“Oh, Bob,” she cried, breaking down completely. “I am in so much trouble.”
“Are you?” Bob hugged her close. “Tell me all about it, Jeanne.”
Jeanne looked up and started her story, but hesitated as she saw Bob’s companion.
“Don’t mind him,” said Bob, observing her look. “He’s a real nice old man who boards at Aunt Sally’s. We are great friends.”
“If I am not mistaken, this is a young lady with whom I am well acquainted,” said the old gentleman, looking at Jeanne quizzically. “Aren’t you the little girl who likes puns?”
“Mr. Huntsworth,” cried Jeanne, in astonishment, “how did you come here?”
“After I left you I went to Corinth on some business,” said Mr. Huntsworth. “To wind it up satisfactorily I was obliged to come on to Vicksburg. The good people here got it into their heads that I was in some sort of secret work and so detained me. As they have no proof I am permitted to have my freedom which is liberty only in a restricted sense as I am not permitted to leave the city. However, I am quite comfortable. I am boarding with this young lady’s aunt, who is a very fine woman. Very fine, indeed! And we have some rare times together, eh, Bob.”
“Indeed we do,” cried Bob, gaily. “And dad is stationed here, Jeanne, so that while I am at Aunt Sally’s I see him almost every day.”
“How do you live away from your regiment, Bob?”
“It was hard at first, but now I don’t mind it so much. And then I go to see them sometimes. Aunt Sally was horrified when she found I had been so long with the soldiers. See, I don’t wear my uniform any more. But I expect that if the war lasts much longer I’ll have to go back to it. Goods are not being imported very fast into the Confederacy.”