_Hanging Day--The Friends--The Plot--The Attack._
There is no pang in thy sharp wedge of steel, After that
parting.--_Pythias._
For some hours, Hayward and his sister were permitted to remain alone.
Night was fast approaching. Nothing was heard without, but the coarse
laugh and jests of the soldiers. As Hayward held his sister in his arms,
he murmured:
"Would to God she could ever remain unconscious, or die to-night. I feel
that a fate far worse than death awaits her, when I am gone, and
to-morrow will surely be the fatal day. Oh, may God in his mercy protect
this darling one!"
"Have I been dreaming?" she sobbed, as she returned to consciousness,
and opened her eyes. "I saw my brother in chains, and I heard their
dreadful clankings upon the floor."
Her eyes met those of her brother, and with a shudder, she buried her
face in his breast, as if she would shut out some terrible vision.
"Mamie--darling sister, don't you know me?" asked Hayward.
"Oh! yes," she cried, starting up. "It is my brother. He is with me, and
I am safe and happy. O brother, I met such rude men here, I cannot
remain. Let us go at once." She started toward the door.
"Come back, sister, I wish to talk with you, and I wish you to listen
calmly."
"Calmly! What do you mean by that word? Ah! those chains! I have not
been dreaming! It is a terrible reality. What means this, brother?"
"Come here, Mamie, come close to my heart, and let me talk with you."
She obeyed, but as Hayward placed his arms around her, she said:
"Oh! that iron is so cold--it chills my heart. Let me remove those
chains, brother."
"No, sister. Let them alone, and listen to me!"
"First answer _me_! Are these men your friends?"
Hayward could not reply. His feelings almost overcame him, and he did
not wish his sister to discover any emotion on his part.
"You are silent. These men are _not_ your friends, and you are a
prisoner! Oh! my heart will break!" and she sobbed convulsively.
"Don't weep so, dear sister. Don't weep."
"I cannot help it. Oh! let me weep--let me rest upon your heart,
brother, and weep my life away! It will be sweet to die here!"
"You must _not_ die, Mamie, but live for me. I hope to-morrow I shall be
free. I have friends who will not forsake me!"
"And you are a prisoner!" she sobbed.
"Yes, but try and compose yourself. I have much to say to you!"
"Yes, I will be calm--I will listen, for I feel that a terrible fate
hangs over you, my brother. Oh! I am glad that I am here. I'll weep no
more, but I will comfort you. There, do not look so pale, your little
sister is with you, and will share your fate, whatever it may be."
Hayward bowed his head, while a convulsive tremor shook his frame.
"Come, I'll weep no more--I'll comfort you. Think, brother, it can only
be death, and your spirit will scarcely have taken its flight to that
better world, ere mine will meet you there. Oh! we shall not long be
separated."
"Mamie, we will talk no more of death. I do not believe such will be my
fate. I have already been informed that friends are at work. I shall be
rescued from this place, and if I am not, my sentence is not immediate
death. So weep no more, but listen. How came you here, Mamie?"
"I received a letter telling me that my brother had been wounded in
battle, and that you wished me to come direct to Springfield. I saw by
the papers that the Union army were marching for this place, and I
supposed you were with them, and that I should arrive here about the
same time you did. I did not hesitate a moment, but came forward
according to my directions to Rolla. I was there met by two men who
brought me to this place."
"Ah! I see it all now. That villain Branch must have taken your letter
from my pocket while I was insensible, and thus learning your address,
sent for you!"
"But to what end, brother? He is not your friend or you would not call
him villain!"
"I cannot tell, dear sister. But let me enjoin on you to be firm
whatever may occur. Even though you see me march upon the scaffold, be
firm, and hope. Remember what you said; it will _only_ be death! If my
enemies wish to torture me, the more keenly feel, the more they will
exult. Hark! Some one approaches. We shall not long remain in ignorance.
Remember, darling, let not a word or even a tear betray more than
ordinary emotion."
The door was thrown open, and Branch entered. Hayward seated himself
upon a rude box and Mamie knelt by his side.
"How is your wound, captain?" asked Branch.
"It troubles me very little, sir!" was the reply.
"I do not believe you. You say that to spare your sister pain. You are
suffering, and you know it!" growled Branch.
Hayward frowned, but did not speak. His sister crept close to his
breast.
"Do you know the federal army are within two days march of this place?"
continued Branch.
"I did not know it!" answered Hayward.
"Don't you wish they would come upon us to-night? We have only
twenty-two hundred men here, and they with forty thousand _might_ defeat
us, and rescue you and your lovely sister."
Hayward made no reply.
"Oh! I will open your mouth presently. You saw the Fair-Ground as we
passed? You won't speak? Well, I will. If you could only look inside the
high board enclosure, you might discover a platform, surrounding a large
tree. From one of the limbs a rope is hanging. It is for your neck. You
are to die to-morrow at three o'clock."
Hayward did not move a muscle, but Mamie, with a groan of agony, half
suppressed, threw her arms around her brother's neck, and clung the
closer.
"It will be interesting to die thus, noble captain, knowing that your
friends are but a few miles distant. And those lovely arms which now
encircle you, will not wish to clasp your neck when you are cold in
death. They shall be removed to mine!"
Mamie had started to her feet, and staggering forward, she knelt before
the wretch, and sobbed:
"Oh! spare my brother!"
"Mamie!" shrieked Hayward. "Up!"
The maiden started, and sprang into her brother's arms again.
"Forgive a moment of weakness, my brother!" she said, as she caressed
him.
"Miss Hayward," said Branch, "Your brother's life may be saved. General
Price offered him a pardon, if he would accept a commission in our army.
Persuade him to accept it."
Miss Hayward glanced at her brother, and then turning to Branch, she
replied:
"And become companion with such as you?"
"Is not that preferable to death?"
"I'll answer you no more!" said Mamie, turning to her brother.
"Well, I will leave you to pleasant reflections. To-morrow at one
o'clock you will leave this place, and have the pleasure of a cart ride
as far as the gallows. Your sister may remain with you to-night, and
enjoy the ride with you to-morrow. After that I shall take charge of
her."
Branch left the room.
"It is all over now, brother!"
Miss Hayward could no longer restrain her feelings, but sinking down,
groaned in agony of soul. The tears burst forth, and long and bitterly
she wept. She could not be consoled. Her brother assured her that he
felt confident he would be rescued, if his friends were at that time so
short a distance from him. And they might be much nearer. But she could
not be comforted. At times her sobs became almost shrieks, and then they
would cease, as if from very exhaustion. It seemed as if her very heart
was made of tears. Nature could bear but little more. At last she sank
into a fitful slumber, resting upon her brother's bosom. Ever and anon
she would start, a wild cry would break from her lips, and she would
cling with all the power of madness about his neck, and beg him not to
leave her. Her starts, her sobs, her groans, her screams, were terrible,
and thus the night wore slowly on mid dark and gloom. Hayward slept not.
Occasionally he pressed his lips to his sister's forehead, which now was
icy cold, now burning with a feverish heat. Sometimes her breath would
appear entirely to have stopped, and then her brother, in a voice of
agony, would call Upon her name; but a sob or groan would tell him she
yet lived. Toward morning she grew more quiet, and her repose seemed
sweet, and undisturbed by frightful dreams. At length she started up and
cried "They are coming! See, brother!"
"Who are coming, dear sister?" asked Hayward.
"Oh! I have been dreaming, but it was sweet. Are you here, brother? It
is so dark I cannot see you!"
"Yes, Mamie, I am here. But, what have you been dreaming?"
"Where are we, brother? Oh! I remember that bad man. I saw him in my
dream. He was hurled to destruction from a terrible precipice. He was
standing upon a cloud, dark and massive, but the thunders broke it, and
he fell!"
"Go on!" cried Hayward.
"I saw you, brother. You were standing on a golden cloud, just by his
side. The lightnings flashed around your head, but did not harm you. And
when I called you, ten thousand fairy forms appeared, and bore you to my
arms. And then I saw all your friends advancing, and they smiled upon
you."
"And that dream has given you hope, has it not?"
"Yes, it has, dear brother!"
"It is very strange!" said Hayward.
"That I should dream thus, brother?"
"No, but that last night I had the very same dream!"
"O brother, God is good!"
Hayward told her the particulars of his own dream.
"I shall hope to the last!" replied Miss Hayward, evidently cheered by
the vision.
The morning dawned. Hayward looked pale and haggard. The chains had
galled him, and he was faint and weak. This he endeavored to hide from
his sister, but she observed it, and tried to cheer him with consoling
words.
At length some coarse food was brought, and placed just within the door.
But it remained untouched. As the day advanced, Hayward said:
"Mamie, what will you do in case of the worst?"
"If you die, do you mean, brother?"
"Yes, darling!"
"Don't trouble yourself as to what I will do _after_ you are dead, for
if this must be so, I shall go with you."
The door was thrown open and Branch entered.
"It is twelve o'clock," he said. "Make ready!"
"We _are_ ready, sir!" answered Hayward.
"It is a pity you should die, Hayward. I tell you what I will do. Let
me marry that lovely sister of yours, and I will set you free!"
"Dog!" echoed Hayward.
"What do you say, Miss Hayward?"
"I repeat my brother's word most heartily!" replied Mamie.
"Oh! you scornful little devil, you are a copy of your brother. But you
will both repent your words. What ho! guards!"
Four of the guard entered the room.
"Take them along," said Branch.
"We will walk," replied Hayward. As he led his sister from the room he
said:
"Think of our dreams!"
Hayward walked erect, almost carrying, rather than leading his sister.
When he reached the street he said:
"Branch, my sister will not be able to endure this scene. Let her remain
here!"
"No, no," begged Mamie, "let me go with you, brother--I will be very
calm--see I can walk alone." But that pale face and trembling form
seemed little calculated to undergo the terrible scenes which must
follow.
Alibamo was already seated in a rough cart which stood before the door.
Hayward assisted his sister into it, and then entered himself, but stood
erect, while the females were provided with seats. As they were driven
onward, Branch rode by their side upon his horse. A crowd were following
after them, and taunts and jeers were heard on every side.
"Oh! that I had a sword within my grasp, and was free from these
shackles for a moment, I would teach those curs civility," cried
Hayward.
"Oh! it won't matter to you long," said Branch.
The procession had proceeded about a mile from Springfield on the road
running west. They were ascending the hill, upon the summit of which was
a thick wood, when Hayward said:
"Do you see those lines of infantry just within that grove. They are
rebel soldiers; it is the guard _necessary_ at the execution of _one_
man! Branch, don't you fear that these two half-fainting women will
rescue me?"
"They might do it--they are the only ones who can!" replied Branch.
The cart had passed the wood through a line of soldiers formed on either
side, and reaching the Fair-Ground, it was driven within the enclosure,
and halted near the scaffold. Miss Hayward had been hopeful until this
moment, but her feelings gave way, and throwing her arms around her
brother, she cried:
"Oh! is there no way in which you can escape this terrible fate?"
"Yes," said Branch. "Accept my terms."
"Dog, still!" replied Hayward, his eyes flashing with indignation.
"Hayward, I will save you, if possible," said Alibamo. "Branch, you say
you love me. Release Captain Hayward, and I will become your wife."
"Alibamo!" shrieked Hayward, "unsay those words or I will give you my
dying curse! Would you kill _your_ brother? He loves you as dearly as I
love _my_ sister. If I thought, Alibamo, that you would marry that vile
wretch, with these chains I would dash your brains out!"
"Drag him upon the scaffold!" shouted Branch.
"Farewell, Mamie--farewell!"
Hayward clasped his sister, but was torn from her, and dragged upon the
scaffold, where his chains were removed.
"She has fainted--thank God!" said Hayward, as they placed the fatal
noose about his neck.
"_The Body-guard! The Body-guard!_"
"What shouts are those?" yelled Branch.
At that moment a horseman dashed up, and cried:
"_The Body-guard are upon us!_"
"Quick!" yelled Branch. "String him up!"
"No, I be d----d if you do, you darn skunks!" cried Nettleton, as he
sprang from among the thick branches of the tree, after having severed
the rope.
"Spring, captain, for your life," cried Nettleton.
Hayward sprang from the scaffolding. At that moment there was an
explosion just beneath it, which threw the masses in every direction,
and caused such a dense smoke, that the soldiers surrounding the
scaffold could not distinguish the rescuer, and consequently could not
fire.
"Alibamo's brother and the Indian were under the scaffold and laid that
plot, captain," said Nettleton. "But here comes Adjutant Harry Hinton!"
The adjutant dashed forward, and seeing the captain alive, he fairly
yelled with delight He embraced his friend, and then remounting, cried:
"But come, boys, we have work to do," and off he dashed at a rapid rate.
"Come, Nettleton, I must seek my sister," said Hayward, as he started to
the point where he had last seen her. He met the brother of Alibamo, and
having been informed by Nettleton who he was, Hayward inquired:
"Where are our sisters?"
"I cannot tell, Captain Hayward. The ground became deserted in a moment
after it was known the guard were coming. I suppose Fall-leaf, one of
our friends, has removed them to a place of safety, away from the fight
They will be found when the fate of the battle is decided."