by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXXI
WASHINGTON, BOSTON AND PINCHBROOK
Though the session of Congress had closed a month before, Captain Somerswas gratified to learn on his arrival that Senator Guilford and hisfamily were still in Washington, the distinguished gentleman having beendetained by important public business. As soon as he could make himselfpresentable, he hastened to pay his respects to the Senator, and thankhim for his kindness. He was not at home. Emma received him with a warmblush of pleasure on her fair cheeks. She had entirely recovered from theeffects of the accident; and her tribute of gratitude was so eloquentlypoured forth, that the gallant young captain, who had hardly seen a younglady before for two months, could not exactly tell whether he stood onhis head or his heels; for praise from those beautiful lips produced asensation of giddiness in the region of the brain.
Young men will be silly in spite of all we dignified old fogies can sayto convince them of the folly of being carried away by the witching artsof pretty, graceful little creatures like Emma Guilford. Perhaps theremembrance of the scene on the railroad was some excuse for him; and itis entirely unnecessary to apologize for anything a beautiful girl maydo, especially if she be the daughter of a Senator. The young lady said agreat many pretty things, and the young gentleman a great many smartones, before she discovered that the captain was wounded in the arm,though she had already remarked upon his pale face and rather attenuatedform.
He told her when and where he was wounded; and of course she wanted toknow all about his adventures in Secessia. He was as willing as Othelloto speak
"Of most disastrous chances, Of moving accidents, by flood and field; Of hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; Of being taken by the insolent foe."
All this to hear did Emma Guilford seriously incline. But he had hardlycommenced the story before the Senator himself entered the room.
"Ah! Captain Somers, I am delighted to see you!" said he with enthusiasm,as he extended his hand, which our hero as warmly grasped.
"Thank you, sir. I have called to express my obligations to you for allyour kindness to me and to my friend. Major de Banyan wished to be kindlyremembered to you."
"I am happy to hear from the major; and as for the rest, I feel that Ihave not yet begun to discharge my obligation to you. Why didn't youwrite to me before?"
"I did not wish to burden you with any remembrance of such a humbleindividual as myself."
"You are too modest by half, Captain Somers. I should not have knownanything about you if it hadn't been for General---- Well, no matterwho," laughed the Senator.
"Now, papa, you have cut short the most interesting story that ever wastold!" interposed Emma.
"The captain must begin again, then. Of course, you will make my houseyour home while in the city."
"Thank you, sir. I left my servant at the hotel"
Senator Guilford insisted on sending for the servant and the baggage;and, in half an hour, Alick was present to confirm the wonderful talewhich Somers told of his captivity in Petersburg, to which Emma and herfather listened with the most intense interest.
Very much to his surprise, Captain Somers found himself quite a lion inWashington. He was introduced to Senators and Representatives; and on thefollowing evening actually took the President of the United States by thehand, just as though he had been one of the patriarchs of Pinchbrook.
In spite of all these brilliant surroundings, Somers was anxious to gethome. He was too feeble to endure the excitement of the capital; and onthe third day after his arrival, he started for home. When he reachedBoston, by an unfortunate chance it was two hours before a train wouldstart for Pinchbrook. As he had spent two days with a Senator inWashington, and shaken hands with the President, he deemed himselfqualified to call at No. -- Rutland Street, where the carriage soon sethim down.
Lilian Ashford was at home; and Captain Somers, who had faced a wholerebel brigade, trembled and blushed in the presence of the maiden likethe veriest coward in the world. But it was some satisfaction to knowthat the other party was similarly affected. The young hero could notexactly explain how he felt. It was a different sensation from that whichhad come over him in the presence of Emma Guilford. He experienced afeeling of awe before her, but he could talk as fast as ever; while toLilian he stammered, couldn't remember anything, and made woful confusionin his words and in his ideas.
When the ice was broken, he succeeded in telling her something about hisadventures in Virginia, and roused a very strong desire in her mind tosee the wonderful Major de Banyan. But his brief hour expired all toosoon; it faded in a moment, and seemed like a tale that was told.
"I wore your socks at the battles of Savage's Station, Glendale and WhiteOak Swamp, Miss Ashford," said he; "and I shall keep them for futureservice of the same kind. If I am killed in battle, I shall be found withthose socks on my feet."
"Oh, I hope you won't be killed!" exclaimed she with a shudder.
"Well, I hope not; but, as soon as I am able, I shall return to my duty."
"What a brave fellow you are! I shouldn't think you would dare to standup before the cannons, and the muskets, and the bayonets."
"When I feel like running away, I always think of my socks," said Somers.
But the carriage had come for him, and Alick stood at the door waitingfor his appearance. He took the little soft white hand in his own, andreadily promised, when she invited him, to call again soon and see hergrandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course, Somers was deeplyinterested in that venerable lady, and actually looked forward withintense pleasure to the anticipated visit.
He was driven to the railroad station, and reached Pinchbrook at "hightwelve," when the Pinchbrookers were just going to their dinners. CaptainBarney, as usual, was at the depot, and gave him a seaman's welcome home.He insisted upon being driven to the cottage before dinner; and the oldshipmaster, finding that Captain Somers carried too many guns for him,gracefully yielded the point.
"Bless my stars, if there ain't Thomas!" cried Mrs. Somers as she jumpedup from the dinner-table, and actually upset the teapot in the operation.
"How do you do, mother? How do you do, father?" exclaimed the youngcaptain as he shook hands with his father and Gran'ther Green, kissed hismother, and hugged his sister.
"How pale you look, Thomas!" said his mother. "I declare, you are as thinas a hatchet! How is your arm?"
"Better, mother; I shall be as good as new in a few days."
"You look pale; but your face is as nateral as life," said Gran'therGreen. "I don't know what we shall do with two cap'ns in the family."
"I think we can manage that, gran'ther," replied Somers, as he took theplace at the table which had been prepared for him.
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We drop the curtain upon the scenes which followed; for our patientreader can better imagine than we can describe them. Our hero was oncemore within the hallowed precincts of home; all its sacred joys flowed inupon his soul; and he thanked the good Father who had conducted himthrough so many perils, and restored him to the hearts of the loved oneswho yearned for him in his absence. They were as grateful for his returnas he was--grateful that God had restored him at all; but doubly so thathe had come with his soul unstained by the vices of the camp and thewickedness of the great world.
The health of Captain Somers did not permit his return to the army toparticipate in those great battles before Washington in which hisregiment was reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self. But, whilethe country was breathing slowly and fearfully before the terrors ofLee's invasion of Maryland, there came to Pinchbrook a letter from thegallant general of division--now in command of a _corps d'armee_--underwhom he had before served, containing an appointment on his staff. Thoughstill but partially restored to health, he hastened to accept his newposition, and started at once for the scene of strife.
His suffering country needed him; and he could not satisfy
his sense ofduty, even with the reasonable excuse of a shattered physical frame. Hewent, and his record was always honorable and noble in success and inmisfortune.
THE END
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