ers, with a sigh, acknowledging the truth of the
position.

Meanwhile Sybil sat, absorbed in despair, and guarded by the second
officer. Suddenly she heard her name softly murmured, and she looked up.
The young bailiff stood before her. He was a sturdy looking young
fellow, swarthy skinned, black haired, and black bearded.

"Miss Sybil, don't you know me? I beg your pardon! Mrs. Berners, don't
you know me?" he inquired in a low tone, as if fearful of being heard.

Sybil looked at him in surprise, and answered hesitatingly:

"N-no.

"You forget people that you have been good to; but they don't forget
you. Try to recollect me, Miss Sybil--Mrs. Berners."

"Your face seems familiar; but--"

"But you don't recollect it? Well, may be you may remember names better
than faces. Have you any memory of a poor boy you used to help, named
Bob Munson?"

"Bob Munson--oh, is it you? I know you now. But it has been so long
since I saw you!" eagerly exclaimed Sybil.

"Eight years, Mrs. Berners; and I have been fighting the Indians on the
frontier all that time. But I got my discharge, and came back with
Captain Pendleton. You know it was him as I went out with, when he was a
third lieutenant in the infantry. I 'listed out of liking for him, and
we was together from one fort to another all these years, until Captain
Pendleton got a long leave, and come home. I couldn't get leave, but the
Captain got my discharge. And when he goes back to his regiment, I mean
to enlist again and go with him."

"But how came you to be a sheriff's officer? and oh, above all, how
_could_ you come to take _me?_" reproachfully inquired Sybil.

"Oh, Miss--I mean, Madam,--can't you guess in your heart? When all the
bailiffs throwed up their places rather than serve a warrant on you, and
Mr. Purley, who was a stranger, got an appointment and kept it, they
wanted another man. And then my captain said to me, 'Munson, apply for
the place; I will back you. And then if you get it, you will have an
opportunity of serving, and perhaps freeing, Mrs. Berners.' And a great
deal more he said, to the same purpose, Ma'am; and so I did apply for
the situation, and got it. And now, Madam, I am here to help you with my
life, if necessary," added the young man, ardently.

"Give me your hand. God bless you, Bob! Help me all you can. I _ought_
to be helped, for I am innocent," said Sybil, earnestly.

"Don't I know it? Don't everybody with any sense know it? Don't even