488 this mine, and this will be yours when this cruel war is She had paused at a door opening into a room much larger than the rest, and by far more elegantly furnished— rich rugs and carpets and tapestries, sumptuous chairs and divans and lounges with inviting cushions, dressing case with all the appurtenances, magnificent bed with baldachin and canopy, and counterpane white as virgin snow. With a tumult of emotion, all the sweets of domesticity being suggested by the vision of a room fit to be the bridal chamber of a queen, even of one of Shakespeare's or of Tennyson's fairest and most bewitching, he exclaimed, “And this-?" "Dear Love," she whispered, by her manner beseeching a kiss and a loverly embrace, "when you come, when you come for sure, every room shall be-OURS!" He held her in his arms, how long he knew not; kissed her, how often neither of them could tell, for Love is a poor mathematician, has no hourglass or horoscope, and disdains all chronologies. Presently, however, they were aroused by the clatter of hoofs on the pavement. Laughing lightly, she said, "You stay here, and I'll go to the window and reconnoitre." But in a moment she was back again. "Sammy, for your own sake and for Papa's, you must flee for your life. It's Uncle General Winder, and Uncle Abner's with him. doesn't like Papa, thinks he's too easy on the prisoners; and he's recognized you and reported to General Winder. Here! Here's a suit of Papa's, and an overcoat-Confederate. They'll fit you, and help you to escape. I'll go to the door and keep them out as long as possible. Don't wait to change here they'll have the house surrounded in a minute. There's the backstairs-the yard the garden-King George Street-you know the rest. Good-bye! God bless you! God keep you!" Already she was descending the stairs. "Yes! Yes, General Winder, Uncle Abner, I'm coming. I'd just gone to my room to retire for the night. "Yes; Papa hasn't returned yet. Must be at the Executive Mansion, though I'm not sure. I only know he was called out and didn't expect to be gone long. "Who? Of whom are you speaking? Samuel Simonson? Captain Simonson? Why, really, Uncle Abner, are we Southern girls accustomed to associating with culprits, jailbirds, vagabonds, riff-raff? "And do you accuse me of sheltering, nay accepting the loverly attentions, of Yankee crackers? "Oh, yes, General, Uncle did indeed find a gentleman here; but is it not proper for a young lady of twenty-odd summers to receive visits from her fiancé? If not, you must speak to Papa, Major Turney, and to my fiancé, Mr. James Overton, of Savannah, whom Uncle saw here, and has mistaken for some renegade Yankee cracker; and with the rare delicacy of Southern chivalry, and the fine breeding and sense of honor of a Southern gentleman, instead of considering the feelings and reputation of a lady who has the misfortune to be his kinswoman, or the honor of a gallant soldier and true patriot, who also chances to be his kinsman, has proceeded, to the extent of his ability, to disgrace me, and cast discredit on my honorable father, by carrying his mis-report and salacious scandal to General Winder, Warden-General of the Prisons of our beloved Confederacy. "Now I have a new incentive to yield to the pleadings of my fiancé for a speedy consummation of our engagement. As Mrs. James Overton, of Savannah, Georgia, I shall not be associated so frequently in people's thoughts with Lieutenant Abner Turney, of Richmond, Virginia. "But, gentlemen, General Winder and Lieutenant Turney, I pray you to come in; and forgive my incivility in keeping you waiting so long at the threshold. "I beseech you to carefully search the entire house, that both my revered father, and my unworthy self, happily may be cleared of the odium your visit charges against us.' We have recorded but a part of Elaine's side of the spirited colloquy at the door. Of course, she was talking against time, not for the sake of the argument, or for any impression she might make on their minds regarding her own or her father's guilt or innocence-she was only parleying until Simonson could make good his escape. And so strong and clear a case did she make out, and with such firmness and mien of injured, nay outraged, innocence, they did not search the house at all; but, making profound and abject apologies, withdrew, mounted their horses, and dashed away into a new morning and a new year-for the chimes on St. Paul's Cathedral were just ringing out 1864, with all its mingled warp and woof of victory and defeat, shame and glory, life and death; and ringing in 1865, with all its-but there was none then who could tell what the New Year would bring-only:-Judah Philip Benjamin, the Jew: the Salathiel of the Davis Administration. CHAPTER XXXIII FALL OF RICHMOND. W SIMONSON SENTENCED TO DEATH HEN Elaine had told General Winder and Lieutenant Abner that her father possibly had gone to the Executive Mansion, she had stated a very remote possibility; as a matter of fact she knew he had intended to go in precisely the opposite direction, and she thanked her stars for it, for it was of the utmost importance that she should immediately inform him of the sudden and unexpected turn of affairs. As Major Turney had passed out of the room he had quietly said to Elaine, "Stanard." She knew that meant Mrs. William Stanard, the great friend of Vice President Stephens, whose residence was a favorite meeting place, sort of Cave of Adullam, of all haters of President Davis, such as Toombs and Seaton, and opponents of his administration, such as Senator Rives and Representative Atkins. It was also the home during his brief sojourns in Richmond, of Vice President Stephens. Major Turney's wealth, family, social connections, popular prestige and known loyalty to the President, caused the bitter malcontents to be wary of him, and eager to secure his favor when planning moves that might be regarded as being, however veiled with specious phrases and protestations, inimical to President Davis or his government. Hence his summons to Richmond's Cave of Adullam. Of all the malcontents none was as able, persistent, and vindictive as Vice President Stephens; for to intellectual 492 dissent from the President's policy he added a personal hatred almost without a parallel. Indeed he so hated the President he would have condemned to eternal obloquy any governmental policy, even of his own origination, had it received the approval of President Davis. And Vice President Stephens was only one of a mighty Southern host likeminded, and like-disposed. Had the South been loyal to itself, and to her civil and military leaders, it is by no means improbable that the Confederacy would have compelled recognition at Washington. The Southern Government well might have pointed its accusing finger at a score of her own illustrious sons and, with her dying gasp, exclaimed, "Et tu Stephens, Vance, Brown, Toombs, Rhett, Walker, Rives, Atkins, Hunter, Yancey, J. E. Johnston, Beauregard, Longstreet. The situation on New Year's eve, 1864, could not have been darker for the grave, sorrowful, but undaunted President at Brockenborough Mansion. Grant had pressed on steadily, advancing even when defeated, was now beleaguring Petersburg and, doubtlessly, was going "on to Richmond"; Sherman was gaily cavorting on to the sea; Sheridan was jauntily having "the time of his life" wherever he might fancy to go, now that Early was disposed of and Stuart was dead; Thomas was in high glee over his phenomenal defeat of Hood and his Army at Nashville; the Alabama and the Albermarle were at the bottom of the sea, the Shenandoah at Liverpool had been handed over by England to the Federal Government at Washington, and not a Confederate flag now was floating above the wave; and, finally, Wilmington and Fort Fisher were in the death throes of impending surrender. "To consider the present state of affairs" Major Turney had been requested "to meet a number of gentlemen and |