"I am a Union girl," said Jeanne smiling into the gray eyes above her.
"A Union girl longing for home."
"Where is your home?" asked Grant. "Suppose you three come along with me and tell me the whole story."
They did as he requested. The man of iron will heard them silently. Then he spoke.
"Get your dispatches ready," he said. "I will send them with mine to Washington and then have them forwarded. You will take your sister home of course."
"I ought to get back to my regiment as quick as I can, sir."
"Nonsense! I will write your General concerning it. If you have been in ever since the war opened it"s high time you had a furlough. I will stand responsible. You shall all start to-morrow."
It was a sad leave taking for Bob and Jeanne.
"I will see you again," said Jeanne tearfully as she told Bob good-bye.
"Something tells me that we will meet again. And when the war is over, Bob, we will have fine times together. Where do you go from here?"
"To Richmond," answered Bob drearily. "You"re not leaving us much territory, Jeanne. We are being narrowed down. I fear, I fear----"
With a burst of tears she ran from them and it was many a long day before Jeanne saw her again. With saddened hearts they left the city of terraces behind them, and at last Jeanne was en route for home.
Home! One of the sweetest words in the English language. The brilliant verdure of the Southland receded from view, and the more sober vegetation of the Northland came in sight. To Jeanne"s longing eyes it had never appeared more beautiful. As they boarded a train they heard the newsboys crying--"Victory at Gettysburg! Grand victory at Gettysburg! Paper, sir? Paper?"
"Here!" called d.i.c.k and Mr. Huntsworth in one breath, and they were soon emersed in the details of the fight at Gettysburg.
"It"s the turning point of the war," said Mr. Huntsworth. "It cannot be long surely before Lee will surrender."
"It would seem so," cried d.i.c.k with exultation. "But who can withstand us? We have freed the negroes! We have taken New Orleans, Vicksburg, the mighty, has fallen, and Lee"s army defeated in his invasion of free soil.
Hurrah!
""In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me: As he died to make men holy, let us die to make them free, While G.o.d is marching on!""
he broke out boyishly. Mr. Huntsworth joined in and soon another and another took up the terrible Battle Hymn of the Republic until it rolled in one grand volume above the rush of the train.
"Jeanne, there"s father," cried d.i.c.k as the train drew in at the Cincinnati station.
The girl looked out to see both Mr. and Mrs. Vance standing on the platform watching the outcoming people eagerly.
With a cry of thankfulness she darted forward and flung herself into her mother"s arms.