Part 26 (1/2)
”Most a.s.suredly it is,” quickly. ”And who are you?”
”Captain Wayne, of the Confederate Army.”
”Oh, Wayne? Glad you spoke, but extremely sorry to have you here. Badly hurt?”
”Not seriously, I think. No limbs missing, anyhow, but exceedingly weak. Where did they get you?”
”In the side, a musket ball, but extracted. I would be all right if that lazy Irish scamp would only give me half enough to eat. By the way, Wayne, of course I never got the straight of it, for there are half-a-dozen stories about the affair flying around, and those most interested will not talk, but one of your special friends, and to my notion a most charming young woman, will be in here to see me sometime this afternoon. She will be delighted to meet you again, I'm sure.”
”One of my friends?” I questioned incredulously, yet instantly thinking of Edith Brennan. ”A young woman?”
”Sure; at least she has confessed enough to me regarding that night's work to make me strongly suspicion that Captain Wayne, of the Confederate Army, and Colonel Curran, late of Major-General Halleck's staff, are one and the same person. A mighty neat trick, by Jove, and it would have done you good to see Sheridan's face when they told him.
But about the young lady--she claims great friends.h.i.+p with the gallant Colonel of light artillery, and her description of his appearance at the ball is a.s.suredly a masterpiece of romantic fiction. Come, Captain, surely you are not the kind of man to forget a pretty face like that? I can a.s.sure you, you made a deep impression. There are times when I am almost jealous of you.”
”But,” I protested, my heart beating rapidly, ”I met several that evening, and you have mentioned no name.”
”Well, to me it chances there is but one worthy of mention,” he said earnestly, ”and that one is Celia Minor.”
”Miss Minor!” I felt a strange sense of disappointment. ”Does she come alone?”
”Most certainly; do you suppose she would expose me in my present weak state to the fascinations of any one else?”
”Oh, so the wind lies in that quarter, does it, old fellow? I congratulate you, I'm sure.”
My recollection of Miss Minor was certainly a most pleasant one, and I recalled to memory the attractive picture of her glossy black hair and flas.h.i.+ng brown eyes, yet I felt exceedingly small interest in again meeting her. Indeed I was asleep when she finally entered, and it was the sound of Caton's voice that aroused me and made me conscious of the presence of others.
”I shall share these grapes with my cot-mate over yonder,” he said laughingly. ”By the way, Celia, his voice sounded strangely familiar to me a short time ago. Just glance over there and see if he is any one you know.”
I heard the soft rustle of skirts, and, without a smile, looked up into her dark eyes. There was a sudden start of pleased surprise.
”Why,” she exclaimed eagerly, ”it is Colonel Curran! Edith, dear, here is the Rebel who pretended to be Myrtle Curran's brother.”
How the hot blood leaped within my veins at mention of that name; but before I could lift my head she had swept across the narrow aisle, and was standing beside me. Wife, or what, there was that within her eyes which told me a wondrous story. For the instant, in her surprise and agitation, she forgot herself, and lost that marvellous self-restraint which had held us so far apart.
”Captain Wayne!” she cried, and her gloved hands fell instantly upon my own, where it rested without the coverlet. ”You here, and wounded?”
I smiled up at her, feeling now that my injuries were indeed trivial.
”Somewhat weakened by loss of blood, Mrs. Brennan, but not dangerously hurt.” Then I could not forbear asking softly, ”Is it possible you can feel regret over injuries inflicted upon a Rebel?”
Her cheeks flamed, and the audacious words served to recall her to our surroundings.
”Even although I love my country, and sincerely hope for the downfall of her enemies,” she answered soberly, ”I do not delight in suffering.
Were you in that terrible cavalry charge? They tell me scarcely a man among them survived.”
”I rode with my regiment.”
”I knew it was your regiment--the name was upon every lip, and even our own men unite in declaring it a magnificent sacrifice, a most gallant deed. You must know I thought instantly of you when I was told it was the act of the ----th Virginia.”
There were tears in my eyes, I know, as I listened to her, and my heart warmed at this frank confession of her remembrance.