Part 73 (2/2)
”I can only reply to you, sir, as the Speaker of the House of Burgesses did to General Was.h.i.+ngton--'Your modesty is only equaled by your valor!'”
Johnston's tribute to Lee was genuine, and yet nursing his grudge against the President with malignant intensity he left for the west, encouraging his friends to fight the Chieftain of the Confederacy with tooth and nail and that to the last ditch.
CHAPTER x.x.xI
LOVE AND WAR
Captain Richard Welford reached Richmond from the Western army two days after Lee had driven McClellan under the shelter of the navy. He had been wounded in battle, promoted to the rank of Captain for gallantry on the field and sent home on furlough for two months.
He used his left hand to raise the knocker on Jennie's door. His right arm was yet in a sling. His heart was beating a wild march as he rushed from the hotel to the Senator's house. He had not heard from Jennie in two months but the communications of the Western army had been cut more than once and he thought nothing of the long silence. It had only made his hunger to see the girl he loved the more acute. He had fairly shouted his joy when a piece of sh.e.l.l broke his right arm and hurled him from his horse. He never thought of promotion for gallantry. It came as a surprise. The one hope that leaped when he scrambled to his feet and felt the helpless arm hanging by his side was to see the girl he had left behind.
”Glory to G.o.d!” he murmured fervently, ”I'll go to her now!”
He was just a little proud of that broken arm as he waited for her entrance. The shoulder straps he wore looked well, too. She would be surprised. It had all happened so quickly, no account had yet reached the Richmond papers.
Jennie bounded into the room with a cry of joy.
”Oh, d.i.c.k, I'm so glad to see you!”
He smiled and extended his left hand.
”Jennie!” was all he could say.
”You are wounded?” she whispered.
d.i.c.k nodded.
”Yep--a sh.e.l.l toppled me over but I was on my feet in a minute laughing--and I'll bet you couldn't guess what about?”
”No--”
”Laughed because I knew I'd get to see you--”
”I'm so proud of you!” she cried through her tears.
”Are you?” he asked tenderly.
”Of course I am--don't you think I know what those shoulder straps mean?”
”Well, I just care because you care, Jennie--”
”You're a brave Southern boy fighting for our rights--you care for that, too.”
”Oh yes, of course, but that's not the big thing after all, little girl--”
He paused and seized her hand.
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