n, and gradually the dwelling and its surroundings
resumed their usual aspect of neatness, order, and elegance.

All the friends remained to breakfast, but their presence did not
exclude the children from the table.

While the guests were being helped, there was a momentary silence broken
by a faint squeal that seemed to come from under Eddie's plate.

"Mousie at de table!" cried Harold; then "Oh me dot a bird!" as the
notes of a canary came from underneath his plate.

"Pick up your plates and let us see the mouse and the bird," said their
papa, smiling.

They obeyed.

"Ah, I knew there was nothing there," said Eddie, laughing and looking
at Cousin Ronald, while Harold gazing at the table-cloth in disappointed
surprise, cried, "Ah it's gone! it must have flewed away."

Calhoun Conly, knowing nothing, but suspecting a great deal, and full of
anxiety, repaired to Ion directly after breakfast. Blood-stains on the
ground without and within the gate, and here and there along the avenue
as he rode up to the house, confirmed his surmise that his friends had
been attacked by the Ku Klux the previous night. He found them all in
the library talking the matter over.

"Ah, sir! like a brave man and a true friend, you come when the fight is
over," was his grandfather's sarcastic greeting.

"It was my misfortune, sir, to be unable in this instance, to follow my
inclination," returned the young man, coloring to the very roots of his
hair with mortification. "But"--glancing around the circle--"heaven be
thanked that I find you all unhurt," he added with a sigh that told that
a great load had been taken from his heart. "May I hear the story? I see
the men are tearing down a breastwork and I suppose the attacking party
must have been a large one."

"Not too large, however, for us to beat back and defeat without your
assistance," growled his grandfather.

"Ah, grandpa, he would have helped if he could," said Mrs. Travilla.
"Sit down, Cal, we are very glad to see you."

His uncle and Travilla joined in the assurance, but Horace and Arthur
regarded him rather coldly, and "Cousin Ronald" thought he deserved some
slight punishment.

As he attempted to take the offered seat, "Squeal! squeal! squeal!" came
from his coat pocket, causing him to start and redden again, with
renewed embarrassment.

"O Cousin Cal! _has_ you dot a wee little piggie in your pocket? Let me
see him," cried Harold, running up and trying to get a peep at