here?"

"General Wilkinson, I don't know whether I am thankful or not. You
call me your friend, and I have been your friend. It wasn't so much
for my sake that you got me off as to keep evidence from leaking out
that might have made somebody else uncomfortable. Yes, I've done
things for you that you ought to be grateful for, governor! Why am I
here? I'm here for back pay. You owe me six hundred dollars."

"Man, you are mad. You presume on my generosity and my past indulgence
toward you. I have already paid you more than I should have done, and
you owe to me your life and your safety. You overestimate the value of
your past services, and I am tired of your importunity. Remember that
I am the commander-in-chief of the army and the governor of Louisiana.
Do you think it safe to trifle with me? How did you get by the guard
to-night?"

"Walked; same as I got by Aaron Burr."

Wilkinson looked up anxiously.

"Palafox--I won't be harsh with you. Take a dram. You were faithful
to me and to your duty in former years, and I hope to find profitable
employment for you again. Here are five dollars; now leave the
premises."

Palafox took the money and disappeared in the gathering gloom. General
Wilkinson closed the door and locked it. Then he sat back in his big
chair, bowed his brow, and with arms folded sat meditating the past.
At length he rose, shook his head, as if sadly answering in the
negative some question of conscience, and--took another glass of
brandy.

IX. DON'T FORGET THE BITTERS.

Monsieur Deville, having consulted Dr. Goforth, on vaccination,
milk-sickness and miasma, took the mail-packet for Gallipolis.
Arlington, after transacting the business which brought him to
Cincinnati, started for his distant Virginia home, not by water nor by
the direct route through Kentucky to the Old Wilderness Road, but
across southern Ohio, over the highway which led to Marietta. The
young man told landlord Yeatman that his object in choosing this
roundabout course was to see the country; and he told the truth, but
not the whole truth. Arlington cared not so much about going to
Marietta as about getting there. He had not escaped the consequences
of his recent perilous exposure to the rays of bewitching eyes. As he
rode along through the woods he saw flocks of paroquets fluttering
their emerald wings and making love as they flew. The red birds were
singing bridal songs in the sugar-trees, and the shy hermit thrush
betr