Wright High School - Chronicle Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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' Oh Father in Heaven. I had ahiiost forgotten ; what am I doing? Turning she said, You are a Rebel, you are my enemy, yet I, I. the daughter of General Merideth am aiding in treason , she laughed bitterly. Go , she said, before it is too late. Go, or I may repent . ' One moment, he picked her handkerchief from the floor. ' ' This, he said i courteously, May I take it with me? Yes, she answered wearily, and then her manner changed quickly. Fly, fly before it too late; do you not realize it is death to remain? I go , he said, then taking her hand and he kissed it reverently, and, with a last gaze in those wonderful eyes ,he turned and slipped silently down the dark stariway by which he had enter- ed ; turning Jocelyn sank half fainting upon the seat beside her. A, few moments passed and Jocelyn drew herself together. A glance along the gallery was suf ficient to assure her that in the excitement, and under cover of the dark shadows, she had re- mained unnoticed. Turning to the same dark stairs, she ran swiftly down to the ballroom, and joined her former compan- ions. She allowed herself to be claimed for several of the follow- ing dances. Then an officer stod before her, His Excellency, General Meri- deth, wishes ot see you at once. Feigning surprise, Jocelyn arose and once again made her way to her father ' s office. She found him in the center of the room ; beside him was the visit- ing commander and about him a circle of officers. Curtseying low, she stod before him inquir- ingly. Jocelyn, he said sternly, 1 command you to tell all you know concerning this matter. I don ' t quite comprehend, she replied, again feigning sur- prise. Do you mean about the robber I discovered? Yes, he answered shortly, The robber, the Rebel, or the spy, as you wish it, who has es- caped from our hands. Oh — then he was really a Rebel and did — Interrupting coldly, her father said, I want the story. Oh, but there is no story, ' Jocelyn cried, I just came up here to look for my fan, and I saw someone by the desk. I screamed and the sergeant rushed in. I told him what had taken place, and then as I was nearly fainting, I left the room with my companion. • Her father shrugged his shoul- ders. I think General, that you had better take charge of this and question the girl. This con- cerns me too nearly, he bowed. The General smiled acquies- ence. Tell me the story once more, and this time in detail.

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which her father used as his of- fice. A dim light was burning there; and at the end of the gal- lery looking thru an open win- dow stood a sergeant. She crossed to the office intending to enter and rest there a while, but as her foot touched the threshold she was terrified by seeing a man spring before a desk-drawn which he had apparently been ramsack- ing. A startled cry burst from her lips. Then her mind grasped the situation — he was a rebel — he was searching for some important dispatch General Grant had sent to her father. Even as this past thru her mind, she heard the run- ning footsteps of the sergeant, then he appeared in the doorway ; for a moment he appearde con- fused, and glanced from one to the other. Then he spoke. ' T beg your pardon, Mistress Merideth, but I thought I heard you cry out, I ' He paused. Yes, sergeant, you did. She moved toward the man, who gazed at her half-defiantly — half admiringly, and slipped her hand thru his arm, she continued, I don ' t quite understand just what has happened, sergeant; My com- panion and I came up here to look for my fan, and, as we entered the room, someone sprang from before the desk, and rushed thru the door. I— I — can ' t understand just what has happened. You — You don ' t suppose anyone was trying to steal my father ' s papers, do you? Here Jocelyn looked as though she might faint, the she rallied, Quickly sergant, post soldiers in front of all doors that open on the gallery and cut off his escape, I — Oh! My heav- ens, I think I shall faint, quickly, Sir, she turned to the man be- side her, ' ' Come take me to the window, I need air. She turned and, half supported by her companion, passed the amazed sergant, and walked to the well shaded window at the end of the gallery. Here she seated herself on the window seat. — Hurry, she cried in a low voice ' ' You must go before they discover our little farce. Then for the first time, the stranger spoke thrilling the girl as never before, by his slow southern voice. You ! he cried, his voice in- tense with emotion. Will you not be discovered ; your part in this made known? Will you not be involved in scandal, dis- graced?? Oh what does it all matter, go, go before you are discovered, you must, or please hurry please. Her voice, ; usually cold was now passionate and pleading. Seizing her hand he knelt at her feet, I will do as you tell me, he said humbly, Only first may I not know your name? At these words intense suffer- ing passed over the face of this girl.

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Again, and more fully Jocelyn repeated her version of the inci- dent. When she had finished the General stood in grave silence for a moment. ' I am sure you have spoken truly ; though perhaps you have the whole incident trifling, and hold that your part in it is of no censequence. He bowed ; Jocelyn curtseyed deeply. She said nothing but the look she gave him was full of gratitude, and he smiled back in sympathy and understanding. Her father, however, was not so easily satisfied. A week later Jocelyn returned to Washington to take up her residence with an elderly aunt. Nearly a year passed; the light hearted Jocelyn was now a woman. Coldly and proudly, yet sadly she moved in the highest circles of Washington Society. But, try as she might, Jocelyn could not for- get that one confederate soldier. Not even his name was known to her, yet his image was stamped upon her mind indelibly. She was torn by her passionate ideals : she admitted to hersilf that at least she admired, if not loved, this southerner; but she was r northerner, she was the daughter of a northern general. Again and again she told herself that she must put such ideas of love from her mind, but she found it impossible. At last came the news of the capture of Richmond, and of the surrender at Appomattox. With it came her father. On the after- noon of the following day, a caller, Stanley Lee, was an- nounced. Turning graciously to receive him, she saw before her, her Southern lover. For a mo- ment everything was blurred be- fore her eyes, she felt his arms about her, she heard passionate words upon his lips, then steady- ing herself, she drew back firmly. Don ' t, she cried, Don ' t, for heaven ' s sake, you make it too hard, I cannot bear it. You must go — you are a Rebel . No , his voice was agonized, No, I cannot. You do love me. - You must marry me. No , she repeated, I cannot. Then, he said gently, Do not make it final. For two years I will remain here, constantly near you. Promise that the moment you find your convictions altered, you will tell me. Promise! I do promise ' she said, if ever I can see my way clear and honorable, I will let you know, by placing, at sunset, a red ribbon upon the garden gate. She paused, then and now — good- bye. Sobbing, she left the room. That same day there came the gratifying message that that eve- ning the President and his wife would dine with them. The guests arrived punctually. After some conservation, the General arose to show his guests over the grounds. Taking Mrs. Lincoln ' s arm, he left Jocelyn to follow