faded uniform
of a Confederate surgeon, and proved to be Dr. Mackey.

"Good-mornin', sah," said Old Ben politely, as the doctor leaped from
the saddle and came forward.

"Good-morning," returned the surgeon shortly. "Can you supply me with a
glass of good drinking water? I left my flask at camp, and I am dry."

"We has de best ob watah heah, sah," returned Old Ben, and proceeded to
obtain a goblet. "Does yo' belong to de army?"

"Yes, I am a surgeon attached to the Fifth Virginia regiment." The
visitor gazed around him curiously. "Is this your boathouse?"

"Kind o', sah. It belongs to de Ruthven plantation. But when my ole
massa--Heaben bless his spirit--sot me free, he gib me de right to use
de boathouse so long as I pleased. I lives in yonder cabin on de bluff."

"Ah! then you were one of Mr. Ruthven's slaves?"

"Colonel Ruthven, sah," said the colored man, with emphasis on the
military title.

"He is dead?"

"Yes, sah; killed at de bloody battle ob Gettysburg. He was leadin' a
charge when a bullet struck him in de head."

"Too bad, truly. Did he leave much of a family?"

"A widow, sah, an' two chillen, a boy an' a girl."

"I see." The doctor drank the water thoughtfully. "Did--er--I mean, I
think I have seen the two young people. They don't seem to resemble each
other very much."

"Well, you see, da aint persackly brother an' sister."

"No?" and the surgeon raised his heavy eyebrows as if in surprise.

"No, sah. Massah Jack is only de 'dopted son ob de late colonel."

"Ah, is that really so? A--er--nephew, perhaps?"

"No, he aint no kin to de Ruthvens. He was washed ashoah from a wrack
ten or 'leben years ago. I wouldn't tell dis, only it has become public
property durin' de las' two weeks."

Dr. Mackey started back. "Ha! I have found the boy at last!" he muttered
to himself, as he began to walk the floor.

"What did you say, sah?"

"It's quite like a romance, my man. I should like to hear more of the
boy's story."

"Dere aint much to tell, massah. It blowed great guns durin' dat storm.
De passengers an' crew was washed ashoah from de wrack, but de only ones
wot came to de beach alive was Massah Jack an' his poor dear mother."

"And the mother----" The doctor paused.

"She only libed fo' two days. She died up to de house, leabin' de boy to
Mrs. Ruthven. De missus promised to look after de boy as her own--an'
she has gone dun it, too, sah."

"Then Mrs. Ruthven doesn't know whose son he re