f tears.

For the first time in his life, deriving his feeling in this particular
rather from the opinions of society than from any individual
consciousness of debasement, he felt a sentiment of humiliation working
in his breast. His mother he had little known, but his father's precepts
and familiar conversation had impressed upon him, from his childhood, a
feeling for her of the deepest and most unqualified regard. This feeling
was not lessened, though rebuked, by the development so unnecessarily
and so wantonly conveyed. It taught a new feeling of distrust for his
uncle, whose harsh manner and ungenerous insinuations in the progress of
the preceding half-hour, had lost him not a little of the youth's
esteem. He felt that the motive of his informer was not less unkind than
was the information painful and oppressive; and his mind, now more than
ever excited and active from this thought, went on discussing, from
point to point, all existing relations, until a stern resolve to leave,
that very night, the dwelling of one whose hospitality had been made a
matter of special reference, was the only and settled conclusion to
which his pride could possibly come.

The servant reminded him of the supper-hour, but the summons was utterly
disregarded. The colonel himself condescended to notify the stubborn
youth of the same important fact, but with almost as little effect.
Without opening his door, he signified his indisposition to join in the
usual repast, and thus closed the conference.

"I meet him at the table no more--not at his table, at least," was the
muttered speech of Ralph, as he heard the receding footsteps of his
uncle.

He had determined, though without any distinct object in view, upon
leaving the house and returning to Tennessee, where he had hitherto
resided. His excited spirits would suffer no delay, and that very night
was the period chosen for his departure. Few preparations were
necessary. With a fine horse of his own, the gift of his father, he knew
that the course lay open. The long route he had more than once travelled
before; and he had no fears, though he well knew the desolate character
of the journey, in pursuing it alone. Apart from this, he loved
adventure for its own sake. The first lesson which his father had taught
him, even in boyhood, was that braving of trial which alone can bring
about the most perfect manliness. With a stout heart, and with limbs not
less so, the difficulties before him had