the care of her from her birth--indeed, and
of her mother also--and has nursed each one of us in turn. Of course, we
are all devotedly attached to her and she to us. Aunt Chloe is what she
is called by those who are not her nurslings."

"She must be very, very old, I should think," observed Evelyn.

"She is," said Elsie, and very infirm. No one knows her exact age, but
she cannot be much, if any younger than Aunt Wealthy, who has just passed
her hundredth birthday; and I believe her to be, in fact, somewhat
older."

"How I should like to see her!" exclaimed Evelyn.

"I hope to give you that pleasure to-day," responded Elsie. "Until very
recently she always accompanied mamma--no, I mistake; she staid behind
once; it was when Lilly was taken North as a last hope of saving her dear
life. Papa and mamma thought best to take me and the baby along, and to
leave mammy behind in charge of the other children.

"This summer she was too feeble to leave Ion; so we shall find her there.
In deep sorrow too, no doubt; for her old husband, Uncle Joe, died a few
weeks since."

"Eva must hear their story one of these days," remarked Mr. Leland; "it
is very interesting."

"Yes; and some of it very sad; that which occurred before mamma's visit
to Viamede, after she had attained her majority. That visit was the dawn
of brighter days to them. I will tell you the whole story, Eva, some time
when we are sitting quietly together at our needlework, if you will
remind me."

"For what hour will you have the carriage ordered, my dear?" Lester
asked, as they left the table. "Ten, if you please," she answered. "I
hope you will go with us?"

"I shall do so with pleasure," he said. "It is a lovely morning for a
drive; the rain has laid the dust and the air is just cool enough to be
bracing."

Evelyn was on the veranda, gazing about her with a thoughtful air.

"Well, lassie, what think you of Fairview?" asked her uncle, coming to
her side.

"I like it," she answered emphatically. "Didn't something happen here,
uncle, in the time of the Ku-Klux raids? I seem to have heard there did."

"Yes; a coffin, with a threatening notice attached, was laid at the gate
yonder one night. My uncle owned, and lived on, the place at that time,
and by reason of his northern birth and Republican sentiments, was
obnoxious to the members of the klan."

"And it was he they were threatening?"

"Yes. They afterward attacked the place, wounded and drove him in