The Victim: A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis

by Thomas Dixon

  IX

  WAR

  Side by side through the still white light of the full moon they rodehome, in each heart the glow of the wonder and joy of Love's firstrevelation. Words were an intrusion. The eyes of the soul were seeingnow the hidden things of life.

  The gleam of the lights at the Fort brought them sharply out ofdreamland into the world of fact.

  "You must see my father to-night, dear," she said eagerly.

  "Must I, to-night?"

  "It's best."

  "I'd rather face a hundred Red Men in war paint."

  A merry laugh was her answer as she leaned close:

  "Don't be silly, he likes you."

  "But he _loves_ you."

  "Of course, and for that reason my happiness will be his."

  "God knows, I hope so," was the doleful response. "But if I must, Imust. I'll see him."

  A quick kiss in the friendly shadows and she was gone.

  He walked alone an hour after supper, screwing up his courage to thepoint of bearding the Colonel in his den. He fumbled the door-bell atlast, his heart in his throat.

  Old Rough and Ready was not inclined to help him in his embarrassment.Never had he seen the lines of his strong jaw harder or more set thanwhen he grunted:

  "Sit down, sir. Don't stand there staring. I'm not on inspection."

  The perspiration started on his forehead and he moistened his dry lips.

  "I beg your pardon, Colonel. I was a little flustered.I've--a--something--on--my mind--"

  "Out with it!"

  "I--I--I'm in love with Miss Sarah."

  "You don't say?"

  "Y-yes, sir."

  "Well, it's no news to me. The whole family have been enjoying theaffair for some time. I suppose you're asking--or think you'reasking--for my daughter's hand in marriage?"

  "That's it--yes, sir--exactly."

  "I guessed as much. I'm glad to tell you, young man, that I've alwayshad the kindliest feelings for you personally--"

  "Thank you, sir--"

  "And the warmest admiration for your talents as an officer. You're agood soldier. You have brains. You have executive ability. You're aleader of men. You'll go far in your profession--"

  "Thank you, sir--"

  "And that's why I don't like you as a son-in-law."

  "W--Wha--"

  "I love my daughter, and I want her to be happy in a real home with areal husband and children by her side. A soldier's life is a dog's life.I've pitied the poor girl who gave up her home for me. Many a bittertear has she shed over my absence, in torturing dread of the next letterfrom the frontier--"

  He paused and sprang to his feet:

  "A hundred times I've sworn no daughter of mine should ever marry asoldier! The better the soldier, the more reason she should not marryhim--"

  "But, sir--"

  "There's no 'but' about it!" the Colonel thundered. "You're asking me tolet you murder my girl, that's all--but it's life. I'll have to give myconsent and wish you good luck, long life, and all the happiness you canget out of a soldier's lot."

  The Colonel extended his hand and the Lieutenant grasped it withgrateful eagerness.

  The days that followed were red lettered in the calendar of life.

  And then it came--a crash of thunder out of the clear sky--the thing hehad somehow felt and dreaded.

  A petty court-martial was called to adjust a question of armydiscipline. The court was composed of Z. Taylor, Colonel Commanding,Major Thomas F. Smith, a fiery-tempered gay officer of the old army,Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, and the new Second Lieutenant who had justarrived from the Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis.

  The army regulations required that each officer sitting in court-martialshould be in full uniform. The new arrival from St. Louis had comewithout his uniform. His trunk had miscarried and was returned to theJefferson Barracks.

  He rose with embarrassment:

  "I must beg the pardon of the Court, Colonel," he began cautiously, "fornot appearing in my uniform. As it is in St. Louis I respectfully ask tobe excused to-day from wearing it."

  The old Colonel scowled. It was just like a young fool to wish to sit insolemn judgment on a fellow officer--in his shirt sleeves. If he hadasked to be excused from serving on the Court--yes--he could accept hisexcuse and let him go. But this insolence was unbearable. The Colonelglanced over the Court before putting the question to a vote. Smith washis enemy. Whichever way he voted as President, the Major could bedepended on to go against his decision. There was a feud between thosetwo hot-tempered fire-eaters which had lasted for years. He glanced athis future son-in-law with a smile of assured victory. Tom Smith wouldvote against him, but the trembling youngster who had quailed before himthat night asking for his daughter's hand was practically in the family.He smiled at the certainty of downing Smith once more.

  In a voice, whose tones left nothing to the imagination of thepresumptuous Second Lieutenant, the Colonel growled:

  "Gentlemen, we are asked to allow an officer to sit in the formaljudgment of a court-martial without uniform--I put the question to avote and cast mine. No!"

  "I vote yes!" shouted the Major.

  The Colonel did not condescend to look his way. He knew what that votewas before he heard it. He bent his piercing eyes on his futureson-in-law:

  "Lieutenant Davis?"

  There was just a moment's hesitation. The Lieutenant smiled at hisembarrassed young fellow officer and mildly answered:

  "I think, Colonel, in view of the distance to St. Louis, we may excusethe young man for the first offense--I vote--yes."

  The old Colonel stared at him in speechless amazement. Smith grinned.

  The Colonel's face grew purple with rage. He was just able to gasp hiswords during the progress of the trial. It was brief, and when it endedand the rest had gone, he faced the Lieutenant with blazing eyes:

  "How dare you, sir, vote with that damned fool against me?"

  "Why, I never thought to hurt you, Colonel--"

  "No? And what _did_ you think?"

  "I only thought of relieving the evident embarrassment of a youngofficer--"

  "You did, eh?--no thought of me or my feelings, of my wishes. You're ahell of a son-in-law, you are--"

  He paused for breath and choked with rage no words could express. Whenat last his tongue found speech, he swore in oaths more expressive andprofound than modern man has ever dreamed. He damned the Court. Hedamned Tom Smith. He damned the Second Lieutenant. He damned theregiment. He damned the Government that created it. He damned theIndians that called it to the plains. He damned the world and all in it,and all things under it. But, particularly and specifically, he damnedthe young ass who dared to flaunt his feelings and opinions aftersmiling in his face at his house, for days and weeks and months.

  Finally, facing the blushing Lieutenant, his eyes flashing indignantscorn, he shouted:

  "No man who votes with a damned fool like Tom Smith, can marry mydaughter!"

  "Colonel, I protest," pleaded the heartsick lover.

  "I forbid you to ever put your foot inside my quarters again!"

  "Colonel--"

  "Silence, sir! I forbid you to ever speak to my daughter again!"

  "But, Colonel--"

  "I repudiate you and all yours. I wipe you from the map. You don'texist. I don't know you. I never knew you. Get out of my sight!"

  The tall, slender form slowly straightened and a look of cold prideshot from the depths of his blue eyes. Without a word he turned andleft.