Kitty's Conquest

been sleeping somewhat uneasily, curled up on one of the seats. I was dimly conscious of the fact that at some unknown hour in the night another telegram had been received referring to

d. She looked very white and wan in the uncertain light, but there was a womanly tenderness and sweetness about her face that made it inexpressibly lovely to me. She was gazing wistfully out over the sea of marsh and swamp, as though longing to bridge the distance that still separated us from the city, whe

ows, I could see that we were rolling up the "Elysian Fields." Then came the curving sweep around on the broad levee. All looked quiet, even deserted, as we passed the Mint and the wide thoroughfare of Esplanade Street. Some of the lamp

taff of the commanding general. He came at once to Major Williams; shook hands with him, and conveyed some orders in a low tone of voice; then asked to be prese

t in general salutation to the party, spoke in the hurried, nervous way I afterwards found was habitua

that the doctors pronounce him much better. The general charged me to bring you the late

, but the exigencies of the case put all such considerations aside. Everybody on our train knew the story of course, and it had evidently been telegraphed to headquarters. Meantime, Major Williams had been superintending the debarkation of his men, and they were forming ranks on the platform outside. Beyond them, a long line of stacked arms was guarded by sentries, and several companies of infantry were grouped behind them, watching with professional interest the arrival of comrade so

ft the car for a momen

rious with fever, had him taken at once to his lodgings. There are a number of vacant rooms, he tells me, and he has made all arrangements to take us right th

em. Kitty looked furtively about her as she stepped from the car, and Mr. Turpin sprang forward to take her light satchel. It was but a few steps to the carriage. Pauline and Kitty were handed in. Summers and Colonel Newhall took the

nized at once as Frank Amory. The one in rear was evidently his orderly. Never noticing the carriage, which had hurried off on the Custom-House

d man, how

ns to his orderly, Frank Amory sprang from the saddle, and wa

s comrade. The moment he caught sight of me, however, he stepped quickly forward. Quite a number of the y

Who-who else came?"

ss Kitty, and the colonel with me. They just drove off in that

h at a loss what to add. "I-I had no idea she-you could get he

l rooms, and the colonel says his landlady will take the best of care o

el Summers and Miss Carrington?

oned near them," was the answ

or Major Vinton, and to ask for news. Presently Major Williams came up with Colonel Starr, the commanding officer of the batt

formed and fully-equipped battalion of infantry, with a battery of field-guns and a squadron of cavalry as assistants. The police held the various stations, and no encounter had taken place; but the citizens had turned out in great numbers, and the chances were that they would prove too powerful for the mixed array of the police force; and trouble had been anticipated for that very night, but it had not come. A strong battalion of infantry was posted here at the railway station. Another, after a day of

took a car; rode to Canal Street; walked down Royal to Colonel Newhall's lodgings; met one of the doctors, who assured me that Major Vinton was doing very well, and that later they hoped he might be well enough to see Miss Summers. He was still flighty and had no idea of his whereabouts. The ladies were up-stairs resting. Would I see them? No, I preferred not to disturb them, and so went off by myself to breakfast at my usual haunt, Moreau's. The room was already well filled when I entered. Most of the tables were oc

ne to-night, you m

ory will stand by and allow such a

called upon by the marshal or by the State authorities. The whole thing will be over and done with

it and call upon him to stat

aise a finger against the general government. Let him send a corporal's guard t

ead

ho had risen and were quietly leaving. Then they looked at me, and th

-past four, as I strolled up the street under the friendly shade of the awnings, that made the wide sidewalks one long arcade, I was struck by the perfectly peaceful aspect of the scene. From the Custom-House to Rampart Street, on the lower side of the way, I did

d as a State-House and place of meeting of one at least of the rival Legislatures; but there was nothing in its exterior to indicate the state of siege as described in the daily press. In all, there might have been one hundred loungers scattered from Victor's marble-columned restaurant on the lowe

ons to my movements, but looking behind me as I reached the car-tracks, I saw that the listless loungers on the banquette had crowded forward to its edge, and were watching me with interest. Keeping on, however, I soon reached the upp

eeing my look of surprise, he smilingly added, "Of course I

ions, I would like to go to the State

il reply; "at this moment our

he other side were watching the scene, and that they would be sure to hold me in lighter e

stled to a boy who stood near; the youngster seized it and was off like a shot; while my detective and I walked slowly towards the building. Before we reached the stone steps, a fine-looking fellow in the fatigue uniform of the United States artillery came out and looked in

of the regular service, were gathered in front. Stacks of Winchester rifles stood close by, many of the men having their muskets still in their hands. All the lower hall and the staircases were crowded with these improvised troops, some white, some colored, there being white men in the rank and file, and colored men among the officers. All were very quiet, orderly, and apparently well disciplined. Some of t

a door, and we found ourselves in an inner hall or vestibule. Here we came upon a dozen colored men surrounding a low wooden c

yo' time. Las' year I done trus' de gen'lemen of de

' ought ter have some consideration fo' gen'lemen of de Legislature what's sufferin' here fo' you an' de people. Soon's we don

s with previous Legislatures and legislators had undermined her faith in the stability of their fina

that they have had nothing to eat except what they could pick up here; but we contributed

main room, the temporary hall of representative

reporters stood below it. Scattered in groups all about the room were upwards of an hundred men, some white, some colored, stretched at length upon the chairs, others were lying asleep. The instant we entered, conversation ceased, and all looked eagerly and

, and the Governor knows blessed well that if they once get out, the chances are ten to one they'll never get back. Either

te was likewise blockaded in another part of the building; and this was the shape in which one Governor

the regular service were killing time, reading, writing, or dozing; and most disgusted they looked with their occupation. On being presented to the commanding officer and his comrades I was courteously greeted and invited t

the building it would not be molested. No wonder they yawned and looked bored to death; and my proffer of services was gladly accepted. "Send us anything you may have in the way of reading matter, and we'll be only too thankful," was the major's half-laughing, half-rueful reply, and after an hour's chat I left. The lieutenant accompanied me to the e