Zuleime arose to obey, but before she went, she threw her arms around his neck, and asked—
“Dearest father, only tell me! Were our friends well? Have they gone? Did they send any message?”
“Only answer you three questions at a time! That is reasonable! However, I can answer all in one. I have not seen our friends. Their detachment left Winchester twelve hours before I reached there. And now I’ll tell you what I did not like to tell Carolyn, poor girl! Namely, that the detachment marched two days earlier than was intended, upon account of dispatches received from Fort ——, praying for speedy succor in a reinforcement. The savages have been massacreing and scalping there at a most tremendous rate! It is really a very dangerous service, Indian warfare! God grant that our young friends may return to us safe! Why don’t you go along and tell Georgia to come to me?”
Zuleime kissed her father, settled the cushion under his feet, and went on her errand. That dispatched, she sought her own chamber, and lay down to collect her thoughts. No letter or message from her husband, and her promise of secrecy in regard to her marriage, binding on her as ever. And next week she must give an answer to her father for Major Cabell. She was confident that one of two things had happened. Either her letter had never reached Frank, or else his answer had been lost. And by the transaction only one week’s respite had she gained for her father—for next week her refusal must be decided and final, and then—what might not the consequence be to him? These thoughts excited her mind, and kept her awake. And despite her determination to sleep, and her efforts to do so, she heard every passing hour strike. It was soon after one o’clock that she had fallen into a fitful slumber, when she was awakened by the sound of a gay, high voice, intermingling merry words and joyous laughter. Indeed, there seemed to be not only one, but many voices, talking and laughing in the most jocund manner. And strange—passing strange! it seemed to come from her sister’s room, which adjoined hers! She listened awhile; the words became fewer, but the laughter grew wilder! And then it struck upon her frightened senses that Carolyn was a maniac, talking, laughing to herself! Springing from her bed, and without even waiting to slip on a gown, she ran into the passage and knocked at her sister’s door, and attempted to push it open. It was locked on the inside, and all her efforts to force an entrance were vain, and all her entreaties for admission were answered by peals of unconscious laughter. At last she ran to her father’s door, and rapped loudly, exclaiming—
“Father, father! Get up! get up! Something, I am sure, has happened to Carolyn! Something dreadful! Get up! get up!”
The old man was hard to awaken, even by the efforts of Georgia, who was aroused at once, and came and opened the door for Zuleime! And all this time the sound of loud talk, high laughter, and wild snatches of song, as from several excited people, rather than from one, issued from Carolyn’s chamber. At length, by the united exertions of his wife and daughter, the fatigued and drowsy old gentleman was aroused and placed upon his feet, and made to
“Understand a horror in their words—
If not the words.”
He threw on his shawl gown and hastened to Carolyn’s door, which was instantly forced open.
And what a sight met their eyes!