Year: 1868

of that regal head he would never forget; nor
was he satisfied that the woman he so wildly
remembered, was the daughter of the out
law. The momentary intercourse that he
had observed between them on the night
Of -his-visit ~ to Holden's apartments
had more the appearance of an interview be-
tween princess and servant, than the footing
on which parent may meet child.


And then that concealed meeting with Laura
Taylor on the night of the ball He knew
the pride of her race too well, to suppose that
she would meet with such genuine friendship
and undisguised pleasure the daughter of
felon. Kind and gentle she might have been,
for such was her nature; but intimate, as that
interview revealed, she could never be. There
was some mystery connected with the whole
transaction-mystery, too, involving more
than what at once might be observable and
he determined to search the matter to its
depth.


Had Holden faltered under that gaze then;
had he even colored, or a feature quivered,
his suspicious would in his own mind have
received confirmation. But the man he had
to deal with was not SO easily put off his
guard. He saw the object of the inquiry, and
replied to it with calm Indifference.


eyes, very like-they are twins !"


"Humphl" muttered Hayes between his
shut teeth. "But will try another shot"


"Your daughter was among the maskers at
the recent ball 1 saw her in intercourse
with the beautiful Miss Taylor! Your daugh-
ter's acquaintance are of more elevated
social position than your own Ned"


"Yes, she was at the ball. but" and his face
was as calm as if he was imparting the most
ordinary information, "her interview with
Miss Taylor is attributable to the fact that
they were pupils at the same seminary at
Philadelphia some years since, and neither the
one nor the other are familiar with the history
of my life. 1 have not revealed my ante
cedents to my children, Lieut. Hayes; nor
have they any reason to suppose their father
otherwise than an honorable man."


"The devil! There may be something in
that" muttered the officer; "but 1 will watch
the old rogue, and yonder dark faced STRIPPING
nevertheless"


The early gray of the morning was now
contending with the inky clouds which always
precede dawn, as the rushing train darted
along the heavy, gloomy bottoms of the La
mine and approached the beautiful little vii
lage of Otterville. The shrek of the engine
and the quickly curbing brakes had already
subdued the rapid career of the loaded cars
to the slow, rocking motion which precedes a
full pause in their rapid career


AS the train approached the station, Zera
pitched it from the window; and then, as if
nothing in the world was the matter, quietly
rose from her seat and mingled in the crowd
that was moving to the door.


The train stopped only for an instant and
then moved on. AS it begun to move slowly
at first, and then with increasing speed,
Holden left the side of young Hayes and
walked quietly to the rear door of the car
Yielding to the pressure of his hand the lock
revolved, and he stood on the platform.
With quick sudden spring he left the train
and struck lightly on the ground Quickly
recovering his equilibrium, he walked rapidly
to the depot, where clearly defined against its
dark background, he saw the slender form of
his young charge, quietly awaiting his ap-
pearance.


.'Do you see yonder road. Holden / will
pursue it, until you overtake me. Take this
purse and get two horses. see a corral
yonder, and some of the horses are fine ones.
Don't stand on the price-equip the horses
and follow me. Now, begone."