Year: 1868

IL ~ - oi ~ LIZ
/ Nellie had, in fact, turned quite pale. In tn
paper which the now jubilant officer held in hi
lhand, she recognized the slip Of cartridge-paper
Fl which, but few minutes before, had been extern


porised into visiting cardby Victor, with his owl
name and Prescott's and that Of their regimen
written upon it. Having read it, Colonel Danver
had thrown it carelessly aside and dispatched Tan
nah to invite the young soldiers to his chamuer


about the time when the enemy were dismountinl
lat the gate. Walsh, who saw everything, pried
into everything, and turned everything to some
evil account had picked up the scrap of paper, and
finding upon it the name Of Victor, whom he had
encountered on the battlefield but few hours be.
fore, at once conjectured that the young soldiers
were still concealed upon the premises. Since his
parting with Victor after allowing for his eisurey
return to camp, scarcely more than time enough
had elapsed to permit him to make his way to this
remote dwelling. Walsh hated him with vindic-
tive bitterness, and he promptly reported all the
facts Of the case to Captain Train-whose troop be
had accompanied as volunteer in the hope of
booty-with the confident expectation that strict
search would result in the capture of the young
soldiers. AT his suggestion, orders were issued to
| put q strict guard around the building, and the
Captain stood confronting Nellie with an air of tri-
umph, whlsts sergeant Of his troopwas at that mo-
ment placing guard around the premises to rem
der the escape Of the young patriots impossible,
while the premises were undergoing search.
Nature and education had taught Nellie to abhor
falsehood. She dared not say no to the sugges-
ton of the vile man before her, that the young SOL
diers whose names he read upon the card were con-
cealed about the premises. As secret was the hi
ding place to which she had conducted Victor, yet,
with her fears aroused, it seemed to her to lie open
to the light Of day. She trembled for his fate, and
yet while she knew it easy to mislead his enemies
by plausible tale, she did not for moment en-
tertain the base thought Of purchasing his safety
by falsehood. She bore the scrutiny Of the ex-
ultant Captain firmly and without wincing. He
repeated bis remark: .s.......


''Show u.s. at once, the hiding place of the reb-
els, and save Us q tedious search. We must at
last find them. I swear to you, will unearth
them or every roof on the place shall blaze! It
needs not your paleness to tell us they are here,
like birds in a trap"


"Ah, have not I, timid and defenceless girl, "
exclaimed Nellie, abundant cause to grow pale
without seeking any such cause as that, when you
threaten destruction to the home that shelters me,
in case your search be-as it must be-in vain
Think you, if they were here, would conceal them
when know how vain the attempt would be, and
that it would deprive my wounded father of every
comfort, and even of shelter for his head in case
you carry out your fearful threatl'


'Then, on your honor as lady, there are no
rebels concealed in the house p? asked the trooper


'On my honor as lady, owning no allegiance
to you or your country, shall submit to no ques-
tioning from one who can claim so little shadow of
right to demand an answer, replied Nellie, in a
firm voice. "Force makes yeu, for the time, mas
ter here; do your will. Burn and destroy, if such
is your pleasure, but do not deceive yourself by
thinking you can humble or subdue US, even if you
ahas -,y,aa,.-o ,.ep 81, -.


Turn loose that negro, Jones, and let US atonce
to the search. We have come day too late for
the family plate but let us make sure of these ac-
cursed rebels. Our army is striking in the dark,
and we need prisoners at headquarters to tell old
Butler with whom he is fighting Prepare your
torches, and if we fail to find the rebels who are
hidden here, we will raise smoke from cellar to
garret, that will bring every rat out of his hole.
Let no closet or trunk, hiding be overlook
ed. The scoundrelly rebels arc here, and we must
drag them out"


By this time, Nellie, accompanied by old Han
nah, who kept tremulously near her side, had left
the apartment below, and was returning to her
fathers chamber. The threat of the fierce Cap
tain of dragons reached her ears and caused her
the most torturing anxiety. Even if Victor should
escape the rigid search about being instituted for
him, there wasno hope of his ultimate safety. The
torch would drive him out and he must at last fall
into the hands of enemies whose very instincts were
cruel, and who would delight in inficting on him
every humiliation in their power. In their eyes
he was rebel and traitor who deserved halter.
Two evils lay before her, one of which seems ine-
vitable. 1t was in her power to preserve the home
of her childhood. One word to Victor of the d.
lemma in which she stood, and it was escaped.
That one word she was resolved not to utter, but
to await events until the last moment. She would
not betray him nor ask him to betray himself The
hand of God is almighty; and when the weak
ones of the earth are surrounded on every side by
difficulties which human wisdom knows not how to
escape let them rest in his hand and commit their
ways to Him.


II shall not betray him." murmured Nellie to
herself, as she mounted the staircase with gloomy
heart II know not what to do. I shall be still
and let merciful God direct all things"


What was the issue of Nellie's determination,
on for 20 Victor's fate was concerned will appear
in the next chapter.


CHAPTER VII


When Victor was first inducted into his hiding
place, it was with quite feeling Of security, he
heard the troopers moving about below. His hi
ding place under the roof of the piazza was no
contracted space, but extended the whole length