irt of his coat. "When did you
come in from Gardiston?"

It was Captain Newell. With the rare courtesy which comes from a kind
heart, he asked no questions regarding the fatigue and the dust-powdered
clothes of the little bachelor, and took a seat beside him as though a
church-step on a city street was a customary place of meeting.

"I was about to--to eat a portion of this corn-bread," said Cousin
Copeland, hesitatingly; "will you taste it also?"

The young officer accepted a share of the repast gravely, and then
Cousin Copeland told his story. He was a simple soul. Miss Margaretta
would have made the soldier believe she had come to town merely for her
own lofty amusement or to buy jewels. It ended, however, in the
comfortable eating of a good dinner at the hotel, and a cigar in Captain
Newell's own room, which was adorned with various personal appliances
for comfort that astonished the eyes of the careful little bachelor, and
left him in a maze of vague wonderings. Young men lived in that way,
then, nowadays? They could do so, and yet not be persons of--of
irregular habits?

David Newell persuaded his guest to abandon, for the present, all idea
of obtaining employment in the city. "These shopkeepers are not capable
of appreciating qualifications such as yours, sir," he said. "Would it
not be better to set about obtaining a new tenant for the warehouse?"

Cousin Copeland thought it would; but repairs were needed, and--

"Will you give me the charge of it? I am in the city all the time, and I
have acquaintances among the Northerners who are beginning to come down
here with a view of engaging in business."

Cousin Copeland gladly relinquished the warehouse, and then, after an
hour's rest, he rode gallantly back to Gardiston House on one of the
captain's horses; he explained at some length that he had been quite a
man of mettle in his youth as regards horse-flesh--"often riding, sir,
ten and fifteen miles a day."

"I will go in for a moment, I think," said the young officer, as they
arrived at the old gate.

"Most certainly," said Cousin Copeland cordially; "Gardis will be
delighted to see you."

"Will she?" said the captain.

Clouds had gathered, a raw wind from the ocean swept over the land, and
fine rain was beginning to fall. The house seemed dark and damp as the
two entered it. Gardis listened to Cousin Copeland's detailed little
narrative in silence, and made no comments while he was present; but
when