124

XX A CANDIDATE FOR THE LEGISLATURE 131

XXI THE MINISTER'S LOVE 139

XXII "COUSINLY--NO MORE" 143

XXIII THE FEVER 152

XXIV IRENE'S ILLNESS 162

XXV RECONCILED 171

XXVI CIVIL WAR 182

XXVII HOSPITAL STORES 187

XXVIII A CONFESSION 194

XXIX A DYING MESSAGE 202

XXX THE BLOCKADE RUNNER 211

XXXI RESULTS OF SECESSION 221

XXXII WOMANLY USEFULNESS 227

XXXIII IN THE HOSPITAL 233

XXXIV MORTALLY WOUNDED 240

XXXV "THE SANCTIFIED DEVOTION AND FULL WORK" 252

MACARIA

CHAPTER I

RUSSELL AUBREY

The town-clock was on the last stroke of twelve, the solitary candle
measured but two inches from its socket, and as the summer wind rushed
through the half-closed shutters, the melted tallow dripped slowly into the
brightly-burnished brazen candlestick. The flickering light fell upon the
pages of a ledger, and flashed fitfully in the face of the accountant, as
he bent over his work. Sixteen years growth had given him unusual height
and remarkable breadth of chest, and it was difficult to realize that the
stature of manhood had been attained by a mere boy in years. A grey suit
(evidently home-made), of rather coarse texture, bespoke poverty; and,
owing to the oppressive heat of the atmosphere, the coat was thrown
partially off. He wore no vest, and the loosely-tied black ribbon suffered
the snowy white collar to fall away from the throat and expose its
well-turned outline. The head was large, but faultlessly proportioned, and
the thick black hair, cut short and clinging to the temples, added to its
massiveness. The lofty forehead, white and smooth, the somewhat heavy brows
matching the hue of the hair, the straight, finely-formed nose with its
delicate but clearly defined nostril, the full firm lips unshaded by
moustache, combined to render the face one of uncommon beauty. Yet, as he
sat absorbed by his figures, there was nothing prepossessing or winning in
his appearance, for though you could not carp at the moulding of his
features