his pleadings. "My decision is final. The heart cannot be forced."

There was no mistaking the sincerity of this avowal. It left no room for hope. Her manner also confirmed her words. As Aylesford seized her dress to detain her, when she would now have left the room, she gently but resolutely removed his hold.

The ill-regulated nature of her cousin passed, in a moment, from entreaty to rage. He was like one of those volcanic countries, where suddenly, on a clear day, the heavens are filled with smoke and the solid ground shaken with earthquakes.

"Then you love this Major Gordon," he cried, livid with suppressed passion. "You have lost your heart, like a romantic fool, to a rebel beggar, merely because he happened to be present when you escaped from shipwreck. Yes! go," he added, bitterly, as Kate, with dignity, was proceeding towards the door, "but know that I will go to him, and force down his throat a disavowal of his suit to you."

This threat checked Kate's steps. The scandal of an encounter between her cousin and her preserver, apart from her well-founded dread of the former's skill at fence, induced her to stop, with the hope of preventing this mad threat from being executed.

"You will do no such thing," she said, fronting Aylesford with decision, yet with something of entreaty too in her manner. "You will not, you cannot, so disgrace her whom, but a moment ago, you professed to love. Nay, Charles," she continued, as he was turning away, and advancing quickly she caught him by the arm, "you must promise me this. I demand it as a woman, as a relative," and seeing he was still unmoved, she added, with spirit-"the honor of our family is concerned, that a gentleman who preserved my life should not be so grossly insulted; and I call on you, as my nearest male connexion, to sustain that honor."

But Aylesford still turned from her with gloomy rage. As she still continued to hold fast to him, he finally shook her off roughly, saying

"It is you who dishonor the family, by loving this baseborn adventurer."

"Oh! Charles," she cried, reproachfully, with a burst of feeling, "I had not expected this of you."

He turned on the instant. Again he thought she might be induced to relent.

"Promise me," he said, eagerly, "that you will listen to my suit. Only promise me a probation, I ask nothing more. I will then do anything you wish."

She shook her head sadly, but firmly.

"Then it's no use deceiving me," was the angry answer, as he flung off the hand which he had taken. "You love this low fellow, this cowardly traitor"

"Stop," said Kate, with an air of command, her person seeming actually to dilate before her companion's eyes. "I will not hear a gentleman maligned to whom we all owe so much. Nay!" she continued, almost sternly, as Aylesford attempted to speak, "I will be heard, and once for all. You forget yourself, and trespass on even the privileges of a relation, when you charge me with loving Major Gordon. You grossly insult me, when you say that I could love any man merely because he saved my life. Moreover," she added, with something of haughty scorn in her manner, "if you will seek this gentleman's blood, you may find to your cost that he is anything but a coward. As for me," and her eyes sparkled with determination, "I shall take good care that Major Gordon knows that I have no share in this dishonorable requital."

With these words she swept from the room like an empress, not condescending to pursue the altercation further. Aylesford, with an oath, saw the door close after her, when, hastily arming himself, he ordered his horse saddled

and went forth to provoke the duel which we have seen so

opportunely interrupted

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE REFUGEE'S HUT.

Oh! Buckingham, beware of yonder dog;

Look, when he fawns he bites.-Shakspeare.

Few men dare show their thoughts of worst or best;
Dissimulation always sets apart

A corner for herself.-Byron.

DEEP in the forest, that stretches, a pathless wilderness, to the south and west of Sweetwater, there stood, at the period of our story, a solitary log-cabin, with about two acres of cleared land surrounding it. On nearly every side. it was surrounded with swamps, so that approach to it was almost impossible. Here, an hour or two after the rencontre between Aylesford and Major Gordon, the former drew up his horse.

It was a wild scene, characteristic of the region. Huge pines surrounded the clearing, and towering high into air, almost shut out the light. In the small fields about the house the stumps were still standing. A rude stable, or rather shed, built of logs with the bark left on, stood a few rods from the house, while between the two was a well, with a high swinging pole hung in the crotchet of a young sapling. The atmosphere, even on that sultry morning, was damp and cool from the evaporation; the clearing being situated on a small knoll, which rose like an island in the

midst of vast swamps, miles from any village, or even farmhouse. It was a haunt fit for outlaws.

As Aylesford approached, a huge blood-hound started up in front of the house, at whose outcry a short, thick-set man came forth, with a countenance which had never been pleasing, but was now embruited by intemperance and other vices. A dirty red beard, which had not felt a razor for a week, increased the repulsiveness of his appearance.

"What a hole you have, Arrison," said the visitor, with an oath. "It's the devil's own retreat. I was half an hour in finding the blind path, and twice came near being swamped before I succceded. And now, in the fiend's name, tell us what's brought you into these parts, and what you want with me."

"As many questions as would take a week to answer," replied the man, coolly, "and asked in a temper that would get anything but a civil return from most persons. You needn't frown. You know I dont't care a curse for such things. What's the matter with you? Out with it, or it will choke you."

Aylesford looked, for a moment, as if he would have liked to run his sword through the speaker, as well as through Major Gordon. But the man met his angry gaze with cool indifference, turning a quid leisurely in his mouth, and, waiting for an answer.

"I came here to question," said Aylesford, haughtily, "not to be questioned. Again I say," he added, as he dismounted, "what, in the devil's name, has brought you here."

"Let me tie the horse. It's my trade, you know," said the other, with a sardonic grin. "Or shall I put him up? No, you must return, that there may be no suspicion! Well, then, come in, and I'll tell you all about it."

They entered the cabin, and took seats by a table, on which Arrison immediately placed some peach brandy. No

one else appeared to be present about the premises, though, at first, Aylesford thought he heard a light step moving in the interior room, for the house had two apartments. After taking a long draught, Arrison spoke.

"You were surprised, I suppose, to get the word I sent ? You thought I was completely driven out of these parts? But there's a good time coming, let me tell you," and he rubbed his hands, "for his Majesty, God bless him! is going to send an expedition against the Neck, burn the vessels there, and reduce the whole district about the mouth of the river. Before a week we'll have the pick of all the booty here, live and dead, that can be had. The pretty girls, I suppose," he added with a leer and chuckle, "are not all gone yet."

For a moment Aylesford sat in mute surprise.

"You amaze me," he cried, finally.

thing of this."

"I have heard no

"How should you?" answered Arrison, with a laugh. "Gad, if the rebels caught you acting the spy, they'd string you up to one of the buttonwoods, at the Forks, before you could say Jack Robinson. They'd not stop a minute for your laced coat. It would be a short shrift and a dance on nothing, as they say in the old country."

"Then you play the spy on the rebels, and in return get at the royal General's secrets-is that it?" said Aylesford.

Arrison nodded.

"And you are sure of your news?"

"As sure as I sit here. The expedition has sailed before this, and it's arrival can be delayed only by head-winds. It may be playing the devil among the rebel privateers and their prizes even now."

"This is news," answered Aylesford, joyfully, filling his glass. "Let us drink to his most sacred Majesty, and confusion to all traitors."