A Little Traitor to the South / A War Time Comedy with a Tragic Interlude

the sun, and rarely did he stop with the setting of it, either. The next

nd had brought her crew to the city. By questioning them Beauregard learned of the blowing up of the Housatonic, and the almost certain loss of the torpedo boat. He was sorry that he missed the Wabash and the admiral, and intensely grieved over the l

ss and was going North with his flagship in a few days. The admiral had shown himself so intensely enterprising and pugnacious that B

rf, and justly so, but he instinctively felt that there was something in the situation, which, if he could get at it, might relieve from the odium o

he might induce him to clear up the mystery. He spoke to him kindly, therefore, when he was ushered into the room and bade him be seated. He marked wit

one of the noblest names in the commonwealth. I knew your father and your grandfather. They were men of the highest courage and of unimpeachable honor. Their devotion to the South cannot be questioned.

e a coward la

m, sir. It was a mistake. I regret it," said the general, magnanimously.

s intensely relieved, and an immense load was lifte

I could have borne

till lie under the imputation of treachery to the South, and you will recogni

t would do her service. I fully intended to take out the David. I begged for the detail, and was thankful beyond measure to you for giving it to me. I was overwhelmed with ang

ned? B

is lip and looked d

u? Where were you detained? It must have been some man-or was it a woman? Tell me, and, by heavens, I'

nnot,

from me. You do not answer," continued Beauregard, keenly scanning the face of the young man standing before

nishing in the face of such obstinacy. Yet he restrained

ou go after

rs, sir, to w

there all

, s

o after the lett

ans

began the general,

ed Sempland, in sudden

l. He never will tell now. I have learned from a picket boat that was captured la

nd. "Well, sir, he died

"little in life became h

fell between th

been there," sai

r, than in your present case,"

," returned the young man, "but I-I beg y

ssed the Wabash, but b

otton ship

ty. But all this is beside the question. We are losing sight of the main

er be where Lacy is now than have failed as

and, I beg of you to answer m

the better of his patience and forbearance. He had tried to save Sempland, but t

what is bef

s,

, death. For in the face of your refusal

wed to the

tor. If you will not allow the stigma of either of these charges to rest upon m

o loss

s,

e done my best, Mr. Sempland, for you. As to my personal beliefs, I can and will express them,

ing,

ck a bell on the

an order assembling a court-martial to try Lieutenant Rhett Sempland, here, for disobedience of orders and neglect of duty in the presence of the enemy, and-well, that will be enough, I think," he continued af

the officer, saluting.