ue, for's aught I know; but it's mighty strange you
never thought of that sarcumstance before."

"Never was in limbo before."

"That's the go, is't? Look-a-here, stranger, is it the darbies, or the
crime, which brings the disgrace upon the family? Accordin' to my
notion,--and I believe I've got something besides nits and lice in my
head,--it's the deed, and not the punishment, that fotches the disgrace.
But whar does your family live?"

"In New Orleans," replied Vernon, who knew nothing to the contrary,
though we are not sure that, if he had, it would have made any
difference in his reply.

"And your name is Vernon?"

"It is."

"Is that your family name, or only a borried one?"

"It is my real name," replied Vernon, not a little perplexed by the
coolness and method of the woodman's queries.

"I rather guess not," suggested Jerry, mildly.

"'Pon my honor--"

"Think again,--maybe you mought fotch the real one to your mind."

Vernon, whose temper was not particularly gentle under contradiction,
was nettled, and disposed to be angry.

"Perhaps you know best," said he, conquering his passion, and assuming
one of those peculiarly convincing smiles, which must be an hereditary
possession in the family of the "father of lies."

"Perhaps I do," replied Jerry. "If you don't know any better than that,
why, then, I do know best. It arn't Vernon."

"It is not manly, captain, to insult a prisoner," replied Vernon, with
an air of dignity, which came from the same source as the liar's smile.

"I don't mean to insult you, stranger; but facts is facts, all over the
world," said Jerry, untouched by the other's rebuke.

"What mean you?"

"Nothin', stranger, only I know you. Your mother arn't livin'."

"No," returned Vernon, with a start; for, with all his vices and his
crimes, a sense of respect for the name and honor of his family had
outlived the good principles imbibed upon a mother's knee. Although a
villain in almost every sense of the word, there were many redeeming
traits in his character, which the reader will be willing to believe, on
recalling his expressions of conscientiousness uttered to Maxwell.
Family pride is often hereditary, and the reverses and degradations of a
lifetime cannot extinguish it. It was so with Vernon. His real name was
unknown, even among his most intimate associates. He had early taken the
precaution--not in deference to the feelings of his father--to assume a
name; it was from pride