evening, and the first object he saw
distinctly as he galloped to the house, was Alice, sitting near to
Irving upon the pleasant piazza, just as it was natural that she should
sit. He did not observe that his mother was there with them; he did not
think of anything as he rode past them with nod and smile, save that
life henceforth was but a dreary, hopeless blank to him.

Leaving Rocket in Claib's care, he sauntered to the back piazza, where
Sam was sitting, and taking a seat beside him startled him by saying
that he should start on the morrow in quest of his missing sister.

"Yes, massah," was Sam's quiet reply, for he understood the reason of
this sudden journey.

Old Sam pitied Hugh, and after a moment's silence his pity expressed
itself in words. Laying his dark hand on Hugh's bowed head, he said:

"Poor Massah Hugh. Sam kin feel for you ef he is black. Niggers kin love
like the white folks does."

"What do you mean? What do you know?" Hugh asked, a little haughtily,
while Sam fearlessly replied:

"'Scuse me, massah, but I hears dem dis mornin'--hears de city chap
sparkin' Miss Ellis, and seen his arm spang round her, too, with her
sweet face, white as wool, lyin' in his buzzum."

"You saw this after I was gone?" Hugh asked, eagerly, and Sam replied:

"Yes, massah, strue as preachin', and I'se sorry for massah. I prays
that he may somewhar find anodder Miss Ellis, only not quite so nice,
'cause he can't."

Hugh smiled bitterly, as he rejoined:

"Pray rather that I may find Adah, that is the object now for which I
live; and, Sam, keep what you have seen to yourself. Be faithful to Miss
Johnson and kind to mother. There's no telling when I shall return. I
may join the Federal Army, but not a word of this to any one."

"Oh, massah," Sam began, but Hugh left him ere he finished, and
compelled himself to join the group on the front side of the building,
startling them as he had Sam by announcing his determination to start on
the morrow for New York.

Alice's exclamation of surprise was lost as Irving rejoined:

"Then we may travel together, as I, too, leave in the morning."

Hugh gave him a rapid, searching glance, and then his eye fell on Alice,
whose white face he jealously fancied was caused by the prospect of
parting so soon with her affianced husband. He could not guess whether
she were going to Europe or not. A few weeks seemed so short a time in
which to prepare, that he half believed she might ind