y by this news. I
have not heard of it. I should be loath to believe it! I have
spent my own funds in this matter, and I have told my own agents to
do nothing in the slightest contravention of the laws."

"None the less, these things have been done, my dear lady. They
have awakened the greatest feeling in the South--a feeling of
animosity which extends even to the free colonies of blacks which
have been established. The relations between the two great
sections of this country are already strained sufficiently. We
deprecate, indeed we fear, anything which may cause a conflict, an
outbreak of sectional feeling."

"Gentlemen, you must believe me," she replied, firmly and with
dignity, "I have been as ignorant as I am innocent of any such
deeds on the part of my agents. While I do not agree that any
human being can be the property of another, I will waive that
point; and I have given no aid to any undertaking which
contemplated taking from any man what he _himself_ considered to be
his property, and what the laws of the land accorded him as his
property. My undertaking was simply intended as a solution of
_all_ those difficulties--for both sides, and justly--"

"Madam, I rejoice to hear those words,--rejoice beyond measure!
They accord entirely with the opinion we have formed of you."

"Then you have watched me!--I have been--"

"This is a simple and democratic country, Madam," was the quiet
answer, although perhaps there might have been the trace of a smile
on the close-set mouth of the speaker. "We do not spy on any one.
Your acts have been quite within public knowledge. You yourself
have not sought to leave them secret. Should these facts surprise
you?"

"They almost terrify me. What have I done!"

"There is no need of apprehension on your part. Let us assure you
of that at once. We are glad that you, whom we recognize as the
moving spirit in this deportation enterprise, have not sanctioned
certain of the acts of your agents. There was one--a former army
officer--with whom there labored a revolutionist, a German,
recently from Europe. Is it not so?"

"It is true," she assented. "They were my chief agents. But as
for that officer, this country has none more eager to offer his
sword to the flag when the time shall come. I am sure it is but
his zeal which has caused offense. I would plead for his
reinstatement. He may have been indiscreet."

"We shall listen to what you say. But in additio