Love under Fire eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 308 pages of information about Love under Fire.

Love under Fire eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 308 pages of information about Love under Fire.

I must have remained there some hours, totally unconscious, for when I finally awoke it was nearly dark, the dusk so pronounced I could scarcely see across the room.  Some noise without had aroused me, and I knew instantly what it was—­the pounding of a horse’s hoofs on gravel, the animal being furiously ridden.  As I sat up, the horse was jerked to its haunches, and the rider swung from the saddle.

“Here, orderly, take the rein; quick now, damn you!” The words reached me clearly, but as I glanced out I saw only a dark form springing up the steps.  Something familiar about the voice caused me to leap for the door, holding it sufficiently ajar so I could overhear what passed in the hall.  There was a muttered word or two to the sentry, the newcomer insisting angrily on seeing Beauregard; then a woman’s voice suddenly broke in with an exclamation of surprise.

“You back again!  I am afraid you will have to wait to see the general unless your mission is of the utmost importance.  He is lying down, and left orders he was not to be disturbed before nine o’clock.”

“My mission is important enough,” was the reply, “but perhaps, it can be attended to without him.  Where can, we be alone, Billie?”

“Right in here,” stepping through the doorway into the deeper dusk of the dining-room.  “If you are hungry I can order a lunch.”

“No,” impatiently, “I have eaten twice to-day—­what I want to know is what has become of that fellow who was here this morning?”

“Major Ather—­”

“Oh, hell!” forgetting every pretence to gentility.  “He was not Atherton at all, but a damned Yankee spy.  Do you mean to say you didn’t know it?”

I could see her straighten up, turning swiftly to face him.  Whatever the shock of discovery may have been, indignation conquered, and her voice was cool, stinging.

“Captain Le Gaire, I am not in the habit of being sworn at, and will leave you to gain your information elsewhere.”

She swept by him to the door, but, gasping with surprise, the man managed to call after her,

“Billie, don’t go like that!  I didn’t mean to swear.  It was jolted out of me, and I beg your pardon.”

She halted on the threshold, glancing back evidently in hesitation.

“This is not the first time you have let your temper loose in my presence,” she said slowly, “but it is the last.  If you feel so little respect for me now, the future is not very encouraging.”

“But, Billie, you don’t understand!”

“I understand enough.  However we will not discuss this matter any further at present.  What was it you desired to know?”

“Where that fellow has gone!” instantly flaming up again.  “He wasn’t Atherton at all, but I’ll swear he was the very picture of him; he would have fooled the devil.”

“No doubt,” almost indifferently.  “How did you discover the deception?”

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Project Gutenberg
Love under Fire from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.