there. Also he
suppressed the fact that the appointment had been by George's own
request.

She received the communication in silence, but the anguish in her face
told that she felt little doubt of her nephew's guilt. And as days and
weeks rolled on bringing no news of him, her suspicions settled into a
sad certainty; with the added sorrowful doubt whether he were living or
dead.

Chapter Twentieth.

"Before
We end our pilgrimage, 'tis fit that we
Should leave corruption, and foul sin behind us.
But with washed feet and hands, the heathen dared not
Enter their profane temples: and for me
To hope my passage to eternity
Can be made easy, till I have shook off
The burthen of my sins in free confession,
Aided with sorrow and repentance for them,
Is against reason."
--MASSINGER.

It began to be noticed that Wilkins Foster also had disappeared. It was
said that he had not been seen since the raid upon Fairview, and the
general supposition was that he had taken part in the outrage, received
a wound in the affray and, on the advent of the troops, had fled the
country.

His mother and sisters led a very retired life seldom going from home
except to attend church and even there they had been frequently missing
of late.

Elsie had been much engaged in efforts to comfort her old friend, Mrs.
Carrington, and to entertain Mr. Lilburn, who was still at Ion; little
excursions to points of interest in the vicinity, and visits to the
plantations of the different families of the connection, who vied with
each other in doing him honor, filled up the time to the exclusion of
almost everything else, except the home duties which she would never
allow herself to neglect.

Baskets of fruit and game, accompanied by kind messages, had found their
way now and again from Ion to the cottage home of the Fosters, but weeks
had passed since the sweet face of Ion's mistress had been seen within
its walls.

Elsie's tender conscience reproached her for this, when after an absence
of several Sabbaths Mrs. Foster again occupied her pew in the church of
which both were members.

The poor lady was clad in rusty black, seemed to be aging fast, and the
pale, thin face had a weary, heart-broken expression that brought the
tears to Elsie's eyes.

When the service closed she took pains to intercept Mrs. Foster, who was
trying to slip away unnoticed, and taking her hand in a warm clasp,
kindly inquired concerning the health of herself and