CHAPTER XXVII

A PRISONER OF WAR

"But what can we do, s...o...b..ll?" asked Jeanne her voice trembling with emotion. "How can I see him?"

"De missus takes a nap ebery day," said the darky. "An" sumtimes she calls me ter set in de room s"posin" Ma.s.sa d.i.c.k want anything. Sumtimes she tells Feliciane ter do it. We"ll jest wait tell she tells me ter do it, an" den I"ll let yer in. We"ll hab ter watch sha"p elsen she"ll ketch us."

"We will," said Jeanne. "I would not care for myself, but I would not like to get you into trouble."

"Nebber you mind me, lill" missy. You"se been moughty good ter me, an"

I"ll stan" anything ter help yer see yer brudder."

"Thank you, s...o...b..ll," and Jeanne"s eyes filled with tears at this evidence of affection. "When I can I am going to help you to get back to your mother. I will never forget what you are doing for me."

"Dat"s all right, missy. Jest you wait tell I does sumthin" an" den talk.

Time nuff den! Now I mus" run back. Done want missus ter know dat I hab been talkin" ter yer."

"I"ll go a different way, and she won"t suspect us," said Jeanne and the two separated.

Two days, full of anxiety to Jeanne, pa.s.sed before s...o...b..ll was called to attend d.i.c.k. Waiting only until she heard the door of Madame"s chamber click, the darky sped to Jeanne"s room and called her.

"Nuffin" couldn"t a happened bettah," she said. "Missus Adele, she"s gone ter town; an" tuk Feliciane with huh. Jeff"s gwine huntin" wid marster an" Mistah La Chaise. I ain"t afeerd ob de res" ob de n.i.g.g.as. k.u.m now, missy, an" yer"ll hab a right smaht while wid yer brudder."

Jeanne started up eagerly and ran down the stairs to d.i.c.k"s chamber. Her brother was lying fully dressed on a couch with his back toward her. He did not turn at her entrance and before she had time to address him, s...o...b..ll darted through the door.

"Foh de land sake, missy, git outen heah quick," she whispered. "Ole missus am a k.u.min" back."

Her terror communicated itself to Jeanne and the girl stopped stock still in the middle of the floor. The click, click of Madame"s shoes could be heard distinctly in the hall. To go out would be to meet her, and for the nonce the spirit of the girl quailed. Glancing quickly about her the heavily curtained window caught her eye and she sprang toward it. It was but the work of a moment to ensconce herself behind its voluminous folds.

Scarcely had she done so when Madame entered.

"I thought I heard some one," she said suspiciously. "Have you been attending to Master d.i.c.k, s...o...b..ll?"

"Does yer want anyting now, Ma.s.sa d.i.c.k?" asked s...o...b..ll going to the lad"s side, gladly ignoring the lady"s first remark.

"Give me a drink, please," said d.i.c.k weakly.

"I will give it to him myself," said Madame. "You may leave the room, s...o...b..ll. Master d.i.c.k and I want to have a little talk all by ourselves."

"Yes"m," acquiesced s...o...b..ll, but she lingered loth to leave Jeanne.

"At once," commanded Madame sharply. "Why do you loiter when I tell you to go?"

"Yes"m; I"m a-gwine now," and the girl left the room reluctantly.

"You feel much better, do you not, my boy?" and the lady stroked the lad"s hair gently.

"Yes, Cherie."

"So well that we can have our little talk again? We will not be interrupted to-day as we were yesterday."

"If you wish," and it seemed to Jeanne that d.i.c.k spoke with great weariness. "But of what use is it? You have your views and I have mine. Why not let the subject drop when we cannot agree?"

"Because the old adage has it, "That constant dropping will wear away the hardest stone." By keeping continually at you I shall finally succeed in overcoming your scruples, and get your signature to the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy."

"Never!" exclaimed d.i.c.k with so much resolution that his sister"s heart swelled with thankfulness and pride. "Though you were to talk to me forever you could not change my principles."

"Listen to me, d.i.c.k." Madame spoke in her sweetest tones. "You are but a boy. You cannot know which side is right in this war when great men have differed upon the matter. I have heard you say that you honored Robert E. Lee. That he was a n.o.ble man, a great general, and one of the finest gentlemen that you ever met. Think you that such a man would embrace our cause if he did not believe himself right?"

"I do not," answered d.i.c.k at once. "There are many men on the side of the South who believe themselves to be in the right. But they are none the less mistaken for all that."

"And you set up your feeble judgment against them?" cried Madame, a trace of anger in her voice. "It is presumption."

d.i.c.k did not reply. Presently Madame spoke again, and Jeanne noted that her tones were once more caressingly soft.

"d.i.c.k, I have spoken to you of my own son, have I not?"

"Yes, Cherie."

"He was so much like you. When I used to hear Jeanne talk of you I knew that you were what my boy would have been. When I saw you my heart yearned over you, for you were the image of him. Had he lived he would have fought to defend our South from the rank invaders."

"I do not doubt it," spoke the boy gently.

"Think how desolate I am," went on the lady quick to note the lad"s sympathy for her. "I have no one, d.i.c.k. Be my boy, I will be so proud of you. You would be our heir, and have all the property. I have influence too, and it should be used to advance you quickly to a high rank. You should be a general, my boy. The handsomest and youngest in the service.

Think what I can give you. And all just to sign one little paper! Why do you hesitate? Why throw away such advantages for the sake of a mere notion? Come, sign it."

d.i.c.k was silent so long that Jeanne became alarmed and she pushed back the curtain and looked at the pair anxiously. Madame Vance was holding a paper before the boy pleadingly, while d.i.c.k was regarding it with a look of indifference.

"You will, my beautiful boy. You will, I know. You cannot refuse a mother"s prayer. Oh, I know that you will not refuse me."

"But I do," said d.i.c.k who showed signs that the interview was taxing his strength to the utmost. "I will die before I sign that paper."

"You refuse?" cried Madame, losing control of herself. "Then hear me, Richard Vance. You shall not thwart me in my purpose. You shall sign that paper. I am stronger than you, and I say that you shall do it."

She seized the lad"s hand and tried to force a pen into it. d.i.c.k struggled feebly. With a bound Jeanne was by his side, all her fear of the woman gone in the menace to her brother.

"What are you doing here, Jeanne Vance?" cried Madame starting back at sight of the girl. "How came you here?"

"I wanted to see my brother," answered Jeanne, throwing her arms about him protectingly. "Have you no heart, no feeling, that you would take advantage of his weakness?"

"I am not so weak that she could make me sign that paper," cried d.i.c.k, his pale face and shaking hands belying his a.s.sertion.

"We shall see," cried Madame threateningly. "He shall sign it before you, my little Yankee."

Jeanne watched her opportunity as her aunt tried to push her aside, and s.n.a.t.c.hed the paper from her hand.