Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

14 | 'TWIXT LOVE AND DUTY. mantel chimed the hour, and History held her breath. : | Pepertoa. Royal Chetwood’s voice quivered. He felt her fingers tighten in his grasp. ‘In a few moments we shall know the irrevocable decree of fate. I love you, God knows how dearly, but,’’ he said, a proud enthusiasm lighting up his eyes, “‘I love my country also. Heaven forbid that the blood of heroes, who knew no North or South, spilled on many fields inthe Revolutionary War— spilled here in Charleston, behind the ramparts of the old Palmetto fort, where Moultrie frowns to-night, to preserve to us, their descendants, a free and glorious republic—should cry its protest from the soil of this beautiful State, from all the thirteen original States, against this sin of a mistaken patriotism.’’ ‘‘Royal,’’ she said, ‘‘for my sake, try to look at the matter in its true light. Be the man I believe you ate. I love you. Do not leave me. Stay in Charleston and let me feel how proud Iam of you. What tie should be dearer to you than that which binds you to the girl you love? Think me not unwomanly to speak thus. It is my heart that pleads, and would wrest you from the brink on which I can feel you are trem- _bling.’? , : ‘Bertha, would you tempt me to prove false to my uty ? Duty!’ she said, drawing herself up. ‘‘You have said—nay, sworn that you love me. Of your own free will have you laid your heart at my feet, knowing that Iam a daughter of the South. You cannot have been so blind as to think I would desert South Caro- lina even for—you. I repeat again, I love you, Royal, even as I love my people and their principles. What more can you exact of me? Your duty, then, is. to remain here, by my side, to protect me, if need be, Gomicbooks (E(e)