A Little Traitor to the South | Page 6

gets half a chance he'll do better
than I. Choose because you love him--or me."
The girl stared from one to the other in indignant bewilderment. Lacy
was an ideal lover. Sempland looked like a stern master, and she hated
a master. She made a half step toward the handsomer and weaker man,
and a half turn toward the homelier and stronger. In her heart of hearts
she found in that moment which she preferred. And, as love is wayward,
in the knowledge came a surprise for her--and it brought shame. Lacy
was handsome and gallant and distinguished, in spite of all, but
Sempland was strong--a man indeed.
"Oh!" she cried, looking at him, "if you only had done something great
or--"
"What!" he cried, his face alight.
But she turned instantly away. In her words Lacy, more subtile and
more used to women, read her preference and his rejection. But he
smiled bravely and kindly at her in spite of his knowledge.
"Major Lacy," she said, giving him her hand, "I esteem you, I honor
you, I respect you. I do not believe what this--what has been said about

you. But I do not love you." She drew away from him. "You were
mistaken. There is no choice between you, for I love neither of you. I
do not love anybody. I hate you both!" she flashed out inconsistently.
"Now go! I don't want to see either of you again."
She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.
"I will do something to deserve your praise," said Sempland, in his
deep voice, turning away.
"Miss Glen," said Lacy, most graciously,--Fanny Glen's presence
seemed to call all that was good in him to the surface,--"no one has
respected me, or trusted me, or honored me as you have, for years.
Sempland cannot rob me of that, even though he should win you.
Good-by, and, if it be not grotesque from me, may God bless you!"
CHAPTER III
A STRIFE IN MAGNANIMITY
"Well, Sempland," said Lacy, with astonishing courtesy and
forbearance under all the circumstances, as he overtook the other man
plodding along the shaded street, "you don't seem to be in much greater
favor with the young lady than I."
"Lacy," returned the other, "you did well this evening. You are not
good enough for Miss Glen, I still think. Nobody is, for that matter, but
you less than others. My opinion of you, you know--"
"Faith, all the world may know it apparently!"
"That's unjust. I have never mentioned it to any one, and should not
have expressed it to Miss Glen had it not been to save her. But you
showed the stuff that was in you, that used to be in you, to-night. It was
fine. I thank you for having said--" he paused.
"What?" asked Lacy.

"Why, that about my not having had a chance, you know."
"Oh, that was a trifle."
"I know. But not many men would have said it at the time."
"I tell you what it is, Sempland. I like you, I always have liked you.
When I--er--dropped out of the old set, you know, before the war, I
didn't mind giving up any one so much as you. And I was sorry for you
to-night. You hadn't had a chance. God knows I love the girl, but I am
not the man for her. I would break her heart in a month. You don't
know women, I take it, but I think she will be yours in the end. I give
her to you."
"She is not yours to give."
"No, I know she isn't. But I withdraw in your favor."
"I don't want that sort of a fair field. Harry," went on the other man,
unconsciously dropping into the familiar form of boyhood, which
caused Lacy's face to flush with pleasure, "I am sure she loves you. I
thought it was I, at first, but since this afternoon I have changed my
mind. Why can't you be different? You are not a fit man to marry any
honest woman now, and when I thought of your record I doubted that
you ever would be. I was sure you would not, but--see here, old man!
Throw the past aside! A fellow that's got it in him to do what you have
done for the South--why can't you control yourself? Turn over a new
leaf. I love her, too. She's more to me than life itself, but her happiness
is more than mine. If she loves you, and wants you, make yourself
worthy of her. By heaven, I'll help you, if it kills me! You thought I
was harsh to-day. I swear to you if you succeed nobody will
acknowledge it quicker than I!"
"Will you tell her so?"
"I will!"