The Southern Cross | Page 8

Foxhall Daingerfield, Jr.

Char. If my dear father were only here! But he's far down in Alabama
with his regiment.
George. I thank God you are here with mother and little Fair and Bev.
Char. George, I promised Bev to ask you something. He's going off to
fight. I know he's young, but there are younger boys than he who make
brave soldiers. He wants to be your color-bearer.
George. I was afraid he wouldn't stay at home much longer. But it shall

be as he wishes. I'll see the place is given him, when father says that he
may go. We must go in and tell them the great news.
[They start to the house.
[Enter Bev from the house. He runs down into the steps towards them.
Bev. I say, Charlotte, have you asked him?
Char. (laughing). No, he asked me.
George. We're going to be married here to-night.
Bev. What--really! Oh, but I'm glad! I knew it was going to be, but I
didn't know it would be to-night. Does mother know?
Char. We're going in to tell her now. And, Bev, I asked for your
appointment, and some day, before so very long, I'm quite sure you
may have it.
Bev (delighted). You are as great a man as Morgan. And will I be the
color-bearer, and go with you on the marches, and sleep by the camp
fire, and have my rations with your men?
George (gaily). But you must promise not to overeat or oversleep. We
live in such great style, we Morgan men. Come in; let's tell them all.
(They exit into the house.
Bev. Hello! there's Gordon. (Enter Gordon from the road). I came out
to look for you. Have you had supper?
Gordon. Yes, I wanted to look about for a minute or so. I haven't been
here for a long time now. Well, everything's the same. Do you know,
Bev, I love this place as though it were my home.
[Enter Fair from the house, excited.
Fair. Oh! Bev, Bev, have you heard!

Bev. Yes; isn't it splendid!
Gordon. What is it?
Fair. Oh, haven't you heard about the wedding?
Gordon (slowly, as though anxious). What wedding?
Fair. George and Charlotte. They're going to be married here to-night.
It's too lovely. I'm to be the maid of honor and Carter is to be best man.
And mother and Charlotte are fixing up her dress with flowers. Isn't it
splendid!
Bev. I'm going in to help. Maybe he'll let me ride down to the camp to
get the chaplain.
[Exit into the house.
Fair. Come, let us go in, too, and help about the wedding.
Gordon. Fair, will you wait here with me? I've something I must say to
you before we go in there.
Fair (surprised). Something you must say to me; I don't quite
understand.
Gordon. Then, may I tell you now?
Fair. Had we not better wait for just a little? I've promised Carter--
Gordon (drawing back). You've promised Carter--what?
Fair (surprised). To go with him to get some flowers.
Gordon (relieved). Oh, only that. Well, I will wait. Only till you get the
flowers, remember. I'll walk down through the garden. You won't be
long?
Fair. He's coming in a minute. (Exit Gordon by gate into garden. Fair

stands quietly for a moment, then covers her face with her hands; when
she speaks, her voice is very strange). Coming here! Coming here! Oh,
Steve, I cannot bear it! I cannot bear it! (slowly gazing off before her).
And as our enemy--you whom I have loved--whom I now love!
[Enter Carter from the house.
Carter. Isn't it great about the wedding?
Fair (quickly trying to hide her grief of a moment before). Yes, yes, I
am so glad. But we must get the flowers for her, at the bushes here by
the house.
Carter. Aunt Marthy brought in all the roses she can want. And, Fair, I
spoke about the flowers for just this chance of seeing you alone. We
soldiers snatch our happiness when best we can. I've come to ask you
for the greatest thing in all this world. I must ask now. (She turns away;
he takes her hand). I love you--I love you! Fair, I fancied it would be
hard for me to say those three little words, but it is not hard--it is very
easy. I love you dearer than everything in the world. Fair, look at me.
Surely, you have guessed this love. Look at me!
[She slowly faces him, drawing her hand away.
Fair (her voice very soft). You love me! You, Carter, my own dear
cousin! You love me! Oh, Carter, I never thought--I never, never
dreamed that it could be!
Carter. But now you must not dream. I say again I love you! It is
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