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way。〃
The old negress； who had been waiting in the passage； was now
called in。
〃Why； Chloe； you look no older than when you went away from
here six years ago；〃 Miss Kingston said。 〃But how ever did you
both get through the lines？ We have been terribly anxious ahout
you。 Your brother was here only a fortnight ago； and he and your
father were in a great way about you； and reproached themselves
bitterly that they did not send you to us before the troubles began；
which certainly would have been a wiser step； as I told them。 Of
course your brother said that when they left you to join the army
they had no idea that matters were going so far； or that the
Yankees would drive us out of Tennessee； or they would never
have dreamed of leaving you alone。 However； here you are； so
now tell me all about it。〃
Lucy told the story of the various visits of the Federal
bushwhackers to the house； and how they had narrowly escaped
death for refusing to betray the Confederate officer who had come
to the house for food。 Her recital was frequently interrupted by
exclamations of indignation and pity from her aunts。
〃Well； aunts； after that；〃 she went on； 〃you see it was impossible
for me to stop there any longer。 No doubt they came back again a
few hours afterward and burned the house； and had I been found
there I should have been sure to be burned in it； so Chloe agreed
with me that there was nothing to do but to try and get through the
lines and come to you。 There was no way of my getting my living
at Nashville except by going out as a help； and there might have
been some difficulties about that。〃
〃Quite right； my dear。 It was clearly the best thing for you to come
to us…indeed； the only thing。 But how in the world did you two
manage to travel alone all that distance and get through the Federal
lines？〃
〃You see； we were not alone； aunts；〃 Lucy said； 〃the Confederate
officer and his servant were coming through； and of course they
took care of us。 We could never have got through alone； and as
Chloe was with me we got on very nicely； hut we have been a long
time getting through； for in that fight； where he saved my life and
killed five of the band； he had his shoulder broken by a pistol
bullet； and we had to stop in a farmhouse near Mount Pleasant；
and he was very ill for some time； but the doctor who attended him
was a true Southerner； and so we were quite safe till he was able to
move again。〃
〃And who is this officer； Lucy？〃 Miss Kingston asked rather
anxiously。
〃He is a Virginian gentleman； auntie。 His mother has large estates
near Richmond。 He was in the cavalry with Stuart； and was made
prisoner while he was lying wounded and insensible； at Antietam；
and I think； auntie； that that…〃 and she hesitated…〃 some day we are
going to be married。〃
Oh； that's it； is it？〃 the old lady said kindly。 〃Well； I can't say
anything about that until I see him； Lucy。 Now tell us the whole
story； and then we shall be better able to judge about it。 I don't
think； my dear； that while you were traveling under his protection
he ought to have talked to you about such things。〃
〃He didn't； auntie； not until we were half a mile from the station
here。 I never thought he cared for me the least bit； he was just like
a brother to me…just like what Jack would have been if he had been
bringing me here。〃
〃That's right； my dear； I am glad to hear it。 Now； let us hear all
about it。〃
Lucy told the whole story of her escape and her adventures； and
when she had finished her aunts nodded to each other。
〃That's all very satisfactory； Lucy。 It was a difficult position to be
placed in； though I don't see how it was to be avoided； and the
young man really seems to have hehaved very well。 Don't you
think so； Ada？〃 The younger Miss Kingston agreed； and both were
prepared to receive Vincent with cordiality when he appeared
The hour had been considerably exceeded when Vincent came to
the door。 He felt it rather an awkward moment when he was
ushered into the presence of Lucy's aunts； who could scarcely
restrain an exclamation of surprise at his youth； for although Lucy
had said nothing about his age； they expected to meet an older
man； the impression being gained from the recital of his bravery in
attacking singlehanded twelve men； and by the manner in which he
had piloted the party through their dangers。
We are very glad to see you…my sister Ada and myself；〃 Miss
Kingston said； shaking hands cordially with their visitor。 〃Lucy
has been telling us all about you； but we certainly expected from
what you had gone through that you were older。〃
〃I am two or three years older than she is； Miss Kingston； and I
have gone through so much in the last three years that I feel older
than I am。 She has told you； I hope； that she has been good enough
to promise to be my wife some day？〃
〃Yes； she has told us that； Mr。 Wingfield； and although we don't
know you personally； we feel sure…my sister Ada and I…from what
she has told us of your behavior while you have been together that
you are an honorable gentleman； and we hope and believe that you
will make her happy。〃
〃I will do my best to do so；〃 Vincent said earnestly。 〃As to my
circumstances； I shall in another year come into possession of
estates sufficient to keep her in every comfort。〃
〃I have no doubt that that is all satisfactory； Mr。 Wingfield； and
that her father will give his hearty approval when he hears all the
circumstances of the case。 Now； if you will go into the next room；
Mr。 Wingfield； I will call her down〃…for Lucy bad run upstairs
when she heard Vincent knock。
〃I dare say you will like a quiet talk together；〃 she added smiling；
〃for she tells me you have never been alone together since you
started。〃
Lucy required several calls before she came down。 A new shyness
such as she had never before felt bad seized her； and it was with
flushed cheeks and timid steps that she at last came downstairs；
and it needed an encouraging…〃 Go in； you silly child； your lover
will not eat you；〃 before she turned the handle and went into the
room where Vincent was expecting her。
Vincent had telegraphed from the first station at which he arrived
within the limits of the Confederacy to his mother； announcing his
safe arrival there； and asking her to send money to him at Antioch。
Her letter in reply reached him three days after his arrival。 It
contained notes for the amount he wrote for； and while expressing
her own and his sisters' delight at hearing he had safely reached the
limits of the Confederacy； she expressed not a little surprise at the
out…of…the…way place to which he had requested the money to be
sent。
〃We have been examining the maps； my dear boy；〃 she said； 〃and
find that it is seventy or eighty miles out of your direct course； and
we have puzzled ourselves in vain as to why you should have made
your