飘

　“When　you　were　in　Macon　did　you　see　India　and　Honey　Wilkes？　Did　they—had　they　heard　anything　of　Ashley？”
　“Now；　Miss　Melly；　you　know　if　I’d　had　news　of　Ashley；　I’d　have　ridden　up　here　from　Macon　right　away　to　tell　you；”　said　Frank　reproachfully。　“No；　they　didn’t　have　any　news　but—now；　don’t　you　fret　about　Ashley；　Miss　Melly。　I　know　it’s　been　a　long　time　since　you　heard　from　him；　but　you　can’t　expect　to　hear　from　a　fellow　when　he’s　in　prison；　can　you？　And　things　aren’t　as　bad　in　Yankee　prisons　as　they　are　in　ours。　After　all；　the　Yankees　have　plenty　to　eat　and　enough　medicines　and　blankets。　They　aren’t　like　we　are—not　having　enough　to　feed　ourselves；　much　less　our　prisoners。”
　“Oh；　the　Yankees　have　got　plenty；”　cried　Melanie；　passionately　bitter。　“But　they　don’t　give　things　to　the　prisoners。　You　know　they　don’t；　Mr。　Kennedy。　You　are　just　saying　that　to　make　me　feel　better。　You　know　that　our　boys　freeze　to　death　up　there　and　starve　too　and　die　without　doctors　and　medicine；　simply　because　the　Yankees　hate　us　so　much！　Oh；　if　we　could　just　wipe　every　Yankee　off　the　face　of　the　earth！　Oh；　I　know　that　Ashley　is—”
　“Don’t　say　it！”　cried　Scarlett；　her　heart　in　her　throat。　As　long　as　no　one　said　Ashley　was　dead；　there　persisted　in　her　heart　a　faint　hope　that　he　lived；　but　she　felt　that　if　she　heard　the　words　pronounced；　in　that　moment　he　would　die。
　“Now；　Mrs。　Wilkes；　don’t　you　bother　about　your　husband；”　said　the　one…eyed　man　soothingly。　“I　was　captured　after　first　Manassas　and　exchanged　later　and　when　I　was　in　prison；　they　fed　me　off　the　fat　of　the　land；　fried　chicken　and　hot　biscuits—”
　“I　think　you　are　a　liar；”　said　Melanie　with　a　faint　smile　and　the　first　sign　of　spirit　Scarlett　had　ever　seen　her　display　with　a　man。　“What　do　you　think？”
　“I　think　so　too；”　said　the　one…eyed　man　and　slapped　his　leg　with　a　laugh。
　“If　you’ll　all　come　into　the　parlor；　I’ll　sing　you　some　Christmas　carols；”　said　Melanie；　glad　to　change　the　subject。　“The　piano　was　one　thing　the　Yankees　couldn’t　carry　away。　Is　it　terribly　out　of　tune；　Suellen？”
　“Dreadfully；”　answered　Suellen；　happily　beckoning　with　a　smile　to　Frank。
　But　as　they　all　passed　from　the　room；　Frank　hung　back；　tugging　at　Scarlett’s　sleeve。
　“May　I　speak　to　you　alone？”
　For　an　awful　moment　she　feared　he　was　going　to　ask　about　her　livestock　and　she　braced　herself　for　a　good　lie。
　When　the　room　was　cleared　and　they　stood　by　the　fire；　all　the　false　cheerfulness　which　had　colored　Frank’s　face　in　front　of　the　others　passed　and　she　saw　that　he　looked　like　an　old　man。　His　face　was　as　dried　and　brown　as　the　leaves　that　were　blowing　about　the　lawn　of　Tara　and　his　ginger…colored　whiskers　were　thin　and　scraggly　and　streaked　with　gray。　He　clawed　at　them　absently　and　cleared　his　throat　in　an　annoying　way　before　he　spoke。
　“I’m　mighty　sorry　about　your　ma；　Miss　Scarlett。”
　“Please　don’t　talk　about　it。”
　“And　your　pa—　Has　he　been　this　way　since—？”
　“Yes—he’s—he’s　not　himself；　as　you　can　see。”
　“He　sure　set　a　store　by　her。”
　“Oh；　Mr。　Kennedy；　please　don’t　let’s　talk—”
　“I’m　sorry；　Miss　Scarlett；”　and　he　shuffled　his　feet　nervously。　“The　truth　is　I　wanted　to　take　up　something　with　your　pa　and　now　I　see　it　won’t　do　any　good。”
　“Perhaps　I　can　help　you；　Mr。　Kennedy。　You　see—I’m　the　head　of　the　house　now。”
　“Well；　I；”　began　Frank　and　again　clawed　nervously　at　his　beard。　“The　truth　is—　Well；　Miss　Scarlett；　I　was　aiming　to　ask　him　for　Miss　Suellen。”
　“Do　you　mean　to　tell　me；”　cried　Scarlett　in　amused　amazement；　“that　you　haven’t　yet　asked　Pa　for　Suellen？　And　you’ve　been　courting　her　for　years！”
　He　flushed　and　grinned　embarrassedly　and　in　general　looked　like　a　shy　and　sheepish　boy。
　“Well；　I—I　didn’t　know　if　she’d　have　me。　I’m　so　much　older　than　she　is　and—there　were　so　many　good…looking　young　bucks　hanging　around　Tara—”
　“Hump！”　thought　Scarlett；　“they　were　hanging　around　me；　not　her！”
　“And　I　don’t　know　yet　if　she’ll　have　me。　I’ve　never　asked　her　but　she　must　know　how　I　feel。　I—I　thought　I’d　ask　Mr。　O’Hara’s　permission　and　tell　him　the　truth。　Miss　Scarlett；　I　haven’t　got　a　cent　now。　I　used　to　have　a　lot　of　money；　if　you’ll　forgive　me　mentioning　it；　but　right　now　all　I　own　is　my　horse　and　the　clothes　I’ve　got　on。　You　see；　when　I　enlisted　I　sold　most　of　my　land　and　I　put　all　my　money　in　Confederate　bonds　and　you　know　what　they’re　worth　now。　Less　than　the　paper　they’re　printed　on。　And　anyway；　I　haven’t　got　them　now；　because　they　burned　up　when　the　Yankees　burned　my　sister’s　house。　I　know　I’ve　got　gall　asking　for　Miss　Suellen　now　when　I　haven’t　a　cent　but—well；　it’s　this　way。　I　got　to　thinking　that　we　don’t　know　how　things　are　going　to　turn　out　about　this　war。　It　sure　looks　like　the　end　of　the　world　for　me。　There’s　nothing　we　can　be　sure　of　and—and　I　thought　it　would　be　a　heap　of　comfort　to　me　and　maybe　to　her　if　we　were　engaged。　That　would　be　something　sure。　I　wouldn’t　ask　to　marry　her　till　I　could　take　care　of　her；　Miss　Scarlett；　and　I　don’t　know　when　that　will　be。　But　if　true　love　carries　any　weight　with　you；　you　can　be　certain　Miss　Suellen　will　be　rich　in　that　if　nothing　else。”
　He　spoke　the　last　words　with　a　simple　dignity　that　touched　Scarlett；　even　in　her　amusement。　It　was　beyond　her　comprehension　that　anyone　could　love　Suellen。　Her　sister　seemed　to　her　a　monster　of　selfishness；　of　complaints　and　of　what　she　could　only　describe　as　pure　cussedness。
　“Why；　Mr。　Kennedy；”　she　said　kindly；　“it’s　quite　all　right。　I’m　sure　I　can　speak　for　Pa。　He　always　set　a　store　by　you　and　he　always　expected　Suellen　to　marry　you。”
　“Did　he　now？”　cried　Frank；　happiness　in　his　face。
　“Indeed　yes；”　answered　Scarlett；　concealing　a　grin　as　she　remembered　how　frequently　Gerald　had　rudely　bellowed　across　the　supper　table　to　Suellen：　“How　now；　Missy！　Hasn’t　your　ardent　beau　popped　the　question　yet？　Shall　I　be　asking　him　his　intentions？”
　“I　shall　ask　her　tonight；”　he　said；　his　face　quivering；　and　he　clutched　her　hand　and　shook　it。　“You’re　so　kind；　Miss　Scarlett。”
　“I’ll　send　her　to’　you；”　smiled　Scarlett；　starting　for　the　parlor。　Melanie　was　beginning　to　play。　The　piano　was　sadly　out　of　tune　but　some　of　the　chords　were　musical　and　Melanie　was　raising　her　voice　to　lead　the　others　in　“Hark；　the　Herald　Angels　Sing！”
　Scarlett　paused。　It　did　not　seem　possible　that　war　had　swept　over　them　twice；　that　they　were　living　in　a　ravaged　country；　close　to　the　border　of　starvation；　when　this　old　sweet　Christmas　hymn　was　being　sung。　Abruptly　she　turned　to　Frank。
　“What　did　you　mean　when　you　said　it　looked　like　the　end　of　the　world　to　you？”
　“I’ll　talk　frankly；”　he　said　slowly；　“but　I　wouldn’t　want　you　to　be　alarming　the　other　ladies　with　what　I　say。　The　war　can’t　go　on　much　longer。　There　arent　any　fresh　men　to　fill　the　ranks　and　the　desertions　are　running　high—higher　than　the　army　likes　to　admit　You　see；　the　men　can’t　stand　to　be　away　from　their　families　when　they　know　they’re　starving；　so　they　go　home　to　try　to　provide　for　them。　I　can’t　blame　them　but　it　weakens　the　army。　And　the　army　can’t　fight　without　food　and　there　isn’t　any　food。　I　know　because；　you　see；　getting　food　is　my　business。　I’ve　been　all　up　and　down　this　section　since　we　retook　Atlanta　and　there　isn’t　enough　to　feed　a　jaybird。　It’s　the　same　way　for　three　hundred　miles　south　to　Savannah。　The　folks　are　starving　and　the　railroads　are　torn　up　and　there　aren’t　any　new　rifles　and　the　ammunition　is　giving　out　and　there’s　no　leather　at　all　for　shoes。　。。。　So；　you　see；　the　end　is　almost　here。”
　But　the　fading　hopes　of　the　Confederacy　weighed　less　heavily　on　Scarlett　than　his　remark　about　the　scarcity　of　food。　It　had　been　her　intention　to　send　Pork　out　with　the　horse　and　wagon；　the　gold　pieces　and　the　United　States　money　to　scour　the　countryside　for　provisions　and　material　for　clothes。　But　if　what　Frank　said　was　true—
　But　Macon　hadn’t　fallen。　There　must　be　food　in　Macon。　Just　as　soon　as　the　commissary　department　was　safely　on　its　way；　she’d　start　Pork　for　Macon　and　take　the　chance　of　having　the　precious　horse　picked　up　by　the　army。　She’d　have　to　risk　it。
　“Well；　let’s　don’t　talk　about　unpleasant　things　tonight；　Mr。　Kennedy；”　she　said。　“You　go　and　sit　in　Mother’s　little　office　and　I’ll　send　Suellen　to　you　so　you　can—well；　so　you’ll　have　a　little　privacy。”
　Blushing；　smiling；　Frank　slipped　out　of　the　room　and　Scarlett　watched　him　go。
　“What　a　pity　he　can’t　marry　her　now；”　she　thought。　“That　would　be　one　less　mouth　to　feed。”
　
　CHAPTER　XXIX
　THE　FOLLOWING　APRIL　General　Johnston；　who　had　been　given　back　the　shattered　remnants　of　his　old　command；　surrendered　them　in　North　Carolina　and　the　war　was　over。　But　not　until　two　weeks　later　did　the　news　reach　Tara。　There　was　too　much　to　do　at　Tara　for　anyone　to　waste　time　traveling　abroad　and　hearing　gossip　and；　as　the　neighbors　were　just　as　busy　as　they；　there　was　little　visiting　and　news　spread　slowly。
　Spring　plowing　was　at　its　height　and　the　cotton　and　garden　seed　Pork　had　brought　from　Macon　was　being　put　into　the　ground。　Pork　had　been　almost　worthless　since　the　trip；　so　proud　was　he　of　returni