thers.

ONE LOYAL SOUTHERN WOMAN.

283

ed to the freedom-loving loyalty of her forefaHave you more of it, Captain? It is interesting." The captain read further:

me.

"In one of my trips into North Alabama in the service of the Union cause I had a light-hued colored girl with We had to cross Bear Creek where Roddy's men had obstructed it with logs and brush. When we reached the creek (the 3rd day of July, just previous to the fall of Vicksburg), one of Roddy's men came dashing up, crying, 'What's up, woman?' 'The creek, I believe,' said I. He laughed heartily, and I gained my point. 'Can't you help me cross this ugly water ?' inquired I. Can't do it to save my soul,' said the man. Then I told him a nice little romance, which he accepted as genuine, and over we went, and I nearly lost my poor horse in the darkness, logs and mud; and when we were over, the soldier, as a last test, examined my horse-shoes; they were handmade-not machine-made, as those in the Union armyand passed all right. The night was so dark that the fellow mistook my colored girl for a bright little widow, and she was so sharp that she kept up the delusion several hours. In fact, we were really lost in the swamps about that muddy creek; and the captain-he was a captainwas so charmed that he never left us until we reached friends about 11 o'clock, and then-oh, horrible!—the truth flashed through his thick pate. But I was safe; I had accomplished my mission, and within an hour later was off on my return by another route."

"Now, I think," said the captain, after he had read this, "you must admit that there was one

Union woman in the South who was Southern born; but, in fact, there were hundreds, though military power kept most of them still."

"And were there no women of Northern birth and still residing there who sustained the Confederacy during the war?" inquired Genevieve, archly.

"Certainly there were, and men, too, by the thousand."

"And you kept them still by Union leagues and provost marshals and military law, did you not?"

"Yes, I confess we did, but, I am sorry to say, not half so effectually as your side did. We of the North were fools enough to try to be at war without restricting the rights and privileges of peace, -something no other people ever did or could do, but it cost us thousands of lives. Thank God! it is all over!"

The whole company shook hands all round on that sentiment, and Mr. Rey soon after took his leave a wiser man than when he came, but immeasurably disgusted.

The happy lovers strolled through the pleasant walks and rested in the shady nooks of The Hermitage, which never before had seemed so de

lightful, and one, at least, counted in advance the procrastinating hours which must pass before the wedding day.

And so the patient reader will imagine the autumn and the winter and the early spring as having passed at last, and the day approaching when we will wish them joy as they start upon the journey of life together.

CHAPTER XXIII.

A NEW UNION OF HEARTS AND HANDS-THE KNOT IS TIED, AND OFF THEY GO ON THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY.

INTER had passed away, and spring was melting into summer. Genevieve had graduated with all the honors which Monticello could give, and The Hermitage was gay with flowers to grace the wedding day. Invitations were out to many dear friends, and one more pressing than all had gone to Nonabel for dear Jane Waterbury and her mother. But instead of those most welcome guests came a letter as follows:

MY DEAREST GENEVIEVE: Your loving letter came yesterday. Oh, how untimely it all is! I suppose I ought to have told you before; but you know I love surprises, and I waited just too long, for it is now too late to change. Your wedding comes Sunday (we keep the Sabbath at Nonabel better than you do at The Hermitage) and mine comes Wednesday!

I am so glad you are going to Niagara! So are we. Now, come right straight to Nɔnabel-it is not ten miles out of your way-and see how lovingly we will receive

you.