n or rather Colonel Percy heard
with surprise that no letters had been received from him since his
joining the army in Canada. He had written often, but had been obliged
to send his letters to some distant post-town by his own servant. As he
had declined accompanying Colonel Percy to America, there was reason to
suppose that he had suspected the character of the correspondence,
perhaps had acquainted himself fully with the contents of the letters,
and had taken effectual means to prevent their reaching their
destination, with the hope of thus completely removing from Colonel
Percy's mind every inducement to return to this country. Having received
a disabling though not dangerous wound at the battle of New Orleans,
Colonel then Major Percy was sent home with despatches, and was
immediately ordered to join the army under Lord Wellington, then rapidly
hastening to repel the attempt of the prisoner of Elba to re-establish
himself on the throne of France. From this period till the battle of
Waterloo all private concerns were merged in the interest and the hurry
of great public events. In that battle Major Percy was again slightly
wounded. His distinguished bravery was rewarded by his being made again
the bearer of despatches to England. As it was evident to all that the
struggle which had called the whole force of Britain into the field was
now at an end, he had no hesitation in asking and no difficulty in
obtaining leave of absence from the commander-in-chief, and had lost no
time in embarking for America.

"As a consequence of peace," said Colonel Percy in conclusion, "a large
part of our force will be disbanded, and many officers put on half-pay.
A friend who is very influential at head quarters has undertaken to
secure me a place on the list of the latter--and henceforth, dear Mary,
your home is mine!"

"And did you never doubt me during all this long silence?" he asked of
his happy wife a few days after his return.

"Never," said Mary firmly, and then added in a more playful manner--"if
I should step into the confessor's chair, could you answer as boldly?"

"I can, Mary--though I never received a line from you, it never occurred
to me to fear any change in your affection. Our marriage had placed on
it the seal of duty, and your conduct in relation to your father had
shown me that that seal you could not easily break."

"Then you did not love me less for not yielding every other
consideration to the gratification of