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We were out where the light shown upon us dimly, yet sufficiently to reveal expressions. Her face was colorless, but her eyes exhibited no fear. "Wait, Lieutenant Galesworth," she insisted, still clinging to my hand. "I must understand better, and you must hear first what I have to tell. Why did father leave the house without me?" "We both believed you had already gone."
"Please do not make the mistake, Lieutenant Galesworth, of thinking me not sufficiently in earnest," she said firmly, "or that I am unprepared." "I do not; if you were only a man I should know exactly what to do." "Your courtesy is misplaced; at least I do not ask it. This is war, and you are upon one side, I on the other. You will remain in this room until I say you may go."
I was on my feet in an instant saluting. "Lieutenant Galesworth, this is Captain Kent, an aide on General Sheridan's staff. He desires you to accompany him to headquarters." My heart bounding with anticipation, within five minutes I was riding beside him, back to the river road, and along the rear of our extended line.
"Oh, yes; Judge Moran told you the circumstances." I heard him stomp roughly across the floor, his spurs clanking. "Explanation, nothing! Who is the fellow?" "Really I don't know." "Don't know? Do you mean to say you rode with him alone all night, and took breakfast with him this morning, without even learning his name?" "He said his name was Galesworth, but I don't know that he told the truth."
We spoke of the situation, and and Billie appeared excited, but, why, Galesworth, you do not imagine the girl would try to carry the news out, alone, do you?" His doubt was so genuine as to be beyond question. Whatever Billie had done, it was through no connivance with the father, but upon her own initiative.
Billie!" "No! No!" and she had instantly released herself. "You forget yourself; you forget my position. Now it is good-bye." "You positively mean this?" "I do. I am a soldier's daughter, Lieutenant Galesworth, and I am trusting you to act as a soldier and a gentleman." Under the cloak of darkness my face burned, feeling the reproof of this appeal, realizing that I merited the sting.
Couldn't get a thing out of her just cried, and begged me to go away; said she'd be all right, if left alone. Blamed if I know what to do with a woman like that over such a fellow as Le Gaire too! By Gad, I supposed Billie had more sense. When she wouldn't talk to me I proposed sending you in to explain matters. You should have seen her eyes, Galesworth, through the tears. Mad!
I had been analyzing my own heart, and discovered Captain Le Gaire was not what I had believed him to be. The very fact that both he and my father so took everything for granted, arranged all details without consulting my wishes, made me rebellious. But your dictation is even worse than theirs. They had some right, while you have none, absolutely none, Lieutenant Galesworth have you?"
Lieutenant Galesworth, do you not owe this to me?" I hesitated, fronting this direct question, looking straight across the table into her serious face, as she leaned toward me. What was my most important duty that which I owed the Federal army, or that I owed to this girl? And then again did I really have a choice? There was never a doubt in my mind as to what she would do if the occasion arose.
"Major Hardy told me how you were feeling; that he could do nothing for you " "Did he understand I wished to confer with you?" "No, but " "You decided to invade my room without permission. Do you not think you have persecuted me quite long enough?" "Why do you say persecuted?" "Because your acts have assumed that form, Lieutenant Galesworth.
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