Year: 1868

CHAPTER VH-CoNTNUED.


The wounded man gave sigh Of impatience
and WEAKNESS, and suffered his head to sink back
languidy upon his pillow, while his sad and weary
gaze rested upon the ceiling overhead. He was
disquieted at the turn of affairs and with sad fore
bodngs, speculated upon the result Of the nevita-
bic search to which his house would be subjected.
He read the murderous and truculent nature OF
Walsh at the first glance, and trembled for the fate
of his young compatriot, should he fall into the
hands of so blood-thirsty savage. When that
worthy left his presence and disappeared through
the doorway, he felt as though some demon, in hu-
man shape, had Withdrawn and freed the atmos-
phere he breathed from his poDuting presence.
But when, after few minutes, his beautiful daugh-
ter came gliding in, even though her face bore
more than trace of anxiety and sorrow, it was as
if an angel approached his bedside. IF there was
sorrow in his eye, it was such sorrow as an angel
of light might feel She told him Of the search
that was about to be instituted for the young SOL
diers, and of the threat to burn down the old man.
sion in case it was made in vain.


'Well, Nellie, beitso We shall not be so base
as to betray him, or seek to save an old house from
the torch, by asking him to place himself in the
hands of enemies who will use him roughly. Cap
tain Train and his angels have no touch of human.
ity and no sense of the courtesy of civilized war.
fare I will not have this gallant young fellow put
himself in the hands of these savages. Besides,
he has, at least, one personal enemy among them;
low vindictve renegade, who is thirsting for his
blood Let them burn it if they will. We will
risk that No countryman Of mine shall, by my
consent, fall into the hands of such wretches, could
it purchase immunity for all that l have. Keep
cool and trust in Providence. IF the old house
must 90, we have our honor, our good faith, and
an untarnished name left


The troubled heart of Nellie was partly relieved
of its burden of anxiety, by the promot and cheer
full decision of her father, which accorded so vel
with the dictates of her own feelings.


The search was, in the meantime, vigorously
prosecuted. Every chest or trunk that might con
ceal fugitive was forced open; every closet wa
carefully examined, and sword blades were thrus
into beds in the hope of somewhere starting ths
objects of their search. Parties, with torches II
their hands, were in the yard, subjecting the va
rious outbuildings to the same rigorous examina
ton. From the disorderly manner in which th'
contents of closets and chests were thrown abou
the building, it presented scene of confusion
which neither pen nor pencil can depict.


At the end of about an hour, after tiresom'
and fruitless search, Captain Train, with several
his followers, again repaired to the chamber
Colonel Danvers, who wisely concealng bis indig
nation and anger, lay with grim smile upon hi
face. Nellie had, for few minutes, been absen
from the chamber during this interval, but the vsi
of Captain Train found her at her post by ne
fathers side, leaning against the bed, with one arm
lying along his pillow, like dove. that partly GOV
ers in her nest from the hand of the hunter, ant
yet defantly guards her young. The flush cam'
and went on her cheek, now and then lighted NJ
by smile that seemed irrepressibe. Her eye
full of strange light, now turned inquiringly t.
the doorway, and now modesty fell to the custe
of early spring flowers on the coverlet, with whcl
her hand was nervously toying.


CAPTAIN Train seemed flushed and heated by hi
vain search for the fugitives, whom, with som
show of reason, he suspected to be concealed abou
the premises. His bafied cruelty was converte.
into rage, and he only wanted some object on whlc
to vent his wrath.


Approaching the bedside Of the sufferer, he ad
dressed him in o tone that sufficiently showed hi
irritation.


ssYou must come out here, sir, unless you wan