upation of the city. Of the
hundred-odd volunteers, who were supposed to constitute the company,
little could be learned because of the veil of secrecy which had from
the very beginning enshrouded the whole movement.

Pressure had been brought to bear on several, it was discovered, with
the result that there was no alternative left them but to sign the
papers of enlistment. In this Anderson had been materially aided by the
Military Governor's intimate knowledge of the fortunes and prospects of
the bulk of the citizenry. To imply this, however, was one thing; to
prove it quite another. For whatever strength the accusation might bear
in his own mind, he could not forget that it was still a mere suspicion,
which must be endorsed by investigation if the people were to be
convinced. And Stephen was unprepared to offer the results of his
investigation to a populace which was too indolent and hasty to
investigate them as facts and to discriminate nicely between the shades
of guilt. Anderson was loved and admired by his countrymen and more
especially by his countrywomen. Everything, it seemed, would be forgiven
his youth, rank and genius.

Even Marjorie had been captivated by him, it appeared. The relationship
which was beginning to thrive between them he disliked, and some day he
would make that known to her. How attentive he had been to her was
easily recognizable, but to what degree she returned this attention was
another matter. What she thought of this stranger and to what extent he
had impressed her, he longed to know, for it was weeks since he had laid
eyes on her; and the last two attempts made by him to see her had found
her in the company of Anderson, once at Shippen's, and again on a ride
through the country. True, he himself had been absent from town for a
brief time, immediately after his court-martial, when he returned to
headquarters to file a report with his Commander-in-chief, and the few
moments spent with her upon his return was the last visit. Undoubtedly
he was a stranger to her now; she was absorbed with the other man.

Still Stephen wished that he might see her. An insatiable longing filled
his whole soul, like the eternal cravings of the heart for communion
with the Infinite. There was certain situations where a man or woman
must confide in some person to obtain advice or sympathy, or simply to
unload the soul, and there was no one more becoming to Stephen than this
girl. She understood him and could a