CHAPTER XI
THE RETURN OF LE GAIRE
"I shall endeavor to make it as little unpleasant as I can," sherejoined, "but will demand obedience. Right wheel; forward march. Yes,through the door; the surroundings are not unfamiliar."
It was the judge's library, where I had hidden before at the coming ofCaptain Le Gaire, and she paused in the doorway, glancingcuriously about.
"Remember now, you are on parole, but restricted to this room."
"For how long?" She made an exceedingly pretty picture in that frame,and I was in no hurry to be deprived of it.
"Until--well, until I am pleased to release you. Don't scowl; I'm sureI'm trying to be nice, and I never was so polite to a Yankee before.Really this is the pleasantest room in the house; I have passed hours inhere myself."
"Perhaps this afternoon--"
She shook her head violently, her eyes dancing with laughter.
"Certainly not; with all these Confederate officers here. Sometimes Ithink you are very conceited--I wonder if you are." And then before Icould answer,--"What a handsome man Captain Bell is; and so delightfulof him to remember having met you."
The witch was plainly enough laughing at me, but she chose a poorsubject in Bell.
"And my sentence, then, is solitary confinement?"
"That is far better than you deserve. Those windows open on the porch,and there is a sentry there; the door leads to the rear of the house. Ishall not even lock it, nor this. I leave you here upon your word ofhonor, Lieutenant Galesworth."
She was gone like the flutter of a bird, and I sank back upon the softcushion of a library chair, still smiling, my eyes wandering curiouslyabout the room. Then I got up, examined the windows and the rear door,and returned. Escape was dangerous, but possible, yet no serious thoughtof making such an attempt even occurred to me. For whatever unknownreason, the girl's quick wit had saved me from capture; I owed her everyloyalty, and I had pledged her my word. That was enough. The more Iturned the circumstances over in my mind the less I seemed to comprehendher motives, yet there could be no doubt she sought to serve me. A wordfrom her to Le Gaire, or to Beauregard, would have ended my careerinstantly. Instead of speaking this word of betrayal she haddeliberately placed herself in my defence, deceiving her own people.Why? Was there more than a mere impulse behind the action? Was she doingfor me more than she would have done for another under similarcircumstances? Was this act merely the result of womanly sympathy? Forthe life of me I could not determine. She was like two individuals, soswiftly did her moods change--one moment impressing me as a laughinggirl, the next leaving me convinced she was a serious-minded woman. Justas I thought I knew, believed I understood, she would change intoanother personality, leaving me more bewildered than ever. Suddenly Ithought again of Le Gaire, remembering his dark, handsome face, hismanner of distinction, and there came to me mistily the words overheardduring their unexpected meeting. She had called him "Gerald," and therehad been other words exchanged--aye! he had even taunted her with theirengagement, objecting to her being alone with me, and she had deniednothing. Somehow this suddenly recurring memory left me hot and angry. Idisliked Le Gaire; from the very first moment of gazing into his dark,sneering eyes I had felt antagonism, a disposition to quarrel; but nowsomething more potent rose between us--the girl. I was not blind to theman's attractions; I could easily understand how he could find way to agirl's heart. But a man can judge a man best, and every instinct of mynature warned me against this fellow. The very first sound of his voicehad prejudiced me, and when I saw him I knew I was right--with himmanliness was but veneer. And Billie! The name sounded soft, sweet,womanly now and I longed to speak it in her presence. Billie! I said itover and over again reverently, her face floating before me in memory,and then my lips closed in sudden determination: not without a fight, ahard fight, was this gray-jacket going to retain her, going to keepher from me.
It was a mad resolve; yet it was there, in my heart and upon my lips. Ihad come upon the field late, come in the wrong uniform, but I wassufficiently in earnest now. The girl liked me, served me, and sheinterested me as no other ever had. Her very moods, piquant, reserved,aroused my ambition, stimulated my purpose, and Le Gaire--the verythought of him was a thorn in the flesh. I have wondered since if Ireally loved her then; I do not know, but I dreamed of her, idealizedher, my heart throbbing at every unusual sound without, hoping she mightcome again. I could hear the noise of the cavalry camp on the lawn, andthe tramp of feet in the hall. Occasionally some voice sounded clearenough so I could distinguish the words. I opened the door leading intothe dining-room, but that apartment was deserted. There was evidentlynothing to do but wait, and I lay down on the couch between the windows,looking up at the green leaves shaking in the breeze. Fatigued with thelabors of the previous night, before I realized the possibility I wasfast asleep.
I must have remained there some hours, totally unconscious, for when Ifinally awoke it was nearly dark, the dusk so pronounced I couldscarcely see across the room. Some noise without had aroused me, and Iknew instantly what it was--the pounding of a horse's hoofs on gravel,the animal being furiously ridden. As I sat up, the horse was jerked toits haunches, and the rider swung from the saddle.
"Here, orderly, take the rein; quick now, damn you!" The words reachedme clearly, but as I glanced out I saw only a dark form springing up thesteps. Something familiar about the voice caused me to leap for thedoor, holding it sufficiently ajar so I could overhear what passed inthe hall. There was a muttered word or two to the sentry, the newcomerinsisting angrily on seeing Beauregard; then a woman's voice suddenlybroke in with an exclamation of surprise.
"You back again! I am afraid you will have to wait to see the generalunless your mission is of the utmost importance. He is lying down, andleft orders he was not to be disturbed before nine o'clock."
"My mission is important enough," was the reply, "but perhaps, it can beattended to without him. Where can, we be alone, Billie?"
"Right in here," stepping through the doorway into the deeper dusk ofthe dining-room. "If you are hungry I can order a lunch."
"No," impatiently, "I have eaten twice to-day--what I want to know iswhat has become of that fellow who was here this morning?"
"Major Ather--"
"Oh, hell!" forgetting every pretence to gentility. "He was not Athertonat all, but a damned Yankee spy. Do you mean to say you didn't know it?"
I could see her straighten up, turning swiftly to face him. Whatever theshock of discovery may have been, indignation conquered, and her voicewas cool, stinging.
"Captain Le Gaire, I am not in the habit of being sworn at, and willleave you to gain your information elsewhere."
She swept by him to the door, but, gasping with surprise, the manmanaged to call after her,
"Billie, don't go like that! I didn't mean to swear. It was jolted outof me, and I beg your pardon."
She halted on the threshold, glancing back evidently in hesitation.
"This is not the first time you have let your temper loose in mypresence," she said slowly, "but it is the last. If you feel so littlerespect for me now, the future is not very encouraging."
"But, Billie, you don't understand!"
"I understand enough. However we will not discuss this matter anyfurther at present. What was it you desired to know?"
"Where that fellow has gone!" instantly flaming up again. "He wasn'tAtherton at all, but I'll swear he was the very picture of him; he wouldhave fooled the devil."
"No doubt," almost indifferently. "How did you discover the deception?"
"By merest accident. Happened to mention meeting him to old Trevor, andhe was up in arms in a minute. Seems Atherton married his niece, and thefellow here couldn't be the major, for he was shot in a skirmish threeweeks ago, and has been in the hospital at Athens ever since. He's therenow; rode over to Pemberton's headquarters to make sure, and metGregory, Chief-of-Staff. He saw Atherton Saturday, and he wasn't able tosit up yet. The fellow here was a Yank--and
you didn't know it?"
"I very naturally supposed he was what he represented himself to be,"she replied, coming back into the room. "And when you recognized him asan old acquaintance I never gave the matter another thought."
"But he came through the lines with you," bewildered and doubtful.
"The best of reasons why I should never have suspected him of being aYankee. He was very pleasant and gentlemanly."
"Oh, indeed! all a man has to do is smile and say nice things to get youwomen on his side."
"Then why don't you try it? You are certainly disagreeable enoughto-day."
"Perhaps I am," endeavoring to laugh. "But if I could get my hands onthat Yank I'd be in far better humor. Where is he?"
"The last time I saw him," with provoking coolness, "he was at dinnerwith General Beauregard and staff."
"At dinner! Here! Good God! he must have nerve. How did it happen?"
"Through my introduction originally, and then later he was recognizedby Captain Bell."
Le Gaire sank down into a chair, glaring at the girl's dim, white-robedfigure, his teeth savagely clicking in an effort to keep from swearing.As though to exasperate him yet more she laughed.
"I fail to see the fun," he snarled impatiently. "This is no joke, letme tell you, and we'll both find it out if Beauregard ever learns thetruth. What did they talk about?"
"Army matters mostly. The general wished information regarding themovement of Johnston's and Chambers' forces, and Major Atherton--"
"Don't call the fellow that!"
"Then what shall I call him?"
He struck his fist on the table, almost devoid of the power of speech.
"I don't care, only not that. I tell you he's not Atherton, but asneaking Yankee spy."
"Why, he was in full uniform!"
"He'll hang, just the same, if we get him. Now see here--did Beauregardlet out any facts?"
She drew a quick breath, one hand on her breast, and it seemed to me hervoice trembled.
"He talked as he would to one of his own officers. They discussed theplans of operation quite freely among themselves."
Le Gaire groaned, his elbows on the table, his head in his hands. Sheremained motionless, looking at him. Suddenly he glanced up.
"I'll be hanged if I understand you, Billie," he exclaimed. "Don't youcare, or don't you realize what this means? That fellow has got all ourplans, and he's got safely away with them too, I suppose."
She nodded, as he paused an instant.
"Before morning they'll be over there," with a wave of the hand, "andour move checkmated. Whose fault is it? Yours and mine. It's enough todrive a man crazy, and you stand there and laugh."
"I am not laughing."
"Well, you were a minute ago. Do you even suspect who the fellow is?"
"You said he was Major Ath--"
"Oh, hell!" springing to his feet, with sword rattling, and handsclinched. "I won't stand this, not even from you. You're hidingsomething; what is it? Is this Yank anything to you?"
"Absolutely nothing, Captain Le Gaire. Take your hand from my arm,please. Now I will trouble you to stop this controversy. I am notindifferent, but I refuse to be bullied, and sworn at. If you are sowild to capture this spy why don't you make the rounds of the picketsinstead of remaining here and quarrelling with me? The man is not hidingbehind my skirts. I will bid you good-night."
She was gone before he could even fling out a hand to stop her. A momenthe raged between table and wall; then flung out the door and down thesteps, calling for his horse.
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