# My Lady of the South/Chapter 33

CHAPTER XXXIII
THE AVOWAL
THEY set me up where I could lean against the bed, my hands and feet strapped securely, my limbs numb from the tightness of the fastenings. The Sergeant sat opposite me in a chair tilted against the wall, his eyes partially closed, but his jaws busy on the tobacco in his cheek, the guard blocking the doorway. Through the opening I could obtain a glimpse of the field without golden in the sunshine. The full terror of my situation dawned slowly upon me. I was not in the hands of an honorable soldier, but of a cowardly cur seeking revenge. Dunn had reason to hate me—greater reason perhaps than he knew, and sufficient certainly to make him anxious to get me out of the way for all time. Now he had the opportunity, and every instinct of his nature would conspire to that end. He might not be aware of Jean's real love for Donald, but he did know of the form of marriage between us, and had every reason to believe that the intimacy of the past few days had created a friendship dangerous to his ambition. My rough treatment of him would never have led to such reprisal as compassing my death as a spy; there must be another cause, and that cause was Jean Denslow. With me ​removed, he imagined his way would be clear, and was willing even to venture murder— for my death would be no less—to obtain this result. Fighting against it, I yet became more and more convinced that his threat was not an idle one. He had the power and the disposition to carry it out.
And what had I to hope for? Any plea would be useless; any threat on my part laughed at. Donald might return; a Federal scouting party might ride that way, yet neither of these contingencies was probable. Daniels was free, and possibly even knew of my predicament, but could accomplish nothing alone, and I had no knowledge of him since his disappearance into the tunnel. The utter helplessness of my situation was only too evident. If Dunn dared to carry out his threat and was expeditious about it, nothing short of a miracle could save me, and I had no expectation of a miracle. All these thoughts came to me in brief time, for I doubt if the Lieutenant was absent more than twenty minutes. It seemed to me then even less than that, and I was yet sitting there motionless, gazing out of the open door, but seeing nothing, when he stepped in between the guard, and stood still staring at me.
"King," he questioned peremptorily, "is there any truth in what I have just heard, that those murders in the house were committed by a woman?"
"Yes," I said, surprised at the emotion in his voice; "I saw her."
"You saw her! What was she like?"
​"A thin, haggard face, with wild eyes, and straggly gray hair. Did Miss Denslow tell you? She saw her also."
"I have n't seen the lady," his voice grown petulant, "nor been to the house. A negro told me." He stopped, gaining control of himself with an effort. "But I'll see to that later. Do you know what I'm going to do with you?"
"I know what you threaten."
"And what I threaten I carry out: I am going to hang you to that tree yonder as a Yankee spy."
I hated and despised the fellow so thoroughly that I never moved a muscle, except to smile in his face.
"That will be a brave deed. Lieutenant Dunn, but one you are no doubt capable of."
"You question my courage? You think I will not dare?"
"My thought of you is of no interest," I returned, for the instant losing temper in face of the man's conceit. "You possess power, and it requires no courage to command your men to hang me on a false charge. But there is one thing you did not dare do—confess your purpose to Jean Denslow."
"This has nothing to do with her. Oh, I know the trick you played on the girl, and believe she will rejoice to be thus easily rid of you. You may not be a spy, but you have done a spy's work and are going to meet a spy's fate. Have you any message to leave?"
"None; and if I had, I would not trust you with it."
His white teeth gleamed beneath his moustache.
​"Perhaps I might fail as a messenger," he admitted, assured of his position, "and as we are in a hurry to return to camp this pleasant duty can be attended to at once. I don't think I ever hated anybody worse than I do you, King, and the Lord has been good to me for once. Connors!"
The Sergeant who had been watching us through half closed eyes, rose to his feet, and saluted.
"Here, sir."
"You enlisted from this section, I understand. This Yank here has been riding the country with Bill Daniels, and up to all kinds of deviltry. There's no use taking that kind prisoner, and I reckon you know your business."
The Sergeant grinned, looking me over coolly. Dunn evidently knew his man, for he snapped out his orders sharply.
"Unstrap his legs and get him on his feet. Take the fellow's jacket off; the collar is too high. Here Munn, you and Franklin hold him by the arms. That's right, men; outside with him. We'll give the lad another look at the sunshine."
They were grimly in earnest, holding me roughly, and forcing me forward through the door. I saw the back of the house a hundred yards away, most of the troop of cavalrymen lounging beside the well. The majority remained where they were, staring curiously at us, but a half-dozen got upon their feet, and strolled in our direction. Scarcely knowing what I did, yet obeying the pressure on either side, I advanced until jerked to a halt. ​Before me dangled a rope with a noose at the end. I heard a bird singing on the branch above, yet I saw nothing but a maze of faces, and that dangling noose, which was intended to choke out my life. For the Instant I reeled giddily, held erect only by the grip on either arm, a strange red mist before my eyes. This then was the end—the end of all ambition, of all life, of all love I seemed unable to grasp the thought, and yet earth and sky were but misty unrealities, the sharp voice of Dunn indistinct. Some one struck me, and the blow broke the spell. I looked into Connors's face: then beyond him into the eyes of Dunn.
"You infernal curl!" I said coldly, "if you think this wins you the woman, you'll learn your mistake."
An oath broke from his lips, but the stockily built Sergeant stood between us. Then a hand reached over my shoulder, grasped the rope, and I felt the noose settle about my neck and tighten. The touch of the hemp sent a chill to the heart, but I stood firm, my eyes still on Dunn's. The fellow should read no fear in my face; nor would I ask mercy of him.
I know not from whence she came, or how. In that first second I thought it a dream, a vision, but there was no doubting the voice or the words.
"What are you doing? What does this mean?"
Apparently as startled at her unexpected appearance as I, the Lieutenant failed to answer. Besides, she ignored him, looking directly at the Sergeant, and the latter stammered an explanation.
​"We were goin' to hang a spy, ma'am."
"A spy! This man is no spy. Lieutenant Dunn, answer me; you are in command here—is this jest or earnest?"
Thus forced by her insistence, the fellow assumed a swagger of authority.
"This is a military matter," he began roughly, "and no affair of yours whatever, Jean. I will not brook your interference. This man has penetrated our lines. He has taken information derived as a spy to Federal headquarters. In ordering his execution I am doing no more than any other officer would."
She looked directly into his face, her clear eyes reading the truth behind his words. Suddenly she turned, grasped the rope, and lifted the noose over my head.
"That is my answer," she said quietly. "You shall not hang this man: he is not a spy: he is not here as a spy—he is my husband."
Whatever veneer of gentleness Calvert Dunn might assume on occasion was gone now. With reddened face, and blazing eyes, he sprang forward, grasped her arm, and flung her aside, so fiercely that she fell upon one knee.
"Your husband!" he shouted, fairly beside himself with rage, "yes, by a trick; a dirty, contemptible, Yankee trick. Now I'll play another, and divorce you."
I saw only the girl's face, as she staggered to her feet. It was white, the lips firm set, the eyes burning.
"I have not said I desired a divorce."
​"Well, I do, and I'm going to hang this man. You can stay and see the job done, or you can leave, just as you please. Connors, replace that rope!"
I saw a quick movement of the girl's hand, an outstretched arm, the glitter of a steel barrel.
"Lieutenant Dunn," she said, her voice without a tremor, "I am a woman, but you are going to listen to me. If you move, or one of your men puts hand on the prisoner, I shall fire. You know whether or not I can shoot. This man is not a spy, and no military court would ever condemn him. You are seeking personal revenge, because he took your place and married me. It was a trick: I have never held it a legal ceremony, but now you force me to do so. I acknowledge this man as my husband; I acknowledge myself as his wife; and I dare you to lay violent hands upon him."
"You think that revolver will prevent," he sneered. "With one word my men would overpower you."
"Not before I could pull this trigger. But there is still another reason—Colonel Donald is now riding in through the gate. Within two more minutes he will be here. He knows Lieutenant King." Her hand dropped to her side, and her lips smiled. "Now, if you wish to, show your authority."