Books: My Lady of the North

R >> Randall Parrish >> My Lady of the North

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"Yes," lisped the other, languidly, "met her at breakfast,
headquarters, this morning. Deuced pretty and all that, mighty good
style, too, but taken, old man. She's Brennan's."

"What! not Major Brennan?" in surprise. "Why, he's always posed as a
bachelor among our fellows."

"Don't know anything about that, dear boy," indifferently, "but the
lady came in with him yesterday, was introduced to the crowd of us as
Mrs. Brennan, and he called her Edith. Deuced nice name, Edith. As
Brennan has shown such poor taste as to be absent to-night, I'm
inclined to give a little of my time to his lady. Far and away the
prettiest thing here."

Just at this moment I heard Bungay speaking to me agonizingly down the
chimney:

"Durn it all, Cap, I've--I've got ter sneeze."

There was a smothered struggle in the darkness above me, then a muffled
explosion that showered me with soot, and sounded to my startled nerves
like the report of a gun. I drew up my legs hastily, and had barely
done so when a heavily whiskered face peered up at me through the open
fireplace. It appeared so close I had no doubt he saw me, but his eyes
were unable to penetrate the darkness.

"Sounded devilishly like a sneeze," he said suspiciously, as he
straightened up again. "Must have been wind in the chimney."

"More likely bats," returned the other. "Well, so long, Somers; see you
in the morning. I'm going to give the fair Edith a whirl."

The cavalry legs shifted their position; the band resumed its
functions, and in the renewed activity and noise I began again the
toilsome climb, my mind now a bewildered chaos between my plain duty to
Lee and my nearly uncontrollable desire to meet once more the woman who
was dancing in the room below.

The little mountaineer, as active as a cat, and not especially hampered
by lack of room in which to work, was well above me by this time. The
chimney, acting as a tube, brought down to me from time to time the
slight noise of his climbing, varied by an occasional exclamation or
comment, but I could perceive no other evidence of his presence. Above,
all was as black as the grave.

"Holy smoke!" he ejaculated, probably unaware that he was giving
utterance to his thoughts. "That was a sharp rock! Durn if thar's a
inch o' skin left on my knee. Whut is it Scott ses? 'An' broken arms
and disarray marked the fell havoc of the day.' Gee! if Mariar cud only
see me now, maybe she wouldn't be proud--

"'Sweet _Maria_, dear my life must be
Since it is worthy care from thee;
Yet life I hold but idle breath,
When love or honor's weighed with death!'

"Ough! stop thet! who's got hold o' my fut?"

"Hush your racket, you little fool," I said angrily. "Do you want the
whole Yankee army to trap us here like rats? I cannot get up this
chimney any farther; it is growing too small to permit my body to
pass."

"Is thet so, Cap?" he asked anxiously. "Whut be ye goin' ter dew 'bout
it?"

I made no answer for a moment; I was groping about in the darkness of
our narrow quarters to see if I could determine exactly where we were.

"How high is this house, Jed, do you know?"

"Three stories an' attic."

"How far up are we?"

"'Bout halfway 'long ther third story, I reckon; must be jist b'low
whar ye are thet I stuck my fut down an openin'. Reckon 't was 'nother
fireplace, like thet one on ther first flure."

I lowered myself silently, and felt along the stones until I located
the opening, and roughly measured its dimensions.

"I shall have to risk crawling out here, Jed," I said finally, "for I
shall surely stick fast if I go up another ten feet. Do you suppose you
can squeeze through to the top?"

"I reckon I kin," he returned calmly. "'Just as the minstrel's sounds
were stayed, a stranger climbed the steepy glade.' But hadn't we better
stick tergether, Cap?" "No," I answered firmly. "You go on, and one of
us must get through to Lee. Don't mind me at all; get down from the
roof as best you can. If I am caught it will be all the more important
that you should succeed."

"'Tis done--'I thank thee, Roderick, for the word; it nerves my heart,
it steels my sword.'"

Even as he spoke I could hear him creeping steadily upward. It soon
became evident that his progress was growing slower, more difficult.
Then all sounds above me ceased, and I knew he must have attained the
roof in safety.

CHAPTER XIV

I BECOME A COLONEL OF ARTILLERY

My own situation at this moment was too critical, too full of peril and
uncertainty, to afford opportunity for moralizing over Bungay's chances
of escape. Only one possibility lay before me--there remained no
choice, no necessity for planning. It is pure luck which pries open
most doors of life, and it was upon luck alone I must rely now. I have
often wondered since how I ever succeeded in squeezing my body through
that narrow opening into the empty fireplace without at least knocking
over something during the difficult passage. But I did manage, working
my way down slowly, creeping inch by inch like a snake, carefully
testing each object I touched in the darkness for fear of its proving
loose, until I finally lay stretched at full length upon what was
evidently, from its feeling, a carpet of unusually fine texture.

The room proved to be an inner one and unlighted, a bedchamber, as I
soon determined, for my outstretched hands encountered the posts of a
bed. Then a slight gust of air partially swept aside a hanging curtain,
which rustled like silk, and I caught a brief glimpse of the adjacent
parlor. It was likewise unillumined, but the door leading into the
front hall stood ajar, and through that opening there poured a stream
of radiance, together with the incessant hum of many voices in animated
conversation, the deep blare of the band, with the ceaseless movement
of dancing feet.

Satisfying myself by sense of touch that the bed was unoccupied, for I
was far too experienced a soldier to leave an enemy in my rear, I crept
cautiously forward to the intercepting curtain, and drawing it aside
took careful survey of the outer apartment. It was a large and
handsomely furnished room, a polished mahogany writing-table littered
with papers occupying a prominent position against the farther wall. A
swivel chair stood beside it, and across its back hung what appeared to
be a suit of clothing. I saw no other signs of human occupancy.

Convinced that the apartment was deserted, and discovering no different
means of egress, I crossed the room on tiptoe, and peered cautiously
out into the hall. It was not a pleasing prospect to one in my
predicament. The lower portion, judging from the incessant hum of
voices, was filled with people, who were either unable to find place
within the crowded ballroom, or else preferred greater retirement for
conversation. Even the wide stairway had been partially pre-empted, a
young lieutenant, as I judged from his shoulder-straps, sitting just
beneath the landing, whispering eagerly into the attentive ear of a
pronounced blonde who shared the broad carpeted step with him.

I drew back noiselessly, to figure out the situation and determine what
was best for me to attempt. It would be sheer madness to venture upon a
passage to the front door, clad as I was in travel-worn gray uniform;
to rush through that jam was impossible. If I were to wait until the
dance was concluded the later hours of the night might indeed yield me
somewhat clearer passage, yet it was hardly probable that the house,
used as I knew it to be for a military prison, would be left unguarded.
Besides, such delay must absolutely prevent my getting beyond the
Federal picket lines before daybreak, and would hence render valueless
the news I sought to bear to Lee.

I moved to the only window and glanced out; it opened upon the back of
the house and presented a sheer drop to the ground. At the slight noise
of the moving sash a sentry standing at the corner glanced up
suspiciously. Evidently each side of the great building was abundantly
protected by patrols.

Something had to be attempted, and at once. The room I was in bore
unquestionable evidence of recent occupancy, and at any moment might be
re-entered. My searching eyes fell upon the articles of clothing
carelessly folded over the chair-back. I picked up the garments one by
one and shook them out; they composed the new uniform of a colonel of
artillery, and were resplendent with bright red facings and a profusion
of gold braid. With all my soul I loathed the thought of disguise, and
especially the hated uniform of the enemy. It was repugnant to every
instinct of my being, and would certainly mean added degradation and
danger in the event of capture.

Yet I saw no other way. Sheridan, Brennan, Caton, the three who would
certainly recognize me on sight, I was assured were absent, although
they might return at any moment. The greater reason for haste, the less
excuse for delay. But if I should chance to run foul of the rightful
owner of the garments amid that crush below, and he should recognize
them, what then? I stood close beside the writing-table as I revolved
these considerations rapidly in mind, and my eye chanced to fall upon
an open paper. It was an official order, bearing date at 5 P. M. that
same day, commanding Colonel Culbertson to move his battery at once
down the Kendallville pike, and report to Brigadier-General Knowls for
assignment to his brigade. Evidently the new dress uniform had been
carefully brushed and laid out to be worn at the ball that evening; the
sudden receipt of this order had caused the owner to depart hastily in
his service dress, vigorously expressing his feelings, no doubt, while
his servant, now enjoying liberty below stairs, had neglected to pack
up his master's things.

This knowledge was the straw which decided me; I would chance it.
Hastily I drew on the rich blue and red over my old gray, adding the
dress sword I had discovered in a closet, and then, wondering curiously
what sort of figure I might cut in all these fine habiliments, sought a
glance at myself within a mirror hanging upon the bedroom wall. Faith!
but it was God's mercy that I did!

Such a face as grinned at me from that glass, peering over the high-
cut, decorated collar, would surely have created a genuine sensation in
those rooms below. Serious as my situation was, I laughed at the
thought of it until tears ran down my cheeks, leaving white streaks the
full length of them; for no chimney-sweep in the full tide of his
glorious career was ever worse sooted and begrimed. I thought of the
elegantly dressed lieutenant and the blonde young lady upon the stairs
--surely they would have supposed the very devil himself was coming
down.

It took me nearly a quarter of an hour to get myself tolerably clean,
and I could not have done that had I not used some grease that was upon
the stand. At the end, however, I stepped back from the glass confident
that with good luck I should run the gantlet safely.

Just as I prepared to step forth a new thought occurred to me--who was
I? If questioned, as was highly probable, how could I account for my
presence? Who should I pretend to be? I turned over the mass of papers
lying before me on the table. They were mostly accounts and detailed
orders about which I cared nothing, but finally my search was rewarded
by the discovery of a recent army list. I ran my eyes hastily down the
artillery assignments--Barry, Sommers, Fitzmorris, Sloan, Reilly. Ah,
there at last was exactly what I wanted--"Patrick L. Curran, Colonel
Sixth Ohio Light Artillery, McRoberts's Division, Thomas's Corps,
assigned special service, staff Major-General Halleck, Washington, D.
C."

"Curran, Sixth Ohio"--good; and the other? I glanced again at the open
order. "Culbertson, Fourteenth Pennsylvania." I would remember those
names, and with a jaunty confidence in my success, born of thorough
preparation, I stepped to the open door and strode forth into the
brilliantly lighted hall. Barring the single accident of encountering a
possible acquaintance in the throng below, I felt fully capable of
deceiving his Satanic Majesty himself.

CHAPTER XV

AT THE STAFF OFFICERS' BALL

THE young officer glanced up hastily at sound of approaching footsteps,
and rose to his feet to permit of my passage. He wore the full dress
uniform of an artilleryman, and his evident surprise at my presence
made me realize the necessity of addressing him.

"Lieutenant," I asked courteously, resting one hand easily upon the
balustrade, "could you inform me if General Sheridan and those members
of the staff who accompanied him down the lines this afternoon have yet
returned?"

"They have not, sir."

"Ah, I was in hopes they might have arrived by this time. I see that
you belong to my branch of the service. May I inquire your battery?"

He flushed with pleasure at the delicate flattery of my tone, and in
true soldierly pride of his corps.

"B, Fifth New Jersey, sir."

"I think I remember them in action--no better command in the service.
You were at Gettysburg?"

"On Seminary Ridge, sir. It was my first battle."

"A hard baptism of fire, indeed, yet a remembrance you will long be
proud to recall. I thank you for your courtesy."

I bowed to them both, and passed slowly down the wide stairway, several
couples rising as I drew near to permit of my passage. The intense
excitement of the strange adventure had by this time become a positive
delight. My cheek flushed, my eyes kindled as though new blood flowed
in my veins.

"Ah!" I thought to myself proudly, "what a story it will all make for
the camp-fire, and if I reach Lee in time the tale of this night will
be upon the lips of all the army."

The lower hall was very comfortably filled with figures moving here and
there in converse, or occupying seats pressed close against the walls.
The greater portion were attired in uniforms of the various branches of
service, yet I observed not a few civilian suits, and a considerable
number of women, some wearing the neat dress of the army nurse, others
much more elaborately attired--daughters of the neighborhood, probably,
with a sprinkling of wives and sisters of the soldiery. Guards, leaning
upon their muskets, stood in statuesque poses on either side of the
main entrance, while the wide archway, draped with flags, opening into
the ballroom, revealed an inspiring glimpse of swiftly revolving
figures in gay uniforms and flashing skirts. Over all floated the low,
swinging music of the band.

All this I noted as I paused irresolutely on the lower stair, wondering
if I could safely walk directly out of that front door, ignoring the
sentries by right of the uniform I wore, and thus attain the open air.
The constant haunting fear of the early return of Sheridan and his
aides, or a possible encounter with some former acquaintance in that
crushing throng, almost decided me upon venturing the passage. But
already I had hesitated too long. A fat, good-natured-looking man of
forty, an infantry major, but wearing staff decorations, and evidently
officiating in the capacity of floor-manager, after whispering a word
in the ear of another of the same kind beside the ballroom door,
hastily pushed his way through the laughing throng directly toward me.

"Good-evening, Colonel," he said, bowing deeply. "Your face is not
familiar to me, but you will permit me to introduce myself--Major
Monsoon, of General Sheridan's staff."

I accepted the fat, shapeless hand he extended, and pressed it warmly.

"I was just meditating a retreat, Major, when you appeared," I replied
frankly. "For I fear my face is equally unknown to all others present.
Indeed, I feel like a cat in a strange garret, and hesitated to appear
at all. My only excuse for doing so was a promise made Colonel
Culbertson previous to his being ordered out on duty. I am Colonel
Curran, of the Sixth Ohio, but at present serving on the staff of
General Halleck at Washington."

The Major's round, red face glowed with welcome.

"Extremely pleased to meet you, indeed," he exclaimed eagerly, "and you
may be sure of a most cordial greeting. Will you kindly step this way?"

As we slowly elbowed our way forward, all desire to escape from the
ordeal fled, and I assumed the risks of the masquerade with the
reckless audacity of my years. Before we reached the ballroom my
conductor, his fat countenance fairly beaming with cordiality, had
stopped at least twenty times to present me to various military titles,
and I had accepted innumerable invitations without in the least knowing
who gave them, or where they were to be fulfilled. Finally, however, we
broke through the massed ring, and succeeded in reaching the tall
individual in spectacles to whom the Major had spoken previous to
seeking me, and I learned through the introduction which followed that
I was in the presence of Brigadier-General Carlton, chief of staff.

For a moment, as I responded to the hearty cordiality of his welcome, I
was enabled to take my first glance at the ballroom, and found it to my
unaccustomed soldier eyes an inspiring spectacle. The room was
magnificently large,--a surprising apartment, indeed, even in so superb
a Southern home as this had evidently been, and its proportions were
magnified by numerous mirrors extending from floor to ceiling, causing
the more distant dancers to appear circling in space. Brilliantly
illumined by means of hanging chandeliers that oscillated slightly to
the merry feet; decorated lavishly everywhere with festooned flags and
tastefully arranged munitions of war; gay with the dress uniforms of
the men and the handsome gowns of the women, it composed a scene so
different from any I had looked upon in years as to hold me fascinated.
The constant clatter of tongues, the merry laughter, the flashing of
bright eyes, and the gleam of snowy shoulders, the good-humored
repartees caught as the various couples circled swiftly past, the
quick, musical gliding of flying feet over the waxen floor, the
continuous whirl of the intoxicating waltz, and over all the inspiring
strains of Strauss, caused my heart to bound, and brought with it an
insane desire to participate.

Yet gazing, entranced, upon the animated scene, and feeling deeply the
intoxication of the moment, my eyes were eagerly searching that happy
throng for sight of one fair woman's face. Strange as it must seem to
others, in spite of the fact that to meet her might mean betrayal and
death--ay! might even result in the destruction of an army--in my
weakness I secretly longed for just such a happening; felt, indeed,
that I must again see her, have speech with her, before I went forth
alone into the manifold dangers of the night. It was foolhardiness,--
insanity in very truth,--yet such was the secret yearning of my heart.
If I could only once know, know from her own truthful lips, that she
already belonged to another, I could, I believed, tear her image from
my memory; but while I yet doubted (and in spite of all I had heard I
doubted still), no desperate case should ever prevent my seeking her
with all the mad ardor of love, no faintness of heart should intervene
between us. That she was present I knew from those chance words
overheard in the chimney, and my one deep hope ever since I donned that
Federal uniform and ventured down the stairs (a hope most oddly mingled
with dread) was that we might in some manner be brought together. I was
yet vainly seeking a glimpse of her among the many who circled past,
when I was suddenly recalled to the extreme delicacy of my situation by
the deep voice of the Major asking me a direct question:

"Do you ever dance, Colonel?"

Exactly what I may have replied I know not, but it was evidently
translated as an affirmative, for in another moment I was being piloted
down the side of the long room, while he gossiped in my rather
inattentive ear.

"As you have doubtless remarked, Colonel, we are extremely fortunate in
our ladies to-night. By Jove, they would grace an inauguration ball at
Washington. So many officers' wives have joined us lately, supposing we
would make permanent camp here, and besides there are more loyal
families in this neighborhood than we find usually. At least their
loyalty is quite apparent while, we remain. Then the General Hospital
nurses are not especially busy,--no battle lately, you know,--and there
are some deuced pretty girls among them. Ballroom looks nice, don't you
think?"

"Extremely well; the decorations are in most excellent taste."

"Entirely the work of the staff. Great pity so many were compelled to
be absent, but a soldier can never tell. Here upon special duty,
Colonel?"

"I brought despatches from the President to General Sheridan."

"Wish you might remain with us permanently. Your command, I believe, is
not connected with our Eastern army?"

"No, with Thomas in the Cumberland."

"Ah, yes; had some very pretty fighting out there, I understand--oh,
pardon me, Miss Minor, permit me to present to you Colonel Curran, of
General Halleck's staff. The Colonel, I believe, is as able a dancer as
he is a soldier, and no higher compliment to his abilities could
possibly be paid. Miss Minor, Colonel, is a native Virginian, who is
present under protest, hoping doubtless to capture some young officer,
and thus weaken the enemy."

I bowed pleasantly to the bright-eyed young woman facing me, and not
sorry to escape the Major's inquisitiveness, at once begged for the
remainder of the waltz. The request was laughingly granted, and in
another moment we were threading our way amid the numerous couples upon
the floor. She proved so delightful a dancer that I simply yielded
myself up to full enjoyment of the measure, and conversation lapsed,
until a sudden cessation of the music left us stranded so close to the
fireplace that the very sight of it brought a vivid realization of my
perilous position. If it had not, my companion's chance remark most
assuredly would.

"How easily you waltz!" she said enthusiastically, her sparkling eyes
and flushed cheeks testifying to her keen enjoyment. "So many find me
difficult to keep step with that I have become fearful of venturing
upon the floor with a stranger. However, I shall always be glad to give
you a character to any of my friends."

"I sincerely thank you," I returned in the same spirit, "and I can
certainly return the compliment most heartily. It is so long since I
was privileged to dance with a lady that I confess to having felt
decidedly awkward at the start, but your step proved so accommodating
that I became at once at home, and enjoyed the waltz immensely. I fail
to discover any seats in the room, or I should endeavor to find one
vacant for you."

"Oh, I am not in the least tired." She was looking at me with so deep
an expression of interest in her eyes that I dimly wondered at it.

"Did I understand rightly," she asked, playing idly with her fan, "that
Major Monsoon introduced you to me as Colonel Curran of General
Halleck's staff?"

What the deuce am I up against now? I thought, and my heart beat
quickly. Yet retreat was impossible, and I answered with assumed
carelessness:

"I am, most assuredly, Colonel Curran."

"From Ohio?"

This was certainly coming after me with a vengeance, and I stole one
quick glance at the girl's face. It was devoid of suspicion, merely
evincing a polite interest.

"I have the honor of commanding the Sixth Artillery Regiment from that
State."

"You must pardon me, Colonel, for my seeming inquisitiveness," and her
eyes sparkled with demure mischief. "Yet I cannot quite understand. I
was at school in Connecticut with a Miss Curran whose father was an
officer of artillery from Ohio, and, naturally, I at once thought of
her when the Major pronounced your name; yet it certainly cannot be
you--you are altogether too young, for Myrtle must be eighteen."

I laughed, decidedly relieved from what I feared might prove a most
awkward situation.

"Well, yes, Miss Minor, I am indeed somewhat youthful to be Myrtle's
father," I said at a venture, "but I might serve as her brother, you
know, and not stretch the point of age over-much."

She clasped her hands on my arm with a gesture of delight.

"Oh, I am so glad; I knew Myrtle had a brother, but never heard he also
was in the army. Did you know, Colonel, she was intending to come down
here with me when I returned South, at the close of our school year,
but from some cause was disappointed. How delighted she would have been
to meet you! I shall certainly write and tell her what a splendidly
romantic time we had together. You look so much like Myrtle I wonder I
failed to recognize you at once."

She was rattling on without affording me the slightest opportunity to
slip in a word explanatory, when her glance chanced to fall upon some
one who was approaching us through the throng.

"Oh, by the way, Colonel, there is another of Myrtle's old schoolmates
present to-night--a most intimate friend, indeed, who would never
forgive me if I permitted you to go without meeting her."

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