A KNOT OF RIBBON BLUE
"I am so glad to see you, Major Goddard," said his hostess, stepping
into the hall to greet the young officer, as the black butler admitted
him. "It is a shame you could not get here in time to take supper with
us."
"You are not half as disappointed as I, Mrs. Warren," replied Goddard,
shaking hands warmly. "I was unavoidably detained at the War
Department. Do please accept my sincere apologies for my unintentional
rudeness."
"Why, of course; I was sure you could not help the delay. But I must
not keep you standing in the hall." And she reëntered the parlor,
closely followed by Goddard, who glanced about the room with well-bred
curiosity.
It was the first time he had been entertained while in Washington.
Senator Warren, to whom he had brought letters from mutual friends in
the North, had insisted upon his waiving the formality of a first call.
The invitation to supper had been seconded by a cordial note from Mrs.
Warren, whom he had met two nights before at the Capitol, and he had
accepted the invitation, not counting on the exigencies of the War
Department.
The large rooms were comfortably filled with men and women, who sat or
stood talking together in little groups. In the further corner a girl
was seated at the grand piano; as she raised her head, Goddard
recognized Nancy Newton. Mrs. Warren was on the point of introducing
him to several of her guests when Nancy struck a few opening chords.
Instantly the low hum of conversation ceased, and her clear
mezzo-soprano voice filled the room:
He stole from its nest in my golden hair,
A knot of ribbon blue;
He placed on my hand a jewel rare,
And whispered soft, as he held it there,
"Tender and true,
Adieu, adieu!"
Drawn by the charm of her voice, Goddard edged nearer and nearer the
piano until he leaned against its side facing the singer. He scanned
intently the downcast face, the soft, rippling hair, the broad brow,
and sensitive red lips. Attracted by the steadiness of his gaze, she
raised her eyes to his. For one brief second soul gazed into soul; then
the hazel eyes fell before the gray ones, and a rich wave of color
mantled Nancy's cheeks as her voice rose in birdlike notes:
They brought my soldier home to me,
And my knot of ribbon blue;
But the cruel wound on his brow was hid
By the flag draped over the coffin lid!
Tender and true,
Adieu, adieu!
Silence followed the last note as it died away, for the song struck
home. Northern and Southern sympathizers alike swallowed a suspicious
lump as they thought of their loved ones far away on a field of strife,
and the applause was late in coming.
"Upon my soul, Nancy, that is a doleful song." Doctor Boyd strode over
to the piano. "Give us something cheerful. Play 'Dixie.'"
"Indeed, you will do nothing of the sort," declared Mrs. Warren, as
Nancy's fingers strayed over the keys. "Do you suppose I want the
provost marshal's men camping on my doorstep? Play 'Yankee Doodle' if
you wish; but first, Nancy, I want you to meet Major Goddard--Miss
Newton. Doctor Boyd, this is our friend Major Goddard, who is here on
leave."
Nancy simply bowed in acknowledgment of the introduction, but Doctor
Boyd held out his hand in hearty greeting.
"Glad to meet you, Major." Seeing Goddard's face more clearly as a
guest moved from before one of the lamps, he added: "Why, you are the
officer who wished to arrest us this morning, eh, Nancy?"
"Oh, no, sir," protested Goddard hastily. "Captain Lloyd and I simply
wanted to--to----"
"Don't apologize," retorted the doctor. "Stanton would like nothing
better than to send me to Old Capitol Prison; but they can't spare my
services, so I am left free to practice my profession."
"What are you growling about now?" asked Senator Warren, reaching
around the doctor to shake hands with Goddard. "Has my wife left you to
the tender mercies of Doctor John, Major? Come on, and I will introduce
you to Mrs. Bennett."
"From bad to worse," chuckled the doctor. "She will be claiming your
scalp, Major. Come to me when you want a hair restorer."
Mrs. Bennett, a very pretty woman with mincing manners, received
Goddard graciously, and made room for him on the sofa by her.
"Your name is already familiar to us," she said, "for your gallant
conduct at Cedar Creek was mentioned in all despatches. Mrs. Arnold,"
touching a stout woman who sat next her on the shoulder to attract her
attention, "may I present Major Robert Goddard?"
"How do you do." Mrs. Arnold held out a fat, jeweled hand in welcome.
Her good-natured face was creased in smiles. "My nephew, John Gurley,
has spoken of you so often that I feel as if we were old friends."
"That is very kind of you, Mrs. Arnold," said Goddard gratefully. "John
gave me a letter of introduction, but I have been so busy since my
arrival here I have had no chance to call on you."
"How is John?"
"Very well, and very busy since he has been given his troop."
"Is that the handsome boy who was with you on sick leave last November,
Mrs. Arnold?" asked Mrs. Bennett, raising her eyes languidly to look
more closely at Goddard. "My husband was quite jealous of his
attentions. So absurd, you know. Ah!" She purred as Doctor Boyd drew up
a chair and sat down by her. "My old antagonist! How are you this
evening?"
"Still unreconstructed," retorted the doctor. He turned and surveyed
the room, brilliant with the glitter of uniforms and handsome toilets,
and his penetrating old eyes grew moist as he read the sorrow and
anxiety which both men and women hid beneath feverish excitement and
forced gayety.
Until the breaking out of the war, Washington was almost entirely a
Southern city. After the firing on Sumter, it became a house divided,
and brother fought brother, while Washington women stifled their moans
of anguish, and faced the world with a bravery which equaled that shown
on the battlefield.
"How lovely Nancy Newton looks to-night," went on the doctor, suddenly
realizing that Mrs. Bennett was waiting for him to speak.
"I cannot agree with you." Mrs. Bennett's sleepy eyes opened, and the
soft purr left her voice. "Those pink roses in her red hair are quite
too daring for good taste."
"Daring," echoed Mrs. Arnold, but half catching Mrs. Bennett's remark.
"Daring, did you say? Nancy is downright bold. The idea of that young
girl going to parties given by the officers in the camps about here.
Such conduct would not have been tolerated in my day." And she squared
her ponderous shoulders.
"There were no camps in your day, Mrs. Arnold," retorted the doctor
dryly. "Nancy was chaperoned there by Mrs. Warren. Do you question our
hostess' conduct?"
Alarmed at the very suggestion of such a thing, Mrs. Arnold instantly
backed water.
"I--I--was not informed Mrs. Warren went with her. But, Doctor, take a
kindly word from me, and warn Nancy that she must be more circumspect
in her conduct. She is already being talked about."
"By a lot of scandal mongers, whose word I would not take on oath,"
exclaimed the doctor hotly.
"One moment, Doctor John," cooed Mrs. Bennett. "It has been whispered
that Nancy is suspected of aiding and abetting the enemy, although,"
spitefully, "she does sing our songs so well."
"And what of that? Half Washington suspects the other half of sending
contraband goods through the lines. I don't doubt some of our
unimpeachable friends carry quinine concealed in their bustles."
"Well, really, Doctor!" Mrs. Arnold's face rivaled her cherry gown in
color. "Such things were not mentioned in my day," she ended feebly.
"Civil war brings strange usages," the doctor smiled grimly, "and
to-day's conduct cannot be judged by the standards of the past. I am
sorry to shock your sensibilities, but you ladies must not believe all
you hear."
"What scandal are you discussing so vigorously?" called Nancy from a
near-by window seat.
Mrs. Bennett jumped perceptibly as Nancy's soft voice reached her.
"Dear child, how you startle one! Have you been there long?" Her voice
rose to a sharper key.
"Miss Nancy and I have just returned from the back parlor," volunteered
her escort, a tall officer, wearing the red stripes of the artillery on
his well-worn uniform. As he walked toward Mrs. Bennett, she detained
him for a moment.
Goddard, who had been an interested listener to the doctor's defense of
Nancy, rose from his seat on the sofa, and, seizing his opportunity,
stepped over to the alcove and joined the young girl.
"How is my friend, Misery?" he asked.
"Very miserable, indeed, when I left him this afternoon. He does not
enjoy being away from me."
"I dare swear he is not alone in that," laughed Goddard. "Won't you
sing again, Miss Newton?"
"Not to-night. Are you, by chance, the Major Goddard whom my friend,
John Gurley, is always talking and writing about?"
"Yes; John is in my regiment. We are chums, you know."
"I saw a great deal of Captain Gurley when he was with his aunt, Mrs.
Arnold, in November. We had great fun together." Nancy laughed at a
passing recollection. "In his last letter he urged me to come to
Winchester and make a long-promised visit at my cousins, the Pages."
"Why don't you?" asked Goddard eagerly. "We can give you a very good
time there. The officers' mess has organized a weekly hop, although
girls are scarce, and I am sure we can arrange some other amusements
for you."
"I hesitate to make any definite plans," replied Nancy thoughtfully,
"for General Sheridan is likely to skedaddle out of the Valley at any
moment, and I would not enjoy being captured by Early."
"We are billed to stay there some time longer," replied Goddard
confidently. "The roads are in no condition to move cavalry and
artillery. There really is no prospect of our leaving winter quarters
until later on."
"In that case I will ask Aunt Metoaca's permission to go."
"I expect to return day after to-morrow, Miss Newton; it would give me
great pleasure to escort you to Winchester if you can arrange to go as
soon as that."
"I will talk it over with Aunt Metoaca," was Nancy's non-committal
reply, and Goddard's face fell.
"May I call and see your aunt?" he pleaded eagerly. "I am sure I can
convince her that it is safe for you to make the trip."
"Under your escort," laughed Nancy. In the soft lamplight Goddard
caught the witchery of her eyes, and his heart gave a most unaccustomed
thump against his ribs. "Take care, sir; you don't know what a grave
responsibility you may be assuming."
"I am willing to assume all risks," he answered, a trifle unsteadily.
"When can I know that you will go to Winchester?"
Nancy hesitated, and her fingers strayed to a knot of blue ribbon
pinned to her gown. Abstractedly she unfastened it, and Goddard's hand
closed over the ribbon as she murmured: "Come and see my aunt
to-morrow. Our address is 306 C Street."
"I am sorry to interrupt"--Goddard wheeled around as Senator Warren
joined them--"but a friend has called for you, Major; he says that you
are needed at the War Department."
Goddard slipped the knot of ribbon inside his coat as his eyes traveled
past the senator's spare figure to a man standing directly under the
hall light. It was Lloyd.
Bidding his host and Mrs. Warren a hasty good-bye, Goddard joined his
friend, and they departed at once; so absorbed in conversation neither
noticed the sudden hubbub that arose in the room they had just left.
"Quick, Doctor; she has fainted!" gasped Mrs. Warren, and Boyd stepped
forward to offer first aid to the silent figure on the floor.