847_.

"MR. GREELEY:

"DEAR SIR:--Sitting to-night 'all solitary and alone,' my mind has
wandered back upon scenes that have past eleven years ago, though vivid
now even as yesterday. It was about that time that I saw you first,
and indeed saw you last.

"Little did I then dream that I beheld in that modest personage one who
is now acknowledged as the 'distinguished and accomplished Horace
Greeley.'

"You well remember your first visit to the South, I dare say. You
cannot have forgotten many incidents that occurred at a little village
of North Carolina, called Warrenton? No, there is _one_ circumstance I
feel assured you never can forget while memory lasts, and there are
others to which I claim the right to call your attention: for instance,
do you remember your first meeting with a certain Miss Cheney at the
house of Squire Bragg, the father of Capt. Bragg, who lately
distinguished himself at Monterey and Buena Vista? Do you now remember
to whom you related the secret of your visit, who procured the parson,
and what persons accompanied you to church, and then with your
beautiful bride returned to breakfast? We saw you take the solemn
vows, we witnessed the plighted betrothal, and when you bore away from
us this prize, you also carried our best wishes that you might be ever
blessed, and she be made always happy. May it not have been otherwise."

. . . . "I would, my dear sir, be pleased to hear from you, and to
learn something of the results and changes which time has brought about
in your own family.

"Be pleased to remember me to your sweet wife, and if there be any, or
many little G------s, my kind regards to them also.

"Very respectfully,

"A. L. YANCEY."

CHAPTER VI.

Visitors--Our Neighbors--The Chappaqua Croquet Club--Gabrielle's
Letter--A Hiding Party--Summer Heat--The Music-room--Friends from the
City.

_June 18_.

While out on the croquet ground this afternoon, a lady and gentleman
alighted from a carriage, and walked up to join us. They proved to be
our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Wilbour, of New York, who had
driven over from White Plains to make us an afternoon call. Mrs.
Wilbour is a charming, intellectual woman, the president of Sorosis,
and a friend of many years of both mamma and Aunt Mary. In appearance
she is tall, handsome, and queenly, dressing in perfect taste, and a
graceful hostess. Her pretty daughter Linny is a school friend of
Gabrielle's at St. Mary's