A shiver ran through her figure and she sat bolt upright.
"No, Big Brother," she answered firmly, "I'm not. New Orleans is in the
hands of the enemy. I'd set it on fire and wipe it from the face of the
earth to-morrow if I could sweep old Ben Butler and his men into the
bottomless pit with its ashes--"
She paused at the look of pain on his face.
"Except you--dear--you're my brother, always my dear Big Brother and
I'll love you forever. What you think right is right--for you. You are
for the Union, because you believe it's right. I honor you for being
true to your convictions--"
"You can never know what it has cost me--Honey--"
She drew him down and kissed him tenderly.
"Yes, I do know--and it's all right--even if you draw your sword and
meet us in battle--you're fighting for the right as God shows it to
you--but I've just one favor to ask--"
"I'll do anything on earth for you I can--you know that--"
She looked at him steadily a moment in silence and spoke in hard cold
tones.
"Get me out of New Orleans inside the Confederate lines--anywhere--a
guerilla camp--a swamp--anywhere, you understand. I'll find my way to
Richmond--"
He pressed her hand in silence and then softly answered:
"I understand, dear--and I'll arrange it for you.
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