A Victorious Union

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XXIV

  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER CHRISTOPHER PASSFORD

  Christy Passford dropped asleep when left alone in the sitting-room, andhis slumber lasted a full hour. During this time Mr. Graines had relatedthe incidents of the action in which he had been wounded, and given afull account of the expedition to Mobile Point. He was not sparing inhis praise; but he brought it out in what had been said by others,especially by the commanders of both vessels and in the demonstrationsof the seamen of the Bellevite.

  When the wounded officer awoke it was with a start, and he was surprisedto find he had been asleep in the midst of such happy surroundings. Herose from his couch, and found that his mother and sister had left theroom. He passed out into the hall, and there heard the voice of theengineer in the library which he entered at once.

  "I hope you feel better, my son," said his mother, as she and Florryrose from their chairs rejoicing anew at his return home after thefearful peril through which he had passed, for the recital of hisbrilliant exploits by his friend had been intensely thrilling to bothof them.

  "I'm all right, mother dear; I was only tired a little, for I havetaken more exercise to-day than usual lately," replied Christy, as Mrs.Passford kissed him again and again, and Florry followed her example.

  "Charley Graines has told us all about it, Christy," said his sister.

  "So you have been spinning a yarn, have you, Charley?" asked the hero.

  "I have related only the simple truth, Christy, for I knew you would nottell them the whole of it," replied the engineer.

  "I am afraid you were reckless, my son," added Mrs. Passford.

  "Reckless!" exclaimed Christy. "When I saw my duty there was noalternative but to do it; and that was all I did. You have beendecorating your yarn, Charley."

  "Not a particle; and Captain Breaker would confirm everything I havesaid," protested Mr. Graines. "So would Captain Rombold, if he werehere, as I suppose he will be soon."

  "That reminds me, mother, that you are to have some visitors; for Iexpect Captain Rombold and Dr. Davidson will be here some time to-day,for I have spoken to have them paroled," interposed Christy.

  "Who is Dr. Davidson, my son?" asked his mother.

  "He was the surgeon of the Tallahatchie. Both of your visitors arerebels to the very core," added the lieutenant playfully. "I was hit inthe arm by a bullet when I was in the mizzen rigging; but I did notreport to the surgeon"--

  "As you ought to have done," interrupted the engineer.

  "Dr. Linscott had his hands full, and I did not want to bother him then.I went on board of the prize to take a look at the disabled Armstronggun. Captain Rombold, who was wounded in the right thigh, was sitting onthe quarter-deck. He spoke to me, for I was well acquainted with him.While we were talking, I began to feel faint, and slumped down on thedeck like a woman. The captain sent for his surgeon, though his ownwound had not been dressed; and Dr. Davidson was the gentleman who came,and very soon I felt better. They treated me like a brother; and that isthe reason I have asked to have them both sent here."

  "I am very glad you did, Christy; and we will do everything we can forthem," added Mrs. Passford.

  The father and mother of Mr. Graines lived in Montgomery, two milesdistant, and he was anxious to see them. Leaving Christie in the handsof his mother and sister, he took his leave early in the afternoon.Later in the day a carriage stopped at the mansion, and the expectedvisitors, attended by the naval officer who had paroled them, wereadmitted by the servant. As soon as they were announced, Christyhastened to the hall, followed by his mother and sister. The captaincarried a crutch, and was also supported by the doctor and the navallieutenant.

  "I am very glad to see you, Captain Rombold," said Christy, as he gavehis hand to the commander. "And you, Dr. Davidson;" and he proceeded topresent them to his mother and sister.

  "This is Lieutenant Alburgh of your navy, Mr. Passford; and he has beenvery attentive to us," interposed the surgeon, introducing the parolingofficer.

  "I am very happy to know you, Mr. Alburgh;" and he presented him to Mrs.Passford and Florry.

  The lieutenant declined an invitation to dinner; for he was in haste toreturn to New York, going back to the station in the carriage that hadbrought him. Mrs. Passford invited the party to the sitting-room, andChristy and the doctor assisted the wounded commander. He was placedupon the sofa, where he reclined, supported by the cushions arranged bythe lady of the house.

  "I am extremely grateful to you both, gentlemen, for your kindness to myson when he was beyond my reach, and it affords me very great pleasureto obtain the opportunity to reciprocate it in some slight degree," saidMrs. Passford, when the captain declared that he was very comfortable inhis position on the sofa.

  "And I thank you with all my heart for what you did for my brother,"added Florry.

  "You more than repay me; and, madam, permit me to congratulate you onbeing the mother of such a son as Lieutenant Passford," replied CaptainRombold warmly. "I am still a rebel to the very centre of my being; butthat does not prevent me from giving the tribute of my admiration toan enemy who has been as brave, noble, and generous as your son. Thebrilliant exploit of Mr. Passford, I sincerely believe, cost me my ship,and at least the lives or limbs of a quarter of my ship's company. Itwas one of the most daring and well-executed movements I ever witnessedin my life, madam."

  "Please to let up, Captain," interposed Christy, blushing as Florrywould have done if Paul Vapoor had entered the room at that moment.

  "He is as modest as he is brave, Mrs. Passford. It was sheer admirationfor the young officer which compelled me to send for my own surgeon whenhe sank fainting upon the deck, with the blood streaming from the endsof his fingers," added the commander.

  "If you are going to talk about this matter the rest of the day, CaptainRombold, I must beg you to excuse me if I retire," interposed Christy,rising from his chair.

  "I won't say another word about it, Mr. Passford!" protested thecaptain. "But I hope your mother will have a chance to read CaptainBreaker's report of the action, for he and I are of the same opinion inregard to the conduct of your son."

  "My husband will doubtless bring me a copy of it," added the lady.

  In deference to the wishes of Christy, nothing more was said aboutthe action, at least so far as it related to him. After some generalconversation, the surgeon suggested that he had not dressed the woundsof his patients that day, and the commander was assisted to theprincipal guest chamber, while the lieutenant went to his own apartment.

  Captain Passford was detained three days in Washington by importantbusiness at the Navy Department. Captain Breaker's report of theaction resulting in the capture of the Tallahatchie had reached itsdestination, and the proud father was in possession of all the detailsof the battle. He telegraphed and wrote to his son; and it was anotherjoyful occasion at Bonnydale when he arrived there.

  Dr. Davidson remained at the mansion for three weeks, until his patientswere convalescent, though he went every day to the hospital of theprisoners of war to see the wounded of his ship. Captain Passford hadgiven the visitors a very cordial and hearty welcome on his return, andexpressed his gratitude to them for their kindness to his son in thestrongest terms. He did every possible thing to promote their comfortand happiness, and the reign of Christianity continued at Bonnydale asit had been begun on board of the Bellevite and the Tallahatchie.

  In two weeks Christy's wound had practically healed, though his arm wasnot yet the equal of the other. His father spent all the time he couldspare at home, and long talks between father and son were the order ofthe day. The lieutenant had been informed on his arrival of the death ofMr. Pembroke, Bertha's father, two months before; but she had gone tovisit an uncle in Ohio, and Christy had not yet seen her.

  "I expect Miss Pembroke will be here to-morrow, Christy," said CaptainPassford one day, about three weeks after his return. "I suppose you areof the same mind in regard to her."

  "I am, father," replied Christy, f
or he was about the same as a youngerbrother in his relations with him. "But I have not heard a word fromher, any more than from you, since I left home."

  "There has been no occasion to send a store-ship or other vessel tothe Eastern Gulf squadron, though one sailed about a week before yourarrival, and letters were forwarded to you," replied the captain."Doubtless one or more went from her to you. She cannot have heard ofyour arrival; for I lost the address of her uncle in Ohio, and we couldnot write to her. Her father had a little property; and at her request Ihave been appointed her guardian, and she will reside at Bonnydale inthe future."

  Bertha Pembroke arrived the next day, and what Christy needed tocomplete his happiness was supplied, and now his cup was overflowing.But he did not forget that he still owed a duty to his sufferingcountry. Even the fascinations of the beautiful girl could not enticehim to remain in his beloved home while his arm was needed to help onthe nation's cause to a victorious Union.

  At the end of four weeks, he felt as well as ever before in his life,and he was impatient to return to the Bellevite. For a week before hehad been talking to his father about the matter; and Bertha knew herbetrothed, as he was by this time, too well to make any objection to hisintended departure.

  The Tallahatchie had been promptly condemned, and the fact that she wasa superior vessel for war purposes, and her great speed compared withmost vessels in the navy, had caused her to be appropriated to the useof the government. Orders had been given weeks before for her thoroughrepair and better armament, all of which had been hastily accomplished.Christy had not been to New York since his return; and for some reasonof his own, his father had said very little to him about the service,perhaps believing that his son had better give his whole mind to theimprovement of his health and strength.

  "I hope you have found a vessel by which I can return to the EasternGulf squadron, father," said Christy one morning, with more earnestnessthan usual. "I begin to feel guilty of neglect of duty while I amloafing about home."

  "Don't trouble yourself, my son," replied Captain Passford, who seemedto be rather exhilarated about something. "You shall return to your dutyin due time, though not in exactly the same position as before."

  "Am I to be appointed to some other ship, father?" asked Christy, gazingearnestly into the captain's face to read what was evidently passing inhis mind, for it made him very cheerful.

  "You are to sail in another ship, Christy; but wait a minute and I willreturn," said Captain Passford, as he left the sitting-room and went tohis library.

  Opening his safe he took from it a ponderous envelope bearing officialimprints, and returned to the sitting-room. Handing it to his son, hedropped into an arm-chair and observed him with close attention.

  "What's this, father?" asked the young officer.

  "I have had it about three weeks, but waited for your entire recoverybefore I gave it to you," replied the captain. "Open it."

  Christy did so, read it, and then in his excitement, dropped it on thefloor. It was his commission as a lieutenant-commander.