Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
CHAPTER v.
The Hour and the Man.

Yscy tore off his coat and vest, threw
them on the wharf, saluted the general and
stepped into the boat. Some one In the
group lifted a lantern. The Pickering hght
fell on the pale faces of the determined
men.
"Good-bye SIR" said Beauregard, YOU
at least. are an officer, a soldier OF whom
the south ia proud. Remember, the nag
ship Is your game. She lies at anchor rlght
off the main ship channel. Good luck TO
you. A coIonePs shoulder straps await you
here II you come back. God bless you all.
He wrung the majors hand, watched MIN
step into the David and whisper an order to
his men, heard him call out, Goodbye,
sir If we don't come back, don't forget
u.s." and that was ALL
The little boat was showed away from the
wharf by willing hands and In moment
was lost In the darkness of the bay. There
was no moon and the night was dark
There was no light save from the stars
The torpedo boat slipped through the water
without making a sound She became en-
tirely invisible hundred feet away. The
officers rubbed their eyes as they stared IN
the direction where they had last seen her.
almost fearing that she had again sunk be-
meath the sea. They stayed there perhaps
1--WE minutes, at least until the blockade
runners none of them showing a light of
any description, could get under way In
obedience 10 lantern signal from the gen.
eraI and noiselessly slip down the bay in
the wake OF the frail little craft which 1t
was hoped would be able to clear the path
for them.
Now" said Beauregard, turning away at
last, 'for Mr.. Sempland. I do not under
stand 1t. 1 never thought him coward
Nor am I, sirl' painted voice out Of
the darkness as a pale and breathless man
burst through the group surrounding the
general.
Mr.. SemplandV'
For Gods sake. sir am I IN time? The
boat?"
GLOW long7 Call her back"
at is too late. She has been gone ten
minutes. Where were you, sir?''
who took her out?
Major Lacy. Answer my question. sirn.'
"Hei My Godl am disgraced! Dishon-
oTed And She
Where were you, str7'
"I-I-"
The young man hesitated
why don't you answer? Do you realize
your position2 You begged this detail.
Why were you not here?'
'Oh, General Beauregard-'
How could you forget your honor. the
southf Where were you, say? Answer or
Will have you shot in the morning.
"1-I-was detained, sir. l.
rs that your only excuse, sir?' sternly.
sempland was in fearful predicament
act of high treason. He could only explain
himself by duplicating the woman he loved
The consequences in either case were dread
tui. Fanny Glen traitor to the south?
beaoregard was stern, memorable soldier
he would not condone such an offense az
hers. That she had failed in her effort to
prevent the expedition would mean nothing
20 the general Fanny Glen, the pride of
charleston, the woman who had done more
for the south than any other woman In tha
Carollnas perhaps to be dsgraced certain
~ 10 be punished, II migu. be-shot! She
had ruined him, but he had kissed her: He
could not say the word which would in
crtminate her and leave him free He WAS
disgraced already, he would be casbiered
We'll, what mattered 1t? His chanca vas
gone, the woman did not love him. His
lear lear was not against her. Yet he remem-
pefed the scene in the strong roon,-had Che
inceed returned his kiss? He closed his
ups firmly and said nothing He would
self. e'eA " iiiii-
You do not answer sir! What excuse
have you to OFFER" 177
None"
You sought this detail. You forced
g yo,ht~ INTO the expedition. Have you
hothlng TO say for yourself?"
Nothingr'
You are under arrest, sir for disobe,,
ence OF orders, for dereliction of dutyi Ry
eft band sad the general striking his
For Gods sake. not that, sIrr'
For cowardice, sirl You knew the ex-
peoltion was one of extreme hazard Yon
nave no excuse to offer for not having been
here What else is it?''
- Not that sir. Not that" pleaded the
Lieutenant. Anything but thatn'
"A traitor, a coward, I sayv'
Gen. Beauregardl" cried a hJgh-n,tn,,ad
voice out OF the darkness: shrin and unnat-
ural with terror and fatigue. Tha next
moment Fanny Glen herself. bareh.t1ad
painting from her rapid run, white-faced I'm
the hght cast by the lantern held nv tia
stan off1cer, pushed through the group sur.
rounding the general
Where Is Mr.. Sempland sir?" she asked
Here. under arrest. He failed 10 arrive
III lime Can you explain it?'
The boat2'
Gone"
Gone? Then who
Maj Lacy took 1t out'
And the Wabash"
we'll" II Gil soes
The girl put her face In her hands az IL
10 smut out some dreadful picture She kent
them there for few seconds, then she mt
ed her head and looked unsteadily from,
the severe face OF the general to the cold
olsdalnful countenance OF Sempland The
man she loved shrank away from her
Useless! Too late!" she murmured then
feIl fainting at their feet.