Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 'TWIXT LOVE AND DUTY. his determination, fire will be opened on Fort Sum- ters” Senator McVane descended from his impromptu pedestal and mingled with his enthusiastic guests. One hour more. Beauregard, fortified with instructions from Mont- gomery, the capital of the Confederacy, had sent his ultimatum to the beleaguered garrison down the bay. Sixty seconds! How fateful with the destinies of the greatest na- tion on the face of the globe! Who could foresee the results which would follow the flash of the first gun fired in anger against the Stars and Stripes! The guests began to thin out, as most of the ladies were anxious to get home before the impending bom- bardment commenced. Captain Trafton was pacing up and down the veranda. His brow was black as the night, and his eyes wore a menacing expression. ‘She loves that fellow !’’ he muttered, between his teeth. ‘‘I can read the truth in her eyes, in every action when he 1s by her side. And I was so sure of her, until he came—until to-night! But it shall never be! Even were I indifferent on the subject, her father would never permit her to entertain the proposals of a Northern man. Every smile she bestowed upon him to-night bore its fruit in an added hatred against the man who has dared to come between me and the wo- man of my heart. Heshall pay dearly for them. I will grind this fair gallant beneath my heel as I would a viper in my path. Iswearit! It will be an evil hour for any man when he presumes to thwart me— be the object what it may.” The captain clearly showed the violent and im- placable side of his character. The mask of conventionality was for the time be- comicbooks ele)