Foxhall Daingerfield

“ Fair has risen to her feet. She comes slowly forward. She sees Winthrop, and for a second a wild flash of joy crosses her face. She starts forward, but stops herself suddenly, her hands before her eyes. She stands for a moment, very white and quiet; when she speaks, her voice is low and very tired. ”

“ Do you know, Charlotte, I believe I'd think George most as great a man as Morgan if he'd take me with him in his company and let me have the flag.
Char. Perhaps he will. I'll speak for you; he loves to do the things I want; and, yes, I'm sure he'll take you for his color-bearer.
Bev. Where's father, Fair? I must go tell him now before he goes away. He'll say that I can go; I know he will. And mother: I'll tell her, too. Where are they?
Fair (quietly) . I think they're in the garden by Phil's grave. They always go there near this time. ”

“ It's hard for us to see you do the work meant for the slaves. You go to mill and help them cook and work and sew; and if you and Charlotte ever grieve or worry—why, we don't find it out.
Fair. Oh, you're praising us too much. We girls can't fight; I sometimes wish we could. But we can work, and when that work's for General Morgan, there's nothing that's too hard for us to do. ”

“ It begins to snow more heavily. The men stand watching them. Slowly the old boat comes into view. This time Cupid is in the bow, trying to shield his burden from the storm. Fair stands at the other end, rowing. The snow grows thicker and thicker 'till, as the boat is nearly off, it is blotted from the sight. ”

“ Bev. Nothing new. But won't it be splendid if General Morgan brings his camp near enough for George and Carter and Gordon all to come by and see us. Gee! I wish they'd come.
Fair. Oh, Bev, do you think they could? 'Twould seem too good to be true. (She is silent for a moment) . Bev, did you know Stephen Winthrop and his command had been ordered to the South? Doesn't it seem strange for a man with Southern blood to fight against his people? ”

“ Exit Marthy.
Fair. Bev, have you spoken to Charlotte?
Bev. Yes; she and mother seem so much better now. She's taken off the white dress and put on the black one. Mother said they both had so much left to live for. And Charlotte smiled and called me to her, and asked if the soldiers were still here, and if my uniform was finished, and begged me not to be unhappy. And she told me George was just as much ours as he had ever been, and told me how proud she was when all the soldiers told her he had been the first one in the fight. ”

“ That's such a comfort to feel we can do something. When the fighting's near, and all night long we hear the musketry and cannon, and when the thought comes that you and George are going to the front, it seems more than we can bear. ”

“ Fair (draws back with an effort) . I must not. You hear me! I must not.
Winth. But if you love me, Fair.
Fair (looks up with a strange, wild, longing look in her face, then quickly covers her eyes with her hand. She is trembling so, she can hardly stand. She raises her face to his: all the passion is none; she is paler than the dead. Her words come slowly, hardly above a whisper) . But I—don't love you!
[Winthrop takes a step backward, his face very white and drawn. He slowly loosens the clasp of her hand as—
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
[24]
ACT II. The parlor of the Stuart home. ”

“ Carter goes to door and bends down, listening. Gordon pushes aside the mattress and begins to claw the bricks with his fingers.
Carter. All's quiet. He does not always come. Here, your hands are bleeding. ”

“ Exit Marthy into the house.
Bev. Fair, did you know father was going back to his regiment to-morrow?
Fair. I was afraid of it. The wound is almost healed, but mother can't bear to have us mention his leaving us again.
Bev. Why, I had hoped to go back with him; I hate to be young. Why, Fair, do you know sometimes I feel so crazy to go off with the army I believe I'll run away, except—
Fair. Yes, I know; you mean mother. When father and George are gone, we're all she's got. ”

“ Gordon. We must not stay here a moment. A party will come and search the place.
Fair. Where will they take him?
Gordon. Where? (thinking) . That's it. Where will they take him. His release. He had no papers on him. He'll not be shot down as a spy. Columbus; the prison there (slowly) . Morgan's got to have that news. Escape; what is there else. Colonel, I must have a word with you in private (he turns to the others) . You'll leave us for a moment. Here, Bev, have the best horse saddled for Col. Stuart. Take him to the far end of the orchard, fasten him to the big sycamore tree. ”

“ Enter (Right) by the road, George Stuart, Carter Hillary and Gordon Cabell. George is a handsome young man of about twenty three or four; tall, well built, and with a gay, cheerful manner. He rushes into his mother's arms; she holds him for a long embrace, while Fair and Bev clamor for their turn. Carter Hillary is a young fellow of about twenty-one, Charlotte's brother, somewhat smaller though much like George in manner. He rushes to Charlotte, who throws her arms around his neck. Gordon Cabell is a boy of some twenty-five years, with a quiet, serious way about him. ”

“ Enter Hopkins, bearing Bev's body in his arms. Bev wears the little blue uniform Fair made in Act I. There is a great blood stain over his heart. He is strangely young and childish looking—a faint smile on his lips. One of the soldiers is carrying a Confederate battle-flag, torn from its staff, very ragged and muddy. ”

“ George. I thank God you are here with mother and little Fair and Bev.
Char. George, I promised Bev to ask you something. He's going off to fight. I know he's young, but there are younger boys than he who make brave soldiers. He wants to be your color-bearer. ”

“ Stuart and Fair? Have they come to this! If I could only see the old place. I wonder if it has gone to ruin as all the rest has gone. (He gazes longingly across the river, as Hopkins has done) . Hello! what's that? A boat! and crossing the stream. By George, it's old Aunt Marthy; she's rowing the boat herself. I wonder where she's going. Poor soul! She's coming after Charlotte, I suppose. She's landing; she can hardly climb the bank. I wonder who runs the ferry now, and the old mill, where Fair and I used to ride together and sit and watch the water on the wheel. ”

“ Fair seems greatly troubled.
Fair. Somehow I can't help thinking that we shall see him again. I often wonder if he's changed. He seemed so different from our boys—so very different, somehow.
Bev. I wonder why you never like to walk down through the lane any more? I don't believe you've been down there for a long time, not since Hopkins and Winthrop were here.
Fair (quickly) . Oh, yes, I have, lots of times. ”

“ Re-enter Bev.
Bev. They're off all right. They'll make the camp in twenty minutes.
Fair (clinging to Mrs. S.) . Oh, mother, what can we do!
Mrs. S. Cupid, quick! You and Marthy get the silver; put it in the chest; bring me the key. (Exit Marthy and Cupid) . We must be brave. Try to detain them as long as possible; our boys may have more time. ”

“ Bev said you wanted me.
Gordon. Charlotte, we've got to save Morgan's army as sure as there's a God in heaven, and just as sure you've got to help me. Do exactly what I ask and keep your nerve, for if you flinch a moment, we are lost.
Char. How? Tell me. I am not afraid.
Gordon. And I believe you. The enemy are sure to come and search the house. When they come, you must get them all together here. Do not be surprised at anything you see. Take this paper. It's simply a decoy. The plans are false. Use it to get them in this room. If need be, say you have taken it from Carter. ”

“ The little girl by Charlotte begins to open her lunch with much importance, spreading the paper on Charlotte's lap, who sits on a stump (Left) .
The Baby Girl. Oh, look! Miss Charlotte. I've dot a torn pone wid 'lasses on it.
Char. (affecting great interest) . My, what a fine lunch you have, baby!
The Child (holding half up to her) . You dot to have some, too.
Char. (stroking her hair) . No, precious; you must eat your nice lunch. You know Aunt Marthy is going to bring Miss Charlotte hers.
The Baby. Teacher ain't dot no good lunch. ”

“ Oh, Fair, it's hard, hard for us all, and most of all for you. I sometimes wonder how you can be so brave. We've given Phil, and now your father and George and Carter and Gordon—all of them in the army. Now that Bev wants to go, I don't see how we can bear that. ”

“ The porch has four white pillars reaching to the second story. On the right is a green garden bench, and at the back may be seen a road leading past the house, a low picket fence between many trees; box-bushes and shrubs are near the right. It is near twilight of an afternoon in May. On the right and through the picket fence a small gate leading to the garden and thence to the family graveyard. Over the whole scene there is a half look of decay: the grounds are not in order, the bushes are untrimmed, as though poverty had come suddenly to its occupants. ”

“ Across the stage there winds a narrow and very rough road. It is the scene of Winthrop's camp, six months before. On the left a large fir tree, with branches low to the ground; on the right, some scrub pine and oak. Some traces of the camp are still to be seen; some broken boxes; the charred remains of a fire at the right, near front. The sound of the wind in the pines at rise. Enter Corporal Evans and Hopkins (Right) by the road. They have on their leggings and heavy army overcoats, with the collars up. ”

“ The sound of horses' hoofs (off Right) grows louder and more distinct.
Bev (excited) . They're some of our men, sure. I see the gray! Look, look, Fair! They're turning in the gate. See, now, they're in the avenue!
[Enter, hurriedly, Cupid (Left) by the road.
Cupid. I hears dem hosses, I does sho. I knows dat sorrel's gallup fer as I kin hear hit; dat roan's pace come to me fo' she turn off de road.
[11]
Char. George! Oh, can it be George coming home?
Cupid. Fo' Gaud, ef it ain't Mars George and Mars Carter and Mars Gordon! ”

“ Cupid. I gwine get you dar ef de Lord spars me.
[Exit Mrs. S., Charlotte and Cupid. Winthrop stands looking in a longing way at Fair, who follows her mother with her eyes 'till she is off, then she slowly turns.
[23]
Fair. We owe you more than we can ever pay. Won't you come in and rest?
Winth. (comes closer as though to take her hand) . You, too, Fair?
Fair. What else? You are our—enemy!
Winth. (his voice choked with passion) . No. God knows I wear this uniform because I think it right. But if it make me an enemy to you, I would to God I'd never seen it. You loved me once, Fair. ”

“ On each side of the stage there is a rough wooden bench. It is 11 o'clock on the night of May 22nd. The moon shines brightly in at the window. The prison clock slowly strikes the hour as the curtain rises. A soldier dressed in a torn white shirt and trousers of Confederate gray, lies asleep on the straw. Two soldiers lie stretched on the floor at front of stage (Right) , two others walking restlessly about, while another is reading by the stump of a candle stuck in a bottle. ”

“ If only we can keep them!
[They stand in a little group on the porch, Cupid with an ax, and he and Marthy behind the others.
A Man's Voice. Here, this way!
Another. Here's the house!
Another. Come on!
[Enter a party of Union soldiers headed by Corporal Evans, an insolent young fellow of about twenty-five. He has a very boisterous manner, giving his orders with a swagger.
Evans. Here's Southern hospitality for you. A party out to meet us (they all come forward, some crashing through the shrubs, [19] breaking down the fence, some walk through flower beds. They come up to the porch) . ”

“ Marthy. Go on wid you! Dat chile ant no mo' gwine in de army dan what I is. He know hit all but kill Ole Mistis when she let Mars George and Old Marster go; and den— (her voice grows soft, she looks over toward the gate (Right) —dar's Mars Phil's grave over dar. She ant neber bin quite de same since dat ambulance wagen turn in at de gate.
Cupid. Hits bin more'n two years ago; but sometimes hit 'pears like hit was only yestidy. (Marthy starts toward the gate) . Whar you gwine wid dem flowers?
Marthy. Deys fer Miss Charlotte; she love ter hab um on de table. ”

“ Stuart. Col. Stuart is a large, handsome, soldierly man of about fifty the typical Southern Colonel. He wears his uniform and walks with a slight limp. Mrs. Stuart is a pretty, dignified, matronly-looking woman, same few years [6] younger than her husband. She is dressed in a simple black dress of good material, that has evidently seen better days. Fair rises quickly, going to them. She places a chair for her father, who sits.
Fair (slipping one arm around his neck and pressing her cheek to his) . Dear father, Bev and I were just coming to look for you. ”