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cottage, neglected —looking like most of the buildings of that rich, alluvial section, where cotton-raising absorbs all the thoughts and en ergies, and most of the money of the planters. But* the yard was covered with velvety grass, and under a great valnut tree swung a hammock, from which floated a mass of white drapery. The occupant who lazily swayed therein, was play ing the -‘Mocking Bird” to a guitar accompani ment while several children stood around her listening. The music stopped, the musician turned around in her hammock. < Truants !* cried a voioe like a flute, ‘ come here and give an account of yourselves. Why are you so late ?’ . . „ „ ‘Ob ! Floyd, we have had an adventure! Zoe said, as they approached the tree. * An adventure '.—what—in going to and from such a stupid little village as Cohatchie ? Did old Gray stumble, and some shirt-sleeved knight of the plow pick you up out of the mud, or did the mishap take place in the street, and was it some hero of the yard-stick or the sugar scales that came to the rescue?* ‘ Nonsense Floyd!' * By the way, I’ve been presiding over the scales and the yard-stick myself to-day, help ing your brother in his store. He has had a t un of custom of all colors—darkeys from the plantations, and swarthy French from the swamps, and I’ve been weighing candy and measuring red ribbons as if to the counter born. Mr. Vincent declared I was a charming Bales His notioe of the girl who came in behind the others had in it something more to be remarked. His eye kindled with admiration as Floyd Reese took her seat at the table just opposite. Why was it? Miss Reese had not the delicate, regu lar features of Zoe, nor the sweet, womanly loveliness of Adelle. Bat she had that pictu resque, dramatic charm that excites curiosity and appeals to the imagination. It was seen in her movements, her postures, her looks, even her dress—not arranged with the orderly neat ness of the two other girls, but having a negli- gent grace of its own; from the full sleeves fal:- ing back to show the round arm, to the muslin folds caught low with a rose under the large white throat The charm of the lawless and unfettered hang about her in spite of the air of qneenly self-assurance which served to keep down any utterances of distrust from those who might secretly regard her with suspicion. One of these, it was apparent, was the plump, snn-browned little wife of Vincent, who poured out coffee at the head of the well-supplied table. Her pleasant hostess’ smile gave way to a half frown as Floyd came in talking with Vincent and smiling in his face. Miss Reese had the faculty of looking at every man in a way to con vey to him a kind of secret impression that she was especially interested in him; and this, cu riously enough, without beiing suspected by other men who might be present, each of whom was apt to believe that he alone was the object of the lady's interest. i Something of this flattery was even in the W< She D did not add that the voung farmer and | glance and nod she gave to a common looking store-keeper had supplemented the compliment 1 man, who came in presently and took a seat at the store-keeper UHUB 1 f _ ^ table-a carpenter hired by Mr. Vincent to work by the present of a pretty dress-pattern, now reposing in her trunk. 1 loyd Reese always took the goods the gods sent without scruple or injudicious parade. The organ of secretiveness was fully developed in her handsome head. ‘ But about your adventure—what was it ?’ she “lad Zoe recounted the story of their escape, i fork into a ruddy slice of boiled ham, he said: And/oe recoun r ^ ^ ^ ^ had ‘Colonel, I saw your son Derrick in L Cohat- on his cotton press, and just back from the town, where he had been to get a tool mended. After the thoroughly democratic fashion of the South, he was asked in to eat at the table with the family. He was from the same neigh borhood as Colonel Holman, and as he stuck his with more of picturesque used in relating it to her brother. Evidently, it was interesting to her listener. Floyd raised herself from her lazy, reclining posture in the hammock and leaned forward, looking into Zoe’s eyes. ... * Why in the world did you not ask him to come in ?' she cried. < Did yon not understand, Miss Reese, that it f was Capt. Witohell, the Radical negro leader? Adelle aBked, her face full of seornful wonder. ‘Judge Witchell you mean, and may be future Governor of the State,’ said Floyd, nodding her graceful head emphatically. * Through unjust measures and an ignorant negro vote then,’ cried Adelle indignantly. ‘What honor is there in office so gained ?’ * He is fast getting what is better than honors or office—plenty of money—the stepping-stone ro everything else. Widow Ellis and Mrs. De laney have had to turn their plantations over to him to manage, because they could not get hands, or control them when they were got He is coining money out of the lands they had ly ing waste. Then the appropriation he got from the State for cleaning out Lake Wistencan—that was a grand speculation.’ ‘A grand swindling scheme, flashed Adelle ‘ thirty thousand dollars for clearing out a few harmless snags. To pass such a bill was an outrage. ’ Floyd laughed musically. ‘No matter they did pass the bill, and the Captain has pocketed the money. Success makes right in this world, my dear. A man who carries things before him like this one, deserves chie this evenin’. He crossed over on this side, l too, at the upper ferry—not half an hour before j I did.* a „ ‘You saw my son Derrick in town to-day? I ! can’t imagine what brings him down here.’ ! ‘I think I have an inkling what he’s up to,’ ! returned the other with a knowing wink. ‘Der- j rick wasn't by himself. Hall a dozen or so of ! the Mossy Valley boys were with him. and I heard it hinted they were going to have some fun to-night. Did you know, Colonel, that another of your folks was down here—no other than Capt. Witchell? There’s to be a big nigger meeting at the old Burn’s place, and the Captain comes down to organize a Loyal League- The boys, so I heard, were bound to interrupt the grand pow-wow and give it a scare, if no more. I hope thee won't get hurt, nor into any difficulty.’ Adelle saw her father’s face cloud anxiously, but straightening himself in his seat, the old man said stoutly: ‘I should regret it, Mr. Davis; but if they should get into a difficulty—if blood was spilled even my own son’s blood, sir, I should not grieve, if it might be the means of rousing our people from their cowardly submissiveness. Forbearance in their case has long ceased to be a virtue. If they are down in the dust, need they grovel nnder the foot that crushes them ? Here we are reduced to the most humiliating slavery that ever outraged a people—taxed be yond all justice, swindled on every hand, our political rights taken from us, oar private busi ness interfered with and disorganized by med dlers that Bet our ignorant African laborers and we submit to it with- varnes •mugs ,, - ’___ > aeainst and above us; and we submit to it with- aaptf,” niUCA LUll Ux pui^io-uawmo uj duo t>uu* • Iren, and tossed it up by its ribbon string. Then she sprang from the hammock with a quick movement that showed a shapely, slipper ed foot, and sent a mass of warm brown hair tumbling about her shoulders. Even in the half light the charm of this wo man could be seen. The carmine glow in her cheeks, and the gold glints in her hair were not visible, but the outlines of a most seductive shape—at once full and flexible, sumptuous and sinuous—made apparent that charm of form so potent, especially in the eyes of men who are no longer very youthful. ‘ You were short-sighted not to have turned your adventure to good account,’ she said, shak ing back her curls and looking at Adelle. * If I thought you were in earnest, Floyd Reese!’ ‘Am 1 not, though ? It was a rare opportuni ty, and you should have remembered your copy book counsel and ‘improved your opportunity’ in this instance—I would if I had been in yonr place.' Holding the guitar with one arm, she put the other around Adelle’s waist and stood laughing. The younger girl shrank slightly from the embrace—a movement that did not escape the quick discernment of the other. ‘Pardon,’ she said, with a sudden change of manner.’ Of coarse my talk is to betaken with the classic grain of salt; yet, if I should be tempted by a full purse and a bold arm, it might not be so bad for me—a moneyless waif, with none to help me fight my battles with the world. With you it is different; yon have the shelter of home and love.’ Her voice had lost its light ring, and was rich and sweet, seemingly charged with more emo tion than was expressed. Her eyes were cast down; one would not have thought they had noted the approach of Hugh Vincent; but there was little that escaped the keen vision and won derful intuition of Floyd Reese. Adelle was touched into forgetfulness of the distrust that had made her shrink, and Zoe said, reproachfully: ' How can you be so unkind to yonr friends as to call yourself friendless, Floyd ?’ The stoutly built, rather coarsely handsome brother of Zoe, suffered his eyes to dwell for a moment on the tableau, whose central figure was Floyd, with downcast lashes and pictu resquely falling hair. Then he said: ‘ Is it too romantic oat here in the moonlight to speak of sapper, yoang ladies ? It is waiting, my good wife says; and no donbt, cousin Dell, yon and Zoe are hungry after yonr ride and yonr rescue. By the way, I would not mention that last to vonr father, DelL It would worry him uselessly, for I have sufficiently accounted for yonr staying late. He is so bitter against car pet-baggers.’ ‘ Against this man, especially. Do yon not know, cousin Hugh, that once when he was Provost Marshal, he had my father arrested, humiliated before him and fined for striking an insolent negro. Think of it—my father!’ She said, ‘my father’ as proudly as though the plain, Mossy Valley farmer had been some po tentate of the land; and truly if he had been, she eonld not have rendered him more loving homage. Besides, being a kind father, he had a commanding look that had beoome him well at the head of his regiment in Confederate days, aQd still made him looked up to with deference by hie household and his neighbors. His fine presence gave quite an imposing look to Mrs. Vinoent’s neat tea table, as the par ty from the yard entered the sapper room. Adelle went up to him and kissed him, as was her habit whenever she had been away from him for a day or a night Then he bent his shaggy, iron-gray head with a fine grace to her compan ion, ‘Cousin Zoe,’ as he called her, though the tie of blood between him and his host was not very close—just enough to warrant the Colonel’s stopping here a few days with his daughter on their return trip from New Orleans. once 0 _ ~ *—iuiiduiou\ j’v unu cdUhbU', ‘ but you, up in your parish, are better off in that respect than we are. From accounts, Capt. Witchell must be the best of our Yankee mas ters; more just in administering affairs, and knows how to do a generous thing sometimes.’ ‘Yes, sir; he knows how to lavish with one hand, what he has robbed with the other; when it i3 policy to do so. He is courting popular ity with the ignorant whites; why, I don’t know; since he seems to get all he wants and no thanks to them. He gets to be Judge without a vote being cast But he will not be allowed to hold coart, sir; never.’ The old gentleman's eye flashed: he pushed his cup of coffee .from him, half full, and rose from the table. His danghter followed him, and as he stalked np and down the gallery, she tucked her little hand under his arm and walk ed with him, trying to mollify his mood by her pleasant talk. But with all her affectionate prattle, she did not sncceed so well as the syren, who came out presently and sat down where the moonlight fell over her and her picturesque white drapery. ‘Sing, Nelly, for us, Miss Floyd,’ cried one of her two little pupils, lugging up the inevitable guitar. ‘Oh dear!’ she said, but she played notwith standing—old fashioned songs, sweet in them selves and sweeter by association—gay little trills at first and then songs of love and parting. ‘I’ll play this old drawl for you especially, Zoe,’ she said. Waft a sigh to the South, while I sing that venerable lover's lament, ‘Days of Ab sence.’ Zoe merely smiled; it was not worth while to blush at allusions to her engagement; she heard them so often; and besides, her attachment to her young lawyer-lover was not of the sort that effects blushes, being quiet and dispassionate as it was sincere. She had no girlish shyness at hearing their marriage disoussed. She had looked forward to it so seriously that she seemed already Herbert Drew’s wife, as indeed she wonld have been, had not her mother’s reeent death postponed their marriage. Soon afterwards, her home in New Orleans wob wholly broken up; her father went to Cuba to establish a business, and she came to live with her married brother at his river-side farm. ‘Now sing something to suit conisin Dell,’the children cried when the dolerons ‘drawl’ was finished. ‘Yes, I will,’ Floyd said. Lines to her who will understand them,’ and she sang ‘Norah’s vow.’ 'Hear what highland Norah said The Earlies son, I will not wed Though all the race of natare die, And none be left save he and I. • • * » •••• Bat Norah’s vow is lost and won. She’s wedded to the Earlie’a son. ‘How is that applicable to Adelle, Miss Reese?’ Col. Holman asked stopping beside the singer. ‘It is prophetic,’ she laughed unmindful of the haughty look Adelle threw at her upon this allusion to their conversation this evening and to an adventure unpleasant to her pride and a knowledge of whioh, she knew wonld destroy all her fathers's hardly regained good humor. She quitted the group in the gallery and went into a room that opened upon it—Mrs. Vincent’s room—where the little mother sat rocking her fretful baby to sleep with a weary look on her face. Adelle took the baby and soon succeeded, through her gift in soothing, in getting it to sleep. As she sat with the little head against her bosom—a sweeter picture than Raphael’s ma donna, she said: “Cousin Monde, who is Miss Reese?’ ‘Ah! who is she indeed,’ returned the little matron, snddanly animated. I wonld like to have that question answered to my own satisfac tion. I never saw her before Hugh brought her down two month’s ago, to teach May and Rob; though I had heard bits of her history—her his tory, mind, aocording to herself, wbieh may be true as gospel for aught I know. She suddenlv appeared in the neighborhood above Cohatchie, one day last fall; went to see Judge Clark—who is a well-to-do, kind-hearted highly-thought ef old gentleman, and made the Masonic sign of distress, and then told him her story—who she hid crossed the river from tne Texas side in the night—a stormy night too—that she was fol lowed and pursued as for as the river by her guardian, who was a very bad man and wanted to get all her property for his own use. With this object, he had pretended that she was crazy and shut her np some where. When she made her escape, he followed her. He had thought, so she hoped, that she had been drowned while trying to cross the river in the darkness and storm. It was her intention to stay in this state until she was twenty-one, and then return to Texas and prosecute her guardian, aud recover her property. As she must earn her support until then, she begged Judge Clark to help her. He did so; he enlisted the Masons and church members in her behalf, and obtained for her a school. But somehow she was dissatisfied, the school taxed her too much; she saw my husband and told him how greatly she would prefer to teach a few children in a private family; and he offered her a place with us. I trust he may nev er regret it ?’ ‘Is she not a good teacher ?’ •Yes, she does well enough in that way I sup pose, though it’s easy to see she is not used to teaching, and she is..no disciplinarian; at one time romping with tne children like another child, then cold Mil* moody and cross. But it’s not that I object to so much. She has managed to make berself first in the house—her wishes and opinions to be considered first by servants, children and even Hugh. No woman likes to be made of second importance in her own honse.’ ‘No, I should think not.’ ‘Married women have cares and troubles enough if they do their duty faithfully. They ought at least to be a sort of queen in their, own little home—that’s my idea; but you don’t al ways see it so: far from it sometimes. Married life aint the honey sweet cup that girls are apt to think it. But there! I’ve no business pat ting a bitter taste for it in your mouth before hand, and you to try it yourself so soon, cous in.’ ‘I? who told you so?’ ‘Your father and I were talking about you to day—in here by ourselves—and he told me you were engaged, or as good as engaged to Richard Lanier—your near neighbor. I used to know the family well.’ ‘Papa told you that ?’ said Adelle. She had turned paje, and she rose hurriedly and laid the baby in his little crib. She tucked the soft white covering around him to gain time, before she faced Mrs. Vincent and said: ‘Consin Monde, don’t speak of that again—to me or any one, please. There is nothing set tled, and I don’t think—’ ‘Why, your father teemed so pleased.’ ‘Yes, I know. Richard's land joins ours; he is Derrick’s friend, and he was in papa’s regi ment—a brave hot-headed fellow, but—I don’t think I will ever marry, I like my girl-life too well to change it,’ she walked to the open win dow, and stood there, wondering why the men tion of Richard Lanier jarred on her so. The picture of him that rose before her—the slim, swarthy face, the small, keen eyes, so watchful of her—was absolutely repugnant. ‘I believe I am tired,’ she said, wearily, T will say good- night, and go to bed. Zoe has already gone up stairs.’ Zoe was re-reading the letter she had got from the Cohatchie post office that day. ‘Would you like tv tee how he looks, Dell ?’ she asked, holding *p a small card picture, that had come wi'^Vg^etter. _ . neiu to catch the iaSq^iight.’ It was a good face, too. The month was gentle and tender, the eyes had a franktbreadth between them and a steady, truthful look. Adelle liked the face and said so. ‘You think it the perfection of manly beauty, of course, Zoe,’she said; playfully touching the girl’s cheek, as she handed back the picture. ‘No, I do not. I don’t think it is manly enough. I like a strong, masterful face, even if it is a bit rugged. Dell, there is no harm in just admiring a face, and I own I like Capt. Witch ell’s—just the face, mind you.’ ‘Don't speak of him. Oh! how sorry I am that we got nnder any obligation to him.’ ‘I don’t think he will presume upon it—after the way we received it, Dell. You were very cold.’ ‘He must have thohght me dreadfully mean and ungrateful,’ the girl said, with a sudden rush of color to her forehead. ‘But it does not matter what he thinks,’ she added quickly, undoing her hair, and letting its dark waves drop down upon her shoulders, saying, as she threaded its mass with her fin gers: ‘I wish our land could be rid of such vam pires as he,, I am afraid they will cause us ter rible trouble, yet. I shall not sleep for think ing of Derrick to-night, and fearing he will com mit some rash act, that will cost him his life.’ She knew that Lanier was with her brother, but she did not speak of this. CHAPTER II. One who had only seen Floyd Reese in the presence of others, her face carefully guarded in its expressions, would hardly have recognized her when she sat alone as to-night, her brow bent, her mouth drooping, her eyes fall of gloomy thought ‘No use to dwell upon that now,’ she said, rousing herself at length; and then, standing np and clenching one of her hands, ‘but I must make a bold stroke some how. I won’t vegetate here any longer; l can’t stand it Besides, there’s a storm brewing. Monsier is growing sentimental; and Madame, oross as a cat. Why will men always fall in love with me?' Her eyes fell upon the looking glass over the mantel. ‘If they could see me now,' she thought, with a little bitter laugh that yet broke up the hard lines drawn about her mouth, and brought the color into her cheeks. Still looking at herself, she thought, ‘How strange that my eyes can be bright, my cheeks red, after what I have gone through ! I hope they will stay so and tell no tales, for I must call up all my boldness and strike out somewhere. I was born to rule. I teel the will and the power straggling within me, and yet, here I am, rating two disgusting brats and perhaps their commonplaoe father, whose devoted regards can never serve me any farther than to keep me in bread and clothes, until his jealous wife objects. I must fly for higher game. If I oould attach myself to this bold hawk that i3 preying to suoh good purpose on my chicken-hearted states-people! Captain Witchell, if I coaid win your confidence, share yonr schemes, help you to outwit men, and rise with you to power and riehes, it would be all my ambition would crave. It wonld fill my heart too—better than love can fill it. Love! Faugh! I have done with love, or I ought to have done with it. It has been my bane: if I touch it again, it will be to make it my slave;— a stepping stone to power of some kind. Still with her eyes on the glass, she smiled slowly. * How my eyes shine to-night!’ she thought. ' It is prophetic of some lucky fortune? This is one of my beauty-moments. I am only pretty by flashes.’ A sadden barking of dogs outside, followed by the sonnd of horses in a canter, ’caused her to start from her seat and approach the window. Coming along the road that ran j oat ontside the palings, were three or four mounted men, plain ly to be seen in the moonlight. They sleekened their pace as they oame near the house; a win dow was thrown open, and the voice of Vincent was heard calling out, but in suppressed tones, as though afraid of waking others. ‘Derrick Holman, are you there? Open the gate and ride in here for a moment.' The foremost rider wheeled his horse, un latched the gate, and rode into the yard and np to the window along-side the tall myrtle bush, whose polished leaves glistened in the moon light. Holding out his hand, he said: ‘ Hoar are you Cousin Vincent. Father is here isn’t he ? ‘ Yes. he stopped off the boat to recruit a lit tle. He had a sharp attack of cholera morbus coming up, and it left him too weak to bear jolt ing across the country to Malta, over your rough hill roads. He heard to-night of yoUr being here and on what errand, and was very anxious about it. He sent a man—Martin—you may know him, as he comes from your neigh borhood—with a message to you. Did you see Martin ?’ • Yes; and sent back word to the old man that he needn’t have alarmed himself. * Was anything done ?’ ‘No,’ laughed the other—a forced, self-mock ing laugh. ‘ The adventure was a farce from beginning to end. In the first plaee, Witchell rode down here by himself, instead of with the nigger body-guard, or the posse of white seala- wags, that we expected he would take with him. We were out in the woods, two or three miles from Malta, on the watch out for him when he passed, and saw it wouldn’t do. ’Twould have been fun to scare the lot, but we couldn’t fall on one man, riding peaceably along—though he was a rasoally carpetbagger. We rode on after him, thinking to break up the meeting anyhow. We thought to get some of the boys at Cohatchie to join ns, but they fought shy when we hinted oar business. I believe you folks down this way think every Yankee usurper—Witchell es pecially—is a kind of Fate or Providence, that it’s no use kicking against. Well, we came on ourselves; crossed over and went ’round by the swamp-road baok of the fields to the place of meeting. There again, we found things not as we had counted on. Instead of closed doors and a nigger guard, the door was open and we were invited to come in and take seats. We marched into the aisle and stood there listening to what Witchell was saying. He was making a speech; he turned and looked at us—he knew me, for I’d been in his way a time or two be fore, and I was at the head 'of the fellows that warned him, after he made himself Judge, that he needn't try to hold court, But he made no sign, and kept on with his speech. It was for the negro, of course, but iu a kind of general way. There was nothing in it to give you a handle to get after him. The house was pretty full—black, with a sprinkling of white office- hankerers, and among them that arch rogue Yent, that’s hectoring over everything down here, as he tried to do with us. He was sitting there, pompous as a King among his nigger-wor shippers. My hands itched to get hold of him, but I saw there was no chance for that. There fnre enough of them thereto gobble up our lit tle handfnll. I tuought best to get out of the den at once, but Lanier, who had been drink ing pretty freely, give the lie to something Witchell said. Witchell turned and flashed his eyes at ns like a sword. "If you interior j here, he said low, (we were standing close to him) I will order your arrest. You had best go before there is trouble.” Lanier struck out at him with with his knife; Witohell caught his wrist and held it. Let him loose, I cried out, and laid my hand on my pistol. Witchell said nothing, but that coward bally Yent, bellowed oat: gers came tumbling over the benches like a black hnrricane. We stood a fair chance of be ing torn to pieces. Witchell ordered them back, and when they wouldn’t mind, he drew a re volver, cocked it and held it out, declaring that he would shoot the first one that tried to pass him. You ought to have seen Yent fall back. I said to the boys, this is no place for white men; let’s go; and we went’ ‘So Witjhell really kept down a disturbance; saved your lives, perhaps. ’ ‘No thanks to any good feeling on his part. He does anything for policy. He looks ahead. He has more of the fox than the wolf in him. I hear he is coming to cast his lot here with you on the river; I don’t congratulate you. He’ll make his jack out of you, you’ll find to your sorrow. ’ ‘Won’t you come in, and stay all night, and see your father and sister ?’ ‘No, I thank you. We are going to cross to night The boys swear the game isn't done yet. Witchell is to have a nigger guard to-morrow; it will be good sport to give them a run and a scare, perhaps something else. Sis, is that you standing there on the piazza, looking like a ghost in the moonshine? Come and kiss me. Don’t you begin to scold. If you had been at home, I would have been there too. Why did you stay away so long ? You might have known I’d get demoralized.’ He said the last words, bending down to kiss his sister, his arm about her neck as she stood beside his horse. She had stepped down from the piazza and stood with her white dressing gown wrapped around her and her dark hair loose on her shoulders. ‘ I was too uneasy to sleep, ’ she said, ‘ I heard yonr voice, and crept down stairs to see you and Snow that you wtre safe. Father was anxious; he walked about the room a long time after he retired, but I believe he is asleep now. Will yon come in and see him ?’ ‘ No; I have no time; they are waiting for me; Lanier is among them; he has seen you and is riding in.’ ‘Then, I will go; I do not want to see him— Good-bye,’ Adelle said hastily. ‘No;’ her brother answered, catching her hands. Yob must not go now. He will think you are running away from him and be mad with you. You know how quick he is. Besides he is a little—excited to-night.’ ‘ He has been drinking—that is nothing very nnasnal,’ said Adelle in disgust. The slender young man rode up to her side and greeted her with eager tenderness, grasping in a tight, ner vous clasp the hand she reluctantly extended. 'Yon are well,’ he said, bending down and fastening his black, burning eyes on her fair faoe, in its frame of loose, soft hair. * You are enjoying your visit We heard of you. Derrick, did you tell her what we heard to-night ?’ ‘No; I never thought of it Besides, I did not believe it Adelle, a negro told ns that you came across the river in a skiff with Witchell. It was not so, of coarse.’ ‘ Yes it was!’ the girl said, faltering and feel ing her cheeks flame. ‘It was an accident The flat we were in, was run over and sank by the Monsoon. He came np in the skiff jnst in time to rescue us.’ ' I had almost rather you had drowned,' mat tered her brother, with an oath.’ * Oh, Derrick!’ ' No, I don’t mean that Bat it was unfortu nate. However, you need not recognize him afterwards. Yon thanked him, and that was an end of it Yes, I am coming this moment’ he said, in answer to an impatient call from his comrades on the other side of the fence. ‘Good bye. Sis; I will send the carriage for yon and father to-morrow. Come, Lanier.’ Adelle's dark lover snatched her hand and earned it to his hot lips. The kiss seemed to barn there, long after he had rode away, and the small oavalcade had disappeared np the moonlit road that followed the river’s windings. She palled a catalpa leaf, wet with eool dew, and rubbed the place on her hand • where his lins, feverish with liquor and the passions of his fiery heart, had pressed the kiss.' ‘Somehow, I shrink from him more than ever,’ she thought, in some distress. ‘ He is leading Derrick into all this. Oh ! how I wish I bad begged them not to do anything to Capt. Witchell to-morrow. I meant to have done it. He might not interfere as he did to-night. That was magnanimous, let them say of him what they will. But, then, as Derrick says, it was done through policy. Of coarse, a grasping, unscrupulous man like him, can have no real nobleness of character.’ Yet still, to her own vexation, the thoGght of him, the image of his proud, stern face, and the half-sneering, half-melancholy smile that carved his lips when she shrank from him, recurred to her as she lav watchful, beside her sleeping friend. Another was wakeful with thoughts of Capt. AVitchell and of the conversation she had over heard between Derrick Holman and his cousin. Floyd made a resolve before she slept, and with her to plan impulsively and to execute boldly were characteristic. CHAPTER II. Early next morning, Floyd Reese came out of the house and took her way to the stable. Leading out Fleta, she took down bridle and saddle from the pegs where they hang and put them on the mare. Fleta was hers—her only possession. The mare’s fleet limbs had saved her once in a desperate race for life, with a mob following like famished wolves behind. Floyd would not part with her, she said, as long as she could help it. A good price had been offered for her, but Floyd refused it. ‘Not till I need bread; even then I will hesitate and starve a little first, so long as the rich range will keep her from famishing.' Vincent had the use of the mare now for her keep, but she was seldom ridden by any but Floyd, and her sleek coat and bright eye testified to greater care than is usual in Western stables. Floyd caressed her pretty neck a moment before she mounted to a seat iu the saddle, and rode away, just as the master of the house came out upon the piazza. Seeing her, he called to her and came eagerly towards her, but she only nod ded her plumed head to him and waved her hand as she cantered swiftly up the road. She had no idea of being hindered in her pur pose this morning by listening to the flattering speeches of a man whose admiration could be no use to her—no help in getting her out of the dull routine of life which her restless, ambitious soul hated with deadly hatred. Briskly she rode through the broad fields, bordering on the river, the murky stream rolling between its steep banks upon one side, the long rows of flourishing corn or cotton upon the other: fields all the way, with dividing fences, whose big gates she had learned to open. Look ing back she saw galloping towards her, a lank negro, astride a diminutive white mule. ‘ He probably went to the meeting Pst night, and can tell me what 1 want to know,' thought Floyd, and purposely dropped her riding- whip. ‘Pick it up for me, please,’ she said to the negro, who tumbled down, delighted to serve a handsome and stylish-looking lady. As he hand ed it to her, she further pleased him by a smile and a gracious ‘thank you.’ ‘You are out early this morning: you are not just now coming from the Loyal League meet ing are you ?’ ‘ No, ma’nm.’ ‘ Was it a good meeting?’ The negro hesitated and looked at her doubt fully. Any allusion by a white Southerner to the negro’s newly-acquired civil and political .ui-.ijuo aisiarDea tne latter s equanimity, tfnd made him draw into his shell of suspicion. But r loyd s smile was irresistible, and suspicion was disarmed. „7-. 1 u W » 8 a meetin’, ma’am. Capt. Witchell and Mr. Yent spoke beautiful. ’ I am glad of it. We heard that a foolish at tempt to break up the meeting was going to be made. I hope Capt. Witchell will not go back alone. It would be unsafe.’ ‘ He oughtn’t to, ma’am—that’s a fao’, and some of our people made up to guard him, but he sent word he didn’t need it and wouldn’t eept it no how.’ ‘ And so he has gone ?’ ‘ Not yit. He’s goin’ to cross up here at Tenk’s landing, De flat’s outer fix at Mr. Brown’s, where he stayed ias’ night.’ ‘He stayed at Mr. Brown’s, the store keeper’s, last night? ^ ‘Yes ma’am, he did that. Mr. Brown writ a note and specially axed him. Mr. Brown knows which side his bread’s battered on. He’s goin’ to make fair wedder wid the Cap’n, and all de white uns better do the same. Cap’n Witchell moat help dem, same as he do we, and he s mighty good at helpin’. ’ ‘Mighty good at helping himself,’ Floyd thought, as, having gained all the information she wanted, she began to hum a tune and cut with her whip at the young corn blades, while the negro lifted his battered hat, said good morning, and rode on ahead. Half an hour more brought Floyd to the cros- sing spoken of, and riding down into the strip of woods that here fringed the river, she dis mounted, tied her mare to a limb, and leaning against an old ash tree near the path that led to the river, she waited for Capt. Witchell to ap pear The birds twittered in the young leaves over head, the yellow butterfles drifted over the blos somed herbs and dew berry vines at her feet, the river flowed below with a cool gargle, but Floyd’s thoughts were not in tune with these. They were confused and unquiet. The purpose she had in view, seemed more and more obsurd in her eyes, more desperate and unlikely to re sult in any thing but failure. Still there was a chance of success. ‘Nothing risk, nothing get, Floyd said to herself. ‘He must remember me with some sort of interest He can hardly have forgotten my face—ghastly as it was with terror, and covered with dust from that awful race. Those wretches must have told him eve ry thing, but he may not have believed them; he may have credited my story and pitied me. He was so gcod afterwards. It is natural to think kindly of one we have helped, more of one who has helped us; and if I can rekindle his interest and keep it alive, something may oome of it’ While such thoughts coursed through her brain, she heard the sound of horse’s hoofs on the upper bank. 'It is he, and, thank Fate, alone,’ s]^e said, looking np. Leading his horse by the bridle, Capt. Witchell was descending the path to the flat. His head was bent in thought; he did not see her an til she made a step forward. He stop- K ed, a surprised look oame into his face. Then e lifted his hat courteously, and was passing on, when she detained him by a gesture. (TC BK CONTIJfUID.) The expense of Stanley’s African exploration is in round numbers $115,000. He discovered 15,000,000 heathvns, whioh is about six for five cents, or a very reasonable figure for heathens — H orceeter Press. Russia has twelve thousand miles of railwav in operation, bat until the late war she did not ttmk the telegraph worthgoing to much expense An exchange says that a man in Upton Indi ana, was cured of dyspepsia by the use of pop- ooni. Upon close questioning it was found he had eaten three hundred and fifty bushels before the cure was effected. ouw*,