that might have gladdened, and gilded, and
glorified her earthly career, and pressing the ruins to her heart, laid
herself meekly down, offering all upon the God-built altar of Filial
Obedience.

In the

" ... early morning, when the air
Was delicate with some last starry touch,"

she opened the door of her father's room and approached the bed. The noise
wakened him, and raising himself on his elbow, he looked wonderingly at
her.

"What is the matter, Irene? You look as if you had not closed your eyes."

"Father, you took me in your arms last night, and kissed me as you have not
done before for years. Oh, father! my father! do not cast me off again!
Whom have I in the world but you? By the memory of my sainted mother I
ask--I claim your love!"

"You are a strange girl, Irene; I never did understand you. But I don't
want to drive you from me, if you prefer to live here single. There shall
be peace between us, my dear daughter."

He leaned forward, and laid his hand caressingly on her head, as she knelt
at his bedside, pleading with uplifted arms.

CHAPTER XXVI

CIVIL WAR

The treacherous four year's lull was broken at last by the mutter of the
storm which was so soon to sweep over the nation, prostrating all
interests, and bearing desolation to almost every hearthstone in our once
happy, smiling land of constitutional freedom. Aubrey was deeply impressed
with the vital consequences of the impending election; and as the
conviction forced itself upon his mind that, through the demoralization of
the Northern wing of Democracy, Lincoln would be elected, he endeavoured to
prepare the masses for that final separation which he foresaw was
inevitable. Lincoln was elected. Abolitionism, so long adroitly cloaked,
was triumphantly clad in robes of state--shameless now, and hideous, and
while the North looked upon the loathsome face of its political Mokanna,
the South prepared for resistance.

No surer indication of the purpose of the Southern people could have been
furnished, than the temper in which the news was received. No noisy
outbursts, expending resolve in empty words--no surface excitement--but a
stern calm gloom, set lips, heavy bent brows, appropriate in men who
realized that they had a revolution on their hands; not indignation
meetings, with fruitless resolutions--that they stood as body-guard for the
liberty of the Republic, and would preserve the trust at all hazards. It
would s