a moment he paused, as
if debating with his politeness, but at length he threw an inquiring
glance on the stranger, as he inquired:

"To whose health am I to have the honor of drinking?"

The young ladies had again taken their seats beside the work-stand,
while their aunt, Miss Jeanette Peyton, withdrew to superintend the
preparations necessary to appease the hunger of their unexpected
visitor.

The traveller had also seated himself, and he sat unconsciously gazing
on the fire while Mr. Wharton spoke; turning his eyes slowly on his
host with a look of close observation, he replied, while a faint tinge
gathered on his features:

"Mr. Harper."

"Mr. Harper," resumed the other, with the formal precision of that
day, "I have the honor to drink your health, and to hope you will
sustain no injury from the rain to which you have been exposed."

Mr. Harper bowed in silence to the compliment, and he soon resumed the
meditations from which he had been interrupted, and for which the long
ride he had that day made, in the wind, might seem a very natural
apology.

Mr. Wharton had in vain endeavored to pierce the disguise of his
guest's political feelings. He arose and led the way into another room
and to the supper-table. Mr. Harper offered his hand to Sarah Wharton,
and they entered the room together; while Frances followed, greatly at
a loss to know whether she had not wounded the feelings of her
father's inmate.

The storm began to rage in greater violence without, when a loud
summons at the outer door again called the faithful black to the
portal. In a minute the servant returned, and informed his master that
another traveller, overtaken by the storm, desired to be admitted to
the house for shelter through the night.

Some of the dishes were replaced by the orders of Miss Peyton, and
the weather-beaten intruder was invited to partake of the remains of
the repast, from which the party had just risen. Throwing aside a
rough great-coat, he very composedly took the offered chair, and
unceremoniously proceeded to allay the cravings of an appetite which
appeared by no means delicate. But at every mouthful he would turn an
unquiet eye on Harper, who studied his appearance with a closeness of
investigation that was very embarrassing to its subject. At length,
pouring out a glass of wine, the newcomer nodded significantly to
his examiner, previously to swallowing the liquor, and said, with
something of bitterness in his man