could not bring himself to speak of
Elizabeth, and North lacked the courage to ask concerning her.

"I heard through one of my men of your arrest. He brought word of it to
the farm," the farmer said at length.

"Miss Herbert knows--of course you told her--"

"Yes, North; yes, she knows!" her father replied. "She knows and she
urged me to come!"

He saw North's face light up with a sudden look of joy.

"She urged you to come?" repeated North.

"Yes--I think she would have come herself if I had not been willing."

"I am glad she did not!" said North quickly.

"Of course! I told her it would only distress you."

"It would only distress her--which is all that is worth considering,"
rejoined North.

"That's so!" said the general, approaching the young man and resting a
brown and muscular hand on his shoulder.

"She has told you?" asked North.

The older man nodded.

"Yes, she's told me," he said briefly.

"I can't ask if it was pleasant news at this time," said North. "What do
you wish me to do?" he continued. "She must forget what was said that
night, and I, too, will endeavor to forget--tell her that." He passed a
shaking hand before his face.

"I've a note here for you, North--" General Herbert was fumbling in his
pocket--"from Elizabeth. Don't you be too quick to decide!"

"With your permission," said North as he took the letter.

He tore it open, and Elizabeth's father, watching him, saw the
expression of his face change utterly, as the lines of tense repression
faded from it. It was clear that for the moment all else was lost in his
feeling of great and compelling happiness. Twice he read the letter
before he could bring himself to replace it in its envelope. As he did
so, he caught the general's eyes fixed on him. For a moment he
hesitated, then he said with the frankness that was habitual to him:

"I think you should know just what that letter means to me. It is brave
and steadfast--just as she is; no, you were right, I can't decide--I
won't!"

"I wouldn't," said the general. There was a pause and then he added,
"After all, it is not given to every woman to show just how deep her
faith is in the man she loves. It would be too bad if you could not know
that!"

"The situation may become intolerable, General Herbert! Suppose I am
held for the murder--suppose a long trial follows; think what she will
suffer, the uncertainty, the awful doubt of the outcome, although she
knows,--she must know I am