Kitty's Conquest

by Charles King

  CHAPTER VIII.

  A dim, murky morning it was that dawned on Sandbrook the following day.I had spent the livelong night at the station. The missing train cameunheeded, soon after Colonel Summers on "Billy's" horse loped off intothe northern darkness. I had sent a dispatch to Amory, care ofDepartment Headquarters in New Orleans. "Billy" had hospitably invitedme to share his humble breakfast, made most relishable though by thesteaming coffee "cooked" army fashion in a battered old pot with areliable lid. I had noted with respect and with pleasure the finepicture of General Lee hanging over the narrow mantel, and the batteredold cavalry sabre beneath it; and was beginning to ask myself how Icould best employ the day until evening train-time, when the rapid beatof hoofs and the familiar rattle of the carriage-wheels sounded in myears.

  "Hyar they come," said "Billy." "I knew they would."

  Even before we could reach the platform, the carriage had whirled upthere and Harrod sprang from the box-seat.

  "That freight gone by yet, Billy?"

  "The freight! Lord, no! Colonel, you're not going to take Miss Summersthat way?"

  "It hasn't gone, dear," he quickly spoke to the silent inmate of thecarriage. "But it's due how soon?" turning again to his friend.

  "Ten minutes, colonel, and on time, too, if you're bound to go by her."

  "By all means. We may strike something at Corinth; if not, we'll go onto the Junction." Then with lowered voice, "Anything is better thanwaiting at such a time. We'd better get them out, I think."

  Them! Who could be there? thought I, for up to this time I had thoughtbest not to intrude. Now I stepped forward as he opened thecarriage-door, and with light, quick spring out popped Kitty.

  "Mr. Brandon will take charge of you, Kit; there's a dear," said he,gently, then turned again to the door, and tenderly handed out hissister. She came instantly to me with dry eyes, and firm, low voice,only with face so pale. She frankly held forth her hand, which--which Itook in both my own.

  "Have you heard anything further?"

  I shook my head.

  "And you have been sitting up here all night waiting for us. How kind,yet how tired you must be!"

  "I never expected you till evening," I answered, bluntly, and wasrewarded by a look of quick, reproachful surprise.

  "Harrod reached us at one o'clock. It took very little time to getready. Mr. Brandon, can you make _any_ conjecture as to the nature ofhis illness?"

  "None whatever; fever of some kind, I am half inclined to believe,contracted while off on this court-martial tour."

  She bowed her head, and now silent tears fell from her eyes. Harrod ledher to one side and, putting his arm around her, stood whisperingcheeringly to her. Then I turned to Kitty, who was very quietly engagedin getting out satchels, baskets, and travelling-bags; all was donebefore I reached her.

  "It is a surprise to see you, Miss Kitty."

  "A surprise! Surely you did not suppose I would let Paulie go on so sada journey without me. There are many ways in which I can help her."

  There was no answer to the wisdom of that statement. The distant whistleof the freight had twice been heard, and in ten minutes our party offour were disposed in the conductor's caboose. The situation had beenexplained to that officer in very few words by Harrod and "Billy;" and,with that almost chivalrous courtesy which the roughest-looking men inthe South show to the gentler sex on all occasions I ever witnessed,the train-hands had busied themselves in making a comfortable corner forthe ladies. Rude and poor were the appliances, but Walter Raleigh neverlaid down his priceless cloak for foot of royal mistress with truergrace than did those rough ex-soldiers spread their blankets, coats, andpillows to make a soft substructure for the heavy shawls which theladies had with them. Watching, as I have on a thousand occasions, thegentle courtesy of Southern men to women, high or low, I never lack forexplanation, never wonder how they came to fight so well. Bayard Taylorstruck the key-note when he wrote,--

  "The bravest are the tenderest, The loving are the daring."

  At noon we were at Corinth and eagerly questioning the officials there.No train till nine.

  "What chance by going to Grand Junction?"

  "No better, colonel; they've had the customary smash-up on the Central,and 'taint no use trying. Even if the road weren't blocked, theirsouth-bound express don't get off as early as ours from here."

  "Are there no trains coming south, not even freight?"

  "Colonel, I'm sorry, but there's not a train of any kind,--nothin'except a special, going through a-whoopin' for Orleans, I suppose, witha lot o' damyankees."

  "What! a special with troops, do you mean?" asked Harrod, eagerly.

  "Exactly; somewhere from up in Tennessee. Two or three companies--but,Lord! you couldn't ride with them even if they'd let you. Theytelegraphed ahead here for coffee for seventy men, and want to take thekettles on to the next station. Not much----"

  "Never mind, Mr. Agent," broke in Harrod, impatiently; "when are theydue?"

  "Coffee's ordered for 12.30. Reckon they'll be along very soon," repliedthe nettled functionary.

  "What say you, Brandon? Shall we try it?"

  "Most assuredly; and I think it can be done."

  Four pairs of anxious, eager eyes watched that train of "damyankees" asit came rushing into the station sharp at 12.30. A crowd ofsullen-looking "white trash" had gathered, a larger knot of curious andeager darkies, to see the sight. The engine whizzed past the platform;then two passenger-cars, from every window of which protrudedblue-capped, dust-begrimed soldier heads; sentries stood at the doors,and only as the last car--a third passenger-car--came opposite us didthe train stop. A sharp, business-like young fellow, in dust-coveredfatigue dress with infantry shoulder-straps and cap, sprang out.

  "That coffee ready?" he asked, bounding at the agent at once.

  "Wall, I s'pose so," drawled the party addressed, as though desirous ofgiving all the annoyance he could.

  "If you want your money you'd better know, and lively too. We've no timeto waste. Tumble out here, Sergeant Triggs. Bring six men while thisparty is waking up."

  Then as his men went into the kitchen to bring out the steamingcaldrons, I asked if I could see the commanding officer on immediate andimportant business.

  "Certainly, sir; rear car. Come this way."

  We followed him, Harrod and I; found the forward half of the third carfilled, as were the other two, with the rank and file. At the rear endwere half a dozen sleepy, dusty, and disgusted-looking gentlemen.

  "This is Major Williams, sir," said the business-like youngster, and inan instant he was out on the platform again.

  A tall, dust-colored officer rose to meet my extended card and hand,mild surprise in his eyes. "Major," said I, "Major Vinton, of thecavalry, lies dangerously ill in New Orleans. He is engaged to thesister of my friend, Colonel Summers. No train leaves here until nineto-night, and in our eagerness to get to Vinton before it be too latewe ask to be taken with you."

  For an instant the commanding officer was staggered by my impetuousharangue, but "he rallied."

  "Major Vinton, say you? I'm distressed to hear it. I know him well byreputation, though it has not been my good fortune to meet him. We--wemust find some way----Excuse me, let me speak one instant with thequartermaster."

  He quickly stepped to a bulky, stolid-looking youth, and addressed himin few rapid words. The whistle blew,--my heart stood still. He sprangto a window, stuck out his head, and shouted,--

  "A--a--Mr. _Tur_pin. Stop the train. Don't start till I tell you."

  "All right, sir," came back in the quick, sharp tones we had heardbefore.

  Again the major and the stolid youth met. We heard snatches of thelatter's words,--"no precedent, no authority,"--and my heart again sank.Like Mr. Perker of blessed memory, I was about to interpose with "But mydear sir, my _dear_ sir," when Mr. Turpin burst in like a thunder-clapat the rear door.

  "Jupiter Ammon, fellows! Blow the dust from your eyes if you want to seethe prettiest gi
rl in the South!"

  "Never mind precedent; we'll make a precedent," broke in the major,impatiently. "Gentlemen,"--he turned to us,--"you see how forlorn areour surroundings, but you and yours are welcome." The whole thing tookless time than it takes to read it.

  Harrod sprang for his sister. Mr. Turpin sprang for Kitty. Eager handsseized the bags and traps, shoving them through windows, anywhere,anyhow; and half bewildered, all grateful, all surprise, Pauline andKitty found themselves aboard, and we were spinning out of inhospitableCorinth.

  "Pardon our great haste, ladies," I heard the major saying. "We _must_be in New Orleans some time in the early morning." The "damyankees" weregoing to get us there twenty-four hours ahead of any other arrangementwe could have made.

  Shall I ever forget that almost breathless ride? "Be here to-morrowmorning without fail" were the words of the dispatch Major Williams hadreceived at the point where his train left the Louisville road and swunginto the rails of the Mobile and Ohio. It was the "longer wayround,"--that through Mobile,--but some late experiences had proved itthe shorter way home; and, as the conductor presently explained to themajor, on entering the car, "I've given the engineer orders to jump herfor all she's worth. We only stop for water and passing one up-train.Even the express has to side-track for us."

  Then the conductor wiped his hot brow, and with infinite surprise lookedfirst at the ladies just getting settled into the seats eager hands hadbeen dusting and preparing for them, then at me. Then Harrod camequickly to us, and in him he recognized at once Colonel Summers of theAlabama cavalry of by-gone days. With the Free-masonry of oldcampaigners, they gripped hands before questions of any kind were put.Harrod promptly explained the situation. "Thanks to these gentlemen, weare permitted to share their car. Of course we settle with you for thefare. But for their kindness we could not have reached New Orleansbefore late, perhaps too late, to-morrow night."

  The conductor turned to the officers: "Major Williams, sir (yes, he didsay "sah," and I liked to hear it), I want to thank you in the name ofthe road for your prompt courtesy to these friends of mine. I had tojump for the telegraph-office myself, and did not see them. You can justbet your life, sir, the Mobile and Ohio shall know of it, and they'llthank you in a way I'm not empowered to."

  And so, whizzing at forty-five miles an hour, Southron and Yank weredrawing into the brotherhood of a common sympathy.

  And so it went all through that grimy afternoon. With what unremittingthoughtfulness and care those fellows looked after our fair charges! Thesanctity of her grief and anxiety rendered Miss Summers the object ofthe deepest respect and sympathy. Reclining at the rear of the car, herveil drawn over her face, none but Harrod ventured to approach her; butKitty was the centre of incessant attention, and through her all mannerof improvised delicacies were brought to Pauline. The dust was stifling,and indefatigable Mr. Turpin appeared from somewhere in front with a tinbasin filled with cracked ice. The doctor came forward with a silver cupof delicious lemonade (he had levied on his pannier for lime-juice andpowdered sugar) dexterously rendered soulful by a dash of Vini Gallici.Kitty smiled her thanks to both, and a duplicate of the beverage wasgrateful to her silent cousin. We flew over the rattling rails, and thejarring was incessant. The doctor produced an air-pillow for Pauline'shead. We stopped somewhere for water, and the major disappeared. Theladies had brought luncheon in a large basket--but no appetites. Thesoldiers had rations and were filled. The officers had not had amouthful since a breakfast at 3 A.M., and were hungry. No chance for abite until 5 P.M., when, said the conductor, they might grab a sandwichat Ragsdale's, at Meridian. "But we can't stop three minutes, boys."Kitty overheard it. She was in animated conversation with a tallsubaltern, who claimed to be from Kentucky. They were sitting threeseats ahead of Miss Summers, who was undisturbed by their chatter; allvoices were subdued as far as was possible. Mr. Turpin, who was a man offew words but vast action, was hovering about, eager for a chance to dosomething. She knew it. They all seem to have infinite intuition thatway.

  "Oh, Mr. Turpin, would you please bring me our lunch-basket?" And Turpinwas down upon us like his namesake of old, demanding the basket in amanner suggestive of "or your lives." Another second and it wasdeposited in front of her, and she bade him summon his brotherhood; andthey went, even the stolid quartermaster, who felt sheepish apparently.And there she sat like a little Lady Bountiful, dispensing to each andall (a Southern lunch-basket reminds me of the parable of the loaves andfishes), and they surrounded her, eating and adoring.

  At five we rolled into Meridian, and Ragsdale's sandwiches wereforgotten. Major Williams sprang from the train.

  "Yes, dear," I heard Harrod saying to his sister, "I will try and send adispatch from here," and with that he rose. I went with him in search ofthe telegraph-office. At the door we met the major, some open dispatchesin his hand.

  "Have we time to send a despatch to New Orleans?" asked Harrod, eagerly.

  "Hardly," said the major, with a quiet smile. "But won't this do?" andhe placed in Harrod's hand one of the papers. The message read:

  "Telegram received. Assure Vinton's friends that fever is less. He receives best care. We are hopeful now.

  "REYNOLDS, A.A.G."

  "Thank God!" I uttered.

  Summers, with tears starting to his eyes, grasped the soldier's hand.

  "You are a very thoughtful man, sir."

  "All aboard!" yelled the conductor. "Get those lamps lit now."

  Somehow I was glad it was dusk in the car as we sprang aboard. Harrod,with quick, eager step, went directly to her. Something told her he hadnews, and she rose, throwing back her veil, and bent eagerly forward. Heplaced the paper in her hand, and, clutching it, she seemed to devourthe contents. Kitty had turned quickly to look. Conversation somehow hadceased. Then we saw her glance one instant up in his face. Then hisstrong arms were round her, for, burying her face in his breast, she hadburst into a passion of almost hysterical weeping. Then we all turnedaway and shook hands. The whole car knew Vinton was better. One soldierup in front wanted to give three cheers, but was promptly suppressed.Kitty's own eyes were overflowing as she received the congratulations ofthe lately banquetted, and with a great load off our hearts we spedonward through the darkness.

  Two sweet pictures remain in my memory of that strange night. First wasthat of Miss Summers and Major Williams. At her request Harrod broughthim to her, that she might thank him for the thoughtfulness, thedelicate attention he had shown. Her face was exquisite in the revivalof hope, in the intensity of gratitude.

  The second was about 11 P.M. We had had to make some stops. Our run wasnow less impeded. It had grown chilly and raw. Coming in from the front,whither I had gone to smoke with the conductor, I found the inmates ofthe rear of our car apparently buried in slumber, except one figure. Mr.Turpin, with his blouse collar turned up and his hands in his pockets,was sitting bolt upright. Two seats behind him, her fair hair curlingabout her rounded cheek, sleeping like a babe after all the fatigues andexcitements of the day, but from neck to foot completely enveloped in acloak of army blue, was Kitty Carrington, our rampant little rebel Kit.