RESULTS OF SECESSION
Immediately after her arrival in Mobile, Electra prepared to forward her
despatches by Captain Wright, whose business called him to Richmond before
his return to Cuba; and an examination of them proved that the expedient
resorted to was perfectly successful. By moistening the edges of the
drawing-paper, the tissue missive was drawn out uninjured, and, to Eric's
surprise, she removed the carefully-stitched blue silk which lined the tops
of her travelling gauntlets, and extracted similar despatches, all of which
were at once transmitted to the seat of government. While waiting for a
boat, they heard the painful tidings of Major Huntingdon's death, which
increased Eric's impatience to reach W----. The remainder of the journey
was sad, and four days after leaving the Gulf City the lights of W---- and
roar of the Falls simultaneously greeted the spent travellers. Having
telegraphed of his safe arrival, the carriage was waiting at the depot, and
Andrew handed to Electra a note from his mistress, requesting her to come
at once to her house instead of going to the hotel. Eric added earnest
persuasion, and with some reluctance the artist finally consented. They
were prepared for the silent, solemn aspect of the house, and for the
mourning dress of the orphan, but not for the profound calm, the
melancholy, tearless composure with which she received them. Mental and
physical suffering had sadly changed her. The oval face was thinner, and
her form had lost its roundness, but the countenance retained its singular
loveliness, and the mesmeric splendour of the large eyes seemed enhanced.
Of her father she did not speak, but gave her uncle a written statement of
all the facts which she had been able to gather concerning the
circumstances of his death; and thus a tacit compact was formed; to make no
reference to the painful subject.
As she accompanied Electra to the room prepared for her, on the night of
her arrival, the latter asked, with ill-concealed emotion--
"Irene, can you tell me anything about Russell? I am very anxious to hear
something of him."
Irene placed the silver lamp on the table, and standing in its glow,
answered quietly--
"He was wounded in the arm at Manassa, but retains command of his regiment,
and is doing very well. Dr. Arnold is the regimental surgeon, and in one of
his letters to me he mentioned that your cousin's wound was not serious."
"I am going to him immediately."
"Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to do so. The wounded were removed
to Richmond as promptly as possible, but your cousin remained at Manassa,
where ladies are not permitted."
"Then I will write to him to meet me in Richmond."
Irene made no reply, and, watching her all the while, Electra asked--
"When did you see him last? How did he look?"
"The day before he started to Richmond. He was very well, I believe, but
looked harassed and paler than usual. He is so robust, however, that I
think you need entertain no apprehension concerning his health."
The inflexible features, the low, clear, firm voice were puzzling, and
Electra's brow thickened and darkened as she thought--
"Her father is dead now; there is no obstacle remaining. She must love
him, and yet she gives no sign of interest."
Two days later, they sat together before one of the parlour windows.
Electra was engaged in tearing off and rolling bandages, while Irene slowly
scraped lint from a quantity of old linen, which filled a basket at her
side. Neither had spoken for some time; the sadness of their occupation
called up gloomy thoughts; but finally Electra laid down a roll of cloth,
and, interlacing her slight fingers, said--
"Irene, the women of the South must exercise an important influence in
determining our national destiny; and because I felt this so fully, I
hurried home to share the perils, and privations, and trials of my
countrywomen. It is not my privilege to enter the army, and wield a sword
or musket; but I am going to true womanly work--into the crowded hospitals,
to watch faithfully over sick and wounded."
"I approve your plan, think it your duty, and wish that I could start to
Richmond with you to-morrow--for I believe that in this way we may save
valuable lives. You should, as you have said, go on at once; you have
nothing to keep you; your work is waiting for you there. But my position is
different; I have many things to arrange here before I can join you. I want
to see the looms at work on the plantation; and am going down next week
with Uncle Eric, to consult with the overseer about several changes which I
desire made concerning the negroes. When all this is accomplished, I too
shall come into the hospitals."
"About what time may I expect you?"
"Not until you see me; but at the earliest practicable day."
"Your uncle objects very strenuously to such a plan, does he not?"
"He will acquiesce at the proper time. Take care! you are making your
bandages too wide."
"A long dark vista stretches before the Confederacy. I cannot, like many
persons, feel sanguine of a speedy termination of the war."
"Yes--a vista lined with the bloody graves of her best sons; but beyond
glimmers Freedom--Independence."
"But do you still cling to a belief in the possibility of Republican forms
of Government? This is a question which constantly disquiets me."
"My faith in that possibility is unshaken. We shall yet teach the world
that self-government is feasible."
"But in Europe, where the subject is eagerly canvassed, the impression
obtains that, in the great fundamental principle of our government, will be
found the germ of its dissolution. This war is waged to establish the right
of Secession, and the doctrine that 'all just governments rest on the
consent of the governed.' With such a precedent, it would be worse than
stultification to object to the secession of any State or States now
constituting the Confederacy, who at a future day may choose to withdraw
from the present compact. Granting our independence, which Europe regards
as a foregone conclusion, what assurance have you (say they, gloating, in
anticipation over the prospect) that, so soon as the common dangers of war,
which for a time cemented you so closely, are over, entire disintegration
will not ensue, and all your boasts end in some dozen anarchical
pseudo-republics, like those of South America and Mexico?"
"That is an evil which our legislators must guard against by timely
provision. We are now, thank God! a thoroughly homogeneous people, with no
antagonistic systems of labour necessitating conflicting interests. As
States, we are completely identified in commerce and agriculture, and no
differences need arise. Purified from all connection with the North, and
with no vestige of the mischievous element of New England Puritanism, we
can be a prosperous and noble people."
Electra had finished the bandages, and was walking slowly before the
windows, and, without looking up from the lint, which she was tying into
small packages, Irene said--
"Electra, my friend, are you sure that you realize your personal
responsibility? Your profession will give, you vast influence in forming
public taste and I hope much from its judicious use. Be careful that you
select only the highest, purest types to offer to your countrymen and
women, when Peace enables us to turn our attention to the great work of
building up a noble school of Southern Art. We want no feeble, sickly
sentimentality, nor yet the sombre austerity which seems to pervade your
mind, judging from the works you have shown me."
A slight quiver crossed the mobile features of the artist as she bit her
full lip, and asked--
"What would you pronounce the distinguishing characteristic of my works? I
saw, yesterday, that you were not fully satisfied."
"A morbid melancholy, which you seem to have fostered tenderly instead of
crushing vigorously. A disposition to dwell upon the stern and gloomy
aspects of the physical world, and to intensify and reproduce abnormal and
unhappy phases of character. Your breezy, sunshiny, joyous moods you have
kept under lock and key while in your studio."
"I admit the truth of your criticism, and I have struggled against the
spirit which hovers with clouding wings over all that I do; but the shadow
has not lifted--God knows whether it ever will. You have finished your
work; come to my room for a few minutes."
They went upstairs together; and as Electra unlocked and bent over a large
square trunk, her companion noticed a peculiar curl about the lines of the
mouth, and a heavy scowl on the broad brow.
"I want to show you the only bright, shining face I ever painted."
She unwrapped an oval portrait, placed it on the mantelpiece, and, stepping
back, fixed her gaze on Irene. She saw a tremor cross the quiet mouth, and
for some seconds the sad eyes dwelt upon the picture as if fascinated.
"It must have been a magnificent portrait of your cousin, years ago; but he
has changed materially since it was painted. He looks much older, sterner,
now."
"Irene, I value this portrait above everything else save the original; and,
as I may be called to pass through various perils, I want you to take care
of it for me until I come back to W----. It is a precious trust, which I
would be willing to leave in no hands but yours."
"You forget that, before long, I, too, shall go to Virginia."
"Then pack it away carefully among your old family pictures, where it will
be secure. I left my large and best paintings in Italy, with Aunt Ruth, who
promised to preserve and send them to me as soon as the blockade should be
raised."
"What are Mr. Young's views concerning this war?"
"He utterly abhors the party who inaugurated it, and the principles upon
which it is waged. Says he will not return to America at least for the
present; and as soon as he can convert his property into money, intends to
move to the South. He opposed and regretted Secession until he saw the
spirit of the Lincoln dynasty, and from that time he acknowledged that all
hope of Union or reconstruction was lost. Have you heard anything from
Harvey since the troubles began?"
"It is more than a year since I received a line from him. He was then still
in the West, but made no allusion to the condition of the country."
"Irene, I hope to see Russell soon. You were once dear friends; have you
any message for him--any word of kind remembrance?"
One of Irene's hands glided to her side, but she answered composedly--
"He knows that he always has my best wishes; but will expect no message."
On the following day Electra started to Richmond, taking with her a large
supply of hospital stores, which the ladies of W---- had contributed.
Eric had proposed to his niece the expediency of selling the Hill, and
becoming an inmate of his snug, tasteful, bachelor home; but she firmly
refused to consent to this plan: said that she would spend her life in the
house of her birth; and it was finally arranged that her uncle should
reserve such of the furniture as he valued particularly, and offer the
residue for sale, with the pretty cottage, to which he was warmly attached.
During the remainder of autumn Irene was constantly engaged in
superintending work for the soldiers, in providing for several poor
families in whom she was much interested, and in frequent visits to the
plantation, where she found more than enough to occupy her mind; and Eric
often wondered at the admirable system and punctuality she displayed--at
the grave composure with which she discharged her daily duties, and the
invariable reticence she observed with regard to her past life.