Her nature, as was its wont, flared into high indignation.
What right had Colonel Clark to send her lover away to be killed
just at the time when he was all the whole world to her? Nothing
could be more outrageous. She would not suffer it to be done; not
she!
Colonel Clark greeted her pleasantly, when she came somewhat
abruptly to him, where he was directing a squad of men at work
making some repairs in the picketing of the fort. He did not
observe her excitement until she began to speak, and then it was
noticeable only, and not very strongly, in her tone. She forgot to
speak English, and her French was Greek to him.
"I am glad to see you, Mademoiselle," he said, rather
inconsequently, lifting his hat and bowing with rough grace, while
he extended his right hand cordially. "You have something to say
to me? Come with me to my office."
She barely touched his fingers.
"Yes, I have something to say to you. I can tell it here," she
said, speaking English now with softest Creole accent. "I wanted--
I came to--" It was not so easy as she had imagined it would be to
utter what she had in mind. Clark's steadfast, inscrutable eyes,
kindly yet not altogether sympathetic, met her own and beat them
down. Her voice failed.
He offered her his arm and gravely said:
"We will go to my office. I see that you have some important
communication to make.
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