ppose?"

"Do you doubt my truth, father?"

"Mildred, Mildred! you will break my heart. Why was he here at all--why
did you meet him?"

"He came, father--" said Mildred, struggling to speak through a sudden
burst of tears.

"Silence! I will hear no apology!" exclaimed Lindsay. Then relenting in
an instant, he took his daughter's hand, as he said: "My child, thou art
innocent in thy nature, and knowest not the evil imaginings of this
world. He wickedly lied, if he told you that he came casually hither, or
that his stay was circumscribed to one short night. I have proofs, full
and satisfactory, that, for several days, he lay concealed in this
vicinity; and, moreover, that his scheme was frustrated only by an
unexpected discovery, made through the indiscretion of a drunken bully,
who came linked with him in his foul embassy. It was a shameless lie,
invented to impose upon your credulity, if he gave you room to believe
otherwise."

"Arthur Butler scorns a falsehood, father, with the deepest scorn that
belongs to a noble mind, and would resent the charge with the spirit of
a valiant and virtuous man. If Mr. Tyrrel has such accusations to make,
it would be fitter they should be made face to face with the man he
would slander, than in my father's ear. But it is the nature of the
serpent to sting in the grass, not openly to encounter his victim."

"The first duty of a trusty friend is to give warning of the approach of
an enemy--and that has Tyrrel done. For this act of service does he
deserve your rebuke? Could you expect aught else of an honorable
gentleman? Shame on you, daughter!"

"Father, I know the tale to be wickedly, atrociously false. Arthur
Butler is not your enemy. Sooner would he lay down his life than even
indulge a thought of harm to you. His coming hither was not unknown to
me--his delay, but one brief night; business of great moment called him
hastily towards the army of the south."

"You speak like a girl, Mildred. I have, against this tale, the avowal
of a loyal and brave soldier. Aye, and let me tell you--favorably as you
may deem of this false and traitorous rebel--his wily arts have been
foiled, and quick vengeance is now upon his path--his doom is fixed."

"For heaven's sake, father, dear father, tell me what this means. Have
you heard of Arthur?" cried Mildred, in the most impassioned accents of
distress, at the same time throwing her head upon Lindsay's breast. "Oh,
God! have you heard aught o