The loyal spectre, or, The true hearts of Atlanta

THE LOYALSPECTRE

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CAMERON fc FERGUSON, GLASGOW

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TXXE3

LOYAL SPECTRE;

OB,

THE TRUE HEARTS OF ATLANTA.

ET

EDWARD WILLETT,

Author of " Kate Sharp," " Vicksburg Spy," " Old Bill Woodworth," etc

GLASGOW: CAMERON & FERGUSON

88 WEST KILE STREET.
LONDON : 4 SALISBURY COURT, FLEET ST.

GLASGOW:

d;sh and weight,

PBINTEES.

THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

CHAPTER I.

Yankee and Georgian.

At the close of a hot summer day, two young men sat by
an open window, in the parlour of a fine Southern mansion in
Georgia.

They were very different in appearance, in character, in worldly
position, in all outward and visible things from which the world
forms its estimation of men.

The younger was named Arthur Arment. He had nearly
finished his twenty-first year—was handsome, of a true Southern
type, with raven hair, brown eyes, regular features, and a sym-
metrical form. His black hair was abundant — a possession for
which he might well have been envied ; his brown eyes were large
and expressive ; his complexion was clear and rather pale ; his rich
lips were finely cut and arched ; his symmetrical form wras inclined
to be tall and slim ; his voice was musical, though somewhat
languid ; his upper lip was ornamented, not disfigured, by a deli-
cate black mustache ; his dress was elegant and tasteful, though
carelessly worn.

Such was the external appearance of Arthur Arment, a scion of
one of the really first — one of the best — families of Georgia. His
grandfather had been a noted man during the Revolution. His
father, Jefferson Arment, a wealthy planter and proprietor, had
been prominent in the State and national councils, and had gone
to his grave in the prime of life and full of honours. Arthur was
proud of his ancestry, and justly so, for neither public nor private
history recorded any mean or dishonourable action performed by
any of them. He had always resolved that, if he could not in-
crease the good reputation of the family, he would do nothing to
sully it. As he had not, as yet, attempted anything grand or
heroic, his virtues were principally of a negative kind.

His mother having died while he was quite young, Artiiur found
himself, at the death of his father, the sole heir of his large
property in money, land and negroes. There was, however, a
condition annexed to his heirship, that diminished its value for the
time. Jefferson Arment, by his will, had made his brother, Madi-
son Arment, sole guardian of his son, and the trustee of his
property, until Arthur should reach the age of twenty -four. He

6 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

had wished that the young in an should be well educated, and
should fully arrive at "years of discretion," before entering upon
the control of such an extensive and valuable estate. The two
brothers. Jefferson and Madison, always had loved each other with
a true brotherly love. In addition to the well-known integrity
and honour of Madison Arment, he was a rich man, and could
have no interest in managing Arthur and his affairs contrary to
the will of the young man's father.

Arthur never had entertained any objection to this arrangement,
for he honoured the memory cf his father, and respected his uncle.
Whatever was planned by the one and carried out by the other
could not but seem right in his eyes. He had the use of as much
money as he could wish ; he was not limited in going where he
pleased, nor in doing what he desired ; his estate was well and
prosperously managed, and he was in no hurry to assume the
labour and care necessary to its possession.

The young gentleman owned the bodies, and partially controlled
the spirits, of some three hundred negroes. Three hundred slaves,
with a proportionate amount of productive land, formed a xery
valuable property at that time. The mansion in which he wa3
seated was connected with the principal plantation, situated on
the Flint river, a few miles from Fayetteville. It was a large
and roomy building, with elegant grounds. A furnished house in
Atlanta also belonged to the estate.

The other young man was seven or eight years older than
Arthur. He was a native of New Hampshire, and was named Seth
Staples. Seth was light-haired and blue-eyed, with ruddy chcekd
and a sandy beard. He was not handsome, but would have been
called "fine looking," for there was a nobility of expression in his
features, and a quickness of perception in his eyes, which could
not fail to attract attention, and to command admiration. He
6eemcd to possess considerable strength, with a nervous, wiry
organization, and always spoke with promptness, clearness, and
decision.

Arthur Arment had made the acquaintance of Staples, and had
contracted a friendship with him, at a New England college, which
the former had entered as a Freshman, while the latter was a
Senior. Soon becoming disgusted with the routine and discipline
of college life, Arthur Arment quitted it, just as Staples graduated,
and easily prevailed upon his friend, whose worldly wealth
amounted to little besides his clothes and his books, to accompany
him to his home in the South, in the nominal capacity of tutor.
The salary was liberal ; Arthur studied what he pleased and when
he pleased ; he took his friend into the same society which he
frequented ; the residence was a splendid one ; means were afforded
to Staples to make such experiments and pursue such studies as
he chose ; he was treated as a friend, more than as an instructor,
and his position was, in every sense, a pleasant one.

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 7

There was only one person who objected to Seth. Madison
Arment, Arthur's uncle and guardian, did not like the young man,
although he was gentleman enough to conceal his antipathy from
its object. lie had nothing to allege against Staples, but he dis-
liked Yankees ; and the dislike so increased, that it finally
amounted to positive hatred. The very name, Seth Staples, he
said, was suggestive of wooden nutmegs, clock-peddlers and abo-
litionists. But Seth was the friend and tutor of Arthur, and, as
the uncle made it a point not to attempt to control the likes and
dislikes of his ward, he always treated the New Englander with
ceremonious politeness.

Seth Staples icas a Yankee, but seemed to have little of the
Yankee desire for wealth, and faculty of acquiring it, for his
abilities and opportunities were such that he might have largely
bettered his circumstances. After the rebellion had broken out,
and had acquired formidable strength and consistency, he found
himself in an awkward position, and it was upon that subject that
the two friends were conversing at the close of that hot summer
day.

" I am sorry, Seth," said young Arment, continuing the conversa-
tion. "It is useless to tell you how sorry I am; but I see no help for it.
It is a pity that the abolitionists could not have minded their own
business, and it is a pity that our people could not have been
satisfied to let well enough alone ; but the evil has been done, the
separation has been made, and we are now at war. It is not to be
expected that you, who are hostile to the Southern side, by birth,
by education, and by conscientious belief, will be permitted to
remain here, even if you should wish to."

" Put you, also," interrupted Staples ; " are you not hostile to
the Southern idea and action ?"

" Not a bit of it, my dear fellow. We have talked it over often
enough, and have settled the matter, abstractly, morally, scien-
tifically, and politico-economically ; but words are cheap, and
niggers are worth money. Principle won't feed and clothe a man,
while property will procure him luxuries as well as necessities.
If I should be hostile to the South, I would oppose myself and my
property, my bread-and-butter and my books, my cigars and my
wine."

"What do you propose to do?"

"That is easily answered. I propose to do nothing. I shall
maintain a masterly inactivity. I shall plant myself on my re-
served rights, whatever they may be. I look upon this war, and
those who are waging it, as a great game of children playing with
fire. It is very dangerous, and some of them will get hurt ; but
the sport does not tempt me to burn my fingers. I hope to look
at it, from this 'loophole of retreat,' as sadly as I must, and as
philosophically as I can."

" Suppose you are not permitted to do so, what will then be your

8 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

course ? Events may carry you along trith them, whether you
wish it or not."

" My dear fellow, you seem to have forgotten your philosophy.
The pupil has outstripped the tutor. When circumstances change,
my course may be determined by them. In the mean time I shall
wait. ' Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.' I have no fear
of events Events are men in disguise, and I recognize no power
in any man to change my feelings, my thoughts, my will. I can-
not be forced to fight, and am sure that I have no desire to. Be*
sides, until I am twenty-four years of age, I am not responsible
for myself. My uncle Madison is my guardian, and on his head
be it, if I fall into wrong. He has purchased substitutes enough
to keep me out of the war, and I do not intend to crawl into the
pit of my own accord."

" Would you not fight for your negroes ?"

" To keep them, you mean ? No, Seth ; I would do no such
thing. If I had a dog that refused to stay with me, I would not
compel him to do so, unless I absolutely needed him for a watch-
dog, or unless I had reason to fear that he would fall into worsa
hands. I should not object to their having their freedom, if it
could be given to them consistently with their interests, and with
the interests of all concerned. But I do not object to owning
them, mind you ; and I cannot see how their condition could be
bettered, as affairs now stand."

" I suppose that question is decided for you, by the time this
war is ended, if not sooner."

" I hope it may, for I confess myself incompetent to its solution.
Whatever may be the issue of the war, or whatever may happen
during its progress, I foresee that I shall be out of pocket. My
southern friends will look upon me with distrust, if not with sus-
picion, and my northern friends will capture my cotton and my
negroes, if they can, as if I was the hottest rebel breathing. Well,
I hope I shall not be childish enough to weep over the loss. I had
the misfortune to be born rich. I know that that sounds strangely,
but you have too much sense to laugh at it. There is that within
me, which if circumstances should concur to draw it out, might
make me do something great or heroic. I would be childish to
object to any circumstances that would make a man of me. If I
thought I was dependent on a certain amount of land, or a certain
number of negroes, I should have a much poorer opinion of myself
than I now have."

"Perhaps, Arthur, you may grow more worldly-minded as you
become older."

" I hope not, for I think I am sufficiently worldly — that I am
practical to a fault. But, this is idle talk. The mournful fact is
before us, that you must leave, and that is trouble enough. Uncle
Madison has procured a pass for you, which will take you to the.
Yankee lines, wherever they mav b«. He w^g very kind to do so,

THE LOYAL SPECTItE 9

considering that he really dislikes you, end can't help it. We will
drive up to Atlanta to-morrow, end' I will draw some money, and
get gold if it is possible. You must take all I choose to give you,
for I know that you would do the same by me, il our positions
were reversed."

'•I shall be very sorry to go, Arthur. But perhaps it is for the
best. I have been living here with you, lapped in luxury, and
dreaming away life, until I had really forgotten what I was made
for. Perhaps I may turn out to be something after all. Who can
say that I was not made for a modern Napoleon ? Like the man
who had never played the fiddle, I can't tell until I try. I shall
be sorry to give up our old ways, our old books, our old studies,
our old experiments. When Ave were succeeding so well with our
investigations of spiritualism and clairvoyance, or whatever the
misty, moonshiny science may be named, it seems a pity to break
them off."

" Yes, it is indeed a pity. We were getting along so finely, and
hnd our table trained until it was as sensible as a circus-mule. I
suppose the thunders of war will kill the rappings. and the smell
of burning sulphur will drive away the spirits. But we must con-
tinue to experiment, Seth, and if we can establish a mental tele-
graph, across the lines of the contending armies, who knows how
it may affect the price of cotton ? But I fear that I shall care fof
no more of such things. I have only two wishes at present, that
you may remain with me, and that I might see my cousin, Carrie
Chappelle."

"Has she not returned from the North?"

" Yes. She has contrived to enter the mystic circle of those un-
pleasant and inconvenient lines, but I don't know where she is.
Uncle Madison is her guardian, for she is an orphan, as well as
myself, and he must be presumed to know something about her,
but he chooses to preserve a very mysterious silence on the subject,
and does not vouchsafe any information. I will compel him to
break his silence before long, or will penetrate the mystery myself,
for I am not a child, although I am a ward. I wonder whether I
shall admire her as well as I once thought I should."

"It is useless to wonder, Arthur, and it is contrary to
your philosophy. When your fate comes to you, you will know
it."

" My philosophy does not prevent me from being impatient. As
for you, you go away from your fate, and you know it What
shall I say to Laura Cijmer?"

" Say nothing to her, Arthur," retorted the Northerner. " Say
nothing to me. The heart knoweth its own bitterness. I have a
letter to write, and must pack up for my journey."

" Ah ! Speaking of Laura reminds you of a letter. Very well.
You may trust me to deliver it. Don't forget your money-belt,
Seth, for you may need it. When you reach the North, perhaps I

10 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

will send you a cargo of cotton through the blockade as far as

Havana, and that will make you a rich man among the Yankees."
" I want nothing contraband, Arthur. Good-night."
"Good-night. We will drive up to Atlanta, directly after

breakfast, and there you will take the cars for the North."
The two friends then separated for the night, and the next

morning, as had been arranged, they drove to Atlanta, where they

Vid each other a long farewell.

CHAPTER H.
Not One of them!

It was more than two years since the separation mentioned in
the last chapter, whan Arthur Arment was again seated at the
open window of his elegant plantation mansion. There wa3
scarcely any change about the house or the grounds attached to it.
There Mas nothing to indicate that the land had been desolated by
three years of bloody war. All was peaceful, serene and smiling.
The earth had not failed to yield her increase, the rain had fal?en
upon the just and the unjust, and the harvests had been as abun-
dant as when the same flag quietly and grandly ruled the whole
country.

In the owner of that fine house and those fertile acres, there was
little change to note. The delicate black mustache had become
longer and heavier, the form had grown fuller and more manly,
but that was all — if we may except a shade of care, a suspicion of
suffering, that seemed to have added to the years of the young
man. It was not a gloomy shadow that occasionally crossed his
face — it was a sad one, as if his cause for sorrow was continual, not
transient There was nothing fretful or impatient about his de-
meanour, but he sat and puffed his cigar with an abstracted and
thoughtful air, while the same shade of sadness stole over his fine
countenance at intervals.

As he was thus engaged, a gentleman entered the room, unan-
nounced. The new-comer was a fine-looking, elderly person, tall,
rather than stout, with iron-gray hair, and dark, expressive eyes.
His countenance spoke of great strength of will and tenacity oi
purpose, of sternness, tempered by benevolence. He was plainly
but neatly dressed, and carried his hat and cane in his hand, a9 he
entered the room.

"Good evening, uncle Madison," said Arthur, as he rose and ex-
tended his hand.

"Good evening, Arthur," answered his uncle, with a pleasant
smile. "I find you communing with your cigar, as usual. You
seem to be as lonely and listless as ever."

"Yes," sighed the young man, as he seated himself. "I sup-

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 11

pose you would call me lonely and listles3, but I know that I am
weary."

" Weary 1 Of what, in the name of common sense, can you be
■weary, unless of your own life of inaction and utter idleness?
You have nothing to do, aad you never trouble yourself to seek
anything to occupy your mind or your body."

"As for my mind, it is busy enough, too busy to please me. I
have sufficient exercise for my body, and was never in better
health. It is true that I have nothing to do, for you have kindly
relieved me of all business cares."

'•You know that it is no fault of mine, Arthur. I have not de-
sired the management of the estate, and what I have done has been
in accordance with the express directions of your father, contained
in Iiis will."

" My dear uncle, I was not complaining. I have never questioned
the justice or propriety of my father's will, and have never objected
to your management of the estate. On the contrary, the arrange-
ment is an admirable one, and fully proves my father's wisdom
and foresight. The estate, as far as I am able to judge, could not
have been better managed, and I must confess that I am glad that
the responsibility of its control is not on my shoulders, particularly
during the existing unpleasant state of affairs."

;- What, then, is there to weary you? I wish that you had some
of my responsibility to bear, so that you might be wearied to some
purpose."

"Don't be so cruel, uncle. I hardly think that you would really
wish me to have the management of the estate, for you know that
I would not manage it, if I could help myself, to suit your patroi
saint, .Teffersrm Davis. I am weary in my mind, uncle, and weary
at heart, weary with wishing that there might be an end to this
fruitless, destructive struggle."

"It will be ended, Arthur, when Ave achieve our independence."

"If that is to be the only end, it will be endless. For my part,
I was weary of it at the beginning, and my weariness increases
with its continuance. I know — at least, I feel — how vain, how
suicidal it is, and it pains me to see such a splendid people throw-
ing away their lives and fortunes so uselessly."

"Do you never feel a desire to mingle in the glorious strife, to
share the undying honour of the heroes who are fighting for liberty,
for the inviolability of their homes, for all they hold dear?"

" Where did you learn that parrot-talk, uncle? I don't mean
to be disrespectful, but you speak that speech as mechanically as
a parrot repeats the words that have been taught to it."

"It comes from the heart, Arthur, and I am surprised that it
falls so coldly upon your ears. I am surprised that you can speak
and act as you do, when you remember the glories of your ances-
tors, who always were the first to array themselves on the side of
liberty and country. It hardly seems possible that the blood of

12 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

the Arments runs in your veins. Your grandfather would hava
acted differently."

"Have you had any communication from the spirit of my
grandfather?" retorted the young man. "I cannot think that you
are authorized to speak for him, or to pronounce so positively on
the course he would have taken. The blood of the Arments does
run in my veins, uncle Madison. There never was an Arment o(
them all who loved liberty more than I do, or who would dare and
bear more than I would for the cause of liberty, and I can assure
you that my blood often boils when I think of the tyranny undel
which the people are labouring."

"What tyranny do you mean, Arthur?"

"The tyranny of Jefferson Davis and his coadjutors in this
attempt to build up an empire for themselves upon the ruins of our
glorious old Union."

" Do you know that your talk is treasonable, Arthur ? It i3
rank, bitter, malignant treason, and it is my duty as your uncle
and your guardian, to warn you that you must put a bridle on your
tongue, that you must be more careful how you speak, if you value
your own safety. You are known, already, as an enemy of the
government. Your actions and your speech have been severely
ecmrnented upon in high places, and your arrest has been seriously
epoken of. My influence has hitherto been sufficient to prevent
Euch action ; but, I warn you, that, unless you change your course,
the time may come when forbearance will cease to be a virtue with
"^the authorities, and you will be no longer able to escape the con-
sequences of your treasonable conduct."

" I accept the consequences, uncle, whatever they may be,"
answered the young man, as he threw his extinguished cigar out
of the window. " I care no more for them than I do for that
wasted cigar end. Imprisonment and confiscation, I suppose, are
the worst evils that would be likely to afflict me. My liberty is
worth nothing to me, unless I can use it as I please ; and property,
without liberty, would be only an eye-sore and an aggravation."

"You talk wildly, Arthur," said Madison Arment, with a
troubled look at his nephew, "and I earnestly hope that you will
not express such sentiments to any one except myself. I am sorry
to find you in such a mood, particularly when I came to speak to
you concerning yourself and your affairs, in connection with the
present condition of the country."

" What would you have now, uncle? What new sacrifice can 1
make — or, rather, what new sacrifice can be made for me by you
— to further the ambitious schemes of Jefferson Davis and his
friends."

"I do-not speak in behalf of President Davis, whu is only the
chosen ruler of our people, to whom we have delegated certain
limited powers. I speak in behalf of your bleeding and suffering
country, that needs your aid in this hour of her trial. You know

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 18

that the horde9 of Yankee mercenaries, led by the unscrupulous
Sherman, have pressed down through the State, although slaughtered
at every step by our heroic defenders, until they are now almost at
the gates of Atlanta, and the city is virtually besieged. The
question is, shall Atlanta be given up to the rapacious invader,
and be trampled under the feet of the Vandals of the North ?"

" Really, uncle, I hardly know how to answer that long speech. As
to whether Atlanta shall be evacuated or not, that is a question for
Mr. Davis and hi3 generals, and I have no doubt that they will
decide it in the arffiinative before long."

"But you, Arthur — are you not willing to lift a finger to pre-
vent such a catastrophe?"

"What can I do to prevent it, uncle, supposing it to be a catas-
trophe ? Shall I shoulder a musket, and run away with the rest
when Sherman flanks us?"

"I do not ask you to carry a musket, although there are many
as good men as you, if not better, who are now marching in the
ranks."

" Running, you mean," interrupted Arthur.

"Retreating only to lure the enemy on to certain destruction.
But I do not ask you to imitate their example, or to peril your lif<*
in any way, though you might have had an important and honour-
able position, if you had desired it, and might have upheld the
ancient glory of the Arments on many a victorious field."

"Uncle, you are growing eloquent. You make me feel already
as if a bullet was in me."

" But I do ask you," continued Madison Arment, not noticing
the interruption, "to throw the weight of your position and in-
fluence on the side of your country at this crisis. I know that
your example, no less than your words and actions, have had a
very pernicious effect thus far, leading some of our young men
to draw back from entering the service, leading others to be luke-
warm in our defence, and luring some even into open disloyalty.
They feel and say that if Arthur Arment can persist in a treason-
able course with impunity, they see no reason why they should not
be allowed to imitate his example. It is my duty to tell you that
this can go no further. It must be stopped, or there will be an ex-
ample made of some one. Is it not better for you to aid your
country in the hour of her peril, and thus gain the gratitude and
respect of all true patriots, than to see the arm of offended authority
uplifted to punish you for your contumacy ?"

"Uncle," answered Arthur Arment, leaning back with a settled
expression upon his features, and fixing his dark eyes upon the
?arnest countenance of his relative, "this matter may as well be
understood once for all. I hoped that you had understood me
already. I now say that I have had, and can have, but one opin-
ion concerning this war that is being waged to break up the Union,
»nd that opinion can be expressed in two Avords— it is unnecessary

U THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

and suicidal. Being such, I have no part nor lot in the matter,
unless to oppose it. I have not endeavoured to oppose it, but have
suffered you, without remonstrance, to use my property for the
benefit of the usurpers in Richmond, as seemed best to you. I
shall continue that course, and shall not object to your actions ;
but, I will go no further. I am neither to he frightened nor coaxed,
but shall utterly refuse to do what I believe to be wrong. You
are responsible for my property, and I am responsible for myself.
I freely accept my share of the responsibility, and am ready to
take the consequences of my own action or inaction."

"Do I understand you, "hen, as endeavouring to assume a posi-
tion of neutrality?"

" Neutrality !" proudly exclaimed the young man. as the blood
mounted to his cheeks. "By no means! Yon may understand ma
as taking a position of independence. You say that the South is
fighting for her independence. You will see that I can fight for
mine, if it is necessary."

"Then, Arthur—"

" Pardon me, uncle. That question is settled, and I have no-
thing more to 6ay on that unpleasant subject. As you have spoken
plainly to me, I now wish to speak plainly to you. Where have
you hid my cousin, Carrie Chnppelle?"

"She is not hid. She is in Atlanta."

"Yet, through your machinations and manoeuvres, I have not
been able even to see her. When I have asked you about her, she
has been here, she has been there; she has been occupied with this
thing, she has been busily engaged with that; anything, so that I
might not see her. Now, uncle Madison, that, also, has gone far
enough. I am not a child, although I am a ward, nor is Carrie a
child. For my part, I am nearly twenty-four years old and have
a will of my own. I wish to see my cousin Carrie, and if I cannot
see her with your consent, I will use my own means of effecting
my object."

Madison Arment was silent for a few moments, holding his head
down, as if lost in thought. Then he looked up, and there was a
frown upon his face as he addressed his nephew.

"Your wish shall be complied with," he said. "You shall see
your cousin, if you will accompany me to Atlanta to-morrow."

" Thank you, uncle. I will do so with pleasure. Shall I direct
your room to be made ready for you?"

"You may."

After some unimportant conversation, the relatives separated
until supper time, and the subjects that were respectively nearest
to their hearts— Southern independence and Carrie Chappelie, were
not again mentioned.

THE LOYiL SPECTRE. lu

CHAPTER fll.

Met at Last.

The nnxt day Arthur Arment drove his uncle, hehind a pair of
fine horses, to Atlanta, the " Gate City" of the South. It was
late in the afternoon when they reached their destination, and they
proceeded directly to the furnished house in the city, heretofore
mentioned as belonging to the Arment estate.

The house was a plain brick building, unpretending in appear-
ance, but roomy and substantial, and was surrounded by pleasant
grounds. A wooden addition was attached to the house, and
several large outbuildings were in the rear. It was situated in
the southern outskirt of the city, near the fair ground, but not in
proximity to any of the lines of intrenchment, which were not
then extended so far in that direction. Arthur expressed his
wonder as he noticed that the grounds had been so well cared for,
and that a negro servant was ready to receive them when they
drove up to the door.

"The house has not been unoccupied," answered his uncle. " I
have kept the place in good order and repair, at my own expense.
That house, Arthur, has been honoured by the presence of General
Brag, of General Johnston, of General Hoed, and of President
Davis himself."

" Were they all flanked out of it, uncle?"

"At present," continued Madison Arment, "it is occupied by
your cousin, Carrie Chappelle, and a friend of hers, named Laura
Clymer."

" Ah ! that is, indeed, an honour, and I feel interested. I hope
the house has been properly fumigated since the ambitious Mis-
eissippian left it. If the stable is in order, please tell the boy to
take care of my team, an£ let us enter, for I am impatient to see
my cousin."

"You will find, Arthur, that she entirely disagrees with you in
politics, and you will need to change your course if you desire her
to sympathise with you. Carrie's heart, as well as her blood, is
Southern, and she is true to the cause of Southern independence."

" So you told me, last evening, and I can believe your word
without any repetition. But I do not expect to interfere with her
political opinions, and have no fear of quarrelling with her on that
score."

The two Arments were ushered through a broad hall into a

13 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

large and finely-furnished parlour, where the younger negligently
seated himself on a sofa, while the elder nervously and anxiously
paced the room.

" This place seems very solitary, uncle," said Arthur. " I have
not yet heard or seen any one except the servant who admitted
us. Where are its fair occupants?"

" They are up stairs, I suppose, and have not heard of our ar-
rival. Excuse me for a few moments, and I will see that they are
notified. You had better he careful not to express your treason-
able sentiments before your cousin, for you will find her a true
Southerner."

So saying, Madison Arment bowed himself out of the room, with
the same frown on his face that it had worn the evening before.

" Uncle Madison seems very particular in informing me about
Carrie's politics," muttered Arthur. " I suppose he is afraid that
I will try to make a convert of her."

Giving the subject no more thought, the young gentleman rose
from his seat, and amused himself with examining the pictures on
the walls, and the various articles about the room. It was a long
time since he had been inside of that house, and nearly everything
seemed new to him.

While he was thus engaged, the door of the parlour opened, and
his uncle appeared, followed by two ladies. The first who entered
was a beautiful blonde, rather slight in figure, and seeming
almost to float in the atmosphere of the room, so lightly
and airily she moved. Her hair was a rich brown, neatly braided ;
her eyes were large and blue, shaded by long lashes, and her
cheeks were- smooth as alabaster, and of so pure a complexion as
to seem almost transparent. The other was a brunette, not beau-
tiful, but with something strangely attractive in her face and ex-
pression. She was taller and stronger than the blonde, and there
was an appearance of resolution in her figure and in her move-
ments, as well as in her earnest eyes and firmly-cut lips. Both
were richly and tastefully dressed.

" Your cousin, Arthur, Carrie," said Madison Arment, as they
entered the toom. "My nephew, Miss Clymer, Arthur Arment."

The brunette slightly inclined her head to the young man ; but
the sylph-like blonde advanced and extended her hand to him,
with that rich, winning, glowing, unspeakable smile which he so
well remembered, and which sent the warm blood gushing to his
cheeks and brow.

" I am heartily glad, cousin Arthur," she said, " to meet you
again, at last. We have been separated for a long time, and I
have wished to see you, but something has always seemed to inter-
pose to prevent a meeting."

" It was no fault of mine, I assure you," answered Arthur ; "for
I have sought you eagerly and vainly. When you have seemed
the nearest to me, you have been the furthest off, for something,

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 17

as you say, has always interposed to prevent me from seeing
you."

•'Perhaps it was fate."

" I suppose it was," replied Arthur, with a meaning glance at
his uncle. 'It is said that fate generally acts through human
agencies."

" We must try to forget that, and must let bygones he bygones.
It is a satisfaction to know that we have really met at last. I
wish you to know my friend, Laura Clymer."

"I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Arment before," said
the brunette.

" As Miss Clymer is kind enough to remember me," said Arthur,
"I may say that I have passed many pleasant hours in her society,
and in that of a friend who left us about two years ago."

A deep blush mantled the dark cheeks of Laura Clymer, and
she glanced from under her eyelashes at Madison Arment.

That gentleman, who had been sitting uneasily in his chair,
anxiously watching the interview between the cousins, and
nervously fidgeting with his gloves and handkerchief, now seemed
to think that it was time for him to take part in the conversation.

" Carrie," he commenced, " I have told Arthur that if he ex-
pected to find in you a sympathizer with his treasonable and anti-
Southern opinions, he was greatly mistaken ; that you are true to
your country, and always ready to devote yourself to the good
cause."

" Treasonable opinions !" exclaimed Carrie. " I really hope that
Arthur is not tinctured with treason. I should be very sorry to
disagree with him, especially upon that subject. I hope, Arthur,
that you do not covet the unenviable distinction of being known
as a traitor to your country."

"Not I," answered the young man, "and therefore I abjure
Jefferson Davis and all his works. But I have not come here to
talk politics, and the subject is always distasteful to me. My
opinions, whatever they may be, are of no consequence, and could
have no more influence in this struggle than the winking of my
eye would have in determining the course of the sun."

" As you are disinclined to converse upon the subject, I can
only hope for the best. For my part, I can assure you, as uncle
Madison has said, that I am true to my country, that I am always
ready to devote myself to the good cause, aad to die for it, if
necessary."

" I admire your spirit, Carrie. The Arment blood can never be
tftdking in that, whether it takes aright direction or a wrong one."

Madison Arment rose from his seat, and after a few words of
farewell, left the house. As he did so, it might have been noticed
that the anxious frown had left his countenance, that his troubled,
nervous manner had disappeared, and that he agaiu worediis usual
nild, courtly, quiet, stately demeanour.

18 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

" Of course, cousin Arthur," said Carrie, when her uncle had
gone, "you will accept our hospitality to-night. The house is
your own, but we are the present proprietors, and the dispensers
of such cheer as it affords."

" I shall accept your hospitality with pleasure, cousin. If you
had not offered it, I should have concluded to drive back to Oak
Grove to-night, for no hotel in Atlanta could hold me."

Laura Clymer, who had taken no part in the conversation, left
the room, for the purpose, as she said, of giving directions to the
servants, and Arthur Arment found himself alone with his fair
cousin. He then felt that she was very beautiful, and wondered
whether her heart was as clear and pure as her face was bright
and fair. He wondered whether she was as rank a rebel as his
uncle had represented. He could not help thinking that, in any
event, he was fated to love her. He was half afraid to ask her,
fearing that difference of political opinion might create a gulf be-
tween them, but he thought the truth must be known some day,
and the sooner the better.

" Is it true, cousin Carrie," he asked, " that uncle Madison has
correctly represented your opinions concerning this terrible civil
war, concerning this attempt to divide and destroy our glorious
Union ?"

" What do you mean, cousin ? I do not know what uncle Madi«
son has told you concerning me and my opinions."

"Are your opinions the same as those of uncle Madison ? Aro
you a follower of Jeff. Davis and his disciples? Do you believa
in the disruption of the Union, and in waging a bloody and de-
structive war for the sake of a shadowy phantom misnamed
Southern Rights?"

"You are begging the question, Arthur, and that is not fair.
You do not give me a chance to answer you, yes or no. I can tell
you that I am a Southerner, by birth and inclination— that I
believe the South should have its rights and should fight for them
if necessary— that I am true to my country, as a Southern girl
ought to be, and that I am ready to devote my life, and all that I
have, to the good cause."

"You are a secessionist, then. Well, let it pass, cousin. But
your ideas were different when you used to write to me, after my
return from college. You agreed with me then, and we both
believed that the old flag ought never to be lowered."

" I was younger then than I am now, Arthur, and less experi-
enced. Besides, affairs had not reached the crisis, and we were
speaking of abstractions, not of realities. Everything has changed
since that time."

"Everything. Cousin Carrie," ejaculated Arthur, in a mournful
tone. " Has everything changed ?;*
" Much has changed, cousin."
As the young man cast a sorrewfal glance at the fair face of

>

THE LOTAL SPECTRE. 19

is companion, he perceived an expression of severe pain resting
upon her lips and clouding her eyes, but he could not interpret it,
and felt that lie had no right to ask what it meant. He bowed hit
head in his hands, and remained silent for a few moments, while
the hard and painful expression of his cousin changed, as sl"3
watched him, to one of pity, that might easily soften into love.

"But your friend," he resumed — " Miss Clymcr— does she shar3
your opinions? Does she, also, believe in the righteousness of
this rebellion ?"

"Laura believes as I do," was the calm reply. "We have nf
Occasion of disagreement."

"And she has changed, as well as the rest. I suppose she has
forgotten the man who won her love two years ago — my friend,
Beth Staples. Absence and separation must have done their work
with regard to him."

"I can assure you that his absence docs not grieve her."

"Such is life," sighed Arthur, "and such, I suppose, it always
must be. I feel more than ever alon^n the world. My life seems
etill more desolate. A man might as well be dead, as have nothing
to live for. I see nothing left for me, except to cast myself into
this vortex, and be swept away to nonentity with the rest of the
brainless stragglers, who court riot and disorder, and call it
glory."

Arthur spoke musingly and meditatively, as if communing with
himself; but, if he had looked at her, he might have seen that
Carrie Chappelle was touched by his words. She seemed about
to speak, when the door opened, and Laura Clymer entered, to
announce that supper was ready.

After supper, Arthur and the two ladies remained in the parlour,
and occupied themselves with general conversation and music.
There was a fine piano in the room, upon which Carrie and Laura
accompanied their voices, while Arthur sat buried in a chair, silent,
and seemingly lost in thought. He noticed that Carrie's voice
was clear and sweet, while that of Laura's was rich and powerful.
He also noticed that they sung nothing that might possibly be con-
sidered as having a political bearing, and he thought that they
were fearful of wounding his feelings, for which kind consideration
he was duly grateful.

When bed-time arrived, the ladies bade Arthur good-night, and
sought their rooms. Ee was conducted to his apartment by a
aegro servant.

THE LOYAL SPECTBfc

CHAPTER IV.

The Apparition.

The room into which Arthur was ushered was a large bed-
chamber, with a high ceiling. It contained only a few articles of
furniture, but those were of very rich quality. The principal ob-
ject was a large canopied bed. The carpet was of velvet pile, very
heavy, and noiseless to the tread. The walls were papered, and
adorned with a large mirror, and several pictures. There w as one
door in the room, and two windows, reaching to the flcor, that opened,
upon a balcony, overlooking the garden. Arthur notice that a
window, which had formerly opened out at the rear of the house,
had been blocked up, by the building of the wooden addition, and
that its place was supplied with paneling.

In all this there was nothing strange, and Arthur, after a glance
at the room and its contents, and a mournful glance at his pale
and anxious face in the mirror, undressed, extinguished his light,
and laid down to rest.

Sleep was slow to visit his eyelids, for his mind was perturbed,
and his thoughts were haunted by remembrances of what had been,
by dark forebodings of the future-, and by vain dreams of what
might never be. He had seen his cousin, and had found her as
beautiful as a poet's dream. The love that had been half-born
within his breast a few years ago, had suddenly sprung into life,
full-grown and full-formed, and armed with all its powers to blesr
or torture, as Minerva sprung from the brain of Jove. But il
seemed destined to be a vain, useless, heart-wearying love, for il
could not be possible that he and his cousin, holding such oppo-
site opinions upon such a vital question, ever could be joiued by a
closer tie than that of relationship. This, then, was the reason
why his uncle had never brought them together; he had feared
that Arthurs peace of mind might be destroyed, and had merci-
fully preserved him from temptation. Arthur appreciated the
supposed kindness of his uncle, and was duly thankful for it; but
he felt that he must have met ins fate sooner or later, and was not
inclined to shirk the issue. For his own part, he was certain that
nothing, not even love itself, could change his convictions, and he
felt that he was as far from Carrie Chappelle as if they were
separated by thousands of miles of ocean.

Thus musing, he fell into a doze, from which he was presently

awi

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 21

awakened by the iound of music. It seemed afar off, and fell
faintly upon his dull ear, lulling him to sleep again.

"Some military band," he thought, "or a party of midnight
serenaders," and again closed his eyes to slumber.

But he was not to be permitted to sleep, for the sound of music
Beeming to grow nearer and louder, and the strains were so
sweet and ravishing, that he involuntarily reclined his head upon
his hand to listen.

Scon he was able to distinguish the instruments — a violin, a
flute, and a guitar. He heard, also, the sound of vocal music — two
female voices, as he thought, but so perfectly blended that they
seemed like one, and, at least, one rich in sonorous manly voice.

" Some serenaders in the street," thought Arthur ; and yet it
seemed strange that there should be ladies among them. Pie could
Wily consider it a new development of the customs of Atlanta.

The music at first appeared to be a gentle, softly-modulated
symphony, with no particular meaning or purpose; but, after a
while, it changed, and the dear old melody of "Sweet Home"
saluted the charmed ears of the half -awake young man — the clear
notes of the violin, the melodious tinkling of the guitar, the rich,
swelling tones of the flute, the sweet voices of the female singers,
and the deeper intonations of the males, all chiming in so har-
moniously, that everything in the room seemed to respond to theix
delicious vibrations, and Arthur felt himself lapped in Elysium.

" This is strange," dimly mused the young man. " These ara
surely the sweetest serenaders I ever heard. The ladies will soon
• answer them, I suppose."

But there was no opening of windows, nor any other response to
the music. As the last strains of " Sweet Home " died away, they
melted imperceptibly into another symphony, soft and delicate like
the first, but decidedly martial in its character. Then arose, from
violin, guitar, flute, and melodious voices, the music and words of
Captain Cutter's beautiful song, now seldom heard, known as
"Many in One:"

"O! many and bright are the stars that appear,

In the flag of our glory unfurled,
And the stripes that are swelling in majesty there,

Like a rainbow adorning the world I"

Arthur listened, as if spell-bound, while the song proceeded, the
music growing richer and more glorious as it interpreted the
swelling sentences, and when the grand climax wa3 reached, he
had become so excited and enthusiastic, that he could hardly
restrain himself from leaping out of his bed and going in search
of those wonderful serenaders. But he feared that he might break
the charm, and resolved to remain quiet.

"This is the strangest thing of all," he mused. "I wonder
whether I am really awake. Either I am dreaming, or this is

*2 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

some strange hallucination of my waking senses. It cannot be
possible that such a song should be sung in this city, and at this
house, right in the hearing of such rank rebels as my cousin Carrie
and Laura Clymer. If that music was real music, they could not:
help hearing it, and would soon put a stop to the singing of a-
Union Song like that. I surely can't be awake, but iUs a very •
pleasant dream, and I have no wish for it to end. If I had any i
matches, I would strike a light and investigate the mystery, but :
the room is so confoundedly dark, that I would only get myself !
into trouble."

The young gentleman sat up in his bed, laid down again, pulled
his hair, pinched his cheeks, bit his lips, and tried other methods
to determine whether he was awake or asleep, but with no satis-
factory result. The evidence of his senses told him that he was
awake, but his re-lion told him that he must certainly be dreaming.
He gazed around: the room, to endeavour to discern the objects
which he had noticed on retiring, but the darkness of the night
was increased by the heavy curtains that shrouded the windows,
and he could distinguish nothing but vague outlines.

As he gazed, a faint, yellowish light began to pervade the room,
seeming to insinuate itself through the walls and ceiling. Dim
and indistinct at first, it grew more vivid and powerful, until
Arthur could plainly perceive the large mirror and the pictures on
the walls. Then the light changed to a purplish hue, and a strange,
suffocating, but pleasant odour filled the chamber, gradually
dulling the senses of the young man, and substituting a feeling of
listlessnesa and languor for the previous excited condition of his
nerves.

Satisfied, now, that he must be dreaming, he leaned upon his
arm, and freely gave himself up to the ecstatic feeling of the illu-
sion. As he continued to gaze, with half-shut eyes, the large
mirror upon the opposite wall gradually lowered, until it touched
and rested on the floor, and in its place appeared an American flag,
with all the glorious stars and stripes emblazoned upon it, and with
its folds falling over the mirror beneath it.

At the same moment, the flute, the guitar, and the violin, which
had been again playing a soft and pleasing symphony, blended
their tones in the opening to our national anthem, the "Star
Spangled Banner," and immediately the sweet female voices, and
the rich tones of the males, joined in singing the stirring words of
the song. The folds of the banner seemed to wave responsive to
the stirring chords, and the young man felt himself moved by an
enthusiasm which he was powerless to express. He yielded him-
self up to the influences of the illusion, and closed his eyes.

But a greater astonishment awaited him ; for, when he opened
his eyes again, he saw a figure standing before him on the floor,
in front of the banner. It was robed entirely in white, and. in
form and feature, was the exact likeness of his cousin Carrie. The

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 23

j^BemWance was so perfect, and struck him so suddenly, that ho
ihiiddered, fearing that it might be a reality, but not daring to
hone so. Its delicate drapery rested upon the iloor, but its feet
I . scarcely to touch the soft texture of the carpet.

The music, which had melted to a slow and soleum symphony,
now swelled into greater power and richness, as the figure slowly
rai 1 its arm, pointed toward the banner, with its bdlliaut eyes
fixed up m Arthur, and spoke as follows :

" Arthur Arment, be true to the flag of your country! You
believe in the Union ; prove your faith by your works !"

That clear, musical, silvery voice was none other— could be
none other — than that of Carrie Chappelle. The illusion was
perfect. Arthur felt irresistibly impelled to rise and pursue this
beautiful phantom, but he was powerless to move. He could only
gaze in wonder, while his eyes dilated, as if they would burst out
of his head.

Again he heard the musical voice:

'• Arthur Arment, be true to your country and flag. Let nothing
lead you astray, but persevere, and true happiness awaits you.
Look ! its glory is even now over your head !"

The young man involuntarily raised his eyes. As he did so,
Ihe light disappeared, and, when he again looked around, the
figure of Carrie Chappelle had vanished, and he could distinguish
nothing in the darkness.

;Now," he thought, "I know that I have been dreaming, and
have just awakened. It needed only that apparition to fully con-
vince me, for it is not possible that Carrie Chappelle would have
exhorted me to stand by the Union and the old flag. It was a
glorious dream, and I wish it might have been true, but like all
pleasant dreams from which one wakes to a sad reality, it Leave s
an impression of pain."

Having thus settled the matter to his sntisfaction, Arthur
Arment again laid his head on the pillow, and was soon, aided by
the aromatic odour that pervaded the room, lost in a dreamless
peep.

It was quite late in the morning when he was aroused by a
negro servant, who knocked at the door, and told him that it was
time to dress for breakfast. He immediately rose, astonished and
vexed at having slept so late.

While he was dressing, he carefully examined the room and its
furniture, and found, as he had expected, that everything was as
he had noticed it on retiring. No article of furniture had been
moved, and even the mirror, which had been so mysteriously
lowered to the floor, hung quietly in its accustomed place. The
pungent, suffocating odour, that seemed to have saluted his senses
during the night, was not perceptible. Nothing had changed,
except hi3 own countenance, which looked pale and careworn, as
if he had passed a restless and painful nigliS,

24 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

The young gentleman smiled sadly as he surveyed himself in
the glass.

"It is wonderful," he said, "how strongly a delusion can take
hold upon a healthy and balanced mind. I really thought, during
that strange vision of last night, that I was wide awake, and that
it was not possible that the evidence of my eyes and ears could
deceive me. Still, my reason told me that it could not be real, and
I knew that I must be dreaming, as well as I know that I am now
awake."

His feeling of certainty was destined to be short-lived, and his
philosophy was soon upset ; for, on taking up his coat, he dis
covered a small American flag pinned upon the lappel !

His surprise was so great, that he dropped the coat, and nearly
fell upon the floor. When he again took up the garment, and un
pinned the badge, he was trembling as if with an ague.

"Am I sure that I am awake now?" he muttered. "Was I
dreaming last night, or am I dreaming this morning? If I am
awake now, this is certainly real, for I can hold it in my hands, I
can feel it, and the pin will prick me. There is nothing unsub-
stantial about this little flag."

After some more perplexing thought, he came to the conclusion
that the mystery was beyond his penetration, and must be left to
time and circumstances to unravel. Accordingly, when his nerves
had become quiet, he composed his features as well as he could,
and went down stairs, resolved to spend the coming night in that
raom.

At the breakfast -table he was kindly greeted by the ladies, in
whose demeanour and appearance he noticed nothing unusual.
Carrie Chappelle asked him how he had rested, and he replied that
he had seldom passed a night so greatly to his satisfaction, having
been favoured with a dream that had given him a great deal of
comfort. He could not help feeling, at times, in his vest pocket,
to see if the little flag was still there, and was a real, palpable
piece of paper.

His desire to pass another night in the room which had fur-
nished his strange experience, was frustrated by the arrival of his
uncle, who informed him that it was necessary to proceed im-
mediately to Oak Grove, on important business. Arthur en-
deavoured to evade compliance with this request, but his uncle
was urgent, declaring that the business would admit of no delay,
and the young man reluctantly said gocd-bye to his cousin and her
friend, and drove his uncle, sullenly and silently, toward his own
house,

CHAPTER V.

Long Looked for, Come at Last.

Arthur Arment did not reach Oak Grove until evening. He
was very moody and uncommunicative during the ride, and, as
his uncle seemed quite anxious and meditative, few words passed
betweea them. Arthur kept revolving in his mind the mysterious
occurrence of the night before, and often put his hand in his
pocket to see if the little flag, that he had so strangely received,
was still there, or had melted away like fairy goM. He was
satisfied that that part of his vision, at least, was real.

It turned out, greatly to the chagrin of the young man, that the
business for which his uncle had hurried him back from Atlanta,
was only the arrangement of some trilling matters of detail, con-
nected with the management of the estate. To be sure, he was
required to give his decision upon some unimportant questions
about which he cared nothing, and to sign a few papers, which, he
thought, might as well have been signed at any other time. He
could come to no other conclusion, than that his astute uncle
! wished to shut him out, as much as possible, from the society of
1 his cousin Carrie, and had brought him back from Atlanta be-
| cause he seemed entirely too willing to remain there. Arthur
respected his uncle too highly to complain openly of this conduct,
but he sought to penetrate his motives by some quiet questioning.

" I believe," he said, in the course of a desultory conversation,
"that Carrie Chappelle's property is very valuable."

"It is a large property," answered his uncle ; "not as large as
yours, Arthur, but a large one— a very good property."

" \Va3 there not a condition in her father's will, that if she should
marry before the age of twenty-one, your guardianship should
cease, and that she should have entire control of her property?"

" Yes ; there is such a condition, provided she marries with my
( consent."

"If she was not such a stanch advocate of the Confederacy, or
if she should marry a man who is opposed to it, it is possible that
'■ her property might not benefit Jefferson Davis and his friends as
much as it otherwise would."

" I hardly know what you mean, Arthur," nervously answered
the old gentleman. "The case that you present is not a suppos-
able one. Carrie is true to the South, and she would never think
of marrying a man who was hostile to the cause of his country,
even if I would ever give my concent to such an unnatural alli-
ance. You need not attempt to convert her, for she is proof
against treason."

20 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

"It is not my business to make proselytes, uncle. I was only
asking for information. As she is one of the few relatives that I
have, I am naturally interested in her."

Arthur was sure that he had divined the motive of his uncle in
separating him from Carrie. I'adison Arment evidently feared
that his handsome nephew migh* win the love of his niece, and
that the joint importunities of the two might prevail upon him to
give his consent to their marriage, so that the property-influence
of at least one fine estate would probably be lost to the Confederacy.

In the morning, Arthur drove his uncle to the station at which
^ie was to take the cars for Atlanta, and returned to his solitary
home. He was at first inclined to start immediately for the city,
and seek an interview with his cousin ; but, on seeond thoughts,
he concluded that such a course would betray too much eagerness
and impatience, and he determined to wait awhile.

He passed a long and dreary day. He could not remember when
the hours had seemed to creep so slowly. He endeavoured to read,
but threw book after book aside in disgust. He played with his
dog, but soon tired of that sport. He ordered his horse to be
saddled and brought to the door for a ride, but immediately
changed his mind, and sent it back. He smoked cigars, until he
was sick of the scent of tobacco. Do what he could, turn where
he \rould, lie could not shut out the thought of his fair cousin
C:irrie and the mysterious occurrences in his sleeping room. Ho
could not doubt that he had been dreaming, or labouring under a
strange optical delusion, but he wished that it might visit him
again. lie took the miniature flag from his pocket, and piuned
it upon the lappel of his coat, as he had found it. He went to tho
mirror, and thought that it looked well. That part of his ex-
perience, at least, was real, tangible, indubitable. Not satisfied
with this evidence, he called in his body-servant, and gave him
some trifling directions. The black boy noticed the flag on his
master's coat, and started.

" Oh. mass'r Arthur !" he exclaimed, " whar'd ycu git dat?"

" I found it, Henry. Are you afraid of it ?"

"No. sah; not much, I s'pect."

The flag was real, then, for other eyes besides his own had seen
it, and he had evidence on which he could rely with certainty.
He could only &.^. lecture that the ladies had wished to taunt him
with his Unionism, and had fastened the flag to his coat as a
freak. That could have nothing to do with his remarkable
Tision.

Towards evening, the young gentleman was again seated by his
parlour window, smoking a cigar, and communing with his dis-
contented thoughts, -when he perceived four Confederate horsemen,
with an officer at their head, riding down the road that led by the
house, from the direction of Atlanta. He watched them, and saw
Uiem stop in front of the housa- The officer and two of the men

THE LOYAL SFECTP.3. 27

dismounted, and walked up to the front door, while the otherv
heid their horses.

The bell rung, and in a few minutes a servant entered the room,
and informed his master that a gentleman wished to see him.

" Snow him in," s.iid Arthur, and the Confederate officer made
his appearance, while the two soldiers stood at the door of the
parlour.

"I have an unpleasant duty to perform, Mr. Arment," said the
officer, quite politely. "I have an order for your arrest, signed
by the Provost-Marshal-General of the Army of Tennessee."

"You surprise me," said Arthur, calmly puffing his cigar.
"There must be some mistake about the matter, for I don't know
what authority the State of Tennessee has to order the arrest of a
citizen of Georgia."

"You misapprehend me, sir — wilfully, I suppose. I did not
speak of the State of Tennessee, but of the Confederate Army of
Tennessee, which is now in the vicinity of Atlanta"

" Ah ! pardon me, for the mistake was a natural one. What is
the Army of Tennessee doing down here in Georgia?"

"It has fallen back before the enemy, to protect the city of
Atlanta."

"Just as it protected Chatanooga, I suppose. I am glad to
hear that it has successfully flanked its way so far. I hope the
men are not wearied by their long march. This order, you say,
is signed by an officer of the Confedeiate army. I do not recog-
nise any such authority."

" Whether you recognise it or not, you will have to submit to
1 it," said the officer, who was really provoked by the coolness of
! the young gentleman. •

"I suppose so," answered Arthur, throwing his cigar out of the
window.

The threatened and long-expected arrest had come at last. He
had spoken and thought of such a possibility very lightly, but now
it was a reality, and a very unwelcome one, for it occurred just at
a time when he desired his liberty. It would be very irksome, he
thought, to be confined, and restrained of his freedom of action,
when he was so anxious to see his cousin again, and to sleep once
more in the room where he had passed the previous night. He
mentally consigned the officer and his order to a better place than
Atlanta.

"If you will excuse me for a moment," he said, "I will step up
to my room and get a few articles that I need, and will be ready in
a few minutes."

** Certainly, Mr. Arment, if you will give me your word! that
you will come down here again."

" I will return directly, upon my honour."

The young gentleman rose, and left the parlour. He had two
loaded revolvers in his room, and it was his intention to bring

28 THELOFAL SPECTHE.

down those weapons, refuse to submit to the arrest, and sell his j
life ns dearly as possible, if he could not boat off the officer and j
his men. There was a strong probability that the rich carpets of.1
the Arment mansion would be stained by Southern blood.

As he passed out of the room, his hand -was touched by.;
a soldier who stood at the door — a heavily bearded man with a
stolid countenance— and he felt a paper thrust into it. His hand
mechanically closed upon the scrap, and he passed on, and walked
up-stairs, as if there had been no interruption.

'; When he reached his room, he opened the paper, and, to his
surprise, read as follows :

" Submit quietly to the arrest. The flag that was pinned upon
your coat will protect you. Be true to the Union, and fear no-
thing. " A Fsiend."

Here was a new development. The soldier who had handed him
the paper must be a friend, whether in disguise or not. But how
could he know anything of the flag that Arthur had found pinned
upon his coat? After he had shown it to Henry, he had replaced
it within his vest pocket, and no eyes but his own had seen it
This circumstance increased the mystery, and, gave it a new char-
acter. The young man grew more anxious to penetrate it, and
resolved that he would follow his fate, in whatever direction it
might lead him.

He took out his pistols, examined them, and then, with a shake
of his head, put them back in their drawer. He changed some
of his clothes, brushed his hair, and walked down to the parlour.
Thus it happened that the Arment carpets were not stained.

" I am ready, captain," said Arthur, with a pleasant smile. " As
soon as my horse is brought up, we will start, if you wish."

He ordered some refreshments for the soldiers, and entered into
a good-humoured conversation with the officer, until his horse was
brought to the door. The Confederate was agreeably surprised at
the change in the demeanour of hi3 prisoner, and congratulated
himself that his unpleasant duty was likely to be so pleasantly
performed.

M I suppose we will ride to Atlanta," suggested Arthur.

"Yes, sir. It is a long ride, but we will have a moon, and I
trust that you will not be inconvenienced by the journey."

" Not at all. It is a pleasant ride, and I need exercise. I was
intending to go to the city to-morrow. I suppose there is a little
attempt at strategy, in conveying me through the country by night,
but I assure you that it is entirely unnecessary."

"I know nothing about the strategy," replied the officer. "I
hope, however, that your restraint wiil be a brief one, for I have
been agreeably surprised in you. I was given to understand that
I should find you an obstinate man, and, probably, a desperate
one,"

THE LOYAL SPECTRE- 2D

"I have been belied," laughed Arthur. "I assure you that I
am a very mild-mannered and peaceable person, if I am nut pushed
too hard."

When Arthur's horse was brought to the door, he mounted, in
company with the officer and his men, and they trotted up th«
road together, in the direction of Atlanta.

CHAPTER VI.

Who Were They f

As the party started off, young Arment was by the side of the
officer, with two soldiers riding in front, and two in their rear.
Arthur had looked closely at the man who had handed him the
note, before leaving the house, and he turned in his saddle and
glanced back at him several times as he rode. The soldier, how-
ever, gave not the slightest sign of recognition, nor was there the
least change in his heavily-bearded, stolid, inexpressive counte-
nance. Arthur began to wonder whether b.3 had actually received
the note, and whether that circumstance was not as unreal as his
vision.

It was after sunset when they commenced their journey ; but the
moon soon rose, and its rays, struggling through the scattered
clouds, enabled them to see quite distinctly. Whec they had tra-
velled about ten miles, they reached a dry and sandy upland,
where the road ran through a thick grove of pines, mingled with a
stunted undergrowth.

They had come to the densest part of the grove, where the road
made a sharp turn to the right, when there was a sudden rush
from among the pines, and a number of armed men, some of whom
were mounted, sprung out upon the party. A few shots were
fired, and there was a brief struggle, accompanied by oaths and
cries, at the conclusion of which the Confederate officer and his
escort were all driven off, or secured as prisoners. The onset was
so sudden, and the attacking force was so overwhelming that little
resistance was made.

Arthur Arment did not see the conclusion of the little conflict.
His horse, frightened by the flash and report of a pistol fired near

00 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

its head, suddenly reared up, throwing its rider to the ground, and
falling upon him. Arthur felt a stunning shock, and all conscious-
ness left hitn.

When he came to his senses, he was lying on a soft bed, in a
darkened room. He tried to raise himself, to look around and as-
certain where he was, but found himself so weak and sore in body,
that he was obliged to desist from the attempt, and to be content
with surveying the situation from the position in which he found
himself.

The room was a small one, furnished neatly and comfortably,
but not in a costly manner. There was but one window, which
was darkened by heavy curtains, admitting only a few faint rays
of sunshine. A chair and a small table were near the bed, and on
the latter were a few bottles, a cup and saucer, and a Bible. The
bed was overhung by dark curtains, shutting out his view, except at
one side. There was a peculiar air of neatness about the room and its
appurtenances, and the arrangement of everything spoke to
Arthur's fastidious eyes of the delicate and tasteful hand of
woman.

The young gentleman was bewildered. He wondered where he
was, and his anxiety to know made him uervous. He again
essayed to rise, and, in making the effort, reached out his hand and
knocked over the chair by the bedside, which fell on the floor with
something of a crash.

Directly he heard the patter of gaitered feet on the stairs, and
a rustling of muslin at the door, which opened, and admitted a
fresh-faced, cheery, matronly-like woman, who immediately closed
the door behind her. She was neatly dressed, wore a widow's cap,
and had a pleasant smile, which went right to Arthur's heart, and
made him feel at home.

" So -you are awake, sir," she said, in a clear and chirping voice,
as she tripped to the bedside. " Have you been trying to get up?
You shouldn't exert yourself, sir, for you are very weak. Well, 1
declare ! if you haven't turned over a chair ! That is what made
the racket. It is lucky that you didn't upset the table, for jou
would have spilt all those excellent medicines that you don't need
at all."

" Will you have the kindness to take a seat, madam, and tell me
where lam?"

" You are in my house, to be sure," answered the little woman,
as she seated herself, and smiled sunnily at the invalid.

" And who are you, if it is not too rude a question?"

"I am Mrs. Bennett, and your nurse at present."

" How long have I been here ?"

" Only since last night. You were brought here by some men,
who said they were your friends, and that you had b:-en injured by
a fall from your horse. You were insensible when you wero
brought in, and the doctor said that he feared you had suffered a

TIIE LOYAL SPECTRE. 31

concussion of the brain. When you awoke, you were slightly
delirious, talking about flags and dreams, and such nonsense, and
he gave you, as he said, a powerful opiate. You went to sleep, and
have just woke up, I suppose."

"Ami in Atlanta?"

M No, indeed, sir. Your friends who brought you here would
not have taken you to Atlanta."

"Who were they, and where are they now?"

" They are strangers to me, sir, and I have not seen them since.
But you are talking too much. The doctor said that if you wer<?
kept quiet, you would soon be well."

"Am I badly hurt?"

"No, sir. At least you are in no danger. You have received a
severe shock, and have been bruised, but you will soon be well, if
you will be content to keep quiet. You must reconcile yourself
to lying still, and I will go and bring your breakfast— or dinner,
for it is past noon."

So saying, the good little lady bustled out of the room, and scon
returned with some tempting and substantial food, of which the
young gentleman ate heartil}'. She then brought him a book to
read, placed a bell on the table, that he might ring if he wished
anything, cautioned him not to knock over any more of her chairs,
and went to attend to her household duties.

Arthur did not read much. He had the book open, and hiseyea
mechanically followed the words through the pages, but tha
sense of sight conveyed nothing to his brain, and when he had
finished a chapter, he could not have told what he had been read'
ing about. The most thrilling romance, the most important and
exciting news, would have had no interest for him, for his mind
was entirely engrossed by one subject.

Who were those mysterious friends who had aided him, and
had rescued him from his captors ? Why had they done so, and
why had they not revealed themselves to him? The soldier who
had given him the note must have been in league with them, fur
his promise had been fulfilled, and the little flag had proved a
protection from Confederate capture, at least. Arthur bitterly
deplored the accident which had deprived him of consciousness at
the time of the attack. If that had not happened, he might have
known who and what they were, and might have gained a clue to
the mysterious circumstances that had lately surrounded him.
But the opportunity had been lost, and he could only wonder and
wait. He resolved that he would go to Atlanta, as soon as he was
able to rise from his bed, in spite of the danger of arreat, and
would pass another night in the chamber in which he had had the
strange vision, for he saw no other chance of learning anything
about the mystery of the flag.

The time passed in these fruitless musings, while the cheery^
brisk little Mrs. Bennett brought his dinner, or rather supper, anc?

32 THE LOYaL SrZCTHE.

Bat clown by the bedside with her sewing. An atmosphere of

warmth and brightness seemed to enter the room with her, which
soon drove away the clouds that had gathered about his brain, and
caused him to forget his perplexities. Her kind, merry and witty
conversation was very entertaining to him, but she professed ina-
bility to enlighten him upon his situation, or to describe, with any
degree of accuracy, the persons who had brought him to the house.
She sat with him until after nine o'clock, when she bade him good-
night, wishing him pleasant dreams.

\Vhen she had gone, Arthur again fell into a fit of musing, in
the course of which he took his little flag from the pocket of his
vest, that was laid in a chair near the bed, examined it carefully,
handled it, and laid it on the table by his side. There was nothing
unusual about it, nor anything extraordinary. There was but one
question— how did it happen to be pinned on his coat, and what
did that Confederate soldier know about it. The wonder was :

" Not that 'twas any thing rich or rare,
But how the mischief it got there."

Mrs. Bennett had given him a composing draught before she
left him, under the influence of which he soon became drowsy.
Perceiving that he would not be able to keep awake much longer,
he extinguished his light, and laid his head on the soft pillow, to
let sleep come when it chose.

Ke knew not how long he had slept, when he was awakened by a
strain of music. Arthur had not an educated ear for music, but
it seemed to him that he heard the same low and gentle symphony
that had first greeted his ears at the house in Atlanta. There was
a change, however, in the instruments ; there was a violin and a
guitar, but no flute. The music was at first soft and distant, but
gradually grew nearer and louder, until it seemed to be beneath
his window, in an adjoining room, over his head, and all around
him. His senses, partially deadened by the opiate that he had
taken, were unable to locate it.

As the symphony ended, it melted into the opening to a ballad,
as at the Atlanta house, and this time he was favoured with the
sweet and touching song of " Annie Laurie." There was a differ-
ence in the voices, as well as in the instruments, for he could dis-
tinguish only two voices, one clear and silvery, the other rich and
deep.

''There can be no doubt now," thought the young gentleman,
<;that I am dreaming, and that I was dreaming at Atlanta. Those
mysterious serenaders would not have followed me here, and if
they had, I should soon hear Mrs. Bennett bustling about. But all
in the house is as still as death, and I am surely asleep. Yet the
flag was not dreamy or uncertain."

At the close of the ballad, which seemed to faint and die away,

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 38

like the expiring breath of an evening breeze, the music suddenly
changed to the stirring air, " Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean."
Nearer and clearer seemed the tones of the instruments, and
louder and fuller the sweet and rich notes of the singers. Arthur
was entranced while he listened, for it had been a long time since
he had heard the dear old song, and now it was sung by voices
which appeared to thrill with the patriotic sentiments it invoked,
which interpreted the music with the spirit and the understanding
also.

" Really," he thought, " I have a strange experience in dreams.
If the country was at peace, and there was any literature at the
South, I would write an account of my visions for some periodical.
I have no doubt that it would create quite a sensation. I suppose
it is natural to conclude that I have been so excited by the dream
I had at Atlanta, and my mind has been so constantly occupied
by it, that a similar vision has visited me to-night. Yet, it is
strange that I can reason about it, and decide upon my condition
so calmly. My brain must be more impressionable than I had
supposed it to be. I wonder what is to come next."

His mental question was soon answered. There was a rustling
at his right hand, the curtain of his bed was slowly raised, and a
brilliant flash of light fell upon the wall, as if thrown from the
other side of the room, revealing an American flag, such as he had
seen at Atlanta ! It was almost within reach, and he stretched out
his arm to touch it, when the curtain fell, and the light vanished,
leaving only a dim and mellow lustre, which enabled him to see,
though indistinctly, the various objects within range of his vision.

As he looked around, he perceived, standing near the foot of the
bed, a female figure, precisely like that which had appeared to
him in his vision at Atlanta. It had the form and countenance of
his cousin, Carrie, etherealized, and-dimly visible in the uncertain
light. It raised its arms, pointing upward, while a soft strain of
music came from the violin, and spoke in a low, clear, silvery voice
as follows :

" Arthur Arment, you believe in the Union ; prove your faith
by your works. Have no fear, but do what you know to be your
duty, and happiness awaits you !"

As the figure ceased speaking, it moved noiselessly to the table,
took up the little flag that lay by the extinguished lamp, kissed it,
and replaced it on the table.

Just then a rustling of the curtain again attracted Arthur's
attention, and he hastily turned his eyes in that direction. When
he once more looked around, the phantom had disappeared, and
the room was dark.

"Very fine!" thought the young gentleman, as he closed his
eyes. " This is simply a repetition of my previous dream, with
some slight variations. Still, I wish I had not awakened quite so
soon."

34 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

Being too drowsy to reason any more upon the matter, he fell
asleep, and did not awake again until the sun was shining in be-
tween the curtains of his window.

CHAPTER VIL

A Ring of the True Metal

Mrs. Bennett soon made her appearance, with her usual bright
smile and cheerful voice, and asked her patient how he felt.

" Much better," was the answer. " You wished me pleasant
dreams, and I have had them. They have done me much good."
_ " A warm breakfast will do you more good," said the merry
little woman. "I will bring it in to you in a few moments."

She drew aside one of the window curtains, and raised the
window, letting in the fresh morning air and the sweet breath of
flowers that were clustered about the blind, and then smiled her
way out of the room, leaving a double dose of sunshine behind
her.

When she had gone, Arthur bethought himself of the diminu-
tive flag that he had left on the table before extinguishing the light,
the flag that the phantom had kissed in his dreams. He was sure
that Mrs. Bennett had not noticed it, or she would have spoken
about it. He did not wish her to see it, for it seemed, somehow,
6acred to him, and he thought that even her pure and mild eye?
would profane it.

He reached out his hand to get the flag and replace it in his
vest-pocket, when he was astonished to feel and see a ring resting
upon it. First putting the flag carefully away, he took the ring
and examined it.

It was a plain, gold ring, set with a turquoise, on which some
characters were engraved. He held it to the light, and en-
deavoured to decipher them, but was unable to do so. There was
a newspaper lying on the table, from which he tore a strip of the
white margin, folded it in several thicknesses, placed it upon the
Bible, and pressed the ring against it until he obtained an impres-
sion. The inscription, in delicate Roman text, was simply the
word :

" Union,"

THE LOYAL SPECTRE 35

Hearing Mrs. Bennett at the door, he hastily slipped the ring on
his finger, throwing the paper on the floor.

As Hie brought in his breakfast, and placed it on the table, the
little woman noticed that he appeared abstracted and troubled,
and kiii lly Raked him what was the matter.

'•Nothing," answered Arthur. "I was only thinking about a
singular dream that I had last night. Mrs. Bennett, have you
lost a ring ?"

" No, sir. I have only my wedding-ring, which is still on my
hand."

" Have yon not left a ring in this room by mistake— a plain
gold ring, with a turquoise set ?"

''No, Mr. Arment. I have not seen such a ring."

" Are there any other ladies residing in the house ?"

'"No, sir; there is no one here but myself and two negro ser-
vants. "Why do you ask ?"

"I thought that I might possibly explain the dream that I had
last night. Dreams sometimes prove true, you know. I dreamed
that I had found such a ring on this table."

" Law, Mr. Arment, the shock that your head received must
have troubled your brain. I have no doubt that you have dreamed
all sorts of queer things. You must eat your breakfast, and then
you will feel better, and forget these fancies."

The young gentleman did not neglect this advice, but made a
hearty meal, which seemed to brace him up. He was silent and
meditative, however, so much so that Mrs. Bennett was quite
anxious about him. When he had finished, he sat up in the bed,
and addressed her, abruptly :

"Mrs. Bennett, was my horse brought here with me ?"

" Yes, sir."

" Was he hurt by the fall ?"

" He was lamed a little, but Jonas says that he doesn't feel it
now."

" If you will have the kindness to tell Jonas to saddle him, I
will get up, for I must go to Atlanta to-daj."

"Oh, Mr. Arment, you must not think of such a thing! You
are too weak to ride, and, besides, your friends would be greatly
troubled if you should go to Atlanta, for they said that danger
awaited you there."

" How do I know that they were my friends ? I do not even
know who they were."

"If they had not been your friends, they would not have
brought you here."

" That is true, Mrs. Bennett. They must have been friends,
indeed, to take me to such a pleasant place. How far is it to
Atlanta."

"About twelve miles."

"lean easily ride that distance- I assure you that I feel quite
a

SG THE LOYAL SPECTBE.

well and strong. It ia useless to oppose me, for I am determined
to go."

As Arthur insisted upon getting up, Mrs. Bennett at last con-
sented that he should do so. but prevailed upon him not to mount
his horse until he had had his dinner. After he had dressed, she
arranged his room, brought in her sewing, and did not let him get
out of her sight until they were called to dinner.

As soon as the young gentleman had finished his dinner, he had
his horse brought to the door, mounted, bade Sirs. Bennett good-
by, with many thanks for her kindness, and rode off down the lane
toward the Atlanta road.

When he was out of si^ht of the house, he took the little flag
from his pocket, examined it. kissed it, and replaced it. He took
the turquoise ring from his finger, held it up to the light, kissed
it, and replaced that also. He now felt himself doubly bound to
the Union, for he carried its flag, and wore its ring.

Notwithstanding his assurance to Mrs. Bennett, he was still
quite weak and sore when he left her house, and was unable to
ride fast. Accordingly.be allowed his horse to walk the greater
part of the distance, and it was near the close of the afternoon
when he arrived at the outskirts of Atlanta.

He rode directly to the house that was occupied by his cousin,
called a negro servant to take charge of his horse, and entered the
door without ringing.

He found his cousin Carrie sitting alone in the parlour. She
nppeared greatly surprised to see him, for she dropped the book
that she had been reading, and rose in confusion, a deep blush
changing the ivory of her complexion to ruby.

" I hope I haven't frightened you, Cousin," said Arthur. " You
seem to be startled."

" Not at all," answered Carrie, as she regained her composure.
" You came so unexpectedly, and you looked so pale and worn,
that I feared you were sick."

" I have had a fall from my horse, and the shock made me very
weak," answered Arthur, as he seated himself in an easy-chair.

" How did it happen ?"

" Nero was frightened, and he reared up and fell over with me.
But I am nearly well now, and if you will allow me to rest hero
to-night, I will be myself again in the morning."

" Certainly, Arthur, and we will do all we can for you."

" Where is your friend, Miss Clymer?"

" She has gone to make a visit. I am not sure whether she will
return to-night, or not.

"Have you seen uncle Madison lately?"

" He was here this morning, in company with some officers.'*

" H-m-ra, it has been a fine day."

" Very pleasant."

Arthur Arment had exhausted hig battery of 6mall talk, or it

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 3?

had been silenced by the bright eyes of Carrie Chappelle. He
looked at her, and thought that she was wondrously beautiful, so
like the ethereal vision that had twice visited him in his dreams !
All the love that he had been striving so hard to repress, and that
he had succeeded so poorly in repressing, gushed up in his heart
at once. He leaned forward, gazed earnestly at her. as if he would
send his whole soul out through his eyes, and spoke in deep and
ardent tones :

" Cousin Carrie, I have something to tell you ; something that
Concerns me very nearly ; something upon which, as it seems to
me, the happiness of my life rests ; and yet, I am afraid to tell it,
for I feel certain that it will not be received as I wish it might,
and that my hopes, if I really have any, will be dashed to the
ground."

He had bowed his head as he spoke, and did not perceive the
deep blush that suffused his cousin's cheeks as she answered :

" What is it, Arthur ? I am ready to listen to anything you
have to say."

"Carrie," he said, looking up quickly, "I love you. I have
always loved you. I loved you when you were a child, and now,
when you are grown up, and have become a woman, I love you
with all the warmth and strength of my man's heart. I have
always felt nearer to you than to any other earthly being, and
have believed that you were and must be my fate. I have always
hoped that you might return my love, and have thought so — until
now — until I saw you, a few days ago. Carrie, could you give me
any love in return for mine ?"

She had picked up the book she had dropped, a%id her head was
bent over it, and he could not see her eyes, they were so shaded
by the long lashes.

" Per-haps— I might," she answered, in a low and hesitating
voice.

" You might ! I thank you for the possibility. It is worth a
world to me. What can I do, Carrie, to gain your love, or, rather,
to regain it, for I know that it was once mine ? Tell me. I lay
myself and all that I have at your feet. You have only to com-
mand me, to mould me as you please, to tell me *wka£ I shall do,
what I shall be."

" Uncle Madison tells me that you are a traitor to the South ;
that you uphold the Yankee Government ; that you are indisposed
to fight or do anything to preserve the rights of the South. You
have yourself admitted that this is so, and you cannot fail to per-
ceive that there is a barrier between us. I confess that I might
have loved you ; but such feelings must be crushed, and I will crush
them, for I will not love a man who is false to his country."

11 What would you have me do, Carrie ? Would you have me
act and live a lie ? Would you have me labour for a cause, or die
for a cause, in which my heart could not be 2 Would you have

38 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

me recreant to my sense of duty and of honour ? Would you
have me do what I believe to be wrong, and say what I feel to be
untrue?"

" No, Arthur ; I would have you do nothing of the kind. I know
that it is not easy for an Armcnt to lie, and I would not ask of
you an untruth, either spoken or acted. If your convictions are
such as uncle Madison has said, I suppose you cannot do otherwise
than cling to them ; but you must not blame me if I say that they
put a barrier between us ; that I can have no love — that I must
have none — for a man who is a traitor to his country."

Arthur Arment bowed his head in his hands, and was silent.
There was a sorrowful, compassionate look on the fair countenance
of Carrie Chappelle, and tears stole out from under her eyelids,
but she quickly wiped them away.

"And then, Arthur," she continued, in feeble, timid tones,
" see what a half-hearted, useless life you lead. When I embrace
a cause, I do it with my whole soul, and would die for it ; but you
would do nothing. If I believed as you do, I would prove my faith
by my works."

" Just what you said last night !" exclaimed the young man, so
Btartled that he did not know what he was saying.

Carrie rose from her seat, with an indignant flush upon her
cheek, and a haughty glance at her cousin.

" Arthur Arment ! what £0 you mean? Have you come here
to insult me?"

" Pardon me, Carrie, and be seated. I was speaking of a won-
derful dream that came to me. There is another Carrie Chappe'le,
your spirit, your shadow, or your double — with all the beauty of
your face, with your wondrous eyes, with your graceful figure,
with your airy lightness of tread, with your sweet and musical
voice. She comes to me in my dreams, and blesses me in my
sleep. She appeared to me a few nights ago, when I slept in this
house. Then she told me to be true to the Union, and to prove
my faith by my works, and she left me this miniature representa-
tion of our glorious old flag " — taking the cherished little emblem
from his pocket, and holding it up before her eyes.

" I am surprised at you, Arthur," mournfully answered his
cousin. " I am sorry for you. The fall from your horse must
have injured your brain, or you have been pondering this un-
pleasant subject until you have become a little delirious."

"Perhaps I am, Carrie. Perhaps I am. But that flag is real,
thank God ! Last night she appeared to me again, when I was
helpless by reason of my injury. She came with heavenly music,
and in a heavenly light, and again she bade me be true to the
Union, and to prove my faith by my works, and she left me this
ring."'

He held the ring up to the light, and placed it \n her hand.

" It is a pretty ring," said Carrie. " What is this inscription ?"

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 39

" The word is Union — the Union to which she told me to be true.
I can love her, cousin Carrie. 1 can love that angel of my dreams,
and can feci that she loves me, though you may be cold and dis-
tr.it. I "will be true to her, to the old flag that she loves, to the
Union that she venerates; and, God helping me, I will prove
my faith by works. From this hour — "

"Hark!" interrupted Carrie. "You must excuse me, Arthur
I hear Laura at the door."

CHAPTER VIII.

A Hard Question Decided.

Arthur Arment picked up the ring that his cousin had dropped,
and replaced it on his finger. His impetuosity had subsided, and
he felt sorry that he had spoken as he had. He was sorry that be
had told Carrie of his dreams, of his flag, and of his ring. Yet he
had felt every word that he had said, and thought that she might
as well know that he had some consolation besides mortal love.
He endeavoured to compose his countenance, and to put on his
holiday smile ; for, although he was certain that Carrie would
repeat to her friend every word he had said, yet, the conven-
tionalities of life demanded that the undercurrent of passion
should not appear upon the surface.

As Carrie Chappelle opened the front door, he heard Laura
Clymer's voice, and also the deep, rich voice of a man, which so
startled him that he nearly jumped out of his seat. He did not
hear it again, however, and calmed his agitation, so that he greeted
Laura Clymer with every politeness when she entered the room.
She was alone, and he asked her where she had left his cousin.

" She has gone to her room, ' was the reply. "She said that
she was not well, and sent me here to entertain you."

"I am very grateful for her kindness. I don't wish to be in-
quisitive, Miss Clymer, but did not a gentleman enter the house
with you ?"

"Yes, sir. A friend accompanied me to the door, and left me
there, lie is a relation."

" I mentioned the circumstance because I heard hi* ^oice, and

40 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

it sounded wonderfully like that of an old friend of mine, so much
so that I was startled. It sounded like the voice of Seth Staples."

A slight blush tinged the cheeks of the brunette, but she did
not show any other sign of emotion.

"You have strange fancies, Mr. Arment," she said. "Carrie
told me that you were in a very imaginative mood this evening."

"Perhaps I am ; but it seems a strange coincidence to me, like
some others that I have noticed lately."

Laura Clymer found it a difficult task to entertain her visitor,
who was very taciturn and abstracted, and it was not long before
both relapsed into silence, and remained speechless until the supper
bell reminded them that their mouths were made for something
else besides talking.

Arthur Arment did not again see his cousin alone that night, and.
the presence of Laura Clymer operated as a bar to anything like
serious conversation between them. As they were about retiring,
however, Carrie gave him her hand, and said to him :

" Arthur, if you can change your course, and be as I am, you
may tell me so in the morning. If not, I trust that you will net
again mention the subject which you introduced this evening."

Arthur bowed in silence. He hoped to receive a visit that night
from the Carrie Chappelle of his dreams.

He was shown to the same chamber which he had occupied on
the previous night. He examined it before he laid down, more
carefully than he had on the former occasion, but he perceived
nothing unusual, nothing suspicious about the walls or the furni-
ture. He drew a small table to the bedside, on which he placed his
little flag and some matches. He kissed his ring, and laid his
head on the pillow.

Although his heart was troubled, he had not long to wait for
sleep, for he still was weak, sore, and very weary. He awoke at
the first dawn of daybreak, with a feeling of bitter disappointment,
for his sleep had been as far as he knew, entirely dreamless. His
guardian angel had forgotten or neglected him. She had not
visited him during the night. He had gained no clue to the solu-
tion of the mystery of the flag and the ring, and he felt really
forlorn. •

Then he sighed and trembled as he thought of the responsibility
that rested upon him that morning, of the necessity of making a
decision that must control his fate as regarded his love. He was
certain that Carrie had loved him once, and he believed that she
loved him still ; but he felt sure that she would, as she had said she
would do, crush out all love for a man who differed from her on
the vital questions of the rebellion.

His choice was narrowed down, §o that the decision of the
question was a simple one ; he was to decide for treason, love, and
Carrie Chappelle, or for loyalty, persecution, and loneliness. The
material and personal advantages were ail on one side, as it seemed,

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 4i

and it must be confessed that Arthur Annent hesitated. It was
Dot to be wondered at, that the young gentleman, who had been
reared in luxury and in the gratification of every desire, should
hesitate, before throwing away his love and his liberty, for an un-
eubstantial idea of loyalty. If his vision had again visited him,
if the sweet voice of the Carrie of his dreams had again counselled
and admonished him, he would have been strengthened to do what
he believed to be his duty ; but he felt very weak and lonely that
morning.

As he groaned and writhed in the agony of his doubt, his eyes
fell on the little flag that lay on his table, and he thought of tliG
words of the vision: i; Do what you know to be your duty, and
happiness awaits you." He pressed the emblem to his heart ; he
kissed the blue stone of his ring ; he prayed, for a few moments,
as he had not prayed for years ; and then he rose from his bed,
with a lighter heart and a renewed resolution.

When he went down into the parlour, Carrie Chappclle was stand-
ing by the window. She turned and advanced to meet him, as if
expecting him to speak. His heart almost failed him, as he gazed
upon her beauty, and thought how vainly he was throwing away
Buch a treasure ; but he smiled sadly as he spoke :

"I have decided, cousin, to do what I know to be my duty. }
believe in the Union, and hope to prove my faith by my works."

" You know the consequence," was the calm reply.

" I do, to my sorrow, and I shall endeavour to be obedient to
your wishes."

Arthur thought that he perceived a smile of triumph in the
countenance of the fair girl, as she turned and looked out of the
window again. If there was such a smile, it passed away as
rapidly as the shadow cast by a flying cloud, and she said nothing.

It was a dull day for Arthur. Nothing more was said about
love, and political questions were interdicted by common consent.
It was a grievous thing to be near the object of his love, to drink
in her beauty with thirsty eyes, to listen to the music of her voice,
and yet be unable to say a word to her of the passion that was burning
his heart ; but he felt of his flag, he looked at his ring, he thought
of his bright visions of the night, and he tried to bear it manfully.

As the shadows of evening closed in, he grew weary of his task.
The restraint had become intolerable to him, and he determined
to take a walk, hoping to drive away his oppressive melancholy.
Accordingly, he took his hat, and sallied out into the street, say-
ing that he would soon return.

He did not wish to go into tte thickly-inhabited or businesi
part of the town, fearing that he might be recognised and arrested,
a contingency that would be, to say the least, unpleasant. There-
fore he walked toward the Fair Ground, and then went in a north-
easterly direction, until he was near one of the inner lines of in-
trench ment. There were no soldiers on dutv at that part of the

42 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

works, and he continued his course in an easterly direction, in-
tending to visit the country by moonlight, when he saw a female
figure walking in a cross street, a short distance ahead of him.

As he casually glanced at the figure, it struck him that it was
that of Carrie Chappelle. He looked more closely, and became
satisfied. The form, the air, the gait, were certainly those of his
cousin ; but what, in the name of wonder, and of maidenly deli-
cacy, could she be doing in that suburb, at that time of night ?

The young gentleman changed his course, and followed her at
a little distance. Soon she came to a neighbourhood where the
houses were few and small, and where the ground was rough and
broken. She stopped near a house, close to which ran a line of
intrenchments, and a man came out from the shadow of the wall,
with whom she entered into a conversation.

Drawing his slouched hat over his face, Arthur walked rapidly
on, until he had passed them. He could not distinguish the fea-
tures of the man, but he was sure that the woman was his cousin
Carrie. As he passed them, he heard the words " love," and "our
union."

" Arthur thought that he had gained B new light. "It is no
wonder," he muttered, "that she can cast me off so easily and so
coolly, when she already has a lover, and can go so far as to meet
him at night, and speak openly of their love and their union.
But I do not understand how it is possible for a Chappelle, with
the blood of the Arments in her veins, to descend to such a meet-
ing as this, and in such a neighbourhood. I will Avatch to see
where she goes, and will follow her, to upbraid her for such un-
maidenly conduct."

Carrie's conversation was soon concluded. The man disappeared
behind the house, and she turned, and walked rapidly towards the
6ettled part of the city. As this was not the direction that Arthur
had expected her to take, he was obliged to quicken his steps. He
soon caught sight of her, but only to lose it again, for she vanished
at the corner of a street. He changed his pace to a run, and again
had a glimpse of her, after passing several blocks, as she was
crossing a street.

He was now more than ever anxious to see and speak with her,
and hastened his steps, thinking that he would soon overtake her.
But, to his surprise and dismay, his path was blocked by a Con-
federate soldier, who presented his bayonet, and demanded his
pass.

"What do you mean?" angrily demanded Arthur.

"Your pass — you must show me your pass."

" I have nothing of the kind. Out of my way, for I am in a
hurry."

"If you have no pnss, you must go with me."

" Out of my way, you scoundrel ! I will not be stopped !"

Suddenly rushing upou the soldier, the young gentleman seized

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 43

him by the collar, and flung him, musket and all, into the street.
Then he ran on after the flitting female figure.

He had not gone far, when he was stopped by two soldiers, who
blocked his way as the first had done, and demanded his pass.
Greatly to his disgust, he was obliged to halt and parley with
them, and while he was thus detained, the soldier whom he had
discomfited came up and explained the manner in which he had
been treated, and Arthur Arnient was informed that he was a
prisoner.

Remonstrance was useless, resistance would have been in vain,
and the young gentleman was reluctantly compelled to march off
with his captors to a guardhouse, where he was thrust into a ceil,
and told that his case would be attended to in the morning.

The cell was dirty and unpleasant, and he was a prisoner, with
the prospect of a long confinement when his name should become
known ; but that was not what troubled him. He was thinking
of his cousin. He was deeply pained to know that that pure and
beautiful girl, as he had always considered her, could descend so
low as to hold a clandestine meeting, at night, in an unfrequented
part of the town. He thought that she must have an overpowering
love for the man she had met. He was certain that she did love
hir.^ .for he had heard them speak of their love and their union.
He regretted that he had been apprehended, when he could have
overtaken her so soon after the occurrence, and he registered a
vow that he would go to her as soon as he got out of prison (if ha
should get out), would tell her that he had witnessed her unlady-
like conduct, would bitterly bid her farewell, and would then do
something— he knew not what — for the cause of the Union. If he
should lose his useless life, it would not matter.

Having formed this righteous resolve, he lay down od the floor
of his cell, and tried to sleep.

CHAPTER IX.

Unseen Spirits.

Arthur arment, as may be supposed, passed a very unpleasant
night. He was still quite sore, from the effects of his accident.

4* THELOrAL SPECTRE.

And the pains were cot at all diminished by the rough boards en
which he had been obliged to sleep, He rose from his uneasy
couch in the morning, feeling very sulky and obstinate, a fit sub-
ject for the tender mercies of a military despot.

He had been told that his case should be attended to in the
morning, and he paced his cell impatiently, waiting for his time to
come. It was not until ten o'clock, however, that a guard arrived
to carry him to the office of the Provost-Marshal. He had no
desire to appear before that official in his unwashed and unkempt
condition, and bribed the guard to allow him to stop at a barber'3
chop, and attend to his outward appearance. When he came out
of the shop, he again looked and felt like a gentleman, and was
ready to meet a Provost-Marshal or any other officer.

"When he reached the office, his case was immediately investi-
gated. Charges were preferred against him by the soldiers who
had arrested him, to the effect that he had been found out at night
without a pass, and had forcibly resisted the guard who attempted
to stop him.

" Have you a pass?" asked the Marshal.

" I have not. I did not know that a pass was necessary."

"What is your name, and where do you live ?"

■ Arthur Arment, of Oak Grove, Fayette county, Georgia."

"Ah, Mr. Arment, I have heard of you, and judge, from what I
have heard, that you are not a proper person to be roaming the
city at night without a pass. An order for your arrest left this
office ; you were arrested under it ; while you were being brought
to the city, you were rescued from your guard by a band of
traitors. Is it not so ?"

" You say that it is."

The officer wrote a few words on a scrap of paper.

u Orderly, take this gentleman up-stairs to Colonel Marbury,
and give the colonel this note."

Arthur was accordingly conducted up-stairs to a small room,
where an officer in the uniform of a colonel was seated at the head
of a long table, around which were grouped several other men in
uniforms.

Colonel Marbury read the scrap of paper, and looked up at tha
prisoner with a strange expression.

" I am glad to see you, Mr. Arment," he said. " Perhaps you
will be able and willing to explain some circumstances that have
puzzled me. Be seated, sir, and tell me what you were doing in
Atlanta when you were arrested."

'•By what right do you question me?" was Arthur's calm reply,
as he took a seat.

" By the authority of the Confederate States of America. Do
you not recognise that authority ?"

"I recognise the right of force, when I am unable to resist it.
I suppose that is sufficient."

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 45

The colonel whispered to an officer near him, who rose and
left the room, and then he again addressed.the prisoner :

" Mr. Arment, after yon had been arrested at your house, and
while you were on your way to Atlanta, you were rescued from
your guards. Who were the men who effected that rescue ?"

'•I know nothing about that. I suppose there was a rescue, as
I mw nothing more of the guards, but when you ask me how it
was done, or by whom, I must plead ignorance."

"Why is that, sir?"

" Simply because f was thrown from my horse, and was so badly-
injured that I had no consciousness of what happened."

"Have you recovered from your injuries ?"

"I have not. A night spent on the floor of your guard-house
is not a panacea for bruised limbs."

"You shall not be treated so again, Mr. Arment. Where were
you taken after your accident?"

" That is none of your business, sir."

"You are hardly polite, Mr. Arment. I am afraid you have
imbibed so many Yankee ideas, that you have learned their man-
ners. You may be obstinate, sir, if you choose, but it will avail
nothing, for we are on the track of those scoundrels, and I have
no doubt we will catch them. It is believed that they were led
by a Yankee spy, who has been in this neighbourhood for a long
time, and whom Ave have vainly tried to lay hands upon."

"I know nothing of any such man," said Arthur.

" You have been represented as an enemy to the Confederate
government. Is that charge true, Mr. Arment?"

"I have never done anything to oppose it."

" Are not your sentiments in hostility to those of the Confede-
rate government?"

" You have no concern with my sentiments. You cannot arrest
En idea."

"We can arrest the man, however, and keep the ideas from
spreading. I think we understand each other, sir. What were
you doing in the city last night when you were arrested ?"

" That is none of your business, and I refuse to answer."

After some further questioning, which elicited nothing more
from Arthur, except a declaration of his Union sentiments, the
officer who had left the room returned, and whispered to Colonel
Mar bury.

"We cannot release you, Mr. Arment," said the colonel, "until
we get some more light on this subject. I wish your uncle, Mr.
Madison Arment, to be present at your examination, but he is
occupied to-day with very important business. You will be placed
in confinement, and will be brought here again to-morrow morning."

Colonel Marbury handed a written order to an officer, who re-
quested Arthur to accompany him, and the young gentleman was
conducted doy.rn stairs, and to prison, under guard3.

*<5 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

The prisoner was not taken to the local guard-house, in -which
he had passed such an unpleasant night, but to the city prison,
where he was assigned a celL that was spacious, clean, and reason-
ably comfortable. He was allowed to purchase such a dinner aa
he could eat, and soonfelt in a better humour with himself and the
rest of the world. It was a source of satisfaction to him to feel
that he had once performed his duty, and he resolved to do better
thereafter, if the opportunity should be afforded him. He even
began to doubt whether he should administer to his cousin the
lecture that he had promised her, when he could regain his liberty,
but he was inclined to think that the reputation of the Arments
demanded that such an occurrence should not pass without re-
proof.

He sent out for cigars and a paper. He lit a cigar, and read in
the paper that the forces of the Union were gradually and surely
encircling Atlanta, hemming in the army of Hood, and cutting off
his communications; that the Federal right, under Howard, rested
on the Macon road, and that their left occupied Decatur.

u They must soon evacuate, or fight," thought Arthur, as he
puffed his cigar with an air of satisfaction. " I wish I could get
out of this place, before either event happens, for I have no in-
clination to be carried about the country with a retreating army."

When he had finished the paper, and had grown tired of smok-
ing, he began to feel his restraint, to be restless and weary, and to
long for some occupation. He took his little flag from his pocket
and regarded it reverently. He touched his lips with the blue
stone of his ring, and wished that he was free.

As he kissed the ring, he heard a rapping as if in response to his
wish. It was not at the door, but sounded as if it came from the
vail of his room. It was a light, quick, irregular tapping, like
the clicking of a telegraphic instrument, and reminded him of the
raps that he and Seth Staples had heard, or had imagined they
heard, when they investigated the supposed science of spiritualism.

"What the deuce is that?" he muttered, as he threw away his
cigar.

The raps continued, and grew louder and faster.

"There is some jugglery about this," he thought, "or some
friend is near, who takes this way of making himself known. I
will try him, and learn whether there is any meaning in the noise."

There was a light on the table in the room, which he drew near to
that part of the wall from which the sounds seemed to proceed, sat
down by it, placed his hands on the top of the table, and asked,
with a half smile :

"Are there any spirits present?"

An affirmative rap.

"Do they wish to communicate?"

Bap.

" Shall I use the alphabet ?" Rap.

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 47

Arthur commenced calling over the alphabet in a low tonof but
was interrupted by a number of quick, sharp, irregular raps.

"What does that mean?" he muttered. "Perhaps I am not
loud enough."

lie commenced to call over the alphabet in a louder tone, but
was again interrupted, by quicker and sharper raps.

"Louder yet? Well, my friend shall be satisfied, whether ii
is a spirit or a mortal."

He drew his chair nearer to the wall, and raised his voice as
much as he dared to, as he called over the alphabet. When he
reached the letter T, there was a rap from the wall, and he wrote
that letter on the margin of his newspaper.

It was slow and tedious work, but his curiosity excited him to
persevere, and when the communication appeared to be finished,
he put the letters together, and spelled out the following sen-
tences :

'•To-night, at seven, guards will change. At eight, find your
door unlocked. Take leave of the prisoner as you walkout."

"Really," ejaculated the young gentleman, " this is important,
if true, and I am greatly obliged to my unseen friend. Will you
tell me who you are ?"

An affirmative rap.

Arthur called over the alphabet as before, and the letters that
were indicated, Avhen he put them together, read as follows :

" A friend of the blue stone."

" I am satisfied," he mused, as he leaned back and lighted a
cigar. That token is sufficient. But how, in the name of wonder, did
my friend of the wall know anything about my mysterious ring and
its azure stone ? He must certainly be a spirit, and connected with
the fair vision that has visited me in my dreams. A friend of tho
blue stone ought to have more than ordinary means of knowledge,
and I will do as he directs. At all events, it is very easy to make
the experiment, and there can be no harm in it."

As there were no more raps, he tore off the margin of the paper on
which he had written, and destroyed it. He then placidly puffed
his cigar, and waited as patiently as he could for the appointed
time.

He sent out for his supper at an early hour, so that he might
have good inward preparation for an adventure, and then smoked
a cigar until seven o'clock. When that hour arrived, he heard a
tramping and a talking below, from which he concluded that the
guards, in and around the prison, were being changed. His rap-
ping friend had spoken the truth, thus far, and Arthur felt that
his communication could be relied upon.

As soon as his watch told him that it was eight o'clock, ho
stepped to the door, tried it, and perceived that it was not locked.
He stepped out into the hall, saw that no one was in sight, and
Baid, as if speaking to some one within the room :

48 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

" Good-night, sir. I will come again in the morning. I will
call on your friends to-night, and see if anything can be done to
effect your release."

He closed the door, and took the precaution to lock it and put
the key in his pocket. The door of his cell was near the head of
the stairs, and the young gentleman walked directly down, and
out of the door, humming a tune as he went.

"Been to see a prisoner, sir?" asked a soldier who was on guard
at the entrance of the prison.

" Yes. Poor fellow, he takes it very hard, but I think he will
be releasedto-morrow."

So saying, the young gentleman stepped into the street, hum-
ming a merry tune, and rejoicing in his freedom. As he had
nearly a mile to go, to reach the house in which his cousin was
located, he turned into a side street, to avoid observation, and
walked rapidly. He was follovring his fate, as he thought, and he
did not consider it worth while to attempt to escape from the
city.

A brisk walk soon brought him to the house, and he lightly
mounted the steps, with an unwonted feeling of freedom and satis-
faction. Fortunately for him, as he thought, the door was not
locked, and he noiselessly entered the house. He was, indeed,
following his fate, and he could know nothing of the important
experience that awaited him within those walls.

CHAPTEPv X.

Why Tarriesi Thou Here?

As soon as Arthur entered the house, he closed the^icor behind
him. and stepped softly into the parlour. He had hoped to sur-
prise his cousin, but he surprised no one, for the room was empty.
He looked around for a few moments, and was about to call a ser-
vant, when he heard a voice that made him pause and start.

Adjoining the parlour in which he then was, was a room that
had lately been used by Mr. Madison Arment as a sort of library
•or reception room. It was known as his private room, and, as
Evcfa, was respected by the household. A door opened into it from

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 49

the parlour, and another from the main hall. The door toward
the parlour was always kept locked, and Madison Arment carried
the key, a precaution that resulted in leaving the keyhole open.

It was from the private room that the voice proceeded by which
Arthur had been startled. It was the voice of his uncle, raised
somewhat above its ordinary tones. The young man heaid such
words as "General," "dispatch from Richmond," "immediate
attack," and these had strongly attracted his attention. He had
previously heard his uncle say that the house had been honoured
by the presence of prominent Southern generals, and he felt con-
vinced that some important questions, connected with the army of
General Hood and the condition of Atlanta, were then being dis-
cussed in the private room of Madison Arment.

Our hero immediately performed the undignified and unheroic
act of bending down and looking in through the keyhole. He saw
his uncle seated at a table with a rather young-looking officer,
whom he recognised, from the descriptions that he had heard, and
from the wooden leg that he was caressing, as General Hood. A
map lay on the table between them, on which the general waa
pointing with a pencil.

As Arthur listeued, he thought that he was justified, as a Union
man, in doing so, for the conversation was highly important and
intensely interesting. The purport of it was, that the Genera]
had received explicit orders from Richmond to attack the Fede-
rals, and endeavour to beat them, before giving up Atlanta. II is
plans had been laid accordingly, and his troops were being massed
against the Federal left, for the purpose of making an attack in
force, the next day, or the day after the next. The number of men
that could be brought to bear upon a given point, and the number
of the enemy that would probably be opposed to them, were care-
fully estimated, and the chances of success were fully discussed.

"If we should fail," said the general, pointing to the map, " there
is only this route of retreat left us. If we should be compelled to
retreat, it will be your duty, Mr. Arment, and that of other influ-
ential men in the State, to arouse the people, to hurry forward
recruits, to bring out the militia, and to aid us by procuring sup-
plies and transportation. You must feel that this is the crisis in
the fate of Georgia, for, if Sherman gets possession of Atlanta, he
will only use it as a new base of operations for a devastating
march through the State, or he may cut loose from it altogether.
In either event, you will be at his mercy, unless my army is largely
reinforced."

"It hardly seems to me that failure can be possible," said
Madison Arment. "The enemy must have greatly weakened his
line, in lengthening it as he has lately done, and there must be a
weak place somewhere. You may rely upon me, however, gene-
ral, to do all that I can, and to induce others to follow my example.
My own influence is considerable, and I wield, through the man*

60 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

agement of the extensive estates of my nephew and my niece, a
large property influence, which, will be used to the best of my
ability, for the benefit of the Confederacy."

'•'Are your relatives true to the cause, or are they indifferent?"

" Concerning my niece, I can speak with confidence. She is a
true Southerner, and has often declared herself willing to devote
her all, and her life, if necessary, to the good cause. I cannot saj
so much for my nephew, for he is sadly tinctured with Union ideas.
He has never objected to my making such uso of his estate and
servants as I thought proper, but I know that he is a Uniou man
at heart, and he is so obstinate that he can neither be frightened
nor coaxed. At present, however, he is under lock and key. and
is not in a position to do any harm. If you should be compelled to re-
treat, General, I hope that you will take him with you as a prisoner,
for he has been quite unruly of late, and I am afraid that he might
do us much damage."

"Thank you, uncle," thought Arthur. "I am now aware to
whose kindness I was indebted for my arrest, and shall knoAv how
to appreciate your solicitude for my interest. General Hood need
give himself no trouble about me, for I do not care to make the
journey. I have no desire to be flanked through the State of
Georgia by General Sherman."

He had heard all that he wished to. He had heard enough to
excite him greatly, and he left the keyhole. He thought that the
news he had heard would be of great value in the Union army, if
it could be received there. He thought that he had then a splendid
opportunity to prove his faith by his works, and carry the infor-
mation to the Union lines, if he only knew how and where to go.
But he had so long been a recluse, that he knew little of the situ-
ation of affairs, and had none of the resources and expedients that
so quickly come to those who are called upon to play parts in the
great drama of war. Besides, he was weary, his sleep of the night
before having tired him more than it had rested him. After a
little perplexing thought, he concluded that he would steal up
stairs and quietly go to bed, refresh himself with a good sleep, and
consider, in the morning, what was best to be done.

He left the parlour, and found a negro servant in the hall, who
brought him a lamp and some matches, with which he -went up
stairs. As he did so, he thought he saw the flutter of a muslin
dress in the hall, near the door of his uncle's private room ; but he
was not certain, and took no further notice of it, especially as he
did not then wish to be observed. He directed the servant to say
nothing to Mr. Arment about his being in the house, and entered
the chamber in which he had first been favoured with his wonderful
vision.

Before Arthur laid down, he again drew the light table to his bed-
side, placed his lamp upon it, and laid some matches and his little
flag by its side. He then undressed, extinguished his light, and com-

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 51

mitted himself to a soft and pleasant bed. As he luid his head on
the pillow, his conscience reproached him with having neglected*

golden opportunity of doiug his duty and proving his faith by hi3
works. Ho felt that such an opportunity might never occur again,
and that he would have reason to regret having suffered the chance
to pass unimproved ; but he was weary and still sore, the downy
bed was very enticing, he was ignorant of the best way to do that
which he knew ought to be done, and he hoped that new strength
and greater energy would come to him in the morning. Thus ho
silenced the voice of conscience, and fell asleep.

It was not long before he was awakened, as he had been once before
in that room, by the sound of music ; but this time it was only the
soft tinkling of a guitar that saluted his dreamy senses. He
listened with pleasure, as he lay there half asleep, until the guitar
tinkled out a merrier and more, martial measure, and two sweet
voices sang the air of " Red, White, and Blue." The singing waa
soft and low, but the well-remembered strains awoke the dormant
patriotism in the heart of Arthur Arment, and made him keenly
sensitive of the duty that he had left unperformed. But he crushed
down his feelings of regret, and gave himself up entirely to the
delicious sensations awakened by the illusion.

"I was sure," he thought, " that my bright and gentle guardian
would not desert me for ever. She will visit me again to-night,
for the music heralds her approach. Thank God that happiness
can come to me in dreams, though it is far from my waking hours !
I wonder what new development there is to be — whether I am to
receive another token besides the flag and the ring."

He was soon answered, for a soft, mellow and misty light waa
diffused through the room, enabling him to see, though indistinctly,
the outlines of a female form, robed in white. It was the same that
had already visited him twice, and he felt a thrill of untold happi-
ness, as he gazed upon it, and recognized the fair face, the braided
brown hair, and the wondrous eyes of his cousin Canie. This was
r.ot the Carrie who had forgotten the past, who had repelled his
suit because he could not become a convert to the heresy of seces-
sion, and who met her lover in such an unmaidenly manner in the
night-time; but it was the pure, gentle, loving and patriotic angel
of his dreams, who always appeared to counsel and bless him.

His thrill of happiness increased to an ecstasy, as the figure
raised its hand, and addressed him in those musical tones that he
had longed to hear :

" Arthur Arment, you believe in the Union, but you do not prove
your faith by your works. You are true to the old flag, but you
do nothing to show your devotion. Your conscience accuses you,
and your heart cannot commend you."

The words were reproachful, and the countenance of the figure
seemed sorrowful. Arthur felt the truth of the accusation, and
was pained by it.

62 TEE LOYAL SPECTKE.

"It is true, beautiful vision," he said, scarcely able to raise his
voice above a whisper ; " but what can I do to prove my faith and to
show my devotion ? Tell me, and I will obey your counsel, if it leads
to death. I have your tokens, the flag and ring, and cherish them
above all my possessions. Tell me how I shall act. and nothing
that you bid me do shall be left undone." &

"You have learned," answered the figure, "that which would
be of great value to the cause you profess to love. Make known
what you have learned to the soldiers of the Union. Carry to
them the message that is on your flag. Go to the small brown
house that stands alone by the fair ground, and you will meet a
man. to whom your ring will be a token. He v. ill direct you fur-
ther."

The figure moved to the table, as lightly as if floating in air,
took up the diminutive flag, kissed it, and replaced it on the table.
As it did so, the light died away, the guitar which had been play-
ing a pleasant interlude ceased its tinkling, and the figure vanished
as if it had melted into the darkness.

" It is strange," thought Arthur, " that I always awake as soon as
that figure disappears and the dream is over. Perhaps, though, I may
have dreamed it hours ago; and yet it seems as clear and fresh to
my memory as if it had been actual. I believe I will light my
lamp, and try to discover whether I am really awake now.

Striking a match, he lighted the lamp, and, as he turned up the
fc-ick, he perceived a paper lying on his flag. He hastily opened
and examined it. It was a small scrap of very fine, light paper,
almost like tissue paper, on which were scrawled, as if by a very
delicate hand, and with a very delicate pen, some cabalistic char-
acters that he could not pretend to understand. He held the
"fairy paper" in his hand, and gazed at it intently, a9 if expect-
ing it to melt away beneath his touch. Then the words of his
i struck him suddenly, thrilling him like an electric shock.

"She told me," he thought, "to carry to the Union lines the
message that was on my flag. This is the message, and there
must be a meaning attached to it. She told me that I would meet
a man who would give me directions, at the little brown house by
the fair ground. Ah !'■ ~~

Arthur Arment had good reason to know that little brown house,
for it was there that Carrie Chappelle had met the man the night
before, when he had followed her.

"There must be reality in this!" he exclaimed. "I am surely
Rwake now, and this paper that I hold in my hand is a tangible
nnd substantial thing. Perhaps my visions may have been some-
thing more than dreams. At ali events, there has always been left
with me some actual and abiding token. But it is idle to reason
about now, for I have no time to lose. I have a duty to perform,
and must neglect it no longer. Now, if ever, is the time to prove
my faith by my works. I will obey the directions of the vision,

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 53

whatever may be the consequences. If this paper does not melt
in my hands, it shall be delivered at its destination Whether it
is real or not, I will go, and will be thankful that I have been
aroused to a sense of my duty."

Without any more reflection, the young gentleman rose, hastily
dressed himself, placed the little flag and the scrap of paper in Ins
vest pocket, quietlv descended the stairs, opened the front door,
softly closed the spring-lock behind him, and sallied out into the
darkness. „ , , , , . , .

The resolution and energy that he had hoped would come to him
in the morning, now filled his breast, and he felt as no one can
feel who is not inspired by a good and holy purpose.

CHAPTER XI.

Running the Gantlet.

The night was cloudy and quite dark, and the young gentleman
had walked but a short distance, when the rain commenced to
patter among the leaves of the trees and on the sandy path. The
patter soon increased to a pour, and Arthur Arment was then con-
vinced that he was awake, for the rain was a very damp reality.
Being thus satisfied that he was in the full possession of his senses,
he felt in his pocket for his " fairy paper." It was still there, and
h- went boldly on, unheeding the drenching rain, the loud peals
of thunder, and the vivid flashes of lightning. He had a purpose
in his heart ; he had a duty to perform; he was about to prove his
faith by his works; and he felt that he deserved to undergo a pen-
auce for his previous shortcomings. , , . .

Buttoning his coat, and shielding his face from the driving ram
with his large slouched hat, he walked on rapidly until he reached
the small brown house near the fair ground. He was not mistaken
—it was the same house at which Carrie Chappelle had stopped,
when he had followed her. the night before.

He looked around, but saw no one. Then he gave a low whistle,
and a man stepped out from the shadow of the house, and stood
before him. The stranger was dressed in a grey uniform, over
which was thrown a dark overcoat, and his face was shaded

M THE LOYAL SPEb*?KE.

by a slouched hat. Arthur thought that he recognised the soldiei
vith the heavy beard, who had given him the note when he was
arrested at Oak Grove, but he felt that it was no time for ques-
tions and explanations.

" Who are you?" asked the man.

Arthur thought of the words of the vision — " You will meet
a man to whom your ring will be a token," and he held
up the finger that wore the precious circlet. As he did so, the
dai'kness was lighted up by an unusually brilliant flash of light-'
ning, and the blue stone in the riDg seemed to shine with an un-
earthly lustre.

" That is sufficient," said the man. " What do you want?"

" I wish to be directed to the Union lines."

" Come with me."

-Feeling again in his pocket, to be sure that his piece of paper
was safe, Arthur followed his guide silently, through the thick
darkness and the drenching rain, until they reached a line of rifle-
pits, a rough breastwork of earth, thrown up from the inside, with
a deep ditch on the outside. Here they stopped, and the stranger
pointed through the obscurity, across the broken ground, at a little
point of light that was just visible in the distance.

"Do you see that camp-fire yonder ?" he said.

" I believe I do."

"That speck of light, I mean. Keep your eves on it, and be
careful not to lose sight of it, for that is the Union picket line.
There is another line of rifle pits between us and that light, but 1
don't know whether it is guarded to-night or not. You must pro-
ceed carefully when you reach it, and you may have to take your
chance, and trust to your legs. If you reach the pickets, ask to
be taken to the General in command. The word is love and union,
and that will carrv you through. Good night, and good luck' to
you!"

So saying, the stranger started back, leaving Arthur alone in
the darkness. The young gentleman slipped over the breastwork,
where he waited until a flash of lightning gave him a plain view
of the ditch, and then floundered through the mud, to the other
6ide. He moved on as fast as he could, considering the darkness
and the rough ground ; but he had not gone far, before he was
6tartled by a sharp cry of " Halt !"

Instead of halting, he fixed his eye on the distant light, and ran
toward it. Another order to halt increased his speed, when his
running was brought to a sudden termination by a stumble and a
fall, which precipitated him into a shallow gully. It was a for-
tunate accident for our hero, for a volley was fired from the Con-
federate lines as he fell, and he heard the bullets whistle over his
head.

Deeming an humble attitude the safest* he crawled along the
ground, sheltering himself by its inequalities, until he reached the

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 55

other line of ritle pits that his guide had mentioned. The rehols
had probably thought that their volley had killed him, and had
made no pursuit.

As Arthur climbed over the breastwork, his form was plainly
revealed by a flash of lightning, and he was saluted by several
dropping shots. He felt a sharp twinge in his left arm, chipped
his hand upon the spot, withdrew it covered with warm blood, and
know that he had been shot.

He slipped down under cover of the breastwork, wrapped a
handkerchief around his arm, above the wound, and tied it as
tightly as he could with his left hand and his teeth. Then he
started ahead again, picking his way over the broken ground,
toward the light that had been his beacon. He now thought him-
self nearly out of range, he was partially protected by the em-
bankment in his rear, the Union fire loomed up larger and
brighter, and he felt secure.

While he had been working his way through the darkness, and
even while he was running the gantlet of the rebel rifles, his mind
was buzy, pondering and wondering about his strange experiences.
lie wondered whether there was not more reality than fancy in
his dream — whether his guide that night was the same Confederate
soldier who had communicated with him at the time of his first
arrest — how he knew about the flag in his pocket, and the ring on
his finger — what motive Carrie Chappelle could have had in meet-
ing that man at night, and in such a lonely place, and how it hap-
pened that the words of his dream, if it was a dream, had so
strangely proved true to the letter.

The more he pondered and wondered, the more he was puzzled,
and the more inexplicable the whole affair appeared. His reflec-
tions were suddenly terminated by a hail in front, of "Halt!
Who goes there?"

"A friend."

"Advance friend, and, give the countersign."

Arthur advanced, and as he had no countersign, he surrendered
himself to the picket. An officer was called, who inquired his
business.

"I wish to see the General in command."

" Have you business with him ?"

" Yes. I have important information which I can give to no
one but himself."

" How shall I know that you are to be trusted!"

"The word is Love and Union."

"That is sufficient. Follow me, and I will take you to head-
quarters immediately."

The young gentleman followed his guide, past rough lines of
breastworks, tjerough rows of white tents, and among camp-fires
that were smouldering on the wet ground, until they, reaened a tent
in front of which a large flag drooped from a pole. As they en-

56 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

tcred this tent he perceived a weather-beaten officer, with grey
streaks in his hair, sleeping on a pallet, an orderly standing by the
opening of the tent, and an aid writing on a rough table. Arthur's
companion whispered to the aid, who awoke the sleeping officer.

"A gentleman from Atlanta, General, who has just entered our
lines with important information."

'•Who is he? What is it?"

Arthur answered by handing him his scrap of "fairy paper."

" Here, Captain Adams," said the General, when he had glanced
at it, " you have the key to this cypher. Translate this document
for me."

The aid took the paper, poured over it a few moments, referring
to a memorandum, and said :

"It is from a trusty friend, and informs us that the bearer is
entirely reliable, and can give us important information."

" Glad to hear it," said the General. " Be seated, sir. It must
indeed be important information that could tempt you out, on
such a dangerous errand, in such a stormy night. What is your
name?"

" Arthur Arment."

The aid looked up, rose from his chair, and extended his hand
to the young gentleman.

" Arthur Arment ! lam glad to meet you. I have not seen
you for years. Have you forgotten me?"

Arthur recognised, in the bronzed countenance of the speaker, a
former classmate at college, and heartily grasped his hand.

"I have not forgotten you, Adams, and am rejoiced to see you.
We .meet under strange circumstances.

" Is it possible that you, Arment, with your large estate and
your numerous negroes, are not upholding the rebellion?"

"It is even so, Adams; but I am ashamed to say that I have
done nothing for the good cause until to-night."

"I hope you have not come to ask protection for your slaves,"
said the General. " We do not interfere with the negroes, but it
is our policy to allow them to act as they please, and the rule can-
not be departed from."

" I have come for no such purpose, sir, but to bring important
information, and the sooner you know it the better."

"You are wounded, Mr. Arment. You seem faint. Your
wound must be attended to."

" Yes, sir ; I was struck in the arm while passing over to your
lines, but it is only a flesh wound. Let me do my errand, and
then, if you please, I will have it dressed."

"I have some excellent brandy here. Drink some, and it will
revive you." ( !

Arthur tasted the brandy, which seemed to give him strength,
and proceeded to relate the substance of the conversation that iie
had heard at the keyhole of Madison Arment's private room.

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 57

The stern features of the General relaxed into a smile .of satis-
faction as he listened, and he thanked the young gentleman very
cordially. » . ■ .,

"This is really important and valuable information, he said.
" You have done the cause of the Union a great service to-night,
sir. We have been expecting such a movement, however, and
they will find us prepared. Captain Adams, you had better take
your friend to the surgeon, and have his arm dressed. He is wet
through, and the consequences may be unpleasant. Try another
glass of brandy, Mr. Arment." .

Arthur swallowed the prescription, and left the tent with Ins
new-found friend. A surgeon was soon found, who dressed the
wounded arm, and the young gentleman accepted the hospitality
of Captain Adams, who provided him with dry clothing and a com-
fortable bed.

In the morning, with his arm in a sling, he walked around
anions- the camps with his friend, and was surprised to observe the
numbers, efficiency, and spirit of the Union army. His eyes were
gladdened by the sight of the old flag, and his ears by the well-
remembered national airs that he had not heard for years, except
in his nightly visions.

The expected attack was not made until the next day, and re-
sulted in a bloody repulse. Arthur watched the rebel masses
dashed again and again upon the steady Union lines, with the
courage of desperation, only to be hurled back, shattered and
bleeding. At last Hood drew off his routed and discomfitted troops,
With a heavy loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, and the fate of
Atlanta was sealed.

Arthur remained within the Union lines, for the purpose of
having his wounded arm properly attended to, until the rumours of
the evacuation of the city, which had been frequently repeated,
were confirmed. He then felt a strong desire to visit Oak Grove,
and prevailed upon his friend, Captain Adams, to accompany him
thither. Adams obtained permission to go, and leave to take a
small escort of cavalry, and they set out, Arthur being provided
with a horse from his friend.

As they were obliged to make almost the entire circuit of the
city, to keep within the Union lines, and as the condition of
Arthurs arm would not permit him to ride fast, they did not reach
Oak Grove until about neon, the day after they started.

As they rede up in front of the Arment mansion, Arthur's body
lervant, a fine young negro, came out to meet him.

"Oh. Mars'r Arthur!" he exclaimed, "I's mighty glad to see
fou. Whar' you been gone dis long time, and what's the matter
wid your arm?" "I have been absent on business, Henry, and I
hurt my arm a little. Is all well ?"

"Yes, sah ; all is berry well. Your uncle is in de house, Mars'r
Arthur, rummagin' about in roux room."

58 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

"In my room ! What the deuce does that mean? Some more
of his kind intentions, I suppose. Captain Adams, will you have*
the kindness to remain here for a few moments, with your men,
while I go into the house ? I wish to meet my uncle alone."

The captain promised to comply with his request, and Arthur
silently walked in at the front door.

CHAPTER XII.

How he "Flanked" his Uncle.

A pleasant morning, a few days after the unsuccessful attempt
of Hood to break the Union line, found Madison Arment in the
parlour of his nephew's mansion at Oak Grove. Like the boy in
Byron's " Dream," he was

"Alone, and pale, and pacing to and fro."

His countenance wore a troubled look, though there was a glance
of triumph in his eye. He seemed nervous and perplexed, as if he
was not more than half-satisfied with the results of his labours in
behalf of his idolized Confederacy, and he appeared to be debating
the propriety of a step that he had not quite made up his mind to
take.

"I wonder," he said, "how Arthur fares in his confinement.
Of course, my directions have been obeyed, and he has been made
as comfortable as possible, but the restraint must be very irksome
to him. He has been clamorous for an examination, I suppose,
and it cannot be delayed much longer, unless we are compelled to
evacuate Atlanta. In that case, he must be taken with the army
as a prisoner, or must be sent to Richmond, and I have no doubt
that a few weeks of imprisonment, with the prospect of a still larger
dose, will cure him of his treasonable proclivities. It seems very
hard to treat him so, but it is necessary, and is really an act of
kindness. It would be a great loss to the Confederacy, if his
property-influence should be withdrawn from its support, and he
would probably lose both his property and his liberty, if not hia
life. Therefore, a temporary imprisonment, such as will bring
him to his senses, i3 for his own good and that of the cause. If I
had not been absent, endeavouring to arouse the people to a sense
of their duty at this crisis, I believe I would have granted him a
trial, as a matter of form, and to give him a chance to espouse the
right cause; but, I must first learn what is the prospect of holding
Atlanta. I must hasten to the city, when I have finished my

THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

business here, have a conversation with General Hood, ilnd r isit
Arthur in his prison. Perhaps he may have become ifasoiuole,
and may be willing to submit to the constituted authorities."

; As for Carrie, I need give myself no uneasiness about her.
She is true to the South, and will remain so, in spite of any defeat
or discouragement. She will not remain in the city if the Yankees
enter it, but will go with her friends, for she hates the sight of a
blue uniform. If Atlanta is taken, it will enrage her still more,
and she will put no bounds to her detestation of the enemy and
her exertions on behalf of the cause. She has repulsed her cousin's
suit because of his treasonable sentiments, and I cannot conceive
of anything more likely than that to bring him to terms. I have
no doubt that she loves him, but it is equally certain that she will
refuse to marry him, unless he changes his course. He will have
to choose between liberty and her love, and imprisonment without
her. There can hardly be any question of the decision at which

young man like Arthur, of ardent temperament, luxurious
habits, and unenergetic disposition, will ultimately arrive. He
will choose his liberty and hi3 love. It is only a question of time.

"It is a great pity that Hood was repulsed in his attack upon
the Federal left. Who would have supposed that he would find
such a force ready to meet him ? There muse be treachery in our
camp, for the enemy seem to have information of all our move-
ments and designs. The future will tend to discourage the people
still more, although it was almost a bloodless repulse, and our
troops withdrew in safety when they discovered that the attempt
could only be made successful by great slaughter. I suppose we
will be compelled to evacuate, unless re-enforcements are brought
forward more rapidly. In that event, I shall leave this place in
charge of the faithful overseer, and it will be safe, for the Yankees
will not be likely to come so far down this way, and Arthur will
not be at hand to bring them here. If there is any danger, I will
send a force, and have the niggers carried further South, for I don't
doubt that I can use them to good advantage.

'• Nov.r for Arthur's room. It really seems a meau &nd ungentle-
manly thing to overlook his private papers, but all means are
justifiable that will advance a righteous cause. I have good reason
to suspect that he has been in correspondence with the enemy, or
with some of their secret agents. If it were not so, how could it
have happened that he was rescued from arrest, just at the nick of
time, by a band of Tories, who were led, as Lieutenant Ashbrook
said, by a noted spy ? There must have been collusion between
him and his rescuers. If I can obtain proof of his treasonable
correspondence, I can hold it over him, and produce it when neces-
sary, for the purpose of continuing his imprisonment if he remains
unruly. Perhaps I can also diacover some of the domestic traitors
who have been conspiring against the government in this neigh-
bourhood. Surely, any means are justifiable for such an end."

60 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

Madison Arment was not a bad man at heart. He was a gentle-
man by birth and education, kind, benevolent and true. "Put he
was a believer in secession, an ardent supporter of the rebellion.
His belief bad been built up on sophistry, and the same sort of:
sophistical reasoning influenced all his conduct. He tbought that ;
every thing — his time, his property, his life, his relatives, his duty,
even his honour — should be made subservient to the cause that he
advocated. He thought that any act that could advance the in-
terests of his section, in what he called its "struggle for inde-
pendence," was the very thing that ought to be done. There had
been a time when he had considered the surreptitious inspection oi
private documents a piece of meaness to which he could not pos«
sibly descend, and he had no words of contempt too strong for a per-
son who wouldbe guilty of such a heinous offence. But, his feelings
had undergone a radical change in that respect. The same reason-
ing on which he founded his belief in the heresy of secession, was
sufficient to bear him out in the commission of the despicable act h<?
then contemplated. He argued that it was for the good of the
cause, and that was a complete answer to all objections, even to
those of his own conscience.

He walked up to his nephew's room, entered it, and closed the
door. A desk stood in a corner, in the drawer of which, as ho
knew, Arthur kept his private papers. The drawer was locked and
Arthur carried the key, but Madison Arment was prepared te
overcome that slight obstacle. He took from his pocket a small
skeleton key, which he inserted in the lock, and the bolt turned
readily.

Before opening the drawer, the astute schemer hesitated for a
moment, and a slight flush overspread his face, as his conscience
touched him in a tender spot. But his emotion was transient, and
a slight movement of his hand laid open the secret treasures of his
nephew.

Madison Arment sat down in front of the desk, and proceeded
to examine the papers. He took up a bundle, looked them over,
read one, and replaced them.

" Nothing but college nonsense," he muttered.

Another bundle seemed to interest him, for the papers had been
neatly folded and carefully preserved ; but after a slight examina-
tion he threw it down with an air of disgust.

" Poetry ! It is really a pity that the young man has nothing
to employ his time. Writing such trash as this is a very poor
occupation. But I care nothing for his own composition. I am
seeking for letters. Ah ! here is a bundle. The handwriting is
Carrie Chappelle's. There may be something of importance in
them, and it is worth while to examine."

The self-appointed inspector opened a number of the letters,
and hastily glanced over their contents, replacing them when he
had finiehed.

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 61

"Nothing to be learned there," he muttered, "except that Carrie
scans to have been almost an abolitionist in those days. But that
v as only boy and girl nonsense, and she has got bravely over it.
What is this?"

lie took from the drawer a scrap of paper, on which some pencil
writing was dimly visible. By holding it up to the light, he was
enabled to decipher the following sentence :

" Submit quietly to the arrest. The flag that was pinned upon
your coat will protect you. Be true to the Union, and fear
Nothing. "A Friend."

u What, in the name of wonder, does this mean?" he exclaimed.
"Ah ! I think I understand it now. It was received at the time
cf his arrest, and must have been written by one of the band of
Tories who rescued him. I thought he would not have submitted
80 peaceably, unless he had been sure of a rescue. I wonder what
was meant by the flag that was pinned upon his breast ? He will
find that no flag can get him out of the prison at Atlanta. I have
found the proof now, Arthur Arment, and have you where I want
you !"

As he spoke these words in a triumphant tone, the door of the
room opened, and he was confronted by Arthur Arment himself !

" I am glad to see you, uncle Madison," said the young gentle-
man, as he entered with a pleasant smile. "When did you arrive ?
But you seem to be busy, and I will not interrupt you."

Madison Arment did not faint, but his face crimsoned up to the
roots of his hair.

"You must not suppose, Arthur," he said with a strong effort to
recover from the surprise, "that I was examining your papers for
the purpose of gratifying an idle curiosity, or with any but a
patriotic motive. The safety of the country sometimes demands — "

" Oh, never mind that, uncle," interrupted the young gentle-
man. "It is not of the least consequence, I-assure you. I am not
disposed to make any objections. Anything for the good of the
cause. Were you surprised to see me, uncle ?"

" Yes, Arthur, I confess that I was. I had heard that you were
under arrest at Atlanta."

" Indeed ! How did you get the news? It i3 true that I was
under lock and key, and in a position to do no harm ; but I ob-
jected to being flanked out of the city by that reckless Sherman,
and had no desire to be carried off as a prisoner by General Hood,
if he should be forced to retreat, although I know that I have been
quite unruly cf late, and that there i? reason to fear that I might
do much damage."

As Madison Arment heard his nephew repeat, almost word foy
word, the language that he had used in his conversation with
General Hood, he was astounded, and the crimson hue of his face
changed to a deathly white. He concluded that it was best to
Change the subject.

«2 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

"I am glad to hear that you have been released," said he, "and
hope that you have given satisfactory evidence of your loyal inten
tions. I am afraid, however, that your liberty would be but short- j
lived if the authorities should see this paper that I have found in j
your desk. Who is this person who signs himself ' A Friend,' and
tells you to submit quietly to the arrest, and fear nothing?"

" I do not know, uncle. I wish you could tell me."

" What is meant by the flag that was pinned to your coat ?"

"That is another mystery that I would like to have uuravelled.
But this is idle talk, uncle. If you have finished ransacking my
desk, permit me to lock it again."

" Certainly, Arthur ; I have found what I was seeking. I am
afraid that you have escaped from your arrest again, or have broken
your parole, and I feel it to be my duty to order you to return
to Atlanta, and deliver yourself up to General Hood, until this
matter can be investigated."

u I hardly think that I would find him there, uncle. When I
last heard of him, he was getting away from that city as fast as
he could." Ce

"Evacuating Atlanta! Is it possible ? I must hasten to join
him, for I have important intelligence to give him. I command
you. Arthur, to accompany me immediately."

" Without intending any disrespect, uncle Madison, I must
positively refuse to do so. As you are anxious to have my com-
pany, your wish shall be gratified, for I am compelled to request
you to return with me to the Union lines. It is for the good of
the cause, and I am sure that you -will not object, especially as I
have a sufficient force to back my request."

The young gentleman opened a window, and pointed to Captain
Adams and his escort of cavalry, who were drawn up in front of
the house, at the same time inviting them to enter.

" Arthur Arment," said his uncle, " you will repent of tin? out-
rageous conduct."

" I hope not, sir. It is for the good of the cause, and will be
only a temporary confinement. You have been quite unruly of
late, and I am afraid that you might do much damage. Have the
kindness to walk down stairs."

Fretting and fuming, and greatly chagrined at the unpleasant
manner in which the tables had been turned upon him. Madison
Arment did as he was ordered, and found himself surrounded by
the blue uniforms of the Union.

Arthur ordered some refreshments for his friends, and after they
had satisfied their appetites, and had drained their glasses to the
success of the Union arms, greatly to the disgust of Madison
Arment, that gentleman's horse was brought out, and he was
politely requested to accompany his captors. He complied, rather
ungraciously, with the request, and the party started towards
Atlanta.

TIIE LOYAL SPECTRE. 63

It was dark when they reached the extreme right of the Union
lines, whore they concluded to spend the night, accommodating
Sladison Arment with a tent and a guard.

CHAPTER XIII.
A » Ten Strike " of the Mysteries.

Is the morning, Arthur and his friends, with his uncle as a
prisoner, continued their journey along the Union lines, until they
had reached the centre, near where the Northern railroad enters
the city. Captain Adams met an officer of his acquaintance, whom
he asked what was the news concerning the evacuation of Atlanta.

" It has already been evacuated," was the answer, " and our
troops have entered and taken possession."

" If that is the case, Captain Adams," said Arthur, " we may
as well e: ter and take possession, also. I suppose my uncle will
not object to trying the accommodations that he so kindly provided
for me."

Madison Arment, gloomy and silent, thought it not worth while
to offer any objection, and the party turned their horses' heads
toward the captured city.

When they entered the town, they saAv the flag of the Union
floating over the principal edifices, and waving from the windows
of many private houses. The blue-coated soldiers were gaily
marching through the streets, elated at having at last reached the
goal which they had laboured so hard to gain. They saw smoke
arising from the ruins of buildings that had been fired by the re-
treating foe, and saw files of rebel stragglers that were being
brought in under guard.

The prison in which Arthur had been confined was in the pos-
session of the Union soldiers, and he conducted his uncle thither,
Captain Adams detailing two of the cavalrymen as a guard.

"I am sorry, uncle," said the young gentleman, as he "did the
honours " of the prison, " that my circumstances are not such that
I can act under cover of some one else, as you did when you caused
my arrest. It would have a much better appearance, and would
probably show more consideration for your feelings, than appear-
ing on the scene myself as a prominent actor ; but it cannot be
helped at present, and I feel sure that you will excuse me, as it
is all for your own good and that of the cause. This is the room
in which I might have passed many weary days and nights, if I
had chosen to remain in it. Suppose you try it for a while, uncle.
If the medicine was a good one for me, it cannot but prove bene-

64 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

ficial to you, as yours is a worse case of unruiiness than mine was.
If you wish anything from the outer world, the guard will procure
it for you. The same privilege was accorded to me. Let me ad-
vise you, when you next have a private interview with General
Hood, to make sure that there are no eavesdroppers about."

''Arthur Arment!" exclaimed his uncle, "I would not have be-
lieved this of you, though I might have known that a supporter of
the Yankee Government is capable of any mean action."

" Except examining private papers," interrupted the young man.
*'- Make yourself as comfortable as possible, uncle. I will call again
soon. I trust that General Hood will not miss your valuable
Bervices in arousing fhe people and hurrying forward recruits."

Captain Adams directed the guard to tako particular care of
Madison Arment, as he was a political prisoner, and the two
friends separated, the captein having business at the head-quar-
ters of his corps. -;<

Arthur pinned his diminutive Union flag upon the lappel of his
.oat, where he had first seen it, mounted his horse, and rode di-
. ectly to the brick house near the fair ground, where he hoped to
see his cousin Carrie. When he approached the house, he was
surprised to see a large Union flag waving from one of the upper
windows.

" Some officers have taken possession of the premises," ha
thought. " I am sorry that I did not persuade Adams to come
with me, for I may be refused admission to my own house."

As he drew nearer, he perceived that the parlour windows were
open, and heard several voices singing the " Star-Spangled Ban-
ner." to the accompaniment of the piano. He distinguished sweet
female voices, and the manly tones of male singers.

"This is, indeed, a metamorphosis," he thought, "or I am
dreaming in the daylight. I suppose Carrie has gone with her
rebel friends, and I have lost her."

He dismounted, tied his horse, and hastily ascended the steps.
The door was partially open, and he entered without ceremony,
his left arm was still in a sling, but his usually pale face was
flushed by exertion and excitement. He walked iuto the parlour,
aed saw a sight which, as he afterwards declared, he could not
forget while he lived.

At the piano sat Laura Clymer, with red, white and blue colours
in her hair. At her right hand, with the same tri-coloured head-
dress, and looking more radiantly beautiful than ever, stood his
cousin, Carrie Chappelle. At the left was a fine-looking young
gentleman, and another, whose face Arthur could not discern,
stood in the shadow of the window-curtain. They were singing
the concluding words of the " Star Spangled Banner," but the song
ceased, and he entered the room.

"My dear cousin!" exclaimed Carrie, advancing to meet him,
with extended hand, and with her face absolutely glowing with

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. «5

miles, "1 UW glad and proud to meet you, especially on such an oc-
i as this. We saw you coming, and tried to give you a
glorious Union welcome. Permit me to make you acquainted
with an old friend of yonrs and a dear friend of mine."

As she spoke, the man who stood in the shadow of the curtain
stepped forward, and Arthur instantly recognised the well-remem-
bered features of the friend who had separated from him more
Jhan two years before— of Seth Staples ! He wore an undress
'military uniform, and was smiling as if there were no such words
as trouble and sorrow in his dictionary. Arthur was so astonished
and bewildered that he hardly knew what to say.

" How is this, Seth ?" he asked, as he mechanically grasped the
hand of his friend. " What does it mean ? How do you happen
to be here ? Did you enter the city with the Union forces ?"

" Not a bit of it. I have been here a long time. Let me make
you acquainted with a friend of ours, John Clymer."

The other gentleman bowed, and smiled quizzically.

11 1 have met Mr. Arment before," he said.

"I must have forgotten it," answered Arthur, "for your face is
not familiar to me."

" But yours is perfectly familiar to me, and it is not likely that
I will ever forget it."

" Carrie, I must beg you to explain this to me," said Arthur,
turning to the beaming countenance of his cousin. "I am bewil-
dered. I am utterly at a loss to understand it. Your political
opinions must have undergone an entire revolution. I have never
6een such a great and sudden change."

" There has been no revolution, Arthur. I have not changed at
all."

"Not changed! You told me that what uncle Madison had
said was true — that you were an advocate of the Southern cause —
that you would devote your all to it, and would die for it, if neces-
sary."

" You are greatly mistaken. I said that I was true to my coun-
try, and ready to devote myself to the good cause. I do not re-
cognise any cause as a good one that is not the cause of my
country."

" You spoke in such a manner, that I was convinced you were a
secessionist. How did Seth Staples come here, and how long has
he been in this neighbourhood?"

" I have been in and about Atlanta for nearly a year," answered
Seth. "After I entered the Union army, I felt that my duty
called me in this direction, and was detailed on special service.
You can imagine what sort of service it was, when I tell you that
I have made this house my head-quarters, and have been in At-
lanta during the entire siege, and the greater part of the campaign,
except when I have been travelling to and from the Union lines.
Our rebel friends have been watching and seeking for me, but

6B THELOFAL SPECTRE.

have never been able to lay their hands on me, and my life has
been spared to witness this glorious consummation of the long
end arduous labours of our army."

" I thought," said Arthur, " that I heard your voice one evening,
when a gentleman accompanied Miss Clymer to the door. Do
you remember the circumstance, Miss Clymer?"

" Certainly. It was Seth ; and I Avas obliged to send him away
in a hurry, for fear that he would be discovered."

"But you told me that it was a relation of yours."

" I told you the truth. We have been married nearly six months /"

"Indeed! Allow me to congratulate you both ; and may y our
union never be broken by secession. But I am still in the dark.
Please inform me why I have not been permitted to know any-
thing of this — why Seth has not disclosed himself to me — why
I have been induced to believe that my cousin and her friend were
ultra secessionists — why I have not been admitted to your confi-
dence, and allowed to aid you in your plans."

" We were not sure of you, Arthur," answered Seth. " We feared
that you were only a half-way Union man, and that you were too
careless and unconcerned to join in our enterprise with such
heartiness and good-will as we could have wished. Besides, it
was important that your uncle should not have the slightest reason
to suspect that Miss Chappelle and Laura differed with him in
opinion. We feared that your known love for your cousin, in con-
nection with your political bias, might have compromised us with
him, and we thought that the strongest proof she could give to her
uncle, of her loyalty to the Confederacy, was to repulse your suit,
because you were not a rebel."

" I think you were wrong, Seth. All's well that ends well, how-
ever. You ought to have known that I would have been glad to
join you, and would have aided you to the extent of my ability."

" We know it now, Arthur, but we seriously doubted it then,
and thought it necessary that you should be tried before you were
trusted. You were tried, and were not found wanting in the hour
of need. You have proved your faith by your works."

"■ The trial might have been too severe," suggested Arthur. " At
one time I was on the verge of desperation."

" We had a remedy to counteract the ill effects of the experi-
ment, and to prevent you from doing anything rash. Your dream?
seemed to afford you a great deal of consolation."

" They were my only hope and comfort. Were they produced
by your influence ?"

"They were manufactured by us. as I may say. We had pre-
pared for them before you first came to the house. The music
was produced in the addition adjoining your room. My know-
ledge of chemistry enabled me to make the light, which was
introduced through apertures in the wall. The panelling near
the mirror, and the windows that opened on th^ balcony, wer«

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 67

useful to me, as you may suppose. The vision that appeared to
you was Miss Chappelle herself, and it must be admitted that she
played her part admirably."

'• Why did you tell him that?" exclaimed Carrie, as blush after
blush ran in waves over her face. " Was it wrong, Arthur, or un-
maidenly ? I could not resist the desire of speaking to you, as I
could not speak at any other time. As uncle Madison says: 'It
was intended for the good of the cause.' "

"I cannot call it wrong, cousin Carrie. It was the most
pleasant experience of my life, and I would not have missed it for
a great deal. As explanations are in order, perhaps you will not
object to informing me who was the man whom you met, at night,
by the little brown house, and for what purpose you met him."

"It was only Scth," answered Carrie. "A new password had
been agreed upon, and it was important that I should know it that
night. The word was Love and Union. I was afraid that you
would overtake me that night, and compel me to explain, and the
consequences might have been unpleasant, if not serious."

" Ah! It is strange how simple a mystery is when you find it
out. I suppose it was Seth, also, who gave me the note, assuring
me of protection, when I was arrested at Oak Grove."

" You are mistaken there," said Seth. " I was at the head of
the party that rescued you from Lieutenant Ashbrook and his
men, but the Confederate soldier who gave you the note was John
Clymer. He was conscripted several months ago, but managed
to get detailed for duty in Atlanta, and when he was captured, ou
that occasion, the rebels lost one unwilling soldier."'

" How did he know about the flag that was pinned on my
coat ?"

" He ought to have known about it, as he put it there himself,
while you were asleep. It was John, also, who left a Union ring
on your flag, when you were at the house of Mrs. Bennett, Laura's
aunt. You may have noticed that our band was not complete at
that time. There were only two performers, Miss Chappelle and
John, as I was absent from the city, and Laura was obliged to re-
main in charge of this house."

" Why was I not favoured with a vision the next night that I
slept here?"

" Chiefly because your uncle Madison was expected that night,
and we did not dare to disturb the quiet of the house."

" Why was I selected to carry to the Union lines the information
of Hood's intended attack ? Why was not such an imDortant
errand intrusted to a person who was more experienced, and better
acquainted on the other side?"

" I can answer that," said Carrie " Seth Staples and John
Clymer were both absent, and we had no other messenger. Be-
sides, no one but yourself had heard the conversation between
uncle Madison and General JIcxl. I was going to listen at tha

C

68 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

door of the private room, as I had often done, but you were there,
and I could only get a vague idea of what was said. It was
necessary, therefore, that you should be sent, and Laura and I
took the best rneasuree that we could contrive to induce you to go.
I was terribly afraid, when you spoke, that I would be discovered.
It was an excellent opportunity, also, to test your love for the
cause, and euable you to prove your faith by your works. But I
assure you that it was no part of the plan that you should get a
bullet through your arm."

"It Avas only a flesh wound, and of no consequenc3."

" We will nurse you now, cousin Arthur, and will not suffer you
\o run into danger again."

"As the explanations appear to be satisfactory," said John
Clymer, " suppose we join our voices and instruments in a Union
song, to show Mr. Arrnent what we can do, when we are under no
restraint."

The instruments were accordingly produced. Laura Clymer
seated herself at the piano, while John Clymer took the violin,
Seth Staples the flute, and Carrie Chappelle the guitar, and all
their voices, except that of Staples, blended with the instruments
in the glorious strains of the " Star Spangled Banner." Arthur,
who sung a clear and melodious tenor, threw his whole soul into
his voice as he joined in the chorus, and the music soon collected
quite a crowd of Union soldiers in front of the house.

CHAPTER XIV.

That's What's the Matter.

About an hour after the impromptu concert was ended, Arthur
Arment, whose wound had been dressed, and who had been re-
freshed by a good dinner, found himself in the garden with Carrie
Chappelle. They were alone, but the society of themselves seemed
sufficient. They were talking of Seth Staples — of his exploits and
his adventures, and of his loving wife, who had been known as
Laura Clymer.

"I can now understand," said Arthur, "what you meant when
you assured me that Laura was not grieved at the absence of
Seth."

" I spoke the truth at that time, for he was seldom absent from
her. We were obliged to be very careful to prevent uncle Madi-
uon from meeting him, but were successful in that, as in the rest
of our plans."

"He is a noble fellow, and I would r.lvvays have honoured and

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. G3

respected him even if we had taken opposite sides in this struggle.
I forgot to ask who was my spirit-rapping friend, who directed me
Low to walk out of prison."

"It was Seth, disguised as a Confederate soldier. lie had no
other means of communicating with you at that time. He un-
locked the door of your room while the guards were being changed,
and thus opened the way for your escape."

"That proves that our investigations of spiritualism were not
in vain I was almost disappointed, Carrie, when I learned that
my spiritual visitations, in what I supposed to be my dreams, were
realities, for I presume they will cease, as their object* has been
gained."

"Do not speak of that, Arthur,'' implored Carrie. "I can
hardly think of it without blushing, and I am afraid that I acted
very imjjroperly. But you must pardon me, for my intentions
were good. It was all 'for the advancement of the cause,' aa
uncle Madison says."

"Indeed, Carrie, I had no thought of blaming you, and can see
nothing improper in that loyal masquerade. On the contrary, I
thank you for the most blessed experience that my life has yet
known. But I have a charge to bring against you, and am not
quite sure that I am not cruel enough to accuse you of wilful de-
ception. You persuaded me to believe that you were a rebel, and
there was surely deception in that."

" But it was all 'for the good of the cause,' Arthur."

"Let it pass, then ; but let me advise you to be careful what
you do ' for the good of the cause,' or you may find yourself in as
bad a predicament as uncle Madison."

"How is that— what has happened to him?"

"Never mind. He is safe. But I have not finished my charge.
You told me that you could not, or must not love a man who was
a traitor to his couutry. Am I a traitor to my country, Carrie ?"

" No, Arthur. I believe you are true to the Union, and you
have proved your faith by your works. Your wounded arm
speaks for you."

" Can you love me, then, Carrie? You know how much I love
you. Can you not return my love?"

"I can, and I do," answered the girl, as she turned away her
head to hide her blushes. "I have always loved you, Arthur/'

"I thought so," murmured the young 'gentleman, in a satisfied
tone, as he kissed her hand. "Is there any reason, then, why we
should not be married?"

"You are very hasty, sir, in speaking of marriage. Do you
not know that a young lad v needs time to consider such a proposi-
tion?"

" I must require you to answer it immediately, Carrie, and ia
the affirmative, ' for the good of the cause ' requires that we should
be married."

70 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

"If it is 'for the good of the cause,' I suppose I must submit,
and refer you to my — my uncl\"

" I suppose it would be proper to procure uncle Madison's con-
sent. He will expect to be consulted, at all events. He does not
deserve any consideration in the matter, but I will make it a point
to see him immediately."

" You talk wildly, Arthur. You would have to seek him in the
army of General Hood, and it would hardly be safe for you to
venture there."

" I shall not go so far, and will engage to procure his consent
this evening. He had me imprisoned, for the good of the cause,
Rud I have turned the tables on him, for the good of the cause."

Arthur then told his cousin how he had found Madison Arruent
engaged in examining his private papers, at his Oak Grove man-
sion, and how he had arrested him, had brought him to Atlanta,
and had placed him in retirement in the same prison iu which he
had himself been lodged by the order of his uncle. Carrie was
greatly amused, and regarded it as an act of retributive justice to
which a man of Madison Arment's principles ought not to object.

"I must leave you now," said Arthur, snatching another kiss
from her fair hand. " I must visit our rebel uncle, and obtain his
consent to our marriage, and then — the good of the cause requires
that there should be no delay, Carrie."

The young gentleman hastened to the prison, and was admitted
by the guard to the room in which he had left his uncle. He
found that well-meaning rebel seated on a chair, and gloomily
contemplating the small extent of prospect that was visible
through his barred window.

M Good-evening, uncle," said the young gentleman, as he took a
seat. '• I entered without knocking* but that is the custom in this
hotel ; at least I found it so when I was lodged here. Have you
nothing to occupy your mind, but thoughts of General Hood's line
of retreat ? I was allowed the luxury of a newspaper when I was
here, but the Confederate journals have taken French leave, and
the Union paper is not yet out. H it was, I suppose you would
not care to see it."

" Arthur Arment," said his uncle, with a look that was intended
to be very severe, '• have you come here for the purpose of in-
sulting me ? I would not have thought that your father's son
could be guilty of such an action."

" By no means, uncle. I am here to console and comfort you.
I know that I was very lonely when I was confined in this apart-
ment, and I supposed that you might feel the need of company.
I am also here for a special purpose, to ask you to give your con-
sent to my marriage with my cousin, Carrie Chappelle/'

" Is she still in the city ? If she is, my consent would be worth
nothing to you. for she will never marry you."

" But she will. At least, she has promised to."

ME LOYAL SrECTRE. 71

'• She cannot mean it. Is it possible that she would consent to
a marriage with you, a friend of the Yankees, and an ally of the
abolitionists ?"

"She held out as long as she could, uncle, but I accomplished a
flank movement, in imitation of General Sherman, and she was
compelled to surrender. All that we want now, is your consent
; marriage." "I will not give it, Arthur. I will not sanction

6ueh an unnatural alliance."

" I am sorry, for your consent would make the affair much more
pleasant to all concerned. If you are determined not to give it,
we must be content to do without it, and our marriage will take
place while you are shut up in this unpleasant prison."

" Am I to consider myself as the prisoner of the Federal Govern-
ment, or of my nephew ?"

" You are my prisoner at present, uncle, and it is fortunate for
you that you are, as the Government might not be disposed to be
as lenient as I am willing to be."

"How long am I to be detained in this place?"'

" You can be released at any time, on taking the oath of allegi-
ance to the United States, aud agreeing to remain within the
Union lines."

"I will never take such an oath. I have sworn to die in tta
last ditch, rather than submit to the Yankee despotism, and I will
keep my word."

" Then you must admit that the good of the cause requires ycu
to be kept in confinement."

"I will demand a trial. Nothing but my sentiments can be
alleged against me."

" You had better not, uncle. If I sV.onld tell all I know, those
unscrupulous Yankees would consider you too dangerous a person
to be at large, and would undoubtedly keep you a prisoner until
the close of the war. You had better accept my terms. I want
your consent to my marriage with Carrie, not that it is necessary,
but because it seems right and proper that we should have it. If
you will give that consent, I will guarantee that you shall be re-
leased, with liberty to follow General Hood as far as he chooses
to travel — even to the last ditch."

"I will agree to that," said Madison Arm ent, after a few mo-
ments' reflection, " if I can be released immediately. If Carrie
has made up her mind to the marriage, I suppose it is useless to
withhold my consent. You may consider it given."

"I would like to have it in writing, if you please, uncle."

"Very well."

Arthur sent out for pen, ink and paper, which were brought in,
and the wished-for consent was written out.

':I must now bid you good-evening," said Arthur ; " but as soon
as I can see the officer in charge of the guard, you shall be re-
leased, according to agreement."

72 THE LOYAL SPECTRE.

Putting the paper in his pocket, he left the prison, and sought
his friend, Captain Adams. Having found that officer, he scon
persuaded him to put on his hest uniform coat, and accompany
him, with an army chaplain, to his house in Atlanta. Arrived at
the house, he introduced his friend as Captain Adams, and the
chaplain as Captain Kennaird. He then left Seth Staples and
his wife to entertain them, while he intimated to Carrie that lie
desired a private interview.

" When they were alone, he took the paper from his pocket,
and informed her that he had obtained the consent of their uncle.

"As you are satisfied on that point," said he, "we have nothing
to do but to be married." "Yes — after a reasonable time."

" There is no time like the present, my dear, and no time is eo
reasonable a3 the right time, which is now. Events are very un-
certain, during such a war as this, and we might be separated to-
morrow. Besides, I told you that the good of the cause admits of
no delay."

"You are too hasty, Arthur. There should be some pre-
paration."

" No preparation is necessary. We have no friends that we
care about, except those who are present. Perhaps uncle Madil
Bon might revoke his consent."

"But the churches are closed, and we could not find a minister."

" We need no church to sanctify the ceremony, and there is a
minist.r in the house. The gentleman whom I introduced to you
as Captain Kennaird is a chaplain in the United States army, and
he is waiting for you."

As this flank movement completely demolished the strategy
of Carrie, she wa9 again compelled to surrender. The two re-
turned to the parlour, and then, after the due allowance of blushes,
tear3 and hesitation, Arthur Arment and Carrie Chappelle were
pronouuced man and wife, and received the congratulations of
Jheir fiiends then present, who were few, but true.

As soon as the ceremony was finished, Arthur dispatched his
friend, Captain Adams, to bring Madison Arment from the prison,
and that gentleman shortly made his appearance, looking very
Bullen and dissatisfied.

As he entered the house, and walked into the parlour, the group
was clustered about the piano, singing "Rally Round the Flag,"
in the most uproarious manner.

" What does this mean?" he indignantly demanded. "Is this
parlour already turned into an abolition concert room ? What clc
:an. Miss Chappelle, by wearing the colours of the enemy in
. conspicuous manner ? Do vou submit so tamely to the in-
vaders?"

;> Ii means," answered Carrie, " that I am a friend to the Union,
and always have been ; that I never was a rebel, in thought or io

THE LOYAL SPECTRE. 7«

" Is this possible ? Are you capable of such deception T"

"Don't forget your motto, uncle; everything for the cause.
Allow me to make you acquainted with Captain Seth Staples, and
Mrs. Staples."

"That Yankee here? And the husband of Laura Clymer? I
am astonished and disgusted. Arthur, I revoke the consent that
I gave you." •

"It is too late, uncle, for we are already married.

" I disown you both. I despise and detest you, as traitors and
deceivers. I hope that I shall never see your faces or hear your
namps again. I will leave this house and this God-forsaken city
immediately, and will try to forget that I have such unworthy re-
latives." .•.*_.!.

" You had better stay with us until morning, uncle, said Arthur.
"You could not leave the city at night, and it will be necessary to
procure a pass for you." #

"I will do so. I wish to be shown to my room immediately.

"Certainly," answered Arthur, as he went to call a servant.
" We will send your supper to your room, as you do not fancy our
company." .

The next morning, Madison Arment, mounted on his horse, and
provided with a pass, shook the dust of Atlanta from his feet, and
went in search of " the last ditch," which was then supposed to be
located in the neighbourhood of Macon.

Arthur Arment, after converting into money and movables as
much as possible of his wife's property and his own, told his ne-
groes to look out for themselves (which they did, as a general
thing, by seeking protection in the army of General Sherman), and
carried his beautiful bride to the peaceful North, being disinclined
to " prove his faith by his works" before the honeymoon was over.
Laura Staples accompanied them, as her husband had received a
staff appointment, and his duties would not permit him to leave
the army.

DUNN AND WRIGHT, PRINTERS, GLASGOW

CAMERON & FERGUSON'S

POPULAR PUBLICATIONS.

,* Any of (he Bools mentioned in (his List, as veell as (he other Publications cf
Cameron & Ferguson, may be had of the Booksellers, or will I
post free, to an;/ person who forward* (o the Publishers, at (heir address,
S3 West M'e Stree(, Glasgow, (he required number of postage stamps.

MUSIC BOOKS.

FOR THE PIANOFORTE.
THE EXCELSIOR COLLECTION OF PIANO-
FORTE MUSIC: the Cheapest and most comprehensive
Work for this Instrument ever issued, containing over 600
Melodies of all Nations, and a Selection of Daxce
Music. By C. H. Morine. This handsome volume, which
is full music size, may be had bound in Extra Fancy Cloth,
ju-ice 16s; or half-bound in Morocco, price 18s; and is an
elegant and appropriate gift for a lady. The Publishers
will forward a copy, free to any address in the United
Kingdom, on receipt of any of the prices named. The
above work comprises the following Twelve separate
Looks, each complete in itself, and done up in Coloured
Pictorial Cover. Any of the series, price Is, or free by
post for 14 stamps.

9. FIFTY-SIX MOOSE'S AND
OTHER IRISH MELODIES.

10. SCOTTISH DANCE MUSIC,

consisting of REELS and
STBATHSPEYS.

11. QUADRILLES AND COUN-

TRY DANCES.

12. WALTZES. POLKAS, SCHOT-

TISCHES, MAZURKAS,

JIGS, HORNPIPES,
MARCHES, AND MISCEL-
LANEOUS DANCES.

L SIXTY SCOTTISH AIRS.

2. FIFTY CHRISTY'S MIN-

STRELS' AIRS.

3. FIFTY-EIGHT ENGLISH AND

NATIONAL AIRS.

4. FIFTY-EIGHT IRISH AIRS.

5. FIFTY-FOUR AIRS OF ALL

NATIONS.
C. FORTY - SIX FAVOURITE
OPERATIC AIRS.

7. FIFTY AMERICAN AND

NEGRO MELODIES.

8. FIFTY - FOUR SCOTTISH

MELODIES, 2nd Series.

MOEIXE'S PIANOFORTE TUTOR; a complete
Course of Instructions, arranged on a simple, novel, and
progressive plan, by which the usually dry details of tho
Elementary Lessons are rendered easy of acquirement
and pleasing to the pupil. The work consists of a Selection
of Tunes in graduated succession, from the most simple
melody performed with one hand to the more perfect com-
position requiring facility with both : advancement in the
art of playing being thus simultaneous with the acquisition
of the Eudiments, the labour of both Teacher and Pupil is
greatly lessened. Full music size, in beautifully illustrated
cover, price Is, or free by post fcr 14 stamps. "

KQN & FERGUSON'S POPULAR PUBLICATIONS.
FOR THE HARMONIUM.

HE ALEXANDRE TUTOR for the Harmonium: a
complete Course of Lessons with progressive exercises, and
selection of Favourite Airs, Sacred and Secular. Full
music size. Price Is, free by post for 14 stamps.

FOR THE CORNETTE & TROMBONETTE,

BAIN'S SELECTION OF AIRS for the Cornette and
Trombonette, with Instructions and Scales, being a com-
plete self-instructor for these instruments. Price 6d, fre«
by post for 7 stamps.

FOR THE CONCERTINA.

ADAMS'S NEW AND POPULAR SERIES.

THE ART OF PLAYING THE CONCERTINA

•WITHOUT A MASTER: an improved and complete
Tutor for the Instrument ; with Lessons on Music, Scales,
and a Selection of Favourite Airs marked and figured.
Price 6d, post free for 7 stamps.

100 CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS' AIRS, marked and
figured for the 10, 20, 22, and 28 keyed Concertina.
With complete Instructions and Scales. Price 6d, post
free for 7 stamps.

100 ENGLISH AND NATIONAL AIRS, marked

and figured for the 10, 20, 22, and 28 keyed Concertina.
With complete Instructions and Scales. Price 6d, post
free for 7 stamps.

100 SCOTTISH AIRS, marked and figured for the

10, 20, 22, and 28 keyed Concertina. With complete
1 Listructions and Scales. Price 6d, post free for 7 stamps.

63 ASH 94 WEST NILE STEEET, GLASGOW.

CAMERON & FERGUSON'S POPULAR PUBLICATION.

100 IRISH AIRS, marked and figured for the 10,
20, and 22 keyed Concertina. With complete Instruc-
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100 FAVOURITE AIRS, DANCES, SONGS, &c<
marked and figured for the 10, 20, 22, and 2b keyed
Concertina. With complete Instructions and Scaiea.
Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

100 MOORE'S IRISH MELODIES, marked and
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taining the most popular of those exquisite National
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ADAMS'S DANCING TUNES; containing a variety
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Dances, Jigs, Reels, &c, &c, marked and figured for
playing. Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

SCOTTISH DANCE MUSIC; containing Reels,
Strathspeys, Jigs, Country Dances, &c., &c, marked and
figured for playing. Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

100 AMERICAN AND NEGRO MELODIES ;

being a second Series of the Popular Airs performed
by Christy's Minstrels, Buckley's Serenaders, and other
Ethiopian Companies, marked and figured for playing
Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

120 SACRED AIRS, marked and figured for the
10, 20, 22, and 2S keyed Concertina. With complete
Instructions and Scales, Price 6d., post free for 7
stamps.

ADAMS'S SELECTION 05 AIRS FOR THE 20
KEYED CONCERTINA, a arked and figured. Price
6d., post free for 7 stamps.

230 AIRS OF ALL NATIONS: a varied and popu-
lar Collection of Tunes, marked and figured for playing.
Price Is., post free for 14 stamps.

ADAMS'S MISCELLANY OF POPULAR AIRS
FOR THE CONCERTINA; containing the best Collec-
tion of Tunes for the Instrument yet published; with
Instructions, Scales, &c Price Is., post free for 14
stamps.

83 Ai?D S4 WEST NILS] STBEST, GLASGOW

CAMERON A FERGUSONS TOPULAR PUBLICATIONS.

FOR THE CONCERTINA.

SOIsTG-S SEPuIES,

Containing the Words and Music of all the Songs, and admirably
adapted for Vocal Accompaniment to this popular Instru-
ment. Each Book done up in handsome Illustrated Cover,
printed in Colours.

THE TREASURY OF SONGS for the Concertina,

containing One Hundred and Twenty of the most Popular
Songs of the day, with the Words and Music, arranged for
Singing and Playing. Price Is, free by post for II stamps.

SIXTY CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS' SONGS for the

Concertina, with the Words and Music. Price 6d, free by
post for 7 stamps.

6JXTY ENGLISH AND NATIONAL SONGS for the

Concertina, with the Wcrd3 and Music. Price 6d, free by
post for 7 stamps.

SIXTY SCOTTISH SONGS for the Concertina, with
the Words and Muaic. Price 6d, free by post for 7 stamp*

SIXTY IRISH SONGS for the Concertina, with the
Word3 and Music Pi ice 6d, free by post for 7 stamps.

SIXTY AMERICAN AND NEGRO SONGS for the

Concerting with the Words and Music. Price Cd, free by
post for 7 stamps.

SIXTY SACRED SONGS— PSALMS AND ITYMNS
—for tue Concertina, with the Words and Music Price
Si, free by poet for 7 stamps.

SIXTY COmC AND BURLESQUE SONGS for the
Concertina, with the Words and Music. Prico 6d, free fef
post for 7 stamps.

GREEN FLAG OF IRELAND NATIONAL
BONGS for the (kmcertina, with the- Words and Musis.
Price Gd, tree by p >st for 7 taints.

§§ UCD te WfeiT KILT STREET, GLASGOW.

CAMIIHON AND rERGUSON'S TOrULAR rUEMCATIOnS.

For the Flute.

ADAMS'S TOPULAR SERIES.

THE ART OF PLAYING THE FLUTE WITH-
OUT A MASTER: an improved and complete Tutor foi
the Instrument; with Instructions, Scales, and GQ Popu-
lar Airs. Price 6d., post free for 7 etamps.

100 SCOTTISH AIRS FOR THE FLUTE; with

Instructions and Scales for the Instrument. Price Gd.,
post free for 7 stamps.

100 ENGLISH AND NATIONAL AIRS FOR

THE FLUTE; with Instructions and Scales for the
. Instrument. Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

100 IRISH AIRS FOR THE FLUTE ; with
Instructions and Scales for the Instrument. Price Gd.,
post free for 7 stamps.

100 CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS' AIRS FOR THE
FLUTE; with Instructions and Scales for the Instru-
ment. Price 6d., post free for 7 stamps.

THE AIRS OF ALL NATIONS FOR THE
FLUTE; containing upwards of 200 Popular Airs; with
Instructions, Scales, &c. Price Is., post free for 13
stamps.

For the Violin.

ADAMS'S POPULAR SERIES.

THE ART OF PLAYING THE VIOLIN WITH

OUT A MASTER: an improved and complete Tutor
for the Instrument; with Instructions, Scales, antf 65
Popular Airs. Price Gd., post free for 7 stamps.

100 SCOTTISH AIRS FOR THE VIOLIN; with

Instructions and Scales for the Instrument. Price Gd.,
post free for 7 stamps.

100 ENGLISH AND NATIONAL AIRS FOR

THE VIOLIN; with Instructions and Scales for the
Instrument. Price Gd., post free for 7 stamps.

88 and 94 West Nile Street, Glasgow.

CAMERON & FERGUSON'S POPULAR PUBLICATIONS

100 IRISH AIRS FOR THE VIOLIN ; with Instruc-
tions and Scales. Price 6d, post free for 7 stamps.

100 CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS' AIRS FOR THE
VIOLIN ; with Instructions. Price 6d, post free for 7 stamps.

223 AIRS OF ALL NATIONS FOR THE VIOLIN ;
containing upwards of 200 Popular Airs ; with kistruHioaa,
Scales, &c. Price Is, post free for 13 stamps.

POPULAR PUBLICATIONS "RELATING to IRELAHD.

THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, from the Siege of
Limerick to tho Present Time. By John Mitchel. Demy
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of Erin's suffering." Price Is 6d per volume, free by post
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Boards, price 3s, free by post for 48 stamps ; or Bound in
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THE IRISH BRIGADE AND ITS CAMPAIGNS in

tho great American War ; with some account of the Cor-
coran Legion, and sketches of the principal Officers. A
record of Ireland's modern glory. By Captain D. P.
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SONGS OF THE RISING NATION, and other f>oema.
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THE RISING OF THE MOON, and other National
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IRISH POEMS AND LEGENDS, Historical and Tra-
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THE SUNBURST OF IRELAND RECITATION

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O'DONNELI, ABOO, the celebrated Irish National
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_ Gold. Price 2s, free by post for 24 stamps.

83 AND S4 WEST NILE STREET, GLASGOW.

CAHISEUM * /teWW«Wrt9r irMfKHAS P(J1 UCAT10OT.

TEE HISTORY OF IRELAND from the Earliest Period
to the Emancipation of the Catholics. With * copious Index.
By the Hon. Tho8. D'Arcy McGec, B.C.L. "rown 870, 768
pp [m two vols., Pictorial Enamelled Boot > Is, 2s. per vol.,
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TEL HISTORY OF THE IRISH BRIGADE in th«
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THE IRISH AT HOME AND ABROAD— a? Limerick
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By John Cornelius O'Callaphsn. Demy 8vo. Price 6d<,
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THE IRISH QUESTION. fVhy is Ireland Discontented I
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THE IRISH LEGEND OF MCDONNELL AND THE
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DICK MASSEY; a Tale of the Irish Evictions. Strikingly
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DONAL DUN a BYRNE; a Tale of Ae Rising in Wexford
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THE GREEN AND THE RED; or Historical Tales and
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WHENRYS IRISH TALES; containing? The Insurgent
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THE LAST STRUGGLES OF THE IRISH SEA
SMUGGLERS; a Romance of the Wicklow Coast, By
Dr. Campion Price 6d., free by post for 7 stamps.

■ *.-—-• j 1 '■ _ ■ ,■ ii

88 xq 84 WEST NILE STREET,, GLASGOW'

CASffiHON a FSTRUV^OTTo sroSTTLAH Pb r>LfCATTGKa

ROSE WALDRON; or, A Drag on the Whee. By N. J.
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and Incidents in Ireland. Enamelled Pictoriaj Boards, orice
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MICHAEL niVYER, the Insurgent Captain of the Wicklow
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PITZHERN; or, The Rover of the Irish Sea3. \ Story of
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VEE HEARTS OF STEEL; or, The Celt and the Saxon*
an Irish Historical Tale of the Last Century. Pictorial
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GALLOPING 0' HOG AN; or, The Rapparee Captains. A
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ALLEY SHERIDAN. By William Jarleton. And othei
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THE POETICAL WORKS OF LADY WILDE (Smb.
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UO ORE'S POETICAL WORKS, Elegantly Bound in Cloth
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THE SONGS OF SWEET IRELAND: a Collection of the
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THE GREEN FLAG OF IRELAND SONG BOOK: \
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THE EXILE OF ERIN SONG BOOK: a Collection of
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THE GREEN FLAG OF IRELAND NATIONAL
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88 TO 94 WESf NIL^ STBEET. GLASGOW.