by Thomas Dixon
CHAPTER XXXV
SUSPICION
Jennie Barton had refused to listen to Captain Welford's accusation oftreachery against her lover but the seed of suspicion had been planted.It grew with such rapidity her peace of mind was utterly destroyed.
In vain she put the ugly thought aside.
"It's impossible!" she murmured a hundred times only to come back to theidea that would not down.
Night after night she tossed on her pillow unable to sleep. The longershe faced the problem of Socola's character and antecedents the moreprobable became the truth of Dick's suspicions. She had made his presentposition in the State Department possible.
Again her love rose in rebellion. "It's a lie--a lie!" she sobbed. "Iwon't believe it. Dick's crazy jealousy's at the bottom of it all--"
Why had Socola buried himself in the Department of State so completelysince the scene with Dick? His calls had been brief. Their relations hadbeen strained in spite of her honest effort to put them back on the oldfooting.
He gave as his excuse for not calling oftener the enormous pressure ofwork which the crisis of the invasion of Pennsylvania had brought to hisoffice. The excuse was valid. But perfect love would find a way. Itshould need no excuse.
There was something wrong. She realized it now with increasing agony.Unable to endure the strain she sent for Socola.
Their meeting was awkward. She made no effort to apologize or smooththings over. Her attitude was instinctive. She gave her feelings fullrein.
She fixed on him a steady searching gaze.
"It's useless for me to try to pretend, my love. There's something wrongbetween us."
"Your mind has been poisoned," was the quick, serious answer. "Thoughtsare things. They have the power to kill or give life. A poisonous ideahas been planted in your soul. It's killing your love for me. I feelit--and I'm helpless."
"You can cast it out," she answered tenderly.
"How?"
"Tell me frankly and honestly the whole story of your life--"
"You believe me an impostor?"
"I love you--"
"And that is not enough?"
"No. Make suspicion impossible. You can do this--if you are innocent asI believe you are--"
She paused and a sob caught her voice.
"Oh, my love, it's killing me--I can neither eat nor sleep. Show me thatsuch a thing is impossible--"
He took her hand.
"How foolish, my own, to ask this of me--we love right or wrong. Love isthe fulfillment of the law. You call me here to cross-examine me--"
"No--no--dear heart--just to have you soothe my fears and make me laughagain--"
"But how is it possible--once this thought has found its way into yourmind? If I am a spy, as your Captain Welford says, it is my business todeceive the enemy. I couldn't tell the truth and live in Richmond. Iwould swing from the nearest limb if I should be discovered--"
Jennie covered her face with her hands:
"Don't--don't--please--"
"Can't you see how useless such a question?"
"You can't convince me?" she asked pathetically.
"I won't try," he said firmly. "You must trust me because you love me.Nothing I could say could convince you--"
He paused and held her hands in a desperate clasp--
"Trust me, dear--I promise in good time to convince you that I am allyour heart has told you--"
"You must convince me now--or I'll die," she sobbed.
"You're asking the impossible--"
He stroked her hand with tender touch, rose and led her to the door.
"You'll try to trust me?"
There was an unreal sound in her voice as Jennie slowly replied:
"Yes--I'll try."
Socola hurried to the house on Church Hill and dispatched a courier on amission of tragic importance. Kilpatrick and Dahlgren were preparing tocapture Richmond by a daring raid of three thousand cavalrymen.
Jennie watched him go with the determination to know the truth at allhazards.