The officers at New Orleans opened her baggage and searched it without ceremony, or the slightest show of interest on her part.
They were administering the "oath" of loyalty to the United States. She would have to turn Yankee to do this last duty of love. She covered her face with her hands and prayed breathlessly for the boys and for the Confederacy while the words of the oath were mumbled by the officer—
"So help you God?"
Jennie's only answer was to close her eyes and pray harder.
"So help you God?" the officer shouted again.
The girl lifted her tear-stained face and nodded, closed her eyes again and prayed.
"Help them, O God,—my brothers Tom and Jimmie and Billy and Dick Welford—and—and the man I love—save them and their cause for Jesus' sake—I don't know what they made me say—I only did it for poor grandpa's sake—I didn't mean it. Forgive me, dear Lord, and save my people!"
The Judge met them with a carriage and hearse. He slipped his strong arm around the girl, drew her close and kissed the waving brown hair again and again.
"Dear little sis—you're at home now," he said softly.
A shiver ran through her figure and she sat bolt upright.