It was my brother's turn to scold now, so he appeared to think, at least, and he seized his opportunity with a zest that showed me how deep was his interest in any step I might take, so vital to my future happiness as my marriage.

"Why!" I exclaimed, "Charles, what's the matter with you?"

"Matter enough, I should think, from all I can hear." "Well, what have you heard?"

66

Why! all this talk about your engagement to Misswhat's her name?"

66

So you've heard-that—too, have you? Pray, who told you?"

"Several have mentioned it to me. It was only last week that Colonel Withers, the biggest old reb in this county, on his return from a trip down the river told me he had heard that you were engaged to her."

"Well, what did he have to say about it?"

,

"Oh, he thought it an excellent idea; good way to close up the bloody chasm, you know, and all that sort of nonsense. He actually congratulated me upon it. Pretty fellow, you, to talk to me about allowing these assassins to blindfold me! For my part I'd much rather submit to that operation by a man than any woman I ever saw."

"Ha, ha, ha! had you?"

"Better look sharp, boy."

"Charles, my dear, big brother, will you promise not to go back on me?"

"Well you're my brother, of course, but then why haven't you said something to me about it before?"

only girl in this

"Ah! I see. You mean your consent. Well, I ask you now. Have I your consent to marry the wide world that I care a tinker's baubee' Black used to say?"

"What an old hyena he is!"

"But you're off the subject, Charles."

"My consent? Why, you're of age, man. your bed, you must lie, you know."

for, as Colonel

As you make

"Yes, I've heard that remark before, and shall doubtless often hear it again. But you promise not to disown me, do you?"

"Y-e-a-s. Yes, I'll promise, but-"

"Look me in the eye, old polecat, I am anxious to see how you take it-there, steady now! You are mistaken, my brother! God willing I am going to marry a 'nigger' school

marm."

CHAPTER LV.

MORE REVELATIONS AND MORE STRAW FOR BRICKS-VIRTUE BY CONTRAST-CROSSING THE RUBICON.

MY

Y brother's eyes did not droop at my announcement. They did search my very soul. He must have been content with what he saw at the bottom, for, taking my arm in his, in that affectionate, brotherly way, which was all the more precious to me because it was not often he did itCharles was not very demonstrative in his affections-he pulled me around, and we resumed our walk.

"Your cigar has gone out, I see."

"Yes; let me re-light it; do you know I'm awfully glad you don't appear to need the sedative."

"I should think you would."

"Only it's gratitude, not disgust, that has excited my nerves, old fellow; I'll throw it away, shortly; fact is, I've promised Carrie to quit it altogether before our wedding day."

"Well that's a good beginning, anyhow."

"Good; now tell me about yourself, Charles; why don't you get married ?"

"You haven't told me who it is yet that is to take the place of your cigar."

"Oh, do you recollect a certain Sabbath-school you visited with me while in Jackson last fall?"

"The one that had so many unrecognized children of 'first citizens of Mississippi' in it?"

"The same; by the way, I had not learned all about her day-school then; the truth is, my dear brother, there are children of Governors, United States Serators, members of Congress, of the High Court of Errors and Appeals,'* of the Legislature, and of sheriffs, justices of the peace, doctors, lawyers, ministers, merchants, planters, school teachers, blacksmiths, carpenters, and general laborers, in that school. Would you believe it?"

"Yes, I don't doubt it; it's just so here; only the parents are less distinguished; being at the ancient, political and social centre of the great State of Mississippi-the arch-traitor's home-I am not surprised at it at all. But it must be a very large school to accommodate all the classes and grades you've mentioned."

"The first time I visited it there were seventy odd pupils, by actual count."

"Is it possible! and but one teacher?"

"Only my girl."

"I wonder how she manages them all?"

"Do you recollect a remark you made of her as we left the Sabbath-school that day?"

"I don't know that I do; I remember that I thought her a most heroic girl".

"And said she'd make a better member of the legislature than any of those you saw in that august body."

"Ha, ha! Yes, I recollect."

"Well, I'm going to make her my wife."

"Mollie told me you were very much in love with a Miss at Fox Lake."

"You know I was a boy then. Perhaps had she waited for me, I might have fallen in love with her after I got back from the war."

"Were you and she not engaged?"

"Oh, no. You know how it was at the old home. I used to see her home from church, attend Good Templars Lodge,

* Now styled the Supreme Court.

and little parties with her-as her escort. We were not engaged, and when my three years were up and I didn't come back, I suppose she thought 't'wouldn't pay to wait. I hear she has an excellent husband, and they love each other well. I saw them when I was home last."

"What a humdrum place Fox Lake is getting to be." "Yes, the railroad killed it. But it'll wake up by-and-by." "What a difference between the people there and here!" "Don't let's talk about that. I get homesick whenever I think of it. Why don't you tell me why you don't get a wife? You always have managed to put me off, but now I've told you, you shall tell me."

"You haven't told me where she is from yet."

"You've forgotten I told you all about that when we left her school that day."

"Then you said nothing of your intention to marry her." "She's from Syracuse, New York."

"Good place to come from, by George!"

"I see you are determined to have the whole story. Her mother has been a widow several years; had a large family on her hands; lost her eldest boy and main support in one of the last skirmishes about Petersburg. Ever since 1864 they've all been teaching-mother and four children-in the South. They live together-the mother and two daughters-at Jackson. Carrie is the most-perhaps I ought not to say most successful, where all have done so nobly-but certainly the most popular teacher there, unless I except one or two most estimable Quaker ladies. Certain it is that she has not only won the love of all the freed people, she has also won the profound respect of even the enemy,' who treat her with great deference, notwithstanding her calling. Mr. Barksdale, Judge Potter, and many of the solid men of the capital city have manifested their appreciation of her tact, skill, ability and devotion in many ways. She is as tireless in her work as she is skillful. Think of it, she not only manages that large day school-sometimes numbering a hundred-but she attends to