summoned Miss
Metoaca to the stand. The spinster's eyes filled with tears when she
first saw Nancy. She was devoted to her niece, and the signs of
suffering in Nancy's face cut her to the heart. She had to clear her
throat twice to get rid of a suspicious lump before she could be duly
sworn. Though a witness for the defence, the judge advocate asked the
first question, as is the custom in all courts-martial.

"Are you related to the accused?" he asked, when Miss Metoaca was
finally settled in her chair.

"She is my niece, my brother's only child."

At that moment an orderly entered the room and handed a note to Warren.
He quickly broke the seal and a muttered exclamation escaped him as he
read its contents. He crushed the note in his hand, gave a few
low-toned directions to his colleague, and left the room.

Warren had prepared his questions, and Mr. Dwight handed them one by
one to the judge advocate.

"Do you own a cat?"

"I do, or rather, I did. She had to be chloroformed, much to Misery's
delight."

"Misery?" Dwight was confused; he was not familiar with Misery, never
having made his acquaintance. "Who is Misery?"

"My niece's dog. He hated that cat."

The judge advocate frowned as he consulted the defence's next question.
"State to the court the exact day, and why, you chloroformed her."

"Let me see--it was the afternoon of Mrs. Arnold's ball, the sixth. The
cat was run over just before my niece went out, and I asked her to buy
some chloroform, thinking I might have to use it."

"Was the bottle full when the accused handed it to you?"

"To the best of my recollection it was."

"Did the accused appear excited or nervous when she returned with the
chloroform?"

"No, sir."

"At what hour did she return?"

"About twenty minutes past six."

"I have no further questions to ask this witness," said Dwight. "Do you
wish to cross-examine her, Mr. Judge Advocate?"

"Miss Newton," began the judge advocate, "have you taken the 'oath'?"

"I was under the impression you had just administered it to me,"
exclaimed Miss Metoaca, mildly.

"I mean the oath of allegiance," reddening.

"No, sir."

"Nor the accused?"

"Neither of us, sir. We are law-abiding citizens."

"Are your sympathies with the Union or with the Confederacy?"

"They are divided," tranquilly. "I have relatives and friends in both
armies."

"Are you a rebel sympathizer? Answer yes or no."

"I am, sir; like many other Washington wom