Storm Clouds Rolling In & On To Richmond (Books 1 & 2 in the Bregdan Chronicles) by Ginny Dye - HTML preview

Chapter Nineteen

Carrie’s heart pounded as she climbed the steps to her father’s house. Would he believe her story? Or would he see right through her subterfuge? She knew of no other way to accomplish what she needed to. She had to come to Richmond.

Micah answered her knock on the door. “Miss Cromwell!” he said. “I wasn’t expecting you.” He opened the door wide. “Your father should be home in a few minutes. May I get you something?”

Carrie shook her head. “No, thank you, Micah. And there is absolutely no reason you should have been expecting me. I came to surprise my father. Would you please make sure Sam has a place to sleep? He will be staying here until I’m ready to return home.”

“Certainly, Miss Carrie.”

Carrie had just finished changing out of her dusty traveling dress when she heard her father’s carriage roll up. She took a deep breath, ran down the stairs, and opened the door before he could reach his hand out.

“Carrie!” Her father’s voice echoed the surprise etched on his face. “What in the world are you doing here?” His face sharpened with concern. “Is something wrong?

Something on the plantation?”

Carrie moved forward to give him a big hug and kiss his cheek. “Nothing is wrong, Father. Everything on the plantation is just fine.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Thomas asked. He was obviously confused.

Carrie laughed. “I’m here because I missed you.”

Thomas stared at her. “You’re here because you missed me?”

Carrie felt a twinge of panic. It would not do for her father to become suspicious. She knew how it must look.

She had never come to Richmond like this before. “Can’t a girl miss her father? Aren’t you glad to see me?” she asked with a slight pout falling on her lips. After her little

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game in the prison with Lieutenant Todd, she had wondered if she should go into acting. Now, as she watched her father’s reaction, she was sure of it.

Thomas instantly became apologetic. “Of course I’m glad to see you. It’s a wonderful surprise. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

Carrie breathed an inward sigh of relief. Another week and she could have come with the first load of produce, but she had been afraid to wait that long. The upcoming October deadline to send Moses and the other slaves to Richmond was scaring her. She had to take action.

Smiling cheerfully, she took her father’s arm and walked deeper into the house. “Tell me all about what is going on.”

“Of course,” Thomas said. “But tell me first, how long are you here for?”

“Only three days.”

There was nothing but pleasure in his voice when he responded. “You came all this way for three days?”

Carrie was relieved to see the suspicion gone. She smiled, feeling a pang of remorse as she had a glimpse of how lonely it must be for her father sometimes. She should have thought to come like this before. He had his work to keep him busy, but there were still long nights to endure alone.

“You must accompany me to the dance tomorrow night,” Thomas said. “I had thought not to go, but now that I will have the loveliest date there, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Carrie smiled in delight. “That sounds wonderful! I haven’t been to a dance in ages.”

“Not since Christmas,” Thomas reminded her. “It’s high time you had some fun again. Your life on the plantation is too much work. When you were here before, no one was thinking about dances. All eyes and hearts were centered on Manassas. I think you will find the city a much more joyful place. A dance will do you good.”

Carrie, in truth, was delighted despite knowing it would be difficult being at a ball without Robert. Her thoughts must have conjured up her father’s next words.

“Robert was here two nights ago.”

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Carrie stared up in surprise. “Here in Richmond?”

“Better than that,” Thomas smiled. “He was here in the house. I have gotten more than my share of surprise visitors this week.”

“How is he?” Carrie tried to control the eagerness in her voice. From the look on her father’s face, she knew she had failed.

“He seems to be doing quite well. We had a good talk.

He apparently has become very important to the military, because they sent him down here to confer with General Lee.”

Carrie listened, envisioning his handsome face here in the room. She kept waiting for the ache of missing him to go away. Why then was it growing stronger? “I’m not surprised,” she murmured.

“He went to visit Matthew as well.”

“You got him a pass?”

“Just barely. I don’t think General Winder will be willing to do me any more favors. I have stretched my position as far as I can, I’m afraid.” He paused and frowned. “I have also heard talk that information is getting out of the prison somehow. There has been some information in Northern newspapers that could have only come from inside. They ordered a crackdown on security just yesterday.”

Now it was Carrie’s turn to frown. “Will I be able to see Matthew while I’m here? I was hoping to.” She hoped his visit with Robert had gone well. She was sure they had been glad to see each other, but had they been able to bridge the gap of the war between them?

Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know. All you can do is try.”

Carrie was silent as dinner was served. Her thoughts were consumed with Robert. To have missed him by just two days! Slowly, her turbulent thoughts convinced her it was for the best. She would not have been able to concentrate on the job at hand if Robert had been in town. It was for the best all around, she told herself. The only way her heart could ever let go was to let more time pass. If she was constantly being reminded of what she had turned away, she was never going to get over him.

Having reached this conclusion, she was able to turn to her father with a natural smile when he asked her a

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question. The evening passed pleasantly as they talked long into the night.

Carrie watched her father disappear down the road in his carriage and then hurried to find Sam, who was hitching the horses up in back of the house. “I’m ready to go, Sam.”

Sam looked at her with mild disapproval. “You shouldn’t be comin’ back here, Miss Carrie,” he muttered.

“How that gonna look? You need to wait inside for me to come get you.”

Carrie frowned. She knew that was the proper way to do things, but she was in a hurry.

Sam read her expression. “I don’t know what you be doin’ here, Miss Carrie, but I do know one thing. You didn’t just come to see your daddy. If you got some secret you be tryin’ to keep, you better be keepin’ it the right way.”

Carrie nodded. She didn’t want to do anything to draw attention to herself. “I’ll be inside when you’re ready, Sam. I’ll meet you around at the front porch.”

Sam turned back to his work, and Carrie retreated inside to wait.

It was almost ten o’clock when the carriage pulled up in front of the plain clapboard building just a few blocks from where Opal lived. To her left, Carrie could see the brick walls of the prison that held the captured Yankees.

She could also see the maze of tents that had sprung up on Belle Isle to provide housing for the influx of prisoners that had outgrown the tobacco warehouses. She gazed at the tents for a moment and then turned her attention back to the building they had stopped in front of. “Are you sure this is it, Sam? It doesn’t look much like a church,” she said dubiously.

The only thing that distinguished the single-story building from the other buildings surrounding it, was

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that it was wearing an old, faded coat of white paint. No similar effort had been made on the others. That it was quite large could not be denied. Carrie was sure these must be old tobacco warehouses, no longer in use now that the brick ones had replaced them. She stepped from the carriage, gazing around her. Would she be able to find Marcus Anthony? What made her think he would be at the church at this hour?

Sam was looking at her with open curiosity on his face.

“This be the address we got, Miss Carrie. You say this is supposed to be a church. What we be doin’ here?”

“I need to talk with the pastor,” Carrie said. She wished she could have come by herself so she wouldn’t have to answer any questions, but she had been fairly certain it wouldn’t be a good idea for a woman to come down into this part of town alone. As she looked around, she knew she had been right. Sloppily dressed men, both black and white, leaned against railings and porch supports up and down the street. The black men were busy inspecting the ground. It was the white men who were staring at her openly, making her very uncomfortable.

She took a deep breath and turned toward the church.

“Wait here, please. I will be out soon.” She could feel Sam’s protective eyes on her as she walked up to the church and pulled the rope to the bell inside. She could hear its loud clanging, but there were no approaching footsteps to accompany it. Carrie leaned across the porch railing and peered in the window. Through the grime and dust, she could make out row after row of wooden plank benches. A homemade pulpit adorned the front of the building, its only ornament a crudely made cross.

Carrie straightened and pulled the bell rope again. At least she knew she was at the right place. It was most definitely a church.

“Don’t look like nobody be there,” Sam called helpfully.

Carrie could tell he didn’t like bringing her to this part of town. “Ain’t no place for you,” had been all he muttered when she had given him the address. Now she ignored him, not willing to give up her quest yet. She didn’t know where else to look. Had her trip to Richmond been in vain? Impatiently, she pulled the rope again.

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“Hello!”

Carrie looked up as she heard the call from down the road. Squinting, she saw a man hurrying toward her. She moved to the edge of the porch and waited. As the man grew closer, a smile lit her face.

“Hello. Are you here to visit the church? Is there something I can do for you?”

Carrie looked up into the kind face she remembered.

The warm blue eyes still showed a deep capacity for caring. She was counting on that. “You are Pastor Marcus Anthony, are you not?”

He nodded, his eyes suddenly narrowing. “I know you from somewhere, don’t I? You look very familiar.”

Carrie nodded. “We met on the street one morning.

You pulled me out of what became a rather nasty confrontation between two men.”

Pastor Anthony smiled suddenly. “Now I remember.

You were on your way to tell one of the soldiers goodbye.”

Carrie gasped. “How did you know that?” She knew she hadn’t told him her mission that morning.

Pastor Anthony laughed. “I’m used to seeing that look on young women’s faces. I trust he made it through the battle all right?”

Carrie nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

“What can I do for you, Miss...?”

“Cromwell. My name is Carrie Cromwell,” she said quickly. “May I have a few moments of your time, Pastor Anthony?” She looked around the street. There were too many places for listening ears. “May we go inside?”

“Certainly.” He glanced toward the carriage.

“Sam is my driver. He will wait for me.”

Pastor Anthony smiled in Sam’s direction. “You are welcome to come in for something cold to drink, Sam.”

“No, thank you, sir. I reckon I’ll be stayin’ right here with this here carriage and horses.”

Pastor Anthony nodded and led the way into the dim interior of the church. The big, empty building echoed with their footsteps as he led her to a small office in the rear. He waved Carrie to a seat and then sat down behind his scarred desk.

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Carrie spoke first. “I’m very glad I found you here today.”

“It’s very unusual,” he responded with a smile. “I seldom come down here during the week. Hardly ever this time of day. I’d say God must think it pretty important I talk to you.”

Carrie nodded eagerly. “I’m so glad to hear that.” She stopped. Now that she was here, she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. The silence stretched between them as she searched for words.

Pastor Anthony watched her closely, but he didn’t speak. He seemed to know she was struggling for what to say. After a moment, he leaned back in his chair, his blue eyes watching her, but his slim body relaxed. Carrie noticed how young he seemed, even though she was sure he was in his forties. The unruly brown hair made him seem like a boy.

She knew she had to say something. “I need to get in touch with the Underground Railroad,” she finally blurted out.

Pastor Anthony’s eyes widened a little bit, but his face remained calm. “And what makes you think I have access to the Underground Railroad?” he asked.

Carrie managed a laugh. “I’m sorry. That’s not at all how I intended to start this conversation. I guess I’m a bit nervous.” He waited for her to continue. She leaned forward to emphasize what she had to say. “I have two slaves I care about very deeply. Actually they belong to my father. I want to help them gain their freedom. I thought perhaps you could help.”

“And why do you think I could help?” he asked carefully.

Carrie was frustrated, but she understood. Everyone had to be careful nowadays. “Because of your eyes, Pastor Anthony.”

“My eyes?” he echoed.

Carrie nodded. “Your eyes say you care. Opal is another one of my father’s slaves. She is now living here in the city with her cousins, Eddie and Fannie.”

Pastor Anthony nodded, a smile on his face. “I know them well. They are fine people.”

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“And they think the world of you. Opal told me you have made God real to her for the first time in her life.”

“I’m glad.”

“That’s why I’m here. There aren’t too many white people in the South that see black people as human beings, but I know you see them that way. I figured if anyone would know how to get in touch with the Underground Railroad, you would.”

Pastor Anthony leaned back in his chair. “Let me get this straight. You want to help two of your slaves go free.

How does your father feel about that?”

“He doesn’t know,” Carrie admitted. She told him, as briefly as possible, of her struggle to know where she stood on slavery. “Several of our slaves have already run away,” she said. “I told them they could go.”

“Why don’t these other two just take off, too?”

It was a fair question. “They are too special to me. Rose has been my best friend since I was a child. She is like a sister to me. I can’t bear to think of her and Moses being chased by slave hunters and hound dogs. There has to be a way that is not so dangerous.” She saw no reason to go into the recent revelation of Rose’s actual relationship to her.

Pastor Anthony finally looked as if he were convinced of her intent. He stood and began to pace within the confines of his small office. “Any escape is dangerous, Miss Cromwell. Especially now. More and more slaves are escaping, thinking the North will welcome them eagerly.

The war seems to have given them the motivation to pursue their freedom. Owners have responded by sending out more slave hunters.” He stared out the window for a long moment and then swung back to face her, evidently having made up his mind. “I will help you.”

Carrie leaned forward with a wide smile on her face.

“Oh, thank you, Pastor Anthony. I knew you would be the right person to talk to.”

“Does anyone know you are here?” he asked. “There must be total secrecy.”

“No one but my driver. I would trust Sam with my life.”

“Very well,” Pastor Anthony said with a warm smile.

“We have a lot of planning to do.”

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Carrie gasped as she entered the opulent ballroom on her father’s arm. They had already greeted their host and hostess at the door. Their escort bowed slowly, flashed his white teeth, and backed away, leaving them standing at the door to the ballroom.

“Surprised?” Thomas asked with a smile.

“Of course I am,” Carrie said, gazing around her.

“You’d never know there was a war going on.” At least not until you saw the preponderance of gray splashed among the sea of bright dresses. The contrast to the city she had left just six weeks ago was amazing. She had thought it silly when Rose suggested she bring a ball gown, but was glad she had acquiesced. She knew she was appropriately dressed in her brilliant green gown with the cream-colored trim. Her father had told her it matched her sparkling eyes to perfection.

Social functions had ceased leading up to Bull Run and afterward. All energy had been channeled into caring for the sick and wounded, but the crisis was over now.

The South had been victorious, and it was time to celebrate. After all, Richmond was known for its high society, and now, with its influx of government officials and military personnel, it was time to live up to its reputation once again.

Carrie couldn’t help the thrill of delight that coursed through her as she looked over the dance floor. There were many aspects of Southern society that didn’t appeal to her, but she loved everything about the dances. The brightly colored dresses and impeccably attired men. The music that even now was causing her foot to tap. The long rows of food that tempted the eye and the stomach. And especially the dancing. Her body began to sway slightly in anticipation of what was to come.

Thomas smiled down at her. “May I have this dance, Miss Cromwell?”

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Carrie smiled up at him radiantly. “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Cromwell.”

The music flowed around them in a glorious waltz as Thomas swept her across the floor. It had been ages since she had danced with her father. He was the one who had first taught her, encouraging her to learn to love it when she said she would rather be out on Granite. He had insisted the time would come when she would love it as much as riding. She had laughed unbelievingly then, but now she knew he had been right.

The music swirled around them as they glided across the floor and around the room. Laughter and talk rang through the air. The touch of coolness in the air spoke of the reality of fall creeping up on them.

When the music stopped, a young man in gray approached. “May I have this dance, ma’am?”

Carrie smiled as her mind was transported back to the times of joyful revelry before there was a war. For this night, she would ignore the significance of the gray uniforms. She would simply see these young men as eager dancing partners. She nodded, then stepped into the young captain’s arms and was lost to the music once again.

She had lost count of her partners before she finally begged for a drink and a brief rest. Her current partner, a dashing young lieutenant, immediately departed to fetch refreshments for her. Carrie sank into a chair and gazed around the room. All the best of Richmond society was here. There were several faces she didn’t recognize, but the look of authority identified them as new Confederate government officials. The unfamiliar, beautifully attired women must be their wives.

“Having a good time?” a soft voice asked in her ear.

Carrie turned and smiled at the woman settling down in the chair next to her. “Mrs. Lewis! It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“I haven’t seen you since the night at Spotswood when we were awaiting news from the battlefield. I hope your news was good.”

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“Yes, thank you. My friend is doing quite well. My heart still grieves, however, for the men who were killed or wounded.”

“Mine as well. And please, call me Victoria.”

Carrie nodded. “Only if you will call me Carrie.”

Victoria nodded pleasantly. “That was quite a dashing man you started off the dance with,” she observed.

“The most dashing man here,” Carrie agreed. “That was my father, Thomas Cromwell. And you haven’t seen me around town because I left a few days after we talked to return to our plantation.”

“You don’t live here in the city?” Victoria’s voice was surprised. “Does your mother stay on the plantation with you? How hard it must be to not have your father at home.”

“My mother is dead. I am in charge of the plantation while my father works here in town.” Carrie caught sight of her father surrounded by a small group of men. He caught her eyes across the room and smiled.

“You run the plantation all by yourself?” Victoria asked, astonished.

“Well, I have a lot of help,” Carrie said in amusement, as she turned her attention back to the conversation.

Victoria looked at her appraisingly. “You must be quite a resourceful young woman.”

“I hope so. That’s how my father raised me,” Carrie responded with a smile. She knew other women were amazed by what she was doing, but there was nothing special about it to her. She was simply doing what she had to do. She suspected women all over the South were being forced to do the same thing, now that their husbands and fathers were fighting a war.

Just then the lieutenant walked up with two drinks in his hand. “Miss Cromwell,” he said, handing her a tall glass of lemonade.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Victoria made a move as if to leave, but Carrie put her hand on her arm. “Please don’t leave.” Then she turned to the Lieutenant. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to sit here with my friend for a while.”

The lieutenant responded with a bow. “I hope I may claim you for another dance later?”

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“Of course,” Carrie said graciously. She turned back to Victoria. Something about the woman with tired eyes drew Carrie. There was something real in her lack of care about the impression she made. Her clothes were well made and her hair was expertly done, but it lacked the flash of the other ladies. “You don’t really like these affairs, do you?” Carrie asked.

Victoria shrugged. “They all tend to become the same after a while. Society is society. I have spent the last ten years in Washington, DC. When Louisiana seceded, we came here.” She paused and smiled briefly. “All I really want to do is return to Louisiana and my flowers and gardens. I miss home terribly.”

“I’m sorry,” Carrie said.

“You must think me quite boorish.”

Carrie shook her head. “Certainly not. I enjoy these events because I get to attend them so infrequently. I’m afraid if they were regular occurrences, I would become quite bored with them as well. There are too many other things I would rather be doing.”

Victoria gazed at her for a moment. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I must say, in all fairness, that life here is more interesting than in Washington. Maybe I should say that I feel as if I serve more of a purpose. It’s really quite interesting to see the changes taking place in ladies I have known all my life.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, instead of lounging around in rocking chairs, they are all terribly busy. Everyone seems to have a knitting or crochet needle in their hands nowadays. I have been to every store in this town in hunt of more skeins of wool, but there is none to be found. I am planning a trip to Petersburg next week in hopes of finding some there. I keep watching the paper, hoping there will be news of a supply that has gotten past the blockade or been smuggled in. I’m not sure how I feel about this war, but I most certainly want to see all our boys warm and cozy this winter.” She took a breath and then continued. “Mrs. Henningsen brought home dozens and dozens of yards of cotton sheeting. That should keep us busy for quite a while.”

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“Cotton sheeting? What will you do with that?”

“Have you not heard about the new hospital to be built?” When Carrie shook her head, she continued. “Dr.

William McCaw is behind the effort. He has recently received permission to convert some newly constructed barracks on Chimborazo Hill into a military hospital. I believe he plans on it being quite large.”

“They are expecting more battles and many more wounded soldiers,” Carrie said flatly.

Victoria nodded. “Most people are finally shedding themselves of the ridiculous notion this is going to be a short war. They have seen the number of wounded pour in from a battle we won. Reality says we must be ready if the tide turns the other way.”

“Thank you for your candor,” Carrie said. Her heart ached for the many soldiers she had seen in her hunt for Robert, and for the men who would return home without arms or legs to live the rest of their lives.

Victoria shrugged. “The South railroaded people into this war, as far as I’m concerned.”

Carrie stared at her in amazement. This lady’s husband was an aide to the president? When Victoria threw back her head and laughed, Carrie realized how attractive she was. New life leapt to her face, and her tired eyes took on a sparkle.

“Might as well be honest about it.” Then her voice grew grim. “Now that we have so many of our boys fighting this war, I intend to do all I can to take care of them.”

There was something about her eyes... “Do you have sons in the army?” Carrie asked.

Tears sprang to Victoria’s eyes. “Three of them. Two are fighting for the South. One is a Union officer.” She waved her hand. “I have a lot to be thankful for. My son in the North will probably never see action because of a vision problem. He works in the offices of one of the military departments. My other two boys are still down in Louisiana. They haven’t yet had to fight.”

Carrie gazed at her in sympathy, wondering what to say to this revelation.

Victoria read her face. “Don’t feel you have to respond.

There is really nothing to say. Almost everyone is in the same boat as I am. That’s the one thing that makes these

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social gatherings bearable for me. I at least know I am with people who are united in interest and in heart. It helps me keep going.”

Carrie gazed around the room with new eyes. How many more of the people here didn’t really agree with the war that had been sprung upon them? As she looked, new understanding crept into her heart. It didn’t matter to these people whether they agreed with this war in principle or not. The fact was they had loved ones who were fighting. They had loved ones who might never come home again, or might come home horribly wounded. They would pour forth all their efforts and energies for their loved ones. It was that simple. The big decisions had been taken from their hands. They would do the best they could.

Victoria seemed to read her thoughts. “It’s sad, really,”

she commented, looking around the room as well. “Five months ago, practically every person in this room would have considered it unpatriotic not to push for the cause of Southern independence. Now, many of them still push for it, but not for the same reason. They’re no longer making a stand. They are simply fighting for survival.”

Carrie liked her new friend, but she was relieved when her father walked over to her. “Could I talk you into another dance?” he asked with a smile.

Carrie rose with an answering smile. After Thomas gracefully acknowledged the introduction of her new friend, he led her in a rousing Virginia reel. Carrie allowed herself to be once more lost in the music. She was here to have fun.

She and her father were both laughing and gasping for breath when the music came to an end. “You’re still the best dancer in Virginia,” Carrie exclaimed.

“Only because I have the best partner.”

“Except for mother.”

“Yes,” Thomas agreed with a smile, “except for your mother.”

Carrie gazed at her father with relief. This was the first time in the many months since her mother’s death that the mention of his wife had not caused her father’s face to be filled with pain. The look was one of fond

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remembrance. Carrie tucked her arm in his and squeezed it tightly.

A sudden movement at the door caught her attention.

She looked over to see a tall, stern-looking man in his sixties, quite distinguished in his gray uniform, enter the room.

Thomas followed her gaze. “That is General Winder.”

“The man who gave me permission to visit Matthew?”

“That’s the one.”

Carrie smiled. “I think I should go thank him.”

“I don’t think that is a very good idea right now.”

Carrie looked up at her father with a frown. “Why not?”

Her father opened his mouth, but a shrill voice just beyond him drowned out any attempt to speak.

“There’s the man in charge of those awful prisons. I do declare, it’s shameful how he mollycoddles those prisoners.”

Carrie stared in amazement. The lady speaking was one of the most influential people in Richmond society.

Carrie thought back to her visit with Matthew. She had seen nothing that indicated mollycoddling.

Another woman, one Carrie had never seen, carried on the conversation. “It’s bad enough that we have to have those heathens in our city. I don’t know why our officials seem to think those men should eat our food and use our supplies.”

“Not to mention the danger they represent every single day,” the Richmonder snorted.

“What do they propose we do with them?” Carrie whispered to her father.

He didn’t have to answer.

“They need to send all of them further south,” the second speaker snorted. “I don’t know why people think Richmond has to do everything. The rest of this country needs to take on their fair share of responsibility.”

Thomas took Carrie’s arm and led her away. “Not exactly party talk, my dear. That is precisely why I suggested you not talk to General Winder. The poor man is being attacked on every side about these prisons. It’s dreaming to think he could make it through a night without having to face it, but on the off chance...”

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Carrie nodded. “Of course.” Then she asked, “Have there been any conclusions about the prisoners?”

Thomas shook his head. “I understand a lot of them are soon to be moved to other locations. There is simply not room for them here. In spite of the abundance displayed here tonight, the blockade is having quite a negative effect on our city. Food and other supplies are growing harder to come by. Prices are shooting up dramatically. People are beginning to worry whether there will be enough to take care of the mass of people crowding into our city. I’m afraid they are not in a mood to be generous with the Yankees.”

“What about you, Father?”

Thomas shrugged. “I think they need to be moved.

Richmond simply cannot support all of them. There are more than two thousand of them in the city now. But as long as they’re here, I think we need to take as good a care of them as possible. I keep trying to imagine Robert, or some of our other young men, in Northern prisons. I would hope they would be cared for.”

Carrie frowned at the thought of Robert in prison. “I’m going to visit Matthew tomorrow,” she said.

Thomas nodded. “I hope you’re able to get in. I’m sure he will be glad to see you. There is no telling how much longer he will be here. Please give him my regards.”

Just then the lieutenant she had put off earlier walked up. “May I claim my dance now?”

Carrie smiled and graciously assented, but the magic of the evening had been lost for her. Cruel realities had dragged her back to the present.

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