And there the matter ended. The calm officer only shook his head to all of Bessie's arguments; he had his mind made up, and was as firm as adamant.
It seemed strange that the girl should be trying to persuade him to marry her; but in her earnestness she never thought of that. The man's sacrifice quite appalled her; she felt that she was not worth it, and she did all she could to persuade him of her sincerity.
But Lieutenant Hernandez was unmoved.
"I know that you love him," he said, "and I know that your heart is ready to break at the thought of leaving him. I can see it in the way you look at him. I knew it when you fainted when I spoke of his danger. And I do not blame you, for he is a braver man than I. But I will not be coward enough to separate you. You would hate me."
"Hate you?"
"Yes, and every decent American, too. What else has any man for a traitor? I should kill myself for shame. No, no!"
And the girl realized to her despair what he said was true; but oh! how her heart went out to that man!
The officer rose to his feet just then, as if to close the painful discussion. Bessie Stuart rose, too, and she held out her hand to him.
He took and kissed it reverently; then his face still calm and dignified, he stepped to the door.
"It is best," he said, "that I should go."