and I told her all I had just related to her father.

"Then you will one day be Sir Alexander Garningham, and as a genuine
republican, I shall be under the necessity of hating you, Captain
Alick," said she, mirthfully.

"Then I promise never to allow myself to be called by that title," I
replied. "I have said as much to my father; and he does not like to be
called by anything but his military title, for he says he has earned
that fighting against the enemies of his queen. But I am a democrat,
and don't believe in any titles. Are you really a Republican, Miss
Hungerford?"

"I am a republican, but I am also a Democrat."

"I see! and I am a democrat and also a Republican."

"I don't think it will be safe for us to talk politics. You may do that
with father."

"I have told you my story, Miss Hungerford; and now it is no more than
fair that you should tell me yours," I added.

"I shall be very happy to give you my whole history from my birth to
the present day," replied the fair maiden, laughing. "I was born at St.
Charles, and lived there and in New Orleans until about a year ago,
since which time we have resided most of the time in Baton Rouge."

"Then your home is not at St. Charles?"

"Oh, yes! Our home is there, but we have one at the capital of the
state also," said the mischievous girl.

"I thought you were going to your uncle's in Baton Rouge to stay until
the mansion was repaired."

"I haven't any uncle in Baton Rouge, or anywhere else," chuckled Miss
Blanche.

"Your father certainly said he should stay at his brother's in Baton
Rouge," I added, puzzled by the statement.

"That was just as we girls used to say we were 'going to grandmother's'
when we went to the seminary."

"Who is your father, Miss Hungerford?" I asked, repeating the question
the planter had put to me.

"Colonel Hungerford," she answered, naively.

"Yes, I know; but what is he?"

"The Governor of Louisiana," replied Miss Blanche, with a merry laugh.

"The governor!" I exclaimed, appalled to think I had been talking so
familiarly to the chief magistrate of the state.

"But he won't let any one call him governor when he is not attending to
his official duties, if he can help it. He likes to be a plain citizen
when he is off duty," continued the young lady. "We went down to stay a
few days at the plantation."

Miss Margie's father called her, and thought it was too damp for her to
be out after dark. We all went below, and the