Year: 1872

her hand trembled and her mind was in such
tumultuous whirl, she knew not how to ar
range the words she wished to say, so they
would sound cool and not betray the agita
ton which shook her frame. Every moment
seemed an age, and sinking on her knees shf
whispered Lord, help me. Lord, help me-


"What time ain afraid, I will trust ir
Thee" came like an inspiration to her mind
and rising, she did control herself to write


DARLING MoTHER--Don't be uneasy if yor
miss me; have gone out on an errand for father
Don't rouse the soldiers to frighten me as return


Yours. Your OWN GRACE.


Again taking off her CATERS, she ran noise
lessly up stairs, spread black apron over he1
pillow and fastened the billet to it, so it coulc
not help being seen by the first one who enter
ed the room. With little trouble she man
aged to find a close fitting cloak, andher OWL
hat. Listening for moment to see if any
one was awake, and convinced by the quiet
regular breathings, that all were sleeping
quietly, she darted down to the sitting.room
giving a thought as she went, to the many
times she had wished Lance was not such
hard sleeper, and how thankful she was now
that she was not like Conway's maid, who
awoke at word, and saw and heard every
thing all over the house.


Clinton had not returned, and too agitated
to sit still, Grace walked softly but swiftly VI
and down the floor, listening intently least
sound should escape her ear; her heart, all
the time-like that of the poor Irish mother
whose babe was dying in her arms-'was OIL
its knees and mid its mute, but sincere pray
ers for her fathers and her own safety, came
like balm, the line,


"What time am afraid, will trust in Thee"


Soon quick step was heard, and Clinton
entered. His keen eye took in the whole o.
Grace's costume, and as she said, IL an
ready" he quietly arranged the awkwardly
buckled pistol-belt, and drew on her little
hands his own riding gloves, whose long fur
more than large size, made her look the pos
SCISSOR of two huge paws.


"The night is chilly. You will need them
and see you have forgotten yours" was all
he said to her startled 81 can't take them :
and she yielded in spite of herself,


The light was turned down, they passed
out, the door was locked, and then-"O, car
go! must I go| swept like tide over he'
soul, and she shuddered, but said nothing.


The guard was passed, the horse reached
and united but Clinton said, "You had bet
ter walk down the avenue, and not mount till
we get where the sound of her feet can moi
alarm the camp. She will 60 like the wind
when she starts


A long stretch of sand in the road deadened
the sound, if it also lessened speed and there
Clinton stopped. Fixing the bride fol
Grace, and placing his hand for her foot, he
said


"Remember, its a mans saddle. Steady,
Lady Belle, steady! That's it," and Grace
was firmly in the saddle. Gathering up the
reins, while Clinton put her foot in the stirruF
strap, she said


"Thank you, Captain Clinton. I can never
be thankful enough, if I save my father" and
she was about to dart off when, with his hand
on the bride, Clinton said coolly-


II am going with you"


Grace replied in surprise. "But must
ride fast-very fast"


II knowit I cannot let you 60 alone, un'
protected. Sit firm in the saddle and look
out; my horse may jump. Steady, my beau
ty, steady" and with one spring Clinton was
up behind her.


The horse did jump, and that so suddenly
it cut short Grace's little scream of surprise
The bound would have unseated a less skillful
rider, but Grace had the art of keeping her
seat, which is rarely acquired except by early
and constant practice.


"Don't be frightened. I would have got
another horse, if I could" and in her heart
Grace was thankful she was not alone.


Lady Belle went, as Clinton had said,
like an arrow" but with such an easy gait
and such obedience to the bride, that under
more pleasing circumstances, Grace would
have been charmed with her; but things of
more moment filled her mind now. Only one
remark was made


eff anything alarms you, don't use your
pistols too hastily. Cool steadiness will carry
one through more dangers than any amount
of hot bullets"


Two miles and the open road was left half
a mile farther, and path was taken. The
swift gallop was reduced to walk, and among
bushes and over logs, Lady Belle was guided
till Clinton began to think they must be going
eight miles instead of five. He hesitated to
ask Grace if she was sure of the way, lest the
very idea of being lost might confuse her but
as thorns and briers began to impede their fur
ther progress, he was about to speak when
she checked the horse, and placing little
whistle to her lips blew long, piercing note,
which echoed strangely around through the
sombre forest. Then waiting moment she
breathed a few bars of some simple air, and
paused in the most intense anxiety.


20, if he should not hear me!'


"Is this the right locality ?"


Eyes. This tree was to be the rendezvous, y
and she pointed to blasted cypress near
them.


"Have you given all the signal?"


20, it was to be repeated;" )" and more Chez
rily rang the whistle and sounded the little
air.


This time an answer was given but few
yards off: Clinton slipped to the ground, and
stepped to the horses head with his hand on