Part 82 (2/2)
He took her hand.
”How foolish, my own, to ask this of me--we love right or wrong. Love is the fulfillment of the law. You call me here to cross-examine me--”
”No--no--dear heart--just to have you soothe my fears and make me laugh again--”
”But how is it possible--once this thought has found its way into your mind? If I am a spy, as your Captain Welford says, it is my business to deceive the enemy. I couldn't tell the truth and live in Richmond. I would swing from the nearest limb if I should be discovered--”
Jennie covered her face with her hands:
”Don't--don't--please--”
”Can't you see how useless such a question?”
”You can't convince me?” she asked pathetically.
”I won't try,” he said firmly. ”You must trust me because you love me.
Nothing I could say could convince you--”
He paused and held her hands in a desperate clasp--
”Trust me, dear--I promise in good time to convince you that I am all your heart has told you--”
”You must convince me now--or I'll die,” she sobbed.
”You're asking the impossible--”
He stroked her hand with tender touch, rose and led her to the door.
”You'll try to trust me?”
There was an unreal sound in her voice as Jennie slowly replied:
”Yes--I'll try.”
Socola hurried to the house on Church Hill and dispatched a courier on a mission of tragic importance. Kilpatrick and Dahlgren were preparing to capture Richmond by a daring raid of three thousand cavalrymen.
Jennie watched him go with the determination to know the truth at all hazards.
CHAPTER x.x.xVI
THE FATAL DEED
The battle of Gettysburg and the disaster of the fall of Vicksburg once more gave to the Johnston junta in the Confederate Congress their opportunity to hara.s.s the President.
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