Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
CHAPTER TX.
The Confession That Cleared.

-
last. Il aln the traitor. He was detained
by me"
THAT doesn't excuse him." said the gen.
eral severely. ANY man who fails IN MS
dutv because he succumbs to woman
viles, even though that woman loves hlin'
has no plea to urge in justification he Is
IL soldier. His duty to obey orders Is hrst
OF all"
.'But-but-you don't understand. II
kept him there by force, sir. MAI. Lacy tolo
me OF the expedition-he and Mr.: Sempiand
had called I'm the afternoon. Ihey-they
had each of them asked me-ln-marrlase'
We've quarrelod. Mr.. Sempland LETT me
In anger. Maj. Lacy OWNED that II
cared for Mr.. Sempand. lie came oach
later i'm the evening and told me Mr. Semp-
land was going to blow up the Wabash. ana
he begged me to see Mr.. Sempland again
and bid him good-by. l had only TWO
thoughts-that II meant certain death 10 my
father and possibly to Mr.. Sempland-the
mani What was 1 to do? l might
have sacrificed myself by letting MI Seinp-
land run the risk. but my father, sir
She stopped and looked at him in pitifui
entreaty.
Go on" said the general inflexibly-
II had Mr.. Sempland ushered into the
strong room of the house-the old Rehnie
house, you know, sir?'
The general nodded.
THE door was locked on him after ne
entered NV three negro boys kept watch
outside There was no escape for him. He
beat and hammered on the door until MS
hands bled. He begged and implored TO ne
released. II was agOnizing to hear. ora
not realize that he was telling the truth
when he said he was being dishonored l
had no time to consider anything. l Only
thought of my father-helpless on thI {
great ship-the sudden rush of that awful
little boat"
You were a traitor to the SOUTH said
Gen. Beauregard coldly.
Yes. God pity me. 1 see 1t now an
swered the girl
How did he get away? Did you release
him." continued the general
He swore he would kill himself II l did
not open the door"
Did you open it?'
Then did ne burst through you and the
mem"
''No They were ar-ned and would hove
killed him. He could not have made his
escape that way. He begged me to speak
TO him alone for moment. L went into
the room and shut the door. He seized me
In his arm and put his pistol TO my head,
threatening 10 kill me If l did not order the
door opened"
And you obeyed?
NO. / re.ua,... men he called out to the
slaves to open At once or he would Kill me,
their mistress
What happened then?'
Il ordered them not to open the door, TO
let me die. But they did as he said: He
made them leave the hall. They obeyed
him in spite of my protests. Then he threw
me aside and ran to the wharf. l followe'
after The rest you know. 1t was useless
after all. l thought no one would go If he
did not. I thought If | could detain him
night-get some delay-I would come here
in the morning and tell you the truth and
ask you 10 spare my father.
Miss Glen" said the little general. Il
would not spare my own father II my duty
demanded that he be sacrificed.
II suppose so. You are man, you cam
not understand. I am woman. There
were but two l loved on earth. l was
of my father, but l loved him.
-Four years Of war have taught me other
things. / am sorry that he did not go with
the south. but it Is not for me to Judge
him. / could not see him condemned TO
death and not raise hand to save him.
And / discovered too late that I-I-cared
for Mr.. Sempland. l drove him from me In
scorn and contempt-I tainted him. He
sought that detail to prove his courage, !
could not let him go to certain death. If he
did IT would be my fault / would have
murdered him. Pity me! 1 am only t. wo-
man. Try to UNDERESTIMATE
But the young man has proven his cour-
age
Il know, I know! l never doubted it,"
by keeping silent this morning. by fac
ing certain death upon charges that are
worse than the punishment 10 a soldier, in
that they blast his fame"
Thank God for that kindness to mer'
And he did all this for your
He loves me, as l love him"
But your love has disgraced him, his
has protected you"
The girl shrank before the stern words
of the soldier.
Yes" she said family. cit is as you say.
alone am to blame. Let mine alone be
the punishment. l will tell all to the court.
He must be clearedi'
1T is just" said Beauregard. You have
committed an act of treason against the
south. There IS, however, some excuse for
your action, and your previous record In
the hospital service has been such as to en-
title you TO every consideration. | am dis
posed to be lenient. but the offense is one l
cannot condone. l will have to put you un-
der guard until l can consider what is best
10 be done"
Il make no protest." said Fanny Glen.
you will, of course, release Mr.. Sempland
from arrest and see that his reputation
takes no hurtY'
Il will attend to that"
He struck a bell again and summoned the
assistant adjutant general once more
Fanny Glen dropped her veil so that her
face was concealed from the officer. He
did not perceive what she had suffered and
was suffering. Yet her heart was full of
relief-relief-her father was safe, her lover
would be free. and, best of all. she had
such testimony as few women have received
to the depth and power or his passion. He
loved her indeed. There was joy in that
thought that set her heart beating. The
general drew his subordinate into a corner
of the room, where they conversed earn
estly for a few moments Then they came
back 20 the young girl.
"Adjutant General Wylie,' said the COM
mander-in- chief. you will take charge of
Miss Glen. You Will follow him, Miss Glen.
| will communicate my further plans within
an hour"
There was something intensely pathetic
in the droop of the little figure, in spite of
the comforting thoughts that had come TO
her when the girl rose and followed the
soldier from the room.
The general WAS almost persuaded to call
after her a reassuring word or two, but re-
6 m IreA himself and said nothing