DONALD'S PLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 193, 22 August 1885, Page 3

DONALD'S PLOT.

A STORY OF

Unfaithful Guardian.

B y *LVANUS COBB. Jr.

CHAPTER XI. IX C.Uir.

tha way Bertram stopped, being miZ g«st pump wbich 6tood in tho [th 6 village green, and beyond he ° Cnen ending. They wore enveloped < s c l oa k» their backs towards him, 5 "eigtobecnga«ed in earnest «.«»■

U°,? h the man there who wishes to see me ?" Bertram asked, coming up by tho si.lo of his ijuide. k\o ■"'•■ Those iUe men ° vll!a Ke' Th i him over there,'• pointing to where o ' roan could be seen rtandiuj; at the far j, re of the green. They moved on, George now walking by v, t-uido'a side, leaving tho two men in Iks upon thoir Wr hand TllOy had but a short distance further, when our heard a rash of feat behind him, a ' . 0[ - jtrontr arms were thrown around to^ck, aß.rbef.ro he could utter a cry , thick sack had been drawn over his head SD d Ms anas lashed behind him. He was then led away, a man upon either • I, j rl ',,,rii|tr him ulotis^. ■ 4"CoS 0"' Co-aeon! If you hold , ~ i t 'U be worse for you ! T n ' voice was strained! and the thick „,. M out most of th<> .--oun.l ; nevertlieS?to«i sure ho had heard it before. Tf it M> not the voico of Jacob \\ ouzel!, it They walked, perhaps a hundred yards „, i 0 and tlien the c: 'Ptivo felt himself lifted'into a veniclo, and driven swiftly ' Struggling1 would be i^eles?—probiw worse than useloss-and crying for ■■^Ip waa impossible ;so 1m suffered himself to be borne on without an etfjrt to stay the knavish proceeding. For a little time tho road \va? comparatively smooth and the riding easy ; but by-.inl-bv tho way became rough and didicult, and anon it begun to ascend n fteep incline. I'o up up, for a full mile, or moro, and then down, down, down about the same distance length tho wheels seemed to have struck the smooth sward, and shortly aiterfitrdsthe waggon stopped,and tho captive was lifted out and set upon his feet. "Anew recruit, Colonel," he heard a nun say—the same voice that had addressed "Veil, off with his masquerade, and let's hive a look at him." The sack was lifted from his head, and upon casting his eye 3 around, Bertram found himself in tho midst of a military encampment. A scoro of tents, moro or lea, werepitched around, and a camp tire mis'mouldering close at hand. He saw this, and then turned his gaze upon a man who stood bsfore him, and who had apparently given tho order for his release from the suffocating hoodwink. Tho bright moonbeam?, resting upon tho stalwart form, sufficiently revealed it to his view. He was v man of powerful frame, tall and muscular; a face strongly marked, partly covcrcd-by afuli flowing benrd of an auburn hueja man of middle age, not over forty; blue eye?, bright, am! large, and full : hair oi the colour of the beaid, clustering about the well shaped head in carefully kept curlijn man who could not, by any unbiased person, bo called else than handsoaie. lls ™ clad in a uniform of dark prey colour, with the straps of a colonel of cavalry upon his shoulders. "My good fellow," the officer said, when he had giveD the captive n re-isonable time in which to view his surrounding*, "I am Jack Eenwick, colonel of cavalry, in the r ervice of the Confederate Statesof America. May I ask who you aro?" George answered, respectfully but pioaily: "lam George Bertram, a subject of the (Joan of England ; an Englishman by birth; and ray birthright I have never forieited or dishonoured. Will you kindly til ns why this un?o;mly outrage has been cacted against me 5" ".Uy(fear/ellow," paid tho colonel, with a cheery smile, "these are times when a ' msn may claim any nationality ho p!ea?e3 to fancy. HoM! Ido not mean to intimate yon would willingly deceive me. Before wo go further will you answer me this: Have you not come to this country hoping tn legally claim property here-property in real estate?' Ho could not deny it, "Then," pursued the colonel, "you should be willing to help us protect your rights and privileges an a Southern lundone: and gentleman. Know, my dear sir, tiut orders have been received from the jam's that bethat we shall fill up our ranks D? (trait; and the draft i* now in process of accomplishment. Look around you. lw will tee many man who havo been mW as you are called." "Sir I"exclaimed tha captive—hi? arms "era siill bound -"do you say that I have kmcalled' I have been cruelly throttled, Mgigged, and bound, and torn from my ;<«e by brutal force. Call you that draftJ? lell me-and'tell me truly—l J,, not t!> »t yon will blacken yu ,,r tongue with Uilshood-is there another here who has MM^rooght icto your camp as I have "So, there wsu not another man whom W MrfeJ to bring. My dtar man, we «*d you. I have a strong fancy that J!:5?, n., mi,litar y man. I do not think a.eta 0( i, N , Jlr> angwor me tr *, ~a vo J'»»ot enjoyed a military education ?" "v ,notc denyif ' sir- I even now-" „ »™? Speak on." «ml" a- 3ab-utto!laV that I still hold a ™H !Sl°f\ In the Brifisl' a™y i hut it ! "° T b?/Wetly true. I would not t ye? t I?ftit with a very dear friend, n Ittollls son should tho youth grow bff I- P,°' nt the colonel took a knife tt ?° C, ket' and with to °«-n hands S a Xi CJ u? ed' with abnratofunmia"WWe K oo-1 feeling • Wnt^.-T 0"1 Bertrai». let's bo friends. I SL mfrjw What,ay you?" fc H^ Si ook 1 hUhcad- Ho could not do tZlt "S about it; and, above all else, i,!S*»»y from a youn.; wife W< ?h f H Pre^"co, and from a buii9*?"^ in his absence. \CJ?V "'ho -'Peaks to wickedly wronV C;° J «P«'at. Ho baa planned «»» do? °T r f hi3foulw<>rk- No%ir-I ''jobcan-" y°U bavo a heart to feel " fcrth'i'V" jntDm 'Pted Renwick, putting 21^ asl">^ke. "Do not im "'I L,li ° ? ot the P°wer to ?et you frco P'.v w !, ! ""{I 1 lioubt if l wo«W were the Ko* ,„ 'i - We «-antf-03d men too much, in bondf i m° : l d'in>t wUh >-°v t0 bePllt to Pll ™J caP>ain.», and I shall advise him 'hall!" On y°UT honour. But one hint I ba Jour dS : Au attempt to escape will «ivorf , v' h" warr""t- cur, as fate ! -Not tth'le IW °']owero" eartli oan set you fees bound!" P you' atul i 0 k^P yofi I am Rilv c "w£ fl1"! Bpokon> he Pl(»ced a small call, *kuK 9*Pbia "P"' a^ blewa shrill Ch4 by^g^ i ;r<o" iCkly. anßWere(l by a TfH!.im'T Se"d.V'!' ptain Errinpton to mo. ffhl9lL! anthim Particularly." situation V!i"^ne ™ hero studied the to"et off i ae- aw clearly that ha was not "onald Owen I"''^'' °f Psrsua*ion That "'■""Kf h7 "St dlreCt "Uth«r Of th€ i;v Col* j ZV S uml Ue knew it a, ')JU=dtoK»r %, enwick. ho was not only m 3 tt er Va° f 'l d,« et- "i- interest in tlu ilo^' to li-'J^H ," Tli«,l>avouotme,' kc -p^- Ilb- r a?^ they intend tc lbo,' HU -r'J 1110 t'^with another of"mani ' Ul' y raleis- Theshoollnf J/o nTuChtlVe^t- " rUii'i. lj' («=ap3. oTh?.', eaU!. XK T fjf a Present attempt't< H Don "ffiJ Bnli I' MI- Jf 1 could onl ;)Mleiu ?,,„'. h" r WI" to much for me ' 113 <umoTl must tubmit; but who, fc*<»Ldth o .oP?U!(' Wlien l^ m:U'CI to bilt t:o ]>~' var '°u3 mnvc-mo^f-i itjciileu S^:*«-»v baoppo, 'aittill ~ m :10 ' U t ,,t s , I mus " *'" come." I;r°I"tIou3 time than this ven-v'ek hart "il™ hal b2en thinking, Col ■"^ in tlltu P^ intr t0 a»d f™ "I* f« wha could B h i; n i! avi, D« laid down- 6 mcl» his plan C f action, ho raiso

warSmf" 11 8™ th° C°'Onel coml"g •» Bl^rTiSTuSH'.:' h8 «'M, "wi.l you "I will lenvo it for you, sir, to send tho word as you may think fit.; but, iimplo o you, «co to it that the message goes chect to tho omo for whom it i 3 meant. Will you send word to my wife—Mrs Doris Oil on Bertram, at the residence of Donald Owen, Esquire of Owensville-that her husband is ~ ranV' e '• and in no unusual danger?" I wiU do it with pleasure, Mr. The message shall be in her possession before the morrow 13 passed. You have my word " ■I thank you, sir, from my heart I matter" ask-Ba*. no-it does not "That's right. I wouldn't ask it, because the chances are ton to one that I should retu.se to answer." " I was only going to ask, sir, if Jacob \\ enroll and Jonas Hotter wero with me on tho road tins evening ; but I think I know woll enough already." The colonel nodded and smiled, and in a moment more tho black messenger returned accompanied by Capt. Tom Brrington! George looked up, and behold a man so nearly like himself in form and feature that ho might, at first glance, have thought he was looking upon a reflection in a mirror. As the man c.inio nearer, however, ho exhibited minks of more years than our hero Lad seen, but that was all. Ho might have been thirty, and had evidently lived a stirring, adventurous life. "Captain Errington, thisis Oeorgo Bertram, just coma in. I assign him to your troop You will find him not lacking in soldierly ability if lie lias a disposition to do his duty." Tho trooper compressed his lip 3, and was evidently upon tho point of saying that ho know how to bring men to a sense of theii duty, or words to that effect, but before tho words had been spoken ho had caught a fair view of tho youthful, '.•andsomo face as tho slanting moonbeams fell upon it, and his feelings seemed to change. Ho put out his hand, tho stern look softened into a kindly expression, .and when ho spol-o his voico was low and cheory. " Bertram, I hope we may get on well together If wo don't, it sha'u't be my fault." As tho Captain spoke tho moon dropped below tho distant tree tops, and camp and men wore in semi-darkness. A strange, weird feeling came over thoyouthfulcaptive. So far as lie knew, these men wore banded together in behalf of liberty. They would Free themselves from a yoke which had come to chafe them. So far as ho know or could judge, their cause was as just as tlio causo sf revolution ever can bo. The camp had a 3harin for him. l\a was carried back to tho hours and days and weeks he had spent ivith his father in n camp where all were sager for strife, and where tho tocsin of battle was stirring music. Under tho impulse of that feeling be spoke, in answer to Errington's last remark : "Ah, gentlemen, I fear you will win my ieart, in spite of me. I am almost sorry yon freed me from my bonds." "Tush! tush ! Take him along, Tom Yon know the story, don't you ?" "Yes." " Then open his oyes. You know what 1 :n-omised. By tko heavens above me ! I tvill give tho old rascal no more than iva3 nominated in tho bund." " Como !"' said tho Captain, taking Bert•am by tho arm and hading him away. "Come to my tent. You shall find a blanket there to-night. '■' They walked 0:1 between lv 0 rows of ton fa 'or a short distance, and then turned oil' nto a romantic nouk—into what might be :ertned a great roofless cavern in tho face of 1 perpendicular cliff of gay rock. Here, ipon a floor of moss, and lichen, shut in on ;hroe sides by towering granite walls, stood ;wo tents, o;;o of which was lighted and occupied, the other being dark, and appar :ntly empty. Into tho latter Captain Snington conducted his companion, md having struck a light, ho pointed to m ieat. It. was a conical tent cf doublo canvas, :bo centrc-pulc held in ijHco by guys outride; tho furniture1, four camp stools, a ■ mall table, and a pilo of clean, white straw. I3c?ide the straw was a camp chest, which Errington opened after hi' had lighted the :andle and set it on tho table. "Bo frank, now, my dear fellow," the :nptain said, reaching down into tho chest. 1 l'vo got a bottle of good sherry hero, and ['ye got as good old whu-ky as you'll find :his side of tho Alleghanics. Which, if lither, will you have?" "I think," returned tho guest, smiling •rifhout knowing it, "a drop o: whisky .vou'.d suit me test, as 1 now tcei, though, )rdinurily, 1 caro little for intoxicants in tny form." "Good! That's mo. I never was fond )f it ; but in a camp lifo a drop of stimulant jftcn comes very pleasantly into play. Hero fou have it. Here's sugar and water." " A drop of water—no sugar." "That's mo again. And here's to our setter acquaintance, and a good underhanding between n»\" Bertram nodded assent to the sentiment, md drank tho small uieasnro of spirit ho lad allowed himself; and us ho sol down :ho empty cup he remarked that ho had sever tasted a better distilled liquor. Erringtm viforwcd him that it was Mon sngahola whisky, undo by the Pennsylvania farmers ; "that it was very old. "I can givu you my word," lie added, "that the pi[ 0, and tho liquor in it, from which this was drawn, went a full cruise in tho frigate BrandywhiO, It ought to be good." Ko then brought out n box of cigars, and when they had both lighted, and wero com fortably smoking, he s.-.id soberly asd seriously : "Now, my good friend, befuro wo arc broken in upon—and I expect my tiist liontenant back era long—l havo a word to say to you. You heard what Colonel Jack said to mo. You know, of cDur.-c, who sent you to us." "Yes—l know very well " "Well. I do not think you will betray any confidence 1 may reposo in you." " You may trmt mo fully " " I bolievo you. lioally, Bertram, I like yon My heart wont out to >ou the moment I saw .you, Would you believe it, tho far.cy struck mo that you looked enough like mo to bu my brother ; and if you'd bean as old as I am we'd havo passed for twins." " The s.une thought occurred ta me, sir " " I thought so. I saw it in your eyo. It's curious. Bop told mo what tho colonel wanted mo for, and I must confess that I came prepared to take you a.vay and put you in irons tho first thing. I don't think my feolinf's were ever more quickly and more radically changed than they were when I set eyo» on your faco. We've got no rxcuso to otter for having listened to Donald 0 iveri's proposition ooncorningyourself. We wanted men, and when ho had promised to send us a good one, who, ho thought, had scon ser vice, wo promised that we would keop him." " Allow mo to a-k you a question at this point," said George, beseechingly. "Did Owen tell you why ho wished mo out of his " Only this— you were in his way. That was all. We ask no question". Hoununiod all tho responsibility, though, of course, wo wore ready to assumo our sharo. But, my dear follow, give mo your ear for just ono moment." . Errinpfton leaned forward, laid tho index finger of hU right hand into the palm of his left, and in a lower lone wont on : "Colonel Renwick promised Donald Owen that, ho would shoot you down on the instant should you attempt, to desert. Can you see through that ? Both Jack and I gained tho idea that you wero a stuck-up popinjay, to shoot whom would not give us a bit of un-ea-in«-s Can you not sec ? Owen fancies you will bo shot within four-and-twenty hours after your arrival in our camp. Aye, ho stipulated that you should not bo hod in bonds, but that you should bo closely watched : but wo didn't premise not to confine jon. What do you think of it! Bertram bent lii.-i htad, knowing not what " Look you," pursued En in,iton : "Suppose you droul.l return to Owornville, hovv lone would it. bo before your enemy woulc make a decided stroke? How long would you bo safe;' Think of tho forces i.t his command as compared with jour opportune ties of foU-protectioii. Keally and truly, n.-iu't you tiler hero with us? Let him think you aro in d,adly peril. Let him think you dead, if you will.1 " O !" cried tho youth, ea»criy, " i my wife could know that I<u Jnfo V 1 110 could beto'd, or.d mode Hi understand that 1 I had found friends who would be as ! brothers to me .'' , ~ , •- By the heavens above us, she snail ' Bepuo shall bo sent upon tho errand. _ Ho ! you may trust him to pull ir,y quantity of ■ wool over old Owen's e)M ; aid ho will not 1 leave until he has seen your wife, and torn 1 her all you shall r.ivo him tn tell her. Jhis t 1 promi-o on my honour as a man ami a ■ soldier." t Bertram arose and took two or trace ■ turns acmjs tho narrow space. '■A)," said Errinston, as a foottall ■ sounded outside «'Here comes my Heu--3 tenant " . J Our hero started forward and put out his 1 hand, which the other grasped.

"Captain Errington," ho said, in tones (loop and iervont, "I am a soldier ; I have held an officer's commission, and I havo seen service. Tako mo for wliat I am. Trust me, and I will keep the faith.' "Bertram !"tlio captain oxclaimod,returning the hand-grasp with heart-pent ardour, " I will bo as true to you as you will be to mo. As I live, ido not beliovo, under the circumstances, you over did a better thing." A moment later there entered a tall, muscular, handsome young fellow, with a florid face, sparkling blue eye?, and golden, curling hair, whom Errington introduced aa Lieutenant Frank Oakland, CHAPTER XII. BBPfOS MESSiUK.

Ix her chamber s&b Doris, with a book in her hand, waiting for her husband to return. He ,had said that ho would not be gono a great while. Nino o'clock had struck, and tho half hour after, and sho begaii to bo anxious. As tho half hour struck, sho went to the window and looked out ; and sho heard, and not far away, towards tho centre of tho village, loud

shouts, as of people in wild excitement. What could it bo. She knew that Goorgo had walked in that direction, and her first thought, woman-like, was of danger to him. Perhaps this shouting was on his account. In somo way ho had mado himself obnoxious to tho rabble, and they had turned angrily upon him. " Hark !" sho cried to her maid, who was closo by her side. "0, Leila, I wish you would go and ascertain what that noiso means." Before the girl could leavo tho room, Su.-an Draper ontored, and was able to toll them all about it. News had come by tolograph that Virginia had joined tho Southern Confederacy. "O !" sho cried, ia subdued tones, "master won't have to hido hia feelings any morn, though nobody could tell which .«ido ho was on ; but it's easy enough now. Ho has ordered a big bonliro to be made on tho hill, and two barrels of beortobo served out. And yet"—she cast a furtive glance wound, as though afraid that tho walls might hear — "I know he's been sending money away out of tho Stato—l think to Philadelphia ; I heard Walter say so. Hut— You won't breathe that I said so. If Mr Owen should know that Walter let me into his socrets, I don't know whit ha would do." " Uiivo no fear on that score, Susan. I boliovo you are my friend, and bo euro I will nover betray your confidence. Ia it much, do you think, that bo has sent away ':" "i don't know how much ; but Walter said it was away up into the hundreds of thousands ! 0 ! Master W very rich." A strange emotion shook the unfortunato orphan to tho very depths of her being. Shu had understood that when hor dear

papa had left Owensvillo ho had loft his cousin Donald as his agent. All Donald Owen had ho owed to Ralph—SO she had been toll. O! what did it mean?

But there was a matter ot graver moment than that on hor mind at tho present time. Where was her husband? Sho went to the window again, and the uproar had increased. She was suro George hud gono in that direction. Was ho in danger? What did Susan

The girl did not think there was any cau.-o for fear. Of course, Mr Bertram would not s^y anything calculated to excite tho angry toolings of the multitude. No ; there was no danger of that. Then there could bo no danger at all. Ton o'clock, and no sign of tha absent one. Poris was now in agony. He hud not intended to bo gono so long ; and, so far ns this exciting in t el 1 igor.ce wan concerned, that should have brought him homo sooner. At half part tor-, a bright light burst upon the village. By Donald Owen's order, a largo quantity of combustible material had been carried to tho summit of tho hill ju-t outside tho village, and there sot on tire jand an eld brass twelve-pounder cannon had been hau'oJ upon the villago green, and ammunition supplkd for a grand salute. In tho midst of tho thundering of tho gun and tho bright glare of tho bsmtiro poor Doris sat in an agony of unrest, now moved by tho wor.<t "of fears. Something had happened, sho knew. At eleven o'clock she sent Leila to mako inquiries for Susan. Susan had gono. and had nut returned. By and-b'y Leila eamo back, and uitli her Came Undo Donald. " My dear child," ho cried, advancing and taking her hand, " you must not givo way to your fear?. I have sent out my servants'to mako search. 1 cannot imnpnc whore George can bo Did ho givo you any intimation that ho might leave tho village';" l: 0, no ! no ! Ho did not think of being gono more than an !>our. Ho told me so. The last words he said were, that ho would be back very soon. 0! uncle, wlioiowhere cm he be ':" "Surely, I cannot tell. Vet, I cannot believe ariy evil has befallen him. Let us wait till my messengers come in They will bo euro to learn something. Keep up a good heart, dour child. I will come to you just as foon as any word comes to mo 1 will go down to my ullieo and wait. I toll them to report to mo there." Ho bent, and touched his traitorous lips to her fiuro white brow, and thon wont out At midnight Donald Owen came to tho waiting wife, in her chamber, with hypocritical tears upon his chaoks, It. is more than possible that ho had wet his cheeks with his linger, for he had applied his kerchief to Ids lips before ho began to wipe his eye?. ■'O ! undo ! What is it?''

"Hush ! Dear child, lot us still hopo. I think I can tell you whore George is, ond I think I cm promise you that I will set him free. I will tell you what I havo learned. This evening a waggon, containing two men, was driven into the village, while another -porhap?, two or three others—stopped outside. It was a press gang—a recruiting party, they claimed it to bo —peeking men to servo in tho Confederate army. Thoy were stout, powerful fellows, and happening to come across your husband, walking alone and unprotected, they soized him and carried him off. Hush ! Do not take on so. Tho tirst thing in tho morning I will myself go and find him ; and I havo not a particle of doubt that I shall bo ablo to bring him back with mo. He is in the hands of a regularly commissioned oflicer, who, I am sure, will bo glad to win ray goodwill and good word. And, further, I will leavo no mcatip untried. If monoy can accomplish anything, be suro I will pay it out without stint." "0, uncle! Can you not sond at oncoV Have you not man enough to bring him back ?" " Ah, my poor child ! you know htUo of these times, and tho men with whom wo have to deal. But I will do tho best I can I will ha-ttn away to tho l'ost-oliice, and sco what I can find there. Keep np a good heart. You shall pco him back again if ho lives." And with this Donald Owon turned and hurried from tho ipartmtnt, his manner showing that ho was only in haste to get away from tho fullering wife. A dark and dismal night was that to Doris. Leiia bogged of her that sho would retire, but she could not Sho could only sit by tlio window, and g.'iza out into tho pale moonlight; and when tho moon had gone, f-ho gazoJ out into tho darkness, listening to evory sound, and watching eagerly every human form that came in eight And so the night pa?.;ed. "When day was comu Doris descended to tho lower floor, and aaked a servant whom sho mot if Mr Owen was up. " Yes, Missua —he's up and off. I guess ho's gwino arter do poor young man dat do sojers carried away las' night." Sho went to tlio breakfast table, and drank a cup of coffee, but sho could not cat, though both Leila and Susan plied her with the rarest dainties.

At nine o'clock sho was suro flic saw Don lid Owen liJing away from the house on horseback. Could it bo pos^iblo that sho had been deceived ? -that he had been at berne all tho morning, and had denied himself to her, She tried to banish tho possibility of such a thiug. As tho little clock upon hor mantel struck tho half hour after nine, sitting at tho window overlooking the street, she taw a negro who had just .stopped upon the sidewalk, and was looking up at her. Fc was a quaint little follow ; stubby and brightove 1 ; bowkgaed and broad shouldered, very primitively clad, with a head-covering that resembled tlio French Liberty cap.

Certainly tho boy .va-< trying to attract her attention. By-and-by. when ho had seen that she had observed him, ho leaped the fence like a cat, and came up under her window. " Say ! Is you Massa Bertram's Doris ? "O ! yes ! >' CJ !" n s ],a! Don't make a noise ! I

want'r come up find tell ye suml'n. Can't ye send somebody down ?" Fortunately, Susan was within call, and Don- asked her to go and bring the boy up "And dear Susan, if there should beany secret to keep, you will keep it I know." The girl readily and heartily promised,

and shortly thereafter she conducted tho black mesongor into her lady's presence. " Who are you ? Who sent you to me ?" cried Doris, eagorly, something in the boy's look totting her heart in a wild flutter. " I's Boppo, Missus ; an'l've got sum'f'n foryer own henrin'." " You neod not fear theso two girls, my good boy, They are my dear friends, both." "No, I isn't afeard ob 'cm, Missus; but Imuat hab yer own ear, all de same. You can tell 'em what yer please when I'm gone." There was certainly nothing to fear in tho lad, so Doris asked Leila and Susan to withdraw for a little time. They, too, were inclined to put confidence in the open-faced messenger, and they retired without further question.

As soon as the lad had seen the girls dopart and the door cloaod bohind them, ho cast a sweeping glanco over tho rest of the room, and then eamo close to the lady, drawing from an inner pockotabit of paper and handing it to her. " Dats for you, Missus. Job' you read it, an' den I'll tell yo all I know." Doris caught the paper—there wero two pieces, closely folded, which she recognised at once aa having been torn from tho small blank memorandum which her husband carried in his pocket book. They wore numbered —"1" and "2." She arrangod , them with trembling hands, and had just mado ready to read when she romcrabercd that the boy might bo tired, and that she had not asked him to sit. Sho motioned him to a seat, after which sho seated herself and road as follows : " In Camp, Midnight, April 17, 1801. "My Pbkcious Wife—l am safo and well. 1 was seized within half an hour after I left you, and brought hithor by force. Donald Owen was tho author of tho outrage. Boliovo me, I shall bo safer here than I could bo at Owen's house, or oven in his neighbourhood. Ho fil mly believes that I shall bo shot as a desorter quickly ; but he will be deceived. Let him think of my fato what lie will. Of my position I dare not write. The hearor of this, whom you may implicitly trust, will tell you all you may wish to know. I havo only to say to you this : Donald Owon means no personal harm to you. With mo out of hia way, he hope} to hoodwink you, and bend you to his" own purposes. Mo ho intends to disposo of summarily. It is a wonder that ho did not havo mo assassinated ; but ho has dono tho next thing. As I said beforo, he e\pocts that lam snro to bo shot. So, darling, you see that I had best remain whore am. In fact, 1 mini remain hero. I havo pledged my word. He brave, my Doris, and look on The bright side Keep your eyes opon ; watch every movement; and appear to trust Undo Donald, if you can. But, above all, do not mako a sign by which ho can bo led to mistrust that you havo heard from mo. Ho must think mo out of tho way entirely. Kemomber this—romombor ! and act upon it. " Darling, you shall hoar from mo when I can find opportunity to communicate with you. Know that I am safe ; and if I can feel that you will bo bravo and hopeful, I shall bo comparatively contont. At all events I regard my present situation as tho saving of my lifo. It ha-* turned out vastly different from what its author expected. Once more, keop up a good heart. " With love and God's blojsing. Okorck. " P. S. —It will bo best to destroy this as soon as you havo read it. Bo euro. G." Somo portions of tho closely-written missivo Doris road a second timo ; then sho crumpled it in her hand and pressed it to her lips. " Bi3Dpo,"f>he cried, turning a beseeching gnze upon the honest ebon visage, "tho writer ■my dear husband—says you will tell mo all I may ask." " Missus, I'll toll ye what 1 can, and 111 tell jo do tint." "I know you will, or you would not havo been trusted. Now tell mo —who is my husband with ? Where is he V" " Missus," casting a quick, furtive glanco around, and loweiim;hin voice almost to a whisper, "you won't tell a lib'n soul anyt'ing 'at I tell ye 1" " I will not whisper it to a soul, Bcppo : only to my own trusty maid. I may tell her."

"Yes, you may tell her. Hi! Ma?sa Bertram is «id Colonel .lack Ronwick ; but

he's gwino tcr be in Ctip'n Tom Eninton's company, an' 1 Vpecs he'll bo a hos-ifer. Ho tolu mo tor tell yo dat he'd found men dat'd bo go:)d to him. lie likes 'urn, an' doy likes him. Dey hit it smuck-do fust ting. Golly !'f yo'd seed 'em rhook hands, yo'ii n fought 'at dey wor' b udders. Hi ! bat's so. Yah !"

At this point Doris asked Beppo if she hould cull fur her innid to bring him somo cako and wino. Thennsver was quick, but respectful ; and when Leila had brought in tho decanter and a plato of cako, sho was suffered to remain. Aflor this,while tho boy ateand drank—ho was not at all greedy, nor did ho oiler to drink freely—Doris questioned him keenly ; and she learned all that could haw been told by Georjjo him-elf: for Buppo was bright and luen, and thoroughly understood hiimcif. She learned that her husband had unexpectedly, and in a really wonderful manner, fallen among thoso who would bo his true and jtcadfast friends ; nn<l she CJine to under.-tanil, also, that he would bo far safer where ho was than ho could bo olsewhoro. Further, she saw that by keeping faith with those to whom ho had b^cn con-igncd with evil intent, he would bo gaining a friendship that might servo him in tho time, to como. Of course, there Mas the over-present danger of a soldier's life in time of war; but -he was used to that, and. moreover, fho was brave. "Do you really think, Beppo, that Mr Bertram will bo an Olliccr?1' eho askcrl earnestly. " Vo.», Missus," tho boy replied, conlidontly. " I can tell you, 'cause ho cin't know it. Ye toe Oap'n Tom haint got no second loftenant, an' I heord Colonel .lack toll 'o c-ip'n'atho might givo do commission to Massa Bertram. Vnhidat'sso. Ha! d'ye know't yer husband was an 010 eojer ?" " i knew that he had received a military education, and that ho had peon service where the fighting was most sovoro. Ho is a bravo man, Beppo, if 1 do say it." " Yah ! dats bo, ebery time. An' do roit ob 'em seed it, too." When Doris could think of no more to ask eho olToredEVppo a small sum of money, in silver, but, he shook his head regretfully. "No, Missus, I can't take it. Golly ! I wish I could ; but I sworo't I wouldn't ; and I mus'n't. Massa Colonel told mo 'f I took a penny ob your money hn'd tako my ears oil', an' he'd do it, suah. Hi! I darsn't tell a lie, 'nd I daren't take yer money." " All rieht, Bep. Tell tho truth always, and keep your word. Perhaps in somo time I shall ho able to repay you in something of moro worth than money." "Ha I Dor aint, no need ob dat, Mi-am. Do sight ob your bright oyoa an' yer jojful look.", an' do chance ob tellin' yo good new?, is pay ouorgh for Beppo.' !sho finally dismissed him with a bleho having at tho door stopped, and once more impressed it upon her that his visit to her must be kept a secret from Mr Owen if possible. Once mow leftalono with her maid, Doris went over with tho story which Boppo had told ; and though her hubind was certainly in bodily peril, clio felt more easy on hie account than she had felt beforo since their arrival at Owo Hville. She had fo=n from the lirst that her undo did not like his presence ; and since sho had como to fuspect tho old min'a honesty, sho had felt uneasy on her loved one's ac :ount. What might bo her own lot sho would not consider. Sho would wait, (uid act a* circumstances would prompt her. The whole subject matter was comprehended in a question diked by tho Hindoo maid. " D^ar lady." said Loila.breakingin upon a silence that had lasted for a considorablo time, " what do you think is your uncle's intent towards, you ? What object has he in view in thin seeking yoar husband's destruction V For that certainly is what ho means ' " Leila," answered her mistress, her promptness showing that tho subject had been (.ccupyinj; her mind, " I have thought the matter over calmly and deeply, and I think 1 have arrived at a just conclusion. My unclr, as I call him, has certainly in possession a large amount of property. v\hic!i, by right, belongs to mo, and ha wishes to retain it. lie will rob me of it if he can. Or, I may say, ho Ins a'ready robbed mo of i<\ Such b-ing tin case, he dares not have such a man a^ (ieorKd on his track. He thinks ho c.-in manage me if he can fir?t deprive me of my friends. Do you understand?" " Yes, lady, I understand very well ; and I think you are right. Tell me, do you know how much Mr Owen owns '!" " No, I have no idea. Have you ?' " i res. Tho poor woman whose little child I ricked up in the street yesterday, and carried to her door, gavo me a hint which led mo to make inquiries until I had gainod the whole B!:ory. Her husband was —and is now. 1 think—one of your uncle's overseers in the coal mine, and he knows all about it. It seems almost incredible, but her etory was very direct, and phe s^id she knew whereof she spoke. She waa very bitter because her hueband, was treated quite.

shabbily. Mr Owen pay 3 him poorly for sorvices that are valuablo ; and he cannot; leave because his present employer could make it impossible for him to get work elsevvhoro. Doris, Donald Owen owns this whole township, and evory houso in it And tho coal mine is his, too. His income must bo enormous. As Waltsr Tarbell lot drop to Susan, ho is Bonding vast sums to Philadelphia, besides other sums to England. Ho owns a fortune in English bonds, and I shouldn't wonder if he had invested in othor places," Doris was surprised. At first she could hardly credit tho story; but upon further thought it appeared more than possible. " 6 ! how much of this is hone3tly mine V" sho cried. "0! if my father could have spoken bofore ho died !" " Dear lady," said tho maid, winding an arm around her lady's, "I have faith that Jack Clearstar U living. He knows all about it. Something will happen to undo tho great wrong I cannot beliovo that such a monstrous wrong will bo sufforod to remain uncorreclcd. 1 btlievo your father owned a large portion of this proporty, and I bolievo it is truly yours now. But you must not lot that bad man suspect that you know anything. You will be caroful," " Fear not, Loli.i. My eyes aro opened. 0 ! how can men be so wicked ? What enjoyment can thoy find? Hois not happy. Ho does not enjoy his wealth. 0 ! give me poverty for over rathor than such a state." Donald Owen had not returned at dinnertimo, but ho came late in tho afternoon, and shortly thoreaitci sought his niece. Ho entered hor chamber with a very long fuco, and with what ho intended should bo a sorrowful look, though it was, in fact, simply grotesque. " Doris, courage ! courage ! I have not succeeded in finding your husband, but I am on his track. In fact, I know where he is."

"Where? Where! 0! Where?" cried tho betrayed woman, assuming as much eagerness as sho could. "Itis as I thought. Ho was seized and carried away by a press-gang. He's somewhere beyond tho mountains, held by a man whom 1 do not know."

" I thought you said you knew him." " So I did, my dear ; but I was mistaken. Keep up a good heart, Doris, und I will do tho best for you 1 can. Promise mo that you will not worry. I will certainly set him free, if the thing is possible. Thero ! You must excuse mo now. A man is wait ing for mo. But 1 wantod to sot your mind at rest. I will tell you more as soon aa I can." Sho could not try to detain him. Of her husband's fate she had nothing to ask him, It was hor own fato gavo hor anxious thought.

(To be VonlinuKl)