How
would he excuse his presence, the calling of her name before the house?
This was an inopportune--a fatal--moment for a man in the blue of the
North to make his bow to a Richmond girl, in the midst of her wasted
and burning place of home. He decided reluctantly that it would be best
to say nothing of his connection with her academic labors, but to
depart as soon as possible and without explanation of his first
summons.... Rosemary Roselle--the name had clung persistently to his
memory. It was probable that he would see her--once. That alone was
extraordinary. He marveled at the grim humor of circumstance that had
granted him such a wildly improbable wish, and at the same time made it
humanly impossible for him to benefit from it.
VII
The leisurely progress of his thoughts was interrupted by hasty feet
without; the bolt was shot back and his door flung open. It was the
colored woman--the Indy of the essay--quivering with anger and fear.
"Capt'n," she exclaimed, gasping with her rapid accent, "you come right
down to the dining room, and bring that big pistol of yours. There's
two, two----" Words failed her. "Anyhow you shoot them! It's some of
that liberty you brought along, I reckon. You come down to Miss
Rosemary!"
She stood tense and ashen, and Elim rose on one elbow.
"Some of our liberty?" he queried. "Did Miss Roselle send for me?"
"No, sir, she didn't. Miss Rosemary she wouldn't send for you, not if
you were the last man alive.
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