Read Ebook: How he won her by Southworth Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte

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Ebook has 4359 lines and 140300 words, and 88 pages

at an early dinner at Willard's. And he spoke of his approaching departure to join his regiment.

Lieutenant Ethel announced his own appointment to the command of the gunboat "Thunderbolt," then lying off the Navy Yard.

While they were still at the table the garden gate opened and Justin entered, smiling.

They all arose eagerly to welcome him. He shook hands with Britomarte and Elfie, and with the two gentlemen, and kissed his sister, and then drew a chair to the table, where room was speedily made for him.

"Why, he wears the captain's straps!" exclaimed Elfie, in delight.

"Yes," smiled Justin, "I have my company at last, Elfie."

"But you said nothing about it!"

"I wanted to see whether you would notice the straps without my pointing them out."

"Well, I declare!--Ladies and gentlemen I have the honor to present to you--Captain Rosenthal!" said Elfie, solemnly.

"I saw your new straps, Justin dear--I saw them at once. What change could take place in you that I should not see?" said Erminie, in a low voice.

"I understood you, my sister," murmured Justin. Then he turned his eyes on Britomarte.

She met the glance and answered gravely:

"When you are promoted for services rendered on the battle-field, Justin, then I will congratulate you."

Captain Rosenthal bowed in silence.

"Certainly; what have we all been thinking of? He has risen from the ranks without ever having been under fire; he has been advanced upon the small merits of keeping himself clean and minding his drill. Bosh! When you have seen twenty well-fought fields and come to us with one arm and both legs off and the stars of a major-general on, then we'll make much of you," said Elfie.

"Oh, how cruel!" murmured Erminie.

"No, they are not cruel, my sister. They are right," said Justin. "Promotion is best earned in the battle-field, where I shall soon seek it. Though I hope to bring back a limb or two more than Elfie would leave me."

"Yes--I hope so too; for she would literally leave you not a leg to stand upon!" exclaimed Major Fielding heartily.

Justin then announced that the brigade to which his regiment belonged was now ready for service, and was hourly expecting marching orders.

And when tea was over he took leave and departed.

It was not until the next morning, at the breakfast table, that Major Fielding discovered his daughter's escapade. Now that the draft was over, Elfie no longer read the papers aloud while others breakfasted. So Major Fielding had the morning paper in his hand, leisurely looking over it while he sipped his coffee.

Suddenly he set down his cup with emphasis, and nearly let out an oath.

Erminie, Elfie and Ethel looked up to see what was the matter.

"Now here's a row! Answer what? Now don't obstreperate, but explain, pap," coolly replied Elfie, as she daintily ate her egg from its shell.

"Don't make a noise over the breakfast table, you dear old boy--it is impolite; and don't destroy the paper before other people have read it,--it is selfish. But tell me like a good boy, what's the row?"

"She is half right. Erminie, my dear, I beg your pardon; but that girl of mine is enough to drive any sane man mad! Ethel, take that and read it," said the major, extending the paper to the lieutenant and pointing out the offensive paragraph.

It was headed--

A GIRL DRAFTED BY MISTAKE AND INSISTING ON SERVING.

And it was a full account of Elfie's visit to the Provost Marshal's office and all that took place in her interview with the officers there.

"There!" said the major, when Ethel had finished reading--"what do you think of that? Oh, I'll take her across to St. Elizabeth's and shut her up in the lunatic asylum!"

The major fairly shook with wrath.

"Be consoled, pap, they wouldn't have me, you know. They said I didn't belong to a good fighting family!" said Elfie.

The major started up from the breakfast table, and left the room in hot anger.

The breakfast party looked dismayed.

Erminie arose and threw her arms around the perverse girl's neck, and pleaded with her.

"Elfie! dear Elfie, go after him. Ask his forgiveness. Make friends with your father!"

"Leave me alone, Minie! I know my dear, old governor; he'll soon be all right!" said Elfie.

But the dear, old governor did not get over his vexation as soon as Elfie expected. He kept his little daughter at a distance for some days.

"Come, pap," she said to him one morning, "let's compromise! I will promise you 'never to do so more,' if you will buy me a substitute!"

But the indignant major made her no reply.

Elfie persisted in her proposal with all the perseverance of the Beast, who daily for a year asked Beauty to marry him.

"Come, pap! buy me a substitute and I'll promise you not to run away in boy's clothes, and 'list!"

But still the old man did not deign to answer. All this time, also, Elfie was, as she always had been, in all substantial services a most devoted daughter to her father. She attended to his room, to put all those little finishing touches to its comfort that no one but herself could effect. She kept his clothes in perfect order. She had one of his half dozen pairs of slippers always just where he wanted them. His pipe was always at hand. His pitcher of iced lemonade was never empty. Nothing that tended to his comfort was wanting.

But still the major was inexorable.

So at length by coaxing, threatening, wheedling, and bantering, Elfie brought her indulgent old father out of his anger, and so far into her way of thinking that he actually did buy her a substitute. He gave five hundred dollars to a fine young foreigner to represent Elfie in the field.

She weeps the weary day. The war upon her native soil, Her lover's risk in battle broil.--SCOTT.

Britomarte boarded with a widow of the name of Burton, who had three grown daughters. They lived in a small white cottage, in a large, shady garden, in the northeastern suburbs of the city, and not very far from the parsonage. The mother and daughters supported themselves by taking in plain sewing from the quartermaster's department. As Britomarte was their only boarder, and was contented to share their own simple and frugal meals, her living was inexpensive, and she paid for it by needle work.

Every hour of the day that she did not devote to visiting the hospitals with Erminie, was employed in this work, and the stroke of midnight often found her still at her needle. And yet, with all this industry, Britomarte could scarcely make enough to pay her small expenses.

Justin and Erminie guessed all this, and felt great but vain regret; for so long as Miss Conyers remained so obstinately proud and independent, they could do nothing on earth to assist her.

"It seems to me," complained Erminie, "that if I were in Britomarte's place, I would allow those who love me to improve my condition."

"You cannot understand her, and I do not blame her," answered Justin.

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