by Marian Wells
“Father, you’re not convincing me that you are well. Surely you’d be better off going to Virginia until the hot weather is over. This business can wait.”
“No. I’ve also heard another fact which will keep us home. In town they’ve posted a notice asking people to cancel unnecessary travel on the railroads. Because of troop movements, there’s a great deal of inconvenience in attempting to travel just now.”
“Troop movements? I wonder what’s happening?” Thoughtfully Alex added, “I’d been fearing this. Certainly that’s a good reason for you to stay at home. I only wish you had gone before hot weather.”
Alex went to the door as his father backed into the hall. “I’ll probably finish my part of the discussion by tomorrow, certainly on Friday.”
Bertha Duncan touched his arm. “Clayton, I’ve asked Tanner to bring a bag for you. Are you using the surrey?”
“Yes my dear; I’ll return before the first of the week.”
Alex and his mother returned to the library, and she paced the room restlessly. “Mother, please, sit down and finish your drink. Olivia will be here in a few minutes, I—”
“Alex—” She turned abruptly and clutched his sleeve. “I must tell you this quickly. Also, please, please don’t mention this to your father—or anyone else.”
“Mother,” he took her arm and looked into her face. “Do you feel faint? Your face—”
“No. But I’ve done something which I know your father will disapprove of. Hopefully, I’ve covered my tracks.”
“Tracks? What—”
She lifted her hand. “Just listen. You know I own property inherited from my father. Well, I’ve sold it all to your father’s friend, Mr. Mallory.”
Alex rubbed his chin slowly. “Father will be extremely angry. Did you get a decent price for it?”
“Only fair; certainly not what it’s worth, but I’m done with it. Just don’t let your father know this has taken place.”
“Well, I know he mentioned Mallory trying to buy some of his land. He felt the man was taking advantage of the—problems, since he offered a price that seemed too low. Mother, why did you do it?”
“For several reasons.” She stopped, gulped her fruit punch, and leaned forward. “Alex, I’ve never admitted this to your father. It would make him angry, and he would be forced to quarrel with me.”
She got to her feet and walked slowly to the windows overlooking the driveway. She leaned against the window with her hand braced against the frame. “Alex, I’ve discovered that you and Olivia have been working for the Underground Railroad. I pressured her with questions, and finally her expression gave her away. We’ve not mentioned the subject again, and I’m not certain she knows I’ve discovered your secret.”
As he opened his mouth, she lifted her hand. “If it weren’t for that knowledge, I wouldn’t dare say these things. You see, I’ve felt for a number of years that it is wrong to hold the Negroes in slavery. I can’t help it. It’s just not right.”
“But what does that have to do with selling your property?”
“It’s my part. I’m convinced the slaves must be freed, and that this will never take place without a great deal of bloodshed.”
“And you expect the South to lose?”
“I want the South to lose. Alex, here’s the money.” She handed him a thick envelope. “There are some in banknotes, but most of it’s in Federal security bonds.”
He looked at the papers and said, “If you have Federal bonds, then this means you did this some time ago, before we came.”
“Why do you think so?” she asked curiously.
“I can’t believe it would be possible to purchase Federal bonds now.”
She blinked tears from her eyes. “That’s correct. And would you believe, I had no idea how I would get money into the right hands. Little did I guess my own son was involved when I prayed so desperately for guidance.”
She handed him a leather pouch. “Here’s gold for your immediate needs.” Her hands trembled. She dabbed at tears on her cheeks. “Oh, Alex, take that precious girl and leave the South while you can! I’m fearful, and I don’t know why. Everyone around me seems to believe we’ve won our case against the Union and soon all of this will be over. But in my heart, I still feel fear.”
“Mother,” he said slowly, “you frighten me. It makes me even more reluctant to leave you.”
“For the sake of the slaves, you must leave. Alex, I’m afraid if you stay you’ll be pressed into the army. During your prep school days you had military training; that will be important to the South.”
“I don’t believe the South will force anyone into battle against his will.” Slowly Alex got to his feet. “But with this money, you’ve made it possible for me to continue doing the work. We were beginning to wonder how much longer we could keep up the fight.”
Crossing the room, he bent over her. Suddenly he dropped to his knees beside her chair and wrapped his arms around her. “Mother, I can’t leave you here. I know that Father will never change his mind, but since you’ve admitted your feelings, it makes leaving too difficult to consider.”
She hugged him, then pushed him away. “If you stay, there’s nothing more you can do for the slaves.”
Slowly he got to his feet.
“Why did you say you wanted the South to lose the war?”
“Can you think of any way to make the South want to surrender their slaves?”
The door opened. Olivia stepped in. She looked from one face to the other. “Is something terribly wrong?” she whispered.
“No, my dear,” her mother-in-law’s lips quivered. “On the contrary; it is finally right.” She stood up. “Alex will tell you all about it. Now, please excuse me; I’ve had a very busy day and I’m extremely tired.”
After the door closed behind her, Olivia followed Alex to the table. She watched him empty the contents of the envelope onto the table. Then he opened the leather pouch and poured the gold coins on top. “Federal securities,” he said. “Mother has sold her inherited property.”
He turned to face Olivia. “She has given me this because she doesn’t believe slavery is right and she wants us to have the financial resources to carry on the fight.”
Olivia gasped. “And we were nearly out of money. But how did she find out?”
He chuckled. “I should have warned you. Years ago I discovered I couldn’t hide anything from my mother. She asked you some questions and made some good guesses on the basis of your reactions.”
“Oh, dear,” Olivia murmured. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t make a very good spy.”
“She wants us to leave soon. Father has changed his mind about going to Virginia. He had an excuse I can’t fault. He’s checked the train station and found that the railways are asking people to cancel unnecessary trips because of troop movement.”
“Troop movement? Alex, what is happening?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.” He walked around the table and faced her. “Olivia, I would like to continue talking to people.”
“It seems so fruitless.”
“I was thinking the same thing. It’s been discouraging to recall the reactions of those I’d most expected to give me an audience. But there’s an article from one of the newspapers published in Tennessee. It appears there’s a very real confrontation going on in Missouri, as well as in Tennessee and Kentucky. The newspaper was old, but I trust the situation still stands. In all of these states the Unionists have been fighting the secessionists, and it’s starting to look as if they have a good chance of winning large numbers to their side. I’d like to go to Tennessee and see what help I can be. Only—” He avoided her eyes. “I want to take you to Pennsylvania first.”
“Why?” she cried.
“Because it sounds as if these states are no place for a woman to be.”
“Aren’t there women living in those states?” she demanded. “Alexander Duncan, you said yourself that having me with you would be an asset. Why have you ch
anged your mind?”
He grinned. “Well, I guess I’ll change it again.” She flung herself into his arms, and he laughed as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “Oh, my dear, I don’t think I could live a minute without you. Of course you may go if you wish. It could be an uncomfortable situation, but I’ll be happy to have you there. Let’s begin packing.”
****
When Clayton Duncan returned from Charleston, he brought additional news. “Son, I’ve heard just this weekend that it is now necessary to obtain a pass in order to travel between the North and South.”
Alex handed his father’s valise to Tanner. “I’d heard something to that effect. I’ve been wondering how to handle the situation. Guess we’ll just have to check it out when we reach Richmond.”
“You plan on traveling north through Virginia and into Pennsylvania?”
“Ultimately we’ll be going that direction,” he said lamely, wondering about the quizzical expression in his father’s eyes. “We saw all we wanted to see of Mississippi, and because of the difficulty of travel, it doesn’t seem advisable to try to visit Olivia’s parents now.”
Nodding, Clayton Duncan started after Tanner. “Well, don’t be in a hurry to travel anywhere. The heat inland is fierce right now. One of our committee came up from Richmond, said life has nearly come to a standstill there.”
“One thing the heat will end is the scrapping that’s been going on for the past three months,” Alex murmured. “Might even give some of us who believe in negotiation a chance to make ourselves heard.”
His father turned to stare at him. “Don’t count on that,” he said dryly. “Our men are in the mood to fight, regardless of the heat.”
“Have you heard news?”
“Just the same old refrain. One side is shouting, ‘On to Richmond,’ and the other’s saying, ‘Take Washington.’”
“Olivia and I have decided to leave before August.” As soon as the words were out, Alex was caught by the fleeting expression of pain on his father’s face.
Clayton Duncan turned away. “It shames me to admit I’ve raised a son who’ll so easily throw over all the values of home with nary a backward glance.”
Alex groped for words to say the difficult in a painless way. “Father, you’ve taught me to stand behind what I believe. You’ve said a whipping hurt less than a lie. I guess I’m about to prove that. Only there’s one thing you didn’t tell me—that honest, undecorated truth sometimes hurts everyone concerned.”
He gulped, faced his father, and forced out the words. “I didn’t realize our visit would make you hope when there’s no hope to be had. Father, neither Olivia nor I would be honest if we stayed to tend the family farm to please you and Mother, when deep inside we know we’d be going against God’s will for our lives.”
“God doesn’t approve of the South?”
Alex couldn’t look at the hurt behind the words. “Father, you know God loves the people in the South, just as He does the people in the North—and the slaves.” His father turned and strode rapidly into the house without another word.
****
On July twenty-second, Clayton came into the library and dropped the newspaper on the table in front of Alex. “So, it’s begun in earnest,” Alex said wearily.
“Yes. Your President Lincoln is pushing this. He’s been accumulating troops in Washington for weeks now.”
“And the South knows all about it?”
“Of course. For several weeks we’ve been getting all the news we need. You see, Alex, we’ve all the necessary friends in Washington.”
Chewing his lip, Alex picked up the newspaper. The Richmond Whig declared, “The breakdown of the Yankee race, their unfitness for empire, forces dominion on the South. We are compelled to take the scepter of power. We must adapt ourselves to our new destiny.”
When he looked up, Clayton Duncan dropped another newspaper in front of him. “This one tells about the battle, ending with the totally demoralized Yankees being treated to our famous Rebel yell.” He paused, chuckled silently, and added, “I’d give anything to have been there. Half of Washington brought their lunches to watch the battle. When they went home, they went in a hurry. The paper says hoop skirts, picnic baskets, senators, and wagons were all mixed up with the fleeing Union Army.” He chuckled again. “Next battle, I’m going to get them to let me know in advance so I can be there. Might be I’ll take my picnic basket.”
He started for the door. “Son, don’t be in too much of a hurry to get out of here. The trains will be tied up for some time. Our men captured twelve hundred of your men, and it’ll take a little while to get them moved and safely put away in prison. Might be they’ll need to start building more prisons, if this is any indication. I have heard, however, that they’ll be working out a system of prisoner exchange.”
During the night Olivia stirred, sat up in bed and strained to hear the sound that had awakened her. The windows were open to the heavy, hot air. She heard frogs, and a whippoorwill called from a tree outside.
Alex stirred. “What is it?”
“Alex, something is wrong. Footsteps—that’s a horse leaving.” He pulled on a robe and went to the door.
Olivia pressed close to him when he stepped into the doorway. They saw the elder Duncan returning to the house, and Alex asked, “Father, what is it?”
“Your mother; she’s ill. I’ve sent for the doctor. It seems to be her breathing.” Alex dashed to his mother’s room.
A slave holding a fan hovered close to the bed. “Tilly, lift me,” Mrs. Duncan gasped.
“I will,” Alex murmured, bending over his mother.
“Can’t breathe.”
Alex’s voice overlapped hers as he lifted her and placed pillows behind her back. “Is that better, Mother? The doctor will be here soon.” Olivia rubbed at the tears on her face. When she saw Alex’s expression, she came to the bed and picked up the cold, white hand.
“Olivia, it’s—all right.” Her hand was still cold, but it tightened on Olivia’s.
****
Dawn had brightened the sky before the doctor straightened up and looked at them. “She’ll be fine now. It’s her heart. I’ve given her some medication. For the rest of her life she must take it, do you understand?”
They nodded. Alex followed the doctor to the hall. Glancing at Clayton sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his wife’s hand, Olivia hurried after Alex.
“Not lung problems, heart,” the doctor was saying. “Alexander, she won’t live long. That heart is simply worn out. I heard you and your wife are leaving, and I thought you should know.” He turned away, picked up his bag and said, “I’m sorry.”
Olivia concentrated on his tiny smile, the cold, curious expression on his face. “Thank you for telling us, Doctor,” she murmured. “Of course we wouldn’t think of leaving now.”
His smile thawed. “She’ll appreciate that. She sets great store by her family. But I don’t think she will be with you much longer.”
Chapter 13
Mike stepped out of the house just as Beth came from the barn. “How’s the hardware lady?” he grinned down at her.
“Hello,” she said slowly. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
“Might be around for a while. It’s getting pretty tight trying to ship along the Ohio. Missouri’s been at it again. Fickle as a flighty female,” he muttered, and Beth giggled. “Naw, that’s not fair to females,” he admitted. “It’s not the state’s fault either; it’s a bunch of cowed people who can’t get up their nerve to send the Rebels packing. First they decided to be on the Union’s side, then they sit back and let the Rebels take over.”
“What happened?”
“It wasn’t one thing, it was a whole series of happenings. The governor is just plain pro-slavery. In the Kansas struggle, back in the fifties, he moved into the territory with his gang. He was pushing slavery. That’s where he first tangled with General Lyon. Might say they had each other’s number before all this st
arted.
“Back in January, Jackson was inaugurated as governor. He made it clear he thought Missouri belonged with the South, even though he had to work with a Union legislature. Long after he had told Lincoln he wouldn’t send men to fight, he turned around and asked Jeff Davis for artillery to take over the St. Louis arsenal.
“Well, I could keep going on and on. Needless to say, when General Lyon came on the scene, the two locked horns. It cost Lyon his life, but it sure set Jackson’s men back on their heels. Now I suppose the Confederates are back to courting his favor again because of forts Belmont and Columbus. Belmont is on the western side of the Mississippi, and Columbus on the eastern. Both are important if the Confederates intend to hold the river.”
Mike watched Beth move to the woodpile and select a log for a seat. “Am I boring you?”
“No,” she said quickly. “But I’m wondering why this is all so important.”
“Just the struggle going on for territory. It’s like watching wildfire. You think it’s out, then it flares up somewhere else. You don’t dare turn your back for fear you’ll get your tail feathers singed.”
Beth laughed and Mike continued. “When General Lyon came, he announced he’d fight to the finish to get the Confederates out of Missouri. He’d already decided they were bound to push as hard as we’d let them. A feisty fighter he was—showed us a good job of it. One time he stood with his men until the Rebels were right under their guns. They fired one volley and then went after the enemy with bayonets. That’s when General Lyon was killed.”
“The North will miss such a general,” Beth said slowly.
Mike nodded. “General Fremont took over for him. Right now there’s Confederate troops gathering in the southeast corner of the state. They’re threatening Cairo in Illinois. That’s why I’m home. In fact, I heard President Lincoln’s calling for closing the Mississippi River to anything except essential traffic.”
“What’s essential?”
“Troops, ammunition. The situation in Missouri’s been touchy for a long time; now there are problems with Kentucky and Tennessee.”