by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XIII
AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
Miss Sue hastened to procure the photograph, which she had placed in hermother's room after it had been fully discussed by herself and thesupposed original. At the same time, her father conducted Somers into theroom again; and, being fully conscious of his desire to get away, he kepta watchful eye upon him, though he removed his grasp from the arm. Therebel soldier looked on in utter amazement at the singular proceedings ofall the party, and seemed utterly unable to comprehend the meaning ofthem.
"Here is the picture," said Sue, returning with the photograph in herhand; "but I don't see that it looks any more like you than it does likethe other gentleman;" and she proceeded to institute a comparison betweenthe new claimant and the picture.
Somers began to cherish a faint hope again, and to be very grateful forthe general truth, that photographs do not always look like theoriginals. This encouragement, slight as it was, gave our hero a newinspiration, and in a measure restored his impudence; which, under thepressure of circumstances, had begun to give way.
"I am sure it does not look at all like you," continued Sue, after shehad patiently balanced all the points of resemblance, and all the pointsof disagreement.
"You should remember that the picture was taken more than a year ago; andthat I have been an invalid for ten months of the time," suggested therebel soldier.
"That may be; but I am sure this picture could never have been taken foryou."
"Let me see it, if you please?"
Sue handed him the card, and he glanced at it with an expression of greatcuriosity.
"Where did you get this picture?" demanded he.
"It was sent to me by the original," replied she.
"This is not my picture."
"That is just what the other gentleman said; and I am perfectly willingto believe both of you."
"But I sent you a picture of myself, though this is not the one."
"Well, that is very singular."
"If you will remember, there were two in the same letter; the other was ayoung man whom Owen was acquainted with, and who desired something toremember him by. He is in a Mississippi regiment now."
"Dear me! what a blunder!" exclaimed Sue, laughing heartily. "I am sure Itook the best looking of the two for Allan Garland's."
"Perhaps that is not very complimentary to me; but where is the otherpicture?"
"I put it in Owen's room. I told him what I had done with the twopictures; but he has been at home so little, that I suppose he neverlooked at them. I will get the other."
"We are beginning to get a little light on the subject," said Mr. Raynes,when his daughter had left the room.
"And I think you will let a little light through my body with abullet-hole," added Somers, whose last hope was gone again, though hisimpudence still remained.
"Be patient, young man; we shall soon see the mystery explained, and beable to inform you whether you are Allan Garland or not."
"I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mr. Raynes; but you willremember that I was very much opposed to coming into your house at all;that I was literally dragged in by yourself and your daughter."
"And you will also remember that I saved you from arrest, when you gaveyour name as Allan Garland, of the Fourth Alabama. I think I haveimparted to you some very valuable information; and I intend to see whatuse is to be made of it, before I take my eyes off you."
"You are very affectionate, Mr. Raynes; and, in behalf of the greatSouthern Confederacy, I thank you for the zeal and loyalty which you havedisplayed," replied Somers boldly; for it was plain that nothing but themost brazen impudence could save him.
"You are a bold youth, and it is plain that you have brilliant talents; Ihope they have not been abused."
"They have been, and will continue to be, used in the service of mysuffering country."
"I like you, and I hope everything is all right about you; but I cannotsee your object in coming here under an assumed name."
"Then you have decided the case against me--have you?" said Somers,glancing at the rival Allan.
"Perhaps I was a little too fast," added the old man, mortified to findthat his character for strict justice had been compromised by this hastyavowal.
Sue was absent a long time; and it was clear that the photograph had beenmislaid. Somers was in hopes she would not be able to find it; though hehad but a meager expectation of over-throwing the claims of his rival tothe name of Allan Garland. It was a hot day, and the windows of the housewere all open. His legs seemed to promise the only satisfactory solutionof the problem; and while he was considering the propriety of jumping outthrough one of the open windows, and trusting to them for safety, Suereturned with the photograph.
"This looks more like you than the other; and more like you than it doeslike the other gentleman," said Sue.
The rebel soldier took the card, and acknowledged that it was hisphotograph; at the same time, he was compelled to allow that it was butan indifferent likeness of himself. His hard service in the army hadchanged his appearance much. Sue gazed at the picture, and at theoriginal, and her father did the same; but both of them were in doubt.
"There, sir! I have waited patiently for you to end this farce," saidSomers, in deep disgust apparently. "You have looked at the pictures, andyou are not satisfied yet. I can stand it no longer; I am tired of thewhole thing. You have treated me very handsomely, and I am grateful toyou for your kindness to me; but I cannot and will not remain anylonger."
Somers spoke decidedly, and was fully resolved to use his pistol, ifoccasion required. He was not willing to remain for a decision to be madebetween him and the other claimant.
"I will go with you, brother Allan Garland," said the rebel soldierfacetiously; "I think between us we can readily decide which is the rightman."
"I am ready."
"But we desire to be satisfied, especially in regard to this young man,who was suspected of being a deserter, and for whom I feel that I amresponsible," said Mr. Raynes.
"I can do nothing for you, sir," replied Somers.
"But I can do something for you; and I propose to take you to thesergeant where I found you, and let the military authorities decide,"continued the old man, whose ire was roused, as he moved towards theimpudent young man.
"I propose that you shall do nothing of the kind," answered Somers,drawing the pistol, and cocking it for use.
"Don't, father, don't!" exclaimed Sue, rushing between Mr. Raynes and theactive youth, pale with terror.
Somers would have been very unwilling to use his weapon on the old man.He pitied him, and could not help thinking of the terrible blow which wasin store for him when he should hear that his only son had been killed.He hoped that something would interpose to prevent any violence, and heexpected much from the gentle dignity of the young rebel.
"I am sorry that you compel me to draw this pistol," added Somers; "yetnothing but the duty I owe to myself and my country would permit me touse it upon those who have treated me so kindly."
"I will be responsible for him," said Allan Garland--the real one; forthere could be no doubt that he was what he claimed.
"You shall not go near him, father! He will kill you!" cried Sue,terrified, as her father attempted to push her aside, and advance uponthe armed young man.
"Come! brother Allan," said the soldier: "we can best end this scene byleaving the house."
As they approached the door, a hand was placed on the handle outside; butthe old man had taken the precaution to fasten it, in order to insure thesafety of his prisoner. A heavy knock succeeded.
"Who is that?" gasped Sue, afraid that any newcomer would only complicatethe difficulties of the moment, and that the bold youth would becompelled to use his pistol.
"Perhaps it is Owen," replied the old man, a little calmer than before.
"I hope it is."
The words sent a shudder through the frame of Somers, as he again thoughtof Owen Raynes, cold and dead in his oozy
grave in the swamp.
"Open the door," said a voice from without.
Allan Garland drew the bolt, and threw the door wide open.
"Why, Allan, my dear fellow!" exclaimed a young man who stood at theoutside of the door in his shirt sleeves, as he grasped both of the rebelsoldier's hands, and proceeded to make a most extravagant demonstrationof rejoicing. "I am glad to see you!"
"Owen, my dear boy!" replied Allan Garland, as he returned with equalwarmth the salutation of the newcomer.
"Where did you come from, Allan? I had given you up for lost?"
"I escaped from the Yankees the next day after I was taken, and have beenbeating about the woods ever since."
Somers was thrown all aback by this arrival, which was certainly the mostremarkable one that had taken place during the day. He couldn't helpfeeling very much like the hero of a sensational novel; and realized thevery original idea that truth is stranger than fiction. He could notexactly account for the presence of Owen Raynes, whom he hadsatisfactorily buried in the swamp, and whose clothes he had the honor towear at that moment. He did not believe in things supernatural, and itnever occurred to him that the form before him might be the ghost ofOwen.
"I am glad you have come just as you did, Owen," said Mr. Raynes.
"So am I; otherwise I might not have met Allan. But who is this?" headded, glancing at Somers.
"Your most obedient servant," replied Somers, trying to pass him in thenarrow entry.
"Stop, young man!" shouted the old man. "Don't let him go, Owen!"
"Who is he?"
"His name is Allan Garland, of Union, Alabama; and he is a private in theFourth Alabama," replied Allan with a smile, as Owen placed himselfbetween Somers and the door.
"What!"
Mr. Raynes, being the oldest man present, was entitled to the position ofspokesman; and he made a very prolix statement of all the events whichhad transpired since he first saw the pretended Allan Garland.
Owen Raynes was a very good-natured young man, and the recital of theaffair amused him exceedingly. He did not fly into a passion, being avery amiable and reasonable rebel; and seemed to regard the whole thingas a stupendous joke.
"Then your name is Allan Garland, is it?" demanded he, with a broad laughstill playing on his lips.
"That is my name at present," replied Somers.
"But have you no other name?"
"None worth mentioning."
"Good! To what regiment do you belong?"
"To the Fourth Alabama, Colonel Jones; but I have already told yourrespected father all the facts relating to myself, and some relating toyou."
"Say, is this a joke, a sell?" demanded Owen.
"I suppose that would be a very proper interpretation to put upon it."
"You seem to be a good fellow, and deal in four-syllable words."
"Now, as you seem to have the best of the joke, I hope you will notdetain me any longer. I have a pass in my pocket to prove that I am allright; and, as I am in a great hurry, I must move on."
"Not till you explain the joke. Eh? What's this? Where did you get thiscoat?" said Owen, glancing at the garment which Somers wore.
"This is the key to the joke."
"The key to it! I am of the opinion that this is my coat," replied Owen,as he felt of the garment, and turned up the lapel.
"May I be allowed to inquire where you left your coat?" asked Somers, whowas quite curious to know how Owen Raynes happened to be alive just atthat moment.
"Certainly you may; but first let me ask where you found it."
"Over by the picket-line beyond the hill," replied Somers.
"Just so. A young fellow in a Mississippi regiment, encamped next toours, borrowed it of me last night, when he was detailed for picket-duty.The poor fellow had no coat, and picket-duty is rather steep at nightwhen a man has no clothes. He is a good fellow, in poor health; and Ilent him mine."
"The nights are cool, but the days are hot," added Somers. "He took itoff, and left it on the edge of the woods, where I found it. I didn'tknow that it belonged to anybody. I found some papers and a diary in thepocket----"
"Did I leave my papers in the pocket? Well, that was stupid," interruptedOwen.
"I read the papers with a great deal of interest. Seeing frequentallusions in them to Allan Garland, I took the liberty to appropriate thename myself; for the owner of it seemed to be a very good fellow."
"Thank you!" said Allan; "but, as you seem to have no further use for it,I see no objection to your giving your own name."
"On the contrary, there are some very strong objections, and I musttrouble you for the use of your name an hour or two longer."
"Oh, very well! I am satisfied," replied Allan.
"So am I."
"But I am not," interposed Mr. Raynes. "I think the fellow is animpostor, if nothing worse."
"Anything you please; but my time is out, and I must report for duty,"replied Somers boldly, as he took off the borrowed coat, and restored itto the owner. "I am very much obliged to you for the use of this garment.When we meet again, I trust we shall understand each other better."
Owen Raynes was an easy-going young man; familiar with the practicaljokes of the army, enjoying them with the most keen relish when no one'sfeelings were hurt, and no damage was done to person or property. He wasnot, therefore, disposed to put a serious construction on what seemed tohim to be one of these farces; but his father took an entirely differentview of the affair. He wanted to argue the question, and show that itcould not be a joke; but Somers was too impatient to listen to anyeloquence of this description.
Sue, who had now actually found the young man who had been indicated asher "manifest destiny," was in no hurry to part with him; and when thefather proposed that Owen and Allan should accompany the impostor, as heinsisted upon calling him, to the brigade headquarters, where his passwas dated, she decidedly objected to the proposition. The earnestness ofMr. Raynes, however, at last vanquished her and the young man; and theystarted to escort our young lieutenant to the place indicated.
Now, Somers, being a modest man, as we have always held him up to ourreaders, and being averse to all the pomp and parade of martial glory inits application to himself, was strongly averse to an escort. Hepreferred to go alone, tell his own story, and fight his own battles, ifbattles there were to be fought. Owen and Allan were unutterablyaffectionate. They received him into their small circle of fellowship,and stuck to him like a brother. They were both good fellows, splendidfellows; and, under ordinary circumstances, Somers would have beendelighted to cultivate their friendship. As it was, he ungratefullyresolved to give them the slip at the first convenient opportunity.
Unhappily for him, no opportunity occurred, for his zealous friends wouldnot permit him to go a single rod from them; and Somers had about made uphis mind to trust the matter to the judgment of Major Platner, who hadshown a remarkable discrimination during the former interview, when thetrio came to a line of sentinels guarding a brigade camp.
"What regiment do you belong to?" demanded the guard.
"Fourth Alabama," replied Owen.
"You can't pass this line, then."
"But I have a pass," interposed Somers.
"Show your pass."
Somers showed the important document, which the sentinel, after a patientstudy, succeeded in deciphering.
"Your pass is right--pass on; but you can't go through," he added to Owenand Allan.
Owen explained.