" Harry observed, "although I agree with Miss Emma, that our
people do not pay as much attention to refugees as they should; but
the unfortunate exile will always find a sympathizing heart among our
people. You may rest assured that, wherever your wife may be, she has
a home which, if not as comfortable as the one she was driven from, is
at least home enough to keep herself and her children from want."

Harry Shackleford judged others by the promptings of his own heart,
and as he uttered these words of comfort to his friend, he little
dreamed that Mrs. Wentworth was then the inmate of a prison, awaiting
her trial for robbery, and that the crime had her committed through
the very necessity he had so confidently asserted could never exist in
the country.

"Will you take a walk to the hotel," enquired Alfred, after a few
minutes of silence, "I desire to settle my bill with the clerk."

"Certainly," he replied, rising from his chair, "I desire to conduct
you to my home."

"Good evening to you Miss Humphries," said Alfred, as he walked to the
door with his friend.

She extended her hand to him as she replied, "Good evening, sir--allow
me to repeat my wishes for your success in finding your wife and
children."

Bowing to her in reply, he left the room, accompanied by Harry.

"Do you know, Harry," he observed, as they walked towards the Bowman
House, "I have a strange presentiment that all is not well with my
family."

"Pshaw," replied his friend, "you are as superstitious as any old
woman of eighty. Why in the name of wonder will you continue to look
upon the dark side of the picture? It is more likely that your family
are now comfortably, if not happily situated. Depend upon it, my dear
friend, the world is not so cold and uncharitable as to refuse a
shelter, or a meal to the unfortunate."

Alfred made no reply, and they walked on in silence until the hotel
was reached. On entering the sitting room of the Bowman House, the two
gentlemen were attracted by the loud talking of a group of men
standing in the centre of the room.

"There stands an Englishman who lately run the blockade on a visit to
the Confederacy," observed Harry as they approached the group; "let me
introduce him to you."

Walking up to where the Englishman was, Harry touched him lightly on
the shoulder.

"How are you Lieutenant Shackleford," he said, as he turned and
recognized Harry.

"Very well, Mr. Ellington," answered Harry, and then adde