be soon--I
sometimes think it may be years of agony for all; but until then,
good-by."

She had slowly descended the steps to the patio, looking handsomer than
he had ever seen her, and as if sustained and upheld by the enthusiasm
of her cause. Her hand was outstretched towards his--his heart beat
violently--in another moment he might have forgotten all and clasped her
to his breast. Suddenly she stopped, her outstretched arm stiffened, her
finger pointed to the chair on which Susy's cloak was hanging.

"What's that?" she said in a sharp, high, metallic voice. "Who is here?
Speak!"

"Susy," said Clarence.

She cast a scathing glance round the patio, and then settled her
piercing eyes on Clarence with a bitter smile.

"Already!"

Clarence felt the blood rush to his face as he stammered, "She knew what
was happening here, and came to give you warning."

"Liar!"

"Stop!" said Clarence, with a white face. "She came to tell me that
Captain Pinckney was still lingering for you in the road."

He threw open the gate to let her pass. As she swept out she lifted
her hand. As he closed the gate there were the white marks of her four
fingers on his cheek.

CHAPTER IV.

For once Susy had not exaggerated. Captain Pinckney WAS lingering, with
the deputy who had charge of him, on the trail near the casa. It had
already been pretty well understood by both captives and captors that
the arrest was simply a legal demonstration; that the sympathizing
Federal judge would undoubtedly order the discharge of the prisoners on
their own recognizances, and it was probable that the deputy saw no harm
in granting Pinckney's request--which was virtually only a delay in
his liberation. It was also possible that Pinckney had worked upon the
chivalrous sympathies of the man by professing his disinclination
to leave their devoted colleague, Mrs. Brant, at the mercy of her
antagonistic and cold-blooded husband at such a crisis, and it is to be
feared also that Clarence, as a reputed lukewarm partisan, excited no
personal sympathy, even from his own party. Howbeit, the deputy agreed
to delay Pinckney's journey for a parting interview with his fair
hostess.

How far this expressed the real sentiments of Captain Pinckney was never
known. Whether his political association with Mrs. Brant had developed
into a warmer solicitude, understood or ignored by her,--what were his
hopes and aspirations regarding her future,--were by the cour