o longer wore a uniform
and was simply a plain member of the Legislature.

"He looked so fine in his brass buttons," said Mistress Polly.

"A brave, bold, quite proper-looking young fellow," added Mistress
Betsy.

"And now just look at him," continued Mistress Polly pathetically; and
they surveyed me sorrowfully, while malicious mischief played around
the corners of their eyes.

I laughed outright. I could not help it, so droll was the expression
on their faces.

"True, your ladyship," I said; "the toga does not fit a young man so
well as the buckled sabre and glittering epaulets. But now that dull
peace has come, the hall of the Legislature is the only place where
you can throw the weight of your sword in the conflict and wield some
influence in the great struggles of the country; would you have me
idle?"

"Nay, I would not have that," said Mistress Polly judiciously. "But
your round head and big hands are just the things for a fight, and
though your voice is--well--can be heard a considerable distance, I am
afraid----" She paused, as if doubtful about its being put to any good
use in the hall of the Assembly.

Decidedly I was getting the worst of it.

At this moment Dick Ringgold, who represented Kent with me, came
swinging up the street, and, seeing me standing on the steps, hailed
me with--

"Hello, Frisby, have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"Your old Tory friend Gordon is on the Sally Ann, from London, which
has just come up the harbour."

"Any one with him?" I asked anxiously.

"Well," said Dick, maliciously drawling it out, "I heard some one say
there was a young lady with him."

I did not stop to protest against the laughter that followed me as I
dashed down the street, or to Dick's shout as he called something
after me. A few minutes later I was on the wharf.

Out in the stream, swaying with the current of the tide, lay the Sally
Ann, her tall spars tapering high in air, her decks full of bustle and
activity, showing the journey's end and that the final preparations
for disembarkation were under full headway.

As I arrived a boat was pulling off from her side containing two
passengers. As I saw them my heart gave a great bound; my hand went to
my hat and swung it around my head. In answer to my signal came the
fluttering of a handkerchief.

"Sir," said I, as the old Tory stepped ashore, "let me be the first
to welcome you back to old Maryland."

"Would that all my enemies were li