lip--and her fair head and
face were so aureoled by locks of sunniest yellow, that she seemed to
radiate light and warmth. Her exceeding loveliness smote through
Arlington's nerves and set his southern blood tingling.

"Ah, Evaleen, did you enjoy your ramble?" asked the hostess,
affectionately, as she rose to receive the young lady. "Colonel Burr,
this is my very dear friend, Miss Evaleen Hale."

The American Chesterfield made a courtierly obeisance.

"Permit me to introduce Mr. Arlington, of Richmond."

"Miss Hale, gentlemen, like myself is a sojourner in a far country.
She comes to us from Boston."

Having complied gracefully with the demands of convention, the maiden,
in wilful abstraction, busied herself with some wild flowers which she
had just gathered in the woods.

"Where did you leave the boys?" inquired madam, referring to the lads
Dominick and Harman.

"They are out of doors, making a cage for a young squirrel which I had
the luck to catch. But the lively creature bit me; see here,
Margaret!"

Evaleen held up a dainty hand, on the whiteness of which the teeth of
the captive had left a small purple wound. In her playful
carelessness, she let fall a sprig of wind-flowers and two or three
violets. Arlington gallantly picked up the flowers.

"What peculiar violets," said he, as he offered to return them.

"Yes, they are of a variety found only on this island, I am told. You
may keep them if you like."

"I presume, Mr. Arlington," said Burr, "that you understand the
language of flowers. When I was of the sentimental age I knew the
floral alphabet and could convey all manner of covert messages through
the agency of pinks and pansies and rosebuds and all the sweet
go-betweens of Cupid's court. The blue violet, I believe, signifies
modesty, does it not?"

The question was accompanied by a look at Miss Hale, who made no
reply, not appearing to notice the appeal.

"Our native Western plants," said the hostess, "have no poetical
association. The Indians were devoid of sentiment. It is only in
Persia and such romantic lands that they make roses and lilies talk.
But this island is rich in its flora. Before you resume your voyage
you should take time to visit a beautiful spot which Miss Evaleen
calls her Violet Bank. It is on a bluff overlooking the river, only a
short walk from here."

At Burr's request, Mrs. Blennerhassett was induced to talk of her
island home and of her husband's pursuits. It gave he