" Nonsense ! You hurt me more than
I do you. Do you love this man ? "

Why not? He has his failings, his



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SHE HATES THEM BOTH 41

weaknesses, but he fights against them, he
tries to overcome them. The whole South
knows him, loves him for his deeds, pities
him for his failings. And I — "

"Yes? You what?"

"You shall see. Meanwhile before you
depreciate a brother soldier, why don't you
do something yourself? You are not in
the same class."

"I wouldn't say that. Miss Glen, if I
were you," exclaimed Major Lacy, quietly
entering the room through one of the long
windows opening on the veranda. "Ah,
Sempland, have you told your little tale ? "

" Yes."

" Exposed me to this young lady ? "

" I have."

"And condemned me as an utter scoun-
drel, a blackguard ? "

Not quite. I told the truth," returned



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42 LITTLE TRAITOR TO THE SOUTH

Sempland, calmly, "just as I said to you I
would, and for that I am ready to answer in
any way to please you. We can settle the
matter when the war is over."

"Very well. What did you say. Miss
Glen ? " continued Lacy, turning to that
young woman.
" I told him it wasn't true ! " burst out
the girl, impetuously.
"Ah, but it is," said Lacy, softly. "I
am all that he says, and more, too."

" But look at what you have done."

" But little, after all. I heard you re-
proaching Sempland for what he had not
done when I came in. That isn't fair. No
braver man lives than Rhett Sempland.
