The southern cross : $b A play in four actsDaingerfield, Foxhall
History
The southern cross : $b A play in four acts
Daingerfield, Foxhall
American drama -- 20th century; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Drama
Mrs. S. My child, even though we walk through the valley of the
shadow, look to Him who has given us, and who in His wisdom has taken
away. He has said, "O grave, where is thy victory!" Oh, dearest child,
look up to Him! He will give us again to the ones we love!
Char. (raising her face to hers). And for His sake, I will.
[Enter Cupid, hurriedly.
Cupid. Mistis, dey's comin'! dey's comin'!--Marster and Mars Gordon.
Mrs. S. Where?
Cupid. Rite out dar, in de hall.
[Enter Col. S. and Gordon. They are pale and very tired looking;
their clothes covered with dust.
Mrs. S. (quickly to Col. S.). Philip, are you safe!
Col. S. We've found the location of the enemy.
Gordon (quickly). Where is Carter? He came here.
Char. They took him! Carter's captured!
Col. S. What!
Mrs. S. He was captured here in this room; he was disguised.
Gordon. How was he taken?
Char. Old Cupid did not know--he brought Winthrop and Hopkins
here. He was discovered. They carried him away.
Col. S. Great God! and he had papers! Did they find any?
Fair. No, we burned the paper, but he knows all the plans of
Winthrop's army.
Col. S. What did he say? Ah, if we only could have met him in time!
Char. He told us very little, only the position of the camp. But
he knows all the plans and orders off by heart. He stole the plans from
Winthrop's tent. But they have taken him--a spy! I tell you, they have
taken him.
Gordon. We must not stay here a moment. A party will come and
search the place.
Fair. Where will they take him?
Gordon. Where? (thinking). That's it. Where will they take him.
His release. He had no papers on him. He'll not be shot down as a spy.
Columbus; the prison there (slowly). Morgan's got to have that news.
Escape; what is there else. Colonel, I must have a word with you in
private (he turns to the others). You'll leave us for a moment. Here,
Bev, have the best horse saddled for Col. Stuart. Take him to the far
end of the orchard, fasten him to the big sycamore tree. You know the
place.
Bev. Yes.
Gordon. Go, quick! Send Cupid with the horse and come back here.
[Exit Bev.
Col. S. What is your plan?
Gordon. You'll see. Mrs. Stuart, you Charlotte and Fair keep
watch, and if you see the enemy, come back to us.
Char. Here, mother, Fair; we must not lose a moment.
[They exit.
Col. S. Now, what your plan?
Gordon. Carter has the plans of Winthrop's army. These plans he
must give Morgan.
Col. S. But he is taken. How boy; how can he get the plans to
Morgan?
Gordon. Carter will be taken to Columbus; the prison is not a
long trip from here. They'll send him with a guard on the first train.
There's nothing else (he comes nearer, speaking very intently). The
prison at Columbus; we must tunnel it!
Col. S. Ah, I see. But how; how will we get the word to him?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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