Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-09-02
PART II.
CHAPTER vI.-CoNTNUED.

lines. we will take the risks together
or the bullets of the sentries that NAV
save us both all further trouble. An
hour or two more will decide this I'm
til that time your condition will excuse
you from any disturbance or intru-
sion here. The mulatto woman YOU
have sometimes personated may be
still in this house; / will appoint her to
attend you. l suppose you can trust
her, for you must personate her again,
and escape in her clothes, while she
takes your place in this room as my
prisoner"
"Clarence,"
Hervoice had changed suddenly; it, was
no longer bitter and stridulous. but low
and thrilling, as he had heard her call
10 him that night in the patio of Robes
He turned quickly. She was leaning
from her bed-her thin white hands
stretched appea!ingly toward him.
Let us go together, Clarence" she
said. eagerly. Let us leave this hor-
rible place-those vulgar, cruel people,
forever. Come with me-. Come with
me to my people, to my own faith, TO
my own house, which shall bc yours.
good sword, Clarence, against those vile
invaders with whom you have nothing
IN common and who are the dirt under
your feet. Yes! Yes! / know YOU. |
have done You wrong; have lied to you
when / spoke against your skill and
power. You are n hero-a born leader
of men! L know il! Have i not heard
IL from the men who have fought
against You, and yet admired and un-
derstood you, aye. better than your
own? Gallant men, Clarence! Soldiers
bred, who did not know what you were
TO me, nor how proud / was of you,
even while l hated you! Come with
me! Think what we would do together
with one faith, one cause, one ambi-
ton! Think, Clarence, there is no limit
you might not attain! We arc no mig
CARDS of our rewards and honors, we
have no hirelings' votes to trucllle to;
we know our friends, Even /. Clarence.
= there was strange pathos in the
sudden humility that seemed TO over
come herr have had my reward and
know my power. / have been sent
abroad, in the confidence of the highest.
TO the highest. Don't turn from me. I
am offering you no bride. Clarence. only
your deserts. Come with me! Leave
those ours behind and live the hero that
you are!"
lie turned his blazing eyes upon her.
If you were a mani" he began, pas
sionately, then stopped.
NO. j am woman and must fight
in woman's way" she interrupted,
bitterly. II entrcat, 1 implore,
wheedle, flatter, fawn, lie. creep
where you stand upright, and pass
through doors to which you would not
bow. Ion wear the blazon of honor
ON your shoulder. L hide mine III n
slaves gown. And yet 1 have worked
and striven and suffered! Listen, Clar-
ence-" her voice again sank to its
appealing minor. 81 know what Won
men call 'honor'-which makes YOU
cling TO Il merely spoken word and an
empty oath. Well, let that pass! / am
weary; L have done my share of this
work, you have done yours. Let us
both fly; let us leave the fight to those
who shall come after us and let us go
together to some distant land where
the sounds of these guns or the blood
OF our brothers no longer cry out to US
for vengeance! There are those living
there-I have met them. Clarence"
she went on, hurriedly, "who think it
wrong to lift up fratricidal hands in the
struggle, yet who cannot live under the
northern yoke. They are" her voice
hesitated, good men and women-they
are respected-they are"
''Recreants and slaves, before whom
you spy, as you are, stand n quecn!"
broke in Brant. passionately. He
stopped and turned back toward the
window. After pause he came back
again toward the bed, paused again. and
then said in lower voice: -Four years
ago, Alice, in the patio of our house at
Robes, i might have listened TO this
proposal, and, / tremble TO think, /
might have accepted it. / loved you; I
was as weak. as selfish. as unrefectin0.
my lifeas purposeless, but fory on, as the
creatures you speak of. But give me
now at least the credit of devotion 10
my cause equal TO your own, which /
have never denied you. For the night
that you left me / awoke to n sense of
my own wortblessness and degradation
perhaps have even TO thank YOU for
this awakening-and realize the bit
ter truth. But that night found my
true vocation, my purpose. my man
hood"
bitter laugh came from the pillow
on which she had languidIy thrown her
self. II believe 1 left you with Mrs.
Hooker-spaI me the details"
The blood rushed 10 Brant's face. and
then recedcd as suddenly.
You left me with Capt. Pinllney. who
had tempted you, and whom killed."
he said, furiously
They were both staring at each Other.
Suddenly he said: "IIush!" and spraug
towards the door. as the sound Of hur-
ried footsteps echoed along the pas
sage. But he was too late; il was
thrown open 20 the officer of the guard
who appeared standing on the thresh-
hold.
Two confederate officers arrested
lowering around our pickets. They de-
mand TO see you"
Before Brant could interpose two
men, in riding cloalSs Of confederate
gray, stepped into the room with
jaunty and self-confdent air.
"Not demand, general" said the fore