Part 25 (1/2)
”I did not think that you were a Southerner when you spoke,” she said.
”What are you doing here? We are Confederates.”
”Yes, I know,” answered Jeanne. ”My aunt and uncle left me on a deserted plantation because I was a Yankee, and I started back to New Orleans hoping that General Butler would send me home. I must have taken the wrong road, and so gotten lost. You won't turn me away, will you, just because I am a Yankee?”
”No; not for to-night anyway. I just hate Yankees, but I reckon you don't count as you are a girl. Come on to bed now, and we'll talk it over in the morning.”
And Jeanne went into the tent content to let the morrow take care of itself now that she was sheltered for the night.
CHAPTER XIX
”BOB”
At daybreak the roll of martial drums startled Jeanne into wakefulness.
”What is it?” she cried, springing from the couch.
”The drummers are beating the reveille,” answered the calm voice of Bob who was already up. ”That means that it is time to get up. You needn't be in a hurry, however. There are two hours yet until breakfast.”
”But you are dressing,” said Jeanne. ”I will too.”
”I always get up when the regiment does,” answered Bob. ”But you are different. You are a guest.”
”What are you?” asked Jeanne curiously.
”The Colonel's daughter, and the child of the regiment. What is your name?”
”Jeanne Vance. I live in New York city.”
”That is a long way from here,” said Bob. ”Do you mind telling me why you came down here?”
”I think I should like to,” replied Jeanne gazing at the trim figure of the girl admiringly. She was clad in a suit of gray cloth consisting of a skirt and close fitting jacket with epaulets upon the shoulders.
A cap of the same material was perched jauntily upon her raven black hair. Her face, piquant and sparkling, was tanned a healthy brown through which the red of her cheeks glowed brightly. Jeanne thought that she had never seen a more charming girl, and, rebel though she knew she was, she felt her heart drawn toward her.
”Yes, I think that I should like to tell you,” she repeated, and then as rapidly as possible she told of her mission and the events that had followed its execution.
Bob listened attentively.
”It was awfully mean in your aunt to treat you the way she did,” she commented as Jeanne finished her story. ”You are a brave girl even if you are a Yankee, and I like you. Father says there are some nice ones, but I reckon that they haven't so awfully many brave ones among them, or we wouldn't be whipping them so.”
”Whipping them?” cried Jeanne aghast. ”What do you mean by whipping them?
We were doing all the whipping the last I knew anything about it.”
”Well, you certainly haven't heard the news lately then,” rejoined Bob.
”If you had, you would have learned that General Bragg had invaded Tennessee and Kentucky and that the Confederates have both those states back again. I tell you the Yankees are just 'skedaddling' before him.”
”It can't be true,” wailed Jeanne. ”Kentucky and Tennessee both taken from us when we fought so hard to get them? Surely it is not true!”