Part 90 (1/2)
”You are to leave,” Jennie went on evenly--”leave at once--”
”Of course--”
”And give me your solemn parole--never again during this war to fight the South--”
”It is your right to demand it. I agree.”
She gently took his hand.
”I know that I can trust you now--” She paused and looked wistfully into his face. ”One last long look into your dear eyes--”
”Not the last--”
”One last kiss--”
She drew his lips down to hers.
”One last moment in your arms.” She clung to him desperately and freed herself with quick resolution.
”And now you must go--from Richmond--from the South and out of my life forever--”
”You can't mean this!” he protested bitterly.
”I do,” was the firm answer. ”Good-by.”
He pressed her hand and shook his head.
”I refuse to say it--”
”You must.”
”No--”
”It is the end--”
”It is only the beginning.”
With a look of tenderness he left her standing in the doorway, the hunger of eternity in her brown eyes.
CHAPTER x.x.xIX
THE CONSPIRATORS
The raid of Dahlgren and Kilpatrick had sent a thrill of horror through Richmond. The people had suddenly waked to the realization of what it meant to hold fifteen thousand desperate prisoners in their city with a handful of soldiers to guard them.
The discovery on the young leader's body of the remarkable papers of instructions to burn the city and murder the Confederate President and his Cabinet produced a sharp discussion between Jefferson Davis and his councilors.
Not only did the people of Richmond demand that such methods of warfare be met by retaliation of the most drastic kind but the Cabinet now joined in this demand. Hundreds of prisoners had been captured both from Dahlgren's and Kilpatrick's division.