Year: 1868


she could treat with fankness and confidence with
out fear of misconstruction.


She was very pale, but the old sweet winning
smile came back to her lips, as she cordially ex.
tended her hand to welcome the youth who had
acted towards her with consideration so manly and
delicate and had so generously and carefully shield
ed her reputation. The gratitude of q noble-mind'
ed woman-who can measure its intensity or its
depthP


Victor saw not the tears of grateful feeling that
suffused her eyes, as, with the warmth Of an elder
sister, she met him at the doorway with an open
hand. This he saw not yet he well knew that
beneath her calm. placid face, painful and agon-
izing struggle was yelled. He thought Of the Spar
tan boy, standing with fearless cheek and marble
brow, while beneath his robe, the maddened foz
was tearing at his vitals. Yes, as delicate and
fragile as was her frame, she possessed the forti
tude of her sex, that can veil with smile, anguish
that would extort groans from man. To find hel
affections and confidence betrayed, herself triAed
with and marked out for ruin by base deceiver
whom she had loved with q first and only love
and, in the same hour in which his villainy was
unmasked, to learn that the grave had swallowed
him up with swift destruction, surely this was e
nough to wiring every sensibity and to test to the
uttermost, her fortitude and strength. Alone iu
her chamber, she stood face to face with humilia
ton and sorrow, and drank to the dregs the cur
which they pressed to her lips. Alone -alone
A sad word to one wrung by grief-a terrible wore
to one who faces an avenging judge


There was no soothing voice near-not even the
silent whisper of an angelic temper its bitterness
with words of consolation and sympathy. Un
friended, isolated and alone, bearing her own bur
den, invoking neither the sympathy of earth, mol
strength from heaven she tasted all the bitterness
of death, without wall or moan, and having
struggled through the storm, that would have
crushed hearts that seemed more able than hel
own to war with fate she arose from the bitter trial
with the sad cold smile of broken heart, hoping
nothing, trusting nothing-fearing nothing -fol
fate had done its Worst.


There was but one on earth who dreamed Of the
fierce trial through which she had passed-bu1
one who suspected or shared her secret That one
was the youth whose hand she pressed the more
warmly because he, alone, knew aught of her heart
and in his eye alone the glance of sympathy was
found.


II can never thank you sufficiently" said Iso
lette to Victor, as she conducted him into hel
sumptuously furnished parlor, 'both for what you
have done and for what you have forborne to do
Those papers you forwarded so kindly to met
would have driven me to frenzy had they faller
into the hands of one rejoicing to heap confusion
on my head-as many I fear would be prompt tc
do. l owe you great debt Of gratitude, and how
can hope ever to repay you tor even this day
our paths lead us asunder."


''And are you resolved to leave, to-day?' asked
Victor.


why should remain ?" replied Isolette. Thi:
is not my holae and what have done, who woulc
forgive? My agent will be here in few hours II
take charge of my dwelling and other property, anc
as for myself, am leave on steamer this after
noon"


II hope, Miss DeVere," rejoined Victor, ''tha
all the arrangements for your departure were made
in manner to cause you the least possible pain.


81 have met with nothing but courtesy" replied
Isolette. II go in accordance with my own appli
cation for permission to do so. The reply Of the
authorities was accompanied with polite note
from an artillery officer, Lieutenant McGregor
profering me on the part Of the authorities per
mission to continue my residence here as long as
choose upon giving my parole d honneur to hole
no further communication with the enemy.
willingly made the pledge, but in the city Of m.
birth am not stranger and an alien? homo
my own countrymen for their noble traits Of char
acter, but how can l sympathize with them in thei
aims and feelings when my training and education
has been so different from that of all around meT


II would that you could sympathise with us 81
far as to render home among US pleasant" re
joined Victor, ut cannot surely be pleasant to yo'
to return among people who are striving to de
stroy us utterly"


"Ah believe me-" replied Isolette, with Aasl
of the eye, when I am among them feel nothing
in my breast but the warm indignant blood of tn
Southerner. When hear taunting word Oh
Northern lips, against the people among whom
was born, forget the principles that separate mi
from one party and link me to the other. re
venge myself upon them-and with blow tha
sometimes bites deeply-by reminding them o
Bull Run and Manassas where the character ant
qualities of the two sections were illustrated.


"You will find the passions of the Northern peo
pie greatly enbittcred since you left your residence
among them," replied Victor. 81 fear you would
not now be allowed to express for the South-fo
the Confederate States, should say-even tn
sympathy of common humanity"


"Where could I then claim home on earth T.
sighed Isoette II cannot be Of accord with eithe
party. There can be no triumph-end as the wa
may-to one who feels as do. Freedom is gon
if the North wins; the Republic Of our fathers i
undone if the South is victorious!'


"We cannot save all that they bequeathed us,
replied Victor The liberties they left us is all W
now hope to save"


Isolette was about to reply, when confuse'
noise was heard at the outer door, the hurying Q
rapid footsteps and subdued wall of agony
Startled by the sound, Isolette rose to herfeet, bu
before she could advance step, the door was Hum
rudely open, and Nellie Brack rushed in. As he
glance fell upon Isolette she sprang forward AM
with a cry of agony fell at her feet.


'sSave my father Miss Isolette,' shrieked tn
unfortunate girl, gaspipg out the words with pain
as she cung to the robe of the pale beauty-"It ha
all come of your doings save him Miss Isolette-
for Gods sake save him."


"What is the matter, child?" cried Isolette, ii
alarm, shocked by the wild face and the frenzie
glance that was turned imploringly on her as sh
stooped to raise the agonized girl from the floor
What does all this mean? What has happene
to your father; and what can l do tor him r.