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Show niCH.AltD l-IUHDJS. 364 to probe the nature of tho man he meets, nm1 secure him, if he thinks he can, to the uses of tho brotherhood. I gave l1im. my assumed name, nnd the history of my mcmLcrslLip, m:d then I'CII t ltim on his way-happy to get him out of minr-to tho l1rntlLen; in the encampment. 1 waited with impatience till he ]l;Hl gone fairly out of sigbt; then, with a full heart, nnd a bosom Loundiu;; oucc more with freedom, l c_ntrrcd the nvcnuc, and lntrried forward to the dwelling of my friend. }.ly disgnibc was quite as complete in concealing me from Coloucl Grafton as it had Leon in hilling me from my foes. It was with dilticulty I persuaded him to know me. Ilis first wordt-i, after he became convinced of my identity, were - " Ancl the i>oor girl l~mmc1ine 7 How did 8he stand your tidiugs 1'' "bhe is dead." I told him all the particulars; and accounted for the disguise in which I appeared, by telling what were the novel duties which I had undertaken. "You arc a bold man-a YerY bold man, :Mr. Uurdis. And how ftu have you beeu successf~l 7" Briefly, I related to him my meeting with F oster ; the success of my plans; his revelations to me ; nncl the progress of e"euts uutil l came to the encampment in the Sipsy swmnp. These he listened to with an intense interest, nnd frequently inter· r uptcd me to relate little incidents within his ow11 knowledge, which, strange and unaccountable before, found nn C'nsy solut ion when coupled with such as I related. \ Vhcn l had told him thus far, I came to an uneasy lwlt. H e had evidently no apprcl1ension that l1e could be interested furtl1er in such a nnr· r ,ltive tlmn as a gooJ citizen and a public magistrate. Findiog me at a pause, he tl!l.lS spoke:- " Ancl you left tllesc rascals in tl1e Sipsy; you lmve come now for nssistnnce, h aYC you 110t 1" 11 Yon nrc rigl1t, colonel : I l1ave come to get what assistance J cnn to bring them to punishment. But I left them not in the Sipsy; they nrc nigher than you thi11k for , nnd much more con· v eniently situateU for a surprise." '' Ha! in the 'Day·Blind' -is it so 1 That has long been a suspicious place ; and, if my conjecture is right, i will do roy best to ferret them out, and clear it for good and all." TROUBLES AT GRAFTON LODGE. 365 "Tiley are near it, if not in 't" t0 describe the place, which hcl ~ ~vas my reply. I proceeded " I n three days more II ·d· ety well knew. \V e can not convenienti llll IS: l shall be ready for the hunt matter will, for the nexty lmve It sooner, since a little domesti~ ( n.y or two tak 1 a~d I must forget the magistrate for 'a b.· e up a.l ~y attention; ~ ou arc come in season m f . d llef penod ln the father My daughter, you mt;st k~o\~_:•cn • for our family festivities: ,, Let me stop you, Colonel Grafton I you will not regard the b f - do know i and I trust the sorrow which he brinenrer; ill tidings as responsible for me, is to be married to Mr.g~lif o~~· daughter, you woultl tell uy . , ton. " es-.Jt IS that. But what ill tidings 1'' l\Ir. QJ,fton is with these ruffians. I • . . swamp." ' Sln\ hun m the Sipsy "'Vhut! n prisoner 1" I shook my head. llu"Nnloist l1l in.lgi ew loirvsees, 1I " trust. 'rhe. y b ave not murdered him, l\Ir. "lie lives, Lut is no prisoner Colon -1 0 sorrow to be compelled to sa tl' t 1 e ~~afton. It is my rily when I saw him." y lrt lC was With them volunta- " llow.! I really do not understand you." I hurned over the painful recital wlli I 1 - - - . JeSS COilSternation. rrhc Stl'Oll I' C 'I lC heard 111 speech· leaned with a convulsive shucld~r ~lal: failed before me. lie covered h is face with his l d g;~l~S~ the mautcl-plnce, aml daughter entered the room ~~.~:1 s. . . . ule he stood thus, his her lips, but shrunk ba k tl' ''I 1 a tumd and sweet smile upon none of the fmnil bu. c le m~mc.nt th~t she saw me. As yet, 'l'he father turn[a astl~ollon~l!GI raftol~ lnmself knew who I was. ' C ICaH 1er VOICC "Julin," he said," my dan hter . main there till I send f . ' g - go to your chamber-re;- n· . 01 ) OH. Do not leave it" l1is eImS oVtOioJene waSsl mournf.u l and 11 us k ) •• t 1w uglt h.e strove to hide 1 · lC saw 1t, nnd prep·lr ] t b 1Y the l1and to the do . 1 k' _ ' cc 0 o ey. lie led her when there she ,,,j· 01, doo lllg back at me the wllile; and ' uspere someth in · b · - ' to smile as he lteard it b t tl ~ g m IS ears. lie strovo tual one. ' u 10 e ort was a feeble and iuefl'ec- |