Faithful Margaret

w mist; the breath of morning stirred the pendant l

nding, the thundering camp was alive

marshaling his company. "Be r

ir pleasant homes among the Green Mountains. Untried and but freshly

nce and enthusiasm to its utterances, and was met by a cheer from his men which reverberated from the distant forest like an echo of the sea. In a few

iage behind which lurked the foe. They stood there awaiting the onset, motionless as if they

t from the invisible enemy, and the battle had begun. The fight was fierce and long-courage and daring were exhibit

chat, as usual, before they parted for the night, and in the welcome absence of T

ers, a pistol-shot was heard, and simultaneously a pistol ball whistled

other's throat in a deadly grasp. It seemed impossible to decide upon which side the victory would turn, and their continual writhings and contortions rendered int

ll back heavily with a stifled groan, and the victor rose and

" cried Calembours, in

o, in equal amazement. "You deserve promoti

tiger, then down at his vanquished enemy

ms, "and we passed the pickets and came straight to your tent to speak about it. But he t

pplauded Calembo

Udo of the soldier, who was kne

k," answered Reed. "H

ver him, with murder

bloodless lips moved convulsively, and though his life-blood welled

!" muttered

his throat in a moment-Thoms' tig

stulated Reed. "Let t

dered St. Udo, wit

nfederate soldier. St. Udo put hi

the man. "Before Heaven, I swear it! He s

his hands and threw them up toward Heaven, as if he called on

ds rose and l

tood out on his damp forehead like whipcord, but h

to this charge?"

servant, I needn't expect much fair play. What else would he say to revenge his death, I'd like to know? Of course,

ich belonged more to a madman than to a man supposed to be in possessi

aid St. Udo, "if you ha

the rogue!" cried Calembours. "

sted the old man. "Surely Colonel Brand will give m

the eager face dou

rate, not you, fired that

," answered

, "but warn you that you shall be well watched in future. Be off no

but Thoms cringed before the haughty colonel

is-if either Colonel Calembours or I meet death treacherously, you w

d down on his breast, and the

ascal unhung," sa

St. Udo. "Don't annoy yourself over his vagar

d over the black story was repeated by a thousand camp-fires, and wherever

ing Colonel Brand's clemency, and he quailed before the t

march, and at the dawn of day it came upon a plant

the verdant plain was white with tents, and the lambent air was rife with the rattle

foliage of the jasmine, oleander, and magnolia, and in its spacious rooms they mental

hance to send them to Washington," said St. Udo, "and leav

f the maison better than the inside of my tent, and, by gar! co

s ushered in which Colonel Brand had yet witnessed in his

esidence imaginable, swathed in roses and creamy jasmine cups, girdled with balconies in highest tracery, embellished w

widest extent, and the snowy curtains waved out on the wall among the climbing roses; and St.

r, "they sleep soundly! Aga

, and sent his dilated eyes up to the w

ong to greet the owner of such a voice. So clear

knocke

It is a band of Northern soldiers. They will

n a startled tone. "Who speaks with these a

ened, and a pretty qua

istress," ord

nd rushed up a broad staircase, down which was wa

into a magnificent drawing-room assuring them t

use is this?" dema

n's," whispere

?" asked St.

urned

gallant chevalier. "Monsieur Estvan is fighting like t

e; "but madam forb

laughed Calembours. "Now,

g maid, "but will come soon to speak with y

machere, and make haste," said

embellished apartment, and, with an ejaculation of delight, extolled the pictures, statuettes, and bi

which he could see through the half-open door,

reathlessly to the chevalier's song. She seemed a vision of wonderful grace, with her rich dressing-robe huddled up in her arms, and her long, light tresses sweeping over

ear, anger, and doubt struggled for the mastery-and at last she dropped h

w of my friend, the chevalier? Shall I interfere? No-I think he

hen the chevalier's song came to an

transfo

d in speechl

igure, keen, dark face

me figure, the dainty complexi

ld saw he. Madam's lips were blue with fright, no longer thin, scarlet beauty-lines

tent himself by watching the next incident of inte

with eagerness, she with downcast lids and bras

r de Calembo

your service, mess

th smile a little; but Calembours' color fades to a si

for a temporary hospital," remarks

m, and both become natural, and that is

would give her more gratification than to be of use to the Feder

, and bewailing the meagerness of her domestic force which would compel the soldiers to wait upon themselves. But do w

d to the lower hall

nied them to the doo

gainst the roof of the piazza startled him, and a cannon-ball

Estvan; she rushed forward and c

me go!" hissed he, w

lice, who ever loved you! Don't desert m

guage; her terror tore aside the cunning mask, and plainl

wore the chevalier, shaking her

by St. Udo, and the wretched woman s

ng along the piazza roof, licking the airy balconies up, creeping serpent-like around the pillars,