Part 18 (2/2)
”I do not know,” began Madame in her soft voice, ”whether I have told you that I have a brother. Have I?”
”No, Cherie.”
”I have, pet.i.te, in the Confederate Army. He is very dear to me. A few days ago I learned that he was wounded and ill. He is not far from the city, and he lies in a rude hospital tent without clothing or the necessary food and medicine. Is it not hard, little one, to think of being in the midst of plenty while my only brother is dest.i.tute?”
”Yes,” answered Jeanne with ready sympathy, ”it is.”
”I thought that you would think so,” and the lady smoothed her hair gently. ”Suppose that it were your own brother, d.i.c.k. I know that you would do almost anything to help him, and I feel the same about Auguste. I tried vainly to get a pa.s.s to go to him to take him some necessities, but ma foi! That beast of a Yankee General will not give me one. I am distressed. I suffer, but of what avail is it? I come to you, my little one, for aid.”
”To me?” Jeanne looked her surprise. ”What can I do, Cherie?”
”You are so brave. You have so much cleverness. Could I do it I would not ask it of you. But what would you! I am a coward. I faint at the least noise. I lose my wits; and so, child, I want you to take some medicine and food to my Auguste.”
”I to take it? Why how could I do it?”
”'Tis easy to one who has the courage, pet.i.te. I would send Feliciane with you. 'Tis only to elude the sentinels some dark night and once beyond them the rest is nothing. Feliciane knows where a boat is hidden on Lake Ponchartrain, and she would row you to the other side where you would be met by one of my brother's comrades who would receive the things.
Then you step once more into the boat, and Mais! there you are safe and sound in the city again.”
”Why could not Feliciane go alone?” questioned Jeanne.
”My child, she has not the intelligence. One must demand nothing of these creatures that calls for the exercise of reason. Will you go, my pet?”
”Would it be wrong, Cherie?”
”Wrong to carry food to a wounded soldier? Why should you think so, child?”
”Then it is nothing against the government?”
”No; I would not ask it of you if it were. Will you please me, Jeanne?
Your uncle would like it too.”
”Yes, Cherie, I will,” said Jeanne after a moment's thought. ”If it is only to take some food to a poor soldier it cannot be wrong. When do you wish me to go?”
”Dearest, to-night. There is no moon and it will be easier to elude the guards. I may use your basket, may I not? It will not be so heavy to carry.”
”If you wish,” a.s.sented Jeanne. ”But it will not hold much.”
”I only want to send a few, a very few things. Just what he needs most to put heart into him, poor fellow! And then when you come back, we will plan our journey to your home. Oh, we will have the grand time!”
The day wore away. Madame Vance talked volubly about the girl's home and asked her so many questions concerning it that Jeanne was wrought up to the highest pitch. At last the darkness fell. With it came a drizzling rain and to the tenderly nurtured girl it seemed that this would put a stop to the enterprise; but no.
”Could anything be more fortunate,” cried Madame who was in the highest spirits. ”Nothing could be better for our purpose. Ah, pet.i.te, you will outwit the Yankee soldiers yet.”
Jeanne looked troubled. The matter had not presented itself in that light before.
”I am not doing wrong, am I, Cherie?” she asked dubiously. ”It is nothing against the government, is it?”
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