis escape that way. He begged me to speak to him alone for a moment. Iwent into the room and shut the door. He seized me in his arms and thenput his pistol to my head, threatening to kill me if I did not orderthe door opened."
"And you obeyed?"
"No, I refused. Then he called out to the slaves to open at once or hewould kill me, their mistress."
"What happened then?"
"I ordered them not to open the door, to let me die. But they did as hesaid. He made them leave the hall. They obeyed him in spite of myprotests. Then he threw me aside, and ran to the wharf. I followedafter. The rest you know. It was useless after all. I thought no onewould go if he did not. I thought if I could detain him a night--getsome delay--I would come here in the morning and tell you the truth andask you to spare my father."
"Miss Glen," said the little general, "I would not spare my own fatherif my duty demanded that he be sacrificed."
"I suppose so. You are a man, you cannot understand. I am a woman.There were but two I loved on earth. I was ashamed of my father, but Iloved him. Four years of war have taught me other things. I am sorrythat he did not go with the South, but it is not for me to judge him. Icould not see him condemned to death and not raise a hand to save him.And I discovered too late that I--I--cared for Mr. Sempland. I drovehim from me in scorn and contempt--I taunted him. He sought that detailto prove his courage, I could not let him go to certain death. If hedid it would be my fault, I would have murdered him. Pity me! I am onlya woman. Try to understand!"
"But the young man has proven his courage--"
"I know, I know! I never doubted it," she interrupted.
"By keeping silent this morning, by facing certain death upon chargesthat are worse than the punishment to a soldier, in that they blast hisfame," said the general.
"Thank God 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. Letmine alone be the punishment. I will tell all to the court. He must becleared!"
"It is just," said Beauregard. "You have committed an act of treasonagainst the South. There is, however, some excuse for your action, andyour previous record in the hospital service has been such as toentitle you to every consideration. I am disposed to be lenient, butthe offence is one I cannot condone. I will have to put you under guarduntil I can consider what is best to be done."
"I make no protest," said Fanny Glen. "You will, of course, release Mr.Sempland 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 oncemore. Fanny Glen dropped her veil so that her face was concealed fromthe officer. He did not perceive what she had suffered and wassuffering. Yet her heart was full of relief--her father was safe, herlover would be free, and, best of all, she had such testimony as fewwomen have received to the depth and power of his passion. He loved herindeed. There was a joy in that thought that set her heart beating.
The general drew his subordinate into a corner of the room, where theyconversed earnestly for a few moments. Then they came back to the younggirl.
"Adjutant-General Wylie," said the commander-in-chief, "you will takecharge of Miss Glen. You will follow him, Miss Glen. I will communicatemy further plans within an hour."
There was something intensely pathetic in the droop of the littlefigure, in spite of the comforting thoughts that had come to her, whenthe girl rose and followed the soldier from the room.
The general was almost persuaded to call after her a reassuring word ortwo, but he restrained himself and said nothing.