stle of his lady. Eager as he was, he did not
fail to note the imposing majesty of the great trees which lined each
side of the wide road and arched themselves into a perfect canopy
overhead. An air of abundance pervaded the whole scene and made him
quite oblivious of the extreme warmth of the afternoon.

Ere long the little white house of her describing rose before him. He
had seen it many times in other days, but now it was invested with a new
and absorbing interest. There it stood, plain yet stately, with a great
pointed and shingled roof, its front and side walls unbroken save for a
gentle projection supported by two uniform Doric pillars which served as
a sort of a portal before the main entrance. Numerous windows with small
panes of glass, and with trim green shutters thrown full open revealing
neatly arranged curtains, glinted and glistened in the beams of the
afternoon sun. The nearer of the two great chimneys which ran up the
sides, like two great buttresses of an old English abbey, gave
indications of generous and well-fed fireplaces recessed in the walls of
the inner rooms. The lawns and walks were uncommonly well kept, and the
whole atmosphere of the little home was one of comfort and simplicity
and neatness, suggesting the sweet and serene happiness reigning within.

Stephen closed the gate behind him. A moment later he had seized the
brass knocker and delivered three moderate blows.

II

"Captain Meagher!" gasped a soft voice. "I am so pleased you have come."

"Mistress Allison, the pleasure is indeed mine, I assure you," replied
Stephen as he grasped her hand, releasing it with a gentle pressure.

She led the way into the narrow hall.

"Mother!" she addressed a sweetly smiling middle-aged woman who now
stood at her side, "I have the honor of presenting to you, Captain
Meagher, of the staff of General Washington, my partner of last
evening." And she betrayed a sense of pride in that bit of history.

Stephen took the matron's hand, for among the Americans the custom
prevailed of shaking hands, albeit the French visitors of the time
maintained that it was a "comic custom." Stephen thought it democratic,
and in keeping with the spirit of the country.

The parlor opened immediately to the right and thither Stephen was
conducted without further ceremony. Mr. Allison would be in shortly; he
was as yet busied with the trade at the shop. The old clock at the
corner of the room, with its quaint figure of