that before? me see it." Where is the wound? Let Florence uncovered the wounded side, and the surgeon passed his hand lightly and skilfully around the little puncture. "It is here under the arm," said he; "I will soon have it in my hand." With a touch of his lancet, he severed the thin covering of muscle which held it, and slipped the bullet into his hand. "It glanced along the ribs," said he; "had it entered the side, it would have been another thing. have been out before." But it ought to During the operation Florence had stood pale and motionless, her hands tightly folded, and she drew a long breath of inexpressible relief as the physician applied the last bandage and covered the patient up. "He will live?" she faintly asked. Live? Yes. But what is he saying?" 46 Carleton who had been a good deal disturbed by the removal of the ball, now lay murmuring in indistinct tones, whose tenor the physician endeavored to catch. "General! general! shall we ?" give them a little more grape "He is! But you surely will not take advantage of secrets revealed in his delirium to injure him?" "I shall do my duty; and first let me inquire again how this young man came here in your dwelling?" "My servants brought him here. They were near him as he fell, struck by the bullet you have just extracted.' But where was he? lines?" "He was." Within our "Then he was here as a spy, and my daty now becomes doubly clear to arrest him." A flash of satisfaction passed over the said he, coolly," to establish a guard in 66 trolling her voice perfectly; "and you Very well, sir," said Florence, conwill come again to-morrow?" am!" and with a polite bow, the physi"Oh, certainly. Good-evening, madcian left her. him, and with a suppressed groan sat Florence dropped the curtain behind down by Carleton's side. his becoming a prisoner, and suffering all The terror of the barbarities she knew but too well were inflicted upon Federal prisoners, wrung her heart. How could she envent it? Even were there to be no sendure it? Could she by any means premeans tinel to guard him, how could she find wounded as he was? to secure his escape, ill and might he not die? And after all He was again confusedly murmuring, every moment seemingly adding to his mountain caverns without hope of resdelirium. He was wandering in the cue. The guerrillas now had him in their clutches, and now he was feeding the fire under the mountain cliff, his cousin, just revealed, seated before him And now they were seated together as in and repelling indignantly his suspicions. old times among the pleasant hills and tiny sleigh along the snow-path with valleys of the North, or whirling in the jingling bells and prancing steed. Suddenly some old scene seemed to return, and his voice grew low and plaintive. "And you will give me up for a hardthan a Southern-born planter; and all faced Scotchman, a slave-owner, harder because of his wealth! Florence, you have deceived me! You never loved "O doctor! You will not hazard his me!" life by removing him now?" The physician hesitated. Again and again he wailed out piteousnothing to me now! "No; Ily, "You never loved me!-you are me! you never loved you never loved me! why should I care where I go? Pangs of agony and regret wrung the will wait until he shall so far have recovered as to render it safe. I would not be needlessly harsh, especially as he is in no condition to run away," he grimly added. I heart of Florence as she listened to these wanderings of one who had loved her from his boyhood, and who had never forgotten her, though she had turned from him and had married another who had proved unkind and unworthy, who loved her yet with a love that coldness could not chill nor absence lessen. And she, did she love him? A mortal chill shook her; for she remembered the barrier between them, the fatal vow to the dead. Did she love him? She bowed her head upon his pale hand which lay upon the coverlet, as he once more wailed out, "You never loved me!" and pressed kiss after kiss upon it, while tears streamed hot and fast. I love you, Guy! I do love you! I can say it now when you are all unconscious of my words or acts. I love you, Guy!" and again her tears and kisses rained fast upon the unconscious hand. Carleton closed his eyes like an obedient child; but sleep did not come. wanderings returned, yet the visions that haunted him now were bright and beautiful and sweet. The negro watched him without a moment's cessation during all the night, humoring his fancies, reverentially hiding in his own heart every se Who can account for the strange influence sometimes produced by what seem all insufficient causes? Carleton turned his head toward his cousin, and in seem-cret thing his wanderings revealed, and ingly perfectly rational tones said, Florence, did you speak?" "Do you feel better, Guy?" "It seemed to me that you spoke, and at your words a strange glow of health and joy went flowing through my veins. Didn't you speak?' Yes, Guy, I spoke." He lay as if thinking, with an anxious look, striving hard to recall some memo ry that eluded him. A glow slowly lit his dull eyes. "Florence, did you say you loved me, or have I dreamed it? A crimson glow covered the face of Florence. "You dream strange things, Guy. You must not talk. You must be quiet. You are very ill. Here, let me give you a spoonful of this cooling drink" He feebly put it aside. Florence, did you say you loved me, or did I dream?" administering to his every need. At length, as daylight approached, a gentle moisture appeared on his brow, quiet stole over his senses, and he fell into a calm, refreshing slumber. The morning found him rational and free from fever. His wound was less painful and evidently doing well. He watched the curtain through which the negro passed in and out of his room, as if expecting some one else, while deep perplexity stole over him as he gazed about the room upon the clay walls and the roof of rough logs and earth, through which he could see green leaves waving in the sunlight. "Is this you, Josh? Where am I? and what is all that cannonading that I hear? Am I in General Grant's camp?" 66 Lors, no, massa! You're jis' in a big hole in de groun', a sort o' cave what de Vicksburg folks libs in, so dat de shell and de shot dat de Yankees send flyin' over de hills sha'n't hurt us." "Am I in Vicksburg? What does it mean? I must get up and go to headquarters. I shall be wanted." "Yer'll hab to lay yere, sar. wounded ye is, sar, and de doctor's tuk "Tis a big bullet out on yer, sar." Carleton looked vaguely for a few moments, while recollection seemed slowly to return. "I remember! I remember! And how long have I been here under ground? I remember thinking I was dead and buried. But who else is here?" 'Oh, dere's a smart chance o' folks, sar; but yer mustn't talk, de whysician said, and so I'll gwi and get yer some breakfast." She could realize her situation, and remember them. It was a few moments before she lay helpless in the inner room. the wounded officer so dear to her who started to her feet, and after a refreshing toilet, passed out to the entrance of her cave. eyes was a Confederate soldier gravely The first object which met her pacing to and fro before it. It was what she had been prepared for, but her heart sunk within her at the sight. It argued danger for Carleton as well as for herself, and sorrow the day might bring forth. and she dared not think what disaster Too While the negro was gone, Carleton lay vaguely and feebly thinking. It seemed to him that he could remember Florence nounced by Dr. Gates much improved. The condition of Carleton was prositting by his side, and feeling her lips" He will soon be able to be removed," touching his hand, and seeing her floating he remarked, with a meaning look at like a phantom before his bed. But it Florence, was all vague and misty, and he could not safer place than this little cave. "when we will have him in a make it real, and wearied and exhausted many shells explode in this neighborhood. with the effort, he tried to put it all Meanwhile, has he a good nurse, and can away as a vagary of fever. you conveniently leave your children for awhile? I think I have often observed a colored servant whom you call Folie taking very excellent care of them. She of trees." is with them now out in yonder thicket "I have dreamed so much, so much. I will wait." He closed his eyes, and when the negro returned with his breakfast, he was again quietly sleeping. Meanwhile Florence had not slept, but each hour of the night had witnessed her creeping softly between the curtain which separated the living room from Carleton's and gazing for a few moments on his flushed and fallen face. As the morning approached and the first faint streaks of dawn began to render objects in the outer room visible, she stole into her own little bedroom, where her children lay soundly sleeping, and lying down in her morningwrapper by their side, fell asleep. The roar of the bombardment which had recommenced had not power to disturb her, so profound were her slumbers. her much, but I should not be willing to have left them for more than one day Florence turned pale. "I have left them to be sure, but it ty!—and I have even been absent a day was only on occasions of urgent necessiinto the power of some of the marauders or two, but it was because I had fallen who haunt every high-road, which is not guarded by the Federals, within fifty miles." When she again awoke, the sun was riding up the heavens and pouring its rays through the drapery of grape-vines which festooned the huge cotton-wood and china-trees that fronted her cave, and shining on the pale green paw-paws whose broad rich leaves nodded to the reverberations of the pealing guns. She put out her hands to embrace her children; but they were not there, Folie hav-lous." ing long before quietly taken them out to the living room and washed and dressed One would think that prudence would still occupied by my servants. Some one should surely look after it occasionally; and who have I to do so but myself? "True! true! I am glad that you have so plausible a reason to offer for your frequent absences and not always ladylike costumes. General Pemberton desires a little conversation with you, and has commissioned me to escort you to his headquarters in the city." "General Pemberton? He surely would not oblige me to expose myself to the great danger of being killed by the shells that are constantly falling into the city!" "There is a pause now, as usual at this hour of the day, in the bombardment, and I can promise you a safe escort, and the soldier who is promenading before your door will guard it against any intrusion while you are absent, which I hope will not be long, for I trust that you will be able to give the general satisfactory explanation of certain mysterious appearances. You will have the kindness to prepare for your ride, for I have an ambulance in waiting in yonder ravine, and as I am in a good deal of haste you will please use as little delay as possible." "But if I decline to leave home now, as I well may when a sick guest is under my care?" "Then, madam, it will be my duty to call to my aid a small military force which accompanied me in the ambulance, and who still wait." "I am to understand, then, that I am a prisoner? Generous and noble it is, sir, in the old family physician who owes very much of his success in his profession to the influence of the husband of the widow whom he thus dishonorably betrays, entering her retreat under the guise of a friend! Let me congratulate you, sir, on your new method of displaying your gratitude and chivalry!" The doctor colored and bit his lips. "I do but my duty to my country in reporting those whom I have reason to believe are guilty of treasonable practices against it." "And do you accuse me of this? Then let me tell you that my country holds no more true and loyal woman than I." The doctor looked her in the face as if doubting the evidence of his senses. "Do you mean that you are loyal to the Confederacy?" "I repeat what I said: I am true and loyal to my country! And now, if you wish to oppress the young, helpless woman whom your friend left an unprotected widow, I am ready to accompany you." "Why, one would think it one of the greatest misfortunes in the world to visit General Pemberton ! I thought you regarded him as one of your friends." "I have always respected him as an agreeable and honorable gentleman, — a pleasant acquaintance. But you do not wish to persuade me that it is to a mere social intercourse that you so politely invite me? A military escort is not usual on such occasions." No, madam, I do not," said the doctor, sternly, and walking towards the entrance of the cave. "Therefore if you will delay me no longer, I will be greatly obliged. It is not necessary to see your guest again before starting." Florence silently bowed, and entering her own bedroom, hastily donned shawl and bonnet, and announced herself ready. "You will allow me to take leave of my children?" "Certainly." Florence ran out to the little thicket where the children, Folie, and Josh were enjoying the cool, balmy spring air, and giving the negro special directions in regard to the treatment of Carleton, committed him to his care. "I leave him with you for I have seen that you are skilful and believe you faithful and true. Do not leave him many minutes at a time, and when I return I hope to find him much better." "Trust dis yere darkie, missis. I'se show my gratitude to de Lord by doin' my duty to his sojer, and sarvin' you, missis." "I believe you, Josh. And, Folie, I need only say be as faithful as you have been to my little fatherless children, and I shall be satisfied. I hope soon to be home again." She kissed the little ones, straining them tightly to her breast, and left them. This was descending from the poetic to the prose aspect of life, so suddenly — breaking in upon our idyllic dreams with such abruptness, that we were ready to cry with vexation as one by one the familiar features of that beautiful landscape flitted away from our sight. Ah, Frederico! caro mio! please God, some day will we again return to the peaceful enjoyment of this free and healthful life! If ever tempted to leave our native land, hither let us come, and setting up our household gods in the midst of this fair scene, make for ourselves a resting-place apart from the distracting din of the world's strife, and call it home! These thoughts, and the hearty response to the longing wish expressed in a few brief words to our companion, which we received from him then and there, operated as a safety-valve to our failing composure; whereat, much comforted, we lapsed into a state of placid endurance, which not all the wearisome sameness of the journey, the wet luggage on arriving at Liverpool, or the dismal room at the hotel where we stopped, had power to disturb. Ordering a cheerful fire "because of the present rain and the cold," we soon unpacked the contents of certain travelling sacks, and having ascertained that no material damage had resulted from this too generous sopping of apparel, which (contrary to any railroad system we had observed before) was unceremoniously thrown upon platform-cars, there to endure an ordeal of fire or water; i. e., sunshine or rain. Happy the feminine traveller who had no French millinery to |