tle woman
and so appealing. He breathed a prayer over her and tore himself away.

"Thank you," he said, "you have rewarded me. Good-by."

CHAPTER V

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STRONG ROOM

As she heard his departing footstep on the porch the poor girl threw
herself down upon her knees and lifted her hands.

"The South and--and--he, mistaken, but still--ah, where is my duty? The
ship and Rhett Sempland! I love him. I cannot let him go! It would be
wicked. God pity me! But how, how to prevent it? If I can only delay
him until to-morrow, I can tell the general everything, and--is there a
way, is there a way, O God?"

She thought deeply, every atom in her being concentrated on the problem
which tore her between love and duty, devotion to the cause of the
South and those other appeals, which, finding lodgment in her heart,
moved her so profoundly. She wrestled with the question as to where her
duty lay as Jacob wrestled with the angel of old, and if she did not
conquer, at least she decided.

Determining on a desperate course of action, she rose to her feet and
sharply struck a bell by her side on the table. The house was an
ancient mansion when it had been rented by her aunt and herself three
years before. It dated back to Colonial times. There was a strong room
in it, the windows of which were barred. It would make a safe prison
for any one. He should be put in there and be kept there until morning.
He would be safe there. No harm would come to the ship, and when the
general knew, he would forgive her. She would tell him the first thing
in the morning.

It would cause her lover pain and grief, this summary action of hers,
but she could explain it to him, too; and he would forgive her also and
she would reward him with herself! There was compensation in that, she
thought proudly and tenderly.

"Caesar," she said, as the aged butler made his appearance in response
to the bell, "send Joe and Sam and Cato to me. Boys," she continued, as
three stalwart young negroes presented themselves before her soon
after, "Mr. Sempland is coming here to-night to see me. I--he--" she
found it somewhat difficult to explain. "General Beauregard wants him
detained here. I cannot let him get away. Show him into the strong room
on the other side of the house when he asks for me, and then lock the
door on him. Don't let him get out under any circumstances until
to-morrow, but on no account are you to do him any hurt. You hear? You
un