CHAPTER II
SHE HATES THEM BOTH
"You are," he said at last, "a lonely, unprotected young girl. Whereyou come from or what you have been doesn't matter to me. I know whatyou are. And that is why I love you. You have no father or brother toadvise you. I must do it and I will, much as it pains me. If you won'ttake my affection, you must my counsel,"--he called it counsel, butonly an expert could have distinguished it from command--"you do notknow this man Lacy. He is a dissolute, abandoned--"
"Stop!" cried the girl. "To me he is always a gentleman--a hero."
"The man is brave enough, I'll admit. And he has done some finethings."
"Yes, while other men have escaped dangers by being made prisoners."
By that unkind remark she lost a large part of her advantage.
"As you say," he returned, wincing under her cruel thrust, butpersistent, "but we are not discussing me now, but Lacy."
"Speaking of wickedness, you would better discuss yourself, I think,than him."
"I will not be put off in this way, Miss Fan--"
"Miss Glen, please," she interrupted, but he paid no attention.
"Lacy is well enough as a soldier. There is much to commend in him. Hehas the manner of a gentleman when he wishes to exhibit it, butnevertheless he is not a fit person to be entrusted with the future ofa lovely, pure, innocent young girl like you."
"Shame! Shame!" cried the girl.
"You may cry 'shame' upon me," he went on calmly, "and I realize, ofcourse, that I am censurable in speaking thus of my rival."
"You flatter yourself."
"How is that?"
"You are no rival of Major Lacy's."
"No? Well, then, as a friend."
"Of his?"
"Of yours."
"Nor are you a friend of mine."
"Well, then, as an enemy, a fool, anything! I want to tell you thatnothing but unhappiness awaits you if you encourage him. I know him, Itell you. I know what sort of a man he is. Unstable as water, fickle,dissipated--"
"I'll hear no more!" cried the girl, passionately, turning her head andattempting to leave the room.
"Excuse me," said the man, coolly, preventing her by occupying thedoorway. "You shall hear me! And hear this first of all. I am notsaying anything about Major Lacy which is not a matter of publicknowledge and which I have not said to him directly, and which I wouldnot repeat in his presence."
"You tell me that--"
"You do not believe me?"
"No."
"I beg to assure you, Miss Glen, upon my word of honor--and it has notbeen questioned heretofore--that I told him these very things notlonger than half an hour ago. And I informed him that I intended totell you."
"What did he say?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of herfor the moment.
"He laughed. Said that the South had a present and pressing need forsuch as I," he replied with sturdy honesty, "but that he would takegreat pleasure in killing me when the war was over if we were bothspared."
"Well, sir, was not that a fine reply?"
"It was. It was a gentleman's answer. I admired him for it and told himso. At the same time I told him that he must cease his attentions toyou."
"By what right did you dare--" cried the girl, almost choking withsudden and indignant protest.
"No right. Unless my love for you, with a desire to serve you, greaterthan everything save my devotion to that flag yonder, can excuse me."
"And that cannot. Unless love be returned, it entails no rightswhatsoever."
"And you do not love me?"
"Love you!" cried the girl, scornfully.
"I know you don't, but won't you?" he pleaded.
"I won't!"
"Won't you try?"
"No!"
"You do not dislike me?"
"I hate you!"
"Do you love Lacy?"
"I will not allow you to question me!"
"You must answer me!" said the man, taking her almost savagely by thearm, and in spite of herself she thrilled at his touch.
"You hurt me," said the girl.
"Nonsense! You hurt me more than I do you. Do you love this man?"
"Why not? He has his failings, his weaknesses, but he fights againstthem, he tries to overcome them. The whole South knows him, loves himfor his deeds, pities him for his failings. And I--"
"Yes? You what?"
"You shall see. Meanwhile before you depreciate a brother soldier, whydon't you do something yourself? You are not in the same class."
"I wouldn't say that, Miss Glen, if I were you," exclaimed Major Lacy,quietly entering the room through one of the long windows opening onthe veranda. "Ah, Sempland, have you told your little tale?"
"'Ah, Sempland, have you told your little tale?'"]
"Yes."
"Exposed me to this young lady?"
"I have."
"And condemned me as an utter scoundrel, a blackguard?"
"Not quite. I told the truth," returned Sempland, calmly, "just as Isaid to you I would, and for that I am ready to answer in any way toplease you. We can settle the matter when the war is over."
"Very well. What did you say, Miss Glen?" continued Lacy, turning tothat young woman.
"I told him it wasn't true!" burst out the girl, impetuously.
"Ah, but it is," said Lacy, softly. "I am all that he says, and more,too."
"But look at what you have done."
"But little, after all. I heard you reproaching Sempland for what hehad not done when I came in. That isn't fair. No braver man lives thanRhett Sempland. Why, did it not take courage to defy me, to tell me tomy face that I was a scoundrel, a blackguard? And it took more courageto defy custom, convention, propriety, to come here and tell you thesame things. No, Miss Glen, Sempland only lacks opportunity. Fortunehas not been kind to him. In that settlement after the war there willbe a struggle I'll warrant you."
"See! He can speak nobly of you," cried Fanny Glen, turningreproachfully to Sempland.
"I never said he was not a gentleman, could not be a gentleman, thatis, when he was--when he wished to be one, that is, as well as a braveman. He has good blood in him, but that doesn't alter the case. Heisn't a fit match for you, or for any woman. I am not speaking formyself. I know my case is hopeless--"
"Gad!" laughed Lacy, "you have tried then and lost? It's my turn then.Miss Glen, you have heard the worst of me this afternoon. I have been adrunkard, a scoundrel. I have fallen low, very low. But sometimes I ama gentleman. Perhaps in your presence I might always be. I can't tell.I'm not sure. Will you take me for your lover, and in good time yourhusband, under such circumstances? Faith, I'm afraid it'll not be forbetter, but for worse."
Sempland said nothing. He would not interfere now. Fanny Glen mustanswer for herself. He clenched his teeth and strove to controlhimself. In spite of his efforts, however, the blood flamed into hisdark face. Fanny Glen grew very white, her blue eyes shone like starsin the pallor of her face under her fair hair. She hesitated. Shelooked from one to the other. She could not speak. She was tooconscious of that stern iron figure. Yet she would have given worlds tosay "yes" to Lacy's plea.
"Choose, Miss Glen," said Lacy, at last. It was hard for him to waitfor anything. "You stand between us, you see. I warn you if you donot take me, you will take Sempland. Look at him,--" he smiledsatirically,--"he always gets what he wants. He is the very incarnationof bulldog tenacity and resolution. If I don't get you, he certainlywill."
"How dare you comment upon me?" cried Sempland.
"Patience, my good sir," said the other, coolly. "You commented upon mein my absence. I comment upon you in your presence. The advantage ismine. As I said, Miss Glen, it is a choice between us. Do not chooseme, if you should be so fatuously inclined, because I happen to havehad some chances for distinction, for I assure you, on my honor, allthere is left of it, that if Sempland gets half a chance he'll dobetter than I. Choose because you love him--or me."
The girl stared from one
to the other in indignant bewilderment. Lacywas an ideal lover. Sempland looked like a stern master, and she hateda master. She made a half step toward the handsomer and weaker man, anda half turn toward the homelier and stronger. In her heart of heartsshe found in that moment which she preferred. And, as love is wayward,in the knowledge came a surprise for her--and it brought shame. Lacywas handsome and gallant and distinguished, in spite of all, butSempland was strong--a man indeed.
"Oh!" she cried, looking at him, "if you only had done something greator--"
"What!" he cried, his face alight.
But she turned instantly away. In her words Lacy, more subtile and moreused to women, read her preference and his rejection. But he smiledbravely and kindly at her in spite of his knowledge.
"Major Lacy," she said, giving him her hand, "I esteem you, I honoryou, I respect you. I do not believe what this--what has been saidabout you. But I do not love you." She drew away from him. "You weremistaken. There is no choice between you, for I love neither of you. Ido not love anybody. I hate you both!" she flashed out inconsistently."Now go! I don't want to see either of you again."
She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.
"I will do something to deserve your praise," said Sempland, in hisdeep voice, turning away.
"Miss Glen," said Lacy, most graciously,--Fanny Glen's presence seemedto call all that was good in him to the surface,--"no one has respectedme, or trusted me, or honored me as you have, for years. Semplandcannot rob me of that, even though he should win you. Good-by, and, ifit be not grotesque from me, may God bless you!"