CHAPTER III
A STRIFE IN MAGNANIMITY
"Well, Sempland," said Lacy, with astonishing courtesy and forbearanceunder all the circumstances, as he overtook the other man ploddingalong the shaded street, "you don't seem to be in much greater favorwith the young lady than I."
"Lacy," returned the other, "you did well this evening. You are notgood enough for Miss Glen, I still think. Nobody is, for that matter,but you less than others. My opinion of you, you know--"
"Faith, all the world may know it apparently!"
"That's unjust. I have never mentioned it to any one, and should nothave expressed it to Miss Glen had it not been to save her. But youshowed the stuff that was in you, that used to be in you, to-night. Itwas fine. I thank you for having said--" he paused.
"What?" asked Lacy.
"Why, that about my not having had a chance, you know."
"Oh, that was a trifle."
"I know. But not many men would have said it at the time."
"I tell you what it is, Sempland. I like you, I always have liked you.When I--er--dropped out of the old set, you know, before the war, Ididn't mind giving up any one so much as you. And I was sorry for youto-night. You hadn't had a chance. God knows I love the girl, but I amnot the man for her. I would break her heart in a month. You don't knowwomen, I take it, but I think she will be yours in the end. I give herto you."
"She is not yours to give."
"No, I know she isn't. But I withdraw in your favor."
"I don't want that sort of a fair field. Harry," went on the other man,unconsciously dropping into the familiar form of boyhood, which causedLacy's face to flush with pleasure, "I am sure she loves you. I thoughtit was I, at first, but since this afternoon I have changed my mind.Why can't you be different? You are not a fit man to marry any honestwoman now, and when I thought of your record I doubted that you everwould be. I was sure you would not, but--see here, old man! Throw thepast aside! A fellow that's got it in him to do what you have done forthe South--why can't you control yourself? Turn over a new leaf. I loveher, too. She's more to me than life itself, but her happiness is morethan mine. If she loves you, and wants you, make yourself worthy ofher. By heaven, I'll help you, if it kills me! You thought I was harshto-day. I swear to you if you succeed nobody will acknowledge itquicker than I!"
"Will you tell her so?"
"I will!"
"Rhett," said the other man, stretching out his hand, "the woman I lovehas this day honored me, but by heaven I believe you have honored memore. I did think it was a low-down trick for you to go to Miss Glen,but I know why you did it, and you were right. It's too late. I cannever be anything different. My father and grandfather both died indrunken sprees--it's in my blood. I can't help it. I've had a chance ortwo to do something a little out of the ordinary in this war, thank Godfor it, but I suppose the reason I was able to carry it through wasthat I cared little whether I lived or died. No, that isn't true. I'drather die than live, but I would like to go out of existence doingsomething fine and noble. I--I--might get a better chance on the otherside, then, you know. Life is nothing to me, and there are nopossibilities in it."
He spoke bitterly. It was rare that any one saw him in that mood.
"I tell you I'm cursed! I wouldn't take that girl if she did accept me.I only wanted to trouble you. Well, no, not exactly that, either. Ilove her, God knows, but the devil's got me in his grip and--"
"I can't understand it," said Sempland, vaguely.
"Of course you can't. You're so strong and so self-contained--such asyou never can understand such as I. But to be a drunkard, and agambler, and a--"
He stopped and threw up his hands, and then dropped them heavily by hisside.
"It's in my blood, I tell you! It is not all my fault. Yet there isgood in me, enough good to make me go mad if I stop to think of it. Iwant some way to get out of this life with honor. I leave the field foryou."
"She doesn't love--"
"You're a fool, Sempland--forgive me--about that woman. I know womenbetter than you. Not so much the good as the bad, but in some thingswomen are alike, a woman is a woman whatever she does. That girl lovesthe ground you walk on."
"Nonsense! It's you."
"Pshaw! She is fascinated by what she's heard on one hand, and sheshuts her eyes to what she has heard on the other. The war is young.We'll be beaten, of course, but not without some hard, desperatefighting. Your chance will come, and when it does--"
"I will master it or die!"
"Of course, but don't die. Master it. Leave dying to me. I've soughtways for it, and now one is at hand."
"What is it?"
"I am going to take out the _David_ to-night."
"What!"
"Yes. It's a dead secret, but I can tell you. There are threeblockade-runners ready to sail. The _Wabash_ lies off the Main ShipChannel. Of course, all the others are blockaded, too, but GeneralBeauregard thinks that if we can torpedo the flagship the others willhurry to her assistance and the blockade-runners can get out throughthe Swash Channel. Our magazines are running low, and we must havearms, powder, everything. There are two or three shiploads at Nassau.This is an attempt to get to them. If we can blow up Admiral Vernon'sflagship, perhaps we can raise the blockade. At any rate it's the onlychance for the blockade-runners to get out."
"Did the general order you to do this?"
"Certainly not. I suggested it to him. They don't order any one to the_David_, you know."
"I should say not," returned Sempland. "She's been down five times,hasn't she?"
"Yes, and every time with all of her crew."
"How many, all told, has she carried to death?"
"Some thirty or more, I believe."
"And she has never done any damage to the enemy?"
"She scraped the paint off the _New Ironsides_ one night and scared herpeople to death, I reckon, but that's all."
"Lacy!" cried Sempland, suddenly, "I have no right to ask favors ofyou, but--"
"That's all right. Ask."
"Let me go to-night."
"What's the use? One officer is enough, and you could not do any goodby going along. I should be in command--"
"Let me go in your place!"
"Nonsense! It's almost certain death."
"I don't care. It's my chance. I can run the thing as well as you."
"Oh, anybody can run the thing, for that matter."
"My life is of no more value to the South or to me than yours. Come!You have had your chances, and improved them; give this to me."
Lacy hesitated.
"Sempland, you're a fool, as I said before. You're running away fromthe woman who loves you. You're risking your life."
"Never mind about that," returned the other. "She doesn't love me, andI want to do it. For God's sake, old man, don't be selfish! Let me havean opportunity!"
Sempland was ordinarily a reticent and a quiet man, but thispossibility awoke him into action. He pleaded so long and so hard, andso determinedly that he overbore the other man, and finally wrung fromhim a grudging assent to his request.
"If the general is willing, I'll give you my chance."
"Thank you. God bless you! If I don't come back, remember that you'reto make a man of yourself--for her."
"You will come back. You must come back!"
A Little Traitor to the South Page 5