The Littlest Rebel | Page 7

am afraid."
"But, Mother," cried Virgie, with a little squeal of disappointment. "You have to. It's part of the play," and she led her up to the invisible door.
"Now look in--and when you look--drop the keys--an' we'll both scream."
Slowly the door seemed to open and, after an instant's terrified silence, both actresses screamed with complete success. Whereupon Mrs. Fatima dropped to her knees and Sister Anne hugged her tight.
"It's blood. It's the blood of his seven wives. O-o-o-e-e-e!"
A great roar sounded in their ears.
"Mercy! What's that?" cried the terrified Mrs. Fatima.
"It's Blue Beard. He's coming back," whereupon Virgie immediately left Mrs. Fatima to face her fate alone.
Having spent a night and a day behind the tree, Blue Beard now rushed upon the castle and roared for his wife.
"Greeting, my lord," said the trembling Mrs. Fatima with a low curtsey "I hope you have enjoyed your journey."
"'Ooman," demanded Blue Beard severely. "What make you look so pale?"
"I know not, sweet sir. Am I, then, so pale?"
"You is! What you be'n up to sence I be'n away? Ha! What I tole you? Look at de blood on dat key! False 'ooman, you done deceib' me. Down on yo' marrow bones an' prepyar to die!"
"Spare me, my lord. Spare me! I am so--"
It was just about this time that old Uncle Billy, with a bridle in one hand and a carriage whip in the other came slowly upon the scene. At the sight of Sally Ann apparently about to assault his mistress the bridle dropped from his hand and with a tight clutch on the carriage whip he covered the intervening space at an amazing speed.
"Hi, dar! You li'l woolly haided imp! You tech Miss Hallie wid dat ar stick an' I bus' you wide open!"
"Oh, stop, Uncle Billy!" cried Virgie in dismay. "We're only having a play!"
"Maybe you is; but I lay ef I wrop my carriage whip roun' her laig, des oncet, she'll hop all de way to de river."
At this dismal prospect, which seemed much truer than the play, Sally Ann began to whimper loudly. "Miss Hallie, ef he stay here, I ain't gwine to play."
"Whar you git dem whiskers at?" demanded Uncle Billy.
"Shut up!" cried Virgie.
"I'm shuttin'," said Uncle Billy, retreating.
Thus reassured Sally Ann continued:
"I gwine down stairs to git my dinner When I come back, I sho' gwine kill you. Fyar you well," and Blue Beard, making a wide circle around the carriage whip, took himself off the scene.
"Now, Mother," Virgie announced, "I have to watch at the castle window," and she jumped up on the bench.
"Sister Anne; Sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?"
"No one, Fatima--nothing but a cloud of dust made by the wind."
"Look again, Sister Anne. Do you see anybody coming?"
"Oh, Fatima, Fatima. It's growing bigger."
"Dar now," interposed Uncle Billy. "She's seem' som'pin."
"Sister Anne! Sister Anne. And what do; you see?"
"Dust! Dust! I see a horseman in a cloud of dust. Look! Look! He's coming this way." By this time Virgie's acting had taken on so close a resemblance to the real thing that both Mrs. Gary and Uncle Billy rose to their feet in wonder.
"He's jumped the _fence_," cried Virgie. "He's cutting across our fields! He sees me! He's waving his hat to me!" With the last words the child suddenly jumped down from the bench and ran through the opening in the hedge, leaving her mother gazing after her in sudden consternation.
"Name we Gawd! Miss Hallie," gasped Uncle Billy. "You reckon she done brought somebody, sho' 'nuff? Hi! Hi! I hear sum'-pin. It's a horse. Lan' er Glory! Hits, _him_!"

CHAPTER II
Round the corner of the hedge at a swift trot came a man in the uniform of an officer in the Confederate Army,--and Virgie was in his arms.
Mrs. Cary gave him one look and threw out her arms.
"Herbert!"
The man on horseback let Virgie slide down and then dismounted like a flash, coming to her across the little space of lawn with his whole soul in his eyes. With his dear wife caught in his arms he could do nothing but kiss her and hold her as if he would never again let her go.
"Hallie," he breathed, "but it's good to see you again. It's good." And so they stood for a long moment, husband and wife united after months of separation, after dangers and terrors and privations which had seemed as if they never would end.
Sally Ann was one of the first to interrupt, edging up at the earliest opportunity with her beard in her hand. "How you does, Mars' Cary? How you fine yo'sef, seh?"
"Why, hullo, Sally Ann!" said Cary, and put out his hand. "What on earth is this thing?"
Virgie ran to his side and caught his hand in hers. "We were playing 'Blue Beard,' Daddy,--an' you came just like the brother."
"So