Year: 1866




One long eventful year has passed away
since the occurrence of the incidents allu.
ded to in the last chapter. Very many
were the changes which its hours and days,
its weeks and months, bad brought to Min
ME Hsrcourt, now the sole occupant of the
desolate and dreary old mansion. Old MIR.
Adam Harcourt had died while asleep in his
chair in the library. He bad been COM
planning for some months previous, of an
unaccountable dizziness in the head, and
dimness of vision, which annoyed and
distressed him at times, almost beyond
endurance.


One summer afternoon, after complain.
ing of an attack of his old malady, he
retired to his library for his usual afternoon
nap, which, during the last ten or fifteen
years, the old gentleman found absolutely
necessary. Remaining longer than usual,
and supper having been brought in, Dinah
was sent to arouse him. Upon entering the
library the poor old gentleman was found
comfortably seated in his favorite chair,
his head lying back, partially to one side,
his feet upon stool, and his broken pipe
upon the floor. Apparently, he was fast
asleep.


Dinah's most strenuous efforts failing to
arouse him, she hurried from the room in
alarm, and acquainted her young mistress
of the singular fact. Minnie, never for a
moment thinking that anything serious was
the matter, accompanied Dinah back to the
library, when, after repeated and unavail.
ing efforts to arouse him, she discovered
that life was extinct, Physicians were
sent for Immediately; not because Minnie
entertained the slightest hope of recovery,
but because, in the excitement and terrible
alarm, that was the first thought that sug-
gested itself to her mind. As was expect
ed, they pronounced him dead, and gave
it, as their opinion, without dissenting
voice, that the principle of life had been
extinct for several hours.


Well, the poor old man was buried, with
great pomp and ceremony. The attendance
at the funeral was unusually large, and an
observer might have pointed out in the
procession that followed the pumed hearse,
nearly all the prominent men of the coun-
try and village. Hosts of friends, advisers
and sympathizers, sprung up all at once to
offer their services to the now doubly
wealthy heiress; but poor Minnie turned a.
way from them all, convinced of the hollow
ness fall their loud professions, and found in
the fresh, heartfelt, unadulterated sympa
thy of old Dinah, the most efectual balm
for her torn and bereaved heart


The old house had been dull, dreary and
desolate enough before; but since the
death of Mr.. Harcourt, the air of deser
tion and gloom which pervaded the empty
and spacious apartments was almost beyond
endurance. True, very many neighbors
and friends offered her home, more in
keeping with her age and position, and
others volunteered to live with her in the
old house until the war was over, or, at
any rate, until she could come to some
final decision with regard to the property.
But argument, expostulation and entreaty,
were all in vain. Minnie was welded to
Harcourt Hall and could not, would not,
abandon it. nor even consent to a temporary
addition to the number of its inmates.
Possibly, this was exceedingly unwise and
injudicious on Minnie's part; as, in those
times of almost universal lawlessness, it
was at least unsafe for young lady of her
rare beauty and we'll known wealth, to be
living comparatively alone, and at least a
half mile from her nearest neighbor. How
ever. such was the case.


The mysterious disappearance of Edgar
Houston, his unaccountable and protracted
abserce, and, finally, the meagre and un-
satisfactory report of his death at hospital,
proved upon her mind and heart with a
consuming energy, and untitled her for
the discharge of the duties, which now de-
volved upon her. In the course of time,
however, and in reply to letters addressed
to the Surgeon of the hospital at Norfolk,
she received information which klDdled
hope in her heart once more, and made
existence desirable.


ssM,ss MINNIE HARcouRT ~ communication of the
l2th inst which you your seventh letter Oh this
subject but which is really the first which have had the
honor 10 receive, makes mention OF young SOLDIER WHO,
rpon INQUIRY nd died al this hospital over year ago
The circumstances of the ring and that Ony eireSes my
memory as 10 the individual alluded 10. AS far rs may be
able now proceed mpart the desired lniornaon only
regrettlng that your first letter did not reach me-


From papers in my possession, find that Edgar Houston,
Private, Company A. 9th Regiment South Carolina VOL
untecrS HagoodS Brigade, brought 70 this hoSplta III
dying state OH 2lst March, last. He wounded in
the righ. shoulder by fragment of SHE'LL do not know
at what engagement. Wound was evidently two weeks
old, had been neglected, and modification had taken
MACE Do not know how you came by the information
that he was wounded by poisoned ball. The the
next bed was-hence the mistake, perhaps must not
omit very important fact just here, and that is that the
soldier did give in his own name lie was III high
fever when admitted and remained in that state until his
DEATH which occurred four days after The name OF Ed
gar Houston was found upon the back OF his vest aud the
lining of the wa!sband OF his pants, and was therefore
recorded In our books Regiment Company Brigade and
such like scraps of information, gathered from papers
about his D. and letters on his cap The ring which
took from his finger, myself, and sent 10 your uhce iay
months ago by furloughed soldier from your section OF
country attracted my attention by the name oi HAR
COURT enpraven upon It, am glad that was received IN
safety have only 10 add that houston was buried ~
the hospital grounds, and that the number oil his grave
in i my TpS.sa possesson Very Respectfully Yours,


CHARLES ID. GURNSEY,


Senior surgeon.''


We have already iDtimated, that this
letter, received several months after it was
written, inspired hope in the bosom OF the
hitherto sad and desponding Minnie, and


.ooo,b;no of intarast to her aimless