lish secrets unexchanged. The
scant experience of Lucrece's isolated life had brought her only a
small stock of personal doings or feelings to disclose. Yet, up to the
hour of her coming into the private cabin, after seeing the government
transport, she had not told the very thing which she knew would most
surely enlist the sympathy of Evaleen or of any other woman.

Now, Lucrece was moved to pour out her simple heart in maiden
confidence to Miss Hale, her only female friend.

"Ah, ma sweet Evaleen, I no more shall be able to hide my feeling--I
tell you, right as it happen, the beginning and the end of my story,
that no person shall know.

"One day, at Gallipolis, a young soldier there stopped. He came in the
mail-boat, and the reason he entered our cottage was one of the boatmen
had been hurt by accident--his arm crushed, poor man--and as papa is
known by all as a surgeon, the young officer--he was capitaine--he run
up the hill to our log cabin. I tell him mon pere, alas, was not at
home--mon pere had gone that day to Belpie. The very handsome face--how
shall I say?--was upset by disappointment--teach me if I use the wrong
word. I saw the sad regret and was grieved also. He looked in my eyes
with a kind pity for the hurt boatman, and quickly I spoke. 'Monsieur,
I, also, can use the instruments of mon pere, and wrap the bandages.
Always I assist. Mon pere names me his aide. I will go and dress the
hurt arm.' The young man did not say no, but his eyes were full of
doubt, very much in doubt of me. I took the surgeon's case, and we made
haste to the mail-boat. How they all did stare and stare! I had handled
the sharp knives, and my father had taught me perfection. Instantly I
did the operation necessaire, the brave captain much helping. Then the
gallant soldier brought me home, carrying the case, and, oh, my Evaleen,
how shall I say, he kissed my lips, say 'Forgive,' and went away. I have
see him no more."

As Evaleen listened to these naive sentences, her expression grew more
and more troubled.

"Kissed you!"

Lucrece nodded.

"At Gallipolis? A captain? Do you know his name?"

"His name--oh, yes, I know his name--Warren Danvers."

Evaleen's lip quivered. A shade of anxiety and pain saddened her
countenance.

"I should resent the insult," she said coldly. "Have you told me all?"

"No, my sweetest sister; I confess to you now my great, precious
secret. Alas, I give my heart that day. I love that only man."