ursuit, so Josephine St. Auban
gained a groundless hope with the passing of the hours. Even the
long night at length rolled away. Jeanne slept in her mistress'
room. Nothing occurred to disturb their rest.

It was evening of the second day, and the shadows again were lying
long across the valley, when there came slowly filing into view
along the turn of the road the band of returning riders. At their
head was the tall form of Dunwody, the others following,
straggling, drooping in their saddles as though from long hours of
exertion. The cavalcade slowly approached and drew up at the front
door. As they dismounted the faces of all showed haggard, worn and
stern.

"There has been combat, Madame!" whispered Jeanne. "See, he has
been hurt. Look--those others!"

Dunwody got out of his saddle with difficulty. He limped as he
stood now. A slender man near him got down unaided, a tall
German-looking man followed suit. The group broke apart and showed
a girl, riding, bound. Some one undid the bonds and helped her to
the ground.

All of these things were apparent from the vantage ground of the
upper story window, but Josephine, unwilling to play at spying, saw
none of it. At last, however, an exclamation from Jeanne caused
her to hasten to the window. "_Mon Dieu_, Madame! Madame,
look--it is that officer--it is Monsieur le Capitaine Carlisle!
Look! why then--"

[Illustration: An exclamation from Jeanne caused her to hasten.]

With no more than a glance, her mistress turned, flung open the
door of the room, hurried down the stair, passed out of the hall
and so fronted these newcomers at the gallery. They stood silent
as they saw her. She herself was first to speak.

"What are you doing with that woman?" she demanded.

They all stood in silence, looking at her, at this apparition of a
woman--a young and beautiful woman--here at Tallwoods, where none
had known of any woman these many years. Clayton himself made no
comment. The Honorable William Jones smiled broadly. Dunwody
removed his hat. "Gentlemen," said he, "this is the Countess St.
Auban, who has come to see these parts of our country. Madam," he
added, "this is Judge Clayton. He was on the _Mount Vernon_ with
us. Lieutenant Kammerer, I think, is the name of this gentleman
who came down here to teach us a few things. There has been some
fighting. Mr. Yates--Mr. Jones. And this gentleman"--he stepped
back so that Carlisle might come into