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

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

Once, while the two girls were on their way to the Douglass Hospital, Erminie said:

"Because, my dear, I only want transient work, something that I can give up at any moment without wronging any one."

"But what do you mean by that, Britomarte?"

"My stay in Washington is short and uncertain."

"Oh, pray don't say that. Where will you go?"

"I do not know, dear," answered Miss Conyers, in that grave tone that forbade farther cross-questioning.

So Erminie sighed and fell into silence.

Britomarte was now so closely engaged that she seldom got time to spend an evening at the parsonage. Something like a fortnight had elapsed since that evening when she had taken tea with Erminie, and laughed at Justin for his mere camp promotions; and since then she had not visited their house.

One afternoon she sat diligently sewing on a coarse blue jacket, when Mrs. Burton came up to her room and told her that there was an old colored man below asking to speak to her.

She went down stairs and found Uncle Bob, who handed her a note from Erminie.

It was very short, and ran thus:

ERMINIE."

"What is the matter, Uncle Bob?" she inquired.

"Ma'am?"

"Is there anything amiss at your house?"

"No, ma'am, not as I knows of. Miss Erminie is crying, but I aint heern no bad news."

Britomarte ran up to her room, and put on her bonnet and shawl, and came down and joined the old servant, and started for the parsonage. But her fleet steps soon distanced his feeble ones, and she arrived at the house first, and hurried immediately to the library, where she found Erminie in tears.

"What is it all, my dearest?" inquired Miss Conyers, throwing off her bonnet and shawl, and taking Erminie in her arms.

"Oh, Britomarte, I have no courage at all when the test comes," sobbed Erminie, dropping her head upon the bosom of her friend.

"But what is it, dearest?" again inquired Miss Conyers, with a misgiving heart.

"Oh, can't you imagine? Oh, Britomarte, the brigade has marching orders at last. It is to leave in the boats this evening."

Even Britomarte for an instant reeled under the blow, but in another she rallied and replied:

"That is well. We don't want any more camp heroes, Erminie."

"But it is so sudden. True, we were expecting this, or rather hearing of it, every day. But it had got to be an old story. I began to think that the brigade would remain in the forts, when about an hour ago came an orderly sergeant with this note from Justin--listen to it," said Erminie, unfolding a little note and reading:

"MY DEAREST SISTER:--We have received our marching orders. We go by the six o'clock boats this afternoon. I will try to see you before we leave. If I cannot get to the house, will you be at the wharf? And as you love me, send for Britomarte, and prevail on her to remain with you at the house, or accompany you to the wharf, as the case may require. Heaven bless you both.

JUSTIN."

"It is now two o'clock. Shall you stay here or go to the wharf?" inquired Britomarte, in a tremulous tone.

"I shall remain here until five o'clock. If he does not come before that hour, I shall know that he will not come at all, and that the only chance we shall have of taking leave of him, will be at the wharf," replied Erminie.

"My darling, if he is not here within a very few moments, he will not be here at all; for you know he must leave himself time enough after visiting you to get back to camp to march his company."

"That is true. Still, it is not worth while for us to leave the house before five o'clock, as they will not be at the boats before half-past five," said Erminie.

"You are right," agreed Britomarte.

"And oh! I still hope that he may come here. It will be dreadful to have to bid him good-bye at the wharf, in the multitude of men. But if I do have to go to the wharf, you will go with me, Britomarte?" pleaded Erminie.

"Certainly," replied Miss Conyers.

"And oh! Britty, Britty, if you would only give him a little hope--a little hope to cheer him on his way."

"Don't speak of it, Erminie. I would die for your brother rather than sacrifice my principles so far."

Erminie sighed and forbore to reply.

"Where is Elfie?" inquired Miss Conyers, to change the conversation.

"She is packing her father's portmanteau. He, too, leaves us to join his regiment to-morrow; and Ethel goes the day after. We shall have a lonely house here, Britomarte."

"You will fill it with refugees from the South, never fear," said Miss Conyers, cheerfully.

Even while she spoke, the door bell rang sharply.

"That is Justin!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet and running out to meet him.

Britomarte remained pale and breathless where Erminie had left her.

There was a sound of meeting, and of sobbing, and of cheering words, and then the brother and sister entered the library.

Britomarte arose and gave her hand to Justin. He pressed it in silence. They could not trust themselves to speak just then.

"How long--can you stay with us, my brother?" said Erminie, striving hard to control her emotion and to speak with composure.

"I may remain with you until five o'clock, dear. My first lieutenant will march my company to the boat, and I have leave to join it there."

"Thank Heaven for so much grace!" replied Erminie, as she turned and left the room.

She went out from a two-fold motive--to order a dainty dinner prepared, so that they all might partake of one more meal together, and also to give her brother the opportunity of making one more last appeal to his obdurate love.

When they were left alone together, Justin and Britomarte remained for a few moments silent and motionless. Both were too full of suppressed emotion to trust themselves to move or speak.

Justin was the first to master himself. When he had done so, he approached Britomarte, stood before her a moment, and then taking her hand, said, in a tone thrilled with passion:

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