e or two yet, and here you are out of
the wind."

Again she looked in his face. He was listening eagerly to her words, as
though striving to "place" her voice. _Could_ she be mistaken? Was he,
too, not trembling? Beyond all doubt his lips were quivering now.

"May I not know who it is that led me here?" he asked, gently.

She hesitated, hardly knowing how to tell him.

"Try and guess," she laughed, nervously. "But you couldn't. You do not
know my name. It is my good fortune, Mr. Hayne. You--you saved my
kitten; I--your cap."

There was no mistaking his start. Beyond doubt he had winced as though
stung, and was now striving to grope his way to the railing. She divined
his purpose in an instant, and her slender hand was laid pleadingly yet
firmly on his arm.

"Mr. Hayne, don't go. Don't think of going. Stay here until Sam comes.
He's coming now," she faltered.

"Is this Captain Rayner's house?" he asked, hoarse and low.

"No matter whose it is! I welcome you here. You shall not go," she
cried, impulsively, and both little hands were tagging at his arm. He
had found the railing, and was pulling himself towards the gate, but her
words, her clinging hands, were too persuasive.

"I cannot realize this," he said. "I do not understand--"

"Do not try to understand it, Mr. Hayne. If I am only a girl, I have a
right to think for myself. My father was a soldier,--I am Nellie
Travers,--and if he were alive I know well he would have had me do just
what I have done this night. Now won't you stay?"

And light was beaming in through his darkened eyes and gladdening his
soul with a rapture he had not known for years. One instant he seized
and clasped her hand. "May God bless you!" was all he whispered, but so
softly that even she did not hear him. He bowed low over the slender
white hand, and stayed.

VIII.

March had come,--the month of gale and bluster, sleet and storm, in
almost every section of our broad domain,--and March at Warrener was to
the full as blustering and conscienceless as in New England. There were
a few days of sunshine during the first week; then came a fortnight of
raging snow-storms. The cavalry troops, officers and men, went about
their stable-duties as usual, but, except for roll-call on the porch of
the barracks and for guard-mounting over at the guard-house, all
military exercise seemed suspended. This meant livelier times for the
ladies, however, as the officers were enabled to devote j