themselves affined almost as closely as if the expected alliance by
marriage had taken place. When this duty was discharged, and Ramsay's
family were provided with a place of refuge, Musgrove had set forward
with his daughter to rejoin his wife and children in their new asylum.
It was upon this journey that they had now been accidentally overtaken
by our travellers.

The disclosure of the motives of Mildred's expedition to Mary and her
father, as may be supposed, warmed up their feelings to a most
affectionate sympathy in her troubles. They had often heard of Butler's
attachment to a lady in Virginia, and were aware of her name, from the
incidents that had occurred at the trial of Butler, and from the nature
of Horse Shoe's mission to Virginia. Mary had nursed in her mind a
fanciful and zealous interest in behalf of the lady who was supposed to
have engrossed Butler's affections, from the earnest devotion which she
had witnessed in his demeanor, first at Adair's, and often afterwards
during his captivity. The effect of this preconceived favor now showed
itself in her behavior to Mildred; and, in the gentle play which it gave
to her kindly sentiments, a most happy change was wrought in her present
feelings. She at once warmly and fervently attached herself to Mildred,
and won her way into our lady's esteem by the most amiable assiduities.
In these offices of love, the poignancy of her own grief began to give
way to the natural sweetness of her temper, and they were observed, in
the same degree, to enliven Mildred's feelings. Mary hung fondly about
her new acquaintance, proffered her most minute attentions of comfort,
spoke often of the generous qualities of Butler, and breathed many a
sincere prayer for future happiness to him and those he loved.

As Mildred pondered over the new aspect which the tidings of this
evening had given to her condition, her inclination and duty both
prompted her to the resolve to make an effort to join Butler, instead of
returning to the Dove Cote. She was apprised by Musgrove that the
prisoner had been conducted to Ferguson, who, she was told, was at this
time stationed in the neighborhood of Gilbert-town, not a hundred miles
from her present position. She had ventured far in his services, and she
could not, now that she had so nearly approached him, consent to
abandon the effort of reaching the spot of his captivity. She thought
with alarm over the dangers that might await him in consequenc