The Crisis — Volume 08

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crisis, Volume 8, by Winston ChurchillThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Crisis, Volume 8Author: Winston ChurchillRelease Date: October 19, 2004 [EBook #5395]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRISIS, VOLUME 8 ***Produced by David WidgerTHE CRISISBy Winston ChurchillVolume 8.CHAPTER XIITHE LAST CARDMr. Brinsmade and the Doctor were the first to leave the little room where Silas Whipple had lived and worked and died,Mr. Brinsmade bent upon one of those errands which claimed him at all times. He took Shadrach with him. Virginia saton, a vague fear haunting her,—a fear for her father's safety. Where was Clarence? What had he seen? Was the placewatched? These questions, at first intruding upon her sorrow, remained to torture her.Softly she stirred from the chair where she had sat before the piano, and opened the door of the outer office. A clock in asteeple near by was striking twelve. The Colonel did not raise his head. Only Stephen saw her go; she felt his eyesfollowing her, and as she slipped out lifted hers to meet them for a brief instant through the opening of the door. Then itclosed behind her.First of all she knew that the light in the outer office was burning ...

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THE CRISISBy Winston ChurchillVolume 8.CHAPTER XIITHE LAST CARDMr. Brinsmade and the Doctor were the first toleave the little room where Silas Whipple had livedand worked and died, Mr. Brinsmade bent uponone of those errands which claimed him at alltimes. He took Shadrach with him. Virginia sat on,a vague fear haunting her,—a fear for her father'ssafety. Where was Clarence? What had he seen?Was the place watched? These questions, at firstintruding upon her sorrow, remained to torture her.Softly she stirred from the chair where she had satbefore the piano, and opened the door of the outeroffice. A clock in a steeple near by was strikingtwelve. The Colonel did not raise his head. OnlyStephen saw her go; she felt his eyes followingher, and as she slipped out lifted hers to meetthem for a brief instant through the opening of thedoor. Then it closed behind her.

First of all she knew that the light in the outer officewas burning dimly, and the discovery gave her ashock. Who had turned it down? Had Clarence?Was he here? Fearfully searching the room forhim, her gaze was held by a figure in the recess ofthe window at the back of the room. A solid, bulkyfigure it was, and, though uncertainly outlined inthe semi-darkness, she knew it. She took a stepnearer, and a cry escaped her.The man was Eliphalet Hopper. He got down fromthe sill with a motion at once sheepish andstealthy. Her breath caught, and instinctively shegave back toward the door, as if to open it again."Hold on!" he said. "I've got something I want tosay to you, MissVirginia."His tones seemed strangely natural. They were notbrutal. But she shivered and paused, horrified atthe thought of what she was about to do. Herfather was in that room—and Stephen. She mustkeep them there, and get this man away. She mustnot show fright before him, and yet she could nottrust her voice to speak just then. She must not lethim know that she was afraid of him—this she keptrepeating to herself. But how to act? Suddenly anidea flashed upon her.Virginia never knew how she gathered the courageto pass him, even swiftly, and turn up the gas. Hestarted back, blinking as the jet flared. For amoment she stood beside it, with her head high;

confronting him and striving to steady herself forspeech."Why have you come here?" she said. "Judge"Whipple—died—to-night.The dominating note in his answer was a whine, asif, in spite of himself, he were awed."I ain't here to see the Judge."She was pale, and quite motionless. And shefaltered now. She felt her lips moving, but knew notwhether the words had come."What do you mean?"He gained confidence. The look in his little eyeswas the filmy look of those of an animal feasting.—"I came here to see you," he said"you." She, was staring at him now, in horror. "And if you don'tgive me what I want, I cal'late to see some oneelse—in there," said Mr. Hopper.He smiled, for she was swaying, her lids halfclosed. By a supreme effort she conquered herterror and looked at him. The look was in his eyesstill, intensified now."How dare you speak to me after what hashappened! she said. If Colonel.Carvel were here, he would—kill you"He flinched at the name and the word, involuntarily.

He wiped his forehead, hot at the very thought."I want to know!" he exclaimed, in faint-heartedirony. Then, remembering his advantage, hestepped close to her."He is here" he said, intense now. "He is here, in,that there room." He seized her wrists. Virginiastruggled, and yet she refrained from crying out."He never leaves this city without I choose. I canhave him hung if I choose," he whispered, next toher."Oh!" she cried; "oh, if you choose!"Still his body crept closer, and his face closer. Andher strength was going."There's but one price to pay," he said hoarsely,"there's but one price to pay, and that's you—you.I cal'late you'll marry me now."Delirious at the touch of her, he did not hear thedoor open. Her senses were strained for that verysound. She heard it close again, and a footstepacross the room. She knew the step—she knewthe voice, and her heart leaped at the sound of it inanger. An arm in a blue sleeve came betweenthem, and Eliphalet Hopper staggered and fellacross the books on the table, his hand to his face.Above him towered Stephen Brice. Towered wasthe impression that came to Virginia then, and soshe thought of the scene ever afterward. Smallbits, like points of tempered steel, glittered inStephen's eyes, and his hands following up the

mastery he had given them clutched Mr. Hopper'sshoulders. Twice Stephen shook him so that hishead beat upon the table."You—you beast!" he cried, but he kept his voicelow. And then, as if he expected Hopper to reply:"Shall I kill you?"Again he shook him violently. He felt Virginia'stouch on his arm."Stephen!" she cried, "your wounds! Be careful!Oh, do be careful!"She had called him Stephen. He turned slowly, andhis hands fell from Mr. Hopper's cowering form ashis eyes met hers. Even he could not fathom theappeal, the yearning, in their dark blue depths. Andyet what he saw there made him tremble. Sheturned away, trembling too."Please sit down," she entreated. "He—he won'ttouch me again while you are here."Eliphalet Hopper raised himself from the desk, andone of the big books fell with a crash to the floor.Then they saw him shrink, his eyes fixed uponsome one behind them. Before the Judge's doorstood Colonel Carvel, in calm, familiar posture, hisfeet apart, and his head bent forward as he pulledat his goatee."What is this man doing here, Virginia?" he asked.She did not answer him, nor did speech seem tocome easily to Mr. Hopper in that instant. Perhaps

the sight of Colonel Carvel had brought before himtoo, vividly the memory of that afternoon atGlencoe.All at once Virginia grasped the fulness of thepower in this man's hands. At a word from him herfather would be shot as a spy—and Stephen Brice,perhaps, as a traitor. But if Colonel Carvel shouldlearn that he had seized her,—here was theterrible danger of the situation. Well she knew whatthe Colonel would do. Would. Stephen tell him?She trusted in his coolness that he would not.Before a word of reply came from any of the three,a noise was heard on the stairway. Some one wascoming up. There followed four seconds ofsuspense, and then Clarence came in. She sawthat his face wore a worried, dejected look. Itchanged instantly when he glanced about him, andan oath broke from his lips as he singled outEliphalet Hopper standing in sullen aggressiveness,beside the table."So you're the spy, are you?" he said in disgust.Then he turned his back and faced his uncle. "Isaw, him in Williams's entry as we drove up. Hegot away from me."A thought seemed to strike him. He strode to theopen window at the back of the office, and lookedout, There was a roof under it."The sneak got in here," he said. "He knew I waswaiting for him in the street. So you're the spy, areyou?"

you?"Mr. Hopper passed a heavy hand across the cheekwhere Stephen had struck him."No, I ain't the spy," he said, with a meaning glanceat the Colonel."Then what are you doing here?" demandedClarence, fiercely."I cal'late that he knows," Eliphalet replied, jerkinghis head toward Colonel Carvel. "Where's hisConfederate uniform? What's to prevent my callingup the provost's guard below?" he continued, witha smile that was hideous on his swelling face.It was the Colonel who answered him, very quicklyand very clearly.""Nothing whatever, Mr. Hopper, he said. "This isthe way out." He pointed at the door. Stephen, whowas watching him, could not tell whether it were agrim smile that creased the corners of theColonel's mouth as he added. "You might preferthe window."Mr. Hopper did not move, but his eyes shifted toVirginia's form. Stephen deliberately thrust himselfbetween them that he might not see her."What are you waiting for?" said the Colonel, in themild voice that should have been an ominouswarning. Still Mr. Hopper did not move. It was clearthat he had not reckoned upon all of this; that hehad waited in the window to deal with Virginia

alone. But now the very force of a desire which hadgathered strength in many years made himreckless. His voice took on the oily quality in whichhe was wont to bargain."Let's be calm about this business, Colonel," hesaid. "We won't say anything about the past. But Iain't set on having you shot. There's aconsideration that would stop me, and I cal'late youknow what it is."Then the Colonel made a motion. But before hehad taken a step Virginia had crossed the roomswiftly, and flung herself upon him."Oh, don't, Pa!" she cried. "Don't! Tell him that I willagree to it. Yes, I will. I can't have you—shot." Thelast word came falteringly, faintly."Let me go,—honey," whispered the Colonel,gently. His eyes did not leave Eliphalet. He tried todisengage himself, but her fingers were claspedabout his neck in a passion of fear and love. Andthen, while she clung to him, her head was raisedto listen. The sound of Stephen Brice's voice heldher as in a spell. His words were coming coldly,deliberately, and yet so sharply that each seemedto fall like a lash."Mr. Hopper, if ever I hear of your repeating whatyou have seen or heard in this room, I will makethis city and this state too hot for you to live in. Iknow you. I know how you hide in areas, how youtalk sedition in private, how you have made moneyout of other men's misery. And, what is more, I can

out of other men's misery. And, what is more, I canprove that you have had traitorous dealings withthe Confederacy. General Sherman has been goodenough to call himself a friend of mine, and if heprosecutes you for your dealings in Memphis, youwill get a term in a Government prison, You oughtto be hung. Colonel Carvel has shown you thedoor. Now go."And Mr, Hopper went.

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