drew Harmon for
permission to pay his addresses to his daughter. Harmon hoped that if he
had her father's permission to pay his addresses to her, Joyce's coldness
might disappear.

Mr. Crawford did not like the man, but he was rich and had a certain
amount of political influence. Mr. Crawford was thinking of being a
candidate for Congress at the approaching election, and he did not wish to
offend Harmon, but he secretly hoped that Joyce would refuse him; in this
he was not disappointed. She was indignant that her father had listened to
Harmon, even to the extent that he had. "Why, father, I have heard you
call him cowardly and dishonest," she exclaimed, "and to think that you
told him you would leave it entirely to me."

"I did not wish to offend him," meekly replied Mr. Crawford, "and I had
confidence in your judgment. I was almost certain you would refuse him."

"Will you always have such confidence in my judgment?" asked Joyce,
quickly.

"What do you mean?" asked her father.

"Suppose I should wish to marry one of whom you did not approve?"

"That is another proposition," said Mr. Crawford. "You might have been so
foolish as to fall in love with that Morgan Rebel and horse-thief you took
care of so long. If so, I had rather see you dead than married to him."

Poor Joyce! Did her father suspect anything? She caught her breath, and
came near falling. Quickly recovering herself, she answered. "At least he
was a brave man. But everybody says he is dead, and mortals do not wed
ghosts."

"It is to be sincerely hoped he is dead," replied Mr. Crawford, for he had
noticed his daughter's confusion, and an uneasiness took possession of
him. But much to Joyce's relief he did not question her further.

Andrew Harmon was beside himself with rage when told by Mr. Crawford that,
while his daughter was sensible of the great honor he would bestow upon
her, she was still very young, and had no idea of marrying any one at
present.

Harmon determined to have revenge on Joyce, and began slyly to circulate
reports that Joyce Crawford, if she chose, could tell a great deal about
the escape of the Rebel officer. In fact, half of his sickness was
shammed.

These rumors came to the ears of Mark Crawford. He had been promoted to a
colonelcy for gallantry at Chickamauga. During the winter, while the army
lay still around Chattanooga, he had come home on furlough. While at home
he sought out Harmon and gave him as fine a thrashing as