Year: 1868

Chapter 1.


About fifteen years ago there was a
group of happy children gathered around
the hearth of man of wealth in the beauti
ful town of Columbus, Mississippi. A young
student, resident of the place, was a
frequent guest in the hospitable mansion Of
Mr.. Alton; and favorite as he was with
both host and hostess, he was yet more
loved by the bright, gleeful children who
ever welcomed him with glad voices and
laughing kisses.


80, Eddie yonder comes Albert Nixon"
and the trio bounded forth to greet their
friend First one and then the other was
caught up and kissed, and silently replaced
beside him. Ella, the little fair haired,
blue eyed one, whose glad, brilliant face
was such a tender, delicate blonde that
the angel look blended sweetly and
touchingly with the Joyous light
of life which danced or rippled over it, as
her little heart was excited, or rested in
repose; was first to notice the depressed,
absent look; and the embryo womans heart
at once melted into sympathy.


"Fred, let us be quiet. Something is the
matter with Mr.. Albert"


The little tongues were at once hushed
and Harry and Eddie moved quietly away,
and were soon rompping upon the lawn
with Dido, who after stretching and shak-
ing himself, forgot his age in many a
bound and risky antic that he was not
wont to indulge in habitually, bat which
always repaid the boys for their notice of
him in their plays; while Ella silently
passed into the parlor beside Albert Nixon,
where her father sat leaning back in an
easy chair enjoying the bright blaze of a
light wood FIRE which leaped up higher
and higher, as stick after stick
caught, casting rosy tinted
light throughout the luxurious room, and
making the rich silk drapery of the win
dows glow and simmer in the varying
light. Albert clasped the hand of his friend
more warmly than usual, as if to atone for
his silent mood, withdrew to the deep bay
window, rested his arm upon its broad
ledge, and fixed his gaze upon the out
spreading lawn, where the heightened
sbadows of the great old oaks and poplaIs
seemed acting pantomime in strange
accord with the sad spell which bound his
spirit.


Mr.. Alton was not accustomed to see
such moods in his inviting mansion, and
sought to exercise the spell by kindly
manner and bantering jests but Ella, true
to the instinct of her sex, saw that silent
sympathy was more grateful, and quietly
and gently seated herself upon his
knees, stole the little round
dimpled arm about his neck,
rested the downy cheek against his harder,
browner face, and looked up into his eyes
with the soft light of love and sympathy
beaining out from their spirit depths, Al
bert spoke not to her, scarcely looked at
her, but he saw it all as if the beams of her
pure childish love were photOgraphing it
upon his heart; and the strong manly arm
that circled the fragile little form frightened
about it as he pressed her closely to bis
heart. He scarcely could have told Won
why, but the cloud was passing from his
spirit, and though he remained silent, the
brow was cleared, and little Elias face was
lit up by gratiied smile, as Mr.. Alton
spoke the first time for fifteen or twenty
minutes.


"Albert, you are evidently troubled by
something real or imaginary;I would not pry
into one thought or feeling, but if it is any
thing which friend may relieve, give me
ysur confidence, and what friend can do
| will do"


"You are most kind, Mr.. Alton, but it ia
nothing more than one Of those vexations
which encounter everyman in some form
or other and if can not conquer
must bear it that is all, should pOl